damned_institute | Day 28: Germaine Street

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Day 28: Germaine Street

Rhode didn't want to have to let go of Allen, not ever. It could be forever before she was able to be with him again! But the nurses were persistent in moving her off the big yellow thing, as was Allen for getting away from her. Even outside of the building, people were just determined to keep her from being with him! It wasn't fair!

Once off the bus and shivering just slightly from the crisp fall air, Rhode was handed a small booklet of what the nurse called "coupons". It took some explaining, but Rhode was eventually able to understand that the thin pieces of paper in the book were supposed to be used like money here. She wasn't at all accustomed to buying things for herself; that was supposed to be the Earl's job. When Rhode expressed this problem, the nurse only gave her a sad smile and patter her in the direction of the buildings.

"Why don't you go find something fun to do? There's a toy store just around the corner there. Don't worry about being alone though, we're all here to keep an eye on you. If anything happens, just come get one of us," the nurse explained, nodding to the staff members that were set to parole the town for any problems their more unruly patents could cause.

So, they were all going to be watched even though they could roam about freely? Rhode took a look back towards the yellow things but was unable to pick out Allen from the mess of patients. In a few moments, she probably wouldn't be able to find him at all or for the rest of the day. Should she just resign herself to that for now and use the small bit of freedom to her advantage? Being with Allen was important, and a lot of fun but...

She glanced down at the coupons again, smiled up at the nurse as best she could, and gave a quick, "Okay!" before running off as suggested.

A small bit of freedom was bound to make her feel better. Maybe she could use it to remind herself of how she was supposed to handle Allen Walker, an exorcist. This town did have a similar air to that of the Rewinding Town, after all.

[went here]

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Sephiroth hadn't been terribly impressed with the town upon seeing it. To him, it seemed like one of those in paintings or on postcards that were supposed to be showing perfection while beneath beat a corrupted and diseased heart. He did begin taking in the direction of roads, which way went where or back to Landel's. When he escaped, such would come in handy.

The yellow hair was what caught his attention.

Dressed in all black, Sephiroth had wished for a longcoat, but none had been available. Instead, he was stuck with this. At least he looked somewhat more like himself even if he did long for the feel of his blade in his hand. Soon, he reminded himself. Soon. First things first though.

Despite his promise not to come to Cloud, Sephiroth trailed along behind the other man. Cloud was his anyways, or at least his SephirothLogic said so. Getting close to Cloud without making noise in such poor clothing was a challenge, but one Sephiroth was up for. He got as close as he could before asking speaking, wanting to use his height to his advantage.

"It reminds me of Nibelheim for some reason. what do you think?"

Making note of Wicker Street, Cloud was still looking between the south and the street ahead of him. He rubbed his knuckles against his chin as he contemplated before he paused for a moment. He felt a familiar weariness raising the hairs on the back of his neck.

What the...?

He stiffened at the familiar voice that seemed to verify the twist of his stomach. He spun around, stepping back as he raised an arm to block an attack that did not seem to be impending just yet. His eyes flicked over Sephiroth's clothing before he slowly dropped his hand back to his side.

"Nibelheim was much smaller than this," he reminded coldly. He forced himself to relax a little as he stood straighter, not that it evened out their height difference. "...not like you could burn this place down to the ground as you did Nibelheim. The nurses would get to you first."

"Do you truly believe that I wanted to set this place ablaze that any human could stop me?"

Sephiroth didn't move as Cloud did, watching him with all the amusement that a cat does a mouse it has crippled. The cold sliver of a smile grew as he watched Cloud throw up an arm to defend himself from an attack that wasn't coming. An eyebrow arched, the general still passing judgement on the lowly soldier.

"I would ask what you were doing, but I can guess easily enough. You were laying out a map of these streets in your mind, studying the local inhabitants, and assessing what security was where so far as the nurses go? After that, I would imagine that you would begin going through the local stores, tallying what could be taken back with you even if you did resort to theft. The townspeople would most likely be last because there is a risk there that then the nurses would notice were you attempting to engage them in conversation. You would probably wish to know if the locals were sympathetic to you or the Head Doctor and Landel's. Am I close?"

Cloud raised an eyebrow and glanced around to all the smiling nurses. He had seen how fast those tranquilizers took down people, but he was not about to openly contest with Sephiroth on the legitimacy of the man's claim. He was already putting his money on the nurses though. After all, a lowly grunt like him had taken Sephiroth out three times.

