just this once, everybody lives!

[sageprincess]

Characters: Everyone.
Setting: Anywhere.
Format: Party style.
Summary: Post-Ex Machina catch-all mingle.
Warnings: See individual threads.

[After a long, drawn out battle, the infiltration team returns to the residential portion of the Tower, weary, battered... but victorious. Some catching up is in order.]

Comments

[neverbeamemory]

Hidden Floor

[Sephiroth had held out on the 44th Floor stairwell where he'd conversed with Chidori; well 'conversed' as far as he was able to on account of his rapidly deteriorating condition, and had done so, floating in and out of maybe-sleep or not until he'd seen the EMP be successful there. The hallucinations were getting more frequent, more dramatic by that point.

Then without a word to anyone Sephiroth had stood, and forced himself to an elevator and then back up to the top of their levels. He could feel the great groaning inside of himself as the last of his energy levels were draining away, too easily his thoughts, projected into the hallucinations he was caught in, drawn to the circle of phantoms he remembered from a similar death. That one that reached for his face and had for just a moment seemed too familiar-

Sephiroth had finally crashed a while ago at his nominated table of notes that he'd studied tirelessly to try to logic his way out of the predicament, his eyes had drooped heavier than ever. Death was close for sure; fleetingly he wonders if it might be for real this time.

One arm stretched out in front over the roughly-organized bits of paper, atop the larger sketch of a map, he'd put his head on his bent elbow-

And slept. Without a care who might come across him there, a dreamless rest that not even the activity of the workers around would rouse him at all from. Much less if a wandering resident might look on him and wonder what he, the one who has the least trust in Aria's revolution, was even doing there.

It's around half a day later, though he wouldn't be able to tell, that Sephiroth stirs; squints of eyelids peer around first before eyes force themselves open fully. He's not at all rested as much as he needs to be, not being in his own Dormitory pod; but he's not dead, and there seems to be something of a weight lifted-]

Ugh. [It's a single syllable as the crick to his neck registers from being rested like that on the table for so long, as Sephiroth both sits up and runs a hand up between the lapels of his coat to squeeze at that particular tight tendon. His shoulders ache a little as well from the armor he'd not had the energy to remove, but that is to be expected. Peering around for anyone nearby.]

What happened?

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[Veronica had eventually come up to the hidden room, looking in every place she could think of for a weapon of some sort. Now that the monsters had left, it had left her with a severely shortened supply.

She didn't even notice Sephiroth at first. All her focus was on the rest of the room, on notes and maps and other things she could scan briefly before moving on. Of course, she does notice him as he wakes up and asks a question.]

We secured the room. Riki is against us now.

[neverbeamemory]

[For a few seconds, Sephiroth seems more occupied in rubbing at that sore spot on the back of his neck even though he's looking right at Veronica. Then he blinks as if registering who it is right there and then for the first time. A frown threatens his forehead already - he still feels very tired, after all.]

You went down there as well. [It's more a statement than a question, Ocelot had told him the plan but not necessarily who was going.]

Has there ever been any doubt?

[To Sephiroth, all the Administration are against him -no, against them. They all work for Ruana in the end. Though Riki-

-Sephiroth has always seen Riki as the one who would work the hardest to restore the Tower. So his question tests the water.]

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[She nodded.] A lot of people went down there, and we all made it out safely.

[For once, no one died. It could have probably been described as a miracle, but Veronica likened it to them being lucky enough to have a lot of different people with a lot of different abilities.]

... He said he wanted to help us, but then he tricked us.

[There was a little doubt, sufficed to say.]

[neverbeamemory]

[That's something of a first. He thinks, but only to himself. Almost every time Sephiroth has been down there he's ended up dead in one form or another. It stings bitterly that he couldn't have been involved, this time, but at least he's starting to actually feel something like himself again compared to the last time Veronica saw him.

If he thought about it logically -when he's slept more- he'll probably realize that he wouldn't have been much use anyway, let alone the fact that he doesn't agree with a lot of the reasons for the mission in the first place. All there is to do now is to sit and wait for their next move.]

