3. You're death and living reconciled

[argently]

All this mindless chattering is giving me a migraine.

Would you all please be a little more considerate?

… and I am not answering that question, miss.

[ Private to Zack || Unhackable ]

How are you feeling? Is that lump on your head better?

[ Private to FF7 crew || Unhackable ]

Do keep an eye on Zack for the next few days. Do not ask me any

Comments

[orchidcircle]

General! There you are!

[ Have a Ranmaru hug! ]

[argently]

[ A have a taken aback General ]

R-Ranmaru?

What was that for?

[orchidcircle]

[ Still hugging nicely and smiling ]

Ranmaru was wondering where you were! Searching brought me here, and...

[ Blinks, looking up ]

I-Is something the matter..? You look rather flustered...

[argently]

[ Searching? But Sephiroth thought he just saw the other walk past him awhile ago. ]

No, it is nothing. Just that I am not used to it.

[ By it, Sephiroth meant both the Ranmaru he was now familiar with and the hug. ]

[orchidcircle]

Oh, General. You're still so shy...?

[ Reaching up to stroke his cheek! ]

Does it discomfort you still...? Then Ranmaru will try to give you space even in private.

[argently]

[ Eyes widen and Sephiroth took a step back in surprise. There was something very different and wrong about this Ranmaru. And this was the second time in a row that the other has called him General. ]

Forgive me, Ranmaru.

[ That overly friendly gesture. Sephiroth caught the hand gently. The other did not mean any harm, after all. ]

Still?

[orchidcircle]

[ Confused at the reactions from the man who was his lover, Ranmaru blinks, letting him move away and his hand as well... but looking very, very unsure ]

Still... It... it has only been a short time since we confessed...

[ Blushes and lowers his gaze ]

... Perhaps... I have moved too soon?

[argently]

[ Confession? Sephiroth is officially stumped. Is this Ranmaru from another universe? It was highly likely, seeing how there were two Subarus. ]

It is not your fault, Ranmaru. I just think that we are not from the same... universe.

[ Thinking and saying that particular sentence made him twitch. He did not expect this Ranmaru to believe in his words. ]

[orchidcircle]

[ Looks startled, then blushing crimson, he covers his mouth with his hand and bows quickly, looking awkward. ]

I-- forgive me, General!! I...

[ Looks down awkwardly ]

But I am... I am your Lieutenant... in Gaia... you're even responding to it. How could this...

[argently]

[ He has no idea on how to act regarding... situations like this. ]

It is not your fault, ...Lieutenant. I mistaken you for the Ranmaru I am acquainted with as well.

[ Ranmaru? In Gaia? Lieutenant? This was all very confusing. Sephiroth has long stopped questioning the possibilities and the logic of the City. ]

In my universe, I am afraid we have never met... but I am certain that if your General in your universe have accepted you, he must like you very much.

[orchidcircle]

Y-You're acquainted with another Ranmaru...?

[ Looks very confused now, and then listening to his words, he blushes and looks to a side. ]

O-Oh... then you and your Ranmaru are not...

[ Moves a hand behind his neck, keeping it lowered. ]

It's... it's not something a lot of people know... not even my brother Rufus does... we've kept it quiet...

[ Looks back up, smiling sheepishly ]

I must have given you a bit of a shock.