Log 017 | A year in 6 days...

[neverbeamemory]

Characters: Sephiroth & YOU
Setting: During the "Like a Lion" Event - March 17th to 23rd, Seasons/Locations in below
Format: Prose/Action.
Summary: Sephiroth around the Tower during the Event. To summarize: Wet Leather, Bad-Silver-Hair Day, WTF Tornado and Icicle-Roth if anyone would be looking for him/if Dorm-mates are around.
Warnings: Not like anyone could be happy? Angry Sephiroth is a usual warning given, especially for Spring/Summer.

Spring- Anywhere in the Tower
[What a way to wake up.

First impression: someone's thought it would be funny to pull a prank and soak him in his bed. Though by the time Sephiroth's shot out of the bed and started looking around for the culprit it's clear that the downpour is coming from the ceiling?. Raining. Indoors. And it's not light rain either. Within just a few moments the water is already streaming through his long hair and dripping into a puddle on the floor behind him. Though it seemed to wash over his leather pants, not soak in - a small mercy as the next thing noticed was the deteriorating condition of the trunk at the end of his bed.

Thankfully, his clothing being decent quality leather and folded up neatly in the trunk had meant that it wasn't already soaked on the inside by the time he'd put it on. Not so lucky was the copy of Run, Melos! that Tohko had given him for Christmas, which had been on the nightstand and was now not much more than a lump of pulp on the floor. But even such hardy, leather material can only deal with so much water and as Sephiroth carefully descends through the Tower via the stairwells (since the lifts aren't working) he's starting already to feel wetness seeping in through seams. He's going to be soaked if the lining of his jacket and pants gets saturated. If his only clothing gets ruined by this, there will be hell to pay.]

--------
Summer - Anywhere in the Tower
[From wet to hot-dry in such a sudden shift. These extremes are the worst for keeping anything without damage. This includes clothing; though it is much too hot to be walking around clad in his leather trench coat and armor, which he has left to dry out in the Dormitory today - and hair!

Sephiroth has already spent an hour or two going to every single shower room, on every single dormitory floor in the Tower trying to find a shower that works. He would then extend his search to any floor that he knows that there is (or was) a body of water on. Not only so that he can at least have some chance to cool off from this heatwave, but he needs to run his hair under running water for at least a few minutes. As a result from the sodden state it had been in from all the downpours, Sephiroth's long silver hair is now clumped together most horridly in long tangles which are starting to frizz and split in the dry heat. Even running his fingers through it has most recently become an impossible task; there is now his own sweat involved as well.

And then as if it wasn't bad enough, before long the air seemed to be getting heavier with humidity by the minute. He could almost feel his hair soaking up all the extra moisture in the air and becoming even more of an untangle-able mess. Damn admins, like he needs another reason to hate you.]

--------
Autumn - Stadium Floor 50
[Anyone should have realized what the theme was this time, by now.

Sure it's infuriating having to kick your way through the thick blanket of leaves that seem to be everywhere but it's not so encumbering for one who can if need be, hover over them. At least he's in better spirits today on account of being able to get his first shower in over 42 hours. Sephiroth is quite content enough with the apparent increased encounter rate with monsters, it keeps him occupied which is something he's been severely lacking recently.

He's currently engaged with a Hagraven at around 20 feet in the air. Those who would be able to follow such accelerated speeds could get the impression that he's using it for practice. Playing strike for strike while improving his aerial agility in having to dodge those elemental attacks in less than a heartbeat. There is only so long you can play with the same monster though and eventually Sephiroth cleanly cuts head from body and both plummet to the floor of the Stadium.

Sephiroth hadn't noticed the tornado whip up in the meantime though; indeed there hadn't been much reason to be watching the leaves on the ground. Next thing he knows he's having to curl knees up into chest and tuck his head down as well, to prevent any leaf or other debris ripping him too much. The tornado just violently sweeps him along for the ride, before he collides with the ceiling and then free-falls down into the floor- black feathers drifting somewhat lazily down in his wake.

Well that was a new thing for this floor. It's nothing compared to the gravity-smashing he'd experienced in Riki's security control room but he might just lie there for a moment until the pain recedes. Here's hoping there isn't another monster waiting down there to finish him off...]

--------
Winter- Dormitory 03-02
[After flinging all the snow off his bed the first time he'd awoken in this extreme winter Sephiroth wished he hadn't. The movement of the sheets and blankets drafted all of the cold air outside and exterminated what little warmth his body had generated overnight. He'd pulled it all back around himself soon enough though not before the chill had already started. The shivering, the ice-breath, it was reminiscent of when he'd been ill in December except this cold was a lot sharper. A quick glance around destroyed the possibility of getting warm by putting layers on also, the trunk looked more covered with snow than his sheets were. He'd just have to curl up and wait it out, as uncomfortable as it is Sephiroth knows that temperature can't kill him.

