最終兵器 — the ultimate weapon

[saishuu-heiki]

WELCOME to my humble little blog for sephiroth of ffvii. non-mutuals and personal blogs are not to interact with or reblog any of my personally created content. i am friendly, often times goofy, so feel free to leave as many ask things as you’d like, or drop by my messages to plot something out! 

activity  — varies greatly depending on how many interactions i receive; ie threads and ask memes. this could be low or medium-high. i’m a busy person, and this is one of my too many blogs.

depiction  — sephiroth will be canon compliant from before crisis to advent children. the original ffvii game is my default. regarding rebirth / remake, i am not familiar with it other than the massive differences it has compared to the original game therefore i will treat it as canon divergent. if anyone wishes to write within the realm of the remake and with me, threads must be based on amnesiatic / world hopping themes. i do not follow what is depicted in ever crisis. anything which is not depicted throughout all the games, the novels, and the movie will be of my own creation. i will also create some alternate versions/timelines which will place sephiroth in other worlds or have different roles within the ffvii universe.

I DO NOT TAG TRIGGERS. I DO NOT SUGAR COAT THE ACTIONS OF SHINRA OR SEPHIROTH. themes of genetic modification, torture, murder, death, manipulation, psychological distress, abuse, gore will absolutely be present. 

i’m a grown ass man ( > 20 ) and while i’ve never encountered drama, i’ve seen and heard enough of it that it’s just idiotic. a character’s actions and thoughts are not of the writers. don’t try to dictate what people write. if you have a problem, shut up and move on. this is a hobby.

i’m a multi-para and novella writer, but i will write out shorter things when the time arises or if two characters are just shooting the shit.

i am mutuals only and need to see actual writing on your blog, not just constant ooc posts and shipping calls. i do post some minimal crack post from time to time, but i tag everything in case someone wants to block it. if you don’t have a tagging system, i won’t follow you.

once again, i don’t tag ‘triggers’. if i see you need something specific tagged which i write, i won’t follow you (back). 

not all my threads are necessarily graphic and r-rated; not every post is like an episode out of spartacus, but my character studies and ask responses more likely lean towards the more graphic side of things.

just because sephiroth doesn’t like you, doesn’t mean i don’t like you. i like you, i’m writing with you. yeah, you’re free to try to take down sephiroth, just don’t be shocked when the big dog bites back. honestly before sephiroth started looking into how he came to be, he was a pretty chill guy when he wasn’t working. so if you’re intimidated or afraid, don’t necessarily be unless that’s your thing. 

i do not write on discord.

my sephiroth is portrayed as a cis male. romantic entanglements are unlikely to occur but not entirely impossible.

⸝⸝  PROMO .     ⸝⸝  MEME TAG .     ⸝⸝  HEADCANONS .     ⸝⸝  ASK BOX CALL .     ⸝⸝  DIVERGENT VERSE (1) .     ⸝⸝  DIVERGENT VERSE (2) . ⸝⸝  HIGH FANTASY VERSE .     ⸝⸝  JUJUTSU KAISEN VERSE . ⸝⸝  DETROIT: BECOME HUMAN VERSE .  

                                                                               ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ʙʏ ᴋᴇʟᴇᴠʀᴀ • ʰᵉ/ʰᶦᵐ

[axgmented]

Rem knows nothing of the world outside of her lab.  She knows the Science and Research Department; she knows of Hojo and his endless observations of her. The limitless and often times questionable ways he goes about getting his information. She knows that there used to be a nice woman in a labcoat that left a yellow flower in her room. The next time she woke up, the flower was gone and she doesn’t remember seeing the woman ever again. Rem knows of the training rooms. She knows of the libraries. The computer lab where she’s spent countless hours in front of the screen until she was sure her eyes would melt from their sockets and leak into the keyboard. She knows of her little school desk in a plain white room. She knows of her own room, secluded down in a sterile hallway with blinding fluorescent lights and the overpowering scent of antiseptics. 

 “... I have one friend.” 

She decides suddenly, with soft finality. For just him to hear– crimson eyes settling on his gaze with a ferocious intensity. 

When the man seems troubled, she feels an odd urge to reach out and smooth the wrinkles on his forehead and wants to see that conflicted look in his pretty eyes disappear. The notion is so strange it has Rem staring down at the floor and her shoulders seem to relax ever so slightly out of attention. His voice pulls her out of her own internal confusion before her posture fixes itself, nails biting into the meat of her palm behind her back. He confirms that he is, in fact, first class and surprise colours her face. She’s never actually paid attention to his rank– she figured he was just an important figure to the company but he never spoke on it and Rem never had the inkling to ask him. A blind trust, that if he wanted her to know something, he would simply tell her. 

“ my father.” 

She states it so simply when he asks who this “he” was. If he was SOLDIER, especially first class, then surely he must know he was. He stands, towering over her small build before she turns on her heel like an obedient dog and follows down the hallway. Crimson eyes narrow as they walk, taking in more of the expressions of those around them as they walk; the realisation dawns on her as people give them a wide berth– he truly was first class and she feels angry with herself for not seeing it sooner. How he commands a room when he walks in, how in his presence the touches of the staff seemed softer and they didn’t seem to hover around her when he was near. In her youth, she hadn’t caught on at all. She feels like an idiot. 

“Hojo says my father was the best first class SOLDIER there was. And I’m to follow in his footsteps; Did you know him?" 

[saishuu-heiki]

you don't know anything , do you!? , a young genesis had exploded not just once and not just twice or thrice . . and he had been right , sephiroth had known nothing except for the world professor hojo had built around him. the walls of sterile white that only had one exit — toward war and violence. sephiroth knew his world was dwarfed, however it hadn't mattered nor bothered him until his mind continued to grow under the presence of angeal and genesis like a wilting plant absorbing mineral-rich water. it could have been the wisdom of experience , but sephiroth truly and deeply believed that if he had known nothing than she knew even less. hojo was the only to blame and him alone.

although he realized the power that came with the manipulation of withholding information , he did not know why hojo went to such great lengths with her ignorance. there was the possibility that the mad man wanted remmington to surpass her predecessor and surpass him in every imaginable way. if that were the truth , he severely underestimated the breadth of communication the two would share. if that were the truth . . he might have aptly evaluated how poor they were with communication even when words were shared. words with intent and meaning were necessary.

sephiroth didn't know if the responsibility had been his which he had failed tremendously , or if he was never provided the tools to succeed. considering his growth with his two closest friends , he would consider it a failure on his part with faulty tools provided by hojo and the huge presence that was shinra constantly placing walls between the two weapons.

the wrinkles on his face only worsened; it was amusing how the most terrifying person on the planet could look nothing more but a disgruntled stray cat. how did genesis and angeal put him with him? they were kind , patient , and worldly. sephiroth did not necessarily fit those paraments ( except for patient , perhaps kind ) , but he had to try for the sake of his friends and for remmington's future. was hojo trying to motivate her with outlandish lies or . . . or . . was sephiroth not the best first class that ever was? was his ego or his intelligence being tested? sephiroth was not the founder of the program , but it was what it was because of him. there was no solider like him. wrinkles formed on the edges of his lips; he was clearly displeased.

❛ people say I am the best there was. there is none other like me. the wutai war was a success because of me . . and the sacrifices of many others. ❜

it was disgusting boasting about war , but he was a weapon and a soldier ; that was the mark of his their life. he looked at her squarely. that stray expression melted away as he bent over to look at her more closely , more seriously. it was time to be point-blank.

