𝙳𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙷𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚛

This one's for the lonely The ones that seek and find Only to be let down Time after time This one's for the torn down The experts at the fall Come on, friends, get up now You're not alone at all.

[poeticphoenix]

All Genesis could do in response to Zack's apology was make a soft acknowledging sound. He didn't think that he needed to apologise for anything, although it was appreciated. Eventually he did lay back down on the bed, more focused on his breathing in a somewhat vain effort to quell the pain of his aching chest.

"I suppose... that makes sense." As much as his own want to keep moving forward was strong, physically he was beyond exhausted and knew that if he did push himself too hard now, he was going to crash later. At least now he wouldn't be alone in his search.

He looked up briefly at Zack's query, noting the man's optimistic tone. He'd already said that he was going to find the gift of the Goddess, and to hear someone else agreeing with it was definitely good to hear.

"... Given everything? How they lied to me...? I have no desire to return." Genesis gasped softly, feeling the urge to cough and trying to suppress it, but he failed to do so. The coughing fit racked him painfully, causing his eyes to water as he had to spit out a large mouthful of vile sludge, once again finding himself gasping for air.

When he could finally speak again, he gave Zack a look. "How many... how many others have they lied to? Those lies... those must have been the reason that led to Angeal's death..." Closing his eyes, a few tears ran down his cheeks, figuring that he could try to get some rest until Sephiroth returned with his notes. Then they could get on with seeking out the gift of the Goddess.

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

"Yeah...Yeah, can't say I blame you." And in light of everything he'd found out and was still finding out, Zack was getting the feeling that his own career might be over, whether because he walked away himself or because Shinra decided that he knew too much. When Genesis started coughing again, Zack stood to offer the water again, unsure of what else to do.

He wasn't a doctor. He couldn't hope to be a doctor.

"...Maybe...Take some more water then get some rest. I'll..uh...clean up that mess for you..." He left Genesis with the water, off in search of something, and he found paper towels. Good enough, he hoped, as he cleaned up the...whatever that sludge was.

Hopefully nothing dangerous to him or anyone else.

"You okay? Why don't you go back to sleep, if you can?"

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

calamitysshatteredson​:

His throat was dry.  His throat was dry and he couldn’t swallow.  His throat was dry and he couldn’t swallow and he couldn’t identify the burn in his eyes but he could identify the helpless, distraught anger as something familiar, the opposite of nostalgic maybe–

He focused on his fingers.  His hands.  Not the smell of blood.  Not that fact it was Zack’s blood and not his.  The amount of pressure he was using to wrap wounds, the care he was taking in tying fabric off; all priorities.  Not what had just happened.  Almost done.  The worst of it was almost done.  Focus.  He’d learned how to deal with wounds.  He’d learned how to deal with emotion.  He hadn’t learned how to deal with the click of his own dry throat almost making him flinch like the sound of a cocking gun.  (And why should he flinch?  Especially then?)

Why.  Indeed, why.  For the moment, Sephiroth was gratefully shaken from his questionable single-minded focus, tying the last knot, moving with Zack, trying to provide himself as something of a crutch.

“We’re officially their mistakes, now.”  The answer came with less aloofness than he’d wanted.  Less practiced than it should have been, his tone.

“We’re the enemy.  We know too much.  We’re a threat to security and then some.  And you know how Shinra handles threats.”  Too well.  Much too well.

Zack had the right idea to keep moving.  Not to dwell.  But he was still trying to be careful about how fast they moved, how much.  Wounds torn before they could properly seal would do them no good.  “There’s a road not too far away.  We should be able to secure a vehicle, one way or another.”  Back to cold practicality.  Back to being able to function on a new battlefield with new rules.

He was just going to ignore how dry his throat remained.  How obvious the waver in his voice had become.

@calamitysshatteredson

The realization felt dangerous. Really, really dangerous. ‘Seconds from death’ dangerous. He’d just fought and won against their own people. People he’d trained with. People he’d trained. They’d been comrades, then somewhere along the way, they just weren’t. It stung, and there’d probably be tears later once it all sank in and they were somewhere safe.

If there was anywhere that was safe, of course. Shinra had long fingers, and Zack was pretty sure there was nowhere that’d be safe for them. Not if they were branded enemies.

“Y-Yeah.” He’d seen it time and time again. The firebombings of entire towns. The quiet assassinations. The disappearances.

“Okay. Let’s...Let’s do that. I’ll be okay. I think I’m healing up already...” It was only a little bit of a lie; being First Class SOLDIER did have its perks sometimes. “The longer we stay here, the better chance they have of figuring something’s up and sending more to finish the job, and...I dunno about you, but...” He laughed, and it hurt to laugh but he laughed anyway, and his throat was dry so his laugh was dry and cracked.

“I...don’t think I could take anymore down. I’m spent.” But despite his words, he was struggling out of Sephiroth’s grip to try and prove that he could at least stand on his own, and stand on his own he did. It wasn’t steady, but it was steady enough, and he’d draw on his own stubbornness to stay up.

He really needed a drink.

“Onward!” Zack called with very false cheer that neither he nor Sephiroth felt.

[poeticphoenix]

Genesis watched Sephiroth leave, eventually managing to pull himself up into something of a sitting position on the bed, although just that seemed to exhaust him. Hearing what Zack had to say, he nodded slowly and took the proffered water bottle, drinking half of its contents quickly.

"Thanks, puppy." At least the water was helping to soothe the burn in his throat from his prior coughing, and it felt less like he was gargling the Corel Desert. He could take that. "Headache... some noise... it gets too loud sometimes. Like I can't hear anything else..."

It was difficult for him to describe how he felt in those moments, because of how often things seemed to change. One moment he could feel as if he were mostly fine save for the odd ache here and there, and then the next he could be in bitter agony and unable to move, then after that he couldn't hear anything other than the screaming in his own head...

"... We can't just... stay and wait. Once Sephiroth returns with my notes... we're going to find the gift of the Goddess." Despite how tired he still was, his tone remained resolute. "I'm not relying on doctors... not after Hollander." Even if a part of him knew that Victor wouldn't do that, what Hollander had done to him was nigh on inexcusable.

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

"Oh." It was probably a lackluster response, but Zack couldn't think of anything else to respond with. "I'm sorry," he added, because he was sorry. He didn't know Genesis well, and as far as he knew, Genesis didn't particularly like him as much as Angeal had, but he didn't hate the man and he definitely didn't think he deserved what was happening to him. None of them did.

"We'll figure it out when Sephiroth gets back, yeah? For now, you gotta rest. Save up your strength because I'm pretty sure the gift of the Goddess isn't gonna be an easy find. That stuff never is..." Because if it was easy, then everyone would do it.

He found a chair and dragged it over, plopping down with a loud groan. It had been such a long day...

"What are you gonna do when you find it?" Zack asked. When, not if. "...Are you gonna take off, or come back to Shinra? I'd probably take off."

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

“No more dreaming of the dead as if death itself was undone.” // from lou!!

"...What the heck did I do to invite this weirdness into my life..." Zack muttered before facing the strange girl head-on.

"Okay, out with it, what're you on about..."

@mirrorchosen

[poeticphoenix]

Genesis hated this. Hated every moment of this. If he wasn't moving, it meant he was spending too much time thinking about what was going on with his ailing body, and even with Dr. Niguel on the case, he couldn't bear the thought of not doing anything.

The bard caught sight of the wing at Sephiroth's back and he winced. "... You... you have one too...?" A weak cough followed as he shifted to roll onto his side, his own wing flopped uselessly on the bed beside him.

A shaky hand reached into the inside pocket of his coat, pulling out his keyring and holding it out. "My apartment... Sector 8, Loveless Avenue. Golden Complex, room 702. Here... here's the key." Genesis had to take a moment to get his breath back, weakly jangling the keyring. "On my bookshelves... there should be a brown leather book... has some loose papers tucked in as well. That, and... and my laptop which is in my bedroom. You've been in my apartment before, hopefully... you can find them."

The static noice was starting up again and the bard felt like his head was pounding. "Be quick. I won't take... any chances."

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

"Yes. Since I was young." It had never been a source of insecurity until Angeal and Genesis had come into his life, though Sephiroth would never say such. An attempt at being 'normal' in their eyes. He was not surprised to see that Genesis had a wing, himself. Zack had told him that Angeal had wings.

Zack had also told him that Angeal had referred to it as the mark of a monster.

Was this what they were fighting against? Their true natures?

Was he truly a monster? Would they now think he was a monster? They were thoughts for another time. He had a mission. Sephiroth took the paper and the keyring.

"Zack, make sure he's comfortable. There is water." Then the Silver General was gone, leaving Zack and Genesis alone. He hoped they wouldn't cause trouble.

"...Yeah... Man, I could really use a vacation about now... Starting to feel like I'm in over my head in this mess," Zack commented, more to maybe give Genesis something to focus on as he retrieved a bottle of water. Plopping himself down on the edge of the bed, he uncapped it and offered it to Genesis.

"Doctor's orders," he prompted with an encouraging smile while internally he kind of wanted to scream.

Or maybe cry.

"You doing okay? All things considering...? How's your head?"

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

"Say that to my face, you limp noodle!"

[poeticphoenix]

"Most people are conditioned to take doctors at their word without question. Even if said doctor later turns out to be a fucking hack. But... even if every other professor here turned out to be a hack... well, not me." Victor spoke with conviction even as he turned back to Genesis to take a few small tissue samples. "After Hojo struck me from his pet project, I took it upon myself to keep my own genetics research ongoing. Even if outwardly, I'm working as the head of Materia R&D."

Once he had the samples, he went over to Sephiroth after changing his gloves, taking out a few syringes and vials so he could collect samples. "I'll keep it brief. And you have my word that none of these get used for anything else." Victor was quick in drawing up the required samples, bagging them up and nodding. "Right. Keep your PHS handy so I can contact you later. I'll need to get back to the labs to start work." The researcher gave a nod, putting all the gathered samples into his bag before he headed out and back down to the labs.

Genesis groaned weakly as he tried to sit up, though the look from Sephiroth was enough to make him relent, flopping back onto the bed. "Do we even have time...?"

Even if Victor had said that it'd be a day or so at most... that was a day they were losing to start their search for the gift of the Goddess... the bard couldn't possibly allow that.

"I can't... be idle." Even Genesis was having his moments of regrets. If he hadn't been so reckless in the training room all those months ago... none of this would have happened. "I have... somewhere... my findings... on what the gift of the Goddess could be and where it may be located... we have to get my notes..."

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

"Some of us more than others," Sephiroth agreed apologetically; it was a pitfall of having been raised as he was, leaving him to levy few questions upon the doctors that treated them. But he was learning, and quickly, though perhaps a little too late. "Thank you for your secrecy and your work."

He allowed without complaint Victor to take what he needed, then it seemed that he was left with Zack and Genesis now, and all they could do was wait.

Sephiroth turned to Genesis.

"I'll go. Tell me where your notes are, and tell me what I'm looking for. I can go much quicker than either you or Zack."

"Are you sure? I can go...What'll happen if you get in hot water with Shinra?" Zack asked, on his feet again and preparing to go only to be stopped again with Sephiroth's hand as that black wing stretched wide. "...Sephiroth..."

"As I said. I can go much quicker. Are they within Shinra? Or are they elsewhere? Zack, you will stay with Genesis. Genesis, please try to rest. We have time." It might have been optimistic of him to say they had time, but what else was he to say, and Zack looked uneasily between the two of them.

[poeticphoenix]

"Unfortunately I don't have any data to prove whether he was lying, but the dismissal of it is certainly highly suspect." Victor gave a light hum in thought. "If Hollander really cared, he would've at least given it a try. If I'm to test that theory, I will need to gather some blood samples from you, Sephiroth. I'll test it on some samples and see if it checks out."

He turned back to Genesis, who seemed to be trying to wake up. "Easy there, Commander. You're in no fit state to be straining yourself."

The bard groaned as he opened his eyes, staring at the researcher. "Wait... Dr. Niguel...? What are you--" He was interrupted by another coughing fit. Victor quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe away another lot of that vile sludgy substance.

"Here to help since nobody else in Science will. I don't know how much you heard of what I said while you were sleeping but realistically even with me on the case... your chances aren't great."

When Zack mentioned the gift of the Goddess being a cure, both men gave him a look, although Victor's was definitely more skeptical.

"The gift of the Goddess...? That sounds a little fantastical to me, if I'm honest." The researcher sighed. "I'll keep looking for a solution on the scientific end."

Genesis grabbed Victor's arm in agitation. "It's real... I know it's real. We just have to... to find it."

"Either way... I'll be doing the work I know. You should rest up, Commander. I'll need a day or two to study the samples I've collected and see what I can do... even if it's just buying you some more time." The researcher stood up and went back over to Sephiroth. "Just need to grab that blood sample from you and then I can get to work. I won't stop you from trying to go after this gift of the Goddess, but... the Commander's in no fit state to travel anywhere."

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

"I agree. It's suspect that he did not at least offer to try. I should have questioned him." There was always guilt for not pushing more to help, for allowing himself to lose control to the point where Genesis had been hurt, for not listening to Angeal when he said enough was enough.

Regrets always laid heavily in his heart.

He didn't know what to think of the idea of the gift of the Goddess. Like Zack, Sephiroth didn't know much about it; it all sounded like fairy tales to him.

Still, if it was all they had, then he would be willing to entertain it.

"We're not going anywhere for the time being," he stated firmly, giving Genesis a look that dared him to argue with him. He turned the same look on Zack, who shrank down a little in the chair. There would be no argument.

"...Yes, of course, so long as you promise it will be used for nothing else." He was a distrustful man when it came to medical procedures and science, and who could blame him? A life in the laboratories had taught him well, and if Professor Hojo were to find out that his specimen had agreed to someone that was not him drawing blood or taking a strand of hair...

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

kinda miss rping cloud.

[poeticphoenix]

Genesis did stir briefly at the knocking on the door, though he'd fallen back asleep after a bit. His body was simply too fatigued to continue right now. But at least he appeared to be less pained while resting.

Victor took a breath before entering the room, carrying a heavy bag and some medical supplies, closing the door behind him. "Sirs." He nodded his head. The usually arrogant researcher had a concerned look on his face. "... Shit. And I thought Hojo was a bastard to work under. Hollander... he's something else. Thanks for sending me the Project G files that you found by the way, Sephiroth."

Stepping over to the bed where Genesis was laying, the researcher had pulled on some latex gloves and was gathering samples. "The degradation phenomenon that was in the notes... it all corroborates with my research. And this substance that I've extracted from his mouth... it fucking stinks. It's sludgy and it's got mako in it... and it's probably poisonous. I reckon that this stuff coursing through him is not helping the process."

"There's more to it, too. And it's connected to Hojo's pet project. But that's irrelevant right now. I dug up what was stated on Genesis' medical files... a transfusion?! Behemoth shit! Hollander knew what he was doing, the fucker. He deliberately let that wound fester. That mako sludge was poisoning Genesis for months before he went MIA."

That was when Victor turned to the two, finishing capping another blood sample. "Not gonna lie... given the amount of time and his current condition as it stands... trying to find a cure is gonna be hard. Even with my level of genius." He sighed. "I'm gonna be realistic with you here, there's a high chance he won't make it. But our resident miracle surgeon here often says that even if it all looks hopeless, you gotta try."

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

"Zack, you can rest. Thank you for bringing him to me. You can stay here or you can go. We'll talk about what you've done once Genesis has been seen to and perhaps stabilized," Sephiroth said, resting a hand on Zack's arm to put him more at ease.

Zack let out a loud sigh, more huff than sigh, and put the sword away.

"If you're sure..." he muttered, a suspicious glance going to what he considered an interloper, and could anyone blame him? Everything was falling apart and he had no idea who to trust, but if Sephiroth trusted him...

Zack returned to his chair but remained watchful and alert, arms folded across his chest. Sephiroth turned his full attention to Victor, listening intently as he always did, a calm presence even when inside he was terrified.

"Do all you can. Zack and I are more than ready to do whatever we can to assist. --You mentioned an infusion? Hollander mentioned the same, but said I was incompatible. Was it a lie, then?" He'd never had a mind for the science of it all, not beyond his upbringing in Professor Hojo's laboratory, but he was not a stupid man, either, able to connect dots and concepts easily enough if given enough information.

Zack raised his hand to get their attention.

"Genesis kept talking about the gift of the Goddess being a cure...?" he spoke up.

[poeticphoenix]

At that point Genesis could barely speak. His lungs were labouring and burning, and as Sephiroth helped him back to his feet he could only give the man a tired look. Gasping for air and struggling to spit out another mouthful of whatever vile substance he was making, by the time they'd gotten to the Silver General's private rooms he had already fallen asleep in his hold.

On the way there though, a dark-haired researcher had been heading back towards the elevator, but the moment he'd seen the sight of Genesis in Sephiroth's hold, he'd rushed to the elevator and gone back to the science floor to grab some things.

The bard hadn't woke up for a good while after he, Sephiroth and Zack and made it into the private rooms, the fatigue having finally caught up with him.

There was a knock at the door not too long after.

"Hey, General Sephiroth? It's Dr. Niguel. I had to run and grab my research notes, but... I think you're gonna need my help."

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

Had he done the right thing? Zack would probably never know. But at least Genesis was resting once they got to Sephiroth's, and he helped Sephiroth lay him in the silver general's bed before flopping into a chair.

He was tired. The weight of the world was heavy. He'd almost dozed off himself when someone knocked on the door, and in an instant, he was on his feet, ready for a fight, sword in hand.

Sephiroth's hand came up and stopped him.

"It's fine. I'm familiar with Dr. Niguel," he replied, and it was only when Zack lowered his weapon that he turned his attention back to the door.

"Come in... He's in bed, resting."

They were, hopefully, among friends.

[poeticphoenix]

Genesis din't quite know where he was walking, but in his head as long as he kept moving, that would be enough. Keeping moving was going forward. He didn't completely register that Zack was helping him until he felt the man's arm around his waist, guiding him into the building.

The noise was swelling up again and he briefly reached down to clutch the arm around his waist in an attempt to keep himself grounded. Looking up, he saw Sephiroth looking... far more emotional than he remembered, and he winced.

"Ngh... Sephiroth...?" The bard took a few pained breaths, easing himself from Zack's hold to try and walk forward, but a combination of weakness, uncoordination and fatigue, followed by a coughing fit that strained his ailing lungs, brought him to his knees, white-streaked auburn hair falling forward. A vile brown-green substance filled his mouth and he had to spit it out. The impact of his fall had knocked the lucidity back into him and he was cringing inwardly.

"... I must... I must look pathetic right now..." Despite how tired he was, he could feel anger bubbling up within him. He was angered by how his body was constantly betraying him. "I will not let whatever this is stop me--!" But even that outburst didn't seem to be able to restore his strength. That coughing fit had sapped him more than he'd realised, and he drew in another wheezing breath only to cough again, gasping whenever he had a moment.

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

"Sephiroth!" Never was Zack so glad to see the silver haired First, because the longer this mess went on, the more he began to feel that maybe, just maybe, he was in over his head and getting deeper. He didn't know the first thing about the gift of the Goddess, he didn't know the first thing about degradation, didn't know the first thing about the inner workings of literally everything.

"Genesis needs your help!" He tried to hold on to Genesis, but the man was stubborn, and Zack was honestly...

Just really at a loss. But it didn't seem like Sephiroth was intent on attacking?

"Genesis--" Sephiroth was quick to approach, and without much thought, he gathered Genesis up and back onto his feet, holding him up. "What's happened to you--No. Let's go. We shouldn't be seen."

And Zack was more than happy to let Sephiroth take the lead with Genesis to the elevators and up to the SOLDIER floor where they could hide away in Sephiroth's private rooms and figure out where to go and what to do next.

[poeticphoenix]

Normally the rush of the wind going past his face at speed would have been a great pleasure to Genesis, but right now he could barely focus. At least the roaring of the wind in his ears drowned out the static. Zack was keeping him grounded at least, he could manage that.

Still, this minor detour from seeking the gift of the Goddess didn't sit well with him, but perhaps Zack had a point. Having Sephiroth on side would be more prudent.

By the time they were outside the Shinra building, Genesis was finding that he had to focus on his breathing again, having to weather another wave of agony that made him wince. "... I'm... so tired..." He was tired in so many ways. Tired of fighting his ailing body to continue on. Tired of fighting the noise in his head. And even his own willpower could only fight against the fatigue for so long.

"But I can't rest. I can't afford to. I can't... must not... cannot stop..." Letting go of Zack, he managed to climb off the bike with some difficulty, forcing himself to stand tall even as his wing dragged along the ground briefly. "Let's keep moving..." Perhaps he really did need to take a moment to sleep, but somewhere deep down, Genesis knew that if he took too long resting, what little time he had left would continue to tick away.

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

Was he doing the right thing? They could have been chasing after the gift of the Goddess, not walking into enemy territory to find Sephiroth who probably had orders to attack Genesis on sight and, by proxy, to attack Zack on sight. But Zack didn't know what else to do. Genesis needed help now.

Keeping an eye on Genesis, he pulled out his phone and flipped it open. Sephiroth on speed dial, he pressed the phone to his ear.

"Sephiroth. I have Genesis. Help." That was all he had time for before he had to catch up to the redhead, the bike left where it stood. His arm went around Genesis's waist again regardless of whether the man wanted it or not; he needed it.

He needed rest, too, but...

"Sephiroth will meet us on the SOLDIER floor," he stated, guiding the ailing bard into the building, and it was to his credit that the building was empty. Of course he couldn't say if the Sephiroth that would meet them was friend or foe.

Sephiroth did them one better, meeting them in the lobby, and for once, his face was clouded with more anger than Zack could ever remember seeing. Anger that gave way to shock and surprise that quickly turned to something like upset.

"--Genesis?" Sephiroth questioned, seemingly unsure what he should be feeling, whether it be anger or surprise or sorrow or some mix of all of them.

[poeticphoenix]

Everything was too loud again. Static fuzz melding into screams and back again, nothing seeming clear. His vision had gone a little blurry and all he could do was grip tightly onto Zack, even as the man yelled at him.

Fortunately, his voice cut through the cacophony. Genesis managed to take a breath, but the fight to hold onto lucidity was a hard one. He was so tired. His grip on Zack was a little shaky.

"I'm... I'm trying. Trying to focus through the noise... it's... not easy, but I am trying." The noise in his head was the main thing that he was fighting, and it was a battle that only he alone could face. "Keep going. Once we get to Midgar... then take me to Sephiroth. That's what you need to focus on, puppy. Go. Now. Time is paramount."

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

"Yeah..." Genesis didn't need to tell him twice, Zack supposed. The engine on the bike started again and they were off, a little faster than they should have been, going and Zack really had no idea how he was even supposed to get Genesis to Sephiroth. He couldn't waltz him into Shinra. They'd try to kill them, probably would sic Sephiroth on them, and he didn't know about Genesis, but he knew sure as shit he couldn't even think to hold his own against the Silver General.

One hand held tight to Genesis's hand, just to reassure him, just to maybe keep him grounded in reality a little longer. The landscape flew past, giving way to the outskirts and slums of Midgar then the winding highways that went upward and maybe, just maybe, something or someone was looking out for them because patrol was light.

Maybe there was something to this whole gift of the Goddess thing.

Maybe it was all wishful thinking.

Maybe he was being stupid.

He killed the bike's engine again within walking distance of the Shinra building.

"You okay?"

[mememaniamastermind]

Dying rp Starters

"Stay with me. Come on, just a little longer."

"You're gonna be fine, okay? You... You'll be fine."

"No. Oh, no. No no no. This can't happen. No. You can't die."

"Shush, just concentrate on staying awake, okay? Don't sleep."

"Oh my god... Don't give up! You can't give up!"

"You can make it through this. I know you can. Y-you have to..."

"Where did they shoot you!? Where did they sh-- Oh... Oh, god... Oh please no..."

"The doctor explained everything to me... I... I can't just let you go like this. I need you."

"Oh, god. Please be alive. Please still be alive."

"There's nothing they can do. I-- I'm so sorry."

"No. They're wrong. They're wrong, okay? You're not gonna die."

"Please, fight this. You have to fight it. You have to live."

"Don't die... Don't die on me. Please..."

"Listen to my voice, okay? I need you to stay with me. I'm bringing you to the hospital."

"I wish I could tell you everything was going to be fine..."

"Come on, now. You've lived through worse than this. Just... Just live through this too."

"I'm so sorry I let this happen to you."

[poeticphoenix]

Genesis tried to keep himself upright although he was definitely grateful for Zack's support, puffing out a few breaths. "Yes... the gift of the Goddess is real... I just... can't quite remember..." He's sure he's read it somewhere in his research, but his memory isn't cooperating with him right now.

"It'll do. We have no time to waste." The bard let go of Zack for a moment, walking towards the motorcycle and climbing on the back of it and waiting for the other to climb on so he could hold onto him. "It's prudent that we keep moving."

He could hear the noise building up again, starting to drown out all else. "... it's getting loud again... y-you'll have to warn Sephiroth that... that I'm not... a hundred percent... the noise--!" There was no other noise aside from their voices and eventually the motorcycle's engine, but he looked to Zack with a near-frenzy in his eyes. "Get us somewhere quieter! Now!"

[lovetobetheunderdog-a]

Things were starting to feel a little bit okay. Genesis seemed to be in his right mind, at least for now, and he was able to sort of walk on his own, with assistance, and to sit on the bike...

Again with assistance. He didn't keep him waiting, climbing on and firing up the engine--

--Immediately, Zack shut the engine off.

"Snap out of it!" he barked, at a loss for anything else to do or say because he was absolutely not hitting Genesis again. "Take a breath, focus... Stay with me, Genesis. We're going to Sephiroth, and you can freak out once we get there, okay? He'll help you, you'll be safe then. But you got to trust me, you got to hold on, and you got to try not to lose it on me... Can you do that? It won't be long, I promise. The bike's fast."

[ghostmemesource]

Your muse walks in on my muse undressed. Send me 😳 for my muse’s reaction. (add + reverse if you want my muse to walk in on yours)