coffinturk | TLV

[ Vincent is in his cabin. There are two large glass jars with breathing holes in the lid, two stacks of rubber bands (about thirty each). ]

Kadaj. Yazoo. I have a challenge for you. As you've seen, the ship is currently overrun with small spiders.

[ Picking up a spare rubber band and the communicator, he travels to the door of his cabin. Plenty of spiders still in the halls. Which is otherwise empty for the time being. Good. After positioning the phone, he sights on a spider, takes the rubber band to stretch it back, before zinging it at the target. Pinpoint accuracy brings it down. It's clearly alive, but stunned. Well, it's going to be left there to recover. SOmeone may find a rubber band in the hall later and question it. Who knows. Vincent returns to the cabin and his place by the supplies. ]

The goal is to capture as many spiders as you can, alive. You can't touch the spiders directly until they are incapacitated. And you only have thirty pieces of ammunition each. If you break them, that's the end. The one who collects the most living spiders, wins a reasonable request from me.

If you're interested, you can pick up your supplies at my cabin. If you have questions about the rules. You can ask them.

Ooh? Is this a new game?

Yes. One with a purpose. There are easier ways to handle the spiders. But this is to train. You will need to rely on skill and temper your strength. And you will need patience.

Huh. Alright. I'll bite.

Good. We'll see what your brother has to say. Won't be a competition without at least two participants.

Sure. I'll be there shortly.

[ Vincent will be ready to hand over the supplies for the task when Kadaj arrives. ]

[ He will be there in a few minutes, calmly stepping over the spiders like it was normal. ]

[ Definitely don't kill the spiders. They don't count if they're dead. Vincent will open the door and let Kadaj in long enough to collect a jar, the supply of rubber bands and ask questions if he has any further. But otherwise? ]

Good luck.

Are the spiders dangerous? {It won't stop him from saying yes, but it's good to know.} I'm ready to hunt.

There isn't anything to suggest they are. [ And his example did show they didn't swarm when one of their own got attacked. ]

Come and get your gear then.

[ Look at Vincent, able to call it gear with a straight face. ]

I'll take care of them. {Because. Animals. He likes them.}

I'm coming! {He will arrive within a few minutes, color rising into his usually pale cheeks.}

Vincent! It's me!

[ Vincent opens the door. In his hands he has supplies, thanks to Yazoo's helpful 'it's me'. Thirty rubber bands and the jar with tiny holes in it for air. ]

Any questions?

[ Hopefully Yazoo intends to return the jar with spiders in it, because keeping them might not let Vincent count them. Also there might be other matters to address. It'll certainly be interesting times. ]

{He grins and takes his loot, hugging the jar to his chest. It's time~}

Are these spiders your new pets?

{Why is he doing this? Someone hasn't been paying attention, sorry not sorry.}

[ Vincent shakes his head. ]

No. I don't have time to take care of a pet.

[ Much less dozens of spiders. ]

I suspect someone's been up to something. I plan to have a talk with them when I return their efforts.

[ ...That... sounds a bit more ominous than what he probably intends to do when speaking to Chase. But surely Vincent isn't the type of individual to prank someone with spiders.

Surely. ]

{That fits. Vincent doesn't seem like the sort to stay still - much less have time to tend to a pet.}

Do you need help? After I catch the spiders, where can I find you?

{Spider prank? He's in.}

[ Would he accept a pet into his life under the right circumstances? Maybe. But probably not go out of his way. ]

I'll probably be in the infirmary or my cabin. Contact me if I'm not.

[ There is... almost a trace of a smile. ]

I'll be fine. But thanks.

[ He appreciates the offer, Yazoo. But also he knows it's probably the implication of mischief that's the root cause of such altruism in this case.

{...this feels like a secondary challenge and he is totally up for it.}

Infirmary?

{Worried? Maybe. Explain, sir.

Also mischief is a way of life for Yazoo.}

[ ...Ah. Well admittedly, Vincent isn't sure if this is some nervousness about infirmaries in general or concern for Vincent himself. Or that he should consider that question either at all. ]

You didn't know? I'm supervisor for the medical inventory.

[ This time, Vincent's head tilts a little to the side as if curious. ]

Or were you worried about me?

{The latter more than the former, actually. Yazoo likes Vincent ~~and has adopted him~~. He visibly relaxes and looks away, silver strands partially hiding his embarrassment.}

I forgot.

