depressionnap | golden peacock inbox

[previously on the tdm

That's very cool and neat, just a couple of guys ready to snooze it up! Sleeping is practically one of his superpowers, so Vincent is practically cozy. Despite lacking his usual attire, he settles right in and lets out a slow steady breath.

About thirty seconds later, there's... yeah, there's definitely a small snore.]

[previously on the tdm

As Rude speaks, Vincent gives him his full attention, head tilted just slightly. Then, he nods, confirming he's understood more or less.]

Our memories seem to align, then.

[The Temple of the Ancients is the last important detail he remembers. If time progresses linearly here, it might be a bit concerning, but from what Vincent understands that probably isn't the case.]

So. Play their game and hope you can get out, or be stuck here anyway. Not a lot of good choices.

[And if none of the Turks have found an escape, that means they are indeed well and truly trapped for now. Vincent has the luxury of time, but not everyone can make that claim. Troubling indeed.]

I'm sure some are more adaptable to the situation than others. ...Shame, there are other card games I'd prefer.

[they took his queen's blood deck rude it really sucks]

[previously on the tdm

One of the many unfortunate aspects of not having his usual attire is that he can't just hide his face away into the collar of his cloak. It makes for much easier masking, even if Vincent doesn't generally emote much in general.

Still, upon hearing that Aerith has been here that long... his brows knit together for a moment, his lips pursing in thought. It's not hard for him to conclude how that functions, but still -- that's so long to be here in this damned place. It's been barely a day for Vincent and he can barely tolerate it.

He does blink and glance to the side. Shouldn't they have stopped by now...?]

...Either a very entertaining birthday or a regretful one, depending on your preferences.

[previously on the tdm]

Some trick to it, huh.

[The implications don't help, not with how and where he's woken up to. It stinks of sex wherever they go, people going at it like animals in the underbrush. Not exactly how he expected to start his day.]

I don't like the implication of that.

[Reluctantly, he opens another door, seeing two more people. One with a camera in hand, and the other person preparing to... sit on a balloon.

...This is a very specific fetish. And not one of Vincent's.

He shuts the door and just pretends he saw nothing.]

[previously on the tdm!]

Hm. So, if you don't join in, you're doomed to turn to stone. That's hardly so terrible.

[And really, if he didn't have unfinished business, maybe he'd simply let it happen. Unfortunately, he has at least one mission to accomplish before he returns to his nightmares. If Reno is right -- and Vincent is not inclined to assume otherwise -- then Vincent will have to participate. Somehow.

A terrible fate for others.]

I assume you've not struggled with your circumstances. Good.

[He would be surprised to see one of the Turks have difficulties surviving in this situation.]

Edited 2025-08-04 03:41 (UTC)

[previously on the TDM]

That far back, huh.

[Not that he knows entirely how long ago that was, but he has a rough idea of the most important recent incidents. No love lost for the previous President, really.]

Consider this a case of a divergence between us, then. A good example as any, I suppose. Not that you need one, but it helps establish some solid foundation for us.

What did Verdot tell you about me?

[Rude nods, though there's an apologetic look in his eyes. It's not his fault any of this is happening, but still feels bad that Vincent has been brought into the situation without having a say in the matter.]

And if you refuse to play long enough, they say you turn to stone. But once you die, you're brought back, so--death isn't an escape either.

[Rude doesn't know the ins and outs of exactly what Vincent has become, but maybe that's a story for another time. Right now he focuses on finding a quieter place to talk that's not directly in the action of the festival.] Tseng was helpful to me when I first arrived, and I think he's been here the longest if you have any questions that I can't answer.

I can think of at least 3 other card games and a Gold Saucer event that I'd rather participate in but... [He shrugs.] Have you had anything to eat?

[ "that far back" is an interesting response, one that prompts tseng's eyebrows to lift slightly—but it's immediately apparent vincent isn't inclined to elaborate on the details. that's probably just as well. tseng knows the broad strokes of what's to come, up to and including his own possible demise, and he isn't sure it would serve anyone to dig too much deeper.

instead he exhales a small, amused noise and says, ] What did he tell me? Almost nothing. But when I inherited the directorship from him I gained access to all Turk mission and personnel files.

[ and then he'd read them all like the freak he is, which means that he at least knows what was in vincent's file: his involvement in the jenova project at nibelheim manor, how he became hojo's test subject, the chaos contained within him, the assistance he provided verdot and the turks before returning to his long-ass depression nap in the nibelheim manor basement. ]

Is there something you think I should know, in particular?

