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crankyoldmanFandom: FF7:BC (AU)
Characters/Pairings: Vincent/Veld/Ifalna
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Damsels have been rescued, guilt has been had, now time to address the real problem of an unsafe world. Ifalna decides how best to take care of this. Veld is likely not to be pleased.
Notes: So I had originally planned to make this arc not change any other game canon... but that would be silly and the ideas I have for what to do with this are fun. Ifalna is such a fun main character, I wanted to do more with her. Hence, this. Means that the later Aeris stories I have don't fit in this anymore, they sort of go with normal canon though anyway, so whatever! I'm easygoing. Now onto other WIPs, I AM A MACHINE.
"I think his problem is he always wanted to be some kind of great white knight, and the closest he ever came was busting kneecaps for some corporate parody of an empire."
She had always known that Vincent was intelligent, it was what set him apart and put him at a level where he could be such a distraction to Veld. The thing that used to unsettle her was the distinct lack of emotional depth to the man. Like he wasn't human. His father had the same problem.
Apparently being in a box for a few years loosened his tongue. Insanity had the odd thing of making him more personable.
"So you're restless too."
"Of course."
It had been fun, really. She'd never been rescued before, and it caused sort of a breathless flutter for a while. Maybe women became damsels sometimes because it was flattering, in a way, to be treated as something delicate. But it couldn't last like that, because things simply didn't work that way in real life.
Guilt had passed, it was time to act. The other damsel was sprawled out on the grass, looking down the hill as Veld was shouting at someone through a PHS.
"Do you think that we were supposed to die, Vincent?"
"We're alive, aren't we?"
"But we're not supposed to be."
"You know, for someone I'd always heard described as full of life and vitality by a certain curmudgeon, you're awful preoccupied with death. Who cares what was 'supposed' to happen."
The initial awkward had worn off almost as soon as her guilt had. Veld wouldn't leave Aeris somewhere without at least three of his 'kids' watching, and if she wanted to go see her, Ifalna could simply go, as she always had. Shinra had only found her because she wanted to be closer to the source of what was going wrong, and she'd let her guard down.
And where had the idea of sacrifice come from after all? It wasn't like the language of the Planet and its forces spoke in clear Midgarian.
"You know, you have a point."
Vincent seemed surprised by her admission, almost comically so. He was still so young. Both of them were still so young really. One playing at nobility that had gone out of fashion when even she was young and the other drunk on the freedom of no longer existing in polite society.
It was a good thing that Vincent had been found first. She couldn't imagine what sorts of things they got into.
"I think that Veld was exaggerating when he suggested you were dangerous."
Vincent snorted.
"If you could do me one small favor, Vincent, I would appreciate it..."
---
In the oldest of times, Cetra had been warriors. Maybe that was why she had always found that quality in humans more comforting than anything else. It was complacency and blind eyes that caused more heartache and bloodshed than anything else.
It had always been assumed she would martyr herself in the end, because she never could fight as hard as her brothers and sisters had. But considering they were no longer around and she was alone, maybe her variation of fighting was better. What was protected when the guardians left?
---
The way he leaned against the scraggly tree reminded her of what she had always associated with him; a certain type of creeper vine that wasn't native to the region that took off because the trees it grew on here were higher than where it came from. The phone was on the ground a few feet from him, where he'd obviously thrown it, and she picked it up and placed it in his pocket for him.
"Are you feeling any better?"
"Much better. You're not a half bad healer yourself."
His not being particularly tall had always made it easy to rest her chin on his shoulder when she hugged him from behind. Because everyone knew that the cranky and stubborn sorts were the same sorts that liked to be held.
"They want me back in Midgar soon. I'll figure out a good time to take my retirement soon."
"You don't have to retire, Veld."
"But I should, better keep an eye--"
"Vincent and I are grown adults. But if you are in need of some parenting..." She left it off, because she could only imagine what sort of frown he was making. He probably thought he was being so strong, and his fixation with controlling a situation... silly man didn't realize that it was those times when he relaxed a little that made people pledge their loyalties.
"I don't want to make any more mistakes, Iffy."
It was hard to live without any sort of corruption. The corruption of humans was in the attachments they had. They collected things and placed awards on their mantles. Even things they loved sometimes were mixed up with prizes.
Sending Aeris a couple of godfathers would be the best she could do. She didn't have to exchange her life for her daughter's now. But the world wasn't a safe enough place yet. She needed to know more. And there was only one person that could answer her questions.
Hopefully she'd be able to find her.
"You're only human."
There was only the slightest resistance as she turned his head so that she could kiss him properly. That Alexandrite conditioning of his was problematic sometimes. But he'd been corrupted by Cetra and monsters alike, and people never could be the same after brushes with that.
---
"I'll always come back. I just can't settle down yet." She whispered into his ear when he was sleeping, because he was always the sort you had to tell some things to indirectly.
There were advantages to being a ghost, and she was going to use them. And it was about time she did a little saving of her own. Fitting that it was such a clear night, with the moon so full. Nights like this were always the best for traveling, she'd found, back when she blew around like a fickle wind.
Vincent chuckled at her, as she passed the gate.
"Oh he is going to flip out."
She smiled. "Well, I assume you can handle that?"
His cape fluttered a little, like it was a part of him and not just a garment. His ridiculous cape. "So where are you going?"
"That way."
He loomed a little, like a vulture. She wanted to laugh. It was a shame he hadn't learned to speak up more sooner, he was funny in a quirky sort of way.
"Make sure Aeris knows I'll be back. She's a smart girl. I think you'll like her."
He tossed her some gil. "Don't die."
