mogmelodies | Private-Letters------>May become action?

[The shooting range. Albel wasn't familiar with it, but it was what Vincent had chosen. He would go.]

[It took him a little while to find where it was, and when he arrived, it was hardly what he expected. "Shooting" suggested bows, at least to him. So it was with some surprise that he saw an area dedicated to training with those devices akin to what Maria used. Guns. Yes, he realized, those did "shoot." Loudly.]

[Vincent was indeed there, the familiar revolver style pistol he used on Crystallis near him on a table. A case was leaning against it, and an unfamiliar rifle was in his hand. Clearly meant to be wielded by two hands, but that was not possible with the gauntlet covering his left forearm and hands.

Loud, but the target at the far end showed clear and true aim. All shots aimed to kill, as the target next to it bore holes and signs of shots to incapacitate. Ophelia waited nearby, watching, her paws against her ears as she watched.]

Edited 2016-04-19 06:00 (UTC)

[He'd argued about it before, but now Albel was glad he was wearing the strange coverings over his ears. He could actually go near Vincent this way.]

[Albel had never seen a gun that large before, and it was significantly louder than Maria's blaster. In fact, he wasn't altogether convinced the rifle was supposed to be fired with only one hand... Which sort of made what Vincent was doing especially impressive.]

[He waited until he was sure Vincent was finished before he attempted to speak. Trying to talk over the noise of gunners seemed impractical.]

[Clearly, someone needs to invent silencers for Crystallis firearms. On the battlefield, gunfire wasn't necessarily more or less loud than any other noises going on. Vincent had earplugs too, but soon the noise was over with. Checking, being sure the barrel was empty, all ammo fired or unloaded, then removing the head-gear-ear-coverings. Ophelia took that as her cue to fly over and start rounding up the spent shells, as well as grabbing the posters.

Placing the rifle down carefully, the darker gunslinger turned to his guest. Ear-protectors around his neck, and a nod of acknowledgement.]

I do appreciate you meeting me. Both in general, and at this location.

[Cautiously, Albel removed the headphones and likewise let them rest around his neck.]

Of course... But why here?

[It didn't really seem like the best place to talk... being loud. But maybe it was a matter of comfort for the gunner, to be able to shoot things when stressed. Just like Albel liked to slice and stab.]

[Vincent was quiet for a moment, fingers lingering over the rifle. In a manner that could easily be described fondly, for all that it was a brief few seconds. Then his attention returned to his guest.]

It was calming.

[Comfort, and helping him order his thoughts somewhat. Not that they had seemed to ever stay that way for long lately.]

Do you recall, when you witnessed my past?

[Albel nodded gravely.]

I do. The man who called himself a doctor, and the woman...

[Well. That was complicated. He raised an eyebrow.]

Has someone else you know arrived here?

[One of them? It would make sense. If someone that had troubled Albel had arrived, he'd certainly be upset.]

[Vincent's posture and expression didn't change--admirably considering how icy his tone was. Not directed at Albel, but clearly enough a representation of his hatred for the subject.]

Professor Hojo. He has not.

[Probably a good thing for the absent professor's health and continued existence.

Instead, he moved to carefully handle the rifle, pulling up a case designed for it and placing it on the table.]

Dr. Lucrecia Crescent however, was part of the other group of Heroes. She is in the city of Aquares Ixen currently.

[Vincent was upset, but it wasn't the angry-rage-upset it would be if it were Hojo. Which didn't mean there wasn't anger towards Lucrecia. There was, but there was also concern, and sadness, and a lovely tangled knot of emotions.]

[Oh. Damn.]

I see...

[He hesitated, watching Vincent put away his rifle.]

I'd imagine it would be easier to deal with Professor Hojo's arrival -- shoot him.

[That, actually made Vincent tuck his head into his mantle more. A low and dark chuckle.]

Were he in my sights, you'd witness the Chaos transition first hand.

[Rage alone would push Vincent into his limit-break, and there would shortly be nothing left of the professor, were he to arrive.

Another deep breath, calming himself once more. Ophelia took this opportunity also to bring over the papers, and her pile of collected shells.]

I am not unhappy to see her. I am reassured in fact, that she has arrived here safely. It's.....

[Trailing off, because he honestly wasn't sure what else he wanted to verbalize. It was all a tangle. Speaking as he worked, pulling out some of the shell-casings that fit Death Penalty, from the pile Ophelia had brought over. The moogle took the casing over to Albel.]

