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[ ...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?
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?
I forgot.
{He still would've asked the question even if he remembered, though.}
...what if I was?
Vincent? You have a moment?
[She did, at least sound somber, and not flirtatious.]
[She did, at least sound somber, and not flirtatious.]
[ Seems he'll take a moment. ]
Go ahead.
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.
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. ]
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. ]
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 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 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.
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.
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.
[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.
[ 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.
[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.
Got a question.
Where do you sit on the great sliding timeline we're all dealing with from our planet? You the furthest along?
Where do you sit on the great sliding timeline we're all dealing with from our planet? You the furthest along?
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.
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.
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.
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.
[ 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.
[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.
[ 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.
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.
[ 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?
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?
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