TLV - Inbox

[coffinturk]

"Leave a message."

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[coffinturk]

[ There's a short pause. ]

....Did he explain to you about what a yellow musk creeper is?

[nimbuster]

[Well, Cloud didn't tell him he had to eat the cake right now...but he shrugs and pushes himself away from the wall.]

Sure, might as well.

[He heads for the door without further fanfare.]

[coffinturk]

[ Nope. Cake. Now.

In fact if Cloud looks back, he's going to see Vincent carrying it with him as he follows the blond to the next level cabin.

This is perfectly normal, truly. But it has a deeper meaning than whether to eat it in companionship or enjoying it at its freshest.

More on that in a bit. ]

[nimbuster]

[Cloud doesn't look back, but once they get into the corridor he does walk beside Vincent and glance over briefly. Well, it makes some sense to him. Do all the birthday-related things at once, sure.

When Cloud unlocks his cabin door and lets Vincent in, the sight that greets them is a room that looks like a fusion between Cloud's childhood home and the interior of Edge's Seventh Heaven - homey with understated rural charm, combined with a bit of that post-apocalyptic industrial grunge feel. The traditional Nibel architecture should be familiar enough to Vincent. The furniture is functional first and aesthetically pleasing second, but there is a certain down-to-earth quality to much of it. The rest could have been lifted straight out of Seventh Heaven, including his rotary phone and desk, and even a 'bar' of sorts - there's nothing behind it, though. It's just the bar itself pushed flush against the wall with a few stools in front of it.

As for the mural, it stretches across the wall above the bar, taking up the entire length of it. Cloud gestures to the bar with his chin as a way of telling Vincent he's welcome to sit, but before he does so himself, he does indeed cut himself a slice of cake, too, with the...butter knife that's sitting out on the bar alongside it. Yeah, butter knife is the best he can do - he's lucky the bar came with that much, frankly. A few dishes and blunt silverware, that's about it.]

[citizendetective]

He gave me a book to look over. Did you have any particular concerns?

[coffinturk]

I have concerns about something that dangerous on the Barge outweighing the need to have a convenient supply on hand. I still need to speak with the Admiral about how easily it'd be to obtain the petals over growing them.

[ His voice becomes a little dry. ]

A cunning, parasitic and undead plant that can lure victims from a distance doesn't strike me as a good idea. Even if it can be, in theory, 'fed' with non-human or human-like meat. Sounds like a recipe for disaster for some of the less scrupulous inmates to make use of.

[ All that info should be in the book of course. ]

But I planned to speak with you and Aerith about that anyway. What are your thoughts?

[citizendetective]

[Chirpily:]

I think it sounds fascinating!

[She pauses, and then adds, in a more modulated tone:]

But, something that would require heavy gardening and restricted access if we allowed them to grow to their full size, obviously. Durge says that keeping them small and in enclosed containers would negate the worst of the damage. I'd be happy to keep one in my cabin.

[coffinturk]

It's certainly interesting.

[ Well he's not going to deny that. But what is it with gardeners! He might need to go speak to Angeal one time to see if he gets a concurring enthusiasm. ]

Don't misunderstand this as a slight to your skill and caution. But it takes only one slip and you could become this plant's minion. Hm.

[ There is a pause. ]

I suppose it might be worth asking the Admiral if the creeper can have its power nullified similar to how inmates are. Same precautions, but it's unable to manipulate its victims.

[coffinturk]

[ There's definitely familiarity. He's been to Edge in good and bad times. And... he remembers Nibelheim. Just like the former Turk's own room that so much would lend itself to what furnishings must have once looked like in the Shinra Mansion, the cabin is clearly a fusion of what one may consider 'home'.

Vincent follows Cloud in and looks around to take stock while Cloud retrieves another slice of cake. Good, the plan is coming together. There is no judging the butter knife; it slices cake just fine. But Cloud may hear a rattle as it turns out the 'one' fork Vincent brought was actually two stacked together. It's just quietly set down before he takes a seat at the bar and turns his focus on the mural. ]

Hmph. It really doesn't change much at all does it?

[ Vincent can probably point out a few new things. Even sleepy mountain towns have changes. Subtle repairs, new decorations outside. But even if he can, it's something to note that Nibelheim is the sort of place that time does seem to stand still. ]

[citizendetective]

[That would be a smart decision, but all the same, something about it gives Misty pause. Even if it's just a plant, it seems a shame to defang it so completely.]