❛ was my dna used to . . make you? ❜

if she didn't even know who what he was , she would have no answer to his heavy question. he did truly feel as if the answers would be in her eyes and in her voice. heat began prickling up his spine while his heartbeat remained eerily level.

[puppyclasshero]

For one glorious, impossible moment, Zack felt like he had conquered the world itself. The world rose beneath him as the dragon lifted him—no warning, no time to think—and suddenly he was off the ground. His stomach flipped, a startled yelp bursting from his throat as the creature’s massive head swung him upward by the back of his shirt. The fabric stretched tight, the world spinning wildly for half a second before— Whump. Zack landed squarely across the broad slope between the dragon’s shoulders.

“Whoa—!”

His hands shot out instinctively, fingers splaying across smooth scales as he scrambled to keep himself from sliding right off again. The dragon rose beneath him—slow, powerful—and Zack’s eyes widened so much they almost hurt.

“I’m on a dragon… I’M ACTUALLY RIDING A DRAGON!” He blurted with amazement.

The ground shifted as the dragon began to move, each step sending a rolling motion through Zack’s body. It was like sitting atop a living hill that had suddenly decided to walk. He clutched tighter, legs awkwardly trying to grip something, anything, while laughter bubbled helplessly out of his chest.

“This is… this is incredible!”

Wind rushed past his ears as the dragon trotted between towering trees, the forest bending and parting around the enormous body moving through it. Zack ducked instinctively as a branch swept overhead, his grip tightening as the dragon turned, his body swaying with the motion like a rider who had absolutely no idea what he was doing. That’s because he had no idea what he was doing, and he was no rider, even if he dreamt of being one for so long, and even if he was the best when it came to horse riding in the village, this was nothing like riding a horse!

And then suddenly his boots slipped.

“Uh—wait—hold on—!”

Too late. The dragon suddenly dropped down onto his haunches. Zack’s grip lasted about half a second. Then gravity remembered him.

“WHOA—!”

He slid… Right down the dragon’s long back like a child falling down a hill, arms flailing as he tried to catch himself. His boots scraped uselessly against scales before he tumbled the rest of the way down and landed in the grass with a surprised thud...For a second, he just lay there. Blinking up at the sky. Processing. Breathing a little hard…

Then he burst out laughing! He was not embarrassed or terrified, no he was absolutely thrilled!

“That was amazing!” 

He gasped, pushing himself upright with grass tangled in his hair and dirt smeared across one cheek. His eyes shot immediately back to the dragon—bright, excited, practically glowing.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” 

Zack said, breathless but grinning so wide his face hurt. He staggered to his feet, brushing grass from his trousers in quick, distracted swipes. The fall hadn’t discouraged him even a little. If anything, it had lit something in him… an even brighter spark of determination.

“You know what?” he said, rolling his shoulders like he was about to wrestle fate itself. “I almost stayed on.”

Almost. That meant it was possible. Zack’s grin turned downright mischievous.

“Okay, okay… round two.”

Before his brain had the chance to intervene, he jogged forward again, boots thudding against the earth as he reached for the dragon’s side. His hands found the familiar warmth of scales, and with the same reckless enthusiasm as before, he began clambering upward—using the powerful foreleg like a step, hauling himself onto the curve of the shoulder.

“Don’t move—no wait—actually you can move,” he laughed breathlessly, scrambling higher. “I just gotta figure out how to stick this time!”

He hooked a leg over the broad ridge of the dragon’s back again, chest pressed against warm scales as he wriggled into place like someone trying to sit atop the world’s largest, smoothest saddle. His arms wrapped around the dragon’s neck instinctively.

“There!” he declared proudly, though he was still slipping a little. “See? I’m learning!”

His laugh rang out again, bright and fearless, echoing through the trees as he held on tighter this time, absolutely determined not to fall off so easily again, even if he still didn’t know how to hold on or what to hold onto, thighs and arms burning with the effort. He’d figure it out, though, somehow he would, and maybe, maybe the dragon would deem him worthy of taking him into the sky!

[saishuu-heiki]

it was to be a lesson. a fun lesson , there was no doubt , but the lesson was to be for the human and the fun was to be for sephiroth. he did not wish to frighten the human , so it too served as a test as much as a lesson , however the unexpected occurred — the human had more fun than the dragon. it supposed had he been the one riding on the back of a giant beast like a baby in a giant's arms , he would be delighted too , but sephiroth would never experience the thrill of being small and helpless. dragons could not talk , but he wished for it there and now although he didn't know what he would say other than vocalize laughter. what an utter fool.

a fool with an infectious smile , however dragons were incapable of being infected. sephiroth looked like much like a lion inspecting a badger or a snake with a rabbit. neither appearance or lack of speech could convince the young human not to act drastically. the lad's mad scrabbling was to be applauded as squirrels just as brave ( or foolish ) had attempted to scramble up his back or legs only to fail. as smooth as his scales were , enough that tree trunks and lances would shatter on contact , the scales were ridges for deft fingers to get a hold on with some effort. sephiroth let the human be for this was a new experience for them both , and his life was tragically vacant of any sort of meaningful interaction.

contentment and aggravation were raspberry brambles inside his head , yet he remained still until the man got a surprisingly decent grip on his scales. sephiroth knew a good shake would send the human flying all the way back to his village but for the sake of pretense he went along. the dragon rose to four limbs again and made his way to one of his favourite bodies of water. the trip was far longer than the testing trot he before. he continued to move with care until the trees spaced out , became sparser and sparer , and water obligative vegetation took over the landscape. massive paws sank into muddy soil as the dragon walked past wet bank into the massive lake.

water did not even reach his elbows , but it was enough to send large beads of water to his chin and shoulder blades. a little splash under the sun. despite the muddiness of the bottom of the lake , it took only a few seconds to cross the lake thereupon sephiroth sat down on his haunches , then lied down flat on his belly to enjoy the the water. and oh yeah , the human was still there. for now. any signs of waterfowl had disappeared with loud squawks and vocalizations the moment sephiroth's body shook the ground , but the animals would return with time and with calm.

[puppyclasshero]

Zack didn’t flinch when the dragon’s breath washed over him in a warm, huffing gust—he only laughed, soft and breathless, brushing his dark hair back from his face as though it were nothing more than a playful breeze. But inside? Inside, he was reeling with wonder. 

He’d expected many things—maybe a growl, a shift of wings, the dragon simply flying away again—but not… this. Not the great creature lowering his head until it rested atop one massive forelimb, the weight of his skull settling into the earth with a thrum Zack could feel in his bones. Not the slow blink—heavy lids drawing down over eyes that had held the sky itself in their depths. Not the quiet, unbothered confidence of a creature inviting presence without a single word.

It stole Zack’s breath more effectively than any roar.

He stood very still, his heart fluttering against his ribs like a trapped bird. The realization that the dragon wasn’t going to just disappear hit him like a tidal wave. Feeling overwhelmed but also relieved. He took a tentative step forward. Then another. The dragon didn’t stir.

Zack swallowed, eyes darting from the creature’s folded wings to the gentle rise and fall of his breath. Even relaxed, he was enormous, and Zack felt as small as a mouse beside him—yet somehow, that smallness wasn’t frightening. It felt right. Natural. Like fitting into a space he hadn’t known was meant for him. 

He moved slowly to the side of the dragon’s massive head, close enough now that he could see the subtle shifts of color across each scale, shimmering almost. His hand hovered uncertainly. 

“I… I don’t want to bother you,” he murmured, cheeks warm. “I just want to learn. To understand you. If you’ll let me.”

