http://multiversemush.com/mw/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=SwordHunterGil&feedformat=atomMultiverse Crisis MUSH - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T19:50:20ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.26.2http://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Gods_Choked_By_Rules_(Ru_Li_Cheng)&diff=16872Gods Choked By Rules (Ru Li Cheng)2024-03-14T03:21:01Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2024/03/13 |Location=Three-River Capital Huahei, The Empire of Yinghua |Synopsis=Ru Li is called in to speak to one of his elder siblings. |Ca..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2024/03/13<br />
|Location=Three-River Capital Huahei, The Empire of Yinghua<br />
|Synopsis=Ru Li is called in to speak to one of his elder siblings.<br />
|Cast of Characters=7580<br />
}}<br />
The palace of Bai Li Ahan, ninth of the nine Bai Ahan gods, was cold and unpleasant. Not physically, of course - physically the halls were warmed by candles floating atop gearwork-cloud braziers. Physically they were beautiful, filled with opulent rugs and impressive silken draperies, with gold clockwork patterns inscribed in the walls and warm marble coating the floors. Water from one of the Capital's three greater waterfalls was funneled in and turned to refreshing mist in halls free from silk or books or rugs, providing an ambient shimmer that made the place feel otherworldly and detached from the rest of Yinghua.<br />
<br />
But it was also sterile. There were no plants within the palace of Bai Li Ahan, Ru Li Cheng could not help but notice. Even Ru Li's palace had plants. Flowers were such a key part of Yinghuan culture that their absence struck a deep chord with him as he walked, tasting and feeling the air. Perhaps that was also part of it - perhaps a human would feel the place warm, inviting, and mystical, but to a god it simply tasted off, felt off, felt...mechanical. Rote. Going through the motions of elegance rather than elegance itself. Bound by ritual.<br />
<br />
He passed through the double-doors at the heart of the palace and into Bai Li Ahan's throne room. Immediately upon entering he bowed his head and vanished his hands into his sleeves. Here he wore his mechanical mien, his divine metal form, beneath the proper formal robes of a god, and for the first time he felt uncomfortable in his own steel skin.<br />
<br />
"Ru Li Cheng is here to speak with Bai Li Ahan." <br />
<br />
Unnecessary, but formal. He waited, patiently, for permission to raise his head and approach the throne, even as he cast his senses about to examine the room. No mist here. The only decorations were thirty-six hundred strips of paper, which hung from silk threads that reached to the ceiling. Of them, Ru Li recognized four hundred as his own handwriting.<br />
<br />
Four hundred years of yearly reports from the nine bureaucratic gods.<br />
<br />
Decoration made of history itself.<br />
<br />
The throne itself was hard, uncushioned stone. Ru Li had expected wood, as was traditional, but this was the proof - no plant matter whatsoever existed within this place. This was a sterile land of paperwork, history, and regulations. Even the throne's decoration was functional, engraved as it was with every law and bylaw of the Empire up to the current year. Every Imperial proclamation still on the books, every declaration, was carved onto that throne in painstaking detail. It was probably replaced every decade or so. Several repealed laws had been scratched out with neat, simple strikes.<br />
<br />
"Bai Li Ahan recognizes Ru Li Cheng. Approach." The voice was musical, androgynous, but it was musical the way math is musical - precise and calculated and harmonic. It was utterly without any sense of joy or melody.<br />
<br />
Ru Li raised his head to finally look directly at Bai Li Ahan. Bai Li Ahan was one of the rare Capital gods who preferred the mechanical mien to the flesh. It was also, as far as Ru Li knew, one of the only Capital gods that firmly rejected all gender, all flesh, all humanity. Even eating was apparently a grudging necessity to it, if the sole bit of untidiness was to go by: a single dish of uncooked dry rice unfinished sitting on the arm of the throne.<br />
<br />
Its form was glorious, of course, as all gods were, but eerie. Bai Li Ahan had no eyes, no mouth, no discernable face of any sort, save for a mechanical sigil carved carefully into its head that could be read as LAW or CERTAINTY. The sigil glowed when it spoke, and shifted color when it chose to express itself with the emotions that were nonetheless still part of its existence. Though humanoid like all Capital gods it was slender and delicate like a dancer, decorated with painted gearwork patterns across its bare breasts, and only a single silk loincloth for clothing. <br />
<br />
"You sent for me?" Ru Li asked, approaching slowly. <br />
<br />
"Your reports have been troubling."<br />
<br />
"I wasn't aware you read my reports. I would have thought that Bai Lu Ahan-"<br />
<br />
A slender hand rose to cut him off. "I am still the advisor who represents the Ru Cheng gods. I am still oversight for the Ru Cheng gods. Bai Lu Ahan cannot bypass my authority."<br />
<br />
Ru Li wanted very desperately to shift on his metal heel under the glowing gaze of that emblem. "Of course. I just didn't think-"<br />
<br />
"That much is evident from your reports." Bai Li Ahan raised a finger. Metal peeled back to show flesh and clockwork as electrum lights danced in its grip. In moments the words of the very reports Ru Li had been filing appeared in the air. A flourish of the finger circled certain words and names in the air.<br />
<br />
"I don't understand," Ru Li said, earnestly, tempered-glass eyes meeting the symbol's silver stare, "Haven't I been diligent? I've managed to acquire a number of allies who are here to help with the Rust. By all their accounts I am an asset, and represent our country well. Isn't that the duty of an ambassador?"<br />
<br />
"That would be true," Bai Li Ahan said, "Were you an ambassador, and not a bureaucrat."<br />
<br />
One of the gears in Ru Li's neck twitched at that, and he tilted his head involuntarily, the closest a metal form could come to a flinch. "I am an ambassador, at least at the moment. Bai Lu Ahan-"<br />
<br />
"The Eldest is too permissive with you."<br />
<br />
"Pardon?" Ru Li's voice couldn't hide his shock. "He-"<br />
<br />
"You are too much like him." Bai Li Ahan's hand settled on the glowing words in the air. "You are both too curious."<br />
<br />
"Th-that's...I should think being like our prototype is something to aspire to!" Ru Li felt the heat rising in his coolant, felt the ticking underneath his steel skin speed up. "He is our first, after all-"<br />
<br />
"Our eldest and our youngest are both too curious for the Empire's good." Bai Li Ahan turned away, but flicked its wrist over its shoulder, and the floating words swirled around Ru Li like birds. "You are not truly risking yourself on foolish missions for the Empire, are you? To gain credit among the barbarians?"<br />
<br />
"Forei-"<br />
<br />
"Barbarians." Bai Li Ahan's head turned around to give Ru Li a good look at the dim, red-hot glow of its sigil. "There is no word for what you propose in our tongue and there never will be."<br />
<br />
Ru Li put his hand on his chest. "But they're willing to help us! I'm risking myself to help them so they'll act on our behalf!"<br />
<br />
"We do not need outsiders to solve our problems." Bai Li Ahan turned away. "The Imperial army has had the Rust contained for five thousand years."<br />
<br />
"But we could redeploy-"<br />
<br />
"The equilibrium is kept, and that is acceptable."<br />
<br />
"But-"<br />
<br />
"Have you considered what these barbarians will bring to our gates?" Bai Li Ahan asked as it began walking towards the throne. "How many of them have asked if the Engine of Heaven could be altered? How many of them do you think will want to plunder our alchemies, our studies, our knowledge?"<br />
<br />
"I'm not a fool. Of course they have something to gain. But, so do we!" Ru Li patted his chest again. "Who knows what we might learn of other realms, of other Engines, of other methods of alchemy that we could apply to our own world? We could destroy the Rust once and for all, reclaim the lost province, reinvigorate the Empire!"<br />
<br />
"And is that truly what you believe?"<br />
<br />
"Yes!"<br />
<br />
Bai Li Ahan turned on him so swiftly that he took an involuntary step back - and it wasn't fast enough. In moments the glowing symbol was blotting out his forward vision, swallowing his frontal cone and drowning the rest of his gaze in red. "Is that why you've so carelessly taken a lover?"<br />
<br />
Ru Li stared. Then, "I haven't- we're just-"<br />
<br />
"Very well. Then I will be more precise. Is that why you are so carelessly attempting to take a lover?"<br />
<br />
"We're gods! We're permitted-"<br />
<br />
"Yinghuan lovers. Locals, who can be verified. Not barbarian princesses who specialize in infiltration. Barbarian princesses with unverifiable desires and unverifiable ambitions. Have you considered for an instant the kind of power over this Empire someone could gain as your consort? The unprecedented access to centuries of bureaucratic allocations, of funds, of materiel and manpower movements? Did you stop at any point in your short-sighted lust to think that a barbarian with that kind of access could bring the Empire to its knees?"<br />
<br />
"..." Ru Li was silent as Bai Li Ahan whirled its finger around to bring Futaba's name swirling around Ru Li's head. Uncomfortably Ru Li realized that he did mention her quite a lot in his reports, didn't he. Sentences of admiration flowed around him, schools of letters in an ocean of words. <br />
<br />
"You are careless, Ru Li Cheng. You are the youngest, and the most curious, and the most naive. Even Bai Lu Ahan cannot have ignored the dangers of bringing barbarians in against our greatest foe. No doubt he accepted your proposal out of his own misguided ideals. But I have no doubt that he, also, noticed how foolish you are." Bai Li Ahan tapped one of the mentions of Futaba's name. Suddenly, Tamamo's name came surging forward, and Lilian's, and Hibiki's, and Ultraman Belial's, drowning out Futaba's.<br />
<br />
"They're skilled, and strong, and admirable heroes," Ru Li said, his voice tight, "A foreign Maintainer even the Emperor showed deference to, her lover and a powerful lady of war and wisdom, a brave fighter doing her best to act according to her word, and a hero I was proud to help."<br />
<br />
"A barbarian Maintainer whose goals we know nothing of. A savvy, skilled, and dangerous, highly-placed individual with enormous influence. A reckless child swinging her fists at all before her. An alien you permitted into your holy form without a second thought."<br />
<br />
More names. Petra. Angela. Ishirou. "A...a friend, someone who specializes in monsters, someone like us-"<br />
<br />
"A degenerate maniac with a history of inflicting misery for its own sake. A base machine with dangerous capabilities and an army of nightmares. An exile from his own homeland uncertain of his own direction in life." <br />
<br />
"What do you want, then, as allies?" Ru Li demanded, "Do you want more vassals to be taxed, more people to tell you how right you are, more-"<br />
<br />
Bai Li Ahan raised its finger and pressed it against Ru Li's face. Ru Li stumbled backwards as silver light flooded his senses. He screamed, the sound of metal being ripped in half, and slumped to his knees. <br />
<br />
"You do not raise your voice to me," came the cold, melodious mathematical tone. "We are not equals, Ru Li Cheng."<br />
<br />
"Th...this is against the laws of the gods," Ru Li managed through the ringing agony in his brain, "We are all equals in the eyes of the Emperor."<br />
<br />
Bai Li Ahan bent at a ninety degree angle and settled a finger under Ru Li's metallic chin. "We are not in the eyes of the Emperor. Your actions are beyond the Emperor's purview. You are acting outside the Engine of Heaven. You are acting outside your purpose. You are risking Rusting."<br />
<br />
Ru Li froze. Every gear in his body stopped ticking for a brief instant. "You...you don't know that that will happen."<br />
<br />
"You do."<br />
<br />
"I don't."<br />
<br />
"The motion of your clockwork ceased for a fraction of a second at the truth. Heroes should not lie. And you desperately want to be a hero, Ru Li Cheng."<br />
<br />
Ru Li tried to look away. Bai Li Ahan's single finger held his face fast, and so too fixed his gaze upon the glowing sigil that devoured the rest of his sight in its light. "We are not equals, Ru Li Cheng. I am your elder. I am wiser. I am more experienced. I can see in full what you see only in part. I am the one with authority over your station. I see the disaster you will bring upon us through your pursuit of these childish desires. I abide by the law while you flaunt it. You teeter on the brink of self-destruction, and with it, the destruction of a ninth of the Empire. Even now your leaving has done irreparable damage. Thousands of bureaucrats are being trained to cover for you as you selfishly go about playing hero to impress your barbarian lover and the rest of them." Bai Li Ahan's other hand rose, pointing at the ground.<br />
<br />
"This is your home. Your duties are sacrosanct. Sacred. You lost the right to argue with me the moment you chose to abandon them. You are lucky you are even still considered a god. Had I my way you would be scrapped."<br />
<br />
Ru Li's mechanical eyes whirred and clicked. "You're not-"<br />
<br />
"You are a threat to the Empire. And I am not the only one who feels so." Bai Li Ahan released his chin and stood, turning away. "You may have Bai Lu Ahan's ear and the Emperor's interest, but that will not protect you if you continue down this path. And if the Rust begins to grow upon your body you will be destroyed without a second thought. As you know is correct."<br />
<br />
Ru Li lowered his head. "...yes."<br />
<br />
"Realign yourself. Rewind yourself. And consider, perhaps, how much influence you are allowing your barbarians to have over you as you chase the approval of those who clap when you clear the lowest of bars because they are so used to people failing even that."<br />
<br />
"You are dismissed."<br />
<br />
Ru Li rose, shaking, lowered his head, folded his hands into his robe, bowed, and walked out, as quickly as he dared to avoid being unseemly. As soon as he was alone, he unfolded himself into his flesh mien and started walking briskly towards the airship dock. The sooner he was through the warpgate, the better.<br />
<br />
He did not care to linger on why that thought was in his mind. He only wanted to be away from that cold stone palace and that striking, faceless gaze that saw right through his soul.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=It%27s_Not_A_Relationship_(Ioanna_Langstrom)&diff=16701It's Not A Relationship (Ioanna Langstrom)2021-09-11T23:24:35Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2021/09/11<br />
|Location=Ioanna's Apartment<br />
|Synopsis=A look into Ioanna Langstrom's psyche.<br />
|Thanks=Hibiki<br />
|Tinyplot=None<br />
}}<br />
Ioanna never fell asleep at her desk.<br />
<br />
Part of this was the sheer amount of stuff that covered the thing. Every inch of it that wasn't reserved for paperwork and writing was covered in knicknacks and brickabracks from all manner of civilizations. There were rubbings of alien languages she'd taken herself on archaeological trips, little wind-up toys she'd bought at gift stores. Her bookends were sculptures of two spiders from a myth about two lovers being separated. There really wasn't room for Ioanna Langstrom to fall asleep.<br />
<br />
But right now, it was because she was working.<br />
<br />
Ioanna was a professional. She didn't allow herself not to get her work done. She didn't allow herself to slack, to get things in late, to do less than exactly what she needed to do. It was a job she did and she was proud of her standards. They were high where she was concerned. That wasn't about to change. <br />
<br />
She had been up all night, working. Not the usual kind of work. Hard, physical labor. Getting salt, garlic, and silver on the walls of the tunnels that would soon serve as a temporary foundation for the Paladins base on Rifts Earth. Plating those walls. She had been using the suit to do most of the work, sure, but it was still hard, and it went long into the night and early into the morning before the work had been done. <br />
<br />
Now, she stared uncomprehendingly at her own paper, at her own research. Effigy of Cimilco's assignment was due tomorrow and she had so much left to do. <br />
<br />
Normally, it was easy to balance school and work. Her work wasn't that strenuous. She was assigned to clean up small-time problems, non-Elite troubles, troubles you don't need a squad or people like Lilian Rook or Strawberry Princess to handle. Gangs, mafiosos, mundane assassins. Things that even someone like her could clean up. And that was rarely difficult. They didn't call her for infiltrating. They called her for the busting. Go in, clean up, get out.<br />
<br />
But right now…<br />
<br />
And then there were the maps plastered across the wall in front of her desk. A smattering of maps of Hibiki's Earth, with sites of interest marked. Texts from that world. Sticky notes and cloth lines and thumbtacks that would make a conspiracy theorist somewhat concerned for her mental well-being. It wasn't even a job. It was just something she felt she had to do. Something she had the qualifications for. <br />
<br />
A tap on the shoulder.<br />
<br />
The gun came out of her desk in an instant as she whirled around. It was a heavy pistol, always loaded, always ready.<br />
<br />
A hand pushed the pistol to the side and over the shoulder. A different hand grabbed her wrist. Shock to her nerves from the touch of those fingertips made her drop the gun. And then the smell of warm Chinese food hit her as a bag thrown upwards to free up a hand fell. <br />
<br />
The bag landed in Shinji Ogawa's hand. He set it down next to her, the smile never leaving his face. "You must've had a rough few days, Ms. Langstrom."<br />
<br />
Disparate thoughts whirled. Then, "Yes, Ogawa-san. I have. Thank you for the food. Would you like to stay for dinner?" <br />
<br />
"I did pay for it, after all."<br />
<br />
She laughed, stood up, and went to sit at the table. Shinji spread out the food. She toyed with her chopsticks for a bit as Shinji ate, sitting there in silence. Then, <br />
<br />
"I would've brought you some leftovers, but we haven't seen Muramasa-sama for a while. We've been worried about him. Is everything alright?" <br />
<br />
''Of course. You were worried about him.''<br />
<br />
"No. He's very depressed. I'd tell you where he is, but that's classified. Sorry."<br />
<br />
Shinji just sort of nodded. "That's alright, Ms. Langstrom. I wasn't expecting any intel from you. Tsubasa and I were worried."<br />
<br />
"That's not grammatically correct," she muttered over her rice. Shinji's eyebrow quirked slightly. Ioanna looked up at him. "I've been grading...grading papers all day. And I got home...this morning."<br />
<br />
Both eyebrows went to his hairline. "That's a lot later than usual. No wonder you haven't called. Have you been working this hard for the last few days?" <br />
<br />
''Yes.''<br />
<br />
"No," she lied, "Just last night. But what I've been working on is classified, so I couldn't have you over. Sorry." <br />
<br />
"That's alright." Shinji went back to his food. <br />
<br />
They ate in silence for a bit. Ioanna's distant, exhausted thoughts clambered for something to say, but she couldn't. <br />
<br />
''I wish this was a relationship.''<br />
<br />
''I wish I could tell him how nervous I am.''<br />
<br />
''I wish I could confide in him.''<br />
<br />
But she couldn't. She couldn't tell him how hard she'd been working to impress people who were so much more experienced, so much more skilled, so much better than she was. How she'd drawn up the blueprints for the base herself and had architects look over it personally. How she'd done all the requisitioning herself, only checking it over with a quartermaster afterwards to correct errors. How she'd stayed behind not to hurry construction but because she couldn't trust that nothing would go wrong. Nothing could go wrong. Not for this. Not for this operation. <br />
<br />
''I want to tell you how I'm feeling right now.''<br />
<br />
She looked back down at her rice. "Ogawa-san…"<br />
<br />
"Hm?" <br />
<br />
''Just say it. Say you want him to move in. Say you want this to be something more.''<br />
<br />
''But you can't, can you? Because if you get into a relationship, it'll be just like all the others.''<br />
<br />
She purses her lips. "...no, it's nothing. I was just going to ask if you wanted to stay the night. I won't be very energetic but I'll still perform to the best of my abilities. The spirit is willing and the flesh is its subordinate."<br />
<br />
"Are you sure? You look like you'd rather fall asleep, Ioanna." <br />
<br />
''I just want you to stay.''<br />
<br />
"I'm sure. Why, were you hoping for a break when you walked in here? Too bad. You know me better than that." She stood and headed for the bathroom, hips swaying as she walked just right to keep his eyes on her. She knew what she was doing. It was power, power over an Elite, a real Elite, and it disgusted her that she treated him this way. But what else was she going to do? <br />
<br />
''I just want to feel something other than weakness.''<br />
<br />
She headed into the bathroom, stripped off her top, and stared into the mirror. She wiped her eyes of any tears that might have been forming, preemptively.<br />
<br />
''This isn't a relationship. This is friends with benefits. Not even. How long has it been since you had friends?''<br />
<br />
''You can't let him see or he might try to comfort you. If he tries to comfort you, you might ask him. If you ask him, and he says yes, you'll be in a relationship.''<br />
<br />
''And then it'll end. Because it always does.''<br />
<br />
''Don't let this end.''<br />
<br />
''Please. Even if it's just physical, I need this.''<br />
<br />
''Even if it's nothing but a power fantasy.''<br />
<br />
So she headed back out of the bathroom with a predatory smile she didn't feel. "You'd better hurry and finish eating, Shinji. You'll need the energy."<br />
<br />
He laughed and unbuttoned his suit. "I don't need encouragement."<br />
<br />
And the next morning, he was gone, and only then did she bury her face in the pillow, grab the shotgun underneath for comfort, and start to cry.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=It%27s_Not_A_Relationship_(Ioanna_Langstrom)&diff=16700It's Not A Relationship (Ioanna Langstrom)2021-09-11T23:18:23Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2021/09/11<br />
|Location=Ioanna's Apartment<br />
|Synopsis=A look into Ioanna Langstrom's psyche.<br />
|Thanks=Hibiki<br />
|Tinyplot=None<br />
}}<br />
Ioanna never fell asleep at her desk.<br />
<br />
Part of this was the sheer amount of stuff that covered the thing. Every inch of it that wasn't reserved for paperwork and writing was covered in knicknacks and brickabracks from all manner of civilizations. There were rubbings of alien languages she'd taken herself on archaeological trips, little wind-up toys she'd bought at gift stores. Her bookends were sculptures of two spiders from a myth about two lovers being separated. There really wasn't room for Ioanna Langstrom to fall asleep.<br />
<br />
But right now, it was because she was working.<br />
<br />
Ioanna was a professional. She didn't allow herself not to get her work done. She didn't allow herself to slack, to get things in late, to do less than exactly what she needed to do. It was a job she did and she was proud of her standards. They were high where she was concerned. That wasn't about to change. <br />
<br />
She had been up all night, working. Not the usual kind of work. Hard, physical labor. Getting salt, garlic, and silver on the walls of the tunnels that would soon serve as a temporary foundation for the Paladins base on Rifts Earth. Plating those walls. She had been using the suit to do most of the work, sure, but it was still hard, and it went long into the night and early into the morning before the work had been done. <br />
<br />
Now, she stared uncomprehendingly at her own paper, at her own research. Effigy of Cimilco's assignment was due tomorrow and she had so much left to do. <br />
<br />
Normally, it was easy to balance school and work. Her work wasn't that strenuous. She was assigned to clean up small-time problems, non-Elite troubles, troubles you don't need a squad or people like Lilian Rook or Strawberry Princess to handle. Gangs, mafiosos, mundane assassins. Things that even someone like her could clean up. And that was rarely difficult. They didn't call her for infiltrating. They called her for the busting. Go in, clean up, get out.<br />
<br />
But right now…<br />
<br />
And then there were the maps plastered across the wall in front of her desk. A smattering of maps of Hibiki's Earth, with sites of interest marked. Texts from that world. Sticky notes and cloth lines and thumbtacks that would make a conspiracy theorist somewhat concerned for her mental well-being. It wasn't even a job. It was just something she felt she had to do. Something she had the qualifications for. <br />
<br />
A tap on the shoulder.<br />
<br />
The gun came out of her desk in an instant as she whirled around. It was a heavy pistol, always loaded, always ready.<br />
<br />
A hand pushed the pistol to the side and over the shoulder. A different hand grabbed her wrist. Shock to her nerves from the touch of those fingertips made her drop the gun. And then the smell of warm Chinese food hit her as a bag thrown upwards to free up a hand fell. <br />
<br />
The bag landed in Shinji Ogawa's hand. He set it down next to her, the smile never leaving his face. "You must've had a rough few days, Ms. Langstrom."<br />
<br />
Disparate thoughts whirled. Then, "Yes, Ogawa-san. I have. Thank you for the food. Would you like to stay for dinner?" <br />
<br />
"I did pay for it, after all."<br />
<br />
She laughed, stood up, and went to sit at the table. Shinji spread out the food. She toyed with her chopsticks for a bit as Shinji ate, sitting there in silence. Then, <br />
<br />
"I would've brought you some leftovers, but we haven't seen Muramasa-sama for a while. We've been worried about him. Is everything alright?" <br />
<br />
''Of course. You were worried about him.''<br />
<br />
"No. He's very depressed. I'd tell you where he is, but that's classified. Sorry."<br />
<br />
Shinji just sort of nodded. "That's alright, Ms. Langstrom. I wasn't expecting any intel from you. Tsubasa and I were worried."<br />
<br />
"That's not grammatically correct," she muttered over her rice. Shinji's eyebrow quirked slightly. Ioanna looked up at him. "I've been grading...grading papers all day. And I got home...this morning."<br />
<br />
Both eyebrows went to his hairline. "That's a lot later than usual. No wonder you haven't called. Have you been working this hard for the last few days?" <br />
<br />
''Yes.''<br />
<br />
"No," she lied, "Just last night. But what I've been working on is classified, so I couldn't have you over. Sorry." <br />
<br />
"That's alright." Shinji went back to his food. <br />
<br />
They ate in silence for a bit. Ioanna's distant, exhausted thoughts clambered for something to say, but she couldn't. <br />
<br />
''I wish this was a relationship.''<br />
<br />
''I wish I could tell him how nervous I am.''<br />
<br />
''I wish I could confide in him.''<br />
<br />
But she couldn't. She couldn't tell him how hard she'd been working to impress people who were so much more experienced, so much more skilled, so much better than she was. How she'd drawn up the blueprints for the base herself and had architects look over it personally. How she'd done all the requisitioning herself, only checking it over with a quartermaster afterwards to correct errors. How she'd stayed behind not to hurry construction but because she couldn't trust that nothing would go wrong. Nothing could go wrong. Not for this. Not for this operation. <br />
<br />
''I want to tell you how I'm feeling right now.''<br />
<br />
She looked back down at her rice. "Ogawa-san…"<br />
<br />
"Hm?" <br />
<br />
''Just say it. Say you want him to move in. Say you want this to be something more.''<br />
<br />
''But you can't, can you? Because if you get into a relationship, it'll be just like all the others.''<br />
<br />
She purses her lips. "...no, it's nothing. I was just going to ask if you wanted to stay the night. I won't be very energetic but I'll still perform to the best of my abilities. The spirit is willing and the flesh is its subordinate."<br />
<br />
"Are you sure? You look like you'd rather fall asleep, Ioanna." <br />
<br />
''I just want you to stay.''<br />
<br />
"I'm sure. Why, were you hoping for a break when you walked in here? Too bad. You know me better than that." She stood and headed for the bathroom, hips swaying as she walked just right to keep his eyes on her. She knew what she was doing. It was power, power over an Elite, a real Elite, and it disgusted her that she treated him this way. But what else was she going to do? <br />
<br />
''I just want to feel something other than weakness.''<br />
<br />
She headed into the bathroom, stripped off her top, and stared into the mirror. She wiped her eyes of any tears that might have been forming, preemptively.<br />
<br />
''This isn't a relationship. This is friends with benefits. Not even. How long has it been since you had friends?''<br />
<br />
''You can't let him see or he might try to comfort you. If he tries to comfort you, you might ask him. If you ask him, and he says yes, you'll be in a relationship.''<br />
<br />
''And then it'll end. Because it always does.''<br />
<br />
''Don't let this end.''<br />
<br />
''Please. Even if it's just physical, I need this.''<br />
<br />
''Even if it's nothing but a power fantasy.''<br />
<br />
So she headed back out of the bathroom with a predatory smile on her face. "You'd better hurry and finish eating, Shinji. You'll need the energy."<br />
<br />
He laughed and unbuttoned his suit. "I don't need encouragement."<br />
<br />
And the next morning, he was gone, and only then did she bury her face in the pillow, grab the shotgun underneath for comfort, and start to cry.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=It%27s_Not_A_Relationship_(Ioanna_Langstrom)&diff=16699It's Not A Relationship (Ioanna Langstrom)2021-09-11T23:15:32Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2021/09/11<br />
|Location=Ioanna's Apartment<br />
|Synopsis=A look into Ioanna Langstrom's psyche.<br />
|Thanks=Hibiki<br />
|Tinyplot=None<br />
}}<br />
Ioanna never fell asleep at her desk.<br />
<br />
Part of this was the sheer amount of stuff that covered the thing. Every inch of it that wasn't reserved for paperwork and writing was covered in knicknacks and brickabracks from all manner of civilizations. There were rubbings of alien languages she'd taken herself on archaeological trips, little wind-up toys she'd bought at gift stores. Her bookends were sculptures of two spiders from a myth about two lovers being separated. There really wasn't room for Ioanna Langstrom to fall asleep.<br />
<br />
But right now, it was because she was working.<br />
<br />
Ioanna was a professional. She didn't allow herself not to get her work done. She didn't allow herself to slack, to get things in late, to do less than exactly what she needed to do. It was a job she did and she was proud of her standards. They were high where she was concerned. That wasn't about to change. <br />
<br />
She had been up all night, working. Not the usual kind of work. Hard, physical labor. Getting salt, garlic, and silver on the walls of the tunnels that would soon serve as a temporary foundation for the Paladins base on Rifts Earth. Plating those walls. She had been using the suit to do most of the work, sure, but it was still hard, and it went long into the night and early into the morning before the work had been done. <br />
<br />
Now, she stared uncomprehendingly at her own paper, at her own research. Effigy of Cimilco's assignment was due tomorrow and she had so much left to do. <br />
<br />
Normally, it was easy to balance school and work. Her work wasn't that strenuous. She was assigned to clean up small-time problems, non-Elite troubles, troubles you don't need a squad or people like Lilian Rook or Strawberry Princess to handle. Gangs, mafiosos, mundane assassins. Things that even someone like her could clean up. And that was rarely difficult. They didn't call her for infiltrating. They called her for the busting. Go in, clean up, get out.<br />
<br />
But right now…<br />
<br />
And then there were the maps plastered across the wall in front of her desk. A smattering of maps of Hibiki's Earth, with sites of interest marked. Texts from that world. Sticky notes and cloth lines and thumbtacks that would make a conspiracy theorist somewhat concerned for her mental well-being. It wasn't even a job. It was just something she felt she had to do. Something she had the qualifications for. <br />
<br />
A tap on the shoulder.<br />
<br />
The gun came out of her desk in an instant as she whirled around. It was a heavy pistol, always loaded, always ready.<br />
<br />
A hand pushed the pistol to the side and over the shoulder. A different hand grabbed her wrist. Shock to her nerves from the touch of those fingertips made her drop the gun. And then the smell of warm Chinese food hit her as a bag thrown upwards to free up a hand fell. <br />
<br />
The bag landed in Shinji Ogawa's hand. He set it down next to her, the smile never leaving his face. "You must've had a rough few days, Ms. Langstrom."<br />
<br />
Disparate thoughts whirled. Then, "Yes, Ogawa-san. I have. Thank you for the food. Would you like to stay for dinner?" <br />
<br />
"I did pay for it, after all."<br />
<br />
She laughed, stood up, and went to sit at the table. Shinji spread out the food. She toyed with her chopsticks for a bit as Shinji ate, sitting there in silence. Then, <br />
<br />
"I would've brought you some leftovers, but we haven't seen Muramasa-sama for a while. We've been worried about him. Is everything alright?" <br />
<br />
'''Of course. You were worried about him.'''<br />
<br />
"No. He's very depressed. I'd tell you where he is, but that's classified. Sorry."<br />
<br />
Shinji just sort of nodded. "That's alright, Ms. Langstrom. I wasn't expecting any intel from you. Tsubasa and I were worried."<br />
<br />
"That's not grammatically correct," she muttered over her rice. Shinji's eyebrow quirked slightly. Ioanna looked up at him. "I've been grading...grading papers all day. And I got home...this morning."<br />
<br />
Both eyebrows went to his hairline. "That's a lot later than usual. No wonder you haven't called. Have you been working this hard for the last few days?" <br />
<br />
'''Yes.'''<br />
<br />
"No," she lied, "Just last night. But what I've been working on is classified, so I couldn't have you over. Sorry." <br />
<br />
"That's alright." Shinji went back to his food. <br />
<br />
They ate in silence for a bit. Ioanna's distant, exhausted thoughts clambered for something to say, but she couldn't. <br />
<br />
'''I wish this was a relationship.'''<br />
<br />
'''I wish I could tell him how nervous I am.'''<br />
<br />
'''I wish I could confide in him.'''<br />
<br />
But she couldn't. She couldn't tell him how hard she'd been working to impress people who were so much more experienced, so much more skilled, so much better than she was. How she'd drawn up the blueprints for the base herself and had architects look over it personally. How she'd done all the requisitioning herself, only checking it over with a quartermaster afterwards to correct errors. How she'd stayed behind not to hurry construction but because she couldn't trust that nothing would go wrong. Nothing could go wrong. Not for this. Not for this operation. <br />
<br />
'''I want to tell you how I'm feeling right now.'''<br />
<br />
She looked back down at her rice. "Ogawa-san…"<br />
<br />
"Hm?" <br />
<br />
'''Just say it. Say you want him to move in. Say you want this to be something more.'''<br />
<br />
'''But you can't, can you? Because if you get into a relationship, it'll be just like all the others.'''<br />
<br />
She purses her lips. "...no, it's nothing. I was just going to ask if you wanted to stay the night. I won't be very energetic but I'll still perform to the best of my abilities. The spirit is willing and the flesh is its subordinate."<br />
<br />
"Are you sure? You look like you'd rather fall asleep, Ioanna." <br />
<br />
'''I just want you to stay.'''<br />
<br />
"I'm sure. Why, were you hoping for a break when you walked in here? Too bad. You know me better than that." She stood and headed for the bathroom, hips swaying as she walked just right to keep his eyes on her. She knew what she was doing. It was power, power over an Elite, a real Elite, and it disgusted her that she treated him this way. But what else was she going to do? <br />
<br />
'''I just want to feel something other than weakness.'''<br />
<br />
She headed into the bathroom, stripped off her top, and stared into the mirror. She wiped her eyes of any tears that might have been forming, preemptively.<br />
<br />
'''This isn't a relationship. This is friends with benefits. Not even. How long has it been since you had friends?'''<br />
<br />
'''You can't let him see or he might try to comfort you. If he tries to comfort you, you might ask him. If you ask him, and he says yes, you'll be in a relationship.'''<br />
<br />
'''And then it'll end. Because it always does.'''<br />
<br />
'''Don't let this end.'''<br />
<br />
'''Please. Even if it's just physical, I need this.'''<br />
<br />
'''Even if it's nothing but a power fantasy.'''<br />
<br />
So she headed back out of the bathroom with a predatory smile on her face. "You'd better hurry and finish eating, Shinji. You'll need the energy."<br />
<br />
He laughed and unbuttoned his suit. "I don't need encouragement."<br />
<br />
And the next morning, he was gone, and only then did she bury her face in the pillow, grab the shotgun underneath for comfort, and start to cry.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=It%27s_Not_A_Relationship_(Ioanna_Langstrom)&diff=16698It's Not A Relationship (Ioanna Langstrom)2021-09-11T23:13:13Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2021/09/11 |Location=Ioanna's Apartment |Synopsis=A look into Ioanna Langstrom's psyche. |Thanks=Hibiki |Tinyplot=None }} Ioanna never fell as..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2021/09/11<br />
|Location=Ioanna's Apartment<br />
|Synopsis=A look into Ioanna Langstrom's psyche.<br />
|Thanks=Hibiki<br />
|Tinyplot=None<br />
}}<br />
Ioanna never fell asleep at her desk.<br />
<br />
Part of this was the sheer amount of stuff that covered the thing. Every inch of it that wasn't reserved for paperwork and writing was covered in knicknacks and brickabracks from all manner of civilizations. There were rubbings of alien languages she'd taken herself on archaeological trips, little wind-up toys she'd bought at gift stores. Her bookends were sculptures of two spiders from a myth about two lovers being separated. There really wasn't room for Ioanna Langstrom to fall asleep.<br />
<br />
But right now, it was because she was working.<br />
<br />
Ioanna was a professional. She didn't allow herself not to get her work done. She didn't allow herself to slack, to get things in late, to do less than exactly what she needed to do. It was a job she did and she was proud of her standards. They were high where she was concerned. That wasn't about to change. <br />
<br />
She had been up all night, working. Not the usual kind of work. Hard, physical labor. Getting salt, garlic, and silver on the walls of the tunnels that would soon serve as a temporary foundation for the Paladins base on Rifts Earth. Plating those walls. She had been using the suit to do most of the work, sure, but it was still hard, and it went long into the night and early into the morning before the work had been done. <br />
<br />
Now, she stared uncomprehendingly at her own paper, at her own research. Effigy of Cimilco's assignment was due tomorrow and she had so much left to do. <br />
<br />
Normally, it was easy to balance school and work. Her work wasn't that strenuous. She was assigned to clean up small-time problems, non-Elite troubles, troubles you don't need a squad or people like Lilian Rook or Strawberry Princess to handle. Gangs, mafiosos, mundane assassins. Things that even someone like her could clean up. And that was rarely difficult. They didn't call her for infiltrating. They called her for the busting. Go in, clean up, get out.<br />
<br />
But right now…<br />
<br />
And then there were the maps plastered across the wall in front of her desk. A smattering of maps of Hibiki's Earth, with sites of interest marked. Texts from that world. Sticky notes and cloth lines and thumbtacks that would make a conspiracy theorist somewhat concerned for her mental well-being. It wasn't even a job. It was just something she felt she had to do. Something she had the qualifications for. <br />
<br />
A tap on the shoulder.<br />
<br />
The gun came out of her desk in an instant as she whirled around. It was a heavy pistol, always loaded, always ready.<br />
<br />
A hand pushed the pistol to the side and over the shoulder. A different hand grabbed her wrist. Shock to her nerves from the touch of those fingertips made her drop the gun. And then the smell of warm Chinese food hit her as a bag thrown upwards to free up a hand fell. The bag landed in Shinji Ogawa's hand. He set it down next to her, the smile never leaving his face. "You must've had a rough few days, Ms. Langstrom."<br />
<br />
Disparate thoughts whirled. Then, "Yes, Ogawa-san. I have. Thank you for the food. Would you like to stay for dinner?" <br />
<br />
"I did pay for it, after all."<br />
<br />
She laughed, stood up, and went to sit at the table. Shinji spread out the food. She toyed with her chopsticks for a bit as Shinji ate, sitting there in silence. Then, <br />
<br />
"I would've brought you some leftovers, but we haven't seen Muramasa-sama for a while. We've been worried about him. Is everything alright?" <br />
<br />
'''Of course. You were worried about him.'''<br />
<br />
"No. He's very depressed. I'd tell you where he is, but that's classified. Sorry."<br />
<br />
Shinji just sort of nodded. "That's alright, Ms. Langstrom. I wasn't expecting any intel from you. Tsubasa and I were worried."<br />
<br />
"That's not grammatically correct," she muttered over her rice. Shinji's eyebrow quirked slightly. Ioanna looked up at him. "I've been grading...grading papers all day. And I got home...this morning."<br />
<br />
Both eyebrows went to his hairline. "That's a lot later than usual. No wonder you haven't called. Have you been working this hard for the last few days?" <br />
<br />
'''Yes.'''<br />
<br />
"No," she lied, "Just last night. But what I've been working on is classified, so I couldn't have you over. Sorry." <br />
<br />
"That's alright." Shinji went back to his food. <br />
<br />
They ate in silence for a bit. Ioanna's distant, exhausted thoughts clambered for something to say, but she couldn't. <br />
<br />
'''I wish this was a relationship.'''<br />
<br />
'''I wish I could tell him how nervous I am.'''<br />
<br />
'''I wish I could confide in him.'''<br />
<br />
But she couldn't. She couldn't tell him how hard she'd been working to impress people who were so much more experienced, so much more skilled, so much better than she was. How she'd drawn up the blueprints for the base herself and had architects look over it personally. How she'd done all the requisitioning herself, only checking it over with a quartermaster afterwards to correct errors. How she'd stayed behind not to hurry construction but because she couldn't trust that nothing would go wrong. Nothing could go wrong. Not for this. Not for this operation. <br />
<br />
'''I want to tell you how I'm feeling right now.'''<br />
<br />
She looked back down at her rice. "Ogawa-san…"<br />
<br />
"Hm?" <br />
<br />
'''Just say it. Say you want him to move in. Say you want this to be something more.'''<br />
<br />
'''But you can't, can you? Because if you get into a relationship, it'll be just like all the others.'''<br />
<br />
She purses her lips. "...no, it's nothing. I was just going to ask if you wanted to stay the night. I won't be very energetic but I'll still perform to the best of my abilities. The spirit is willing and the flesh is its subordinate."<br />
<br />
"Are you sure? You look like you'd rather fall asleep, Ioanna." <br />
<br />
'''I just want you to stay.'''<br />
<br />
"I'm sure. Why, were you hoping for a break when you walked in here? Too bad. You know me better than that." She stood and headed for the bathroom, hips swaying as she walked just right to keep his eyes on her. She knew what she was doing. It was power, power over an Elite, a real Elite, and it disgusted her that she treated him this way. But what else was she going to do? <br />
<br />
'''I just want to feel something other than weakness.'''<br />
<br />
She headed into the bathroom, stripped off her top, and stared into the mirror. She wiped her eyes of any tears that might have been forming, preemptively.<br />
<br />
'''This isn't a relationship. This is friends with benefits. Not even. How long has it been since you had friends?'''<br />
<br />
'''You can't let him see or he might try to comfort you. If he tries to comfort you, you might ask him. If you ask him, and he says yes, you'll be in a relationship.'''<br />
<br />
'''And then it'll end. Because it always does.'''<br />
<br />
'''Don't let this end.'''<br />
<br />
'''Please. Even if it's just physical, I need this.'''<br />
<br />
'''Even if it's nothing but a power fantasy.'''<br />
<br />
So she headed back out of the bathroom with a predatory smile on her face. "You'd better hurry and finish eating, Shinji. You'll need the energy."<br />
<br />
He laughed and unbuttoned his suit. "I don't need encouragement."<br />
<br />
And the next morning, he was gone, and only then did she bury her face in the pillow, grab the shotgun underneath for comfort, and start to cry.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Alouette,_Gentille_Alouette_(Robin_Sundance)&diff=16569Alouette, Gentille Alouette (Robin Sundance)2021-01-23T22:00:30Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2021/01/23 |Location=Paris, France |Synopsis=One of those apologies was legitimate. |Thanks=Eryl Fairfax, Penumbra |Cast of Characters=7333 |T..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2021/01/23<br />
|Location=Paris, France<br />
|Synopsis=One of those apologies was legitimate.<br />
|Thanks=Eryl Fairfax, Penumbra<br />
|Cast of Characters=7333<br />
|Tinyplot=The -<br />
}}<br />
No one came to this part of the Paris sewers. If the winding tunnels, the smell, and the monsters that made their home down here wasn't enough to keep people away, the crumbling walls and loose stones of this particular area certainly were. It was a place no one cared about anyway - some out-of-the-way corner of an out-of-the-way area with nothing interesting to scavenge and nowhere interesting to hide. PEACE already knew about this place.<br />
<br />
That's why it was gone.<br />
<br />
That's why, next to the word "L'Espoir" etched on the wall, some cruel, mocking beast had painted "Abandonnez."<br />
<br />
Abandon Hope.<br />
<br />
Robin Sundance's finger brushed over the etching. There was no distant smile on his face. These were not happy memories to linger in. This was not a place to linger regardless.<br />
<br />
But he had business here. Once a year. Without fail.<br />
<br />
He walked amongst the fallen stones. Each one had been painstakingly carved out with names. Tomas. Germaine. Marie. They had ages writ upon them, all in their mid-twenties, all young and eager, all cut short. His fingers brushed across them one by one. The names brought faces. Smiling Marie and her giggle, everyone's little sister, suiting up with her shotgun. Big, heavy Germaine, who always swore he'd lose weight and yet when push came to shove threw that weight around to save the day more than once. Little Tomas, they'd called him, because he was big and spent all his time with Robin, and Robin had more than once joked that they could've been a couple had it not been for Alouette.<br />
<br />
Alouette.<br />
<br />
Her stone was the center of the lot. Robin had made sure of that. He knelt in front of it. Hers was more elaborate than theirs. She was older than they were, though not by much, twenty-nine carved under her name. Flower carvings adorned the sides. Rotting forget-me-nots sat sprinkled around the marker like roses on a bed of lovers. The kneel became a cross-legged sit. The distant gaze became a sad smile. Slowly, he cleared away the forget-me-nots, and he spoke to the dead.<br />
<br />
"Alouette. I'm sorry."<br />
<br />
He swept away the flowers gently. "Are you doing well, now? Beyond the world, is there happiness? Did you and the others find a kind God to love you? A cruel one to fight? Or nothing at all but peaceful rest?"<br />
<br />
A brush against the dust on the grave. "I thought of you, yesterday. A whole new flower, unique in all this wide Multiverse. There are so many worlds. I wish you and the others could see them."<br />
