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Sephiroth ([personal profile] sefirot) wrote2020-04-24 05:43 am
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epistemological: (raised eyebrow)

[personal profile] epistemological 2021-12-04 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Jon will sigh, just a little. And then there'll be a change, a shift in the air. There's the feeling of being watched, of someone looking at you, noticing things, that there's no secrets you can keep. Even though he doesn't look any more intensely, there's the feeling of more: more eyes watching, more eyes focused. It's nothing he's doing, nothing that's changed in his bearing or his demeanor, his stance or his own focus. But the palpable dread, the sensation that something knows things you don't want it to know, and that if it doesn't know them, it will know them soon.

It's as undeniable as if he'd been on fire or ten feet tall.

And then, with a hard swallow, all of it draws back. Jon, for his part, looks almost pained from it but he puts a smile on.

"...I was having a smoke. And it's worse when I've just... taken care of my needs."
epistemological: (you're really serious about this?)

[personal profile] epistemological 2021-12-04 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Jon doesn't look cowed, but he does keep his eye on Sephiroth's.

"No, but I'm just about done with you acting as if you know a damnable thing about me, especially given how much you like to open your mouth about it." He crosses his arm. "And if you can tell me you'd have believed me if I said 'I feel spooky when I'm not really really trying not to be' instead of blown it off again, I'll apologize but otherwise, I think I'll just get to the rest of the business:

"Is there anything you need, or any concerns you have about the situation or in general?"
epistemological: (rough)

[personal profile] epistemological 2021-12-04 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Having been a godlike being of terrifying omniscience a couple of times, the very concept is deeply unimpressive to him. But he stays where he is.

"I'm not playing a game. Nor have I made any bones about my concerns regarding Elias, congratulations Captain Obvious. Nor do I care what you think about me because it's very clear you don't want to hear anything I have to say or even talk to me about anything other than how much you disdain me which... let me tell you, was tired a few weeks ago.

"You are my concern. Do you require any other assistance or do you have any other issues that a warden would need to address?"
epistemological: (wellllll)

[personal profile] epistemological 2021-12-04 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, that's also very tired," he says with a soft huff. "Playing the jaded wine aunt to this ship is nothing to be proud of."

Deep deep sigh.

"Your intentions are... understandable, and I will again thank you for your restraint. Now, I'll leave you be and you know how to reach me if, miracle of miracles, you decide you need something."
epistemological: (mmmmmrrr not happy)

[personal profile] epistemological 2021-12-04 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
He gets a startle. Of course he gets a startle, followed by very wide eyed moment as he stares almost comically behind and around Sephiroth. But after that moment, after that startle, there's no fear.

The feeling from earlier doesn't return, he keeps his restraint, but his arms uncross and his fingers curl into fists at his side. He closes his eyes and there's something airy and dangerous in his tone.

"Well, that explains quite a lot, now, doesn't it." Not a question. "I hadn't been able to figure you out but this? This tells me quite a bit," a mirthless laugh. Stranger. A creature of the Stranger. Of course the asshole doesn't want to be known, of course he disdains the very concept of actually knowing, of course he revels in his ignorance and disdains understanding because he doesn't believe he can be understood. Those that unknow.

And he knows that that isn't true, that Sephiroth's from another world, that it's just a category for him to put the bastard in. But categories are useful. They help you think. Help you focus. He just has to be careful not to let it pidgeonhole him too much.

"Let me make this perfectly clear to you, Mr. Sephiroth: I am not afraid of what Elias Bouchard can or will do to me. Because he literally can't do anything worse than he already has. So this little game? All you've done is piss me off. Which you're good at doing anyway. So. Unless you would like me to take a good long look at you, See you for exactly what you are, and keep going, which is... significantly more than what I did earlier..."

"I would appreciate if when I opened my eyes, I see the correct asshole."
Edited 2021-12-04 21:53 (UTC)
epistemological: (considering down)

[personal profile] epistemological 2021-12-04 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
People make this mistake with him.

They think that because he chooses not to harm, because he chooses restraint, because he doesn't swing his fists or pull out a weapon and wave it around or threaten people that he's afraid. That he's weak.

They don't have the first goddamn idea what he's been through. Or even the first idea what he's become.

He wants-

Oh, Sephiroth has no idea what he wants, how he wants. John Seed, Elias, and now this one, how much he wants to rip them apart the way only he can, rip out their stories and tear down their walls and devour every horrible thing they've done, every horrible thing done to them, every terrible, awful thing they've done to themselves until he's drunk with it. That there is a part of him that doesn't care about being a warden, doesn't care about being a person, and just wants to know.

The way he talks about the Dark, the way he talks about fear; it's like being a world class surgeon and hearing some asshole at the next table in a restaurant explain to his date that internal bleeding is fine because the inside is where the blood is supposed to be.

And he's been pushed of late. Christ, how he's been pushed. Well past his breaking point multiple times, but there's no Tim or Daniel here, just bloody Sephiroth playing chicken with him like a spoiled child taking out his frustrations on him instead of the idiot who threw razors at him.

"You're the child. And I'm leaving," is what he says, and he's so damn proud of himself that he manages to get it out, especially when he moves to turn, eyes still closed. Just seeing 'Elias' right now will not help.

He's leaving. Fuck this.
Edited 2021-12-04 22:40 (UTC)
epistemological: (item: recording...)

[personal profile] epistemological 2021-12-04 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
And right there.

