towerofanimus | Log 026 | Silencing in the name of Science

Entry tags:

Log 026 | Silencing in the name of Science

Characters: Sephiroth [Open to all]
Setting: Graveyard (Floor 48) & Cafeteria (Floor 1); 14th October
Format: Action to start , will follow
Summary: Trying to silence a voice in the Graveyard & trying not to reminisce in the Cafeteria; it is someones Tower-versary this month, after all.
Warnings: The usual; Sephiroth is anti-social and high-strung recently to boot. Prone to violence if provoked.

>Prompt #1 - Floor 48 Graveyard
[Professor Hojo.

Vivid green eyes peer down at the headstone as if it might crumble to dust under the intensity of his glare. In some attempt to bury that lingering voice burning at the back of his mind, laughing maniacally at his methods, the concerning lack of his direction. Constantly irritated by his recent pursuits in science even though Sephiroth firmly reminds himself that he doesn't care for these thoughts.

Sephiroth doesn't visit the Graveyard very often at all, there isn't any point after all - they are empty graves. All souls lost back to their dead home worlds, but even if they hadn't been, Sephiroth holds no great sentimental attachment to any of those that have come and gone from the Tower. Cloud, being so intrinsically linked to his own existence, came the closest but this is an entirely different matter.

If Pandora is to be believed, Ruana plans to leech all of them for fixing the Tower. Those souls of the Lifestream, that belonged to him by right. Unacceptable. A deep, unfathomable knot sinks inside Sephiroth at these thoughts. He cannot allow this to happen but the sore fact is there isn't any power that Sephiroth yet possesses that would stop her. This has to change, and it needed to change yesterday. He must find a way.

Which is why the research is so important. Thoughts do a full, stinging circle too easily back to the name of the scientist before him. But there are only so many times his thoughts can travel in the same circle, right? And then he can move on to more pressing matters.]

>Prompt #2 - Floor 1 Cafeteria
[Sephiroth is a rare patron to the Cafeteria, generally only ever taking the long elevator ride down to the 1st floor when he needed to then take the staircase up to some other floor in the 1st Block. The Infirmary for first aid ~~or as some result of his forever stubborn reluctance to attend his collar check~~, the lower of the Libraries, the 4th Floor lounge, the viewfinders, the swimming pool - all sparingly saw his presence there at one point or another. Though he is perhaps too careful to not develop a routine sweep of them, except during the hours of darkness on those nights when he wants to take life easily and so the easier monsters become his prey. Indeed, more recently, the higher blocks of the Tower had called for more of his attention in one way or the other.

Though, truth-of-the-Glamour aside, his might-as-well be physical form requires replacement fluids just as anyone else's might after a strenuous workout --even if the parameters of his need for such was vastly superior to that of humans, it is still refreshing to drown a dried throat with cold water after working up an extensive sweat in the Gymnasium.

He will be found sat at one of the tables in this instance, as far away as he could get from anyone else who may be partaking of the -lets face it- obnoxiously pumpkin nature of the menu. Just the smallest hint of that thick spicy aroma is enough to bristle against Sephiroth's patience much like he might wrinkle his nose up at it. He remembers the last time -his first time- when he had eaten the oatmeal here, when he had considered that it might be needed to keep his strength up. Before he had fully realized that in this form - his reunited form, there wasn't much need for such sustenance.

Between sips of cold water Sephiroth silently, coolly observes whoever else may be around. Though on account of his dark gray jogging pants with loose vest instead of the usual leather-ed and armored attire - it may well cause a few to double-take in his direction at first. Then again, he still has those distinctive green eyes gleaming across the room at you, that long silver hair free down his back with it's bangs permanently framing his face. The violet collar forever an eyesore to his complexion and a pockmark on his ego.]

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[ When he sees him, Kirei stops.

The hair catches his attention first, but it is the eyes which give him away more than anything. He is eerily familiar to that young boy Kirei met, shortly after his arrival: the one who was not strictly human.

