[Sephiroth turns to watch Cloud stalk across the room, silently studying his movements. This isn't going well, is it? He's never been the keenest at social skills, but he can certainly tell Cloud isn't happy.
It's looking there's no way to get around the subject any longer. The move Sephrioth avoids it, the more everything circles back. It's almost as if with every word, he's somehow managed to bury himself deeper into a hole.
A deep, dark hole, that's looking harder and harder to climb out of.]
What I want ... I suppose, in a sense, you are right. I do not want you to die. I want you to live. There were a few reasons for that before that have since evolved. I do not know what it all means --
[Which is one of the few honest answers he can give, though that's not to say he's been actively lying. More like avoiding this conversation.]
But my words from before have not changed. We could do much to change fate together. Defy our paths. Start something new.
[There's a sigh, and while he gestures lightly with his hand, Cloud is unlikely to see it with his back turned. ]
What I mean is, if you would like to change any of what you saw ... I will guide you.
[He knows Cloud will want to change one of those events. One that will haunt him for years. Of course he might not believe him or stubbornly believe he doesn't need Sephiroth's help. Maybe he doesn't. They did destroy fate already. They could still change things on their own. And Sephiroth could simply subconsciously be using this as an excuse to stay nearby.]
[ There goes his temper again--but he swallows it down, forces it to focus simply on the way that his fingers curl into his fist, closing in against the top of the desk like he might slam right into it. Such a sound would surely cause the wood to splinter, and even worse, would draw the attention of the others in the rooms so close to his. He doesn't want anyone coming in--namely, Tifa, of all people--and he doesn't want to have to admit that he's been actually communicating with Sephiroth, not to mention the other things they've engaged in. It's embarrassing, and worse than that, it's downright shameful. ]
Guide me to do what you want, you mean. Guide me to kill the Planet, ruin everything, destroy everyone here just so that you can feel a little better about yourself?
[ A shake of his head. He's getting too heated still--he needs time. Needs to swallow it down. What was it he used to do, to calm himself? Squats? No, that--doesn't feel right, that feels... ]
I don't know how to trust you. I don't know how you're any different than the...other one. The other... you.
[ With his expression calmed, he finally straightens, finally turns to look at Sephiroth again, dyed eyes narrowed and blank. ]
[This conversation is not going well. At least not how he planned, though he didn't really have much of one when he came here. But in any case it's not going the way he'd like it to.
Which he supposes goes along with the words Cloud's expressing right now. Maybe he's trying too hard to play this carefully. At this rate they're going to get absolutely nowhere.
And that only goes to remind Sephiroth of his original thoughts of how coming here is nothing but a bad idea. But he did it anyway, and now it's going in the worst possible direction.
Well, not worst. Cloud hasn't attempted to grab the buster sword and run it through him yet. He's almost sure he would given the chance though.
That is something he needs to change.
A sigh follows, and his body pivots so that he meets Cloud's gaze. He didn't want to give this much, but he's not sure what else he has to offer other than answers of what is to come.]
The one your are chasing intends to wound the planet, not destroy it. He will summon meteor to strike the world and be at the heart of the impact. The lifestream will attempt to heal the wound. Being at the core of this, he will try and merge with the lifestream itself to become a ... god.
[Sephrioth gestures a bit with that last part, waving a hand almost dismissively.]
The flower girl --
[Ah, maybe he should watch his wording there ...]
-- Aerith holds a materia which she will use to summon a force to stop what is to come. There is a temple in a place called the forgotten city, that is where she originally meets her death. I cannot say if the events this time will be different. But that is the path fate wished to keep in place.