<br />
His fingers trembled against the name. He didn't dare touch that, not with his own palm. Carefully, he put on a black glove, and ran his fingers against it, feeling the impression of the stone as he pushed away the dust and grime. "Like stars in the sky full of hope and wonder. You were right, you know. There are better places. This world could be like those. It could be bright and wonderful. It could be free."<br />
<br />
He sat back and stared up at the crumbling ceiling. "This place...will probably not last much longer, Alouette. I don't know if I'll be able to visit you again." Robin brought his knees against his chest and tugged on his scarf. "I wish you had never given me this albatross."<br />
<br />
"That flower, that Alouette, isn't enough of an apology. Not for you. I miss you all terribly." <br />
<br />
He did not offer her resting place a rose. They had not been in love, not really. Lovers, sometimes, but not in love. Comfort in the cold, nothing more. He had held her hand when she had cried for the fallen, and she had pushed him to be better than he was. Her stern blue eyes had been his strength. Her stern blue eyes had seen the way ahead. And when he had faltered, it was her stern blue eyes, bright, defiant, and full of will, that pushed him to take up the Vaulder.<br />
<br />
She was his leader. She was his inspiration. But she had never been his love. <br />
<br />
So there were no roses, here, not for this place. He scattered new forget-me-nots across the ground. He put on a second glove. With great care, tongue sticking out in concentration, he drew a new flower upon the rock. It was the best he could do to mimic Eryl's work - the best he could do to link them, to link that flower that he had given foundation and this person who had lifted him up from a darker path, to give some peace to the dead and bind it to the happy flower of new beginnings.<br />
<br />
Robin stood. He stared at the place for a long time. He took in the smell of the decay, the stench of the sewer, the hellish dust. He drank it in with the memories. He pulled out his cell phone and began to snap pictures of every single gravestone, every single inch. He snapped a photo of the words at the front - Abandonnez L'Espoir.<br />
<br />
And, last, he dug the Rifler into the wall and pried forth the stones that said Abandonnez. He walked away, leaving only L'Espoir.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Flames_That_Burn_Full_Bright_Soon_Fell_Dark&diff=16438Flames That Burn Full Bright Soon Fell Dark2020-02-28T05:45:02Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2020/02/28 |Location=The Holy See Of Ishgard |Synopsis=The aftermath of Binding Coil of Bahamut. The Archbishop of the Holy See of Ishgard lam..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2020/02/28<br />
|Location=The Holy See Of Ishgard<br />
|Synopsis=The aftermath of Binding Coil of Bahamut. The Archbishop of the Holy See of Ishgard laments the danger that looms before his people, and a decision is made that will change Ishgardian history forever. The isolationist nation opens its doors to the outside world.<br />
}}<br />
Archbishop Thordan stood atop the highest of the Holy See of Ishgard's towers. There, upon the mountain of Halone the Fury, the goddess he spoke for, he looked out at a world on fire.<br />
<br />
All across the glacial plains of Coerthas, the signal fires rose. Red. Blue. Yellow. Pigments rose into the sky to join with the stars as desperate pleas for help lost to the night. The chocobo riders, the dragoons - strained beyond breaking. The knights, pushed to the brink. The noble houses, collapsing under pressure.<br />
<br />
The stalemate was broken. The thousand-year war changed in an instant. The shadow of death had fallen across the Holy See. Black wings in the night. Black wings against a red moon. The careful balance fell as easily as the common soldiers on the field, crushed under rain of dragonfire. A plan a millennium in the making, fragmented before the light of dawn.<br />
<br />
Six hours.<br />
<br />
Six hours from the fire in the sky, from the blood-red moon and the shadow wings, and the Holy See's defenses were in tatters. The outlying regions of Coerthas had already been crushed under the draconic assault. The renewed zeal of their foes was as unshakable as their own faith, but where Ishgard had only faith to steel themselves, the dragons had the might of their master and the strength of their forms. Faith in Halone the Fury steeled the hearts of men, but Nidhogg and Bahamut were gods given flesh, and gods in the flesh tipped the scales as little else could.<br />
<br />
Nidhogg. Though Ishgard held one of its eyes, the source of its awe-inspiring draconic might, it made up for that handicap with a fury that matched Thordan's god. He could almost imagine the great black wyrm sitting, burning with the thousand years of hate for Ishgard as his brother's divine spectre landed before him like a savior. Bahamut, so near unto a god that at its height it could twist the world with its passing, could rain down the fires of Heaven and scourge the land into new shapes, a cat-o-nine for the whole of the star. Nidhogg's prayers were answered.<br />
<br />
Thordan's assuredly were not.<br />
<br />
Thordan's fingers went to his great, bushy eyebrows. Six hours. A plan a millennium in the making. The salvation of Ishgard, the great Holy See built upon the greatest mountain, a fortress civilization tempered in a thousand years of dragonfire, a day but months away, cracked like the wrinkles on his ancient elven face. What was one god against two? What would conjuring their own mighty legend bring against the full majesty of the dragons? His shoulders sagged beneath the weight of his own robes. His head bowed under his miter. <br />
<br />
"This test may be too much for us without you, o Fury," He said aloud. His breath became cloud, floating into the sky like the smoke signals in the distance. "A test we cannot fail, but cannot win. Tell me, my goddess; whence do men turn when their gods will not, cannot, aid them?"<br />
<br />
"Each other, I would suppose." The young man's voice turned Thordan's head. Aymeric. His black hair was ringed by the distant signal fires. His eyes were full of youth's bright desperation, the urges of men pushed against the wall but far too young to surrender. He strode forward in his ceremonial armor, looking all the world his part as Lord-Commander of the Temple Knights. Aymeric stopped before Thordan and knelt. Thordan gestured for him to rise.<br />
<br />
"There are none to whom we can turn." Thordan looked back across the snow. "The Alliance will fall in tatters before the return of Bahamut. The Ul'dahn Syndicate squabbles amongst itself. Gridania can do nothing but placate its heathen Elementals lest they fall prey to their angered spirits. Limsa Lominsa has neither the reach nor the organization to aid us, a group of pirates once that will collapse into pirates once more." Thordan's eyes flickered. "And to ask Garlemald for aid would be tantamount to surrender."<br />
<br />
Aymeric moved to stand next to Thordan and join his gaze through the snow. "That may all be true. But we are not without hope."<br />
<br />
Thordan shook his head. "I see no hope on the horizon. Halone's will may be that our time has ended. Perhaps the end of the age of Men entirely."<br />
<br />
"We have time." Aymeric put his hand on the stone battlements, leaning forward. "Our scouts report Bahamut is wounded, incomplete. This is a push, nothing more. We aren't doomed yet."<br />
<br />
"But we have no one to turn to," Thordan repeated.<br />
<br />
"There's people beyond Eorzea, your Holiness. And there's Eorzeans who might still help us, with or without their governments."<br />
<br />
The Archbishop scoffed. "Adventurers, scoundrels from other worlds. People come seeking to profit from our pain."<br />
<br />
<br />
"That may be so. But we have no choice. Ishgard must change or die, Your Holiness. Bahamut's coming leaves us no other choice." Aymeric turned to look at him. "We throw open the gates. We invite those from the Multiverse to join us. Whatsoever their angle may be, if they stand with us against the dark, they are our allies in Fury."<br />
<br />
"And you believe we will receive such aid? We, who have done nothing for them, have given them nothing but scorn and isolation?"<br />
<br />
"I want to believe that there are good people among these worlds." Aymeric's smile turned wry. "At the very least I know that there are opportunists who will throw in against us, and those who hate dragons more than they hate us."<br />
<br />
Thordan lowered his head again. Aymeric waited. The cold winds seemed to swirl with the taste of flame, though such was impossible, from so far. Thordan raised his staff and turned.<br />
<br />
"Very well. This may indeed be the will of the Fury. With all hope in this world crushed, we turn to the rest to aid us." The Archbishop struck the staff upon the stone floor. It rang out as the bells of Ishgard tolled, joining the chorus that beseeched the heavens. "Let it be known that the gates of Ishgard are open to the world. Ishgard calls for aid from all those who would give it succor, and so shall Ishgard reward them."<br />
<br />
Aymeric knelt. "It will be done, Your Holiness." He stood and walked out, leaving Thordan alone amongst the biting winds and the ominous smell of flame. Thordan looked back out over the city far below.<br />
<br />
"Halone preserve my fury, if naught else might survive," he whispered to the wind, "And let it be that these outsiders, if they bring naught but wrack and ruin, deliver it upon our foes in greater measure."</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Great_King_of_Evil_(Ganondorf_Dragmire)&diff=16200Great King of Evil (Ganondorf Dragmire)2020-01-20T03:19:33Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2020/01/19<br />
|Location=Gerudotown, Hyrule<br />
|Synopsis=Ganondorf is introspective. His introspection is interrupted by some unexpected arrivals.<br />
|Cast of Characters=7039<br />
}}<br />
The night was long, and Ganondorf was angry.<br />
<br />
That wasn't new. He was always angry about something. Always powerless. All the dark might in the world and he could not simply wave his hand and fix the Gerudo's lot in life. He could walk straight into Hyrule Castle - had done so! - and practically dared them all to stop him from killing every person in the room, doom the Kingdom to anarchy and chaos, illustrate that he was completely unstoppable...and it would change nothing. The Hylians would simply redouble their efforts to break through the impenetrable canyon, enlist the aid of the Zora and perhaps even the Gorons, send envoys to the other Kingdoms...they might descend into anarchy, but not before killing every last one of the Gerudo.<br />
<br />
That was unacceptable.<br />
<br />
So he sat on the walls of Gerudo Town. He came up here to be alone sometimes. The whirling storm of the desert was a familiar sight. He had grown...used to it. The raging stores mirrrored his own endless hate. A stable constant. The desert hated as he did.<br />
<br />
He sat, and he played.<br />
<br />
The harp was beautiful. Exotic. Even among the Gerudo, famed for their musical talents, Ganondorf was a maestro. The strings echoed the peaceful night sky above, the eye of the maddening sandstorm. A rare moment where he could try, once again, to let go of his rage for just a moment, to let his hate flow into the desert and the notes and disappear, just for a moment.<br />
<br />
The notes grew harsh. His thoughts settled on the Hero. On the Princess.<br />
<br />
How did they not see it?<br />
<br />
An angry plucking turned beautiful music to sharp and fast. Still excellent, but no longer peaceful. It beat with the rage already ticking back into his heart. How did they not see what they were? What they were meant to be? She, a vassal of the Triforce of Wisdom, a young Queen in an unstable Kingdom full of ambitious nobility. He, a sacrifice for a worthless race, to be spent and cast aside.<br />
<br />
The notes grew harsher still. The song became unsettled. Out beyond the spellposts of Gerudotown, the blue lanterns of desert ghosts began to take notice of his hate. The Hero of Courage, stealing! The Princess of Wisdom, overthrown! Why could they not see as clearly as he where their paths led? Where all their paths led? <br />
<br />
A melancholic pause. He was walking into destruction.<br />
<br />
He knew that, clearly. His eyes had fixed on that from youth. He had sought every means of redress. Every klndness he could offer. Every welcoming hand, every attempt at diplomacy. Spurned, again, and again, and again, he no longer had kindness left in his heart. He saw the path and where it led but he no longer saw alternatives.<br />
<br />
The last shred of Hope in the Great King of Evil's heart pushed its way forth amongst the malice for a single, echoing note in the desert storm. <br />
<br />
Maybe they could.<br />
<br />
If they weren't so blind.<br />
<br />
Maybe indeed the Hero of Courage could save the Gerudo. Maybe the Princess of Wisdom could usurp power. Maybe it could be solved, if only they saw, if only they saw what he saw.<br />
<br />
Why couldn't they see what he saw?<br />
<br />
The endless blaze. The desert hate. The biting cold night-winds with laughing ghosts and spectral lanterns. The burning day-winds scourging skin and flesh. Why did it always come back to that? Why could he see no way to escape this, the only way to escape this, the violence and the destruction?<br />
<br />
As a child…<br />
<br />
A nostalgic melody. One of the songs Koume had played. Once, the Requiem of Spirit had had great meaning to the Gerudo. Now it was lost to time, and it held great meaning only to him. It had been his lullaby in dark times. His hopeful eyes. His dreaming of a brighter future.<br />
<br />
Now lit by funeral pyres instead of joyous, gentle sun.<br />
<br />
He set the harp down on the wall. His head sank into his hands. There was no way out.<br />
<br />
"Master."<br />
<br />
Veran's voice was quiet as she sat down next to him. She had taken human form, brushing red hair from blue face. "You didn't have to stop. It was just getting good."<br />
<br />
Ganondorf shook his head. "Veran. This obsession will consume me, won't it?"<br />
<br />
She leaned against him, looking out at the desert. "With Hyrule?"<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
<br />
"Probably." She twirled a finger in her hair. "Aren't you fine with that? Kill the Hero in the same battle you die in. Break their last hope. Bring them sorrow that your loyal minions might swoop down and secure the world for the Gerudo."<br />
<br />
"I don't know."<br />
<br />
"I do." Veran took his hand in hers. It was a gentle squeeze. "You've been given a gift, my King. A gift of certainty. A gift that says that you, you, the Great King, will rule Hyrule. You will die its King, its master, as you are master to us all. This is fact, My King. You walk this path knowing that it must happen."<br />
<br />
"Because there is no other way."<br />
<br />
"Because there is no other way," Veran agreed. She held his hand and stared out at the desert, kicking her feet lightly as if she was a mere mortal woman. Ganondorf had long since stopped paying attention to her attempts at humanity. He knew what she was. He knew what she wanted from him. He knew what her affections made of him.<br />
<br />
There just came a point where he could no longer care.<br />
<br />
He released her hand and picked up the harp, and began to play that sad, melancholic song again. Veran sighed and ran her hand through her hair, shifted her top, and tugged at her pants. She could do it manually. Another little affectation of mortality. "My King, I didn't come up here just to listen to you play. It's beautiful as always, of course, and I love hearing it, but I have important news."<br />
<br />
Ganondorf paused. "Important news?"<br />
<br />
"It's best if you just come with me."<br />
<br />
<br />
--------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
The throne room was alive with commotion. Shouts of fear and anger echoed off the walls. Urba, the head of the guard, had already called for Koume and Kotake, and Veran had been sent forth to fetch the Warlock King.<br />
<br />
There were men inside the town.<br />
<br />
Two of them were men, at any rate.<br />
<br />
One of the voe was a tall, portly man. He wore an inverted Sheikah mask, red garb, with a gold belt buckle and black highlights. At his hips were a pair of ninja blades. He was playing, absentmindedly transfixed on some sort of stone with glowing red lines. He paid no attention at all to the guards.<br />
<br />
The other voe was on the shorter side. He wore a royal purple pointed hat and cloak. His skin was a light shade of violet-blue, his long hair slightly darker. He had the pointed ears of a Hylian, but his eyes were a deep, dark red. He had a black-hilted sword at his hip, which he fidgeted with nervously, looking about at the spears of the Gerudo guard levelled at them.<br />
<br />
The last was unmistakably a Poe.<br />
<br />
A single red eye gazed out from under a purple hood. Skeletal claws stretched out of billowing sleeves, one clutching a gnarled staff, the other a lantern that held a night-black flame from which grey embers pulsed. Gold adornments covered its cloak. It had no legs, simply floating, waiting. The guards did not dare approach him.<br />
<br />
Ganondorf strolled in, and immediately, the man in the Sheikah mask looked up from his toy. The Poe lowered its head. And the purple Hylian bent to one knee. In three large strides Ganondorf was up to the throne, Veran at his side. He turned, sat, and faced them. His head rested upon his hand.<br />
<br />
"The penalty for entering Gerudo Town as an uninivted voe is death."<br />
<br />
The purple Hylian tugged on his collar. The masked man knelt immediately. The Poe simply tilted its red eye up to look at him, as if to say that death was no threat to the dead.<br />
<br />
The masked man pushed the purple Hylian forward. The young man - no older than Zelda and Link, for certain - stumbled forward, looking up at Ganondorf. "G, Great King of Evil. We ask that you show us mercy, for we are n, not here to...to invade you."<br />
<br />
Ganondorf's hand nearly dug into the throne. "Mercy? From the Great King of Evil? Who are you that dares to ask such of me?"<br />
<br />
"Oh, um."<br />
<br />
The Poe slid forward. Its words were slimy, wrapped in distrustful, poisonous sound. "Master...we have come to serve you. To pledge our...allegiance...to your great and noble cause. You are...in need of us."<br />
<br />
"I need nothing, demon." Ganondorf's anger was enough to get even the dead to back away, the Poe floating backwards to join the masked man. The masked man dared to look up.<br />
<br />
"Maybe we should introduce ourselves, huh?" He stood up and puts his hand against his portly stomach, bowing at the hip. "Master Ganondorf, Great King of Evil, I am Kohga, Master of the Yiga. I have come to pledge my clan to yours, that we might together destroy Hyrule and the hated Sheikah. You'll find no warrior stronger than me, and no ninja stronger than the Yiga! We admire your strength, and admire the Gerudo people's tenacity against an insurmountable force - and believe that together we can, uh, surmount. That force." The portly Yiga picked up his odd rock again and started making signs against it. "Surmount, surmount...is that, uh, a word?" he muttered to himself.<br />
<br />
The Poe also bent at an angle, its book-hand against what might be its stomach. "I am Wizzro, o Master of Evil. I, the Arch-Poe, the Lord of Ghosts, come to pledge my...heh, heh...allegiance to your cause. I was drawn from my grave by your Malice...your divine, profane Malice...heh, heh. With me at your side, even the dead will...come when you call. Heh, heh."<br />
<br />
Ganondorf stared at them. Veran put her hand on his shoulder and leaned down until her lips brushed his ear. "My King. This may be what we needed most. Your power is vast, but you are one man. This...is an army."<br />
<br />
The Gerudo King ran his fingers through his hair. "And all you want is to serve me? Without recompense?"<br />
<br />
"Shogun-"<br />
<br />
"Don't. No more titles. 'My Lord' will do for now."<br />
<br />
The chubby Yiga tugged at his collar. "A-as you say, my lord. The destruction of the Sheikah will be our recompense. Our hated rivals, those fools who would abandon the ancient ways to serve the Hylians...we, the Yiga, are the true Sheikah inheritors! We'll destroy them and take back all that they took, all the land, all the scrolls of secrets they stole! And I'll prove that I am indeed the strongest of all Sheikah, and that I am the truest Master! Believe it, o Great King of Evil!"<br />
<br />
The Poe laughed, a low and ominous laugh. "Hehehehe. Yes. No compensation, indeed. I am here to serve you...faithfully."<br />
<br />
Ganondorf's eyes turned to the purple Hylian. The youth dropped to one knee upon drawing Ganondorf's gaze, his head tilted so low it nearly met the floor. Ganondorf tapped a finger on his throne. "And you, boy? What do you desire, to come so far?"<br />
<br />
"I, I am…" The boy's voice was shaking. "I am…"<br />
<br />
"Speak plain. And look at me."<br />
<br />
The young man looked up. His red eyes locked upon Ganondorf's. He shook for a moment, but not with fear. Ganondorf suddenly saw excitement and ambition burning in those eyes. The young man stood, and tightened his fists. "King Ganondorf! Great King of Evil! Warlock King! King of Thieves! King of the Gerudo! King of Monsters, King of Malice, King of Wicked Things In The Night!"<br />
<br />
The youth thumped his hand against his chest. "I am Vaati, my King! I bring nothing but myself! But I have a request of you!"<br />
<br />
Ganondorf raised an eyebrow.<br />
<br />
"Please!" The youth's eyes sparkled. He pumped his fists in front of him eagerly. <br />
<br />
<br />
"Take me as your apprentice!"</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Great_King_of_Evil_(Ganondorf_Dragmire)&diff=16199Great King of Evil (Ganondorf Dragmire)2020-01-20T03:18:47Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2020/01/19 |Location=Gerudotown, Hyrule |Synopsis=Ganondorf is introspective. His introspection is interrupted by some unexpected arrivals. |C..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2020/01/19<br />
|Location=Gerudotown, Hyrule<br />
|Synopsis=Ganondorf is introspective. His introspection is interrupted by some unexpected arrivals.<br />
|Cast of Characters=7039<br />
}}<br />
The night was long, and Ganondorf was angry.<br />
<br />
That wasn't new. He was always angry about something. Always powerless. All the dark might in the world and he could not simply wave his hand and fix the Gerudo's lot in life. He could walk straight into Hyrule Castle - had done so! - and practically dared them all to stop him from killing every person in the room, doom the Kingdom to anarchy and chaos, illustrate that he was completely unstoppable...and it would change nothing. The Hylians would simply redouble their efforts to break through the impenetrable canyon, enlist the aid of the Zora and perhaps even the Gorons, send envoys to the other Kingdoms...they might descend into anarchy, but not before killing every last one of the Gerudo.<br />
<br />
That was unacceptable.<br />
<br />
So he sat on the walls of Gerudo Town. He came up here to be alone sometimes. The whirling storm of the desert was a familiar sight. He had grown...used to it. The raging stores mirrrored his own endless hate. A stable constant. The desert hated as he did.<br />
<br />
He sat, and he played.<br />
<br />
The harp was beautiful. Exotic. Even among the Gerudo, famed for their musical talents, Ganondorf was a maestro. The strings echoed the peaceful night sky above, the eye of the maddening sandstorm. A rare moment where he could try, once again, to let go of his rage for just a moment, to let his hate flow into the desert and the notes and disappear, just for a moment.<br />
<br />
The notes grew harsh. His thoughts settled on the Hero. On the Princess.<br />
<br />
How did they not see it?<br />
<br />
An angry plucking turned beautiful music to sharp and fast. Still excellent, but no longer peaceful. It beat with the rage already ticking back into his heart. How did they not see what they were? What they were meant to be? She, a vassal of the Triforce of Wisdom, a young Queen in an unstable Kingdom full of ambitious nobility. He, a sacrifice for a worthless race, to be spent and cast aside.<br />
<br />
The notes grew harsher still. The song became unsettled. Out beyond the spellposts of Gerudotown, the blue lanterns of desert ghosts began to take notice of his hate. The Hero of Courage, stealing! The Princess of Wisdom, overthrown! Why could they not see as clearly as he where their paths led? Where all their paths led? <br />
<br />
A melancholic pause. He was walking into destruction.<br />
<br />
He knew that, clearly. His eyes had fixed on that from youth. He had sought every means of redress. Every klndness he could offer. Every welcoming hand, every attempt at diplomacy. Spurned, again, and again, and again, he no longer had kindness left in his heart. He saw the path and where it led but he no longer saw alternatives.<br />
<br />
The last shred of Hope in the Great King of Evil's heart pushed its way forth amongst the malice for a single, echoing note in the desert storm. <br />
<br />
Maybe they could.<br />
<br />
If they weren't so blind.<br />
<br />
Maybe indeed the Hero of Courage could save the Gerudo. Maybe the Princess of Wisdom could usurp power. Maybe it could be solved, if only they saw, if only they saw what he saw.<br />
<br />
Why couldn't they see what he saw?<br />
<br />
The endless blaze. The desert hate. The biting cold night-winds with laughing ghosts and spectral lanterns. The burning day-winds scourging skin and flesh. Why did it always come back to that? Why could he see no way to escape this, the only way to escape this, the violence and the destruction?<br />
<br />
As a child…<br />
<br />
A nostalgic melody. One of the songs Koume had played. Once, the Requiem of Spirit had had great meaning to the Gerudo. Now it was lost to time, and it held great meaning only to him. It had been his lullaby in dark times. His hopeful eyes. His dreaming of a brighter future.<br />
<br />
Now lit by funeral pyres instead of joyous, gentle sun.<br />
<br />
He set the harp down on the wall. His head sank into his hands. There was no way out.<br />
<br />
"Master."<br />
<br />
Veran's voice was quiet as she sat down next to him. She had taken human form, brushing red hair from blue face. "You didn't have to stop. It was just getting good."<br />
<br />
Ganondorf shook his head. "Veran. This obsession will consume me, won't it?"<br />
<br />
She leaned against him, looking out at the desert. "With Hyrule?"<br />
<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
<br />
"Probably." She twirled a finger in her hair. "Aren't you fine with that? Kill the Hero in the same battle you die in. Break their last hope. Bring them sorrow that your loyal minions might swoop down and secure the world for the Gerudo."<br />
<br />
"I don't know."<br />
<br />
"I do." Veran took his hand in hers. It was a gentle squeeze. "You've been given a gift, my King. A gift of certainty. A gift that says that you, you, the Great King, will rule Hyrule. You will die its King, its master, as you are master to us all. This is fact, My King. You walk this path knowing that it must happen."<br />
<br />
"Because there is no other way."<br />
<br />
"Because there is no other way," Veran agreed. She held his hand and stared out at the desert, kicking her feet lightly as if she was a mere mortal woman. Ganondorf had long since stopped paying attention to her attempts at humanity. He knew what she was. He knew what she wanted from him. He knew what her affections made of him.<br />
<br />
There just came a point where he could no longer care.<br />
<br />
He released her hand and picked up the harp, and began to play that sad, melancholic song again. Veran sighed and ran her hand through her hair, shifted her top, and tugged at her pants. She could do it manually. Another little affectation of mortality. "My King, I didn't come up here just to listen to you play. It's beautiful as always, of course, and I love hearing it, but I have important news."<br />
<br />
Ganondorf paused. "Important news?"<br />
<br />
"It's best if you just come with me."<br />
<br />
<br />
--------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
The throne room was alive with commotion. Shouts of fear and anger echoed off the walls. Urba, the head of the guard, had already called for Koume and Kotake, and Veran had been sent forth to fetch the Warlock King.<br />
<br />
There were men inside the town.<br />
<br />
Two of them were men, at any rate.<br />
<br />
One of the voe was a tall, portly man. He wore an inverted Sheikah mask, red garb, with a gold belt buckle and black highlights. At his hips were a pair of ninja blades. He was playing, absentmindedly transfixed on some sort of stone with glowing red lines. He paid no attention at all to the guards.<br />
<br />
The other voe was on the shorter side. He wore a royal purple pointed hat and cloak. His skin was a light shade of violet-blue, his long hair slightly darker. He had the pointed ears of a Hylian, but his eyes were a deep, dark red. He had a black-hilted sword at his hip, which he fidgeted with nervously, looking about at the spears of the Gerudo guard levelled at them.<br />
<br />
The last was unmistakably a Poe.<br />
<br />
A single red eye gazed out from under a purple hood. Skeletal claws stretched out of billowing sleeves, one clutching a gnarled staff, the other a lantern that held a night-black flame from which grey embers pulsed. Gold adornments covered its cloak. It had no legs, simply floating, waiting. The guards did not dare approach him.<br />
<br />
Ganondorf strolled in, and immediately, the man in the Sheikah mask looked up from his toy. The Poe lowered its head. And the purple Hylian bent to one knee. In three large strides Ganondorf was up to the throne, Veran at his side. He turned, sat, and faced them. His head rested upon his hand.<br />
<br />
"The penalty for entering Gerudo Town as an uninivted voe is death."<br />
<br />
The purple Hylian tugged on his collar. The masked man knelt immediately. The Poe simply tilted its red eye up to look at him, as if to say that death was no threat to the dead.<br />
<br />
The masked man pushed the purple Hylian forward. The young man - no older than Zelda and Link, for certain - stumbled forward, looking up at Ganondorf. "G, Great King of Evil. We ask that you show us mercy, for we are n, not here to...to invade you."<br />
<br />
Ganondorf's hand nearly dug into the throne. "Mercy? From the Great King of Evil? Who are you that dares to ask such of me?"<br />
<br />
"Oh, um."<br />
<br />
The Poe slid forward. Its words were slimy, wrapped in distrustful, poisonous sound. "Master...we have come to serve you. To pledge our...allegiance...to your great and noble cause. You are...in need of us."<br />
<br />
"I need nothing, demon." Ganondorf's anger was enough to get even the dead to back away, the Poe floating backwards to join the masked man. The masked man dared to look up.<br />
<br />
"Maybe we should introduce ourselves, huh?" He stood up and puts his hand against his portly stomach, bowing at the hip. "Master Ganondorf, Great King of Evil, I am Kohga, Master of the Yiga. I have come to pledge my clan to yours, that we might together destroy Hyrule and the hated Sheikah. You'll find no warrior stronger than me, and no ninja stronger than the Yiga! We admire your strength, and admire the Gerudo people's tenacity against an insurmountable force - and believe that together we can, uh, surmount. That force." The portly Yiga picked up his odd rock again and started making signs against it. "Surmount, surmount...is that, uh, a word?" he muttered to himself.<br />
<br />
The Poe also bent at an angle, its book-hand against what might be its stomach. "I am Wizzro, o Master of Evil. I, the Arch-Poe, the Lord of Ghosts, come to pledge my...heh, heh...allegiance to your cause. I was drawn from my grave by your Malice...your divine, profane Malice...heh, heh. With me at your side, even the dead will...come when you call. Heh, heh."<br />
<br />
Ganondorf stared at them. Veran put her hand on his shoulder and leaned down until her lips brushed his ear. "My King. This may be what we needed most. Your power is vast, but you are one man. This...is an army."<br />
<br />
The Gerudo King ran his fingers through his hair. "And all you want is to serve me? Without recompense?"<br />
<br />
"Shogun-"<br />
<br />
"Don't. No more titles. 'My Lord' will do for now."<br />
<br />
The chubby Yiga tugged at his collar. "A-as you say, my lord. The destruction of the Sheikah will be our recompense. Our hated rivals, those fools who would abandon the ancient ways to serve the Hylians...we, the Yiga, are the true Sheikah inheritors! We'll destroy them and take back all that they took, all the land, all the scrolls of secrets they stole! And I'll prove that I am indeed the strongest of all Sheikah, and that I am the truest Master! Believe it, o Great King of Evil!"<br />
<br />
The Poe laughed, a low and ominous laugh. "Hehehehe. Yes. No compensation, indeed. I am here to serve you...faithfully."<br />
<br />
Ganondorf's eyes turned to the purple Hylian. The youth dropped to one knee upon drawing Ganondorf's gaze, his head tilted so low it nearly met the floor. Ganondorf tapped a finger on his throne. "And you, boy? What do you desire, to come so far?"<br />
<br />
"I, I am…" The boy's voice was shaking. "I am…"<br />
<br />
"Speak plain. And look at me."<br />
<br />
The young man looked up. His red eyes locked upon Ganondorf's. He shook for a moment, but not with fear. Ganondorf suddenly saw excitement and ambition burning in those eyes. The young man stood, and tightened his fists. "King Ganondorf! Great King of Evil! Warlock King! King of Thieves! King of the Gerudo! King of Monsters, King of Malice, King of Wicked Things In The Night!"<br />
<br />
The youth thumped his hand against his chest. "I am Vaati, my King! I bring nothing but myself! But I have a request of you!"<br />
<br />
<br />
Ganondorf raised an eyebrow.<br />
<br />
"Please!" The youth's eyes sparkled. He pumped his fists in front of him eagerly. <br />
<br />
"Take me as your apprentice!"</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Dear_Sora_(Seifer_Almasy)&diff=16184Dear Sora (Seifer Almasy)2020-01-12T18:32:00Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2020/01/11 |Location=Moon Cell |Synopsis=It's hard to apologize when you don't know how. |Cast of Characters=1086 }} Seifer Almasy sat at his..."</p>
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<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2020/01/11<br />
|Location=Moon Cell<br />
|Synopsis=It's hard to apologize when you don't know how.<br />
|Cast of Characters=1086<br />
}}<br />
Seifer Almasy sat at his desk. There was a pen in his hand. He didn't normally use a pen - typing was faster, obviously, but he also could email things to himself so he didn't get surprised the next day - but this was a special case. He needed to feel the pen in his hand. He needed to feel the movement of his hands along the page.<br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Sora.<br />
<br />
Sorry.<br />
<br />
<br />
"I'm not good at this crap." He sat back. Ran his hands down his face. "Help me out."<br />
<br />
"Well, neither am I," the grey-skinned giant ghost behind him said, looking over his shoulder, "I think you misspelled 'Sara'."<br />
<br />
"You know dang well what I spelled."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh shrugged. "Just trying to lighten the mood. You're kinda beating yourself up over this. Isn't that good enough?"<br />
<br />
"You mean 'Sorry'?" Seifer asked, tilting the chair back to look up at the giant. The giant looked down at him, white eyes peeking from a red cowl. "It's not good enough. Not for what today's been like."<br />
<br />
"It's a good starting point. Try writing more than two lines."<br />
<br />
"Jackass."<br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Sora<br />
<br />
Sorry. I messed up.<br />
<br />
<br />
"No," Seifer shook his head, scratching it out. "No good." He grabbed another piece of paper as he tossed the crossed-over one aside. "Not good enough."<br />
<br />
"I liked where you were going with it. You don't apologize much."<br />
<br />
"You bein' funny again?"<br />
<br />
"No," Gilgamesh said. He pulled out a phantasmal stool and sat down, staring at the paper. "Maybe try a dot dot dot. What're they called. Eclipses? Elpises? Uh, Ellipses?"<br />
<br />
"Yeah, that," Seifer said.<br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Sora<br />
<br />
Sorry. I messed up…<br />
<br />
<br />
"No, that's weak crap." Seifer crumpled the page and tossed it into the recycle bin. "I can't sound like I got my hat in my hand an' my head all bowed. I feel *bad*, I'm not pathetic."<br />
<br />
"You're a little pathetic. I mean you basically hopped into bed with the first Sorceress who came along."<br />
<br />
"Tch! I did not." <br />
<br />
Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow. Seifer rolled his eyes. "Shove off. I love her."<br />
<br />
"I know you do. I'm just saying you were a little fast about it. You're that kind of idiot. You pledged your life to somebody you'd just met, and you're happy about it, because you don't do anything halfway."<br />
<br />
"Yeah? And what kind of idiot are you?"<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh preened, his cape rolling around him. "I'm a handsome worlds-travelling adventurer with a sword in his hand and a song in his heart who goes about helping people relieve themselves of all their heavy treasure."<br />
<br />
Seifer grunted. "You gonna help me or not?"<br />
<br />
"Sorry, sorry. OK, try this."<br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Sora<br />
<br />
Sorry.<br />
<br />
I know, I know, this ain't my style. Normally I'd just walk up to you an' say sorry to your face. But the thing is, if I do that, I won't remember what I'm apologizin' for. This stuff's gonna be gone by the time I see you again.<br />
<br />
An' it's too important to forget.<br />
<br />
Today I was the guy you got me to stop being. <br />
<br />
Riku knows<br />
<br />
<br />
"Nope."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh put two of his hands to his face. The two more grabbed a ghostly coffee mug and pot from just off-screen. "We're gonna be here all night, aren't we."<br />
<br />
"If that's what it takes!"<br />
<br />
"I'm starving."<br />
<br />
"You can't eat till everything's on the page. I can't let you take anything from today yet."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh sighed and poured a cup. "So what was wrong with that one?"<br />
<br />
"I don't wanna make an excuse." Seifer's fingers tightened around the pen. "I don't wanna say 'Riku knows.' I wanna own up to what I did."<br />
<br />
"Why?" The cup sloshed about in the grey giant's hand. "It's true, you know. Riku knows something important. You did what you needed to do. You did the right thing."<br />
<br />
The pen cracked. A little bit of ink spilled on the page. "I don't feel like I did the right thing."<br />
<br />
"You always do the right thing."<br />
<br />
"You sure?"<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh shrugged and sipped the cup through his mask. "You're sure. Isn't that what matters?"<br />
<br />
"I guess." <br />
<br />
"OK. Try this."<br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Sora<br />
<br />
Sorry.<br />
<br />
I know, I know, this ain't my style. Normally I'd just walk up to you an' say sorry to your face. But the thing is, if I do that, I won't remember what I'm apologizin' for. This stuff's gonna be gone by the time I see you again.<br />
<br />
An' it's too important to forget.<br />
<br />
Today I was the guy you helped me stop being. <br />
<br />
I made a choice, Sora, between what you helped me learn, an' what I thought needed to be done. An' I chose what needed to be done. I took a look at Riku, at your best friend, and I picked at every wound I could find, just like when I was at Garden. I got my new friends ready to go beat the crap out of him till he speaks, mentally, physically, spiritually. And I'm willin' to do some real awful things to get that information out of him, things that you don't wanna hear about an' I'm not ready to tell you. <br />
<br />
I needed to; he knows where you are, an' I need what he knows to find you. But that doesn't mean I'm not ashamed of it. That don't mean I don't see your stupid grinnin' face lookin' at me when I'm tryin' to concentrate on other stuff. An' it don't mean I don't feel like I disappointed you.<br />
<br />
The worst part is that I wanted to. He's turned into a real punk, y'know? That guy who talks big and wants to hurt other people to make his dreams come true. I think he'll do anything for that. And I guess I kinda feel responsible. You're not around, so somebody's gotta help him get back on the right path. On the path you'd approve of. I just don't know any other way than this. I never did. This is how I help people. I hit 'em till they learn better. I'm rootin' for 'em, but I don't know how to say that without my fists. I don't know how to say that without pushin' 'em till they stand up for themselves for real rather than hidin' behind posturin' an' bullcrap.<br />
<br />
You told me this isn't the kinda thing I should want to do. That I shouldn't want to hurt people, even if it's to help 'em.<br />
<br />
But I wanted to anyway.<br />
<br />
I know you. I know you'll read this letter, frown, grin, an' say, "Seifer, I forgive you. You tried your best, right?" An' I know I'll laugh an' shrug an' not really answer the question.<br />
<br />
This letter answers the question, Sora.<br />
<br />
I didn't try my best. I let you down.<br />
<br />
Sorry.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Nope," Seifer said quietly. Gilgamesh slapped his hands against his forehead.<br />
<br />
"What's wrong NOW?!"<br />
<br />
"I don't know how to sign it."<br />
<br />
"Try your name!" Gilgamesh paused. "Well, our names. You know, I'd like to have some credit. Something like Apologetically, Gilgamesh and Seifer."<br />
<br />
Seifer turned in the chair, one arm draped over it, to stare at the Guardian Force. Gilgamesh shrugged. Seifer shook his head. "Why would your name be first?"<br />
<br />
"Alphabetical order!" The grey giant beamed behind his red mask. Seifer rolled his eyes and turned back to the letter.<br />
<br />
"No. I need the right one. This has to be..." Seifer put his head against his hand. "This has to mean something. It can't just be some throwaway Sincerely or Apologetically or somethin' like that. That's stuff you put in a form letter."<br />
<br />
"Isn't this the form of a letter?"<br />
<br />
"Now you're just being a jackass." Seifer muttered.<br />
<br />
"I am always a jackass. But I'm your jackass, buddy."<br />
<br />
"Yeah you'll never let me forget that, will you." The Gunblade Knight turned to look at the ghost. "So? Any ideas?"<br />
<br />
"OK," Gilgamesh said. "I've got it."<br />
<br />
<br />
Your Friend,<br />
<br />
Seifer Almasy.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Old_Wounds,_Fresh_Scars_(Ganondorf)&diff=16008Old Wounds, Fresh Scars (Ganondorf)2019-08-02T18:47:22Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/02 |Location=Gerudo Town Castle |Synopsis=The Poeblight continues to ravage the Gerudo, and Ganondorf's determination is steeled. |Cas..."</p>
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<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2019/08/02<br />
|Location=Gerudo Town Castle<br />
|Synopsis=The Poeblight continues to ravage the Gerudo, and Ganondorf's determination is steeled.<br />
|Cast of Characters=7039<br />
}}<br />
Old, pale clay cracked from the force of the blow. Blood seeped from knuckles, dripping onto multicolored tile.<br />
<br />
<br />
Nothing.<br />
<br />
<br />
The Great King of Evil's eyes were wide and empty. His lips, twisted into a snarl. Nothing. Nothing! Nothing! The graveyard he had pinned his hopes on held nothing. Worse than nothing. No miracle cure. No herb, no magic spell, no artifact. All that the Mirage Graveyard had yielded was a cruelty. The gods of the desert were mocking gods indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
Song of Healing!<br />
<br />
<br />
Ganondorf's other fist slammed into the wall. Another crack, and more blood. He ignored it. Song of Healing indeed!<br />
<br />
<br />
It was his fingers that had killed Ekaife. His hands, across the strings of the harp. His fingers, running through the notes. His eyes, watching her fade. Watching her sink back against the wall with a contented smile. Watching her breath rattle in her throat. Watching her head slump sideways. Watching her die mercifully free of the blight, and knowing that he had killed her.<br />
<br />
<br />
He had known her since childhood. He had grown up with her, like every other sister. She had dreamed of seeing the grass of Hyrule Field, the great, endless plains of grass and rolling hills that were to the Gerudo like a dream. Dreamed of the wind across her face, cool and refreshing rather than hot and scourging. <br />
<br />
<br />
And his hands had been the ones to kill her.<br />
<br />
<br />
Another punch. These hands. These hands! These hands, her executioner! This was his fault. He had sent the Hero of Courage and his allies to the graveyard. He had hoped for the Hero's death, true, but he had wanted too to see that kindness. To hope that some spark of that kindness would be rewarded. That some small momentary flux of destiny would work to his advantage, just once.<br />
<br />
<br />
Just. Once.<br />
<br />
<br />
His bloody hand went to his face, smearing it crimson. What a fool. Hoping for destiny to take the side of the Great King of Evil...no. No destiny belonged to the Gerudo King but defeat. No, once again, the side destiny would take was Hyrule's. It was always Hyrule's.<br />
<br />
<br />
Hyrule!<br />
<br />
<br />
The architects of despair! Hyrule! The architects of suffering!<br />
<br />
<br />
His fingers closed around his face as he pushed off the wall. They dug into skin as he strode through the palace. Black ooze leaked at every step. Malice, pure and simple, spilled from his body, pools of liquid hate staining the beautiful mosaic of the palace floor. It roiled and bubbled in his wake, yearning to reach beyond the walls, to cross the desert beyond the open windows and surge into the green fields far away. <br />
<br />
<br />
Ganondorf slumped in the Gerudo throne. His eyes gazed at the opposite wall as his fingers tightened around the handrests. There was nothing to be done of the Poeblight but invasion. Once again, diplomacy had failed. Kindness had failed. His heart grew harder with every passing moment, every passing second.<br />
<br />
<br />
He would not let Ekaife be buried here. He would bury her under the grass she yearned for. He would sweep the Hylians aside like a storm and grind them beneath his heel, and force them into the desert they so feared. Let them bleed and die here. It had made the Gerudo strong enough to take back what was theirs. His damaged hands clutched at the armrests of the throne. Let the Hylians learn what it meant to be desperate. For he was desperate, now.<br />
<br />
<br />
No more promises. No more helping villagers. No more quid pro quo.<br />
<br />
<br />
The Gerudo would take what they wanted. It was the way they had been given. It was the way they had made their own. And all the pleas for diplomacy would not be enough.<br />
<br />
<br />
He stood, and went for papyrus. When he sat down again, the quill was clutched between bloody knuckles, and the words he wrote were in ink mingled with blood.<br />
<br />
<br />
War.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Requiescet_In_Aurum_(Gilgamesh)&diff=15988Requiescet In Aurum (Gilgamesh)2019-07-15T05:29:19Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/15 |Location=The Imperial Palace Of Terra |Synopsis=Gilgamesh has a sit-down conversation with a dead man and a roman cosplay enthusia..."</p>
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<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2019/07/15<br />
|Location=The Imperial Palace Of Terra<br />
|Synopsis=Gilgamesh has a sit-down conversation with a dead man and a roman cosplay enthusiast.<br />
|Cast of Characters=1099<br />
}}<br />
It was the smell that the King detested most.<br />
<br />
The staggering towers, piled so high they crushed all the world beneath them, were horrifying enough. The palace, an affair so massive as to have its own cities within it, was an affront in squandered grandeur. The buildings were so mundane, so empty, so...base, beyond its walls, and within its walls, and everywhere. But the stench of it! The stink of humanity, of sweat and blood and urine and overflowing, painful, pointless existence for its own sake, bothered the King the most.<br />
<br />
He passed guard after guard. They all drew weapons; they were all met with an arrogant glance and a forceful statement, a "let me through" and a "forget that I was here." They all lapsed back into their watch, as though the demigod in golden armor was not even there, content in their service. In a way, it disgusted him - not that they were weak-minded (he expected that from more or less everyone who was not Gilgamesh), but how...content they were. How they seemed to exist only to serve.<br />
