003|| Who do you think you are?

[neverbeamemory]

Characters: Sephiroth [Part 1: Closed unless you want to spectate as it's very open to an audience. Possible Tag: Cloud  atouchofstrife  if you're close enough to pick up the Jenova cells turn-off. Part 2 & 3: Open at any time]
Setting: Various Floors. 14th October. Then 17th - 19th October
Format: Prose & Action (will match)
Summary: Sephiroth's first rebellion & the aftermath, then much reading in the library
Warnings: Nudity/Shower time included (in case it gets graphical). Possible Violence. Will otherwise edit as necessary

1) Collar Check up Day: Corridors Dorm Level 3, then eventually 2nd Floor Infirmary (Early 14th October, day after the last Violet collar check up day)

Sephiroth hadn't turned up for the collar check yesterday and he felt damn good about it. Take that so- called rulers of the universe. There was no way, no way he'd willingly walk into a room to lie down and take whatever it was they did to a person in there. The very idea of being 'messed' with or otherwise experimented on made Sephiroth's stomach turn and twist around in knots to an almost sickly level; he knew
it was the ghost of memories lost that made him feel such a way but that just gave him a reason even more to avoid it at all costs. Never mind that it was perhaps the most invasive way of anyone exerting control over anyone. Well they wouldn't control him, he was the puppet master, obsessed with his own control; his own destiny. His ego was swollen with pride, having avoided the Halloween game, maybe they'd figured they should just leave him alone.

Waking early on the Sunday Sephiroth went about getting dressed with the intention of heading down to the Cafeteria for some breakfast. Pumpkin-associated food was getting about as interesting as eating cardboard by now but Sephiroth now had a plan. Legolas had suggested there may be floors in the Tower where he could find something to kill that may be edible or gather something that wouldn't kill him. Ever self-sufficient Sephiroth knew he had to find out more about sort of wild foods might be available before he went and picked
something that would kill him. Handily enough, Xehanort had mentioned that there were two libraries in the Tower (at least, that was as far as he knew after all) so this seemed the logical next step. Plan for today.

He'd clad himself in all of his usual (and only) outfit, since he was sure it felt a little colder than it had when he first arrived and also he wanted to be prepared for anything. Perhaps a little more apprehensive since he knows he broke a rule. If they wanted a fight, bring it on. Sephiroth stepped out into the corridor and, confident but cautious, headed for the stairwell. Turning a corner Sephiroth stopped as if he'd hit a wall. There was a figure, right by the entrance to the stairwell; it glowed red at its throat and Sephiroth just knew it was staring right at him.

Reflexively, Sephiroth flexed his left hand in the way that would usually summon Masamune from nothing to his hand. But no familiar weight then followed. "No." Was whispered as Sephiroth's pulse stopped before starting to pick up pace, natural panic beginning to take hold as he came to the realization that they maywell have turned off his powers. He risked to take a glance down to confirm this suspicion and in the second he did so the figure was suddenly right there in front of him. The figure hadn't moved as such as appeared, it had to have been a teleport for sure.

Without hesitation Sephiroth followed by putting all of that practise at the punching bag to use, and swung a powerful left hook at the red-collared figure. Eyes widened as he watched his fist go right through the figure as if he wasn't even there, Sephiroth's body followed with the force and knuckles just touched the corridor wall before he was slammed hard into the wall, front first, from behind with such sudden force enough to knock the wind from his lungs. He fought to take a ragged breath as he glanced to what was behind him. Confirming his suspicions: there were actually two of them, red from the collars reflecting in his eyes as he felt one of them yank his head back by his hair while the other took a grip around his collar and then his world quickly blurred into blackness.

2) Later 14th October

Infirmary 2nd Floor [Open]
[Someone turned a light on. Black turned to white behind Sephiroth's eyes and a moment later he woke to the whitened surroundings that could only be in a clinical environment. He took a gasping breath for air as the last things he recalled came shooting back with a vengeance. All of the opportunities he'd had to at least run from them first, how he'd just let them take him, the fact he didn't -need- Masamune in order to put up a fight just kicked at his ego. Never mind that the retrievals were impossible to hit, he was too damn shocked to have done anything about it. Sephiroth resolved that they wouldn't be so lucky next time.]

