Post by Sephiroth du Lac on Feb 28, 2010 2:13:18 GMT -6
((Author's Note: The last rp. All I can say is it has been a privileged, AJ. Good luck pally.))
"In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing."
-Robert Ingersoll
"In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing."
-Robert Ingersoll
*The camera falls upon the darkened halls of the Weston Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum once more. In the deepest darkest part. It is here one can hear the sounds of chains dragging. As we move deeper twisting deep into the bowels of the dark we find a cell covered in strange debris. A heavy piece of concrete lays upon the floor, as does a set of large wooden beams. It is here among the set of them that we find Sephiroth du Lac, laden with heavy chains around his body. He ducks and rolls, the chains wrapped around his body. He twirls and shadow boxes around. He spins and twirls like a whirling dervish striking imaginary opponents with fierce strikes. He begins to twirl the chains around him, spinning round and round as they act like lashes around him. He jumps and twirls in mid air landing firm on his feet in one fluid dance like motion. The camera watches the strange dance and it is an awe-inspiring sight.*
Seph (voice over): One fluid motion. Turn. Release. Strike. Be like water, fluid and flowing. Strike. Dodge. Spin. Bite like the flames. Focus. Strike. Withdraw. Counterstrike.
*The camera changes scenes showing Seph lifting the various planks of wood. First to his chest then flipping them up upon his back before tossing them to the side with quick motions.*
Seph (voice over): Lift, flip, toss. Be as the mountain. Strong. Unchanging. Though battered by the wind. Though beaten by the rain it stands strong. Lift, flip, toss. Strength eternal. Focus. Flip. Cast aside.
*The camera then shows him, his feet held upside down by the chains to the walls of the cell. He lifts and bends in straight forward motions, his breath escaping with each bend.*
Seph (voice over): Rise. Rise like the phoenix rises. Be strong and flexible. Supple like wood. Hard as steel. Rise. Again. Rise. The enemy will break you. You cannot yield. You must get up. If you fall you die. If you stay down, you fail. Rise. Again. AGAIN!
*The camera shows him then doing sit ups. Sweat pouring from every oraface. His face stern and filled with determination.*
Seph (voice over): He will beat you if you lay down. He will destroy you if you let him. He is relentless. He will not quit. He is...
*Seph sits up his eyes downcast, he tosses the concrete to the side and stares intently. The camera flashes and suddenly thunder rolls. He's back atop the church once more. The rain pounding. A scream. A stabbing pain in his shoulder. His eyes flare. he turns a man is laughing a quick flash of movement. Seph's blade finds it's mark. The laughing man falls and Seph clutches his shoulder again. Suddenly the camera flashes and he is back in his cell. But from some unseen source one can still hear the man laughing on the wind.*
Seph (voice over): Dead.
*Seph just sighs wiping the sweat from his forehead. He curls his legs up and wraps his arms around them. Sitting as a child, deep in thought.*
Seph (voice over): Isn't it odd that when we are alone our thoughts stray to the past? How many men before me sat and wondered about the past which brought them here. Tempestad, I have done you a disservice. I apologize for my impertinence. You see you told me recently why you fight. Why you come out here and do what is necessary to win. Quid pro quo, Mr. Tempestad. I believe it's my turn to share.
*Seph looks upon his shoulder and stares at it with a silent reserve. A single thin white line like that of an ancient scar bears upon his perfect flesh. Though barely visible due to his pale skin it stands out. In fact as the camera moves across his forms thousands of white lines dot the man's body. Fierce reminders of a life of battle. But this scar. This small imperfection is what he focuses our attention to.*
Seph (voice over): Have you ever loved somebody so much that you would die for them? That you would kill for them? Have you ever wanted to taste her sweet kisses upon your lips and know you cannot? To ache and long to touch her soft skin or hold her in your arms and forever be denied that luxury. She exists only in memories. Only in my mind. Sometimes in the dark I listen and hear her voice. I hear her calling me. Urging me on. I hear her because in my mind is the only way she could exist. This beautiful woman who wanted no harm to anyone. Living or dead. She was a gentle soul. So, full of life. I loved her. I still love her. But that night she... she...