<br />
The Custodes received the same treatment; a wave of his hand and a forceful word and they, too, let him pass. They were conditioned to resist psychic power, but he was the Rightful King, and he was not psychic. They were conditioned to have hard wills, and that, at least, impressed him. But they were also conditioned to listen to a glorious man in golden armor, and that made any struggle far, far simpler. He followed one of them to the throne room, arms crossed. Each step through the golden halls made him slightly more suspicious.<br />
<br />
After entirely too much time had passed, he entered the Throne Room. "Leave us," he said, and the room was vacated, and it was then that he suspected that his presence was perfectly known and perfectly welcome. He could not prove it. It could have simply been that minds conditioned to follow a perfect man would follow a perfect man regardless of his origin. It could have been that they recognized his glory. <br />
<br />
Or it could have been an invitation.<br />
<br />
It did not really matter.<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh produced a golden throne of his own. It was not so massive, nor so mechanical, but it was beautiful and pompous, and that was what he was at his core. He sat down, his eyes locked on the skeleton before him, one fist against his cheek. There was something almost beautiful about it. He closed his eyes and sneered.<br />
<br />
"At least I can say with certainty that your taste is similar to mine."<br />
<br />
His fingers drummed against the throne in silence as he watched the Throne's lifelessness. The machines that sustained the God-Emperor, the machines that kept a skeleton in existence. He sat there overlong in uncharacteristic silence. Finally, he broke it once more.<br />
<br />
"Don't think I don't notice," he said, waving his hand idly in the distance, "Your golden palace far too closely resembles Babylon. Your Roman columns don't hide your Sumerian origins. My compliments on your memory, at least."<br />
<br />
He leaned forward, steepling his fingers in front of him. "You did not desire this, did you?"<br />
<br />
"This wretched, abysmal hellhole. This stinking pit of human existence, stuffed to the brim with people merely living. No, you didn't. Not that you could answer me, but I know. I can tell. Even if we are not the same - even if you are not, indeed, Gilgamesh, even if you did not hold that name in this world - I can tell from the very bones of this palace what you desired. I can see it in every inch and every scrap. I can see it in every hallway."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh leaned back in his chair and pressed a finger to his forehead. "You wanted glory."<br />
<br />
He spread his arms wide. "Glory! A glory to fill the universe! A mankind that held all the stars in the sky as their own! Gold, the color of glory! No man who lives in a place like this, in a palace so vast and incomprehensibly Babylonian, so perfectly gilded, can be a man who settles for less than the absolute best!"<br />
<br />
His hand pressed against his face. "It's a joke!"<br />
<br />
"A massive, awful, unimaginable joke! You saw what I saw, did you not? You, in Sumeria; I, in Sumeria; we saw that future stretched across the stars, and we craved it! We craved its glory! We craved to be its architects!"<br />
<br />
"And here we are." His hands fell back to the throne's armrests. "I, Gilgamesh. You, perhaps also Gilgamesh, perhaps simply a man too much like me. Two, who saw the future, who stood apart from humanity and yearned to shape it into its truest form."<br />
<br />
His voice grew quiet. "Did you, indeed, lose your Enkidu? Did you have a friend who you loved beyond all measure, and saw die?"<br />
<br />
"Did you know?"<br />
<br />
"Did you know it would happen?" His fingers clenched the throne. "Did you know that it was coming, and yet do nothing to avert it? Did you judge the future you saw worth more than that life? Than that one, dear life that meant all the world to you - the one thing you did not possess?"<br />
<br />
The skeleton sat, immobile, unanswering. The King slumped back before the Emperor and pressed his right hand back to his face. <br />
<br />
"I did not see one church here." He said, conversationally. "I did not see one religious institution that was not devoted to you. Not one of the myriad Divine Spirits of mankind survived. Not one relic from that Age remains. Just you. Worship of you and you alone."<br />
<br />
His left hand spilled over the side. "You didn't want that either, did you? You wanted to be an example. You wanted to rise up and inspire them follow you in greatness. And they didn't understand it. They saw what they wanted to see. They saw a god in gold when you desired they see a god inside, didn't they?"<br />
<br />
"Is that what made...this?" His arms spread again, wide, at the throne room. "Is that what turned your grandeur to grotesquerie? Is that what made your beauty into base brutality? What made plan into pain?"<br />
<br />
He stood. "What is it about us?" The King of Heroes demanded as he walked forward, towards the Throne itself, "What is it about us that makes us see the best in them? They're worthless. They're wretched. They're ignorant, pointless creatures." He pointed at the window.<br />
<br />
"In this world, in this country of Multi-Vars, they swarm. Your project died. Your empire is rotten. The great work is compromised. They live only as BIOLOGY!"<br />
<br />
The word echoed through the chamber. The skeleton unmoved, Gilgamesh, irritably, sat back down and clicked his tongue in frustration. "Biology! They live because they are alive! They yearn for nothing! And it is the same for me. The same in my country. The same in my great garden. Humans, living only to live, are vermin, aren't they?"<br />
<br />
His fingers found his eyelids. "So why? Why is it that no matter what we do, be we taskmaster or observer, they become this way? Why is it, no matter what we are, we are compelled to want them to be better - only to have our hopes broken time and time again?"<br />
<br />
"Do not look at me like that," he said to the skeleton, "I can imagine your face, though it does not exist. I can imagine the frustration on it for it is my face, my frustration. Even if it is not identical, even if you are somehow much larger than I am - and you really should work on that, because it is an hilariously imperfect form for a man who does not wish to be worshipped - I know my own face. I know the face of a man so like me as to be worthy of my name, even if you are not me."<br />
<br />
"Why?"<br />
<br />
He slumped back into silence for a while. A cup of wine appeared in his hand, and he swirled it, thoughtfully. Because he found it funny, he also placed a cup of wine in the hand of the skeleton. "A gift," he said wryly, "From one Gilgamesh to another. Even if you are not me, you are worthy of my name, and you are a worthwhile commisserator. Priscilla...I do not think she would understand. Or Rhongomyniad. Or Enkidu."<br />
<br />
"I do not think they would understand because I do not think they can." Gilgamesh touched the godly wine to his lips. "I do not think that what Priscilla desires is what I desire, love her though I do. I do not think that what Rhongomyniad desires is what I desire, love her though I do. And Enkidu...Enkidu is not a king. Enkidu is a precious, wild, free thing. A shoulder to lean on in dark times. Your Enkidu was the same, I have no doubt, even if it was not called by that name. Someone who understood you, but could not truly understand your dream."<br />
<br />
The King of Heroes stared into the wine quietly.<br />
<br />
"I do not think they can understand because I think only I can. And thus, I am here. Isn't that funny?"<br />
<br />
"The only person I can talk to openly in all of Multi-Vars is myself. And you're dead, so you're not doing me any good, are you."<br />
<br />
"Well. They tell me you are like a god. So I suppose that if you are, indeed, you are perfectly aware of all of this. It wouldn't surprise me." He pursed his lips. "It hardly need be said that I would not insult you with prayer."<br />
<br />
The skeleton said nothing.<br />
<br />
"Still, it is not bad, I suppose. Sitting here in an empty room, speaking to a dead Sumerian skeleton who led humankind to the stars, only to watch it rot. At the least I know you are going through what I am." Another sip, and the reflection of himself in his eye caught his attention. "I would burn it all. Enuma Elish would rip the world in twain bit by bit, shredding away its skin until nothing remained. I would let the strong survive, and see the new world built."<br />
<br />
"Not here," he clarified, waving his hand, "But I suspect you share similar frustrations, don't you?"<br />
<br />
"I certainly do."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh tilted his head to the side as a new figure entered the room. A massive, monster of a man in blue power armor, he strode forward, hands open. "I'm not here to do battle with you," the man said, "Though I have no doubt that I could defeat you here, in my father's chamber, I do not think you are my enemy."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh cocked his head to the side with a sneer. "Ordinarily I would run you through for such an impertinent statement, but the feeling is mutual. I am not here for a battle, and I do not think you are my enemy, either."<br />
<br />
"I am not." The man strode over to the King, and the King waved his hand and produced another chair - a chair sized for a giant. The man sat. "I am Roboute Guilliman."<br />
<br />
"I am Gilgamesh, King of-"<br />
<br />
Roboute held up a gauntleted hand. "I know who you are, King of Heroes. Did you think you could enter this place unguarded? That you could simply speak your way through, no matter your glory? You look like an Eldar and you walk like my father in his prime, clad in gold and assured of victory. Just looking at you makes me wonder at the veracity of your words." His hands sank back into his lap. "You were noticed. You may be dangerous, but you are not subtle, and here in this Imperium, on this world, I make it a point to keep my eyes open. You can't be too careful."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh tilted his head away. His eyes were still locked on the skeleton, but that brought a sneer to his face. "I appreciate that you are the first common sense I've heard, Roboute Guilliman. Tell me. What frustrations do you share?"<br />
<br />
"All of them." Guilliman drummed his fingers on the armchair. "This is not what my father wanted. This is a rotting carcass, driven by fear, hate, and ignorance. Better that we had all burned in Horus's flames than that I witness this perversion. You are right, King of Heroes; you and he are far too much alike, and his dreams far too much like yours."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh pursed his lips. A shadow passed over his face. "Is it unavoidable, then? Is this what comes of the glorious fate of mankind? A fate that cannot be achieved? A potential forever squandered?"<br />
<br />
Roboute didn't answer. Instead, he looked back at the corpse of his father, then back at the smaller man in gold. "Why?"<br />
<br />
"Why what?"<br />
<br />
"Why do you do it?" Guilliman's words were the words of a statesman. They rang in Gilgamesh's ears as the words of a tired man, a tired leader, and the weight of the world slumped upon his shoulders, too, a physical burden five thousand years old. No doubt, here, it felt even heavier. To see a failure like this across such a scope must have killed him.<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh said, "Because it is my duty. I made the choice for them - I pushed them away from the gods who would rule them, and gave them the chance to take hold of their own destinies, gambling on glory. On exceptionalism. On humanity."<br />
<br />
"We, too, have gods who would rule us. I don't mean him." Guilliman tilted his head at the skeleton. "That is a man. A brilliant, impossible, frustrating man. A terrible, atrocious father, who asked the impossible time and again, and expected us to keep following him, and those of us who did have seen this as our reward, and those of us who did not are twisted beyond imagining by those very gods." <br />
<br />
"And yet you persist."<br />
<br />
"And yet I persist." Guilliman sat there, eyes hard. "It is my duty. It's what I was made to do. The Space Marine is not a soldier. It is a perfect being. When the fighting is done, they are meant to lay down their arms and guide humanity into a golden age. But…"<br />
<br />
"But the fighting is never done, and humanity doesn't yearn for a golden age. They don't believe in a golden age."<br />
<br />
Guilliman shook his head. "They believe this is their golden age."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh was silent for a long time. So was Guilliman. The two statesmen sat before the skeleton with a cup of wine in its hand for a long time, until at last, Gilgamesh waved his hand and produced another cup for Guilliman. The Primarch stared at it curiously, then at Gilgamesh, before taking a sip. <br />
<br />
"That's good."<br />
<br />
"The King of Heroes demands only the finest," Gilgamesh said at last. "May I ask you something?"<br />
<br />
"I didn't know you asked permission for anything. I'm honored."<br />
<br />
"Do you want to fix it?" Gilgamesh's fingers tightened. "Do you want to see this wretched hellhole brought into the dream of your father? Into the dream you must have shared in, believed in?"<br />
<br />
Guilliman hesitated into his cup, his lips drinking to avoid speaking. When it sat down again, he shook his head. "Ten thousand years of inertia. Ten thousand years of build-up. Of ignorance. Of hate. Of fear. Of pain. Ten thousand years of illogic and faith ruling quintillions of humans."<br />
<br />
"And yet you are still here. So you must believe it can be fixed."<br />
<br />
"I don't know. Ask me again another time. Call on me again, King of Heroes, and we'll speak at length on such matters. In the meantime…"<br />
<br />
"In the meantime?"<br />
<br />
Guilliman raised the cup to his lips. "I would like to sit here and have a quiet moment, free of the concerns of the world, with my damnable father and a man who reminds me entirely too much of him. My father - he didn't love anyone. He couldn't, if he wished to love Mankind. No one was too meaningful to be spared."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh shifted, uncomfortably. Roboute smiled. "I think this must be what it's like to have a family."<br />
<br />
The King's eyes turned towards the skeleton. "I don't know. I haven't had the privilege."<br />
<br />
"Me, either. I'll drink to that."<br />
<br />
The two laughed, and raised their cups, and drank until the Terran dawn. At last, Gilgamesh rose, and the cups disappeared. A keg settled into being next to Roboute as the Primarch stood. "Gilgamesh," he said, "Do you think this is beyond saving? Tell me honestly. You are an outsider, without any interest in this world. You find it repugnant, repulsive to the core. You look at it with eyes that can see nothing but spite and you want to tear it all down. You said as much to Father. And if you think that, I have no doubt Father thinks the same. But if you say otherwise...if you believe it can be saved…"<br />
<br />
"Then you think your father must, too, no matter his words."<br />
<br />
"That's right." Roboute began walking, and Gilgamesh followed him. They walked through the halls of the great Palace, past Custodes who could only wonder at the strange company the great Primarch kept. The King of Heroes stopped before one of the many vast doors. Roboute looked at him quizzically.<br />
<br />
"You asked me to be honest. I am always honest. I am the King, and the King's word is law, and if the King's word is lies, then so too is the law."<br />
<br />
Roboute nodded, as if he knew this.<br />
<br />
"Then I will tell you that…"<br />
<br />
His fingers pressed to his forehead. "I think that as long as a man like you exists, that as long as men like you exist, that as long as there exists but one soul striving for perfection, that this world deserves to continue."<br />
<br />
Roboute shook his head. "Perfection? Warp take me, I'd settle for decency."<br />
<br />
They laughed again, together, drawing attention from passing Administratum. Gilgamesh sighed and ran his hand through his hair. Roboute offered his, and Gilgamesh took it.<br />
<br />
"Thank you," the King said after a moment, "You answered a question for me."<br />
<br />
"I haven't said anything."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh's lips turned wry. "You have shown me that I wouldn't be a completely terrible father after all, if my own son was anything like you."<br />
<br />
"I wouldn't tell the First that quite yet," Roboute said idly, "My father's eldest killed him."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh's face went first scarlet, then white. Roboute laughed and clapped him on the back, and Gilgamesh grumbled irritably, and the morning passed. Finally, the Primarch stopped at the edge of the Palace grounds, and the King stepped across the threshold.<br />
<br />
"That wasn't really what I answered, was it?" Roboute said.<br />
<br />
"No. It was not."<br />
<br />
"You wanted to know if this place was worth saving. If your own world could be saved. If you should burn it all and start over."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh lowered his head in a nod.<br />
<br />
"Well, then. Let's have a family lunch next time." Roboute turned and waved over his shoulder. "You, me, and my father. We'll make a picnic of it in the Golden Throne. A fine sight that would make, Gilgamesh, don't you think?" And then he was gone, back into the massive sprawl of squandered glory, and Gilgamesh laughed as he walked into the crowd, turning curious heads who dared to look upon golden magnificence on a world that had been slowly forgetting what such a thing even meant.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Shutur_Eli_Sharri_(Gilgamesh)&diff=15563Shutur Eli Sharri (Gilgamesh)2018-10-22T21:24:33Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2018/10/22 |Location=Copenhagen, Metastasis Denmark |Synopsis=Gilgamesh continues his path through the Epic that is his past and his future as..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2018/10/22<br />
|Location=Copenhagen, Metastasis Denmark<br />
|Synopsis=Gilgamesh continues his path through the Epic that is his past and his future as he enacts it in the modern world.<br />
|Cast of Characters=1099<br />
}}<br />
The King sat down in the conference room. It was disgustingly modern. A slick black table surrounded by heavy black chairs, with the sort of joyless red carpet you find in places that drink the life out of even the most vibrant fabric. Electric lights hummed overhead. The girl at the desk had called them 'fluorescent.' The King called them 'obnoxious.' They cast a glare down across the reflective surface of the table, glinting off bald pates and silver chair arms. Flickering screens filled with black-and-white snow lined the walls. Perfect fingers tapped against perfect cheeks impatiently and irritably. He hated this room. It was in all ways an emblem of what he despised.<br />
<br />
<br />
The men in this room had crowned him. They sought to make their country strong. A noble gesture that the King could appreciate, no matter how the stink of corruption swelled in his nose. They were the modern elite, nobility in all but name. They were elected, true, but they were rich, and they wore what passed as modern fineries, and they believed themselves masters of their world. They were rich enough to have a mage in attendance, the very mage who had urged them after the Grail Shard that had pulled the King of Heroes out of his own time. That mage was responsible for dragging the King of Heroes into this putrid swamp of human decay, into this maggot-ridden corpse that once had been his garden. That long-fingered mage, with whorls on the back of his hand, with thin glasses perched on a sharp nose and thin lips pursed in a sharp frown, with a gold pocketwatch on a bronze chain tucked into his breast pocket.<br />
<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh had yet to figure out his angle.<br />
<br />
<br />
That was never good.<br />
<br />
<br />
The mage pushed his glasses up on his nose as he met the King's cold red gaze. He drummed those slender fingers against his wrist. "Your Majesty."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Speak, Isometsa." <br />
<br />
<br />
"The Association sent a gift to apologize for the recent border affair. It seems some hostiles came after an artifact in one of their secret bases and caused some trouble. While they claim everything was wrapped up neatly, I understand from reliable sources that they are having a bit of trouble." Jeremias removed his hand from his wrist. "I imagine they are hoping to court your aid, your Highness, in capacity as a sovereign rather than a member of the Paladins."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Den onde lyne mig," the Minister of Foreign Affairs muttered, wiping his brow, "Multi-verses, wizards, heroes...this is too much, Jeremias, too much." He was a heavy-set man with a full head of blonde hair who reminded Gilgamesh entirely too much of a pig. "The Queen's failing health was not an excuse to wrap us up into all this nonsense. For God's sakes, the President of America wears a lion mask!"<br />
<br />
<br />
"The King of Inventors is a reasonably pleasant man," Gilgamesh observed idly, picking up a pen and fingering it as he pretended to think, "He understands, as you do, what makes a country strong is its people. He's simply wrong about why."<br />
<br />
<br />
"King of Inventors indeed," Foreign Affairs said. He stuffed his handkerchief back into his pocket and exhaled. "What next? Will we see Hans Christian Andersen walk the streets of Copenhagen anew? This is ridiculous. We sit mere feet from the first king of humanity and pretend as if it is normal. We pretend that Boston was a simple terrorist attack. We all saw the footage. The world saw the footage, man! And then the next day it was gone, and the networks spat out lies about domestic terrorists and hallucinations. How do we live in this world? How do we face this world?"<br />
<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh said nothing. He simply continued fiddling with the pen. It was black and gold, and terribly sharp. The Minister of Finance spoke up.<br />
<br />
<br />
"The country's in free-fall, your Majesty. The whole world's been on edge since the attack. We're on the verge of a financial crisis." She slapped her hand on the table. "You're supposed to be the perfect King, aren't you? Do you think we convinced Parliament to give you emergency powers for fun? You're meant to fix this!"<br />
<br />
<br />
Still, Gilgamesh said nothing. Finance sagged backwards and bit her lip. "I'm sorry. Fear keeps people from investing. They want something they can be certain in, and with the markets spiralling, so is the economy. I know it's not your fault-"<br />
<br />
<br />
At last, the King held up his hand, silencing them all with a motion. "It is my fault."<br />
<br />
<br />
They stopped, and stared. The Minister of Defense coughed into her sleeve. "Sir, are you implying that you attacked America…?"<br />
<br />
<br />
"Hmph. Don't be ludicrous." Gilgamesh levelled the pen like a blade. "It is my fault because I am the King. You are correct. The King is responsible for the health of his country. I, who have been absent these two years, did nothing but lament the state of this world of mine."<br />
<br />
<br />
Jeremias suddenly looked out the window, as if something very interesting was flying past.<br />
<br />
<br />
"But thanks to associates in the Paladins," Gilgamesh continued, the pen swinging to the side and spinning between his fingers, "I have been convinced otherwise. I have been convinced to *do* something for my fallen world."<br />
<br />
<br />
"That's...good?" Defense said hesitantly. The others around the table nodded. Gilgamesh chuckled, and Jeremias stepped back a bit more, against the wall, to check his pocketwatch. <br />
<br />
<br />
"It is," Gilgamesh said, "It is good. One by one, the evils plaguing this country will vanish. And then, that will extend outwards to the world."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Which evils, your Majesty?" Finance asked. Gilgamesh laughed again.<br />
<br />
<br />
"All of them."<br />
<br />
<br />
"I'm afraid I don't understand." Finance leaned forward. Gilgamesh did the same, steepling his fingers in front of his face. His red eyes glinted dangerously, and she swallowed. It was like looking into the eyes of a beast. Something terrible and primordial. For a brief instant, Finance wondered if perhaps they had made a grave mistake. <br />
<br />
<br />
Then he spoke, and she was certain that they had. Jeremias reached over and spoke a few words against the door handle.<br />
<br />
<br />
"The first step will be reforming the government. Excising the pointless leeches. Minimizing overhead. Purging the corrupt. Downsizing. Appointing the qualified." Gilgamesh's eyes flashed. "Once that is done, I will begin speaking with my new advisors."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Your, your Majesty," Finance began. Gilgamesh cut her off with a motion. <br />
<br />
<br />
"You." He stood, and his black coat rolled off him like a cape, and his eyes became twin red suns. "You have each of you committed crimes against the state." He began walking around the table, his fingers drumming against Defense's chair as he stopped behind the balding man. "You are bought and paid for by merchants from other lands." He moved to Foreign Affairs. "You pay foreign lovers from government coffers." He stopped behind Finance. "You fix the markets to your own favor."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Y, you have no proof of that," Foreign Affairs spoke, rising from his chair, "You can't simply make accusations and expect us to take them seriously! You can't just-"<br />
<br />
<br />
The pen tore through his throat and embedded itself in the wall next to Jeremias. The table went silent as Foreign Affairs fell to the ground with a wet, sick thump. Gilgamesh's eyes were completely empty. As if he had simply crushed an annoying bug under his feet.<br />
<br />
<br />
"I am the King. You cannot hide your wickedness from me." <br />
<br />
<br />
"Please," Finance murmured, "I have a daughter at home."<br />
<br />
<br />
"I will ensure that she is well-cared-for," Gilgamesh said.<br />
<br />
<br />
"You can't do this," she pleaded. It fell upon deaf ears.<br />
<br />
<br />
Jeremias had to look away. He stared at the door for a solid ten minutes, fervently wishing that the silence spell he had cast on the walls extended to his own ears. Finally, mercifully, it was over. He turned back to the King of Heroes, who stood at the window, hands tucked behind his back, coated in blood. The corpses of the government's highest-ranking administrators littered the field. They, who had built the systems Denmark now ran on, lay dead in their own seats of power at the feet of the most powerful monarch to have ever lived.<br />
<br />
<br />
And Jeremias had unleashed him on the world.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Jeremias Isometsa," Gilgamesh said, tilting his head backwards to look the mage in the eye. The King's fingers, slick with blood, ran through his blonde hair. Jeremias pressed his hand against his chest and bowed.<br />
<br />
<br />
"What would you have me do, great King of Heroes?"<br />
<br />
<br />
"Conduct divinations to find the most qualified individuals in this country. Put out word that the King of Denmark seeks talent from other countries, too." Gilgamesh's eyes were red glass. "Reform will be swift and bloody. But this country will be strong in the end."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Yes." Electricity tingled in the ends of Jeremias's fingers.<br />
<br />
<br />
The King turned and headed for the door. He paused, his hand on the handle, and flicked his eyes at the mage. "And clean up this mess."<br />
<br />
<br />
And then, like the sun setting behind a mountain, the King's glory surged forth and vanished from the room as he strode forth into the office building. The Gate of Babylon had already cleaned the blood from his body, scarves vanishing back into the ripples. His hands sank into his pockets as he stopped in the elevator. It took him a moment to remember how to work it.<br />
<br />
<br />
It took him three floors to put a sword in the speaker, showering the other occupants with sparks. What they called music in modernity was simply abhorrent.<br />
<br />
<br />
In the lobby, the secretary gave him a hopeful smile, and he returned it before glancing at the screens behind her.<br />
<br />
<br />
"King of Denmark recently pulled out of the European Union-"<br />
<br />
<br />
"Reclusive King Gil pulling Denmark from NATO and the United Nations has raised tensions in Europe, with some speculating Russian interference-"<br />
<br />
<br />
"In financial news, the reclusive new King of Denmark sent a press release announcing larger-than-normal tax breaks for companies operating under government subsidization, challenging EU rules on fair business-"<br />
<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh closed his eyes.<br />
<br />
<br />
Yes. He would do something about this world of his.<br />
<br />
<br />
He would right it. Even if he exhausted the country to do it. And then, when the world cried out for reprieve…<br />
<br />
<br />
...would the gods send him? Would the long-absent gods still be able to reach across the vast gulf of time? Would his mother?<br />
<br />
<br />
What would he be like? The brother who would calm his stormy heart?<br />
<br />
<br />
And when Gugalanna came for his kingdom, would it be Ishtar who brought its foot down into the modern age?<br />
<br />
<br />
And would he have the strength to face his brother's death twice over?<br />
<br />
<br />
He, Shutur Eli Sharri, Surpassing All Other Kings, walked out of the building, ignoring the flirting eyes and short skirt of the secretary as he entered the streets of Copenhagen. Reform would be swift and bloody. He would exhaust the country of all its strength, and give it riches beyond imagination.<br />
<br />
<br />
That was what they had asked of him.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Sha_Naqba_Imuru_(Gilgamesh)&diff=15461Sha Naqba Imuru (Gilgamesh)2018-09-26T23:55:35Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
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<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2018/09/26<br />
|Location=A nebulous museum on Metastasis earth<br />
|Synopsis=Gilgamesh reads the Epic of Gilgamesh.<br />
|Cast of Characters=1099<br />
}}<br />
''I will proclaim to the world the deeds of Gilgamesh;''<br />
<br />
''This was the man to whom all things were known,''<br />
<br />
''This was the King who knew the countries of the world.''<br />
<br />
<br />
The King, whose word was law, had lied.<br />
<br />
<br />
He stood in the museum, ignorant of the swarming masses that gathered around him. Cameraphones snapped and flashed like starlight in the night. People whispered that he was so beautiful he must be a celebrity, dressed there in his black coat, his white sweater, his beige slacks. They swarmed around him, eager to breathe in the scent of glory, eager to taste the hem of his robe. Women and men alike moved past him, unwilling to touch him, unable to avoid getting close, incapable of getting too close. <br />
<br />
<br />
He, the King who surpassed all other Kings, gave none of it pause. He gave none of it thought. His eyes were fixated on the tablets under glass.<br />
<br />
<br />
''He was wise.''<br />
<br />
''He saw mysteries and knew secret things.''<br />
<br />
''He brought us a tale of the days before the flood.''<br />
<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh supposed he had not lied exactly. When the man, the man of iron, had said that Babylon had failed, Gilgamesh had pretended not to know why. He had let his head sink in sorrow at the failure of it. He had pretended to cry for Babylon, to swoon for a lost paradise.<br />
<br />
<br />
The black coffee stained his lips as he read his own handwriting with dispassionate red eyes. He had pretended, but he had not lied, exactly. All that he had not said was that he had noticed Babylon's fall long ago.<br />
<br />
<br />
So it was written. So it was written in his own hand. So it was written into his hand, into his flesh, into his very being. So it was written, and so it had to be.<br />
<br />
<br />
He read the words on the clay tablets without a second thought. Gilgamesh held no mortal fear of seeing the future. He had seen it long ago. The road laid out for him was clear as day, and always had been. This was merely confirmation.<br />
<br />
<br />
''When the gods created Gilgamesh they gave him a perfect body.''<br />
<br />
''Shamash the glorious sun endowed him with beauty.''<br />
<br />
''Adad the god of storms endowed him with courage.''<br />
<br />
''The great gods made his beauty perfect, surpassing all others,''<br />
<br />
''Terrifying like a great wild bull.''<br />
<br />
''Two thirds they made him god and one third man.''<br />
<br />
<br />
Fingers closed around the coffee cup, as strong as a star from heaven. The cup erupted in his hand, scalding black liquid splattering across the floor, across his face, across people. He did not notice or care. <br />
<br />
<br />
Yes. Babylon had fallen. There had been nothing left behind. There could be nothing left behind. He, who had decided at his moment of creation to destroy the demesne of the gods, had also destroyed the foundation he loved so dearly. He, who was as wild as the raging bull, had also destroyed the miracles humanity had depended on, and left them to bleed and crawl in the muck, in hope of a future brighter than Shamash.<br />
<br />
<br />
''In Uruk he built walls, a great rampart,''<br />
<br />
''And the temple of blessed Eanna for the god of the firmament Anu,''<br />
<br />
''And for Ishtar the goddess of love.''<br />
<br />
''Look at it still today.''<br />
<br />
''The outer wall where the cornice runs,''<br />
<br />
''It shines with the brilliance of copper,''<br />
<br />
''And the inner wall, it has no equal.''<br />
<br />
''Touch the threshold; it is ancient.''<br />
<br />
''Approach Eanna, the dwelling of Ishtar, our lady of love and war,''<br />
<br />
''The like of which no latter-day king, no man alive can equal.''<br />
<br />
<br />
"Excuse me," said someone in a uniform, "Sir, are you alright? You spilled your coffee. You...destroyed your coffee."<br />
<br />
<br />
The voice jolted him out of his reverie. Gilgamesh looked at the woman like she was far away. She was passingly attractive, a blonde in a clean blouse that showed her figure well. He heard the fair Huntress's voice as he looked at her, the passing resemblance striking the root of memory; 'something to tell my grandchildren.'<br />
<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh waved his hand. "Leave me. The King is well."<br />
<br />
<br />
The woman did not question him. She bowed, and stepped away, a look of far-off wonder on her face. He watched her go before he turned back to the tablets. His fingers brushed against the glass. The words he read were his own, proclaiming his arrogance to the world, proclaiming his foolishness. The words he read were the words of a man who looked back and saw a tyrant, and he heard his own voice speak them all.<br />
<br />
<br />
In the back of his mind, he saw Yang's smile, and heard her say that he could be human like the rest of them, and his eyes shut, and he let his own words play. He let the words of Enkidu dance across him, Enkidu who had come to tear down the old order, and saw him in the shadow of Time. He let the words of Ishtar play across him, as she begged for his love, and he felt such rage that he nearly crushed the glass he touched when she invoked the Bull of Heaven. His chest swelled with deserved pride as he crushed the Bull beneath his feet.<br />
<br />
<br />
He felt Enkidu die, and he fell to his knees and wept for a brother he did not know, and heard his own voice weeping through the distant gulf of time.<br />
<br />
<br />
He, Surpassing All Other Kings, Saw The Deep.<br />
<br />
<br />
None around him dared to look. Each passing shadow felt as if they were witness to something they could not witness, an impossible paradox that went against all sense of reason. It passed from their minds as they filtered away. They could not comprehend the King of Heroes' sorrow. They could not comprehend the idea of the King of Heroes' sorrow. To see something perfect broken before you is a paradox that the human mind cannot resolve. If it is broken, it is not perfect; and yet, here, it is so. And so they left rather than be driven to madness, the incident stricken from their souls, and the King was left alone to grieve.<br />
<br />
<br />
He did not grieve for Enkidu.<br />
<br />
<br />
He grieved for himself.<br />
<br />
<br />
He grieved for the hand that must one day write these tablets. His fingers, stained with coffee, brushed across the glass as tears the color of sorrow itself rolled down perfect cheeks. He wept for those fingers.<br />
<br />
<br />
The words of the mage. 'You're not just a story, you're THE story.'<br />
<br />
<br />
Sha Naqba Imuru. He saw the depths of time and cursed them deeply as he stood. From the Gate of Babylon he plucked fine silk to dry his eyes, casting it back into the portal. It was not a thing he had not known before, not a thing he had not understood long ago, but now, to see the physical proof of it, to have that slim and scant hope that he could, indeed, be human like the rest, that he could, indeed, be a mere piece of Multi-Vars, that he could, indeed, defy this fate…<br />
<br />
<br />
To have it broken and murdered before him, lying in the form of Enkidu, was too much for him to bear stoically.<br />
<br />
<br />
Babylon had not failed. Babylon had needed to fail. Babylon had had to fall that the wonders of the gods did not eclipse the wonders of man. Babylon had had to fall that all the gods fall with it, and that he, Gilgamesh, would go on to inspire all others.<br />
<br />
<br />
And to do that…<br />
<br />
<br />
And to do that he must live it.<br />
<br />
<br />
And to live it, he must be broken. He must be humbled. He must be filled with humility. But first he must be filled with tyranny. He must walk the path ordained for him by the gods at the moment of his creation.<br />
<br />
<br />
The King of Heroes put a hand to his head and laughed at himself. What a fate. What cruel irony. To rebel against the gods, to break the hold of the gods and let all mankind have even a slim chance to flourish, to choose, to become greater than their deities, he, Gilgamesh, had to walk their path. Where he had wept mere moments before now mad laughter rocked the halls of the museum. The people laughed with him, though they knew not why, only that their King was amused, and thus it was in their best interest to be amused as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
To save a world he hated, he would walk a path he despised, and die, alone in all the world, deprived of his brother and with no other who could hear the truth of his voice.<br />
<br />
<br />
The King turned away from the glass. He, who could have no children, who could never know the joy of descendants, who could never love or be loved, could have no equal in all the world. He would tell no grandchildren his story. He could have no one who could be called his equal. He could not be one of them. He could not be human.<br />
<br />
<br />
To be human was to choose. <br />
<br />
<br />
If he chose to be human, he would destroy even the slim hope of that shining world of man.<br />
<br />
<br />
Such a thing could not be done.<br />
<br />
<br />
For he was Gilgamesh.<br />
<br />
<br />
Surpassing all other kings.<br />
<br />
<br />
He who saw the deep.<br />
<br />
<br />
''This too was the work of Gilgamesh, the King,''<br />
<br />
''Who knew the countries of the world.''<br />
<br />
''He was wise; he saw mysteries and knew secret things.''<br />
<br />
''He brought us a tale of the days before the flood.''<br />
<br />
''He went on a long journey, was weary, worn out with labour,''<br />
<br />
''And returning,''<br />
<br />
''Engraved on a stone the whole story.''</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Sha_Naqba_Imuru_(Gilgamesh)&diff=15460Sha Naqba Imuru (Gilgamesh)2018-09-26T23:52:59Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2018/09/26 |Location=A nebulous museum on Metastasis earth |Synopsis=Gilgamesh reads the Epic of Gilgamesh. |Cast of Characters=1099 }} ''I wi..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2018/09/26<br />
|Location=A nebulous museum on Metastasis earth<br />
|Synopsis=Gilgamesh reads the Epic of Gilgamesh.<br />
|Cast of Characters=1099<br />
}}<br />
''I will proclaim to the world the deeds of Gilgamesh;''<br />
''This was the man to whom all things were known,''<br />
''This was the King who knew the countries of the world.''<br />
<br />
The King, whose word was law, had lied.<br />
<br />
He stood in the museum, ignorant of the swarming masses that gathered around him. Cameraphones snapped and flashed like starlight in the night. People whispered that he was so beautiful he must be a celebrity, dressed there in his black coat, his white sweater, his beige slacks. They swarmed around him, eager to breathe in the scent of glory, eager to taste the hem of his robe. Women and men alike moved past him, unwilling to touch him, unable to avoid getting close, incapable of getting too close. <br />
<br />
He, the King who surpassed all other Kings, gave none of it pause. He gave none of it thought. His eyes were fixated on the tablets under glass.<br />
<br />
''He was wise.''<br />
''He saw mysteries and knew secret things.''<br />
''He brought us a tale of the days before the flood.''<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh supposed he had not lied exactly. When the man, the man of iron, had said that Babylon had failed, Gilgamesh had pretended not to know why. He had let his head sink in sorrow at the failure of it. He had pretended to cry for Babylon, to swoon for a lost paradise.<br />
<br />
The black coffee stained his lips as he read his own handwriting with dispassionate red eyes. He had pretended, but he had not lied, exactly. All that he had not said was that he had noticed Babylon's fall long ago.<br />
<br />
So it was written. So it was written in his own hand. So it was written into his hand, into his flesh, into his very being. So it was written, and so it had to be.<br />
<br />
He read the words on the clay tablets without a second thought. Gilgamesh held no mortal fear of seeing the future. He had seen it long ago. The road laid out for him was clear as day, and always had been. This was merely confirmation.<br />
<br />
''When the gods created Gilgamesh they gave him a perfect body.''<br />
''Shamash the glorious sun endowed him with beauty.''<br />
''Adad the god of storms endowed him with courage.''<br />
''The great gods made his beauty perfect, surpassing all others,''<br />
''Terrifying like a great wild bull.''<br />
''Two thirds they made him god and one third man.''<br />
<br />
Fingers closed around the coffee cup, as strong as a star from heaven. The cup erupted in his hand, scalding black liquid splattering across the floor, across his face, across people. He did not notice or care. <br />
<br />
Yes. Babylon had fallen. There had been nothing left behind. There could be nothing left behind. He, who had decided at his moment of creation to destroy the demesne of the gods, had also destroyed the foundation he loved so dearly. He, who was as wild as the raging bull, had also destroyed the miracles humanity had depended on, and left them to bleed and crawl in the muck, in hope of a future brighter than Shamash.<br />
<br />
''In Uruk he built walls, a great rampart,''<br />
''And the temple of blessed Eanna for the god of the firmament Anu,''<br />
''And for Ishtar the goddess of love.''<br />
''Look at it still today.''<br />
''The outer wall where the cornice runs,''<br />
''It shines with the brilliance of copper,''<br />
''And the inner wall, it has no equal.''<br />
''Touch the threshold; it is ancient.''<br />
''Approach Eanna, the dwelling of Ishtar, our lady of love and war,''<br />
''The like of which no latter-day king, no man alive can equal.''<br />
<br />
"Excuse me," said someone in a uniform, "Sir, are you alright? You spilled your coffee. You...destroyed your coffee."<br />
<br />
The voice jolted him out of his reverie. Gilgamesh looked at the woman like she was far away. She was passingly attractive, a blonde in a clean blouse that showed her figure well. He heard the fair Huntress's voice as he looked at her, the passing resemblance striking the root of memory; 'something to tell my grandchildren.'<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh waved his hand. "Leave me. The King is well."<br />
<br />
The woman did not question him. She bowed, and stepped away, a look of far-off wonder on her face. He watched her go before he turned back to the tablets. His fingers brushed against the glass. The words he read were his own, proclaiming his arrogance to the world, proclaiming his foolishness. The words he read were the words of a man who looked back and saw a tyrant, and he heard his own voice speak them all.<br />
<br />
In the back of his mind, he saw Yang's smile, and heard her say that he could be human like the rest of them, and his eyes shut, and he let his own words play. He let the words of Enkidu dance across him, Enkidu who had come to tear down the old order, and saw him in the shadow of Time. He let the words of Ishtar play across him, as she begged for his love, and he felt such rage that he nearly crushed the glass he touched when she invoked the Bull of Heaven. His chest swelled with deserved pride as he crushed the Bull beneath his feet.<br />
<br />
He felt Enkidu die, and he fell to his knees and wept for a brother he did not know, and heard his own voice weeping through the distant gulf of time.<br />
<br />
He, Surpassing All Other Kings, Saw The Deep.<br />
<br />
None around him dared to look. Each passing shadow felt as if they were witness to something they could not witness, an impossible paradox that went against all sense of reason. It passed from their minds as they filtered away. They could not comprehend the King of Heroes' sorrow. They could not comprehend the idea of the King of Heroes' sorrow. To see something perfect broken before you is a paradox that the human mind cannot resolve. If it is broken, it is not perfect; and yet, here, it is so. And so they left rather than be driven to madness, the incident stricken from their souls, and the King was left alone to grieve.<br />
<br />
He did not grieve for Enkidu.<br />
<br />
He grieved for himself.<br />
<br />
He grieved for the hand that must one day write these tablets. His fingers, stained with coffee, brushed across the glass as tears the color of sorrow itself rolled down perfect cheeks. He wept for those fingers.<br />
<br />
The words of the mage. 'You're not just a story, you're THE story.'<br />
<br />
Sha Naqba Imuru. He saw the depths of time and cursed them deeply as he stood. From the Gate of Babylon he plucked fine silk to dry his eyes, casting it back into the portal. It was not a thing he had not known before, not a thing he had not understood long ago, but now, to see the physical proof of it, to have that slim and scant hope that he could, indeed, be human like the rest, that he could, indeed, be a mere piece of Multi-Vars, that he could, indeed, defy this fate…<br />
<br />
To have it broken and murdered before him, lying in the form of Enkidu, was too much for him to bear stoically.<br />
<br />
Babylon had not failed. Babylon had needed to fail. Babylon had had to fall that the wonders of the gods did not eclipse the wonders of man. Babylon had had to fall that all the gods fall with it, and that he, Gilgamesh, would go on to inspire all others.<br />
<br />
And to do that…<br />
<br />
And to do that he must live it.<br />
<br />
And to live it, he must be broken. He must be humbled. He must be filled with humility. But first he must be filled with tyranny. He must walk the path ordained for him by the gods at the moment of his creation.<br />
<br />
The King of Heroes put a hand to his head and laughed at himself. What a fate. What cruel irony. To rebel against the gods, to break the hold of the gods and let all mankind have even a slim chance to flourish, to choose, to become greater than their deities, he, Gilgamesh, had to walk their path. Where he had wept mere moments before now mad laughter rocked the halls of the museum. The people laughed with him, though they knew not why, only that their King was amused, and thus it was in their best interest to be amused as well.<br />
<br />
To save a world he hated, he would walk a path he despised, and die, alone in all the world, deprived of his brother and with no other who could hear the truth of his voice.<br />
<br />
