Twilight: *slams quarters into the slot* “Let’s *dance*!”

Originally Published: 8/3/06 . 78 pages

Synopsis
Rufus and Elena are having problems with Tseng, Twilight is determined to defeat an old enemy, and Alucard runs into his brother. But everyone’s having a great vacation…right?

Ramble Milestones
-Vincent and Auron break-up.

Was anyone sad to see the demise of Auron and Vincent’s one sided relationship? Because I wasn’t. Many of the anime cameos appeared before in Sephiroth Land, but not all of them. The prominently featured Fullmetal Alchemist characters are new, and at the time when I wrote this I had not seen the whole series. But Roy Mustang was already my favorite.

(it’s the next morning, and it’s quite a beautiful morning. the sun is shining and everything. algus is sitting in the dining room, drinking a cup of coffee and reading the paper. that’s when rufus enters. he looks a bit nervous, and runs a hand through his hair. he scans the dining room with his eyes)

Majic: “Good morning, Mr. Shinra, sir! I hope you slept well last night.”

Rufus: “Huh? Oh. Fine.” *spots algus* “Could I have a cup of coffee, please?”

Majic: “Sure, sir! Right away!”

(majic goes off to get the coffee and rufus goes over to algus, sliding into the chair beside him)

Rufus: “Hey, Algus.”

Algus: “Oh, good morning, Rufus. Did you have a good night aboard our glorious ocean liner? I certainly did, before Zidane stumbled in drunkenly at 2 A.M. But I already punished him for that.”

Rufus: “Algus, I have to tell you something, only because you’re my best friend. And you can’t tell anyone, okay? Not *anyone*.”

Algus: “Okay.”

Rufus: “Not even for money.”

Algus: “………”

Rufus: “Algus!”

Algus: “Okay, okay – what is it?”

Rufus: “I…slept with Elena last night.”

Algus: “…And?”

Rufus: “And…do you think it’s wrong to sleep with your employees?”

Algus: “Not in a moral sense, I suppose. I’d be more concerned about any diseases they might be carrying.”

Rufus: “Algus!”

Algus: “What? You asked for my opinion and I gave it.”

Rufus: “Have you ever slept with any of your employees?”

Algus: “Most certainly not!”

Rufus: “…Have you ever had *sex*, Algus?”

Algus: “Rufus! How can you ask me that?”

Rufus: “I was just asking!”

Algus: “Well let me ask you this, Rufus. Was my opinion on your relationship with your employee going to affect your decision on whether or not to see her again?”

Rufus: “…No.”

Algus: “Then why ask?”

(majic comes over with the cup of coffee)

Majic: “Here you are, sir! Enjoy!”

Rufus: “Thanks.” *takes a sip as majic leaves*

Algus: “You haven’t answered my question, Rufus.”

Rufus: “I don’t know… I guess… I guess I need to…to justify it to myself.” *pause* “I know someone else who doesn’t think I should.”

Algus: “So what? You’re Rufus J. Shinra! You’re a successful businessman and multi-billionaire! You cannot let someone else affect your decisions!”

Rufus: *slams fist on table* “You’re right, Algus! I’m Rufus J. Shinra! I have a ship named after me for goodness sake! How many other people can say that?”

Algus: “Not many.”

Rufus: “Thanks, Algus. I feel much better now. I’ll see you later.” *takes his coffee and leaves*

Algus: *sigh* “It amazes me that people so powerful can be so insecure.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, in zell and franswa’s room, franswa is already up. he made his own bed and is sitting on it, reading the print out of all the activities that are going on on the ship. after he reads it he puts it down and looks at zell, who is still asleep and looks like a total mess in his bed. franswa goes over to him and shakes him gently.)

Franswa: “Zell.”

Zell: “Mngrhgmmm.”

Franswa: “Wake up, Zell.”

Zell: *opens his eyes* “Morning already?”

Franswa: “Yup! It’s a beautiful day!” *goes and pulls the curtains back so the sun streams in*

Zell: “Owww…” *shields his eyes* “What time is it?”

Franswa: “It’s 9:30.”

Zell: “That’s it?! How long have you been up?”

Franswa: “Two hours.”

Zell: “Two hours?!” *sits up* “How can you get up so early?”

Franswa: *shrugs* “My family always gets up early. I guess I’m trained.”

Zell: *blink blink* “You made your bed?”

Franswa: *shrugs* “Used to it.”

Zell: “They have a maid that does that here.”

Franswa: *shrugs* “It killed time.”

Zell: *swings his legs over the side of the bed* “Did you have fun last night?”

Franswa: “Yeah. I had a nice time.”

Zell: “Well we’re gonna have even more fun today! What’s going on?”

Franswa: *looking at activities list* “All kinds of things. Movies, trivia, martial arts class—“

Zell: *brightens* “Martial arts class!? Let’s do that together!”

Franswa: “Oh… All right.” *pause* “They also have a cooking class.”

Zell: “Well what time is that at?”

Franswa: “It’s at 12. The martial arts class is at 10:30.”

Zell: “So then we’ll do both! That’s what vacation is all about, right?”

Franswa: *frowns* “My family never really went on vacation. They always tried to tell me that Dracula’s castle was a vacation but I never believed them.”

Zell: “Well don’t worry! I’ll make sure this one makes up for all the ones you never had!”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, the losers meet outside their rooms)

Nida: “What did you end up doing last night, Scarlet?”

Scarlet: “I…uh…was talking to some gentlemen by the bathrooms on the lower deck.”

Nida: “Gross. I organized my stamp collection!”

Scarlet: “You’re on *vacation* and this is what you do?”

Nida: “I love my stamp collection!”

Scarlet: “It’s so obvious why no girl will date you.”

Nida: “Can it, ho! Your daughter seemed pretty interested!”

Scarlet: “She hasn’t called in awhile. Has she.”

Nida: *chin trembles* “No…”

Kuja: “Well Seymour and I scheduled spa treatments. He is going to need major work.”

Seymour: *has been done up almost exactly like kuja* “I don’t know how you wear stuff like this. My ass feels huge.”

Kuja: “It is huge. We should also hit the gym.”

Hojo: “I spent my evening organizing some…uh…important electronics.”

Scarlet: “You mean your camera equipment?”

Hojo: “…There’s no point in trying to cover it up anymore, is there.”

Heidegger: “Gya haa haa! Stinky and I looked everywhere for food! And now we’re ready to hit the buffet!”

Nida: “Leave food for other people, you slob!”

Heidegger: “No promises! Gya haa haa!”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, sephiroth goes out to his balcony, breathing in the sea air.)

Sephiroth: “Ahhhh…”

?????: “Beautiful morning for a suntan, isn’t it?”

(sephiroth turns and sees dante lying on his own balcony – totally naked.)

Sephiroth: *jumps back shielding his eyes* “Omg! You were serious!”

Dante: “Of course I was serious!” *stands up* “Most of my good looks are due to my fantastic genes, but it does require some minor work.”

Sephiroth: “If you have such fantastic genes, how do you explain Lloyd?”

Dante: “He got dropped on his head a lot as a kid.” *stretches*

Sephiroth: “Aahh!! Don’t point that thing at me!”

Dante: “You love it.”

Sephiroth: “I’m two seconds away from throwing up over the balcony.”

Dante: “Sure you are. Later, puppy.”

Sephiroth: “What did you just call me?!?!?!”

(but dante has gone inside)

Sephiroth: “Grrrrr…”

(sephiroth turns around to see vincent standing on his balcony, a cup of coffee in his hand and a shocked expression on his face)

Sephiroth: “Vincent! Don’t tell me you were looking at that disgusting display!”

Vincent: “When I came outside that was not the display of nature I expected to see.”

Sephiroth: “Well now that I’m nauseous, I’m going to breakfast.”

(he goes inside. Auron joins vincent on the balcony)

Auron: “What are you looking at?

Vincent: “Nothing. Let’s go to breakfast.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, in dante and alucard’s room, alucard is sitting in the darkest corner of the room, a cell phone to his ear. Dante is wrapping a towel around himself)

Dante: “You should have seen his face, baby. Priceless. Oh man, he was totally checking me out.”

Alucard: *on the phone* “Dad. Dad! Put the frying pan down. The fishes are not going to throw sidewalk at you. …No. No! Do you realize you make no sense?! ………Where’s Death? ………Where’s Death?! …………Just stay there! I’m calling Death for you!” *hangs up and starts dialing*

Dante: “Why did you even answer it?”

Alucard: “I don’t know!” *puts the phone on speaker* “Death never picks up!”

Death’s voice: *on the phone* “Hello. You’ve reached Death. I’m busy ‘taking care of business’ right now and can’t answer the phone. If you know of someone who has died, please press one. If you are calling to report the death of two or more people in the same general vicinity, please press two.” *sigh* “If this is Alucard calling in regards to Dracula, please press three.”

Alucard: *frowns* “I don’t call *that* much.” *presses 3 and the phone beeps* “Uh, hi, Death. It’s Alucard. Dad thinks the fish people are coming to get him again. So if you could take care of that when you get a chance that would be really, really great. I’m sure you remember how he shoved various body parts into the drainage system of the castle last time and made a huge mess. I’d really, really like to avoid that. So give me a call when you get this message. Thanks. Bye.” *hangs up with an annoyed sigh*

Dante: “I see you’ve got your own option on Death’s voicemail. You must be proud.”

Alucard: “If dad calls me again, I *swear*.”

Dante: “So what are you going to be up to while it’s daylight?”

Alucard: *sigh* “I guess I’ll find a dark corner of the ship to hide in. How about you?”

Dante: “I’m going to go hang out by the pool, take a swim, lay in the sun, and basically look hot.”

Alucard: *sigh* “I wish I could do that.”

Dante: “Chin up, doll face. You and I will hit the club again tonight, and we’ll be the hottest couple there.” *blows him a kiss* “Later, hot stuff.”

(he leaves, and alucard has a tiny smile on his face.)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, sephiroth has gone to breakfast. he spots reeve and tseng sitting together and he goes and pulls up a chair next to them. tseng looks a bit haggard)

Sephiroth: “Well, well, well! Look who it is! That was quite a performance last night, Tseng! Can I get your autograph?”