[After a quick check over himself to make sure everything was intact the realization deemed on Sephiroth that he had no idea how long he'd been out for. Was it morning still or later afternoon now? More to the point, what had they done when they brought him here? Sephiroth started to feel sicky the moment his mind wandered into the experimentation box but more determined than ever that it won't happen again, he waited for said nausea to pass before getting up and heading on with this plan for the day.]


Cafeteria [Open]
[It'd only been an hour after he left the Infirmary, but Sephiroth felt dirty now. Violated and not in the least bit happy about it, adding it to one of the many reasons he needed to take revenge; on everything. Not even eating, he cupped a hot pumpkin tea in his hands as if the warmth would somehow take the edge of the anger he was feeling, in order that he could claw back that feeling that he was in control of himself. How dare they, didn't they know who he was? Sephiroth was glaring at anyone that dared to come close, even if they haven't done anything to him.]

Showers! (Dorm Level 3) [Open]
[Unable to bear it any longer, Sephiroth had headed straight for the showers after his pumpkin tea had gotten cold. Scalding hot water reddened his usually pale skin as he proceeded to scrub his skin raw. Only then for sure would any remnant of that feeling, or that Infirmary smell be permanently cleansed from him. No matter how many times he washed his hair through and through, each long silver lock seemed to remember too keenly the feel of that hand around it; reminding him again and again of the events of the morning. Eventually accepting at least that this new trauma would have to fade with time rather than be scrubbed from him. Frustrated he smacked a palm against the side of the shower stall and turned the water off. He'd drip- dry this out rather than chance dressing just yet, lest the leather itself remind him.]

3) Study bug: Floor 21, Floor 20, Floor 19. There has to be something in these books.
-17th Oct: Mid-morning - Early Afternoon (Floor 21, Floor 20, Floor 19)

[Elevator. Floor 21. Stairwell. Floor 20. Sephiroth took a moment to pause and survey the surroundings on this floor. With its unstable ramp winding out into the open air Sephiroth took the opportunity to take a deep breath of the air that came wafting in for lack of any outside walls. Curious as he was to where the winding, crumbling ramp led this would be a task for another day.]

[Once in the library, Sephiroth went about finding any books, and learning what he could on edible plants and general techniques for trapping game, despite if they were specifically to do with what would be in the Tower or not. If the forest and meadow floors were anything like Legolas made them out to be, then the edible things he should be able to find had to be similar across all worlds. Otherwise how would he have known what was safe to collect or not. Right?]

-18th Oct Mid-morning - Late Afternoon (Floor 19)

[Next day, another day of studying. Sephiroth was a little irked at one point when he'd re-entered the library and found that the books he'd been looking at the previous day were not where he left them. So he'd had to spend more time re-finding the books that he found yesterday. This enabled him to see more of the library as the books weren't on the same shelves he'd found them last time. Noting in particular the sections of books just missing; as if someone had purposefully removed them. Noting logically what subjects they would be on, Sephiroth found this typical. Why would they make it so easy, if one should wish to find out more about where they were, why or any other logical question? His mind wondered later in the afternoon back to how they had treated him, how betrayed he'd felt by that, how he wasn't going to let them get away with it. Ironically at one point in the afternoon, this feeling stirred a memory he didn't think about too much anymore but still had retained; the last time he was in a library like this, he'd discovered that which had made him feel exactly the same way. Was it this floor putting that thought in his head?]

-19th Oct Late Afternoon - Evening (Floor 19, Floor 20)

[Another late afternoon spent reading in the library. Hadn't he been like this last time he'd been obsessed with finding answers? He's not sure anymore if he's already covered the book he's reading at this moment or if it's some sort of variation of another book like it. Sure he's read about all sorts of ways to determine if plant life is safe to eat or not, and he's read about some simple traps he could set up in a wilderness. However Sephiroth knew that he wouldn't be able to really test this knowledge until he took the time to visit the so-called 'meadow' and 'forest' floors that Legolas had mentioned. Something he resolved to do soon. Sometimes Sephiroth's interest would wonder from the topic, picking up a book on a completely unrelated (but not so un-related) topic. Such as how to prepare said meats, fruits and roots etc in order to make them edible.]

