You cannot say that I need to be open minded and then give me nothing. Yet that is what you are doing. Holding onto information and secrets much like Shinra.
They kept everything from me.
Now you do the same.
then he'll be pleasantly surprised when vincent finally decides to drop this convo
well, he suspected this kind of response from him, so color him unsurprised. come find him once you've managed to overcome your own pride and finished reflecting over his words. don't pretend like you won't, you weird obsession-prone child. ]
[It'll be a moment since Vincent managed to frustrate Sephiroth to such a grave degree that it took a bit for the usual calm and collected ex-SOLDIER to gather himself mentally.
But he does track down his general location and heads there with the sole purpose of ...
Well, he's not sure actually. Some of the things Vincent said had struck a nerve somewhere deep inside. Perhaps at a small part of his humanity that might exist under the raging ball of obsession and hate that he's become.]
I know you are here.
[While he can easily get the drop on Cloud, it's a bit different when dealing with someone he wasn't so directly connected to.
Something else to add to list list of frustrations]
[ true to his nature, vincent has chosen an abandoned building in one of the more desolate areas of the sector to hole himself up in for the time being. he doesn't plan on staying for long, so he can forego the typical comforts of a warm bed and running water.
given sephiroth's impatience, he had a feeling that he would be visited by him soon, so he picked a location that suited the needs of their eventual meeting. to say the least, the kid doesn't disappoint. in fact, he shows up sooner than he'd expected him to.
sensing the presence of a new arrival, vincent had slipped into the shadows of the run-down infrastructure, silently watching as the former SOLDIER enters the premises from a perch on the upper floor. he allows the silence to drag on for a couple of minutes even after the young man announces himself.
finally, he speaks up without budging from his post: ] What do you want? [ he knows what he's here for. it doesn't mean that he is going to make it easy for him. ]
[Sephiroth remained relatively calm in appearance and stature despite an inner growing irritation. He knew it was being done on purpose and so he would not allow himself to outwardly show any signs.
Holding his masamune blade off to the side, his head cants upwards towards the sound of the voice. Ah, there he is. Instead of doing what the first thoughts that rang through his head -- namely jumping up there and striking Vincent down where he stands -- he simply turns to fully face his direction.]
Enough. You already know the answer so be done with the games.
[Before Sephiroth does give in to the rising urge to turn this into combat instead of a conversation.]
vincent isn't playing games though. rather, he isn't prepared for the conversation sephiroth has sought him out for. he doubts that he ever will be, no matter how hard he tries. what happened in the past with lucrecia has haunted him in both his dreams and his every waking moment for the past couple of decades. it isn't something he is willing to talk about under any circumstances, but... sephiroth is a particularly special case, isn't he? he's her blood. he's a part of her.
—and that truth tears at him, raking sharp claws at his guilt-ridden conscience and provoking emotions that he has to suppress, to push down, to snuff out before they become too overwhelming. he doesn't have the same luxury as others to let his emotions spill forth. he can't be careless, so he chooses to be overcautious.
there is a multitude of reasons why he doesn't want to discuss lucrecia with sephiroth. all of them almost deeply personal. he doesn't do personal, no less with someone who he feels isn't even ready to know the truth. he is far too close-minded, too angry, too hateful, too corrupted.
yet he's here now and vincent is well aware that he only has himself to blame.
with one swift and fluid motion, he propels his body over the metal railing and lands with a barely audible, catlike grace on the ground floor a few feet away from the younger man. ]
Then ask me. [ ask him the questions that have infested your thoughts. ]
[In truth, Sephiroth is not fully sure he wants to have this conversation. It doesn't matter. It is pointless. He has gained knowledge through the lifestream. He doesn't need this.
But --
At the same time it bothers him. So much was kept from him in the past. Upon finding the reports about the experiment utilized in his creation, something in Sephiroth had snapped. For so long he searched for answers, a reason why he felt so different. So alone.
An outcast among those who looked up to him. Jenova is the reason he stood above the rest. Jenova is his true calling. Jenova is his --
Mother, right? The only part of him that mattered anyway. The part that would help him wound this world and find his true calling.
But that isn't the whole story. And he shouldn't care about the woman who actually gave birth to him. She's just a human who took part in an experiment that created a ... Monster.
No. A god. Yet ... she is still apart of an incomplete story that was kept from him for so long.
There's a pause as his internal conflict rages over finding the words to even ask the question. The flicker of uncertainty only lasted the briefest of moments before it evened back out to the typical air of smugness he usually carries.]