{He still would've asked the question even if he remembered, though.}

...what if I was?

That's fine.

[ It is okay to forget or lose track of things. Perhaps this is supposed to be comfort, this assurance that it doesn't bother Vincent if Yazoo isn't certain. As for the rest? ]

...I'd find it interesting. We were enemies. One day we could be again.

[ It's a painful truth. If Yazoo and Kadaj were to graduate but still turn back to seek Jenova's favor... There is a pause before he adds. ]

I'd think it's a sign you're growing. Maybe. Caring for someone besides your brothers.

[ And Mother. ]

{It's human, isn't it. Yazoo and Kadaj are adapting, relaxing into their role as young men. Maybe Jenova made them too connected to the planet?}

I wouldn't call you an enemy back then. I didn't hate you; I actually thought you were fun, but annoying since you kept big brother from us.

{...yeah, he knows that outcome.}

We were all we had. {That was why they had only cared for each other.}

Hm. I took Tseng and Elena too. I didn't think of it as fun. Different perspectives.

[ Well, Vincent won't lie to Yazoo. He won't claim there was enjoyment in their clashes. ]

I wonder. Was that bond part of what the Admiral saw in you? I suppose it doesn't matter.

And? We just wanted to kill them. It wasn't as annoying. {They just hate Turks, okay. For reasons.}

Is the bond the best part?

It's a good part. What's best is entirely up for you to decide.

[ That's not one hundred percent true. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on it. But still, self-worth is an important skill to develop. ]

Just don't make it a contest over your positive traits.

For me, that bond is the best part. {For the time being. He can't imagine feeling something stronger than the love he has for his brothers.}

Where's the fun in that?

Hmph.

[ Amusement. ]

A little boasting and self-confidence isn't a bad thing. But better in moderation.

[ All sorts of problems get started when you start comtrying to be best at everything. ]

Got any other questions? For the spider challenge.

{He snorts at the warning. Considering the egos of Sephiroth and Jenova, moderation might be a dream of a dream.}

Will you fire at me if I go too far?

{It's difficult to be content.}

Can I name them?

[ For a moment, Vincent sobers. The talk of shooting someone... well there are jokes he does make from time to time. But this isn't one of them. Certainly not with their history. ]

If I shoot seriously at someone I want to live... then I've exhausted all other options.

[ The answer is quietly spoken. Almost... a little surprised at himself. ]

If you want. Though I plan to give them back to the maker.

[ Another pause. ]

Label the jar if you want to pass that on.

{Dark! Yazoo watches Vincent intently, expressionlessly, for a few minutes before he smiles faintly.}

One bullet wouldn't be enough, don't be dramatic.

{But it would probably hurt a lot in his current condition. Then there's the bleeding, which could kill him.}

That's okay. They need names.

{It's decided.}

Alright~

I never said anything about one bullet.

[ He didn't. Shoot is a verb. And Yazoo may have meant that in the spirit of a morbid 'warning shot' but... Vincent is taking this a bit more seriously than he should.

Isn't he?

And yet he does move on. ]

I'll give you paper and pencil so you can note the names as you go.

[ And so he will. ]

Good luck.

Wow you must really hate me to fire more than one warning shot!

{...like he is one to talk. Cloud had gotten dozens of "warning shots" and Yazoo definitely doesn't hate him.}

Okay. I'll make sure they fit. {You don't name something willy-nilly!}

Thanks~ We'll be back soon.

[ Sigh. Vincent doesn't try to explain it again, instead letting Yazoo take the supplies and head off to his challenge.

Chase is certainly going to be getting an interesting package at the end of this. And perhaps Vincent himself a challenge when the two Remnants end up effecting a tie. ]

Vincent? You have a moment?

[She did, at least sound somber, and not flirtatious.]

[ Seems he'll take a moment. ]

Go ahead.

There's a lot of the medical staff that wants to go on the rescue mission, right?

Not to enable them- I'm not going to- but if need be, I can step in as medical staff.

I am a doctor by training, and have healing magic.

[ There's a soft chuckle. ]

That's why you're messaging me directly.

[ He appreciates that. More soberly. ]

Florian didn't volunteer. If you and John fill in, even if something happens...

