013 | So clearly lightning resistance needs work....

[neverbeamemory]

Characters: Sephiroth & YOU
Passive/optional tag: Cloud, Hojo, Rufus - Side Effect: Forceful Jenova cell 'pull'.
Setting: Following evening after This - towards the end of the event. Locations below.
Format: Usual wordy prose but will switch to match
Summary: Aftermath: Sephiroth's 1st death in the Tower, at the hands of future!Hei. 1st reaction: WTF-with-the-not-moving. Later restless wandering around.
Warnings: It's late at night and it's dangerous in the Tower. Careful how you approach; edgier than usual Sephiroth 

Part 1: Next Evening - Dorm 03-02
Suddenly Sephiroth felt again. He felt the familiar give of the mattress enough to know it was his bed in the Dormitory and he breathed slowly in the precursor to waking up. So he'd died; in all it's painful glory. It wasn't as if Sephiroth wasn't used to what death felt like, but now he couldn't move. Even his eyes won't open yet even though he feels like they are ready to. A heartbeat skipped, then Sephiroth remembers that he had experienced this once before; that day when he'd first woken up here. So this was the consequence of death in the Tower - a relapse to the paralysis. Great, he'd hated that enough the first time.

Though it hadn't been this long before. Or at least not as far as he could remember. He can't even tell how long it has been, and this waiting quickly gets old. There had to be something he could do about it. Sephiroth took a long inhale and settling his focus back inside himself he concentrated on wrapping his willpower around the already panicking jenova cells inside and PULLED.

Nothing. He still couldn't move.

Again and again he PULLED. Trying to will the great Jenova-web work to give him his motor functions back quicker; each time more desperate but all in vain. He couldn't let them get away with leaving him paralyzed like this - especially since there were others in the Tower with the cells that could be made to help him. Perfect opportunity to stretch and test his influence so to speak.

For the longest ten minutes these attempts went on. Sephiroth was trying so hard, that when suddenly the paralysis let go his eyes shot open with such speed that it made him dizzy. Whatever influence he'd held over the web snapped with the shock and Sephiroth lent up somewhat heavily on his elbows while his mind adjusted to being awake, peering around the Dormitory. So it was the next evening?

Part 2: Nighttime wandering: Hallways > Elevator > Floor 12 and back again
Once settled Sephiroth felt quite proud. Sure he hadn't been able to force himself to overcome the paralysis but stretching and feeling out what connections were available to him, through Mother's gifts, was something he really should have discovered sooner. He blamed it on having to settle into his new environment, and having to deal with the blinding questions that tended to circle around in his mind too fast for him to focus on one thing.

Apparently then, the meditation was helping to re-focus him, if nothing else. Maybe it was a case of that he couldn't see the wood for the trees; maybe if he stopped looking for answers he might learn something. Something to consider.

Having been 'dead' during the daytime - followed by the panic at not being able to move, it's not like Sephiroth could just lie back down and go to sleep. So instead he got up and equipped himself for a night time wander. Though he'd certainly watch his back a lot more in case that crazy lightning guy wasn't finished with his rampage. That had certainly been a very personal attack; if only Sephiroth knew what it was he'd done, it must have been heavy to have earned that response. Well there was a bit of strangeness going on after all, Sephiroth would wait for his time to exact revenge for that insult.

Sephiroth made his way down the lift from the Dormitories and then up stairwells. He'd avoid what monsters he could, though inevitably some monsters won't be avoided especially considering how dangerous the Tower is during night time. At least his first death here hasn't blunted his sword any, and his strength is as it was as well. Finally Sephiroth would linger for a while on the 12th floor, watching the projection from start to finish a few times before the frequency of shadow-based monsters appearing was ruining his chance to get the escape he'd come here for and then he'd return back in the direction he came.

Comments

You know me. ^.~

[provenworth]

Clutching at her notebook against her chest, Elena's ears strained against the silence of the room to hear something – anything – that would tell her his status. But nothing by the humming sound of the overhead lights could be heard, save for the hammering of her heart against her ribs. Which could mean one of several things: that he had not heard her come in, or talk – Alexander curse her, she just gave herself away cursing her hot drink – aloud; that he had and didn’t give her the courtesy of noticing her; or he was slinking over like a cat, his footsteps so faint that she wouldn't realize he was ready to pounce until she was flat on her back and pinned. Which was the most horrible vision of the three and one she would most like to avoid at all possible.