[ there is nothing that he doesn't blame himself for in regards to lucrecia or her son. sephiroth is a living testament of his failure to protect the woman he loved. he is his responsibility — a responsibility that he avoided for all these years. after all, he recognizes that he could have taken him away from shinra and the path that he has inevitably come to walk on. he could have given him more of a life — a life that lucrecia would have wanted for him.
but he didn't, did he? instead, he chose to fall into a deep sleep because somehow punishing himself over and over again with the memories of what transpired was still easier than raising the child of lucrecia with the knowledge of who his father was.
even looking at him now, a wave of conflicted emotions washes over him. he can see so much of her in his facial features, yet there are bits of that man in there too, isn't there? guilt, pain, hate — a child should not bear the sins of his father, so he doesn't see him as an enemy. no, he is simply another burden he must carry on his shoulders.
it's all his fault.
but since he can't alter the past, he can at least repent for his sins and attempt to fix the things he has so long neglected. ]
She... [ it's difficult to talk about her, evident by the slight break in his voice. ] She was a Class A biotechnologist for Shinra. [ his expression seems to soften as he goes on: ] She was intelligent, warm, compassionate and kind. She had an energy to her that was so vibrant it could light up any room she was in.
[ he pauses for a moment as he cants his head down, his eyes downcast. ]
She was brilliant, determined and passionate at what she did. And she was so full of life back then, but...
[ but then it all fell apart, didn't it? and he did nothing to stop it. ]
[This is a topic Vincent feels strongly about. That much is very clear. It comes through in his voice, his mannerisms and even word choice. Sephiroth isn't sure what exactly that means.
But it means something.
Perhaps something he can use in future against Vincent. While Cloud is the main target of his manipulative ire, that doesn't mean he couldn't easily switch his assaults. It might all depend on how this conversation goes.
And what he learns.
Though he's still not sure why he's here. Why he cares.]
But she decided to give us both up to experimentation, correct? Perhaps you are blinded by a tinted gaze. Someone with compassion and brilliance would not condemn any life to the mercy of the Shinra labs.
[His gaze remains locked on Vincent as he speaks, though the cat-like pupils of his eyes were thin and very angry. Not enough to attack or show any other indication of what he felt, but it was there.]
Whatever person you thought you knew was clearly a lie.
[Though Sephiroth does not know either, he only makes assumptions based on his own pain and anger. His own hate towards the world.]
[ it's true that he can't explain why she agreed to the experiment, but he also knows that she wouldn't have made the decision lightly. she wouldn't have done it if she wasn't influenced, possibly even manipulated or coerced, by hojo.
the only indication of any frustration on his end is a slight crease of his brows. ]
It was my sin. Not hers. She was... [ another break. ] She cared too much, so I don't believe that she wanted it. Not really. But he— [ shit. shit, he isn't good at this. he isn't ready. ] I didn't stop her. [ it was his fault. ] If you want to blame someone, [ he meets his eyes then. ] blame me.
[ can we just get a collective vincent, no here? ]
I wasn't able to prevent her in time. I was too late. [ talking about this was a mistake. ] And he— [ a noticeable grit has entered his voice now. ] Hojo— [ careful, vincent. ] he made her do it. He used her for his own twisted ambitions an—
[ no. no, he needs to stop. he can feel the surge of anger within him and the stir of chaos in response.
he isn't ready. ] Enough. [ he holds up a gloved hand as he starts to turn away. ] I can't do this. [ look, he Tried, but he is going to bye felicia now. ]
[It always goes back to Hojo. Sephiroth never cared for him before he learned of everything. Hojo was a prime example of a twisted and terrible person and even someone as lost as Sephiroth can see that.
His own insanity is almost minuscule in comparison.
He watches as Vincent turns to leave. So he carries the burden of guilt for everything. Just what was their relationship? Clearly he cared. Perhaps too much to react this way.]
After all this, you intend to run away. Were you this cowardly then? Is that why you failed?
And what objective would that be? I intend to destroy everything and that is not of any importance to you?
[Vincent started this, he can't just up and leave. If Sephiroth needs to invoke a fight here and now, he will go down that path.
Which Vincent can also blame himself for drawing Sephiroth's attention in the first place. You know? The guy whose reason for being seems to revolve around obsessively harassing Cloud?
Now, for the moment Cloud gets a break and our favorite vampire gets to deal with it.]
[ he really did bring this on himself. somehow, his own rationality played him.
he angles his face to the side, not fully glancing back at him. he can sense his presence, his quiet intentions, and he is prepared for them, but— he has no desire to fight him. it isn't why he waited for him. ]
I failed your mother. And I failed you. Tell me, do you waver?
[ a silent pivot of his feet and once more crimson hues lock onto bright green. ]
I bear the sins of what happened to her. What happened to you. I can't alter the past. And my words, they—... I want you to understand.