[ If. Naturally, Valentine thinks this mission isn't going to be as cut and dry as in and out in twenty minutes. He sighs. ]

As a trained professional, would you be willing to offer your thoughts? The volunteers are Ulla, Bashir, Tendi, Shaw and Zerxus. Though... the latter has already defaulted his nomination after I pointed out how many volunteers we had.

[ A pause. ]

Aerith and... I think I'll suggest Anduin go, particularly as combat healers. But it's reasonable to have some mundane medicine practitioners involved. There's also the possibility that this is a trap designed to lure us away from the Barge for revenge. And... the mental influences are concerning.

[ Whether Boyd is a witting or unwitting participant in that; the man does seem to be trying to warn them of the dangers. ]

It could be a trap, witting or not. This is how those kind of situations work. This is preying in everyone's desires to do good.

They're all bait. This is a hungry place.

That being said, I'm making all the shields I can for you to take with you, traps, and things that can buy a few seconds.

This may sound like I'm biased, but take Bashir. He's stable, has a lot of knowledge, and is not easily influenced by outside forces. Ensure Tendi has access to his information.

Ulla is powerful but she has a huge weak point of being sound based. I don't know enough about Shaw to have a professional opinion. Zerxus is good, but I don't know his immunity to mental influence.

I'd consider that heavily with whoever you choose as your healer on site. They will be the target of any major attack, as will the combat healer.

Each person is a possible strike to morale. Bring only those you know can survive and have combat experience.

Narrenschiff doesn't count. That was a polite disagreement.

[ If he called Sokie bias in this, he'd be something of a hypocrite. There's always a fine line when it comes to someone you know well.

Besides, Vincent asked for a professional opinion. He trusts Sokie enough to accept that at face value here. ]

Do you mean he's resistent to mental intrusions?

[ There will of course be a pause for Sokie to fill in the specifics before he addresses the other statements. ]

Like I said, I have Aerith and Anduin in mind so far. [ There might be faint amusement. ] Aerith will sound like my bias. But I know her skills very well. Zerxus has already agreed to defer if needed.

[ And this place honestly sounds like having supernatural healing- and combat attacks- will be a boon. ]

...Yes, I understand what you mean about the Narrenschiff.

From what I understand, yes. I'd rather he tell you the details- it's his thing after all.

[She sighs, rubbing her mouth. This was such a big thing.]

She's clearly someone who...while very pink...clearly has a calming presence. That might be the tipping point in the rescue.

Noted. I'll bring it up with him.

[ Is this video? If it's video, it's clear Vincent is trying very hard not to smile. Very pink. ]

She'll be an asset in a lot of ways. Got any tricks up your sleeve on offer? That I should let people know about.

Good good.

[She sees it. Oh Vincent. Nice smile.]

I have shield magic, enhancement magic, and things that could shield the senses. I'll put them into small items that can use.

And I can make items that heal too. I have some on backlog and can whip up some quick items for protection quickly. Enhancing takes a little more time.

[ Totally gone now. Well, more like he's in serious mode rather than hiding it. ]

I'll try to get ahold of one of their talismans if it'll be useful for a reference.

[ And as is clearly seen later, he does. ]

Thanks, Sokie.

[She'll get a smile from him another day. She's going to get it!]

That'll be a lot of help. Maybe if I'm lucky, I can do something to make it even more effective.

[Her voice is warm.]

You're welcome. Anytime Vincent.

Got a question.

Where do you sit on the great sliding timeline we're all dealing with from our planet? You the furthest along?

I believe so, yes.

Right. Do you know if Shinra created Sephiroth's boys? I don't mean by association either, by virtue of Sephiroth being involved. I mean straight up.

Edited 2025-04-27 00:13 (UTC)

They did not.

Ah, you should know who Rufus Shinra is. He and the remaining Turks are one faction. They supported efforts to combat the Geostigma Crisis. Discretely, of course. They definitely had no part of Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo's creation.

Edited 2025-04-27 00:20 (UTC)

I know him. A bit of a troublemaker in my era, got caught trying to create a coup. Didn't go well, but I had the impression he wound up better than his old man in the end.

Just to be perfectly crystal clear, even though Rufus and the Turks weren't involved, no one else at Shinra was either from the previous regime? I don't want to be misunderstanding this.

That's correct. Shinra did not create the brothers.

Right, part two: who did?

Current guess is their mom.

By 'mom', you mean Jenova?

[ Definitely not talking about Aerith here. ]

Give me a moment.

