November Catch-All

[imjustaman]

Who: Sephiroth (imjustaman) & You

What:
Going around Pumpkin Hollow, more exploring, joining the Enforcers, and hanging out in the woods
When:
Throughout November
Where:
All over the Hollow
Warning(s):
One brief mention of child soldier.

Joining the Enforcers

Sephiroth has still been hesitant to actually take the plunge and join the Enforcers. Perhaps it’s because of how much went wrong for him and others at Shinra and now he’s unsettled to think of working for someone else again. Perhaps it’s how he always longed to live a normal life and not be what Shinra wanted him to be. But he has to get some kind of a job and this seems like what he would be the best at. Fighting and protecting are about all he knows after being raised from childhood to be a soldier. And he does still want to protect.

So he goes into the building and smiles congenially at whoever is at the front desk. “Hello. Whom do I see about signing up for the Enforcers?”

Exploring - Outside Larkin Manor

Sephiroth is hardly the type to actually go into a place that looks like it’s been condemned for decades (or that looks like every traditional haunted house in the book). But he stands outside looking at it with a thoughtful frown.

“Do you know the history of this house?” he asks if anyone happens to see him.

Exploring - Cemetery

Sephiroth also isn’t generally fond of visiting cemeteries. But he’s curious about this one, considering how people currently don’t stay dead here. So he’s wandering about amid the headstones, reading the names and dates, and then pausing to study the mausoleum. He may look almost otherworldly from a distance, with his long silver hair and black coat, especially if there’s a fog rolling in.

Into the Woods

Even as a member of the Enforcers, Sephiroth still goes into the woods a lot to protect those foolish or unfortunate enough to have wandered in there. Sometimes he’s on duty, while other times he goes when he’s off-duty.

In general, anyone encountering him in the woods fighting monsters or protecting people from monsters will see him in his Safer form: glowing eyes, whitish hair defying gravity, and purple wings all around his waist. He will be careful not to introduce himself by his name, but if anyone’s good with voices, they should be able to recognize him from that if they’ve previously met him in his normal form or meet him that way later. He is still likely to vanish into the trees without speaking at all unless speaking is necessary or unless someone hails him down for a conversation.

Comments

Cemetery

[redlightgreenlight]

There's always fog rolling in this time of year, and the giant black hound wanders the headstones just as he does, her green eyes almost glowing in the darkness, watching him with interest. She's seen him at the enforcers office, though he probably wouldn't recognize her now, many don't.

She steps out from behind the well and into his sightline.

Greetings. her voice rings in his head. What brings you here so late?

Re: Cemetery

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth is startled to hear a voice in his head. The hound is speaking to him? Hmm, well, it isn't the first time he has encountered a talking animal; back home there is Red XIII. He will take it in stride.

"Hello. I am just exploring, familiarizing myself with the area," he says. "And making certain it's safe." He has been going out at night to patrol for monsters coming into the town.

[redlightgreenlight]

More and more people are coming here at night it seems.

She tips her head, taking him in. He must have experience with talking animals, or he's just good at taking things in stride. Either way, she supposes it does make him an asset to the enforcers.

It's usually just the dead and myself.

[imjustaman]

"Really. How curious." He wonders why.

"Do you live here in the cemetery?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Oh no, I do not live in this form at all times. I go home to a warm house and my lover. The dead are simply more peaceful than the living at times."

Her lips curl back in a wolfish grin.

And it's fun to scare people who venture into the graveyard at night.

[imjustaman]

"Oh, I see. You're a shapeshifter?"

He smirks a bit at her other comments. "It is peaceful here," he agrees. "Do a lot of the people scare easily?"

[redlightgreenlight]

The locals do, those brought by Mortanne have usually seen enough to not judge at first sight, like you.

Satisfied that he's willing to stay and chat, Valdis sits, curling her tail over her paws.

I have seen you before, at the Enforcer's office. Have you settled in well?

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth is amused. "I would have thought the locals would have seen enough by now as well."

He nods. "I like it here for the most part. I hope to return home when possible, but I am content to be here for now."

It's a nice place to heal and to rediscover himself.

[redlightgreenlight]

One would think, but the current state of things is fairly recent, and many of those who came from other worlds have seen it far longer.

Anywhere is better than the Eterna, except perhaps her own world.

What is waiting for you at home?

[imjustaman]

"That is a good point," he agrees.