The only answer was another slow breath, deep and steady—almost a sigh. A patient one. Maybe even amused. Zack’s smile tugged wider. Okay. That was permission… wasn’t it? He eased closer until he could finally… finally rest both hands gently along the side of the dragon’s jaw. The heat beneath the scales pulsed against his palms, steady and alive. Zack exhaled shakily, overwhelmed by the sheer realness of it, the power humming just beneath that smooth, impossibly strong exterior.

“You’re incredible,” he whispered, voice catching with emotion he didn’t quite have the words for.

His hands slid down the curve of the jaw until he stood so close his shoulder brushed warm scales. Something inside him—bravery, foolishness, instinct—pushed him further. With a shaky exhale, he leaned forward, stretching his arms as far as they could reach, and…hugged the dragon’s head.

Zack didn’t know if it was stupid or presumptuous. Or utterly insane. He just knew it felt right. Like his heart had been waiting for this warmth, this presence, this wordless acceptance—his entire life. He pressed his cheek against the smooth scales, hands splayed wide, eyes falling shut as the bond pulsed once more beneath his skin, bright and sure.

If the dragon had wanted him off, he could have flicked his head and sent Zack sailing into the trees. Zack was aware that he could still do that and should be careful, but despite knowing he could very well be risking his life being so close to a dragon, he couldn’t seem to pull away. If anything, he just wanted to be closer, to learn everything there was to learn about the beautiful dragon before him. 

When he finally does pull back, it's only to admire the dragon some more and trail his hands over more of the dragon’s scales, along its neck and down one of the dragon’s legs to its claws. Zack walks around the whole dragon, gently touching here and there, clambering over its tail to get to the other side faster, only to repeat his inspection until he is once again in front of the dragon. He runs both hands down the scales one more time before then, just leaning his forehead against the dragon’s side, smiling to himself

“Thanks for not eating me.” He jokes with a wide grin.

But really, he was happy the dragon was kind enough to indulge his curiosity and couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps the creature was just as curious about him? 

[saishuu-heiki]

how much harder would the little human's heart beat if the dragon would suddenly snatch him in his massive maw and . . devoured him. the great beast entertained the thought for the most ephemeral of a second. the thought was not born out of any sort of malice nor any hunger. it was human , in a matter , how a thought could prove be intrusive and short-lived. while in reality Sephiroth would not attempt to harm the human , a good scare might prove worth it. to remind the human of his place. to further cement himself in bitter isolation. very wrong, sephiroth— the deep voice in the back of his head reverberated. why save the human's home and offer another chance for connection if for naught?

why indeed. more amusing than his internal dilemma was the boy's external mannerisms. wandering and certainly not shy hands touched sephiroth in the most intimate of ways that the dragon was being tipped more into temptation to give the human a stern lesson. would sephiroth not act the same if he met another living dragon? he might be inclined if emotions from lonely to excitement stirred him into such boundary-breaking actions. maybe. humans were humans ; the world was their game board. by the time sephiroth came to a decision , the human was being too . . too innocent and pure of heart that the decision was made for him. and for a brief moment , the creature didn't know if he , himself , felt happiness , or he was growing the capability of feeling the human's emotions.

the dragon ridder and the dragon. sephiroth wrapped his tail closer to his body , and the massive appendage of muscle and gleaming scales very nearly touched the young human. fire did not rumble inside his stomach but laughter did — the closest thing a dragon could come to laughter with a little rumble and hot air expelled from his nostrils. sephiroth swiveled and positioned his head as much as possible to get a closer look at the man. yes , he was a man despite his child-like exuberance. the great dragon opted to lie his chin on the vegetation right beside the human , that way those massive gleaming eyes could look at him closely , so much it made him cross-eyed momentarily. he blew a very warm gust of air at his companion and watched curiously as hair spikes and clothes rippled with the force.

thanks for not eating me.

now , would he be able to feel the human's fear? without much warning beside the coiling shift of muscle , sephiroth lifted his head , peeled back his lips , and with extreme care picked the human up by the loose clothing at the back of his neck. he lifted him off the ground by the extension of his neck , however when he heard the material rip slightly , he whipped his head back to deposit the human on the broad surface between his shoulder blades. would the human be able to hold on? sephiroth's scales were smooth and not keeled , so he took it slow rising to his haunches , then to all four limbs , and then to a slow trot past trees that were dwarfed in his appearance.

when the dragon felt clumsy human hands and legs struggle to keep hold , he slowed his pace , snaking around trees which could've whipped the man. slowly it became a matter of who was walking who. flocks of yellow and black birds flushed out from canopies while a small herd of deer ran in opposite direction. the human brought out impulsivity in him for suddenly sephiroth stopped and dropped into a sitting position on his haunches , just so he could feel the human struggle before eventually succumbing to gravity and sliding down the long length of his back. the dragon even maneuvered his head to watch it all unfold.

[usermovies]

FRANKENSTEIN

2025, dir. Guillermo del Toro

[puppyclasshero]

Zack froze when the roar rolled through the trees… deep and resonant, the kind of sound that didn’t just echo but settled in his very being. Every hair on his arms rose, not in fear, but in a strange, dizzying recognition. It wasn’t a warning. It wasn’t even a threat. It felt… like an answer? His grin came unbidden, small at first, then bright as sunlight breaking through clouds. 

“So you are here,” he breathed.

He started toward the sound, boots brushing through grass and fallen leaves, every step drawn by that invisible pull humming faintly beneath his ribs. The air felt different as he neared the Isle—charged, alive, and almost as if everything around him was just as excited as him. The forest opened before him, and there, half-shrouded in dappled light…was the dragon. Zack stopped dead in his tracks. The creature lay stretched across the earth like a mountain that had chosen to rest. Sunlight spilled over scales of silver and pale steel, gleaming like tempered armor. The air shimmered faintly around him, heavy with warmth and so many different sensations, feelings, and senses he couldn’t quite grasp yet. Zack couldn’t move for a long moment. His throat was dry, his heart loud in his ears. It wasn’t the kind of beauty he could comprehend—it was the kind that demanded reverence. The kind that rewrote the air. When he finally remembered to breathe, it came out as a quiet, awed laugh.

 “You’re real, you’re really real!"

The more he stood there in the dragon’s presence, the more grounded he felt. Like something he’s been missing just clicked. As if the world finally made sense. He swallowed hard, lowering his gaze for a moment—not in submission, exactly, but in respect..

 “I didn’t mean to intrude, I just… needed to see you again. To make sure it wasn’t a dream.”

The dragon didn’t move. He didn’t need to. The air between them vibrated faintly, like a plucked string. Zack could feel it—something alive and wordless, threading through his chest. He placed a hand over his heart instinctively, where that strange warmth pulsed strongest.

“You feel that too, don’t you? Whatever this is…”

Zack hoped he wasn’t just going crazy, wasn’t just so excited that he was creating something out of nothing. He took a careful step closer. Then another. Standing right before the dragon. Zack knew. Not how, not why, but simply knew. That they were connected. That something ancient and quiet had woken the night the dragon touched his soul. Zack stopped a few paces away, his voice hushed, reverent.

“I don’t even know your name,” he said, almost to himself. “But I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

Slowly, as though guided by something greater than courage, he lifted a hand and extended it toward the dragon. The air between them shimmered faintly. His fingertips brushed the edge of a scale, smooth, warm, alive. It wasn’t just touch. It was like… communion.

For a single, suspended heartbeat, Zack felt everything... the earth beneath them, the wind around them, the endless sky above... and through it all, the presence of the dragon, vast and uncontainable. It filled him without consuming him.. It was shocking enough that he pulled his hand back, but he didn’t pull back far. Only to make sure the dragon was okay with his proximity. After a moment of just admiring the beautiful dragon, he clears his throat and speaks again.

