#sephiroth at nibelheim mansion what will he do

[rottenpumpkin13]

I was going to ask for baby Seph changing places with CC Seph because omg baby Seph and Dadgeal and Momesis but then I realised that means CC Seph will go back to the Nibelheim Mansion in the past and uh uh.

Anyway Dadgeal and Momesis for the win.

*Genesis and Angeal are caring for baby Sephiroth, Zack walks up to them and taps Angeal on the shoulder*

Genesis, bouncing Sephiroth on his hip: Can you believe three people have asked me if we've become parents already?

Angeal, shaking a baby bottle: We're just taking care of our friend until he turns back to normal.

*Zack taps Angeal's shoulder again*

Genesis, feeding Sephiroth: So now two men can't care for a child without being accused of being parents?

Angeal: You're feeding him too fast!

Genesis: I told you to make the formula thicker!

Angeal: Nothing I do is good enough for you!

Genesis: Don't spin this around on me!

*Sephiroth is crying*

Angeal, pulling out a toy: Oh no!

Genesis, hugging him close: He's upset!

*Genesis and Angeal start cooing and soothing him*

Zack: I have never been more jealous in my life.

(Meanwhile)

The first few minutes after Sephiroth wakes up in the past are visceral, as there’s only so much confusion and pondering before realization and fight or flight kick in. Several scientists, lab technicians and security guards were caught in the bloodshed, each blurred face no more guilty than the last in Sephiroth’s eyes.

The alarm was triggered, but by then, what could they do? He had already broken free from the caged crib he had woken up in, and one of the men they answered to had already been dealt with. Hojo’s scrutinizing face had been the first one peering back at Sephiroth through the bars, and the first to paint Masamune’s blade red.

He hadn’t seen Gast anywhere, but Sephiroth wasn’t looking for kind people or soothing words. Nothing could mollify or mend the nerves that spiraled out of control the moment he noticed the lab equipment and the assessment photos of his baby faced self staring back at him through the computer monitors around the room.

He had gone back in time, that much he knew. But the logistics of how such a thing could happen or where he would proceed from there would have to wait. Right now he was focused on escaping just as he had wished to do so many times before.

Except this time he was older, stronger, and had Masamune’s hilt in a tight grip in his left hand, a security measure as he kicked open door after door and looked for a way out. He held no memory of this mansion no matter how deeply he searched his addled mind for one. Nevertheless, he opened doors, flew down flights of stairs and ran down hallways all while the alarm blared behind him.

Sephiroth’s vision blurred in and out of focus, his heartbeat reverberating in his ear as a rush of blood prickled his hot skin. He needed to find an exit, a window or even a—

“Sephiroth?”

The slicing clink of Masamune being drawn followed by a woman’s gasp. Sephiroth kept the sword pressed at her neck, his vision sharp as he narrowed it at his target.

And then white noise all around him. Widened, slitted green meeting frightened soft brown. The yellow ribbon in her brown hair, the violet blouse, it was her. It was his mother—looking him up with the same alarm reserved for seeing one’s deepest horrors.

Sephiroth froze, the air caught in his throat, his grip on Masamune slackening. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, his mind fixated on the face staring back at him—a face he had always known, always feared, always yearned for.

"It really is you!" Lucrecia breathed, her voice filled with wonder, though her body remained stiff with disbelief. Her eyes moved over his form like she couldn’t reconcile the image in front of her with the baby she had seen only hours before. "But how—?"

Lucrecia’s expression shifted, her mouth clamping shut as her wonder dissipated into palpable urgency. Her hands came up slowly, one reaching for his sword arm while the other touched his chest—her touch set his skin on fire.

“We have to go. Now.” Her voice was urgent, cutting through the haze, but she didn’t wait for his answer, and didn't allow him to question her. Her fingers wrapped around his wrist as she tugged him forward.

Sephiroth stumbled after her, barely registering the doors they passed, the alarms still blaring behind them.

The elevator doors came into view, and she punched the button with urgency. Sephiroth still couldn’t speak, still couldn’t form the words that clawed at his throat, the tears in his eyes—why were there tears? Hadn’t he always wanted this?

The doubt was immediately shattered as the doors closed behind them. Lucrecia turned, grabbing his hand and pulling him into a protective hug, her fingers tracing his back as she held him close, gently, nurturing. “My son,” she whispered, “what have they done to you?”

And that was what did it for him. His choked cry came as a precedent to the soft sobs. He dropped Masamune, the hilt clattering to the ground and falling into the wall of the small elevator.

The contact was overwhelming, the senses in overdrive.

“It’s okay,” she whispered into his ear, as if one would speak to a child. “We’re going to be okay now. Trust me.”

[skellagirl]

I made this last year when I replayed FF7 again and forgot to put it up lol

(it's a ref to this old meme that was popular a couple years ago)

[altocat]

I had an idea 🥺

What if Glenn survived unbeknownst to Sephiroth and heard about Sephiroth’s mission to Nibelheim. Something in him screamed to stop it from happening. A distant subconscious memory of a little boy in a library suffering. He has a gut feeling he has to stop Sephiroth from going into that place.

He rushes to Nibelheim, learns that Sephiroth is in the mansion. He breaks in, gets to the library. He finds Sephiroth, who is slumped down in the corner, head down, surrounded by books, breaking into a thousand pieces.

Glenn goes to him….can he pull that boy out of the dark again? 😢

At first, Sephiroth doesn't recognize him, lashing out, in such an unstable, unpredictable state that Glenn wonders if he really WILL die this time. Sephiroth's words are frantic, full of hate and malice and rage. He speaks of the humans, what they did to him, what his beloved mother has called him to do. He speaks of the Promised Land, of his birthright, of his sacred duty as the planet's chosen ruler.

For a moment, Glenn feels his heart falter, disturbed at the level of madness that stands before him, at the delirious light in Sephiroth's eyes. A stranger before him. A stranger he's never known before. Dangerous. On the verge of destruction. On the verge of murder.

He knows there's only one thing he can do.

Heh, it's funny. Some things never change.

He pulls Sephiroth into a crushing hug and refuses to let go, even as the soldier thrashes and snarls against him. He just pulls Sephiroth closer and squeezes him tight, cradling his face, mumbling words of recognition and love over and over again. It's alright. Everything's alright. He's here. He's alive. And no matter what Sephiroth's learned, no matter what they made him to be, it doesn't change the fact that he's not alone. He's human. He's real. THIS is real. And it's going to work out. Glenn promises. He won't leave him ever, ever again.

Sephiroth continues to struggle, clawing, biting, twisting, trying to get to his blade. Glenn just holds him until his movements slow, until the sharpness of his catlike pupils begins to soften in gradual recognition. His hesitant fingers move from Glenn's throat to his face, tracing across his arm and shoulder, feeling him as if finally seeing him for the first time, coming down to clutch childishly at the edge of his jacket.

"You're...you're..."

The words are unfinished, mouth agape, the buzzing in his head lessening to little more than a feeble trickle. His body slumps, shoulders drooping, gazing up into the face of a ghost, Jenova's deadly call dwindling as the light in Sephiroth's eyes begins to return.

He's here.

He's come back.

"Glenn..." A weak whisper, choked with disbelief.

Glenn just grins sheepishly, shrugs, reaching up to ruffle Sephiroth's disheveled silver bangs. "Hey, kid."

[szynkaaa]

alright I'm finally watching a playthrough of the Ever Crisis halloween event and-

I love that even as a kid, he had a dry sense fo humor. He's so funny what for.

I'm putting the rest of my commentary under cut

you ever think about Sephiroth knows about those things because he read them somewhere but this is very likely the first time he is experiencing the festival.

he protecc

I fucking can't. he's so sassy.

I'm so confused though like is this event considered "canon"?? since they are in nibelheim and also in the shinra mansion?? wouldn't that be somethign Sephiroth would remember later in the main game if it was canon...

:(

NOO LET HIM HAVE HIS PUMKIN SOUP

well ok that pretty much answers my previous question then.

Knowing he said that, and just thinking about how he is always on constant alert about anything and everything around him, because shinra is watching every fo his move, but also he is the leader and doesn't want people under him to die...

This was a cute and fun event, I do think it also gave us more insight how Sephiroth/Miniroth is as a person

[accala]

Zack & Cloud: A Connection that Transcends Death

I don't think Cloud was as close to Zack compared to Kunsel, Cissnei, or even Sephiroth. Cloud was an infantry trooper while Zack was a SOLDIER. Even in Crisis Core, it's implied that they don't interact that much (with how Cloud was surprised that Zack even remembered his name).

And how could they? Shinra was running Zack ragged as one of the few First-Class left, treating him as a threat at the same time (Zack who also had a lot of baggage after Modeoheim and a few months after that, having to bury two friends in Before Crisis). And Cloud was an infantryman considered as canon fodder despite his untapped potential—potential remaining unseen because Shinra couldn't care any less. Cloud couldn't even close the gap between their rankings. Both stuck in positions that the company boxed them, not allowing for any reprieve.

And yet, despite all of that, Zack formed a deep connection with Cloud, more so after the Nibelheim incident. Only one can wonder what happened during those 4 years under Shinra mansion. But I imagine Cloud was not coherent during that duration due to his Mako sensitivity. Nor do I think they could have talked in-between experiments that often (due to the Mako tanks).

And. Yet. Zack. Formed. A. Deep. Connection. With. Cloud.

To the point that he decided to lug his acquaintance, a comatose trooper, all the way to Midgar, taking a higher risk of getting caught. He fed him, took care of him, protected him. Grew protective of him. Died for him. Gave his hopes and dreams to him.

In turn, Cloud’s persona was intertwined with Zack’s. Although this persona was mostly his idealized version of SOLDIER, he inherited Zack’s mannerisms and plans to be a mercenary. Even in death, Zack is shown through Cloud by being a living breathing legacy. A testament to Zack’s existence. (Although identity theft is not what he meant Cloud)

Maybe, in hindsight, it was the shared trauma and experience they both endured that caused this attachment. Maybe Zack needed to latch onto someone, in the wake of an accumulation of loss due to multiple deaths and confusion left by Shinra. Maybe Zack’s sacrifice was simply the right thing to do—an altruistic reason that fits his character’s resolve.

But these alone can’t simply explain the certainty Zack had for Cloud up on the Edge, to live on and carry his dreams for him. Nor does it explain Zack’s loyalty beyond death — his choice to stay as a separate entity, albeit in fragments, from the lifestream for 2 years (leading up to Advent Children); him manifesting as a wolf to help Cloud through his grief; and his presence at Cloud’s side during his battle with Sephiroth.

And isn't that astounding? A SOLDIER and an infantryman who weren’t even close, forming a connection that transcends even death.

[yourlilkaiju]

"Don't let the redemptioners see this." 🥺.....🙄 Please...

I could care less.

