Avari and Karasu, need someone to show you around the city? While I am unfamiliar with this 'New York' place, it looks somewhat like Midgar. Nero, would you care to join us? I don't know if the two of you are used to a city, and -

((Genesis stops ... one can just try and imagine him standing there on the sidewalk looking at the theatre district.))

I know the perfect place to go. There must be a production of 'Loveless' going on among all this.

Avari, I hope you're normal. I have to find Nero and convince Karasu that I don't need a lunch packed for me.

Ada, he may want to borrow your apron later. There's a truly terrifying thought. Jaime, if Ada believe she is your wife again, I suggest we sent the two of them to Aaron's cafe` to bake for the city.

Nero, I will be looking for you today. My name is Genesis if you don't remember. This is not a game of 'Hide and Go Seek' either. This is come out and I will make sure you're safe.

Nero has returned. Valentine, I would appreciate you staying out of this. No one needs your meddling in this.

Karasu, I suppose I should explain a few things to you about Nero. Fair, I suppose I should to you as well unless Nero chooses to tell you all himself. You asked me once what happened after you left me there, Zack... Nero can give you those answers.

Nero, I can tell you that Weiss was alive last I saw him. I took him away.

New arrivals coming in. I do wonder if Angeal will return to us or not. I don't know if I would rather he did or not. I doubt we would get one that remembers me. That in itself could be good although explaining everything to him once more would not be.

Avari, I will be in tomorrow if you need someone to haul things for you. I do hope you haven't been tormenting Zack too much, although I hear he has been wussing out quite a bit. He may need a kick to the teeth.

Kadaj, will you be stopping by tomorrow. I should like to see you for awhile.

Sephiroth? I do hope you haven't abandoned us as well.

And I do not know what bottles you have beneath the nest, Karasu, but they do not look pleasant. Do they need thrown out?

Karasu, do remind your crows that as lovely as it is to wake up with them around, my hair is attached to my scalp even if sunlight is hitting it. I prefer that it not be tugged at.

What is this about me needing to be in the nude at the forge? Fair, I hardly think that Avari needs to see me walking around like that, not to mention that burning spats of metal would not mingle well with my skin. While I do understand why you try your rather fumbling attempts at seduction occasionally, you do need to learn better ways.

Sephiroth, I haven't heard from you for awhile. Should I still be watching my back or at least Karasu's given that Sackiroth has moved on to trying to spear the larger version?

I do hope this stupidity about hunting demons has come to an end. I would very much dislike it if Karasu were to come to harm. Then again, Karasu could most likely fend most all of you off and still maintain his composure. It would be most annoying to run into a pack of them on my way to the forge.

Avari would probably be most upset if someone took out some of her entertainment or crippled him a little.

Nabs, you aren't stealing Avari's things again, are you?

Avari, I have come to the conclusion that you like making me go every which way just to see if I'll do it. I find it impossible to believe that you need something that's down low and then up high, especially close to the hot fire that often. If I see you start selling tickets, I am taking the next day off.

That said, I could a bag with your name on it buried in the snow. It looked as if it had been there a few days. There are bricks of metal in there. Looks like gold and silver with a handful of gem stones. You didn't steal from Nabs, did you?

Kadaj... did you find him? Do you need help?

Karasu, will you come by tomorrow?

Zack, be careful. I've watched the barbs you have been trading with Wesker. I never was all that good at rescue missions.

He couldn't have left.

He wouldn't have. There's nothing that could have taken him away from his duty and life here to go back to... that.

It isn't true. I don't believe it.

I won't.

Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess. We seek it thus, and take to the sky. Ripples form on the water's surface. The wandering soul knows no rest.

((A quiet breath is taken and released.))

This is not where I was before.

Should anyone be looking for me, I'll be stay with Avari. For some reason, my door doesn't shut right. I'm looking in your general direction, Nabs.

Locked to Karasu:

Angeal left me.

The Tower is getting closer. That is something I could have done without noticing. I prefer it when that thing is miles out to sea instead of nearly to the shore. Even the water is beginning to take on a reddish tint.

Avari went and left us for the night. Wonder if we should have sent Wrath after her as a chaperone. I'm sure he'd report back if anything inappropriate happened.

Locked to Angeal and Sephiroth:

What are you hoping to accomplish, Sephiroth? What is the goal of what you are asking with Karasu?

Avari, while I am aware you are injured and now Nabooru as well, I find myself unsure as to why a small person has come in and decided to take over. He claims that he has the permission of some 'crippled wussy git' to do as he likes.

Thankfully, he did leave, saying he had to go get his brother up and check his traps.

I'll be coming by to visit Nabs later as well as Avari if anyone else wants to come.

Karasu, I would appreciate it if a flock of crows weren't perched on my window every morning when I get dressed. While I don't mind the audience, it does make it difficult when they all start squawking at once or attempting to peck at Sackiroth. I would prefer neither be harmed.

I would ask how you both are, Yazoo and Kadaj, but I imagine the reaction would be less than welcome.

Oh, and Sephiroth, should you feel inclined to share a recipe, I believe I will be attempting to cook later. With Avari and Nabooru out, someone will need to.