On a business note, I had hoped that you might be able to recreate bullets that would work with Death Penalty. I do not use it often, as it is not made for Crystallis, but from home.

[Albel smiled slightly. Vincent's laugh, however angry, was reassuring.]

I wouldn't stop you.

[He'd actually enjoy it, watching a friend utterly destroy someone so despicable. He listened as Vincent tried to find the words for Lucrecia, brow furrowing. In the end, he summed up where it seemed Vincent was going.]

Complicated.

[He took the small bit of metal from Ophelia, inspecting it between pinched fingers. He hadn't seen ammunition quite like this before... It was small, still slightly warm to the touch. His nose wrinkled as he noticed the smell. Black powder.]

It is certainly a new weapon for me... But I do not think it impossible. Do you have any unused ammunition that I may borrow?

[Complicated would be an understatement, in Vincent's mind.]

Very little, but yes.

[Once more checking to be sure the weapon was unloaded, before pulling a small bag from the case. Carefully pulling out 2 of the precious (to him at least) shells and bringing them over.]

I am not entirely sure what, if anything, I want to speak about. But it is complicated, and it seemed you would perhaps understand best.

[Hence his reaching out to Albel. Ophelia was separating out what she could recognize, and placing the spent ammo in different pouches. Better to conserve resources if it could be reused.]

[Albel took a look at the new shells, felt the difference. If he was able to somehow take one apart without detonating it, perhaps he'd have a better idea of how to replicate it.]

Mm. Well. Whatever you do say, if you choose to say anything, I am here to listen.

You've been there for me.

[When he felt like an idiot for complaining at all, Vincent had never judged him. It surprised Albel, and impressed him. And he was grateful for it.]

[Vincent nodded, and focused on business for the time being.]

I am familiar with the maintenance of most types of firearms, along with their ammo. MarKus built the one I use here, but I am willing to help aid you if you would like.

[It was one of the reasons Vincent's primary job was, and likely would remain, gunner. Which isn't to say without the Job he wouldn't be deadly or skilled; simply more so with a job designed around it.]

I do not have the Archer job, but I'm also not unfamiliar with the craft of it, either shooting or maintenance.

[Might be something he should look into, actually, given the scarcity and expense of ammunition for firearms.]

I...appreciate it. She did not make a good impression, in the memory.

[Another pause, and he returned to finish packing up the rifle, before checking the hand-gun more common to him on Crystallis. Replaced shortly after, at his hip.]

But we are both from the same point of the timeline, from our worlds. Before here... We had last spoken in a cave, where she asked about her son. She was encased in crystal, suffering herself, from her actions.

[Had in fact been the one who unlock the Chaos transformation, and left the Death Penalty. Not that Albel knew this...]

[Albel didn't like to ask for help. But this was Vincent -- and this was clearly very important to him. It was important it be done perfectly.]

That... might be helpful, actually. Yes.

[He carefully put the slugs, and shell, away.]

[He cocked his head to the side, looking hard at Vincent and trying to understand.]

She'd been crystallized? Like here?

[It would be offered without strings or judgement, as Vincent understood. It would be a blacksmith's craft and even he knew his own limits. But a familiarity born of many years and experience would be an asset when it was unfamiliar to Albel.

A longer pause, as Vincent tried to think of how to explain.]

Not exactly the same, but similar. There is, on Gaia, something known as the lifestream which all souls return to. Ultimately it is also the source for Mako, and Materia. When we last spoke, on Gaia, it was a month or two back from my viewpoint before arriving here on Crystallis. She was encased in crystal all around her, as the cave formed natural deposits of it. I presume these are other manifestations of the lifestream, but could not say for sure.

[A pause, and then it was hidden by his cowl, but there was a small ironic twist to his mouth.]

Think of it more as if it was a crystallized coffin, albeit I could see her. I am not entirely sure how we spoke, either. It was an odd experience.

[Nor could he honestly remember if it had been verbal speech or not. Save that Lucrecia had confirmed they had indeed spoken, he would have wondered if it had not all been a hallucination. The strangeness of it was the best evidence Vincent had for why the cave might be tied to the lifestream. That was the source of many odd things on Gaia.]

[Strange. And yet, not so strange as to be unbelievable. After all, plenty of things happened on Crystallis that would have been considered impossible back at home. In other worlds, anything could happen.]

[A crystal coffin... The idea nearly made Albel shiver. Seeing a woman that was clearly so important to him like that must have been difficult for Vincent. And now she was free, and here.]