Or... we could ask for it to be dampened? I don't mind it having an affect on me, as long as the pull isn't so strong that I'm incapable of resisting it.

Facedesk 1/2

[coffinturk]

[ Or maybe face in hands. An inhaled breath and slow exhale while muted. Something like that. ]

2/2

[coffinturk]

[ Okay. He's ready to face this again. ]

Your time on the Barge aside, have you had any experience dealing with fiends and monsters of the plant variety? If your experience is limited, I suggest you speak with Aerith. She's from my world and might give you insight I can't explain as well.

If you have a reason why you think it should just be dampened, I'm all ears though.

[ Yeah he'll also probably speak to Aerith about also discussing this with Misty. And as far as the question goes? Maybe Misty does know something and he's overreacting. But he is worried. ]

The creeper breeds by implanting its bulbs in people. Those people will be under its control and also generate a new creeper within ten days time. Ultimately I have no authority on whether you choose to bring this plant into the greenhouse. That's for the Admiral to decide. But I recommend avoiding half measures to contain it.

[citizendetective]

[Vincent, please consider: Misty is enamored with the idea of tending to a conniving carnivorous plant. Let her have a vicious baby.]

Well, no, obviously we shouldn't let them get that far. What about, hm-- breeding restrictions? Can we neuter one?

It just seems a shame to go to all the trouble of growing one only to completely destroy its nature. If necessary, I am fully prepared to keep it in my cabin and not give access to anyone but qualified greenhouse staff.

[coffinturk]

[ Vincent is considering it. He's considering how he's going to navigate trying to convince Misty this is a bad idea before she realizes she can make the request wholly independent of Vincent's suggestions. He has.... regrets.

Misty, you want to raise a zombie plant that turns people into zombies to breed in your room where you sleep! ]

I think isolating it in a cabin near other residents would be a bad idea. [ Dryly. ] Making it unable to get an easy meal doesn't sound like it'll rob it of its nature.

[ Probably make it use something more cunning. The thing is capable of moving. But as for the neutering? ]

I'm not sure that's possible. Plants aren't my speciality. Much less what this thing is.

Audio!

[weartearrust]

[His tone is curt, bordering on tense. No funny business here.]

Still up to doing your job, Turk?

audio

[coffinturk]

What do you need.

[ Sometimes, it goes without saying. ]

Re: audio

[weartearrust]

Pretty good chance if we're stuck here for a few weeks I'm going to become a lot less nice to be around. Shoot me, make sure it's cleaned up well. When we're back onboard the Barge I'll make you something nice as a thanks.

[coffinturk]

[ Silence happens for a moment. It's probably clear he's considering the possibilities. ]

...Alright. But I want an explanation when this is over.

[weartearrust]

[There's a grunt of acknowledgement.]

Keep it to yourself and you can have one now if you want.

[coffinturk]

Go ahead. [ He'll keep it to himself. ] If it's safe to talk about.

[ They are in enemy territory in a manner of speaking. ]

[weartearrust]

The Admiral's restrictions are lifted. For me, that means sooner or later degradation's probably going to set back in. I kept my mind before more or less but that's not standard. Aggression, violence and mutation is.

[It's like finding out your terminal disease has come back, he doesn't sound very happy about it at all.]

I should have time. Weeks, months. I'll handle it myself if I realize it's happening, but if I don't, a sniper's got the best chance of getting it done without being torn apart in the process.

[coffinturk]

[ The pause happens again though it's understandable. Vincent's weighing the options, not hesitating. ]

...Got it. I'll be keeping an eye on you.

[ He's agreeing very quickly isn't he? ]

Any signs?

[weartearrust]

[There's a sigh from the other side, it might be .. relief? Maybe- plenty of people would argue against it. Some could be forced into it anyway, but there was a certain level of professionalism he expected of a Turk.]

Mental decline, impaired judgment. .. Feathers. It'd be a good idea to treat anything of mine as if it's highly contagious. Hair, blood, feather. So long as I'm clearheaded I can clean up after myself.

[coffinturk]

Understood.

[ A pause. ]

Black feathers?

[ An oddly specific question. ]

[weartearrust]

... No. Black would be Genesis.

[And now it's getting uncomfortable, thinking about the marks that branded him obviously, unalterably inhuman. He could pretend.]

Mine.. were white.