A few hours later, as the temperature continues to plummet, on a cellular level Sephiroth begins to shut down. To prevent the cold from killing him, his cells must concentrate completely on self-preservation and they need all the energy they can get if he's to be maintained in such a hibernation state. All other functions must be stopped or slowed down. It starts with extreme lethargy as the shivering slows and then stops. Sephiroth is barely aware of what his body is making him do but as he spirals into unconsciousness he's got no choice but to accept it.

He's not dead, however it might seem at first glance. But it's as close as he can get to it without giving up that slowed pulse. At the rate the blizzard is going he'll soon be buried, frozen under all that snow.]

Comments

summer!

[hyperglycemic]

[At times, the tower wasn't all that different from Edo. Gintoki had been depressed and annoyed during the rainy "season", all the time wishing for the rain to end. But now that it had, he was no happier. In fact, he was more miserable in the heat. Still though, he was wearing his black leather riding suit, and his half Yukata. He wouldn't sacrifice his perception of style for comfort... yet.

But, almost as soon as he saw Sephiroth approaching him on the stairs, he began to grin. Finally, the admins had given him something. It might not have been an issue of jump, but it brought almost as much joy to see one of the straight haired devils enduring his pain.

Don't mind his creepy staring and grin too much, Sephiroth!]

[neverbeamemory]

[Regrettably Sephiroth is much too aware of the state of his crowning glory currently to NOT notice if anyone may be finding it funny. Even if Gintoki hadn't been so creepily staring, it may have been assumed that he would be finding it amusing.

At least the glare locked in Gintoki's direction comes across as mild irritation, not outright fury, point for his self-control. Not like there is room to be summoning swords descending a stairwell in any case.]

"Out of my way."

[hyperglycemic]

Hey dad, you let your son style your hair today? Such a brave man, and a good father to display his creation so proudly.

[He stepped to one side, giving a grandiose gesture for Sephiroth to pass him.]

Alriiiight, alright. If the hair god can't smile down on you for today, at least Gin-san can let you pass on the stairs.

[Okay, so he might have been egging Sephiroth on a little. And maybe he knew better... But it felt good to have a slightly better situation on top of his head, for once. Couldn't he just ride high for a little while??]

[neverbeamemory]

[What the hell was he on about? Sephiroth didn't get the jibe and certainly didn't appreciate the comments. Gin-san is lucky he's much too hot to start a fight or he might well push you down the stairs or over the railing while he passes.]

"Much appreciated."

[The returned, sarcastic comment was growled as Sephiroth passed Gintoki on the stairwell, with somewhat of a shoulder-barge to satisfy his displeasure. Always with that not-amused glare. He would remember well the face of one who would dare to poke fun at him.]

Autumn

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch had dodged that very tornado by leaping off the staircase and taking cover just under it where it turned for the last time before going down to the next floor, huddled in its relative safety and shielding his face from the leaves with his arm.

The thud of a body hitting the ground registered as the wind died, and Enoch shakily got up and made his way to where it was. He was...not quite steady, on the second day of a forced fast, so he couldn't run to Sephiroth's side. He knelt beside him when he did get there, though. He was surprised he wasn't seeing retrieval units coming for him after a fall like that...*

Are you-... Can you move?

Autumn

[neverbeamemory]

[Sephiroth physically shudders a little in response to Enoch's voice. Whether it was involuntary or an attempt to move is not clear.

He can count at least three broken ribs and a cracked collarbone by the way that they thud underneath his attention. Though there is already the familiar hot feeling surrounding the pains that tells Sephiroth that just by lying still his own regenerative ability has already started to work on it's own. Broken ribs can puncture lungs so they have the priority.

Slowly, after an extended pause, black feathers scattered around fade away into nothing and Sephiroth tucks his hands underneath his shoulders and pushes against the floor hard enough to just get the room to raise and turn his head towards Enoch]

"Not quite yet. I will though." [He grimaces as he pushes again against the floor and shuffles his legs around so that at least he can lie back and he's not eating the floor.]

Autumn

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch is a little curious at the feathers disappearing, but then, his own weapon occasionally leaves a white feather trail that does the same thing. That just tells him it's supernatural, nothing he should be worried about.*

Are you certain? I could find a healer...