“My name is Zack. I was wondering uh, have you always been here or where did you come from?” 

He isn’t sure if the dragon would respond, but still, something about just speaking to the dragon felt comforting, like the more he spoke to it, the more solid and real it became in his mind. Not a dream, he kept telling himself.

[saishuu-heiki]

precisely as expected , urgency and excitement took the physical form of a human man , and though sephiroth was a massive creature he could hear that thrilling panting overcoming the human. massive ears for a massive hunter , but perhaps the great beast was imagining it — what it would feel like to be completely enthralled by a singular thing. some amusement was born as he watched and heard what the human had to offer. very much like watching a newborn fawn view the world for all it is beauties and not yet the horrors. sephiroth was not a nurturing creature but just then he felt something beyond the ordinary. it could have been ego, yes . . or sephiroth was also delighted to meet him , a dragonrider.

it was difficult to decipher in that very instance what the dragon was feeling because unlike the human , he had never dreamed of meeting a dragonrider nor was his life filled with any sort of longing. deep down it was a farce for all creatures even those solitary wished for companionship or a mate. dragons existed without dragonriders while dragonriders were simply human without those majestic creatures. of all the humans roaming the planet of course it the was the boy who so dutifully tended to the isle and who looked so absolutely jubilant. it warmed his heart to a degree but caution was not gifted to the wind , and despite what he may have felt a dragon's face made for excellent bluffing.

serene he appeared. regal above all.

while the human was a static ball of merriment and smiles. no one had ever smiled at sephiroth. it was strange going from complete solitude and secrecy to openly amusing a human's fascinations. and how bold the human continued to act! he spoke from the heart and for that sephiroth could fault him not. however he assumed prematurely that bond between dragon and rider was set and done. there were other dragons in history , those that refused any rider , who would have turned a man to ash for just as much. fortunately sephiroth was not cruel. fortunately sephiroth was lonely without really knowing but curious above all.

this connection felt warm in a way which hummed in his brain like waking up to the sun's full might. thus as prideful as the creature may have been , he did not snap from the unasked touch. the human was brave and perhaps stupid and perhaps in a sort of love. but was it A fascination or where they meant to be dragon and his rider? there was too much sephiroth did not know , however like all living creatures he , too , felt instinct. it kept him alive for centuries and it brought him to the human this day ; the previous day had only been foolish emotion.

sephiroth blinked slowly as he looked at this dwarfed human while hearing his words and hearing what instinct or magic was telling him. i feel like i've known you forever. what an odd creature. one full of hope ; sephiroth had known this for all the years he watched him — zack. of course in his dragon form sephiroth could not respond but would he have . . did he wish to answer for that matter? was this zack expecting a response? sephiroth craned his massive head to the side and blinked at the boy before he dropped his head to gaze inquisitively at his company. could zack feel what sephiroth was feeling?

at the very least could he read what cerulean eyes divulged? sephiroth was a very silent creature , a product of being solitary , but he suddenly released a hot gust of breath from his nostrils. it was as though sephiroth was saying you're a silly human. not in a bad way by any means yet surely it would all get lost in translation. sephiroth's utterly massive head lied down atop one of his front limbs , and it really put the dragonrider's small stature into perspective ; he was smaller than a single eye. sephiroth hit him with a gentle blast of air before closing lids over both eyes to simply . . relax. listen to nature and see what the boy would do next.

[lenreli]

[mcflymemes]

PROMPTS FROM BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY *  assorted dialogue from the video game, some reworked to suit a meme format, adjust as necessary

you don't understand. i need you. i can't win without you.

you expecting a kiss?

i didn't need your help.

that's not what it looked like from where i was standing.

i think you should do what he says.

it'll be a shame to get blood all over my nice new outfit.

have you ever seen a flower die? watched something that was once so beautiful, so full of life, collapse and rot from within?

impressive, [name]. i doubted you'd actually return.

i'm a man of my word.

give it to me.

i've seen worse.

what the hell are you supposed to be?

please don't hurt me. i didn't mean it!

i'm surprised he didn't kill you.

you can hear me, can you?

have you ever considered that all this is your fault? your presence creates this animals.

you are all experiencing fear in anticipation of some specific pain or danger. this is perfectly understandable.

what the hell happened in there?

i told you it would work.

you're mine now.

lower your weapons.

have you tried the front door?

who sent you?

when you see what i've been planning all along, you'll just die!

that doesn't sound good.

how's it hangin'?

i'm running out of patience. you're running out of people. let's see what runs out first.

welcome to hell!

stop right there! we need to talk.

i have a question for you.

you should have killed me.

what the hell?

sorry to disappoint you boys. it's just little ol' me.

what are you waiting for? come on!

we all know you'll save me.

every decision you've ever made ends in death and misery. people die. i stop you.

are you happy now?

you want to know something funny? even after everything you've done... i would have saved you.

that actually is pretty funny.

get back here.

no one's who you think they are.

it was all a lie. there's nothing wrong with you.

nice of you to say, but you of all people should know... there's plenty wrong with me.

this stuff is killing me.

why should i care?

don't tell me it's not what you always wanted.

look, we're running out of time.

i need your help.

so we both die. i'm fine with that.

what are you talking about?

i'll be in touch!

he is kicking all kinds of ass down there.

no gun? shame. this is gonna hurt.

two guns, bitch!

how does it feel, [name]?

do you feel sad? full of rage?

you're truly an extraordinary specimen... i look forward to breaking you.

i feel i should thank you.

it will be my legacy.

if you try to stop me, i guarantee everyone will know your secret.

let's just talk about this.

now you wanna talk?

well, look who it is. i haven't seen you for... how long has it been?

oh, that's right. you left me to die.

i am sorry i doubted you.

you're better than this.

you're making me late for my spa treatment!

look around you.

where the hell have you been? i thought you were dead.

shut it down? by the end of tonight, i will be a hero.

anyone ever tell you that you're full of surprises?

i think i chipped a nail back there.

that's not what i wanted to hear.

this place is dangerous. i like it.

[jesenipaints]

Couldn't sleep yesterday so i ended up painting sephiroth

[puppyclasshero]

It was as if he were caught in a dream… half awake, half adrift in something far greater than himself. Zack could feel the dragon’s gaze upon him, but beneath that weight was something deeper, something vast and wordless that coursed through his veins like fire and lightning. It wasn’t fear that held him still; it was too much. Too much power, too much wonder—too much of everything. The sensation flooded his senses, his thoughts, his very soul, until he felt as though he might burst apart from it. For one wild heartbeat, he felt infinite. Invincible.

And then, before he could even begin to understand it, the dragon moved. With a shudder of wings and a rush of air, it lifted from the earth and soared into the heavens once more. His hair and clothes fluttered from the lingering wind, and his chest heaved for a moment. Above him, the deep violet sky swallowed the final trails of silver and teal light, as though trying to hide the miracle that had just been. His hand hung in the air for a moment longer, fingers outstretched toward the empty heavens. Slowly, he pressed that same hand to his chest, over the furious rhythm of his heart. He could still feel it—the echo of the dragon’s power, the warmth, the pulse, the nameless something that refused to fade. Not just awe. Not gratitude. Something older, older than blood, older than the mountains themselves.

The forest seemed to breathe with him. The wind whispered through the leaves, and the stars blinked faintly above. He drew in a deep breath, the air thick with the scent of earth, sap, and the faint trace of smoke. It felt as though the dragon had left a fragment of himself here, lodged in the quiet… and inside Zack’s chest.

