ARRIVAL.

[insusurromods]

𝑰𝑵𝑺𝑼𝑺𝑼𝑹𝑹𝑶: 𝑨 𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑳𝑫 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑻 𝑫𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑵𝒀

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 you moved under your own power. The shadows that dwelt in the corners of your vision vanished, the world is bright and the shackles of destiny fall from your liberated limbs.

You're free.

But before you can take that next step, before you can alter your fate, a terrible howling fills your ears. It's an ill wind full of malice, one that rips you off of your feet and back, back, back from this chance to seize your destiny. The shadows coalesce into a single entity, its hands locking around your throat. It cannot let this stand.

You think that maybe this is the end. The world goes dark as it rushes past you, this is the end.

Except you wake to the feeling of rain on your skin.

The cliffs around you bare the scars of a fierce battle. Before you, a massive city faces the sea. Behind you, greenery sprawls for miles. Midgar has never looked so beautiful, but it has also never looked so unlike itself. The Sister Ray points proudly towards the sea. A bustling city crawls out from its shadow, looking wealthier and more robust than the slums ever did. You don't have long to ponder this.

Because you aren't alone. Others are coming to, looking just as confused and uncertain as you do. Some are battleworn and bloody, as if they were pulled from a fierce battle. Others appear to be in perfect health, as if they were simply pulled from a long slumber, though no less confused and lost. The howling that filled your slowly begins to fade, and as it does, the rain begins to clear.

𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐀𝐑 is within a few hours walking distance. 𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐌 lies not much further in the opposite direction. There is no presence urging you to walk to one or the other, no voice from on high telling you what path your feet should walk. Underneath this infinite blue sky the choice to go - or to stay - is entirely yours.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐎 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐓?

Comments

[wingsofhonor]

[Even with the ability to fly, Angeal realizes it's going to be damn near impossible to lose Sephiroth. The silver general is not only praised for his strength but also his speed. It shouldn't surprise him that Sephiroth can keep up with him even while he's airborne. However, he's surprised that the soldier hasn't launched a single spell at him yet. Sephiroth is a proficient materia user much like Genesis. That's something Angeal doesn't really share in common with them. He doesn't like the pulsating thrum of magic. Angeal always preferred fighting without it.

So with that known, why hasn't Sephiroth attempted to launch a fire spell or two? The man is here to hunt him down, right? Wrong.

Somewhere between his thoughts, Angeal loses momentum and Sephiroth gains the lead. He almost crashes into the man but thankfully he manages to avoid Sephiroth when he leaps out at him. Through a flurry of white feathers, Angeal notices immediately that Sephiroth doesn't have his fabled Masamune drawn. It's then that Angeal realizes his error. If Sephiroth was truly hunting him, he would've struck him down right then and there.]

Wait what are you---

[Angeal trails off suddenly once the telltale flash of magic blinds him temporarily. He drops down from the sky and lands roughly upon the rocky cliffs with a slight grunt. He injured his wing on the descent but thankfully not too badly. If anything, he's just a little disoriented.]

[vehementi]

[If it had been anyone else, Sephiroth likely would have let them go. There are other pressing matters on his plate right now-- figuring out why he's no longer in Nibelheim and where the rest of his squad has gone are chief among them. But he's never really been able to let Angeal or Genesis go. He's good at locking his feelings away, shoving them out of sight, but... he'll see cadets horsing around with one another, bantering, making jokes. And without fail, his chest will ache. A private wish that things didn't have to be the way they were.

Genesis made his choice, and Sephiroth has had to come to terms with that. But Angeal... he'd kept trying to do the right thing 'til the bitter end, and it digs at Sephiroth from time to time that he never had a chance to say goodbye.

But perhaps he didn't need to, after all.

Angeal's momentum stutters, giving Sephiroth that precious chance to catch up and intersect his path. Epiphany seems to strike Angeal just then, just before the flash of magic, and then he's dropping out of the sky like a stone. Sephiroth lurches forward, intending to catch his arm, but it's too late. He can only follow Angeal back down, albeit with a more... padded and graceful landing.

A deep furrow of Sephiroth's brow gives away his concern, but he hesitates to approach.]

...Are you alright?

[wingsofhonor]

[ The impact of the fall left Angeal a little disoriented but overall he seems fine. He remains kneeled on the ground for several moments before slowly rising to his feet. Looking no worse for wear besides the injury sustained to his wings, Angeal gives Sephiroth a wary glance.

It would make sense for Shinra to send their best to hunt him down but that doesn't seem to be the case. If anything, Sephiroth seems just as surprised as him to see each other again. Does this mean that Sephiroth is here of his own volition and nothing else? Maybe. That certainly seems to be the case but Angeal is cautious. ]

I've had worse.

[ He grumbles while trying to stretch his wings. Judging from the wince that soon followed and the hint of red staining the white feathers, Angeal is going to need a potion or two. ]

What about you?

[The worry in his tone is telling. Angeal doesn't wish any harm onto Sephiroth but he's confused. There's so many questions he wants to ask the man but Sephiroth's wellbeing is a greater priority.]

How are you...holding up?