The King turned away from the glass. He, who could have no children, who could never know the joy of descendants, who could never love or be loved, could have no equal in all the world. He could have no one who could be called his equal. He could not be one of them. He could not be human.<br />
<br />
To be human was to choose. <br />
<br />
If he chose to be human, he would destroy even the slim hope of that shining world of man.<br />
<br />
Such a thing could not be done.<br />
<br />
For he was Gilgamesh.<br />
<br />
Surpassing all other kings.<br />
<br />
He who saw the deep.<br />
<br />
''This too was the work of Gilgamesh, the King,''<br />
''Who knew the countries of the world.''<br />
''He was wise; he saw mysteries and knew secret things.''<br />
''He brought us a tale of the days before the flood.''<br />
''He went on a long journey, was weary, worn out with labour,''<br />
''And returning,''<br />
''Engraved on a stone the whole story.''</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Domestic_(Seifer_Almasy)&diff=15429Domestic (Seifer Almasy)2018-09-10T22:59:51Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2018/09/09<br />
|Location=Moon Cell<br />
|Synopsis=Seifer Almasy has a discussion with his Guardian Force about a pressing issue in his growing domestic life.<br />
|Cast of Characters=1086<br />
}}<br />
Seifer clicked off the phone and leaned back in the hot water, staring up at the rippling ceiling of the Moon Cell. The steam from the bath filled his vision more than the unfamiliar crystalline sky. It was a haze of liquid white on glittering blue and silver that spun in dizzying circles. The Gunblade Knight closed his eyes.<br />
<br />
"Look at you, getting all domestic!"<br />
<br />
The yellow-and-purple polkadot voice was right in his ear. Seifer didn't open his eyes.<br />
<br />
"Shut up."<br />
<br />
The polkadot voice went 'hmmm.' "Not that I blame you, but shouldn't you tell them?"<br />
<br />
Now Seifer opened his eyes. The Knight tilted his head to the right to see the grey, multi-armed giant sitting mostly naked in the bath. A towel that matched the color of his voice draped over the giant's right side to support the cardboard arms on his shoulders. Another towel was wrapped around his face. Empty white eyes stared into Seifer's. Seifer rolled his eyes in turn and looked away.<br />
<br />
"I told her last night I'm no good with this shit. That applies to all of 'em." Seifer's fingers flexed in the water, letting it wash over him. "The only person I ever let this deep into my head is you, and believe me, I'm starting to think that was a mistake, Greg."<br />
<br />
Greg shook his head. "You can't be like that now that you're part of a team."<br />
<br />
"I'm not 'part of a team,' I'm 'employed as a solo agent.'" Seifer tilted his gaze back to Greg. "And what the hell would you know about being part of a team?"<br />
<br />
"Well, this one time, this floating head offered me a spot on a team if I would be the red ran-"<br />
<br />
"Oh, shut up." Seifer reached over and pressed Greg's head into the water. There was no mass to the ghost; it was as easy as pushing air, and Greg dunked forward obligingly. When he rose up he was dripping.<br />
<br />
"The point is," Greg said, wringing the towel around his face, "Relationships are like swords."<br />
<br />
"Seriously?!"<br />
<br />
"Of course!" A grey finger rose. "They chip and get dirty with use, and they need to be polished and maintained, sometimes by a professional."<br />
<br />
"Are you - *you* - telling me to go see a psychologist? Shit." Seifer threw up his hands. "You're as worthless as that doctor at Garden. Doctor...Doctor…"<br />
<br />
Greg's pure-white eyes sank a bit. "You don't remember her name, do you?"<br />
<br />
"Shut up!"<br />
<br />
"You need to tell them. You should tell them where the magic comes from. Where the power comes from." Greg leaned back, spreading out three arms against the crystalline marble. "You should tell them why you really brought your book with you."<br />
<br />
Seifer took a swing. His fist connected with a grey hand. No mass, but no reaction, either; the ghost was as substantial as it wanted to be, and only to him. "You might be getting more competent with your Draws," Seifer seethed through his teeth, "But you don't get to give me life advice, jolly grey jackass. We're not friends, Gilgamesh."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh released Seifer's hand and ran one of his own against his towel, the other settling against grey abs. "I live in your head. Sooner or later you're gonna have to admit that we're close."<br />
<br />
Seifer sat back down and crossed his arms, sinking deeper into the hot water. "We're workplace associates."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh laughed. "Well you might be a dog but you're definitely no Enkidu. I'm the reasonable one in this workplace association, and that's just weird! Normally I'd be all goofy and encouraging you to make poor life choices, but..."<br />
<br />
"..."<br />
<br />
"You don't wanna know what comes after the but?"<br />
<br />
Seifer groaned. "*BUT*?"<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh huffed. "No need to be so rude about it. But…if there's one thing I know, scrambled memories or not, it's friendship. It's intimacy. It's sharing your life with someone else and knowing they've got your back, and that they're as worried for you as you are for them"<br />
<br />
"You sound like a self-help book."<br />
<br />
"Well I am full of many helpful advices about many helpful topics."<br />
<br />
"That's not a word," Seifer snapped.<br />
<br />
"How would you know? You dropped out."<br />
<br />
"I…" Seifer hesitated. Then he looked away, staring at the wall, his eyes hard. "Man, just go away. You know how hard it was just to talk to Tamamo like a person?"<br />
<br />
"I mean I've been here the whole time," Gilgamesh gestured at himself, "I pretty much saw your face go through the whole set of stances."<br />
<br />
"How can I tell her where the magic comes from?" Seifer sank a bit more into the water. It was touching his chin. "And if I can't tell her, how can I tell the rest of 'em?"<br />
<br />
"So…" Gilgamesh leaned forward. "You were lying when you said you thought of the Concord as a home, huh."<br />
<br />
"Did I say that?" Seifer looked over at Gilgamesh and blinked.<br />
<br />
"Yeah. You did. You were telling the story about how we met. You said you thought of the Concord like it was home." The grey giant stroked his chin under the polkadot towel. "You remember the knight thing, though."<br />
<br />
"Of course I remember the knight thing. Win the Grail War for the cute princess and our hot dragon lady boss knights me." Seifer pushed up out of the water and met Gilgamesh's eyes. "Did I actually say that I thought the Concord was home?"<br />
<br />
"I guess if it already got eaten, it didn't mean much to you." Gilgamesh reached over and patted Seifer's bare shoulder. "Sorry. If it makes you feel better, it was probably worth that Demon Slice you did in the ship."<br />
<br />
Seifer looked away, peeling Gilgamesh's hand off. "I probably wasn't lying. Just...a weak moment. Vulnerable. Wasn't used to people caring."<br />
<br />
"Probably that," Gilgamesh said. His three arms went behind his back as he reclined. "You know, if nothing else, you should probably tell them that you can't even remember most of their names."<br />
<br />
"...." Seifer stared at his hand quietly. Slowly, it closed into a fist. "That's...not important."<br />
<br />
"I think you're a coward."<br />
<br />
"Fuck you."<br />
<br />
"I think you wouldn't care if the whole world burned away," Gilgamesh said, standing up and placing himself in front of Seifer, squatting down to stare him in the eye. The heat haze made the grey giant's ethereal skin seem even more translucent. "You'd throw everything away for the chance to be a hero. To be the one who saves the girl and gets the treasure. You would throw away everything about yourself in an instant because you'd much rather do that than face what a fuck-up you are"<br />
<br />
"Shut up!" Seifer took a swing again, and this time, his fist passed right through. The giant sat back in the water and sighed. "Shut up!" Seifer repeated, "Asshole! Like you wouldn't throw everything away just to get a fucking sword! Excalibur, Excalibur, Excalibur, this is far from the strongest of swords, Masamune, Zantetsuken, Lionheart, Hyperion, you just go on and on and on about all the cool shit you want to steal and that's all you are! Where's this bullshit wisdom coming from, huh? Who gave you the right? Who gave you the right to judge me? Who do you think you are? That Ruler jag?"<br />
<br />
"Seifer, I-"<br />
<br />
Seifer jerked his thumb at his chest. "I'm Seifer Almasy, god dammit! I'm King of the Moon! I'm Tamamo's Knight! I'm a member of the Concord! I'm gonna be a real-ass knight, and I'm gonna get my name inscribed in the multiverse so deep I'll be a fucking *regular* in this Grail War shit! If all it costs me are my memories of those dipshits back at Garden, some goddamn details like names, and some stupid sappy shit I said, then so what? Who cares?! You don't think all of that is worth it to me? You don't think all of it is-"<br />
<br />
He was yelling at air.<br />
<br />
Seifer looked down at himself. His fists curled tight. "I'm not a fucking joke, Greg," he muttered, "I won't end up like that. I'm Seifer Almasy. I'm gonna be famous. All the worlds are gonna know my name."<br />
<br />
He sat back down, pulled his legs up to his knees, and stared into the heat haze where Gilgamesh had been a moment ago in silence.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Domestic_(Seifer_Almasy)&diff=15428Domestic (Seifer Almasy)2018-09-10T22:59:06Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2018/09/09<br />
|Location=Moon Cell<br />
|Synopsis=Seifer Almasy has a discussion with his Guardian Force about a pressing issue in his growing domestic life.<br />
|Cast of Characters=1086<br />
}}<br />
Seifer clicked off the phone and leaned back in the hot water, staring up at the rippling ceiling of the Moon Cell. The steam from the bath filled his vision more than the unfamiliar crystalline sky. It was a haze of liquid white on glittering blue and silver that spun in dizzying circles. The Gunblade Knight closed his eyes.<br />
<br />
"Look at you, getting all domestic!"<br />
<br />
The yellow-and-purple polkadot voice was right in his ear. Seifer didn't open his eyes.<br />
<br />
"Shut up."<br />
<br />
The polkadot voice went 'hmmm.' "Not that I blame you, but shouldn't you tell them?"<br />
<br />
Now Seifer opened his eyes. The Knight tilted his head to the right to see the grey, multi-armed giant sitting mostly naked in the bath. A towel that matched the color of his voice draped over the giant's right side to support the cardboard arms on his shoulders. Another towel was wrapped around his face. Empty white eyes stared into Seifer's. Seifer rolled his eyes in turn and looked away.<br />
<br />
"I told her last night I'm no good with this shit. That applies to all of 'em." Seifer's fingers flexed in the water, letting it wash over him. "The only person I ever let this deep into my head is you, and believe me, I'm starting to think that was a mistake, Greg."<br />
<br />
Greg shook his head. "You can't be like that now that you're part of a team."<br />
<br />
"I'm not 'part of a team,' I'm 'employed as a solo agent.'" Seifer tilted his gaze back to Greg. "And what the hell would you know about being part of a team?"<br />
<br />
"Well, this one time, this floating head offered me a spot on a team if I would be the red ran-"<br />
<br />
"Oh, shut up." Seifer reached over and pressed Greg's head into the water. There was no mass to the ghost; it was as easy as pushing air, and Greg dunked forward obligingly. When he rose up he was dripping.<br />
<br />
"The point is," Greg said, wringing the towel around his face, "Relationships are like swords."<br />
<br />
"Seriously?!"<br />
<br />
"Of course!" A grey finger rose. "They chip and get dirty with use, and they need to be polished and maintained, sometimes by a professional."<br />
<br />
"Are you - *you* - telling me to go see a psychologist? Shit." Seifer threw up his hands. "You're as worthless as that doctor at Garden. Doctor...Doctor…"<br />
<br />
Greg's pure-white eyes sank a bit. "You don't remember her name, do you?"<br />
<br />
"Shut up!"<br />
<br />
"You need to tell them. You should tell them where the magic comes from. Where the power comes from." Greg leaned back, spreading out three arms against the crystalline marble. "You should tell them why you really brought your book with you."<br />
<br />
Seifer took a swing. His fist connected with a grey hand. No mass, but no reaction, either; the ghost was as substantial as it wanted to be, and only to him. "You might be getting more competent with your Draws," Seifer seethed through his teeth, "But you don't get to give me life advice, jolly grey jackass. We're not friends, Gilgamesh."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh released Seifer's hand and ran one of his own against his towel, the other settling against grey abs. "I live in your head. Sooner or later you're gonna have to admit that we're close."<br />
<br />
Seifer sat back down and crossed his arms, sinking deeper into the hot water. "We're workplace associates."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh laughed. "Well you might be a dog but you're definitely no Enkidu. I'm the reasonable one in this workplace association, and that's just weird! Normally I'd be all goofy and encouraging you to make poor life choices, but..."<br />
<br />
"..."<br />
<br />
"You don't wanna know what comes after the but?"<br />
<br />
Seifer groaned. "*BUT*?"<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh huffed. "No need to be so rude about it. But…if there's one thing I know, scrambled memories or not, it's friendship. It's intimacy. It's sharing your life with someone else and knowing they've got your back, and that they're as worried for you as you are for them"<br />
<br />
"You sound like a self-help book."<br />
<br />
"Well I am full of many helpful advices about many helpful topics."<br />
<br />
"That's not a word," Seifer snapped.<br />
<br />
"How would you know? You dropped out."<br />
<br />
"I…" Seifer hesitated. Then he looked away, staring at the wall, his eyes hard. "Man, just go away. You know how hard it was just to talk to Tamamo like a person?"<br />
<br />
"I mean I've been here the whole time," Gilgamesh gestured at himself, "I pretty much saw your face go through the whole set of stances."<br />
<br />
"How can I tell her where the magic comes from?" Seifer sank a bit more into the water. It was touching his chin. "And if I can't tell her, how can I tell the rest of 'em?"<br />
<br />
"So…" Gilgamesh leaned forward. "You were lying when you said you thought of the Concord as a home, huh."<br />
<br />
"Did I say that?" Seifer looked over at Gilgamesh and blinked.<br />
<br />
"Yeah. You did. You were telling the story about how we met. You said you thought of the Concord like it was home." The grey giant stroked his chin under the polkadot towel. "You remember the knight thing, though."<br />
<br />
"Of course I remember the knight thing. Win the Grail War for the cute princess and our hot dragon lady boss knights me." Seifer pushed up out of the water and met Gilgamesh's eyes. "Did I actually say that I thought the Concord was home?"<br />
<br />
"I guess if it already got eaten, it didn't mean much to you." Gilgamesh reached over and patted Seifer's bare shoulder. "Sorry. If it makes you feel better, it was probably worth that Demon Slice you did in the ship."<br />
<br />
Seifer looked away, peeling Gilgamesh's hand off. "I probably wasn't lying. Just...a weak moment. Vulnerable. Wasn't used to people caring."<br />
<br />
"Probably that," Gilgamesh said. His three arms went behind his back as he reclined. "You know, if nothing else, you should probably tell them that you can't even remember most of their names."<br />
<br />
"...." Seifer stared at his hand quietly. Slowly, it closed into a fist. "That's...not important."<br />
<br />
"I think you're a coward."<br />
<br />
"Fuck you."<br />
<br />
"I think you wouldn't care if the whole world burned away," Gilgamesh said, standing up and placing himself in front of Seifer, squatting down to stare him in the eye. The heat haze made the grey giant's ethereal skin seem even more translucent. "You'd throw everything away for the chance to be a hero. To be the one who saves the girl and gets the treasure. You would throw away everything about yourself in an instant because you'd much rather do that than face what a fuck-up you are"<br />
<br />
"Shut up!" Seifer took a swing again, and this time, his fist passed right through. The giant sat back in the water and sighed. "Shut up!" Seifer repeated, "Asshole! Like you wouldn't throw everything away just to get a fucking sword! Excalibur, Excalibur, Excalibur, this is far from the strongest of swords, Masamune, Zantetsuken, Lionheart, Hyperion, you just go on and on and on about all the cool shit you want to steal and that's all you are! Where's this bullshit wisdom coming from, huh? Who gave you the right? Who gave you the right to judge me? Who do you think you are? That Ruler jag?"<br />
<br />
"Seifer, I-"<br />
<br />
Seifer jerked his thumb at his chest. "I'm Seifer Almasy, god dammit! I'm King of the Moon! I'm Tamamo's Knight! I'm a member of the Concord! I'm gonna be a real-ass knight, and I'm gonna get my name inscribed in the multiverse so deep I'll be a fucking *regular* in this Grail War shit! If all it costs me are my memories of those dipshits back at Garden, some goddamn details like names, and some stupid sappy shit I said, then so what? Who cares?! You don't think all of that is worth it to me? You don't think all of it is-"<br />
<br />
He was yelling at air.<br />
<br />
Seifer looked down at himself. His fists curled tight. "I'm not a fucking joke, Greg," he muttered, "I won't end up like that. I'm Seifer Almasy. I'm gonna be famous."<br />
<br />
He sat back down, pulled his legs up to his knees, and stared into the heat haze where Gilgamesh had been a moment ago in silence.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Domestic_(Seifer_Almasy)&diff=15427Domestic (Seifer Almasy)2018-09-10T22:55:40Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2018/09/09 |Location=Moon Cell |Synopsis=Seifer Almasy has a discussion with his Guardian Force about a pressing issue in his growing domestic..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2018/09/09<br />
|Location=Moon Cell<br />
|Synopsis=Seifer Almasy has a discussion with his Guardian Force about a pressing issue in his growing domestic life.<br />
|Cast of Characters=1086<br />
}}<br />
Seifer clicked off the phone and leaned back in the hot water, staring up at the rippling ceiling of the Moon Cell. The steam from the bath filled his vision more than the unfamiliar crystalline sky. It was a haze of liquid white on glittering blue and silver that spun in dizzying circles. The Gunblade Knight closed his eyes.<br />
<br />
"Look at you, getting all domestic!"<br />
<br />
The yellow-and-purple polkadot voice was right in his ear. Seifer didn't open his eyes.<br />
<br />
"Shut up."<br />
<br />
The polkadot voice went 'hmmm.' "Not that I blame you, but shouldn't you tell them?"<br />
<br />
Now Seifer opened his eyes. The Knight tilted his head to the right to see the grey, multi-armed giant sitting mostly naked in the bath. A towel that matched the color of his voice draped over the giant's right side to support the cardboard arms on his shoulders. Another towel was wrapped around his face. Empty white eyes stared into Seifer's. Seifer rolled his eyes in turn and looked away.<br />
<br />
"I told her last night I'm no good with this shit. That applies to all of 'em." Seifer's fingers flexed in the water, letting it wash over him. "The only person I ever let this deep into my head is you, and believe me, I'm starting to think that was a mistake, Greg."<br />
<br />
Greg shook his head. "You can't be like that now that you're part of a team."<br />
<br />
"I'm not 'part of a team,' I'm 'employed as a solo agent.'" Seifer tilted his gaze back to Greg. "And what the hell would you know about being part of a team?"<br />
<br />
"Well, this one time, this floating head offered me a spot on a team if I would be the red ran-"<br />
<br />
"Oh, shut up." Seifer reached over and pressed Greg's head into the water. There was no mass to the ghost; it was as easy as pushing air, and Greg dunked forward obligingly. When he rose up he was dripping.<br />
<br />
"The point is," Greg said, wringing the towel around his face, "Relationships are like swords."<br />
<br />
"Seriously?!"<br />
<br />
"Of course!" A grey finger rose. "They chip and get dirty with use, and they need to be polished and maintained, sometimes by a professional."<br />
<br />
"Are you - *you* - telling me to go see a psychologist? Shit." Seifer threw up his hands. "You're as worthless as that doctor at Garden. Doctor...Doctor…"<br />
Greg's pure-white eyes sank a bit. "You don't remember her name, do you?"<br />
<br />
"Shut up!"<br />
<br />
"You need to tell them. You should tell them where the magic comes from. Where the power comes from." Greg leaned back, spreading out three arms against the crystalline marble. "You should tell them why you really brought your book with you."<br />
<br />
Seifer took a swing. His fist connected with a grey hand. No mass, but no reaction, either; the ghost was as substantial as it wanted to be, and only to him. "You might be getting more competent with your Draws," Seifer seethed through his teeth, "But you don't get to give me life advice, jolly grey jackass. We're not friends, Gilgamesh."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh released Seifer's hand and ran one of his own against his towel, the other settling against grey abs. "I live in your head. Sooner or later you're gonna have to admit that we're close."<br />
<br />
Seifer sat back down and crossed his arms, sinking deeper into the hot water. "We're workplace associates."<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh laughed. "Well you might be a dog but you're definitely no Enkidu. I'm the reasonable one in this workplace association, and that's just weird! Normally I'd be all goofy and encouraging you to make poor life choices, but..."<br />
<br />
"..."<br />
<br />
"You don't wanna know what comes after the but?"<br />
<br />
Seifer groaned. "*BUT*?"<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh huffed. "No need to be so rude about it. But…if there's one thing I know, scrambled memories or not, it's friendship. It's intimacy. It's sharing your life with someone else and knowing they've got your back, and that they're as worried for you as you are for them"<br />
<br />
"You sound like a self-help book."<br />
<br />
"Well I am full of many helpful advices about many helpful topics."<br />
<br />
"That's not a word," Seifer snapped.<br />
<br />
"How would you know? You dropped out."<br />
<br />
"I…" Seifer hesitated. Then he looked away, staring at the wall, his eyes hard. "Man, just go away. You know how hard it was just to talk to Tamamo like a person?"<br />
<br />
"I mean I've been here the whole time," Gilgamesh gestured at himself, "I pretty much saw your face go through the whole set of stances."<br />
<br />
"How can I tell her where the magic comes from?" Seifer sank a bit more into the water. It was touching his chin. "And if I can't tell her, how can I tell the rest of 'em?"<br />
<br />
"So…" Gilgamesh leaned forward. "You were lying when you said you thought of the Concord as a home, huh."<br />
<br />
"Did I say that?" Seifer looked over at Gilgamesh and blinked.<br />
<br />
"Yeah. You did. You were telling the story about how we met. You said you thought of the Concord like it was home." The grey giant stroked his chin under the polkadot towel. "You remember the knight thing, though."<br />
<br />
"Of course I remember the knight thing. Win the Grail War for the cute princess and our hot dragon lady boss knights me." Seifer pushed up out of the water and met Gilgamesh's eyes. "Did I actually say that I thought the Concord was home?"<br />
<br />
"I guess if it already got eaten, it didn't mean much to you." Gilgamesh reached over and patted Seifer's bare shoulder. "Sorry. If it makes you feel better, it was probably worth that Demon Slice you did in the ship."<br />
<br />
Seifer looked away, peeling Gilgamesh's hand off. "I probably wasn't lying. Just...a weak moment. Vulnerable. Wasn't used to people caring."<br />
<br />
"Probably that," Gilgamesh said. His three arms went behind his back as he reclined. "You know, if nothing else, you should probably tell them that you can't even remember most of their names."<br />
<br />
"...." Seifer stared at his hand quietly. Slowly, it closed into a fist. "That's...not important."<br />
<br />
"I think you're a coward."<br />
<br />
"Fuck you."<br />
<br />
"I think you wouldn't care if the whole world burned away," Gilgamesh said, standing up and placing himself in front of Seifer, squatting down to stare him in the eye. The heat haze made the grey giant's ethereal skin seem even more translucent. "You'd throw everything away for the chance to be a hero. To be the one who saves the girl and gets the treasure. You would throw away everything about yourself in an instant because you'd much rather do that than face what a fuck-up you are"<br />
<br />
"Shut up!" Seifer took a swing again, and this time, his fist passed right through. The giant sat back in the water and sighed. "Shut up!" Seifer repeated, "Asshole! Like you wouldn't throw everything away just to get a fucking sword! Excalibur, Excalibur, Excalibur, this is far from the strongest of swords, Masamune, Zantetsuken, Lionheart, Hyperion, you just go on and on and on about all the cool shit you want to steal and that's all you are! Where's this bullshit wisdom coming from, huh? Who gave you the right? Who gave you the right to judge me? Who do you think you are? That Ruler jag?"<br />
<br />
"Seifer, I-"<br />
<br />
Seifer jerked his thumb at his chest. "I'm Seifer Almasy, god dammit! I'm King of the Moon! I'm Tamamo's Knight! I'm a member of the Concord! I'm gonna be a real-ass knight, and I'm gonna get my name inscribed in the multiverse so deep I'll be a fucking *regular* in this Grail War shit! If all it costs me are my memories of those dipshits back at Garden, some goddamn details like names, and some stupid sappy shit I said, then so what? Who cares?! You don't think all of that is worth it to me? You don't think all of it is-"<br />
<br />
He was yelling at air.<br />
<br />
Seifer looked down at himself. His fists curled tight. "I'm not a fucking joke, Greg," he muttered, "I won't end up like that. I'm Seifer Almasy. I'm gonna be famous."<br />
<br />
He sat back down, pulled his legs up to his knees, and stared into the heat haze where Gilgamesh had been a moment ago in silence.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Gilgamesh&diff=15424Gilgamesh2018-09-07T22:11:48Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{CharacterRedux |NameOnMUSH=Gilgamesh |Color=#0099FF |Char_id=1099 |Img=https://i.imgur.com/7b6AGDm.jpg |FullName=Gilgamesh |Gender=Male |Species=Demigod |Theme=Fate/Metastas..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{CharacterRedux<br />
|NameOnMUSH=Gilgamesh<br />
|Color=#0099FF<br />
|Char_id=1099<br />
|Img=https://i.imgur.com/7b6AGDm.jpg<br />
|FullName=Gilgamesh<br />
|Gender=Male<br />
|Species=Demigod<br />
|Theme=Fate/Metastasis-1<br />
|Chartype=OFC<br />
|Active=Active<br />
|Function=Young King Of Uruk<br />
|Faction=Paladins<br />
|Rank=4-Chevaliers<br />
|Ranktype=Member<br />
|Quote="You break the law and I punish you. There is no room for discussion, mongrel."<br />
|PAge=17<br />
|AAge=17<br />
|Aging=Yes<br />
|Height=178cm<br />
|Weight=66kg<br />
|Hair=Gold<br />
|Eyes=Red<br />
|Voice=Tomokazu Seki<br />
|Song=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_L5Ut1bTg8<br />
|Profile=The teenage god-king of the land of Uruk, Gilgamesh is often known as the <br />
King of Heroes. His treasury, the mystical Gate of Babylon, is a weapon unto itself, from which Gilgamesh can launch a volley of magical artifacts or simply draw forth tools and weapons to suit his needs, provided he remembers they exist. Though still young enough to be a great king, the arrogance that will form his legend is just beginning to grow, and signs of his epic conceit are already beginning to manifest. He is a boy who, never knowing greed, has now been exposed to a world he does not personally own, and seeks to experience and enjoy all the pleasures, sights, and treasures it has to offer.<br />
|Defining=GATE OF BABYLON:<br />
An interdimensional treasury of legendary artifacts and ancient magical prototypes so vast even Gilgamesh has forgotten most of them.<br />
Copy-2: When an ability sparks Gilgamesh's memory, he can recall a tool or weapon with a similar function to that phenomenon, and can draw it forth from the Gate. <br />
<br />
<br />
KING OF HEROES:<br />
Gilgamesh possesses an unmatched arsenal launched from his extradimensional vault the Gate of Babylon, the body of a demigod, and quite literally all the wealth in the world.<br />
Attack List - Ranged: Gilgamesh can launch a stream of mundane and magical weapons, which home in on any target he chooses. Projectiles can appear from anywhere around him, and can have elemental affinities like fire, light, wind, water, and lightning. <br />
Superhumanity: Gilgamesh is categorically superhuman, being substantially stronger, faster, tougher, and generally all-around more than a regular human.<br />
Wealth: The treasury of Babylon is at Gilgamesh's whim, a functionally-unending stream of gold, jewels, valuable goods, and fine art built up over his adventures.<br />
|Significant=DEMIGOD:<br />
Gilgamesh is two-thirds divine and one-third human, with mystical powers related to his status as a king and his magical blood. <br />
*Analysis: Gilgamesh can rapidly identify wealth distribution in societies, areas, people, and businesses with very little effort, allowing him to quickly find unusual disparities and unravel them.<br />
Mobility: Gilgamesh's divinity endows him with superior motive ability, allowing him to maintain perfect balance even atop extremely small or unusual perches and leap extremely high into the air.<br />
Healing - Self: Gilgamesh's divine blood reassembles him rapidly from heavy injuries.<br />
<br />
KING'S TREASURY:<br />
Gilgamesh's massive arsenal of magical weapons, culminating in his pride and joy, the unique weapon called Ea.<br />
Attack List - Melee: Gilgamesh can wield the Treasures from his legendary vaults as melee weapons, in lieu of using them as projectiles. Many are endowed with elemental magics, or have a legendary special attack.<br />
Debilitation: Gilgamesh can pin people to the ground with an onslaught of weapons, or inflict poison or debilitating statuses based on his mythical elemental weapons.<br />
*Destruction: Ea unmakes false realities, pocket dimensions, and extradimensional spaces with the power of the truth of the universe. <br />
<br />
KEY OF THE KING'S LAW:<br />
The bottomless extradimensional treasury of the King of Heroes holds countless useful artifacts.<br />
Hammerspace: Gilgamesh can store anything in the Gate of Babylon that catches his attention, simply by opening the Gate and catching or placing whatever it is that grabs his interest within it. Stored things are later disgorged or forgotten.<br />
Field Shaping: Various artifacts can biblically reshape the world, like axes that split the earth, bowls that fill the area with water, or a stone that emits endless obscuring smoke.<br />
Convenience: Gilgamesh's many artifacts can go beyond modern conveniences despite otherwise serving their functions, such as food processors that purify mythical meat, tablecloths that generate feasts, and handkerchiefs that do the wiping themselves.<br />
<br />
IDEAL KING:<br />
The King of Heroes represents the monomyth, the ideal from which Heroes spring, and as such, is a larger-than-life entity with supernatural charisma and the ego to match.<br />
*Mind Manipulation: When Gilgamesh gives commands, people acknowledge him as their King and scramble to fulfill his wish under his supernatural authority and divine right. <br />
Oration: Gilgamesh is possessed of divine beauty married to a talent for public speaking, leadership, and persuasion.<br />
Resistance - Mental Attack: Gilgamesh's overwhelming ego protects him from corrosive mental attacks, mind control, and effects that target his identity or personality.<br />
|Disadvantages=HEROIC ARCHETYPE <Trouble>: Gilgamesh is a burgeoning heroic archetype, in the mythic sense. He is arrogant and self-assured, though not yet to the point of cruelty; rather, he is the type to accept all challenges, to fervently contest anyone calling him a coward or a weakling, and to strive to prove himself as the figure of greatness he knows himself to be. Gilgamesh cannot resist showing his daring, courage, and prowess, regardless of how foolhardy or dangerous the task may be, and it is extremely easy to tempt him into doing very stupid things like fighting without access to his weapons or chasing down a dangerous opponent bare-handed.<br />
<br />
IT'S ALL MINE <Significant>: A man who has never known greed has been exposed to a wider world than even he could have imagined. Gilgamesh seeks out treasures, glories, beauties, and pleasures with almost hedonistic abandon, often prioritizing those treasures, glories, and pleasures over more important things. The promise of a unique new artifact to acquire or some fascinating new pleasure to enjoy can frequently distract Gilgamesh from actual, more important duties. He is extremely protective of people, places, and things he has claimed or grown attached to, and can be pushed into an unthinking rage when such things are threatened.<br />
<br />
MY WORD IS LAW <Minor>: Gilgamesh is a firm believer in the rule of law because the concept of rule of law comes from Gilgamesh's word. He is particularly harsh against lawbreakers, and has little in the way of mercy for thieves, traitors, and terrorists. This extremism can get him into some serious trouble, as he doesn't hesitate to dole out punishment, even when he probably should.<br />
<br />
CULTURE SHOCK <Minor>: Gilgamesh is still young, and has not been summoned into the world as a Heroic Spirit but rather entered the world as a living being. As such, he does not know all the wonders, nor social norms, of the worlds he has been thrust into, and frequently behaves as if he is still the king of all creation. This can cause trouble, but it is rarely significant - Gilgamesh accepts the new world with fascination and eagerness.<br />
}}</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Seifer_Almasy&diff=14140Seifer Almasy2017-01-29T00:28:57Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{CharacterNew |NameOnMUSH=Seifer Almasy |Color=#0099FF |Char_id=1086 |Img=http://i.imgur.com/iV3t3us.jpg |FullName=Seifer Almasy |Gender=Male |Species=Human |Theme=Final Fant..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{CharacterNew<br />
|NameOnMUSH=Seifer Almasy<br />
|Color=#0099FF<br />
|Char_id=1086<br />
|Img=http://i.imgur.com/iV3t3us.jpg<br />
|FullName=Seifer Almasy<br />
|Gender=Male<br />
|Species=Human<br />
|Theme=Final Fantasy 8-1<br />
|Chartype=OFC<br />
|Active=Active<br />
|Function=Gunblade Knight<br />
|Faction=Concord<br />
|Rank=4-Partner<br />
|Ranktype=Enlisted<br />
|Quote="Someday I'm gonna tell ya about my ROMANTIC dream!"<br />
|PAge=19<br />
|AAge=19<br />
|Aging=Yes<br />
|Height=6'3"<br />
|Weight=220 lbs<br />
|Hair=Blonde<br />
|Eyes=Cyan<br />
|Voice=Will Friedle<br />
|Song=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiUnvr12sZM<br />
|Profile=Seifer Almasy is not the ideal model of an elite child supersoldier. He's a dreamer, ruled by his passions and his conscience more than his mission parameters. Unable to separate emotion from soldiering, Seifer left the service of SeeD to walk a different path and find the dream he had long been craving. Though possessed of a brash temperament and a quick-to-judge attitude, Seifer certainly did not get drummed out of SeeD for a lack of skills; the self-proclaimed Gunblade Knight is a swordsman surpassing the finest of his world and a durable opponent propelled by his heart and will more than his head. As proof of his skill, Seifer has even bound his own Guardian Force with techniques learned at SeeD - the bizarre extradimensional swordsman Gilgamesh, who provides him with the ability to Draw magical effects out of his opponents and use them to power new techniques or fuel dangerous spells.<br />
|Powers=GUNBLADE KNIGHT: Seifer is a master of the Gunblade, a rare weapon from his own world said to be extremely hard for normal people to learn. Seifer's mastery of the gunblade is skilled enough to transcend into the realm of the supernatural; his aggressive, emotional style seamlessly weaves gunplay and swordsmanship into a fighting style that can even create incredible reversals against the godlike existences of his world.<br />
<br />
DRAW <COPY1>: Due to his connection with Gilgamesh, Seifer can 'Draw' effects out of other beings or points of power for his own use. This paramagical ability allows him to summon up various effects either physical (such as weapon techniques) or magical (such as damaging spells) based on what he Draws.<br />
|Skills=GILGAMESH: Seifer's Guardian Force is Gilgamesh, a powerful extradimensional entity that grants Seifer power. While Gilgamesh can be summoned to provide a single powerful sword attack before vanishing back into the ether, the main purpose of Gilgamesh is to provide Seifer with mild superhuman strength, speed, and durability by acting as his bonded spirit. Gilgamesh is also capable of giving Seifer advice, though only Seifer can hear Gilgamesh speak unless Gilgamesh is summoned for an attack - at which point Gilgamesh is manifest, and can say whatever he pleases, much to Seifer's chagrin.<br />
<br />
<br />
SeeD TRAINING: Seifer was raised as an elite soldier for as long as he can remember. He is skilled at infiltration and squad tactics, though he frequently disregards both skillsets in favor of the direct approach. He is also a competent, though not amazing, strategist and tactician.<br />
|Assets=HYPERION: Seifer's Gunblade is a unique semi-automatic weapon. It is a mixture of a blade and a gun, as the name implies, with two modes, switched by a second hammer on the hilt of the blade. The first mode allows Seifer to fire blank shells into the inside of his sword, using the vibrations to enhance the damage of an impact. The second mode allows the gunblade to fire like a semi-automatic pistol. It is otherwise simply a very durable and very sharp blade.<br />
|Disadvantages=LEMME TELL YA 'BOUT MY ROMANTIC DREAM <TROUBLE>: Seifer is a man ruled by his passions, possessed of a strong code of honor about protecting women and fighting like a man - ideals that are an outdated hindrance even in the world he lives in. He is in love with the idea of being in love, obsessed with the idea of being a knight rescuing and defending a damsel, and enamored with the concept of defining his relationships to others by relative skill on the battlefield, and all those other terribly destructive things that can lead people who might theoretically be good down very bad paths. These dreams border on a madness, a mania, for the archetype of the Questing Knight, a hero walking a lonely and difficult path, and Seifer understands reality primarily through this lens, and attempts to make it conform to his view of the world. In essence he is the Main Man, the Hero, the Main Character - and this mentality leads him into trouble just about as often as one might imagine<br />
<br />
<br />
DAMSELS ARE DISTRESSING <SIGNIFICANT>: Seifer is particularly susceptible to the wiles of women, especially women who seem like they need protection (or are capable of seeming so for the sake of deception). He tends to show off a bit more in these circumstances, especially if the woman is a princess (or could be thematically considered a princess).<br />
<br />
<br />
THE CURRENCY OF MEMORY <MINOR>: The power of Gilgamesh requires Seifer to fuel his Guardian Force with his own memories, a heinous and forbidden art used by SeeD to empower their soldiers. Just maintaining Gilgamesh slowly gnaws at the periphery of his life, drinking colors and words away from important emotional events. Summoning Gilgamesh as an attack can make him forget whole days of his life, important names and faces, and other details. In effect, Seifer's memory is extremely fallible. Seifer is also susceptible to memory modification magic or effects, though with the caveat that such modified memories will usually be the first to be drained by Gilgamesh, and thus rarely last very long.<br />
<br />
<br />
BROUGHT DOWN TO NORMAL <MINOR>: If for some reason Gilgamesh is forced out of Seifer's head, or their connection is severed, or Gilgamesh's magic is sealed, Seifer loses access to his supernatural strength, speed, and endurance, as well as the Draw power and any spells or attacks derived from it. Seifer does not lose his Gunblade Knight power.<br />
}}</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Archived:_Deckmaster-1&diff=11658Archived: Deckmaster-12015-10-30T17:50:36Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{CastPage<br />
|Desc=<center>http://i.imgur.com/Pe0r5Ls.jpg</center>Among the infinite planes of the multiverse, there is conflict. Places exist where mages do battle, using magical energy known as mana drawn forth from the land to fuel devastating spells. Conjured armies clash, and the skies fill with fire and lightning, all in the pursuit of inscrutable goals and mystical power. Evidence of these conflicts remain for years after, be it in the form of terrible destruction, or monuments to the victors power.<br />
<br />
Or, in the case of one far-off world, a place called Earth, a world that has never seen this conflict touch its soil... it is instead a card game.<br />
<br />
DECKMASTER is a variant Magic: the Gathering theme that takes place on a present-day Earth that exists within the Magic multiverse. M:tG is a popular card game on that Earth, either intentionally or accidentally chronicling the events of the conflicts all across the planes. When the game is played by certain people across the globe and combined with an emotionally-powerful event, the dormant Planeswalkers Spark within them ignites, allowing them to use their decks to wield real and wondrous power.<br />
|Cat=Themes<br />
}}<br />
=== Regarding Powers ===<br />
<br />
The following two entries are the themelist-wide staff-approved infolist files. Please see +info Theo /deckmaster1, /deckmaster2, and /planeswalking on the game; these are copied directly from him.<br />
<br />
=== Deckmaster ===<br />
<br />
'''Two important notes: First, Multiversal denizens outside of the Deckmaster theme will not be subject to milling or the similar specialized mechanics contained herein. Second, the MUSH's rules for combat and combat etiquette trump a Deckmaster's potential abilities. Consent may be required for many of the spells and powers contained in Theo's decks, and consent will be required to affect multiple opponents. You might be able to throw infinite-damage Fireballs all day long in theory, but in practice, rules for using Uber and Epic attacks in and out of combat should still be observed.'''<br />
<br />
Theo is a Deckmaster, a type of spellcaster found on his home Earth who specializes in the use of magic through the medium of the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering. Due to the thousands of unique cards in the game, with each representing a particular spell, Theo's potential power is immense... or it would be, were it not for the serious limitations the game imposes upon him. <br />
<br />
As a form of ritualized spellcasting, Theo must observe a number of seemingly strange restrictions to draw any magic, lest his power fail him entirely. Theo's spells are drawn from his deck (or library) which must be legal for play within the context of the game, regardless of the situation he's using it in. This means there is a certain degree of randomness to what he can do at any given time, and a limit to how many different spells he can cast in a given battle. <br />
<br />
It's impractical and unreliable to have a big library in most circumstances, lest he risk failing to draw what he needs to save his own actual skin. On a similar note, the cards he uses must be real and official; due to mystical circumstances surrounding their creation, the official cards function as physical, surrogate spell memories for a Deckmaster, effectively replacing his need to actually personally learn a spell. Instead, he uses the card, which is in and of itself a stunningly accurate representation of the spell in question, and combines it with mana to generate an effect.<br />
<br />
A Deckmaster must observe the proper order of a game, including timing and turn order, to cast spells. This means that spells that can only be cast during certain parts of a turn still have the same restrictions, and, similarly, that he is restricted to casting spells that he has the mana to cast in-game, regardless of the amount available to him outside of the match. Perhaps most importantly, turn order must be observed, even if his opponent is simply coming at him with a sword drawn. <br />
<br />
<u>In short, a Deckmaster cannot take action against an opponent if they have nothing to act against.</u><br />
<br />
The magic does not function when only one person is playing the game with intent to use it against someone outside of it.<br />
<br />
There are three notable exceptions to this rule. <br />
* First, if a Deckmaster is playing a solitary game (often referred to as a practice draw), they may cast spells more or less freely, but may not affect others with their spells. <br />
* Second, a Deckmaster may continue to cast spells if they have rendered an opponent unable to retaliate through some combination of spells or effects (often referred to as an act of stasis). <br />
* Third and finally, a Deckmaster may freely act against an opponent if the opponent is deliberately allowing them to build up power (often referred to as a bad decision), though they still must obey personal timing and turn restrictions and allow the enemy to act.<br />
<br />
The turn- and reaction-based restrictions on a Deckmaster means that they are generally predisposed to dueling, though fighting multiple opponents is possible. Deckmasters may affect as many opponents as they wish with spell effects that are capable of doing so. If they are openly declared as an ally of an individual and are facing an equal number of opponents, they may share certain spell effects with their ally. <br />
<br />
Finally, if they are faced with a number of opponents all working together and have no allies, they gain a greater degree of individual power (sometimes called becoming an Archenemy, though the term has needlessly sinister connotations) for the purpose of fighting on a more even playing field. <br />
<br />
Mass combats between Deckmasters and other individuals with no permanent, predetermined alliances are possible, and function as normal; some Deckmasters specialize in such engagements, and adjust their strategy accordingly.<br />
<br />
Deckmasters win a duel by defeating an opponent through several means, the most common of which is to physically defeat them. Damage is roughly correlated into numbers affecting an in-game life total for a Deckmaster's ease of manipulation, observed through intuition more than anything else. A Deckmaster may also claim victory by removing all of an opponent's possible means of fighting them (called decking or milling), or through more esoteric means that all effectively translate to a win in some respect. <br />
<br />
Deckmasters themselves are meanwhile no less vulnerable to being physically beaten into submission than anyone else. If a Deckmaster is defeated in a manner that leaves them conscious, their magic leaves them until a new fight starts with them, usually through open acknowledgement of the fact and usually with a different person. The specifics can vary by situation.<br />
<br />
Lastly, barring things like collateral damage and the like, creatures, objects and lingering spell effects summoned by a Deckmaster in a duel dissipate once the duel ends. Effects that alter another individual once and otherwise cease -- such as the damage from a lightning bolt, or the healing effect of a conjured salve -- still remain.<br />
<br />
=== Planeswalking ===<br />
<br />
'''Consent is always required to teleport into any area not under the player's control.'''<br />
<br />
Using the Spark to walk between worlds is not as simple as visualizing oneself in a different place, saying a couple magic words, and suddenly being there. There is danger inherent with the ability, and though a Planeswalker's Spark mitigates much of it, the careless still risk suffering if they make a mistake.<br />
<br />
A Planeswalker travels between worlds by a method unique to each walker. Some draw a circle, meditate upon their destination, and arrive in an identical circle in the spot shortly thereafter. Others sleep and dream about the possible worlds, roaming their own memory until they find the place they want to be, and awaken there rather than where they started. Regardless of the method, the actual transit taking place -- along with the mana required to do it -- is the same.<br />
<br />
