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year 5, quarter 3
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Today was apparently the day. Vincent had almost wanted to stay in Torensten, to continue hiding from his problems and ignoring the past. But then there would be no moving forward, no growth or resolution. If he didn’t face his past, he was doomed to be trapped in it forever. To be haunted by his sins until the end of his days. Vincent logically knew this. He knew that there was really no option other than boarding an airship to Provo and meeting Cissnei. And then. And then he would meet Sephiroth, his greatest sin, the destroyer of worlds, the reminder of his failures. [break][break]
And maybe his son. [break][break]
So here he was, stepping off the airship dock in the central city of Provo. The trip from Torensten had been simple, fast enough. But now the easy part was out of the way, the hard part of Vincent’s day was just beginning. He glanced out across the city. He’d been here once or twice before, he was familiar enough with the main areas of the city. Hopefully he’d have no problems finding Cissnei. The Turk had arranged this meeting, on neutral ground she said. She hadn’t told him where yet, but implied it would be somewhere public and outside. Where they could escape if things got too tense. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. [break][break]
But if it did, Vincent didn’t come unarmed. Cerberus was strapped to his hip, beneath a new fluttering red cloak. He’d replaced the old torn one with a nice, new one trimmed in black and gold. His clothes were lighter and more airy than what he’d worn in Gaia. Better for the warmer climate here in Zephon. He felt lighter, as if he’d lost a great deal of weight. Of course, it was simply emotional weight. He was healing here, working through his trauma and hardships. Was this meeting a mistake? Was he merely going to reopen old wounds? Reset his healing by decades? Or would it be cathartic? He really had no idea what to expect. [break][break]
Vincent huffed out a long breath and walked through the bustling midmorning streets of Provo. Find Cissnei. That was the first step. Everything else, all the more worrisome aspects of the day, would come later. Just find the red-haired Turk, the woman who had so quickly become a close confidant and friend. He was looking forward to seeing her again, at the very least. [break][break]
He didn’t get lost. The directions were easy enough to follow. The street signs were clear enough. In not too long, Vincent found himself at the predetermined meeting spot at the corner of Songbird Lane and Orchid Street. No sign of Cissnei’s bright hair yet though. So he waited, leaning against the stone face of a nearby building. He tried to keep an eye out for his friend, but his mind was wandering too much, too lost in thoughts of what might be and what could have been.
[attr="class","infoNotes"]Cissnei trying to lighten the mood here. =D
[attr="class","crashLyrics"]What Could Have Been
[attr="class","crashBody"] Cissnei left ahead of Vincent. As much as she loved to surprise the First Class SOLDIERs, she decided on humble arrangements for Vincent’s sake. The extra layer of stress would not do for his situation. If Sephiroth thought she was playing some sort of trick on him, then he may not make the visit. After all, there was already little trust between them. No need to squander it. [break][break] So, she found herself politely knocking on his door, instead of entering through a window. She waited patiently, knowing this was the right spot. Her intel was rarely way off the mark. He took his time coming to the door. For a moment, she thought her knocking was unheard. Preposterous, since the Turks were well versed at such banging to be let in. She stood on her tiptoes to eye the peephole, wondering if he was just deciding to keep her out. He knew that was futile when she wanted to be let in. [break][break] Then, the door opened and she only let out a low whistle. Quite some injuries there. It made her wonder what the heck got to him. “I tried warning you about your enemies, didn’t I?” She shook her head, crossing her arms. SOLDIERs never listened to warnings. A bit cocky weren’t they. She resisted the urge to poke him in a wound to prove her point. She needed him to accept the invitation. She tried not to sigh. [break][break] Despite his injuries, he was standing, breathing, and opening doors. Therefore, he could still manage meeting a person. “I have a…” She wanted to say surprise, but that would sound ominous. “primary source for you. Someone who directly knows your past. His name is Vincent Valentine and he worked with my supervisor. I trust him at his word. He’s agreed to meet you at whatever time and location you choose. Just send me word to this address when you’re ready.” [break][break]
She handed him a business card, and she tried to look passed him and the partly opened door. “By the way, did you find Angeal? Tell him I said, “Hello. It’s been a while.” She gave Sephiroth a wink before turning to leave. She raised a hand to wave a farewell, “Oh. And you can pay me in a date.” A final tease. She couldn’t resist. [break][break]
---- [break][break] And here we were, on Songbird Ln and Orchid St. Cissnei could see her tall companion, standing nervously at the corner. It was clear he was brooding again. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she approached him. “You look ghastly. Lighten up a little. You’re as ready as you’ll ever be.” She smiled up at him. Though, she could not help but be a little nervous too. The worst that would happen is Sephiroth would laugh at them. At least, that’s what she hoped. [break][break] “Drinks are on me. Unfortunately, I don’t have any valium…” She pretended to search her pockets for it. The winery was several blocks away and she decided it was better to not tell him he was getting closer to a potential disaster situation. Instead, she began walking and talking with him. “And once things are said and done, you should feel a little lighter.” She gave him a nudge with her elbow. [break][break] “All I’ve told him is you know about his past and your name. I’m leaving the rest up to you. Did you want me to stay with you? Or leave after introductions?” She was here for him either way. Though she didn’t want to completely leave. She might have to scrape him off the floor.
