[Insert witty, fantastic setting details here. Seriously, all you really need to know is that it's a festival. A MONTH LONG festival with Fireworks happening every night once Darkness falls.]
No, it's not bad. I've never been to a festival before. I'm enjoying myself. I am capable of operating independently.
[He's not pleased with the professor himself, especially as he has Professor Gast to compare him to.
He's never been to a celebration of this kind, and there are many things to see, although it's the games (and not the prizes) that interest him the most. If only they were more challenging. Yet he hasn't searched through the whole town yet. Perhaps there are greater challenges elsewhere.
Sephiroth is not a very expressive child, so he remains outwardly calm and composed, but he is inwardly excited to be at a strange festival with an actual SOLDIER. He's usually not allowed to do anything nearly this fun. Maybe the SOLDIER will spar with him; that would be exciting. He decides he should introduce himself. Then maybe he can ask about sparring.]
Of course it is. That's just weird enough for today to keep up the status quo. But not enough so to merit totally ignoring the introduction, altogether.
Taking a step forward, Zack offers him a hand, the other on his hip as he bends forward at the waist to reach. Short. A short Sephiroth. Now that's weirdness incarnate. ]
[Standing as tall as he can at his current height, he takes the offered hand, his grip firm, his tone solemn. He's going to be serious and adult so he can impress this SOLDIER. He can already do anything an adult can, anyway, right?]
Do you know if there's anywhere to obtain weapons here? Perhaps we could spar.
[It's too bad he doesn't have his practice sword with him. Sometimes he plays SOLDIER by himself, but it would be a much better game with someone else involved, especially an actual SOLDIER. He does interact with other children sometimes, to ensure he has been properly socialized, but they are not exactly "playmates", and they can't fight very well, so he does not fight with them. That would not only be unfair, it would also be no challenge.]
[ He says the word like he's never hear it, before, a look of comically obvious confusion on his face as he detaches from that surprisingly serious handshake. ]
You wanna...
[ Oh, man, that's just too much. How can he not laugh? Incredulously, of course -- and he doesn't mean anything by it, but. ]
Sure, okay. Maybe we can find some practice swords.
[ Running through a few forms sounds like pretty good exercise, at least. Besides, right about now, he's really itching to get a good look around this packed fairway, anyhow. He may not know how whatever rip in time and space brought them here works, exactly, but he's pretty sure that kind of thing isn't apt to discriminate based on the moral fiber of the people it's dragging through. And if there's more Shinra around, he'd like to know it first.
If Sephiroth's luck is in and his is out, maybe he'll even get to see an actual SOLDIER doing actual SOLDIER stuff. ]
[Sephiroth isn't very good at picking up on others' emotions or on social cues, but he's more used to laughter with no apparent reason behind it than most people, so he continues to watch Zack gravely, eyes wide. He isn't sure if he said something funny, or if Zack is laughing for some other reason. He nods again.]
Thank you. I've never sparred with a SOLDIER before.
[He said yes! Sephiroth has fought against adults and monsters and holographic opponents before, but not a real SOLDIER. This is going to be the best. He can prove he's already good enough to be in SOLDIER himself.]
I was looking for weapons, but I haven't found any yet. [He can defend himself without a weapon, but he'd prefer to have one if he's on his own. He's used to fighting with a sword.] There must be some. It's a large town. [Nothing like Midgar, but large enough.]
[ He's probably a little rusty, anyway (although he'll never admit it). With a quick parting word for his gracious hosts, he's ready to set out for adventure. Confusing, confusing adventure.
There's no need to wonder why "looking for weapons" is the kid's first priority, at least. In the loving care of Shinra Inc, there might not be much else he knows, and Zack's sympathy is immediate, no questioning it. ]
Pretty busy, too. It could be easy to get lost in the crowd, so we'd better stick together!