[ There will be a pause before his next message comes through. ]

They are a product of Sephiroth. Or Jenova's legacy. Take your pick on how you want to describe it. They were not born or created with science. They lived about two weeks before their death in battle.

Edited 2025-04-27 00:39 (UTC)

Yes. I haven't really asked for a lot of details about her or her involvement, in my time she's not awake. Maybe 'alive', I don't know how it works.

[Something in that does suggest he's aware their 'mom' isn't human. At all.]

I had assumed it was something like Genesis' copies or my own. We can imprint a lifetime's combat experience on our victims, age wouldn't be relevant.

Size would be however.

No. The three didn't overwrite a living creature. In a manner of speaking, they didn't have a body. The purpose they were created for was never to give them life. But to facilitate Sephiroth's return.

[ Another pause. ]

To be clear, I have their permission to tell you. But I think there are some things you should ask them about directly.

Edited 2025-04-27 00:57 (UTC)

There's a reason I'm asking you and not them.

I want objective external perspective from someone used to doing analysis. I know how skewed things can be when you're the subject instead of the observer.

Think of it as explaining my own heritage w.r.t Jenova a little more if it helps.

Alright.

[ Then. ]

You know that all returns to the Lifestream. There are exceptions of course. And sometimes strong wills persist. When Sephiroth died and fell into the mako pools at the bottom of Mt. Nibel's reactor, I'm sure it comes as no surprise to learn he retained some consciousness.

There's a theory that he and Jenova became one. I honestly don't know what to tell you to believe as fact. But for simplicity's sake, I'll say Sephiroth. But even after Cloud defeated him five years after his death, his... legacy still persisted in the Lifestream. It crept out into the world. A type of miasma that, because the Lifestream surged through the land to help fight Meteor, crept into the populace.

There's a circuit in all of our bodies similar to the Lifestream. This 'pox' was seen as a foreign invader the body tried to fight off. That was, in effect, Geostigma. But its purpose wasn't to destroy humanity. It was to find a way to return. Perhaps because he could no longer remember, having lost too much of himself.

Eventually that miasma created three beings. And those were Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo. Their purpose was to find enough of Jenova that remained in the world and bring back Sephiroth's return. And they did terrible things to achieve that goal.

[There is an extensive, probably hour long delay.]

I'm a simple man, so bear with me; one step at a time.

Sephiroth and Jenova may be the same person at this point? Any evidence either way?

[ Vincent waits. ]

You could ask him.

[ Absolutely would be the most driest of tone if it had been spoken. ]

It's more of a theory than evidence. We know now that one of the early theories about Jenova- that it was a Cetra were false. What we don't know is how much sentience it had. Only that the organism that was found in the strata had still living cells. And even a small fraction could radically impact living organisms.

When we encountered Sephiroth on our journey, we did fight manifestations of Jenova. But in my personal opinion, those had no more intelligence than a cunning beast. Sephiroth was the only personality we ever seemed to face.

If there is any evidence that Sephiroth and 'Jenova' were one and the same, it would be that he needed a large enough piece of it to return to the world as a whole being. But it's also reasonable to suggest that may be related to the circumstances of his conception.

Thanks to amnesia, Sephiroth is an unreliable narrator. Even if he knew the truth once, knowing now is another matter.

I'll put a pin in it.

"his...legacy" is a strange and vague way of describing this 'miasma'. Do you not know what it is or are you trying to make it easy on me?

A little bit of both. There's theories, scientific research connected to studying geostigma. But ultimately even best of Shinra's remaining scientists were only able to develop a drug that managed the pain of the disease it caused.

And no one in their right minds were going to hand over what few samples of Jenova still existed.

[ Certainly not even to the most trusted and sincere of those scientists. ]

Understand that there were few people who actually knew Sephiroth was behind anything. Shinra covered it up well. For two years, the world was dealing with the fallout of losing mako reactors, of Meteor and rebuilding after the Lifestream manifested. Geostigma was just another trial, thought to originate from Midgar and Shinra.

Truly knowing what it was came in those few weeks leading up to Sephiroth's return. For me, another year has passed. Though I don't know if anyone is directly looking further into what it truly was. Wouldn't be surprised though.

Probably a failing on my part that I can't connect toxic clouds to creating new people whole cloth or diseases. It sounds like made-up nonsense.

So if you take this bullshit sounding cloud and stuff in enough bits of Jenova, you get ... another Sephiroth? Seems kind of odd that he can make three entire people but couldn't make something for himself.

