[ Right as the clock strikes twelve, Sephiroth will appear before Zenos...should he be outside of his room.
However, in the event that he isn't, the One-Winged Angel speaks without bothering to knock, though he doesn't barge into the room: ]
Zenos.
How about we go spend some time in the city together?
[ Sephiroth approaching anyone all on his own for such things isn't necessarily just a simple matter. Most of the people brought to this city are solitary and he is no different, but he makes no effort to engage the populace. In some ways that makes him more distant, but here he is, for his own reasons. ]
[As the clock strikes midnight, Sephiroth will indeed find Zenos within his room. In the midst of polishing his swords, he would hardly even dignify anyone else with a response—but at the sound of a friendly(?) voice, he rises from his modified bed with a graceful silence.
His answer comes in the opening of his door, his gaze contemplative as he eyes Sephiroth with a modicum of suspicion.]
And what is there to find in the city, my dear friend?
[So he asks, and yet, he steps out from the doorway with only one sword in hand.]
[ Sephiroth's expression is how it usually is, though his gaze is filled with an indescribable emotion. Perhaps something more considering himself, rather than anything wild or anything of that nature, but he does take his time to observe Zenos in his current state. Then, when he seems relatively satisfied, he speaks. ]
Not much in terms of entertainment.
[ ... ]
This all will soon be coming to an end—and yet we haven't achieved that desired confrontation between either of us. We should make good on the time that we have, whether to engage, or perhaps to do something else entirely.
In the end, the choice is yours. Will you squander it, or take the opportunity while you still can?
[ He'll turn away from the taller man, heading down the hallway, leaving the decision for Zenos to follow. Whatever the case he is at least confident enough to show him his back.
Should he follow him, Sephiroth will lead him through the new area that has just opened up in Umeda, pick a rose from that garden. Unfortunately simple drones can't stop him from taking a single one, which he'll throw carelessly from currently atop the likely empty Ichiza restaurant—which is the final stop—down to the streets.
Of course there is the option for Zenos to try to stop him if he does follow, but why would he? ]
Tell me, what do you think of these people? Are they worthy of salvation, Zenos? Their leaders are marked for death, make no mistake about that, but would you dare to rescue the supposed innocent populace if someone tried to annihilate all of them, along with this planet?
I see... [Zenos draws a breath,] then I suppose it is time to finally test your mettle. No more petty games with balls and bats.
[And just as Sephiroth leads without looking back, so does Zenos follow.
Their trek is made in relative silence—all but for the crunch of gravel beneath their boots and the din of the city's buzzing neon. The air is stagnant, with the stench of chaos still permeating its body, only masked for a moment when they pass through the flowering rose gardens.
There's a moment of malcontent, when Zenos thinks of having their bout here among the blooms. The romance of a duel amidst a flurry of petals is one he owes only to his true prey; but in the end, their journey continues past it. It isn't until they find themselves upon the rooftop of their destination, that Zenos finally speaks up in answer.]
Indeed, had they known of what angels of death they had wrought upon their world, I doubt they would have even stolen us away in the first place.
[A flick of his sword, and the katana in his hand twirls idly.]
But I care not for the people of this world nor their affairs, though I am sure you needn't me to tell you so. Innocence... salvation... these are but petty concepts that hold no real meaning. All men are beasts who will give into their fury with the right temptations, the fodder of this star is no different.
[ Zenos is the only one who can be considered his equal here.
He's thought it first time they've crossed paths, and again and again.
The world before them is a simple thing. The captors' motives not truly unearthed, but from Sephiroth's point of view, they've been laid wide open. He's already decided upon his course of action and to free those creatures who decide to call themselves the city's leaders from their mortal shell.
However, before him stands a man that even beyond their duel, their course is undecided. Like the scatter of those rose's petals...he's desired to see where that may fall to illuminate what that end may be.
The first step being the answer he's given, one of which allows another brief look of satisfaction to come upon Sephiroth as he summons Masamune. ]
So it is. Zenos, as I suspected, you continue to look beyond the path with clear eyes not clouded by delusions; there are no shadows that blind or bind you. Nor have you allowed this world to do the same to you...
[ Not like it has done to Diluc. ]
...It brings me the utmost pleasure to see how you will look tonight in the reflection of my blade.
[ With that, Sephiroth comes straight towards Zenos, always ready to take the lead. To strike first. It's a noticeable quality of his, what with him having deciding to make an operation of sorts against the city, when he's faced Diluc and killed him soon after, and now where he allows himself to sink into a dance of blades he's long awaited for.
