[That is part of the reason, and probably some of the drugs still in his system affecting his powers. Which is also why he didn't just immediately leave to go carry out his threat.]
The effectiveness of their drugs has worn down. I don't need to be at full strength to eliminate everyone in that building.
[Though he hasn't exactly gotten up to leave. He's really thinking about how he wants to. Cloud will probably get in the way, which will be a problem.]
No, but you'll need to be at full strength if you want to try and get past me. So you might as well forget about that right now.
[ Cloud will of course stand in Sephiroth's way should he attempt to leave to carry out his threat. He pats Sephiroth's knee before repeating his question from before. ]
There are people who had nothing to do with what was done to you who work there, including people I care about.
[ Aside from Reeve, Yuffie spent a lot of time in the WRO HQ and Vincent came around too from time to time. As did his other friends too. ]
Besides, dunno what killing Rufus Shinra's gonna do for you anyway. I'll have to kill you, you'll go back to the Lifestream and maybe you'll find a way to return... and the cycle will just keep going. Aren't you tired of that shit?
It will give me the satisfaction of revenge. If I kept my wrath to only those directly involved would you still take issue?
[He can possibly be convinced to compromise. But no, he's not tired of the cycle. He's far too obsessed for that though right now murder is currently occupying his thoughts instead of Cloud.]
[ In all honesty, Cloud wouldn't exactly mourn if something happened to Rufus Shinra or the Turks, but the idea of letting Sephiroth loose on them doesn't sit right with him. And aside from that, some of his friends would likely take issue. None of them were huge fans of Shinra, but he knew that at least some of them believed they deserved a second chance. ]
My friends would take issue. And it wouldn't be much of a fair fight anyway. Either way, you're going to have to fight me first... and I wouldn't recommend you try that right now.
[Cloud is right. Sephiroth won't admit to this fact, but it's there like a lingering shadow. He just shoves that little bit of knowledge away for now. Destroying them all when he's at full strength and given the chance to fight Cloud will be far more satisfying than doing it now.]
... Then later when this body has healed, you and I will engage in battle.
[Which is his way of saying he's willing to place nice for now.]
[ Cloud's not too suprised that that would get Sephiroth to settle down a little. He'd always seemed to at least enjoy their fights. ]
Yeah. Sounds like a plan.
[ Maybe, if he's lucky, he can in the wait for that show Sephiroth at least a glimpse of what living differently can be like. He kind of doubts he'll be able to convince him to give up on his plans, but... it's still worth a try. ]
[He really wishes he could heal faster, but until then, he's actually not sure what to do. Sit here? Criticize Cloud's living? Go off on a tangent about about the destruction of humanity?]
[But since Cloud had moved the wing out of the way earlier, Sephiroth is just going to let it drape down on top of the younger man. Right on his head, like a really heavy, mangled, blanket.]
Yeah, 'cause you're determined to have a stick up your ass.
[ Then the wing plops down on his head like a heavy, uncomfortable blanket and he sighs. He tries to move it away again, looking to Sephiroth curiously. He'll admit to being a little fascinated by the wing. ]
[It's hard to tell if that's sarcasm or not. He knows he doesn't have to bother Cloud. He could very well just up and leave him alone. But he also can't do that either.
It's too ... complicated in many ways.
And without his full strength he can't go out and get his actual revenge. So he will make due with annoying Cloud in the meantime. Consider it a distraction.]
[Well, that question certainly catches him a bit off guard. Why would Cloud go down this route? And he does need to be antagonistic, especially after what happened to him. Though he supposes the most recent event doesn't have to be directed at Cloud.]
You already know all that there is. What is left does not matter.
No, they weren't. Those memories are... a part of who you were. I only saw glimpses of it through... through Zack, but, it wasn't unimportant.
[ He still had the memories he had unknowingly taken from Zack. Precious, painful memories. In a way it feels wrong to have them, but on the other hand, without Zack here anymore... someone should hold onto those memories, right?
A somber mood suddenly falls upon him. Thinking about Zack tends to do that even if he doesn't blame himself for his death anymore. ]
[He pauses for a brief moment as though to consider his next words. What were those memories to him really? They were --]
-- part of a lie. A lie created, built up by shinra. Blinded by the truth for so long. A lie I crushed, let crumble away into dust settling among the ashes of your hometown.
No. What you did in Nibelheim... that was all based on a lie. You and Jenova, you are not descendants of the Ancients. And... Jenova is not your mother. You had a mother. She was human.
[ He remembers seeing her in her crystalized prison, much like how Sephiroth had been when Cloud gave him the Black Materia. The resemblance between them had been undeniable. ]
But I get that you have to keep believing that, or everything you've done since... would have been for nothing.
I know I am not an ancient. I know Jenova's origin. Her memories are something I do have.
[He chooses to ignore the part about him having a human mother. If he doesn't acknowledge it, it doesn't exist.]
