01 ♠ [VIDEO; unfiltered]

[volitionretaken]

[At first, the feed is black, though movement can be heard on the other end. The quiet shuffling is followed by a startled gasp for air and louder indications of movement. After a few seconds, the noise subsides and there is instead a bewildered and disappointed voice.]...How is this possible? A cruel Afterlife indeed if even it can't free me-- if

Comments

[ridesthesisters]

... Cid? Well, isn't this a surprise.

video

[volitionretaken]

[...It is, actually.]

Were it under different circumstances, I would be more pleased to see you. However, I'm uncertain what your presence implies or where this even is. ...Your l'Cie brand, Snow. Is it still present?

video

[ridesthesisters]

[holding it up nice and proud.]

Uh, the last time we saw you you weren't doing so well.

video

[volitionretaken]

[How... very like him. Snow has to be the first l'Cie he's seen to wear a big fat smile on his face regardless of circumstance. He shakes his head subtly.]

...I'm just as baffled as you are. [Unconsciously, he brings two fingers up to feel his temple as if he were looking for something.] By all rights, I should be dead. --Most concerning is what use the fal'Cie could possibly have for us here.

We are not Cie'th nor are we crystallized. I did have a dream before I awoke, but ... it did not feel like a Focus-- and yet my brand still remains. Do you, perhaps, have some answers?

{Video}

[furorimperator]

[Sephiroth's expression is quite calm, very matter-of-fact.]

You would be quite correct, as it were. We've been "recruited" -so to speak- by entities entitled Cosmos and Chaos to settle some vague struggle between the two.

{Video}

[volitionretaken]

...I see.

[Cid takes this information in very carefully, considering it for a moment.]

I heard one of them speak before I awoke. They could not settle this quarrel amongst themselves? I understand what is being asked of me, but I fail to understand why. I can only assume this is another fal'Cie fabrication.

{Video}

[furorimperator]

Apparently not. Thus our presence here. We were not given explanations, merely orders, or what passes for such.

It is no fabrication, of that, at least, I can assure you.

Tell me, who spoke to you?

{Video}

[volitionretaken]

Drag those who have no involvement into a war that should not be not their's to fight. Perhaps it may not be a fabrication, but these entities sound more and more like the fal'Cie as we speak.

[He looks particularly disgusted by now, averting his eyes.]

...He called himself the god of discord, if I recall correctly. I assume that would be Chaos. [His attention is back on Sephiroth.] To your knowledge, has anyone attempted to defy their so-called god thus far?

I PROMISED I'D DO THIS B)

[machiavellisms]

[you've intrigued Rufus, congratulations. Though you can't see it, Rufus' eyebrow just raised - only slightly.]

You seem to understand the fundamentals of this involuntary enrollment.

8D

[volitionretaken]

What's not to understand? To force others to do their bidding while they sit atop their throne, claiming all the power in the world, is what all "gods" do.

[machiavellisms]

Accurate, though an overly dramatic way to put it. Though "Gods" would take advantage of the confusion, displayed by the fact that we seem to be ignorant about our free will to choose whether or not we wish to fight their battle for them.

[volitionretaken]

[Get used to it, Rufus. He's wordy. :|]

And you? After all, you seem all too aware of your circumstances to be someone who would willingly stand down and accept their will over your own.

[exsergeant]

[Sharply:] Which deity brought you?

video

[volitionretaken]

Direct, as always. [He shifts his footing, looking more into the crystal with one shoulder pointing into it.] Chaos, it seems. The question is, does that make us supposed allies or opponents?

video

[exsergeant]

I'll let you take a guess.

video

[volitionretaken]

Judging by your less than pleased demeanor, we are to be pitted against each other. The others are also allied with Cosmos, I assume.

[Something occurs to him and he looks off to the side for a moment - at his right hand specifically - then back.]

For whatever reason, we are all being given a second chance. ['Especially me,' dangled invisibly at the end of his remark.] I intend not to fail again. I've no other options. Barthandelus will no longer hold reign over me.

video.

[ebonize]

[ There's a glimmer of amusement behind unblinking feline green; Yazoo cocks his head, a contemplative smirk touching the corners of his lips as he debates on whether or not to tell him ... ]

... You'll realise soon enough.

video.

[volitionretaken]

Care to elaborate? I am no mind reader, after all.

1/2 | video.

[ebonize]

Tch. That's what they all say.

video.

[ebonize]

[ But then the minute playful edge disappears, replaced with cool indifference. ]

This place is confirmation of your own world's insignificance.