Curiosity pulling him forward, Kirei approaches his table with his tray in hand. Don't worry, Sephiroth, Kirei is not partaking in any of the festivities. His plate is ordinary and harmless. ]

Do you mind company?

[ If he refuses, Kirei will not insist. ]

[There is certainly nothing human about that gaze. The color of Sephiroth's eyes seems to flare momentarily as their owner is approached and addressed.]

That depends completely on the nature of your company.

[Sephiroth's low, dulcet tones are even as he replies to Kirei. Drawing for-once bare, toned shoulders up and back, taking another long sip from the glass of water before placing it back down on the table.]

[When he spots Sephiroth, Judas is very much inclined to be on his way. Even after a small chuckle over his outfit - it's so strange to see on such a man, after all.

But his recent talk with the younger one gives him pause. Asking the other about it might not be a good idea. But he's interested, and wants to help...

As he mulls it over, he simply stands in the middle of the room, staring at Sephiroth quite plainly.]

[He's probably one of the only residents ~~crazy~~ bold enough to walk around barefoot as well. Though he has come down here right from the Gymnasium.

Sephiroth holds that stare with Judas as he stands there, un-moving, not even blinking - another of those he had been shut in a room for a week with. There had been talk of traitors, he recalls of course, and it hadn't been pleasant.

Much like everything else they'd gone through there.]

[He's been telling himself that he's only here to see one grave in particular. He hasn't laughed at it nearly as often as he should. How long had he wanted to see "Tank Dempsey" engraved on a headstone, after all?

Still, he finds himself pausing in front of a different grave this time. Barren and gray, Lambdadelta's tombstone is the complete opposite of the girl herself. How unfitting. He stares at it for a second, face blank, then gives the stone a tiny kick. No use dwelling on it. He should keep walking.

As he's making his way to the grave he came here to ~~mock~~ see, he spots a familiar head of silver hair. As casually as he can, he walks up beside Sephiroth and peers at the grave he's standing over.]

Ohhh, Sephiroth! How nice to see you here. Who are you visiting? [He doesn't wait for an answer, eager to fill the silence of the graveyeard with the sound of his own voice. His tone is even more falsely cheery than usual.] Oh, Hojo! I had almost forgotten about him.

[How to Invade People's Privacy as Obnoxiously as Possible: a course by Dr. Edward Richtofen.]

[Reno enters the cafeteria, decked out in his AVALANCHE Raven uniform. It seems to be easier to come and go about the Tower lately, as obnoxious as the damn thing is. Easier to avoid people, easier to not have to answer awkward questions.

It's only when he is halfway across the room that he feels that strange, paranoid feeling of being watched. It's got his metaphorical shackles up, but he walks on like nothing's wrong, gathering food to take to a quiet place to eat. Just some soup, and a cup of water.

That's when he turns and sees those very familiar green eyes watching, and drops his water in shock.

Yeah, Sephiroth is the last person he expected to run into on this floor, much less dressed in... whatever the hell that stuff is.]

[ It's a fair statement to make. Kirei makes no motion to settle himself at the table yet; he will wait to see if he is allowed or not. ]

I am merely curious; I met a boy who looks like you.

[ Are there others like him? The boy did not specify whether he was a lone experiment or not. ]

[The silver haired warrior takes great care not to outwardly bristle at Richtofen's first comment. Visiting, really, there is no one here-

Though what else would he call it, being stood glaring at the name in such a manner. It turns Sephiroth's stomach to even consider the minute chance that in some dark recess of his mind, he's aware that Hojo could have been key to unlocking his potential a lot quicker than Sephiroth is fumbling along with the necessary testings on the collar fluid. Without a doubt, in fact -

Apparently Richtofen isn't looking for an answer to that part though. Oh how that overly cheery voice rubs the wrong way up his patience.]

Good for you.

[As clearly, memories cling like bad smells to Sephiroth's waking thoughts recently.]