[ He hears the words: all of them, given that he's focused so keenly on them, focused so hard that he barely even notices the headache that starts to creep up on him, pinging back behind his eyes. Meteor, he says, and his head swims; lifestream and there's something that pulls at him, makes all the angry, irritated words in his throat close up, wither and disappear. Sephiroth speaks of Aerith and the Forgotten City and it feels like it's too much, like he's swallowing for air that he can't seem to take in fully. All of these things waiting in his future, and yet they're almost familiar--almost, like he's seen it before, like the sound of materia tipping over onto rock, clanging as it moves away from--but how would he--
One of his hands lifts, clutches at the side of his head, and his gloved fingers dig into his scalp; he's tempted to pull his hair out just for some relief from the feeling. Thoughts and memories clash together, a mangled knot of what he thinks is true and what must really be true, or maybe nothing is true at all, but no, this Sephiroth isn't lying, is he? And here he is, doubled over and weak, his free hand clutching for the wall to maintain some sort of balance.
He just needs to not think about it. He needs to pretend he doesn't know. He doesn't get it. He pushes it all down, and tries not to think of Aerith's face or the water or the feeling of her in his arms. ]
So what's the plan, then? [ Harsh, his voice sounds like he's gasping for air. ] What am I supposed to do to fix all that? Work with you? What's your master plan then? Why would you want to stop yourself anyway? You don't care about her, or the Planet...
[And this is exactly why he did not want to give so much information at once. He watches Cloud scramble to keep ahold of himself, though gives no real visible reaction otherwise. There was once a time where seeing him buckle over in pain would spark a bitter enjoyment, but that's not his goal right now.
He doesn't need Cloud's mind to break completely. He just wants him to listen, but probably due to both of their stubbornness they will have to do this the hard way.
Which Cloud is currently experiencing right now.
What's the saying? You reap what you sow?]
You're right, I don't.
[Sephiroth finally slips from his statue-like stance to move towards Cloud, but not directly as he shifts his gaze away. Almost as though he's taking a causal stroll around the room.]
But both of those are important to you. And by extension that makes it of some importance to me.
[Of course that only partially answers Cloud's various questions. The plan is practically shattered, only being held together by a thin string connecting everything. At any moment it could break and everything would be for nothing.]
The question is, are you willing to work with the one you hate so much in order to save something you cherish? Is that such a terrible sacrifice? Though with every moment of suffering you become stronger. So perhaps in this case, destiny should play it's course, hm?
[Those last words are meant as bait. Sephiroth doesn't even look at Cloud when he says them, choosing to move back towards the window to glance towards the streets instead.]
[ It's not like the idea doesn't have its merits. He won't pretend that it means nothing, or that he doesn't understand that there could be benefit to it. Sephiroth knows much more than he does--he's displayed that, given him information that no one but him, really, could know, and has even more information that he's surely keeping from him, too. There's the problem with it: what if this is the other sort of bait? Like he's luring Cloud into thinking something, telling him only certain things and then it'll turn out whatever he's left out is something important. What if he's just being lured into helping Sephiroth do what he's wanted to do all along? Even when he moves, Cloud's eyes follow him; tired as they are, they still narrow, focused to ensure that he won't do anything stupid.
Suffering? He's had plenty of that. He'd endure more of it, too, if he had to, more of it to become stronger, to become the sort of person who can end all of this. He doesn't care about himself when there are people he needs to protect--and honestly? Even that is perhaps more important than the Planet, in his eyes. ]
Tell me what you want me to do next.
[ He's not agreeing--but he is offering a chance, and depending on what he hears, he might just take him up on it. ]
Tell me what you think we should do.
[ With a sigh, he moves towards the bed, moves and eases down to sit on the edge of it. He's determined by now that Sephiroth isn't going to make a move while he's here--and truthfully, he's too tired to keep his tense stance going for now. ]
[Well, that's something at least. Better than outright refusal. Does this mean they're getting somewhere? Sephiroth is still unsure 'where' somewhere is at this point. Changing the future. Changing destiny. That's one thing, but internally he's all mixed up.
But perhaps if they keep going down this path they can find some common ground. Sephiroth knows that he and Cloud are both very alike yet very different at the same time. It's going to be difficult for the two of them not to stubbornly bump heads or drift onto different paths.
