For a moment Vincent frowns and it feels like he's startled. He's sure he's mentioned Jenova's location in Nibelheim's reactor. But it would be a good idea to know for certain and whether things changed.
"They'd have hidden that information. But I don't know where else they would store it other than Mt. Nibel. ...Deepground, perhaps." The former Turk's eyes narrow with thought, though this is interrupted as Sephiroth once again brings up that sword.
For a moment there's a more focused concern. Vincent's sure now that there is something wrong. Setting aside the miss on Professor Hojo's life- which certainly will have its problems in the future- the former Turk turns his attention on to what the youth is saying about the sword.
Its reach. How it would ignore steel doors even if they were in the blade's way. He'd be a fool indeed not to think of the blade which was the silver haired general's signature weapon.
"A blade taller than a grown man's body. Angled like a katana but meant for a two hand form, sharp enough in the right hands to cut through almost any alloy known to man." His tone suggests a man who has seen it with his own eyes.
How long Jenova's been in the reactor is another question. Was she already interred there, a decade or more before anyone might stumble upon it looking for answers? He didn't know, and finding out would be .. difficult until he had free reign. "I'll find out, sooner or later."
Which he did not, as yet.
There's something that radiates displeasure in the teen's bearing even as he sets to the vanes of his primary feathers, the metallic green eyespots flashing in what little light there is. Dealing with Jenova would be easier when he was properly armed. Alissa was right, he deserved a better weapon.
A pause follows Vincent's description, but it doesn't seem Sephiroth has any concern that the Turk might covet it; not only did Vincent not use swords, he's sure he'd feel any hint of greed through their bond. "It doesn't have one, as far as Alissa was able to retell. Its craftsman, however, is a Cetran smith named Masamune." His tone sours by degrees, a low rumble of some unpleasant emotion. "The old man is little more than a withered specter after so long; if ever he was worthy of that sword he hasn't been for centuries."
"Alissa?" The name is repeated. It's clear Vincent doesn't recognize it but it's also not addressed with any alarm. There's several decades of Sephiroth's life that he missed. Zack wouldn't have been around at that point and Cloud definitely wasn't. His interest is in retaining just one more piece of useful info to fill in the void.
"I see." It's recognized and without any surprise. He had thought as much. Though with the return of the youth's soured emotions and clear vitriol for the swordsmith bearing it... Vincent frowns in thought.
"A sword that ties its creator... or its wielder to this realm. I never realized the blade had such unpleasant origins." But he looks up and admits. "Whatever happens... I can only tell you that as an adult in my time, you were famous for that particular sword. And it was called Masamune."
Was it simply right to do so or had there been some reason to honor the swordsmith despite the clear disdain? Vincent is unsure.
"...Alissa Goldie, a Second-class SOLDIER that's one of the missing I was sent to find and retrieve. She's.." He leans back a little, frowning. "...I don't know if SOLDIER's developing an archaeology wing, but it seems to be her interest." It's leaving out a lot. A LOT. Everything going on in the Forbidden Zone is just strange by anyone's account.
That she 'can't fight' with just a hurt arm and still claims to be an active-type is not something Sephiroth's spent any time thinking about. "...She looks exactly like her, though." His gaze shifts, to the portrait on the wall. Lucrecia.
Exactly. So much so that it had been a shock, but now he found a little bit of comfort in it. Even if it was false, it was nice to look over and see, and imagine..
The thought is put aside. "Mm. It's worse yet. We've only begun to uncover what happened. Mass murder, a village in flames.." Those sharp blue-green eyes narrow. "Sort of a familiar story except the other one wasn't touched off by greedy villagers trying to steal things they had no rights to possess, as far as I know."
Alissa Goldie, SOLDIER. ...but archaeology wing? This Alissa might be interested in it as a hobby. But the idea that they would finance a unit of SOLDIER archaeologists is far-fetched even to Vincent's passive knowledge about that era of the organization.
...But more importantly it should be something Sephiroth is aware of as being odd. The former Turk narrows his eyes a trace, only to widen and cast a sharp look back at the youth when, on following that gaze, ruby eyes also come to rest on Lucrecia's portrait.
"..What?" Vincent is shocked. Disturbed by that notion. Exactly like Lucrecia? "...That's not..." Possible he wants to say. But he bites it back. There's more to this story and... troubling. The parallels do not go unnoticed.