I could care less about whether or not someone hates Sephiroth or feels that he is better off being a compelling villain. I don't think that he should stay a villain. I think the villain should be Jenova. Should Sephiroth be considered for a normal life if not maybe somewhere along the lines of maybe an anti-hero? Perhaps. Maybe going up against injustices that affect people, which will eventually affect him. (A war veteran knows this shit.) And this will thus impact the normal life he'd so been hoping for. I honestly feel that there should somehow be a development in treatments as to how to separate Jenova cells from the body safely and effectively, which would thus lead to a gradual change in Sephiroth's appearance.

The key term here is gradual. As in expect at least a couple of decades before he is completely human again, if someone decides to break him out of the Mako crystal.

There are many things I feel on this topic. And frankly I could go on about it. But the issue remains that if I do, I would get nowhere in regards to the original intention of this post.

The fact that Sephiroth fans who believe in his redemption, are called redemptioners is kind of a step. Namely because this comes from a place of ignorance. For one, Sephiroth was a victim of circumstance. Two, the files in the underground library were not only kept in the Shinra mansion. But they were in Nibelheim, not too far off from a reactor that contained human experiments that disobeyed the laws of ethics and Jenova. All of this was run by Research and Development. Which was run by Hojo himself. The department that assigned the mission for Nibelheim was research and development. It was only to observe and report. Read that again.

So to be clear, the mission set for Nibelheim which was not intended for the neutralization and erasure of a town, but the observation and report of a Shinra reactor should have been completely harmless. And this observe and report mission, was coming from Hojo himself. Hojo knew that Jenova was in the reactor. The unlocked doors were too convenient. The access to the library and the classified files were too well placed. And what's more is that only one first class soldier was sent along with him. There weren't any others to train or attempt to bring into the fray. Sephiroth was intended to be the perfect soldier. He was frequently experimented on trained without kindness or reprieve. The only kindness he observed as far as we know was when he was fourteen, when he entered SOLDIER. Beyond that, everything he grew into could not be helped. He tried to be human. He tried to make the best of himself. In the end, the pressure became too much and the Jenova cells took to his brain like a parasite and soon, Jenova was in his head. Thinking for him, breathing for him- controlling his every waking thought and telling him that she's his mother. Even though his mother died shortly after he was born.

Many people are fans of Sephiroth because he is easy to relate to. Many want to see him live a normal life after so many years of adversity and sadness. Because he deserves to walk away from the misery. And usually, folks who don't like Sephiroth fans just like to grind their teeth at anything that doesn't worship the good guys that commit the same genocide that the good guys do for the sake of bringing down Shinra. (If they're reading this, sorry. You brought this truth upon yourselves. Now wallow in it.)

I understand that we all may have our stances and opinions about the one winged baddie. I get that he is one wicked babe. He's not for everyone and sometimes, for a lot of people, they just can't handle that much leather and sass. I get it. Not everyone is kinky or genuinely flirty with the black wingy feather boi. (Yes, I know there are some versions of him that are aro/ace. You can still be flirty with aro/ace so long as it isn't physical and doesn't actually go anywhere....also it must be enthusiastically reciprocated and CONSENSUAL. SSC, darlings.)

But I digress.

As a dominatrix towards people I don't know who ask for my...impactful consultations and integrative queries, Sephiroth is by far an inspirational being who very much represents abuse victims everywhere. And I don't think anti-Sephies understand that. Rather I don't know if they have the emotional maturity that's necessary to do so. Sephiroth has had his boundaries breached on numerous occasions and had been put into a situation where entropy was his life's motto. And when he was finally ready to leave Shinra, he did so. Just....not in the way he hoped.

Overall, it's okay for one to dislike a character. But don't make fun of others for wanting the devs to create a redemption arc for said character. With numerous pathways, please? We don't make fun of you for liking genocidal eco terrorists. No matter how you look at it, that's exactly what they did.

Hypocrites.

[forgetfvlness]

ffvii’s importance of choice

1997 ffvii spoilers

one of the narrative choices i liked about 1997 final fantasy vii about zack is that his death is a completely optionable cutscene. if you played through the game normally, going from point A to point B, you (and by reason of control, cloud) does not know much about zack besides the fact that he was the soldier present during sephiroth's attack on nibelheim. by disc three, cloud has his memories intact and corrected but nothing is really focused on who zack exactly was besides being a soldier. zack’s only purpose was to be a paradox to cloud’s reality. but cloud no longer confuses himself as zack. well, zack is aerith’s ex lover. but aerith’s dead. zack, in all means, is unbounded to you and cloud at this point. 

then you return to the lab. cloud (memory intact and reality rescrewed) is immediately hit with a flashback to his and zack’s escape out of the lab, the ride to midgar, zack’s sacrifice, and cloud’s mourning. 

until this point, there is no suggestion that cloud had a reason to mourn zack. zack is never referred to as a friend of cloud’s or never even gave the hint that zack was anything more than his superior. cloud’s mental instability and fractured identity faults the destruction of his hometown, his shame, and the jenova cells manipulating him. while that is true, it misses an important aspect of cloud’s psyche, which is: why forget zack entirely? when did the fragmentation start?

there are simple assumptions you could make. question: why forget zack entirely? answer: to erase the potential of discontinuity within his new reality. question: when did it start? answer: after he left the labs. question: but when exactly? answer: does it really matter?

you go to the labs for answers. there is no motivation to go to the mansion besides curiosity. cloud remembers not the experiments but zack breaking them out. he remembers the ride to midgar, zack’s caring of a mako comatose cloud, and zack saying: “i won’t leave you hanging like that. we’re friends, right?” zack says they’re going to become mercenaries together. when shinra comes, zack protects cloud. when zack dies, swift and brutal, cloud mourns. afterwards, you can discover scratched coded messages between them in their old containers. 

unlike most games when it comes to optionable cutscenes, there is no reward for finding this secret. narratively, it establishes something new: zack was, in some capacity, cloud’s friend, possibly his only after hojo. narratively, this is important but gameplay-wise is completely useless. cloud gains nothing from reliving this memory. in the player’s decision to return to the mansion, cloud performs the act of remembering zack’s kindness and friendship even though this action has no purpose other than grief. 

zack was unexpectedly popular after the release of ffvii in 1997. i believe it is because the player, consciously or not, rebonds with zack after the rediscovery of not his death but his friendship with cloud. zack, before the flashback (and far before the creation of crisis core/before crisis), was only perceived as someone who cloud envied and imprinted on when his psyche destabilized. zack was not seen as someone who particularly cared for cloud. friendly, yes. a friend? not exactly. 

seeing zack’s escape with cloud and his death recontextualizes what zack meant to cloud as a whole. the player is in cloud’s shoes during the flashback: they feel the same shock and grief as cloud. to them, the flashback is not useless— therefore, the flashback is not useless to cloud. there is importance in their gameplay experience in the rediscovery of cloud’s memories of zack and importance in the grief that follows after, even if they do not materially gain from it. and the realization is completely optionable.

[terraxcloud]

A Few Many Things...

There are 5 or more timelines, and it's not worth counting them anymore.

Biggs dies in one (the middle) but Zack at the church immediately talks about him being alive (this is the Zack that meets Cloud in the final battle I believe). The first image is the last Aerith date and the Stamp bag is to the left. Johnny appears with a plushie of a dog to show it's a different timeline instead of using a bag.

The reason it's not worth counting them is due to what Sephiroth says:

In this scene the FF9 Terra/Gaia "two planets becoming one" thing is shown again.

They represent the timelines as worlds, but what they're showing is an FF9 thing involving actual planets. I'll look at DFFOO Act 4 Chapters 4 & 8 again to see what's up there. Of course, they wouldn't say it's planets because of the implications, but that's not to say these timelines aren't coming together...they just need a reason since most people just think the devs are changing things just to change them. Gilgamesh has already appeared in this game from his own rift anyway.

After the Temple of the Ancients, Aerith and Tifa aren't able to stop Cloud from giving the Black Materia to Sephiroth. The date scenes between Aerith and Cloud are more than likely for Yuffie than Terra, especially since we have no idea of Terra other than the main theme lyrics.

The descriptions Cloud gives about what he prefers and how he acts matches what they show of Yuffie's interests (chocobos, getting paid for jobs or acting like a merc, smiling, seeing Red XIII as a dog, staring at Cloud, the poses for the photo with Aerith, being pissed off, etc.

This isn't saying that Terra is supposed to be like this. Yuffie was always a reflection of "real Cloud", however, both Terra and Yuffie are similar to him (the whole "siblings" dynamic). It could be that the Terra we got in other games isn't the same as the one when FF6 was being developed before the main character vanished (Kefka may have sucked her personality away).

The thing that makes Cloud "regain himself" is remembering the flower Aerith gave him in the beginning of Remake.

I don't know if Aerith will find the "real Cloud" herself. Tifa represents that part, but it's clear they're changing things with her. Obviously, they're going to use the "dream" this time around, which is what Aerith represents (she already has a shared dream with Zack), not Tifa. They also put a small shooting star bit with Aerith instead of Tifa, but if Aerith's technically dead the only character that can do these things is Yuffie.

The dialog Yuffie gives immediately gives after Cloud wakes up before the Lost Capital is the hint. It couldn't be encapsulated in a small scene, so they just left Yuffie out of it. If she's not going to do anything, why would she say it immediately?

Another hint was after the Demon Gate boss when Cloud starts banging his sword on the wall to break through. The two characters they show reacting to him are Barret and Yuffie, but the camera goes towards Yuffie in particular. Before this Yuffie was shadow boxing with Barret, which is what she does with Cloud at the end of her date scene (it also happens with Barret after leaving the Mansion at Nibelheim before the final Roche boss fight).

I believe Red XIII represents the change Cloud has personality-wise ("you don't always have to play the badass") while Barret represents the anger he feels at Sephiroth. Having Yuffie shadow box Barret for fun while Cloud is going crazy for the Black Materia shows that Yuffie will have a big role in preventing Cloud from doing this in the 3rd game.

The Corel sidequest with Cloud Jr. shows Barret's change to being "softer" as he explains that he was always hard on others and going after everything that ticked him off, making others suffer in the process. It makes sense why they show him and Yuffie reacting.

The other sidequests that show this "anger" issue are the Chocobo Billy ones with Yuffie in Nibelheim and the last one at the Gold Saucer with Tifa. The Yuffie one is more about the anger issue while the Tifa one is more about learning what happened in the past.

If you think about it, the only thing Cloud doesn't "remember" is being a normal Shinra foot-soldier, the one with motion-sickness (maybe the memory of him defeating Sephiroth from Remake is gone due to the whispers? He does react to the tubes in the Shina Mansion a bit).

The dialog Yuffie has about Chocobos are also noteworthy (since if we go by the symbols, Yuffie is the Moogle and Cloud is the Chocobo).

