Zack Fair (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
colorofthesky) wrote2015-08-22 01:16 pm
colorofthesky) wrote2015-08-22 01:16 pm
Entry tags:
IC Contact for ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
midnightsyndicate
text ~ audio ~ video ~ action
IC Contact for
text ~ audio ~ video ~ action
[ A letter arrives in Zack's mailbox. The paper is made of thick, rich card stock and the writing is in a flowery script. ]
Dear Zack,
I write to you not out of cowardice but because I don't imagine mine is a face you want to see right now. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Zack. Please believe me that I would never do what I've done. I'd never force anyone as I did, especially not you. The Maeve really got into my head, I didn't even realise there was anything to fight. I don't know what else I can say but that I'm sorry.
I don't ask your forgiveness, I just needed you to know.
-Flora
Dear Zack,
I write to you not out of cowardice but because I don't imagine mine is a face you want to see right now. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Zack. Please believe me that I would never do what I've done. I'd never force anyone as I did, especially not you. The Maeve really got into my head, I didn't even realise there was anything to fight. I don't know what else I can say but that I'm sorry.
I don't ask your forgiveness, I just needed you to know.
-Flora
[ A letter is left in her own box a few days later. The paper is plain, and his writing is neat. ]
Apology accepted.
[ That's all. He doesn't really know what else to say. ]
Apology accepted.
[ That's all. He doesn't really know what else to say. ]
[A new letter is left to him soon after, on less fancy paper, but still very good.]
Are you angry with me?
[ She's afraid of the answer, but she must ask. ]
Are you angry with me?
[ She's afraid of the answer, but she must ask. ]
[ An answer comes later that day. ]
No. I'd rather talk about it in person.
I just need a little more time.
No. I'd rather talk about it in person.
I just need a little more time.
[ The tiny package has a four inch piece of polished elm inside. The piece of wood engraved with symbols invoking Ishdra, Masphet, Ganok, and Ordrell. The rest of the symbols are designed to channel the invocation of these gods into protection, a shield against harmful intent for those who know enough of Mokoshian magic to identify them. Each symbol was burned carefully into the wood’s surface to prevent any of them from rubbing off or fading. With the talisman is a note. Keep this with you. – S ]
[ And her reply in kind. ]
Hello,
Take all the time you need, Zack.
-Flora
[ She is, hopefully not going anywhere. ]
Hello,
Take all the time you need, Zack.
-Flora
[ She is, hopefully not going anywhere. ]
[Her voice is thin, worn. It's a simple message.]
Zack, this is Arturia. Did you see that?
Zack, this is Arturia. Did you see that?
I saw it.
[ His voice is tight. He doesn't like this at all. ]
Did you ever meet that girl?
[ His voice is tight. He doesn't like this at all. ]
Did you ever meet that girl?
Yes.
[She breathes for a moment, then her voice comes more clearly, as though she's sitting up straighter.]
I heard rumors of incidents in the past, but I suspected it was normal activity associated with organized crime. Within a certain expectation of the environment.
[She breathes for a moment, then her voice comes more clearly, as though she's sitting up straighter.]
I heard rumors of incidents in the past, but I suspected it was normal activity associated with organized crime. Within a certain expectation of the environment.
I didn't properly know her. I just ran into her a few times.
[ It's still unacceptable. He knows there have been incidents like these in the past, and he's been feeling a bit antsy since the fight with Koltira by the river, but this is different. He hasn't seen this kind of mess since the Neheda was infiltrated. ]
I heard from someone I know that there have been murders in the house before. I think a few months ago.
[ A beat, then- ]
Did you ever go to the festival?
[ It's still unacceptable. He knows there have been incidents like these in the past, and he's been feeling a bit antsy since the fight with Koltira by the river, but this is different. He hasn't seen this kind of mess since the Neheda was infiltrated. ]
I heard from someone I know that there have been murders in the house before. I think a few months ago.
[ A beat, then- ]
Did you ever go to the festival?
She seemed quite kind. It is a difficult loss.
[And absolutely unacceptable on every level. Unnecessary, violent, gruesome, and displayed for all to see. It can't happen again. Saber thought she was somehow going to be spared that horror in exchange for her "services". Now she knows it's not true. Vague notions of prior incidents had reached her, but now she craves--against all hope--information.]
I did not attend the festival. I was informed by Lady Elizabeth that there were creatures that attacked the attendees. Were you there?
[From the water.
From. The. Water.]