Ah. Maybe 'miasma' is the wrong word. It was an essence mixed in the Lifestream. And as it tore across the land, those touched by it had a chance to become infected. After, it appeared often in water.

There were reports that those who were feeling their mortality, the fear of death at the time were the ones who developed geostigma. The physical breakdown of the patient's body as it fought against the invasion was painful. But the 'disease' itself, if you could call it that, seemed to feed on despair and suffering. The more you thought of giving up, well. The faster it progressed until the victim's body gave out.

Hm. I'm not sure exactly how the first came into existence.

[ He has bits of the story thanks to Tseng and Elena but... ]

But a catalyst somehow brought Kadaj into existence. The other two may have came because of this limited 'success'. But that's just a theory. As you say, it took more to bring Sephiroth himself back. He doesn't see them as real people. To him, that may be because they never were meant to be more than a stepping stone. And Jenova may not have been enough.

Maybe Cloud was the final piece. Maybe not.

[ There is a pause. ]

I don't say this because I believe there is no hope. But from a purely practical standpoint, the only reason Kadaj and Yazoo have physical forms... that need to eat and breathe and sleep and can get hurt. That is because of the Admiral. If their limiters were removed, they would be just as they were on our world, I think. Well, physically at least.

That is something you shouldn't tell anyone without their permission. It can lead to a lot of problems if it was spread around.

I don't see why anyone would think it's hopeless. The Admiral doesn't bring people here just to send them back to die. Either they're sturdier than you give them credit for or there's an alternative to be found.

Well it sounds to me like I had it a bit backwards earlier when I suggested Sephiroth was their dad. He's their mother. Ok. That's weird but it's not like we're natural anyway so why the heck not.

No reason to discuss any of this with anyone, frankly. I just wanted to be certain where they come from, and that it wasn't Shinra.

They can become human if they desire. But the panic could come from what they currently are. I agree though. The Admiral saw something in who they are. I agreed to work with him. I don't see a reason yet to refute it.

[ Then, Sephiroth is... .... snrt .... good thing this is text. ]

I suppose that's not wrong. Either way, I appreciate the discretion.

I don't think anything on our planet can just will themselves to change species, Vincent. They're impressionable, I wouldn't tell them such a thing and then have them face its impossibility.

On a related subject, do you talk to Shaw warden to warden much?

I do. We both work in the Infirmary.

You talk about our planet much?

When I heard she became your warden, I spoke with her. Took her to the Enclosure to show her some things. Started with Midgar, before Meteor. Though after your time.

I wonder if she got it from you then. She seems hellbent on blaming everything that happens on Gaia on Shinra. Thinks she's seen it all before, won't consider anything that isn't what she's already decided on.

Really hung up on the idea that Shinra must have created the boys as tools for war.

Turns out they're still tools for war, just a different battlefield.

I never explicitly told her anything about Kadaj and Yazoo. Might be my fault she made that connection since I didn't confirm or deny it.

I was focused on giving her context about the world you grew up in.

Don't take it as me blaming you. I get the impression she's projecting her own world's issues onto ours, just trying to figure out where this laser focus came from.

No, though I acknowledge it might be part of the cause.

Another factor may be Shaw's condition that makes it hard for her to process or express certain social cues.

[ There's no reason not to mention this; she's spoken of it herself publicly. ]

It's hard to say. She's worked for an agency with tasks that could parallel some of what the Turks do for Shinra. Shaw might be using those similarities for her impression.

Want me to have a talk with her?

Nope. She's my warden to deal with. But if she harps on Shinra being the source of all mortal ills in your presence, feel free to curb it. I got confirmation this one she's wrong on, it's enough.

But I don't think she needs to know details about the boys' origins. She doesn't understand, willfully I suspect, that our planet's different when it comes to monsters.

Edited 2025-04-28 00:22 (UTC)

Mm. Few of those from the 'Earth' worlds have the context about monsters as they exist on our world.

Not saying they can't learn. But without the mindset coming from being part of that world...

Well. I'll speak up if she brings it up. Good luck with everything else.

And if you have other questions, I'll try to answer them if I can.

That should do it for now. It's left a lot of other questions, I'm not going to lie. A lot of them. But those can wait for later. Thanks.