Btw, these two scenes are kinda similar:

Another "Yuffie represents the Moogle" hint is made at the Gold Saucer intro. Cait Sith summons a Cactuar, a Tonberry, and a Chocobo, but what about the Moogle? It's Yuffie since the moogle is on her pop star outfit. These four on the orphanage chalkboard in Remake. With the characters we've seen so far it may be like this:

Cactuar - Zack Tonberry - Sephiroth Chocobo - Cloud Moogle - Yuffie

The Tonberry King boss battle has MAI dialog that sounds similar to Sephiroth's dialog when he goes insane in the mansion basement. It's kinda fitting that this is a Yuffie sidequest and you need to steal his crown.

The Cactuar thing is Zack due to the "pose" which Cloud, Yuffie, and Red XIII also do in the last proto-relic quest. People know that's something Zack has done.

Every sidequest has it's own meaning. The one similar to Cloud's Dissidia story is the Barret one in Gongaga with the weaponsmith.

[case-of-traxits]

50 Random Character Asks:

Tseng, 1 - 50

You know you had this coming.

50 Random Character Asks: Tseng Edition

I can't even pretend to be surprised here, can I? Well, I got your second ask with your choices as well, so they're in here. 💖

50 questions. Whew. I'll give you guys a sampler on the first one, but the rest are going to be under a cut. This took me SO LONG to do. I've literally been working on it since the 17th! All together, there's 4934 words in this bad boy, excluding the questions.

So uh. Enjoy nearly 5k of meta about Tseng. XD

That said, please keep in mind that all of my answers are specific to how I personally write Tseng. I'm not going to necessarily distinguish every piece of canon from headcanon.

[For this ask game!] || [Still accepting]

1. Canon I outright reject

That Tseng knew Zack was being kept in Nibelheim. For me, it just doesn't work with the rest of Tseng's arc regarding Zack and Aerith and him keeping all of those letters. So. No. Technically, in BC, Tseng is aware that Zack and Cloud are both alive and badly injured, and Hojo orders for him to "prepare the mansion," but never actually says what he's going to be doing there. Tseng sends the Player Turk to clear it out, and then Veld shows up and sends all of the Turks to work on handling the townspeople and everything instead of the mansion. So it's entirely possible that Tseng never knew, according to BC, that Zack and Cloud were placed in those tubes in the basement.

2. A canon or headcanon hill I will die on

Tseng is absolutely capable of slapping Aerith.  I realize that they took that out of the Remake, but I just feel like it's critical for his character for you to know that he is absolutely capable of that level of violence, even against someone he cares about.

3. Obscure headcanon

Tseng is the third (and youngest) son of Kisaragi Godo's older brother, who was emperor during the Wutaian War.  He was brought up in one of the Leviathan Temples to keep him as an effective (and safe) spare to the throne before he defected to Shinra. His forehead marking is a holdover from his time in the Temple, and he'll never admit to a single soul that sometimes, he feels the guiding hand of destiny (or fate or whatever you want to call it) in his life.

4. Favorite line

"It must have been a real thrill for you… Did you enjoy it?" I think this is everyone's favorite canon line.  With the possible exception of the "Mr. President," line from the Remake. That one's pretty damn good, but it requires actual explanation, doesn't it? XD I will say, he also has the canon line of, "I put everyone else at risk because I feared feeling guilty," in BC.  Which is... telling.

5. Best personality trait

Tseng's loyalty is easily his best personality trait, in my opinion.  We see a lot of it in BC, with his dedication to trying to help and save both Veld and the department, as well as in CC, with his devotion to getting those letters to Zack.

6. Worst personality trait

Tseng's devotion to doing things "correctly" is definitely his worst personality trait.  I am firmly of the opinion that this is the thing that's held him back on just killing the President and installing Rufus early. I mean, I have no doubt that there is technically more to it, including the fact that we have no idea what kind of succession clause might have been put in place for Rufus to inherit.

7. Age/height/weight headcanon

Age // Born in 1975, so he is 8 years older than Rufus and Reno, 2 years older than Sephiroth, and 3 years younger than Reeve. Height // I usually go with 5'8", but I'm a little flexible on this. I'll go up to 5'10".  He cannot, however, be taller than Rufus for me. Weight // Eh, I don't really do weight HCs.

8. Unpopular opinion about them

Hm... Do I have an unpopular opinion about Tseng..?  I don't know that I interact with enough Tseng fans to know.  Maybe my insistence on him being fairly easy-going when he isn't at work?  I see Tseng as the sort who can go with the flow to some extent, mostly because I don't think he'd work as well with Reno if he wasn't.

9. Scene that first made me love (or hate) the character

Oh man, honestly?  This might be my unpopular opinion, but his "death" scene in the OG.  With Sephiroth.  And no, not just because of my ship goggles. But there's just so much implied trust there, at a point where Tseng probably shouldn't trust Sephiroth.  He just... He talks to Sephiroth like he's still sane, and Sephiroth cuts him down during it, and then he still drags himself back through the entire Temple of the Ancients to get to the entrance so that he can let AVALANCHE in.

10. Best moment on screen (or in the book)

 See above.  I just... I love that scene.  It's easily his best scene.

11. Faceclaim for the role

Satoh Takeru.

12. Crack headcanon

So, I don't think I have a straight "crack" headcanon for Tseng.  I do have some crack-treated-seriously headcanons, including that he doesn't heal well magically (explaining why he spends so much more time in bandages and recovery than basically everyone else), and that if he's not friends with Reeve or in a romantic relationship with a partner who insists otherwise, he would live entirely on takeout. Tseng does not cook, in my opinion.  He's perfectly capable, but why?  He's spent years curating an extensive collection of takeout menus he considers acceptable food, and he eats exclusively from restaurants that have passed his very exacting standards. Ooh! And this: Tseng drives a small black sportscar at possibly dangerous speeds in Midgar.  It also has no plates, but there's not a cop in Midgar stupid enough to try to ticket it.

13. Dumbest thing they’ve ever done

Possibly trusting Sephiroth when he ran into him at the Temple of the Ancients, but honestly, there was probably no way he was walking out of that anyway, right?  So excluding that... Probably, the actual 'dumbest' thing he canonically does is in BC, when he chooses to rescue a single lone reactor guard instead of destroying a ship full of weapons that Shinra can't afford to let get out.  That's definitely treated as his dumbest choice by the canon.

14. Most heroic moment

When he literally, while dying, drags himself through the Temple to make sure Aerith gets the keystone.

15. Worst thing they’ve ever done

I mean. He canonically murders people for his paycheck.  So probably that? Unless you're more offended by the 'abandoning his country' backstory, of course.

16. Deepest darkest secret they won’t even admit to themselves

He will always wonder if he could have made a difference for Wutai if he'd fought for them instead of going to Midgar. Not that he regrets leaving.  He is fairly sure that he was always meant to be at Rufus' side.  But there's always that small, lingering thought.

17. Quotes, songs, poems, etc. that I associate with them

I actually have an old fanmix that more or less I still use. That said, you can also add "Secret (Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists Theme)," covered by Denmark + Winter.

18. What they’d go to see a therapist about

I am going to read this is what he should see a therapist about because I'm pretty sure if he had to go see one, he would spend the entire session silent, watching the therapist and making them horribly uncomfortable. (Unless it's Angel, but she's one of @ladykf-writes' OCs that I gleefully borrow whenever I can.  She's a counselor specifically for Turks, and Tseng knows better than to try to argue with her.) Honestly though.  If Tseng were up to date on mental health, I think he'd need to see a therapist about his inability to be settled with anything less than perfection from himself.  And, you know, probably talk to them about the killing people thing.

19. Vices/bad habits

Tseng smokes.  It wasn't a habit he was in before Midgar, but while he was being 'debriefed,' he discovered that asking for a cigarette meant he got to go outside and see the sky and breathe the (admittedly not great) air.  However, due to him not healing super well magically and needing to actually recover naturally, he did eventually notice a cough and slight shortness of breath that he couldn't shake. So he tries not to smoke as much anymore.  Still, he does keep a pack of his clove cigarettes on him at all times.

20. Scars

Oh plenty. All the Turks have them, and Tseng has a few more than most given his difficulties in healing.

21. Drink of choice (not just alcoholic)

Alcoholic // Junami sake, served warm.  He has a few brands that he likes, most of which need to be imported from Wutai. Non-alcoholic // Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel and extra whip.  Not that he'd let anyone catch him ordering it.  He has a single barista that he goes to in the coffee shop in the Tower (her name is Peony), and she knows better than to call his order out.  Tseng's sweet tooth is something he keeps very much under wraps.

22. Best physical feature

I mean. How do you pick? He's gorgeous. Maybe his hair, but I have a weakness for beautiful hair.

23. If they were a scented candle, what would they smell like?

Vetiver. But that's probably just because I HC his cologne as having notes of vetiver in it.

24. Most annoying habit

According to Reeve, it's Tseng's uncanny way of reading you.  There's nothing more frustrating to him than Tseng's little, "And is that all?" sort of question because he knows that Tseng means, 'I know there's something else and here's your opportunity to tell me what it is before I go digging.'

25. 3 things they’d want to take with them if they were dropped off in the middle of nowhere

Assuming he is not allowed to bring his phone, and assuming that a backpack full of his usual supplies (he has one in his apartment, one in his car, and one in his office; he finds it unlikely he'd be caught somewhere without it) doesn't count as a single item, and assuming that he's not stripped of his usual clothes/gear when he's dropped off... 1 // A survival radio with a rechargeable battery. 2 // A waterproof map. 3 // A first aid kit. Really, he'd probably be fine even if dropped off with absolutely nothing, but trust me, he would not be happy about it.

26. What they would do if stuck in an elevator with [Lazard]

At first, there would be a long stretch of silence as they both studied the number display and then the elevator panel itself.  Lazard would be the first one to move, leaning forward to punch a few of the buttons, but once it was clear that the elevator was not moving, Tseng would sigh and tip his head back and study the ceiling. He's cataloging everything he needs to do, wondering briefly what he can hand off, what he could text some of the others about to ensure it's done in time.  Then he looks over at Lazard, who is sighing and pushing his hand through his hair. There's another few moments of silence before Lazard pushes the emergency call button, and after they're both reassured by the voice on the other end that maintenance is aware of the issue and working to restore functionality, Tseng slides down to sit.  Lazard looks over at him, then sighs and takes that as an invitation to do the same. "Do you think it's inappropriate to text Reeve?" And Tseng looks up at Lazard, a small, knowing smile on his lips.  "That depends," he murmurs.  "Do you actually want to get to that meeting?" Lazard chuckles, reaching up to rub the bridge of his nose slightly, and he looks back down at his phone.  After a moment, he lays it face down on his leg and tips his head back against the glass wall of the elevator, and he looks out over the city on display behind Tseng. Tseng notices he doesn't start texting. The silence is comfortable.  Companionable.  Neither of them have any stake in impressing one another, and there's no need to fill the silence with talking only for the sake of talking. Tseng supposes that they're lucky that it isn't winter.  Else they would have to sit much, much closer. A glance over at Lazard, who has taken off his glasses briefly to rub one of his eyes, and a little smile touches Tseng's lips. Not, he decides after a minute, that it would be a bad thing, necessarily.