Spring

[culbutiri]

Nesir's clothes weren't waterproof at all, her training uniform was soaked through, she had managed to wash out the remains of the powder that had been hidden in the sleeves, though it had gotten so drenched it had pretty much dissolved completely.

It made her angry, why on earth was it raining inside anyways. She had left her cloak in her trunk, it was useless as wet as it was, it just made her heavier. The shoes were left too since they were soaked by the time she tried to put them on.

She spotted Sephiroth coming down the stairs and approached him, "It do be like this everywhere, even on the desert floor..."

Spring

[neverbeamemory]

At least his attire has held up so far, Nesir might as well not be wearing anyone for all the good her clothing was doing her.

Sephiroth ran a hand back through soaked bangs of hair before Nesir got close enough to talk. So, it seemed even the environmental havens they might seek to get on certain floors of the Tower were out of the question. Though that's not the thought that nearly tugs a smirk to his features, banishes the anger for a moment that could have been steaming around him.

Ganondorf wouldn't be impressed.

"So it's all over. Where else did you try?" It would save him a lot of time trying to find a floor to wait this out on if Nesir has already tried the obvious places.

[culbutiri]

"Everywhere." Her eyes simmered with annoyance, "I did be walking up all the floors, it do be the same everywhere."

She pushed hair from her face, she had given up trying to stop the water from trickling down her clothes. "This do be stupid."

Winter

[rhapsoidein]

[These seasons were murder. Literally. Genesis, however, just barely managed to survived all of them. Well, she would hope she survived this last one. Spring, with its nonstop torrent of rain, was difficult and dangerous. She'd refrained from using the elevator because really, common sense. She tried to keep away from anything electrical as she made her way around her floor (and that's where she had stayed for the most part) helping anyone in need. The monsters were difficult, since any fire she started with the plant-types via her sword were doused quickly by the rain.

In the end, she survived. The rest of the seasons went on as such. She had seen Sephiroth suffer throughout the weeks but other than perhaps sending a rare cure spell his way, she did nothing else. It was all she could do to keep herself from being swept up in the tornadoes or dying of thirst (or even getting heat stroke) in the summer. Her materia, in the end, were her salvation. Which was now the case as she slogged her way through the snow. Snow froze in her hair, her wing tucked tightly to her body as she barely managed to find Sephiroth's room during the blizzard. She wasn't sure why she chose him, of all people, to help but that was neither here nor there now. Grunted, she got the door to open despite the snow enough for her to slip inside. She found his bed from the few pieces of hair she could see and began pushing it off of him, pulling the sheets off of him soon after. The snow was quick to try and recover what she was pulled off but her wing acted as an umbrella as she climbed into his bed, curling her arms underneath his arms, her legs draping over his own.

Here, she started up a fire spell, like in the other seasons, it was hard and difficult to manage but she hoped it would be enough. Her hands warmed and she tucked his cold face into her neck, hands running over the nearly frozen man in hopes to warm him. She started with his chest, as that was the most important part to stay warm. Using the spell had the unique side effect of making her warm, as she was trying to use it in a way other than attacking.]

Winter

[neverbeamemory]

[Like a fleshy ice-sculpture, Sephiroth is unmovable and even the surface of his skin is more alike to chilled stone rather than malleable like flesh should be, gracing it's own layer of frost. Ice has worked it's way deeply into his hair and glued his eyes shut.

Not that he's awake enough to open eyes.

When Genesis gets closer and tucks herself all around him like that, at least she will be able to recognize the fact that there is a very slow, but determined pulse thudding away inside his chest. Whatever this state that he's in is, his vital signs seem fairly stable provided he doesn't get much colder. Even if nothing human should be able to breathe as shallowly, nor as infrequently as he is.

Maybe it's the fact that technically Materia and Sephiroth are of the same stuff, being of the Lifestream from back on Gaia, but the Fire spell does it's job of warming Sephiroth fairly quickly. Frost encasing his chest quickly starts to thaw and his skin takes on a pinker, frost-bitten rather than grey pallor. Jenova cells deep inside his genetic makeup are forced to awaken him quickly in response to the sudden change. But this is not necessarily a good thing.

The shock triggers a sharp convulse throughout his entire being and a rasping breath is drawn in through airways that moments ago had been almost closed.]

[rhapsoidein]

[She watches in wonder at how swiftly the materia works. His skin, previously grey, was now pink and frost-bitten. Hopefully, her spell would work further to clear that away but she was determined to see this threw. Her magic isn't infinite, but the finite amount she has is great and she knows she won't run out for quite some time. It honestly amazes her that the Jenova cells could work even under these conditions once the heat was applied.