Two things are required for planar travel: a source of mana, and a destination. <br />
<br />
A 'walker's personal ritual supplies the concentration needed to draw mana to them for the plane shift, while their memory typically provides the destination. The more well-known a place is, the more precise the locale a walker can go to, though vague but real destinations function as well. For instance, travelling to a specific room in a specific city on a specific plane is completely possible, though an individual's familiarity with that room would have to be significant to be that precise. <br />
<br />
At the same time, a Planeswalker can simply specify "Mirrodin" if they've either seen part of it or been told about it (accurately), though there is no controlling where they'll end up on the plane itself. While Planeswalkers /can/ simply walk "away" and go to a random world, doing so is incredibly dangerous, and typically only done when death is certain if they stay.<br />
<br />
In practice, Planeswalking requires tangible details to function. The most reliable details are either precise coordinates or a deep, pre-existing familiarity with a location, ensuring accurate travel. Visual aids such as photographs or other images help; they alone can provide a chance to travel to the right place, but the nature of the Multiverse means that it is more likely to end up with a walker stepping into a parallel world with striking similarities instead of their intended destination.<br />
<br />
Notably, Planeswalkers from Theo's Earth may use land cards to go to particular planes with some degree of accuracy -- for instance, using a Boros Garrison card to end up in the desired district of Ravnica -- though doing so does not necessarily guarantee safety like a familiar, pre-determined destination would. This quirk stems from the process by which the cards were created, and should lands identifying Multiversal locations be produced, they would function the same way.<br />
<br />
== The Deckmasters And Their Decks ==<br />
<br />
Deckmaster PCs all have +info files set with basic information about their decks and links to where they are visibly hosted online so that Admin and others may read them. Listed below are the current and dropped PCs as well as their general deck color-schemes.<br />
<br />
'''Currently Played:'''<br><br />
* [[Theo Morrison]]: Playing with the aesthetics of <span style="color:#0000ff">Blue</span> and <span style="background:#000000"><span style="color:#ffffff">White</span></span>...<br />
* [[Conor Delany]]: The differences between <span style="background:#000000"><span style="color:#ffffff">White</span></span> and <span style="color:#ff0000">Red</span>, combined.<br />
* [[Yumi Musumi]]: The wild freedom of <span style="color:#ff0000">Red</span> and <span style="color:#008000">Green</span>, played.<br />
* [[Tommy Wahagi]]: Submit to <span style="color:#000000">Phyrexia</span> and <span style="color:#008000">evolve</span> beyond your limitations.<br />
<br><br />
<br />
'''Dropped:'''<br><br />
No Deckmaster characters have been apped and dropped at this time.<br />
<br />
== Frequently Asked Questions ==<br />
=== ''In less fluffy terms, what is this?'' ===<br />
Deckmaster-1 is a theme that takes the overarching meta-theme of the collectible card game "Magic: the Gathering," adds in a healthy dose of style from various card-battle shows, and sets it on a modern day Earth. The player characters are the eponymous "Deckmasters," individuals capable of incredible magical feats that are entirely enabled by the game they play.<br />
<br><br />
=== ''I know a little about Magic. Aren't Planeswalkers super OP?'' ===<br />
They used to be, yes. Key words: 'used to be.' Planeswalkers in Magic: the Gathering were formerly beings of godlike power with no permanent physical form, immunity to nearly everything but other Planeswalkers, perfect shape-shifting, and whatever else a given 'walker was written with. Ever since a particular event in-theme, their power has been drastically reduced, making them all powerful (and mortal) mages. No more OP shape-shifting energy beings here!<br><br />
They can still take a crazy beating (consider: a Lightning Bolt will instantly kill some of the toughest baseline-human combatants in theme; it takes seven of them to take down a Planeswalker), which Aura represents basically perfectly, and can still walk more or less at will between Planes, but they aren't as OP as you may have heard. Especially when most of the ones in this theme are from places that don't require you to learn how to fight...<br />
<br><br />
=== ''I don't know anything about Magic, but I want to learn!'' ===<br />
Great! If you have a few bucks to spend, I highly encourage people interested in the game to check out the Duels of the Planeswalkers games on Steam. Magic 2014 is the newest one, and I'm told it is a solid game and a good way to learn.<br><br />
If you don't, most of the people in the theme are well-versed in the game enough to teach it if you ask us nicely, and big enough fans of the settings involved to give you the over-enthusiastic cliff-notes on various planes and thematic elements.<br />
<br><br />
<br />
=== ''There are things not in this FAQ I'd like answered!'' ===<br />
Ask Theo. It's all his fault.<br />
<br><br />
<br />
[[Category:Themes]][[Category:Themelists]]</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=2459/Battle_On_The_Dunes_Of_Ice&diff=96182459/Battle On The Dunes Of Ice2015-06-15T22:22:28Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/06/15 |Location=Galianda |Synopsis=Hiei attempts to assassinate the Prince of the al Cids, and finds out that his understanding of nobility is..."</p>
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<div>{{Log Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2015/06/15<br />
|Location=Galianda<br />
|Synopsis=Hiei attempts to assassinate the Prince of the al Cids, and finds out that his understanding of nobility is not the same as the Galiandans'.<br />
|Thanks=<br />
|Cast of Characters=642, 772<br />
|Tinyplot=<br />
|Tinyplot2=<br />
|pretty=yes<br />
}}<br />
{{Poses<br />
|Poses=:'''{{#var:642|Landon al Cid (642)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SHIVA <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The continent of Shiva is a desolate place at the best of times. Covered in ice and snow, the continent has no earth whatsoever, only frozen layers stacked upon frozen layers. The plants and animals that live upon Shiva are a particular kind of bizarre and brutal, adapted to live in an environment where mineral nutrients must be taken from the air rather than the ground. And the people, like the animals, are a hard and brutal sort, used to taking charge and handling things their own way. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is entirely possible that that is what led to war in the first place. Landon has thought about it many times over the days since the war first began. After the initial push, the Ramuhan forces have mostly held the line against the disorganized Shivan pushes, and the border skirmishes haven't really been costly for either side. But the Shivans are determined, and ruthless, and relentless. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And they are people. That fact above all others hangs in Landon's mind. They are *people*. Harald may be greedy, and vain, and self-centered, but the people he's conned into this - the people who are dying for him - may legitimately believe in what they're doing. They may truly want a better life for their people; they may truly believe that the al Cid family is oppressing them; they may truly believe in a lot of things. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is a sobering thought. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To that end, Landon needed some time alone, away from the army. He has little trouble evading royal guards; as a Prince, he's been doing it since he was a boy. Even his own bodyguard, whom he probably knows better than he knows himself, can't keep him around if he doesn't want to be. So he slipped out from his tent, gave some vague excuses, put Cirra temporarily in charge, and headed off to the nearest distant snow-mound. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Surrounded by the upside-down plants of Shiva, Landon sits, staring off into the sky through a canopy of roots. The 'trees' stretch upwards, yearning for nutrition through the furious snowstorms, their roots decorated with clumps of white that will nonetheless melt into mineral-filled waters. Landon's fingers brush against one of the warm, upside-down trunks, sturdy and strong, lit by some inner flame that melts the snow upon their branches and keeps them from freezing over. He smiles. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The 'trees' have been here as long as the people, after all. Whose side would they fight for in this war? If, indeed, they even cared?<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:772|Hiei (772)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hiei's killed plenty of people in the single battle that he participated in during this war. He enjoyed setting people on fire, at least giving people the honor of dying by his hand. It's not something he necessarily cares about, he's not the egotistical sort. But giving someone a meaningful death, someone who's fighting for what they consider some great cause, it's occasionally a courtesy he feels himself inclined to deliver. <br /><br />He's been watching Landon al Cid since he left the tent, very far away. He's had his Jagan open, no headband to cover that huge third eye. He's watched him from afar, waiting for the right moment to actually approach him. The request for the deaths of the al Cids, it raises all sorts of questions. If they're out here in the open, why has no one else done it? If he's slipped off this way now, it means he's likely done it before, so why is he still alive? <br /><br />He appears a good thirty feet from Landon, staring up at the roots with the two of his eyes that actually show movement. "This continent reminds me of my place of birth." he idly notes, his expression almost peaceful. Then, without any real warning whatsoever, he moves with such a speed that the average human eye would likely not even perceive the fact that he's moved for a few seconds, as the after image of his body fades. <br /><br />Just as quickly, a sword is suddenly drawn from under his robe, swung directly at Landon's neck. Were it to connect, it would likely take a few seconds for the fact that he was decapitated to actually register. This is most definitely an attempt at a killing blow. He doesn't say a word.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:642|Landon al Cid (642)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The reason no one has ever tried to kill one of the al Cids is simple. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They aren't that easy to kill. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Despite being off on his own, Landon is still someone who's been trained, frequently, in dungeon exploration. While he's not as adept at spotting traps as Soan, or as skilled at direct combat as Kamon or Ellard, Landon nonetheless works hard to keep up with the rest of his class. Cirra and Souji may be the highest-ranked of Alexander Academy's Behemoth class, but Landon is not far behind. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So as soon as Hiei appears, Landon is on his feet. The massive metal armor doesn't seem to slow him down at all. And, in the instant Hiei's blade flashes outwards, a blue light erupts to life in Landon's left hand, filling the field with an unearthly blue glow under the fury of the storm. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hiei's blade collides with glowing blue crystal. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon steps backwards, a card in his right hand filling with that same blue light as his smile drops away from his face. His eyes go to the wall of pure, crystallized Law now in front of him, tracking down to Hiei's sword - buried cleanly in it with enough force to crack through most of the barrier. Then his eyes flick back up at Hiei. A moment later, and the sword would've buried itself in his pauldron - and judging by the force of it, might've gone clean through. Landon's stone-faced expression doesn't change. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "How very interesting," Landon observes steadily as he slowly starts pacing. Despite the ice and snow and heavy Judge's armor, Landon seems to have little trouble with his footing. He moves carefully, and disconcertingly quietly for someone in such heavy armor. His purple cloak, brushing along the snow, is the only sound besides the howling winds stinging across his face. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon snaps the card outwards, and it changes form. In an instant, it goes from a little card to a shining blue crystal blade, a massive greatsword nearly as big as Landon as is tall, and just about as wide as Landon is, too. "So already mercenaries are out to claim my life." There's no particular surprise in his tone for somebody so young. Evidently the al Cids have not remained in power for almost two hundred years by being idle and unready. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Who's paying you? The Wolf-Lord? The Axe's men? One of the other warlords, hoping to end this battle quickly, and woefully unaware of the concept of a chain of command? Or is it one of our dissatisfied nobles, consumed by greed and arrogance rather than common sense?" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon flicks the blade to the side. It moves as if weightless, slicing through the air despite its massive size. In his left hand is another of those cards. The crystalline barrier holding Hiei's sword crumbles. "Well, no matter. One way or another, you aren't the first assassin I've faced, and you shan't be the last." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And then Landon charges. He's much faster than that armor gives him any right to be. He lacks the raw speed of Hiei, of course, but nobody should be able to move that fast in full plate mail unless they practically lived in the stuff. Every motion makes the plate mail seem like an extension of Landon's own body, as if the mere act of being in plate is something completely natural to the young Prince. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Judge brings the massive sword around. The weapon suddenly seems to have weight again, though most certainly not for the Prince. The sword whistles audibly through the air for Hiei's torso. No clumsy neck-shots or easy-to-dodge side-swipes here - Landon cuts off horizontal movement entirely, using the sheer, ridiculous size of the Judge Blade to his absolute benefit.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:772|Hiei (772)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I could hardly be considered a mercenary. I barely care about money to begin with." Hiei answers as he frowns down at the crystal, trying to pull his sword out of it. As he's doing so, he continues talking, perhaps trying to delay things long enough to recover his weapon. "Who wants you dead is not my business to tell you. But I will say that they aren't paying me. What I have to gain, however, is none of your business. Just know that it's nothing you can give." <br /><br />When the wall shatters, he's already about to move. But then the massives sword comes swinging at him. On this terrain, jumping over it could easily lead to a risky miscalculation. Ducking could mean getting caught in some unknown capability while -under- the sword. The only thing left is... <br /><br />He tries to shift back his body back, that fraction of a second he spent thinking about how to defend giving the sword even more leverage. But it's far too quick, and by the time he's out of body maiming range, the sword still slashes across his stomach, leaving a large gash in his flesh. <br /><br />He reaches for his robe, ripping the whole thing off and tossing it. This leaves him shirtless in the middle of this crazy climate, which doesn't seem to bother him. But the gash... he stares down at it, holding his hand over the opening while blood slowly trickles from in between his fingers. "I see... so you have power and speed. Though I have to thank you for not offering to hire me, I'd have taken it as an insult." <br /><br />He blurs forward again. Perhaps to test the man's speed, or simply to try and end this soon. But his begins swinging his sword with ridiculous speed, as if challenging him to block with his own sword. "I wasn't informed that you'd actually be a formidable opponent."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:642|Landon al Cid (642)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "How arrogant of you to imagine that I would offer you anything in exchange for my life," Landon observes from that stoney face, "As if I would beg like a dog for the amusement of you or your benefactor." Alright, so *employer* isn't the right word, but *benefactor*. He's not being paid. That was information. That was important. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hiei evades the massive swing with friction, and though the massive crystal sword narrowly clips him, Landon doesn't get excited. A gash, a scar, and blood are nothing to get excited about. That, too, might surprise Hiei - Landon is of that age where humans are normally really inexperienced and really excited about little strikes. Instead, he comports himself like an experienced warrior, warily keeping his eyes on Hiei as Hiei tears off the robe. Landon had almost expected some sort of crazy power-up from removing the robe! Clearly, the Union's getting to him. That was just nonsense. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And then Hiei proves that he is much, *much* faster than Landon. Hiei surges forward like a blur; despite the Prince's stone expression, surprise rocks through his mind. He'd thought he merely hadn't been paying enugh attention the first time! But no, Hiei really is that much faster! <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Blocking, and dodging, are both bad ideas. One of them would leave his offense pinned, while Hiei used whatever other tricks he might have to punch through Landon's armor. Dodging was much too risky - he knew his steps forward, and he was experienced enough to keep his balance on the ice side to side, but going backwards would trip him up. And a single mistake could cost him his life against an opponent this fast. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So Landon does the unexpected. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon's foot comes down into the snow, jamming into it to anchor himself. Pivoting, he brings his armor-clad left arm up into the sword itself, hammering sword against steel in a makeshift parry. The reverberations ring outwards like a furious gong, and despite the armor, the blade still peels through, catching on flesh. And even then, Landon's wrist snaps upwards to grab the sword by the base, locking his gauntlet around it. The pain is extraordinary. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon does not wince. He does not have time to wince. In the span of an instant, Landon releases the massive Judge Blade. The sword flies up and over, stabbing down into the ground behind Hiei to cut off his best avenue of escape, like a great crystal wall planted in the snow. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon's right arm curls into a fist. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He brings the mail-clad fist around directly for the Jagan. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Then you were poorly informed," comes Landon's stern reply through gritted teeth, "Whoever-you-are." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You are not my first assassin, and I promise you that you will not be my last."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:772|Hiei (772)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"There are a few types of royalty I'd expect something of in battle. Ruthless and powerful royalty, the ones who strike fear into everyone, even their soldiers, because they're quick to slaughter. Or perhaps warrior civilization royalty, those who simply rule because they're the strongest." Hiei explains as he's delivering those strikes, apparently able to focus on something like this even while talking. <br /><br />"You don't strike me as either of those, and yet you've been alive considerably longer than I expected." His eyes widen. His opponent is definitely not anything he's seen before. This person, as far as he knows, is human, a young human. But from Hiei's perspective, he's fighting like some exceptionally experienced youkai. <br /><br />The fact that Landon sacrificed himself is not something he would have predicted from someone like this. The force vibrating through and giving his hands a few seconds of numbness, was that a planned effect? <br /><br />Planned or not, he looks up as the blade goes flying. "Just what the hell are you-" And then the fist slams into his Jagan. <br /><br />He releases his sword, yelling in horrible pain as he begins to back up, doubled over in pain. "You -bastard-. I'll kill you, I'll slaughter your entire family, burn your kingdom to the ground!" <br /><br />Hen he removes his hands, his Jagan has closed. It'll need a few minutes to recover. Even if Landon doesn't know it, this will be a few minutes of Hiei not being able to access certain vital abilities, and that's bad... <br /><br />"Damnit..." He looks over at his sword, which he didn't bother to recover from Landon's gauntlet. That's not good... Then he looks back at Landon's huge sword. That thing likely has its own security... <br /><br />"Fine..." He's still wincing, and wobbles a bit, that blow really doing a number on his head apparently. Then he blurs forward again. <br /><br />Grabbing his sword would be expected, so instead he starts slamming a flurry of fists toward Landon's face. He's insanely accurate, which is likely why he's willing to risk things on such a difficult target. He's sure that Landon doesn't -want- a sword stuck in his gauntlet, so perhaps if he forces him to defend... <br /><br />"You'll be shocked to know that almost no one ever hits my Jagan. It's not what I would call a weak spot, not any weaker than my other two eyes. It's stronger, really. But your strength..." That dangerous strength that seems to do well with compensating for Landon's apparently inferior speed. <br /><br />Landon's strength is superior, to be wielding a weapon like he does, with that amount of armor on. A single blow seems to put a stop to Hiei's speed, while Hiei has to use his speed to try and -suppress- those blows... "Interesting." <br /><br />Composure regained.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:642|Landon al Cid (642)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Then you ought widen your expectations considerably," comes Landon's steely response. Resolve, determination, certainty, and a lack of choice are all weapons far more powerful than most people imagine. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That's all he has time for. Hiei starts hammering Landon's face and, again, here it is demonstrated that Hiei is faster and stronger than Landon, and more experienced a fighter. Landon's defense is paper-thin in hand-to-hand despite his incredibly daring offense. Indeed, just as Hiei'd hoped, Landon's forced to use both arms as Hiei batters him, exposing the sword for Hiei to reclaim. That was a problem, one Landon had to make up for swiftly. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hiei's fists find more purchase than Landon would like, and, unfortunately, Landon may be extremely experienced, but he's not terribly durable, and Hiei is terribly strong. Each blow is a new bruise, one that he'll surely need to see a healer about soon enough. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Prince of the al Cid dynasty isn't content to sit about and be hammered all day. As soon as Hiei frees up one hand to go for Landon's sword, Landon grabs the hem of his long, purple, ice-and-snow-covered cape. The cape comes swinging round for Hiei's face, slashing ice, stinging snow, and deep purple cloth flung upwards. It goes from decoration to deterrant in an instant; whether it gets around Hiei's face, disrupts his attack, or simply gives Landon thirty seconds of not being seen, that's enough. Landon's knee comes upwards for Hiei's gut, plate mail kneecap aimed for the gash from the giant sword. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then Landon jerks the cape away, flings himself backwards, and skids to a stop on the ice, pressed up against the tree, one hand on the ground, his eyes fixed on Hiei like a predator's as he ignores the blood pooling in his gauntlet and the immense pain of supporting his weight on his injured arm. His Judge Blade reforms in the blink of an eye, shining its glorious blue light. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I imagine it isn't pleasant being punched in the eye regardless," Landon observes, his tone as cold as Shiva, "Or at least I certainly hope not." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Prince straightens back to his regal stance. His injured arm (he's certain he threw it out, right there) dangles, limp at his side. Better not to risk it again. One hand will have to be enough. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Really, the biggest inconvenience is that, once my bodyguard sees this, she won't let me have a moment's privacy for a month. If you were intending to restrict my already-limited freedom, then congratulations - I assure you you've done that most adequately."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:772|Hiei (772)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hiei does find his face wrapped right when he grabs the hilt of his blade. The kick to the gut causes blood to spurt over Landon's knee, completely unaware of what was coming. He is, obviously, someone who tends to prefer having the use of his eyes for dodging attacks. <br /><br />He reaches one of his hands up to yank the cape from his head, stumbling back, blood dripping down into the snow even faster now. <br /><br />He needs to stop this bleeding, and he's learned a lot from that last exchange. Unlike most fights, the fights he's been amusing himself with, this isn't sheer brutality and chaos. <br /><br />Each exchange is educational, each seems to determine the flow of this entire battle. Whenever they engage each other, there's a good chance that one of them could die if they aren't careful. <br /><br />"I'm unconcerned with your freedom. I care very little for your kingdom, other than perhaps as a thing of amusement. You're most definitely a great warrior, but you do not have the wide-eyed innocence and suffering of a knight." What he means by that, who the hell knows. "I'm not only going to kill you, my mission is to kill your entire family. If you die here, I will then proceed to kill them. Wipe out your entire bloodline. I'm telling you this because I want to see how you fight when it isn't your life that's on the line. And see if you can actually defend this at your best." <br /><br />His Jagan begins to open again. It's not red like a normal eye would be. In fact, the eye itself seems as if it's unchanged. But the area -around- the eye is heavily bruised. Though who knows what's going on internally. <br /><br />"I wanted to give my Jagan more time to heal, but it's clear that I have no choice. I have no idea what you can do. Therefore..." He sticks his sword into the ground, where he can grab it later. Then he raises his hands. "Fist of the Mortal Flame!" he shouts, as his eye glows for a brief few seconds. <br /><br />Fire surrounds his fists, and the first thing he does is press one against his stomach. He doesn't seem to burn himself, but the blood burns as it seems out of him, until he creates a bit of a scabbed over burnt seal. "I unfortunately can't burn myself, but this should do." <br /><br />That's when the barrage begins. He thrusts his arms forward repeatedly, firing torrents of flames directly at Landon's chest, face, and arms, aiming for something different with each thrust. <br /><br />He's trying to cook him alive, make him suffer, but most importantly, -kill- him. These orange flames are about as hot as a raging house fire, concentrated and directed as a weapon. "Let's see how someone who lives in a climate like this handles being burned alive."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:642|Landon al Cid (642)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "My goodness," Landon observes, "You *are* arrogant, aren't you? So assured of your own success." Either Landon's exceptionally callous towards his own family (unlikely), or he fully believes that his family is just as capable as he is of handling assassins (more likely). <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The strange Jagan opens. Hiei invokes fire around his hands, a strange and unnatural fire Landon's never seen before. Oh, sure, there are Geomancers who can do similar things, but Hiei's fire is...it feels different. It isn't natural fire from the world around them (as if there was flame anywhere around them in Shiva), and that immediately sets Landon on edge. But he did have one advantage. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hiei imagined Landon lived here. That meant he was still making far too many assumptions about Landon's abilities. And that, Landon could exploit. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hiei comes at him, and Landon feels the burning heat of the Mortal Flame more closely than he'd ever have liked to. The first strike hits his cape, and the cape - not sufficiently fireproofed - bursts into flame, the purple cloth a brilliant beacon in the Shivan weather. The second strike hits the Judge Armor, and the heat of it erupts throughout Landon's unfortunate metal plating and collides with the cold air, a blast of scalding steam tearing upwards past Landon's face. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He screams. He'd have to be some kind of inhuman monster not to. And for all his skill and experience, he's a seventeen-year-old. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Landon isn't going to lie down and die that easily. The third strike finds no purchase whatsoever. The card in Landon's bad hand, still pulsating quietly, erupts into a brilliant blue shine on Hiei's third swing. Hiei's fist hits, and punches deep into, a barrier - a barrier Landon isn't behind. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It erected so swiftly, went up so fast, Hiei may not even notice Landon landing behind him until the armor makes a silent *ting* on the ice. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And he loses his footing. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No! <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon stumbles. It is the first stumble he's had, brought on by the pain of the steam-blast and the bruises, and the uncoordinated desperation of the technique. He stumbles, and tips over backwards, rolling into the snow. The snow puts out the burning cape, but Landon is face down, on the ground, against an enemy of superior speed, with one arm useless and bruises all across his face. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So when the Judge Blade goes spiking out of his hand like a missile, streaking towards Hiei with the force, weight, and general mass of a rocket, aiming to pin the demon warrior into the upside-down Shivan tree, it is probably a bit of a surprise for Hiei - especially given the barrier directly behind him. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It's just buying Landon time. Even if it succeeds, it's not the point of the attack. Landon pushes himself to his feet on his good arm and tears off the remnants of his cape. He slings it 'round his bad arm in a makeshift sling, tying it off with his teeth. His eyes never leave Hiei.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:772|Hiei (772)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Human royalty in this world are far different from what I've grown accustomed to, it would seem... but one can only assume that you must be in the higher tiers of power here." Hiei figures, right before he finds his hand stuck inside of a barrier. <br /><br />But now that sword is coming, and he doesn't have his own sword to parry. He has one flaming hand and no ability to dodge. This is yet another exchange that will determine the course of the battle..." <br /><br />He fires another torrent of flames from his hand, like a flamethrower trying to slow the force of the sword. But the sword doesn't stop, and he has no choice... He holds his left hand out to grab the huge sword, parrying it from his body at large. But it cuts directly into his hand, slames through the barrier, and sends him flying into the tree anyway. <br /><br />It drags him through the snow and lodges him into the tree, leaving his -right- hand free now. <br /> lood trickles down his arm, and as he tries to pull his hand, he winces in pain. His sword is far away, he's in an extremely vulnerable position, and Landon will be ready to fight again soon. <br /><br />He's also too goddamned short to actually reach the sword handle to pull it out of his hand. So he does the only thing he -can- do. He stares up at it, holding his right hand out to the unreachable hilt. Then he tries to pull the sword from the tree with telekinesis, intending to just outright take it into his own. <br /><br />He might be kind of sick of that sword. <br /><br />"You're one-hundred years too early to fight me. I'll kill you with this damned sword if I have to." His own sword is actually a bit too far away, even with telekinesis.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:642|Landon al Cid (642)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hiei grabs onto Landon's sword. The plan forms in Landon's mind immediately, as Hiei takes hold of the massive Judge Blade. For Hiei the sword is most definitely not weightless. Even with telekinesis, the massive weapon feels ridiculously heavy and unwieldy. Physics is in full effect here, with or without Landon's help; the sword is silly JRPG big and silly JRPG unbalanced. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon, meanwhile, picks up Hiei's katana. He gives it an experimental swing as Hiei unfastens himself from the tree, letting it whistle through the air as he finds its balance. The Judge flicks it through the air twice more in an arc, his eyes still on Hiei as he feels out the sword's length, balance, and durability. Landon is not a master swordsman, but he is a damn fine one. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once he's satisfied that he understands the blade, or once Hiei pulls himself free (whichever comes first), Landon slides his legs apart slightly. He's downhill from Hiei now, after all. Hiei has a massive advantage attacking from above. And Hiei has a massive advantage in speed, and strength, and experience. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Hiei also has one hell of a blind spot. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The blade comes up in a typical Japanese stance, pointing the tip of the blade like a thrusting weapon towards his opponent. On Galianda, katanas are a Ramuhan weapon. In a land of lightning, without much metal, heavy swords are not, in fact, the norm. Katanas, rapiers, daggers; the flashing blades of the nobility, of assassination, concealed from the storm so as not to draw lightning, are the weapons Ramuh produced over its long and storied history. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Come on, then," Landon gestures with his head, since his free hand is limp, "If you think you can handle my blade, then show me what you're made of. Show me that I'm a hundred years too early to fight you, whatever-your-name-is."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:772|Hiei (772)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"My name is Hiei." Hiei begins to lift the sword, using both his own strength and telekinesis. It's by no means a proper weapon for someone like him, but in Makai, one has to learn to brutalize and murder with anything they have on hand. <br /><br />Hiei -is- a master swordsman, and he intends to show that with such an unwieldly weapon. "Let's do it, then." <br /><br />While before he'd break into a run, this time his body is entirely consumed by a glowing aura of fire. It's definitely -not- like the fire he used before. This comes from the very core of his being, the Youkai energy of his soul, sometimes known as yoki. <br /><br />It burns hot, far hotter than any mortal flame. The snow under his feet immediately ices over, and he goes sliding downhill as if he's actually fought on this type of terrain before, like he's -native- to it. Which is strange, for a being who's apparently so aspected to fire. <br /><br />But he's not in the mood to discuss his background. He instead swings the sword with both hands, forcing the bad one to work even through all the pain and blood. He swings it so hard that his body begins to spin with the momentum of his strength, the downhill increasingly icey slope, and the fact that he seems to be consciously going directly towards Landon like some kind of fire tornado spinning a gigantic sword. <br /><br />"Show me the sum of your skill, or you'll -die-!!!" he declares, as if to display that he's not disoriented from spinning so quickly.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:642|Landon al Cid (642)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Youkai Yoki fire whips up around Hiei's body. Landon steels himself. The moment will have to be more precise than anything he's ever been before. Calculator-precise. Self-sacrificingly precise. No matter what happens, he's going to take a nasty hit to fight back. The whirling, super-hot fire immediately ices over the snow like it's nothing, as Hiei starts sliding down, demonstrating yet another area of his proficient mastery. So despite his fire, he's used to ice. A creature of many facets, for sure. A creature of many tricks. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So too is the Prince. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hiei slides, picking up speed. Landon waits. He waits, silent, like a samurai in the grass. He waits, eyes fixated on Hiei's feet. The heat is almost unbearable even this far away. The closer Hiei gets, the hotter everything becomes. Steam, once again, explodes out of Landon's armor with a hideous hiss, escaping from every position it can. Again, Landon screams. What sort of monster wouldn't? <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But he remains steadfast. As the katana's hilt starts to burn, as the mere metal on his body starts to sizzle, Landon holds his ground. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And then, at the last minute, he intends to demonstrate Hiei's mistake to him. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon plunges into the tornado, the tip of the sword first, a mere fraction of a second before the massive Judge Blade collides with him. His wounded arm snaps up to shield his face as best he can. The Judge Blade hits the metal armor, ready to tear Landon apart... <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ...and then shatters. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And it reforms, in the span of an instant, around the thrusting sword in Landon's hand. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon hits the ice as he passes Hiei, and rolls. He rolls, steam hissing from every part of his armor, directly into the snow. The Prince sinks into it again, water pooling around him and freezing in the armor instantly, hitting the burns. Again, a scream of pain. Again, it would be impossible not to. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon rolls over and sits up with the help of another barrier. He spins back aroud, taking up a combat stance. If that gamble didn't work, after all, he didn't have much left. He was running low on MP, he was down an arm, and burned all over. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He'd have to trust that he'd think of something, if that trick didn't work.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:772|Hiei (772)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hiei continues to spin, even after he loses the blade, his energy dying down so that he can plant his feet into the snow. He stops, standing, hunched slightly as he stares at the ground. He didn't expect that. Perhaps he should have, considering where the blade came from. But Hiei isn't much in the way of a long-term strategist, and often he's a bit stuck in the moment to consider absolutely every possibility. <br /><br />Blood spurts to the ground, dripping down the blade of his sword sticking out of his chest, and from his mouth due to the internal bleeding caused by Landon's gambit. He falls to his hands and knees, breathing heavily. Then he looks back at the prince. "I commend you on your ability to live. Truly, you would not be easily consumed in Makai." <br /><br />He slowly stands, carefully walking over with the sword just kind of sticking out. "I'm leaving. Unless you'd like to continue this. But I have no interest in risking my life for a fool. I'm done with this." He grabs the hilt of his blade, then just -pulls-, ripping it out of himself with a loud grunt, allowing even more of his blood to just sort of ooze out of him.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:642|Landon al Cid (642)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Next time," Landon observes, his expression stone once more, his voice clad in the same irons as he himself, "You will perhaps think twice about fighting one of my family." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He doesn't stop Hiei from going. In fact, to his credit, Landon remains standing the entire time as Hiei leaves, the Judge Blade slung over his shoulder like a warning and a reminder. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once Hiei is gone, however, Landon exhales, releases the Judge Blade, and topples over into the cool, soothing, painful snow.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:772|Hiei (772)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I imagine that there are far easier ways to regain my freedom." Hiei states, then is still for a few moments... until his body sort of fades away. <br /><br />Using that much speed to escape is going to hurt like hell and damage him even more, but he's not going to make the same mistake of expecting this guy to be princely and honorable. <br /><br />Hiei has now learned that Landon is not a fool.<br> <br><br />
<br />
<br />
}}</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=993/The_Span&diff=9510993/The Span2015-06-06T23:13:43Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Log Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2014/11/18<br />
|Location=Galianda<br />
|Synopsis=Galianda has appeared. The curious few arrive and see something wholly unexpected.<br />
|Thanks=To Assassin, for providing the set.<br />
|Cast of Characters=8, 42, 411, 642, 626, 627, 628, 630<br />
|Tinyplot=<br />
|Tinyplot2=<br />
|pretty=yes<br />
}}<br />
{{Poses<br />
