finalflight | PSL; [FLOWER, STARDUST, STEEL EXPLOSION]

[Messages from this number usually don’t mean anything. In fact, the wayward mission briefing, or the minute changes in regimented scheduling, is all that exchanges the two screens — usually, at least. Sephiroth is not a man who converses with many; that he even has found company in the presence of one or two other SOLDIERs is something of an oddity of its own. And so, when the texts lights up his phone, and a string of... not-his-names filter through, confusion only lasts for a few seconds.

A slow-dawning realization forms in the next, sometime around “Stephanie”.

Yes, he watches that (. . . ) for as long as it blinks, disappears, blinks again. It isn’t until the last question (plea?) that he relents, deigning to reply.

He has an idea who this might be.]

Do you have your hands full?

[Why else does this have the unfortunate hallmarks of voice-to-text?]

[ ( . . . )

just always

( . . . ) ]

Oh it speaks

Helloooo

Kind of

This thing is clunky and so awkward to hold but I dont know how to turn it off and I'm trying to hide

How do you make the typing happen

Why are you hiding?

Touch the icon that looks like a keyboard.

Is this Aerith?

[These three statements are not normally related... but today, they are.]

Oh

Nest

[ neat, actually, but these keys are right next to each other. which is probably why it takes so long for her to get out the following: ]

No this is your conscience speaking!

But what a coincidence, I was just about to remind you that you need to check in with her.

She's about to kick your butt for not saying hiii in so long.

[This is a rather roundabout way to drag him for not staying in touch.]

Has my conscience stolen someone else’s phone for the express purpose of reminding me?

As a man of many talents, are you so surprised that an extension of yourself is capable of doing so?

Given that it’s more likely someone has found themselves in trouble again instead, then yes.

Again, huh

[ which is -- just a little -- offended. but then again, she expected as much!! ]

Well, okay, but I guess I'm not the only one here who's in trouble.

[It’s always hard to judge whether or not he’s hecked up through text; Sephiroth is at an even larger disadvantage than normal where conversation is concerned, devoid of expression and intonation usually rung out of a face-to-face interaction.

...]

Am I? That was a reference to your comment about hiding.

[ the fact that he can't imagine her voice while she's leaning right into his personal space means he's gone way too long without that particular bother in his life. ]

Oh, I know! I haven't been found though, so I'd argue that I'm not in trouble yet.

[ yet ]

Meanwhile, it's been a month, and I haven't seen hide nor hair of you, mister.

[Maybe it’s true. Maybe he’s been too lost in the thrall of training for a looming war that even Aerith’s bright disapproval is dulled at the edges of his memory. Not that he would say so, naturally.]

You haven’t said why you’re hiding.

[They’ll loop back around to the rest. But first, explain!!!]

[ between wutai and aerith, it's still some kind of warfare, after all is said and done. ]

Maybe I don't like the tone of your text.

So my answer really depends.

Are you scolding me or offering to rescue me or both?

[The tone of his texts have been relatively non-committal and non-combative, he thinks; this is either a distinct failure on his part to parse tone at all (possible) or a misinterpretation of his attitude (not impossible, given what little he gives others to work with).

The ‘...’s return, exclusively on his side this time. Typing, typing...]

The first depends on the situation. The second, less so. I’ll rescue you if you ask.

Is that what you want?

Hmm

[ ... honestly, she should give him a bit of a break. especially when the time it took for his last response is pretty jarring.

he's usually so prompt. military manners means his responses are usually boilerplate politeness as it is, tempered in steel and quickened silver. honestly, she should be touched that he's still going through some form of effort, just for her.

but she does have a month's worth of ribbing to catch up on, so. ]

What sort of situation is that?

For the first one.

[F in chat for Sephiroth

At least he has years’ worth of knowing Aerith, being around her (even if their once-similar paths have been split, diverging in far-flung directions) long enough to see this tease for what it is.]

That’s what I’m trying to find out.

Is some poor infantryman missing their phone? Have they gone looking for the thief? That’s worth a mild scolding.

[If she’s not going to say, he’s going to lob scenarios into the wind and see what sticks.]

Mild? Really? Well, that's no fun at all.

Maybe I've been a really bad girl.

You should scold me more.

[ FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF ]

[He... what. Sephiroth's brain needs a moment to process this.

Typing, typing, again...]

So you can dig your feet in and become more defiant simply because you can? I know where this leads.

Aww, it's really sweet that you get me.

But I'm not sure that military training's doing you much good if you're backing down so quickly!

[ fighting words. ]

Is that so?

You’re being very ill-behaved Aerith. I’m disappointed. Explain why you’re hiding, and return that phone.

Is that better?

Your scolding voice just sounds like your normal voice...

[ if only disappointment could translate through text. ]

[How does she drag him into these conversations?]

Would you prefer if I used exclamation points?

[ ~*~it's a mystery~*~ ]

Maybe? I don't think you've ever used those even in face-to-face conversation...

Which one should I experience first to get the most enjoyment out of it?

Why would you want me to yell at you in person? There's no need.

[Since when have the claws of anger ever really hooked into Sephiroth? Even he can't quite remember; a machine, indeed, in those days.]

You're being especially baffling today. Tell me what you're up to.

Hmm... well, it's a side of you that I've never seen before.

And if it exists, I want to see it. I guess?

[ honestly. because to be honest, she's the one who's usually angry, and the fact that sephiroth is not... baffles her. ]

Anyway, I'm behaving myself! Kind of. I contemplated making a run for it today while they're deep cleaning the labs, but I decided not to do it.

[ ... which probably opens up a whole book of new questions, but if there's one thing that hasn't changed, it's her odd way of secrecy sometimes. at least, for anything that sephiroth doesn't already know. ]

STEPHANIE........Stephanie Roth

is apparently an actress who played in deception 2008 starring hugh jackman says google ... 1/2

which has nothing to do with anything except for the fact that i went and googled it

I’m crying thank you for this trivia

welcome, i hope it serves you well

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