[attr=class,bulk] It was 2:05 in the afternoon, and Sephiroth stood with his back to an iron-wrought lamppost, arms crossed and watching the people mill slowly past. There was a peculiar, muddy smell to the air that came from the river swelling with recent rainwater. He watched a family sat by the edge on a woven blanket, fishing. They’d caught three since that morning, and had them strung to a stake in the water where the fish struggled, drifted, then finally gave in. A jogger went past, huffing quickly through a tense jaw. He heard the distant sound of multi-layered conversations as other families enjoyed the rare sunny day broken between the persistent rain showers.
It was 2:05 in the afternoon, and it was time for Sephiroth to go.
He pushed off the lamppost and started slowly down the cobblestone path. He was dressed in casual clothes while his usual coat and pauldrons were in for repairs. Perhaps it was better, he thought, to be dressed as a civilian when he had effectively become one. It was a difficult thought to process, and one that never failed to bitterly amuse him. He had never thought to leave the military. Shinra was a way of life, and the only one he had ever known. Yet here he was, largely unidentifiable as he strolled past the masses he’d long been kept separated from.
Was there really such a difference?
The winery was exactly twenty minutes east and five north. He’d scouted it that morning, checking for ambush points and traps. It had seemed unremarkable. It had also seemed quite unlike him with its flowering grounds and rustic water features crafted impeccably to look natural. It wasn’t somewhere that anyone would think to look for him, and with good reason. He’d only chosen it on Angeal’s suggestion. His friend had been subtly hinting at a visit for some time.
Sephiroth turned onto Songbird Lane. Five minutes to estimated time of arrival.
Cissnei had come to visit. Sephiroth hadn’t told her the location of his residence in Provo or that he had relocated at all, but her abrupt arrival hadn’t surprised him. She was a Turk, after all, and she had a proposition. Sephiroth had listened, eyebrows raised. She came with a primary source. He could choose the time and location. She’d asked to pass along a flirtatious tease to Angeal. Which was...interesting.
He should have identified the outing as another trap. He should have informed Genesis and Angeal and brought them along as support. Given his repertoire of enemies and his current wounded condition, he should have rejected her proposal, but he hadn’t. There was something about it that drew him in. Some curiosity that overrode his more rational instincts. A primary source for his past…
Turks were trained in the identification of pressure points on their targets. She had easily found his.
He arrived at the rendezvous point at exactly 2:30. He was dressed uncharacteristically in a black sweater with his hair neatly tied into a high ponytail. He wore a silver bracer over one sleeve inset with materia. His sword hung sheathed from a belt looped through his slacks. He may have been out of uniform, but he would not travel unarmed.
”Cissnei.” Sephiroth addressed her simply as he approached the pair at the intersection of the two country roads. She had the distinct look of a detective undercover. Her companion, Vincent Valentine, had a darker aura to him. He was armed with a triple-barreled pistol half-shrouded beneath a deep red cloak.
Sephiroth came to a stop, arms crossed. ”This is your contact?”
[attr="class","infoNotes"]Cissnei is just standing around. Having a great time. We're all introduced. Friends now, right?
[attr="class","crashLyrics"]What Could Have Been
[attr="class","crashBody"] They did not need to wait long. Sephiroth could be expected to at least be punctual and keep appointments. Her eyes noticed his sword at his hip. Honestly. Father and son bringing weapons to meet each other. She tried not to roll her eyes. Could they at least pretend they weren’t nervous of the other? “Sephiroth.” Cissnei hummed cooly in response as he addressed her. “Don’t you make a fine civilian.” She smirked, ignoring his immediate question for now. “Soon enough, you’ll be sporting civvies instead of your uniform.” [break][break] She refused to recount how hard it was hard for her to transition at first. She never fully shook her old habits either. [break][break]
“You chose this location? Hmm. I never knew you had such refined tastes.” She tapped her finger knowingly against her cheek. It was quite a beautiful location. She heard the grapes here produced some of the finer wines in Provo. But, from what she remembered from their last meeting, he refused to drink. Had he a change of heart on the matter? Or perhaps it was a known location of one of his friends in case he needed aid? [break][break] Oh well. She did not particularly mind. This time. [break][break] She partly turned to Vincent to introduce him with an elbow nudge. Maybe it would wake him from some needless brooding when Cissnei wasn’t watching. “This is Vincent Valentine. He was employed at Shinra for a time and knows much about your past due to his duties.” Maybe it was better not to mention he was another ex-Turk just yet. This was Vincent’s conversation and she would let him unfold it as he pleased. “...And, since he is no longer a stranger, he is OUR contact.” She corrected him, unabashedly. [break][break]
She placed one hand on her hip. “Shall I bring you two some drinks? Or perhaps, simply leave you both to converse?” By ‘leave’, she just meant like linger several meters. She was terribly nosy.