"...No. But it was done by a man who wielded what seems to be that very sword you're focused on." Obsessively so. Could it be coincidence? Or does history simply repeat itself in the wake of this... no. Vincent refocuses his attention; handle one topic at a time, Valentine.
"Something's not right." A lot of things are not right. And Vincent is beginning to realize that nagging feeling of wrongness over the bond was unnatural yet perhaps related to this situation.
"...Alissa Goldie." There's deep suspicion as he speaks her name. "...Her voice. What did she sound like?"
Something being someone's interest doesn't necessarily make it an official rank or designation in any form, Sephiroth's guessing. Who sends SOLDIERs on a survey mission anyway? And yet Shinra had, and four of them at that. That's more than had been assigned to Rhadore at first.
"I'd put more to it beyond a particularly cruel coincidence were my future self's impressions of our species been correct. Then you could draw parallels between two different Cetra with similar fates, and on and on." But Sephiroth's neither Cetra nor swordsmith, and an entire village hadn't tried to rob him of his creation. It was different.
As Vincent asks a question that may make sense to him, the look the teen gives him is incredulous. "That's a stupid question," he says flatly. "I can't describe a voice in a way that will mean anything to you. She's a soprano, she has a touch of a Kalm accent."
It could be reasoned that given the hostilities between Wutai and Shinra as well as the danger of the location, the assets were seen as a necessity for the mission. Particularly if they knew in the beginning it involved something of Cetran make.
By comparison, sending a disposable team to Rhadore on a mission to find a spot for a new mako reactor may as well have been an effort to bait out the remaining resistance there. Its instability and low success chance other factors. A good testing ground to send in their prototype active SOLDIER and test subject for cleanup.
Sephiroth's point on the coincidence is well made. The village on fire and Masamune wielded to kill did not a compelling cycle make other than to suggest the weapon has a reputation for the deaths that follow in its wake.
Vincent tells himself to never bring it up in Cloud's presence however. That it was enough to bring him a feeling of unease bodes ill for how the blond would react.
Is there a trace of something like embarrassment in the wake of the teen telling him that his question is stupid? Perhaps the emotional equivalent of clearing his throat awkwardly. But as Sephiroth obliges with an attempt anyway, the gunman closes his eyes and lets his memories drift back... not too far is necessary as several times before coming to Folkmore he'd heard her voice again. As a recording or a memory of the woman, but as clear as it had been long ago. Sporano, a touch of a Kalm accent. Vincent opens his eyes again.
"Lucrecia... had a similar voice." A mix of emotions. Poignant. But also a muted anger and suspicion. "...Of course I can't say it's not a coincidence. But if Alissa Goldie looked like her as well... I think something's off. When you go back. You need to be careful. Whatever's happening there... I think there's more than you realize."
Vincent can't say with any certainty what it is. But he dislikes the theories.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-03-13 11:37 pm (UTC)"They'd have hidden that information. But I don't know where else they would store it other than Mt. Nibel. ...Deepground, perhaps." The former Turk's eyes narrow with thought, though this is interrupted as Sephiroth once again brings up that sword.
For a moment there's a more focused concern. Vincent's sure now that there is something wrong. Setting aside the miss on Professor Hojo's life- which certainly will have its problems in the future- the former Turk turns his attention on to what the youth is saying about the sword.
Its reach. How it would ignore steel doors even if they were in the blade's way. He'd be a fool indeed not to think of the blade which was the silver haired general's signature weapon.
"A blade taller than a grown man's body. Angled like a katana but meant for a two hand form, sharp enough in the right hands to cut through almost any alloy known to man." His tone suggests a man who has seen it with his own eyes.
Though there is no sense that he covets it.
"The blade you saw. Did you catch its name?"
no subject
Date: 2025-03-14 12:02 am (UTC)Which he did not, as yet.
There's something that radiates displeasure in the teen's bearing even as he sets to the vanes of his primary feathers, the metallic green eyespots flashing in what little light there is. Dealing with Jenova would be easier when he was properly armed. Alissa was right, he deserved a better weapon.