Did she say how she got that way?

[Easy enough to politely ignore the near-shiver. Ophelia made herself more quiet, stopping from where she was rolling up the target papers. Easy enough to sense this was a subject Vincent didn't talk often about.]

We have not had the chance to talk about it. Finding her here, in Aquares Ixen was something of a surprise.

[A pause, and then Ophelia chimed in, albeit a bit quietly.]

We dropped the groceries, kupo. Finding her on the street, as she was lost and looking for directions.

[Finishing her rolling of the paper, ignoring the faint surprise and half glare as Vincent's eyes found her.]

I left, so they could talk kupo.

Edited 2016-05-05 04:54 (UTC)

[Knowing Ophelia, it was probably a pretty big disruption to drop the groceries. And then have to pick them all up. And hope that they were still good. Poor groceries.]

So, you haven't really talked yet.

[Just a guess. The middle of the street after a chance meeting isn't usually the best place to hash out past issues and relationship problems. But Vincent likely would want to talk to her at some point. If the Heroes had to work together, they wouldn't really be able to avoid her.]

So what are you thinking now?

Not beyond establishing how she found herself here on Crystallis, and some basic information beyond that.

[Which was not what they really needed to talk about.]

When...the other Heroes started to vanish, or die--I did seek her out. She has remained, but it was obviously traumatic for her. Both of us would like to speak, but we're not sure where to start.

[Much more quietly and soft.]

I am not sure where to start...

[Albel was silent, mulling this over. He couldn't give much advice. There were things he should have said, wished he'd said, to people who had since been crystallized. And if they returned... he still wasn't sure if he'd say anything.]

If... you were concerned for her, when the others began to die... perhaps you should tell her that?

[Not that it would be easy. It was honest and vulnerable. But it was a simple place to start.]

[It was, and the approach was very like Albel. It didn't surprise Vincent, and actually perhaps made half of his mouth quirk very slightly upwards. At the edges. Barely visible.]

I...did. Somewhat.

[Not in as many words or perhaps as clear and blunt as the other man would be.]

To clarify, it was obvious to her that as soon as I learned what was happening, I went to find her.

[A deep breath, crimson-eyes down as he recalled that night.]

With all the trauma, Lucrecia also indicated she was...glad to see me. Was worried she would not have gotten to speak with me again, were she to die.

[Oh yes, Vincent still cared--even with all the trauma and heartache. Maybe not as strongly as he had at one point, but enough to want the closure and for them to be at least allies. All clear enough in the way he said her name, or spoke of her.]

But neither of us felt that was the time, with all the emotional trouble already tiring us, to discuss the things between us we need to talk about. We have agreed to a later time, but it has not come up yet.

[Albel flexed the fingers of his gauntlet thoughtfully.]

The way things go here... I'm not sure there ever is such a thing as the "right" time. You just have to make time while you have it.

[His jaw was tight. He hadn't made enough time with Fayt and Nel. There had been no "good" time with Terra, and that relationship was now over before it really began.]

I'm sorry... I'm probably not helping.

[Vincent could see the tightness in Albel's expression, was aware perhaps the other was regretting something similar. It was a familiar feeling to Vincent; in the end, things had gone so far because he had only watched...

The latter comment though, brought a hint of a smile at the edges of his mouth.]

You are helping, actually.

[Quietly voiced but firm all the same.]

It is useful to have someone to discuss this with.

[Albel had made his opinion on Lucrecia obvious, when witnessing Vincent's memory. But he still did not have the outright hatred that many from Vincent's own world would.]

[Albel glanced up with some surprise, then managed a small smile himself.]

If you say so. I guess sometimes it helps just to say something out loud.

[He wondered if Vincent knew what he'd say now... or at least when he'd say it. Either way, if Albel had made his friend feel even a little better about the situation, then Albel was satisfied.]

I suppose that is why more people do it.

[A genuine nod of his thanks though, moving to take the rifle case with him, preparing to leave.]

I'm not used to having need of it for myself. Or trusting others, to be able to do so.

[That's about as close as you'll get to an admission of friendship, Albel. You're free to come to Vincent too, in turn.]

So you trust me?

[A small smile fluttered over Albel's features. He'd felt a sense of kinship with Vincent for a long while. It was reaffirming to have it reciprocated in this way.]

Thank you. I'll keep your confidence.

[He touched the bullet one last time before stowing it away and nodding.]

Until we meet again. Good luck.

Private-Letters------>May become action?

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