|Poses=:'''{{#var:642|Landon al Cid (642)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; GALIANDA <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; THE GREAT SPAN <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The World Gate opens onto impossibility. Otherworldly travellers who step forth onto the greatest edifice Galianda has ever known are immediately greeted with the staggering visage of the clockwork world. The massive continents hang, suspended, around the massive mechanical core, connected to the center of the world by arching arms. They tick in orbit around the core, moving vast and impossible clockwork gears around as they float through the void. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One, an impossible mountain, off which glass buildings seem to grow like flowers. Another, a massive desert, glass domes sparkling in a light not entirely derived from the sun. Here, the jutting ice of a glacier. To the side, just coming into view, a roiling stormcloud. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Across all the continents, a massive bridge, an impossible magitechnical edifice, stretches. It twists and turns and moves with the movement of the clockwork core. The scale of it is so vast as to be unimaginable; it literally stretches out towards even the moon itself, hovering a fairly massive distance away from the continents. The bridge wraps around the whole world like an impossibly huge belt. Over it, travellers pass; above and below it, airships, sleek and modern wood-and-steel mechanisms, soar. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; High, high above, further even than the moon, a great fire in the shape of a bird lights the way. It is slowly sinking beyond the core's horizon. It will be evening soon, on this part of the planet.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren steps out of the warpgate and... stops, eyes staring wide as he looks all around, just trying to take in details. "Oh my gosh." He looks from the core to one continent to another. "This is amazing..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eventually, he looks up, gasping at the traffic and the moon... and then... He frowns slightly, and pulls on his goggles.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...The sun is a giant BIRD what the heck..." But he's smiling, in wonder. Somehow, this all works. The crazyness of it all just means there are wonderful new things to learn about...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And it just looks damn cool, too!<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight Sparkle steps through after Staren, and her eyes widen similarly, her mouth dropping open with awe. "...a...a gigantic phoenix perhaps...?" is all she can think to murmur as she watches the bird flying through the sky, then she looks at the Great Span, then at the gears, then at the gap into which she cannot see. She suddenly feels...very small. Much moreso than she ever has on Equestria, even when up in Cloudsdale looking down on the world below. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She giggles after that, then smiles happily at Staren. "This is wonderous! Even with all our magical advancement on Equestria, we don't have anything like this! Even Celestia and Luna would have trouble building something like this!"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Staren isn't the only one to exit the warp gate and just kinda stare at everything. <br /><br /> "These worlds keep getting more alien and look? I thought something was exploding the first time I saw the sun. Seriously having a sun is down right creepy!" <br /><br /> The program makes a face at Staren for a moment and pulls down he cloak's hood. <br /><br /> "This really is omething we don't see many worlds like this."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Visitors from another world. Well, he isn't gonna miss /this/, especially given it's their club's fault they're here in the first place.<br /><br />Kamon is standing by the warpgate when people start to filter through. He looks pretty much human, except for the bits of metal sticking out of his face in places like scars. He's got his hands in his coat pockets, watching them curiously as they come through and marvel. "It's, uh... it's kind of awesome, yeah," he says in agreement.<br /><br />"Welcome to Galianda," Kamon says, spreading his arms out. "This is the Great Span. It goes /everywhere/. Well... almost," he appends, a touch sheepishly.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When Twilight speaks to him on the wonder of the world, Staren turns around and hugs her. "Twilight! Good to see you again!" Then he turns towards Kamon, nodding to Deelel in passing.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm Staren, researcher of problems for the Union." He extends a hand to shake. Then looks curious. "'Almost'?" He cocks his head to the side curiously.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Excitement about the Warp Gate has yet to really die down. There are a fair number of rubberneckers milling around it but strategically placed haste lamps make loitering upon the Span difficult to do. Few have ventured out into the multiverse beyond so far, most of whom were members of enterprising Ramuha corportions. Of those even fewer yet that were not salesmen or headhunters were members Alexander Academy. Union contact had been sowed...in the name of a new school club. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Standing next to Kamon is Kyra, who also looks remarkably human, if very, very pale. At first glance it almost seems like she too has metal in her but this turns out to be a number of piercings in her ears and nose. Both of her hands are stuffed inside the front pocket of the hoodie she wears. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Glad you guys could make it." She adds with a grin, quite openly and unabashedly eyeing up the trio. Twilight easily receives the most attention as Kyra breaks away from her fellow classmate to walk around her. "...whoah."<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What, your sun isn't a bird? What is it, then?" Kyra lifts an eyebrow at Staren, rocking back on her heels.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel has a bit of a strange digital warble to her voice as she replies to the local whom has come to greet them. <br /><br /> "Greetings and this is the great span? I will keep that in mind." <br /><br /> She seems friendly enough as she gives Kamon a grin and looks him over She pauses looking intently at his face. She's clearly spottd metal where in her experiance? It's bad for organic to have metal in them unless it's cyberentics. She does not comment on it as she introduces her self. <br /><br /> "My world doesn't even have a sun actually and my ID err name is Deelel."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren blinks at Kyra. "It's a massive sphere of burning gas, a 1.4-million-kilometer-wide natural fusion reactor. So massive that on most worlds in the Void, the planets revolve around their sun because of its gravity."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren stares off into space for a moment. "Nope, we're not in Cyber Core, so this is really..." he trails off, looking out at the worldplates.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kamon shakes Staren's hand. He's strong. "Hi. Kamon Lionward, like I, uh, said on the radio. Student." He is obviously trying not to stare at Twilight; she's obviously /crazy/ non-human, but also intelligent, so... not a madpony. He smiles at Deelel.<br /><br />"It, uh, doesn't go to Odin. Too risky, with the nightmare golems that spawn there," Kamon supplies. "Gotta fly in and out, through the magnetic storms."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight rears up on her hindlegs to give Staren a warm hug before noticing the others here. "Oh! Hello! I am Twilight Sparkle. It is nice to meet you!" the little purple pony says, smiling kindly. She is indeed not a madpony. But she is cute and cuddly looking, and well-groomed. Yes, obviously intelligent. "If I may ask, how long did it take for these marvels to be built? And...is that truly a living bird serving as your sun?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren nods as if this obviously makes sense. Naturally-spawning nightmare golems and flying through magnetic storms makes as much sense as anything else. He looks back at Kamon, then reaches up and pushes his goggles up to his forehead, then thinks twice about it and drops them to hang around his neck. "Odin... Titan... Hmm." He looks between the natives. "In Earth mythology, the Titans were some of the first gods of one pantheon... and Odin is the head god of another. ...On some worlds, he's real."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Having a giant fusion reactor sitting around in a void seems pretty dangerous." Kyra comments as she tries to wrap her mind around this whole 'alternate sun' thing. Judging by the look on her face, she's really trying to work it out-especially the chemical reaction side of the equation. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, my bad, I haven't introduced myself either. I'm Kyra Hyral. Also a student." Her eyes widen just a little when Twilight Sparkle rears up-a motion she has seen before in the dreaded MADPONY-but the fight or flight feeling passes quickly when she realizes it's just to hug Staren. "...that's kind of adorable..." she mutters before clearing her throat. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The Span? Well, uh...I'm not entirely sure but it's been..what, a couple hundred years since it was made so it can be travelled on efficiently? The plates themselves were born from the First Gods, which bare their names. It's actually pretty interesting that some of the names are the same." She shrugs, "...and then I turned on that Union channel earlier and heard a long discussion on gaming so maybe some things don't change no matter what world you're on."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is a perfectly good warpgate that would allow someone passage into this new multiversal entrant, which had just recently been established.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The black-coated-and-hooded girl that bursts through a tear in space does not use that. Instead, she looks left and right, coiled like a spring, hands out in a mock kungfu 'come at me' pose.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She pauses, slowly, scanning the area again.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, she 'sneaks' (more like exaggeratedly walks over to Twiling Sparkle and kneels down, before whispering...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You're not a heartless, are you? I... just wanna be sure."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, looking kind of confused, the hooded girl stands up, scratching her head through the hood of her coat.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wow, this place sure is bright. Nice bird! So... No heartless? Monsters of darkness? World-ending black yellow-eyed guys? No? Huh... Wow, awesome!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She visually relaxes, stretching her hands over her head. "So... Where's this?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel says "Good to meet you and ah I see I had the comm off. <br /><br /> "Or he's a roaving angry pissed off force of nature." <br /><br /> She's seen the reports about Odin at this point. She's looking at Kyura for a moment and smirks for a moment. <br /><br /> "It's the most common nature of stats I found in the multivese and good to meet you. <br /><br /> "I think I heard of maybe one world remotely like this..." <br /><br /> Xion shows up she pauses for a moment looks at the hooded girl for a moment. <br /><br /> "Heartless?" <br /><br /> She tilts her head and pauses a memory of things she saw in her last trip with a certain time troll pops up in her head? No she couldn't be talking about those things, sides they were not real, right? She dismissed the idea and looks to the locals it's their world they should have the chance to give the new arrival the information.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I think they only finished it, one-hundred-percent, in the last century?" Kamon adds to Kyra's explanation. "It's been a long project, though... I dunno when it was really started." He scratches his head. "Well... Titan is singular. He's one of the First Gods. Shiva, Ifrit, Titan," he ticks them off on his fingers, "Ramuh, Leviathan, Odin and Bahamut. One for each plate." He points out at the enormous continents, affixed to the clockwork core. "I mean, that's what they are, except Chocobo."<br /><br />AND THEN SUDDENLY A XION. Kamon is abruptly tense, grasping a strap next to his backpack's and ready to swing it off. It's attached to the plain-looking katana he's got there. When she... sort of fails at sneaking, he relaxes. "Um... the Great Span, by the new World Gate," Kamon says, a little hesitantly. He pauses a second.<br /><br />"Did... did you get Detention Zone'd? I hear a guy from Professor Mister Greene's advanced black magic class ended up on Leviathan after he got D-Zoned."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's not like people are going to wander into the sun. It's so far away from Earth that /light/ takes eight and a half minutes to get between them."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren ahs and nods again as it's explained that the gods became the worldplates. He'll just accept that as true for now. He looks along the span "A couple hundred years, huh?" He looks back to Kyra. "Yeah, there are a lot of common things that are shared between some worlds in some form or another. Worlds that are similar to 'Earth' in the 20th or 21st century of the AD calendar are probably among the most common in this sector, but the only constant you can /really/ count on is that the natural inhabitants, however strange they may look..." he twitches his ears and lashes his tail once, then glances to Twilight, "...people just like humans in mind, if not in body," he looks back to Kyra, "are everywhere in this sector. Or perhaps it's better to say that humans are one example of many intelligent species with a shared psychology?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion arrives. Staren looks at her, starts to shake his head. No heartless he-- wait. He looks at Kamon curiously, as if to ask: /is/ that a type of monster they have here?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren mutters to himself. "Shiva, the destroyer... Efreet, a fire imp or genie... Leviathan, the great sea monster... Bahamut, the dragon?" Staren blinks. "Wait, chocobo? Like, a large bird people ride around on? Those are a thing on a few worlds where people never domesticated horses for that purpose."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Detention Zone'd?" Xion asks, looking mildly confused.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Flaaashbaaaaack~<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Saix: "Okay, Xion. This is very important. Remember. Just act... natural, and say whatever will make people either trust you or ignore you. Your job is to hunt Heartless. Remember that. Okay? Are you even listening?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Also, more long minutes of Saix consternation before and after.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~END Flaaaashbaaaack~<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"... Yes. Yes, I was... that." She says, with TOTAL seriousness. "I also was told to find heartless. And beat them up! Well, if I can. We're all still unsure."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She then smiles very honestly-looking at Kamon, beaming at him with her HOOD DOWN and her EMO ADVENTURER set to MAXIMUM.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She rocks back and forth on her feet, before looking at Staren. "Wow! Those sure are fantastical animals. Have you heard of heartless before? I'm supposed to find them. It's very important!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It seems that Xion has totally forgotten her previous conversation. She also beams a big happy smile at Staren.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight blinks in surprise as Xion appears and asks a rather curious question. "Heartless? I..not that I am aware." she says, looking Xion over curiously. "My friends and I have plenty of heart." she adds, smiling. "I am Twilight Sparkle. Who are you?" she says before listening to the explanation about this world. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With nothing to really add to the conversation at this point, Twilight continues to examine her surroundings. Aircraft, land vehicles...all sorts of mechanical things are moving about the Great Span.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Twilight Sparkle, Xion turns her BEAMING smile at the female pony, before nodding. "I'm... That's a secret! I think? Sorry, can't tell you. Or maybe I can? Let me check on that. Okay? Sorry!" She admits.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She doesn't SOUND sorry, though. She sounds happy. Really happy.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Almost TOO happy.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren blinks at Xion. He has this vague sense that she belongs in Sburb, hunting imps. He slowly shakes his head. "Not a monster called 'heartless' specifically, however, there have been occurances of monsters created when a sort of metaphorical 'heart' is removed by a person... But you sound like you're looking for a very specific monster, and I haven't heard of anything quite like that. If you want to hunt monsters though, there are plenty of places in the Multiverse you can do that." Beat. "Find a guy named Arthur Lowell. He'll hook you up. Or maybe be able to tell other people to keep an eye out for Heartless and call you."<br> <br><br />
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:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Honestly, with a talking MADPONY here, Deelel being glowy and Xion being teleporty are kind of small gil in comparison. Kamon is glad they're on home turf, even if it's not /actually/ turf; he might be overwhelmed, otherwise.<br /><br />"Chocobos? Uh, some really rich folk might still keep them, but people mostly use summon matrices to get fake ones --" He looks back at Xion, blinking. "Um, I've never heard of those. Sorry."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sounds about right." Kyra concurs with Kamon, "And they're always looking for ways to make the Great Span even faster." As if almost on queue, as Kyra speaks the immediate area darkens slightly as a large airship passes overhead. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion is immediately inspected though Kyra seems pretty...unconvinced that she's a student of some kind-at least not of Alexander Academy, "You from E4...?" she ventures, assuming that Xion's suspiciously good mood clearly derives from overxposure to high mangnetic fields or whatever it is they have at that weirdo school. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Anyway, how about we walk to Ramuh? We're getting some looks." Kyra's tone is casual, perhaps too casual given just how much staring the extraversal visitors are attracting. Though that might be the very reason that Kyra seems to be so interested in moving now. "We can go to Ramuh, it's a bit closer than Chocobo."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel is just being friendly really, she looks at Xion again for a moment kinda staring at the teleporting and shrugs it off. She pauses at the mention of Chocbos for a moment. <br /><br /> "Large birds often used as mounts on one world I'm aware of an likely others. Also there's one fast food chain for them too from another world." <br /><br /> Kalm Fried Chocobo. <br /><br /> "That sounds like a plan to me. though humm I don't have enough bikes for everyone..."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren smiles and waves to the people staring at them.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren looks around, trying to guess which one is Ramuh. "Uhh... those all look /really/ far away. Won't walking take a long time?" Staren blinks, suddenly remembering Agartha. "Or... does it not work that way..." he starts looking around for any actual pedestrians on the Great Span, to see if they seem to be walking normally.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight blinks a few times at Xion. The pony appears a bit unnerved by her attitude. This is beyond Pinkie Pie happiness. This is crazy Pinkie happiness. "Um...well, is there something I can call you that isn't your name but is an appropriate nickname?" she asks Xion. As the suggestion is made to change locations, Twilight looks around at the people looking at them and ends up blushing a bit. She isn't used to attention. She doesn't know how to deal with it beyond avoid it. "Ah...yes. Please, lead the way."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"If it was normal walking, sure, Staren. We don't have to worry about that because of the haste lamps." There are definitely other people walking along the Span. Every single one of them appears to be human though they come with many skin tones and hair colors-and sizes. There are some easily reaching seven feet tall. <br /><br />As they start along, those magic sensitive will definitely feel the time magic upon them. While, physically, they feel like they're walking the background starts to speed by as if they were moving much faster. While they do, Kyra circles around to the back of the group to bring up the rear.<br> <br><br />
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:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>There are pedestrians. There's a lot of pedestrians.<br /><br />"C'mon." Kamon turns and heads out onto the enormous bridge. The lamps glow as they move past. They approach very quickly, the storming plate in the distance gradually getting bigger and bigger. "So... I'm, uh, not sure how well you're gonna get received," Kamon says, looking to Twilight. "There aren't any... non-humans, or anything."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren notes the human population, seems fairly standard for Earth as far as he can tell -- And then the haste lamps take effect. "Ooh, that's interesting. Does it only apply to walking, or does it apply to vehicles too? What about skating, or flying?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Twilight walks along, again awed by the mixture of technology and magic, she doesn't even notice the looks coming her way anymore. She is too busy enjoying the magically-enhanced walk! But, when she hears that her appearance could be problematic, she blinks. "Is the local government trying to limit exposure to the Multiverse? If so, I do have a spell that allows me to become human for about a day."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Well, no... but the only intelligent races are types of Hume," he explains, "and, uh... you look... kind of like a particular, really mean kind of monster." Kamon rubs the back of his neck a little as he walks. "You should be fine while you're with us, but people might mistake you for 'em at first, so don't wander off, okay?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion looks off far into the distance, potentially off towards Ramuh. Or, possibly to the entirely wrong direction. Then, she's corrected. So she starts off with Kamon! To Kyra, she shrugs. "Uhh... Yes! No? Something!" She offers, before giving a mildly forced sounding laugh.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, uh..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm... Fourteen! The number. That's my number. Okay? That should work!" She offers to Twilight far belatedly, as if she had checked out for a while, and is only now checking back in.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wow. Why don't you just use the Corridors? It'd be way faster! But this is nice... Oh! Wait. Sorry. It's because they're super dark and dangerous. Ummm..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She leans over to Kamon. "What's E4?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kamon looks at Xion for a long moment. E4? He shrugs.<br /><br />"'cuz I'm not a... Dark Knight?" he says, hazarding a guess. "I don't do the dark-and-creepy thing. Sorry."<br> <br><br />
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:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel says "A number curious. That's not a commeon and wait no there's no gates here and I'm not a teleporter don't make me get my light cycle out I'll just out strip all of you on a full out straight away like this. <br /><br /> "Eh she's not like most Dark Knights I know. Gaffgarion's not ... anything like this or any other dark knight I ever seen."<br> <br><br />
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:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh... Yeah, the coat helps with the Dark-And-Creepy-Thing. I wouldn't go so far as to call it 'knight', though. That's a title! I'm not really landed!" She jokes, laughing easily. It's all this awkward blend of total straightfaced honesty and really... weird... forced-ness.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I do a lot of things! But sometimes... mostly... dark and creepy."<br> <br><br />
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:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight nods at Kamon's advice, then resumes enjoying her walk toward Ramuh. "Fourteen? Is that a random number, or are there at least thirteen others like you?" Twilight asks Xion as they move along. When the seemingly young girl mentions dark and creepy, Twilight smiles softly. "My friend Pinkie Pie says in order to deal with dark and creepy, all you have to do is laugh. Of course, that only applies if the source of the creepiness is not actually trying to kill you."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight adds, "Then, Pinkie laughs while fighting." She shakes her head and giggles a bit.<br> <br><br />
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:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well...yeah, they kind of are trying to limit exposure right now. It's more like they're trying to get people acclimated gradually so there aren't any accidents. We're mostly Humes so if we suddenly get, I don't know, ogre dignitaries from another world we run the risk of someone well.." <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyra waffles a little. She feels a little bad bringing it up to Twilight, clearly, but Kamon beats her to the punch and in a way more direct way. "Hopefully this is something that's not gonna be a problem forever. Maybe. I don't know. Hume stupidity is a forever problem." <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The girl sidesteps a little so she walks next to Twilight for a few seconds. "Not that I wouldn't mind seeing you cast magic, though. Extraversal magic! How /exciting/!"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"E4's another school here in this world. They're very...eeeh. Different? You struck me as one of their types." Kyra finally explains.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I guess that's true," Kamon replies awkwardly to Xion, not sure about anything she's saying at this point. "Most of the Knights I know don't have land either, Dark or not. Why's it dark and creepy," he asks, apparently curious.<br /><br />He allows Kyra to experiment with extraversal magic, because /that's/ a good idea.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>There is a rumble of thunder in the distance, as a thundercloud seems to detatch from the distant storms of Ramuh. It sails across the sky, pieces of it gradually skidding off as a majestic ship crests out of it like a wave. The craft is sleek and ornate, based on ancient styles reminiscent of Far Eastern ships on various Earths. A fleaming energy sail billows in the stormwind, carring yhe ship forward along with thrumming magitek engines. An arrwy of spires is mounted to a horseshoe-like attachment, crackling constantly with Jacob's Ladders, and sizzling beam projectors seem to stand at the ready to deal with threats. <br /><br />The ship bears the logo of the Murasame Family, and atop the foredeck stands a man in a midnight blue suit, his arms folded as he looks into the distance. <br /><br />Without speaking or any apparent signals, the ship comes to a halt near the group on the Great Span, and the man turns to look upon the group. "Hyral. Lionward." He pauses, studying Staren and Twilight for a moment. "Ah... Visitors. The unexpected arrives as lightning." <br /><br />He gestures with his hand and bows slightly. "I am Souji Murasame, of the Murasame Zaibatsu. Welcome to the world of Galianda. I trust Hyral and Lionward have been able to impart the basic knowledge of our world?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's not a random number. It's my number. I'm number fourteen! Of... ... ... It's a secret!" She explains. Looking around, her hands seem to twitch, as she sees... Things. To do. But she restrains herself.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I've got a mission. A mission to stop the heartless!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, to Kamon, she looks at him with a curous look. "Well, look at me!" She plucks at her dark robe. "Dark."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And I guess creepy! Yeah."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She mouths 'creepy' like it's some new and wonderous word.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then MURASAME SOUJI of the WEEB CLAN arrives.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As she does, she strikes a battle-ready pose. "Are you... A heartless?" The Hooded Girl 'Fourteen' wonders, before...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wait, no, you're just a person. Sorry! I'm looking for Heartless! And these people are very nice. I think!"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren gives a curious look at the mobile cloud. "Is that normal?" He points at it, and then... hey, airship! That's cool. Staren looks at Souji, then at Kamon and Kyra. "Friend of yours?" He looks back at Souji. "I guess, some of it? I'm sure there's tons more basic information we haven't covered. Mostly we've been covering super preliminary geography. Did you know on most worlds you can't walk to the moon, and the sun isn't shaped like a bird?"<br> <br><br />
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:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel Says "So this would be a problem for me visiting given I'm not human /at/ all. Also nothing wrong with a name that's a number right? It's not so strange to see it where I'm frum to be perfecly honest." <br /><br /> She looks to the new arrival and bows slightly at him. <br /><br /> "Greetings, Hume. I'm Deelel."<br> <br><br />
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:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The mobile cloud seems to be regarded by Kyra with little surprise. "Figured he would be along eventually." Is all that's really offered before Souji flies in on his fancy, fancy airship to make his extra impressive show of an entrance. The white mage seems completely unsurprised by this behavior-up until the point where the airship actually slows. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It only strikes Kyra that Souji's probably just as curious about their visitors as they are. "Hello Murasame. Off to explore some brave new worlds?" <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"He's our classmate too." Kyra asides to Staren.<br> <br><br />
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:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight eyerolls lightly and giggles softly at Fourteen's response. "I see. Well, I know all too well that secrets should be kept." she says as she continues trotting along merrily. Then to Kyra, she smiles. "I would be happy to demonstrate my magic for you. It isn't often someone actually wants to see my magic. Other than my special somepo-...somebody, Staren." she says, smiling brightly toward him. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the airship appears, Twilight is once again awed. So many amazing spectacles here! As Souji introduces himself, Twilight bows her head respectfully, then smiles. "I am Twilight Sparkle. It is nice to meet you."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren smiles as Twilight mentions him, then looks concerned. "Really? You're like, the third most powerful mage on your planet and nobody cares?" Staren thinks about this. "...I guess I've never /seen/ anybody make a big deal about it, and Ponyville doesn't seem to particularly care that much about magic, but... Really? As much as I like hanging around you, I'm only there a pretty small percentage of the time -- I just figured you dealt with magic business when I wasn't around." Beat. "Man, you know what? Maybe you should, like, do magic demonstrations for the foals in school. Get more ponies interested in it. Like those chemistry demonstrations that always have at least one explosion." Beat. "...You could do science demonstrations, too. .../I/ could do science demonstrations."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kamon mutters something like 'no, not really' in Staren's direction.<br /><br />He got kind of awkwardly quiet when Souji showed up. How strange.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Souji glances over to Xion for a moment. His expression is measuring, but it appears that he is witholding judgement for the moment. "I possess a heart." He replies. "Please, describe to me these 'heartless' you seek." Staren's response causes Souji to nod. "Assuming that all worlds would be like ours is foolishness. We will have much to learn about what lies beyond the gate that has opened." <br /><br />Deelel then addressed him, and he inclines his head. "A pleasure, Deelel." The greeting from Twilight causes Souji only a moment of pause before he inclines his head once more. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Twilight Sparkle. To be the third greatest mage as he claims is no small feat. Mastery is its own reward." <br /><br />He glances back over to Staren. "So you are a scientist?" He inquires. "Are you contracted to an organization or are you indepenent?"<br /><br />Souji's behavior is graceful, but businesslike. It seems clear that he doesn't let his emotions get in the way of his work. It might remind Xion of some people, who knows!<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren is /slightly/ disappointed that Souji shows no look of incredulity or surprise when told that elsewhere the sun is not shaped like a bird. Alas.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren nods. "I'm Staren, researcher of problems for the Union. I mean, I can help other people too, but if you're looking to fill full-time positions, I don't think I can do that. Actually, my specialty was combat robotics engineering, but in encountering the multiverse I've branched out... studied magic and stuff, whatever there was... there's a lot to figure out! I hope that one day I'll figure out the underlying rules of reality and use that knowledge to make stuff to help people!" He frowns and mutters to himself, "Findings so far are kind of troubling, though..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren blinks. "So, who are you, anyway?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight actually seems confused by Staren's little rant. "Well...I am not sure I am the third most powerful. There may be other, more powerful mages out there." she says, though she smiles soon afterword. "It is sweet of you to be upset about it, though. And I suppose minor demonstrations would be alright. But, I wouldn't want to upset anyone. Most unicorns have to focus on a certain area of magic use. To display my unrestricted magic could be offensive to those ponies who cannot move beyond their specialty."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion... Slutes. "Oh! And I'm xi-... I mean Fourteen! That's my number. Sorry, my name is a secret. I think! I'll get back to you on that!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She just kind of stands there, then, when Souji talks to other people. She adjusts her hood a little bit, making sure her face remains Mostly Covered. Then she sort of... Stares off into the distance. Two blue shining eyes covered in darkness kind of glaze over as she just tunes out of the world.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"He's Souji Murasame, of the Murasame Zaibatsu!" She parrots to Staren, almost automatically.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she's grinning at everyone else, again. "So! A Heartless is like a normal person, except, it's just the Heart. And it's evil and black and a monster, so you need to kill them. Specially! With a Key-blade." As she speaks, she casually outstretches her hand, and with a sworl of pale light, the Kingdom Ke-I mean, Heart's Desire forms. (It's literally the design Kingdom Key with a different keychain).<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Like this! And when they die... Uh... I dunno! I was told to hunt them, though. To 'Test Me Out' or something?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren blinks at Xion, then facepalms. "Shit, he /did/ say that, didn't he?" He looks back to Souji. "I'm sorry. I'm just... distracted today, I guess." He waves a hand to indicate the EXCITING ENTIRELY NEW WORLD.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Souji listens to Staren's response carefully. His expression does not change, but there is a tinge in his voice, a shading in tone as he replies simply. "A pity. Should you decide to seek out productive and satisfying employment, we will be waiting." He smiles thinly as he is asked who he is just after he introduced himself.<br /><br />Xion then fills Souji in, and he listens to the commentary. "A new type of monster, then." He states. For those who have vision sharp enough to notice such things, one of the lenses of his glasses is flickering through a series of small pictures of creatures and data sheets, presumably with relevant information on the creatures shown. "I will be sure to notify my security teams to be on the lookout for these creatures, and this... Key-blade." He comments, and then watches as Xion creates her Keyblade. "What information do you have on the Key-blade? Are these weapons available for manufacture or purchase?" He asks, a tone of dubiousness entering his voice.<br /><br />Staren's convession of distraction causes Souji to give the faintest of smiles. "Beware distraction. Such things can be lethal in this world." <br /><br />Finally, Twilight mentions offending others, and he actually fully turns towards Twilight Sparkle. "To not accept your ability and use it to its fullest would be a far greater insult to those people. All beings are not created equal. There are differences in education, in behavior, in talent, genetics, personality, and pure effort that can determine the difference between success and failure. Do not be worried that your talents might offend others to exercise to their limits. It is only by seeking out those limits that you can learn how best to use your abilities and expand upon them. Those who would criticize you, hate you, or fear you for such a thing are being held back by their inability to dedicate themselves, and seek out a channel to blame for their own failures. If you wish to improve, to truly become great, do not be concerned with such matters. Such detritus only harms you in the end for the satisfaction of those who are too burdened with their flaws to rise up."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel is taking note of Souji so he's fairly well to do in the nature of business for a moment and nods to xion and pauses for a moment. <br /><br /> "Just the heart? I assume it's not the organ that some life forms have and key-blade?" <br /><br /> She pauses looking intenly at the weapon for a moment. <br /><br /> "You said they were black with yellow eyes? I ... had a vision of creatures like that they ... seemed to hunger for me. I wonder ... if it was a for warning about these heartless?" <br /><br /> She nods to Souji <br /><br /> "Pay attention to your surroundings or you might end up cubed." <br /><br /> Deelel pauses for a moment. <br /><br /> "A curious out look on life."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh man, that was embarassing. Staren can't believe he just did that. Uuuuugh. After a moment though, the 'who cares? This is some rich kid, you don't need his validation' part of his mind slips into place. Especially when Souji insinuates that his present work helping people and unraveling the secrets of the multiverse isn't productive and satisfying.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The info on heartless is kind of intyeresting, but right now it's less interesting than this new world.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He looks to Twilight following Souji's little speech. "If somepony wants to use magic and can't... There would still be the option of learning magic from other worlds, right? And there might even be a way to get people access to magic. Aren't there magic items? Maybe there are even unconventional ways to use earth pony or pegasus magic... I never thought about all this. Maybe one of the future yous already knows? Couldn't hurt to ask about it." Although, he's admittedly not sure that Grim Future Twilight would part with such secrets for fear they might be used to empower people who would rise against her, and the magic of the /other/ future world is probably completely different.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight giggles softly at Xion catching Staren in his error. Then...she blinks in surprise at getting a lecture. After which she is smiling again. "You misunderstand, Souji. I do not deny my abilities. I simply feel I should not display them simply for the sake of displaying them. No one likes a show-off. I study quite diligently to improve my magical skills, and I am well aware that not everyone is born with the same level of talent. It is when one falls into the category of 'showboating', as Applejack calls it, that one risks alienating others. And that is something I wish to avoid. As a defender of my world, I cannot and do not hesitate to use my most powerful magics when the situation calls for it. That lesson was taught to me long ago when a troublesome pony called Trixie came to Ponyville." <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight paushes a moment, raising a hoof to her chin as she thinks. "The only times I have been criticized or mocked concerning my magic were times when I was facing an opponent who already disliked me, or was too arrogant to admit that their magic did not rival mine. It isn't that anyone in my world dislikes my magic. It is just that there is no need or any requests to show it off." <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Staren goes off into thinking about things again, and Twilight smiles warmly before approaching him. "I should return to Equestria." she says to the group, then gives Staren a hug with her forelegs before turning to wave a hoof goodbye to the others. "It was nice to meet you all!" She then turns to gallop back down the Great Span toward the warp gate.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I see." Is all Souji says in reply to Twilight. "Then I am mistaken. My apologies." He gives another small bow."Perhaps we will have the opportunity to see your potential in the future. Farewell." <br /><br />"Does her homeland not possess any kind of schooling to teach such things?" Souji asks of Staren. "Surely a land which values and respects such ability would seek to foster a greater amount of it." He says simply. Don't worry, Staren. Souji surely didn't insinuate that in response to you insinuating he was an ignorant backwater hick.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion falls into that almost stasis-like silence once more, as other people speak, before coming animate - figuratively and almost literally - again.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She gives a few test swipes of Heart's Desire, the incredibly shittily designed weapon akin to a fancy piece of lead piping with a shitty handle and some key motifs making it even more useless as a weapon.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's not even good at piping.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Uhh... Somepony? Somepony..." Xion seems very confused with this word. "What's a somepony? Or is it Some Pony?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She waves goodbye to Twilight cheerily, helpfully opening a portal to the CORRIDORS OF DARKNESS which are insanely unwelcoming and practically teeming with ultimate black darkness.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's also the normal portal. Over there.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Anyway, the Keyblade is a weapon of... uh... the heart? I'm not really sure. Anyway, I have one, and a few other people do, and its our jobs to stop the heartless! They're unique and you can't take them away from their users, really. Also you can't weild them unless you're a keyblade weilder. Which... I guess... I am? It's kind of fuzzy. Just like everything else. Hey, is that an airship?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion hops up, into the air, and... double jumps up onto the deck of Souji's ship, her keyblade sworling back into nonexistance as she does so.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If anyone was watching her, the second jump was her launching off a gray, flat, zipperlike trampoline object. Then she just sort of... starts wandering in. Even if he says no. "Ooh, I'd love to be an airship engineer today, that'd be... fun, right?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She pauses, on deck, waiting for confirmation. "Right? Fun's the right one, not... yeah I'm pretty sure it's fun."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She beams at everyone. The smile is both entirely genuine and insanely fake.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren scratches his head. "She's got a point. Most ponies can use only a very limited amount of magic. While I'm sure there are others like her that can use a wider variety of magic, they're rarer. I wasn't thinking about that when I suggested that maybe more foals need to be inspired to become magicians. However... It's a bit weird. In her world... Sometime in childhood, people /always/ figure out what their special talent is, and almost always they are happy to do that. Noone's ever jealous because they can't fly like a pegasus, or use magic like a unicorn. So maybe it's possible, that if young children were inspired to take interest in science and magic, that you'd get more ponies who find special talents in those areas... Or maybe it's the other way around, and the ones who take interest are the ones who would have eventually found their talents lied there eventually. I haven't really gotten a good chance to study it. I can't really ethically set up a controlled experiment to screw with people's destiny."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Although, now that he thinks about it, there are a few who break the pattern. Luna was once unhappy with her lot, Jinxel and Bramble were rejected by society, and the palace gardener apparently never /found/ a talent. He'd forgotten about that guy. What does it mean? Augh, there are so many mysteries in the Multiverse...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Like what is 14 going on about? ANd why is her name 14? That's kind of ominous. But... he can't ignore this new world to focus on that, right now.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel says "...a strange verbal tick he's picked up don't mind it and I see most curious and I see there's few weapons kike that. I know how it is to be fuzzy, it's ... not natural for one of my kind. I had to make due with it. Different cultures if I'd just stayed where I was I'd be a dead end gladiator in a bastards illegal death pits." <br /><br /> She pauses for a moment and peers at Staren. <br /><br /> "So says the man whose a demi god of myth on one world."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren looks a bit flustered at Deelel. "I only, like, /just/ found out about that! Besides, I'm a really /minor/ demigod. Like, in their videogames I'm always that guy that gives you the airship, or I can be summoned for some kind of super-analysis ability or intelligence buff spell. I'm not, like, the god kids. What does that have to do with mucking about with people's destinies, anyway?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Souji squints at the opening of the Corridor, but he says nothing. It seems like he has dismissed the possibilities of keyblades already. "There are positions for trained engineers available." Souji replies to Xion. "Please do not board unless invited to do so, however." He turns away, clearly expecting Xion to take the hint and leave.<br /><br />He might be disappointed. <br /><br />"A destiny is only as good as the person who follows it. But I suppose if they do not deserve the effort, you do not need to lend them your assistance."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren turns back to Souji and blinks. "Okay, I guess I /am/ totally cool with meddling with destinies to, like, /save/ people. A destiny of living under a tyrant or dying early or destitute sucks. But the ponies don't /need/ the help, at least not as much as some other people. Maybe not many of them share the same kind of ambitions I would, but they have their own, and they seem to be happy."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren stifles a yawn. "Man... I dunno how long your day is here, but it's getting late. I kinda..." He looks toward Ramuh, "Didn't think I'd be stopping to talk for this long. I'll have to see Ramuh another time. Nice meeting you," a handshake is offered, and then he turns to Xion and offers the same, "And you. Good luck finding those Heartless. That's some... interesting tricks you can do."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren stretches, and then... Orange energy wings manifest on his back, like stylized insect wings. They are't actually quite /touching/ his back. They flutter, and he hovers a bit off the ground. "See you around." He offers a brief wave to the group before flying just above the road, back towards the warpgate.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion stands on the deck, rummaging around in her pockets for a few moments as Staren and Souji and Deelel trade words. Then, she exclaims, proudly. "Ha-HA! My parts goggles!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She then pulls down her hood, turned away (revealing her short cut black hair), pulls on a pair of blast goggles, and then pulls up her hood again. Then she gives Souji a big double thumbs up.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Got my parts goggles. Okay! Now I'm ready."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she just sort of wanders into the Airship. Souji probably wants to deal with that.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Souji watches Staren go. "What an unreasonably idyllic place." Souji comments to no one in particular, and then turns towards Xion as she begins trying to get belowdecks. <br /><br />Souji has already informed the onboard security that an unauthorized person is attempting to gain entrance. A pair of Murasame Security guards are in the doorway. "No admittance." One of them grunts. <br /><br />"You will have to submit a job application like the others. Additionally, this airship does not work the same way as the others." Souji adds from behind Xion.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel looks at Staren with a goofy grin on her face. <br /><br /> "True." <br /><br /> Given she's basicallyt the goddess of cyberspace she's keeping quiet. <br /><br /> "It's curious givne how humes and other racesw see it. Mine's always born for a purpose." <br /><br /> she looks at Xion and can't help but laugh about the goggles it was amusing to her. <br /><br /> "He gets like that he's kinda of got his heads in the clouds."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion looks at the guards. She isn't sad, or crestfallen, or anything.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This is because she doesn't know what any of those things mean.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead, she just walks right up to them, and starts very calmly taking off her goggles. "... Oh! Right, I'm supposed to say things. Please let me in to your amazing airship, so I may parts-things!" She requests, quite chipperly.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Turning back to Souji, she beams from behind her goggles and hood. "I'm very good. At everything! I have many skills. Like Parts! And Maths! And... Wires! Ooh, well, it's easier to say what I don't have sills in."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She puts her hands on her hips, beaming. "Which is nothing! Erm, that I know of. I've got lots. So... I'm really certain I could find something and fix it! Maybe. What's a job application?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She wracks her head for a solution, but since the problem is not in front of her, she's got nothing.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Also, do you have the ability to summon friends too? That was very fast!" She comments, about the Goonsquad.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"... Of course." After all this, Xion might see Souji betray the slightest sense of frustration or impatience in a slow exhalation. "A job application is a form that you complete that lists your skills and abilities. You send it to our corporate departments, and we will see if we can make use of your apparently... voluminous talents." <br /><br />To the last question, Souji simply replies, "I have a radio."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh. Well... That makes sense." Xion offers, seeming to come down off her emotive high. Or, rather, finally hit a snag. So she sort of lightly smiles without any fakeness, and nods. "So... You want me to sign some papers, to see your stuff. Also to work for you? Well, that may be an issue. I'm... busy." 'Fourteen' explains, before nodding. "But I have a lot of skills! They're mine and at the same time they're not. I'm trying to find what /I'm/ good at, you see. And do the whole heartless-stopping thing. It's my mission!"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>This Fourteen person is exceptionally confusing. "There are no Heartless here to my knowledge." Souji replies. "If that changes you can be notified through a method of your choice." <br /><br />The Ame-no-Torfune draws closer to the Great Span. "In the meantime, please disembark. I have to continue on to Alexander Academy and I am in danger of running behind schedule." He froens faintly. "I do not run behind schedule."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion nods solemnly. "Oh! I'm sorry. I don't want you to have to deny what you are on account of me." She replies, before hopping off the Intensely-Weeb-Name to land on the Great Span in a crouch, standing back up and waving at Souji Murasame. "Maybe next time you can tell me about Dark Knights. I'm apparently one!" She grins, before there is a sworl of darkness about her, and she is consumed by it and gone.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She leaves not a trace! Poof.<br> <br><br />