[And absolutely unacceptable on every level. Unnecessary, violent, gruesome, and displayed for all to see. It can't happen again. Saber thought she was somehow going to be spared that horror in exchange for her "services". Now she knows it's not true. Vague notions of prior incidents had reached her, but now she craves--against all hope--information.]
I did not attend the festival. I was informed by Lady Elizabeth that there were creatures that attacked the attendees. Were you there?
[From the water.
From. The. Water.]
I was there.
[ The first part of the party wasn't so bad, all things considered. It was only in the middle of the night when things started to go sour. ]
I only saw one of them, but a friend of mine who fought it with me said he looked exactly like one of the people he arrived with several months ago.
Whether it was really him or not, I don't know.
[ He was all too eager to have a reprieve, time to settle and recover a year with the CDC. Now, he thinks, he's only traded one evil for another; they simply wear different faces. ]
[ The first part of the party wasn't so bad, all things considered. It was only in the middle of the night when things started to go sour. ]
I only saw one of them, but a friend of mine who fought it with me said he looked exactly like one of the people he arrived with several months ago.
Whether it was really him or not, I don't know.
[ He was all too eager to have a reprieve, time to settle and recover a year with the CDC. Now, he thinks, he's only traded one evil for another; they simply wear different faces. ]
[Well... That's grave news, though she's somehow glad that if anyone was there, it was someone as bold and capable as Zack. He seems to be unharmed, so all is well on that front. THe rest, she knows nothing about: the fun part. Ah, well. The boring life!]
I heard nothing similar, but have not heard it discussed more than a little. Is it true that others among us have previously been harmed, and publicly at that?
[Please don't let this place be such a nightmare. She can accept their task in exchange for relative freedom. She doesn't want to face the possibility that she's simply in another, different war. It's too cruel.]
I heard nothing similar, but have not heard it discussed more than a little. Is it true that others among us have previously been harmed, and publicly at that?
[Please don't let this place be such a nightmare. She can accept their task in exchange for relative freedom. She doesn't want to face the possibility that she's simply in another, different war. It's too cruel.]
[ Zack hesitates. That's a question he doesn't have an answer to, or at least not specifics. ]
I've heard the Maeve punish us if we cross them in some way, but I don't know how they do it or what it entails. I think it defends on the offense.
I've heard the Maeve punish us if we cross them in some way, but I don't know how they do it or what it entails. I think it defends on the offense.
Ah.
[She sounds vaguely concerned, holding back on her true feelings. It's terrible.]
I will try to avoid this.
[She sounds vaguely concerned, holding back on her true feelings. It's terrible.]
I will try to avoid this.
I've been avoiding it myself.
[ Just like he avoided it with the CDC. Cooperation was the name of the game, and even though he may dislike it, he would rather keep a low profile than be noticed. ]
I spoke with the one in charge of the wing I'm in, and she seemed all right. I can't speak for the others, though.
[ He has no intention of going looking for them, either. ]
[ Just like he avoided it with the CDC. Cooperation was the name of the game, and even though he may dislike it, he would rather keep a low profile than be noticed. ]
I spoke with the one in charge of the wing I'm in, and she seemed all right. I can't speak for the others, though.
[ He has no intention of going looking for them, either. ]
Of course.
[She's full of fretting now, and it's not going to be easily alleviated. Something is beyond rotten here, and it might hurt people she cares about, new faces and hearts, but she has taken them in as her own. All she knows is that if she steps out of line, the worst might happen.]
I have not spoken with Greta, but perhaps I should.
[Because, as she has been told, they are practically Masters over everyone here. She is a Servant of cruel forces once more.]
I would see my position here known, rather than not, but I do not wish to attract undue attention at the same time.
[She's full of fretting now, and it's not going to be easily alleviated. Something is beyond rotten here, and it might hurt people she cares about, new faces and hearts, but she has taken them in as her own. All she knows is that if she steps out of line, the worst might happen.]
I have not spoken with Greta, but perhaps I should.
[Because, as she has been told, they are practically Masters over everyone here. She is a Servant of cruel forces once more.]
I would see my position here known, rather than not, but I do not wish to attract undue attention at the same time.
[ Fretting is not the solution, Saber. Maintaining a level head is. ]
If you do, I'd be careful about what you say.
[ Talking back to one's overseers is generally a Bad Idea in his experience. ]
I think it is better to keep a low profile here. I'm not sure we'll get much out of the sisters themselves, and I'd rather not provoke them.
[ A beat, then. ]
If you'd like to talk to someone who'd been here longer than I have, I can give you the name of my friend. He might have a better idea of how to address all of this.
If you do, I'd be careful about what you say.
