A "vampire" arrives

[chaosvessel]

Who: Vincent Valentine and YOU
What: Vincent's arrival and initial exploration of the city
Where: Dormitories + the Park primarily, could wander
When: September 7-10
Warnings: Possible discussions of death? Otherwise, nothing really



a. dormitories

[After all he'd seen, 'this can't be happening' wasn't something he was going to entertain with a ponder. He followed the directions given by the statues and the strange "Head". Normally, he would have explored this strange new place in which he's found himself, but with all the unknowns, he opted for compliance, at least until he's found this dormitory room which was to double as his base of operations while he figured out the real purpose behind his being brought here. While he wasn't a scientist, Vincent had spent enough time around them to know the collection and analysis of DNA was rarely a good thing, especially when performed under such questionable circumstances.

He nods to the concierge when he's provided his key and network device, frowning down at it briefly before slipping it into the pocket and taking a look around the place. It was so...mundane...He didn't make an effort to appear inconspicuous in his leathers and red cape, knowing his brass claw stood out all on its own, but he doesn't immediately proceed upstairs, instead opting to take up a position near a wall and watch those who came and went.]


b. central square park | ota

[After getting to know the dormitories, he sets out to get to know his surroundings. His Turk training never really left, and getting a lay of the land, and by extension, the city, was pivotal to understanding where he's been taken. As he moves through the lush setting, a growing sense of unease grasped him as he made notes mentally:

There were no woodland creatures. The sounds, or the lack thereof, were unsettling and his hand was never far from the grip of his handgun. Because of the silence, the statues had a looming effect and his crimson gaze shifted around warily. It...might not be a good idea to sneak up on the guy.]


c. central square park | closed to Thane

[Continued from here.

Vincent approved of the selection of the Central Square Park. It was, as its name implied, centrally located but also public. They may not have privacy, but they would have the security of the location. Old habits die hard, and being a bodyguard had been ingrained in him for a very young age. He waited for the Drell near a bench, though he himself was leaning against a nearby statue, arms crossed. He'd never seen another of Tannor's race in Dualis. He'd be difficult to miss.]

Comments

A

[hellofishies]

[ At first Arkady had been filled with a lot of indignant frustration. This was not where she needed to be right now. It was very, very far from it. There was work that needed to be done and she needed to make sure Connor was okay. Of course he would be okay. That was a silly worry, but she worried anyway. What if something went wrong? It wouldn't. She told herself that over and over. It wouldn't. They came back, they all did and they always would. The worry was needless and the frustration wasn't going to make anything better. This was where she was now, for better or worse.

It wasn't a resignation that she intended to just blindly accept without any investigation or inquiry. For now though it seemed best to just try to see who else was here. That started with making her way to the dormitory. When she got there and started inside it actually hit her how weird this was. Weird and sad. She couldn't' actually remember ever not living around the others. Suddenly here she was completely by herself and she couldn't help but let the sadness wash over her expression.

Then she noticed the weird guy making himself obvious in the lobby. Had he just left a mall hang out. ]

Hello! [ She forced the sadness out of her expression and replaced it with a bright smile. She tilted her head as she looked him over. ] Going to a party? Or coming from one?

[chaosvessel]

[He'd watched the strange girl enter, watched her receive her network device and room key, but noted not having seen her outside. Had she wandered farther than him? Had he been waiting here longer than he'd realized?

He frowned, though, at her question.]

...party?

[hellofishies]

Yes. Your costume. [ Because really that had to be a costume. Right? Unless it wasn't. Maybe it wasn't a costume. It did feel a bit strange. Maybe that meant he was a bit strange. Not that there was anything wrong with that. ]

[chaosvessel]

...costume? [He looked down at himself momentarily, frowning at what she was claiming to be some sort of holiday outfit. They...were just his casual clothes, even before he died. The only time he wore a suit was for work...]

[hellofishies]

Oh. They're just your clothes. [For most people this would probably be a very awkward moment. Luckily Arkady wasn't really most people. She just shrugged and moved on.] I like the cape. It looks very swooshy!

[wickedprayers]

[That is more or less his reasoning for picking the location he did. Thane still isn't entirely comfortable about the situation that led him here, having no familiar reference to gauge, well, anything. Therefore he doesn't know when or where he might be in trouble. The Central Square Park, while public, provided enough trees and structures for Thane to make a quick and stealth escape should the need arise.

Naturally, he had shown up fairly early to their meeting. He just remained out of sight. It's been a while since he was able to meet with someone outside of a hospital visitation room and even longer since he's met up with someone for a more leisurely conversation.

Luckily Vincent isn't hard to spot either, standing up against a statue as if on guard. He approaches with his hands folded at his back, looking as if he had just been taking a casual stroll and not sizing up the entirety of the park as much as he can. He nods his head in greeting with a friendly smile.]