That's not-so surprising. [He comments, though that creeping insecurity is hard to hide.]

So the question still remains, as to what he is hiding.

[notayoungkitten]

[In her own world, there were very few people who could outmatch Ocelot. She was the best sharpshooter to ever live and she had the experience to back it up.

But that madhouse that had been securing the room... she hadn't been able to do anything but guard the retrieval unit. It wasn't even so much that she gave a damn about whether it lived or died, because quite frankly, she didn't. But it had been the only thing that could help them with everything that had been happening and much of it had happened too quickly for her to do anything about it.

Riki had tricked them, and she had been quietly judging the situation once more and hadn't picked up on it. She probably could have died. Probably should have died, really. But she hadn't.]

It seems we have a new enemy now. We succeeded in securing the room that he was so content to protect though I'm uncertain what we accomplished, exactly.

[Ultimately, they had never figured out just what Riki had been doing. And Aria was growing more suspicious by the moment in Ocelot's eyes. This had been an act of war that the residents had been made to play out and the old soldier didn't like the idea that she might have been used.]

[neverbeamemory]

[Sephiroth turns to Ocelot as she answers him, stretching his neck out to one side and then the other - an audible pop doesn't actually help much though from the look on his face.

A new enemy she says. Or is it simply a confirmation of one who has been there all along. Sephiroth has been unclear where the lines are drawn now, ever since March. All the advise, to put in his efforts with regard to Aria's cause as there 'is no other way' - and the only other option is oblivion. It blurs the line between what he should do and what he could accomplish. It's not going to be so long now until he has his real powers returned to him again-

Perhaps encouraged by a similarity in Ocelot's eyes, Sephiroth suggests lowly what he thinks she may have been thinking. It's got to be one of the coldest, yet logical things he's said in a while. Maybe the sleep did him some good.]

It's not necessary for the soldiers on the front line to know the background behind an objective.

[He lowers his gaze then, still rubbing at the back of his neck but unable to get to the right spot due to his collar, to the rough sketch of the map beneath him and in particular to that room where all the majority of the power is distributed. That had to be that room, that room of Zo's that Aria's forces now occupied.]

[notayoungkitten]

[She glances around to make sure that no one else is within earshot. This might be their safe haven away from the administrators-- though with Zo and Riki nowhere to be seen and Ruana not having made a move, she's not sure where that actually leaves them.]

Of course not. But I can't help but feel we were lead astray.

[It had been Aria's act of war, using the residents as soldiers. Ocelot had gone wanting to learn what Riki was up to and instead hadn't actually learned anything of value. If one of the other groups had, she didn't know.]

A war is coming. I've no doubt about that.

[neverbeamemory]

[He might have done the same, that careful peering around to make sure other troublesome residents were not nearby. Apart from the fact that Sephiroth makes no secret that he disapproves of their somewhat-blind faith to all things Dax had researched and/or set up. Only recently has he considered that the Hidden Floor might be the only place that isn't watched, isn't listened in on - though there are always workers present around in it so he's not sure where entirely those claims come from. No where is 100% secure in this place.

The question is, who is listening to what the workers are listening to. There isn't an answer to it and the whole circumstance has irritated Sephiroth to no end. Even before his attempt at escape.]

Exactly my problem with this entire arrangement.

[He speaks lowly, and the answer could apply to both of Ocelot's comments. Not only are they (and by they he means the collective of the majority of residents) being led blind into whatever plans Dax programmed Aria for, but the details aren't validated which makes it worse.

Sephiroth has come a long way since following orders in a War and would not regress to that now. To him though, the war has already been started, this conquest is just another step in it.]

I do not care to fight for any side that I do not see a clear path to victory.

[-yet, when 'the only way out' is thrown around so excessively, Sephiroth cannot afford to bury his head so deeply in the sand. He might miss that opportunity he needs.]

[lorule]

[ During her quest for information on the hidden floor, Hilda stumbled upon Sephiroth. Admittedly she knew very little about what had happened, but so did most people around here. ]

Information seems to be scarce. Even those who were present downstairs seemingly know very little about what happened.

