[open]

[unkindled_madness]

Who: Sephiroth unkindled_madness & you!
What: Sephiroth has been activated as a sleeper agent!
When: late April and into May
Where: Sunset Falls, Central City
Content Warnings: N/A for now.

[Some are bound to notice something off about Sephiroth. It's unusual for him to miss meetings or show up late for work--but not so unusual that it's never happened before. This world has its stressors, and maybe he's just going through something again.

During the same time period, Fantastic has been making news thwarting a small rogue's gallery of fresh new villains. But apart from "Shadow Flare" being pretty tall, it isn't the natural conclusion to think that Sephiroth might be behind the mask. One, he's always professed a confusion and even disdain for costumes and alter egos. Two, all of the fights are happening in or around Central, and Sephiroth only travels there when borrowing Loki's teleporter. Absolutely no reason to connect the two.]

((Specific prompts in the comments! Feel free to hit me up at yinza if you want to plot anything.))

Comments

[dothelokimotion]

. . . Let's not push it.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth blinks, looking at him.]

You said we'd go later.

[Clearly that's not pushing it!]

[dothelokimotion]

And I meant it.

But don't force yourself to remember things now. You need rest. Mind control is taxing.

[unkindled_madness]

I don't want to rest.

[dothelokimotion]

. . . Fine. I need rest so that's what I'll do.

[ he turns to go into the bedroom. ]

[unkindled_madness]

[Did he say something wrong?

Sephiroth follows, because he still wants Loki's company.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ he's just a little fussed from all of it. sephiroth hiding things from him, the mind control, an unknown assailant out there, trying to take things from loki.

loki curls up on the bed with a huff. ]

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth doesn't know what he's huffing about.]

...would you prefer to be alone?

[dothelokimotion]

[ there's a pause before loki responds, extending his hand to sephiroth. ]

No.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth sits down on the edge of the bed, taking Loki's hand.]

...I am not ready to let my guard down.

But I'll sit with you.

[dothelokimotion]

I know.

[ he's taking it out on sephiroth, a little. the fear, the frustration, the hurt. loki presses a kiss to his knuckles. ]

It's fine.

[unkindled_madness]

...is there something you need besides rest?

[dothelokimotion]

[ something seems to flicker in his eyes before loki shakes his head. ]

No. I'm just being childish.

[unkindled_madness]

Be childish, if you like. I don't mind.

[He's not really sure what Loki could mean by that.]

[dothelokimotion]

I suppose I had hoped you'd be . . . happier. Or proud that I helped you.

[unkindled_madness]

[Oh.]

It's a more complicated feeling than that. [How does he explain this?] I can think of many moments when I wished someone would... help me. Moments that could have been this, but weren't.

...I feel seen. But also... [He's not sure. Vulnerable?]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki sighs. ]

I know. It's weakness. You struggle with that. Even with me.

[unkindled_madness]

I was preparing myself to survive it, whatever it was, as I've always done.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki's expression crumbles. ]

Without me?

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth shakes his head. Yes, but that's not how he meant it.]

I thought I could, because I had. And I wouldn't have to burden you.

But you were here anyway.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki sits up now, because this requires a proper discussion. ]

Because you've always done so before. Because you had to. But we've changed things. Chosen new paths. You cannot be a burden to me because you are mine. And I am yours.

That time in the past . . . do you want to return to it?

[unkindled_madness]

No. [The response is emphatic.]

...I thought I had done more to leave it behind. [He chose Loki. He has the power of choice.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki huffs, a little bemused. ]

It is not as easy as hitting a switch. It's all right to struggle with it. You've seen me struggle. Would you be upset with me?

[unkindled_madness]

...no. I wouldn't.

[dothelokimotion]

Good.

You are not anyone's burden. And you are certainly not mine. I want to be there, for every part of you. Even if it's a struggle, even if you don't know how to tackle it. Even if you don't need me, let me support you in finding yourself. Your own path.