He arrives fast enough. Why did it have to be today when he had been back in Wintermute? He'd moved as swift as he could, through train and catbus and as many other shortcuts that he'd picked up in his time in Folkmore. The feline yokai was fond of Vincent and willing to help him with as much urgency as could be met.
But still it would take hours. A time turing which Vincent's own fear and frustration, anger and shame were on the rise. Anxiety; because unlike the first time where it had been acute distress at being unable to stop, the boy had felt cold fear.
Sephiroth did not 'feel fear'. At least not so much that it was so profound.
Vincent had gone to Lapine instead of the direction of the fear once it had calmed. Sephiroth is safe but there's some things he can check at the lad's home. Signs if an intruder that got in and kidnapped him or if he seemed to vanish into the 'void' by one of Thirteen's Trials. Things such as that.
...So his approach and entry is not rushed but careful and seeming deadly calm against contained anger. Looking for signs of what happened, unabashedly entering the home.
He won't expect to find Casimir. And if the omen-like companion is waiting boldly for him, Vincent will be given pause.
And waiting he is, the not-quite-Omen sprawled as comfortably as something that looks partly cat could on the cot normally reserved for Sephiroth, still as at-ease as anyone could hope for. He does sit up though, and stretch with all the languid grace of his humanoid other half, teeth briefly bared in a long tongue-curling yawn.
It rather resembles a different red-furred beast Vincent knows, for a moment. "I got kidnapped, apparently."
They still sound alike, though the beast with the distant echo to his voice that marks which one is which when they're both there. It's certain Casimir means Sephiroth and not the guard hound form; they're not really working on being individuals as often as they should. This suited them well enough, more than others might be comfortable with. "I think someone's playing Mad Scientist but doesn't quite have the atmosphere down. Waking up in a laboratory was ..." The long pointed ears cant back, whiskers forward, tone edging thoughtful. "A bit alarming."
Starkly frightening, in fact. "But there's a bed, and a private bathroom, and I've already been fed so I can't say I'm terribly concerned about being ill-treated. Especially since whoever it is can only trap one of us."
If he wanted out, he'd be out, if Casimir is free to roam.
This hasn't eased Vincent's worry or anger in general. Outwardly he's calm. Though some of this is the cue taken from Casimir's ease. Sephiroth is not in danger right this second and there's no sense losing himself to rage.
Even with the control he has now, that stirs the monstrous side of his self. It would be best to keep it a light tremor; a ripple at most to crawl under the flesh. Slowly Vincent paces the length of the near wall facing the cot, then back along it.
Casimir's casual lack of separation won't be gently reprimanded. This isn't the time for lessons on individuality.
"So neither of you have any memory of the abduction?" His gaze roams over the not-Omen. "If you're here... how likely is it this is one of Thirteen's Trials?"
Still no remonstrance, but this time Vincent does need the hound to focus on the difference between themself and Sephiroth.
"None, to memory or to Trial. It doesn't have the feel of a Trial, the things bringing necessities are machines and Thirteen has no need to rely on robots." Casimir would return sooner rather than later, they worked better together than apart and there was much to explore while Sephiroth remained imprisoned. But passing on a message seems like a good idea.
The confidence level in it not being Thirteen though is absolute. "Besides which, Trials begin on the thirteenth, and it's only the first. Maybe the thirty first?" He hops down from the cot and settles sitting on the floor instead. "I haven't found out what the goal to any of it is, but I doubt torture and suffering is planned, the environment is much too soft for that."
There's more pacing. Vincent is never a man of too much excess. In speech, in movement. Maybe not so much in gestures. But here it's the pacing that's out of place. When this happens, he's worked up about something and it's probably clear what it is.
"Then I'm coming to find you both. If Sephiroth wants to investigate, that's fine. But I'll be on standby."
Vincent stops himself and narrows his eyes. He'd been ready to gather the relic, sword and any materia. But they are notably... missing.
"...Looks like the mastermind isn't just a kidnapper, but a thief." His voice is lower than normal; colored with a tinge of the irritation he's keeping bottled up. "...Casimir. Tell Sephiroth not to let his guard down just because the environment seems soft. Even Hojo started out with his specimens in prime condition before his tests. Whatever this individual is up to, they're not in the market for consent or regard for the risks to your life. Possibly because they think theirs is too precious to sacrifice."
The missing relic could be a curiousity. The missing sword and materia might be a trophy. Or it might be because they're intended to be offered back before the mastermind puts the captives through their paces.
Vincent is watched with steady, pupilless yellow eyes as he paces; it didn't bode well when such an ordinarily still and silent man was so visibly agitated.
