[ 1st ~ Video Post ] ~ here, there be spoilers

[chondriosome]

[A woman stands elsewhere in the Gardens, sporting a formal white dress. Or, at least, it is mostly white. Judging by the splatters on her neck, it should be pretty clear that the red is certainly not part of the dress.

Her gloved, bloody hand briefly comes up to her chest, as realization has flooded across her visage, before covering one of the fresher wounds over her abdomen. She moves away from the Vine, as communicating through such a mean is a very alien concept to her.]

“I think I would like a status report, but somehow I get the feeling that the answer is an obvious one...”

[Funny. For a woman who had been shot full of bullets, she seems to be getting by just fine. The pain is brief. Just a flesh wound. She’ll walk it off.]

Comments

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

[She's intrigued by the woman, by the way her movements don't seem to match her injuries. Yet her tone is neutral when she speaks.]

Are you in need of assistance?

[chondriosome]

[Aya herself is fairly calm. The pain has dulled significantly by now; she hardly notices it. In face of the once-blearing pain, however, she maintains her calm:]

Not really. Just a change of clothes, that's all.

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

That can easily be arranged. There are various places here to obtain clothes.

You're capable of healing yourself? [To Sephiroth, this is not unusual, but she is curious about the abilities and natures of the others here.]

[chondriosome]

That's good to hear.

[Also good to know that someone finally gets the gist of what Aya's been saying. Of course, it isn't like she hasn't walked off pain and wounds before, but it's a lot easier to do so knowing that your body will just regenerate over time.]

For the most part. Too bad it doesn't do much on damaged clothing.

[That poor wedding dress...]

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

Most of the living quarters have some garments, from what I understand.

If you need further help with recovery, I'm able to heal others. I assume you just arrived and were not injured here.

[chondriosome]

Thanks for the info. I'll look into it.

[She sighs.]

Yeah... You could say that I've already been "through the ringer", as someone has so eloquently put it so far. It only looks worse than it actually is, though I appreciate the offer.

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

[Sephiroth accepts the woman's words and says no more about it.]

I assume you are a combatant. Did you come from wartime as well?

[chondriosome]

I'm not necessarily a soldier, if that's what you're asking. But if there isn't some kind of a war--and oftentimes there always is--then it's usually something else for me to do.

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

My wording was intentionally nonspecific, because there are many different kinds of warriors here, from many different worlds.

I understand. I am a SOLDIER, but the scope of my duties goes far beyond war.

Have you already been told that we are prisoners here?

[chondriosome]

Really? And what are a bunch of warriors supposedly doing in a place like this?

I've been told this, yeah. I'm not finding the concept all that comfortable. Just like this scenery.

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

Our captor's explanations for our presence here are vague and erratic. I know only that I have encountered other accomplished warriors. Yet there are also many with other vocations or no specialized skills.

I too dislike being kept here. I have been doing what I can to discover the meaning of this place and find a way home.

[chondriosome]

I've noticed. And I don't care too much for the cryptic messages from the local woodland creatures, either.

So why shut up these accomplished warriors in this "Eden"? It doesn't make any damn sense...

[Gabrielle doesn't seem to mind it, though.]

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

The cats are useful as guides for newcomers, and the snakes assist those in need of medical treatment. Otherwise, they serve little purpose. [At least, as far as she's concerned.]

It makes no sense whatsoever. Sometimes the Queen seems like a petulant child who thinks of us as her toys or pets. At other times, I believe that that appearance is deceptive, concealing the true nature of this place.

[chondriosome]

Some help they've been.

[She pauses a moment to take in what Sephiroth is saying, and sighs.]

All of that... It's a lot to take in, you know.

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

[She nods in understanding, though she is not a warm or empathetic person.] Disorientation, disbelief, and frustration are common among new arrivals.

I have made a study of this place since I arrived here. If you have any questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability.

I did not introduce myself. My name is Sephiroth.

[chondriosome]

I'll keep that in mind, thanks.

[She stops to consider the offer, as something else has been eating away at her.]

Hmm... A friend of mine showed up here as well, evidently. How common is it for people who already knew each other to end up in this place?




...I am Special Agent Aya Brea.

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

That phenomenon is more common than you would expect, were the selection of captives purely random.

I have met three others here who know me, although only one I am personally familiar with. All of us seem to come from different time periods as well.

It is a pleasure to meet you, Agent Brea, in spite of the circumstance.

[chondriosome]

Different time periods...?

[This is all starting to hit a little close to home.]

So there's the possibility for an off chance that... others may arrive here as well?

Likewise.