Mr. Valentine, I am reaching out to you in the interest of applying for the medical inventory position that is currently open. If you could please get back to me about necessary requirements, expectations and if you would like a copy of my resume, I can print a copy for you.

[He's got that fancy cardstock in his office even, and fancy business cards.]

[ The answer is short and simple. ]

You can stop by the infirmary and pick up an application.

[ He's made one. It's probably not your conventional one.

There's no place to put one's status; that will be obvious since his is one of the few jobs where there's only one supervisor. But besides things like 'name' and 'age', and 'applicable skills' there are fields such as 'do you have any aversions or instincts that would make it difficult to work in a medical environment (ex: vampires and blood thirst)' and 'have you ever engaged in scientific or magical research considered unethical or taboo to your reality'.

You know. Just as examples.

Vincent may even be there working on paperwork, just willing to hand over the application without a trace of irony, depending on what time Varker stops by to pick it up. ]

Varker does show up, a printed copy of his own resume in hand, and knocks gently on the door when he arrives to signal he's coming in. He hasnt dressed any differently for this than he would anywhere else, but his wardrobe is generally dressier than most on board from a more modern period.

"Mr. Valentine, I assume?" He asks, walking forward and offering a scaled hand to him in greeting, "Dr. Clement Varker, I called earlier about the position."

Vincent looks up from his work. There's the studied regard someone might expect from someone meeting another for the first time. The former Turk is certainly someone dressed pretty dramatically for a medical office worker. Is that a gun? Armored boots?

Don't worry about that. He extends his hand for handshaking and that can be interesting itself; Vincent's left is normally gloved and his right is covered in a metal, clawed gauntlet.

"Yes. Here."

Greetings are as perfunctory as he sounded over the call. Once the initial handshake is done he'll just pick up a certain piece of paper from the desk and offer it out; the application.

"Fill this out."

....And then he'll go right back to work. There's a cup of pens on the desk at least.

Varker is trying to keep his face straight as to not give away his distaste for Vincent's...fashion sense. Those boots are gaudy as hell and there is an intense urge to go gossip about it to someone just as petty as he is.

He'll take the form, studying it a moment but blinks as the other man goes right back to work. With his back turned Varker's disapproval for his lack of social skills shows clearly on his face, but he will find himself a seat, pulling a monogrammed pen from his breast pocket and uncapping it to start filling it out.

Some of the questions he has to stare at a moment, looking visibly frustrated but thankfully as much as he turned a blind eye to what Simon had been doing, he can say with certainty he has never done unethical experiments himself. He'd put his foot down on that the moment Birkov had asked for his help.

Double checking his work, he makes sure there is no smudging and stands, offering both his resume and the form to Vincent with a clearing of his throat,

"I'm open to answering clarifying questions if you have any."

Vincent will continue to sit there in blatant defiance of Varker's tastes in fashion. There are probably many who would join in on the petty gossip. Have fun using your potential boss for entertainment!

Interesting that Varker stayed around. But it had been an option and once the form's filled out, Vincent will take it back and gesture for the copy of the resume. If the man had brought anything else and offered it? Yup that will be accepted too.

Now, sit there for about fifteen to twenty minutes while the former Turk thoroughly compares all of the information. There's no skimming here. Vincent's comparing the two carefully. There's a soft huff that escapes him. Even if Varker can't see the wry smile curling the corner of the man's lips momentarily, he'll get to hear the wry tone.

"An ethical pharmaceutical research company."

The papers are set down before him. Vincent looks steadily at Varker again.

"You've never looked the other way?" Despite the earlier clear bemusement, the question is very serious, empty of any doubt, of anything that hints of condescension.

He will sit, it isn't like he's got anything better to do, and while he does appreciate taking Lullabee to work in the veterinary clinic every day, it isn't what he knows. Reading the books B has been offering him is proving interesting, but he can admit that it is a little boring in there.

Still, when Mr. Valentine looks up, questions him, his lip lifts up instinctually, feeling a little insulted. "Varika is solid, legal and above board, thank you." He hisses at him, not feeling the need to hold back his offense.

"I take the law and ethics very seriously, and haven't allowed any unethical experimentation on company grounds. There was one instance of illegal activity, an employee embezzling funds to support an offsite lab, but he was fired."

With a sniff, he adds, "he murdered me a few days later."

Vincent nods, unaffected by the angry response. That was only to be expected, right? And he isn't going to explain himself.

