. . . Chorophobia . . .

Fifth Stanza: Nanaki son of Seto

The apparition of these faces in the crowd;

Petals on a wet, black bough.

- Ezra Pound In the Station of the Metro

Nanaki had learned much more about human behavior than he'd cared to this afternoon. Much much more. But he was still curious, ever curious about them. He didn't know how short their lives would really be, and for the moment, the thought didn't bother him as much. People were just flickers in his lifetime, but brilliant flickers indeed.

He'd slunk away from the table where he felt most comfortable; that nagging curiosity wouldn't let him stay in one place too long. He wanted to get a better look at the bigger picture, to see with his own eyes the intricate web of human relations.

Normally, one of his race wouldn't give more than a passing glance and a snort at such a thing. But he'd been raised with humans, and Grandfather had been right... he was still a cub in many respects. And that had been the kind of thinking that lead his race to a near extinction; too proud to accept that the planet held more than their own warrior clans.

Near extinction. Still holding unto that hope?

Perhaps he was a bit naïve to believe that he wasn't the last. But he'd been reading, searching for clues that some had survived the war, just away from the Canyon. He'd enlisted the help of someone else who was as seemingly immortal as he. Despite the difficulty it would cause the man, he was secretly glad that someone would be around for his lifetime.

Even someone as cool and aloof as Vincent Valentine.

He'd settled near an empty table on the opposite side of the dance floor where he'd been previously. He could see most everyone now, and he smirked at the good fortune at finding such a spot alone.

Reeve had surprised him, ever since he had first met the man in person. Sure, Vincent was a guarded and strange man, but Reeve was something else entirely. Like he was split in two, not completely one thing or the other. He was a bridge, to enemies that had their own problems and complications, and to a group of people that had been haphazardly labeled "good guys". It had to be a difficult position, to be certain, but the man seemed unfazed by it.

In fact, he had just made a sort of spectacle of himself. Puzzling.

As he looked over at Reeve now, he saw the man telling some story animatedly to Marlene, and soon Wright, as Cid's likeness came wandering over to see the clownish man's antics. He would have to listen in on one of those stories sometime, when he felt like "mingling" again.

Now he turned his attention to Barret, who was still sitting by himself as he had left him earlier. He didn't seem particularly happy, but not particularly sad either. He was in a way resigned, eyes flicking between Marlene and Tifa. Making sure his girls were alright, Nanaki supposed. The man had merely grunted a hello when he had pestered him earlier, giving Nanaki the signal to go back to the friendly table, where all the laughter seemed to be coming from.

Tifa's table, in other words. He'd never quite understood how she seemed to affect a mood so much. But then again, he'd heard that females did cause an interesting tension. Even Yuffie had that somewhat, when she wasn't causing trouble. Or in some cases, more of an effect.

"Boo!" a high female voice screeched from behind him. He flicked his tail.

"Yuffie, you should know that you do not scare me," he said with a bored tone, secretly smirking to himself. She let out an exasperated sigh.

"Some my super cool ninja stalking skills don't work with ya?" she replied, moving into his view. He should have known that he wouldn't be left alone for long. He probably knew her best, though she wouldn't admit it. As the "teenagers" they had a sort of understanding. She wasn't so much of a teenager anymore, and then neither was he. They were somewhere in between.

"So you've relinquished Cloud for the moment?" he asked, nearly laughing at the blush that crept onto her face for an instant. She shook her head and it was gone, replaced by a haughty smile.

"Ya, well, I don't need anymore injuries," she said, plopping down in a seat next to him, "He's dangerous." He'd always felt that an appropriate title for Cloud. Not that he didn't like the man, he was a good man, but there was always that air about him. He'd seen it in Aeris mostly, as she talked with him, and in Tifa, as she watched him. Complicated as any could get. He silently wished that Yuffie wasn't so attracted to dangerous men.

"You should be more careful," he said, without thinking, something that he seemed to do less in her presence, "You weren't just dancing with Cloud." She frowned, crossing her arms in front of her.

"What would you know?" she stated defiantly, and then softened her tone, "Thanks anyway." He didn't really have a place to give her warnings; he wasn't even human. But she was perhaps the most... impressionable out of them. He couldn't help but feel slightly protective of her. Especially since he knew that she'd been in contact with the ex-Turks: one in particular.

"Just remember who they are," he said, lowering his voice, "And what they have been." She stared off into space for a moment, and then smiled at him.

"Have you ever thought of being a shrink?" she mused, smirking in that terribly endearing fashion, "Ya'd make a ton of gil." He gave her a toothy Cheshire grin.

"Yes, and who would come to something that looks so," he replied, dropping the grin, "Inhuman?" She tapped her chin, considering that for a moment.

"Point," she replied, and jumped up from her seat. Somehow, he had no doubt that she'd gotten an idea, and when she tugged gently on his tail, he was certain that it wasn't good.

"Wanna go tease Vinnie? Or Tiff?" she said devilishly, "Or maybe even Cid. Naw, too easy." He arched back into a standing position. He was feeling mischievous, and she always provided him with the perfect opportunity. He'd almost agreed to go to Wutai with her once, to learn "the art of sneakiness" as she put it. Maybe ruffle a few "stuck up old fogies" feathers. But he missed his home too much. And Wutai was so very far away.

