FFMUX Log: Aerith meets Sephiroth!

Jan 04, 2008 12:20

Aerith finally meets Sephiroth, learning that he is no longer evil, and Zack's best friend!? Things dont go so well..

Marketplace - South Figaro

South Figaro finds itself home, as a center of commerce, to shops of all shapes and sizes. There are weapons and armor shops posessing wares that appeal to travelers of all backgrounds - from the more "ancient" swords, shields, and armor used in the less advanced civilizations of the Converged World to more recent innovations like crossbows and even some early firearms. Alchemists sell their latest concoctions at rock-bottom prices, and various trinkets are available from numerous little vendors - many possess powers far beyond their appearance may hint.
If there's anything you can't find from a vendor in South Figaro, it's likely it can be obtained in short order with the advent of airship travel and radio communication - and if it's not available in that manner, well, then it's quite likely the product you search for simply doesn't exist.

[Players: Aerith and Zack]
[Sleepers: Ivy and Zazein]
[Exits: Town Square]

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South Figaro, at noon time, near an empty playground. Not the kind of setting that would elicit alarm from some one. And that's just what Zack is counting on. It's quiet and out of the way, but close enough to civilization that if you wanted to get up and get lost you could. As close to perfect a setting as his over taxed little mind could come up with. The day was turning out nice, the heat blown in from the desert was quickly cooled by the spray from the sea. All in all a fair day, good for mending fences as his father would say. So he'd told Sephiroth and Aerith to both meet him here and get this getting-to-know-you started.
A bad case of the jitters had made him even more productive at work. So much so the foreman sent them all home early, which was both good and bad. While this meeting didn't have literal earth shattering possibilities, it really would set the tone of his social life for the next….forever. In a lot of ways telling Sephiroth about Jenova was easier, there were only really two outcomes from that. This? Not so clear cut.
Given the standing around he was doing, and the fact that it is right there, just minding its own business not being used…Zack is drawn to the playground and soon swinging away on one of the big chain link swings. There's only so much growing up he's willing to do!

It was strange, having to meet someone she already knew quite well in another life, having to be introduced to someone who should know HER very well by now. Afterall, he had only killed her in cold blood, once upon a time...She still found it so difficult to believe this was a different Sephiroth and that he was Zack's best friend. But she trusted Zack with her life and it was her love for Zack that drove her onward even when that little voice in her head kept pulling her back, giving her doubts, filling her with fear and uncertainty. It was a warmish day in the desert, but she was still shaking a little as if cold, and even with her jacket buttoned up, she still felt the chills as she slowly but surely made her way to the playground.

Thankfully, Zack is the first one there, and she chances a small smile as she sees him there, swinging away on the swingset like a kid. Cloud was right, he was so...Young and naieve in some respects. But then, he had called her naieve and innocent too. Maybe the two of them made a perfect match. Sliding into the nearby swing, she doesnt do much to give away her presence, just watching Zack swinging back and forth with a faint smile on her face, trying to calm down before HE arrives..

<

Zack's response to that train of thought would be something as follows, 'When Cloud gets the stick out of his butt he can talk to me about "innocence".' The man didn't know how to play! Back in the day, when every one was still younger than him, the blonde was uptight and skitterish. Even Sephiroth could loosen up and have a snowball fight from time to time! Cloud was very much the cold fish.
When Aerith sits down he quits trying to kick the sun and takes up a more leisurely sway. "How you holdin up?" He asks, a little worriedly. She didn't look so good!

She smiles softly, turning to face him. Seeing him there, so lively, so carefree, it causes her to relax, even as she's trembling slightly all over. Getting over someone who killed you one day and is all mister nice guy the next isnt an over night thing. "Y-yeah..I'll be fine. Let's just get this over..." she shakes her head, "I mean, let's just meet your friend, okay?" glancing around, and lowering her voice as if he might have heard her, she shrugs, laughs softly even as if to ease the jitters, "Sorry, I guess we're either early or he's late.." Sure, she was innocent once. It all died when she learned what it was like to die, that life wasnt really as simple as it seemed. Let's hope history doesnt repeat!

A nice, calm, and empty playground on the edge of a nice town. A setting meant to be disarming, or at least meant to have Sephiroth arrive relaxed and at ease.