[ And if they accidentally have some normal fun, along the way, it'll be purely by accident. ]
[He smiles a little. Even though this is his first time facing a SOLDIER, and he's much smaller, he doesn't feel intimidated. He's never lost a fight.]
Yes, I'll stay with you, Zack.
[It would be hard to separate him from one of the people he looks up to most; SOLDIERs so are much better than researchers. He sticks to the man's side. Sephiroth's legs are rather short compared to Zack's, but he keeps up easily, adopting a hopping gait instead of a more ordinary one. He isn't technically supposed to do that, as he's been trained to walk normally, but when he can leap and teleport, it's so much faster to move that way, not to mention easier to move through the crowd. He's still carefully holding his tonberry.]
Are there any other SOLDIERs here? I wonder why we appeared so suddenly. We should investigate. [Sephiroth wants to know all the things.]
[ On both counts, though he can't really say how intimidated he's apt to be by the little portable general (as opposed to his past counterpart). Especially with him practically skipping along at his side, plush toy in hand. Now there's something you'd never see a fully grown Sephiroth doing, and the less he's like Zack's last memories of that guy, the better, really.
Investigate? Sounds like a plan (one he'd already been forming, even). It's a little off-putting to be so on the same page, but Zack nods easily, anyway. ]
I haven't seen any others, but if we're here, chances are it's not alone. We'll just have to look around while we're looking around.
Say, in the meantime, though... Is there anything else you wanna try?
[He actually beams at the praise--his own subdued version of beaming, that is. But he sobers again at the mention of others from their world likely to be present.]
You may be right. We should look. [But if someone from Science Research Division is here, he'll have to go with them.] If the scientists are here, I may not be able to remain with you. [It's not because he wouldn't rather follow Zack's cool SOLDIER orders, but he can't say that in front of a scientist. Well, he will just enjoy this while it lasts.]
What else is there to do here? I'd like to play more games.
Well, we'll see. [ Just playing it cool, keeping it light. He'll let the Shinra be the ones to ruin their day, if it comes down to that.
And in the interim, hey, that's just what he likes to hear! ] Oh yeah? Then, take your pick! Looks like there's just about anything you can think of, here.
[He nods. There's no sense worrying if it hasn't happened yet. That isn't sensible and won't help. If he does see the professor, maybe he'll pretend he didn't and go in the opposite direction.]
What's the most difficult one? [Of course, he'd rather have a challenge.] I want to try that one.
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[He's not pleased with the professor himself, especially as he has Professor Gast to compare him to.
He's never been to a celebration of this kind, and there are many things to see, although it's the games (and not the prizes) that interest him the most. If only they were more challenging. Yet he hasn't searched through the whole town yet. Perhaps there are greater challenges elsewhere.
Sephiroth is not a very expressive child, so he remains outwardly calm and composed, but he is inwardly excited to be at a strange festival with an actual SOLDIER. He's usually not allowed to do anything nearly this fun. Maybe the SOLDIER will spar with him; that would be exciting. He decides he should introduce himself. Then maybe he can ask about sparring.]
My name is Sephiroth.
no subject
Of course it is. That's just weird enough for today to keep up the status quo. But not enough so to merit totally ignoring the introduction, altogether.
Taking a step forward, Zack offers him a hand, the other on his hip as he bends forward at the waist to reach. Short. A short Sephiroth. Now that's weirdness incarnate. ]
I'm Zack. Nice to meet you.
[ ...Sort of, anyway. ]
no subject
[Standing as tall as he can at his current height, he takes the offered hand, his grip firm, his tone solemn. He's going to be serious and adult so he can impress this SOLDIER. He can already do anything an adult can, anyway, right?]
Do you know if there's anywhere to obtain weapons here? Perhaps we could spar.
[It's too bad he doesn't have his practice sword with him. Sometimes he plays SOLDIER by himself, but it would be a much better game with someone else involved, especially an actual SOLDIER. He does interact with other children sometimes, to ensure he has been properly socialized, but they are not exactly "playmates", and they can't fight very well, so he does not fight with them. That would not only be unfair, it would also be no challenge.]
no subject
[ He says the word like he's never hear it, before, a look of comically obvious confusion on his face as he detaches from that surprisingly serious handshake. ]
You wanna...