So it's to no surprise that he swings quickly and decisively towards the Garlean in front of him, far quicker than what Diluc could've hoped to match, but he knows the other can very well meet it. ]
[In the silence of that night, the sound of metal against metal rings vividly. Sephiroth had rushed him and, just as anticipated, Zenos' own blade met it without hesitation nor falter. Upon his face, his once-thoughtful expression turns feral—a manic glee brought about by the promise of a fight worth waiting for.]
Did you truly think for even a moment I would be so weakhearted?
[He pushes his own blade against Sephiroth's Masamune, the creak of steel against steel whining for mercy until he shoves himself back bodily. Immediately, rather than a defensive stance, his katana comes down to rest at his side with an idle flick.]
Has your tryst with Diluc filled your head with senseless emotion? I will not indulge in a duel where my opponent's attention is not wholly devoted to me. If you make a mistake and this ends too soon, I'll be sorely disappointed.
[Zenos raises a hand, beckoning Sephiroth to come again.]
Come, my dear, sweet friend. Bare your fangs for me, show me something that will set my heart racing.
There is no room in my heart for such foolish things.
[ Sephiroth declares with a mighty swing of his blade, more for show at first due to Zenos' leap back. But he begins to call forth a spell of some sort, a slight smirk on his lips. ]
Show me that you have more to offer than just petty words for this battle of ours. Or otherwise, you'll leave me wanting for someone who can properly match my strength.
[ Right as he cast the spell that summoned a fiery hell towards Zenos of fire and brimstone, he'll follow up with quite a few swings that call forth destructive shockwaves...more than what even a normal magic swordsman may have been able to handle. Shockwaves that can certainly crumble buildings were they to actually hit. But how does Zenos fare against the onslaught? ]
[Unlike his foe, Zenos has yet to show the true extent of his power. Though disadvantaged without all three of his swords, he manages all the same. Fire and brimstone barely earns a flinch, as where it threatens to strike him, it merely crashes against an invisible force—the existence of which is only marked by the glittering purple that ripples around him from the impact.
The shockwaves aren't avoided so much as ignored when Zenos instead teleports forward to swing his blade at Sephiroth, bypassing that path of carnage entirely. Unlike the feral grin he wore a moment before, as his blade arcs a red-glowing path through the air, his expression is that of a serious swordsman.]
[ Sephiroth on the other hand does not think much of the fact that Zenos is without all three of his blades. A swordsman is more than capable with just the one.
But it is only when Zenos comes at him with an expression befitting a combatant who has taken upon the proper focus to fully focus on the battle in front of him that Sephiroth feels that it has truly turned into a real fight. So of course he comes towards him, but the strike aimed at him misses its mark when, in the next moment, Sephiroth has disappeared only to reappear above Zenos.
Sephiroth's now coming down and aiming his sword in a downwards strike, towards the blond's body - or rather his head - beneath him. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Week 3 / 4 (Late Saturday Night/Midnight Sunday)
Date: 2021-09-05 03:10 pm (UTC)However, in the event that he isn't, the One-Winged Angel speaks without bothering to knock, though he doesn't barge into the room: ]
Zenos.
How about we go spend some time in the city together?
[ Sephiroth approaching anyone all on his own for such things isn't necessarily just a simple matter. Most of the people brought to this city are solitary and he is no different, but he makes no effort to engage the populace. In some ways that makes him more distant, but here he is, for his own reasons. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-05 08:02 pm (UTC)His answer comes in the opening of his door, his gaze contemplative as he eyes Sephiroth with a modicum of suspicion.]
And what is there to find in the city, my dear friend?
[So he asks, and yet, he steps out from the doorway with only one sword in hand.]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-06 12:16 am (UTC)Not much in terms of entertainment.
[ ... ]
This all will soon be coming to an end—and yet we haven't achieved that desired confrontation between either of us. We should make good on the time that we have, whether to engage, or perhaps to do something else entirely.
In the end, the choice is yours. Will you squander it, or take the opportunity while you still can?
[ He'll turn away from the taller man, heading down the hallway, leaving the decision for Zenos to follow. Whatever the case he is at least confident enough to show him his back.
Should he follow him, Sephiroth will lead him through the new area that has just opened up in Umeda, pick a rose from that garden. Unfortunately simple drones can't stop him from taking a single one, which he'll throw carelessly from currently atop the likely empty Ichiza restaurant—which is the final stop—down to the streets.
Of course there is the option for Zenos to try to stop him if he does follow, but why would he? ]
Tell me, what do you think of these people? Are they worthy of salvation, Zenos? Their leaders are marked for death, make no mistake about that, but would you dare to rescue the supposed innocent populace if someone tried to annihilate all of them, along with this planet?
no subject
Date: 2021-09-06 02:52 am (UTC)[And just as Sephiroth leads without looking back, so does Zenos follow.
