Post by Sephiroth du Lac on Feb 4, 2010 0:05:31 GMT -6
((Author's Note: War is hell and with every venture into it humanity fails a little more. They say there is honor in war. There is no honor in war. Only death and blood. That being said here is a look into the mind of one who has touched war and seen more bloodshed then any of us will. The following pictures do depict scenes of violence, use judgment in reading.))
War does not determine who is right, only who is left.
-Bertrand Russell
War does not determine who is right, only who is left.
-Bertrand Russell
*The camera falls on the sunny suburban metropolis known as Glendale, Arizona. A quaint community long dwarfed by her sister, Phoenix. It is known as the antique capitol of Arizona. It is a peaceful serene setting. A small suburbia neighborhood. Children play outside peacefully in the warm heat. Neighbors mow their well maintained lawns as sprinklers run on other neighbors grass. The air is calm and warm but amidst this familiar, calm and boring exterior walks an unfamiliar figure to the pristine life of Glendale. A stranger draped in old world attire. His cane clicking on the asphalt as he walks slowly. His gait like that of a shadow. A few notice. They stare at the odd man for even in the 69 degree weather he wears his signature heavy black cloak like coat. His long platinum blond hair shines in the sun and his pale skin reflects the light of midday. The strange man walking amongst the normalcy of this perfect suburban life is well known to us. His name is Sephiroth du Lac and he is on his way to battle. Like a soldier in line he marches, the sun beats down on his form. His boots are covered with the deserts dust and yet he marches on. Step after step after step down the calm streets of this perfect place. A shadow walking amongst the light. As he walks he looks at them. The slack jawed masses staring at him. He sneers in disgust for what could so called normal people think of him save for the occasional "freak"or "monster". He turns to look around once more and sees two boys running on a perfectly manicured lawn. The two boys wield toy guns. The smaller a toy handgun and the larger a large water gun spraying automatically. Suddenly Seph's eyes widen and the camera flashes. The scene before us is one of horror and one that plays out oh too well.
Scenes of war play out before our eyes. Men jumping well dug fox holes. Bodies being torn by mortar fire and all the chaos of men charging into the thick of it. Men die all around us and as we look at the horrors all about us we hear the sound of heavy breathing. The camera itself moves as if looking down and beneath it lays a dead soldier in a German outfit, his throat torn out as if by some animal and suddenly two blood soaked hands come into view and just like that the scene changes again and we are left with Sephiroth standing enthralled staring at his hands then looking up to see the two boys staring up at him. His jaw tightens in embarrassment and a slight bit of fear and he turns from the two young ones and continues on his way. But his voice resounds to us as he walks, his path unclear to us.*
Seph (Voice Over): A wise man once said, war is hell. If that is true then my whole life I have dwelt there. I was born for it. Bred for it. Made for it. I am a warrior. It's all that is in me. All that is me. You could say war is in my...
*The scene shows him walking down a normal shopping area with every ordinary day people passing him by. A few stare as he passes till at length he comes to an antique shop with a fake suit of knightly armor standing at it's doors. Seph stops and stares at the suit of armor and again the camera shows his eye as it shifts from normal to catlike.*
Seph (Voice over): ... Veins.
*With that the scene changes again to ancient battles long forgotten. A young man with long flowing platinum hair lashing out from horseback as he charges. His spear impaling his foes as he charges in fury. His enemies screeching inhumanly as they turn to dust. Then suddenly the scene changes again and he stands before the store. He steps inside and within one finds brick-a-brack from nearly every walk of life. He walks amid the old faded glories of others. A cracked porceline doll here. A soiled copy of "The Pilgrim's Progress" there. Here among antiquity, it's very avatar walks.*
Seph (Voice over): You and I, Mr. Red. We have been bred for war. We are not like the rest. We are a different breed. You see you and I we love it. The smell of blood and pain. The look of agony etched on a fallen foe. We savor the sensation of sadistic pleasures. You see like you, Mr. Red I've come to a very simple conclusion. I love to destroy my enemies.
*Just then Seph's eyes fall on a painting depicting the battle of Bunker Hill. An obvious attempt at catching the honor of American soldiers against the British. Suddenly his eyes shift again and the scene changes to the fields of Massachusetts. Here a ragtag group of colonists stand muskets up. The well armed and efficient English army moved forward. Suddenly one of the young men of America, trembling with fear shakes his finger a bit too much. A shot rings out. The bullet ricochets off a nearby tree. As his compatriots look at him suddenly another shot is heard. The boy falls dead and the entire militia looks at a single British officer holding his pistol.
He smirks arrogantly as suddenly he kicks his horse to charge his eyes filled with something dark and unnatural as shots ring out around him from both sides. Suddenly the scene flashes back and shows Seph tossing the painting to one side in disgust.*
Seph (voice over): But what you must realize, Mr. Red, is this. That no one man can win a war by himself. A single warrior against all odds is a fool. I have learned this lesson well. Have you? I'm sure you have tasted defeat. Seen the look of triumph in an enemies eyes.
*He walks by a gas mask and suddenly the scene changes again. A hand outstretched toward the camera. A young soldier lying amid barbed wire. His arm outstretched to a hand reaching out desperately to get at him. Suddenly the hand is pulled away as if being dragged quickly and before it falls into a nearby trench we witness gas mask clad krauts stabbing the helpless young man with their bayonets.
The scene resorts back to Seph walking along the counters staring at the various odd items encased in glass. Old records and various knick knacks, from comics to toys.*
Seph (voice over): It is then you are left with the bitterness. The anger. The fury that gnaws at you. You feel the betrayal of battle. It's joy and it's sorrow and it does something to you, Mr. Red. Doesn't it? It changes you and it's only then you realize your only goal is survival. Your only goal is to survive at all cost.
*As he passes by the various medals for sale the scene changes again. Dead German soldiers line the streets of a burning Berlin. A figure walks among them his breathing heavy. His form like that of an animal. Another soldier distracted by the sight of approaching troops doesn't see the stalking predator and in a sudden rush the soldier turns terror in his eyes and that look freezes on his face as he falls, blood splattering the nearby wall.
The scene then cuts back to Seph finally staring down at something that catches his eye. A single curiosity, a roll of old rusted barbed wire. An old man behind the corner gets the spool of wire out. As Seph just smiles*
Seph (Voice over): I know these things. These thoughts, these feelings, I know what it is to make war. To strike at your enemy with hatred unmatched.
*The camera flashes to him standing over the dead german soldier as the bombs go off around him.*
Seph (voice over): To relish in the suffering of others.
*The camera then flashes to him, the red coat soldier, leaping off his falling steed, saber in hand at the militia line as the makeshift soldiers stand in terror.*
Seph (voice over): To feel the joy of victory.
*The camera flashes showing him as a man sword raised with knights and infantry banging on shields and armor.*
Seph (Voice over): To feel the agony of defeat.
*The camera flashes to him sinking in a fox hole crying crimson tears as he hears the dying gasps of a close friend. Suddenly the camera flashes again and the sound of a cash register rings in our ears. He grasps the wreath of barbed wire in his gloved hand and smiles. The camera drops back showing his back to it.*
Seph (voice over): I know what it is to make war and they were right, Mr. Red. War is hell, and this friday...
*He then turns with a sadistic grin on his face. His hair falling around his face revealing only one catlike eye.*
Seph: I'm going to take you there.
*With that he smiles and walks off as the camera closes up on a nearby portrait. One done in 1867, revealing a strange man with platinum hair in old western clothes that one can't help but feel a familiarity toward as the scene fades to black.*