[ Oh, man, that's just too much. How can he not laugh? Incredulously, of course -- and he doesn't mean anything by it, but. ]
Sure, okay. Maybe we can find some practice swords.
[ Running through a few forms sounds like pretty good exercise, at least. Besides, right about now, he's really itching to get a good look around this packed fairway, anyhow. He may not know how whatever rip in time and space brought them here works, exactly, but he's pretty sure that kind of thing isn't apt to discriminate based on the moral fiber of the people it's dragging through. And if there's more Shinra around, he'd like to know it first.
If Sephiroth's luck is in and his is out, maybe he'll even get to see an actual SOLDIER doing actual SOLDIER stuff. ]
no subject
Thank you. I've never sparred with a SOLDIER before.
[He said yes! Sephiroth has fought against adults and monsters and holographic opponents before, but not a real SOLDIER. This is going to be the best. He can prove he's already good enough to be in SOLDIER himself.]
I was looking for weapons, but I haven't found any yet. [He can defend himself without a weapon, but he'd prefer to have one if he's on his own. He's used to fighting with a sword.] There must be some. It's a large town. [Nothing like Midgar, but large enough.]
no subject
[ He's probably a little rusty, anyway (although he'll never admit it). With a quick parting word for his gracious hosts, he's ready to set out for adventure. Confusing, confusing adventure.
There's no need to wonder why "looking for weapons" is the kid's first priority, at least. In the loving care of Shinra Inc, there might not be much else he knows, and Zack's sympathy is immediate, no questioning it. ]
Pretty busy, too. It could be easy to get lost in the crowd, so we'd better stick together!
[ And if they accidentally have some normal fun, along the way, it'll be purely by accident. ]
no subject
[He smiles a little. Even though this is his first time facing a SOLDIER, and he's much smaller, he doesn't feel intimidated. He's never lost a fight.]
Yes, I'll stay with you, Zack.
[It would be hard to separate him from one of the people he looks up to most; SOLDIERs so are much better than researchers. He sticks to the man's side. Sephiroth's legs are rather short compared to Zack's, but he keeps up easily, adopting a hopping gait instead of a more ordinary one. He isn't technically supposed to do that, as he's been trained to walk normally, but when he can leap and teleport, it's so much faster to move that way, not to mention easier to move through the crowd. He's still carefully holding his tonberry.]
Are there any other SOLDIERs here? I wonder why we appeared so suddenly. We should investigate. [Sephiroth wants to know all the things.]
no subject
[ On both counts, though he can't really say how intimidated he's apt to be by the little portable general (as opposed to his past counterpart). Especially with him practically skipping along at his side, plush toy in hand. Now there's something you'd never see a fully grown Sephiroth doing, and the less he's like Zack's last memories of that guy, the better, really.
Investigate? Sounds like a plan (one he'd already been forming, even). It's a little off-putting to be so on the same page, but Zack nods easily, anyway. ]
I haven't seen any others, but if we're here, chances are it's not alone. We'll just have to look around while we're looking around.
Say, in the meantime, though... Is there anything else you wanna try?
no subject
You may be right. We should look. [But if someone from Science Research Division is here, he'll have to go with them.] If the scientists are here, I may not be able to remain with you. [It's not because he wouldn't rather follow Zack's cool SOLDIER orders, but he can't say that in front of a scientist. Well, he will just enjoy this while it lasts.]
What else is there to do here? I'd like to play more games.
no subject
And in the interim, hey, that's just what he likes to hear! ] Oh yeah? Then, take your pick! Looks like there's just about anything you can think of, here.
no subject
What's the most difficult one? [Of course, he'd rather have a challenge.] I want to try that one.