AN:
This is part seven. Yes. I know this one is short. But I'm working up to something. Sides, this is a multiple post, so it isn't a total cliffhanger. :P
The burial chamber in the basement. The original owners way back when had built a crypt into the basement to house the deceased members of their clan, and it had remained undisturbed as long as Shin-Ra had inhabited the mansion. The research team had ventured down there out of curiosity right after being assigned here only to walk out of the room in disgust swearing they didn't need the extra space that badly.
No one had even been near it since then as far as he knew.
It fit all of his criteria, out of the way; unlikely to be entered, and well insulated. Sure, a little moldy, decrepit and well...creepy, but it would serve his purposes. He could clean it up somewhat, stick a mat in there for Valentine to sleep on, a lantern and maybe a book or two that wouldn't be missed from the library. He would try to make him comfortable down there, and take him food when he could. It would work out.
Still exhausted, but determined to finalize the plan, he made his way back down the stairs to the basement. He had a lot of work to do, best to get started now.
* * *
Vincent had finally released himself from his rigid position under the desk and now sat soberly in the corner, eyes closed in concentration. Hojo had left the room, Vincent didn't know where he had gone, nor did he care. At least he was gone. For all he cared Hojo could have run off with a gypsy caravan as long as he was gone.
What JENOVA was demanding was simply unbearable, he couldn't let her drive him to insanity but what could he do? Could he resist her with his battered body and anguished mind and even hope to beat her? JENOVA was evil incarnate, and he was just a stupid lovesick beast. How could he hope to resist?
Like Hojo, his prayers had been answered; he had a solution to his problem. And it was so brain-numbingly simple he was chagrined to think he had not put it into effect earlier. The simplest things often were the most frequently overlooked things. But simplest was also often best.
He would not yield to JENOVA. He would not yield to Hojo. He would cheat them both, leave them standing there stupidly scratching their heads wondering why they hadn't seen it coming.
The man who had cheated death countless times would now attempt to cheat the life he had been restored to against his will.
His eyes fell onto the shiny metal scalpel Hojo had carelessly left lying on the desktop. The steel glinted enticingly, beckoning to him, offering him the simple solution he had decided on. It was so near, so very near. Only a few steps away, and then his misery would be over.
"Take me" it seemed to say, reflecting the dim light of the desk lamp, sending cold little rays of light onto the dark wood. "Take me Vincent." Just like in 'Alice in Wonderland', Vincent cast in the little girl's role, and the shiny scalpel in place of the little bottle labeled 'Drink Me'.
Vincent had decided he had been in Wonderland long enough and it was time to go home to her now. Maybe it would be just like the book, all a dream. But even if it wasn't at least he would be with her again. And all he had to do was do as the scalpel suggested, and take it. He steadily rose to his feet, and with more poise and grace than he ever knew he possessed approached his salvation. It was so cool, so refreshingly heavy in his hand.
He stood there a long moment admiring this key to eternity, turning it over and over in his good hand, and admiring its cold beauty. Still feasting his eyes on deliverance, he said a silent prayer of forgiveness, although he addressed it to no known gods. It was to her. It was always to her, for her, everything for her. Even this was for her. Ending his prayer, he stared penitently to the heavens.
He was ready.
This is part seven. Yes. I know this one is short. But I'm working up to something. Sides, this is a multiple post, so it isn't a total cliffhanger. :P
The burial chamber in the basement. The original owners way back when had built a crypt into the basement to house the deceased members of their clan, and it had remained undisturbed as long as Shin-Ra had inhabited the mansion. The research team had ventured down there out of curiosity right after being assigned here only to walk out of the room in disgust swearing they didn't need the extra space that badly.
No one had even been near it since then as far as he knew.
It fit all of his criteria, out of the way; unlikely to be entered, and well insulated. Sure, a little moldy, decrepit and well...creepy, but it would serve his purposes. He could clean it up somewhat, stick a mat in there for Valentine to sleep on, a lantern and maybe a book or two that wouldn't be missed from the library. He would try to make him comfortable down there, and take him food when he could. It would work out.
Still exhausted, but determined to finalize the plan, he made his way back down the stairs to the basement. He had a lot of work to do, best to get started now.
* * *
Vincent had finally released himself from his rigid position under the desk and now sat soberly in the corner, eyes closed in concentration. Hojo had left the room, Vincent didn't know where he had gone, nor did he care. At least he was gone. For all he cared Hojo could have run off with a gypsy caravan as long as he was gone.
What JENOVA was demanding was simply unbearable, he couldn't let her drive him to insanity but what could he do? Could he resist her with his battered body and anguished mind and even hope to beat her? JENOVA was evil incarnate, and he was just a stupid lovesick beast. How could he hope to resist?
Like Hojo, his prayers had been answered; he had a solution to his problem. And it was so brain-numbingly simple he was chagrined to think he had not put it into effect earlier. The simplest things often were the most frequently overlooked things. But simplest was also often best.
He would not yield to JENOVA. He would not yield to Hojo. He would cheat them both, leave them standing there stupidly scratching their heads wondering why they hadn't seen it coming.
The man who had cheated death countless times would now attempt to cheat the life he had been restored to against his will.
His eyes fell onto the shiny metal scalpel Hojo had carelessly left lying on the desktop. The steel glinted enticingly, beckoning to him, offering him the simple solution he had decided on. It was so near, so very near. Only a few steps away, and then his misery would be over.
"Take me" it seemed to say, reflecting the dim light of the desk lamp, sending cold little rays of light onto the dark wood. "Take me Vincent." Just like in 'Alice in Wonderland', Vincent cast in the little girl's role, and the shiny scalpel in place of the little bottle labeled 'Drink Me'.
Vincent had decided he had been in Wonderland long enough and it was time to go home to her now. Maybe it would be just like the book, all a dream. But even if it wasn't at least he would be with her again. And all he had to do was do as the scalpel suggested, and take it. He steadily rose to his feet, and with more poise and grace than he ever knew he possessed approached his salvation. It was so cool, so refreshingly heavy in his hand.
He stood there a long moment admiring this key to eternity, turning it over and over in his good hand, and admiring its cold beauty. Still feasting his eyes on deliverance, he said a silent prayer of forgiveness, although he addressed it to no known gods. It was to her. It was always to her, for her, everything for her. Even this was for her. Ending his prayer, he stared penitently to the heavens.
He was ready.