Tseng: “Ha ha, Sephiroth. Not funny.”

Reeve: “What are you talking about?”

Sephiroth: “You mean you missed it? Why your husband was dancing on the bar at the club last night. He’d make a fine stripper.”

Tseng: “Sephiroth!”

Reeve: “Tseng! Is this true?”

Tseng: “I wasn’t the only one! We were having a good time! It was fun. I didn’t take my clothes off!”

Sephiroth: “Not when I was there anyway.”

Tseng: “I didn’t take my clothes off!”

Reeve: “Who were you hanging out with?”

Tseng: “Just Alucard…and Dante.”

Reeve: “The stripper?!”

Tseng: “Nobody took their clothes off! Lark and the other girls were up there too!”

Reeve: “I better come with you to the club tonight.”

Tseng: “I don’t need a babysitter, Reeve.”

Reeve: “I meant to come last night, but I just got so caught up in what I was reading. I found some books about alchemy! I’m hoping the bartender or the cook will be able to answer some of my questions.”

Tseng: *rolls his eyes*

(lark enters and comes over to them)

Lark: “Good morning, boys! What’s up?”

Reeve: “Not much. Just deciding what we’re going to do today.”

Lark: “There are a ton of things going on! I mean I’ve cruised before, but I’ve never seen so many activities! I was thinking about hitting up the trivia.”

Reeve: “That sounds good!”

Lark: “We should get a team of you, me, Shell and Alucard together. Between the four of us, we can’t lose!”

Reeve: *checks watch* “We better go find them! Trivia starts in twenty minutes!”

Lark: *checks time* “You’re right! Let’s get going. See you guys later!”

Reeve: “Bye, sweetie.” *kisses tseng on the cheek*

Tseng: *grumbles*

(lark and reeve leave…that rhymed.)

Sephiroth: “Why did they pick Alucard?! Why didn’t they pick me?!”

Tseng: “They probably figure since he’s been around forever he knows a lot.”

Sephiroth: “So what? Just because he lived it doesn’t mean he remembers it! There’re large parts of my life that I don’t remember!”

Tseng: “Probably because you blocked them from your memory like I did.”

Sephiroth: “…True.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, opal is dragging twilight out of their room)

Opal: “We’re going swimming, Twilight. And that’s final. It’s my vacation too.”

Twilight: “But Opal! Look how pale I am! The sun doesn’t like me!”

Opal: “That’s why I have this!” *shows him sunscreen*

Twilight: “Oh great! So you’re just gonna grease me up and leave on the pavement to fry? That’s love, Opal. That’s love.”

Opal: “You’ll survive, Twilight.”

Twilight: “You can’t force the great Twilight XyXia into anything!”

Opal: *gives him a kiss*

Twilight: “…Okay, let’s go.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(a short time later, zell and franswa are finished with their martial arts class. they’re all tired and sweaty)

Zell: “Wow, Franswa! You didn’t tell me you knew martial arts!”

Franswa: *shrug* “They used to force lessons on me when I was younger. I haven’t done it in awhile but…I guess I still remembered most of it.”

Zell: “Why didn’t you tell me before you used to do martial arts? You know that’s my thing!”

Franswa: *shrugs* “I never thought about it.”

Zell: *wipes brow* “Phew. Well I’m hot! How about a dip in the pool before that cooking class?”

Franswa: “Sounds good.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, kuja and seymour go to the spa. at the counter is a person with long purple hair and a pretty face. their name tag says ‘nuriko’.)

Nuriko: “Good morning! How can I help you this morning?”

Kuja: “We have appointments for Kuja and Seymour. Massage, manicure, pedicure, facial – the whole works.” *whispers loudly* “That one’s going to need major work.” *points to seymour*

Seymour: “I heard that.”

Nuriko: “No problem! You gentlemen can follow me.”

Kuja: *blink blink* “How’d you know I’m a man?”

Nuriko: “It’s takes one to know one, honey.” *winks*

(kuja turns to seymour and shrugs. they follow him into the back and there is a very large gentlemen with bulging muscles standing there.)

Nuriko: “Seymour, you’ll be with Major Armstrong.”

Seymour: *blink blink* “Him?! He’s a masseuse?? He looks like he could tear me in half!”

Armstrong: “I could! But the art of massage has been passed down the Armstrong line for generations!”

Kuja: *pats seymour on the back with a smile* “Have fun.”

Seymour: *chin trembles*

(kuja and nuriko leave)

Armstrong: “Now get those clothes off and get on the table! You are in for the massage of your life!”

Seymour: *gulp*

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, the pool area is quite crowded. Brady and rude are hanging out playing cards in the shade. rufus is lounging on a chair sipping a drink. Ashley is sunbathing while seifer plays a video game on his nintendo ds. elena is relaxing in the hot tub with tseng. vincent is taking a nap in the shade while auron swims laps. twilight and opal are playing in the water. zidane is putting sunscreen on algus. bryatt is reading a book in the sun. edgar and setzer are in the second hot tub, just talking. reno and irvine are chatting up girls by the bar. laguna is making squall and rinoa play volleyball with a beach ball in the pool with him. dante is sunbathing while lloyd stands by annoying him. nida and scarlet are in the pool and he’s splashing her. that’s when sephiroth, zell and franswa show up)

Sephiroth: “We’re on a huge boat, and yet everyone manages to congregate in the same place.”

Zell: “Hey, ‘Roth! What’s up? We just took a martial arts class! It was fun!”

Sephiroth: “Zell, you’re on the list of people I want to *avoid* this vacation.” *walks away*

Franswa: “Why do you talk to him? He’s always so mean to you.”

Zell: *shrugs* “Because he’s ‘Roth.”

Franswa: “…I don’t get it.”

Zell: “It’s hot. Let’s get in the pool.”

(meanwhile…)

Zidane: “Algus, you’re sitting in the shade! Why do you need so much sunscreen?”

Algus: “In case I change my mind.”

Zidane: “Well there. You’re all covered. I’m leaving.”

Algus: “Get me a drink first.”

Zidane: “You are on a ship *full* of people you are paying to serve you! Can’t you bother one of them?”

Algus: “No.”

Zidane: “Grr…” *stalks off*

(zidane stalks over to the bar, where reno and irvine are talking to some girls. there are 5 of them, and they’re all very pretty. two have blonde hair, two have brown hair and one has greenish black hair. ed is tending bar again.)

Reno: “Where were you ladies last night?”

Irvine: “Yeah. ‘Cause I know I would have noticed girls as hot as you.”

(three of the girls giggle and smile, one just rolls her eyes and another just shakes her head.)

Irvine: “Can I get some names?”

First blonde girl: “I’m Serena!”

Other blonde girl: “I’m Mina!”

First brunette: “My name is Lita!”

Second brunette: “…Raye.”

Reno: “And how about you, hot stuff?”

Last girl: “…My name is Trista. Not ‘hot stuff’.”

Reno: “So…Trista. Can I get a room number to go with that name?”

Trista: “No.” *walks away*

Lita: “Don’t mind her! I’d love to go out with you!”

Irvine: “Just how old are you girls anyway?”

Mina: “Um…the four of us are 16.”

Serena: “But we’re very mature for our age!”

Raye: “No you’re not, Serena.”

Reno: “Whoa, jail bait! Just back away, dude.”

Irvine: “But—“

Reno: “Dude, you’re not 17 anymore. Just back away.”

(reno and irvine take off. the girls, except raye, pout)

Lita: “Crap. There goes that! And they were so cute!”

Raye: “Oh well. Let’s go find Trista and go to the spa.”

(the girls leave. ed comes over to zidane)

Ed: “You gonna get a drink or you gonna stand there all day?”

Zidane: “I’m procrastinating. Can you tell? Let me get two strawberry daiquiris.”

(ed claps and puts his hands out and there come the drinks)

Zidane: *leans over the bar* “Do you have the ingredients stored in that cabinet or something?”

Ed: “Don’t lean over the bar.”

Zidane: “Thanks.” *takes the drinks and returns to algus* “Here, Algus.” *shoves it in his hands* “Are you happy now?”

Algus: “Took you long enough.”

Zidane: “You’re lucky you got it as fast as you did.” *he runs off and stops next to bryatt* “Hey, bookworm! Wanna race to the pool?”

Bryatt: *puts the book down* “You’re clearly going to beat me.”

Zidane: *shrugs* “It’s still fun.”

Bryatt: “Fine. You’re on.”

Zidane: *takes off running and laughing*

Bryatt: *following* “Hey! You cheated!”

(in the pool…)

Laguna: “Oops! The ball went out again! Go get it, son!”

Squall: *mutters* “I’m just gonna get out and run away.”

Rinoa: “Oh come on, Squall! This is fun!”

Squall: “Sucking up to my father isn’t going to make me want to marry you any faster, Rinoa.”

Rinoa: *frowns*

Nida: “Who’d wanna marry you anyway, Squall?! You’re ugly!”

Squall: “Whatever, Nida.”

Nida: “Scarlet, look at me! I was Garden swim champion!” *swims*

Scarlet: *not looking* “Fantastic, Nida.”

Rinoa: “You couldn’t be Garden swim champion, Nida. There’s no pool there.”

Nida: “Shut up, Rinoa! What do you know? You’re not a student!”

Rinoa: *annoyed sigh* “Zell, is there a pool at Garden?”

Zell: “No. I wish there was! That’d be awesome!”

Rinoa: *smugly* “See?”

Nida: “You’re just jealous *you* didn’t go to Garden!”

Scarlet: “Shut it, Nida. Some people are trying to relax. Like me.”

Nida: “You shouldn’t even be in the pool, Scarlet! Aren’t some of your diseases contagious?”

Scarlet: “You little jerk!”

(she runs after him. meanwhile…)

Lloyd: “Put some clothes on, Dante! You’re grossing everyone out!”

Dante: “No, that would be you, Lloyd.”

Lloyd: “It’s Vergil, you piece of crap! And just watch! I’m gonna go find someone really hot on this ship! And I’m gonna totally make you jealous!”

Dante: “Uh huh. You go try and do that, Lloyd.”

Lloyd: “I will!” *marches off a bit and stops* “And it’s *Vergil*!”