[He left the library later than he thought he should have on the 19th. Indeed by the time he ascended to Floor 20 he could hear the monsters scratching about. Deciding this might be a few minutes well spent, Sephiroth entered the floor from the stairwell and charged for the first monster he saw. At least whatever the red-collars had done to him hadn't been permanent and so Masamune was ready and capable as he'd always relied on it to be. Collecting his candy on the way back to the stairwell, Sephiroth didn't hang around long on Floor 20 before heading back to 21 and the elevator]

Comments

18th, mid-morning.

[tohko_amano]

Tohko was starving after what had happened last night, so she had wandered into the library to grab a quick bite to eat. After all, one couldn't clean on an empty stomach. However, when she noticed a white-haired boy who was reading there, she sighed. She'd have to grab something and eat it elsewhere. However, since she hadn't seen the boy in the library before, she walked over to him.

"Good morning. Need help finding anything?"

Re: 18th, mid-morning.

[neverbeamemory]

Sephiroth at this point was quite engrossed in a lengthy article regarding markings on fungi when Tohko approached. At the very least he'd be annoyed by the sudden interruption rather than being startled. If it weren't for the girls appearance that is. The heat from the annoyance was stomped on immediately as he took in the details of her mutation (since it could hardly be called a costume anymore!), significantly the razor sharp fingers which even from a respectable distance looked too close for comfort.

"Morning." It didn't hurt to be polite. "I'm good right now, thanks."

He stood before she could get any closer, defining the personal space he was comfortable with - that he would react to if she did come any closer uninvited. He hoped she would just back off so he could sit back down in peace.

Re: 18th, mid-morning.

[tohko_amano]

Tohko nodded. "Alright then. If you need any help, let me know. And if you make a mess, please clean it up, alright?" With that, Tohko wandered off, cleaned up a few messy shelves, and saw the perfect treat: a collection of short love stories by various authors. Usually these sorts of books went in the other library, and Tohko knew that someone had probably put it here not knowing that. However, she didn't really care, as long as she had found a meal. Before she grabbed the book, she remembered one thing: Her fingers were claws! She couldn't grab the book without shredding it. She sadly walked back to the guy she had run into earlier.

"I'm sorry to bother you again, but could you help me grab a book off the shelf? I can't grab it with these fingers." Tohko sadly asked, twiddling her fingers around. "By the way, what are you researching?"

Re: 18th, mid-morning.

[neverbeamemory]

As soon as the girl backed off, Sephiroth resumed his seat and continued with his studying. This book was very wordy with a lot of long-winded vocabularly and so sometimes he'd have to re-read sections to make sure he understood them. He made a point of looking away from the book every so often now as well to make sure no one else was creeping up on him. So pages took even longer to read!

He'd just turned a page when the young girl came back within his awareness range. He looked up before she'd gotten half of the distance closer to him than she did before. He wanted to make some sort of remark about how maybe the Tower didn't want her to read books if they'd given her fingers like that. They obviously weren't part of her original self otherwise why would she have even an interest in books, not being able to ever look in one.

The way he felt about all Tower-associated tricks right now was still very raw from all that had happened last week and try as he might he could not let this pent-up pain stored-as anger not be shown to some extent in his body language. The way they had mutilated this girl just ripped open stitches so to speak. However, it wouldn't really be out of his way to just get up and fetch a book down for her would it? Sephiroth wasn't the charitable sort by nature but to a certain extent he sympathized.

"Sure why not. My eyes could use a break." Sephiroth stood and waited for her to lead him to where the book she was trying to get to was. "I'm looking into mushrooms- fungi really. Research before exploration, that type of thing."

Re: 18th, mid-morning.

[tohko_amano]

Tohko noticed that the guy looked rather annoyed. The only answer she was able to come up with was that he really didn't want to be disturbed, so she quickly moved to where the book was. "Thanks. You have no idea how much of a help this is." She said, pointing to the book, hoping he would understand that that was the volume she wanted.

"Yeah..it's usually best to research those things before you go looking. It'd be terrible if you ended up poisoned or two sizes smaller."

