towerofanimus | Taking the long road home

"I'm glad." Capell noticed him looking and moved his hand, showing him the blood there. "I woke up with it."

He had never died before, so he didn't know if it was normal, but waking up with random injuries that didn't really match the ones that killed you in the first place was strange and worrying.

Sephiroth however, had died more times than he liked to recount in the Tower. The creeping additional numbness in his body had been a major cause of concern, hence his more careful approach in general these days. Never mind the whole affair of having to go through that damnable transition with regard to his powers again.

Bleeding upon waking up, isn't a thing that he's familiar with. Sephiroth tiled his head more to get some idea of the wound that Capell was bleeding from.

"You woke up from it?" He questioned, feeling more inclined to offer his assistance to one who had assisted him before. "After some paralysis?"

Capell nodded, "Yes, I couldn't move for a time and then when I could I realised I was bleeding." And he hurt everywhere.

"And I can't smell anything..." Which was worrying, as he had realised it was a case of not being able to smell anything and not just not yet being used to normal smell after the enhanced sense of smell he had had in the labyrinth.

So it seemed Ruana had picked up Jason's responsibilities then; to be expected he supposed, considering by extension why they even were revived into new Vessels after all - as Ruana couldn't bear her toys to be broken. But what Capell described now was important. These changes.

What would Ruana do when he shook his cage again, should Sephiroth die again before was ready to. Very concerning. Random bleeding, and missing smell? Quite obviously, this translated into Ruana's inexperience.

Also-

"You've only just returned." Sephiroth surmised, as there wasn't anyway someone could still be bleeding, and alive, if they had been back already for a while. He didn't extend his comment but instead looked back down the corridor behind Capell. He easily spotted his chipped supervisor as it rounded the corner at the end. Even now, he wasn't being left alone; perhaps it hadn't been just Jason, after all.

"You should get to the Infirmary."

Capell nodded, "Only a little while ago," He explained, "I'm headed there now." He figured he needed it seen to, he had no wish to die again after just waking up from his first death.

It would be unfortunate indeed, for Capell to die before being able to get all the way down to the 2nd floor but Sephiroth wouldn't be the one to care all that much. He doesn't involve himself at all in the plights of others, generally doesn't care very much at all for anything other than his own existence.

However, to have to go through all of that again with another botched revival? Harsh. Their back-handed punishment for ending Jason, no doubt.

"Good luck with that." Sephiroth was torn between offering further assistance, or just walking away. Though Capell had shown selfless compassion towards Sephiroth's own comfort in the Labyrinth, rather than letting him struggle with the heavy-head syndrome alone. The game was over now though, Sephiroth didn't need to pretend anymore.

But he knows also, that allies come few and far between. Human as they might be.

"Make sure that you keep the pressure on, no matter what. The elevator ride can take a while. I can escort you there at least."

It wasn't much, and it's not as if Sephiroth was willing to even physically touch or support Capell at all, though at least he was offering the company.

Capell nodded, increasing the pressure. He wouldn't have minded so much if the other man had walked away, they didn't really know each other that well after all. Just because Capell had gotten used to being around people who would help almost strangers didn't mean he didn't know most people wouldn't.

But he smiled at the offer, "As long as it is no trouble."

Sephiroth was uncomfortable with the sound logic that he should help Capell but that didn't take away from the fact that it was sound logic. Why now antagonize someone that had proven themselves helpful - at least for no reason.

"Not at all. I'm heading downstairs regardless."

Besides, Sephiroth knew that there might be monsters on the way that would be drawn to the scent of blood on the air. They aren't limited to the night time hours after all. Sephiroth waited for Capell to lead the way but would walk carefully alongside him, flicking his gaze from the surroundings of their route to Capell himself to keep an eye on his could-be deteriorating condition.

Capell nodded, glad for the company and not sure he would make it down alone. The pain was spreading it seemed, across the entirety of his torso.

"Did you survive? Back there..." Capell had lost track of Sephiroth towards the end, lost track of everyone once the wolf had taken over him.

And so Capell had a silver and black leather escort down the corridor back towards the elevator.

"After you-" Sephiroth started, but soon decided against filling Capell in with regards to his failure of an attempt to finish the job. The remains of which aren't visible any more. Sephiroth was pretty much fully healed at this point already and didn't have much desire to relive the events. It had been embarrassing, and that who-knew-how many others had seen him-

"-I survived. Jason did not."

Carefully Sephiroth kept an eye on Capell as they continued. But whatever pain the other was in, he seemed either to be hiding it well - or Sephiroth really didn't care all that much. If he were too far gone already, there wasn't anything the silver haired warrior could do about it.

"I saw that... I think." It was very hazy. "Ruana, was that Ruana? The little girl?" He had never seen her before. He kept his hand pressed firmly against his side.

"I'm glad you got out of there, I'm sorry I left you. I was not myself at the end."

"Yes that was Ruana." Sephiroth answered, he wasn't going to fill in Capell, that she had eaten Jason in front of all of them, if he didn't recall it. He'd likely hear it from someone else regardless.

Sephiroth was keeping one eye on Capell's side and the other on the corridor in front of them as they made steady progress towards the lift.

"I saw. Explained all of those extra senses you had."

Capell nodded, "It was a bit of a surprise, but it came in handy." At least until it killed him. But it had been useful at first.

