there's a pattern, there's a pattern, there's a pattern there to follow ...

[uprisenheart]

WHO: CLOSED to seifer, squall, cloud
WHAT: investigation time!
WHERE: various locations in the city
WHEN: sometime during and/or after the memories ... (vague hand gestures)
WARNINGS: none at the moment!

[SO. you've been kidnapped to a weird city and now your poor brains have been assaulted with memories that aren't yours. obviously that means it's time to go poking around, yes?

gentlemen ... pick your poison.]

Comments

[bravers]

...Yeah.

[The mention of the memory- at least in singular form and pertaining to him in particular, makes his blood feel as though it dropped a few degrees. Although he'd actually gave off quite a few memories, he doubted he'd be called here for any of the others. He can only be talking about the bombing.

His eyes continue to follow the figure, watching him come to his stop- and lingering.

There's no point dragging it out. It's clear he knows.]

It wasn't here.

[Midgar was ...similar to Dualis, sure. But he doubted the guts of a reactor would strike anyone as similar to the streets. No matter how hard they wanted to find the Heart. And there was Barret, who appeared in the memory with him. Surely a guy walking the streets of Dualis with a machine gun arm would stick out.

The only issue, to him, is the police. And if they had the desire to pin the bombing on someone rather than no-one.

He tries to keep his voice dismissive, tries to make it sound uninterested. But perhaps the tall gentleman can hear the uncertainty in it.]

Someone I know's talking to the cops about it, in case they decide they want to bring me in to at least look like they're doing their jobs. And they'll know it's not me- My date of arrival can be verified by the Head- which proves whatever happened here with the bombing happened before I got here. It's nothing to do with me.

[A pause.]

I'm not gonna draw attention to what either of the families' operations with them coming to get me. They're going to know it's pointless.

[A pause. And he glances, again, to the man.]

...Did you get the Head's memories too? Or just ours?

[demonic_divinity]

[ The man simply nodded, he had figured as much, but it was always safer to ask. He knows enough to get by, as much as their bosses allow. A few steps above Cloud, a few below the bosses.

Forever at their beck and call. ]

Do not speak to the police unless you have no choice. The Family does not wish to have the authorities involved unless they are on the payroll. Which we will aim to push for if you are pulled in. You do good work, Mr. Cloud. We would like to keep you on as long as we can, the police will simply make that harder.


[ He nodded after a second before adding. ]

Anything I have seen is not of importance, I am merely a voice for the family.

[ He unfolded his arms and stepped forward holding a hand out to shake such an odd time but, the visable blue eyes under the mask were locked on cloud, a tightly folded bit of paper had an address on it and a time and date, midnight, the next day, to be slipped into Cloud's hand should he shake. ]

My name is V, I am a voice for the bosses, please feel free if you think of anything useful to contact your contacts to contact me. The bosses of course will compentate you for your time. For now their are no further questions.

[bravers]

All right. I won't.

[The latter half of that statement makes his eyebrows furrow a little- the part about the family actually assisting him, anyway. Are they concerned he'll talk? Or was the statement meant in the spirit of which it was said? ...He didn't know.

He's a mook. He runs packages from place to place. Drops off drop-offs, collects collections. On occasion, he disposes of vehicles. All as out of the view of the cities' extensive surveillance, and as timely, as reliably, as he can manage. He didn't ask questions- nor did he show aversion to any of it. He just simply did it- because what the Malakye and Agataela families do- it's not his business. He's entry-level. If even that.

Which makes it slightly strange they're showing him loyalty- at least by comparison to the shadier slum crimelords from his world. He's replaceable. But instead of being judged as a risk and dealt with, he's given assurances?

Even if they're understaffed, and that's somehow the cause for this, he's here for a year. Allegedly. So why would he matter?

His scepticism is interrupted as V closes the distance between them and offers his hand. He's forced to lift his head up to view his blue eyes with his own mako ones as he does- since V's height is significantly greater than his own. And he feels the neat, folded bundle of paper press into his palm. He lowers his eyes, but says nothing on it- keeping his hand closed to not betray what he's been given as he withdraws.]