But you are wrong. None of what I've done has been for nothing. Humanity is a disease spreading across the planet. If eradicated the planet would heal.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
The effectiveness of their drugs has worn down. I don't need to be at full strength to eliminate everyone in that building.
[Though he hasn't exactly gotten up to leave. He's really thinking about how he wants to. Cloud will probably get in the way, which will be a problem.]
no subject
[ Cloud will of course stand in Sephiroth's way should he attempt to leave to carry out his threat. He pats Sephiroth's knee before repeating his question from before. ]
You want some food?
no subject
[He eyes that hand as it touched him, but otherwise does nothing about it.]
You of all people should know that I will not allow what happened to go unpunished. Freeing me does not absolve that.
no subject
[ Aside from Reeve, Yuffie spent a lot of time in the WRO HQ and Vincent came around too from time to time. As did his other friends too. ]
Besides, dunno what killing Rufus Shinra's gonna do for you anyway. I'll have to kill you, you'll go back to the Lifestream and maybe you'll find a way to return... and the cycle will just keep going. Aren't you tired of that shit?
no subject
[He can possibly be convinced to compromise. But no, he's not tired of the cycle. He's far too obsessed for that though right now murder is currently occupying his thoughts instead of Cloud.]
no subject
My friends would take issue. And it wouldn't be much of a fair fight anyway. Either way, you're going to have to fight me first... and I wouldn't recommend you try that right now.
no subject
... Then later when this body has healed, you and I will engage in battle.
[Which is his way of saying he's willing to place nice for now.]
no subject
Yeah. Sounds like a plan.
[ Maybe, if he's lucky, he can in the wait for that show Sephiroth at least a glimpse of what living differently can be like. He kind of doubts he'll be able to convince him to give up on his plans, but... it's still worth a try. ]
no subject
[He really wishes he could heal faster, but until then, he's actually not sure what to do. Sit here? Criticize Cloud's living? Go off on a tangent about about the destruction of humanity?]
no subject
Dunno. Kick back and relax, I guess.
[ If Sephiroth even knows how to relax, which is doubtful. ]
no subject
[But since Cloud had moved the wing out of the way earlier, Sephiroth is just going to let it drape down on top of the younger man. Right on his head, like a really heavy, mangled, blanket.]
no subject
Yeah, 'cause you're determined to have a stick up your ass.
[ Then the wing plops down on his head like a heavy, uncomfortable blanket and he sighs. He tries to move it away again, looking to Sephiroth curiously. He'll admit to being a little fascinated by the wing. ]
Doesn't that hurt?
no subject
It is not without discomfort.
[Yes, it hurts, but he can tolerate a great deal of pain. A lot of which he'll put up with for the sake of harassing Cloud.]
no subject
I guess harassing me is worth the pain, huh?
no subject
[So he will harass Cloud anyway because it doesn't really matter one way or another. Not harassing him isn't going to make it hurt any less.]
no subject
You know you don't have to constantly harass me, right?
[ Honestly, he's not sure that Sephiroth does know that. ]
no subject
[It's hard to tell if that's sarcasm or not. He knows he doesn't have to bother Cloud. He could very well just up and leave him alone. But he also can't do that either.
It's too ... complicated in many ways.
And without his full strength he can't go out and get his actual revenge. So he will make due with annoying Cloud in the meantime. Consider it a distraction.]
no subject
[ For his own, probably selfish reasons, but hey. He scrutinizes the other man for a moment. ]
Why don't you tell me something about yourself that I don't already know instead?
[ Something to get some kind of conversation rolling that isn't about Sephiroth's hatred for humanity. If that's even possible. ]
no subject
You already know all that there is. What is left does not matter.
[He pauses for a brief moment.]
Nor is it something I can tell you anyway.
no subject
You don't remember anything before... Nibelheim?
no subject
[Which is to say: no he does not.]
no subject
[ He still had the memories he had unknowingly taken from Zack. Precious, painful memories. In a way it feels wrong to have them, but on the other hand, without Zack here anymore... someone should hold onto those memories, right?
A somber mood suddenly falls upon him. Thinking about Zack tends to do that even if he doesn't blame himself for his death anymore. ]
no subject
[He pauses for a brief moment as though to consider his next words. What were those memories to him really? They were --]
-- part of a lie. A lie created, built up by shinra. Blinded by the truth for so long. A lie I crushed, let crumble away into dust settling among the ashes of your hometown.
The person Zack knew never really existed.
no subject
No. What you did in Nibelheim... that was all based on a lie. You and Jenova, you are not descendants of the Ancients. And... Jenova is not your mother. You had a mother. She was human.
[ He remembers seeing her in her crystalized prison, much like how Sephiroth had been when Cloud gave him the Black Materia. The resemblance between them had been undeniable. ]
But I get that you have to keep believing that, or everything you've done since... would have been for nothing.
no subject
[He chooses to ignore the part about him having a human mother. If he doesn't acknowledge it, it doesn't exist.]
But you are wrong. None of what I've done has been for nothing. Humanity is a disease spreading across the planet. If eradicated the planet would heal.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)