[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

I - Sunset Falls / Central City [OPEN]

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth has been losing time.

Given the recent parasite problem... But he doesn't have any of the other symptoms, nor is it following the typical infection timeline. Did his contact with Dylan trigger something?

Maybe he's always been infected, in his own way. He thinks about his doppelganger self and wonders if some part of his downfall was simply... genetic. If there's something inside him that needs only a catalyst.

He doesn't have much to go on. But he did find an ATM withdrawal within his lost hours. He doesn't know what he did with the money, but he wanders the shops of Sunset Falls in the vicinity and then takes his search to Central, hoping to trigger some memory. Surely, rationally, he can get to the bottom of this.]

II - Home [Closed to Loki]

[unkindled_madness]

[He's no less forthcoming at home. If something is wrong with him, if he's becoming dangerous, then maybe it's better not to involve anyone. Who knows what he's doing in his lost hours?

He considers asking Loki to go back to his own apartment, but he doesn't know how without raising suspicions. Instead he just digs back into the research they brought back from his world. He avoids sleep, and when he finds himself with unexplained bruises, he leaves his shirt on to hide them until they fade. He heals quickly, so maybe Loki won't notice.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki has many powers. he's spent his many years learning all sorts of knowledge and skills. what he lacks in raw strength, he makes up for in versatility. but the key power has never been magic or skill, but in his perceptiveness. and he could tell something was wrong.

at first, he didn't want to pry directly. he had to trust him. trust this. but the uncertainty crept back in. rather than to let it fester, loki took heart and decided enough was enough. ]

Sephiroth. Where have you been lately?

[unkindled_madness]

[At the question, he's seized with the fear that it's happened just now, that he missed something Loki expected him for, and he glances at the clock. No, nothing today.]

...the library is short-staffed at the moment.

[Which isn't completely untrue, but the library is only open so late.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ he's lying to you, a voice whispers.

loki puts it aside. his tone is gentle. ]

I checked the library.

[unkindled_madness]

You were looking for me?

[dothelokimotion]

Of course I was looking for you.

What is this all about?

[unkindled_madness]

What is what all about?

Am I to report my every movement to you?

[He regrets the question once it's out of his mouth. But maybe it would be better to push Loki away?]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki flinches and his immediate instinct is to smooth it over.

but. he doesn't. ]

All I meant is that it's unusual. What's wrong?

[unkindled_madness]

Nothing.

I'm a bit preoccupied, that's all.

[dothelokimotion]

[ quietly. ]

Is that why you lied to me?

[unkindled_madness]

Lied to you?

[dothelokimotion]

By saying you were at the library.

[ his brow furrows for a moment. ]

Do you not know where you were then?

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth looks uneasy. He wonders if he's spoken to Loki at times he doesn't remember.]

You didn't specify a time. Of course I know where I came from.

[dothelokimotion]

Do you?

[ he moves closer. ]

You don't seem sure.

[unkindled_madness]

I was simply taking a walk.

[dothelokimotion]

[ then why the subterfuge and the unclear answers? what was sephiroth hiding from him? ]

Sephiroth. Is something wrong?

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth hesitates. He should trust Loki, and yet...

When he asked Loki if there was anything about what he is that could be a danger to him... What if Loki lied when he said no?

Saying it's nothing won't be convincing but.]

...I can handle it.

[dothelokimotion]

[ this isn't very convincing either and it hurts, especially now. but loki swallows it down. for the moment. . . . before he starts looking into it himself.

but for now, sephiroth deserves his trust. loki can manage it. he reaches out to cradle sephiroth's face with his hands. ]

But you'll tell me if you can't?

[unkindled_madness]

...yes.

[If it gets worse, if it turns out there is something wrong with him that he can't fix-- Loki deserves to know.

But what does he have to tell him right now? Nothing. He doesn't know anything yet.]

[dothelokimotion]

I don't know what you're so afraid of.

But I'll still be here.

[unkindled_madness]

I know.

[He reaches up to take one of Loki's hands. It's himself he's afraid of.]

...I'm sorry I've been absent.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he grasps it, twining their fingers together. ]

It's — [ fine, but it's not. he lets out a quiet breath. ] — Just be careful.

[unkindled_madness]

I'm making every effort.

[That's why he's lying.

Right?]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki sighs, but nods quietly. ]