(meanwhile, tseng and elena are talking in the hot tub)

Elena: “So I heard you were dancing on the bar last night.”

Tseng: “Is Sephiroth telling everyone?!”

Elena: *giggles*

Tseng: “I wasn’t the only one! And it was fun!”

Elena: “Well good! I’m glad you had fun. That’s what vacation is for!”

Tseng: “So what did you do last night?”

Elena: “Oh, not much. Had a drink, did a little dancing. It was nice.”

Tseng: “Was Rufus around?”

Elena: “Yes. Why does that matter?”

Tseng: “So you like him?”

Elena: “Why does that matter?”

Tseng: “Can’t you give me a straight answer?”

Elena: “Why should I tell you? Your not my father.”

Tseng: “No, but I’m Lily’s father. You chose to have that baby, Elena. You chose to give us this connection. Now don’t act like that doesn’t make us a family.”

Elena: “That doesn’t make me your wife.”

Tseng: “Obviously! And that’s not what I’m getting at!”

Elena: “Then what are you getting at? There’s nothing between me and Rufus, okay?”

(and with that she stomps out of the hot tub and walks away. just then reeve, lark and shell return, sporting king rufus ii key chains)

Lark: “We won!”

Reeve: “Thanks to Alucard.”

Shell: “You were helpful too, Reeve! Who else would have known how many steps the Empire State Building had?”

Dante: “You were with Al?”

Lark: “Yup! He was on our winning trivia team!”

Dante: “Where did he go?”

Lark: “He said he was going to go walk around on one of the more, uh, darker decks.”

Dante: “Well I’m glad you got him out and doing something. He was having problems with his father again.”

Lark: “What now?”

Dante: *shrugs* “It’s all the same crap really.”

Reeve: “Look, Tseng! We won key chains!”

Tseng: *frowns* “Yeah. That’s nice, Reeve.”

Reeve: “Want some company?”

Tseng: “I was just getting out.”

(he gets out and walks away. reeve frowns. lark and shell go over to Brady and rude)

Shell: “What are you two up to?”

Brady: “Losing. Repeatedly.” *throws down cards* “I keep getting crap cards!”

Lark: “Playing poker?”

Shell: “Rude always wins!”

Rude: “I do pretty well.”

Shell: “Well you better do pretty well at that tournament! There’s big money at stake!”

Lark: “What tournament?”

Shell: “There’s a poker tournament in the casino at the end of the week. Setzer told us about it.”

Lark: “Setzer? Oh. Well be careful, Rude. The man is practically a professional. Brady – practice with him more.”

Brady: *groans* “Oh! But I keep losing!”

Lark: “Brady, look at Rude’s feet. Look at his shoes.”

Brady: *looks at rude’s feet* “But he’s not wearing any shoes.”

Lark: “That’s right. And this deck is really hot.”

Brady: *sigh* “Fine.” *pushes cards at rude* “Deal them again.”

(meanwhile, tseng goes over to where bryatt and zidane are horsing around in the pool.)

Tseng: “Hey, Bryatt.”

Bryatt: “Hey, Tseng. Why don’t you come in? The water’s great!”

Tseng: “Can I talk to you, Bryatt? *Alone*?”

Bryatt: “Sure.” *to zidane* “I’ll be right back, Z.”

Zidane: “Sure thing. I’ll be waiting.”

(and so bryatt gets out of the pool and plods after tseng across the deck to a quiet corner)

Bryatt: “What’s up?”

Tseng: “You’re hitting on Zidane now?”

Bryatt: “I’m not hitting on him! He’s hitting on me!” *pause* “I’m just returning the favor!”

Tseng: “Bryatt! *Zidane*?”

Bryatt: “What? What’s wrong with Zidane? He’s cute! And he’s pretty quick.”

Tseng: “He’s not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer, you know. He made a huge mistake that cost him millions of dollars.”

Bryatt: “So he’s not well educated. So what? Neither are you.”

Tseng: *visually bristles at that comment* “Well that’s your decision.”

Bryatt: “Is this what you pulled me out of the pool for?”

Tseng: “………………”

Bryatt: “Well you must really be bored. If you wanna actually hang out, I’ll be there, all right?”

(he walks away and tseng sighs in annoyance. reeve comes over)

Reeve: “There you are. Why’d you run off over here?”

Tseng: “Nothing.” *sees keychain* “What are you going to do with that keychain? Parade it around so everyone can see how smart you are?”

Reeve: “It’s just a keychain. Are you okay?”

Tseng: “Yeah.” *pause* “I think I just want to go back to the room and lay down.”

Reeve: “Okay. Let’s go.”

(and so reeve puts an arm around tseng and they walk off. meanwhile sephiroth has been patrolling around the pool, people watching all this time. he notices auron is swimming laps in the pool and then sees vincent napping in the corner. he goes over and sits next to vincent)

Sephiroth: “Vincent.”

Vincent: *still asleep*

Sephiroth: *leans over and yells in his ear* “Vincent!”

Vincent: *wakes up with a start* “Huh? Oh. Angel. It’s you.”

Sephiroth: “I forgot what a deep sleeper you are. Where’s the guard dog?”

Vincent: “I believe he’s swimming laps in the pool. What brings you over here?”

Sephiroth: “What? We can’t be friends?”

Vincent: *stares*

Sephiroth: “What?”

Vincent: “Friends? Every time in the past year that I’ve tried to strike up a conversation with you you’ve been nothing but rude to me.”

Sephiroth: “You, if anyone, should know what I’m like, Vincent!”

Vincent: *looks at him for a long moment* “Very well, Sephiroth. I suppose I can be your friend.”

Sephiroth: “Don’t do me any favors, Vincent.”

Vincent: *small smile*

Auron: *comes over frowning* “What’s going on over here?”

Vincent: “Nothing. We were just having a conversation.”

Auron: “Oh. I see.” *more frowning*

Sephiroth: “You don’t have to make it anymore obvious, Auroran. I’ll make myself scarce.” *to vincent* “See you around.”

(he walks away. auron looks at vincent)

Auron: “What was that about?”

Vincent: “Oh…nothing.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, reeve and tseng are returning to their room. reeve is taking out the key and just about to stick it in the slot – wow, that sounded wrong – when the door next to them begins to open. tseng’s eyes go wide and he grabs reeve, by the shoulders)

Tseng: *urgently* “Hurry, Reeve! Hurry!”

Reeve: “I’m going as fast as I can!”

(he opens the door and just as treize and zechs’ door opens. reeve and tseng quickly lunge inside their cabin, slamming the door behind them. treize and zechs come out, looking confused)

Treize and Zechs: *blink blink*

Zechs: “Maybe they really had to go to the bathroom or something.”

Treize: “Or maybe they were just really eager to have sex.”

Both: “……………”

Treize: “You don’t think they could be avoiding us, do you?”

Zechs: “If they are it’s probably because you go on and on about nothing all the time.”

Treize: “I don’t think it would be my intelligence that offends them! If anything it’s probably your constant flirting!”

Zechs: “Who wouldn’t like that?”

Treize: *sigh* “You’re right.”

Zechs: *smiles*

Treize: “I suppose we can go find that other gay couple to spend time with. The police officers.”

Zechs: “You mean Dee and Ryo? They were hot.”

Treize: “Zechs!”

Zechs: “Nobody beats you, Treize. Have you seen yourself in a mirror?”

Treize: *pompous smile* “Every chance I get.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(skip to dinner time. everyone is coming in and taking a seat at their table.)

Zell: “Franswa and I went to a cooking class today! It was great! But I, uh, burned stuff.”

Sephiroth: “That’s because you’re incompetent.”

Franswa: “You did fine, Zell.”

Sephiroth: “What did you do today, Alucard? Play hide and go seek with yourself?”

Alucard: “No. I did some walking. It was very peaceful.”

Dante: “Did Death call you back yet?”

Alucard: “No.” *scowls*

Dante: “Any luck finding someone to stand your presence, Lloyd?”

Lloyd: “My name is Vergil – and no! But I will!”

Dante: “I guess even unreachable goals are worth having.”

Lloyd: “Cram it, Dante!”

Lark: “Tonight there’s karaoke! We should all go check it out!”

Tseng: “Uh, Lark? Did I forget to mention that Treize and Zechs are on this ship?”

Reeve: “Yeah. And you know what that means.”

Everyone: *shudders*

Lark: “Don’t worry. We’ll think of something.”

Twilight: “I’m not going to any gay karaoke! I have to go back to that arcade and defend my high scores!”

Opal: “But Twilight, your scores are so high I don’t think anyone will be able to beat them.”

Twilight: “Thanks for the extra boost of confidence, Opal. But I already know I rock.”

Setzer: “Well I’ll be in the casino. I think I’ll play roulette tonight!”

Edgar: “Can you not always bet on black at least? Sometimes it lands on red.”

Setzer: “It’s all in good fun, Eddie! I always bet on black! That’s my signature!”

Shell: “We’ll take some time off to sing karaoke, but then it’s right back to the casino, Rude!”

Rude: “Yes, Shell.”

Brady: “I don’t think he needs anymore practice. I had a straight flush and he still managed to beat me! He’s just got amazing luck!”

Rufus: “Not quite! If he did he’d be rich!”

Majic: *comes over* “How is everyone doing tonight? Did you have a good day?”

Algus: “We had a fantastic day, server. Now bring us the menus.”

Majic: “Right away, sir. Al?”

Al: *comes over with the water pitcher* “Coming!”

(al goes around filling the water glasses when the losers show up. everyone stares at one of the members of the group, who looks…different)

Lark: “Who is that?”

Zidane: “Omg! Hojo built a robot!”

Reeve: “Hojo didn’t build a robot.”

Ashley: “I think it’s Seymour.”

Seifer: “No way!”

Seymour: *looks up* “Huh?”

Everyone: *blink blink*

Seifer: “Holy crap! That is Seymour!”

Kuja: “He looks fabulous, doesn’t he? We both had a full spa day. Plus I did him over. Now he’s actually presentable.”

Nida: “I’m wearing a bow tie!”

Kuja: “…No one’s talking to you, Nida.”

(the losers sit down at their table)

Heidegger: “Gya haa haa! I cleaned out the breakfast buffet!”

