[Voice]

[thenightmarebegins]

A chance to return...

[A pause, along with the sound of water rushing behind him. Vincent has been coming to the Battle Dome ever since that announcement to go to the simulation of the place he wants to truly return to.]

I cannot help but still wonder what price will be paid for such a chance... and whether it's worth the potential risk.

[Not to himself, of course, but to the people and worlds involved.]

I suppose only time will tell for certain.

Comments

[gardeningaia]

Oh? ...Oh, I get it. I thought you wanted to bring a friend back with you, but it's really that you're homesick. [ Good to see Aerith's blunt as ever, right? She means it nicely, honest. She'd think of doing the same if it...was an option. ]

[thenightmarebegins]

[Thanks for the bluntness. Really. He sighs a little, but he does realize it's meant in the best way. He supposes.]

I've been here for a long time... there's nothing wrong in wanting to revisit the familiar.

[gardeningaia]

Not one bit. It's something we all do.

[thenightmarebegins]

A shame it won't last very long...

[gardeningaia]

What'll you do with the time? I hope you get to see some of our friends.

[thenightmarebegins]

I'll see who I can, time permitting. [He actually does mean that, he wouldn't mind seeing them after it's been so long for most.] I also plan to return to... the waterfall.

[gardeningaia]

...What waterfall? [ she's not from that time, so she doesn't really know what he's referring to, though she can guess easily it's important. ]

[thenightmarebegins]

[Right, and nor has he mentioned it here, he realizes.]

The cave behind the waterfall is where Lucrecia has been... frozen in crystal.

[gardeningaia]

Ah...

But, won't that make you sad? [ VINCENT BB SHE WILL NEVER GET YOU. THEY THINK TOO DIFFERENTLY. ]

[thenightmarebegins]

[Yes, they really are total opposites in that regard.]

Yet all I have here... are memories. That cave gives me something more.

[gardeningaia]

[ Something tangible...like her mom's materia, or the ribbon from Zack. ]

I get it a little, but--just don't make yourself too sad! You should get to see someone, too. Or call someone. Didn't Cloud give you a PHS?

[ okay she is a little behind the tech times here. but the point stands. ]

[thenightmarebegins]

[Yes. Some people keep mementos, he keeps... himself holed away in a cave staring at the frozen figure. It takes all kinds, really.]

...I had a phone before I left.

[That he purchased, recently and grudgingly. He sounds more annoyed than anything at even having such a device, but that could have something to do with Yuffie somehow already having the number. Sigh.]

[gardeningaia]

Okay. I expect you to use it. [ THIS IS A THING, NOW.

Except not, really, since the experiment's getting hijacked. ]

[thenightmarebegins]

I don't have it here.

[Thankfully he's ready with that excuse, at least.]

[gardeningaia]

At all? ...But that means you left it back where you're going, right?

[ Aerith

and learning to take "no" for an answer... ]

[thenightmarebegins]

I assume it would be there.

[He will keep the thing turned off. Or 'forget' to charge it.]

[gardeningaia]

And there's your chance.

[ Good, good, Vincent. Think of the excuses to tell her later. ]

[thenightmarebegins]

[But, Aerith, Yuffie has the number.]

I won't use it often.

[gardeningaia]

Guess I couldn't expect to make a chatterbox of you.

[thenightmarebegins]

You would have better luck convincing Yuffie to stop hoarding materia.