It is not a game. As I said, it should end. Though this place --
[He gestures slightly around them.]
Generally makes that pointless, perhaps for you it'll be different. My words to you before we're not anything to deceive you. My strength and abilities have been returned for some time now if I wanted to injure you or your --
[What does he even refer to Abel as? He's trying not to think about that..]
Regardless of that, if I wanted to do something to cause you pain, I would have already done so. You know this.
[The same strange feeling of something being different about Sephiroth returns again. As much as he wants to stand his ground, he can't help feeling like Sephiroth isn't deceiving him this time. For once.
And then Sephiroth cuts himself off mid-sentence and Cloud arches a brow. What on earth was going to come after 'your' there?? And there it is again, Sephiroth insisting that he doesn't want to cause Cloud pain.
...this is the second time Cloud's found him sitting alone in the dark (albeit alone with a cat, in this case). In context, he was clearly talking about Abel, and he called Cloud just to interrogate him about why he was talking to the man earlier, in the gym, where he works.
You are important.
But perhaps I regret the pain you've endured as a result.
A sort of mind-boggling shock renders Cloud speechless for a moment.]
[He looks over at Cloud for a moment, but just a moment.]
No.
[Yes. So much so he wanted to bash Abel's face in, but didn't.]]
I am beyond human emotions.
[He hates it. He hates that he feels so much and it's harder to ignore and pretend he doesn't, especially when Cloud is involved. He's still good at acting like nothing's there but not enough so that Zack didn't figure it out.
And now Cloud --
But it doesn't matter anyway. Nothing does. He's also realized that as well]
What you do, and with who, is of no concern to me.
[At that Sephiroth stands, walking straight to where he stuck the blade into the floor and pulls it out. But instead of doing anything else, he walks away, not even looking at Cloud in the process.
He looks at the blade for a moment, briefly considering it's effectiveness against himself with it's restrictions. Not that death would really do anything here, he'd just come back and still be miserable. After a moment the blade simply vanishes into thin air.]
[What Cloud says is what gets Sephiroth to finally look over at him instead of staring off into the darkness. He won't comment on the whole sulking thing but ...]
His defensiveness says otherwise.
[Not that he thinks Cloud is lying here, but Abel was awfully defensive over Cloud to a point Sephiroth didn't like at all (but Sephiroth also has issues so)]
[But sure, Sephiroth's incapable of jealousy. Sure.
Cloud facepalms.]
Can't speak for him. But I get the feeling that's just the kind of guy he is. Protective. You busted his chops over doing his job, what'd you think he'd say?
[He's not going to comment on the rest. But seriously what was he supposed to do? Talk to Cloud about all of it like a normal person? He can't do that.]
[Is that a bad joke, or does Sephiroth really just have no sense of humor whatsoever? Wait, no, that can't be right - Cloud remembers. He remembers how subtly warm Sephiroth used to be, when they were in Nibelheim. How he'd say quietly deadpan things and then smile slightly after a moment, clearly a little pleased with himself when others got the joke.
Did Jenova and learning the truth about his origins really change him that much?...guess so.]
[Sometimes Sephiroth acts more like his old self, the one from before he learned the truth. The one who who actually cared about others. But most times it's easier to try and not care. To distance himself from everything that made him human before.
The moment he allowed himself closer to happiness here is the same moment he realized none of it is real anyway.]
Is there anything else, Cloud? What is keeping you here?
[Cloud will leave again like he did before. Sephiroth knows this, he just can't fully accept it.]
[What is keeping Cloud here? He's not really sure, himself. He thought he'd been operating under the assumption that talking to Sephiroth would accomplish nothing at all. But if that were the case, he wouldn't still be here. Maybe wouldn't have bothered coming over here in the first place.
He looks down at the cat, still demanding his attention. He crouches to pet it again, less awkwardly and more thoughtfully this time. A Sephiroth who didn't have any emotions wouldn't be keeping a pet. Pets are by nature a sentimental thing to have. Taking care of another creature, by definition.