Now, though, he felt like testing a theory of his. Reeve had put the idea in his head, though it probably wasn't the man's intent, and he was curious to see what it would result it.

"Certainly. I know just who could use a little..." he said, turning an ear, "...prodding." Yuffie stifled a cackle, and shifted her weight.

"Are you thinkin what I'm thinkin?" she asked, looking over at Tifa's table. Vincent was saying something quietly, and Reeve had once again joined the adults. Tifa was currently entertaining him, drawing things in the air as she spoke. Yuffie grinned more.

"Most likely not," he replied, padding towards the dance floor again, "But the sentiment is the same." She rolled her eyes and followed. He took up station between Reeve and Vincent, while Yuffie sat down on Vincent's other side, between him and Tifa.

"Nice dancin, Reeve," Yuffie said, giving the man a nod, "And how's it goin Tiff?" The woman smiled and turned to face her. Nanaki, however, concentrated on Vincent. The man had gone back to being silent, and seemed a bit more uncomfortable with the addition of more people around the table. The muscles in his jaw seemed to tense in particular.

Wait, I can see his jaw. Almost didn't notice that he had taken that cloak off.

Oh, this certainly was going to be a great experiment indeed. Little observations like this were just adding to the number of things he'd learned about human relations. Now it was time to plant the idea, while Yuffie had Tifa distracted.

"Reeve, so dancing is a form of human interaction," Nanaki said smoothly, and the man turned to him and nodded, "Than why were you dancing alone?" Reeve smiled and leaned down a little so he could talk properly.

"Well, sometimes people just need to make a statement," he said glancing over at the dance floor, "Some times you need to be alone to do it." Nanaki nodded but the wheels in his head were turning.

Oh, you'll work just fine. You're neutral enough.

"Well, could you indulge me for a moment," he said, tail twitching momentarily, "And dance with Tifa?" Reeve furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Why?" he replied skeptically, as Nanaki's flame tip danced lazily behind him.

"Nothing much. Just an idea," the beast replied smoothly, "I'm still curious about dancing. And Tifa is your friend, no?" Reeve's skeptical gaze did not waver.

"I'm not interested," he said quietly, hoping that the woman in question wasn't listening, "I don't need any set ups." Nanaki smirked.

That's not the idea.

"Trust me," Nanaki murmured, and oddly enough, winking at him, "I know you like blondes." Reeve blinked but managed a smile. He nodded, and Nanaki went back to observing the others. Vincent appeared to have been off somewhere else during the conversation, but when Nanaki looked over at him, his eyes narrowed slightly. He had to keep from chuckling at the man's apparent suspicion.

"And then Godo was standing over me, with that disapproving look in his eyes—"

Yuffie had been chattering away at Tifa, who had patiently listened to the young woman's stories. But true to his word, Reeve cut in to ask her for a quick dance. She seemed surprised, but not wholly opposed to the idea. Yuffie was like a younger sister to her, but sometimes the girl could talk and talk and talk...

...A fact that Nanaki himself was quite familiar with.

But Nanaki hadn't watched Tifa and Reeve get up to go to the dance floor; he'd been watching the barest trance of a frown on Vincent's face. The music was lively and cheerful, perfect for a casual sort of dance between two fairly skilled dancers. Yuffie made some odd comment about Reeve needing a girl or something, and Nanaki could swear he heard a light snort from Vincent's direction. But he soon he was distracted as another person approached the table.

"Hey guys..." Cloud said with a friendly tone, and then glanced over at the dance floor, "...Is Tifa dancing with Reeve?"

Human interaction was such a fun thing. It was intricate, for certain. Intriguing as any book he'd ever read. Psychology, sociology... whatever scientific label they'd put on it... these sort of things always fascinated Nanaki.

"Ya, they seem to be having such a good time too," Yuffie said, directing her comment in Nanaki's direction. Cloud scratched behind his ear.

So much tension and so much worry amongst them. Did they not know how relatively short a life they really had?

"Well of course, Yuffie," Nanaki said, prodding some more interesting interactions, "Tifa's the best dancer of the ladies. It's a wonder that Cloud hasn't danced with her yet." Yuffie scowled at him, and he knew she would probably yell at him about it later. But it was for her own good; she just didn't realize it yet.

Such bright flashes in the long dark tunnel of the ages.

"Nuh-uh! I'm a wonderful dancer!" she protested, standing up from her seat, "Cloud's the terrible one." The man in question rolled his eyes at the statement.

He would miss them all terribly when the time came. Hopefully they would all have children. Little versions of them sounded good at the moment.

"You don't believe me?" she continued, her tirade far from over, "Fine! I'll dance with... Vinnie!" The man visibly flinched, and Nanaki had to bite his inner cheek to keep from laughing.

Yes, lots of children would be nice. He just hoped they would all find someone for a mate, in order to do so. Maybe around the time he found himself a mate...

"No."

He'd just made things a little more interesting.

"Aww! C'mon Vinnie!"

"Yuff, maybe you should leave him alone..."

"I do not dance. Period."

This was going to be fun to watch. Yuffie and he should team up more often.