[ he wants him to understand, yet his strength never lied in speech. he doesn't have the wherewithal to persuade him.
he thought that he did, but his earlier attempt proved it futile. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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pls he was 110% listening ]
Not yet. [ when has anyone ever known vincent valentine to be easy to deal with? ]
you are a really amazing vincent, you know that?
He mostly hates that Vincent managed to get his attention and then keeps the information just out of reach...]
You are no better than Shinra.
ty! i'm glad you're enjoying him asdf
[ if that was meant to provoke him, well—
it's a little hard to offend somebody who already hates himself. ]
I AM sephiroth however is not
sephiroth should feel flattered that he's speaking to him at all
knowing Sephiroth he probably feels it is the other way around
They kept everything from me.
Now you do the same.
then he'll be pleasantly surprised when vincent finally decides to drop this convo
[ u petulant child ]
he'll probably go break something
vincent is okay if he wants to throw a temper tantrum
[ because guess what sephiroth? this isn't solely about u ]
>[
Then this conversation is over and you have failed in you attempts to make me see another truth.
:')
well, he suspected this kind of response from him, so color him unsurprised. come find him once you've managed to overcome your own pride and finished reflecting over his words. don't pretend like you won't, you weird obsession-prone child. ]
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But he does track down his general location and heads there with the sole purpose of ...
Well, he's not sure actually. Some of the things Vincent said had struck a nerve somewhere deep inside. Perhaps at a small part of his humanity that might exist under the raging ball of obsession and hate that he's become.]
I know you are here.
[While he can easily get the drop on Cloud, it's a bit different when dealing with someone he wasn't so directly connected to.
Something else to add to list list of frustrations]
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given sephiroth's impatience, he had a feeling that he would be visited by him soon, so he picked a location that suited the needs of their eventual meeting. to say the least, the kid doesn't disappoint. in fact, he shows up sooner than he'd expected him to.
sensing the presence of a new arrival, vincent had slipped into the shadows of the run-down infrastructure, silently watching as the former SOLDIER enters the premises from a perch on the upper floor. he allows the silence to drag on for a couple of minutes even after the young man announces himself.
finally, he speaks up without budging from his post: ] What do you want? [ he knows what he's here for. it doesn't mean that he is going to make it easy for him. ]
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Holding his masamune blade off to the side, his head cants upwards towards the sound of the voice. Ah, there he is. Instead of doing what the first thoughts that rang through his head -- namely jumping up there and striking Vincent down where he stands -- he simply turns to fully face his direction.]
Enough. You already know the answer so be done with the games.
[Before Sephiroth does give in to the rising urge to turn this into combat instead of a conversation.]
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vincent isn't playing games though. rather, he isn't prepared for the conversation sephiroth has sought him out for. he doubts that he ever will be, no matter how hard he tries. what happened in the past with lucrecia has haunted him in both his dreams and his every waking moment for the past couple of decades. it isn't something he is willing to talk about under any circumstances, but... sephiroth is a particularly special case, isn't he? he's her blood. he's a part of her.
—and that truth tears at him, raking sharp claws at his guilt-ridden conscience and provoking emotions that he has to suppress, to push down, to snuff out before they become too overwhelming. he doesn't have the same luxury as others to let his emotions spill forth. he can't be careless, so he chooses to be overcautious.
there is a multitude of reasons why he doesn't want to discuss lucrecia with sephiroth. all of them almost deeply personal. he doesn't do personal, no less with someone who he feels isn't even ready to know the truth. he is far too close-minded, too angry, too hateful, too corrupted.
yet he's here now and vincent is well aware that he only has himself to blame.
with one swift and fluid motion, he propels his body over the metal railing and lands with a barely audible, catlike grace on the ground floor a few feet away from the younger man. ]
Then ask me. [ ask him the questions that have infested your thoughts. ]
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But --
At the same time it bothers him. So much was kept from him in the past. Upon finding the reports about the experiment utilized in his creation, something in Sephiroth had snapped. For so long he searched for answers, a reason why he felt so different. So alone.
An outcast among those who looked up to him. Jenova is the reason he stood above the rest. Jenova is his true calling. Jenova is his --
Mother, right? The only part of him that mattered anyway. The part that would help him wound this world and find his true calling.
But that isn't the whole story. And he shouldn't care about the woman who actually gave birth to him. She's just a human who took part in an experiment that created a ... Monster.
No. A god. Yet ... she is still apart of an incomplete story that was kept from him for so long.
There's a pause as his internal conflict rages over finding the words to even ask the question. The flicker of uncertainty only lasted the briefest of moments before it evened back out to the typical air of smugness he usually carries.]