Needless to say, Zack's plan has backfired. Sephiroth is still going, but all he can think is: Why would Zack want me to come here? Last time Zack had taken him somewhere out of the way, it had been to tell him terrible, something that he taken his life, his world view, and completely dumped it on its head. So, while Sephiroth does not reluctantly approach the park, he does so with more than his share of caution.

His Geostigma flare up had, fortunately, gone down, and he can safely wear the same bandages for more than two hours without them getting soaked with unpleasant black ooze. A standard length katana hangs from his hip, a temporary replacement for the stolen Masamune, and he's actually buttoned several of the buttons on his new coat, for once. His hair has been pulled back into a braid, loose at the top and tighter further down, and the wind tugs both at the braid and Sephiroth's unbound bangs.

He's not late, as Aerith suspects. In fact, he's right on time. But he's got better eyesight then either Aerith or Zack, and he pauses a good distance away from the park when he catches sight of the two. He recognizes Zack -- he would anywhere -- but it's the woman next to him that has his focus. Is this why he was called out here? To meet her? Immediately, Sephiroth is taken by the urge to turn around and leave, but he forces himself to stay, then begins to determinedly move forward. He's /not/ going to run away. Zack wouldn't have asked him out here without good reason, right?

Zack reaches out to take her hand and, if given, brush a kiss across her knuckles. "It'll be okay, I promise. I-" What ever else he wants to say is cut off when he looks up sharply. While Zack might not be able to /see/ Sephiroth, the familiar press tells him that the man is in the area. On the dot, as usual. He drags his feet to stop the swing and slips onto his feet. "He's here. Are you sure you'll-" The graying man just isn't having any luck finishing sentences today!
This one is cut off by a phlegmy sounding series of coughs, the power of which leaves him clinging to the swingset frame to stay upright. Eventually the expectoration produces a chunk of black ooze, which he politely wipes onto a hanky and tucks away from proper disposal.

She takes his hand, clutching it tightly, and her hands are still trembling like crazy, still cold and clammy from her nervousness and fear, though she relaxes some at his nearness and his words of consolation. She smiles weakling, nodding, "Y-yes..I'll be okay..As long as.." it's her turn to get cut off now as Zack suddenly coughs out the particularly disturbing colored phlegm and she gasps, eyes widenned with worry as she leaps forward, reaching out to take his other hand and try and support him, "Zack!! Are you alright?"

All thoughts of Sephiroth and her fears are momentarily forgotten, and without another word, she quickly gets to work on healing him, focusing primarily on her heal and cure materias as well as her ancient powers, her hands glimmering in sparkling blue and green healing energies that wrap around him in a shower of warm, soothing magic. It's less crude than the last time she tried it on him and afterall, she's had some practice by now. It's not a permanent cure but at least it will ease his pain a little longer.

Alarm flickers through Sephiroth's mind when he hears Zack coughing like that, and he briefly quickens his step until he hears Zack stop coughing and sees Aerith do.... something.... to the man. Whatever it is, it seems to make Zack feel better, but it makes Sephiroth feel distinctly uncomfortable, even from this distance. It makes his skin crawl, to say the least, and he knows that whatever it is, he wants nothing to do with it.

Zack doesn't seem bothered by it, which is the only reason Sephiorth doesn't haul ass over there and drag Zack away from the pink-clad woman. He still falters, though, slowing to a stop before grimly moving forward. She's just a girl, he tells himself. A girl that happens to have a spell that's enough to make him feel threatened and uncomfortable even from this distance. Nothing at all to worry about!

.... right. Sephiroth comes to a stop near the two, his expression kept carefully neutral. He says nothing at all, instead waiting for one of them to break the ice.