Lips pressed together to create a thin line, doubtful as to whether or not it was safe to move. He'd been silent. She'd been silent. Perhaps she was in the clear and escape would come easy this time. Leather of her shoes gave a little protest as she rocked forward slowly in an attempt to move towards the door, the faint creak then drowned by the sound of his voice.

Summons damn it.

Leaning back against the table, the back of her head hit the side of the table, earning a painful grunt and hiss, a hand reaching up to touch the injured area. After a few moments of tending to the sensitive spot, she moved to grip the ledge of the table, pulling herself up, turning to carefully watch his unmoving back. It was...unusual to see him so indifferent, given their last interaction. Then again, she had been stalking him.

"...’m not skittish..." she mumbled beneath her breath, placing her notebook down on the table to adjust her suit. Eyes continued to bore into his back, looking for any movement that she would read as aggressive or threatening. "I just came for some light reading."

.....

[neverbeamemory]

"...And apparently you felt like reading it under the desk.

Hmph."

That could have been a joke, but it really isn't funny. Why shouldn't she be scared. At least someone has a proper regard and respect for his capabilities in this place. Sephiroth smirked a little at that thought before turning away from the terminal, looking once more over the surroundings for any lurking monster and then finally gazing over at Elena. With him sat on the chair and her standing, it may even give the impression of equality.

That was soon rectified as Sephiroth got to his feet, uncomfortable not being in his superior position after all. He peered down at her, letting their last encounter dance around his thoughts - but this led to the next encounter he'd had with Hei. Another failure. 8 years of lost memories. He couldn't hold her gaze for long before he blinked and looked off down into the gloomy part of the library where apparently the Miniblin dead on the floor had come in from before. He ran a hand back through one side of his silver hair, tucking a few strands back where they belonged behind an ear as once again his thoughts imposed upon the tight control he had over them. He spent a few uncomfortable seconds rubbing at the top edge of his collar before he realized what he was doing and snapped his lingering thoughts back into the here and now.

"You really are a jobsworth aren't you. Though I don't think even Reno would want you carrying out surveillance at this hour. In fact-" He met her gaze again and a sardonic smile banished those uncomfortable notions of just a moment ago.

"-I know for a fact he wouldn't want you here."

....../flail

[provenworth]

"Its a legitimate place to read."

She's half-defensive, half-confident in her response, almost childish in holding her position. She was a Turk, after all, and not one who had to justify what she was doing to anybody save her President and her Director. However, this was Sephiroth and their counters were not far in the recesses of her memory, the ghost of her injury an irritating itch that she refused to scratch.

Sheen of silver shifted with his head and it was interesting when she realized that, even when he was seated, he was nearly as tall as she was when standing. It was also interesting to note just how aware he was of his surroundings, looking around as if sensing additional hostile creatures beyond himself. That realization, in turn, made Elena turn her head to look back to the doorway and behind her to where shadows played in darkness to tease the eyes. Ears picked up the sound of a chair moving, telling her that he was standing before she saw it for herself.

And the man was tall. Looming over her like a skyscraper, it was hard to forget how dominating his presence was - memories of their past encounters quickly coming to the front of her memory. Eyes watched his movements carefully, looking to any sort of tell or sign that would betray his next move to better prepare. What she caught, however, was awkward movements of fingers against leather, either subconscious or completely unconscious to his own thoughts. Honey colored eyes narrowed on that betraying movement before being drawn back up to his face as he spoke again.

"I do what must be done."

Ignoring her instantaneous fear and desire to get as far away from him as she could, Elena stood her ground and held his gaze firmly. Hairs on the back of her neck rose at the creeping smile that pulled at his features, her back straightening and shoulders squaring in an attempt to make herself appear larger and in control.

