onepassingnight | 001: a different path ☄

Entry tags:

001: a different path ☄

[Professor Gast didn't leave him behind. Why would he? They understood each other; there was a kinship between them. He wouldn't have left a child with that madman. It isn't easy, living on the run from Shinra, but Sephiroth is strong, stronger than any other, and swifter. He can protect them both. He can hear the enemy coming from a long way off, the hum of engines or the tramp of feet. The Planet is large, and they'll always be safe, if he can help it. Shinra lost their war with Wutai (there was no Silver SOLDIER). There are places left to hide.

They don't stay anywhere too long, but they bring their research with them. They conceal themselves in small towns. Refugees aren't so unusual, and few people would guess at what they are, though Sephiroth's bearing and his long sword makes some things clear, such as the fact that they can handle themselves.

Their current residence may be cramped, but it is clean. Sephiroth is dressed simply, in a white shirt and black pants, leaning over the table, lost in the study of figures. He and the Professor discuss the problem they're working on in low voices, in terms that might make little sense to a layman. The Professor breaks to make tea, and Sephiroth drinks it black.

When Gast goes to bed (Father, maybe he can think of him that way), Sephiroth remains awake, remains watchful. He needs less sleep, because he's different, a person apart. He's just beginning to understand why that is. He knows he must be careful. What Shinra did to him, to other children: they shouldn't be allowed to continue. He and the Professor mean to stop them. Sephiroth gazes out the window at the night sky spotted with bright stars, and though he has no wealth, no influence, no power save his own strength, the sudden realization sweeps over him that he is fiercely, deeply, undeniably happy.

There shouldn't be anyone else in the cottage, and when he senses an unfamiliar presence, Sephiroth turns, tensing, the calm slipping from him in an instant.]

What do you want?

[He won't let anyone take this from him.]

[[OOC: Starting out with a flip of the chessboard. In his dream, Sephiroth's guardian is Professor Gast rather than Professor Hojo, and they left Shinra together. Sephiroth has no idea of what actually happened to Professor Gast.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Of all the places to be, why was Zack laying on the counter? With his back turned to Sephiroth, no less, and with a few dishes laying over his body.

He turns his head in the direction of the voice, his tone flat and a bit... strange coming from someone like him.]

Nothin', yet. You got a problem with me stayin' here?

[Sephiroth hesitates, momentarily confused. This visitation doesn't fit in with the reality he's constructed in his dream. It's familiar, but the wrong kind of familiarity, and he struggles to make sense of it.

Then it falls into place. He isn't ready to deconstruct this life yet, to return to his own memories, but he does accept Zack's presence here, the dream simply adding him into the story without a logical explanation.]

A problem? No, I don't. But what are you--those are our plates. [He notes the flatness of tone without being sure what to make of it. He's a bit exasperated, and he's just going to go remove the dishes, because there's no need for that.]

[Zack rolls over on his back when Sephiroth comes over and the plates are removed, opening his eyes to watch the man with... an odd, green tinge over what should be bright-blue eyes. There's definately something off about the SOLDIER - his tone reduced to a flat monotone.]

I didn't put 'em there.

[He doesn't seem bothered by that as he continues to stare at Sephiroth, his brow furrowing in confusion.]

...Sephiroth.

[He frowns. This isn't right. In fact, something is very wrong. He glances toward the hall, down which lies the Professor's room.]

You didn't? Then who--

[When Zack says his name, Sephiroth remembers.]

Zack. Who did this? [He doesn't know exactly what he's asking about; it's not only the plates, but Zack's uncharacteristic manner, his eyes.]

Doesn't matter.

[Said with a crick of the neck, the SOLDIER finally starting to sit up from his position. He isn't doing a lot of looking at Sephiroth, but something visibly ruffles under his turtleneck.]

Should I be on my way, then? Sorry for, ah... interruptin' your teatime an' everything.

Where are you going to go at this time of night? I said I don't have a problem with you staying. It's just that the Professor's sleeping. [He pauses. There's something else, that he doesn't remember. He almost tries to recover the memory, then pushes it quickly from his mind, focusing on the cottage, on Zack.

He puts a hand on Zack's shoulder.] Tell me. What is it? [He doesn't remember SOLDIER yet, but his voice has the tone of an order.]

[Sephiroth might not have an issue with Zack staying, but how can he be sure this is his normal, sane friend? How can he be sure Sephiroth won't come late into the right to run him through the chest again? He can't be sure of anything, and his thoughts are so foggy and jumbled by the mako it's difficult to make much sense of anything anymore.]

Places to go, things to do. It's too stagnant here.

[He's about to hop off the counter when he feels the hand on his shoulder... and immediately, defenstively tenses up.]

Is it really that big of a deal?

Stagnant. [Sephiroth neither agrees nor disagrees with this.] Perhaps that's better than--

[But he doesn't know what it's better than, and he falters.] --the alternative. But I doubt you have anything so pressing to do in the middle of the night, miles from anywhere.

[Where Zack's well being is concerned, he doesn't falter.] It matters to me.

[This just gets another dulled, green-eyed stare from the man, those same eyes closing in thought as he's stopped where he's standing. Why did they need to have this conversation now? Couldn't it wait just... just a little while?]

You know me better than anyone, don't ya, Seph?

[He tries to relax, moving to gently nudge the hand off his shoulder.]

...

I'm not really here, Sephiroth. In fact, you could say this is my mind's way of protectin' itself.