27. Their guilty pleasure

Tseng loves sweets.  Basically all kinds, but he does have a particular weakness for good chocolate and good caramel.  His secret indulgence that he'll never admit to anyone who knows him is that sometimes, during the winter, he'll order a large hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and get a caramel drizzle on it from the coffee shop in the Tower. But only if his usual barista (Peony) is working.  Since she already knows his coffee order is something equally ridiculously sweet, he finds that to be less humiliating than adding someone else in on the loop.

28. How they feel about [Reeve]

Complicated.  On the one hand, Tseng and Reeve are always, always good friends when I write.  One of Tseng's first long, solo missions with the Turks (and I really should rewrite that fic with my current Tseng's backstory and clean up the prose a little) was to function as Reeve's escort on a reactor tour.  That's a minimum of two weeks if they're taking advantage of helicopters periodically, more often three full weeks of travel when Reeve drives the whole thing.  And of course, the driving is definitely Reeve's preference.  Reactor tours are practically the only vacation he takes. But there's no way you don't spend three weeks on a cross-planet roadtrip and don't end up very close to the person you spent all that time with in the car (unless, of course, it's terrible and you just want to murder them).  But at the same time, there are secrets between them that they both know they can't know about one another.  Reeve can't know all the gory details about Tseng's life as a Turk, and Tseng can't know about Reeve's... let's call it his uncanny knack with the reactors. Now, do I ship them? Honestly, yes, sometimes.  I mean, I usually pair off Tseng with Sephiroth and Reeve with either Lazard (if I want canon to happen for something later) or Genesis (if I'm wanting a fix-it), but I can absolutely ship Tseng with Reeve.  Honestly though, that's kind of an unfair question.  I can ship Tseng and Reeve with nearly anyone.

29. Eating habits

 If it weren't for Reeve's insistence on a weekly meal with him and Reeve's occasional order of groceries simply arriving at Tseng's apartment unannounced (he only really sends dry goods these days; produce and dairy get delivered by Reeve himself when Tseng invites him over), Tseng would live exclusively on takeout. Expensive takeout. But takeout nonetheless.

30. Sleeping habits

Tseng slept in a Midgardian style bed for about a week while he was in debriefing after he defected, but eventually, he took all of his blankets and everything and just started sleeping on the floor instead. Now, in his apartment in Upper Eight in the middle of Little Wutai, he's found someone who can make him a gloriously oversized futon, and his one "concession" to the Midgardian way of doing things is that he no longer puts his futon up every morning.  He has four futons to rotate between, with a veritable army of sheets and blankets for them that he's gotten as what he suspects is something akin to 'tribute' from some of the Little Wutai locals. He's done his best to make it clear that he's to be treated as anyone else in the community, but he's hardly going to refuse these things. Tseng sleeps lightly, waking up at basically any sort of unexpected sound, but he has the enviable ability to drift right back off.

31. If the had a tumblr what would it look like?

Honestly? It would be all precisely curated images/gifs of nature. Probably of waterfalls and rivers and creeks. But it would be immaculate. Perfectly tagged and maintained.

32. Something guaranteed to make them smile/laugh

I don't know that it is guaranteed, but Reno's antics often get a smile or a chuckle out of Tseng; particularly so when someone is underestimating Reno in some way.  He has a tendency to find amusement in watching someone walk right into something they should have seen coming. That said, both Reeve and Rufus are also able to routinely get a smile out of him; Reeve because he's just so warm that Tseng can't help but to smile back and Rufus because, well, to be perfectly frank, he's a sassy little shit sometimes and Tseng loves that about him. (For the record, Aerith also often fits in that "sassy little shit" box, but Tseng does his best not to let her see him smile, or else she'll take it as encouragement.) If we're talking about something other than people though, the sort of thing that will routinely get a smile out of Tseng is people watching.  He likes sitting on a bench in the Tower or in Midgar in general and just... watching people go by. It helps him feel grounded in the world.

33. Something guaranteed to make them cry

I don't know that anything specific is guaranteed to make him cry.  He's very much a 'buckle down and take care of things,' sort of guy instead of the emotional reaction sort of guy. That said, he doesn't handle it well after Nibelheim.  Even if he's not in a relationship with Sephiroth, the whole mess of 'handling' the survivors and realizing just how far the President will go to keep himself in power and the uncertainty of what's going on with Veld and with AVALANCHE and just... It's isn't pretty.

34. How they react when they are feeling [excited]

Tseng has, as a general rule, muted outward emotional tells for anything he's feeling.  It was trained into him when he was at the Temple, both as a potential heir to the throne as well as because he was being trained to be a priest.  That said, when he's genuinely excited about something and not just 'looking forward' to it, someone who knows him can tell. He's distracted from other things.  And sometimes, if you're talking to him and he's excited about something, he might ask you to repeat yourself. Not like, "Oh, I didn't hear you, what?" But you'll get a lot more of those little noncommittal "Mm?" sounds out of him. Unless you're talking about the thing he's excited about.  In that case, you'll have his complete attention, and his usually small, amused smiles (the smug ones; you know the ones) are a bit bigger, more genuine and, dare I say it, softer.

35. Their idea of a perfect day

Tseng's idea of a perfect day... well, to some extent, that varies based on where we are in the timeline and if he's in a romantic relationship, but in general, his idea of the perfect day is as follows: Nothing disastrous happens. Barring that, he'll settle for: Anything disastrous that did happen was handled.  Appropriately. In all seriousness, Tseng is very much the sort who focuses on living each day as though he won't have another, and he doesn't let himself indulge much in idle fantasies. He's much more interested in perfect moments.  A good morning run with someone he likes.  An effective training session with one of the other Turks.  Watching someone grasp something that he's been teaching them.  An evening walk with someone he loves.  Sharing a ridiculously rich chocolate cake with them afterwards.  That sort of thing.

36. Their favorite season

Tseng's favorite season in Midgar is fall, when there's a near constant wind coming off the mountains.  It can be difficult to track the seasons in Midgar, since there's not much by way of greenery, but fall means a cool wind that helps disperse some of the excess heat that comes off the Plate under his feet. Back in Wutai, his favorite season was summer.  He liked watching the fireflies in the dusk at the Temple, and no small part of him misses that.

37. What they really think about themselves

Deep down, no matter what else, Tseng knows that he is an oathbreaker.  He can justify it to himself or dress it up all he wants, but he knows that his father, that his brothers, that his country counted on him, and he walked away.  He abandoned everything he'd ever known and walked into the camp of the enemy and swore to help them instead. It's part of why his loyalty is so fiercely held now, and part of why he's so careful to be as pristine and perfect at what he does as is possible. He knows what his family— had they survived the war— would have said.  Once an oathbreaker, always an oathbreaker, and now, he's tied to the oaths he has made in a way that he wouldn't be if he hadn't defected, because he's terrified that they would be right. That puts him in the position of conflicting loyalties, and why he is so careful not to make promises once he's in Midgar.  His first loyalty is to Rufus now, his second to the rest of the Turks, and if there's anything that keeps him awake at night, it's how he's supposed to juggle the additional loyalties that he's found himself collecting (Aerith, Reeve, Zack, Sephiroth, Veld, Reno, etc.).

38. Favorite holiday

Valentine's Day.  Or, to be more exact, the day after.  When Tseng can get a box of very nice chocolates for extremely cheap. XD No, in all seriousness, Tseng quite likes the Midgar celebration of the dead, All Hallow's Eve, with the fixation on costumes and frightening people.  He finds it fascinating for a culture that spends so much of its time not talking about the dead.

39. Favorite game

Tseng likes card games.  He's good at them for the most part, and in fact, when he first defected and arrived in the SOLDIER camp, he realized very quickly that his traditional Wutaian garb was only going to keep him Othered.  So he learned to play poker from watching several hands, and he won himself gil and spare clothing alike off those SOLDIERs who heard his— at the time— thick accent and thought he'd be an easy mark. He still has a soft spot for poker.

40. Favorite book

Have two of Tseng's favorites.  Both titles have been translated from the original Wutaian for your convenience, but Tseng only has the Wutaian copies in his home. "When the Sun Rises in the West," by Yurieva Aiko.  This is a collection of poetry made from the letters recovered from the belongings of Wutaian soldiers after the war. "The Sleeve Cost Me Nothing Compared to You," by Sato Ivan.  This is a collection of short stories and poetry about love and the fleeting nature of romance.

41. If they could have lunch with anyone in the world (living or dead, from any fictional universe or the real world), who would it be?

Before he defects // Tseng would like to have lunch with one of the previous emperors at this point, just to try to get some perspective on what's happening with his country.  Particularly, he desperately wishes he had someone to ask for advice from.  He's torn on what he sees going on, and he wonders what's wrong with him that he seems to be the only one who sees that there's no possible way for them to win this engagement with Shinra. After he defects // During his time in Shinra, given the option to have lunch with literally anyone, Tseng would like one more lunch with someone he loves.  He's very much of the opinion that the best thing to do is to savor every moment you get with someone, no matter how mundane or fleeting. Post-canon // He would like one more lunch with Aerith and Zack.  Just to see them again, and to convince himself to let their ghosts go.

42. 3 comfort items

1 // Tseng has kept, over the years, exactly one kimono from his time in Wutai, and while he never wears it anymore, sometimes, when he's feeling nostalgic, he'll go and run his hands over the silk. 2 // After he completed his training to be accepted into the Turks, before he left the Academy in Junon to go back to Midgar full time, the Acting Director of Operations in The Junon Branch of the Administrative Research, Anya (also one of @ladykf-writes' OCs), gave him an inlaid bone and black alloy knife with a blade cleaning kit.  This is the knife that Tseng wears strapped to his left thigh (the left pocket is cut open in every pair of his pants so that he can reach it). 3 // When Rufus was fifteen, he gifted Tseng a solid black watch with no markers on it besides a pair of mythril white hands and a single mythril accent on the face that marked the twelve.  Rufus never intended for Tseng to keep it as a staple, but while Rufus has gifted him other watches since then, this is the one that Tseng wears as his every day watch.

43. 3 favorite foods and 3 they despise

Favorite Food 1 // Sushi from a tiny hole-in-the-wall place in Little Wutai.  And when he says hole-in-the-wall, he means this woman literally just sells bentos out of her kitchen. Favorite Food 2 // Fiola's in Upper Six is one of his favorites.  They have excellent Mideelan pasta and even better bread.  The bread is, in fact, good enough that while Tseng usually doesn't eat bread with his meals, he'll make an exception for Fiola's. Favorite Food 3 // There is a tiny bakery in Upper Three that sells the absolute best chocolate cake that Tseng has ever had.   Despised Food 1 // The "sushi" for sale in the Midgar cafeteria.  One of them had mayonnaise in it. Despised Food 2 // Pork rinds, a surprisingly popular snack in Midgar.  Tseng suspects it's a holdover from when the area was much more farming-oriented.  As it stands, every sector, Above and Below, has their own 'special' flavoring for them, and Tseng has yet to find anything redeeming about them. Despised Food 3 // Tseng doesn't despise bread exactly, but he fails to find it enjoyable to eat most of the time.  He'd prefer his carbs come in sugar, pasta, or rice, given the choice.

