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

[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.

[neverbeamemory]

Prove to me otherwise.

[Though, really if there were anything that Romeo could do to convince Sephiroth. The latter most likely would only brush it off.

It's all too disgustingly human for him.]

[myblueskies]

Prove it to you? [he thought about that] Okay. I will.

[neverbeamemory]

Hmph.

[Have a snort of a noise, Romeo. Highly unlikely. Sephiroth then steps away from the barrier and leans against the opposite wall to where Romeo's cell is. Folding arms up and fixing his gaze on a spot of the floor a small distance from his feet Sephiroth allows himself to slip into collecting his thoughts with nothing more to say to the kid.]

[myblueskies]

[Romeo watched him for a long moment, but stayed quiet. Planning how he could prove it to Sephiroth before the end. Determined that he would find a way.]