His lips downturned with dismay as Sephiroth seemed to know him too well. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the man, waiting for the list to finished. "Fairly close... but I had not yet gotten to the part about talking to the local people for sympathy. I do not yet find my plight to require it... but thank you for the idea for future reference."

He wondered how long Sephiroth was going to try to bug him. Something would probably have to distract the man, or he would have to annoy Sephiroth. "I could of sworn our last conversations involved you saying that you were not going to come after me. You must be bored... or feeling rather human again."

He kind of enjoyed that little barb, since he had just found it.

"Never underestimate or underuse resources at your service. For all you knew, there might be a family here that would be willing to smuggle you out or knows more information about Landel's that they would be willing to share with one of its victims."

Sephiroth's smile fell away although that vicious amusement stayed in his eyes at Cloud's little jibe.

"How you tempt me. It is as if you wish destruction down upon those around you. It does make me wonder if behind that mask you wear of good will and intentions, you are at heart just like myself. Surely no one else would try to goad me into anger and that which would result. You may be right in that these minions of the Head Doctor would be able to take me down, but how many can I harm before they do, especially if I start somewhere such as a store where I can bar the door first? How much blood would you like on your hands?"

That smile returned, cold and cruel.

"Or would you prefer to start again and not attempt to insult me this time?"

Cloud found himself slightly urked again as Sephiroth seemed to be seeing things as only a General could. He supposed he had been away from the line of duty and more thinking in a loner-way. He sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead lightly. "Figures you would be thinking like that..."

Unmoved by Sephiroth's threat, he simply watched the man. He and his allies had been threatened too much for it to sit with him anymore, but he had never really given Sephiroth the opportunity to follow-through either. Still, there was too much going on here.

His eyes flashed with anger as his hand snapped out before he could stop himself, taking ahold of Sephiroth's top. "I am not like you," he hissed out before forcing himself to withdraw again. "You have already tainted my hands with too much blood..." he murmured a little more softly.

He turned away and regarded Wicker Street with a little more interest now. He rubbed a hand up his left arm. "I do not know what your intentions are here, but..." he trailed off. He wanted to say that Sephiroth could no longer get the better of him, but their previous conversation in the Sunroom loomed in the back of his mind.

Did he really have the potential to be like Sephiroth?

"You are like me, whether you choose to admit it or not. Reality does not change simply because you will it. The sky will not turn from blue to orange on your whim."

Sephiroth began to move slowly, prowling around Cloud like a jungle cat in a predator's circle. He was close enough to be touched still, whispering to Cloud as he moved.

"I have told you my intentions, and what you will do. Tell me that you do not want to come with me, to see things as I do. You see the world and those in it and know you are nothing like them. Always the outsider, always the 'different' one. Is that not so?"

Grunting softly to Sephiroth’s persistence, Cloud could bring himself to say nothing as he watched the older man prowl around him. He felt like this was a repeat of the past, something he should have been aware of and been able to remove himself from, but he could only watch and listen.

“I am not like you,” he said softly, feeling the lameness of his words but floundered for something more. Sephiroth had always had a way of twisting things on him, to make him feel like he was facing the opposite direction that he thought he was.

He winced softly and shook his head, casting his eyes towards Wicker Street. He could not allow Sephiroth to corner him like this, even if they were on the open street. He should be stronger than this, and he almost liked it better when there was less talk between them and more physical fighting. “No… I will not be your puppet again. I may be different but… but I am not going to fit into your plans like an obedient mutt.”

He stepped back, a retreat. He hated himself for it too, but he continued to walk away from Sephiroth.

[Moving Here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/246475.html)]

He always had to make things difficult, didn't he? There was a mild disappointment when Cloud did back down and away from him, fleeing as Sephiroth saw it. It appeared he would have to manage things a little differently.

Following right along behind Cloud would have been too easy, too human. He needed something better. Alleyways would have served nicely, but Sephiroth hadn't seen any of those. Ah well, rooftops it was then.

A few leaps from rubbish bin to rooftop later, Sephiroth was pleased to discover that while most of his abilities had left him, his sense of balance was still in place. He did have the sneaking suspicion that eventually a nurse would spot him and order him down, but until then, he could trail Cloud easily.

((Sephiroth-ninja after Cloud))

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Day 28: Germaine Street

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