44. Their happiest memory

Tseng has a couple. The first one is of one of the last times he saw his mother. He was about eleven, and he was brought to her rooms so that she could see him.  They spent the evening reading poetry and him showing off his sword forms and her telling him how proud of him she was.  He helped her brush out her hair and braid it for bed, and then she returned the favor and kissed his forehead and sent him on back to his own rooms.  He has a small jade comb that he found in a secondhand shop in Little Wutai that makes him think of her. His second happiest memory is nearly always with Reeve, of their drive around the planet on that first reactor tour.  It was the first time Tseng traveled that he could just enjoy the process, and he has fond memories of the times they rolled the windows down and Tseng could let his hand hang out of the car and just... feel the breeze.  Reeve had been content to talk about nothing or put on an audiobook— and those had been something delightful to learn about, something that Tseng had immediately invested in because that was a great way to listen to the language— and let them just ride.

45. Their favorite celebrity

Tseng is embarrassed to admit it, but when he first arrived in Midgar and Junon, his Standard was not nearly as good as he'd thought it was.  The tutors he'd had in Wutai hadn't been native speakers, after all, and while he'd learned very well from them, there was no way he'd be mistaken for a natural speaker.  So he'd immediately immersed himself, watching the news and reading everything he could get his hands on, and eventually, he'd discovered what were called 'soaps.' He never really followed a lot of the plot lines— he felt sometimes like they had put several novels in a blender and poured the resulting concoction on the screen— but he did eventually decide there was one actress, Gabrielle Cooper, that he enjoyed watching. She had one of the most neutral accents he'd ever heard, and he followed her from show to show faithfully. Even long after he'd stopped watching soaps to help with his Standard, long after he'd more or less shed his own accent completely, he would catch himself picking up a magazine or a tabloid if she was featured on the cover.

46. The person they most admire

For a long, long time, it was Veld.  And then everything with Felicia happened.  And it isn't that he no longer admires Veld, but he certainly seems more human now.  What Tseng admires most about Veld now isn't the seemingly perfect Turk persona that he presents, but his dedication to what he thinks is right. Post-canon, the person he probably actually admires most is Rufus.  Rufus Shinra, who was brought up to rule the world and has been barred from the throne.  Rufus Shinra, who should have had everything and instead has had to cobble something together from the ruins left behind. In that vein, Reeve is an extremely close second. Reeve was never intended to be the one in charge, and Tseng knows that Reeve would like nothing more than to hand it all off to someone else and go back to designing houses and buildings and parks. But there's literally no one else to hand it off to. So he trudges on, running the now-largest military force in the world, making decisions that shape the entire world with almost no oversight.

47. Their dream job

If Tseng wasn't a Turk and hadn't been brought up in the Temple and was just an average Midgar citizen?  He'd be a restaurant critic.  He'd write the most detailed and possibly scathing reviews possible, and restaurants would fear him.

48. Scariest moment of their life

A few months before he defected, during a ritual for Leviathan at the Temple, Tseng nearly drowned.  This was one of his big catalyst moments for abandoning Wutai, as he realized in that moment that no matter what anyone told him about how important he was, they all saw him as expendable. After Advent Children, the scariest moment in Tseng's life was watching Rufus jump from that building.

49. Favorite toy as a child

Tseng was given a wooden training sword very young that he absolutely used to menace every Temple Guardian he ran across until he was big enough for proper training, and he cherished it right up until he left the temple.  He didn't take it with him, but he made sure to polish it and leave it in a respectful place when he left. He is sure that it was broken and/or burned upon discovery that he had chosen to side with Shinra.

50. A memory they’ve blocked out

I don't know that Tseng has very many memories that he's blocked out.  Tseng is very unflinching when it comes to facing who he is and what he's done and what's been done to him.  He believes in facing things head-on and in dealing with the consequences that brings.

Congratulations on making it all the way down here, omg. IT WAS SO LONG!!

All of the love. 💖

[prismaticpichu]

Cloud tells his mom about Sephiroth locking himself in the basement and he hasn't eaten in days. She figures that is just NOT GOOD and makes him a home cooked meal and a jug of lemonade and determinedly goes to the mansion to deliver it...

Heck yeah! Them maternal instincts kicking IN! ❤️

Claudia is not at all unnerved by the ambience of the manor. Not in the slightest. She has the rawest of Nibelheim hearts, desensitized to anything and everything the town has to throw at her. Cobwebs? Nah. Creaky stairs? Please! She’s wrapped her delivery in layers upon layers of tinfoil so a speck of dust can’t so much as LOOK in the direction of her food. It was for the sad, confused military man!

Sephiroth is as oblivious as ever as she reaches the room, his nose buried in a book and about half of the library’s arsenal scattered around him.

“Excuse me… Sir?”

Sephiroth stiffens, and his world blips. It isn’t that fuzzy shape’s voice that he heard just then, pleading for him to come back, pleading for the 100th time. It’s… different. Completely different. Satiny, almost. Velvety.

Loving,

Is this—

Sephiroth’s voice leaves him in a crack. “…Mother?”

Claudia, standing by the door, is very confused. But it’s an amused confusion that flashes across her face.

“You can say that, dear. I’m Cloud’s mother. He came here with you on the mission.” She smiles. “He’s told me a lot about you.”

Sephiroth turns around then. The names don’t click in his mind, almost ricocheting. The only thing that truly sticks—that matters—is the fact that she is NOT his mother. She is no one then. Irrelevant.

“Get out,” Sephiroth snarls, that previous awe draining from his eyes. “Now.”

Claudia, though, is not deterred. Not in the slightest. She sees his eyes, and sees the ink splotched all around them. Clear as daylight, dark as bruises. Dark as the ones her poor Cloud used to come home with. These books—they are bullies. That’s what they are. They are hurting him. He needs to get out of here.

And by Gaia, he is so thin. So pale. He needs to eat!

Sephiroth takes a step back as Claudia steps forward, the unearthly shape of his eyes quivering. But them maternal instincts are already activated. She carefully unwraps the big, delicious grilled Chocobo and hands it out to him, her voice soft and gentle, channeling all the nights and tears and solaces ribboned between the very essence of her motherly soul.

“Would you like to talk about it?”

Maybe it’s the way she said it. Maybe it was the way she looked while saying it. Maybe it was how good the Chocobo smelled in that dusty library. Something in Sephiroth splinters then—a toxic, steely fortress mortared with instinct and vulnerability cracking from her presence. And a fortress can’t stand with one crack; so it crumbles entirely.

They sit together on the floor, and Sephiroth tells her everything. He breaks into a sob, telling of his friends, how he can’t let go of their betrayal, how it still stings. He tells her of the revelations in the Reactor, of what flowed through his veins and the lies he was built around.

And Claudia listens. She listens, and she tells him that it’s okay. Over and over and over. That it’s not his fault. That nothing is. That he’s…

“Dear…” Claudia takes her plate back, only shiny white bones remaining. “You are not a monster.”

There’s something about the way she says it—the kindness in her voice, the tenderness in her eyes, the warmth of her aura… Sephiroth brushes his hair aside, sniveling.

He thinks he believes her.

They leave the manor that very night, Claudia’s love squeezing through his plated shoulder as they return to the surface of the town. Zack pulls Sephiroth into a hug and thanks Claudia profusely for bringing him back, and as Sephiroth hugs him back, as he starts to cry, Cloud watches the scene unfold with a whole spectrum damn full of questions. He goes to stand beside his mother.

“Wow, Ma. What did you do to get the general back?”

Claudia only smiles. “Just what every mother knows best.”

And all of a sudden there’s a giant silver-haired man guy thing towering over Cloud in the family photo. Yippie-do!

[hello-galad]

Hello friends, here i am again with my headcanons that no one asked for:

Ilfana and Gast dressed Vincent when Hojo decided to lock him in the coffin.

First things first, I think after being killed, Vincent was given the Jenova cells. He was their test dummy before Sephiroth. Vincent was revived and got enhanced like SOLDIER do and THEN Lucretia decided to put the three demonic entities inside him to see if his body could be a vessel for them so they could study them, like they had been doing when Grimoire died. Shocking everyone, Vincent was able to stand them and that is when Lucretia puts Chaos in him. Chaos latched onto Vincent as his host/connection to the physical planet and obviously refused to cooperate with them proving to them that they couldn’t control them even when in a physical body.

Nothing new was figured out about Chaos or the other entities, no more than they already knew and that is when Lucretia starts spiraling down because a) she just had a baby. Also, they have been experimenting on from said baby from day one. Vincent tried to stop them and they killed him and b) She has caused the death of not one but TWO Valentines. The last Valentine currently strapped to a surgical bed screaming his throat out while her hubby probably takes an organ out to see how much Vincent can take.

I think Lucretia loved Sephiroth, but she also loved the magnificent being he could become once the experimentation was complete, those feelings clashed inside her brain until she decided she couldn’t take it anymore, says nope and goes to die in a cave.

Hojo is ANGRY, then. He blames Vincent for being the cause Lucretia is dead. Let’s remember that Dr. Lucretia Crescent was one of the top scientist at Shinra and a key scientist of the Jenova project. So Hojo starts experimenting with Vincent in earnest. He takes many organs to see if and how they regenerate, cuts him up and sews him up. He is trying to control his transformations, the demons inside him but he can’t. Eventually his body can’t take it anymore and Vincent ‘dies’. Truth is, Chaos puts him in a sort of coma to preserve his psyche because they are tired of the scientist prodding around, ruining the body that hosts him.

Gast and Ilfana (who was not in the lab but was living with Gast there) dress him up in a way that resembles Grimoire’s attire as a fucked up way (but kind of understandable) to say sorry to both father and son, after all Gast is a scientists and just like Lucretia, he believes that what they are doing will ultimately be worth the means since they are creating something that will revolutionize everything. Hojo expects to be able to retake his experiments on him in the future, although with Vincent dead, they don’t know if the entities inside him have left too.

They give lock him up in the coffin inside the Nibelheim mansion in Grimoire’s coat and scarf, which now hides a head wound…you see I believe Hojo shot him in the chest when Vincent threatened the Jenova program, he thought that it was Hojo who had brainwashed Lucretia into giving her own child to be a test subject. Vincent doesn’t die from a bullet to the chest. He dies from a bullet to the head from Lucretia who can’t allow him to have the program closed.

Let’s remember that Lucretia is a scientist, she is not in love with Vincent, she is not in a love triangle because she rejected Vincent’s love for her. This is the project she has worked for for years, the Chaos project was a failure but this could be it!

