OPEN POST; [ SEPHIROTH / FFVII ]

[supersoldier]

those chosen by the planet.

(( despite the ominous choice of music i default to a pre-nibelheim canon point, but can play post-nibelheim upon request! ))

Comments

and never know I'm there

[inveilsible]

[ It had been a Witch's Labyrinth she had joined the others in. She was sure of it-- any Magical Girl could sense a Witch and know it for what it was. And the space had been distorted, just like a Labyrinth. Except the others had been with her, and when Sana stumbles out into an entirely unfamiliar area... she's alone. Out of sheer habit, she banishes her transformation completely, leaving her a simple pigtailed girl in a burgundy uniform, but... it still also leaves her alone and with no clear explanation as to what just happened.

... There are... people around, she notices, but no one who takes notice of her, due to the nature of her wish. So clearly there's no one who's been wielding magic? ]

O-oh... but that means there's no one I can ask, either...

[supersoldier]

[He knows the layout of Shinra Electric Power Company as thoroughly as a man knows his home. He knows it so intimately that he walks these same halls in his dreams, knows each door and where it leads from broom closet to board room, can tell which floor he’s on via the conversations that buzz across them, or which distinct pitch of quiet hum emanates from the installed lighting overhead. And while he has spent years in this place — all the years that he knows — there are still sections of headquarters that he avoids if possible. The Science Department is at the top of that list, a place only business will bring Sephiroth striding into, and he will make a point to leave as soon as that same business is done.

Today, it was nothing more than a report given to a cadre of white-frocked researchers, all of whom had gone hushed in his presence and nodded quietly as they took the files from him. He could feel their stares on his back as he left, but Sephiroth was too used to that, never enough to slow him down.

He passes by old laboratories on the way out, currently unused. Cold glass enclosures and sterile workspaces, neatly organized, and illuminated only by minimalistic ambient lights. There should be not a soul in these particular ones, more outdated than their counterparts (newer labs, higher tech and backed by much more money), but he can feel the materia on his person hum the same way it often does before it activates; this stops his step, causing him to glance about in mild disarray, ignorant as to how or why such a thing is happening.

Sephiroth’s eyes alight on a figure through the glass wall. A young girl, a face that he certainly does not recognize — and certainly looks out of place where she stands. His brow furrows, turning to face her, his voice muffled though his side of the glass.]

You’re not supposed to be in there.

[He hopes not, anyhow. Who exactly is she supposed to be?]

[inveilsible]

Eh--!

[ Sana jerks, pigtails flying in alarm as she quickly turns her head from side to side, and just as swiftly locates the speaker. Which does nothing to reassure her when he looks so massive and foreboding, his voice stern in her ears.

Another disapproving adult, and one who can see her, and she automatically ducks under a counter, hands defensively rising over her head. ]

I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be!

[supersoldier]

[It’s not a reaction he expected, but it is unsurprising if she’s found herself in the wrong place. His brows, usually unmarred by too much emotion, knit together more sternly.

She’s ducked under the counter, so Sephiroth can only see her shadowed form in the dim lighting. He takes a moment to glance around, wondering if anyone nearby might have an answer to this conundrum, but this corridor is empty with the exception of the random passerby on their way to elevator — like himself.

How did she get in here? Clearance was required to reach the labs, to even operate the elevators from ground floor all the way up to this one. Wordlessly, Sephiroth moves to the door, punching in an access code via the nearby panel, and it slides open with a hiss. He strides in, and from her angle, she likely can only see dark black boots walking her way.

Stopping directly in front the counter, he pauses for about two seconds, then crouches down with his coat and silver hair sweeping the ground. Sephiroth’s green eyes glow faintly in the dark and he finally speaks.]

How did you get in here?

[inveilsible]

[ Sana, who has been shrinking down smaller and smaller as the click of his boots gets louder, squeaks in terror when he suddenly ducks down and tries to catch her eye.

His eyes... glow, a bit like a cat's, but it's not a comforting thought right now. ]

I-- I don't know, I don't know where here is--! I just--

How can you even see me??

[supersoldier]

[Retreat any further into herself, and he thinks she might disappear altogether. She’s frightened, but whether of him (not unusual) or the circumstances (still confusing) is up for debate.

He assesses for a moment, not afraid to let a silence settle between them. It’s obvious that something is working behind his eyes, because that line across his brow has not left.]

Because your hiding spot isn’t as effective as you think.

[What an odd question with an obvious answer. Ducking behind the counter after he had so clearly spotted her wasn’t going to do this girl any good.]

You didn’t answer my question. How did you get here?

[And she didn’t know where she was? All the stranger.]

[inveilsible]

[ He has to be... unusual. Unless her magic here isn't working, but she'd still been in her Magical Girl guise until she'd changed back herself. And the few people who had walked by had taken no notice of her, so Sana's brow also furrows, and she finally answers him in the world's smallest voice. ]

I was... with my friends. W-we were investigating something strange... but then the next moment, I was here, by myself.