Hojo: “He really did. People were running for their lives.”

Scarlet: “Now I lost my appetite. Thanks.”

Nida: “What did you do all day, Hojo?”

Hojo: “I went to the library and walked around…”

Scarlet: “Looking for the children’s play area?”

Hojo: “…That may or may not have been in my plans.”

Kuja: “Well I had a fabulous time at the spa. I’m going again tomorrow. We both are.”

Seymour: “Again?”

Kuja: “What, you didn’t like it?”

Seymour: “Well, the treatments are good, but the masseuse was a little…”

Kuja: “Burly?”

Seymour: “No.”

Kuja: “Masculine?”

Seymour: “No. I was going to say flamboyant.”

Kuja: “Honey, you’re flamboyant. You’re wearing a pink satin evening dress.”

Seymour: “You’re missing the point.”

Kuja: “All I know is that Nuriko is totally hot. And he was totally into me.”

Seymour: “He only likes you because you tipped him with Hojo’s money.”

Kuja: “That’s not true.”

Hojo: “Where are you using my money?”

Kuja: “Does it really matter?”

Hojo: “…I suppose not.”

(back to the others…)

Tseng: “So, Rufus. What are you planning for tonight?”

Rufus: “Nothing much. Just planning on looking around, seeing how everything is running on the ship.”

Algus: “I have to check in with the Captain and make sure everything is running smoothly.”

Laguna: “I’m gonna spend more time with my son!” *puts an arm around squall*

Squall: “I’m gonna steal a lifeboat.”

Reno: “Hopefully there’ll be more chicks at karaoke – chicks who aren’t under age!”

Irvine: *frowns* “It’s not fair. They were hot.”

Reno: “Dude, just let it go.”

Irvine: “But—“

Reno: “They’re not even old enough for us to get them drunk, Irvine.”

Majic: *comes back over* “Is everyone ready to order?”

Twilight: “I’d like a menu with pictures on it!”

Opal: “I read you the menu, Twilight.”

Twilight: “Yeah, but still. I should get what I want. Do you know who I am?”

Opal: “Oh, Twilight.”

Algus: “What does the chef recommend?”

Majic: “Tonight he recommends the flaming duck!”

(there’s a whoosh of fire from the kitchen.)

Bryatt: “That’s not a surprise.”

(so majic takes everyone’s order and then scurries away again. a short time later he and al return with trays. al is holding the tray and majic is placing the appetizers in front of everyone one by one. when they get to lark, al accidentally knocks into something and the tray tips. The plate falls on the floor and breaks)

Majic: “Oh no! I’m *so* sorry!”

Al: “It was my fault.”

Lark: “It’s okay. It was an accident.”

Al: “I’ll fix it for you.”

(he goes to bend down but before he can chef roy mustang is out of the kitchen and on his knees. in an instant, the plate and food are repaired)

Everyone: *blink blink*

Roy: “Here you are.” *smile*

Lark: “Thanks.”

Roy: “Anytime.” *and with a wink and a grin he goes back in the kitchen*

Ashley: “I hope he used alchemy to take the floor germs off your food.”

Seifer: “What floor germs? Five second rule!”

Ashley: “There is no such thing as the five second rule! That’s a myth!”

Seifer: “It is not! The five second rule is real!”

Brady: “Lark, was Roy Mustang just hitting on you?”

Lark: “I hope so!” *pause* “Sorry. Reflex!”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(later, after dinner, twilight and opal return to the arcade)

Twilight: “I’m gonna do that Dance Dance Revolution game and show everybody just how great I am at dancing!”

Opal: “If you’re so great at dancing, Twilight, how come you won’t take me dancing?”

Twilight: “I need quarters, Opal.”

Opal: *sighs and hands him quarters*

(they go over to the dance dance revolution machine, which has two attached dance pads so people can go head to head. there’s a kid playing on it, and twilight taps his foot, looking annoyed)

Twilight: “You suck! Get off so people better than you can try!”

Opal: “Twilight! That’s not nice! He’s just a child!”

Twilight: “Come on, kid! Give it up! You’re gonna need a lot more practice to beat me!”

Kid: *looks over* “At least I can spell it!”

Twilight: *gasp* “No! Not you! Not again!”

Kid: *laughs* “Hi, Mr. Stick Man!”

Opal: “Aw! Look how much he’s grown!”

Twilight: “Yeah! Grown more evil! Where’s your whore of a mother?”

Kid: “She had more games to do!” *points to where his mother is flirting with a man whose name tag says games*

Twilight: “Gross!”

Opal: “Now, Twilight! Be nice!”

Twilight: “Stay out of this, Opal! I started this fight, and I’m gonna finish it! We’re gonna settle this the way it should have been settled a long time ago!”

Opal: “Twilight, no!”

(but twilight hops on the machine and pushes the kid onto the second dance pad)

Twilight: “You think you’re so great? Well let’s see how you do at something that doesn’t involve spelling!”

Kid: “You’re on, Mr. Stick Man!”

Twilight: *slams quarters into the slot* “Let’s *dance*!”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, most of the gang has decided to head over to karaoke. they walk in to find treize and zechs are already at the machine singing ‘I’ve got you babe’ and they obviously dragged some unwilling friends up their with them)

Tseng: “It’s too late. The damage has been done.”

Lark: “No! There’s still time!”

Rufus: “Those other guys look familiar…”

Lark: *blink blink* “Hey! That’s Dee and Ryo!” *pause* “They certainly don’t look happy.”

Tseng: “They look like they’re looking for the nearest exit. And who can blame them?”

Rufus: “Oh! I remember them! They’re the ones I sold Sephiroth Land to!”

Reeve: “How are you planning to get them to stop singing, Lark?”

Lark: “Easy! We just have to distract one of them away from the microphone! Uh…” *scans the group* “Zidane!”

Zidane: “What’s up?”

Lark: “How would you like to go flirt with Zechs?”

Zidane: “Would I?!”

Lark: “Great! Just go over there and woo him away from the microphone. When Treize comes over to berate him, we’ll made a grab for the microphones!”

Brady: “You sure that’ll work?”

Lark: “Please. How long have I been doing this?”

(so the gang goes in and gets seats near the stage. zidane goes over and waits by the end of the stage as the song ends. no one claps. zidane winks at zechs. zechs takes notice, puts the microphone down and steps off the stage to talk to him.)

Treize: “Thank you. Thank you.”

Dee: “Uh, okay! That was enough singing!” *grabs ryo by the back of the shirt* “Let’s go, Ryo.”

Treize: “Where are you going? We have to do an encore for our loving crowd!”

Ryo: “Um…what loving crowd?”

Treize: “This one!”

Dee: “Yeah, sounds great, but we have got tons of stuff to do! Besides, your partner is flirting with that other guy.”

Treize: *turns* “What?!”

Dee: “See ya!”

(he and ryo run off. treize spots zechs and frowns)

Treize: “Zechs!”

(he puts the microphone down and goes over to yell at him.)

Brady: “I’ve gotta hand it to ya, babe. It worked.”

Lark: “Of course it did! Okay, now!”

(lark, Ashley, shell and Brady leap onto the stage and grab up all the microphones)

Roy: “Thank god! I thought I was going to have to listen to that all night!”

Lark: “Well, don’t worry. We’ll make sure they don’t get the microphones again.” *blink blink* “And what are you doing here? I thought you were the chef!”

Roy: *grin* “I’m a man of many talents.”

Lark: “I bet you are, Mr. Mustang.”

Roy: “You can call me Roy.”

Lark: *blushes* “Okay…Roy.”

Brady: “Hi, Roy!”

Roy: “That’s Colonel Mustang.”

Brady: “Uh…Hi Colonel Mustang.”

Shell: *blink blink* “If you’re a Colonel, why are you working as a chef? And a karaoke host?”

Roy: *shifty eyes* “Okay! What will you be singing?”

Girls: “Uh…” *look at Brady* “Love Shack!”

Brady: *hand to head* “Oh god help me.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, at the casino. setzer has placed a big pile of chips on black while edgar watches. spike is working the table)

Spike: “Red. Red’s the winner.” *takes all the black chips*

Edgar: *face falls*

Setzer: “That was fun!”

Edgar: “Fun? You just lost thousands of dollars!”

Setzer: “So what? You’ve *burnt* money before!”

Edgar: “Well it’s not good for there to be too much money in circulation! It causes inflation!”

Setzer: “Uh huh. I’ve gotta get some more chips.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(back at karaoke, shell is now singing love don’t cost a thing. reeve is standing at the bar, where ed is tending again)

Reeve: “So the basics of alchemy is equivalent exchange, right? Meaning you can’t make something out of thin air – you need all the stuff that it’s made of.”

Ed: “Uh huh.”

Reeve: “That is fascinating stuff. But I’ve read you need a transmutation circle to do alchemy. And I don’t see any of those around when you’re making drinks.”

Ed: “I guess I’m just special or something.”

(reno and irvine come over)

Reno: “Reeve! Stop giving the man the third degree and let him make his drinks!”

Ed: “Two Jack and colas?”

Reno: “I like a bar tender who’s a quick learner!”

(ed claps, puts his hands down, and the drinks appear. he looks over to where rude is watching shell and laughing hysterically)

Ed: “What’s so funny?”

Reno: “Trust me, dude. If you were him – you’d be laughing too.”

Irvine: “You seen any hot chicks around?”

Ed: *shrugs* “I guess. You seen anyone with a scar on his face?”

Reno: “Uh…like this?” *points to his scars*

Ed: “No… It makes an ‘X’ shape.”

Reno: “Nope. Nobody like that.”

Irvine: “You see any hot chicks you let us know.”

(reno and irvine walk away)

Reeve: “So anyway, as I was saying—“

Ed: *groans and rolls his eyes*

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(back to the arcade, another round just finished. twilight and the kid are still playing)

Twilight: “Dammit! How do we keep tying?!”

Kid: “I guess we’re equals!”

Twilight: “The great Twilight XyXia is no one’s equal! Let’s play again! Opal! …Opal?”

(he turns to opal, who has fallen asleep)

Twilight: “Opal!”

Opal: *opens her eyes* “Huh? Oh. What is it, Twilight?”