Their trek is made in relative silence—all but for the crunch of gravel beneath their boots and the din of the city's buzzing neon. The air is stagnant, with the stench of chaos still permeating its body, only masked for a moment when they pass through the flowering rose gardens.
There's a moment of malcontent, when Zenos thinks of having their bout here among the blooms. The romance of a duel amidst a flurry of petals is one he owes only to his true prey; but in the end, their journey continues past it. It isn't until they find themselves upon the rooftop of their destination, that Zenos finally speaks up in answer.]
Indeed, had they known of what angels of death they had wrought upon their world, I doubt they would have even stolen us away in the first place.
[A flick of his sword, and the katana in his hand twirls idly.]
But I care not for the people of this world nor their affairs, though I am sure you needn't me to tell you so. Innocence... salvation... these are but petty concepts that hold no real meaning. All men are beasts who will give into their fury with the right temptations, the fodder of this star is no different.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-06 02:45 pm (UTC)He's thought it first time they've crossed paths, and again and again.
The world before them is a simple thing. The captors' motives not truly unearthed, but from Sephiroth's point of view, they've been laid wide open. He's already decided upon his course of action and to free those creatures who decide to call themselves the city's leaders from their mortal shell.
However, before him stands a man that even beyond their duel, their course is undecided. Like the scatter of those rose's petals...he's desired to see where that may fall to illuminate what that end may be.
The first step being the answer he's given, one of which allows another brief look of satisfaction to come upon Sephiroth as he summons Masamune. ]
So it is. Zenos, as I suspected, you continue to look beyond the path with clear eyes not clouded by delusions; there are no shadows that blind or bind you. Nor have you allowed this world to do the same to you...
[ Not like it has done to Diluc. ]
...It brings me the utmost pleasure to see how you will look tonight in the reflection of my blade.
[ With that, Sephiroth comes straight towards Zenos, always ready to take the lead. To strike first. It's a noticeable quality of his, what with him having deciding to make an operation of sorts against the city, when he's faced Diluc and killed him soon after, and now where he allows himself to sink into a dance of blades he's long awaited for.
So it's to no surprise that he swings quickly and decisively towards the Garlean in front of him, far quicker than what Diluc could've hoped to match, but he knows the other can very well meet it. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-07 07:20 pm (UTC)Did you truly think for even a moment I would be so weakhearted?
[He pushes his own blade against Sephiroth's Masamune, the creak of steel against steel whining for mercy until he shoves himself back bodily. Immediately, rather than a defensive stance, his katana comes down to rest at his side with an idle flick.]
Has your tryst with Diluc filled your head with senseless emotion? I will not indulge in a duel where my opponent's attention is not wholly devoted to me. If you make a mistake and this ends too soon, I'll be sorely disappointed.
[Zenos raises a hand, beckoning Sephiroth to come again.]
Come, my dear, sweet friend. Bare your fangs for me, show me something that will set my heart racing.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-07 11:41 pm (UTC)There is no room in my heart for such foolish things.
[ Sephiroth declares with a mighty swing of his blade, more for show at first due to Zenos' leap back. But he begins to call forth a spell of some sort, a slight smirk on his lips. ]
Show me that you have more to offer than just petty words for this battle of ours. Or otherwise, you'll leave me wanting for someone who can properly match my strength.
[ Right as he cast the spell that summoned a fiery hell towards Zenos of fire and brimstone, he'll follow up with quite a few swings that call forth destructive shockwaves...more than what even a normal magic swordsman may have been able to handle. Shockwaves that can certainly crumble buildings were they to actually hit. But how does Zenos fare against the onslaught? ]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-09 06:23 pm (UTC)The shockwaves aren't avoided so much as ignored when Zenos instead teleports forward to swing his blade at Sephiroth, bypassing that path of carnage entirely. Unlike the feral grin he wore a moment before, as his blade arcs a red-glowing path through the air, his expression is that of a serious swordsman.]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-10 02:20 am (UTC)But it is only when Zenos comes at him with an expression befitting a combatant who has taken upon the proper focus to fully focus on the battle in front of him that Sephiroth feels that it has truly turned into a real fight. So of course he comes towards him, but the strike aimed at him misses its mark when, in the next moment, Sephiroth has disappeared only to reappear above Zenos.
Sephiroth's now coming down and aiming his sword in a downwards strike, towards the blond's body - or rather his head - beneath him. ]