It took every ounce of Vincent’s willpower to remain standing on the corner of Orchid and Songbird as Cissnei approached him. His mind told him to flee, to keep running from the sins of his past, to try to escape somehow, someway. Every survival instinct he possessed told him this was stupid. Chatting with Sephiroth. [break][break]
A thought came to him as he stewed in his anxiety. What would Cloud think? He’d heard that Cloud was in Sonora somewhere but he hadn’t yet met up with the spikey-haired swordsman. Would Cloud be as forgiving towards the memory-addled ex-SOLDIER as Vincent was being? Somehow, he doubted it. Maybe Vincent had another awkward conversation ahead of him. [break][break]
You look ghastly. Cissnei’s greeting words were certainly a correct assessment. He didn’t try to deny it. He felt ghastly. He couldn’t muster a proper response so he just grunted and nodded in greeting, black hair falling into his face. He let her talk, try to lighten the mood. He appreciated her efforts but knew that his mood was, unfortunately, not likely to be lightened. No fault of hers of course. [break][break]
Did he want her to stay? Would that make it more or less awkward? “Maybe stay at first, just in case,” he finally responded in a low voice. In case of what? He didn’t elaborate but he assumed she could fill in all manner of anxiety-riddled possibilities that were jumping through his head right now. [break][break]
It wasn’t long before his nervousness ratcheted up yet again. It didn’t surprise him that Sephiroth was punctual, arriving at exactly the time he and Cissnei had agreed upon. Vincent looked at him, arms crossed and subconsciously hiding behind Cissnei, as the destroyer of Gaia approached. He looked so casual, in similar black clothing as Vincent. Gone were both of their elaborate leather outfits with too many belts. It seemed that they both were relaxing into the more casual atmosphere and fashion of this world. That was a good sign, right? [break][break]
But of course, like Vincent, Sephiroth didn’t come unarmed. The masamune, that iconic blade, was strapped to his belt. He didn’t blame him for that. This wasn’t a meeting to go to completed unarmed and unaware. The man’s blue eyes looked him over before he addressed Cissnei then found himself on the receiving end of some of the Turk’s light banter. Watching Sephiroth get teased somehow helped assuage just a little of Vincent’s anxiety and nervousness. She wouldn’t talk so lightly to him if she believed he was any sort of true threat. [break][break]
Vincent let them talk. Or rather, he let Cissnei talk. He followed, wondering about this winery they were headed to. It invariably made his thoughts drift to Stella and his date in Torensten. His first experience with wine tasting. Everything had been going so well in his life recently. When was that going to change? Today? That seemed likely. [break][break]
He was roused from his brooding by a sharp elbow in his ribs and the sound of his name. Vincent forced himself to look like he was paying attention and nodded sharply. He didn’t know what to say, but he at least tried to look engaged in the conversation. Eventually, they found a table at the winery. It was really quite a beautiful location on the river. It was peaceful and fairly secluded with no tables too close to their. Perfect for the conversation that was to come. [break][break]
“Drinks would be wonderful,” he answered Cissnei gratefully before perching on the edge of a chair. He definitely needed something to distract himself with before they could properly get into this conversation.
It wasn’t something that he could say that he was overly used to. Not from anyone but Genesis, that was, but his friend had given him more than enough experience on his own. To most, Sephiroth was intimidating either by his sword or his cold demeanor. Still, Cissnei kept herself cool and professional, lips twitching into a smirk.
”Don’t you make a fine civilian.”
”I'm not always on duty,” Sephiroth answered with his own faint smirk. ”I own other clothes.”
’You could have fooled me.’ His thoughts had taken on strange patterns lately. He’d spent so much time alone with Genesis that he’d taken to anticipating his taunts before he could say them. ’How many times have I tried to get you out of that tacky black leather? Now you've finally found a fashion sense?’