Vincent is the one in love with her, a love that probably was born of infatuation and as I like to headcanon as a promise Vincent made to Grimoire before he died. He promised his father he would protect Lucretia, Grimoire already knew they were working with dangerous things and he wanted her to be safe. (Because daddy issues make people do weird things and if his relationship with his father was already strained and Vincent failed in the one thing he promised his father, he truly believes he has to atone for his sins i.e. getting Lucretia killed by not being able to protect her even from herself. Also, he feels guilty about Sephiroth, in his head he could have stopped the Jenova project and spared him but he got distracted and he, Shinra’s best marksman, was killed of a gunshot because he couldn’t control his emotions and underestimated a dangerous person.

Now, here is something I like to think about: just like it happens when people are subjected to abuse by the person they love or have created an attachment to: selective memory. Vincent starts making excuses for her in his head. He blacks out the fact that Lucretia shot and also experimented on him as a way to cope. It is until the events of DoC that he has to face everything and he accepts the truth and lets go of her for good.

[pen-and-umbra]

Yo. First things first. Thanks a bunch for writing and sharing these cool insights, appreciate it very much! I got a question of sorts. One thing is really bothering me. Miniroth saw Lucrezia and most likely had a locket for years. Why doesn't adult Seph recognize that the woman inside JENOVA chamber does not resemble his mother's pic?

My pleasure 👋✨

As to your question, there could be an entirely prosaic explanation: he may have forgotten. A significant amount of time has passed since the Rhadore days, and the details could have faded from Sephiroth's memory, as even cherished recollections can become hazy over time. Alternatively, considering the extensive medical experimentation and the exposure to liquid preservatives and chemicals, it is reasonable to expect that the “mother's remains” would have undergone some deterioration, such as hair discoloration and other changes. Or perhaps he came to believe that the photograph Hojo provided was yet another fabrication. More importantly, Sephiroth at that point had pretty much lost his marbles, so losing grip on reality and delusional thinking should not come as a surprise. His state hardly suggested a clarity of mind.

Then there's a more unsettling perspective to consider: we truly don't know what Jenova's true form is.

You see, the Nibelheim flashback is shown through “Cloud's” eyes. Sephiroth mentions his mother's name to Cloud shortly before they enter the town, then again inside the reactor, and later during his deranged ramblings in the mansion. So from Cloud's perspective, what does he see? Something misshapen and monstrous in the pod (similar to the pod monstrosities in the antechamber), resembling a female figure with silvery hair, a straight nose, sharp features, and a strong resemblance to Sephiroth. This makes sense, as the concept of “mother” does imply a degree of familial resemblance, while a pod container suggests experimentation.

Professor Gast's description of Jenova in his notes as possessing “ethereal grace” and a smiling expression seems to clash with the disturbing, misshapen creature Cloud witnesses in the reactor. Given Gast's research on the Ancients, one would expect him to recognize that they shared normal human features, without the wings, bulbous appendages, and other abnormalities observed in the reactor. Gast's observations simply do not align with the creature's unsettling physiology.

However, if we consider the remake's portrayal of Jenova, it becomes plausible that the creature possesses the ability to induce powerful hallucinations or illusions, in addition to its shapeshifting powers. Perhaps Jenova's true nature is not one of physical transformation, but rather a form of glamour or mind manipulation, where it projects a false, deceptive image to those perceiving it. This could explain the discrepancy between Gast's description and Cloud's experience in the reactor, as Jenova may have the power to alter perceptions and appear differently to different observers.

Cloud heard Jenova was Sephiroth's mother, so he saw someone resembling Sephiroth. Gast wanted to find one of the wise elder race, so he saw a graceful Ancient.

Sephiroth wanted to find the mother whose photograph he once lost, so for all we know, Sephiroth could have been seeing Lucrecia’s likeness —we don't actually know what Sephiroth saw. As mentioned in the beginning, the Nibelheim mission is shown through “Cloud’s” POV. Furthermore, whatever the party sees in ShinRA HQ may be also based on Cloud’s account of the story.

In fact, we can't even be certain that the body inside the tube was Jenova because we don't know whether Jenova is a complex organism or a sentient virus that infects and mutates its host. The body inside the reactor could have been an infected human or a Cetra for all we know, while the true form of Jenova is invisible to the naked eye.

@pen-and-umbra

[barid-bel-medar]

If you’re still doing au+5, how about Sephiroth gets hit with mini in Nibelheim and turns into a toddler. How do things go down.

On a positive this happens before he goes apeshit and murders a bunch of people/sets things on fire. On a negative, they almost didn't realize he'd been turned into a toddler in the mansion and could have starved/died due to being a toddler in the mansion and it only didn't happen because Chaos woke Vincent up early and told him to deal with that.

Toddleroth latches onto Claudia who offers to help deal with said toddler. He is delighted by apparent maternal affection and she's enjoying taking care of a toddler again; she misses when Cloud was a baby.

Cloud and Zack are having no luck in figuring out why the status effect has yet to wear off or refuses to be dispelled, or even what exact Mini'd Sephiroth into a toddler since that's not really what mini is supposed to do.

It is very awkward reporting in, 'our commanding officer is now a toddler and we're not sure what to do, plus somehow the mansion burnt down due to a lightning strike and some sort of monster hit the reactor while we were investigating/dealing with the fire so we really don't know what to do.'

In the mean time, a time traveling Cloud keeps moving, tucking away the special materia he used to toddlerfy Sephiroth and figure out how to wrap up dealing with Shinra's messes...Oh well at least he'd already offed Hojo while he was on his way to Nibelheim in hopes of taking advantage of the assumed Sephiroth-break down.

[local-flower-girl]

sephiroth x reader request~

i wanted to know if you could base it following your “Seeking The Truth” oneshot; where reader and seph find his real mother after searching for her and it leads to a reunion and hopefully spiritual healing for our man <3

i also wanted to add in a second request of him finally being stable enough to want to start a family with the reader after everything that went down.

i was hoping you can include breeding kink, dirty talk, and possessiveness with fluffy aftercare?

------

I’ll be completely honest… this request had me stumped for a while! I knew what direction I wanted to go in but it always seemed to fall flat. I have rewritten this countless times because I was not happy with the first couple of drafts - let’s just say my original idea was not interesting to read… at all! Hopefully this hits the mark! As for your second request I will be writing and posting that separately. I have no way of tagging you, but you are more than welcome to send me an anonymous ask in relation to it.

Reader Warning: Depictions of violence

- Link To Seeking The Truth Part I -

Seeking The Truth Part II

Following the incident at Nibelheim you, Sephiroth and Zack had remained at the Shinra mansion in search of clues to Lucrecia Crescent’s whereabouts. Thankfully, within the dusty nooks and hidden spaces of the underground lab, she had left behind a series of notes detailing her research into Chaos and Omega.

The torn, yellowed pages threatened to disintegrate within your grasp as you carefully deciphered each piece of text. Amongst the information was mention of a hidden cave to the south of Nibelheim. It appeared that the location had originally been theorised as an emergence for Chaos.

‘Grasping at straws’ felt like an understatement. However with a culmination of hope and desperation, you were willing to hunt down answers any way you could.

———

That morning, before you had set out upon the journey, you noticed that Zack had been lingering beside the mansion gates. He captured your attention with a wave of his hand, pulling you to one side.

“I need to go find Genesis.” He said, resting his hand upon the hilt of his buster sword.

You nodded in response, understanding his intentions. Although the thought of parting ways with him pained you considerably, you knew that down the line, it was the right decision.

Aqua eyes met your own. He placed a hand upon your shoulder and his brows furrowed into a worried slant. “—You gonna be alright without me?”

Initially you were unsure if his concern was aimed solely upon the fact that Shinra would be hell-bent on tracking you down. However his pointed expression was a dead giveaway to his true reason for uncertainty. Sephiroth’s mentality. You would be lying if you said the doubting thoughts hadn’t crossed your mind. You had been keeping a close eye upon him, noting nothing out of the ordinary, bar a few minor headaches. He also appeared quieter, more detached than usual—but that was understandable.

“Don’t worry Zack, I’ll be fine. Someone needs to go back for Genesis.”

“I figured if we were able to change Sephiroth then maybe… there might be a way to help him too.” His shoulders tightened as he lifted the heavy weight of the sword onto his back. “You do realise Shinra will be gunning for us now right?”

“Yeah, figures…” You sighed. “Seems to be their general response for deserters.”

Zack plucked his fingers through his tousled hair, the hint of a wicked grin appearing upon his features. “The price of freedom is steep! Huh, what have we got ourselves into?”

You smiled at his obvious attempt at lightening the mood. With the sudden upsetting thought that you may never get to see him again, you threw your arms around his shoulders. He returned your hug and added, “I don’t know what you’re going to find at that cave but please—please be careful.”

After you both said your goodbyes and parted ways with your friend, you and Sephiroth set out on your journey.

———

The passing hours proceeded in brisk silence with Sephiroth appearing distant and uncommunicative. It felt like an eternity of trudging through open fields and grasslands. Your aching legs barked as the grinding pressure upon your feet became too much to endure. Noticing your slowed pace and heavy steps Sephiroth suggested stopping for a short rest. The forested area you had arrived at was abundant with high trees and shrubbery. It was sheltered enough to prevent an ambush from Shinra or prowling monsters. You settled down within a small clearing, nestled beside a running stream. Lifting the weight from your aching feet, you sat upon the mossy bark of a fallen oak. You sighed heavily with relief, the late afternoon sun filtering through the canopy of leaved branches, casting rays of heavenly light upon the flowing water’s surface. Blossoms filtered through the breeze, their pungently sweet scent tickling your nose. The air was crisp and the lush greenery was a refreshing change from the greyed, washed out colour palette of Midgar.

“Quite the difference from Midgar, don’t you think?” Sephiroth said, as if he had the ability to read your own thoughts.

You hummed in approval, heartened mostly by the fact that he had initiated a conversation. “You know… I could get used to this. The scenery, the calm, peace and quiet. Maybe someday we could settle down in a place like this?”

His shapely lips curved into a dreamy, bemused smile. “I can picture it now,” His eyes trailed upwards, appearing in deep thought. The green of his irises seemed to glow as they caught the light. “A quant little cottage, surrounded by fields and woods. A picturesque view of a mountainside within the distance, and beneath it a vast lake with a small rowing boat.”

“I’d want a garden with a cobblestone patio, a cushioned chair, fenced in by wild flowers and trees… where I’ll sit, read and drink copious amounts of tea.” You stopped to think as your imagination ran wild. “There’d be a stable nearby… home to two white chocobos.”

Sinking down onto the bark beside you, he indulged your fantasy further. “And what shall we call our two chocobos?”

“Hmmm… let me think…” You leaned back against the tree in thought. “The more docile and obedient one, I was thinking we’d call… Angeal.”

His smile widened at the sound of his friend’s name. A name that reminded him of better days and cherished memories.

“Then for the other—the feathered rascal—I think we’d call him…”

Sephiroth quickly interjected with, “Zack?”

You chuckled in agreement.

“It sounds perfect.” He replied, his sweetened tone caressing every fibre of your being.