[Grey jogging pants, loose grey top, bare feet - he'd scowled at first at the small embroidered ShinRa logos by the pockets of the pants but he's sat down and they can be ignored. Clearly such a 'gift' had been meant to irritate him so he's not letting it, it beats having to air out leather for hours after a workout.

Reno most certainly isn't the first, and wouldn't be the last to have to put up with that feeling of being watched while Sephiroth keenly observes from the table furthest from anyone.

But he has been the first to drop anything. While satisfying to have his mere presence responsible for such a reaction, it begs more of his attention as a result. The glass is lowered slowly from his mouth, set silently on the table. There is something oddly familiar about the strange uniform, but Sephiroth dismisses this thought, it's highly likely he could be seeing ghosts of memories that aren't even real.]

I'm not surprised.

[The child-variant of himself hunts monsters and stalks around the Tower as much as he himself does, and there is the research they are paired together in - perfect arrangement as it was. Recently, he's become closer to his doppelganger from another universe as well; there is much to be learned still about the boy but their connection is undeniable.]

There are two of us, we're similar enough.

[Though this one might not take being referred to as an experiment as well as his smaller counterpart might. Sephiroth makes no gesture to dismiss Kirei from his table, it's as good an invitation as any.]

[Dammit, Reno, make a comeback. Stop staring. Something.

He turns to get another cup of water, glancing back once at Sephiroth, as if to be sure he's really seeing that particular outfit. The Turk might have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious; the black leather really did suit him better.

Water now firmly in hand, he's walking toward the door slowly, but it's with the same tension an animal has when it senses it's being stalked. Those eyes seemed to pierce right through Reno's disguise.

That might be why he doesn't notice the chair until he stumbles into it and spills his soup and water, along with an accompanying muffled curse.

Abort, abort, abort!! Time to retreat! Backing up, however, lands him stumbling over another chair, spilling both Turk and chair to the floor.]

Shiva's frozen ass!

[This time, the curse is rather loud.]

Edited (what is grammar) 2013-10-18 14:27 (UTC)

[If he'd have snorted, Sephiroth would have sprayed the mouthful of water he was just about to swallow in that instant. He (just about) manages to swallow it first before grinning widely at the flailing man in the uniform, lightly shaking his head as he finally landed on his ass.

If anything, the curse words told him at least they had to be from similar worlds. His opinion, however, weighs heavily on the same world side of the fence. That uniform is familiar, despite how it slips through the gaps in the silver-haired mans memory.

That fact, now verified, prompts curiosity. Sephiroth puts the glass down again and strides over, bare feet coming to rest calmly just a few meters away - his eyes sweeping the Cafeteria for anyone else who may be watching him first before turning his attention down at the masked man. It is really all about the appearances, in public, on this floor.]

You know, you should watch your mouth.

[He's nothing against crouching to pick the tray up off the floor, it seems.]

[The second Reno heard Sephiroth move, he starts to scramble, trying to get his legs untied from the chair's, only not quite making it when the General stops just a few feet away.

He's looking up at the other man, frowning, when-

Yeah, his mouth is sort of just dropping open here.

Sephiroth's scolding him for cursing in public.

The pain in Reno's ass is quickly forgotten as he tries to process, mouth working a bit before being able to speak.]

Yeah?! [Reno's too surprised to really try disguising his voice. Oops.] You try falling on your ass and see what happens.

[Apparently, he has a death wish today, sassing Sephiroth like that. He gets his legs underneath him and stands up, brushing himself off in his usual fussy manner.]

[Okay, so despite the overabundance of pumpkin, Elena actually likes the pumpkin tea. And seeing that Turks ran on caffeine, it was only logical that she come down for a cup to keep the brain juices going as well as keep herself at the top of her game. Awareness of surroundings is always heightened with a shot of adrenaline with a splash of 5 Hour Energy.

What she doesn't expect is the entire scene that was unfolding in front of her. Standing in the doorway of the cafeteria, she has the perfect vantage point of an unusually dressed down Sephiroth who was busy watching a frantic, undercover Reno stumble about, tripping over chairs before finally landing ass first on the ground.

