[There's the sound of something being unzipped, suddenly and sharply. A sigh, and suddenly Sephiroth's voice takes a dip for the distinctly raunchy, well-suited to his words that drip heavy with suggestion.]
Like I was saying before... you know, I don't really understand why you care about others seeing. Don't you do it all day, anyway? Letting them run their hands all along your body, dancing, dripping, sweating—ah, [a sigh, some shifting] it's so obscene, and it's only fair that I get a turn. I wasn't even expecting that much, just those muscles, and seeing your face twist, it's so pretty when it's flush and panting for me... watching your hand move, up and down on your cock, nice and slow... like I'm doing right now.
Maybe I've been here too long, or maybe you haven't been here long enough. That's fine. I'll do this for you as much as you want me to, anytime you ask. You'd like that, wouldn't you? Maybe you want to watch me do this, but you can't. You only get to listen because you wouldn't let me before. That's your loss.
I really, really want to fuck you right now. I could, if I wanted. [Laughter seeps through the lewder noises. He's jacking off, most definitely. No need to question what he's said.] But I'll just let you wake up to this and then... uhn... you can realize what you missed out on, the last time... too bad, but I'll... make up for it. When I ask to see you, you should let me. Otherwise...
[His breath is starting to catch, he's starting to lose it. Just a bit more...]
O... otherwise, I'll do this again... or maybe you won't mind it... Zack... Zack...
[The messages end there, on the long, drawn out note of Sephiroth moaning his climax over the chip. Someone enjoyed themselves thoroughly throughout the entire ordeal.]
[She pauses for a moment, as if unsure what to say. Then: ]
I just wanted to let you know I'm okay. And that I'm going away for awhile. If anyone asks, I'm still in the city, not in re-ed. There's just...some things I think I need to learn. If you need me, or anything, you can contact me. If it's an emergency.
[Like all good girls (and employees), she waits until she knows Zack is mired in the more paperwork-y side of being a new business's manager before she sends him a single message. It's only the considerate thing to do.]
Mr. Fair? [She's going to be calling him that a lot, lately.] I need to talk to you about something. In fact, I think I need to file a complaint...
[She looks tired, slumped over in front of one of the mirrors at the mansion. Uncertain, but there's no cancelling the call once it's in, she's not that cowardly. At least she doesn't think so.]
Hey, are you busy? I think you'd be up now, right? But if you could, I kind of need someone to talk to about [Her face scrunches up, Aisha hates this.] Feelings. And Sephiroth, and I don't think there's anyone I could say this stuff to but you cause we're . . . you know.
This is Zexion. I wanted to say thank you, again, for your help.
I've... just received word this morning, that I've passed the first integration level. I wanted to ask if you knew- does everyone who arrived around the same time get evaluated all at once?
And if you don't hear from them... if their name isn't registering, does that mean they're in re-education, or... is there any way to know?
[ A shower and a drink after this, Frühling finds this "Zack" on the chip's city-wide directory. Thankfully, there's only one of them so far so she gets straight to the call, straight to setting up an appointment.
…but gets voicemail. (A sprightly one at that. What's his relationship to Sephiroth again?) Fine. She hopes he'll respond soon. Waiting can be such a drag, especially when she's prepared to do more. ]
Zack Fair. I was directed to you by Sephiroth regarding paperwork for employment at Masamune. Call me back once you're available.
Zack. [ Cloud's voice is strained, but remarkably well composed for what he's about to share. ] I need to talk to you about Dr. Crescent. Is Sephiroth there?
[The feed is video when it comes in, definitely a picture, though with one shaky step back and then another, it's obvious the person recording is anything but stable. There's a line of moisture clouding the bottom edges of their eyes. They're blinking far too much. And, as the view draws out from a single, pink-bedecked corner of what looks to be a lavishly decorated sunroom to scan over everything else, the reason for all the instability might be made perfectly crystal clear.
Sephiroth is there, half-propped up onto a couch.
It isn't normal. He's more slouching than resting. The distinct lifeless quality of his limbs, his body, leaves next to no doubt he's completely unconscious, if not somewhere close enough to it to be unresponsive for the moment. His clothing is tattered, frayed in spots, and that normally luxurious and silvery hair is a little dull, singed, a mess. His face is covered by one hand positioned protectively over it, yes, but... is that a bit of smoke? Wisping away from his face between his fingers?
The quiet intermittent hiss allows no mistake. He's been burned, and burned badly.
The rest of the room may be somewhat in disarray, but it's nothing compared to Sephiroth himself right now.
Breaths come quickly and fast, in-out-in, as the viewer continues to retreat, eyes frozen on Sephiroth's beaten form, and from the sound of them, it's the receiver's first clue that this individual watching is a woman. A few more erratic pants of air, and that woman's identity is made clear, too. A familiar voice. On the edge of tears or something else, worked up but striving for composure, definitely not her usual.]
The... The fr-front door's going to be unlocked...
[She's leaving.]
It's my mansion. The sunroom closest to the entrance. All the doors will be wide open...
[She's also not contacting Zack when she was supposed to contact Zack, not really. But she isn't going to just leave him without a hope of a savior. She can't. It's impossible. It is actually impossible for her to do, after all her history with Sephiroth in Ariel.
This was never supposed to happen.]
Please come for him. Make sure he's all right.
[Maya chokes in a strangled swallow, heavy and difficult. Trying to continue on.]
When... he wakes up, please tell him I'm sorry.
[The feed ends on that note. She won't be there when he arrives, if he does. She won't reply to his further calls, or anyone else's.]
[As if having to suffer through defeat and Malekith wasn't bad enough, now Maraich had a broken bed to explain to his bosses. He picked Zack, of course, because he wasn't stupid enough to go to Sephiroth with something like this.
He didn't even have to fake it when he sounded upset because he really was upset.]
Mr. Zack...? O-one of the beds broke while we were using it... I think it must have been getting old or something.
[Because no one should have been able to snap those restraints.]
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