After a moment, he stands back up and looks at Sephiroth again.]
It reminds me of the darkness within the negative lifestream.
[That's only half true. The negative lifestream is dark and not as bright as the regular lifestream. It's full of sorrow, dread, despair, all sorts of emotions opposite of joy and happiness.
Which is fitting to how he feels right now.
But since Cloud commented on it, he lifts a hand a hand, telekinetically turning on the lights revealing the state of his cabin.
... Which is actually pretty simple. Nothing really out of place or anything, but it's pretty boring, plain, and looks like something inside the main shinra building of old.
On one of the far walls is something that looks kind of like Cloud's wolf emblem carved into the wall. But that's about what he has for decoration.]
[Cloud doesn't know enough yet to understand what's going on with the remnants. But if Sephiroth's sitting in the dark because it reminds him of another dark place that he apparently liked being in, well. That's what they call 'sentiment,' pal.
Cloud squints when the lights come on, taking a second to let them adjust before he glances around. The cat looks even weirder in the light. Cloud frowns when he recognizes what could easily be a room inside Shinra HQ. For a moment, it makes no sense to him - Sephiroth was the one who killed the president (more or less), he can't possibly have any love for that place, can he? - but then it occurs to Cloud...Sephiroth must have grown up there. Maybe it's the closest thing to 'home' he ever had. Boy, Cloud would kill Hojo a hundred more times if he could.
He might have said something about all of that, except then his eyes fall on the...carving. Is that...? He walks closer to it.]
The negative lifestream is filled with those who died in despair. So much that their negative emotions makes it so they don't join with the lifestream proper, instead their essence joins the other. Geostigma expedited this process. Had it not been stopped, it would have turned the entire lifestream black.
[Though Cloud hadn't yet asked, now he gets to know that even Geostigma gets solved in the end. Sephiroth figures it's something he'd ultimately want to know.
His eyes stay on Cloud as he edges closer to the carving. Oh. Right. That.]
I believe it is the emblem you wear.
[There you go, Cloud. That's something of a joke.]
[Since when has that been a thing? Cloud would have thought at least that Nanaki or Bugenhagen would have known about this, but he's never heard of it before. Maybe it was a new development. Maybe--]
You created it, didn't you. The black lifestream. That was your doing.
[A pause.]
What do you mean, geostigma was stopped?
[Sephiroth's answer to his other question earns him the flattest, most unimpressed look Cloud can muster.]
[He snaps the words, but then he falls silent. The church. Aerith...cured it from the Lifestream, somehow. Or will cure it. And...according to Sephiroth, Cloud does live to see it. The sudden burst of hope that erupts in his heart takes him by surprise. But he has to get out of here first. Has to earn it. He looks down at his palm, and then his hand clenches into a fist briefly before he drops it back to his side. He's going to earn it. Somehow.
Cloud doesn't glance over his shoulder, but he hears Sephiroth getting closer. He expects...well, honestly, he has no idea what to expect from the answer. So when it comes, he's weirdly less surprised than he could have been. Everything he's been learning so far seems to be adding up to a conclusion he doesn't really want to face head-on.]
...whatever. I'm outta here.
[For now, anyway. Something else he doesn't want to face head-on. He turns and starts walking back toward the door.]
[That is spoken rather low, but he does nothing to stop him from leaving. This is just how things are. And he's going to back to sitting around doing nothing.
The cat ... the cat however, might get in the way of Cloud leaving.]
[Cloud pauses, but only for a second. He can't let whatever's going on with Sephiroth muddle his mind again. Can't let him in. Can't hesitate. Not with Sephiroth.
...apparently Sephiroth's cat is a different story, though, because it sits directly between Cloud and the door, looking like it's trying to look adorable. Cloud does stop just in front of it with a hand on his hip and looks down, perplexed.]
What? Don't got any food for you or anything. Come on, scram.
[The cat, having learned from before, is going to use it's most pitiful sounding meow in response to Cloud saying to scram. Just sitting there trying to look adorable and sounding sad all at the same time.