The convulsion and the rasping breath nearly shock Genesis off the bed, not expecting such a violent reaction. But she manages to stay focused and continue what she is doing. They're close quarters and her wing act as a sort of igloo, though the cold air still manages to find its way in because they aren't entirely enclosed. She may fix that later but for now, it's enough to keep her own body temperature from dropping too far and to raise Sephiroth's.]

Winter: Room 3-02

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[Having left his Master temporarily in warmer company some hours ago, Lancelot doesn't so much "wake" as appear on his bed.

Were he mortal, he thinks that this cold might kill him. But then, he is a bit mortal here, so long as he retains his form at least. It has been a temptation to simply go without physical form while the weather indoors has been so erratic, but he has thus far limited himself to de-Manifesting in sleep (for here he must sleep). After all, he has his Master to think of.

The snow is near blinding. Close by, there is Life. Slowed to a trickle, but Life nonetheless.

He comes to stand over Sephiroth's bed, and he would make a strange vision there if the man could see him. All in his armor (for it seems to shield him somewhat from the cold), a pale ribbon fluttering from his arm and his dark hair stirring around his face in the cold wind.

The man has packed himself in, and that is good, but it is not enough. Lancelot clears the still face of snow with one gauntleted hand. He cannot transfer prana to the man, nor can he set himself alight with rage, for that dark fire warms no one. But there is one thing he can spare, as he no longer requires it for the time being.
It only takes moments to clear the snow from the unconscious man and to cover his form with the mattress from Lancelot's own bed. Even should more snow cover it, it will provide more insulation than nothing at all.

He stands by the bed, watching through the snow for any change.
Eventually he must go to care for his Master, but for now, he waits.]

Winter

[neverbeamemory]

[The mattress layered on top indeed provides the extra insulation as it was intended. However, Sephiroth's body will only warm to a certain point at it's core as once in this state, it will take a time for the warmth to be great enough to circulate and for it to convince him it's safe to come around.

His pulse, at least is a little stronger though still maintaining it's slowed beating.]

Re: Winter

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[After a while spent in thought, Lancelot leaves the room, a veil of black mist shuddering in his wake. When he reappears, having enquired after his Master and assured the man of his eventual return, he is burdened strangely.

It was a simple thing, to gather every cushion from every chair and couch in the common areas, and to bring them here. Lancelot clears the heaped snow from the mattress atop Sephiroth and layers the cushions on until he has built what is essentially an insulated fort around the man. Snow falling on the exterior will simply keep heat inside.
Sensing life within the man, but unwilling to wait out this storm in his physical form, Lancelot de-manifests once more. He will return periodically to assess the status of his little project.]

Winter

[toxicwillpower]

The winter didn’t bother the remnant. In fact, he reveled in it. The bitter cold reminded him of “home”—if one could call a cave home. The Northern Crater was the coldest place on Gaia, and it was where Kadaj’s journey first began. It was also where Mother’s journey had, unfortunately, ended. He was here to see that it wouldn’t be long before she regained her rightful power again.

Black boots crunched in the snow as he walked. He hadn’t expected to run into Sephiroth—he had merely been exploring. Killing monsters and venturing to new parts of this strange world was the only thing that kept his sanity under control. Unexplored areas meant there was still the hope of finding lost kin.

What he found instead was a disappointment. Kadaj approached unhurried at the fallen figure. “Remind me why you are Mother’s favorite.” Such bold words were spoken because he did not fear the consequences of an unconscious ex-general. He circled him, slowly, like a predator picking out the weakness in its prey.

“I’ve thought about what you said, Sephiroth.” Kadaj began, knowing fully well he would get no reply. “Mother needs us.” No, wait. “She needs me,” he corrected. He grinned. “Lost or not, we’ll find our way together again.” Kadaj paused when he completed a full circle. “Our cells dictate it.” He scoffed.

“You’re lucky, you know.” He raised his chin with pride. “I could just let you die.” But he wouldn’t. Mother would never forgive him. Whatever enthusiasm the teen had built up was beginning to plummet.

Sephiroth was too heavy to carry but he wasn’t too heavy to drag. Kadaj grabbed hold of Sephiroth’s wrist and dragged him to a nearby wooden wall. He held out his arm and activated the fire material buried deep within his own body. A burst of flame erupted from his palm, setting the wall, and its surroundings, ablaze.

Winter

[neverbeamemory]

The risk isn't so much in dying from the cold, it's sinking too deeply into a hibernation state from which he won't easily be able to come around. If Kadaj had known anything technical about Jenova at all then he may have realized that.

