Endgame: This Broken Jaw of Our Lost Kingdoms; Part One

[animusmods]

Characters: open to those trapped in cells
Setting: the cells
Format: any
Summary: Those left abandoned in the Tower have some time to speak to each other. In the middle of the room, a clock counts down...
Warnings: general animus endgame warnings

Comments

[myblueskies]

[Romeo sighed and just scooted closer to the glass] Do you really not like me?

[A bit quieter] Is that why you turned me into that monster thing?

[neverbeamemory]

[He didn't just-

Sephiroth only glanced across again to ascertain that, yes, Romeo had felt the need to scuttle on closer to the glass that separates them. It's not like he's got much room to put space between them either. He never did understand the kid, nor any kid really, and why he kept coming back like a puppy whining to be kicked. He was about to just ignore Romeo and turn away as far as he could get-

The edges of Sephiroth's film-eyes flexed at the second question, both acknowledging the topic and expressing interest at the way the boy had lowered his volume in order to speak it. He's not ever hidden the facts about what he did, but then no one had sought him out to ask either.]

That wasn't the reason, no.

[He hadn't that much control over what his taint had caused each individual to mutate into, but is happy to let Romeo believe he did it consciously if he wanted to.]

[myblueskies]

What was the reason then? [A serious question, he really wants to know. It was a bad thing for Sephiroth to do but he wants to know why. Why he would hurt everyone like that and why he had made Romeo into someone who would be nasty and horrid to his friends.]

[neverbeamemory]

To get out of here.

[It's a short, sharp reply but in essence it's nothing but the truth. Just not with all of the extra details explained, of which Sephiroth is sure Romeo would neither like nor understand. Yes he'd hijacked the souls of others in his own selfish attempt at escape, and if that power hadn't been stolen from him he'd have tried it again as well.

Hurting people is always a side-effect when it came to Sephiroth getting what he wants.]

[myblueskies]

That was all? [He blinked sadly at him] So you just didn't think about the people you would be hurting?

[neverbeamemory]

[He misses that blink, instead glaring at the timer in the middle of the space on the other side of his barrier.]

It would have been worth it.

[The comment is entirely dismissive. He doesn't really care all that much who or how he hurt others in the process. What had been most important was the freedom of his soul from it's cage.]

[myblueskies]

[Romeo stares at him a few more minutes, as if unbelieving that someone could be so selfish as to consider hurting and killing people for their own gain worth it.] Oh.

[neverbeamemory]

[About half way through Romeo's staring Sephiroth turns to look back over his shoulder down at him again. Waiting for the next comment or question. Mindful of what the boy could be thinking.

He's half-disappointed, half-satisfied with the response.]

That's it.

[Que a one sided shrug.]

[myblueskies]

[Romeo frowned for a moment but then nodded] Doesn't it make you sad, when you think like that?

[neverbeamemory]

What reason is there for me to be sad?

[Romeo's comment strikes at something deeper. How useless Sephiroth has felt in the time since he failed to use the power he could channel from others to gain himself freedom.

He had felt frustrated about that, guilty over the failure, but not ever really sad. At least not in the way he imagines Romeo is implying.]

It's only frustrating that there was something I had overlooked.

[myblueskies]

There was. [Have an intense stare Sephiroth] You overlooked other people and you overlooked their friendship. No one can do anything alone. I bet if you had got everyone to help you and found a way to use your powers for good instead of hurting everyone it would of not gone so bad.

[neverbeamemory]

[He doesn't buckle under such intense glares, least of all from someone like Romeo. Sephiroth holds the eye contact, unflinchingly despite the sour thoughts that came with every consideration he ever gave to the way he had been stopped.]

I really couldn't care less what you think. [He tries to hold an aloof tone but the bitterness seeps out around the edges of it.]

I used a power that is mine to use, however I feel appropriate. It did exactly as intended and I have no regrets about that.

[myblueskies]

I know. [Romeo hugged his knees] But all you did was make everyone sad and mad at you and you didn't escape at all.

[neverbeamemory]

No. [He ignores the part about everyone. Uncaring.] But I learned it was possible. If nothing else, it proved my theories correct.

[If he had that power returned to him again, even now Sephiroth would try again. The Tower is weaker now, surely they wouldn't be able to stop him again. He might well be able to spread his influence even wider-

-certainly not from in here though. He shakes his head to dismiss that toxic thought before it takes root too deeply.]

[myblueskies]

You could use them now, when we escape. But this time to help everyone now you know that it works.

[neverbeamemory]

That's not going to be an option.

[myblueskies]

Why not?

[neverbeamemory]

Because it's not.

[Then he looks pointedly away from Romeo. Not ready to reveal to Romeo that he might well have lost that power of his; that ability to spread himself across as many consciousnesses as it took, forever.

Sephiroth turns to face the barrier once more and trails a wire frame impression of a hand over it. Of course, he's not attacking it so it doesn't do anything to him. He knows he's going to have to say something to settle this train of conversation with Romeo or the questions will never stop but-

-how?]

It's not a power that can be used that way, regardless.

[myblueskies]

I don't understand [And he sounds like he really wanted to.]

[neverbeamemory]

[That tone of Romeo's earns him a glance back, much more so than if he had spoken it any other way. For a dragged-out moment Sephiroth considers telling him more; what did it really matter anymore anyway if they were all going to remain in these cells locked up waiting for the darkness to snuff out each of their lights in turn.]

It's not a matter of understanding. [One-sided shrug.] It's a matter of taking what you need to, in order to survive.

[myblueskies]

And is that what's most important to you? Surviving? Even if you are all alone in the end?

[neverbeamemory]

Everybody is all alone, in the end.

[myblueskies]

No they're not [Have a glare] Some people are and that is sad but not everybody.

[neverbeamemory]

[Romeo's glare doesn't even earn a frown in retaliation. Even if there weren't cell walls between them, there is little threat to him from the small boy. Indeed, Romeo's life energy is wasted within him; if only Sephiroth's plan hadn't been foiled!]

Believe your delusion if you like, it's the truth.

[myblueskies]

It's not a delusion.