And here she thought she was the clumsy one.

This was a scene out of some sort of comedy, it had to be. There was no way in the Lifestream or on Gaia, that this scene would ever play itself out anywhere else but here. She's already grinning from ear to ear at Reno's lack of grace in the situation, and its only heightened when the silver-haired swordsman actually chastises him for his vulgarity. Reno's response pushes her to her limit, unable to hold back the laughter. For a few seconds she's just straight out laughing, an arm curling around her stomach while her free hand pressed against the side of her face. After the initial outburst is done and slows to just little chuckles beneath her breath, she takes a few steps closer, mindful to keep plenty of space between herself and the other two men, hands moving to rest at her sides.]

Sorry, sorry. I don't mean to laugh... [Her attention starts over at Reno then moves to Sephiroth.] Everything all right here?

Edited 2013-10-18 15:12 (UTC)

[Mid-crouch, Sephiroth paused while synapses connected Reno's voice to his recollection and he smoothly stood up, sliding the tray onto a nearby table. So that's why he'd been staring. So it wasn't just Elena-

-right on cue. Ears prick up at the laughter coming from the doorway and he looks over immediately as the blonde woman approaches them. Eyes narrow and eyebrows follow, almost joining in the gap above the bridge of his nose. The frown is short-lived though, ignoring the spark to his anger as he looks over Reno more as he fussily brushes himself off. That uniform...

Sephiroth shakes his silvered head again with an accompanied audible hmph. Glancing at Elena only before stepping back, putting distance between himself and the Turks. Though despite his dressed-down state, there isn't a hint that he might feel more vulnerable due to it.]

Everything's just...perfect.

[Now, doesn't this feel weird all of a sudden.]

[Damn it all to Hades and around Leviathan's skinny rear. Reno knew he's been caught out. Now, how to do damage control...

Oh, oh. Elena, you traitor. Reno is so not amused at her laughing, this was serious and he just gives her a gigantic glare through the visor.]

Yeah, it's fine. Just peachy balls.

[And yes, that is definitely a weird feeling there, hovering around all three of them. Isn't this a nice little reunion?

Sighing, he rubs some patches on his uniform that had gotten wet from the double spills of water and soup.]

Fff, should'a known I'd run into Shinra's pet SOLIDER in this place.

[Elena, help him out here, can you see what he's doing? He glances at Sephiroth with a dark set to his mouth, like he's distrustful.]

[Weird. Weird and awkward but what the hell this is the Tower after all. Eventually the three of them would end up in a room together, it was only a matter of time. On the upside, at least Reno was still in the Raven's uniform and, if he kept to masking his voice, perhaps the clean up would be easier.]

....If you say so.

[Not really, but she's not here to make waves she just wants her #$!&*$ tea. Plus she was certainly not in any position to out Reno, especially in front of Sephiroth. She had her directives and would stick to the mission specifications, even if that means completely disregarding both men entirely.]

Funny you say that, Raven.

[She's already disengaged from the tight circle of tension that had been circling the trio, padding her way over to the tea station. Unlike Reno, she's able to avoid tables and chairs as her head turns slightly, nose upturned just enough to cause blonde bangs to fall past her eye to look at the pair behind her.]

I would have never expected to see one of you here. After all, I thought all you piss-poor SOLDIER attempts were eradicated years ago.

[This is the helping he was looking for, right? Giving all that sass and down-talk, along with a little smirk before turning back to make her drink.]

[Raven?

Despite the frown that has vanished, Sephiroth's eyes remain narrowed on Raven!Reno as he continues to brush over wet patches, stains caused by the soup and water. He's giving Elena no mind whatsoever as the blonde Turk slips away from them over to the tea station.

But he's sure he recognized that voice. No one swears with quite the same flair as Reno does.

Pet-SOLDIER, please...in several months prior Sephiroth would have reacted without a second thought to that slight against what he now stands for. Though, he's not any intention to create anymore of a scene than has already been made here in the Cafeteria. He shifts his balance on bare feet and leans against a nearby table, folding bare arms up carefully and even crossing his ankles. Here is someone that wouldn't lose their balance and go AOT.