And speaking of sad and adorable, Sephiroth is going to walk up by now.]
[Oh, come on, that's not even fair. Cloud gives the cat a Look, but he's still acting like it's some kind of barrier, as if he couldn't just...step over it.
Then it's Sephiroth who's getting a Look, but this one is more suspicious than anything.]
What? Why would I take your cat? Or...whatever this thing is.
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[He gestures slightly around them.]
Generally makes that pointless, perhaps for you it'll be different. My words to you before we're not anything to deceive you. My strength and abilities have been returned for some time now if I wanted to injure you or your --
[What does he even refer to Abel as? He's trying not to think about that..]
Regardless of that, if I wanted to do something to cause you pain, I would have already done so. You know this.
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And then Sephiroth cuts himself off mid-sentence and Cloud arches a brow. What on earth was going to come after 'your' there?? And there it is again, Sephiroth insisting that he doesn't want to cause Cloud pain.
...this is the second time Cloud's found him sitting alone in the dark (albeit alone with a cat, in this case). In context, he was clearly talking about Abel, and he called Cloud just to interrogate him about why he was talking to the man earlier, in the gym, where he works.
You are important.
But perhaps I regret the pain you've endured as a result.
A sort of mind-boggling shock renders Cloud speechless for a moment.]
You...you're jealous??
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No.
[Yes. So much so he wanted to bash Abel's face in, but didn't.]]
I am beyond human emotions.
[He hates it. He hates that he feels so much and it's harder to ignore and pretend he doesn't, especially when Cloud is involved. He's still good at acting like nothing's there but not enough so that Zack didn't figure it out.
And now Cloud --
But it doesn't matter anyway. Nothing does. He's also realized that as well]
What you do, and with who, is of no concern to me.
[Which is totally why he interrogated them both.]
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Fine. Then I guess you won't care if I go ask Abel out on a date right now.
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He looks at the blade for a moment, briefly considering it's effectiveness against himself with it's restrictions. Not that death would really do anything here, he'd just come back and still be miserable. After a moment the blade simply vanishes into thin air.]
Do as you wish.
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You do know 'sulking' is something only people with human emotions do, right?
[He shakes his head in disbelief.]
You seriously think I'd actually do that? A guy I literally met today? He works at the gym. He was giving me weight lifting advice.
[And asking if Sephiroth was his boyfriend, but that's neither here nor there.
Also, Cloud's never asked anyone out in his life, but that's not here, there, or anywhere.]
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His defensiveness says otherwise.
[Not that he thinks Cloud is lying here, but Abel was awfully defensive over Cloud to a point Sephiroth didn't like at all (but Sephiroth also has issues so)]
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Cloud facepalms.]
Can't speak for him. But I get the feeling that's just the kind of guy he is. Protective. You busted his chops over doing his job, what'd you think he'd say?
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[So you see Cloud, it's hard not to assume Abel doesn't want in your pants.]
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[This is so surreal.]
Course he refused to answer. That shit's outta line.
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[He's not going to comment on the rest. But seriously what was he supposed to do? Talk to Cloud about all of it like a normal person? He can't do that.]
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Did Jenova and learning the truth about his origins really change him that much?...guess so.]
No shit.
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The moment he allowed himself closer to happiness here is the same moment he realized none of it is real anyway.]
Is there anything else, Cloud? What is keeping you here?
[Cloud will leave again like he did before. Sephiroth knows this, he just can't fully accept it.]
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He looks down at the cat, still demanding his attention. He crouches to pet it again, less awkwardly and more thoughtfully this time. A Sephiroth who didn't have any emotions wouldn't be keeping a pet. Pets are by nature a sentimental thing to have. Taking care of another creature, by definition.
After a moment, he stands back up and looks at Sephiroth again.]
Why do you always have the lights off in here?
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[That's only half true. The negative lifestream is dark and not as bright as the regular lifestream. It's full of sorrow, dread, despair, all sorts of emotions opposite of joy and happiness.