...Yeah, I will. If I see anything. Can I leave?

1/2

[demonic_divinity]

[ Very good.

Very very good. V was impressed but he couldn't let it show. Even if the man before him couldn't see his face he knew he was being watched and he couldn't let his facade break at all. Cloud wasn't important to the families, no he was important for something else all together, but V liked to make people feel useful, it made minions work harder.

A happy minion is a productive minion.]

Yes, you may leave. The car is waiting.

2/2

[demonic_divinity]

[ If Cloud choose to go to the time and place on the sheet, he would find himself at an empty werehouse, one near the ruins but not actively in used, one without graffiti. The door was unlocked and it was dark inside aside from an small light burning towards a wall where someone was waiting in the shadows again, the coat and mask gone, but a hoodie in place pulled up to cover his hair. The same blue eyes peered from under it.

He took a risk coming here but, he was watched and this was the safest way.

His paranoia knew no bounds. ]

[bravers]

[Finding the place hadn't been difficult, not with the amount of times he'd been to districts just like this. Even the shifting streets don't feel that arduous thanks to the fact he'd done this before- many times before- going to and from where Seifer had set up his forge.

His eyes are keen as he approaches the warehouse- keeping a careful eye around him- around it- as he enters. Perhaps V's paranoia paid off. To his gaze, at least, it doesn't seem that anyone's around. He lingers by the entranceway, calling out as some warning- mostly to not get shot at- before he moves deeper inside.

That is, if V didn't intend to shoot him anyway. And he'll risk it. He's not exactly defenceless. Beside that, if that was V's intention, he could've taken a pop in a multitude of different ways. He doesn't think it's that. So what is it?

He's here to find out.]

the voice speaking at the start of the clip.

[demonic_divinity]

Come on, quickly, bolt the door.

[ The voice spoke without the eletronic mixer, a deep rumble of a voice. Once Cloud came closer, V pushed off the wall walking to meet him partway across the wide open room.

Walking with an air of confidence, only once the door was bolted would the lights a light above where V stopped kick on, clearly at least one other person is here, but that was fine, most of the windows were boarded up anyway.

Lowering the hood his platinum hair fell into view along with his face. ]

I am glad to see you came, I worried you might not. I don't often get a chance to speak to those outside of the family's main circle and there are things you, like me as an outsider, should know.

[bravers]

[He had no reason to truly think it, but he'd half wondered if he had been talking with a machine before. Clearly not, apparently. V's just as tall now- but significantly less imposing with his face on display.

That's not to say he's at ease. Perhaps it's a military thing; when the door is bolted and when an exit is shut off, he's anything but comfortable. However...]

What do you know?

[demonic_divinity]

[ V wanted everyone to think he was a machine at work, so he had the right idea. With his face on display he looks younger, softer. Almost hurt in the way those blue eyes shift looking at Cloud. ]

I know that their is a group looking for men like you. Follow your heart and find them. I risk my very life even speaking to you, but someone needs to tell you to find the heart of the matter and rise up.

[bravers]

You're talking about the Heart, right?

[His voice lowers slightly at that. It also changes in far more than volume, tone lowering to indicate pensiveness. Then, it turns brisk, flattening into disinterest.]

I've heard all of this before. "Rise up", "Wake up", "Listen to the Heart", all of it. I'm not interested.

[The motivational statements are lost on him, clearly. But. His eyes switch to V suddenly, keenly- practically glowing in the dim light of the surroundings.]

The only thing I give a damn about is how the Head lied. If you- all of you- know something, you need to come out with it if you expect any kind of help.

[demonic_divinity]

I am indeed, Cloud.

[ Vergil closed his eyes and shook his head some. ]

That much I can not give the answer myself, we work as a unit, there are many things I can not do because of the family. Many things I can't say even of my own choice.

...Their will be a meeting soon, just... just come when the message comes out.

[ he almost seemed pained saying it. ]