Option 3. Sorry this kid does not give up.

[savedbyasong]

Shion was tidying the library when he saw the man who he had somehow inadvertadly insulted. Getting a little closer Shion saw what he was reading. He didn't know how he had upset the man, but he did want to make it up for him. He didn't like the idea he had insulted someone.

He approached the table with a bundle of papers bound together with string. "Hello? Um... I saw you were reading about edible plants... I made a book on the type of wildlife you can find and eat in the island forest... You can borrow it if you want..."

Re: Lets say 19th?

[neverbeamemory]

It took Sephiroth a few moments to finish reading the section he'd been right in the middle of when a voice not too far away begged to disturb him. Then looking up and to the side, he recognized the would-be Turk in the bee outfit(?) from before. Sephiroth's eyes passed over the makeshift book all bundled together and then looked up to Shion's face.

Disregarding how rude it was to be reading over a persons shoulder, Sephiroth let it pass for the moment as he considered. Island forest, did he mean the same floor as Legolas had? Maybe this was a trick to try and get him to talk more after their last awkward encounter on that first day.

"Oh. Seems a lot of people go gathering their own food then huh?"

okay!

[savedbyasong]

Books are very rare in Shion's world, reading ettiquete has passed him by. He smiled at the man glad that he didn't seem angry any more.

Though it might be a trick, Shion knew that much. "There are times when the administrators stop providing food, the kitchen is literally stripped bare, and so I thought it would be good for everyone to know what they should be looking for and what they can find."

Actually the book had been Reno's idea, Shion would have probably just attempted to help everyone seperately.

[neverbeamemory]

"I heard from someone before, that we don't really need to eat." Sephiroth made the comment even though with Ganondorf before they'd gone into the whole layers-of-control theory. Suggestive commenting really.

"If that's true then even them not providing food is only a barrier within oneself. But sure, provided there will be enough for everyone once everyone knows where to go for it." Mused Sephiroth, indeed he knew well the consequences from his own world, of a handful of people expanding a world-changing idea and distributing it to the masses. The mess of a world that they were slowly killing.

Infimary 2nd Floor; October 14th

[xroyal_bratx]

[ Ishtar happened to be in the Infirmary frowning and annoyed. After the whole conversation with Duzell, she couldn't exactly get rid of the tired feeling she was getting from pouring her heart out on the vampire king. Ishtar lowered her eyes, as she took a deep breath. Somehow, these strange white coats were better for wear right now than her current situation. Her ninja attire that was given to her in place of her clothes had already made things provocative for her. She didn't like them and having them tighten in uncomfortable places really set her off. At the moment, however, she was trying to get clinic things done.

Ishtar was grabbing a few bottles of antiseptics and rolling over to the room across from the beds. She thought she had felt a presence in the room and she spoke rather softly to whoever was there. ]

Are you alright?

[ She didn't turn to see who it was, but clearly it would be pretty uncomfortable for her to find out who it was. At the moment, though she was trying to get the boxes to a higher shelf. ]

Re: Infimary 2nd Floor; October 14th

[neverbeamemory]

[Sephiroth just lay there staring at the celing and would do so until the dizzying nausea passed. Occasionally he'd force his arms to make him sit up but then it seemed he'd end up thinking about what they did, more likely what they could have done while he was out.

One such time she passed his field of view, a figure facing away from him in a white coat. His senses, instincts all on high alert already his adrenaline almost made him jolt when she spoke. He vaguely recognized her but then, it was a figure in a white suit.]

Stay away.

[A warning, almost panicked in the way he barked. She could be one of 'them' for all he knew.]

[ooc: You found a thread then :p]

[xroyal_bratx]

[ Seriously, were all patients like this? She was getting tired of people denying help becacuse they didn't need it or they were too stubborn to admit it. Ishtar turned around and started speaking. She probably had to go candy hunting again soon, so she decided to get things done first. She'll probably weasel her way into more candy with her sly stealing skills. Who knew they were so damn handy. ]

I'm not going to do anything to you. I'm just burrowing one of the coats. I'm a nurse here, I guess and a heal....er...

[ When she turned around, though she was surprised to see who was in the infirmary...