If they were all playing dress-up here then perhaps it might be advantageous in the longer term to play along- but it had to be Reno. He's sure of it, and even if everything else is proved false in the Tower, he should always listen to his instincts.

Sephiroth turns his head towards Elena once more, as if he might ask- then changes his mind.]

Piss-poor focus demonstrated, clearly. [He might have just about sounded the perfect impression of the General he once was. He does play this part well when he wants to.]

[~~Wow, rood.~~

Between Elena and Sephiroth, Reno is looking at one, then the other, as if not quite sure which one to start yelling at.

Elena won out, mostly because Sephiroth's calm and poise, so much like the old Sephiroth that it was downright unnerving, had him confused. But there was the fact she'd called him Raven, with that tone, filled with just enough hints of condescension and contempt. The derisiveness would bristle any Raven's hide, stupid grunt or not.]

Shut up.

[He hisses at Sephiroth, and turns on his heel, lips pressed tightly together. Elena is his target, swiftly stalking after her with long strides. This time, he's careful to avoid another accident with chairs and tables, as if trying to disprove he ever fell in the first place.

When Reno gets close, a leather-gloved hand reaches out to grab her by the hair, the other for her neck. It will help with the playacting; he knew so well how Elena hated the feel.]

You want to say that again?

[His voice is low; intimidating. That same old tone, slightly modified, that he used when he spoke so menacingly to his enemies. For an instant, it's hard to really tell if he's acting at all.]

We have Shinra scared shitless, and little girls like you should know better than to piss off a Raven.

[She wants to watch the interaction between the pair once she's smartly moved herself out of whatever had started before her arrival, but her curiosity would be noted and questioned. Just from overhearing, things sounded to be going swimmingly, Sephiroth's comment earning a little amused snicker.

She didn't like a lot of things about the Tower, but what she did like was the tea and coffee station of the cafeteria. The hot water was always full, as was the over-sized carafe that always had freshly brewed coffee. Little cups sat stacked carefully atop each other, cream and sugar in their own little areas. She knew each step she would take to get the cup prepared, letting the hot water warm the cup while she worked the teabag open. Five minutes of steeping would provide just enough taste of pumpkin without it being overwhelming and two packets of sugar would provide the proper sweetness.

Ears perk at heated words, anger easily picked up and for the briefest of moments Elena can't tell if he's acting or if her refusal to intervene was truly pissed him off. Footsteps are fast behind her, a stride she knows very well, and before she can finishing turning to look back to see if he was truly advancing on her, her head is pulled back by a strong hand in her hair. The angry, pained noise she makes is very real, eyes clenching shut as hands moved grip around the offending wrist. When the hand goes around her throat, the sound is cut off as if he'd squeezed her vocal cords shut.]

.....Nnnngg!

[Whether Reno was acting or not was up for anybody's guess, however the reaction Elena has to leather against her skin is not. It earns a whole body shudder, nails biting into the fabric of his uniform, and her back bowed against his chest, leaning against his frame to keep herself upright.]

.....I said...that you are shitty attempt at a SOLDIER...

[Defiance. She would not let him get the better of her, not when he was in in that uniform and she was in hers. She'd been caught by surprise last time, was caught surprised again. And this time she had an easy 5 years of experience under her belt. Whether or not this was still all part of the act, Elena is very much in the moment.]

Should I? Or maybe you ought to not piss off little girls.

[It was actually to her benefit that her hands were up above her head as it meant she had plenty of room to build up momentum, her right elbow coming down in a wide arc towards his sternum. Even with his hold on her hair she could still move to the left just enough to expose her target.]

Edited (look at those grammar mistakes orz) 2013-10-18 17:55 (UTC)

[Too calmly, Sephiroth watches as Raven!Reno goes in a livid beeline for Academy!Elena. My how it wasn't a perfect performance they were putting on, if his suspicions were correct that is.