No. [He takes a step back. He doesn't like the way Zack looks. He's never seen him like this. Some of his memories of Zack break through those of his fantasy, though without shattering it.]

No, there was someone else, wasn't there? Who knew you better. [He can't quite remember. He shakes his head, doesn't pursue the thought.]

[He considers the young man thoughtfully, frowning slightly.] I don't quite understand. What are you protecting yourself from?

[Of course there was. There always had been, even if he was never direct with the man about it. Angeal had been there all his life, ever since he was a child. But... the topic of Angeal would have to be pushed aside, for now.]

I'm in a dream right now, Sephiroth. [He finally turns, finally looks at the man who *should* be his friend. Maybe... his mind was dredging up those simpler times, to make this whole situation better.]

An' I'm not only sleepin'. Something happened - something really nasty that I'm not too sure I can even fix.

A dream. Yet it seems real. [He hesitates. How can this be a dream, if it's his life? This is, at least, what he wants his life to be--free of Shinra, raised by someone who wasn't a mass of neuroses, not used as anyone's pawn. But he can't turn away from the truth, even if it is other than what he wants, even if it is unpleasant.]

What happened?

It's not something you'd care about.

[This time, the tone is almost... sad, quiet enough to be heard, but quieter than Sephiroth would remember him ever speaking. He tries to walk off again, wanting all of this to just be over.]

[What could this change in Zack possibly be about? It's worrying, as it's so unlike the young man to behave like this.]

Of course it is. You're my responsibility. [He moves in front of Zack, blocking his way.]

[Distracted by his own thoughts, Zack walks straight into Sephiroth's chest, feeling the painful *thump* against his nose and backing away a few steps with an alarmed yelp.

Jeez! Way to be upfront, Sephiroth.]

I said I don't wanna talk about it!

[He's not about to stop being upfront, especially not now. Also, Zack should pay better attention.]

I'm not going to allow you to leave like this, Zack. You don't have to talk about it if you feel so adamant, but stay. Have some tea.

[If Sephiroth's willing to let the topic be dropped, then... maybe hanging out here for a bit wouldn't be so bad.

Managing to calm himself down enough to face the silver-haired man, he nods once, allowing green-tinged eyes to trail up to that face.]

...fine. Just for a little while. Few hours, tops.

Good. You look like you could use a rest. I'll make more tea. I think this pot has gone cold.

[He turns to make the tea, but he remains wary, keeping watch out of the corner of his eye, lest Zack, who is behaving so strangely, should try to leave again.]

You can stay as long as you like. There might not be much to do in this town, but it's peaceful. Few people come here. [ShinRa doesn't come. It's safe. That's what he most wants now, to be away from ShinRa, from the things they do...]

[And if he left, he'd just wake up again anyway. He wasn't ready for that, to be dragged away, poked and prodded in the name of 'science' or whatever other excuse Hojo would come up with. So he carefully sits at the table as Sephiroth prepares, leaning over on his elbows and giving a quiet sigh.]

I told you, I'm fine. I'm not the one I'm worried about...

[A bit anxiously, one gloved finger idly taps at the table in thought.]

But as long as either of us get some kind of reprieve, I guess it's alright. It is pretty nice here, after all.

That's because it's in your nature to worry about others rather than yourself, even when you should be concerned.

[There's a sharpness in his voice, and he doesn't know where it comes from, still mostly caught up in the false memories of this dream.

Nonetheless, Zack's fate matters to him. He fills the kettle, puts it on the stove.]

I worry about you. You should talk to the professor, when he wakes up. He might be able to help you. [He has a great respect for Gast's work. Whatever's wrong with Zack, if anyone could help, the professor can.]

NO!!

[The word is out before he can even think to stop it - the name, *professor*, and all that comes with it is still enough to make his blood boil. And after a few moments, he realizes he's actually standing again as well, both hands slamming onto the table.

The outburst in itself is taxing, and he sways a little, struggling not to collapse entirely as he slumps back into his seat, holding his head. Even in the dream, he *was* feeling ill, breaking through that unnatural melacony and pushing himself further than he needed to.]

...don't. Don't.

[He's startled by this vehement reaction.]

Zack. It's all right. [He places a hand on the younger man's shoulder.]

Gast wouldn't hurt you. [He frowns. Lining up his actual memory with his dream memory makes him doubt the dream, and it starts to flicker for a moment, allowing a glimpse of something colder and more clinical beyond: dull metal surfaces, gray walls and a low, green glow, but then the dream steadies, the environment cottage asserting itself again.] We left ShinRa long ago. He doesn't approve of their methods.

You'll be all right.

Gast...?

[He looks up blearily, trying to meet Sephiroth's gaze and blink through the choking sensation of mako over his senses. His throat, his eyes, his nose - everything's blocked by it, and he's finding it a little hard to breathe.]

Didn't say Gast... thought you meant--

Ugh. Nevermind.

[Sephiroth knows at once what Zack must have thought he meant. This certainty does manage to pierce the dream memory, though the cottage remains stable, for now.

His eyes narrow, his voice sharpening.]

What has he done?

[The sharp, commanding tone of Sephiroth is unmistakable, especially after having known the man for as long as he had. But what would happen if he was to say what *did* happen? Would Sephiroth remember once he woke up? Would he hunt down Hojo himself? How would this affect things at all?

His hand lowers carefully from his head, blinking slowly and gaze going downcast as he mulls it over. There is no immediate response, the SOLDIER's fingers curling against the table uncertainly.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

001: a different path ☄

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject