wiedzminka | ❧ IC INBOX: Abraxas

[Too much beach time?]

Of course. Right now?

[ Maybe she is presuming too much. ]

If you've the time.

[She is definitely not presuming too much, because-]

I do. You can visit my domain, if you’re still interested. It’s a very tall building, lit up at night. Easily identifiable by the Shinra logo.

[ It's a relief. She won't admit it, though. ]

Very well. Tonight, a couple of hours after sundown. I'll look for it.

[ When it will look like she's sleeping, so as not to arouse too much suspicion and not to overburden the horses pulling the wagon, since she doesn't usually ride back there with Viktor. Once they've set up camp though, and she's checked the perimeter and made sure the horses are cared for, Ciri will let him know that she's on her way.

She's never been there before, she realizes. When it comes to the folks she often meets in Cadens in person, she rarely bothers with their Horizon, and she doesn't spend too much time there anyway. There's enough to be done outside that world.

Eventually, Ciri finds the building he means though (even if she had to figure out what a "Shinra logo" is separately). It is indeed... very tall. She waits. ]

[The Shinra building, or at least the one he's fashioned for himself in his domain, is a tall and intimidating structure, always swathed in night. There are no stars hanging above, the sky constantly clogged a faint, lurid green haze of excess Mako clinging to the heart of Midgar, but the building itself is well-lit enough to make up for it, even from the outside. It is all glass and steel and corporate shine; and yet it is also a show of military power, as armored vehicles emerge from the underground parking garage entrance at the side of the building, driving down to the nearby highway access road and disappearing at the edges of his domain, helmed by faceless drivers.

He is not so awkward a host to leave her there, waiting, nor does he leave her waiting for long. The entrance doors slide open with an automated hiss, and Sephiroth steps out to meet her. As always in this place, he opts to wear what is familiar to him -- his SOLDIER 1st class uniform, certainly unlike anything he's ever been given in Cadens, though he does not keep his old sword at his side in the Horizon. There's no need.]

You're overdue for a visit.

[Despite the starkness of their surroundings--of himself--he says it with a smile.]

[ ...what is he wearing? This, more than the rest, takes her by surprise. Her eyes linger, taking in the strange clothing, the way it covers most of him and yet reveals very specific slivers of skin here and there, the way he carries himself with straight spine and confident shoulders.

It feels good to see him. Ciri lingers in the feeling a moment, considering it. Deciding not to question. She's exhausted. She wanted to see him, and here he is. Why push for answers further than that? ]

Mm. I suppose I am.

[ She steps closer. Her own sword isn't on her right now, and her clothing is not too dissimilar to what he might be used to in Cadens: fitted trousers, a loose blouse, a wide belt and boots. Fairly simple. No armor. Even in the Horizon, she looks a little worn. ]

What kind of place is this?

[ She doesn't lead with the reason she'd wanted to see him, considering she's not entirely sure what that reason is. ]

[She looks tired, he thinks, as she nears. Sephiroth wonders if her travels have really worn on her so much, or if something had happened back in Aquila. Should he ask? Or should he tend to her questions, instead of unearthing something she may not wish to talk about at all?

Still, even as he considers this in his own head, he turns partway and tilts his gaze upwards; headquarters seems impossibly tall against the night, this close. As though it reaches upwards forever, a steel entity encroaching upon heaven itself.]

This is the main Shinra building. Headquarters. My employer, and where I live.

[Well, back on his Planet, of course; that needn't be said.]

It's empty, now. [He glances back at her, eyes glowing in the gloom.] Usually bustling with employees, but I don't see a need for that in the Horizon. Plenty of room for just the two of us. There are some rooms I want you to see.

Your... employer. [ She repeats, and it's not a question but the way she says it, it's clear she doesn't really understand. From what he's told her so far, Ciri was under the impression he was a military man, and this looks nothing like a barracks. Most people wouldn't say they were employed by the army either, though that could just be some sort of... cultural difference.

Right now, she doesn't really have the energy or the desire to ask detailed questions about his world, though. She accepts it and nods. ]

Oh? Something you want to show me? All right.

[Sephiroth would barely have the context to understand that a large corporation, in possession of a standing army, is a strange concept. On Gaia, it was the norm — the only real military force was owned by Shinra. That was the reality, for as long as he could remember. And so, no further explanation comes, though he isn’t particularly keen on lingering on the topic of the company, anyhow.]

Follow me. [He says, striding forward towards the entrance. The doors slide open as they approach.

The lobby itself is huge, with slick floors and bright lights that reflect off of every surface. It is, also, very much empty, which is how Sephiroth prefers to keep it. Yet Ciri will barely have time to appreciate the corporate-clean, straight-edged view, before a strange sound reverberates through the space. It sounds like… a wark!

Bounding down one set of stairs comes a large, fluffy-feathered bird. That on its own might be a novel sight, but its plumage is also a very… bright green?

Once it reaches the lobby floor proper, it strides over to Ciri, looking down at her and quirking its head. Sephiroth stands next to her, arms crossed.]

This is a chocobo. A green one, too.

[ Ciri has never been in a place that looks like this before. The corporate sterility means nothing to her, though the emptiness does feel a bit vast in this huge room, the echo of their steps too loud. It is, in its own way, a beautiful place though, bright and clean, floors made of some sort of semi-reflective surface that gleams darkly unlike wood or stone. She's looking around wide-eyed when the unusual noise draws Ciri's attention to the front again, and to the creature that made it.

She gasps, delighted, hands clapping once in front of her. ]

Oh! Hello!

[ It approaches!! She watches, curious, glancing up at Sephiroth for any cues before she stretches a hand out slowly like she would to greet a horse or a dog, letting it sniff her first. Do birds want to sniff your hand before being pet? She's not quite sure. ]

He's so big...

[Chocobos have a wide variety of personalities, but they are generally amiable, and Sephiroth has made of point of making this one nothing but. He nods at Ciri encouragingly, and the bright green bird warbles again then stuffs its beak straight into her hand. It closes its eyes, clearly wanting affection.]

They are impressive up-close.

[He agrees, regarding their size.]

Green chocobos are bred for their ability to traverse almost any terrain, though they aren’t very good at swimming. Not that I have ever tried to ride one across a river.

[ The big bird shoves his beak right into her hand, and Ciri giggles, giving in easily to his charms and stepping closer to provide enthusiastic scritches. She pets his beak and head, down his neck, admiring the feel of the feathers beneath her fingers. It's something unusual; she's used to petting Mog, but he's very small, and this feels very different.

Honestly, after all the stress she's been through -- petting a big fluffy animal is the perfect remedy, even if it is in the mind realm. ]

They can't fly, can they?

[ The animal has wings, but she can't tell how big they are. Chickens can barely fly, and their proportions aren't nearly as ridiculous. ]

[He shakes his head, silver hair swaying with the motion.]

No. They can't. They're too heavy for that.

[The bright green chocobo, which had been more than content to thrive under Ciri's attentions, shakes out its feathers, tilting its head at Sephiroth. It makes a trilling noise, then another wark! As if offended!

But he just glances at Ciri, taking a moment to watch her interactions with the creature. He finds himself glad that she is delighted to meet the oversized bird -- it is as though he can see it wear away at the weight of exhaustion she might be carrying on her shoulders.]

Do you want to ride him? The lobby's big enough for it.

[Since it is astoundingly empty in here.]

[ Ciri's answer is an immediate, enthusiastic: ]

Yes! Of course I do!

[ In here? Riding a giant bird inside a building is definitely a new experience for her, but... what the hell. ]

The floor's not too slippery for him? It's so shiny.

[ She asks, but she's already figuring out how to mount the chocobo. It's got a saddle, similar enough to what she's used to; she does what she always does and mounts from the left, careful not to spook the creature. The proportions, however, are all different. Balancing's going to take a new amount of effort. ]

[It's about the level of enthusiasm that he expected, but he's still all too glad to see it. Sephiroth steps forward in case she needs help mounting the chocobo, but it seems that Ciri has managed to do it without his assistance. The bird itself is patient enough, though it does shake out its feathers slightly as its new rider tries to find its balance atop its saddle.]