Oh for the love of Phelios!!! Enemy or not, she never turned her back to injured people. It wasn't like they started on a good note, anyway. She sighed. ]

Why do you sound like I'm going to kill you or something? I'm not like that.

[ ooc: Indeed I have!! :333 ]

[neverbeamemory]

[He wasn't injured. He'd just been put there to wake up after the collar proceedings had been done. Though one could say that being forced is a way of being hurt. Of having another layer of your independence stripped away instead of giving it up for the lesser evil. Greater evil in Sephiroth's case undoubtedly, he was struggling accepting what had happened for sure.

One thing he did want, was answers.]

What did they do to me?

19th | There was no escaping this, you know.

[provenworth]

[She was wandering again - though the instances of people approaching her had slowed considerably since first waking up in her Little Red Riding Hood costume. Granted, now after being crushed to death by cheap polyester, she didn't quite look the part now. What had once been red was now white, save the red hood that had melded to her neck, and what had been a pretty ivory skin tone was now a bright, brilliant red. It did nothing to help her image that her smock, legs, arms, and face were splattered with the blood of her previous kills.

But the restlessness would never cease. It drove her on and on, to go walking around the tower for hours, curiously searching for that beloved place where she would stop and rest. The forest and the meadow, those were her havens, though even there she felt the need to continue. So continue she did, her wicker basket filled with bullets and knives, bombs and poison, all hidden neatly beneath the prettily laid checkered napkin.

Elena had been passing the library, eyes peeking in to see if any wild animals were about, when a glint of silver and leather caught her eye. The hairs on her neck stood and she quickly pressed her back to the nearest door, all but gasping in shock.]

H-Here? But Cloud...he said they were gone...

[Moving again, she curled her hand around the door frame, leaning slightly into the room, eyes scanning as she looked for the full figure. But there was nothing in sight - a trick of the eye. Except for the smell. Oil and leather, clean soap. She almost sneezed, hands clasping around her nose and mouth to prevent the sound. Slowly, with carefully placed steps, Elena moved into the library, hands slowly lowering from her face to leave invisible bloody fingerprints against blood-red skin.]

Re: 19th | T'was only a matter of time m'dear. Don't forget to add your tag!

[neverbeamemory]

[Sephiroth had gotten up to put a book back on it's shelf, or at least where he remembered it had come from before standing by the same bookcase and flicking pages of the next volume. His back was to the door and remained so until he thought he heard something.

Never one to allow anyone or thing to sneak up on him Sephiroth spun in half-second, meeting Elena face to face as she lowered her hands from her face. The book was dropped instantly and Sephiroth watched this thing carefully; entirely unsure if it was a resident or a monster. It hardly looked human anymore with that skin and that grotesque hood. But then why did she look sort-of familiar?

Despite the lack of space, Sephiroth's left hand curled around slightly behind him; if he needed to kill in one slash then this was how he would do it. It didn't matter that Masamune wasn't there in reality yet, it would take a heartbeat.]

Late tags is late, but beautiful?

[provenworth]

[Footsteps were neigh inaudible against the thick carpet of the library, aiding her in her attempt to move deeper into the room in her search of the mysterious figure that had piqued her interest. It was dangerous, going alone into what could be a death trap. Especially if her suspicions proved to be true.

Her trip was a short one, coming carefully around a corner and nearly running straight into the large mass of flesh, leather, and silver. Freezing in place, fingers remained at her face, eyes slowly raising up to look at the individual blocking her path - and then made a noise similar to a chocobo chick's squeak.

It was hard to decide if it was worse that it was actually him versus it being one of his remnants. While she, herself, had not had any interactions with the infamous psychopath, his history was enough to cause all the hairs on her neck to rise. Carefully placed steps slowly inch her backwards away from him.]

E-excuse me...[Eyes caught the slight movement of his hand, the shifting behind his body, and hands move to a defensive, almost apologetic position parallel to her shoulders.] I'm not here to cause any trouble...

Always

[neverbeamemory]

[Controlled pulse beat like a steady drumbeat in the short space between them for a moment, before she seemed to find herself and make slow careful steps backwards. It had been close enough and for the right amount of time for him to take in her appearance more fully, and the heavy scent of blood that rose from her. It all added weight to the theory that she was a monster rather than another resident. Perhaps she had been human, once.