Valentine. It is good to see you again.

[He gestures towards the bench nearby so they can sit. And also because he noticed that it was difficult to see said bench from the angle he approached until he got much closer, which happens to be where the most foot traffic is. The precautions he takes are almost as natural as drawing breath at this point. Ignoring the fact that that is sometimes difficult for him to do, of course.]

[chaosvessel]

[As certain as he'd been that finding a Drell among the people in the park would be simple, Tannor had still found him before Vincent had done the same. While it didn't put him on edge, few things did anymore, but he was certainly impressed at the skill. He inclines his head in greeting and approaches, following his invitation.

While he recalls the purpose of this meeting, he isn't sure how to start...or really even where.]

Nuara.

[wickedprayers]

[Even when Thane takes a seat is it calculated, positioned to get what he deems to be a decent vantage point in the area.

Usually "it's a long story" stories are long for a reason. Most of the time they're difficult to tell, or they conjure up a lot of emotions, positive or negative. Which is why he decides to let Vincent go at it his own pace, when he's ready.]

Talking without a timer is a lot more effective. I've heard of that practice among the humans but wasn't sure if it was real or not.

[chaosvessel]

[Vincent takes a seat beside Thane on the bench, and as the folds of his cloak settle around him, the large, triple-barreled weapon in its holster on his hip is plain to see. Even in the brief glimpse afforded by the moving cloth, the ornate filigree in silver is play to see against the gun-metal gray, woven paths of shining metal around the barrels that start with the stylized heads of dogs and weave into one another as they come together at the grip. A personalized weapon, and a much loved one by its appearance.

The discussion of the 'speed-friending' alone called up memories for the man, and he nods.]

Larger cities have them more often than smaller towns. People...find it difficult to meet new people, sometimes. It's a...way, I guess.

[He isn't sure how much of his story really needs to be told, either, to understand how he knew the flower girl from the slums of Midgar, and eventually, he opts merely to voice his indecision.]

When how I cam to know a girl from the slums is tied to a being from beyond the stars and the fate of the Planet, its hard to know how to start.

[wickedprayers]

[Of course, the weapon draws his eyes. Not just any weapon but one that almost looks to be ceremonial in nature, though he has no doubt that it's a working gun, otherwise Vincent wouldn't be carrying it around, he assumes. Or maybe he would. He's known some people to carry around weapons purely for the novelty, but Vincent doesn't seem the type.

Either way, he doesn't give voice to these thoughts. It does remind him, however, that he should look into getting a concealable weapon.]

That does sound like a difficult story to begin. [He sits forward a bit, forearms rested on his knees as his hands come together, as usual. "Beyond the stars" — it sounds so fanciful. Almost as if there weren't dark corners of space littered with piracy and slave traders.] What were you doing when you met her?

[Perhaps asking questions will make it easier on him.]

b;

[bravers]

[Given multiple factors- Vincent's training, Central Square Park's (currently) central position within the city, as well as the fact that by anyone's account, the ex-Turk could only be on high alert after a day like today- Perhaps it's Vincent that discovers Cloud before Cloud discovers him.

If Vincent recalled what the sound of a Shinra-manufactured engine sounded like, then perhaps he'd find something, anyway. Because one's currently just beyond the northern boundary to the park, travelling along the west side, rather close to Vincent's present location, before stopping.

Worth a look, Vincent?]

[chaosvessel]

[The sound of a familiar engine in the midst of all this alien technology and environ is enough to draw Vincent's attention, certainly, and he moves to investigate, keeping to the shadows the trees along the park's northern border to get a better view of this curiosity before its rider makes notice of him.

Once recognition is made, a sense of ease comes over the former Turk. Cloud is a welcome and familiar sight, here.

He steps from the shadows not far at all from the younger man.]

Cloud.

[bravers]

[That was fast. He's just about completed a drop and is on his way back to the bike when Vincent appears. His eyes flare wide at the sight of his friend, he abandons the unsent message on his communicator and shoves it into his pocket, and makes his way over.

To him, Vincent doesn't look that different. The only difference in him is the fact his cape's frayed. So at least for now things seem uncomplicated. Bad, of course, because if Vincent's here, that's even less of their group on Gaia, but uncomplicated.]

Vincent.

[A beat, and...]

It's good to see you. You just get here?

[chaosvessel]

[A nod in response. Yes, Cloud. It's good to see you, too. They'd never required many words spoken between them to get their points across, though. It was something Vincent appreciated about Cloud. He didn't enjoy talking.]

A few hours ago. I've been... [He trails off for a moment, giving a glimpse around before settling back on their defacto leader.] ...acclimating.