"Funny I spent my whole life wishing for powers and when I get them they kill me." Not really funny at all, ironic maybe. Since he had realised the danger of lunaglyphs long before he had came here.

He inclined his head in a half-nod in agreement towards Capell. Without Capell's increased senses in that maze they probably would never have found Jason. Never mind the fact that if it hadn't been for Capell's consideration of Sephiroth's condition, he might not have even lasted that long. It's bittersweet the selfless assistance from others he had recently received.

"Ironic." Sephiroth indeed stated the fact. "That those who do not usually exhibit powers were given them, whereas those who do were not."

They rounded the next corner and began to approach the elevator.

Edited 2014-03-07 08:24 (UTC)

"I wonder if it was done on purpose." Turning the tables, but why would Ruana do such a thing?

He limped towards the elevator, "So do you have power usually?"

"Undoubtedly."

Even if Ruana did have a strange idea of a 'level' playing field, but then Sephiroth always does see himself as so very above everyone else. If he had all of the means due to him at his disposal though, he doubts they would be able to keep him here.

"I have." He answers Capell as Sephiroth strides away from his side to press the call button for the elevator. Who knew how long it would take to arrive though.

He took a breath in the meantime, it was becoming quite obvious that Capell hasn't been in the Tower all that long. Sephiroth was not the mentoring type in the slightest, in fact has his hands full in keeping an eye on many others already but- Capell had assisted, better to return the favor asap before it drags out.

"There are two types of power, that a person can manifest in this place. One is subject to Glamour, the other is not."

Capell leaned against the wall, blood seeping through his fingers. He closed his eyes and concentrated on breathing, ignoring the pain, and listening to Sephiroth. He nodded, "Which is why we have the new liquid right?" Capell had taken it, but he wondered if it would need to be done again, because he had died.

"Correct."

After a quick glance both ways down the corridor, he drew a heavy gaze over Capell once more, noting the blood and how it kept seeping through his fingers now. It didn't seem to be showing any sign of slowing. He wondered, at this rate, if Capell would even make it to the Infirmary. It was a long elevator ride down, and then they had a stairwell to tackle as well.

Sephiroth could see plainly how Capell fought to keep going, regardless. It was an admirable trait that this other resident had at least. So many others would likely have just lain down and hoped not to come back with same problem next time.

He wondered if they might have still some medical supplies on that hidden floor. But Sephiroth was not so naive as to mention the existence of the same, out loud. He wasn't sure, at this point still, why he shouldn't just put Capell out of his misery. Just as he was considering the possibility of trying to make that floor on time though, the elevator doors swung open.

Sephiroth stood closer to Capell and crouched some beside him, he would at least help to support the young man in this instance if he would take the help of an arm offered to go around his frame. It would resolve their debt at least, and then he could move on.

"Hold on."

Capell took it gratefully, leaning into Sephiroth as they moved into the elevator. Once they were in he let go and slumped to the floor, pressing his hand against his side tighter. The elevator took a long time, he knew from experience, nothing like the one's he was used to.

He just hoped he survived the journey after coming so far.

"Thank you..."

The extra weight from Capell on one side of Sephiroth pulled unfamiliarly at his balance. A tendon twitched in his recently recovered neck but his strength persevered and rather smoothly he helped him into the elevator. It was more the circumstances that led to Sephiroth offering his assistance to another which had dumbstruck him into a thoughtful silence.

This young man was human, and so did this mean that his sternly-kept together sense of identity was starting to crack irreparably? What were the consequences on his legacy, or what little remained of it? Sephiroth reminded himself repeatedly that this was repaying a debt, and nothing more. He could ponder the drive behind his own actions in the very many other hours that he kept for himself alone, once Capell had either died or lived.

He didn't so much let the younger man slump to the floor very heavily, and was even careful in lowering him in such a way that would have less consequence on his concerning wound. He had best be very careful from now on, if needing a new Vessel now came with more unforeseen consequences.

"Don't mention it." Was uttered as Sephiroth stepped back, and there was something about his tone that indicated that he did mean it literally. He firmly pressed the button for the 1st Floor and then leant somewhat against the back panel of the lift, folding his arms up as their descent started.

"I won't." Capell mostly understood the meaning behind the words, perhaps Sephiroth believed that helping him was a sign of weakness, though to Capell helping others was always a sign of strength.

He lay slumped on the floor watching Sephiroth. "So... have you been in this place... long?"

Sephiroth didn't so much think of helping others as a weakness, so much as an activity so usually beneath him. Not to mention how others could quickly turn his could-be concern into a weapon against him - it certainly would be a weakness this way. One of the many reasons why Sephiroth kept himself to himself so much.

He tried not to keep too much attention on Capell's wound, drawing attention to it would only lessen the boy's chance of survival at this point, so instead allowed himself to be easily drawn into the question.

"Too long, point of fact."

Likewise Capell was trying to ignore the pain and keep the pressure on his side without concentrating too much on how much it was bleeding.

"Yeah... I've been here a few months... far too long..."

"Keep the pressure on."

The thought, not meant as advise by it's rather flat tone, was expressed regardless as Sephiroth insisted on keeping eye contact with Capell. He's gotten this far...

"Things will change soon. Now that Jason is gone."

Capell nodded, pressing his hand closer to his side as he frowned. "Change?" He blinked, "How so?"

Taking the long road home

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