He has already ripped Elena's cover apart last time they had crossed paths, so it's only Reno he's left really to figure out. Sure he's disguised in some uniform, and Sephiroth might fancy he's part of the reason for that, but underneath the facade? Was he really the Reno that had married the girl he was now 'violently' assaulting? Sephiroth isn't sure, but he does know that Elena is that Elena at least - how beautifully tragic if she's returned to a Tower loveless. He might just have to shed a tear for her, if he cared perhaps any measure more than he does.

Though, not-General Sephiroth continues to watch from a few tables away, those same eyes as were watching the Raven in the first place never leaving his back - pupils slitted into near threads crossing a sea of gleaming Mako. If this were some test, to see if he would move to intervene - he'd rather go back to his half-forgotten glass of water.]

You little... [When she moves, he isn't prepared for it, breaking off another insult mid-sentence and trying to make another grab for her.]

Wh- [The strength of her blow landed squarely where her elbow is aimed, sending a shock wave through his body and dropping him like a stone. It's a damned good thing there isn't any crack sound, otherwise he'd be in trouble. He isn't faking the stream of muttered, breathless curses as he curls up on the floor, either.

Reno is out for the count, trying to suck air into lungs that aren't having any of that.]

[ The phrasing isn't too vague, but it could be misunderstood. As a result, he feels the need to clarify: ]

You are similar, or the same?

[ Since Sephiroth has not rejected him, Kirei goes ahead and sets his tray down on the table across from him. ]

[Elena might feel sorry for not holding back in her attack later, but in the current situation it was not only perfectly appropriate but would be expected if the Raven was not a Turk in disguise. Her breathing comes in fast little gulps when he falls, hair and neck freed, and she stumbles back a few steps, fingers lightly touching at her throat.]

Y-You asshole! [Eyes bore down at the fallen figure, the stream of obscenities enough to tell her he was out, but not in a position where he'd die from her attack. Which was good. She wanted him to ache a little bit.] Stay away from me.

[Keeping a wide berth around the fallen Raven, Elena's stride is fast, hands in tight white fists at her sides, hurrying towards the exit. She gives Sephiroth a passing glance as she walks past, her face red with anger, mouth pressed into a very thin line. Her eyes make contact with his, daring him to stay anything before her head turns away, and she's out the door without another word.]

[Sephiroth keeps his gaze mostly on the area behind Kirei as he sets the tray down opposite. He needs to now split his attention between this exchange and what's going on in the rest of the room. Not too difficult for someone with his capabilities.

He tilts his head minutely in Kirei's direction, enough for one side of his bangs to fall away from the side of his face a little. What a question indeed, it gives the impression that this man knows his counterpart quite well, the pupils of green eyes flex as Sephiroth looks over the face of Kirei - always highly attentive to small details, especially in strangers.]

As paradoxical as it sounds, I am starting to think it's closer to the latter.

[But there are things that make Sephiroth unsure still. Like how exactly he ended up in the body of an 8 year old.]

[Silver eyebrows shot out of sight -as the Raven was floored- into the closed off expanse of his forehead that his bangs hid from view in some light. He's entirely skeptical of their little act up until now, but the sound of the Raven trying to force air back into his lungs becomes apparent so do two possibilities.

Either this is really a Raven - whatever that means - and Elena was really defending herself, or both Turks are prepared to go to great lengths indeed to carry on this little farce. Sephiroth remains unconvinced.

Even the swearing, really what real weight did it have? The spectator has half a mind to go and rip the helmet from the Raven sprawled on the floor and settle this one way or the other but Elena's pointed look as she strides past is just too delicious to pass up. He doesn't say a word to her but just as she slips out of earshot Sephiroth turns his attention again to the winded Raven.]

Well, she sure showed you. [Again, that voice is too calm, almost bored.]

[Flopping over on to his back, he levels a glare at Sephiroth, only partially visible, mostly through the set of his mouth.