That was enough of that.
”Angeal was fond of this location.” He looked at the sign for the winery, taking a moment to appreciate how the carved stone complimented the surrounding shrubbery. ”It’s his taste, not mine,” he said. ”No one would think to find me here.”
Sephiroth was not spontaneous. If anyone had bothered to learn his habits, they could have easily tracked him from his apartment to the local coffeehouses to a nearby bookshop and then to the wild cliffsides where he liked to meditate. As a tactician, Sephiroth knew that this put him at a disadvantage in case of an ambush. He was precise. Predictable.
If he couldn’t change his strategy then why not borrow one from a friend?
They walked together, Cissnei, Sephiroth, and their contact. The man was stiff, distant, and showed all the signs of barely suppressed panic. Sephiroth wondered if Cissnei had brought the man of his will or if she’d strong-armed him into a favor.
Vincent Valentine. Ex-employee of Shinra. It was vague enough to tell him next to nothing. Cissnei played her cards close to her chest.
They found a table. Or rather, Cissnei found a table. The two men were content merely to trail behind her, stopping wherever she chose. Sephiroth scanned the nearest tree line for lookout points then shifted four inches to the left to take him out of sight of any potential snipers positioned on the winery’s southern roof.
Cissnei offered them drinks. Sephiroth paused. He didn’t know wine well enough to give her a proper answer.
”Something white,” he said. Whenever Angeal and Genesis forced a drink on him, he always tolerated the white ones best. ”Thank you.”
With Cissnei busy, that left the two men alone. All according to the Turk’s plan, no doubt. Sephiroth eyed the surrounding tables for any familiar or hostile faces before finally taking a seat.
A strange silence stretched between them. Vincent looked, as ever, like he didn’t want to be there.
Sephiroth unbuckled the holster of his sword, propping it against the table so that he wouldn’t block the path behind him. ”Did you ask to meet me?” Sephiroth asked simply. ”Or did she blackmail you into this?”
The silence stretched between them. Vincent watched Sephiroth from across the table as Cissnei departed for drinks. It was so… strange. So disconcerting. To see the man who had tried to destroy all of Gaia sitting here in civilian clothing, looking calm and collected. Peaceful, even. What a strange twist of fate that brought them here together at a winery of all places across space and time. Trees rustled in the gentle breeze above them, shading them from the worst of the sun. [break][break]
He didn’t know where to begin, so he just silently observed for a minute longer, taking in this different, less world-weary version of Sephiroth. In his face, Vincent saw Lucrecia reflected back at him. He looked so very like his mother. Then he finally spoke, asking if Cissnei had blackmailed him into the meeting. It was so unexpected that Vincent actually let out an amused huff. Some of the tension broke in him at the remark. “Surprisingly, no. This was my idea.” Then he let out a sigh and leaned back a bit, trying to relax. [break][break]
“I’ve been told you don’t have all of your memories,” he started in a low voice. “That you don’t remember much of what happened in Gaia. I don’t have any desire to relive those later memories with you. That’s irrelevant here, I think.” It was hard to move on, to not think about Nibelheim, about Meteorfall. About all the sins of Sephiroth. But that wasn’t the point of this meeting. The point was moving forward, for both of them. The sins of the past didn’t have to define the present. [break][break]
He folded his hands and glanced away, unable to meet the other man’s gaze. “What I want to talk about is far further in the past. I… knew your mother.” Vincent’s gaze fixed to a leaf fluttering in the breeze. “Your true mother, a woman I worked with long ago at Shinra. Her name was Lucrecia Crescent.” This was a conversation he should have had with the man back in Gaia so many years ago. If he hadn’t been so cowardly, if he hadn’t hidden away for decades to fight against Chaos alone in his dark isolation. If he’d been there, if he’d done something could he have changed the face of history? Could he have saved Sephiroth from Hojo? Well. Perhaps he had a chance here, at the very least.
[attr=class,bulk] His question seemed to startle Vincent out of his nerves. The man gave a short laugh and answered that he’d been the one to contract Cissnei. Interesting. Cissnei had framed it as though she were doing Sephiroth some kind of favor.
It wasn’t surprising. Turks were known to twist a situation to their advantage.
Sephiroth watched Vincent carefully. He neither confirmed nor denied Vincent’s suspicions. He only watched, impassive and patient. Sephiroth had lost his memories -- that was true -- but he wasn’t entirely in the dark. There were “later memories” that Vincent wouldn’t revisit. Why was that? It felt like some kind of deception.
Vincent clasped his hands together on the table. His eyes lowered. ”What I want to talk about is far further in the past,” he said. ”I...knew your mother.”