[supersoldier]

[An even more puzzling answer with no details, but at least it’s a start.]

This is Shinra Headquarters.

[He searches for recognition in her eyes. Anyone on Gaia would know the name Shinra — and anyone who knew would know why that’s problematic.

He thinks the Turks would throw a fit if they realized that a small girl managed to simply arrive on one of the restricted floors of the building just like that. An utterly glaring hole in security.]

What could you possibly have been investigating that would have led you here?

[inveilsible]

[ To that, Sana's voice gets even softer as she averts her eyes, mumbling out something that sounds (if he's listening carefully) like "Witches". But she hadn't ever heard of Shinra, which should be damning enough if he's wondering about her status as any kind of native. She hadn't even looked... well. Even more dismayed than she's already feeling. ]

[supersoldier]

Witches?

[He definitely heard that, but it makes even less sense than before.

Sephiroth says nothing more, waiting to see if she grants him a reply first. When he sees there’s little more than fear there, his hopes of gaining more information dissipate.

He tries at something else, then.]

Are you all right? You’re not hurt, are you?

[inveilsible]

... Just... so you know, I'm-- I'm useless to you, so you don't need to make sure I'm okay.

[ She's just going to be preemptive here. ]

[supersoldier]

[All right, also not exactly the expected reply.]

What makes you think I’m asking because I want to use you?

[A beat.]

I’m only trying to understand what’s happened. You don’t need to be afraid. [Probably.]

[inveilsible]

I-I'm only good if I'm useful... that's what a lot of people thought.

[ HOW CAN SHE NOT BE AFRAID, LOOK AT HIM. ]

[supersoldier]

[He’s quiet again — it’ll soon become apparent that Sephiroth is not big on talking — while he decides what to make of that remark. He would say she’s young for that level of expectation, but his own experiences tell him it’s not unusual. For those with roles to play, or are expected to reach a benchmark set by others, invisible goals always present, that’s merely a state of normalcy.]

They’ll tell you that here, too. But only to the employees.

[Re...assuring? Well. He tries.

And he extends a hand.]

Which you’re obviously not. Come on, you can’t stay under there.

[inveilsible]

... W-what are you going to do with me?

[ Though she'll slowly reach out to take his hand. ]

[supersoldier]

[Her hand in his, Sephiroth ushers her out of her hiding place, standing to his full height soon after. His silver hair sways behind him.]

I’m going to take you to the front and see if anyone knows what to do with you.

[Because while her tale is certainly a... compelling one, it’s quite possible none of it is true, and she’s just the lost daughter of an employee, or somehow has wandered in without explanation, yet not necessarily due to witches and what-have-you.]

[inveilsible]

[ ... He's absurdly tall and Sana probably looks like a tiny child standing next to him, clutching at his hand.

But. Oh, well. This is her lot in life, and her shoulders slump in resignation. He'll see in due time that finding out who and where she belongs to won't be as simple as he's hoping. ]

[supersoldier]

[Sephiroth assumes that no response is as good as an affirmation, used to giving orders and having them followed regardless of who it is. So he turns, with a-]

Follow me.

[The glass doors of the lab slide open when he nears, and out into the hallway they go. It stretches long, long down the way, and beside them, large windows which reveal the nighttime skyline of Midgar are impossible to miss.]

[inveilsible]

... This isn't... Kamihama...

[ It's a soft, troubled voice that escapes her once again as she keeps her eyes fixed to the windows. This really... isn't home, is it? ]

[supersoldier]

No, this is Midgar.

[That steeled, writhing city. How can it be anything else?]

As I said, you're in Shinra Headquarters. Where else would you be?

[In front of them, the elevator doors hiss open.]

[inveilsible]

... Home.

[ And that elevator sure looks ominous, even though. Really. It's just an elevator. ]

[supersoldier]

[In the elevator he goes, and he turns and waits for her to follow. The door threatens to close, sensing no one else, which is odd— but Sephiroth doesn’t think anything of it, reaching out to obstruct the sensor and allow the door to remain open.]

‘Kamihama’?

[inveilsible]

In Japan. That's where I live.

[ And in she steps, pressing herself close to the wall. Don't worry, Sephiroth, it's going to get a lot weirder once you get off the elevator. ]

[supersoldier]

Japan?

[She enters and he drops his arm. The elevator closes, and its walls are, too, made of glass. The exterior of the Shinra building is therefore exposed, and as they go down, down, the cityscape is continually clear for either to view.]

...Is that the name of a town?

[inveilsible]

It's the name of a country.

[ Sana is ever so slowly wanting to die. Not only is she far from home, but apparently this is not even a place who knows where Japan is or what Japan is. ]