He pauses, pondering. Is anything waiting for him? Will anyone be happy to see him? The people who still love him are dead. If he tries to approach Cloud, he can't imagine it will be a happy meeting. He doubts Cloud could ever forgive him. Back home, he would most likely have to live in solitude, staying away from everyone he hurt so they can try to heal. He still wants to go home, and yet ... he's honestly not sure why. Does he have some foolish hope of being able to do good there, to try to do something to pay for all the evil he had wrought? He knows nothing can ever make it better.

Perhaps he only longs for home because he would be closer to where Zack and Angeal are, even though he would be alive and they would still be dead.

"I don't know," he has to admit. "Perhaps in time the longing will fade and I will prefer to stay here."

[redlightgreenlight]

She listens, as she is apt to do, to his heartrate, his soul, his emotions, how he carries himself and how they all shift as he both hears and answers her question.

Perhaps.

Whatever burden Sephiroth carried here from his home world, it seems he is not certain it will give him happiness to return there.

Or perhaps you will find the courage to face your history. This is not the first world I have come to after being stolen from home, it seems the gods I so despise have chosen to give me yet another chance.

[imjustaman]

"It's not so much finding courage as it is feeling it would be selfish to approach those I know from home," Sephiroth says. "I am sure they would be happier if I never went back."

He looks at her curiously. "I have also been taken to other worlds. I have been summoned repeatedly to fight for various gods, but I have been sent home after each experience. What were the other worlds like that you visited?"

[redlightgreenlight]

It was just one, but perhaps at the worst moment possible. You see, I had lost my memories and an event triggered their return near the moment I was taken to a ship. A ship designed only to cause suffering to those who boarded it. Unlike here, I did not have a choice, nor could I leave. So I built a life as best I could, living in constant pain not only from my present, but from the past as it kept flooding back.

Her voice never wavers, in fact, it seems as if the memories aren't even painful, just factual.

But here, here I can fight and I have agency. Still, I can't shake the feeling that I am not entirely free yet.

[imjustaman]

"That sounds terrible," Sephiroth says. To say the least.

"Yes, I agree, we can't be free here either until the curse is broken and we fully have our lives back. At that point I will decide whether to stay here or go home."

[redlightgreenlight]

There are others here from the same world, I'm sure you have met several of them already. To us, this is far closer to freedom than we had before.

Valdis wonders what parts of Sephiroth's past causes him pain, but he seems to keep everything close. Not that she can really judge, she barely knows anything about it. Just a feeling perhaps.

I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Valdis, I am one of the head detectives of the Enforcers.

[imjustaman]

"I am glad you have all found greater freedom here," Sephiroth says.

There is definitely a great deal of pain there. He doubts he will ever forgive himself for what he did in his madness.

Surprise and recognition flickers in his eyes. "Ah! I remember you. I am Sephiroth."

[redlightgreenlight]

Her green eyes glint with amusement that is evident in her tone.

I know. I saw you speaking with my brother at the precinct earlier, and I make a point to know who the enforcers are.

[imjustaman]

"Your brother?" he repeats, thinking back on who he has spoken with.

[redlightgreenlight]

Crichton.

There's still a level of amusement in her tone that indicates there's something more there than shared blood.

I know, I know. I got all the looks and the brains. But he's sweet.

[imjustaman]

"You both seem very nice," Sephiroth replies. "It must be amazing to have someone from home here with you." He can't help wishing he had a loved one here ... except for the part where they have to die or be near-death to get here.

[redlightgreenlight]

There's a low rumble in her throat, laughter, but the wolfish kind. There's clearly some detail she is not sharing on purpose.

It wouldn't be our first near death experience.

Her head tips.

Do you have siblings?

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth definitely wonders what's so funny.

"Really. You must lead dangerous lives."

He smiles a bit wistfully, gazing off into the night. "I had people who were like my siblings. They are ... all gone now."

Two dead, the third ... no longer his friend.

[redlightgreenlight]

The worlds we come from are dangerous.

Her tone turns a little more somber as she feels both the subtle joy of memory and the pain of loss coming from him.

I am sorry. The one constant, no matter what world we hail from, is Death.

[imjustaman]

He definitely takes note of the plural. "... You and your brother are from different worlds?"

He nods. "And betrayal too, I suppose. One of them is still alive, but turned against me long ago."

And for such a petty reason....

[redlightgreenlight]

There's that wolfish laughter again.

Yes. We are not siblings by birth, but by choice. I suspect you know this feeling, even if you have not voiced it.

Her head tips to the other direction, even more curious now.

No, betrayal is not a constant, at least not in my endless years...still, you seem more sorrowful than bitter. It cannot feel good to have someone part from you in such a way.