Thankfully Sephiroth isn't dead and frozen to the point where his arm might break off from Kadaj' dragging him first off the bed and then to wherever Kadaj had found suitable enough to start a fire. Frozen leather is very stiff though so any corners might cause a problem, not to mention the snow being picked up by the long trail of silver locks as they are dragged along.

Between this comatose state and the cold though, he's as impervious as ever despite the light bruising still visible on his chest at rib-cage on one side and collarbone on the other.

[toxicwillpower]

Kadaj knew only what he needed to know about Mother. She was everything! She was his purpose—his sole reason for being. He knew it was his job to serve her and that as long as she was happy, he would be happy too. That’s all he ever needed and wanted to know.

Of course, he was not so selfish to believe he could take her place. This was the reason Kadaj harbored great hatred toward Sephiroth. On the other hand, Sephiroth was still Mother’s favorite (for reasons he failed to understand).
Kadaj looked down at the freezing body, scrutinizing.

Her favorite wasn’t dead. Not yet, anyway. The teen frowned bitterly. But what if? What if Sephiroth was weak after all? The young remnant placed a hard boot over the ex-general’s throat, yet applied no pressure.It would be so easy to do, Kadaj convinced himself. So easy. Besides, didn’t Mother hate weak things? He would be doing her a great service! A tremendous favor!

Still.

“Tsk.” Kadaj scoffed and lifted his boot away. “If I’m going to prove to Mother than I am better than you,” he crouched down, staring at Sephiroth’s peaceful (albeit a tad blue) face, “and I will, I’ll do it with you witnessing it.”

He stood straight back up and simply watched. There was nothing else to do until Sephiroth woke up.

summer! 1/2

[xroyal_bratx]

[ Don't worry Sephiroth. You weren't the only one with an extremely bad hair day! Ishtar woke up drenched in water and rain that made her hair looked nappy. She couldn't stop the water from pouring all over her bed and clothes. She's tightening her firm grip on her cat Bells, who was in the same condition as her, wet and unhappy. The cat mewled quietly as Ishtar tried to calm it down. She was soaked to the bone and looked like a drowned cat. ]

finally some motivation with her~

[xroyal_bratx]

[ What she did notice was the man as she walked past him. At least here was a semi-dry? It felt really hot all of a sudden and then she noticed that Sephiroth was having a pretty bad hair day. She stifled a laugh, but realized that she would look like that too if she stood in this heat for too long. She just decided to greet him. What could possibly go wrong? If anything, she would offer to help fix his mess called hair. ]

Either way it has been a while since she spoke to him. She decided to greet him accordingly, even though she wasn't really at her best ]

Sephiroth!

<3 always a pleasure to welcome you back to my threads

[neverbeamemory]

[Sephiroth had just come out of one of the shower rooms on the 1st Dormitory Floor on his urgent search for running water. He's never seen the Tower look so dry even if he recalls being similarly warm before. At least this time his body wasn't lying to him about the temperature though!

He stopped mid-way down a corridor as he heard a familiar voice call out to him. Ishtar. He hasn't spoken to her in a long while. Before all the games, before his trips downstairs...

When she'd near convinced him he'd lost years of memories. Well, she certainly looks more like the age that she should be now. Whatever doubt might have been left in Sephiroth's mind evaporates, that time at least the experiment hadn't been on him specifically.]

Ishtar...

Autum - Stadium Floor 50

[gomu_ningen]

[The young lad merely stood over the fallen warrior, his eyes bright and beaming with fascination and excitement. It had been a long time since he'd seen such sword play, and any chance to find out who this "awesome guy" was was a chance he needed to take.

Crouching down and supporting his head in his hands, Luffy watched Sephiroth curiously as he remained face down upon the floor.]

"Wei~ That was super cool!"

Autum - Stadium Floor 50

[neverbeamemory]

Nyugh....

[Sephiroth doesn't keep his face on the floor for long, though the shattering pain reverberating through his chest currently doesn't merit moving too much yet. He lifts his head enough to force it to look where to the side where the young guy is peering down at him, eyes glinting with excitement.

If he'd been less hurting right that moment he'd probably have told the kid to get lost but as it was he just crushed his eyebrows together a little and dropped his head a little so a silver bang wasn't hanging in his vision.]

Not really.

[gomu_ningen]

"What?! That was TOTALLY cool! I can't get that high, but I could try!"

[He's laughing all the while, patting the warrior on the back with a hearty slap. He's friendly enough, that's for sure. His childish grin, full of teeth and eyes still beaming bright, doesn't seem to take or heed any notice of the current weather and monster threats.]

"What's your name? Have you been in the tower long?"