She didn't have to respond to that, just start walking.
Characters/Pairings: Vincent/Veld/Ifalna
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Damsels have been rescued, guilt has been had, now time to address the real problem of an unsafe world. Ifalna decides how best to take care of this. Veld is likely not to be pleased.
Notes: So I had originally planned to make this arc not change any other game canon... but that would be silly and the ideas I have for what to do with this are fun. Ifalna is such a fun main character, I wanted to do more with her. Hence, this. Means that the later Aeris stories I have don't fit in this anymore, they sort of go with normal canon though anyway, so whatever! I'm easygoing. Now onto other WIPs, I AM A MACHINE.
"I think his problem is he always wanted to be some kind of great white knight, and the closest he ever came was busting kneecaps for some corporate parody of an empire."
She had always known that Vincent was intelligent, it was what set him apart and put him at a level where he could be such a distraction to Veld. The thing that used to unsettle her was the distinct lack of emotional depth to the man. Like he wasn't human. His father had the same problem.
Apparently being in a box for a few years loosened his tongue. Insanity had the odd thing of making him more personable.
"So you're restless too."
"Of course."
It had been fun, really. She'd never been rescued before, and it caused sort of a breathless flutter for a while. Maybe women became damsels sometimes because it was flattering, in a way, to be treated as something delicate. But it couldn't last like that, because things simply didn't work that way in real life.
Guilt had passed, it was time to act. The other damsel was sprawled out on the grass, looking down the hill as Veld was shouting at someone through a PHS.
"Do you think that we were supposed to die, Vincent?"
"We're alive, aren't we?"
"But we're not supposed to be."
"You know, for someone I'd always heard described as full of life and vitality by a certain curmudgeon, you're awful preoccupied with death. Who cares what was 'supposed' to happen."
The initial awkward had worn off almost as soon as her guilt had. Veld wouldn't leave Aeris somewhere without at least three of his 'kids' watching, and if she wanted to go see her, Ifalna could simply go, as she always had. Shinra had only found her because she wanted to be closer to the source of what was going wrong, and she'd let her guard down.
And where had the idea of sacrifice come from after all? It wasn't like the language of the Planet and its forces spoke in clear Midgarian.
"You know, you have a point."
Vincent seemed surprised by her admission, almost comically so. He was still so young. Both of them were still so young really. One playing at nobility that had gone out of fashion when even she was young and the other drunk on the freedom of no longer existing in polite society.
It was a good thing that Vincent had been found first. She couldn't imagine what sorts of things they got into.
"I think that Veld was exaggerating when he suggested you were dangerous."
Vincent snorted.
"If you could do me one small favor, Vincent, I would appreciate it..."
---
In the oldest of times, Cetra had been warriors. Maybe that was why she had always found that quality in humans more comforting than anything else. It was complacency and blind eyes that caused more heartache and bloodshed than anything else.
It had always been assumed she would martyr herself in the end, because she never could fight as hard as her brothers and sisters had. But considering they were no longer around and she was alone, maybe her variation of fighting was better. What was protected when the guardians left?
---
The way he leaned against the scraggly tree reminded her of what she had always associated with him; a certain type of creeper vine that wasn't native to the region that took off because the trees it grew on here were higher than where it came from. The phone was on the ground a few feet from him, where he'd obviously thrown it, and she picked it up and placed it in his pocket for him.
"Are you feeling any better?"
"Much better. You're not a half bad healer yourself."
His not being particularly tall had always made it easy to rest her chin on his shoulder when she hugged him from behind. Because everyone knew that the cranky and stubborn sorts were the same sorts that liked to be held.
"They want me back in Midgar soon. I'll figure out a good time to take my retirement soon."
"You don't have to retire, Veld."
"But I should, better keep an eye--"
"Vincent and I are grown adults. But if you are in need of some parenting..." She left it off, because she could only imagine what sort of frown he was making. He probably thought he was being so strong, and his fixation with controlling a situation... silly man didn't realize that it was those times when he relaxed a little that made people pledge their loyalties.
"I don't want to make any more mistakes, Iffy."
It was hard to live without any sort of corruption. The corruption of humans was in the attachments they had. They collected things and placed awards on their mantles. Even things they loved sometimes were mixed up with prizes.
Sending Aeris a couple of godfathers would be the best she could do. She didn't have to exchange her life for her daughter's now. But the world wasn't a safe enough place yet. She needed to know more. And there was only one person that could answer her questions.
Hopefully she'd be able to find her.
"You're only human."
There was only the slightest resistance as she turned his head so that she could kiss him properly. That Alexandrite conditioning of his was problematic sometimes. But he'd been corrupted by Cetra and monsters alike, and people never could be the same after brushes with that.
---
"I'll always come back. I just can't settle down yet." She whispered into his ear when he was sleeping, because he was always the sort you had to tell some things to indirectly.
There were advantages to being a ghost, and she was going to use them. And it was about time she did a little saving of her own. Fitting that it was such a clear night, with the moon so full. Nights like this were always the best for traveling, she'd found, back when she blew around like a fickle wind.
Vincent chuckled at her, as she passed the gate.
"Oh he is going to flip out."
She smiled. "Well, I assume you can handle that?"
His cape fluttered a little, like it was a part of him and not just a garment. His ridiculous cape. "So where are you going?"
"That way."
He loomed a little, like a vulture. She wanted to laugh. It was a shame he hadn't learned to speak up more sooner, he was funny in a quirky sort of way.
"Make sure Aeris knows I'll be back. She's a smart girl. I think you'll like her."
He tossed her some gil. "Don't die."
She didn't have to respond to that, just start walking.