*Seph's fist clench with hate. His muscles tighten. His teeth clench in rage. The camera flashes and all one can hear is her screaming. All one can see is Sephiroth running up the bell tower steps and the taunt of an old foe long forgotten.*
Man's voice: Hurry up, old friend! She keeps calling to you! I'd hate for my sister to be lonely!
Woman's voice: Sephiroth!
Seph: TABITHA!
*The camera flashes again and he sits in the same position. His eyes downcast. His face stern.*
Seph (voice over): She was taken from me. Taken because of petty human ambition and greed. Taken because I was too proud to bow to an inferior. Because I wanted to be a hero. You see... we are not so different you and I, Tempestad. But while you cry out for justice I wanted peace. Peace for my kind. A way to protect them. But he... he wanted to rule over you. He wanted to be your lords. He would subjugate all if I hadn't have stopped him. I lost the greatest love I ever had because I wanted to be a hero. Heroes fail. I told you that, Tempestad. I know it's true because I have been there before. That is why I am who I am. You say you see good in me. You see salvation and hope. My hope died that day. My dreams. My hopes. My soul. All that was me left my body and fell with her down to the courtyard that day. I blamed myself. No, not just me. I blamed him too. Her brother. Her only relative. He took her life to get to me. I failed. Now, I know what you must be thinking, what does that have to do with now? The simple answer is... everything.
*Seph sighs and leans back suddenly he stops and looks at his hand. Nothing is there but he stares for a second before finally brushing it off and continuing.*
Seph (voice over): That day when she died I killed him. I... struck hard and fast and in that instant it was over. I had saved the lives of others but not her. That day all that made me human. My love, my compassion, my happiness died and all that was left was a bitter unfulfilled husk of what was there before. I felt nothing, nothing but the feeling of being cheated... he died without suffering. He died without pain. He died beside her and all I could think of was how dare he die and steal my last hope for pleasure. That is why I fight. Because every time I'm in that ring. I don't hear the crowd. I hear rain and thunder and screams. I don't see my opponent standing there I see him. His smug smile as he tosses her off that roof and every time I do I feel that twinge of satisfaction. I feel whole again. But with you, Tempestad, it is different. It is special. It is a hatred not naturally born. For when I gaze upon you I see something different than my foe. Something even worse...
*He tilts his head down clutching his fist. He bangs his head upon it like a man condemned by his own sins. He whispers hail Mary's as he motions back and forth. Rocking on his hind end like a caged lunatic.*
Seph (voice over): I see myself.
*He continues rocking picking up the pace as whispers begin to resound around him.*
Seph (voice over): I see my joyfulness, my happiness. I see all the dreams that she and I shared. I see all the good that I have done. All the mistakes of my past. All the suffering and sacrifice. I see it all in you. The man that I use to be and it sickens me! It fills me with hated reminders of my short comings. I see in you the man that I use to be. That I long to be again. The man that can never be again.
*He breathes deep pounding his fist into the floor repeatedly over and over. Harder each time.*
Seph (voice over): You are the memory of a man that you know nothing about. You are my tattered vestments. You are my rippped battlements. You are the very essence why god has punished me. My hubris. My ambition. I gave up everything! EVERYTHING!
*He keeps hitting his fist on the ground even as his knuckles bleed and each punch leaves the sound of a wet hammer smacking against stone.*
Seph (voice over): Tempestad, I am your future just as you are my past. I've given up everything and come this Sunday... so shall you.
*He finally sits down once more in frustration and sorrow, His legs drawn into his arms. His head tilted down and as he sits we see the figure of a beautiful woman in black behind him clad in shimmering white. Unseen to him. Unknown to him. Even as she clings to him for dear life. A vision from beyond the grave or the trickery of the madness that plagues this place. We are left with no answers only more questions and the pained feeling of loss and grief for a man once human and now only a shell. As the scene fades to black.*