There it is. That is the point. That is the moment. That is when the wrongness of it, the pure aching inaccuracy of the bile that Sephiroth is spitting out hits a mark.

Because no one, no one has ever come to 'save' him. And the only person who'd ever tried? Deserved better than being mocked like that.

That feeling from before? It returns, with a vengeance as Jon turns and looks at Sephiroth. And those eyes aren't daggers, they don't stab or cut or pierce. They look Through. They See, and they see what Sephiroth doesn't want them to see, doesn't want anyone to see because that is what they want to Know.

"Hilarious," he says, utterly calm, completely unbothered, his posture loose and relaxed. Because now he's let go, now he's not trying to be a person. He's the Archivist. He's a living compendium of terror, and inside of him lives the darkest Dark and the deepest Buried and a vastness so Vast words fail it. He still feels the Corruption squirming in his skin some nights, and there's no telling if it's the Spiral warping what he hears or whether the Stranger's calliope or the Piper's violence sings endlessly in his ears. This fool thinks he can play him, but he's had the Web's strings tugging him this way and that since he was eight, knows their tug, just like he can feel the burning, heatless Desolation envelope his hand, the emptiness at the bottom of his ribs reminding him of all the pieces of Flesh that make him up. He has lived and he has Died and he has lived again and all were done, utterly Alone in every way that matters. He's even seen himself become something new and different and alien, seen himself and who he is and what he believes replaced, seen Jon Sims become the Archivist and he still doesn't know the way back from that, not completely. But the Hunt is in his blood as he looks at his prey, at this man who thinks he knows what fear is.

"You can't even face the man you were, let alone the things I've walked into, eyes very much wide open. I was closing them? Because I didn't want to inadvertently See something, I didn't want to hurt you in a way that no one here has much defense against. But clearly, that's not what you want. So fine. Let's look the monster in the face."

It's not a full extraction. He wouldn't dream of it, can't justify that to himself, even now, even here. But he's going to reach in and pull out something deep, something that this man does not want to face. With enough force to make the tape recorder in his pocket squeal in its own kind of terror as that knowledge floods through not just him? But Sephiroth as well.

And Sephiroth? Will feel it just like the first time, knowing Jon knows all of it, everything, right down to the last trembling heartbeat.
epistemological: (beaten up)

[personal profile] epistemological 2021-12-05 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
Jon doesn't dodge.

Sephiroth grabs him by the throat, slams him into the wall. And even though he can't breathe, even though he can't speak, there's a satisfaction in his eyes, and the feel of those watching eyes-

They're not searching for secrets, because what's happening now is juicy enough. No, this is a malevolent gaze of someone who is watching? And enjoying your discomfort, your fear. Enjoying the fear of something being in your head that you didn't want to be there, the idea that more might come.

It's the fear Jon lives with every day of his life.

He can't answer, but it's obvious from his face, pained as it is: he has zero regrets. He dares.

And he'll dare again.

He is not afraid of Sephiroth. Not even a little. He never was and he never will be. No matter what he does to him.
Edited 2021-12-05 01:02 (UTC)
colorofthesky: (Accept no excuses.)

[personal profile] colorofthesky 2021-12-05 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
It takes a grand total of two seconds after Jon’s body hits the wall for the door of Zack’s cabin to slam open. He’d been listening for something like this simply because Jon requested it, and the mixture of shock and confusion on his face quickly morphs into alarm as what’s happening registers.

Zack launches himself at Sephiroth, latches his arms around him, and tries to drag him off Jon with all the strength he has.

Sephiroth, stop!
epistemological: (beaten up)

[personal profile] epistemological 2021-12-05 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
Jon drops, and he'll shake his head and let out a cough, but he doesn't even sound froggy after that. Instead, his voice is clear if a little rough, some of the anger blunted but none of the indignance.

"Quid pro quo." Turnabout is fair play.

He turns to Zack, and his tone is more conciliatory.

"Should I-"

Get out of here?
Edited 2021-12-05 02:28 (UTC)
colorofthesky: (Bloody mayhem.)

[personal profile] colorofthesky 2021-12-05 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
Still hanging on to Sephiroth, Zack gives Jon a sharp look at the ‘quid pro quo’ comment. The kind of look that says they’re going to have some words later, and they may not be kind, either.

“Go. Now,” he grinds out — and no, he’s not letting go of Sephiroth. Not until Jon is well and truly gone.
Edited 2021-12-05 02:37 (UTC)
epistemological: (seriously?)

[personal profile] epistemological 2021-12-05 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
Jon looks back at Sephiroth, still uncowed. But the last look is at Zack.

"I'm gone."

An acknowledgement that they'll talk later. But he's running at top speed and on a different floor soon enough.
colorofthesky: (The skies may turn against me.)

[personal profile] colorofthesky 2021-12-05 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
Zack waits until he’s damn sure Jon is off their floor before he cautiously releases Sephiroth. Just seeing the other man like that has Zack agitated and more than a little unnerved.

He puffs out a soft breath, and he tries to ignore the sound of his own pulse pounding in his ears. His voice, at least, is steady.

“Do you want to tell me what happened now or later?”
colorofthesky: (Don't count me out.)

[personal profile] colorofthesky 2021-12-05 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
Well, that’s good, at least. That Sephiroth isn’t trying to take off after Jon. Because this is such an…uncharacteristically emotional Sephiroth, that Zack still isn’t sure what to expect right now.

He looks at him and nods slowly.

“Okay…your cabin or mine?”

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