"If I- we-- ... if he wishes to get out, then I don't see how constraints that can't even detect my presence will stop us." It's pitched deliberately reassuring, to perhaps try to soothe some of that agitation he can feel - or at least Sephiroth could, and he through Sephiroth. "If the cause and reasoning behind it isn't discovered, then breaking out only means it's likely to happen again. In a place such as this, presuming the worst tends to not go well, often it is an innocent misunderstanding. Our lives aren't at risk yet."
Always? Hardly. But Sephiroth is willing to provide a lot of leeway when he's being treated better than what he considered standard "..Outside Willow a fair bit you'll find an energy dome. It keeps out the physical but not the magical or spiritual. I may come and go as I please, so I can report as needed if something changes." Someone who meant well would not be providing pizza, surely.
"I know." Vincent admits as much. Does it lessen his emotional turmoil? Not really. Outwardly he seems to try, taking a deep breath and stilling himself to calm down. The man turns to face the guard hound. "And I know you're capable and you can take care of yourself. That doesn't make it any less difficult to worry until we know more."
Others absolutely would have faced the calm, collected and perhaps mildly irritated bordering on dry amusement Vincent Valentine, thinking he was largely unaffected by the circumstances. Yet he knows that he isn't hiding that from Sephiroth. Not anymore.
All he can do right now, in the absence of things to collect, is to check his own equipment and head to the field of energy Casimir has supply. 'Outside of Willow' is good enough; he knows the general direction. A nod of appreciation is offered to the almost-Omen before he turns sharply away with the intention of retracing his steps out of the house.
Back to Willow is also where he's headed; there's no easy recall besides traveling on foot, tangible or not, and Casimir pads after Vincent, claws clicking on the floor. Invisible was swifter simply through not having to worry about objects in the way, but there is a ... certain obligation here in return.
He knows exactly what to look for, after all. "I don't intend to downplay your concerns." It's easier to tell on mixed canine and feline features the shared mood of Sephiroth and Casimir, even without the Familiar link; while Vincent can't detect the guard hound that way he certainly can the teenager, and what one felt the other did. There's something contrite in the flat ears and still tentacle. "But given physical might alone doesn't seem likely to aid you.. I'm not sure there is much you could do from the outside."
Vincent had a considerable range of skills to draw on, but the same ghostly intangibility of an Omen .. was not among them.
Better for the company? Since Casimir intends to journey with him for a time, Vincent exchanges his human shape for one of four legs. The cat shape is taboo in its own way and he's sinced picked up other forms; a lean and sleek nibel wolf and its usual red-eye tell bounds to fall in pace with the guard hound. And unlike his native 'other form', speech is not restrictive.
"You're not downplaying them. I think you understand what's at stake. Though I think you have a bad habit of ignoring how much that will impact you in favoring of finding out. Curiosity I suspect." Vincent, you're going to undo the little progress all those encouragements for independent thought has made.
"Even if you weren't curious and practiced every caution and were immediately trying to get out of there, I'd worry about you. If you were free, I'd still worry a little. How you're doing. How you're feeling. What can I do to help more. That's just what happens when you care."
If Vincent finding it easier these days to talk about his feelings? Definitely not. He started and just let himself keep with the flow, focusing more on the running than on the words. And thus they came out. He'll casually go on just like he didn't just expound on how much he cares.
"Hmph. Brute force might not work. But... still, I'd like to see." Whether he can do something more indirectly? Questions remain.
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2025-02-01 09:41 pm (UTC)But still it would take hours. A time turing which Vincent's own fear and frustration, anger and shame were on the rise. Anxiety; because unlike the first time where it had been acute distress at being unable to stop, the boy had felt cold fear.
Sephiroth did not 'feel fear'. At least not so much that it was so profound.
Vincent had gone to Lapine instead of the direction of the fear once it had calmed. Sephiroth is safe but there's some things he can check at the lad's home. Signs if an intruder that got in and kidnapped him or if he seemed to vanish into the 'void' by one of Thirteen's Trials. Things such as that.
...So his approach and entry is not rushed but careful and seeming deadly calm against contained anger. Looking for signs of what happened, unabashedly entering the home.
He won't expect to find Casimir. And if the omen-like companion is waiting boldly for him, Vincent will be given pause.
"...What happened?"
no subject
Date: 2025-02-01 09:50 pm (UTC)It rather resembles a different red-furred beast Vincent knows, for a moment. "I got kidnapped, apparently."
They still sound alike, though the beast with the distant echo to his voice that marks which one is which when they're both there. It's certain Casimir means Sephiroth and not the guard hound form; they're not really working on being individuals as often as they should. This suited them well enough, more than others might be comfortable with. "I think someone's playing Mad Scientist but doesn't quite have the atmosphere down. Waking up in a laboratory was ..." The long pointed ears cant back, whiskers forward, tone edging thoughtful. "A bit alarming."
