In this illusion

[There's some music playing in the background.]

What point is there in giving someone an item that has no use here?

[At least it's not another coffin? That surely would have been going too far. The music switches from one thing to another as Vincent tries to shut off the useless phone that he'd received as a gift. Perhaps he shouldn't have threatened those elves as much as he had, for the sake of some peace and quiet. Perhaps he should have even... done what the elves had tried to have him do.]

[...oops.]

Groose has returned home.

[Vincent normally doesn't care to remark on these things, and it's not as if he knew the real Groose too well. It's not even as if he was the type of person whose company he'd want to be in. And yet... and yet, because of the experiment prior to the last, he has just enough lingering familiarity that his leaving is bothersome.]

I wonder if perhaps... some of us were not meant to ever return to where we're from. If perhaps that's for the best.

[There are Reasons he's started to think this, but that's all he's going to say for now on the matter. For now, he's limping across town slowly, with a pair of ruined shoes and some terribly aching feet. Magical dancing really took a toll on them- he only hopes he'll find the appropriate type again.]

[Vincent is noticing more people around than usual. He walks around a bit, observing. Eventually he pauses on a bridge to brood and wonder what it means, and why it bothers him so much.]

...Why is this happening?

[Vincent is off in a forested area not far from town. He's seated under a tree, thinking and watching leaves fall.]

Yet another alternate reality... but something about this was different from others. As if we were living out a set story, each time...

[It's not as if they have the exact same fairytales on his world, after all, but there had been a strange way to how the week's events had unfolded that it was noticeable. He wonders about it, vaguely, and about the parallel to the one he'd lived through and how it fit into his own background. There's also plenty of other things on his mind, the typical human vs monster divide, and the love issues... but he won't bring any of those up on here.]

[He takes a red leaf in hand as it falls and stares at it.]

...the time of year... it's close. Perhaps it's best if I spend it away.

[While he's spent the past few years keeping out of village conflicts and issues entirely, this is a rare time that Vincent is stirred to action. These monsters sound like serious business. Besides, he hasn't slept in days thanks to the nightmares, and needs some kind of an outlet. The demons are all too close to the surface... but that's entirely the point. Better he lets them out on the monsters than on the people he cares for the most.]

There is no choice. I know it's been a long while since I've engaged in battle... but I will join in the fight against this threat.

[He's off to shoot beasties... and during the fighting he'll become a beast himself. They're even less controlled than his counterpart's, so if you're encountering him mid-battle, there is a danger of him accidentally turning on you. He's trying his best to stay alone and keep away from any groups of villagers for this reason, but... well... mistakes happen. If he's encountered early on, he'll start as Galian Beast, but if it's a later time, he'll turn into progressively stronger ones, concluding the beastie invasion as Chaos.]

'Destiny of destruction.' Hmmph... Perhaps there's little sense holding concern over what may not come to pass.

I wonder all the same whether it would ever be worth returning home, even... if I had the choice.

[As Vincent tosses the book aside, the image picked up is that of the basement of the Shinra Mansion. Vincent himself can be seen standing in the middle of the room, looking worn out. He's at the Battle Dome mostly because he's in a mindset to revisit the familiar... but also to let off the last of the post-draft monster restlessness. As he's been doing most days since they'd returned. It's more difficult with the monsters' quick-healing not working, but he's managing.]

[Suddenly there's some motion off to the side- a couple of bats which Vincent shoots down quickly. The image shakes some. A much larger, more bizarre creature soon appears, and Vincent springs into action at once. He transforms in an instant, turning into the form of Galian Beast and attacking before the image finally cuts out.]

[Vincent mutters something quietly, but it can still be made out if you listen closely:]

Soul wrought of Terra corrupt... Omega's squire to the lofty heavens...

[There's a pause and he speaks normally after that..]

To be told that fate is set in stone... is something I cannot accept.

I wonder what purpose the Malnosso had in giving us these items from home...?

...I must rest.

[A tense and weary Vincent wanders through town with his gun drawn as if he's expecting a threat to approach at any second. He's heading toward his building, but he can be bothered at any point along the way.]

[Now appearing live in the town square... but also in voice format on the journals... it's Vincent, once again singing. His monsters are restless because of the messed up AU-ness, so what else can he do but sing about it? This time he's in a blue suit and shorter hair than usual.]

♫Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
A little high, little low
Any way the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me♫

( cut for LENGTH! not cut ICLY )

[ooc: Vincent is from an AU in which the modern-era Turks found him in the coffin and he went with them in a plan to take the company down from within. Replies will come from demon_turk.]