[ Talking back to one's overseers is generally a Bad Idea in his experience. ]
I think it is better to keep a low profile here. I'm not sure we'll get much out of the sisters themselves, and I'd rather not provoke them.
[ A beat, then. ]
If you'd like to talk to someone who'd been here longer than I have, I can give you the name of my friend. He might have a better idea of how to address all of this.
[Her head is level enough, but she doesn't want a repeat of Kiritsugu, and this place has already messed with her constitution and the way her body functions. It doesn't seem like a wholly bad idea to negotiate if necessary.
She clearly never learned from this whole Grail thing.]
If you think it unwise, I will listen. Perhaps drawing attention to myself is detrimental to any cause I might have.
[Her tone strengthens. She really doesn't have time to worry when there's investigating or at least defending to be done.]
I will take their name, and reach out to them. If they are your friend, I will trust their words.
She clearly never learned from this whole Grail thing.]
If you think it unwise, I will listen. Perhaps drawing attention to myself is detrimental to any cause I might have.
[Her tone strengthens. She really doesn't have time to worry when there's investigating or at least defending to be done.]
I will take their name, and reach out to them. If they are your friend, I will trust their words.
His name is Sephiroth.
[ A friend, a confidant, and more. ]
We were in the same division back home, and he was my superior officer.
Tell him that that you're friends with me and that I gave you his name.
[ He wouldn't give it out to just anyone. Zack trusts Arturia and believes her to be a strong, capable ally. ]
[ A friend, a confidant, and more. ]
We were in the same division back home, and he was my superior officer.
Tell him that that you're friends with me and that I gave you his name.
[ He wouldn't give it out to just anyone. Zack trusts Arturia and believes her to be a strong, capable ally. ]
I will.
[And if he means so much to Zack, she will trust him completely in all things. The man she's speaking to, who has so caught her attention, would not possibly lead her astray. He is too good, too kind and noble, the image of a knight in his own right.]
I have met someone else who knows of you. Rather, he was close to you. Angeal?
[And if he means so much to Zack, she will trust him completely in all things. The man she's speaking to, who has so caught her attention, would not possibly lead her astray. He is too good, too kind and noble, the image of a knight in his own right.]
I have met someone else who knows of you. Rather, he was close to you. Angeal?
[ Sephiroth means a great deal to Zack. Perhaps, he almost forgot how much in the years since Nibelheim. Or maybe, the nature of how things were in Eros simply allowed for them to be closer than they would have been back home. It's hard to tell.
The mention of Angeal makes him smile. ]
He was my teacher, yes. When I first joined SOLDIER - the division I was a part of - I was kind of hyper and unfocused so he took me on as his student.
Most of what I know, he taught me at some point.
The mention of Angeal makes him smile. ]
He was my teacher, yes. When I first joined SOLDIER - the division I was a part of - I was kind of hyper and unfocused so he took me on as his student.
Most of what I know, he taught me at some point.
[The ways he speaks chases away a little of the concern she had. Honestly, Zack is powerful, as is she, and they're both smart enough to navigate difficult situations. They'll find a solution.]
He was quite kind. [Her tone lightens.] And an excellent cook. How fortunate he was to have a student of your ability and fortitude, and for you to have his mentorship.
He was quite kind. [Her tone lightens.] And an excellent cook. How fortunate he was to have a student of your ability and fortitude, and for you to have his mentorship.
[ Of course, they will.
In the meantime, the subject of Angeal is a happier one. The comment about his cooking actually makes him laugh a little. ]
He treated you to dinner, huh? [ Sounds like him. ] I dunno if he was fortunate. Sometimes, I'm surprised he had so much patience.
[ He was quite a handful when he was young. ]
I do think I was lucky, though.
In the meantime, the subject of Angeal is a happier one. The comment about his cooking actually makes him laugh a little. ]
He treated you to dinner, huh? [ Sounds like him. ] I dunno if he was fortunate. Sometimes, I'm surprised he had so much patience.
[ He was quite a handful when he was young. ]
I do think I was lucky, though.
[Count on Saber to move on when the topic is exhausted.]
He did. [And it was heavenly.] Sometimes, dealing with challenging people makes one stronger. As patient and kind as he was with me, I can only imagine him being many times more so as a mentor.
[...She wants to know how difficult Zack was, though...]
He did. [And it was heavenly.] Sometimes, dealing with challenging people makes one stronger. As patient and kind as he was with me, I can only imagine him being many times more so as a mentor.
[...She wants to know how difficult Zack was, though...]
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