Twilight: “I need more quarters.”

Opal: *reaches into her pocket* “Sorry, Twilight. I don’t have anymore.”

Kid: “Ha ha! You don’t even know how much a quarter is!”

Twilight: “Shut up, kid! I’ll be back tomorrow night for a rematch! And you better be here!”

Kid: “Spell it!” *laughs*

Twilight: *shaking his fist as opal drags him away* “I’ll get you, you little bastard!”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, back at karaoke, tseng, irvine, and zell are trying to convince sephiroth to sing…)

Zell: “C’mon, ‘Roth! It’ll be fun!”

Irvine: “Supa Ego revisited!”

Sephiroth: “I thought we all hated Supa Ego.”

Tseng: “Did we? But we made so much money…”

Irvine: “You’re singing.”

(and so they all drag sephiroth up and start to sing ‘bye, bye, bye’)

Dante: “I didn’t know Sephiroth could sing.”

Rufus: “Yup! We used to be in a band! I earned a ton of money off of it! But then they all quit on me!”

Alucard: “It’s hard to imagine Sephiroth in a band.”

Algus: “Perhaps it’s time for a reunion tour, Rufus.”

Rufus: “Reunion tour…” *thoughtfully* “I like the sound of that…”

(meanwhile…)

Brady: “Sweetie, Roy Mustang was flirting with you again. And you were flirting back!”

Lark: “He’s *Roy Mustang*! Can you blame me?”

Brady: “…I guess not.”

Ashley: “He’s totally hot.”

Seifer: “Ashley! I thought I was enough for you!”

Ashley: “You haven’t been doing it for me for years, Seifer.”

Laguna: “Hey hey! I claim the microphone next! My son and I are going to sing ‘Just the Two of Us’ together!”

Squall: “No we’re not. Stop annoying me.”

Lark: *yawn* “It’s getting late. I think it’s time to go to bed and start fresh in the morning.”

Ashley: “Sounds good to me.”

(the group starts to leave, and treize and zechs rise happily from their chairs, ready to grab the microphone. roy’s eyes get wide and he quickly grabs the mic himself)

Roy: “Uh, okay everybody! Now I’m gonna sing a song!” *puts on ‘I’m too sexy’*

Ed: *hand to his head* “Oh my god help me…”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(of course irvine and reno do not go to sleep then. they move to another bar and at about 4 in the morning they are stumbling back to their rooms totally drunk)

Irvine: “That girl was totally hot, dude. Totally hot.”

Reno: “Dude, she was a man.”

Irvine: “She was…she wasn’t no man. You’re crazy. You’re crazy, dude.”

(they stop to wait for the elevator. the doors open and out steps a man with long red hair…and a scar shaped like an ‘x’ on his cheek.)

Man: *smiles* “Hello!”

Reno and Irvine: *blink blink*

(the man with the scar just walks away)

Irvine: “Dude, was that that guy that guy was talking about?”

Reno: “I dunno.”

Irvine: “I better tell him what I saw in the morning!”

Reno: “Dude, you’ll be lucky if you remember anything in the morning.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(the next morning sephiroth goes out to his balcony)

Sephiroth: “Another nice day…”

Dante: “Love that morning sun!”

(sephiroth looks over at dante, who is, of course, naked again.)

Sephiroth: “Oh god!” *stumbles back covering his eyes* “Again?! What is wrong with you?”

Dante: “You’re the one who’s covering his eyes. What’s wrong with you?”

Sephiroth: “I don’t want to stare at your-your-your you know what! That’s what’s wrong!”

Dante: *chuckles* “Now that’s just a lie.”

Sephiroth: “Argh!” *goes back inside*

Dante: *waves* “Good morning, Vincent!”

Vincent: *sheepishly goes back inside his room*

Dante: *goes back in his room laughing* “I got him again, Al! Wish you could have seen it!”

Alucard: “I haven’t heard back from Death *or* Dad.”

Dante: “Why are you complaining? Consider that a good sign.”

Alucard: “I suppose.”

Dante: “Are you going to go play trivia again?”

Alucard: “I guess so.” *checks time* “In fact I better get going. I’ll see you later.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, at the breakfast buffet)

Heidegger: *walking away with a whole chaffing dish* “Gya haa haa!  Delicious!”

Majic: “Uh, sir? You can’t take the whole tray with you. Sir?”

(heidegger plops down at a table with the other losers, who all look horrified.)

Kuja: “I have a small plate of fresh fruit, and you have enough eggs to feed an army.”

Heidegger: “I have enough fat for an army! Gya haa haa!”

Seymour: *pushes his plate away* “I’m not hungry anymore.”

Kuja: “Your ass thanks you.”

Scarlet: “Anyone want to go to the make over class today?”

Kuja: “You mean the class on how to get rid of wrinkles?”

Scarlet: *shifty eyes* “No… I’m too young for wrinkles.”

Heidegger: “Gya haa haa! And I’m a picky eater!”

Scarlet: “Shut up, Heidegger!”

Nida: “You’re awfully quiet, Hojo! What are you planning?”

Hojo: “Oh, nothing much. I think I might go hang out by the pool today…”

Kuja: “Just because you’re in international waters doesn’t mean you can get around the court order.”

Hojo: *snaps fingers* “Damnation. There’s never a loop hole.”

Kuja: “Anyway, I guess it’s time we head back to the spa.”

Seymour: “Can we switch people this time?”

Kuja: “I don’t think so. That Armstrong looks like he gives the heavy duty treatment. And you need the heavy duty treatment.”

Seymour: *scowls* “It’s not fair.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, dante is sitting at a table with a cup of coffee and munching a piece of toast when lloyd comes over and sits down)

Lloyd: “Guess what, Dante?”

Dante: “I could care less.”

Lloyd: “I met a guy last night!”

Dante: “Still don’t care.”

Lloyd: “He’s really hot and we had a great time! I’m going to meet up with him again today!”

Dante: “How can you do that to someone, Lloyd?”

Lloyd: *frowns* “$%^& you, Dante! And my name is Vergil!” *stomps off*

Dante: “That poor guy’s in for the shock of his life.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, the trivia is taking place at the ship’s coffee café. lark, shell, reeve and alucard are huddled around a table. on the other end of the room is tseng, sitting slumped at a table by himself. across the room vincent is also at a table by himself. sephiroth enters the room. he looks from tseng to vincent and back again several times. finally he takes a breath and slides into a chair next to…vincent)

Sephiroth: “Hi, Vincent.”

Vincent: “Oh. Hello. This is a surprise.”

Sephiroth: “Where’s Mr. ugly face?”

Vincent: “If you’re speaking of Auron he said he would be right back.”

Sephiroth: “Maybe if I’m lucky he’ll fall overboard.”

Vincent: “I’m surprised you came to sit with me instead of Tseng.”

Sephiroth: “Have you *sat* with Tseng lately? Blah, blah, blah, blah. He is the worst. He’s in one of his phases again. And I would rather not go there.”

Vincent: “I see.”

Sephiroth: “What. No comment?”

Vincent: “You expect me to make a comment?”

Sephiroth: “I’m surprised you’re not scolding me for not being a good friend or something.”

Vincent: “Why would I do that? You’re an adult, and I’m not your father.”

Sephiroth: “Thank god! That would have been gross!”

Lark: *across the room* “Whoo! We won!” *jumps up* “In your *face*, losers!”

Sephiroth: *chuckles* “How could I not be compatible with her? Look at her! That is so like me!”

Shell: “Lark!”

Lark: “Oops! Sorry! I got carried away.”

Sephiroth: *frowns* “That’s not like me.”

Vincent: “You’re not compatible with many people, Sephiroth.”

Sephiroth: “What are you talking about, Vincent? We were compatible.”

Vincent: “Were we?”

Sephiroth: “Yes! How can you even say that?”

Vincent: “Then what changed?”

Sephiroth: *long pause and he looks away* “People change.”

(across the room, tseng gets up and glares at sephiroth)

Tseng: “Thanks for snubbing me! You walked *right* by!”

Sephiroth: “I thought you wanted to be alone!”

Tseng: “No, you’re an ass!”

Sephiroth: “And if I didn’t know better I’d think you were on your period!”

(tseng stalks off joins reeve and they leave the room)

Sephiroth: “Geez. Issues.” *spots auron entering* “Well, I better go. I’ll see ya.”

Vincent: “Good-bye.”

(sephiroth goes over to alucard, lark and shell, and all four of them leave together. auron stomps over to vincent)

Auron: “Talking to him again?”

Vincent: “He came over and spoke with me.”

Auron: “You said you were going to join me outside.”

Vincent: “……………”

Auron: “I think we need to talk.”

Vincent: “…Yes. I think we do.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, lark and shell have walked off together leaving sephiroth with alucard)

Sephiroth: “So where are you headed now?”

Alucard: “I think I’ll return to the lounge I found yesterday. It’s dark there…although empty.”

Sephiroth: “Where’s your manwhore boyfriend?”

Alucard: “Probably out by the pool again.”

Sephiroth: “Typical. Thanks for letting me know where to avoid.”

(he walks off. alucard sighs sadly.)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, up at the front of the ship, algus has dragged zidane with him)

Zidane: “This sucks! Why do I have to come with you? I wanna go sip drinks by the pool!”

Algus: “I got distracted by the karaoke last night and forgot to check on the Captain.”

Zidane: “Ooh! You got distracted by something! I didn’t think it was possible!”

(they go to the front of the ship and go into the main control room…I have no idea what the technical name for that is. anyway there is a pretty woman there with long purplish hair)

Algus: “Captain! A pleasure to see you again.”

Captain: “Oh, hey Mr. Sadalfas. What’s up?”

Algus: “Just checking in. How is everything going?”

Captain: “Everything’s great. This ship practically runs herself.”

Zidane: “Herself?”

Algus: “Boats are always referred to as females.”

Zidane: “Why?”

Algus: *big sigh* “Zidane… Your lack of intellect astounds me.”

Zidane: “Well at least introduce me to the hot Captain you hired!”

Algus: “Captain, please excuse the rudeness of my slave. Zidane, this is Captain Misato Katsuragi.”

Zidane: “Nice to meetcha.”