Starkly frightening, in fact. "But there's a bed, and a private bathroom, and I've already been fed so I can't say I'm terribly concerned about being ill-treated. Especially since whoever it is can only trap one of us."
If he wanted out, he'd be out, if Casimir is free to roam.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-01 10:29 pm (UTC)Even with the control he has now, that stirs the monstrous side of his self. It would be best to keep it a light tremor; a ripple at most to crawl under the flesh. Slowly Vincent paces the length of the near wall facing the cot, then back along it.
Casimir's casual lack of separation won't be gently reprimanded. This isn't the time for lessons on individuality.
"So neither of you have any memory of the abduction?" His gaze roams over the not-Omen. "If you're here... how likely is it this is one of Thirteen's Trials?"
Still no remonstrance, but this time Vincent does need the hound to focus on the difference between themself and Sephiroth.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-01 10:34 pm (UTC)The confidence level in it not being Thirteen though is absolute. "Besides which, Trials begin on the thirteenth, and it's only the first. Maybe the thirty first?" He hops down from the cot and settles sitting on the floor instead. "I haven't found out what the goal to any of it is, but I doubt torture and suffering is planned, the environment is much too soft for that."
no subject
Date: 2025-02-01 11:02 pm (UTC)"Then I'm coming to find you both. If Sephiroth wants to investigate, that's fine. But I'll be on standby."
Vincent stops himself and narrows his eyes. He'd been ready to gather the relic, sword and any materia. But they are notably... missing.
"...Looks like the mastermind isn't just a kidnapper, but a thief." His voice is lower than normal; colored with a tinge of the irritation he's keeping bottled up. "...Casimir. Tell Sephiroth not to let his guard down just because the environment seems soft. Even Hojo started out with his specimens in prime condition before his tests. Whatever this individual is up to, they're not in the market for consent or regard for the risks to your life. Possibly because they think theirs is too precious to sacrifice."
The missing relic could be a curiousity. The missing sword and materia might be a trophy. Or it might be because they're intended to be offered back before the mastermind puts the captives through their paces.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-01 11:09 pm (UTC)"If I- we-- ... if he wishes to get out, then I don't see how constraints that can't even detect my presence will stop us." It's pitched deliberately reassuring, to perhaps try to soothe some of that agitation he can feel - or at least Sephiroth could, and he through Sephiroth. "If the cause and reasoning behind it isn't discovered, then breaking out only means it's likely to happen again. In a place such as this, presuming the worst tends to not go well, often it is an innocent misunderstanding. Our lives aren't at risk yet."
Always? Hardly. But Sephiroth is willing to provide a lot of leeway when he's being treated better than what he considered standard "..Outside Willow a fair bit you'll find an energy dome. It keeps out the physical but not the magical or spiritual. I may come and go as I please, so I can report as needed if something changes." Someone who meant well would not be providing pizza, surely.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-02 03:01 am (UTC)Others absolutely would have faced the calm, collected and perhaps mildly irritated bordering on dry amusement Vincent Valentine, thinking he was largely unaffected by the circumstances. Yet he knows that he isn't hiding that from Sephiroth. Not anymore.
All he can do right now, in the absence of things to collect, is to check his own equipment and head to the field of energy Casimir has supply. 'Outside of Willow' is good enough; he knows the general direction. A nod of appreciation is offered to the almost-Omen before he turns sharply away with the intention of retracing his steps out of the house.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-02 03:12 am (UTC)He knows exactly what to look for, after all. "I don't intend to downplay your concerns." It's easier to tell on mixed canine and feline features the shared mood of Sephiroth and Casimir, even without the Familiar link; while Vincent can't detect the guard hound that way he certainly can the teenager, and what one felt the other did. There's something contrite in the flat ears and still tentacle. "But given physical might alone doesn't seem likely to aid you.. I'm not sure there is much you could do from the outside."
Vincent had a considerable range of skills to draw on, but the same ghostly intangibility of an Omen .. was not among them.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-04 10:27 pm (UTC)"You're not downplaying them. I think you understand what's at stake. Though I think you have a bad habit of ignoring how much that will impact you in favoring of finding out. Curiosity I suspect." Vincent, you're going to undo the little progress all those encouragements for independent thought has made.
"Even if you weren't curious and practiced every caution and were immediately trying to get out of there, I'd worry about you. If you were free, I'd still worry a little. How you're doing. How you're feeling. What can I do to help more. That's just what happens when you care."
If Vincent finding it easier these days to talk about his feelings? Definitely not. He started and just let himself keep with the flow, focusing more on the running than on the words. And thus they came out. He'll casually go on just like he didn't just expound on how much he cares.
"Hmph. Brute force might not work. But... still, I'd like to see." Whether he can do something more indirectly? Questions remain.