Sephiroth's strong facade didn't waver for a second. He let her back off, expecting an attack any moment. Even her words didn't relax him, only tightened the spring ready to be released.]

What are you doing then? [Words rolled dangerously from Sephiroth, tempting her to answer - to give him more of an excuse.]

18th

[temptestament]

*Allen had noticed Sephiroth in the library the day before, but hadn't paid him much attention. He practically lived in the library himself, so he saw lots of people in and out-even if they didn't usually see him. But this time he seemed bothered by something.

After a quick shift into his secondary identity, he walked over to where the other man was searching.*

Is something wrong?

Re: 18th

[neverbeamemory]

[A reflective moment, a breather from all the studying, interrupted as a boy approached. Even in a introverted frame of mind, Sephiroth was too spatially aware to allow many people to ever catch him out by sneaking up.]

Is that a rhetorical question? [Answer a question with a question. However fair the comment; exactly how right was anything anymore?]

[temptestament]

It's an expression of worry. I meant beyond the ordinary level of wrong that comes from just being here.

[neverbeamemory]

It'll pass.

[Once he what? Settled in? Once his mind would stop going over the same theories. Once he had facts to dispel his guessing. And then what, values that he prized in himself would just fizzle and die? Unacceptable.]

Either that, or I'll stop caring.

Fine fine, he'll show up - 14th collar check up

[atouchofstrife]

[ He felt it.

Cloud let the switchblade swords fall to the ground, unheeding that he nearly hit his own feet with the blades. The sensation of a headache appeared and then was cut off, the feeling of restlessness gone as quickly as it came. He picked up the swords, checking them over for dirt and grime even as he tried to think of what may have happened.

Could he have been sent back? No. The last time, the J-Cells had went quietly and did not almost seem to scream before cutting out. This felt different. Almost as if...

Thought unfinished he snapped his sword together and headed down the corridors. There was only one thing that he could think of to cause Sephiroth to feel like that. He was sure his own reaction would have been similar to anyone else with the J-cells that could read them. The collar check-ups.

He never willing went this way before, but he knew the direction nonetheless. So soon Cloud was waiting in the infirmary, leaning against the wall arms crossed and waiting for Sephiroth to stir. He wasn't going to say 'told you so' but the look on his face probably said it for him. ]

Re: Thank you :-)

[neverbeamemory]

[And of all the sights to come into focus first. He narrowed his eyes at Cloud as if to warn off the comment that just shone there behind his expression. Not now, not yet. He was doing a pretty good job of kicking himself for being so vulnerable in the first place. There were things he could have done, things he would do next time.

He didn't speak as his throat felt too dry to start with. He felt around the collar again, now with it's replenished violet liquid inside the tubes. He already knew pulling it off wasn't going to work so within a few moments he dropped his arm back down before swallowing and half-croaking at Cloud.]

This means nothing.

always late sorry!

[atouchofstrife]

[ Cloud waited, just watching, not saying anything until after Sephiroth managed to move a little and speak. He knew that feeling too, the dry throat and fury at being bested so easily. Then with a nod, he poured them both water, letting Sephiroth see the cups at all time. IOn a way, he was making sure that the general would have no reason to think that they were tainted, especially since he walked over nad hold both cups out to him.

Sephiroth can pick the one he wanted first, if he was so inclined. ]

It never does.

Re: never late, better a good tag than a rushed one!

[neverbeamemory]

[Silence. Unsure if that was some backhanded insult referring to his defeats in the past, or if it was just a cold observation of the truth of their present situation.

Sephiroth wasn't sure how to react to Cloud at all so he just curiously looked over the water that was offered but didn't move to take it. The very fact that Cloud had poured them both some water; he'd quite literally shattered the expectations Sephiroth may have had of him. It didn't feel good or right though, it was as if someone had reached in and scooped out what made Cloud, well Cloud. All those dreams, all that vengeance; gone...]

You tried before? [He tested, knowing how long Cloud had been here - he may well have gone through what Sephiroth is going through. Bearing in mind their similarities - forget that.]