}}</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=993/The_Span&diff=9507993/The Span2015-06-06T21:24:07Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Log Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2014/11/18<br />
|Location=Galianda<br />
|Synopsis=Galianda has appeared. The curious few arrive and see something wholly unexpected.<br />
|Thanks=To Assassin, for providing the set.<br />
|Cast of Characters=8, 42, 411, 642, 626, 627, 628, 630<br />
|Tinyplot=<br />
|Tinyplot2=<br />
|pretty=yes<br />
}}<br />
{{Poses<br />
|Poses=:'''{{#var:614|Assassin (614)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; GALIANDA <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; THE GREAT SPAN <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The World Gate opens onto impossibility. Otherworldly travellers who step forth onto the greatest edifice Galianda has ever known are immediately greeted with the staggering visage of the clockwork world. The massive continents hang, suspended, around the massive mechanical core, connected to the center of the world by arching arms. They tick in orbit around the core, moving vast and impossible clockwork gears around as they float through the void. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One, an impossible mountain, off which glass buildings seem to grow like flowers. Another, a massive desert, glass domes sparkling in a light not entirely derived from the sun. Here, the jutting ice of a glacier. To the side, just coming into view, a roiling stormcloud. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Across all the continents, a massive bridge, an impossible magitechnical edifice, stretches. It twists and turns and moves with the movement of the clockwork core. The scale of it is so vast as to be unimaginable; it literally stretches out towards even the moon itself, hovering a fairly massive distance away from the continents. The bridge wraps around the whole world like an impossibly huge belt. Over it, travellers pass; above and below it, airships, sleek and modern wood-and-steel mechanisms, soar. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; High, high above, further even than the moon, a great fire in the shape of a bird lights the way. It is slowly sinking beyond the core's horizon. It will be evening soon, on this part of the planet.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren steps out of the warpgate and... stops, eyes staring wide as he looks all around, just trying to take in details. "Oh my gosh." He looks from the core to one continent to another. "This is amazing..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eventually, he looks up, gasping at the traffic and the moon... and then... He frowns slightly, and pulls on his goggles.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...The sun is a giant BIRD what the heck..." But he's smiling, in wonder. Somehow, this all works. The crazyness of it all just means there are wonderful new things to learn about...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And it just looks damn cool, too!<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight Sparkle steps through after Staren, and her eyes widen similarly, her mouth dropping open with awe. "...a...a gigantic phoenix perhaps...?" is all she can think to murmur as she watches the bird flying through the sky, then she looks at the Great Span, then at the gears, then at the gap into which she cannot see. She suddenly feels...very small. Much moreso than she ever has on Equestria, even when up in Cloudsdale looking down on the world below. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She giggles after that, then smiles happily at Staren. "This is wonderous! Even with all our magical advancement on Equestria, we don't have anything like this! Even Celestia and Luna would have trouble building something like this!"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Staren isn't the only one to exit the warp gate and just kinda stare at everything. <br /><br /> "These worlds keep getting more alien and look? I thought something was exploding the first time I saw the sun. Seriously having a sun is down right creepy!" <br /><br /> The program makes a face at Staren for a moment and pulls down he cloak's hood. <br /><br /> "This really is omething we don't see many worlds like this."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Visitors from another world. Well, he isn't gonna miss /this/, especially given it's their club's fault they're here in the first place.<br /><br />Kamon is standing by the warpgate when people start to filter through. He looks pretty much human, except for the bits of metal sticking out of his face in places like scars. He's got his hands in his coat pockets, watching them curiously as they come through and marvel. "It's, uh... it's kind of awesome, yeah," he says in agreement.<br /><br />"Welcome to Galianda," Kamon says, spreading his arms out. "This is the Great Span. It goes /everywhere/. Well... almost," he appends, a touch sheepishly.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When Twilight speaks to him on the wonder of the world, Staren turns around and hugs her. "Twilight! Good to see you again!" Then he turns towards Kamon, nodding to Deelel in passing.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm Staren, researcher of problems for the Union." He extends a hand to shake. Then looks curious. "'Almost'?" He cocks his head to the side curiously.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Excitement about the Warp Gate has yet to really die down. There are a fair number of rubberneckers milling around it but strategically placed haste lamps make loitering upon the Span difficult to do. Few have ventured out into the multiverse beyond so far, most of whom were members of enterprising Ramuha corportions. Of those even fewer yet that were not salesmen or headhunters were members Alexander Academy. Union contact had been sowed...in the name of a new school club. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Standing next to Kamon is Kyra, who also looks remarkably human, if very, very pale. At first glance it almost seems like she too has metal in her but this turns out to be a number of piercings in her ears and nose. Both of her hands are stuffed inside the front pocket of the hoodie she wears. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Glad you guys could make it." She adds with a grin, quite openly and unabashedly eyeing up the trio. Twilight easily receives the most attention as Kyra breaks away from her fellow classmate to walk around her. "...whoah."<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What, your sun isn't a bird? What is it, then?" Kyra lifts an eyebrow at Staren, rocking back on her heels.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel has a bit of a strange digital warble to her voice as she replies to the local whom has come to greet them. <br /><br /> "Greetings and this is the great span? I will keep that in mind." <br /><br /> She seems friendly enough as she gives Kamon a grin and looks him over She pauses looking intently at his face. She's clearly spottd metal where in her experiance? It's bad for organic to have metal in them unless it's cyberentics. She does not comment on it as she introduces her self. <br /><br /> "My world doesn't even have a sun actually and my ID err name is Deelel."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren blinks at Kyra. "It's a massive sphere of burning gas, a 1.4-million-kilometer-wide natural fusion reactor. So massive that on most worlds in the Void, the planets revolve around their sun because of its gravity."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren stares off into space for a moment. "Nope, we're not in Cyber Core, so this is really..." he trails off, looking out at the worldplates.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kamon shakes Staren's hand. He's strong. "Hi. Kamon Lionward, like I, uh, said on the radio. Student." He is obviously trying not to stare at Twilight; she's obviously /crazy/ non-human, but also intelligent, so... not a madpony. He smiles at Deelel.<br /><br />"It, uh, doesn't go to Odin. Too risky, with the nightmare golems that spawn there," Kamon supplies. "Gotta fly in and out, through the magnetic storms."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight rears up on her hindlegs to give Staren a warm hug before noticing the others here. "Oh! Hello! I am Twilight Sparkle. It is nice to meet you!" the little purple pony says, smiling kindly. She is indeed not a madpony. But she is cute and cuddly looking, and well-groomed. Yes, obviously intelligent. "If I may ask, how long did it take for these marvels to be built? And...is that truly a living bird serving as your sun?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren nods as if this obviously makes sense. Naturally-spawning nightmare golems and flying through magnetic storms makes as much sense as anything else. He looks back at Kamon, then reaches up and pushes his goggles up to his forehead, then thinks twice about it and drops them to hang around his neck. "Odin... Titan... Hmm." He looks between the natives. "In Earth mythology, the Titans were some of the first gods of one pantheon... and Odin is the head god of another. ...On some worlds, he's real."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Having a giant fusion reactor sitting around in a void seems pretty dangerous." Kyra comments as she tries to wrap her mind around this whole 'alternate sun' thing. Judging by the look on her face, she's really trying to work it out-especially the chemical reaction side of the equation. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, my bad, I haven't introduced myself either. I'm Kyra Hyral. Also a student." Her eyes widen just a little when Twilight Sparkle rears up-a motion she has seen before in the dreaded MADPONY-but the fight or flight feeling passes quickly when she realizes it's just to hug Staren. "...that's kind of adorable..." she mutters before clearing her throat. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The Span? Well, uh...I'm not entirely sure but it's been..what, a couple hundred years since it was made so it can be travelled on efficiently? The plates themselves were born from the First Gods, which bare their names. It's actually pretty interesting that some of the names are the same." She shrugs, "...and then I turned on that Union channel earlier and heard a long discussion on gaming so maybe some things don't change no matter what world you're on."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is a perfectly good warpgate that would allow someone passage into this new multiversal entrant, which had just recently been established.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The black-coated-and-hooded girl that bursts through a tear in space does not use that. Instead, she looks left and right, coiled like a spring, hands out in a mock kungfu 'come at me' pose.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She pauses, slowly, scanning the area again.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, she 'sneaks' (more like exaggeratedly walks over to Twiling Sparkle and kneels down, before whispering...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You're not a heartless, are you? I... just wanna be sure."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, looking kind of confused, the hooded girl stands up, scratching her head through the hood of her coat.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wow, this place sure is bright. Nice bird! So... No heartless? Monsters of darkness? World-ending black yellow-eyed guys? No? Huh... Wow, awesome!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She visually relaxes, stretching her hands over her head. "So... Where's this?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel says "Good to meet you and ah I see I had the comm off. <br /><br /> "Or he's a roaving angry pissed off force of nature." <br /><br /> She's seen the reports about Odin at this point. She's looking at Kyura for a moment and smirks for a moment. <br /><br /> "It's the most common nature of stats I found in the multivese and good to meet you. <br /><br /> "I think I heard of maybe one world remotely like this..." <br /><br /> Xion shows up she pauses for a moment looks at the hooded girl for a moment. <br /><br /> "Heartless?" <br /><br /> She tilts her head and pauses a memory of things she saw in her last trip with a certain time troll pops up in her head? No she couldn't be talking about those things, sides they were not real, right? She dismissed the idea and looks to the locals it's their world they should have the chance to give the new arrival the information.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I think they only finished it, one-hundred-percent, in the last century?" Kamon adds to Kyra's explanation. "It's been a long project, though... I dunno when it was really started." He scratches his head. "Well... Titan is singular. He's one of the First Gods. Shiva, Ifrit, Titan," he ticks them off on his fingers, "Ramuh, Leviathan, Odin and Bahamut. One for each plate." He points out at the enormous continents, affixed to the clockwork core. "I mean, that's what they are, except Chocobo."<br /><br />AND THEN SUDDENLY A XION. Kamon is abruptly tense, grasping a strap next to his backpack's and ready to swing it off. It's attached to the plain-looking katana he's got there. When she... sort of fails at sneaking, he relaxes. "Um... the Great Span, by the new World Gate," Kamon says, a little hesitantly. He pauses a second.<br /><br />"Did... did you get Detention Zone'd? I hear a guy from Professor Mister Greene's advanced black magic class ended up on Leviathan after he got D-Zoned."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's not like people are going to wander into the sun. It's so far away from Earth that /light/ takes eight and a half minutes to get between them."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren ahs and nods again as it's explained that the gods became the worldplates. He'll just accept that as true for now. He looks along the span "A couple hundred years, huh?" He looks back to Kyra. "Yeah, there are a lot of common things that are shared between some worlds in some form or another. Worlds that are similar to 'Earth' in the 20th or 21st century of the AD calendar are probably among the most common in this sector, but the only constant you can /really/ count on is that the natural inhabitants, however strange they may look..." he twitches his ears and lashes his tail once, then glances to Twilight, "...people just like humans in mind, if not in body," he looks back to Kyra, "are everywhere in this sector. Or perhaps it's better to say that humans are one example of many intelligent species with a shared psychology?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion arrives. Staren looks at her, starts to shake his head. No heartless he-- wait. He looks at Kamon curiously, as if to ask: /is/ that a type of monster they have here?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren mutters to himself. "Shiva, the destroyer... Efreet, a fire imp or genie... Leviathan, the great sea monster... Bahamut, the dragon?" Staren blinks. "Wait, chocobo? Like, a large bird people ride around on? Those are a thing on a few worlds where people never domesticated horses for that purpose."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Detention Zone'd?" Xion asks, looking mildly confused.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Flaaashbaaaaack~<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Saix: "Okay, Xion. This is very important. Remember. Just act... natural, and say whatever will make people either trust you or ignore you. Your job is to hunt Heartless. Remember that. Okay? Are you even listening?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Also, more long minutes of Saix consternation before and after.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~END Flaaaashbaaaack~<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"... Yes. Yes, I was... that." She says, with TOTAL seriousness. "I also was told to find heartless. And beat them up! Well, if I can. We're all still unsure."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She then smiles very honestly-looking at Kamon, beaming at him with her HOOD DOWN and her EMO ADVENTURER set to MAXIMUM.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She rocks back and forth on her feet, before looking at Staren. "Wow! Those sure are fantastical animals. Have you heard of heartless before? I'm supposed to find them. It's very important!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It seems that Xion has totally forgotten her previous conversation. She also beams a big happy smile at Staren.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight blinks in surprise as Xion appears and asks a rather curious question. "Heartless? I..not that I am aware." she says, looking Xion over curiously. "My friends and I have plenty of heart." she adds, smiling. "I am Twilight Sparkle. Who are you?" she says before listening to the explanation about this world. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With nothing to really add to the conversation at this point, Twilight continues to examine her surroundings. Aircraft, land vehicles...all sorts of mechanical things are moving about the Great Span.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Twilight Sparkle, Xion turns her BEAMING smile at the female pony, before nodding. "I'm... That's a secret! I think? Sorry, can't tell you. Or maybe I can? Let me check on that. Okay? Sorry!" She admits.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She doesn't SOUND sorry, though. She sounds happy. Really happy.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Almost TOO happy.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren blinks at Xion. He has this vague sense that she belongs in Sburb, hunting imps. He slowly shakes his head. "Not a monster called 'heartless' specifically, however, there have been occurances of monsters created when a sort of metaphorical 'heart' is removed by a person... But you sound like you're looking for a very specific monster, and I haven't heard of anything quite like that. If you want to hunt monsters though, there are plenty of places in the Multiverse you can do that." Beat. "Find a guy named Arthur Lowell. He'll hook you up. Or maybe be able to tell other people to keep an eye out for Heartless and call you."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Honestly, with a talking MADPONY here, Deelel being glowy and Xion being teleporty are kind of small gil in comparison. Kamon is glad they're on home turf, even if it's not /actually/ turf; he might be overwhelmed, otherwise.<br /><br />"Chocobos? Uh, some really rich folk might still keep them, but people mostly use summon matrices to get fake ones --" He looks back at Xion, blinking. "Um, I've never heard of those. Sorry."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sounds about right." Kyra concurs with Kamon, "And they're always looking for ways to make the Great Span even faster." As if almost on queue, as Kyra speaks the immediate area darkens slightly as a large airship passes overhead. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion is immediately inspected though Kyra seems pretty...unconvinced that she's a student of some kind-at least not of Alexander Academy, "You from E4...?" she ventures, assuming that Xion's suspiciously good mood clearly derives from overxposure to high mangnetic fields or whatever it is they have at that weirdo school. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Anyway, how about we walk to Ramuh? We're getting some looks." Kyra's tone is casual, perhaps too casual given just how much staring the extraversal visitors are attracting. Though that might be the very reason that Kyra seems to be so interested in moving now. "We can go to Ramuh, it's a bit closer than Chocobo."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel is just being friendly really, she looks at Xion again for a moment kinda staring at the teleporting and shrugs it off. She pauses at the mention of Chocbos for a moment. <br /><br /> "Large birds often used as mounts on one world I'm aware of an likely others. Also there's one fast food chain for them too from another world." <br /><br /> Kalm Fried Chocobo. <br /><br /> "That sounds like a plan to me. though humm I don't have enough bikes for everyone..."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren smiles and waves to the people staring at them.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren looks around, trying to guess which one is Ramuh. "Uhh... those all look /really/ far away. Won't walking take a long time?" Staren blinks, suddenly remembering Agartha. "Or... does it not work that way..." he starts looking around for any actual pedestrians on the Great Span, to see if they seem to be walking normally.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight blinks a few times at Xion. The pony appears a bit unnerved by her attitude. This is beyond Pinkie Pie happiness. This is crazy Pinkie happiness. "Um...well, is there something I can call you that isn't your name but is an appropriate nickname?" she asks Xion. As the suggestion is made to change locations, Twilight looks around at the people looking at them and ends up blushing a bit. She isn't used to attention. She doesn't know how to deal with it beyond avoid it. "Ah...yes. Please, lead the way."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"If it was normal walking, sure, Staren. We don't have to worry about that because of the haste lamps." There are definitely other people walking along the Span. Every single one of them appears to be human though they come with many skin tones and hair colors-and sizes. There are some easily reaching seven feet tall. <br /><br />As they start along, those magic sensitive will definitely feel the time magic upon them. While, physically, they feel like they're walking the background starts to speed by as if they were moving much faster. While they do, Kyra circles around to the back of the group to bring up the rear.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>There are pedestrians. There's a lot of pedestrians.<br /><br />"C'mon." Kamon turns and heads out onto the enormous bridge. The lamps glow as they move past. They approach very quickly, the storming plate in the distance gradually getting bigger and bigger. "So... I'm, uh, not sure how well you're gonna get received," Kamon says, looking to Twilight. "There aren't any... non-humans, or anything."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren notes the human population, seems fairly standard for Earth as far as he can tell -- And then the haste lamps take effect. "Ooh, that's interesting. Does it only apply to walking, or does it apply to vehicles too? What about skating, or flying?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Twilight walks along, again awed by the mixture of technology and magic, she doesn't even notice the looks coming her way anymore. She is too busy enjoying the magically-enhanced walk! But, when she hears that her appearance could be problematic, she blinks. "Is the local government trying to limit exposure to the Multiverse? If so, I do have a spell that allows me to become human for about a day."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Well, no... but the only intelligent races are types of Hume," he explains, "and, uh... you look... kind of like a particular, really mean kind of monster." Kamon rubs the back of his neck a little as he walks. "You should be fine while you're with us, but people might mistake you for 'em at first, so don't wander off, okay?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion looks off far into the distance, potentially off towards Ramuh. Or, possibly to the entirely wrong direction. Then, she's corrected. So she starts off with Kamon! To Kyra, she shrugs. "Uhh... Yes! No? Something!" She offers, before giving a mildly forced sounding laugh.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, uh..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm... Fourteen! The number. That's my number. Okay? That should work!" She offers to Twilight far belatedly, as if she had checked out for a while, and is only now checking back in.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wow. Why don't you just use the Corridors? It'd be way faster! But this is nice... Oh! Wait. Sorry. It's because they're super dark and dangerous. Ummm..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She leans over to Kamon. "What's E4?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kamon looks at Xion for a long moment. E4? He shrugs.<br /><br />"'cuz I'm not a... Dark Knight?" he says, hazarding a guess. "I don't do the dark-and-creepy thing. Sorry."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel says "A number curious. That's not a commeon and wait no there's no gates here and I'm not a teleporter don't make me get my light cycle out I'll just out strip all of you on a full out straight away like this. <br /><br /> "Eh she's not like most Dark Knights I know. Gaffgarion's not ... anything like this or any other dark knight I ever seen."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh... Yeah, the coat helps with the Dark-And-Creepy-Thing. I wouldn't go so far as to call it 'knight', though. That's a title! I'm not really landed!" She jokes, laughing easily. It's all this awkward blend of total straightfaced honesty and really... weird... forced-ness.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I do a lot of things! But sometimes... mostly... dark and creepy."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight nods at Kamon's advice, then resumes enjoying her walk toward Ramuh. "Fourteen? Is that a random number, or are there at least thirteen others like you?" Twilight asks Xion as they move along. When the seemingly young girl mentions dark and creepy, Twilight smiles softly. "My friend Pinkie Pie says in order to deal with dark and creepy, all you have to do is laugh. Of course, that only applies if the source of the creepiness is not actually trying to kill you."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight adds, "Then, Pinkie laughs while fighting." She shakes her head and giggles a bit.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well...yeah, they kind of are trying to limit exposure right now. It's more like they're trying to get people acclimated gradually so there aren't any accidents. We're mostly Humes so if we suddenly get, I don't know, ogre dignitaries from another world we run the risk of someone well.." <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyra waffles a little. She feels a little bad bringing it up to Twilight, clearly, but Kamon beats her to the punch and in a way more direct way. "Hopefully this is something that's not gonna be a problem forever. Maybe. I don't know. Hume stupidity is a forever problem." <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The girl sidesteps a little so she walks next to Twilight for a few seconds. "Not that I wouldn't mind seeing you cast magic, though. Extraversal magic! How /exciting/!"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"E4's another school here in this world. They're very...eeeh. Different? You struck me as one of their types." Kyra finally explains.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I guess that's true," Kamon replies awkwardly to Xion, not sure about anything she's saying at this point. "Most of the Knights I know don't have land either, Dark or not. Why's it dark and creepy," he asks, apparently curious.<br /><br />He allows Kyra to experiment with extraversal magic, because /that's/ a good idea.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>There is a rumble of thunder in the distance, as a thundercloud seems to detatch from the distant storms of Ramuh. It sails across the sky, pieces of it gradually skidding off as a majestic ship crests out of it like a wave. The craft is sleek and ornate, based on ancient styles reminiscent of Far Eastern ships on various Earths. A fleaming energy sail billows in the stormwind, carring yhe ship forward along with thrumming magitek engines. An arrwy of spires is mounted to a horseshoe-like attachment, crackling constantly with Jacob's Ladders, and sizzling beam projectors seem to stand at the ready to deal with threats. <br /><br />The ship bears the logo of the Murasame Family, and atop the foredeck stands a man in a midnight blue suit, his arms folded as he looks into the distance. <br /><br />Without speaking or any apparent signals, the ship comes to a halt near the group on the Great Span, and the man turns to look upon the group. "Hyral. Lionward." He pauses, studying Staren and Twilight for a moment. "Ah... Visitors. The unexpected arrives as lightning." <br /><br />He gestures with his hand and bows slightly. "I am Souji Murasame, of the Murasame Zaibatsu. Welcome to the world of Galianda. I trust Hyral and Lionward have been able to impart the basic knowledge of our world?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's not a random number. It's my number. I'm number fourteen! Of... ... ... It's a secret!" She explains. Looking around, her hands seem to twitch, as she sees... Things. To do. But she restrains herself.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I've got a mission. A mission to stop the heartless!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, to Kamon, she looks at him with a curous look. "Well, look at me!" She plucks at her dark robe. "Dark."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And I guess creepy! Yeah."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She mouths 'creepy' like it's some new and wonderous word.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then MURASAME SOUJI of the WEEB CLAN arrives.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As she does, she strikes a battle-ready pose. "Are you... A heartless?" The Hooded Girl 'Fourteen' wonders, before...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wait, no, you're just a person. Sorry! I'm looking for Heartless! And these people are very nice. I think!"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren gives a curious look at the mobile cloud. "Is that normal?" He points at it, and then... hey, airship! That's cool. Staren looks at Souji, then at Kamon and Kyra. "Friend of yours?" He looks back at Souji. "I guess, some of it? I'm sure there's tons more basic information we haven't covered. Mostly we've been covering super preliminary geography. Did you know on most worlds you can't walk to the moon, and the sun isn't shaped like a bird?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel Says "So this would be a problem for me visiting given I'm not human /at/ all. Also nothing wrong with a name that's a number right? It's not so strange to see it where I'm frum to be perfecly honest." <br /><br /> She looks to the new arrival and bows slightly at him. <br /><br /> "Greetings, Hume. I'm Deelel."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The mobile cloud seems to be regarded by Kyra with little surprise. "Figured he would be along eventually." Is all that's really offered before Souji flies in on his fancy, fancy airship to make his extra impressive show of an entrance. The white mage seems completely unsurprised by this behavior-up until the point where the airship actually slows. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It only strikes Kyra that Souji's probably just as curious about their visitors as they are. "Hello Murasame. Off to explore some brave new worlds?" <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"He's our classmate too." Kyra asides to Staren.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight eyerolls lightly and giggles softly at Fourteen's response. "I see. Well, I know all too well that secrets should be kept." she says as she continues trotting along merrily. Then to Kyra, she smiles. "I would be happy to demonstrate my magic for you. It isn't often someone actually wants to see my magic. Other than my special somepo-...somebody, Staren." she says, smiling brightly toward him. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the airship appears, Twilight is once again awed. So many amazing spectacles here! As Souji introduces himself, Twilight bows her head respectfully, then smiles. "I am Twilight Sparkle. It is nice to meet you."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren smiles as Twilight mentions him, then looks concerned. "Really? You're like, the third most powerful mage on your planet and nobody cares?" Staren thinks about this. "...I guess I've never /seen/ anybody make a big deal about it, and Ponyville doesn't seem to particularly care that much about magic, but... Really? As much as I like hanging around you, I'm only there a pretty small percentage of the time -- I just figured you dealt with magic business when I wasn't around." Beat. "Man, you know what? Maybe you should, like, do magic demonstrations for the foals in school. Get more ponies interested in it. Like those chemistry demonstrations that always have at least one explosion." Beat. "...You could do science demonstrations, too. .../I/ could do science demonstrations."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kamon mutters something like 'no, not really' in Staren's direction.<br /><br />He got kind of awkwardly quiet when Souji showed up. How strange.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Souji glances over to Xion for a moment. His expression is measuring, but it appears that he is witholding judgement for the moment. "I possess a heart." He replies. "Please, describe to me these 'heartless' you seek." Staren's response causes Souji to nod. "Assuming that all worlds would be like ours is foolishness. We will have much to learn about what lies beyond the gate that has opened." <br /><br />Deelel then addressed him, and he inclines his head. "A pleasure, Deelel." The greeting from Twilight causes Souji only a moment of pause before he inclines his head once more. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Twilight Sparkle. To be the third greatest mage as he claims is no small feat. Mastery is its own reward." <br /><br />He glances back over to Staren. "So you are a scientist?" He inquires. "Are you contracted to an organization or are you indepenent?"<br /><br />Souji's behavior is graceful, but businesslike. It seems clear that he doesn't let his emotions get in the way of his work. It might remind Xion of some people, who knows!<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren is /slightly/ disappointed that Souji shows no look of incredulity or surprise when told that elsewhere the sun is not shaped like a bird. Alas.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren nods. "I'm Staren, researcher of problems for the Union. I mean, I can help other people too, but if you're looking to fill full-time positions, I don't think I can do that. Actually, my specialty was combat robotics engineering, but in encountering the multiverse I've branched out... studied magic and stuff, whatever there was... there's a lot to figure out! I hope that one day I'll figure out the underlying rules of reality and use that knowledge to make stuff to help people!" He frowns and mutters to himself, "Findings so far are kind of troubling, though..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren blinks. "So, who are you, anyway?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight actually seems confused by Staren's little rant. "Well...I am not sure I am the third most powerful. There may be other, more powerful mages out there." she says, though she smiles soon afterword. "It is sweet of you to be upset about it, though. And I suppose minor demonstrations would be alright. But, I wouldn't want to upset anyone. Most unicorns have to focus on a certain area of magic use. To display my unrestricted magic could be offensive to those ponies who cannot move beyond their specialty."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion... Slutes. "Oh! And I'm xi-... I mean Fourteen! That's my number. Sorry, my name is a secret. I think! I'll get back to you on that!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She just kind of stands there, then, when Souji talks to other people. She adjusts her hood a little bit, making sure her face remains Mostly Covered. Then she sort of... Stares off into the distance. Two blue shining eyes covered in darkness kind of glaze over as she just tunes out of the world.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"He's Souji Murasame, of the Murasame Zaibatsu!" She parrots to Staren, almost automatically.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she's grinning at everyone else, again. "So! A Heartless is like a normal person, except, it's just the Heart. And it's evil and black and a monster, so you need to kill them. Specially! With a Key-blade." As she speaks, she casually outstretches her hand, and with a sworl of pale light, the Kingdom Ke-I mean, Heart's Desire forms. (It's literally the design Kingdom Key with a different keychain).<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Like this! And when they die... Uh... I dunno! I was told to hunt them, though. To 'Test Me Out' or something?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren blinks at Xion, then facepalms. "Shit, he /did/ say that, didn't he?" He looks back to Souji. "I'm sorry. I'm just... distracted today, I guess." He waves a hand to indicate the EXCITING ENTIRELY NEW WORLD.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Souji listens to Staren's response carefully. His expression does not change, but there is a tinge in his voice, a shading in tone as he replies simply. "A pity. Should you decide to seek out productive and satisfying employment, we will be waiting." He smiles thinly as he is asked who he is just after he introduced himself.<br /><br />Xion then fills Souji in, and he listens to the commentary. "A new type of monster, then." He states. For those who have vision sharp enough to notice such things, one of the lenses of his glasses is flickering through a series of small pictures of creatures and data sheets, presumably with relevant information on the creatures shown. "I will be sure to notify my security teams to be on the lookout for these creatures, and this... Key-blade." He comments, and then watches as Xion creates her Keyblade. "What information do you have on the Key-blade? Are these weapons available for manufacture or purchase?" He asks, a tone of dubiousness entering his voice.<br /><br />Staren's convession of distraction causes Souji to give the faintest of smiles. "Beware distraction. Such things can be lethal in this world." <br /><br />Finally, Twilight mentions offending others, and he actually fully turns towards Twilight Sparkle. "To not accept your ability and use it to its fullest would be a far greater insult to those people. All beings are not created equal. There are differences in education, in behavior, in talent, genetics, personality, and pure effort that can determine the difference between success and failure. Do not be worried that your talents might offend others to exercise to their limits. It is only by seeking out those limits that you can learn how best to use your abilities and expand upon them. Those who would criticize you, hate you, or fear you for such a thing are being held back by their inability to dedicate themselves, and seek out a channel to blame for their own failures. If you wish to improve, to truly become great, do not be concerned with such matters. Such detritus only harms you in the end for the satisfaction of those who are too burdened with their flaws to rise up."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel is taking note of Souji so he's fairly well to do in the nature of business for a moment and nods to xion and pauses for a moment. <br /><br /> "Just the heart? I assume it's not the organ that some life forms have and key-blade?" <br /><br /> She pauses looking intenly at the weapon for a moment. <br /><br /> "You said they were black with yellow eyes? I ... had a vision of creatures like that they ... seemed to hunger for me. I wonder ... if it was a for warning about these heartless?" <br /><br /> She nods to Souji <br /><br /> "Pay attention to your surroundings or you might end up cubed." <br /><br /> Deelel pauses for a moment. <br /><br /> "A curious out look on life."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh man, that was embarassing. Staren can't believe he just did that. Uuuuugh. After a moment though, the 'who cares? This is some rich kid, you don't need his validation' part of his mind slips into place. Especially when Souji insinuates that his present work helping people and unraveling the secrets of the multiverse isn't productive and satisfying.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The info on heartless is kind of intyeresting, but right now it's less interesting than this new world.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He looks to Twilight following Souji's little speech. "If somepony wants to use magic and can't... There would still be the option of learning magic from other worlds, right? And there might even be a way to get people access to magic. Aren't there magic items? Maybe there are even unconventional ways to use earth pony or pegasus magic... I never thought about all this. Maybe one of the future yous already knows? Couldn't hurt to ask about it." Although, he's admittedly not sure that Grim Future Twilight would part with such secrets for fear they might be used to empower people who would rise against her, and the magic of the /other/ future world is probably completely different.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:411|Twilight Sparkle (411)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight giggles softly at Xion catching Staren in his error. Then...she blinks in surprise at getting a lecture. After which she is smiling again. "You misunderstand, Souji. I do not deny my abilities. I simply feel I should not display them simply for the sake of displaying them. No one likes a show-off. I study quite diligently to improve my magical skills, and I am well aware that not everyone is born with the same level of talent. It is when one falls into the category of 'showboating', as Applejack calls it, that one risks alienating others. And that is something I wish to avoid. As a defender of my world, I cannot and do not hesitate to use my most powerful magics when the situation calls for it. That lesson was taught to me long ago when a troublesome pony called Trixie came to Ponyville." <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twilight paushes a moment, raising a hoof to her chin as she thinks. "The only times I have been criticized or mocked concerning my magic were times when I was facing an opponent who already disliked me, or was too arrogant to admit that their magic did not rival mine. It isn't that anyone in my world dislikes my magic. It is just that there is no need or any requests to show it off." <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Staren goes off into thinking about things again, and Twilight smiles warmly before approaching him. "I should return to Equestria." she says to the group, then gives Staren a hug with her forelegs before turning to wave a hoof goodbye to the others. "It was nice to meet you all!" She then turns to gallop back down the Great Span toward the warp gate.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I see." Is all Souji says in reply to Twilight. "Then I am mistaken. My apologies." He gives another small bow."Perhaps we will have the opportunity to see your potential in the future. Farewell." <br /><br />"Does her homeland not possess any kind of schooling to teach such things?" Souji asks of Staren. "Surely a land which values and respects such ability would seek to foster a greater amount of it." He says simply. Don't worry, Staren. Souji surely didn't insinuate that in response to you insinuating he was an ignorant backwater hick.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion falls into that almost stasis-like silence once more, as other people speak, before coming animate - figuratively and almost literally - again.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She gives a few test swipes of Heart's Desire, the incredibly shittily designed weapon akin to a fancy piece of lead piping with a shitty handle and some key motifs making it even more useless as a weapon.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's not even good at piping.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Uhh... Somepony? Somepony..." Xion seems very confused with this word. "What's a somepony? Or is it Some Pony?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She waves goodbye to Twilight cheerily, helpfully opening a portal to the CORRIDORS OF DARKNESS which are insanely unwelcoming and practically teeming with ultimate black darkness.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's also the normal portal. Over there.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Anyway, the Keyblade is a weapon of... uh... the heart? I'm not really sure. Anyway, I have one, and a few other people do, and its our jobs to stop the heartless! They're unique and you can't take them away from their users, really. Also you can't weild them unless you're a keyblade weilder. Which... I guess... I am? It's kind of fuzzy. Just like everything else. Hey, is that an airship?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion hops up, into the air, and... double jumps up onto the deck of Souji's ship, her keyblade sworling back into nonexistance as she does so.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If anyone was watching her, the second jump was her launching off a gray, flat, zipperlike trampoline object. Then she just sort of... starts wandering in. Even if he says no. "Ooh, I'd love to be an airship engineer today, that'd be... fun, right?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She pauses, on deck, waiting for confirmation. "Right? Fun's the right one, not... yeah I'm pretty sure it's fun."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She beams at everyone. The smile is both entirely genuine and insanely fake.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren scratches his head. "She's got a point. Most ponies can use only a very limited amount of magic. While I'm sure there are others like her that can use a wider variety of magic, they're rarer. I wasn't thinking about that when I suggested that maybe more foals need to be inspired to become magicians. However... It's a bit weird. In her world... Sometime in childhood, people /always/ figure out what their special talent is, and almost always they are happy to do that. Noone's ever jealous because they can't fly like a pegasus, or use magic like a unicorn. So maybe it's possible, that if young children were inspired to take interest in science and magic, that you'd get more ponies who find special talents in those areas... Or maybe it's the other way around, and the ones who take interest are the ones who would have eventually found their talents lied there eventually. I haven't really gotten a good chance to study it. I can't really ethically set up a controlled experiment to screw with people's destiny."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Although, now that he thinks about it, there are a few who break the pattern. Luna was once unhappy with her lot, Jinxel and Bramble were rejected by society, and the palace gardener apparently never /found/ a talent. He'd forgotten about that guy. What does it mean? Augh, there are so many mysteries in the Multiverse...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Like what is 14 going on about? ANd why is her name 14? That's kind of ominous. But... he can't ignore this new world to focus on that, right now.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel says "...a strange verbal tick he's picked up don't mind it and I see most curious and I see there's few weapons kike that. I know how it is to be fuzzy, it's ... not natural for one of my kind. I had to make due with it. Different cultures if I'd just stayed where I was I'd be a dead end gladiator in a bastards illegal death pits." <br /><br /> She pauses for a moment and peers at Staren. <br /><br /> "So says the man whose a demi god of myth on one world."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren looks a bit flustered at Deelel. "I only, like, /just/ found out about that! Besides, I'm a really /minor/ demigod. Like, in their videogames I'm always that guy that gives you the airship, or I can be summoned for some kind of super-analysis ability or intelligence buff spell. I'm not, like, the god kids. What does that have to do with mucking about with people's destinies, anyway?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Souji squints at the opening of the Corridor, but he says nothing. It seems like he has dismissed the possibilities of keyblades already. "There are positions for trained engineers available." Souji replies to Xion. "Please do not board unless invited to do so, however." He turns away, clearly expecting Xion to take the hint and leave.<br /><br />He might be disappointed. <br /><br />"A destiny is only as good as the person who follows it. But I suppose if they do not deserve the effort, you do not need to lend them your assistance."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren turns back to Souji and blinks. "Okay, I guess I /am/ totally cool with meddling with destinies to, like, /save/ people. A destiny of living under a tyrant or dying early or destitute sucks. But the ponies don't /need/ the help, at least not as much as some other people. Maybe not many of them share the same kind of ambitions I would, but they have their own, and they seem to be happy."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren stifles a yawn. "Man... I dunno how long your day is here, but it's getting late. I kinda..." He looks toward Ramuh, "Didn't think I'd be stopping to talk for this long. I'll have to see Ramuh another time. Nice meeting you," a handshake is offered, and then he turns to Xion and offers the same, "And you. Good luck finding those Heartless. That's some... interesting tricks you can do."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren stretches, and then... Orange energy wings manifest on his back, like stylized insect wings. They are't actually quite /touching/ his back. They flutter, and he hovers a bit off the ground. "See you around." He offers a brief wave to the group before flying just above the road, back towards the warpgate.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion stands on the deck, rummaging around in her pockets for a few moments as Staren and Souji and Deelel trade words. Then, she exclaims, proudly. "Ha-HA! My parts goggles!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She then pulls down her hood, turned away (revealing her short cut black hair), pulls on a pair of blast goggles, and then pulls up her hood again. Then she gives Souji a big double thumbs up.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Got my parts goggles. Okay! Now I'm ready."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she just sort of wanders into the Airship. Souji probably wants to deal with that.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Souji watches Staren go. "What an unreasonably idyllic place." Souji comments to no one in particular, and then turns towards Xion as she begins trying to get belowdecks. <br /><br />Souji has already informed the onboard security that an unauthorized person is attempting to gain entrance. A pair of Murasame Security guards are in the doorway. "No admittance." One of them grunts. <br /><br />"You will have to submit a job application like the others. Additionally, this airship does not work the same way as the others." Souji adds from behind Xion.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:8|Deelel (8)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Deelel looks at Staren with a goofy grin on her face. <br /><br /> "True." <br /><br /> Given she's basicallyt the goddess of cyberspace she's keeping quiet. <br /><br /> "It's curious givne how humes and other racesw see it. Mine's always born for a purpose." <br /><br /> she looks at Xion and can't help but laugh about the goggles it was amusing to her. <br /><br /> "He gets like that he's kinda of got his heads in the clouds."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion looks at the guards. She isn't sad, or crestfallen, or anything.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This is because she doesn't know what any of those things mean.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead, she just walks right up to them, and starts very calmly taking off her goggles. "... Oh! Right, I'm supposed to say things. Please let me in to your amazing airship, so I may parts-things!" She requests, quite chipperly.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Turning back to Souji, she beams from behind her goggles and hood. "I'm very good. At everything! I have many skills. Like Parts! And Maths! And... Wires! Ooh, well, it's easier to say what I don't have sills in."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She puts her hands on her hips, beaming. "Which is nothing! Erm, that I know of. I've got lots. So... I'm really certain I could find something and fix it! Maybe. What's a job application?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She wracks her head for a solution, but since the problem is not in front of her, she's got nothing.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Also, do you have the ability to summon friends too? That was very fast!" She comments, about the Goonsquad.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"... Of course." After all this, Xion might see Souji betray the slightest sense of frustration or impatience in a slow exhalation. "A job application is a form that you complete that lists your skills and abilities. You send it to our corporate departments, and we will see if we can make use of your apparently... voluminous talents." <br /><br />To the last question, Souji simply replies, "I have a radio."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh. Well... That makes sense." Xion offers, seeming to come down off her emotive high. Or, rather, finally hit a snag. So she sort of lightly smiles without any fakeness, and nods. "So... You want me to sign some papers, to see your stuff. Also to work for you? Well, that may be an issue. I'm... busy." 'Fourteen' explains, before nodding. "But I have a lot of skills! They're mine and at the same time they're not. I'm trying to find what /I'm/ good at, you see. And do the whole heartless-stopping thing. It's my mission!"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>This Fourteen person is exceptionally confusing. "There are no Heartless here to my knowledge." Souji replies. "If that changes you can be notified through a method of your choice." <br /><br />The Ame-no-Torfune draws closer to the Great Span. "In the meantime, please disembark. I have to continue on to Alexander Academy and I am in danger of running behind schedule." He froens faintly. "I do not run behind schedule."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:630|Xion (630)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xion nods solemnly. "Oh! I'm sorry. I don't want you to have to deny what you are on account of me." She replies, before hopping off the Intensely-Weeb-Name to land on the Great Span in a crouch, standing back up and waving at Souji Murasame. "Maybe next time you can tell me about Dark Knights. I'm apparently one!" She grins, before there is a sworl of darkness about her, and she is consumed by it and gone.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She leaves not a trace! Poof.<br> <br><br />