"I've researched Earth culture. A little about the 'American' legal system and corporations. And the checks and balances of many countries."

It's interesting. It's not as if Vincent doesn't remember the time before the Shinra Company developed mako and managed to become a national power, then the dominant world power. But the sheer amount of nations keeping each other in check on Earth was staggering. He shakes his head.

"Tell me about the situation with the offsite lab. How did the employee get to you after he was fired?"

He isn't entirely expecting corporations of America to have the robust security for their CEOs that he's used to. But he does wonder.

And a part of the former Turk also wonders about something else; yet it's not going to be asked aloud. It's possible the answer will come with Varker's explanation.

Hearing 'Earth culture' as if it had a unified, singular culture was strange, but he doesn't correct him. He'd met a few people now who weren't from Earth and he isn't about to get snippy about verbage when someone is essentially learning an entire planet's history and customs from scratch. He's still taking the time to learn it, and that's nothing to make fun of.

"It came to light that he'd been stealing equipment and funds from Varika for years. Given he was one of our original founders along with our current Vice-president, it was...hard to accuse him of anything, but necessary." He's choosing his words carefully while not skipping a beat. He's had to cover for Birkov for the last six years to Dr. Drohane and this feels no different, though it makes his stomach twist a little, "He kidnapped myself and Dr. Drohane at home, though I don't remember how...and what followed was a taste of what he'd been working on. I do not care to recount what happened in that basement, but he didn't kill us immediately. I arrived here less than 48 hours after that incident."

Will Varker feel the same when he learns that most of the reason is because Vincent wants to read hard boiled action-thriller Alex Casey novels? But... well, some of it has become wanting to understand concepts of a large percentage of Earth natives that appear on the barge. It becomes helpful.

Vincent listens to everything without comment or question. Nor is there shock at what happened. His ruby gaze remains steady.

"Hm. No need." To recount. Vincent can take a few guesses. "Is this how you gained your passenger?" To be honest, there was still a chance that some quirk of Varker's Earth made such things a normal if unwanted occurrence.

But 'getting a taste of' what Birkov had been working on made it a better cause to gamble on.

Varker might loose some respect for his reason, but still learning for any reason is better than not learning at all.

His own red eyes stare back at Valentine, changed as they were from their original steel blue. "The second mouth is new, yes." He returns flatly, though it is still a fair question, trying to ignore it as the thing perks up at being mentioned, though he has to wonder if it can even understand a word they're saying. It opens it's maw wide, tongue snaking out to smell it's surroundings and Vincent, "But it's best you ignore it. It's...got a bit of a temper, and I have to admit sometimes it affects my own moods. I've had a shorter fuse, since. But given this seems to be a desk job, I don't see that being much of a problem."

"Interesting." It's very mild and surprisingly inoffensive. Maybe it's the utter lack of judgement or horror in everything from tone to body language. The man isn't looking at Varker with pity, nor as a fascinating specimen.

Eyes shift from meeting Varker's to watching the tongue. Ignore it? Vincent seems to willfully avoid the suggestion. He lifts his right hand, removing the glove and extends it, palm forward, to within an inch of the air the creature is tasting.

Vincent looks human. He is not. Underneath a trace of what is left, the leather and gun oil is something bestial. But also something ancient and wrought from the essence of terror and death itself. Even if it isn't close to the surface right now, will Varker's other part discern its presence?

...The former Turk's action has more behind it than idle curiosity. He does need to know how Varker will react if they are going to work together. And whether or not that other brain understands their words, it's also polite to introduce himself.

He isn't sure what to make of Vincent's nonreaction, the way he seems confident in his own actions, even as he ignores what Varker says and pushes forward.

"I'm not responsible if it bites you," Varker says to him with little humor, the tongue still tasting the air, though it shrinks back a little when Vincent offers his hand. Curiously it slowly inches forward again, taking in the scent, and much like an animal acknowledging another it growls, though it's less threatening than usual followed by a rather strange and eerie clicking sound. Pulling it's tongue back into it's mouth, it wrinkles it's upper lip and seems a little dissatisfied with what ever Vincent is that it can't quite place, much like it's fear and irritation with John Doe.

What ever isn't threatened is a threat. "I have no idea what that means, but I'd appreciate it if you stopped interacting with it. It's drooling gets in my eyes and on my shirt sometimes, and it's disgusting."

"Didn't plan on holding you responsible."

