Candle event

[sickofloveless]

[The bedroom hallway may seem to go on for eternity and a day, but there's certainly a focal point to it this evening. A strange presence coming from one of the partially open doors, the warmth of dozens upon dozens of candles within, and a nearly overwhelming scent of vanilla spreading through the air. And sitting on the bed amidst all of the

Comments

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[unlockslight]

[Sora's been following the scent of vanilla, he's under the mistaken impression that he'll find ice cream if he follows it. Pushing open the door, he sees Sephiroth standing there in all his feminine glory.

His first instinct upon seeing him is to summon the keyblade.]

Sephiroth! What are you doing here?

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[unlockslight]

[And then the way Sephiroth is behaving, and the vanilla scent, and the music box, and everything, hit Sora all at once. He lowers the keyblade a little.]

Uh... what are you doing?

[sickofloveless]

[Well, there is ice cream. He wasn't wrong about that...

But Sora has managed to startle the great and mighty Sephiroth, in all of his feminine glory. And Sephiroth drops the brush suddenly in surprise. And nearly into the bowl of vanilla ice cream, too. That would have been utterly disastrous. In his mind, anyway.

How awkward indeed. What to say? What to do?

He finally shakes his head a little, trying not to look at Sora directly. He's entirely embarrassed, so shy! And the fact that he knows that something isn't right about his own behavior makes it worse. But it doesn't mean that he can change it either. So he attempts to compose himself, so he can at least reply to his strange company.]

...I'm attending to personal grooming needs. [He doesn't think to ask how Sora knows him. He assumes that it's a child from his own world with a strange toy. Something along those lines, anyway.]

[unlockslight]

[Sora literally has no response to that. Sephiroth must have been hit by one of the strange candles he's seen floating around. He needs questions answering, and his impulse is to fight him, but he realises that now is the time for neither of those things. Reluctantly, he dismisses the keyblade.]

Uh... do you know if there's any more of that ice cream anywhere?

[sickofloveless]

[...Not so much of a toy after all, he supposes. But he's really in no mood to ponder it. Or much at the moment.]

The maid will be supplying more momentarily. If you desire it, she can provide some for you as well.

[unlockslight]

Yeah, that would be great!

[He's about to flop down on the bed and wait for the ice cream, when he remembers that this is Sephiroth. Just because a candle had made him ... girly ... that didn't mean that he wasn't still dangerous. He was confused as to why he didn't recognise him, though. And where his wing had gone.

Well, there would be time for questions later, and he wouls be sure to keep on his guard. For now, though...]

Is it okay if I sit down?

[sickofloveless]

[He doesn't really see it as... girly. Then again, this is a man comfortable enough with himself to rock out with the vanilla and rose scents. He just doesn't realize how off this must seem. Especially for those who know different incarnations of him. Older and far less pleasant incarnations.

But he's more concerned now about composing himself, and being somewhat decent to his guest. He starts with taking a deep breath, reminding himself that he doesn't need to feel so shy. It doesn't make sense for him to. And then speaking, with an attempt at sounding more confident. More himself.] Make yourself comfortable. [He moves over a little, allowing for more room for Sora to flop down on if he so chooses. And he sets the brush on the little table while he's at it. Might as well not tend to that in front of others.

And sure enough, within a moment or two the ghostly maid returns to check on him.] Tell her what you'd like. She won't deny you what you desire.

[unlockslight]

Uh, thanks. [He sits tentatively on the edge of the bed, not taking his eyes of Sephiroth.]

I'd like an ice cream sundae with fudge sauce and extra cherries!

[The maid glides off. Sora isn't really sure what to say now. He's not really good at small talk at the best of times, especially with someone he considers an enemy.]

So ... uh ... how long have you been like ... this? [He gestures at the hair brush and the music box.]

[sickofloveless]

[Unfortunately, Sephiroth is worse at small talk most likely. So between the two of them the conversation will be very awkward.]

Since last night. I came into contact with one of the drugged candles. And the effects... [He's wringing his hands a little now, unable to keep eye contact. Not that he really wants to at the moment, especially since he can feel his cheeks coloring a bit.] Are less than desirable.

[unlockslight]

I'm glad I haven't run into one of those candles, it seems like they're making everyone act weird. Riku started crying over everything, and Roxas still smells like lemonade. [He glances back over at Sephiroth, seeing the blush in his cheeks, and feels bad, like he's making him feel as awkward as he does. When the ice cream sundae arrives, he thinks he should make some sort of excuse. But he'd feel guilty doing that, too.]

[sickofloveless]

They're best to be avoided if possible, if you desire to keep your dignity. They don't seem to have dangerous effects so far, but I have no interest in finding out otherwise.

[He'd feel worse if he knew that he was making Sora feel bad somehow. But he's not aware, and instead has something else on his mind.]

...May I ask something?

[unlockslight]

I haven't seen them act dangerously either. Well, the purple ones look like they could give you a bit of a bruise, but nothing to worry about. I guess we shouldn't take anything for granted in this place, though.

Sure, go ahead.

[sickofloveless]

Hmm. Perhaps. A little caution could benefit us all...

[At first he had assumed that Sora was another from his world. Someone that had heard of him through the news of his achievements. But his actions make him question if he was correct in that assumption. He hardly looked like a Wutai operative, or someone in league with...

No. That couldn't be it. Sephiroth pushes the thought from his head. It had to be something else.

He takes a breath, calms himself again, and then speaks.] You recognized me. From where?

[unlockslight]

[Sora blinked a couple of times, very confused indeed. The candles hadn't affected Sephiroth so much that he can't remember him at all, had they? But then, Sora's never really been quick off the mark. He hasn't yet worked out that Riku is from a different time to him, let alone that there might be multiple versions of Sephiroth out there.]

Olympus Coliseum. Don't you remember? [He grins.] I beat you pretty good.

[sickofloveless]

[Sephiroth simply stares for a moment, this wasn't what he had expected to hear at all.]

...Perhaps you've been affected by the candles as well. I've fought in no such place. Nor met defeat at your hands.

[unlockslight]

Hey, I'm not lying, and I haven't been hit by the candles! I fought you at the Coliseum! You were pretty tough, but I beat you. You had a wing back then.

...You really don't remember at all?