Misato: “Hi.”

Algus: “All right, we’re leaving now.”

Zidane: “But we just got here, Algus!”

Algus: “Carry on, Captain.”

Misato: “You got it, sir.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(vincent and auron are walking around outside. because of the speed of the ship, the wind is blowing quite a bit.)

Auron: “Just say it.”

Vincent: “Say what?”

Auron: “Just say you’re still in love with him.”

Vincent: “…I never stopped.”

Auron: “You told me you were going to stay away from him.”

Vincent: “He came to me. And besides…I could never do that.”

Auron: “Just because he started talking to you again doesn’t mean anything.”

Vincent: “………………”

Auron: “He doesn’t love you anymore!”

(vincent pauses a long moment, looking out over the ocean. he then turns back to auron who looks angry, both fists clenched at his side. vincent just gives him a small smile)

Vincent: “I’m sorry. But I just don’t believe that.”

(they both stand there in silence a moment, the wind whipping around them.)

Auron: “So is this it?”

Vincent: “I suppose it is.” *pause* “I hope we can still be friends.”

Auron: “…Every man should take as many friends as he can get.” *small shaky smile*

Vincent: “…This was a lie. You knew that when we started.”

Auron: “…I did. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t try my best to ignore it.” *turns away* “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to change my room.”

(and vincent just watches him walk away)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, alucard walks into the lounge. but today it is not empty. there is a man with long purple hair standing there.)

Both: *blink blink*

Alucard: “Hi.”

Man: “Hi.”

Alucard: “What are you doing down here?”

Man: “I…uh…have a skin condition where I’m allergic to, uh, sun. You?”

Alucard: “Me too. Same…uh…allergy.”

Both: “…………”

Man: “You a vampire?”

Alucard: “Yeah. You too?”

Man: “Yeah. My name is Shido.”

Alucard: “I’m Alucard.”

Shido: “Alucard? Dracula’s son?”

Alucard: *sigh* “Yes.”

Shido: “That’s interesting. Do you have a brother…or something?”

Alucard: “…Maybe…why?”

Shido: “Is his name D? Because I met a guy named D yesterday that said he was Dracula’s son. We got to talking. He should actually be meeting me here any minute.”

Alucard: “Oh. Well. It was nice meeting you. I have to leave now.” *turns to go*

?: “…Brother?”

Alucard: *freezes and mutters* “Sh*t.”

D: “Brother!” *runs and hugs him* “I’m so glad to see you again!”

Alucard: *doesn’t hug back* “Yeah.”

D: “How’s dad doing?”

Alucard: “Fine.”

D: “You know, Shido rebels against his own kind too! We should all talk!”

Alucard: “Uh huh. I don’t really do that anymore. …Although I did manipulate things to kill off this vampire relative I didn’t like.”

D: “Come have a seat with us!”

Alucard: “Thanks for the offer, but, uh, I’ve gotta get going.” *runs to the door*

D: “There’s sunlight out that way!”

Alucard: *opens the door* “Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, sephiroth runs into twilight)

Twilight: “Sephiroth! There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!”

Sephiroth: “Finally! A person I can stand! What’s up?”

Twilight: “I need you to play Dance Dance Revolution with me.”

Sephiroth: *turning* “Forget it. I’m outta here.”

Twilight: “Come on! You’re the only person I respect! I really need to beat that kid!”

Sephiroth: “What kid?”

Twilight: “That kid that likes to spell everything!”

Sephiroth: “He’s back again?”

Twilight: “Yeah. My life feels like a bunch of recycled plots.”

Sephiroth: *sigh* “This may surprise you, but I’m not really very good at that game.”

Twilight: “That’s okay. Neither is that kid.”

Sephiroth: “Then how come you can’t beat him?”

Twilight: “Shut up! Let’s go.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, auron goes and knocks on the door to rufus’ room. rufus answers it rubbing the sleep from his eyes)

Auron: “Sorry. Did I wake you?”

Rufus: “Guess I decided to sleep in this morning. Something wrong?”

Auron: “No…not really. Vincent and I broke up and I was wondering if I could move into another room.”

Rufus: “Oh. Oh! I’m sorry.”

Auron: “It’s fine.”

Rufus: “Uh… Well, it’s a full ship, but I think I can find a solution for you. Leave your bags outside your room and I’ll have them moved to your new room.”

Auron: “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

(he walks away. rufus goes back inside and over to elena, who is still in bed.)

Elena: “Who was that?”

Rufus: “Auron. How do you feel about moving into my room?”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, out by the pool, irvine and reno are at the bar)

Irvine: “Dude, I am still hung over.”

Reno: “Don’t worry, man. Booze cures hangovers.”

Irvine: “I thought it just caused them.”

Reno: “It does a lot of things.”

Ed: “Two Jack and colas?”

Irvine: “Better take it easy. Just some beers.”

(ed does his usual routine and makes the drinks. irvine is staring at him very hard)

Irvine: “I feel like I had something to tell you.”

Reno: “Yeah. Thanks for the beer.” *takes his and takes a sip*

Irvine: “No! I remember! I saw a man with an ‘X’ shaped scar on his face last night!”

Ed: “You did?”

Roy: *appears out of nowhere* “You did?!”

Irvine and Reno: *blink blink*

Reno: “Dude…where the hell did *you* come from?!”

Roy: “Well keep an eye out for him! And if you see him again, get one of us immediately!”

Irvine: “We saw him at like 4 in the morning.”

Roy: “That’s fine. This man is extremely dangerous.”

Irvine: “Really?”

Reno: “He seemed kinda friendly.”

Roy: “He’s just trying to deceive you.”

Reno: *shrugs* “Whatever you say, dude. You’re the one who appeared out of nowhere.”

Roy: “All right then. I have to get back to work.” *walks way*

Reno: “What? He’s not gonna disappear anymore?”

Ed: *sighs and shakes his head*

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(hours later we go to the arcade. opal walks in with her poolside attire on and goes over to where twilight and sephiroth are frantically playing ddr. she comes over just as the game ends)

Sephiroth: “You beat me. Again. Can we stop now? This game is for twelve year old girls.”

Twilight: “No! One more time!” *he goes to put money in but it won’t go in* “What the hell? The machine is trying to tell me something! What does that say?”

Sephiroth: “It says maintenance required. I think we broke it.”

Twilight: “What? Noooooooo!!”

Opal: “Come on, Twilight! It’s time to get ready for dinner!”

Twilight: “But we broke the machine! How am I supposed to get my revenge?”

Opal: “Twilight, revenge isn’t always a good thing.”

Twilight: “What are you talking about, Opal? Revenge is the best thing in the world! Right, Sephiroth?”

Sephiroth: “Oh yeah.”

Twilight: “I will get my revenge on that brat! I’ll just have to find another way!”

Opal: “Whatever you say, Twilight. Now let’s go get ready for dinner.”

Twilight: *frowns* “Yes, Opal.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, in dante and alucard’s room, dante is wrapping alucard’s hand in gauze. alucard has dried tears on his face)

Dante: “How long was your hand in the sun for?”

Alucard: “I don’t know! Just a moment!”

Dante: “It looks like you stuck it in the deep fryer.”

Alucard: “It’s hideous! And now it’ll take a week to heal!”

Dante: “You’re a vampire. A week to you is like a second. How did this happen anyway?”

Alucard: “Because my brother is here! I was so eager to get out of there I ran to the first door I could find!”

Dante: “You have a brother too? Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

Alucard: “Because I only met him once before and I hate him.”

Dante: “That’s something else we have in common. He older or younger?”

Alucard: “Older.”

Dante: “Is he half and half like you are?”

Alucard: “Yes. But he has a different mother.”

Dante: “Oh. Well at least you’ve got that going for you.”

Alucard: “I need to get drunk.”

Dante: “Your wish is my command, baby. Tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1799.”

Alucard: *blink blink*

Dante: “…I was trying to make you smile.”

Alucard: “Oh.” *small smile* “Thanks.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(next we go to dinner. everyone is trickling in slowly. rufus and tseng are the only ones at their table and rufus looks quite uncomfortable about it)

Rufus: “So…”

Tseng: “………”

Rufus: “Wonder where everyone else is! Heh heh.”

Tseng: “Rufus, I’m going to ask you something. And I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me the truth.”

Rufus: *gulp* “Okay.”

Tseng: “Do you like Elena?”

Rufus: “No! Of course not! I mean, not as anything more than a friend!”

Tseng: “Look me in the eyes and tell me that.”

Rufus: *looks him in the eyes* “I don’t have feelings for Elena.”

(the others start arriving. meanwhile, over at the losers’ table)

Heidegger: “I’m gonna order everything! Gya haa haa!”

Nida: “Could you not cause a spectacle at every meal?”

Scarlet: “How was the spa today?”

Kuja: “Simply lovely. Nuriko is quite talented.”

Seymour: “Did you make out with him yet?”

Kuja: “No, but I’m getting there.”

Nida: “Gross! I didn’t need to hear that!”

Kuja: “How were your treatments, Seymour?”

Seymour: “…Rough.”

Hojo: “Maybe I should have a massage!”

Nida: “Ew! Who’d wanna touch you?”

Kuja: *clears throat*

Nida: “No, there’s no good reason!”

Seymour: “How was your class, Scarlet?”

Scarlet: “I got some free samples!”

Kuja: “Wrinkle cream?”

Scarlet: *too defensively* “No!”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, back at the other tables…)

Majic: “Here are your menus! I’ll be back to take your order!” *leaves*

Sephiroth: “What happened to your hand, Alucard?”

Alucard: “…Sunburn.”

Zell: “Man, I hate sunburn! It hurts! Then you have to put that aloe stuff on it!”

Sephiroth: “You idiot, he’s a *vampire*.”

Zell: “Oh right! Then it must doubly suck for you!”

Franswa: “What happened?”

Alucard: “…Long story.”

Lloyd: “I have news!”

Dante: “No one cares, Lloyd.”

Lloyd: “It’s *Vergil*! And I met up with Tomo again!”

Dante: “Who the hell is Tomo?”

Lloyd: “He’s that totally hot guy I was telling you about! He wears this really cool hat with feathers on it! And he tickled me with his feathers!”