”What?” Sephiroth frowned. His...true mother?
”You’re lying,” he said before he could think better of it. Then he stopped and glanced away, eyebrows furrowing.
Where had this come from? Why had Cissnei brought this man here, and why had Vincent been so eager to tell him about it? It was such a personal detail -- something that only Sephiroth should have cared about, and yet, this man said it with a kind of solemn weight that didn’t fit the subject at hand. His claim was too strange and too specific to be some kind of trick. But then why…?
”You said you worked with her,” Sephiroth repeated slowly. ”That’s not possible. My mother...would be at least fifty years old by now.” And the man in front of him looked to be Sephiroth’s age. It was possible that Vincent might have started employment with Shinra younger than most. Perhaps a woman in her middle-age had made some wild claims to a gullible new hire. She would have had to have been a low level employee -- someone too unimportant to have ever crossed Sephiroth’s path.
”I’ve never heard of her,” he went on. ”And Hojo said…”
He felt his eyes darken. He did not want to think about Hojo today.
”There are things I don’t remember,” Sephiroth said. ”But I never knew my mother. I don't see what she has to do with this.”
[attr="class","crashBody"] Vincent asked her to stay for a bit. Even though he request was a bit awkwardly worded, it was enough to let her sit through any level of discomfort that would surely ensue. She gave him a reassuring smile, gentle and soft, followed by a nod of understanding. When the time was correct, she would quietly make her exit. Not too far though. [break][break] She gave a courteous bow at their agreement to wine. Seemed only polite to order at a winery after using their space. She hummed thoughtfully at the beautifully vineyard and river, artistically landscaped to be the backdrop for a fine wine. Angeal apparently thought this too, interesting. Perhaps, if she needed to find Sephiroth in the future, she should start looking where his friends would be instead. [break][break] It was cute that Sephiroth was still being cautious and even adjusted his seating. He still didn’t trust her. [break][break] She decided that if she had been out to get him, she would have put a detonator under his seat. [break][break] Though, she resisted the urge of asking Sephiroth to say the words ‘Thank you’ again. See. She could behave. [break][break] The bar was well polished and beautiful. It was lined with bottles of wine. The opened ones were being chilled in buckets of ice. Eyes scrolled over them before picking a full-bodied red - a cabernet sauvignon - for Vincent, as well as a light and dry wine - a pinot grigio - for Sephiroth. She figured Vincent needed the stronger drink, while Sephiroth preferred something that didn’t muddle the mind. How considerate of her. [break][break] Once they were served, she could always come back and drink alone at the bar. It always brought back memories. [break][break] Cissnei came back to the end of the conversation. She gave a low whistle. “Broaching the subject, I see.” Just fresh, right out the gate, bam. Then she good humoredly tutted Sephiroth as she set his glass down. “Give him a chance to say his piece.” She shook her head and shrugged at Sephiroth. “If you find it a waste of your day, then I will owe you a favor. Fair?” She crossed her arms and eyed a chair, debating to pull one up. [break][break] Then, she thought the better of it. She didn’t want to be a third wheel. “If either of you need me, I’ll be at the bar.” She gave Vincent you got this wink.
Cissnei was back before Vincent could answer, and Sephiroth glanced at her, lips thin. He felt irritable in a way that usually only Genesis could provoke in him. She’d known exactly why he’d been brought here, and she’d said nothing. No warnings. No background information. She’d presented him a nervous stranger who wasn’t particularly good at explaining himself.
“Give him a chance to say his piece,” she said. “If you find it a waste of your day then I will owe you a favor. Fair?”
It wasn’t. She had to know that. After their previous rendezvous, she already owed him more than enough, but that didn’t seem to bother her as she set two glasses in front of them.
”I thought this was your favor,” he said dryly. She’d said she would look into sources. She’d found a source. Still, this was looking more and more like it had been set up for either Vincent’s benefit or her own.
Did she find this funny?
Sephiroth eyed the drinks as she left, cautiously taking the lighter of the two. It was a pale amber shade, shimmering in its long-stemmed glass. Part of him paused to consider the probability of poison. The other, more rational part of himself didn’t think such tactics to be quite Cissnei’s style. No, she was the type to stage an ambush. She wouldn’t provoke him on her own.
Vincent was too nervous to be one of her allies. He was far too garish to be a Turk. Sephiroth sipped his drink. It was drier than liquid had any right to be. It tasted like something that had once been a fruit, but had since had the life wrung out of it by tree bark. Still, it wasn’t the worst thing he’d tasted to fit in at a place like this. He set the glass down in front of him and set his eyes back on Vincent.
He said nothing, but simply waited with a look that said, ’Don’t waste my time.’