His silver brows furrowed before he looped his strong, sturdy arms around your shoulders. Burying his face against your neck, he spoke, “I don’t deserve you.” His voice cracked with emotion. “All my life I’ve been living in darkness, but you—you are my light.”

“And you are mine.” You leaned back, grasping his hands within your own, softly running your thumbs over his palms. “We’re going to find your true mother, I promise. We’ll find out the truth together and never again will you have to live in darkness.”

———

You arrived at the bottom of an unstable path upon the edge of a grassy cliff side. Ahead of you stood the tall, foreboding entrance to the cave. Upon the outskirt, high grass moved like water as the last of the setting sun’s light shone down. Dusk’s orange hues gleamed brightly for a final time before you stepped foot into the gloomy passage.

The sweet melancholic sounds of a woman’s voice reverberated throughout the passageway. Further ahead the narrow hallway opened up into a massive area. It was unlike anything you had ever seen. A wide circular cave with crystal stalactites hanging from a domed ceiling. Gem formations punctuated the rocky walls and glimmered brightly as if caught by moonlight. Below you was a stretch of mirrored glass that echoed your brisk footsteps. With each step you felt your skin tingle from the permeation of foreign magic that occupied the grand expanse. There was a vast amount of reserved power that seemingly flowed throughout the geological structures.

Towards the far end of the spacious cavern stood a translucent wall encasing the body of what appeared to be a divine woman. She was undeniably beautiful, yet slightly intimidating. Maybe it was her detachment—her otherworldliness. Her hands rested delicately over her chest as if she were at peace. Her body appearing frozen, fixed in place. Her long lashes like brushes against her cheeks as her eyes remained shut. She wore a long, white, angelic gown and a sleek, translucent veil that cloaked her shoulders. Her skin was as white and pure as porcelain, her hair a rich shade of amber brown. It was evident that her imprisonment had shielded her from the clutch of time, preserving her fine youth and beauty.

Sephiroth extended his arm out, resting his palm against the crystallised surface. “—Mother?”

The room hummed with a euphonious voice in response. The vibration of sound shook throughout the cave, disturbing the debris and small shards of rock.

“How do we release her?” You asked, inwardly debating if it was wise to do so.

Sephiroth looked down at his blade, wrapping his fingers around the hilt. With a quick effortless flick of his wrist, he slashed at her entrapment. A quick succession of vertical flashes of light cutting through the air, slicing through the Mako crystal.

Amongst the glittering rubble, Lucrecia’s limp body fell forward liberated from her crystal cocoon. Sephiroth caught her within his arms, kneeling down to support her weight upon his knee. For a moment she appeared motionless. He brushed aside the stray strands of hair from upon her cheek and called out to her once more. Her eyes began to flutter, opening up to reveal a set of radiant, golden brown oceans.

“My… my son.” Her voice soft and harmonious. “I never got the chance to hold you after your birth… but now you’re here.” She lifted herself up steadily, to extend a delicate hand towards Sephiroth’s cheek. “How long I’ve waited for this moment.”

“Mother… I…”

She studied his face for a moment longer, “I’m so sorry!” Her arms quickly looped over his shoulders. “I made too many mistakes. This isn’t how things should have been. I never meant for—“ She shook her head, “I don’t deserve this. After all I’ve done.”

He looked at her like the words strongly resonated with him—like they had struck an empathetic chord.

He considered his words carefully “I’m just happy we’re together. I no longer wish to dwell upon the past.”

You heaved a sigh of relief, unsure as to how he would initially react or feel towards Lucrecia. He appeared at ease, possibly knowing the fact that his true mother was no monster—but a human being.

He gestured towards you, “Mother, this is (Y/N).”

You approached her, rattled with nerves at the thought of meeting his mother for the first time. “It’s lovely to meet you Lucrecia.”

She smiled, the light shying away from the elegant planes of her face. “Thank you (Y/N), for taking care of my son.”

You bowed your head, your shoulders tightening at the impending sense of dread within your mind. “I don’t want to appear rude, but you need to come with us. It’s not safe for us to stay here.”

“She’s right. Shinra may already know that we’re here.” Sephiroth explained, helping Lucrecia to her feet.

At the mention of Shinra, Lucrecia’s brows furrowed into a scornful look, but she nodded promptly. “Then we must leave.”

As if on cue, the crystal around you began to shake, and from the entrance of the cave came storming in an echelon of Shinra troops. It was only a matter of time until they caught up. No doubt pursuing your trail with the hidden agenda of finding Lucrecia’s hiding place.

You were now surrounded, the entrance blocked. Trapped in a crystal tomb.

———

“Ahh, a touching reunion.” Hojo stalked forward from the group of soldiers and infantrymen, slowly clapping his hands in a condescending manner. “I do apologise for intruding upon such a precious moment, however I have loose ends that need tying up—a trivial matter really.”

“You!” You felt as your blood boiled. Your body seething with each slimy step the Professor took. “What do you want?!” The animosity of your voice lingered upon its echo.

“As I mentioned previously—unfinished business. I can’t have this woman getting in the way of my precious research now can I?”

Lucrecia bared her teeth. “You’re a monster!”

“Oh I’m the monster?” Hojo laughed manically to himself. “Funny. Coming from a mother who made the decision to experiment on her unborn child!”

Lucrecia looked away in shame, unable to argue back.

“Enough!” Sephiroth’s bellowing voice echoed throughout the cave as he stepped forward.

“Step aside specimen, so I may deal with this wretch!” Hojo spat.

“I am not your specimen anymore! No longer will I live in darkness or let you snuff out the remaining light I have left!” Sephiroth held his ground, staring down at the old man a moment longer. His silent presence alone was enough to have half the infantry quaking in their boots.

Hojo spurned him with a putrid look. “How poetic… but I guess we’re now going to have to do this the hard way.”

With a sharp click of his fingers, two soldiers from the large group emerged, each holding what appeared to be oversized rail guns. A thunderous noise erupted as both weapons fired a barrage of electrified chains. Before Sephiroth was able to summon his blade, the hissing bonds were already clamped around his wrists, manoeuvring like snakes to wrap and ensnare the entirety of his body. He struggled against his shackles, yet the more strength he used, the tighter they would become, clamping down, crushing and tearing the leather of his clothing. He roared as the jagged chains lacerated and seared his skin.

You ran to his aid but stumbled back as infantrymen grabbed at your arms, restricting your movement. “Let go of me!” You struggled to escape their clutches, lashing out your fists in desperation. You cried out to him, “Sephiroth!” It was torturous to watch as he writhed and twisted in pain, unable to escape his binds.

Hojo stalked forward grabbing Lucrecia’s hair, pulling her head to one side to expose the paled flesh of her neck. She thrashed and wiggled with the small ounce of strength she had to escape his vile grip. He took out a large syringe from his lab coat pocket, removing the blunt cap with his teeth, and punctured the sharp needle into her skin. He proceeded to inject what looked like a neon blue serum. She cried out in agony, stumbling backwards to remove the syringe. She appeared weakened, her hands trembled and her eyes rolled backwards before she fell to the floor… her body lifeless.

“What have you done?!!” You cried.

“Now now… it’s just a little something I’ve been working on. Something to eradicate those pesky Jenova cells within her body. You see—“ He reached down the side of his belt, removing a firearm from its holster. “—any being that possesses these cells, cannot die.” He held the gun within his grasp, aiming it towards her. ”Let me give a demonstration.”

“NO!” Sephiroth yelled.

All time seemed to slow as he pulled at the trigger. A single bullet whipped through the air,  trailing between them. The bullet pierced her abdomen; the wound soaking through the white fabric of her dress with a darkened shade of scarlet red.

Your heart roared with overwhelming grief as your legs became weightless. You plummeted to your knees from shock. “You fucking monster!” You screamed.

“Ah yes—speaking of monsters.” He turned to observe Sephiroth who was completely powerless beneath the immovable chains. “I want the specimen transported to my laboratory. Further tests are needed.”

The infantryman whose tightened fingers had been digging into the flesh of your arm spoke up, “But Sir, what about the girl?”

“Oh her.” Hojo’s voice was an uninterested mumble. “Dispose of her.” He turned his back to you, gesturing his hand in disregard.

“Don’t fucking touch her!” Sephiroth growled. You felt the coarseness of his voice tremble along your skin.

Sephiroth’s jaw tightened and his entire body stilled before he began to glow, a deep crimson rage, as if he had bathed in fire and brimstone. The chains that cut into his skin melted away, shattering into tiny fragments that burst outwards into the air. No longer restrained, Masamune materialised swiftly within his grasp. He lashed out in a heated frenzy, slicing the nearby group of soldiers with a single blow. The infantrymen at your sides cocked their guns towards you, yet within a blink of an eye Sephiroth had winnowed; like inky black smoke staining the air. A black, feathered wing protruded, extending out from his shoulder, sweeping around to protect your body. Their hail of feeble bullets ricocheted off him. And when they had exhausted their supply of ammunition, he bathed the expanse with their blood. The edge of his blade sang with each life he took. Any soldiers who attempted to flee were brutally cut down until the only soul that remained was Hojo.

Sephiroth glowered at the man like an aggressive cat ready to pounce. His jaw clenched, and an enraged guttural growl echoed throughout the crystallised halls as he leapt forward. For the first time you saw genuine fear within the feeble old man’s eyes.

Sephiroth wrapped his hand around Hojo’s neck, lifting him skyward, until his feet no longer touched the floor. He clenched his fingers, tightening, squeezing, choking.

“Turn away (Y/N).” Sephiroth ordered.

You did as he asked, closing your eyes. The long-winded struggle of desperate begging gasps and wheezing ceased with a bone splintering CRACK—followed by the heavy thud of his body hitting the floor. And then… there was nothing but a deathly, cold silence.

———

You shuddered at the sight of dead bodies strewn across the floor, at the streams of blood curdled around your feet. The rancid smell of death sickening your stomach. Before the bile had a chance to rise, Sephiroth wrapped his wing around you as if to shield you from the aftermath.

He leaned forward, his brow coated in sweat, his breathing uneven. “We should leave this place.” He murmured, his voice low. The darkness around him dissipated, and his fire quelled as he cradled you in a consoling embrace.

You latched onto him tightly, suppressing your brimming sobs and quietly nodded in agreement. You felt your bodies lift away from the ground, rising higher and higher. You left the cave, taking to the sky.

Within an instant the sight of land spread far behind you as his wing lifted you above the clouds and towards the star speckled backdrop of the sky. The bracing winds, brushed past your face, chilling the tips of your ears. Sephiroth’s body felt warm and solid against your own as he pressed you closer towards the strength of his chest. Glancing up at the angelic, handsome features of his face, you noticed the biting sting of regret and anguish. Glassy streams of silver tears lined his cheek.

[getvalentined]

I think that fandom as a whole, but particularly the FF7 fandom, needs to understand that there are two forms of "canon": the one shown in the source material itself, and the one written down in the meta materials like artbooks and Ultimanias. If there's a contradiction between the two, it should be assumed that the source material is correct.