[bravers]

[Perhaps they communicated with eye movements. Or long, meaningful gazes. Or telepathy. ...Or more realistically, they both just didn't need everything detailed over and over again with words. Neither of them bothered with embellishment, either. And at least on Cloud's part, it's more comfortable without it.

So, the response is perfectly fine. Welcome, even. There's an ease with speaking to Vincent compared to most other people- and even with things not exactly being ideal with his presence here and not in Gaia, it's... actually kind of nice to see him. He hadn't lied earlier with that fact. It was.

His statement is met with a small hum of acknowledgement, and his gaze moving down the street.]

Mhm. C'mon. I'll tell you what I know. Some places you'll need, too.

[A small tour is probably crucial, to be honest. Even if the streets change regularly.]

a;

[final7thheaven]

[ tifa is pretty new to this city, too. new enough that she hasn't been letting cloud out of her sight much, for fear that something will happen and he'll lose even more of his memories. but they aren't fully attached at the hip, no matter how worried tifa is for him.

so today, after she's spent a little time in her new room, she makes her way down to the entrance...

and finds herself staring at a familiar figure she hadn't actually expected to see here. ]

Vincent?

[ at least she'll look familiar to him, for all that she is obviously a few years behind him. the length of her hair and her clothes speak to a point in time around meteorfall, but not after. she makes her way over to him, happy to see another familiar and friendly face. ]

How long have you been here?

[chaosvessel]

[Her voice and appearance are familiar, though something from memory rather than the last time he saw her, which was far too long ago if he's honest with himself. He does raise his eyebrows at her appearance and the ghost of a smile touches his lips. As much of a loner as Vincent had ever been, it was a refreshing sight to see his friends.]

Tifa. [He accentuates his response with a gentle shake of his head.] A few hours.

[final7thheaven]

[ he looks more or less the same. for all that she doesn't exactly know him that well, she recognizes his expression and reaction to her as fairly positive. so at least there's that. ]

It hasn't been very long for me, either. Have you seen Cloud yet?

[chaosvessel]

[He eyebrows rose slightly, pleasantly surprised to note another of their ragtag band was present.]

No. It's...good to know he's here, though.

[final7thheaven]

[ she wants to say so much, wants to ask vincent so many questions, but given that she has a hard enough time talking about any of this with cloud and she feels like she barely knows vincent, she doesn't have any clue as to where to start. ]

We're the only three here so far, [ is what she starts out with. she pauses just a little bit as she debates internally about how to go about the rest and then she adds on, ] I think this place messes with our memories. He doesn't remember going to the Northern Crater.

[ vincent's response will also give her an idea of how much of things he remembers and how much she has to worry about her own recollections. maybe... maybe everything past the temple of the ancients was just a bad dream. maybe she's been mourning someone else she didn't need to. ]

A

[silentnarration]

[Vincent will see Squall passing by about three times in the span of about an hour. He had a bandage around his head and he seemed to be trying to find something. The first pass was to use the stairs, the second coming from the elevator, and the third time he was followed by a young chocobo. He didn't seem to be aware of it because he nearly jumped out of his skin when the bird crept up behind him and let out a loud WARK.

He whirled around, taking half a step back, looked from Vincent accusingly before his confused mind finally caught up to what happened. The bird fluffed its feathers happily and Squall sighed, facepalming.]

You're supposed to stay with Cloud.

A

[chaosvessel]

[Vincent's own curiosity about this young man grew every time he appeared, and culminated in a head-tilt when he finally spoke to his new addition. Cloud had introduced him to Boko, of course.

He stepped away from the wall.]

You know Cloud.

Re: A

[silentnarration]

[Squall blinks. Posture shifting from unfocused to wary and on guard. He's trying to gauge Vincent's threat level when Boko, delighted to see Vincent again, kwehs and runs up to him, jumping up and down with a flap of his wings for more scritches.]

Boko?

[Confused, it takes a while but it finally dawns on Squall.]

You're Cloud's friend.

[Letting down his guard, he carefully approaches and bends down to pick up the bird, holding him in his arms and petting him absently.]

He's... my friend too. He watches Boko for me.

[chaosvessel]

[He inclines his head in a slight nod, a ghost of a smile flitting across his face when Boko approaches him. He likes the chocobo, and why wouldn't he? They're much easier to communicate with than people.]

You must be Squall.

[silentnarration]

[Boko seems to like him too, wiggling and flailing in Squall's hold and stretching his neck out to reach for Vincent. Squall looks between them for a moment before holding the bird closer to Vincent so the young chocobo can peck at the edge of Vincent's cape.

He nods, pushing down the unease of someone else talking about him. Cloud's a good friend. It's fine.]

He probably told you already but don't trust anything in this place.

[His head injury is Cloud's fault though. Kinda.]