Which is fitting to how he feels right now.
But since Cloud commented on it, he lifts a hand a hand, telekinetically turning on the lights revealing the state of his cabin.
... Which is actually pretty simple. Nothing really out of place or anything, but it's pretty boring, plain, and looks like something inside the main shinra building of old.
On one of the far walls is something that looks kind of like Cloud's wolf emblem carved into the wall. But that's about what he has for decoration.]
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[Cloud doesn't know enough yet to understand what's going on with the remnants. But if Sephiroth's sitting in the dark because it reminds him of another dark place that he apparently liked being in, well. That's what they call 'sentiment,' pal.
Cloud squints when the lights come on, taking a second to let them adjust before he glances around. The cat looks even weirder in the light. Cloud frowns when he recognizes what could easily be a room inside Shinra HQ. For a moment, it makes no sense to him - Sephiroth was the one who killed the president (more or less), he can't possibly have any love for that place, can he? - but then it occurs to Cloud...Sephiroth must have grown up there. Maybe it's the closest thing to 'home' he ever had. Boy, Cloud would kill Hojo a hundred more times if he could.
He might have said something about all of that, except then his eyes fall on the...carving. Is that...? He walks closer to it.]
The hell is this?
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[Though Cloud hadn't yet asked, now he gets to know that even Geostigma gets solved in the end. Sephiroth figures it's something he'd ultimately want to know.
His eyes stay on Cloud as he edges closer to the carving. Oh. Right. That.]
I believe it is the emblem you wear.
[There you go, Cloud. That's something of a joke.]
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[Since when has that been a thing? Cloud would have thought at least that Nanaki or Bugenhagen would have known about this, but he's never heard of it before. Maybe it was a new development. Maybe--]
You created it, didn't you. The black lifestream. That was your doing.
[A pause.]
What do you mean, geostigma was stopped?
[Sephiroth's answer to his other question earns him the flattest, most unimpressed look Cloud can muster.]
Yeah. Thanks. I noticed. Why is it here?
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[Cloud knows what Church]
Being connected to the lifestream itself, the power there made it go dormant.
[That was her doing. He knew she was trying to foil his plans from within the lifestream from the start.]
As for that ...
[He moves closer to where Cloud is standing, though not directly beside him, more like behind still a bit of a distance away.]
Consider it a reminder from when you left the first time.
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[He snaps the words, but then he falls silent. The church. Aerith...cured it from the Lifestream, somehow. Or will cure it. And...according to Sephiroth, Cloud does live to see it. The sudden burst of hope that erupts in his heart takes him by surprise. But he has to get out of here first. Has to earn it. He looks down at his palm, and then his hand clenches into a fist briefly before he drops it back to his side. He's going to earn it. Somehow.
Cloud doesn't glance over his shoulder, but he hears Sephiroth getting closer. He expects...well, honestly, he has no idea what to expect from the answer. So when it comes, he's weirdly less surprised than he could have been. Everything he's been learning so far seems to be adding up to a conclusion he doesn't really want to face head-on.]
...whatever. I'm outta here.
[For now, anyway. Something else he doesn't want to face head-on. He turns and starts walking back toward the door.]
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[That is spoken rather low, but he does nothing to stop him from leaving. This is just how things are. And he's going to back to sitting around doing nothing.
The cat ... the cat however, might get in the way of Cloud leaving.]
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...apparently Sephiroth's cat is a different story, though, because it sits directly between Cloud and the door, looking like it's trying to look adorable. Cloud does stop just in front of it with a hand on his hip and looks down, perplexed.]
What? Don't got any food for you or anything. Come on, scram.
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And speaking of sad and adorable, Sephiroth is going to walk up by now.]
You can take it if you want. The cat.
[He gestures towards it.]
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Then it's Sephiroth who's getting a Look, but this one is more suspicious than anything.]
What? Why would I take your cat? Or...whatever this thing is.
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[Listen Cloud he's in a depressive state where he feels like he has nothing anyway, so you might as well take the cat.]
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