He's been running up and down the stairs all day. He'll be fine. Probably would enjoy the company.

[Not that Sephiroth has been foul company; he just hasn't been eager to ride the bird all through his domain. Meanwhile, the chocobo turns its head at an angle to glance at Ciri. Again, it warks brightly, awaiting command.]

When you're ready, nudge it forward with the heel of your boot. He'll know to take it slowly.

[ It is similar enough, as Sephiroth mentioned; the balance and feel of the animal are different, but the technique seems more or less the same. Ciri gathers the reins and eagerly gives the chocobo a gentle nudge. The bird squawks again, its gait bouncier than a horse's as it takes several long strides forward at an easy pace.

Ciri giggles, leading her borrowed mount around the wide lobby. ]

What's his name?

[He walks forward, stopping just short of the lobby's center, gently turning when the chocobo makes its bouncing path around the wide area to keep track.]

...His name?

[A long beat of silence. Can she see where this is going.]

I didn't think to give him one.

Whaat? That's so sad!

[ She's picking up on the rhythm of its movements quickly enough, bouncing in the saddle a bit. Honestly, she's not that surprised by Sephiroth's answer, though she does seem a bit put out. ]

Don't you name your mounts where you're from?

Yes, but that was never a responsibility of mine.

[In other words: he never had to really take care of a chocobo, never really ever had to ride one outside of basic training from years ago. That time he tumbled off of one as a child, a story he recounted to her before.

An idea sparks. He offers-]

You can name him if you want.

Can I?

[ She pulls the bird around in a circle the other way, mostly to see how well he responds to her touch. Easily enough, it seems. It really is easy to pick up for someone who's used to riding, in general. ]

Ooh, in that case...

Hmm.

He's very green, isn't he...?

[ Clearly, he needs to be called something green. What are some green things?? ]

Kale. Cucumber. Green bean. Chard.

...for some reason I got caught up on food.

Cucumber?

[Sephiroth actually laughs a little, low but reverberating so clearly in the empty space.]

Are you hungry, Ciri?

[His own mind skews towards food, now, since she's brought it up.]

If you want to name him after a vegetable, then you should name him Gyshal. Those are the greens he eats.

Edited 2022-08-06 19:05 (UTC)

[ Oops. Well... maybe. She goes a little pink, but she's laughing, shaking her head. ]

I don't know. I just thought of green foods first!

Oh, I do quite like the sound of that, though. Gyshal...

What kinds of greens are those? I've never heard of such a plant.

You pull them up by the root.

[The chocobo, while still following her directions around the lobby of Shinra's illustrious headquarters, seems to perk up everytime they say the name "Gysahl". Ciri isn't the only hungry one.]

They're like... [He seems to realize, belatedly, that it would be easier just to show her. A moment passes, willing the image into Horizon-reality, and a basket of gysahl greens appears hanging at the crook of his elbow.]

These.

[ At the sight of the basket, the chocobo lets out an excited wark! and immediately tries to go for it. A bad habit that Ciri would never encourage in her own horse (in the physical world, anyway), but that she indulges here with a laugh, loosening her grip a little on the reins and letting him bound over to poke his beak into the basket. ]

He does like those!

Can people eat them? They look like some kind of radish.

[But Sephiroth turns his body to keep the basket just out of reach, removing it from the prying beak of the chocobo-probably-to-be-named Gysahl.]

No. Wait.

[-he tells it, mildly disapproving. A military chocobo (it's in the Shinra building, after all) should show a little more restraint!

The bird trills in disappointment, but straightens and waits attentively. Sephiroth plucks a vegetable from the basket and hands it to Ciri, answering her question in the process.]

People can eat them if absolutely necessary. But chocobos prefer the taste more than humans do. Here, let him have one.

❧ IC INBOX: Abraxas

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pretend i spelled gysahl right the first time

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