Forcing some air back into his lungs, he groans softly as they start working again, protesting viciously at being ill used. Another breath, and it's getting easier, but no less painful. He is going to have a large ass bruise there.]

Fuck off, SOLDIER.

[That's pretty much all he can manage before he groans again, grabbing at the leg of the nearest table for no reason whatsoever than to have something to squeeze. Whatever can be said for his acting abilities, the pain in those groans is definitely real.]

[Smooth mouth houses a very thin smile as Sephiroth tries to ascertain for sure whether it's Reno or not from his mouth alone. Certainly he doesn't know all those intricate details of this Turk like he does the other so it's not really possible to tell.]

Not SOLDIER. [He comments flatly before going back over to where he left his water. In two long gulps he downs the rest of the glass, sets it back on the table, once more once-overs the groaning Raven wrapped around a table leg before turning for the exit to the Cafeteria himself.]

[Rood, Sephiroth. Reno flashes him one last look of contempt over his shoulder and shakes his head. Time to try to get to the infirmary...]

[ Kirei sits himself down. He does not eat; he is not terribly hungry and the food on his plate has the same appeal (or lack thereof) of the bland oatmeal he was offered on the first day.

He regards Sephiroth, drawn by those inhuman eyes. ]

I would not consider that so unlikely. I too have seen two bodies for one person: the man I am familiar with, and then him a child.

[ He has not seen Kariya, in either form, for some time now. ]

How long has the Tower kept you here?

[Sephiroth has hardly ever eaten in the Cafeteria, having discovered that to go without really has no effect on his energy levels or capabilities. His body sustains itself, as it's supposed to, even if it is all Glamour.]

I was at first largely repulsed by the idea, but I've had to adjust. [He offers a small, thin smile.]

Too long. [He nods towards the food on Kirei's plate.] It was pumpkin in the first cycle I spent here.

[ Despite his lack of real inclination towards the food on his plate, Kirei continues to eat it.

He focuses on that small smile, and how it seems... deceptive, somehow. ]

Then the two of you are not adverse to one another?

[ He glances down at his plate with Sephiroth nods towards it, and eats another forkful. ] I imagine you have seen much then.

Not at all, however strange it is to converse with a doppelganger who cannot, by all logic, be as young as he appears.

[It's truth enough. Himself and boy-Sephiroth work together on the violet collar fluid, this has provided ample opportunity for all sorts of conversations and realizations. Sephiroth imagines he'll never be able to figure out the boy completely though, their memories are mis-matched to say the least.

Sephiroth takes a small sip of water as Kirei eats another forkful. It's bitter indeed, to be taunted with the same menu choices - to think he's been here for so long and yet-]

I suppose. Though, any truth to most of it was shattered a few months ago.

[Richtofen bristles. As usual, it takes all of his self-control to beat down the urge to snap and start screaming at Sephiroth. He clears his throat and speaks louder ~~so that he can hear his own voice over the sound of the ones in his head~~.]

Ahem, well, someone is a little bit cold today, aren't they?

[He pauses for a beat, as if considering whether it's a good idea to say what's on his mind. But his voice of reason is far drowned out by the actual voices that insist upon screaming, so, as usual, he pays it little mind.]

...Were you two close? [He nods at the headstone.]

[It's just as well that Richtofen did listen to that voice of reason otherwise Sephiroth probably would have continued to ignore him. Was that supposed to be some sort of sarcastic comment with regard to his personality, Richtofen? Because he's not planning on changing it soon.

Even if he has been more lukewarm than ever before on account of more recent responsibilities.]

Hmph. [He tears his gaze from that headstone, passes once over Richtofen before looking back to it.] Hardly.

[Pause.]

Though perhaps his skills would have been useful, currently.

[Richtofen gives a solemn little nod, though he seems more amused than anything.]

Ja, he seemed like quite the talented man, from what I had seen of him. [He speaks in a low, low mutter:] Albeit not as talented as I...

[He claps his hands together. The sound cuts through the relative silence of the graveyard like a knife.]