Everyone: *jaw drops*

Dante: “Lloyd… What the #$%^ is wrong with you? Why do you have to gross out so many people who are sitting down to eat dinner?”

Lloyd: “$%^# you, Dante! You’re just jealous! And my name is Vergil – so start using it!”

Sephiroth: “That’s not half as gross as you naked on your balcony every morning!”

Zidane: “He’s naked on the balcony every morning?”

Dante: “I’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. You’re just jealous.”

Sephiroth: “Trust me, buddy. I’ve got no reason to be jealous of that…thing you’ve got there.”

Dante: *snort* “Sure you don’t.”

Sephiroth: “I don’t.”

Bryatt: “I can’t believe I’m hearing this conversation.”

Dante: “You can’t even stand to look at it without burning with jealousy.”

Sephiroth: “If I were you I’d be embarrassed to walk around naked.”

Dante: “If you were me you wouldn’t be so pathetically lonely.”

(sephiroth doesn’t answer back, but if looks could kill, dante would drop dead. dante isn’t fazed by the look. he just looks back smugly.)

Lloyd: “You’ve got nothing to brag about, Dante!”

Dante: “I think you’re getting us confused again, Lloyd.”

Lloyd: “It’s *Vergil*!”

Bryatt: “So…what are everyone’s plans for tonight?”

Zidane: “Drinking, drinking and more drinking.”

Alucard: “Sounds good to me.”

Zell: “We should go get a drink too, Franswa!”

Franswa: “Uh, maybe. I’m not really much of a drinker.”

Dante: “Have you ever been drunk?”

Franswa: “No! Of course not!”

Dante: “And how old are you?”

Franswa: “23.”

Dante: “Omg! Are you serious? Don’t worry, kid. We’ll work on that.”

Franswa: *gulp*

Majic: *comes over* “It everyone ready to order?”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(after dinner…)

Reeve: “What do you want to do tonight, Tseng?”

Tseng: “I don’t know.”

Reeve: “Would you like to go dancing or something?”

Tseng: “I thought you didn’t like when we did that together.”

Reeve: “Of course I do.”

Tseng: *small smile* “…Well, all right then.”

(meanwhile…dante goes up to sephiroth)

Dante: “Hey.”

Sephiroth: “What the hell do you want?”

Dante: “I wouldn’t have said what I said before it if wasn’t true.”

Sephiroth: “#$%^ you.”

Dante: “I thought you might say that. Hey – you’re welcome to hang out with Al and me tonight.”

Sephiroth: “Why? Do you feel sorry for me or something? Because I don’t need your pity.”

Dante: “I don’t feel sorry for anyone. If you don’t wanna take my offer, I’ll take it back.”

Sephiroth: “Fine. I accept.” *pause* “How did Alucard really hurt his hand anyway?”

Dante: “He said he was trying to escape from his brother and grabbed the wrong door.”

Sephiroth: “D is here?”

Dante: “He told you about his brother?”

Sephiroth: “Well, we were together at the time.”

Dante: “He doesn’t seem to be a big fan. Came as a bit of a surprise to me, considering…”

Sephiroth: “Considering…?”

Dante: *pause* “Alucard talks a lot when he’s drunk, doesn’t he.”

Sephiroth: “Tons. He tell you?”

Dante: “He tell *you*?”

Sephiroth: “Yes.”

Dante: “That he’s the father of…”

Sephiroth: “Yes.”

Dante: “Oh.” *grins* “Well, I guess we have something in common after all. Because there’s something else I’m sure we don’t have in common.” *points down to his crotch*

Sephiroth: “Grrr…”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(later, most of the gang is back at gil. ed and roy are at the bar. roy is drawing a transmutation circle and muttering unhappily as ed serves customers without one. lark comes up to him)

Lark: “Hi, Roy.”

Roy: “Hi there. I don’t believe I ever got your name.”

Lark: “Oh, I’m Lark.”

Roy: “Nice to see you again, Lark.”

Lark: “I’m surprised to see you here.”

Roy: “Well… When you’re looking for someone you have to be everywhere.”

Lark: “Who are you looking for?”

Roy: “A man with an ‘X’ shaped scar on his face. Have you seen him?”

Lark: “No. But if I do I’ll let you know.”

Roy: “Great. Can I get you a drink, sweetheart?”

Lark: “Yeah. I’ll have a sex on the beach.”

Roy: “Sounds good to me.”

(while he’s making the drink, reno comes over)

Reno: “Hey, Ed. Hey, guy that comes out of nowhere.”

Roy: “Colonel Mustang.”

Reno: “Whatever. Hi, Lark.”

Lark: “Hi, Reno. Enjoying the vacation?”

Reno: “You bet I am! I’m surprised nobody’s gotten sea sick at all though.”

Lark: “I never get sea sick.”

Reno: “Well, after spending so much time on a pirate ship…”

Lark: “That’s not true!”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, to twilight. he is waiting at the arcade when the child arrives)

Kid: “Hi, Mr. Stickman!”

Twilight: “Finally! Where’s your skanky mother?”

Kid: “She had other buffets to do.” *points to where mother is walking with an employee named buffets*

Twilight: “Whatever. Anyway, the Dance Dance Revolution machine is broken. So I picked this game instead!”

Kid: “Soul Caliber?”

Twilight: “Yeah! Whatever…you just said. Let’s play!”

Kid: “You’re on!”

(they start to play and go to the character selection screen)

Twilight: “I’m gonna pick this guy!” *picks nightmare* “Because he looks like he can kick ass!”

Kid: “I’m going to pick Siegfried! Sworn enemy of Nightmare!”

Twilight: “Who’s Nightmare?”

Kid: “Ha ha! You can’t read!”

Twilight: “Too bad I don’t need to know how to read to kick your ass!”

(and so they begin to play)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, back at gil. franswa is standing up at the bar with dante looking nervous)

Franswa: “Uh…”

Dante: “I think I should order for you.”

Franswa: “Sure. That sounds good.”

Dante: “Let me get a rum and cola with two shots and a beer please.”

Franswa: “I’m getting the beer, right?”

Dante: “No.”

Franswa: *gulp*

(meanwhile, across the way, zidane and bryatt are relaxing in a booth with some drinks)

Bryatt: “So you’re Algus’ slave, huh? What’s that like?”

Zidane: *laughs* “Are you drunk?”

Bryatt: “I am definitely getting there.”

Zidane: “I slept with Sephiroth once, you know.”

Bryatt: “I know. I think he complained about that to everyone.”

Zidane: “I’d like to sleep with you.”

Bryatt: “I bet you would.”

Zidane: “You think I’ve got a shot in hell?”

Bryatt: “…I’d say you’ve got more than a shot.”

(and with that he leans over and starts to kiss zidane. meanwhile, reeve and tseng are on the floor dancing)

Tseng: “Oh my god.”

Reeve: “What?”

Tseng: “Bryatt’s making out with Zidane.”

Reeve: “What?! Where??”

Tseng: “I don’t want to point it out, Reeve.”

Reeve: “Just tell me.”

Tseng: *sigh* “Right behind you.”

(reeve quickly looks over his shoulder and then looks back)

Reeve: “Wow. They should get a room.”

Tseng: “They have two. They just choose not to use them.”

(then elena comes over)

Elena: “Hey, Tseng – can I borrow your cell phone? I just wanna call Sunshine and check up on Lily.”

Tseng: “Sure.” *hands it to her*

Elena: *takes it* “Thanks. I’ll give it right back.” *walks away*

(meanwhile, dante takes franswa back to the table where alucard and sephiroth are sitting already. zell is there too, but looks a bit uncomfortable.)

Dante: “Well, Franswa, drink up!”

Franswa: *takes a cautious sip*

Alucard: *drains his whole drink*

Sephiroth: “Alucard, what the hell are you drinking?”

Alucard: *shrugs* “Does it matter?” *starts drinking another*

Sephiroth: *sipping his own drink* “Guess not.”

Dante: “What do you think, Franswa?”

Franswa: *shrugs* “Tastes pretty good.” *drinks more*

Dante: “I told you.”

Zell: “Uh…hey, Franswa? Do you mind if I go and dance for awhile?”

Franswa: “Go ahead.”

Zell: “Thanks. I’ll be back in a bit.” *goes off*

Dante: “He’s kinda cute. You like him?”

Franswa: *blushing furiously* “No.”

Sephiroth: “Ew! You like Zell?”

Franswa: “No! We’re just friends!”

Alucard: “Leave him alone.”

(then squall comes running by, dragging rinoa with him.)

Squall: “Hurry! I am *not* doing another conga line!”

Rinoa: “Me neither!”

(they run off. a second later laguna runs by)

Laguna: “Hey, son! It feels ‘Hot, Hot, Hot’ in here again! Son? Son?? Squall?” *runs off again*

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, in the casino, setzer is standing at the window to cash in his chips)

Setzer: “I cleaned up at craps! Those dice were lucky tonight!”

Edgar: “I still think the name of that game is disgusting.”

Setzer: “What should I play next?”

Edgar: “Play next? I thought you were done!”

Setzer: “No way! The night is still *way* too young. I know! Let’s play something together!”

Edgar: “I don’t think so. I’m not really a gambling man.”

Setzer: “You took a gamble when you married me.”

Edgar: “That I did, but I’m still not sure if I won that bet.”

(setzer grins, leans over and kisses edgar. as they pull away they see algus standing there staring at them with a confused look on his face)

Both: “Uh…”

Setzer: “Oh!” *grabs edgar and gives him a kiss on each cheek* “That’s the European way of doing things!”

Edgar: “Wouldn’t have it any other way!” *sweat drops*

Algus: “Ah, yes! European! Of course. See you later.” *he leaves*

Both: *breathe a sigh of relief*

Edgar: “That was far too close. Nice cover, dear. We survive for another day.”

Setzer: *frowns* “Yeah.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, elena is outside on the phone when rufus comes over)

Elena: “Oh, good! I’m glad to hear it! Well give her a kiss from all of us, will you? ……Okay, Thanks, Sunshine. Bye.” *hangs up* “Oh, hi, Rufus.”

Rufus: “How’s Lily?”

Elena: “She’s doing great. Are we going to go back inside?”