[ This was irritating, thinking to it. It was as if they were walking blindly around and hoped by a stroke of luck they would get the desired result. It was nothing short of foolish and it would be a miracle if they were to restore their worlds under such circumstances. ]

[neverbeamemory]

[There is a long pause as Sephiroth looks over Hilda, still rubbing at the offending tendon - or trying to under the harness to his armor. He really should head back to his Dormitory soon and catch up on the rest of the sleep that's been denied to him.

The scowl starts at the corners of his nose but quickly spreads up to the space between his eyebrows as well.]

Disappointing. But no infiltration has ever yielded obvious results.

[lorule]

[ She frowns as well as his answers. She had been under the assumption past infiltration had gone well, obviously he was about to prove her wrong. Yet again, he was of the same caliber than Ganon, so who knows if he could be trusted. ]

May I ask what happened at previous infiltrations? I am afraid I wasn't a resident yet when they happened.

[ But that sounded interesting; so failure was a habit and not an exception. ]

[neverbeamemory]

[It's because he's of the same caliber of Ganon that he has such an experience when it comes to infiltration downstairs. With the advent of the changed collar fluid though it hadn't become as important, in the end. There are only so many times one can fling oneself to their death before learning from it.

The consequences of dying started to grow concerning. A difference between himself and Ganondorf. Until then Sephiroth had always been willing to 'use a Vessel up' as a gamble to get some foothold within the Tower, or to find out something vital.]

Invariably they involved the damaging of your Vessel to a point where it's irreparable on it's own. Or whatever death should be called in this place.

I managed to get out alive, once. But only that one time.

[There isn't much point recounting very much more of the details to Hilda and besides, Sephiroth defining moments here had not been scurrying around like rats down below.

...isn't that what Jason used to call them-

Sephiroth shakes his head dismissively.]

It's not all that relevant, anymore.

[Even if he is, arguably leaning on a sketch that tells the contrary.]

[warriorscribe]

We have the machine. We don't know what Riki was doing with it, but we have the device that can help Zo restore our worlds.

*The tired-sounding response comes from a cushion on the floor, on which Enoch has curled up; now that he's not watching Naoya like a hawk he's letting the relief and adrenaline crash ease him into proper rest.*

[neverbeamemory]

[He rests elbows back on the note-strewn tabletop and uses both hands under his hair to try to get rid of the tension in the back of his neck. Idly, Sephiroth's gaze rests across the table and towards the floor space on which Enoch is occupied as the other man speaks.]

And so it's claimed for Aria's resistance. I suppose we are all on the cusp of all the truth now, as a result.

[He's still not all that secure within himself, whether World restoration is really a viable option and Sephiroth is still too tired to attempt to try and hide that fact. But the energy draining that the rest of the Tower had been subjected to, had been vital enough for him to haul himself up here at least, despite his deep reservations.]

[warriorscribe]

*There's nothing but a yawn at first in response.*

If not truth, then safety. We must...keep Ruana from being able to simply destroy them again somehow. Imprisonment or power nullification...

[neverbeamemory]

[Yawns are contagious, Sephiroth turns his head downwards and rests his forehead on the table while he tries then fails to stifle his own. He tries to shake it off before looking back up to Enoch's position again.]

Destroy them?

[He thinks Enoch means the worker units, but just to be sure-]

[no_longer_a_king]

[He awoke to Arturia sitting beside him, drinking some water and looking over his notes. Her eyes keep being drawn to the sketch he made of her map, but she's currently--and carefully--reading one of his notes on the Glamour system.]

We succeeded in retaking the machine Zo uses to bring people here back from Riki.

[neverbeamemory]

[It's before he's raised his head, the first stirring of eyelids with his head still down on his bent elbow open and squint at the person beside him. The very fact that she wasn't there before draws him more instantly out of the nap.