It's an interesting reaction though. Recognized as nonaggressive... possibly confused but that shouldn't be a surprise, Vincent reflects. He calmly withdraws his hand as the strange second entity has gotten the scent. No sudden movements there, when putting the glove back on, or as he reaches somewhere on his person and produces a handkerchief to offer to Varker.

"Sorry." Vincent is apologetic. A little. It would suck to have to deal with the drool.

Then it's down to a desk drawer to draw out an empty file folder. Labeling it and putting Varker's information into it, the former Turk then continues to address the inmate.

"For the first two weeks I would work with you on the same shift. We can address any problems during that period." He's not going to directly say anything about the drool and figuring out a PPE that might work, but... "We have some doctors that might be interested in examining your condition. You've got every right to refuse them."

In some ways, the two weeks is for Vincent to keep an eye on the enthusiasm too even if he's come to understand Tendi and Bashir's motivations are from a good place. There's still a dry way he referenced that last part. The man then shakes his head.

"Mostly desk and behind the scenes. Paperwork, keeping track of stock and incorporating additions from the ports we stop at or samples the passengers suggest."

"Will you or it have issues with the scent of blood or handling a crisis?"

General things one would have to look out for in an active infirmary aboard a very strange and often dangerous vessel.

He takes it with a little huff, wiping his face where the discolored saliva has started to run down his temple. Thankfully it hadn't dripped onto his shirt. He folds it and puts it in his pocket, "I'll launder that and return it later." Because he does have some manners, after all.

"I've met Ms. Tendi, she was very interested but I've already turned her down." He was actually polite about it too, which is rare, but he liked her, her approach to science with a wonderous excitement. "I'll split shift between here and my current assignment if thats alright with you." Because this is uncertain, it would be better to keep his foot in the door at the vet.

But he will shake his head, "I'm not squeamish generally but...depending on what kind of high stress, I-" he swallows, "I can handle a regular crisis, but I cant say the same for something strange or super natural. I...have a tough time given what I experienced before I died."

"I'm not sure about the policy of holding two positions officially. But if you want to volunteer some of your expertise, I won't say no. Let me know which you want to hold. That will determine what I give you access to over time."

However it works out, even if this is just a trial to see which Varker likes better, that's fine. He nods at the explanation of meeting Tendi and some of the reservations.

"Hm. You'll eventually run into something you can't avoid." He can't prevent that. "Every day encounters in the infirmary would be non-human co-workers and magic." That is to say, what Varker would have to get used to seeing.

"Otherwise, you can retreat if it's something you can't handle. No one should expect you to get used to everything immediately. And you won't be expected to act as a doctor."

Non-combatants should retreat to safety. Though often the infirmary itself is protected as a refuge during emergencies. He then nods at the door.

"We'll talk more later. You can contact me if you have questions about anything we discussed."

And with that implied dismissal, Vincent will return his attention to his work, just as he did after their first exchange of greetings. No need to stand on formalities to depart with this man.

Hi Vincent. Cloud said you might be able to help us find Zack if we go looking for him on his world.

I can keep you alive and not lost. Finding Zack is another thing entirely.

Alive? So… not much of a tourist destination, huh?

Not unless you only plan to visit the Gold Saucer.

[ He then continues more seriously... at least one has to presume so as the man's voice hasn't changed. ]

Travel between towns is dangerous. And conditions will vary depending on what's happened by the time of Zack's return.

Sounds fun. So... what's going on there and where do you think Zack is most likely to be?

Like I said, it'll depend on the state of the world he returned to. The past three years have been a time of upheaval and recovery.. But Zack... hmm. I can guess there's a ten year span of possibility. More likely eight. I'll see if the others have a better idea.

Okay! Thank you!

Mm. Don't get too excited and leave without me.

Without our guide? Never!

TLV - Inbox

Video, to Kadaj and Yazoo (During Spider Plot Day 1)

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Re: Video, to Kadaj and Yazoo (During Spider Plot Day 1) -> Action

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Re: Video, to Kadaj and Yazoo (During Spider Plot Day 1) -> Action

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Fin~

During 4WD; after the rescue talk goes up

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OUT OF NOWHERE, A TEXT. backdated to.. early march?

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imagine each of these responses takes a bit.

As they should. Vincent probably takes a bit to respond. Work, but also getting details right.

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Audio

Re: Audio

Spam

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