Turning back around to face him once more, he eyes the blond-haired man. If Cloud can ease up a bit ... maybe he should do the same. Would that help this conversation? Stepping to the side, he leans back against the wall and folds his arms. It's an attempt to look causal but he still carries that smug-arrogant look no matter what he does.]
Keep along the same path for now. Follow the clues in your search for 'me' ... You'll gather some more companions along the way. They may not be important to you now, but they will be eventually.
[Not that Sephiroth wants anymore people who might meddle and get in the way, he also doesn't know how the rest of the battles will go if Cloud doesn't gather the rest of his comrades. Sure he could aid if he so wished, but they also don't know the ramifications of that either. Is he going to create some sort of paradox and effect his own existence? ... Or perhaps he can split himself from the timeline all together.
He glances away from Cloud as his thoughts drift over various possibilities. Even with his vast knowledge from the lifestream there's still so many ways all of this can go wrong.]
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no subject
It's looking there's no way to get around the subject any longer. The move Sephrioth avoids it, the more everything circles back. It's almost as if with every word, he's somehow managed to bury himself deeper into a hole.
A deep, dark hole, that's looking harder and harder to climb out of.]
What I want ... I suppose, in a sense, you are right. I do not want you to die. I want you to live. There were a few reasons for that before that have since evolved. I do not know what it all means --
[Which is one of the few honest answers he can give, though that's not to say he's been actively lying. More like avoiding this conversation.]
But my words from before have not changed. We could do much to change fate together. Defy our paths. Start something new.
[There's a sigh, and while he gestures lightly with his hand, Cloud is unlikely to see it with his back turned. ]
What I mean is, if you would like to change any of what you saw ... I will guide you.
[He knows Cloud will want to change one of those events. One that will haunt him for years. Of course he might not believe him or stubbornly believe he doesn't need Sephiroth's help. Maybe he doesn't. They did destroy fate already. They could still change things on their own. And Sephiroth could simply subconsciously be using this as an excuse to stay nearby.]
no subject
[ There goes his temper again--but he swallows it down, forces it to focus simply on the way that his fingers curl into his fist, closing in against the top of the desk like he might slam right into it. Such a sound would surely cause the wood to splinter, and even worse, would draw the attention of the others in the rooms so close to his. He doesn't want anyone coming in--namely, Tifa, of all people--and he doesn't want to have to admit that he's been actually communicating with Sephiroth, not to mention the other things they've engaged in. It's embarrassing, and worse than that, it's downright shameful. ]
Guide me to do what you want, you mean. Guide me to kill the Planet, ruin everything, destroy everyone here just so that you can feel a little better about yourself?
[ A shake of his head. He's getting too heated still--he needs time. Needs to swallow it down. What was it he used to do, to calm himself? Squats? No, that--doesn't feel right, that feels... ]
I don't know how to trust you. I don't know how you're any different than the...other one. The other... you.
[ With his expression calmed, he finally straightens, finally turns to look at Sephiroth again, dyed eyes narrowed and blank. ]
So how are you going to fix that?
no subject
Which he supposes goes along with the words Cloud's expressing right now. Maybe he's trying too hard to play this carefully. At this rate they're going to get absolutely nowhere.
And that only goes to remind Sephiroth of his original thoughts of how coming here is nothing but a bad idea. But he did it anyway, and now it's going in the worst possible direction.
Well, not worst. Cloud hasn't attempted to grab the buster sword and run it through him yet. He's almost sure he would given the chance though.
That is something he needs to change.
A sigh follows, and his body pivots so that he meets Cloud's gaze. He didn't want to give this much, but he's not sure what else he has to offer other than answers of what is to come.]
The one your are chasing intends to wound the planet, not destroy it. He will summon meteor to strike the world and be at the heart of the impact. The lifestream will attempt to heal the wound. Being at the core of this, he will try and merge with the lifestream itself to become a ... god.
