[ It's truly no surprise to hear that Sephiroth had gone on a search for Angeal after having his sword more or less dropped in his lap. People can be exhumed from the grave and brought here, meaning there's no reason he couldn't have been here, and Zack knows better than most that Sephiroth had a bond with Angeal, one that couldn't so easily be replicated.
One, maybe two of a kind.
At the suggestion that Zack might be able to find Angeal where Sephiroth had failed, he only shakes his head. He knows how thorough Sephiroth would have been in this situation. There's no way he could have missed something, not in a case like this, and searching in vain would only rip the wound open wider. ]
If he's not listed on the network, he must not be here. There's...
[ Zack pauses, glancing down at the sword which hangs heavy in his grip for a moment. He hadn't meant to bring up Aerith or Tifa, aware of the can of worms that would open with Sephiroth, but there's also not much chance of avoiding it. ]
There's been a few other arrivals in the last couple days, and they're listed already, so...
[ What now? They're just standing awkwardly in the doorway, the massive blade between them, and Zack doesn't feel like he can just leave things as they are, not after this. A real talk between them has been a long time coming, and Cloud should be fast asleep. If Zack needs to apologize later for inviting Sephiroth into their home, he'll do so, but given that Cloud's already got a bond with the guy, maybe it won't be necessary.
So, he takes a few steps back, then gestures Sephiroth forward with his free hand. ]
Come in.
[ And there it is, an olive branch he hadn't been willing to extend until now. ]
[He reads it for what it is, a sort of tenuous offering to alleviate the tension between them. That one gesture to invite him inside, despite everything, weighs almost just as heavily as the sword he’s handed over.
For how much he’s ruminated over it, one would think Sephiroth would show more hesitation before accepting. But, perhaps, surprising even himself, the reply comes quickly.]
…Thank you.
[And he slides over the threshold with a grace that easily hides the complicated, tangled mess that is their relationship between them. Standing here, now, in the entryway hall, pieces of those reassurances seem to slip away, and he latches onto what his friend has said just moments prior.]
[ The two words of thanks, spoken in that familiar voice, is something Zack's not quite expecting. It's rare for Sephiroth to ever voice that kind of gratitude to anyone, and if nothing else, it's an acknowledgment of how difficult it was for Zack to even come to this point. To invite him inside.
It's not as if he's forgotten. It's not as if the subject of Aerith, which comes up almost instantly, isn't still a sore spot. But he understands a little more about the future than he did when he first arrived here, and Sephiroth has proved himself to be nothing less than a reliable companion during their time in Aefenglom.
Zack certainly hasn't forgotten how Sephiroth came after him and dragged him back from the brink during that full moon. He's aware he still owes Sephiroth for that, a debt yet unpaid.
He shuts the door behind Sephiroth and then leads them out of the cramped hallway into the small living room, a space where they can sit down. He nods at Sephiroth's question, trying to brush off something that's in fact extremely important, mainly because he doesn't know how to tackle it.
He has to ask, though, turning back to face Sephiroth from the middle of the room. He continues to hold onto the Buster Sword almost awkwardly, as if at a loss for where to place it now that he's got it back. ]
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no subject
One, maybe two of a kind.
At the suggestion that Zack might be able to find Angeal where Sephiroth had failed, he only shakes his head. He knows how thorough Sephiroth would have been in this situation. There's no way he could have missed something, not in a case like this, and searching in vain would only rip the wound open wider. ]
If he's not listed on the network, he must not be here. There's...
[ Zack pauses, glancing down at the sword which hangs heavy in his grip for a moment. He hadn't meant to bring up Aerith or Tifa, aware of the can of worms that would open with Sephiroth, but there's also not much chance of avoiding it. ]
There's been a few other arrivals in the last couple days, and they're listed already, so...
[ What now? They're just standing awkwardly in the doorway, the massive blade between them, and Zack doesn't feel like he can just leave things as they are, not after this. A real talk between them has been a long time coming, and Cloud should be fast asleep. If Zack needs to apologize later for inviting Sephiroth into their home, he'll do so, but given that Cloud's already got a bond with the guy, maybe it won't be necessary.
So, he takes a few steps back, then gestures Sephiroth forward with his free hand. ]
Come in.
[ And there it is, an olive branch he hadn't been willing to extend until now. ]
no subject
For how much he’s ruminated over it, one would think Sephiroth would show more hesitation before accepting. But, perhaps, surprising even himself, the reply comes quickly.]
…Thank you.
[And he slides over the threshold with a grace that easily hides the complicated, tangled mess that is their relationship between them. Standing here, now, in the entryway hall, pieces of those reassurances seem to slip away, and he latches onto what his friend has said just moments prior.]
Aerith's returned. Is that your meaning?
[In regards to the new arrivals.]
no subject
It's not as if he's forgotten. It's not as if the subject of Aerith, which comes up almost instantly, isn't still a sore spot. But he understands a little more about the future than he did when he first arrived here, and Sephiroth has proved himself to be nothing less than a reliable companion during their time in Aefenglom.
Zack certainly hasn't forgotten how Sephiroth came after him and dragged him back from the brink during that full moon. He's aware he still owes Sephiroth for that, a debt yet unpaid.
He shuts the door behind Sephiroth and then leads them out of the cramped hallway into the small living room, a space where they can sit down. He nods at Sephiroth's question, trying to brush off something that's in fact extremely important, mainly because he doesn't know how to tackle it.
He has to ask, though, turning back to face Sephiroth from the middle of the room. He continues to hold onto the Buster Sword almost awkwardly, as if at a loss for where to place it now that he's got it back. ]
Have you spoken to her?