An-yway! Perhaps 'close' was the wrong word. Did you know him, ah... intimately?

[There, now. That has less connotations of camaraderie. And it doubles as sounding inappropriate, which is pretty much Richtofen's favorite thing.]

[Scientists, they really are all the same. Always so sure of their own greatness. Sephiroth doesn't even turn his head to look at Richtofen, though the abrupt clap could only be a precursor to something much worse-

-he does turn his head in the Doctor's direction at that question, and the scowl on his face, though quickly tamed, is much more vivid than the cool and collected expression he had otherwise been holding. Talk about inappropriate, yet a little too close to the truth for comfort at the same time.]

Not quite in the way you imply.

[Most careful. Level. Tone. Richtofen might win this one otherwise, in this game of winding him up.]

[That little break in Sephiroth's cold exterior provides Richtofen with ample entertainment. His lips twist up into a smirk, and he regards Sephiroth with something close to fondness.]

Oh? Und how is it that you would know what I'm implying, hmm? [He clicks his tongue and wags a finger back and forth.] Mind out of the gutter, please, mein Freund! I was simply wondering if you knew very much about him.

[Where else was Sephiroth's mind supposed to go after a comment like that? He silently scolds himself for even being so easy to lead into Richtofen's implication. That smirk told him enough, that it had been the Doctor's plan indeed.

And the 'mein Freund' just makes it all the more bitter. Sephiroth flicks his gaze from the headstone and back to Richtofen once more.]

I knew enough.

[Thoughts too easily pass back in time, over memories both faded and missing entirely. He knows well that Hojo had been a constant presence in his life before Meteor, and since then he had learned-]

He-

[Sephiroth's expression falls further into abject resentment, ignoring Richtofen while he gets his thoughts in order first. He will never accept that the scientist had been anything close to a parent, and now he's not relevant at all - their bodies are all gone.]

-he contributed somewhat, to my own existence.

[He knew he could count on Sephiroth to light up this dreary day at the graveyard (with more than just his practically fluorescent hair, at that). He turns toward him more fully and clasps his hands together by his chin, as if he's bursting with excitement.]

Ohh, I see! Like your daddy, then?

[A childish way to put it, especially for a man his age, that's for sure. That just makes him sound all the more condescending. ~~It's like he wants to get stabbed or something.~~]

[Daggers in eyes flash over Richtofen as he says that. Sephiroth has never once stopped to consider what the Professor may have told his fellow scientist when he was resident in the Tower before, whether or not certain truths had been shared or not.

It certainly fit Hojo's profile, to continue to gloat about his greatest achievement still even though Gaia is null and voided. But on the off-chance that Richtofen was just extending from his previous comment, Sephiroth was careful to make sure his expression gave no familiarity at all away.]

Hmph. I wouldn't go that far.

[Childish jibe ignored, the taller man's tone is flat, he might even look insulted. It's not like he considers Hojo to be his father, anyway.]

[Luckily for Sephiroth, Richtofen and Hojo never got around to talking much. Certainly not about Sephiroth's creation. However, Richtofen finds himself suddenly intrigued about that. Any topic of conversation that makes people uncomfortable is one he wants to pursue endlessly.]

He contributed, but he is not your father? Hmmm... [Richtofen places a finger to his chin.] ...Your grandfather, then?

[He waits a beat, then barks out a laugh.]

Ha! I kid, I kid. Such a rousing conversation we are having, us two friends, huh? [His voice suddenly falls flat.] No, but seriously, stop being so cryptic, you are giving me a headache.

[The Doctor could pursue all he likes, Sephiroth likes the fact that next to no one in the Tower knows anything about him on a personal level. There had only been that one time-

He dashes these thoughts aside with a shake of his head as Richtofen laughs and changes his tune.]

You are insufferable. [He comments, equally flat in tone. They certainly aren't friends, closer to rivals what with the various groups working on the collar fluid.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Log 026 | Silencing in the name of Science

Cafeteria

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Graveyard

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YOU BOYS ARE SO ROOD

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