Rufus: “I think I would just rather go back to the room and relax with you.”

Elena: *smiles a bit* “Okay. Let’s go.”

(and so she and rufus walk off together.)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, some time later…lark is with Ashley, Brady and seifer)

Lark: “I think this vacation is turning out pretty good so far.”

Ashley: “Yeah. No major drama.”

Lark: “And no minor drama either. Well, except for Zidane and Bryatt making out.”

Seifer: *yells* “GET A ROOM!”

Brady: “But apparently there’s something going on, since Ed and Roy are looking for someone with an ‘X’ shaped scar on his face.”

(meanwhile, over to sephiroth, alucard, dante and franswa, they are all totally drunk.)

Dante: “You know who’s hot? Rufus is hot. But he’s straight. So what’s the point?”

Sephiroth: “You think Rufus is hot? Really?”

Dante: “Oh yeah. He’s totally hot.”

Alucard: “He’s hot.”

Franswa: “Yeah.”

Sephiroth: “Who else you think is hot?”

Dante: *thinks* “Tseng. Tseng is totally hot.”

Sephiroth: “Oh yeah.”

Alucard: *nodding*

Franswa: “I agree.”

Sephiroth: “I’ve had sex with him.”

Dante: “No you haven’t.”

Sephiroth: “Yes I have! We used to have sex all the time.”

Dante: “Really?”

Sephiroth: “Yes! Why would I make that up?”

Dante: “Fine, fine. Who else is hot?”

Sephiroth: “Ooh! Know who used to be hot? Vincent?”

Alucard: “Vincent?”

Sephiroth: “Oh yeah. He was gorgeous.” *pause* “Still is. For an old guy.”

Dante: *nodding* “I can see it.”

Franswa: *snorts and laughs*

Dante: “What’s funny?”

Franswa: “Talk about old, know who I used to have a crush on?” *laughs* “Alucard!”

(everybody laughs)

Alucard: “Really? Me?”

Franswa: “Oh yeah! I thought you were totally hot!”

Alucard: “That is wrong! That is just wrong considering we’re related!” *laughs*

(but no one else is laughing. sephiroth and dante are just staring at him with wide eyes. franswa’s jaw has nearly dropped to the floor)

Franswa: *softly* “…What?”

Alucard: *still chuckling* “What?” *frowns* “What’d I say?” *pauses as eyes go wide* “Oh f$%^.”

Franswa: “We’re related?”

Alucard: “Uh…omg…Dante…I did it again.”

Dante: “Yeah. Yeah you did.”

Franswa: *gasp* “Oh my gd! Are you grandpa Trevor’s dad?!”

Alucard: *hand to his head* “Yes.”

Franswa: “Oh my god! Does he know?”

Alucard: “No! And you can’t tell him! Can you imagine how he’d react!?”

Franswa: “He’d probably try and kill himself!”

Alucard: “Exactly!” *sighs and runs a hand over his face* “Omg, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve blurted out stuff when I’m drunk.”

Sephiroth: “I can imagine.”

Franswa: *stunned* “This explains everything.”

(zell comes back over)

Zell: “Hey, Franswa! What’d I miss?”

Franswa: “Zell…I think I’m drunk.”

Zell: “Oh. Well maybe I better take you back to the room.”

Alucard: “Good idea! And I think I’ll go back to mine.”

Dante: “Hope you don’t start rattling off your bank account on the way.”

Alucard: “Oh ha ha.”

(dante and alucard and zell and franswa leave. that leaves sephiroth alone in the booth. he looks around)

Sephiroth: “Oh gross! Zidane, you tramp! Get a room!”

(then he spots vincent also sitting alone. sephiroth frowns. then he gets up and stumbles over to vincent’s booth. he slides in next to him)

Sephiroth: “Hey, Vin.”

Vincent: “Oh. Hello.”

Sephiroth: “Where’s the rabid monster?”

Vincent: “…We broke up.”

Sephiroth: “What? You broke up?”

Vincent: “Yes. Just this afternoon.”

Sephiroth: “Awww…Vin. You broke up with him. Didn’t you.”

Vincent: “Yes I did.”

(sephiroth moves closer to vincent and puts his head on his shoulder. vincent sighs.)

Sephiroth: “Vincent?”

Vincent: “Yes, angel?”

Sephiroth: “Can you walk me back to my room?”

Vincent: “Of course I can.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, back in the arcade, a round ends and twilight slams his fists on the machine in disgust)

Twilight: “This is stupid! How can we be tied again?! I beat you like 5 million times!”

Kid: “You can’t count either! Ha ha!”

Twilight: *hand twitches at lightsaber* “Grr…!”

Opal: *enters* “Twilight! Are you still here? It’s really late!”

Twilight: “Opal! We were tied again! How is this happening to me?!”

Opal: “Time to go to bed, Twilight.”

Twilight: “Argh! Fine! I’ll be back tomorrow, kid! And I’ll get you good then!”

Kid: “Sure you will!” *laughs*

Twilight: “Argh!”

(he lunges for the kid but opal once again manages to get her hands on him and drag him away)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, seifer and rude are waiting outside the exit of the club)

Seifer: “What is taking so long?! I wanna go to bed!”

Rude: “………”

(then the guy with the red hair and the scar on his cheek walks by again)

Seifer: *blink blink*

Man: “Hello! Have a nice night!” *walks away*

Seifer: *blink blink* “Was it just me, or did he have a scar on his face shaped like an ‘X’.”

Rude: “He did.”

Seifer: “Holy crap!”

(Brady, lark, shell and Ashley come out)

Ashley: “What is *now*, Seifer?”

Seifer: “Know that guy those guys are looking for? The guy with an ‘X’ on his cheek? Well I saw him! I just saw him walk by! Rude saw him too!”

Shell: “Is this true, Rude?”

Rude: *nods*

Lark: “We’ll have to tell Roy in the morning!”

Brady: “…And Ed.”

Lark: “Oh. Right. And Ed.”

Brady: “Reflex?”

Lark: “Oh.” *blushes* “Yeah.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, in zell and franswa’s room, franswa is sitting on his bed in his pj’s. he still looks spaced out and drunk. zell is taking off his shirt)

Franswa: “Hey, Zell?”

Zell: “What’s up, buddy?”

Franswa: “Remember how I told you part of my family tree is missing?”

Zell: “You mean your grandpa Trevor’s dad? Sure! You told me lotsa times.”

Franswa: “Well I know who it is now.”

Zell: *turns* “Huh?”

Franswa: “It’s Alucard.”

Zell: “What?!”

Franswa: *starts crying* “I had a crush on my grandpa!”

(he starts sobbing and zell quickly comes over to his side)

Zell: “It’s okay! It’s not a big deal! You didn’t know! Anyone could have made that mistake! He is, uh, kinda good looking!”

Franswa: *sobs harder* “I’m a freak! I’m a part vampire freak!”

Zell: *puts his hands on franswa’s shoulders* “You’re not a freak! What did I tell you before?”

Franswa: *sniff* “That out of everyone you ever met, you like me the most.”

Zell: “…Right. So then you can’t be a freak. Okay?”

Franswa: *nods*

(zell goes to get up and walk away, but franswa grabs him by the wrist, pulls him back down and kisses him hard. zell looks stunned)

Zell: “Uh… What was that?”

Franswa: “What was what?”

Zell: “You just kissed me.”

Franswa: “You kissed me before.”

Zell: *hesitates* “You’re drunk.”

Franswa: “…I know.”

Zell: “I think you better go to sleep.”

(he gets up and turns out the light. franswa lies down in the dark, staring up at the ceiling)

Franswa: *softly* “Why can I just tell him?”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, back at gil. things are closing down. reeve and tseng are leaving)

Tseng: “Dammit.”

Reeve: “What?”

Tseng: “I gave my cell phone to Elena and she still has it.”

Reeve: “Oh.”

Tseng: “I’ll go get it. You go back to the room.”

Reeve: “You sure? I’ll come with you.”

Tseng: “No, go. I know you’re tired.”

(reeve leans in and kisses him)

Reeve: “I love you.”

Tseng: “It’s been a long time since you told me that, Reeve.”

Reeve: “I can’t let that happen again.”

(they go their separate ways.)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, vincent drags a drunk sephiroth back to his room and puts him down on the couch in his room)

Vincent: “Will you be all right?”

Sephiroth: “Sit down.”

Vincent: *hesitates*

Sephiroth: “Vincent…”

Vincent: *sits* “Sephiroth. You’re drunk. I can’t stay here.”

Sephiroth: “Why?”

Vincent: “Because. You won’t remember any of this tomorrow. And you might do something you regret.” *quietly* “Or I might.”

Sephiroth: “Do you still love me, Vincent?” *puts his arms around vincent’s neck*

Vincent: *tries to push him away* “Sephiroth *please*.”

Sephiroth: “Do you?”

Vincent: “Sephiroth, stop it. I’m going to bed.” *pushes sephiroth off him, gets up and starts to walk away*

Sephiroth: “You don’t? Is that why you won’t tell me?”

(vincent stops walking, his fist clenched so hard at his side that it’s shaking. then he turns around, eyes blazing)

Vincent: “Of course I still do! I’ve never stopped! I made a promise, Sephiroth! You should never have to ask me that question! Because the answer will never change!”

(and with that he stalks out of the room, slamming the door behind him. he then goes into his own and collapses on his knees just inside the doorway, broken down in tears.)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(meanwhile, tseng goes and knocks on elena’s door. but auron opens it)

Tseng: “Auron? What are you doing here? Where’s Elena?”

Auron: “Elena? Oh…this is my room now.”

Tseng: “What?”

Auron: “Vincent and I…ended things. I asked for a separate room and this is the one Rufus gave me.”

Tseng: *dangerous edge to his voice* “*Rufus* gave you this room?”

Auron: “Yes. He said the ship was full but he could work something out for me.” *tseng starts to stalk away* “Tseng? Tseng?! Is everything all right?”

(but tseng doesn’t turn back. he instead stalks over to rufus’ room looking crazed with anger. he bangs on the door until rufus opens it. elena is in the background, wide eyed.)

Tseng: “You son of a bitch!!”

 

TO BE CONTINUED…