Who was she?
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but he didn't, did he? instead, he chose to fall into a deep sleep because somehow punishing himself over and over again with the memories of what transpired was still easier than raising the child of lucrecia with the knowledge of who his father was.
even looking at him now, a wave of conflicted emotions washes over him. he can see so much of her in his facial features, yet there are bits of that man in there too, isn't there? guilt, pain, hate — a child should not bear the sins of his father, so he doesn't see him as an enemy. no, he is simply another burden he must carry on his shoulders.
it's all his fault.
but since he can't alter the past, he can at least repent for his sins and attempt to fix the things he has so long neglected. ]
She... [ it's difficult to talk about her, evident by the slight break in his voice. ] She was a Class A biotechnologist for Shinra. [ his expression seems to soften as he goes on: ] She was intelligent, warm, compassionate and kind. She had an energy to her that was so vibrant it could light up any room she was in.
[ he pauses for a moment as he cants his head down, his eyes downcast. ]
She was brilliant, determined and passionate at what she did. And she was so full of life back then, but...
[ but then it all fell apart, didn't it? and he did nothing to stop it. ]
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But it means something.
Perhaps something he can use in future against Vincent. While Cloud is the main target of his manipulative ire, that doesn't mean he couldn't easily switch his assaults. It might all depend on how this conversation goes.
And what he learns.
Though he's still not sure why he's here. Why he cares.]
But she decided to give us both up to experimentation, correct? Perhaps you are blinded by a tinted gaze. Someone with compassion and brilliance would not condemn any life to the mercy of the Shinra labs.
[His gaze remains locked on Vincent as he speaks, though the cat-like pupils of his eyes were thin and very angry. Not enough to attack or show any other indication of what he felt, but it was there.]
Whatever person you thought you knew was clearly a lie.
[Though Sephiroth does not know either, he only makes assumptions based on his own pain and anger. His own hate towards the world.]
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[ it's true that he can't explain why she agreed to the experiment, but he also knows that she wouldn't have made the decision lightly. she wouldn't have done it if she wasn't influenced, possibly even manipulated or coerced, by hojo.
the only indication of any frustration on his end is a slight crease of his brows. ]
It was my sin. Not hers. She was... [ another break. ] She cared too much, so I don't believe that she wanted it. Not really. But he— [ shit. shit, he isn't good at this. he isn't ready. ] I didn't stop her. [ it was his fault. ] If you want to blame someone, [ he meets his eyes then. ] blame me.
[ can we just get a collective vincent, no here? ]
I wasn't able to prevent her in time. I was too late. [ talking about this was a mistake. ] And he— [ a noticeable grit has entered his voice now. ] Hojo— [ careful, vincent. ] he made her do it. He used her for his own twisted ambitions an—
[ no. no, he needs to stop. he can feel the surge of anger within him and the stir of chaos in response.
he isn't ready. ] Enough. [ he holds up a gloved hand as he starts to turn away. ] I can't do this. [ look, he Tried, but he is going to bye felicia now. ]
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His own insanity is almost minuscule in comparison.
He watches as Vincent turns to leave. So he carries the burden of guilt for everything. Just what was their relationship? Clearly he cared. Perhaps too much to react this way.]
After all this, you intend to run away. Were you this cowardly then? Is that why you failed?
[Baiting? Maybe.]
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sephiroth's words stops him in his tracks, yet they aren't enough to make him turn back around to face him. ]
I'm not running away. [ a long pause. ] I lost sight of my objective. You aren't it.
[ cold, but... he needs to be cold right now. he needs to be impartial and unaffected, especially in his presence. there's too much at risk. ]
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[Vincent started this, he can't just up and leave. If Sephiroth needs to invoke a fight here and now, he will go down that path.
Which Vincent can also blame himself for drawing Sephiroth's attention in the first place. You know? The guy whose reason for being seems to revolve around obsessively harassing Cloud?
Now, for the moment Cloud gets a break and our favorite vampire gets to deal with it.]
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he angles his face to the side, not fully glancing back at him. he can sense his presence, his quiet intentions, and he is prepared for them, but— he has no desire to fight him. it isn't why he waited for him. ]
I failed your mother. And I failed you. Tell me, do you waver?
[ a silent pivot of his feet and once more crimson hues lock onto bright green. ]
I bear the sins of what happened to her. What happened to you. I can't alter the past. And my words, they—... I want you to understand.
[ he wants him to understand, yet his strength never lied in speech. he doesn't have the wherewithal to persuade him.
he thought that he did, but his earlier attempt proved it futile. ]
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