The Ultimania series is interesting, and it can help fill in gaps for things that we don't know. It's also almost universally known across multiple franchises to get ton of things that we do know very wrong—even when the creators themselves confirm plot points contrary to what's written in the books.

My personal favorite example of this is the Chrono series Ultimania, which says in no uncertain terms that Prometheus from Chrono Cross is not Robo from Chrono Trigger. Meanwhile, the people who actually wrote both Chrono Cross and Chrono Trigger have always been very clear that Prometheus is Robo. This is a major plot point about a main party member that you can pick up quite easily by playing both games, and the Ultimania got it completely wrong.

Another, more pertinent example: when Vincent was killed in 1977, Lucrecia was already pregnant. We know this from both the OG and from Dirge. The Ultimania says that she gave birth to Sephiroth around 1980. This is literally physiologically impossible.

If the game gives us a year, over and over, and then some piece of meta comes along and says that it was actually a different year the entire time, the meta is wrong. Full stop. The meta is wrong.

This is particularly frustrating with FF7 because the Compilation is staggeringly internally consistent, to the point that the opening cutscene from the First SOLDIER battle royale mobile game (RIP) fits perfectly into place in a way that makes the in-universe timeline make more sense, not less. A two minute cutscene filled in a time gap that had been in place for decades, in such a way that it clarified what we already knew (Gillian was no longer active in the Science Department after 1977, Hojo was not given control of Project S until Gast left) and confirmed some things we've assumed for ages in spite of lacking concrete evidence (Lucrecia stayed on with the Science Department for years after Sephiroth was born) without contradicting anything.

The one instance I can think of where the Compilation actually overtly retcons itself is in Crisis Core, where the research notes in the Shinra Mansion basement say that Jenova was discovered and confirmed to be a Cetra in 1977. Her discovery date is literally printed on her helmet (October 10, 1959) right alongside the date she was sealed up in the Nibelheim reactor (July 2, 1967), and the latter date is a whole decade prior to 1977.

In the OG these dates were redacted (written as "X year, X month, X day"), so it's clearly an intentional change—but there's a really simple in-universe explanation for this apparent retcon.

To put it plainly: Gast lied. Hollander says in Crisis Core that nobody knows where the main Jenova sample is stored, not even Hojo—but Gast must have, since he was the one who was actually in control of all divisions of the Jenova Project. If he kept information that integral to the future of the project from his colleagues, why would he hesitate to fabricate dates in his easily accessible research notes?

One easily explainable retcon doesn't make a book of meta that is littered with similarly ludicrous claims correct, much less correct in direct contradiction to the actual games it's supposed to be sourced from.

[rextasywrites]

Return - Part 1 / ?

“What do you want, Zack?”, Sephiroth’s voice felt as if was trying to pierce a dagger into Zack’s chest, filled with poison and hate. Seph slowly stood up from his sitting place on the floor, his bones audibly creaking, he hadn’t left the spot or even moved an inch in several hours. He brushed some dust off of his shoulders, a single spider jumping off his coat.

“We need to get out of here! Now!”, Zack nearly yelled, Seph making a face in return. Seph didn’t believe himself to be human anymore, but the very human feeling of a dehydration induced headache was just as real.

I was inspired by this ask sent to @altocat a few days ago. It'll be a fanfic with a few parts, and yes, I intended to make it as heartbreaking, if not even more, than the ask submitted.

Warnings: angst, AU - Nibelheim goes wrong in a different way, ff7 content so apply the usual warnings of the games to this fic

AO3 LINK

***

Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess We seek it thus, and take to the sky Ripples form on the water's surface The wandering soul knows no rest.

Three friends go into battle. One is captured One flies away The one that is left becomes a hero.

Loveless, Act 1

*

“Cloud! You pack up your mom, the girl you told me about, her dad, everyone you know in here. Run! I’ll take responsibility for it back at HQ, but you go and get away from Nibelheim NOW!”

Zack’s own voice rang in his head as he carefully made his way down the staircase. The wood was covered in wetness, making every step more dangerous than the last one. As careful as he wanted to be, Zack needed to be fast. Fast, fast, fast. He needed to reach Sephiroth as fast as possible.

Hot flames roared up into the sky, engulfing the houses close to the main square. The water tower had exploded, the water vaporized, not a chance to take out the fire. Sephiroth was standing inside of the flames, shaking like a leaf in the wind. His eyes were robbed of any humanity, what was once a comforting look for fans and friends alike was replaced with emptiness, screaming for something nobody could hear.

“Sephiroth! Why did you do this?!”, Zack yelled at his friend, his mentor, his buddy. “What’s wrong with you?!”

“Nothing with wrong is me, Zack. Everything is right. This is a new dawn for the world. Get out of my way.”

Zack had awoken soaked in sweat. It was barely 2am, the first sleep in several days after the appearance of Genesis and the reveal of Sephiroth’s identity. Only a hefty dose of sleep materia had managed to knock Zack out, but the nightmare…it had felt too real for him.

“Come on…I am not giving up on you, Seph.”, Zack muttered to himself as he ran along the corridor towards the laboratory in the Shinra Mansion. The silence made him deaf, hearing his heartbeat inside of his ears as the door came closer and closer. His legs were carrying him forward, his whole body on autopilot as the only thought inside of Zack’s brain became louder and louder.

He needs to save Sephiroth.

*

Torn pages out of old books, records and scientific papers covered every possible surface of the lab, and Sephiroth was right in the middle. His hair was a mess, his eyes bloodshot from a clear lack of sleep. No sunlight came down there and no clocks were mounted anywhere, Seph probably had no idea how long he had been down there.

“Sephiroth!”, Zack called out once he had stormed into the room, making Seph snap his head around, looking at his fellow SOLDIER with big eyes. Once upon a time, Zack had visited a friend of his back in Gongaga. The poor guy had come in contact with Touch Mes, and the various poisons had caused him to suffer from insomnia. His eyes had been just as bloodshot as Sephiroth’s, and he had begged for someone to hit him with a chair so he’d finally get the sweet release of sleep, concussions be damned. It had taken him nearly a week to recover.

“What do you want, Zack?”, Sephiroth’s voice felt as if was trying to pierce a dagger into Zack’s chest, filled with poison and hate. Seph slowly stood up from his sitting place on the floor, his bones audibly creaking, he hadn’t left the spot or even moved an inch in several hours. He brushed some dust off of his shoulders, a single spider jumping off his coat.

“We need to get out of here! Now!”, Zack nearly yelled, Seph making a face in return. Seph didn’t believe himself to be human anymore, but the very human feeling of a dehydration induced headache was just as real.

“No. I am not leaving until I know everything!”, Seph spat back and turned his back to Zack, clearly done with the conversation.

“I am not leaving until you do.”, Zack replied, the chuckle coming from Sephiroth was something straight out of a horror movie.

“Good luck with that.”

There was no sense. Sephiroth wouldn’t leave, he wouldn’t budge, it was useless. Thankfully, Zack was a clever one, even though his actions might sometimes made his peers believe him to be stupid. Wrong. The sleep materia Cloud had used to help his pal go to bed earlier was nestled inside of Zack’s pocket, and with a simple swipe, the materia was cast upon Sephiroth, making him fall to the floor like a bag of potatoes.

And now, how to get him out?

*

Genesis took a bite out of his apple, his eyes gazing down on Nibelheim. While he hadn’t spotted Sephiroth in a few days, he had noticed Zack and Cloud being out in town together, making sure everyone was safe. But something that hadn’t failed to catch Genesis’ attention was the increased security by Shinra, just outside of the borders of the town. Including artillery and enough bombs to level a city. Hu. He took another bite out of his dumbapple, its taste just how he knew it from back home. His beautifully, bombed home. What was going on down there?

*

It took Zack several hours to drag Sephiroth out of the laboratory, up the stairs and through the mansion. By now, the sun had risen, but the town was empty. Cloud had listened to his friend’s advice and managed to get everyone to leave. By now, Zack knew Cloud’s childhood home like the back of his hand, and the few more meters dragging Sephiroth along weren’t too bad. The door was unlocked and once inside, Zack dropped Sephiroth into the nearest bed.

*

“We cannot do this, Tseng!”, Cissnei crossed her arms, standing in front of the prepared gun arsenal. “We cannot let this happen, after everything Zack has done for us!”, Reno butted in, placing his hand on Cissnei’s shoulder in support.

“They are right and you know it!”, came one last resort from Rude’s side, backing his mates up.

Tseng rubbed over his temples, trying to think of an option that’d make everyone happy. They had gotten hold of the information. They knew Zack and Sephiroth would be used as monkeys for Hojo’s experiments. They knew the pain it’d cause them both. Despite the rare overlaps between the Turks and SOLDIER, Tseng had heard first hand of the experiments on Sephiroth. He had seen the pictures of ‘progress’ presented by Hojo with a sick pleasure which even made Tseng’s stomach turn around. He knew how badly Sephiroth was punished back when he came back from a mission with some candies in his pockets, a lollipop hanging from his lips. A thankful little girl had given her hero her last bit of candy supply, a grand gesture for saving her father’s life. Hojo denied Sephiroth any kind of food for a week, feeding him with a tube only. At this point, Sephiroth was 10 years old.

“Fine. Cissnei, do you remember the throwaway PHP I gave you ages ago? Use it. Warn Zack and Sephiroth.”

*

Sephiroth awoke minutes after getting tucked in involuntarily. His body felt warm for the first time in days, the water bottle Zack had placed under the cover with him comforted him like a hug. “Where am I?”

“We are in Cloud’s home. They, uhm, have left for the day and Claudia told me to make ourselves a home! Here, I made you some tea!”, Zack grinned as he watched Sephiroth sit up, stretching his hurting limbs and rubbing his eyes. The sleep he hadn’t consented too wasn’t too pleasant, but it wasn’t unwelcome. Sephiroth took a sip from the tea, the warmth going down his throat and settling in his empty stomach. Only now, Sephiroth realized how hungry he was.

“Zack…do monsters feel hunger? Do they feel cravings?”

“I don’t think so, Seph. I don’t think a Bandersnatch wakes up one morning and goes ‘Oh, today I wanna eat a Hedgehog Pie today! Quite tasty, its meat is so tasty and lean, and its spikes serve as toothpicks!”

“Hm.”

“Are you craving something?”

“I would actually like some noodle soup.”

Before Zack could give Sephiroth a witty reply, he heard the noise of his phone receiving a message. With a smile he took it out and started to read, his smile growing smaller with every word he read.

“Sephiroth. We have to get out of here.”, Zack stumbled over his words, eyes wide as he showed Sephiroth the message.

Still confused and a bit groggy, it took Sephiroth a solid few seconds to read the message and to understand it. The second it hit him, he threw the blanket off of his body, nearly falling over his own feet as they ran towards the door. But before they could make it out, the first bomb exploded onto the house vis-a-vis to the one they were in, knocking the two out cold.

Get out of Nibelheim. Bombing incoming. Get to Kalm asap. Meet u there. -c

***