[Wryly, Vincent remarks:] Same thing.

[It's not, but it's close enough. If there was anything Verdot didn't want people to know, he'd have had it confiscated. The files inherited would be enough information for Tseng to have, even if Vincent is but one of Shinra's many miserable secrets.]

Just to consider my files to be a cautionary tale. Though I'm sure you already have.

[Love was not the problem, even if one might suggest otherwise for a Turk. Failing to save the person he respected most, and her child? That is the sin.]

Hardly a first.

[The statement from Vincent is vague enough. Does he mean turning to stone, or the matter about death? Regardless, he doesn't clarify.]

Mm. Noted.

[Truly unfortunate that multiple Turks could not make for an escape. Their hosts, as it were, have a wicked advantage. It would be nice to pay it back one day.]

We're in agreement there. [He'd rather do a a lot of other things than be here, but there's no use complaining about it.] No. Offering?

[The comment about death has Rude stopping in his tracks for a moment to observe Vincent for one moment.. then two. Then he just continues walking. He won't ask, not now.]

Reno is also here. [He says the words as if Vincent would know that Rude is content to be where his people are from that alone. Or maybe to underscore that Vincent has options. As far as Rude is concerned: once a turk, always a turk. They could fill in the missing bits of the timeline later.]

Yeah, I'm offering. [A second passes, then he shakes his head awkwardly, giving away where his mind just was.] Offering food, I mean. My treat.

Not that girl, though. [Elena, he means. So, that leaves Tseng, Reno, and Rude. Still, that's three Turks; it's good they have each other to rely on while being here.

There's a pause as he considers how Rude might have implied for a moment, but he doesn't seem particularly put out.]

Generous of you. [There's a bit of mirth from him, but more sincerely he bows his head a fraction to indicate polite acknowledgement.]

I accept.

I dunno, I'm not too keen on ending up as a statue. While this face is pretty enough to be immortalized in marble, I prefer to keep my mouth running for as long as possible,

[He shrugs a little, and not for the first time he ownders what exactly might be going on in Vincent's head, now that he's faced with what is going on in this resort.]

Not really. It's kinda like a vacation? I mean, no big missions, hardly any danger, if you're not counting the bullshit that the resort keeps pulling from time to time. Got my people here, time to enjoy myself, still keep my training up ... seriously, what's more to want?

[It must be Elena, so Rude nods. Three turks and Rufus Shinra. The reason he really has no desire to leave here is simple. As long as Sephiroth doesn't show up here to threaten his people, he has no strong drive to look further into escaping.]

Good. I'm not sure how safe the food is, though. They might have unwanted effects, but I'll do what I can to save you from yourself if it comes to that. [Rude give him a nervous sort of smile, moving in the direction of all the food stalls so Vincent can see his options and choose whatever he likes. He has more than enough credits to spend on food for them both, but to be safe he's going to avoid eating anything himself.]

[He barely catches a glimpse of the room, and decides with how swiftly Vincent closed the door that he didn't need more. It's clearly not the exit.]

Yeah, I don't like it either, but I'm not really used to an eternal maze of fuck.

[Eternal mazes? Sure! Usually small and with a lot of staircases. But one like this, absolutely not. Though, unless these people live here, they'll be getting up and leaving at some point. Which brings the idea:]

...Alright, this sounds stupid but. Let's find someone wrapping up and follow them.

[ in some ways, it's better that tseng learned what he could from the files. verdot was many things, but not always a paragon of truthfulness, especially when it came to the less savory truths about the turks and what they do, the atrocities that had shinra's fingerprints all over them. the files, on the other hand, were moderately—moderately—less likely to have been tampered with.

the warning does make tseng lift an eyebrow, though. there are a number of things about vincent's story that could be considered warnings. ]

Generally speaking, or is there a part you'd like me to heed in particular?

[ tseng asks, only for the loudspeaker overhead to crackle to life to remind them that they're meant to be fucking in this little ferris wheel car. tseng sighs, pinches the bridge of his nose. ]

[The snore is his cue.... It means that he can escape. At least temporarily. The last thing he wants is for this guy to be stuck here forever, even if he is a hue asshole. See how nice he is?

So Kazuya teleports out. Gets a drink, a small snack, and then immediately teleports back in to make himself much more comfortable.

He can wait.]

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KAZUYA

RUDE

AERITH

SHINJIRO

RENO

TSENG

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