He sank into the grass, sitting cross-legged in the soft earth. The ground bore gentle scars from where the dragon’s claws had pressed and curved arcs in the soil. Reverently, Zack brushed his fingers over one. Real, he told himself

“Guess you’re not just a story anymore... You’re really out there.”

Tilting his head back, he searched the sky again, tracing invisible paths beyond the stars.

“You’ll come back, right?”

He asked quietly, though the only reply was the murmur of wind through the branches. Still… something inside him stirred in answer. A spark. A pull. A bond invisible but unbreakable, humming just beneath his ribs—alive with a sudden spark like a flame. It ached faintly, not with sorrow but anticipation. He knew, with a certainty that reached beyond reason, that their paths would cross again.

When the night deepened and the forest found its voice once more, insects, the distant sound of an owl… Zack finally rose. He brushed the grass from his trousers, eyes still lifted toward the stars. The dragon had changed something. No—everything... The world felt wider now, as though some ancient current had been stirred awake. And he, reckless and ordinary as he was, had been chosen to stand at the heart of it.

He turned one last time toward the direction the dragon had flown, and a small smile curved his lips. Then, with a deep breath, he faced the shadowed path that led home.

By dawn, the world felt almost normal again—almost. Zack had checked on his family first thing. His father still hadn’t woken, but his breathing was steady, his color returning. Relief loosened something tight in Zack’s chest. He spent the morning helping his aunt and siblings with chores and fixing the damage from the attack, as well as assisting a few of the villagers, though his mind was elsewhere, caught between memory and wonder.

When midday came and the others paused for lunch, he slipped away. He rode out toward the Isle, tying his horse to the familiar old tree before taking the rest of the way on foot. His heart thudded with quiet excitement as he neared the clearing.

“Hello?! I’m back! I’ve got so many questions! I don’t know if you can talk or not, but I know you can understand me…”

His voice carried through the quiet wood, bright and hopeful. And for a heartbeat, as the wind shifted, Zack swore he felt it again! That warmth in the air, that hum beneath his skin. The dragon’s presence. Watching. Waiting.

[saishuu-heiki]

it was not trouble which found the creature in slumber but something did find and capture him. a spider's sticky web of consciousness. while any winged creature would thrash against the hold , he succumbed to the trip his mind— offered rather forced. he always dreamt of the past or what his imagination perceived was the past. hot dragon breath , the isle nursing dozen of dragon eggs , winged silhouettes dominating the skies. that night he dreamt of . . the present and the possible future. the clamour of voices , banners holding the dragon insignia , and distinct hands touching scales and scaled and then nude bare flesh. when the warmth and light of dawn woke him a grogginess bubbled inside his mind like gasses erupting in swamp waters. definitely unpleasant.

unlike gaseous bodies of water rich with vegetation and nutrients , waking anything except refreshed was the oddity. sephiroth was not one to jump to any brash conclusions ; he knew the events of the previous day were responsible for the quality of his dreams and sleep. how long before bandits , empires , and pirates came searching for him? how long before the villagers would come to either dread his existence or beg for his aid at the smallest of inconvenience? ultimately — what was power if not applied to the world? sephiroth snorted a long and heated breath strong enough to stir bushes and shrubs while silencing insects.

birds and small mammals kept clear from him as he , unusually , remained in his bed of grasses well past dawn. it was utterly boring just lying about when the day was ripe for movement. a warm breeze danced in the sky like a finger , or a claw , urging him to seize the day. sephiroth appeared more like a wolf pup fresh out the den than a gigantic dragon in the way he slowly rose to the four trunks of his legs. as if to distract from reality and the eventuality of the future , sephiroth continued his lumbering morning rise by preening the scales of his front legs he was capable of reaching. hawks crying in the distance mocked him. no , sephiroth was imagining things.

he cursed his well-developed brain and how it continued to conjure image and thought one after the other. did deer or beetles think as he , as humans did? adamantly he marched to the slope of the mountain where he used the sharp angle as a literal jumping off point. sephiroth allowed his elegant body to fall with wings tucked like a shooting star , then his wings shot out and the lift created took him soaring back high. the day was spent flying , hunting , and bathing in a land bound body of water which became something of a second home to him. it was like any other day except it was the exact opposite. he was thinking and thinking too much. thinking of what was to come but more importantly his thoughts were consumed over the dragon rider.

dragons were not possession and were not meant to be ridden , but there was an unspoken symbiosis between dragon and dragon rider though not all of either class were equal. not all who were dragon riders could ride a dragon like sephiroth , and not all dragons liked being ridden regardless of the human. it was his longing for ancestry which drove him mad , yet when he really thought about it , not any dragon rider could capture his mind as the young human did. dedication , kindness and empathy made the human unique. sephiroth couldn't shake the sensation of their first official meeting out of his mind. after eating and swimming , sephiroth , the great beast , returned to the dragon isle and was . . surprised the human had not returned.

he had been so eager even by remaining well-past the sunset. he had expected the human to be at the isle by morning. perhaps he had desired it. it was ridiculous and foolish. sephiroth did not desire , and most of all he did not wait except for the changing seasons. thought . . what else had he do but bathe in sun shine? where isle vegetation grew thick into trees , he lied hidden from plain view and relaxed. lizards bathed in much the same way where rock sat uncovered on the isle. dragons were apex predators , so the sound of incoming company did not evade his senses. the dragon , with lids shut over eyes still , waited until the presence made itself known. the dragon rider.

hah! was sephiroth at his beck and call? preposterous! dragons were nearly as terrible as humans when it came to the vastness of emotions , pride being a dangerous evolution of emotion. well , the greatest beast of all the lands was no domesticated dog , thus did not come when called. sephiroth did pick up his head and opened massive maw to bellow a call. canopy leaves moved and birds cried with fright as sephiroth said come here to me. when the dragon rider did find him behind the actual isle , he would find the regal beast of all landscape lounging self indulgently though his gaze said anything else but lazy. it was as if those extraordinary teal eyes waited to be met with something spectacular.

[saengjonja]

Jae glances down, but his narrow eyes are unfocused. He doesn’t have to look, because he is painfully aware in what ways he is lacking, as well as what traits he desired to rid himself of. The swell of too much fat bound tight against his visibly flattened chest, hips that were still too wide despite having little by the way of physical softness- Merely lean muscle and sharp juts of bony landmarks. The shots did enough to deepen his voice, causing a kind of second coming of adolescent changes that affected his body in various ways. Verdot had spared him going under the scalpel within a certain Department Chairman’s sterile labs, saw to certain details being edited in Yoon’s file so no one would be the wiser. It wasn’t that his own dysphoria was a source of weakness or revulsion so much as he simply understood, intrinsically, that his ascent up the ranks would be far easier if he had simply been born a certain way. But he also had to acknowledge that in some strange way, he did possess unusual qualities that might aid him on missions he hadn’t considered before.

“I think coming to terms with the fact that I couldn’t become him, not in the way I wanted, anyway… was the hardest. But I’m slowly realizing that I do have other strengths and specialities that I can use to my advantage, hone to perfection and utilize in ways that I wouldn’t have considered before. I wanted to be useful, to have a greater purpose, be the perfect sword sheathed to his side… But I’m just one of a great many tools he has to call on, but a necessary link he requires to retain control over a certain branch of intel. I need to focus more on what I can do with my own power, how to maintain it, how to expand its reach and grasp- It’s a path that only I have an intimate understanding of and I am granted a certain level of autonomy to act within its system of checks and balances.”

The youth stares down at the rough, leathery skin of his open palm, creased with calluses and broken blisters, the imprint of a thin knife’s handle forever branded to his darker flesh. 

“It wasn’t so much that I ‘gave up’- More so that it was realizing what I needed to adapt and change about the narrative I’d decided inside my own head. I was limiting myself without realizing it, closing off avenues and doorways that could have remained open and of use to my goals. But there’s still so much more to learn, to improve, to observe, to put into practice… I don’t have to become the Director’s shadow, or even some facsimile of his former partner, to prove that I wasn’t a mistake. Even if I was a mistake, or an afterthought, then that’s not what has to define me- or limit what I’m actually capable of.”

He despises speaking openly about himself this much, the weariness to his expression growing as he sighs and rolls his head to the side to crack his neck.

“But I’m sure you didn’t make me come all the way here to listen to me yammer on like that, so- What’s the punishment? Fifty lashes, cleaning the SOLDIER floor bathrooms with a worn toothbrush? Writing a twelve page apology letter addressed to you personally?”

[saishuu-heiki]

too often surrounded by sycophants , insult-hurling enemies , and a tremendous amount of ( two ) friends was sephiroth that a single interaction stimulated him so greatly. it was no insult to the young SHINRA employee for even frequent meaningful conversation with meaningful people would not dull the power of such words , but sephiroth was definitely more intrigued than he anticipated he would have been. such abundant conversation was one thing to be intrigued by , but more than that it was where the words emanated — a youngling who had no relationship with sephiroth beside the obvious professional link.

sephiroth experienced his fair share of fans , SOLDIER recruits , and office workers who approached with him a boldness which only birthed annoyance. speeches of love and admiration and propositions involving the pleasure of the body which were all too informal if not downright crude. it was incredibly bold to speak and speak as if they were equals , but if conversation was worth the merit it warranted sephiroth's attention. it seemed as though the young employee simply needed to speak ; a head full of thoughts and emotions that found themselves reaching the famed general's ears.

he understood and then he didn't understand , yet such a thing was normal in lives full of tribulations while being completely independent. did he speak so openly with every other people who worked with him or offered an ear , or was sephiroth different? sephiroth wondered a great many of things which amused himself , however amusement was no directly precisely at what jae said ; no insult was meant. in a similar manner at which the young one sighed and cracked his neck , sephiroth inhaled deeply and pivoted his body as if it move past jae. fifty lashes? what year was it? sephiroth's slender eyebrow arched once again.

❛ is that what you want — to be lashed or to write an essay? ❜

where the rumors growing that inflated to believe sephiroth used physical force on anyone he saw fit , or that he was vain enough to desire reading page after page of words dedicated in his honour? silver hairs spilled across his shoulders and across his broad back as he shook his head to dismiss the thought of a punishment. he may have been setting a bad example but an accident was an accident.

❛ consider this conversation punishment enough. ❜

consider working for SHINRA punishment enough. sephiroth kept quiet.

❛ people will be prodding you enough with questions regarding this exchange. it should keep you plenty busy , so you are free to go. ❜

[saishuu-heiki]

i have never had to justify sehiroth's boob window and honestly have never given it any thought within his canon; even outside of writing it has just been a passing thought. it really is weird though, isn't it? i know the designers at square enix were getting their gay on, but what is sephiroth's justification for the design choice? perhaps it was an act of rebellion. perhaps it was an attempt to bring some semblance of fashion to what would become a staple of his life.

i do find it amusing that the only other character ( i don't know about the remake ) to be so brazen in showing off is reno. yes, barret shows some skin, but it's more like a tank-top. tifa and barret with the tanks. sephiroth and reno with the boob window. therefore tit windows are possibly evil.

[puppyclasshero]

For a long, breathless moment, everything was still. Zack stood among the whispering trees, the evening air cool against his flushed cheeks. Silence pressed in on him… thick, heavy, absolute. Disappointment began to seep into his chest, an emptiness settling there like cold stone. Maybe the dragon had heard him and simply chosen not to answer. Maybe it had come from somewhere far beyond this place, a wandering miracle that owed him nothing.

Perhaps it wasn’t even his dragon, not the one he had imagined watching over the Isle all these years. Just a traveler of the skies, a fleeting dream. The thought left a hollow ache behind his ribs. With a soft sigh, he lowered his head, closing his eyes as the faint wind brushed through his dark hair. 

But then— A rustle. Leaves shuddered. Branches swayed. The forest itself seemed to inhale. Zack’s eyes flew open, heart hammering as his gaze swept across the shadows. And then he saw it. Something vast moved through the trees with impossible grace, each motion deliberate, majestic. The air shimmered faintly as evening light caught on scales of silver and teal, like water reflecting starlight.

Zack’s breath caught. His entire body trembled—not in fear, but in awe. A deep, radiant warmth spread through him, a pulsing energy he couldn’t name, couldn’t contain. Every heartbeat felt like a drum summoning ancient memory. The dragon descended and then landed with unexpected grace. Zack couldn’t move at first. His brain lagged behind the wonder his eyes drank in. Then, suddenly, he was laughing—bright, breathless laughter bubbling out of him as if the world itself had just split open with light.

He ran! Sprinted as hard as he could. He didn’t think—he couldn't. His legs moved of their own accord, driven by instinct and joy. The sheer size of the creature should have terrified him, should have pinned him where he stood. But fear had no place here. Not for him. He stopped only when he was close enough to feel the dragon’s breath—warm and steady, carrying the scent of smoke and earth and something older than time.

Zack tilted his head back, eyes wide, trying to take it all in— the shimmer of scales that shifted hue with every flicker of starlight, the coiled grace beneath its stillness. His mouth opened, but no words came out. Only a shaky laugh that caught somewhere between disbelief and reverence. Slowly, his hand lifted—hesitant, trembling. Inches from the dragon’s snout, he froze. The creature’s eyes met his.

They were vast oceans of teal, deep and knowing. The world seemed to still around them. Even the insects stopped their nocturnal chorus, the forest holding its breath. Time stopped.

Zack’s heart pounded so fiercely he thought it might burst. He didn’t understand it! This flood of joy, this ache of recognition—but it filled every corner of him. The air itself seemed to hum between them, the same hum he had always felt on the Isle but stronger, alive. Tears stung his eyes. He let out a small, incredulous laugh that broke into something softer, almost a sob.

Finally, his hand found the courage to close the space. Fingers brushed against scales—warm, so much warmer than he thought it would be, smooth, impossibly solid. His breath hitched as he leaned forward, resting his forehead against the dragon, letting its warmth envelope him.

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you… my family, my friends—they’d all be gone. I owe you everything.”

He stayed like that for a while, eyes closed, hand still pressed to gleaming scales. He could feel the creature’s quiet strength beneath his palm, steady and vast like the heartbeat of the world itself.

There were a thousand questions tangled in his chest—about dragons, about where it's been this whole time. But in that moment, Zack didn’t need answers. All he needed was this… the warmth of living legend under his touch, and the quiet, unshakable certainty that he was no longer alone.

[saishuu-heiki]

a new kind of life entered the world , and it was not the birthing of a new dragon , but it was special all the same. a birth similar to a new draconoid cracking shell to take first breath ; it was the union of dragon and dragon ridder. and was the human aware of the generational power lying inside his veins? for this human acted so boldly as if the great silver beast was his. no fear nor trepidation was found within footing. any hesitation present was pure thrill ; sephiroth did not require his human form nor years among the humans to feel it. as thunder rolling brought excitement to severely droughted lands , the thundering pace of the boy's heart signaled glee.

the tremendous and gloriously beautiful dragon could have bared ivory teeth or snapped hot breath in order to let the human's place be known , however sephiroth was not that kind of creature. he did appreciate respect , and respect meant distance. the human boy lacked respect or was it . . the only way he knew how to demonstrate his gratefulness? sephiroth stiffened , and every muscle , big or small , tightened beneath glimmering scales. it was momentary. it did not pass with a blink but with several breaths. fear was not the motivator , instead it was shock — a lack of contact with humans.

sephiroth had walked among humans long ago but had never been touched by one and certainly not in his dragon form. he expected very little like the brushing of fern against a claw , but sephiroth did feel it. a lone human hand. just as the human felt strength inside the dragon , the dragon found it mirrored with the human. it was more than strength as well. the dragon rider blood was powerful in a way sephiroth never experienced , but there was no denying the pull between man and creature. the fact was plain like moon and sun , yet the planet did not come to be in a single instance. a dragon's lifetime of healthy apprehension would not fall under the tide of . . of human persuasion , no matter if it was fate.

at the very least , the boy who touched without receiving permission was polite in the words ushered. sephiroth did not speak and it was almost as if he thought it was nothing major. it was tremendous. consequences would be had , but until then the magnificent creature coiled his neck in order to bring a behemoth head close to the human. an eye as tall as the boy stared but not as predator eyeing prey. it was . . matter of fact perhaps leaning on the side of gentility. several seconds stretched into eternity then returned to the sensation of quick passing seconds.

sephiroth rose softly well-aware of the sizes of both their bodies before walking away queerly light on such massive feet. he paused. he waited. he knew not why , but then his wings extended to touch nearly the highest reaches of the sky. sephiroth , the greatest dragon , melted into the darkening sky like fish dipping silently into water. would the boy ride home in the darkness or sleep among the ghosts of dragons long gone?

[jesenipaints]

Sephiroth

[puppyclasshero]

Flying. . . Sometimes he soared through endless seas of white, cool clouds—soft as spun silk and sweet as the lull of dawn. Other times, he flew beneath star-scattered skies, each constellation blazing like a path laid out just for him. Zack Fair often dreamt of flying. As a child, he’d lie on the grassy hills of Crystalfell, hands folded beneath his head, eyes fixed on the sky until the sun sank and the first stars winked awake. He’d listen to his grandfather’s voice beside him, low and rough like crackling embers, weaving tales of the great beasts that once ruled both heaven and earth.

Dragons.

To everyone else in their humble countryside village, dragons were nothing but myth. Ashes of a long-dead age. But for Zack, dragons meant hope. They meant home. A piece of himself he’d never known but longed for with every heartbeat. He absorbed every story, every legend, not as fantasy but as memory... something ancient stirring deep within his bones. When he was old enough, his grandfather took him to the Isle—the resting place of dragons and dragon riders. Zack still remembered the first time his boots touched its soil. The air itself seemed alive, thick with an ancient hum that wrapped around him like an unseen welcome. Something deep inside him had awakened that day, a thrumming rhythm he couldn’t name but somehow knew. He didn’t fear it. He embraced it.

Even after his grandfather’s passing, Zack returned to the Isle often. He cleaned the moss from carved stones, tended to the wildflowers that grew through cracked memorials, and spoke aloud to the ghosts of his ancestors. Sometimes he even spoke to the dragons themselves, as though they lingered in spirit just beyond the veil. And at times— when the wind carried a strange warmth or a shadow rippled across the trees... he swore he was being watched. Not in alarm. But in quiet guardianship. Maybe it was just wishful thinking. Still, it was comforting.

The villagers found him a little odd, perhaps too dreamy for a man his age but he was respected. The Fair family name carried weight; his father was the village head, stern and proud, and Zack’s natural charm softened even the most skeptical hearts. He was the one people came to when their horses fell ill or when the children clamored for stories by the fire. His laughter was bright, his spirit restless, and though he bore the pressure of lineage, he still carried that boyish gleam in his eyes… the kind that made you believe in impossible things.

That morning began like any other on the Isle. Zack spent hours wandering through the ruins and forested slopes, soaking in the quiet. By the time he turned to leave, dusk had begun its slow descent, and the horizon blazed gold. He mounted his horse in a strong dark bay and gave a soft pat to its neck. The horse’s ears flicked. Then the horse reared with a sharp whinny, nostrils flaring as if catching some distant scent. Zack’s smile faltered. What was it?... The answer came with the wind—smoke.  And beneath it, a sound no one could mistake. Screams. Dread knifed through his chest before his eyes even found the rising plume.

“...No.”

He didn’t think. He moved.  Kicking hard, Zack urged the horse into a hard gallop, the landscape blurring around him. The air grew hotter, darker, and the sound of chaos swelling in his ears. Please—let them be safe. Let everyone be safe. If only the dragons were still here, he could have reached them in a heartbeat. Please! 

 And then—  A thunderous roar shattered the sky. Zack looked up, and every dream he’d ever clung to came alive. A dragon!

A living, breathing dragon—a silver-and-teal colossus wreathed in sunlight, wings vast enough to cast entire fields in shadow. His breath caught, tears stinging his eyes.

“...You’re real.”

Most men would have fled. But Zack only felt awe, relief, joy.  The dragon wasn’t a harbinger of destruction—it was a promise answered.

He spurred the horse onward, following the creature’s flight toward the village. By the time he arrived, the air burned with smoke, the acrid scent of blood and ash mixing thick in his lungs. But many of the flames were dying, smothered by something immense—someone immense. Zack barely had a moment to marvel before chaos found him again. Raiders still roamed the outskirts, looting what remained. One charged him from the side. In a fluid motion born from instinct, Zack swung low, hanging off the horse’s flank to snatch an axe from a fallen man. He pivoted hard, cleaving through the nearest attacker before the man could strike a fleeing villager.

Another came. Then another. He hopped off the horse. Zack fought with fierce precision, less trained soldier, more desperate protector. When the last of the attackers near him fell, Zack turned, panting, eyes searching for that glimmer of silver. The dragon loomed in the distance, wings spread wide like a god descending from the heavens. Every movement shook the ground, every breath a gale. Zack wanted to run to it! To see it up close, to speak to it but duty anchored him. He turned toward his home, where cries still rose.

By the time the dragon departed, silence swept the village like a sudden winter. Smoke curled lazily into the night sky. The warmth that had filled the air moments ago was gone, leaving Zack feeling strangely hollow.

He found his father beneath a collapsed beam—alive but barely conscious. Zack and a few villagers dragged him inside, where a healer worked quickly. His younger siblings clung to him in trembling silence while their aunt, Anabel, muttered quiet prayers over the wounded.

“Luckily,” she whispered, rubbing a hand over her face, “there weren’t many casualties. Thanks to you... and that creature.”

Zack caught her eye, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Not a creature,” he murmured softly. “A dragon.”

She scowled, looking too tired to argue. “Call it what you want… but don’t you dare--”

 Zack was already standing, carefully lifting his sleeping siblings onto their beds. “It saved us. I have to thank them.”

“Are you mad?! You’ll get yourself killed!”

“I’ll be fine,” Zack said, flashing her that same reckless grin that had gotten him out of trouble since he was ten. “Keep an eye on Emi and Alex for me, yeah?” And before she could stop him, he was gone.

The night was deep and windless when Zack reached the Isle once more. His horse’s sides were lathered in sweat, his own breath short and hot in his chest. He dismounted, boots crunching against damp grass, the air charged with something ancient and alive. The moon hung full above, silvering the stones and the lake beyond.

“Hello?!” Zack called out, his voice echoing into the dark. “I know you’re here!”

The forest answered with silence. His heart thundered, that same old hum now a wild, pulsing drumbeat inside him. It was as if his very blood remembered something his mind had forgotten.

“I just—” his voice cracked, eyes scanning the shadowed cliffs, “I just wanted to thank you. For saving them. For saving us.”

Wind stirred the treetops, and for a heartbeat, Zack could have sworn the stars blinked in reply. Ignoring the pain in his aching body, the bruises and small injuries all over, he glances around, bright eyes full of hope and yearning. Just to get one more glimpse… Please!

[saishuu-heiki]

prepared for slumber , colossal dragon took the form of a domesticated ( partially) feline , using leaf litter and twigs as bedding. with the sky blurring deep orange into black , the chattering animals ceased bending his ear for slumber of their own. noise of the chaotic and almost excited forest was replaced by the hissing of insects who were primarily unawares of the dragon's clamor. sephiroth was not tired , but he required the calm and solitude to sift through his thoughts. actions and consequences. all the peace and tranquility that was his life was completely shattered. news would spread and dragon hunters , on top of travelers , would flood the area to catch a glimpse ( and more ) of sephiroth. he saved a village but perhaps doom it and himself in the process.

dragons were proud creatures , and he had not resorted to secrecy due to any sense of fright ; he had wanted to be left alone. after all , the majority of his life had been spent in solitude with no mother , father , or dragon rider at his side. his life had not been entirely without other dragons , but trees had grown towering from the last time he flew with other dragons. pride meant being known. pride meant contributing to the world in some aspect just as every animal and plant. his mind was a mess , but the noise of it all was cut clean and quickly by squeaking— the familiar voice of the ebony haired dragon rider. sephiroth lifted his head off the ground and craned his gigantic head.

the human's voice carried , however the distance between them masked the fragility and rawness of the human's gratitude. crickets were animated in their chatter while disregarding the moment between dragon and human , elsewise all was quiet. sephiroth's teal eyes penetrated the darkness and waited for the silly human to leave. the silly human with dragon rider blood. sephiroth's exhalation quieted crickets as the force of the gust swayed bushes to and fro. the great beast sat up and back on his hindquarters , he waited a little bit more , then decided once and for all to make way past the dense trees and into the sky. he took off with more gentility , allowing his body to drop before he unfurled his wings , and glided effortlessly from his makeshift perch down towards the isle.

his wings spread wider to slow his descent. like a milkweed seed drifting downward , sephiroth landed with great care on the ground. care and gentility for a dragon was still enough to shake the ground. all animals and insects around the area fell into complete silence. sephiroth tucked his wings into his body as he opted to sit downwards one hundred metres away from the dragon rider. it was not the pitch of black yet and sephiroth's body was still luminous under mixed sun and star light. with eyes larger than the boy's body , he watched intently as if he saying you go first. of course , sephiroth in his dragon form would not hold a conversation , but if the human desired to speak and see—he was provided the very opportunity.

[monstermonger]

The Ruins of Eden

[axgmented]

I'm a child, she wants to scream,

She wants him to put up a fight, to tell her no in that solid voice and bar her from going into the programme altogether. Rem wants him to fight for her, to stalk the halls into Hojo’s lab and demand to know what was going through his sinister mind to place her in those ranks. She was small, she was unqualified but she knows on paper that was far from the truth. She knows, in those reports sent to the academy, that she excelled. She had passed multiple tests of her endurance, spent countless hours behind multiple screens and documented everything that was wrong in the correct sequences– Rem was more than ready to join the ranks and to hold her back, to deny her this next step would be inexcusable on his part. 

Yet he doesn't. 

He still kneels, to get to her level. He has never spoken down at her, to her; he simply regards her as if she were a college and the time for the soft touches and trinkets were over. This, was the pain of growing up. So she inhales a fraction of a breath and straightens her head and back. She stands at attention until her spine screams at her. Her fingers feel numb, knuckles white and the skin damn near translucent at how taut they stretched over ridges of bone. He seeks her eyes with a level stare, one with guarded emotions and an ache resides in her marrow. She remembers his smile, when she was brave enough to reach out during the downpour and feel the tears as the planet cried, hear the whispers of their mother who beckoned her children to her side. 

“I dont need friends. Director says they’re a distraction.” 

You’re my friend, she wants to say. You’ve always been my friend but the word feels too out of place. Taboo. Would he recoil in disgust if she says it out loud? Did he have friends? She doesn’t recall seeing anyone he spent time with, though what fleeting time they did have together she would selfishly make sure it was all focused on her. 

Silvery eyebrows pulled together slightly in the middle, a small wrinkle forming on an otherwise smooth forehead. He called her a person and the title doesn’t fit her. She was an experiment, that’s what they called her in meetings. That’s what the paperwork said. Project Remnant, Subject 14, Test Subject- R. Person, was never a word used to describe her. She takes the compliment, though confusion makes those ruby eyes soften ever so slightly. Whatever stories she had heard about the academy, about what they do– she’ll make sure to make him proud. She knows she should mean her Father, whoever the unknown strand of DNA was, and yet she can only place the name to the face of the man in front– a child’s wishful thinking. 

“I’m told I could be First Class. He was First Class. I’m supposed to surpass him… Did you go to SOLDIER?”

she can’t help the quiet tone in her voice, like she’s wary of the black security cameras watching them. Hearing them; Big brother was always watching. 

“..were you scared?” 

[saishuu-heiki]

for him it meant nothing being a child for they all fought as children. a sick normalcy which should not have been normalcy , and so easily he could have broken the cycle through sheer strength but he foolishly succumbed. in a small way he was proud of being a SOLDIER and what SHINRA stood for ; perhaps such a grievously flawed mentality had been part of his creation— obedience and dependence towards the master. even while believing he was human he knew no other way of life for himself , but if someone wanted a better and different life ( even if it meant planting beets ) he would not look down at them.

sephiroth would not look down at her. he just needed that inclination. a creature who lacked a great amount of free will needed to hear it , so as she waited for his initiative he waited for her whispered wish. neither of them were appeased , so much so it creased his forehead with disappointment and confusion. she was becoming too brainwashed , and though it was acceptable in any other of SHINRA's dogs ( Including himself ) , it was ugly on her. he sighed in a way a father would over his rueful child.

❛ said by a person with no friends. hmm , yes , i once believed that until i found friends unexpectedly. they fill our days when there is nothing but war and even when there is nothing because of no war. ❜

he didn't boast about being affluent with friends and having a dashing personality for both were falsities , but having even a single friend made life not humdrum— not debilitatingly lonely. what little rem said next shocked him and visibly. his genetically enhanced eye widened then narrowed as his mouth failed him like a bass caught on a hook. did she not know who HE was? did she not see how others reacted to his presence with mixed awe and respect. sephiroth did not carry an ego but fact was fact. there would be no SOLDIER program if not for him ( and hojo's work ). what had been just a program became SHINRA's crown moment and its weapon against the planet. he? him? sephiroth's stomach tightened with discontentment. if anyone were to eavesdrop , he'd rip their ears from their heads.

❛ him who? i am FIRST CLASS. ❜

without me there would be no SOLDIER and no need for you to fight. he did not appreciate displaying his emotions so openly , but he became annoyed in a way which felt abnormal. he withdrew his hand and rose to full , tremendous height with eyes still on the child.

❛ let us go train in the simulation room. you will benefit from it. yes? ❜

get it. understand. understand!