"F-Fine!" Zack stammers through the coughs. This wasn't entirely new to him, hence the hanky. Why did it choose /now/ of all times to flare? The SOLDIERs eady to get good and irritated when he finds he's the center of the Main Street Electrical Parade. Bet Cinderella never got this morphine trip! He moans softly before coming to his senses enough to try and stop her. "Hey, don't! Save it for some one who needs it!" He flails his arms a little, as if you could dissipate magic like you could burned popcorn smoke.
And then there's Seph. With that expression. Zack feels his precious plans come apart in that instant. This was a bad idea. Or it was a good idea until Jenova decided to make it a bad one! He'd jab at the Geostigma if it wouldn't make him scream like a little girl. "Well, this plan has all ready bit the big one." He mutters miserably. Aerith was practically shaking in her boots and Seph was…well so many of his emotions were expressed that way. He'd need some time and patience to study the details with out having to pry, neither of which he has in great supply.
"Look," He sighs, pulling himself upright. "Neither of you want to be here and I don't blame you." He points to Aerith. "You're reliving the last moments you were alive in our home world. And you…" He squints and studies Sephiroth's features a minute. "You're doing your usual circle-like-a-wary-cat spiel, combined with some nameless emotion cause of all this extraterrestrial stuff." Zack brushes the dust out of his clothes then runs his hands through his hair. "S'that bout right?"

She smiles softly, shaking her head as she continues to hold onto him unless he pulls away from her forcefully, "Silly! You ARE someone who needs healing. Stop being so stubborn and let me help.." and for all the fear that she holds for the one they are to meet tonight, it is her concern and love for Zack that overrides all of it. Only when she's good and done and Zack has stopped coughing does she dare to let go, turning around finally to face that all too familiar face, that manifestation of all her deepest darkest nightmares and all that.

It's him, it's Sephiroth. She swallows, though stepping away from Zack, towards the silver haired man, she is determined to follow this through. She must be strong, she cant keep hiding from her past. She offers the tall man in black a faint smile, even as she clenches her fists, her nails digging into her palms to keep from shaking, "Sephiroth...?" she asks him gently, nodding slowly as she watches him. "I'm...I'm Aerith. I'm here to help, but only if you want it. As you can see, I have no weapons with me, and no offensive magic. You have nothing to fear.." she holds out her arms as if in surrender, and finds herself smiling softly to herself. This was ludicrous. This was crazy. What on earth is she doing, giving him a second chance to do what he did before?

No..Believe in Zack, he trusts the guy, he wouldnt kill you, he wouldnt hurt Zack like that. Subconsciously, she begins to emit a faint aura of calmness on the area, not so much to calm Sephiroth as to calm herself too. Perhaps at least it will prevent any sorts of violent outbreaks from ocurring here tonight.

At least she hopes so.

"I understand if you dont trust a lot of people. That's okay, I think I understand.. If you're uncomfortable with my presence, then I will leave, but please...Let Zack have his say.." there she did it, and she's still standing. She hasnt turned tail and run. Yet. She's still trembling slightly however, and after her grand little speech, she reaches out to clutch the nearby swing frame for support, suddenly feeling weak in the knees.

Zack's plans are starting to unravel even faster than he realizes. At the words 'last moments you were alive', an expression very much like a scowl crosses Sephiroth's expression. He waits for Zack to finish speaking, and looks to Aerith when she stands. He steps back smoothly as she holds up her arms, as if fearing a hug, and bristles a bit as he feels that calming aura wash over him. He doesn't say yes or no to her plea to hear Zack out, but he does turn his green-eyed gaze to his friend.

He doesn't offer any response to the man's analysis of how he's feeling and acting, and instead focuses on one of the touchiest subjects that can brought up around him. "What do you mean, the last moments she was alive." Typical Sephiroth. Decide to pick up on the one thing that could change this situation from a simmering pot to a firecracker.

~OH FUCK!~ Violet eyes widen in surprise and horrible dawning realization. See, there was a reason Zachariah wasn't a high ranking officer. Details tended to slip through the cracks when he was planning something. All though this detail wasn't over looked so much as he was pretty freaking sure he'd taken care of it all ready. Who could know? In the last few months he'd been trying to keep Cloud from finding Seph, gathering information about Jenova, planning out how he was going to tell Sephiroth he was more alien than human, finding out his girlfriend is nuts, finding her reConverged unnuts but discovering SHE was mostly alien too, all the while fearing that what he is doing will bring about his own death and the end of the world. Not to mention the nightmare that was still plaguing him, deConverging into his own time too late to stop what was going to happen. Oh, and the Geostigma, don't forget that. This is about to become a very very bad day.
"Shit." That's all the panicked young man manages to enunciate at this stage in the game. Where did I save last? This need to be redone! There aren't any do overs, at least not for him. "Remember when we had that fun ole conversation about trying to destroy the world? She's one of the people Not-You went through to do it. Literally." Shoot me. Please.