Sephiroth raises his face eventually but the motion to flick a few silver threads out of his face gets stopped by that crick in his neck. He pulls a face, an unpleased scowl at the lightning-fast stab of pain, but finds that he still registers Arturia's words the first time around. Already a stark improvement on his condition when he'd stumbled over to his table hours ago.]

Riki. [His brain, still wrapped in sleep he's woken too quickly from, takes a few seconds to kick start.] Yes, I wondered if that was the room that was the target.

[Sephiroth's voice is a little hoarse but that aside he feels the most conscious than he has in weeks. Slowly, though not bending his neck very far at all, he pulls himself up and off the half of the map-sketch he'd been lying on. Of course, that had been the room with the most power-distribution as sketched out beneath him.]

[no_longer_a_king]

It was indeed. The man proved himself to be nothing more than a snake, even if it does turn out he might have been trying to help us.

[Not that she would trust a word the man says after trying so hard to kill them, utilizing the Glamour and those awful yet satisfying to kill machine tentacles. Even if he were trying to help them, he proved he did not have their best interests at heart by doing so.]

I'm pleased to see you all fared well up here.

[neverbeamemory]

[Sephiroth isn't so absolute in his thinking. Just because Riki had tried to kill them for interfering, there had to be a greater reason for it. Just as he had to have killed others in his attempt at escape in March, the end justified the means.

Jason and Riki both never did trust the 'meddling' of the residency.

For a long moment Sephiroth pauses in rubbing at the crick in his neck, eyes still rather low with grogginess - green almost lost behind thick black lashes. He studies Arturia as if she might be trying to make an inappropriate remark.]

Hmph. Hardly. We were almost killed also.

[provenworth]

[Don't ask how Elena has somehow managed to return to some semblance of high-level energy. She's naturally a perky, energetic thing and its really to everybody's benefit that she is. Since the return of the infiltration team, Elena has been a buzz of activity in obtaining additional medical supplies and checking on several of the more wounded.

Its while she's passing the particular table that Sephiroth had made camp that she catches his movements out of the corner of her eye. With a packet of gauze in hand, still protected by its plastic sleeve, she stops and takes a few steps closer.]

....Morning. I was starting to wonder when you were going to wake up.

[Shifting weight from one foot to another, she pivoted slightly to show the growing mass of people behind her.]

Apparently the infiltration was a success and so far with minimal casualties. You'll want to ask around, though, I haven't heard much more than that.

[neverbeamemory]

[Squinted eyes observe Elena as she stops and turns to him. How long had she been watching him? Did it matter? Sephiroth had almost come to peace with the fact that he wasn't going to wake back up-]

Hnm. [He chose to clear his throat before starting to raise his head. The pressure in his neck from having lain down awkwardly for so many hours yet to be discovered. Sephiroth exhales in a hiss to deal with the sensation of having a hot poker stabbed then and then raises his hand to touch the area as Elena steps to reveal the mass of people gathering behind her.

His first instinct; to sit up straighter. However it rustled the papers beneath him. This could be some sort of a coup after all.]

But I thought-

[He dismisses that thought instantly as the next one hits him like a speeding train.]

What about all the energy?

[provenworth]

[Lithe shoulders lift and then fall in a little shrug.]

.....You're guess is as good as mine. Last thing I remember is being too exhausted to do anything. Next thing I know, I'm awake and people were starting to show up.

[And then her own exhaustion was not longer a thing; her attention instantly going to the wounded.]

If you're thinking what I think you're thinking, I think its highly likely that a replication of your attempt might have been behind it. Thankfully it seems the infiltration team was able to stop it. What happened to it all, though...

[Sorry, Sephiroth. She's just not a good point of information at this time.]

[neverbeamemory]

[Wow Elena. He pauses mid-rub and focuses his eyes on some random point on the floor while that thought rattles around some in his mind.

It feels, acutely, like he'd been so tired when he was trying to theorize over what was going on that he'd managed to overlook the answer that was sat right in front of him. Annoying.]

If it wasn't all lost from what was stopped, then I'm sure it won't be too long before we learn. It all depends on how much was used up already.