A pause follows Vincent's description, but it doesn't seem Sephiroth has any concern that the Turk might covet it; not only did Vincent not use swords, he's sure he'd feel any hint of greed through their bond. "It doesn't have one, as far as Alissa was able to retell. Its craftsman, however, is a Cetran smith named Masamune." His tone sours by degrees, a low rumble of some unpleasant emotion. "The old man is little more than a withered specter after so long; if ever he was worthy of that sword he hasn't been for centuries."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-14 12:19 am (UTC)"I see." It's recognized and without any surprise. He had thought as much. Though with the return of the youth's soured emotions and clear vitriol for the swordsmith bearing it... Vincent frowns in thought.
"A sword that ties its creator... or its wielder to this realm. I never realized the blade had such unpleasant origins." But he looks up and admits. "Whatever happens... I can only tell you that as an adult in my time, you were famous for that particular sword. And it was called Masamune."
Was it simply right to do so or had there been some reason to honor the swordsmith despite the clear disdain? Vincent is unsure.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-14 12:33 am (UTC)That she 'can't fight' with just a hurt arm and still claims to be an active-type is not something Sephiroth's spent any time thinking about. "...She looks exactly like her, though." His gaze shifts, to the portrait on the wall. Lucrecia.
Exactly. So much so that it had been a shock, but now he found a little bit of comfort in it. Even if it was false, it was nice to look over and see, and imagine..
The thought is put aside. "Mm. It's worse yet. We've only begun to uncover what happened. Mass murder, a village in flames.." Those sharp blue-green eyes narrow. "Sort of a familiar story except the other one wasn't touched off by greedy villagers trying to steal things they had no rights to possess, as far as I know."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-14 03:15 am (UTC)...But more importantly it should be something Sephiroth is aware of as being odd. The former Turk narrows his eyes a trace, only to widen and cast a sharp look back at the youth when, on following that gaze, ruby eyes also come to rest on Lucrecia's portrait.
"..What?" Vincent is shocked. Disturbed by that notion. Exactly like Lucrecia? "...That's not..." Possible he wants to say. But he bites it back. There's more to this story and... troubling. The parallels do not go unnoticed.
"...No. But it was done by a man who wielded what seems to be that very sword you're focused on." Obsessively so. Could it be coincidence? Or does history simply repeat itself in the wake of this... no. Vincent refocuses his attention; handle one topic at a time, Valentine.
"Something's not right." A lot of things are not right. And Vincent is beginning to realize that nagging feeling of wrongness over the bond was unnatural yet perhaps related to this situation.
"...Alissa Goldie." There's deep suspicion as he speaks her name. "...Her voice. What did she sound like?"
no subject
Date: 2025-03-14 10:06 pm (UTC)"I'd put more to it beyond a particularly cruel coincidence were my future self's impressions of our species been correct. Then you could draw parallels between two different Cetra with similar fates, and on and on." But Sephiroth's neither Cetra nor swordsmith, and an entire village hadn't tried to rob him of his creation. It was different.
As Vincent asks a question that may make sense to him, the look the teen gives him is incredulous. "That's a stupid question," he says flatly. "I can't describe a voice in a way that will mean anything to you. She's a soprano, she has a touch of a Kalm accent."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-15 12:01 am (UTC)By comparison, sending a disposable team to Rhadore on a mission to find a spot for a new mako reactor may as well have been an effort to bait out the remaining resistance there. Its instability and low success chance other factors. A good testing ground to send in their prototype active SOLDIER and test subject for cleanup.
Sephiroth's point on the coincidence is well made. The village on fire and Masamune wielded to kill did not a compelling cycle make other than to suggest the weapon has a reputation for the deaths that follow in its wake.
Vincent tells himself to never bring it up in Cloud's presence however. That it was enough to bring him a feeling of unease bodes ill for how the blond would react.
Is there a trace of something like embarrassment in the wake of the teen telling him that his question is stupid? Perhaps the emotional equivalent of clearing his throat awkwardly. But as Sephiroth obliges with an attempt anyway, the gunman closes his eyes and lets his memories drift back... not too far is necessary as several times before coming to Folkmore he'd heard her voice again. As a recording or a memory of the woman, but as clear as it had been long ago. Sporano, a touch of a Kalm accent. Vincent opens his eyes again.
"Lucrecia... had a similar voice." A mix of emotions. Poignant. But also a muted anger and suspicion. "...Of course I can't say it's not a coincidence. But if Alissa Goldie looked like her as well... I think something's off. When you go back. You need to be careful. Whatever's happening there... I think there's more than you realize."
Vincent can't say with any certainty what it is. But he dislikes the theories.