As Sephiroth speaks, she suddenly realizes something, which causes her to stare at Zack in quiet shock. Oh dear..This could get ugly. Really ugly. She bites her lip, glancing between the two of them, stepping behind the frame of the swingset as if she could melt in the shadows, become a little less obvious in that bright pink dress of hers. that bright target for Sephiroth. If he has unfinished business.. "Um..Zack?" she glances at him quizzically, unsure of how to douse water on a situation that is rapidly going up in flames. Finally however, she glances back at Sephiroth, no longer trembling as she steps away from the swingset frame to place her gentle gaze upon him steadily, straightenning to her full height as she clenches her fists at her side.
No turning back now. Time to face her fears. Can she do it? Can she forgive him? "It...It doesnt matter..That's in the past, isnt it? Anyway, Zack tells me you're not the same man who committed those acts." But was Zack right? If, given the chance, would he do it again? she raises her eyes towards Sephiroth, chancing a glance into those similar, intense emerald eyes of his. What is he thinking? What will he do now? Is he truly a different person or...?

When Aerith looks to Sephiroth, then man meets her gaze steadily. There's no reading his emotions; his gaze his dark and guarded, distrust showing through but little else escaping. His entire body has gone tense, and for a moment, he forces him to focus on anything except for Zack. Zack didn't mean to spring it on him like this, he knows, and he doesn't want to wind up snarling at the man over it. He knows, though, even if Aerith and Zack don't, that this meeting is over. He's too wound up, and he /has/ met Aerith. It would have to be enough, because he's about ten seconds from yelling at someone, now.

"I think I should go," he says quietly, looking back to the two. "We should talk again some other time." And then, before either of them can protest, he looks to Zack. "I'm going to leave soon." At least he's willing to say as much in front of Zack. "Within a few days, at least. Laguna and Ivy are going to come with me." It's a clear that Zack is welcome to come, as well, if he so desires.

Zack flinches. If Aerith weren't here, he would encourage the yelling. God knows he'd deserve it. But the poor woman was afraid of him when he was being wary. Angry Sephiroth would likely send her into a shock-induced coma. He nods, moving to stand behind Aerith and give her his support. "All right. I'll catch you later then." He reaches to rest his hands on Aerith's shoulders, hoping she'll get the message. ~It's okay, we're done for now.~

Aerith for the most part, is kind of relieved to see him go, and she lets out a deep,breath, relaxing visibly once he's out of sight. At Zack's touch, she smiles faintly, reaching out to place one of her hands over his, squeezing it lightly. Her touch is cold, a little shaky still. "Thanks Zack...I guess..It had to happen sooner or later, right? M-maybe someday, he and I can become friends.." yeah right. The guy hated her. He almost made her feel guilty for getting killed by him! Still, this is what Zack wanted wasnt it? She wont give up trying to make peace with him. Maybe he's not so bad afterall, underneath that block of ice.. She forces a smile though her expression is hidden from Zack, looking towards the distance, towards where Sephiroth left. "I'm so...So confused, I dont know what to think, really. It was almost as if, he was afraid of me.."

Zack sighs too, though it's of frustration rather than relief. The only way this could have gone worse was if he'd gotten Hojo to jump out and hug Sephiroth yelling SON! "I'm sorry Aerith. This is my fault. I thought I'd told him everything…Ugg." He drops to the ground, folding his legs Indian style and leaning back against the frame of the swing set. What's the road to hell paved with again? With out opening his eyes he responds, voice taking on a note of weariness along with the Geostigma rasp. "That's cause he was. Well, not like mortal terror afraid…" Sigh. He sits up, scrubbing his face with his hands before resting them on his knees.
"Seph spent his entire childhood in SEPC. He didn't have a mom to nurture him or make him feel loved. Only Hojo and his damn needles. He never really learned how to relate to people, to trust them. Hell, he doesn't even really trust me." As we all just saw. "If-If you don't want to do the work, and it is work let me tell you, then I understand. Seph's not the easiest person to deal with when you love him. Much less when he makes you wanna run the other direction." Sweet, understanding smile.