[Sephrioth gestures a bit with that last part, waving a hand almost dismissively.]
The flower girl --
[Ah, maybe he should watch his wording there ...]
-- Aerith holds a materia which she will use to summon a force to stop what is to come. There is a temple in a place called the forgotten city, that is where she originally meets her death. I cannot say if the events this time will be different. But that is the path fate wished to keep in place.
no subject
One of his hands lifts, clutches at the side of his head, and his gloved fingers dig into his scalp; he's tempted to pull his hair out just for some relief from the feeling. Thoughts and memories clash together, a mangled knot of what he thinks is true and what must really be true, or maybe nothing is true at all, but no, this Sephiroth isn't lying, is he? And here he is, doubled over and weak, his free hand clutching for the wall to maintain some sort of balance.
He just needs to not think about it. He needs to pretend he doesn't know. He doesn't get it. He pushes it all down, and tries not to think of Aerith's face or the water or the feeling of her in his arms. ]
So what's the plan, then? [ Harsh, his voice sounds like he's gasping for air. ] What am I supposed to do to fix all that? Work with you? What's your master plan then? Why would you want to stop yourself anyway? You don't care about her, or the Planet...
no subject
He doesn't need Cloud's mind to break completely. He just wants him to listen, but probably due to both of their stubbornness they will have to do this the hard way.
Which Cloud is currently experiencing right now.
What's the saying? You reap what you sow?]
You're right, I don't.
[Sephiroth finally slips from his statue-like stance to move towards Cloud, but not directly as he shifts his gaze away. Almost as though he's taking a causal stroll around the room.]
But both of those are important to you. And by extension that makes it of some importance to me.
[Of course that only partially answers Cloud's various questions. The plan is practically shattered, only being held together by a thin string connecting everything. At any moment it could break and everything would be for nothing.]
The question is, are you willing to work with the one you hate so much in order to save something you cherish? Is that such a terrible sacrifice? Though with every moment of suffering you become stronger. So perhaps in this case, destiny should play it's course, hm?
[Those last words are meant as bait. Sephiroth doesn't even look at Cloud when he says them, choosing to move back towards the window to glance towards the streets instead.]
no subject
Suffering? He's had plenty of that. He'd endure more of it, too, if he had to, more of it to become stronger, to become the sort of person who can end all of this. He doesn't care about himself when there are people he needs to protect--and honestly? Even that is perhaps more important than the Planet, in his eyes. ]
Tell me what you want me to do next.
[ He's not agreeing--but he is offering a chance, and depending on what he hears, he might just take him up on it. ]
Tell me what you think we should do.
[ With a sigh, he moves towards the bed, moves and eases down to sit on the edge of it. He's determined by now that Sephiroth isn't going to make a move while he's here--and truthfully, he's too tired to keep his tense stance going for now. ]
no subject
But perhaps if they keep going down this path they can find some common ground. Sephiroth knows that he and Cloud are both very alike yet very different at the same time. It's going to be difficult for the two of them not to stubbornly bump heads or drift onto different paths.
Turning back around to face him once more, he eyes the blond-haired man. If Cloud can ease up a bit ... maybe he should do the same. Would that help this conversation? Stepping to the side, he leans back against the wall and folds his arms. It's an attempt to look causal but he still carries that smug-arrogant look no matter what he does.]
Keep along the same path for now. Follow the clues in your search for 'me' ... You'll gather some more companions along the way. They may not be important to you now, but they will be eventually.
[Not that Sephiroth wants anymore people who might meddle and get in the way, he also doesn't know how the rest of the battles will go if Cloud doesn't gather the rest of his comrades. Sure he could aid if he so wished, but they also don't know the ramifications of that either. Is he going to create some sort of paradox and effect his own existence? ... Or perhaps he can split himself from the timeline all together.
He glances away from Cloud as his thoughts drift over various possibilities. Even with his vast knowledge from the lifestream there's still so many ways all of this can go wrong.]