[Text] November 28th - Evening

[de_faulty_hero]

People come from across one another's timelines. Some people know things that others haven't yet experienced, and it's only a matter of time before the future gets revealed to those still living a life behind that point in time

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[Action]

[pure_lineage]

[He's sitting quietly in the living room while Cloud makes that text. After reading it, his gaze flickers up to regard the blonde quietly sitting a little further away.

The television goes ignore, had been ignored by him, as he sets his attention on Cloud.]

Why are you being bothered by thoughts of your return?

[Action forever]

[de_faulty_hero]

[He sets down his communicator after texting to the network, not even certain why he let the thought get away from him. It has been bothering him for a long time, but he never gives voice to his questions.

Staring at the television, he considers turning it off to read a book instead but his attention shifts as Sephiroth speaks. He blinks at the ex-General before looking away, ashamed.]

Everyone is further ahead in time than I am, and I have a strong idea what is going to happen. I've done so much here... I'm not sure it's my place to even go back.

[pure_lineage]

[There's a moment when he wonders if he should have just kept silent, but it's far too late for regrets. As it is, he quietly ponders over Cloud's words.]

When you return, you will return to do the task ahead of you despite being well aware of the outcome.

[de_faulty_hero]

[He drops his communicator in his lap and then folds his hands over it, staring off across the room at nothing in particular.]

Kadaj asked me if I could fight you knowing what I do now. If I went back knowing what I do, I don't think I could win. I... [He hesitates before shaking his head.] What does it matter? The me still on Gaea has already done all that and experienced it. My memories of before and here are all I have.

[pure_lineage]

You can and you will, unless you're going to stand by and allow the world to be destroyed. [While Cloud's gaze may not have been on him, Sephiroth's never once wavered from Cloud.] Who's to say that the 'you' back on Gaea isn't the future version of the man sitting in front of me now?

[de_faulty_hero]

You would continue on that path if you returned knowing everything that you do from this place? You would kill me.... [He sighs heavily, sagging a little more heavily into the couch. He rubs his face with his hand, feeling and appearing suddenly very tired.]

I think those ahead of me in the timeline would say that I disappeared for a few months spouting nonsense about a different world and a war.

[pure_lineage]

[He remained silent while allowing Cloud's thoughts to sink into the blonde for a moment. When Cloud sinks back into the chair and rubs his face, he finally ends his silence.]

If you return, then I will not remain here. I will return only to die, for the one who you will fight will hold no knowledge of what has occurred here.

[de_faulty_hero]

And what if we don't get a choice but to return once this war is over? What if we go back remembering, and we have to cross swords again? [No matter what gusto he had and what people thought, he had made a conscious decision to give Sephiroth another chance.

Could he return to kill the man he now knew a considerable amount about?] Then you will only be a memory if you die.

[pure_lineage]

I am already nothing but a memory. [There's a moment of silent thought before his attention focuses back on Cloud.] But one with a truth that will live on within you.

My future cannot be changed regardless of the events here.

[de_faulty_hero]

But I will go back remembering you here. [Nodding his head silently, he finally turns his head enough to regard Sephiroth, his eyes darkened with emotion.] That means I will have to live for three people....

Is there no way to do what you must without absorbing the Lifestream? Will nothing make you happy?

[pure_lineage]

[He forces himself not to narrow his eyes at Cloud's offer. Sephiroth understands the sentiment, but old resentments are difficult to ignore.] You will live for yourself. Nothing more.

Have you forgotten the point I was taken from?

[de_faulty_hero]

[He flinches slightly as he senses a little of what Sephiroth is feeling along their link. He looks aside, studying the arm of the couch.] I don't... want to forget. I've spent years of my life not remembering...

No, I haven't. You were about to kill me, weren't you?

[pure_lineage]

When it comes to your return... you would do best to keep me as nothing but a memory. [The thought doesn't change his expression, but the sudden void of emotions is enough to speak of how he feels.]

No, you had just defeated me above Midgar. So there is nothing that could have changed on my return. You will be fighting the monster within me right until the end.

[He couldn't allow for Cloud to return with doubts or regrets.]

[de_faulty_hero]

All these months here compressed into a single blink of my eyes. It hardly seems like it could be real at all. [They had come so far, how would it be possible to forget and keep the ex-General as a memory. He had seen things and they had done things together that he couldn't describe in words.] I don't... want to forget you as you are now.

[He nods his head once, sharp and accepting, forcing the emotion down.] Why did you waste such efforts pushing me around in Midgar? We both know in a fight if you put in the effort, you could kill me.

[They had been over this, he knew. He just... had to hear again for himself.]

[pure_lineage]

Then perhaps you need to live in the moment, and now shadow your thoughts with what may occur in the future.

[His own expression remains just as neutral as it did before. Sephiroth had never learnt to deal with his own emotions, and it was either to suppress it, or let them take control.]

Because you were the only one who could give me a challenge. [There's a moment of silence, then he's glancing away.] And I had wanted to make you feel even just a sliver of the pain I felt when you'd abandoned me.

[de_faulty_hero]

[He remains silent, contemplating Sephiroth's advice before shaking his head.] No, I won't. We've worked to hard to make this work. [He clenches his hands in his lap.] I consider you a very close friend, someone I can trust. I won't leave that behind for the convenience of what may or may not happen in the future.

[Glancing at Sephiroth, his expression softens for a moment before twisting in surprise.] Abandoned you? When I stopped being a clone under your control?