"Dont worry about it.." she replies softly, leaning against the swing post, gazing up thoughtfully at the starry blue night sky above. "We all make mistakes..I guess, you had a lot of things to think about. It just slipped your mind." she smiles wryly, turning around to face him finally and kneels to the ground so that she's at least at face level, reaching out to rest a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Dont worry, he'll come around. He just needs to get used to being around people I'm sure..Anyway.." she sighs, "I think maybe it's more than that too. I personally, had a different kind of effect on him, because.." she pauses, watching Zack intently. Does she really want to get into this now, cause him even more worries? Though eventually they'll have to face it.

~Slipped my mind, yea that just what happened. I forgot my best friend killed the woman I love, totally forgettable. MY GOD I'M SUCH A MORON!~ The metal swing set clangs musically as he knocks his head against it a few times. He stops when she lays her hand on his shoulder. "I hope so. I can't get over this feeling that you two would be good friends if you had the chan- Because?" Zack quirks a brow, was there more to their history that he didn't know?

She sighs softly, inwardly flinching at the words, words that went unspoken for far too long. In fact, it causes her to lapse into deep silence for a few moments, her grip on his shoulder seeming to tense a bit before sliding to the ground. "..It was too soon. He just needs time to think things through. So do I, Zack.." she closes her eyes as she leans her back against the same post, trying to calm her troubled mind, hugging her knees to her chest. "I dont know if you know this but..Back in the day, well...Jenova and the Ancients were kind of like, Mortal Enemies. They had this big war..Jenova destroyed many Ancients with this terrible virus. Only a small handful survived. Even now, I'm sure that hatred, that feeling still lingers.."

Zack stares at her. "War? Jenova killed your people?" Well crap, this problem just got bigger and bigger with every passing minute! "Awe babes, I'm sorry." He scoots over to put and arm around her. "I guess I shoulda waited till I had all the facts." Would knowing that have changed anything? Well it might have reminded him to actually /tell/ Sephiroth about Aerith's last memories of him. Okay, probably not. "What's done is done. I screwed this up, Jenova screwed the planet up and ShinRa screwed us. All with out dinner first…" Zack snorts and gives her a hug. "Come on, lets get back and get some rest. We've got a church to clear, remember?"

"Well if it's any comfort, at least we all get to start over again, make amends, rewrite history." she smiles, leaning her head against Zack's shoulder, nodding slowly, cheered by his change in attitude. In fact, it causes her to chuckle slightly as she rises to her feet, had she forgotten about dinner during all of this mayhem? "Hmm, there's just one thing I need to know, Zack..Is he coming with us? Sephiroth, I mean, it's important.."

Zack stands, wiping the sand off his pants. "Thats a good way to look at it. I'll toss it at him when he calms down." Then there's the question of the day. Is he or isn't he? "I really don't know. I want him to try that Planet Magic thing you got, but..Well..." He stares off at the direction the General went.

Aerith nods, "I had been thinking about that myself. I'm not sure it would work, honestly." she sighs, following Zack's gaze into the shadows. "Sephiroth is a bit different from the average SOLDIER, right? He's not just a human who has been showered in Mako, and further had Jenova cells injected into him." shrugging a bit, she looks back at Zack, "Sephiroth has had Jenova cells injected into him before he was even born so..I guess that means, they were incorporated into his very DNA. They're a part of him, more than they are of you, or Cloud." at this thought, her smile fades a bit, shaking her head slowly, "Normally, a healing spell will purge a body of minor poisons. Great Gospel is a special kind of spell, that can cleanse a body of all impurities, even Jenova cells..That means, if Sephiroth is drenched in the healing rain...Well..." that might just hurt him. A lot.

Zack frowns. "How's he even sick then? If they're part of him to begin with?" The explanation of how Great Gospel works summons up an image that is equal parts amusing and disturbing. Melting, melting! Oh what a world! He shakes his head and sighs. "Never mind, lets worry about all this tomorrow. Okay?" Right now all he wants a good meal and a long nap. And maybe a rousing game of Roof Tile Pinball. Not necessarily in that order.

"Umm..It's kinda complicated. I guess you're right. Too much information overload.." she chuckles, "Alright Zack, I guess we both need a well-deserved rest. We can just figure this out tomorrow, right? One step at a time.." that seems to have been her motto a lot lately, "Hey, are you still hungry? I'm sure we still have some frozen food left off in the freezer.." she smiles, offering her hand, before heading back.
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