Given that all my pants have vanished, I would suggest staying out of the forge unless you want to see me walking around in my red boxers and a loose shirt. I am not wearing the jacket and all else when it doesn't match.

Is there any word on Zack yet? You still hiding from us, Fair?

This chain will be removed immediately from my ankle. I will get Rapier and my materia back. Whatever it is you all tied around my wing is to come off now.

Is Zack Fair still running around acting like a fool?

Kadaj and Yazoo, while I would be pleased to come see you, there will be no further attempted drownings of me in that sludge water. Next time, I fire back literally.

Mother will not accept this.

You will release me immediately.

My brothers will find me, and you will unchain me.

((Genesis is currently in the forge, wing bound and a chain around his ankle so he can't escape. His materia ended up confiscated, and Rapier is probably leaning against Angeal or Avari's bedroom wall. He's out of sight of anyone just walking in.))

Another foolish trick. When will they tire of this?

I do not like those dreams. They're nothing more than lies that are meant to distract and deceive.

Kadaj and Wrath, do you need anything or want to come with me? All of you forget to eat far too often. We can get some fruit from the trees and Aaron's. Sephiwolf could use stretching his legs.

Elena continues to try to worm her way back in. What did you want to do about her? Fair is becoming troublesome as well.

I will advise all of you again, especially you Angeal, that I do not wish to leave and have no need of someone 'coming to get' me. I will not leave my brothers and Mother.

The communicator flips on, the fuzzy face of Sackiroth peering intently into it. Instead of his usual manical self, he seems somewhat concerned. Gods do not worry, especially not for hated enemies. A low whine is heard off camera before Sephiwolf comes into view. The video tilts wildly as Sackiroth grabs it up in his little arms and carries it to the edge of a black water pool.

He does not run or so he likes to think. There's a tiny bit of a rush. A very tiny one. Setting the communicator down at the water's edge, one can see a form under the shadowy liquid. It moves with the ripples of the water. Sackiroth gingerly heads down to the edge, Masamune drawn. The direwolf trots around to loom over the doll, peering into the water. The canine's green eyes don't leave the form as it lifts a paw as if to jab at it.

The yelp that follows is surprising considering it comes from a mostly silent animal.

Sackiroth glares heartily at its trusty mount, a tiny spot of red on the tip of his sword. Pointing at the direwolf and then to the water, it gestures wildly.

A 'spirit fingers' follower would be impressed with the display.

With a mild limp and a promise of drooling on later while gumming, Sephiwolf limps his way back to the pool. Sackiroth leans out some, jabbing his blade down sharply at what is floating down there. A hand rises out of the water, pale white against the trails of black water sliding down from between the fingers. It hangs there, out of the water from just below the wrist in a sick parody of the Lady of the Lake reaching to catch Excalibur from Bedwyr. It is doubtful that the Lady wore a red leather longcoat.

Sackiroth scowls, pacing at the water's edge. Concentration is clear on the toy's face before it stops and stomps a little foot, screaming soundlessly to the skies above with fists clenched and all. It points its sword at the body under the water and proceeds to unleash a (silent) verbal tirade that the true Sephiroth would never do but is impressive beyond belief to see from a doll. Finishing, it gasps for breath dramatically (hand clutching its chest), taking a whack at one of the many crows that have begun to land and gather around the pool.

Shots ring out, rapid and precise, puffs of dirt popping up around the doll and the crows quickly take flight for the rafters once more. Sackiroth does not jump and then dive to hide under Sephiwolf. No. He merely heads for cover at a strategically quick pace to better observe this new enemy and later destroy. Sephiwolf remains standing, fur bristling and teeth fully exposed. Were Jaime Lannister faced with such, he might renew his deep hatred for the beasts. Legs can be seen as someone slowly walks into frame. Beneath Sephiwolf, Sackiroth grips his sword tightly, stitched on face drawn down into an scowling frown. The person pauses before Sephiwolf and a gun barrel is seen, pressing between the the wolf's eyes.

Velvet Nightmare is an unmistakable weapon.

Still, the direwolf does not flinch or pull away, furious eyes focused on the person above. Most wolves will lower themselves slightly, head down in preparation to attack. Sephiwolf's head remains up, proudly and defiantly in all its savage nature. There is little doubt that it would pull out the person's throat if it could. When the weapon presses down harder, trying to force the wolf to lower its head at least, Sephiwolf refuses to give. It moves suddenly, twisting its head at the last second. The gun dips down, the holder not able to compensate for the lost of resistance at first. The direwolf's head snaps to the side, missing the gunman's wrist by the barest space possible. Its teeth clashing together sounds much like a steel-jawed snapping closed.

The gun stays leveled at Sephiwolf as the gunman keeps a pace or so back now, a thumb pulling back the hammer.

Velvet Nightmare finally lowers, the owner turning away with a 'tch' sound before walking out of view.

The communicator cuts off finally with the direwolf and sackdoll sitting back at the edge, watching the body floating just beneath the surface.

I will be guarding the church while Yazoo is gone and Kadaj is busy with Mother. Wrath, stay close.

While the fog is gone, too many are growing curious about us. Crossing the moat means that you forfeit your right to continue to live. It may be an improvement in many cases.

Off in the distance, the Dark Tower grows closer.