"Who's not to say that Reno isn't out and about doing his own surveillance right now and I happened to draw the lower floors? He and I know there are dangerous in the Tower - some more dangers than even you - and that comes with the territory of being a Turk." But, oh, how she would prefer that he not smile at her like that - like he was making promises that she would be all to happy to not hear. "This place is no more dangerous than any of the other floors. Unless....you're worried that something might happen to cause the wedding to get cancelled, thus pissing Ruana off and having her take it out on the Tower."

[neverbeamemory]

Sephiroth allowed the grin to stretch wider at the way that Elena tried oh-so hard to try to make herself more dominant in this situation. Against such an ego as his, however just wasn't going to cut in the slightest. It was so amusing how she seemed to think being a Turk could justify anything.

"I don't assume to know - I just can't accept that your patrols, in particular, coincidentally always cross my path. Besides, being aware of how dangerous this place is isn't only in the interest of Turks for sure." Point to Elena, she was right about everywhere being as dangerous, if not more so than him - as the current slash to his cheek proved. Of course, Sephiroth would and has already gone to great lengths to try to know as much as possible about his new surroundings. After all that was the only thing to do around here - when you aren't caught up in some experiment - not that he's about to let on to a Turk that he's about as lost in direction as the next person in the Tower.

Sephiroth lent back a little against the desktop table, watching Elena but not too directly; he's a lot more concerned that something may be about ready to leap out of the shadows again.

"I think the whole thing is a stupid idea, but I made that clear already. Lucky for you I'm not in the habit of correcting other's mistakes." In other words, he doesn't want anything to do with it. Or he wants her to think he's not interested; Elena would have to come to her own conclusion on that one. Of course if they annoyed Ruana in anyway whatsoever during the wedding, it would be a coin-toss as to whether she took her displeasure out on all of them or if it would just be select people. So it might actually be in his interest to not be anywhere near the event.

[provenworth]

Because being a Turk did justify everything in the mind of said Turk. Others had to be coaxed or manipulated to see it that way, unless they knew how to see past it. They being a certain blonde ex-SOLDIER, the current former SOLDER 1st Class, and the dear Professor Hojo.

"I was born with very low luck. You can rest assured, I'm not always looking for ways to get in your way." Not anymore, that is. She learned quite well from the last time that he was not one to hesitate putting those he found troublesome, or threatening, or just downright irritating down with a single swipe of the sword. "If anything, today was purely coincidence."

His body language was quite telling, the positioning of arms and the manner in which he used the table to lean against betraying the hyper-attentive eyes and ears that seemed to focus on everything else but her. That, in and of itself, along with the visible cut on the man's cheek made her even more nervous. There were things in the Tower that - besides Cloud and Hei - could actually land an effective hit. That did not bode well for those in the tower less fit to defend themselves.

"Then its a good thing it isn't your wedding, so you don't have to waste your time worrying about it." Not that she didn't expect him to poke his nose in, though she was pretty sure he was going to avoid the event like the plague. What with Cloud in presence, as well as Rufus Shinra, it was a very Anti-Sephiroth crowd.

Movement catches her eye again, playing in a darker corner of the library. Fingers move to her jacket, unzipping the jacket just enough to allow her hand room to slip in and withdraw her firearm is the need arose. "You killed off everything in the room, didn't you?"

[neverbeamemory]

That slash had started to well up again a little. With a small irritated grunt Sephiroth wiped some of the blood away with the back of a gloved hand. It stopped pretty much as soon as he had done that, now his attention was drawn to it and so the cells did the rest. He went back to mostly surveying the library and occasionally glancing at Elena as she spoke.

"Well then, I may consider it a first."

He refused to bite at her comment about the wedding. Maybe he was too tired to start yet another fight with a Turk, maybe he's more controlled over his anger right now, more likely because quite obviously he'll never want to give himself to anyone in that way. Period.

Finally she noticed that movement too. Sephiroth had already noticed it a few moments before but had waited until now to make it obvious - after all some monsters couldn't come into the light. As she took out her gun he stepped away from the desktop and kicked one of the Miniblin corpses into that corner. Either it would pacify the monster that lurked there or it would aggravate it - Sephiroth was getting quite bored of the evening by this point.

"I did. Several times over already, though the darkness seems to have a never ending supply of them and even monster slaying has it's peak of interest for me." He quite casually stepped over the other Miniblin remains and headed for the doorway back into the stairwell.