}}</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Family_Matters_(Cell)&diff=8924Family Matters (Cell)2015-05-14T17:15:45Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2015/05/14 |Location=Red Ribbon Regiment Outpost |Synopsis=Android Seventeen awakens in a laboratory, loomed over by an unfamiliar redhead. |T..."</p>
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<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2015/05/14<br />
|Location=Red Ribbon Regiment Outpost<br />
|Synopsis=Android Seventeen awakens in a laboratory, loomed over by an unfamiliar redhead.<br />
|Thanks=<br />
|Cast of Characters=696<br />
|Tinyplot=<br />
}}<br />
Consciousness.<br />
<br />
His eyes flickered open on an unfamiliar ceiling. It was white, and sterile, and lacking in anything that could be called details. Brilliant, fluorescent lights flooded down on him, bringing back unpleasant memories of an old man with white hair and a white mustache looming over him with a scalpel. He shivered, and tried to sit up, and look around, but a cold and heavy hand pressed against his chest. The feeling of the scalpel cutting into his flesh leaped into his mind again, and along with it, the old man's voice: "There, there, Lapis, Lazuli. It will all be over, soon. You'll be better soon. You'll be so much better soon."<br />
<br />
"NO!" Android Seventeen roared, struggling against the hand.<br />
<br />
"Counterargument: yes," came a strangely soothing robotic voice. The ice-cold - metal-cold? - hand rose and fell gently, patting him on the stomach, "Smalltalk module loaded. You have been under a great deal of duress. You have had a troublesome day. You are emotionally fragile. Please relax and rest, GR-0 Model Seventeen."<br />
<br />
Seventeen shook his head, trying to clear the uncomfortable ringing sensation and the hideous old man's face from his mind. Sensors whirred into focus, clicking together one by one as Seventeen's processes came back up to speed. There were...why was it taking so long? What was wrong with him? Diagnostic systems. He needed to start running them, now. His fingers rose to his face, pressing against his forehead, as his eyes slipped over towards the owner of the metal hand.<br />
<br />
It was vast. No, that wasn't the right word - it was huge, but not vast. Vast was bigger than huge, and this guy was just...huge. He was the kind of guy you saw in wrestling, or down on a dude ranch somewhere, a big guy with big muscles who exuded manliness just by standing around and being big and buff. His arms were practically the size of Seventeen's head. No wonder he'd been able to hold Seventeen down so easily - no, wait. That didn't make sense. But what had he said? About being a GR-0 Model? Nobody but the Red Ribbon Androids said that kinda thing. Plus, he was really familiar...hadn't he been somewhere with him? And that Kakarot dude? No, his memories were too jumbled right now. He just shook his head.<br />
<br />
"You're like me, huh," Seventeen said, his voice flat and dull, "Did the old man screw with you, too? Did he take your life for some fucked-up experiment? Or were you a lucky volunteer?"<br />
<br />
"Negative: I am not like you." The massive, weighty hand on Seventeen's chest lifted, allowing him to sit up. Seventeen rubbed his forehead again. His diagnostics indicated several scars that hadn't been there before. What? Why were those there? And there wasn't rhyme or reason to them, either - arms, legs, chest, head, they were just all over the place, like someone had been poking around at his innards, trying to figure out how he worked. Another shot of cold dread raced through him.<br />
<br />
"Is he still here?" The black-haired cyborg demanded, his hand reaching for his big counterpart's neck. His bright blue eyes widened as he started into the face of the unfamiliar Artificial Human, and his voice dropped to a whisper. "Is he still alive? Did he come back for us?"<br />
<br />
Click. Whirrrrr.<br />
<br />
The lights went out, bathing the room in darkness for no more than an instant. Then, a screen flicked on, replacing the bright and fluorescent surgery lights with flickering brilliance. Slow-paced, jazzy saxophone music swelled to fill every inch of the operating space. And on the screen-<br />
<br />
Android Seventeen's functions nearly crashed.<br />
<br />
On the screen was everything he had ever feared. The nightmare. The predator. The monster in green. The demon bug made to eat him and his sister to satisfy Gero's insane god complex. The so-called ultimate life form. Android Twenty-One. Commander Green.<br />
<br />
Cell.<br />
<br />
Seventeen reflexively inched backwards along the table. It was just a screen - but what it meant, what it SAID to him, was so much more terrifying than a screen could ever be. It said that he was in Cell's custody. The memories came flooding back to him as he stared at the creature that was, in many ways, the exemplar of all his fears combined - memories of Android Sixteen, of the Red Ribbon Regiment's actions against Kakarot, of Vegeta, of...of all kinds of things. Ki started gathering in his hand.<br />
<br />
Cell held up a hand and uncrossed his legs in the fine black leather chair. "Please," he buzzed, "Don't get up on my account. And relax. You're our guest."<br />
<br />
"The hell I am!" Seventeen snapped, "I know what you are! I know what you're gonna do to me! I'm not interested in being in some freaky bug-guy's pantry with my fucked-up ro-bro playing warden! Let me go right now I torch this whole fucking base!"<br />
<br />
"Well, that's great," Cell admitted, reaching down next to him. He uncorked a bottle of wine and poured it slowly into a glass that just...manifested on screen, "I mean, it might cost me a bit, but all the staff's been evacuated except Sixteen, and believe me when I say I'm confident in his ability not to die to you two. Besides. Don't you want to hear what I want from you?"<br />
<br />
"No!" Seventeen snapped, trying to get to his feet. But he was weak in the knees. Had Cell done something to him? Some kind of program, or-<br />
<br />
"You should lie down," Cell offered, a note of...concern?...creeping into his voice, "I need you to lie down, Seventeen."<br />
<br />
"So you can come eat me? I don't think so!" The ki gathering in Seventeen's hand was almost ready. Any minute now, and he'd blast the whole place open.<br />
<br />
"Seventeen." Cell set the wine down on the desk in front of him and leaned forward. "I'm not going to lie to you. Looking at you makes me so hungry it's frankly terrifying. You and our sister make me lose control when I see you. It's programmed into me. It's part of me. It's coded right down into my DNA. I want to be Perfect so bad that even the sight of you has my mouth watering, or it would if my mouth could water, or was a mouth."<br />
<br />
"I knew it!"<br />
<br />
"And that's why I'm not anywhere near you."<br />
<br />
That completely derailed Seventeen. He stared at the screen, then glanced wildly at Sixteen for confirmation. The big red-haired android simply bobbed his head and offered an "affirmative". Seventeen's gaze trailed back to Cell's.<br />
<br />
"So...why'd you kidnap us, then? If you're not gonna eat us."<br />
<br />
Cell leaned back in his chair again, steepling his slender green fingers. "Well, on the practical side, I needed to study you. Gero did something to you two that made you compatible with my evolution process. I don't know what it is, but we've done some exploratory surgery - through Sixteen, I was never within a mile of you once transport was done - and some diagnostic scans, and I'm hoping to get the output soon."<br />
<br />
"So what's the other side?" Seventeen crossed his arms, dispersing the ki blast. He could afford to listen before he blew the place up. He had time, if Cell wasn't anywhere near them. He could be lying, but...well, what did he have to gain from lying? He could've eaten them already.<br />
<br />
Cell's face twisted in what might've been a frown if he had lips to frown with. "You're family."<br />
<br />
Seventeen could feel his jaw trying to fall off.<br />
<br />
Shoddy workmanship.<br />
<br />
He worked it for a moment, glancing over at Eighteen. She was starting to stir. "...seriously?"<br />
<br />
"Very seriously," came Cell's buzzing reply, "Serious as a heart attack. Serious as Vegeta's attitude problem."<br />
<br />
"Affirmative," Sixteen confirmed, "Serious levels are at one hundred percent."<br />
<br />
Both Cell and Seventeen went silent, staring at the big red machine-man for a moment. Cell broke the silence first with a gentle, scraping cough. "Anyway. I'm a businessman, Seventeen. I communicate in deals. So I'm gonna give you the deal of a lifetime right now. You can take door number one, door number two, or door number three."<br />
<br />
"Is this some kind of game to you? I thought you said this was serious."<br />
<br />
"I always try to inject a little levity into the situation," came the reply.<br />
<br />
"...alright. What's behind Door Number One?"<br />
<br />
Cell held up a finger, resting his chin on his other arm, his elbow against the desk. "Door Number One is the easy one. You leave. You never come back. You never get revenge on the old man for reals, you never get to find out how deep the rabbit hole goes, you take the pill and wake up, reference, reference, you get out." <br />
<br />
"That one."<br />
<br />
"Not so fast," Cell countered, "Door Number Two and Three are still closed."<br />
<br />
"OK. Door Number Two."<br />
<br />
"Door Number Two is the one where I eat you."<br />
<br />
"Hard pass." Seventeen frowned, "I don't think you're a very good salesman there, little bro."<br />
<br />
Cell's compound eyes widened, with (probably) mock insult. "I am an *excellent* salesman. I've saved the best for last."<br />
<br />
Seventeen groaned and hopped off the table, shaking Eighteen awake. "I want to leave. We're taking Door Number One. Don't try to stop us."<br />
<br />
"Wouldn't dream of it. But while you're waking her up, I'm gonna tell you about Door Number Three."<br />
<br />
"Fine, whatever," Seventeen waved his hand, "We've got shit to do."<br />
<br />
"Door Number Three is that you come work for me killing people who need to die, with a paycheck full of digits longer than your arm, self-indulgent violence of the highest order, a command position in the Red Ribbon Regiment, and my personal guarantee that I will never be anywhere near you until my back-up plan's gone through and you're safe from my all-consuming hunger."<br />
<br />
Seventeen paused. He turned to the screen, hand on his hip. "You seriously think I believe you'd trust us like that?"<br />
<br />
"Why wouldn't I?" Cell inquired, his voice like honey - and the bees who make it.<br />
<br />
"Uh, hello? Have you met us? Do you know how long we've been waiting to screw Vegeta over?" Seventeen rolled his shoulders as Eighteen stood, recoiled, and backed away from the screen. He put his hand on his sister's shoulder. She was trembling. He didn't blame her. "It's cool. He's not anywhere near us. And he's making us a job offer, or something."<br />
<br />
"Why, yes, as a matter of fact. I had Sixteen poke around in your code. You haven't been under his programming for a long time, have you?" Cell's voice beamed with what might be pride. "You've been playing a very long game, and I admire that. I happen to be a master of it myself. Runs in the family."<br />
<br />
"He poked around in our brains?" Eighteen demanded, outrage passing fear as her finger leveled at the big red-haired giant. Cell threw up his hands on-screen.<br />
<br />
"Woah, woah, calm down. He did it to make sure there weren't any traces of Vegeta's slapdash bullshit in there. We installed a new version of GR-0 - we're calling it RRR at the moment. It's for the new-model Androids, once I finish designing them. A self-replicating defensive virus that'll attack any incoming malicious code and tear it to bits. Sixteen developed it after that *debacle* with the Rantadroids. We needed something firmer than GR-0, something we could use to actually defend ourselves from that angle of attack in case somebody tried it on Sixteen. Or you. But," Cell steepled his fingers, "There's no mind control component. No directives. No orders. It's my gift to you. Make up for all the Christmases we never got together."<br />
<br />
"...." Seventeen looked away from the screen. "So you just...kidnapped us and set us free, and you're making us a job offer that we don't have to take, and you won't kill us if we decide to bail?"<br />
<br />
"I will not," Cell confirmed, "I may phone you and ask you to help me with my grand and gloriously insane master plan, should your diagnostic readouts and surgery results not prove to be enough, but I highly doubt it. Sixteen and I are very good at deciphering Gero's bullshit. But, if you decide not to take my offer, no strings attached. You can walk out of here free and clear."<br />
<br />
"And..." Eighteen leaned forward, "And if we do take your offer..."<br />
<br />
"You get to be rich, powerful, respected, feared, and extremely, hilariously violent. And you'll be working with our eldest brother, Android Sixteen, with whom you have already become acquainted, in order to protect you from me. You'll take special cases and deal with special problems, and you will get to kill people who you'll not only enjoy killing, but - and this is the best bit - people'll thank you and pay you for killing them. Take it from me," Cell added, waving at his desk, "It's the best life you could ask for."<br />
<br />
Seventeen frowned.<br />
<br />
"Can we have some time to think about it?"<br />
<br />
"Sure you can," Cell waved his hand again, "Take a few days. Enjoy the base. If you don't want in, keep the base. Another little gift. When you've made your decision, you just tell Sixteen, and he'll let me know." The screen blinked off, the lights whirred back on, and the fluorescent harshness resurged.<br />
<br />
Seventeen looked over at his sister. She was already standing and stretching. "So what do you think, sis? Do we take the big bug up on his offer?"<br />
<br />
Eighteen shrugged. "Dunno. It sounds pretty nice. But can we trust him?"<br />
<br />
"Can *he* trust *us*?"<br />
<br />
"Well..." Eighteen glanced over at Sixteen. Seventeen followed her gaze. He strolled over to the big Android and rapped him on the chest with a broad grin. He was starting to feel more like himself already. More like himself than he'd been able to feel in years.<br />
<br />
"Hey, big guy. How do *you* like working for the Cockroach Kid?"<br />
<br />
Sixteen thought about it.<br />
<br />
"He is my brother," came Sixteen's reply, "And I enjoy his company and his presence."<br />
<br />
Seventeen blinked. Eighteen did the same. They looked at each other for a long moment, then turned back to Sixteen. Seventeen crossed his arms. "And if we work with you...we'll be your family, too, huh?"<br />
<br />
"Negative."<br />
<br />
"What?"<br />
<br />
"You are already our family. You will simply be joining the family business."<br />
<br />
"And the family business is murder, right?" Eighteen pressed, hands on her hips. She leaned forward and grinned. "'cause, gotta tell ya, big brother...we're really good at murder."<br />
<br />
"Affirmative. That is the family business."<br />
<br />
Seventeen grinned. He knew where she was going with this.<br />
<br />
"Yanno what? I think we're in."<br />
<br />
"Wait," Eighteen held up a hand, "I don't have to wear a *uniform*, do I?"</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Hearts_And_Minds_(Cell)&diff=8776Hearts And Minds (Cell)2015-05-08T17:22:21Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2015/05/08<br />
|Location=A Red Ribbon Regiment Base<br />
|Synopsis=Cell and Android Sixteen have a discussion about perfection, souls, and what it means to be alive.<br />
|Thanks=<br />
|Cast of Characters=696<br />
|Tinyplot=<br />
}}<br />
The door swung open easily for Android Sixteen. All doors in the Red Ribbon Regiment bases did, since he was the sub-Commander. The authority was second only to Cell himself. It was a strange change, Sixteen considered as he scanned the room, from being trapped in a tube.<br />
<br />
Cell stood, hunched over the operating table. On it were the ripped and twisted remains of a Red Ribbon Regiment uniform. Cell's tail had dug into the table itself - likely, Sixteen decided, out of anger.<br />
<br />
"What is it about me," Cell demanded, "That makes me perfect?" Sixteen's voice analyzer ran the question twice over before he settled on an answer - passing joke protocols and flattery routines (he never used those anyway) into the concern simulator.<br />
<br />
"Another failure?" The android monotoned. Cell's head tilted upwards.<br />
<br />
"Of course it was another failure," the commander buzzed, "It was brilliant, clever, and all kinds of smart. It was foolproof, but apparently it wasn't genius-proof." The bio-monster turned to face Sixteen, compound eyes narrowed in frustration.<br />
<br />
"So what do you think, big brother? What did the old man have that I don't have?" Cell's fist hammered through the operating table with a single motion, sending chunks of it flying every which way. Sixteen casually batted a hunk aside as he watched Cell start pacing around the room.<br />
<br />
"Nothing! Less than I have! He only had his own brain! I've got more genius than I know what to do with! The powers of a demigod! Pieces from every species known to man! So what is it?!" Cell roared, "What is it that I'm missing?"<br />
<br />
"Unknown," came Sixteen's steady reply. He weathered Cell's anger like a rock in a storm, unmoving despite the buffeting winds, "The project is not progressing to satisfaction."<br />
<br />
"No," Cell agreed, leaning against the remains of the table and pressing a hand to the gem on his forehead, "No it isn't. It's not progressing to my satisfaction. Whatever it is about me that makes me perfect, I can't isolate it." The biomonster barked out a cynical insectoid laugh. "Gero figured it out but I CAN'T!"<br />
<br />
"You are angry," Sixteen observed.<br />
<br />
Cell turned to look at his brother. Compound eyes stared at him, focusing slowly. "Of course I'm angry. I'm always angry. I don't know how to do anything but be angry, Sixteen. I can't do anything but hate, hate, hate."<br />
<br />
They'd had this conversation before. Sixteen's eyes did not move from Cell's. "Yes. Except me. And Son Gohan."<br />
<br />
"You're an exception," Cell waved his hand, "A hole in the programming. An exploit. A loop. I don't feel anything about you. Probably the same for the rest of the family."<br />
<br />
"And Son Gohan?" Sixteen pressed, "After your conversation with him, use of familial metaphors to describe Gero-type Artificial Humans has gone up ninety percent."<br />
<br />
Cell was quiet for a moment, moving to lean against the wall. His gaze became unfocused and distant, locked on the wall. Eventually, Sixteen moved next to the Commander and imitated his stance, big robot arms folded in front of broad robot chest. Cell's tail twitched thoughtfully.<br />
<br />
"I didn't hate the kid," Cell admitted, "That story about his dad...I don't know. Never felt.../feelings/ before. I wasn't aware I could. I didn't know the puppet could work without the strings. But now that I've felt it, I'm starting to wonder."<br />
<br />
"Wonder what?"<br />
<br />
"Will Seventeen and Eighteen make me perfect? Or just make me stronger?" Cell's eyes swung upwards. "What is it that makes a *soul*, Sixteen? What is it that makes a *person*, instead of what we are?"<br />
<br />
"Running search-"<br />
<br />
"Oh, don't do that, you big idiot." Cell tapped him on the arm gently. "You can't answer it. I've read enough to have an idea, though. Good and evil. Right and wrong. Feelings. Being free."<br />
<br />
Cell pushed off the wall and spread his arms. "We aren't free, buddy. We don't have souls. We march to the beat of the old man's drum, prisoners of our construction. We can't feel happy. We can't feel sad. You're a machine, and I'm...hate. Hate, hate, hate. Engraved in every tiny little strand of DNA, every single strand of RNA, every bit of my existence. Every neuron fires with the flames of wrath."<br />
<br />
"Affirmative," Sixteen countered, "We are built to fulfill a purpose. We are built to kill-"<br />
<br />
"Son Goku is dead!" Cell roared, rounding on Sixteen and pounding his fist into the wall next to the Android's head. The wall bent and groaned with the stress of it as Cell's face twisted, a mask of fury. "He is *dead*, Sixteen. We were made to kill a guy who never came back from Space. But I'm still shackled to that goddamned code! Because instead of a soul, instead of being a *person*, I'm a puppet, a robot, an abomination! I'm not even my own abomination! And the worst part is, I know everything that went into me, I know how to make another one...but I *can't*, and so I can't figure out how to fix what he did wrong, because whatever he did wrong, *I* can't even get to! Rrraaaah!"<br />
<br />
"Supposition," Android Sixteen offered, unblinking, "If you were to replace Seventeen and Eighteen with something to fill your missing elements..."<br />
<br />
Cell sighed and removed his hand, waving it as if that had actually hurt. Sixteen knew it had not. "Fill what elements, Sixteen? My capacity for good and evil? My ability to feel something other than the staggering, monumental rage that apparently is all Gero felt was needed? Besides, I don't know what elements go into Seventeen and Eighteen to complete me, and I'm not capable of doing anything but searching for perfection."<br />
<br />
"Observation. You have already recontextualized your mission of 'kill Son Goku' to 'kill All Saiyans'. If you recontextualize your search for perfection, and had access to Doctor Gero, it may be possible to alter your parameters."<br />
<br />
"I'd need-"<br />
<br />
Cell paused.<br />
<br />
His mandibles twisted. "The capacity for good and evil...access to Gero...and recontextualization of perfection."<br />
<br />
"You have created a plan," Sixteen noted.<br />
<br />
"Yeah. I think I have. But we need some supplies first. And we need our brother and sister to come home." Cell sat down on the ruined table and steepled his longer, wicked-looking fingers. "And we'll need to go see the little green guy."<br />
<br />
"Affirmative."<br />
<br />
"Get your coat, Sixteen," Cell pushed off the table and strolled out the door, a tuxedo assembling around him as he moved, "We're going to need to meet our maker."<br />
<br />
"Correction," Sixteen offered, "I do not possess a coat."</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Hearts_And_Minds_(Cell)&diff=8775Hearts And Minds (Cell)2015-05-08T17:15:52Z<p>SwordHunterGil: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2015/05/08<br />
|Location=A Red Ribbon Regiment Base<br />
|Synopsis=Cell and Android Sixteen have a discussion about perfection, souls, and what it means to be alive.<br />
|Thanks=<br />
|Cast of Characters=696<br />
|Tinyplot=<br />
}}<br />
The door swung open easily for Android Sixteen. All doors in the Red Ribbon Regiment bases did, since he was the sub-Commander. The authority was second only to Cell himself. It was a strange change, Sixteen considered as he scanned the room, from being trapped in a tube.<br />
<br />
Cell stood, hunched over the operating table. On it were the ripped and twisted remains of a Red Ribbon Regiment uniform. Cell's tail had dug into the table itself - likely, Sixteen decided, out of anger.<br />
<br />
"What is it about me," Cell demanded, "That makes me perfect?" Sixteen's voice analyzer ran the question twice over before he settled on an answer - passing joke protocols and flattery routines (he never used those anyway) into the concern simulator.<br />
<br />
"Another failure?" The android monotoned. Cell's head tilted upwards.<br />
<br />
"Of course it was another failure," the commander buzzed, "It was brilliant, clever, and all kinds of smart. It was foolproof, but apparently it wasn't genius-proof." The bio-monster turned to face Sixteen, compound eyes narrowed in frustration.<br />
<br />
"So what do you think, big brother? What did the old man have that I don't have?" Cell's fist hammered through the operating table with a single motion, sending chunks of it flying every which way. Sixteen casually batted a hunk aside as he watched Cell start pacing around the room.<br />
<br />
"Nothing! Less than I have! He only had his own brain! I've got more genius than I know what to do with! The powers of a demigod! Pieces from every species known to man! So what is it?!" Cell roared, "What is it that I'm missing?"<br />
<br />
"Unknown," came Sixteen's steady reply. He weathered Cell's anger like a rock in a storm, unmoving despite the buffeting winds, "The project is not progressing to satisfaction."<br />
<br />
"No," Cell agreed, leaning against the remains of the table and pressing a hand to the gem on his forehead, "No it isn't. It's not progressing to my satisfaction. Whatever it is about me that makes me perfect, I can't isolate it." The biomonster barked out a cynical insectoid laugh. "Gero figured it out but I CAN'T!"<br />
<br />
"You are angry," Sixteen observed.<br />
<br />
Cell turned to look at his brother. Compound eyes stared at him, focusing slowly. "Of course I'm angry. I'm always angry. I don't know how to do anything but be angry, Sixteen. I can't do anything but hate, hate, hate."<br />
<br />
They'd had this conversation before. Sixteen's eyes did not move from Cell's. "Yes. Except me. And Son Gohan."<br />
<br />
"You're an exception," Cell waved his hand, "A hole in the programming. An exploit. A loop. I don't feel anything about you. Probably the same for the rest of the family."<br />
<br />
"And Son Gohan?" Sixteen pressed, "After your conversation with him, use of familial metaphors to describe Gero-type Artificial Humans has gone up ninety percent."<br />
<br />
Cell was quiet for a moment, moving to lean against the wall. His gaze became unfocused and distant, locked on the wall. Eventually, Sixteen moved next to the Commander and imitated his stance, big robot arms folded in front of broad robot chest. Cell's tail twitched thoughtfully.<br />
<br />
"I didn't hate the kid," Cell admitted, "That story about his dad...I don't know. Never felt.../feelings/ before. I wasn't aware I could. I didn't know the puppet could work without the strings. But now that I've felt it, I'm starting to wonder."<br />
<br />
"Wonder what?"<br />
<br />
"Will Seventeen and Eighteen make me perfect? Or just make me stronger?" Cell's eyes swung upwards. "What is it that makes a *soul*, Sixteen? What is it that makes a *person*, instead of what we are?"<br />
<br />
"Running search-"<br />
<br />
"Oh, don't do that, you big idiot." Cell tapped him on the arm gently. "You can't answer it. I've read enough to have an idea, though. Good and evil. Right and wrong. Feelings. Being free."<br />
<br />
Cell pushed off the wall and spread his arms. "We aren't free, buddy. We don't have souls. We march to the beat of the old man's drum, prisoners of our construction. We can't feel happy. We can't feel sad. You're a machine, and I'm...hate. Hate, hate, hate. Engraved in every tiny little strand of DNA, every single strand of RNA, every bit of my existence. Every neuron fires with the flames of wrath."<br />
<br />
"Affirmative," Sixteen countered, "We are built to fulfill a purpose. We are built to kill-"<br />
<br />
"Son Goku is dead!" Cell roared, rounding on Sixteen and pounding his fist into the wall next to the Android's head. The wall bent and groaned with the stress of it as Cell's face twisted, a mask of fury. "He is *dead*, Sixteen. We were made to kill a guy who never came back from Space. But I'm still shackled to that goddamned code! Because instead of a soul, instead of being a *person*, I'm a puppet, a robot, an abomination! I'm not even my own abomination! And the worst part is, I know everything that went into me, I know how to make another one...but I *can't*, and so I can't figure out how to fix what he did wrong, because whatever he did wrong, *I* can't even get to! Rrraaaah!"<br />
<br />
"Supposition," Android Sixteen offered, unblinking, "If you were to replace Seventeen and Eighteen with something to fill your missing elements..."<br />
<br />
Cell sighed and removed his hand, waving it as if that had actually hurt. Sixteen knew it had not. "Fill what elements, Sixteen? My capacity for good and evil? My ability to feel something other than the staggering, monumental rage that apparently is all Gero felt was needed? Besides, I don't know what elements go into Seventeen and Eighteen to complete me, and I'm not capable of doing anything but searching for perfection."<br />
<br />
"Observation. You have already recontextualized your mission of 'kill Son Goku' to 'kill All Saiyans'. If you recontextualize your search for perfection, and had access to Doctor Gero, it may be possible to alter your parameters."<br />
<br />
"I'd need-"<br />
<br />
Cell paused.<br />
<br />
His mandibles twisted. "The capacity for good and evil...access to Gero...and recontextualization of perfection."<br />
<br />
"You have created a plan," Sixteen noted.<br />
<br />
"Yeah. I think I have. But we need some supplies first. And we need our brother and sister to come home." Cell sat down on the ruined table and steepled his longer, wicked-looking fingers. "And we'll need to go see the little green guy."<br />
<br />
"Affirmative."<br />
<br />
"Get your coat, Sixteen," Cell pushed off the table and strolled out the door, a tuxedo assembling around him as he moved, "We're going to need to meet our maker."</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Hearts_And_Minds_(Cell)&diff=8774Hearts And Minds (Cell)2015-05-08T17:14:23Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2015/05/08 |Location=A Red Ribbon Regiment Base |Synopsis=Cell and Android Sixteen have a discussion about perfection, souls, and what it mean..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2015/05/08<br />
|Location=A Red Ribbon Regiment Base<br />
|Synopsis=Cell and Android Sixteen have a discussion about perfection, souls, and what it means to be alive.<br />
|Thanks=<br />
|Cast of Characters=696<br />
|Tinyplot=<br />
}}<br />
The door swung open easily for Android Sixteen. All doors in the Red Ribbon Regiment bases did, since he was the sub-Commander. The authority was second only to Cell himself. It was a strange change, Sixteen considered as he scanned the room, from being trapped in a tube.<br />
<br />
<br />
Cell stood, hunched over the operating table. On it were the ripped and twisted remains of a Red Ribbon Regiment uniform. Cell's tail had dug into the table itself - likely, Sixteen decided, out of anger.<br />
<br />
<br />
"What is it about me," Cell demanded, "That makes me perfect?" Sixteen's voice analyzer ran the question twice over before he settled on an answer - passing joke protocols and flattery routines (he never used those anyway) into the concern simulator.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Another failure?" The android monotoned. Cell's head tilted upwards.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Of course it was another failure," the commander buzzed, "It was brilliant, clever, and all kinds of smart. It was foolproof, but apparently it wasn't genius-proof." The bio-monster turned to face Sixteen, compound eyes narrowed in frustration.<br />
<br />
<br />
"So what do you think, big brother? What did the old man have that I don't have?" Cell's fist hammered through the operating table with a single motion, sending chunks of it flying every which way. Sixteen casually batted a hunk aside as he watched Cell start pacing around the room.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Nothing! Less than I have! He only had his own brain! I've got more genius than I know what to do with! The powers of a demigod! Pieces from every species known to man! So what is it?!" Cell roared, "What is it that I'm missing?"<br />
<br />
<br />
"Unknown," came Sixteen's steady reply. He weathered Cell's anger like a rock in a storm, unmoving despite the buffeting winds, "The project is not progressing to satisfaction."<br />
<br />
<br />
"No," Cell agreed, leaning against the remains of the table and pressing a hand to the gem on his forehead, "No it isn't. It's not progressing to my satisfaction. Whatever it is about me that makes me perfect, I can't isolate it." The biomonster barked out a cynical insectoid laugh. "Gero figured it out but I CAN'T!"<br />
<br />
<br />
"You are angry," Sixteen observed.<br />
<br />
<br />
Cell turned to look at his brother. Compound eyes stared at him, focusing slowly. "Of course I'm angry. I'm always angry. I don't know how to do anything but be angry, Sixteen. I can't do anything but hate, hate, hate."<br />
<br />
<br />
They'd had this conversation before. Sixteen's eyes did not move from Cell's. "Yes. Except me. And Son Gohan."<br />
<br />
<br />
"You're an exception," Cell waved his hand, "A hole in the programming. An exploit. A loop. I don't feel anything about you. Probably the same for the rest of the family."<br />
<br />
<br />
"And Son Gohan?" Sixteen pressed, "After your conversation with him, use of familial metaphors to describe Gero-type Artificial Humans has gone up ninety percent."<br />
<br />
<br />
Cell was quiet for a moment, moving to lean against the wall. His gaze became unfocused and distant, locked on the wall. Eventually, Sixteen moved next to the Commander and imitated his stance, big robot arms folded in front of broad robot chest. Cell's tail twitched thoughtfully.<br />
<br />
<br />
"I didn't hate the kid," Cell admitted, "That story about his dad...I don't know. Never felt.../feelings/ before. I wasn't aware I could. I didn't know the puppet could work without the strings. But now that I've felt it, I'm starting to wonder."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Wonder what?"<br />
<br />
<br />
"Will Seventeen and Eighteen make me perfect? Or just make me stronger?" Cell's eyes swung upwards. "What is it that makes a *soul*, Sixteen? What is it that makes a *person*, instead of what we are?"<br />
<br />
<br />
"Running search-"<br />
<br />
<br />
"Oh, don't do that, you big idiot." Cell tapped him on the arm gently. "You can't answer it. I've read enough to have an idea, though. Good and evil. Right and wrong. Feelings. Being free."<br />
<br />
<br />
Cell pushed off the wall and spread his arms. "We aren't free, buddy. We don't have souls. We march to the beat of the old man's drum, prisoners of our construction. We can't feel happy. We can't feel sad. You're a machine, and I'm...hate. Hate, hate, hate. Engraved in every tiny little strand of DNA, every single strand of RNA, every bit of my existence. Every neuron fires with the flames of wrath."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Affirmative," Sixteen countered, "We are built to fulfill a purpose. We are built to kill-"<br />
<br />
<br />
"Son Goku is dead!" Cell roared, rounding on Sixteen and pounding his fist into the wall next to the Android's head. The wall bent and groaned with the stress of it as Cell's face twisted, a mask of fury. "He is *dead*, Sixteen. We were made to kill a guy who never came back from Space. But I'm still shackled to that goddamned code! Because instead of a soul, instead of being a *person*, I'm a puppet, a robot, an abomination! I'm not even my own abomination! And the worst part is, I know everything that went into me, I know how to make another one...but I *can't*, and so I can't figure out how to fix what he did wrong, because whatever he did wrong, *I* can't even get to! Rrraaaah!"<br />
<br />
<br />
"Supposition," Android Sixteen offered, unblinking, "If you were to replace Seventeen and Eighteen with something to fill your missing elements..."<br />
<br />
<br />
Cell sighed and removed his hand, waving it as if that had actually hurt. Sixteen knew it had not. "Fill what elements, Sixteen? My capacity for good and evil? My ability to feel something other than the staggering, monumental rage that apparently is all Gero felt was needed? Besides, I don't know what elements go into Seventeen and Eighteen to complete me, and I'm not capable of doing anything but searching for perfection."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Observation. You have already recontextualized your mission of 'kill Son Goku' to 'kill All Saiyans'. If you recontextualize your search for perfection, and had access to Doctor Gero, it may be possible to alter your parameters."<br />
<br />
<br />
"I'd need-"<br />
<br />
<br />
Cell paused.<br />
<br />
<br />
His mandibles twisted. "The capacity for good and evil...access to Gero...and recontextualization of perfection."<br />
<br />
<br />
"You have created a plan," Sixteen noted.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Yeah. I think I have. But we need some supplies first. And we need our brother and sister to come home." Cell sat down on the ruined table and steepled his longer, wicked-looking fingers. "And we'll need to go see the little green guy."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Affirmative."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Get your coat, Sixteen," Cell pushed off the table and strolled out the door, a tuxedo assembling around him as he moved, "We're going to need to meet our maker."</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Poison_(Fake_Avenger)&diff=7402Poison (Fake Avenger)2015-01-28T20:58:40Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2015/01/28 |Location=Inside The Holy Grail |Synopsis=Foreshadowing and conversation from the three figures of the Grail. |Thanks= |Cast of Cha..."</p>
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<div>{{Cutscene Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2015/01/28<br />
|Location=Inside The Holy Grail<br />
|Synopsis=Foreshadowing and conversation from the three figures of the Grail.<br />
|Thanks=<br />
|Cast of Characters=662<br />
|Tinyplot=<br />
}}<br />
Nothingness.<br />
<br />
<br />
It spread out in all directions. No, that is inaccurate. It is rather that it "was" all directions - that in this "place" outside existence, all things are "nothing". Since "direction", since "distance," since "time" are all "things", in this Nothing, none of those could possibly exist. This Nothing was a Nothing that swallowed all things distinct from itself and devoured them. Here, it was all.<br />
<br />
<br />
There were only two things distinct from "Nothing" here. <br />
<br />
<br />
One of them was a naked man in a gold necklace. Covered in red tattoos, he sat upon the nothing, his arms crossed. In his hand was an ancient jug. Despite his nakedness, he wore the mien of 'King', with an air of imperiousness and a regal bearing that defied all logic, all reason. It could be said that, wearing that mien of 'King', his rulership was such that even the Nothingness that swallowed all things could acknowledge his right to exist. <br />
<br />
<br />
The other was a naked swordsman with long purple hair, with a sword like solid moonlight slung across his back. Except for the red markings on either arm, he had no tattoos, no scars, no symbols of any sort. In his hand was a small bowl. In contrast to the man who was 'King', who sat with an air of arrogance and power that forced the Nothingness to obey, the swordsman wore the mien of 'No One'. Humble and passive, he was so insignificant to the world around him that it sometimes forgot his presence. It could be said that his humility was such that even the Nothingness that swallowed all things forgot that he had no right to exist.<br />
<br />
<br />
The third figure was the Nothingness. It had no shape, no face, but it was distinct from the 'King' and 'No One', so it had taken the form of a figure without gender. It had nothing. It wore nothing. It was 'Nothing', and all things that were not it could not exist, except for the King and No One.<br />
<br />
<br />
The three sit in silence, for there can be no noise within Nothing, as no air comes to ferry the words, and no sound emerges to send the messages on their way. Nonetheless, they speak. They are old, older than old, and well are they used to reading each other's bearings. At first, it was difficult, but as timelessness - as nothingness - wore on, they became adept at it. At first, the 'King' refused to even speak to 'No One'. Such a lowly figure meant nothing to the 'King'! <br />
<br />
<br />
Now they sat, a triangle of figures amidst the void. The 'King' pours from the jug into the bowl for 'No One'. 'No One' bows his head in thanks, and offers the same smile he has carried for an untold age. The 'King' scoffs and waves his hand, as if to say that such a favor costs nothing, and that he deserves no thanks for something so insignificant. 'No One' shrugs and sips from the bowl politely as the 'King' swigs from his jug, letting it spill down his face with delight.<br />
<br />
<br />
'Nothing' does not drink.<br />
<br />
<br />
'No One's mouth forms the word 'Saber'. The 'King's eyebrow rises, and he leans forward, his eagerness sketching the question his words could not make. 'No One' nods distantly over his bowl. The 'King' puts his hand against his head and laughs, his body shaking with silent mirth.<br />
<br />
<br />
'Nothing' does not laugh.<br />
<br />
<br />
The 'King' assaults him with questions. His hands and eyes ask what he cannot. How is she? Where is she? Will 'No One' see her again soon? When will 'No One' go to face her? 'No One' shrugs, purple hair rolling down his shoulders. All things would be as they must be, in time.<br />
<br />
<br />
We are not in time, the motion of the 'King's shoulders say as he leans forward. We are out of it, and that means we do not need to wait. I want you to see her, his eyes beg of 'No One'. I want you to tell me about her. 'No One' shrugs once more, looking away from the 'King'. All in due time, when I am part of it again.<br />
<br />
<br />
'Nothing' does not shrug.<br />
<br />
<br />
'No One' stands. He looks away from his feet. The 'King' knows what it means. He slumps forward; if air could have left his lungs, it would have, but no air existed, so he could not truly sigh. He looks up at 'No One'.<br />
<br />
<br />
You're going, then?<br />
<br />
<br />
'No One' nods. He holds up his hand. He does not want to stay long, says the motion, but the 'King' stops him and stands as well. There is a look of curiosity on his face.<br />
<br />
<br />
There is no look on 'Nothing's face.<br />
<br />
<br />
The 'King' reaches for 'No One's left hand. They touch, and the 'King' turns the hand over. There, on the very edge, is something...new. Something black and sickly, something that is not 'Nothing', the 'King', or 'No One'. A parasite? A disease? Who can say?<br />
<br />
<br />
'No One' looks at the 'King'. The 'King' frowns.<br />
<br />
<br />
Both turn to look at 'Nothing'.<br />
<br />
<br />
'Nothing' stares back at them. It is alright. This, too, is part of the plan. It will not affect the 'Holy Grail'. It will not affect 'Nothing'. 'Nothing' cannot be changed. But…<br />
<br />
<br />
A wicked grin spreads from 'Nothing'.<br />
<br />
<br />
Perhaps something new will come about from this poison,<br />
<br />
<br />
"KOJIROU-KUN."<br />
<br />
<br />
Kojirou Sasaki sits up. He is naked, covered in black scars that writhe and tremble separate from his skin. Monohoshi Zao is slung across his back, and his stolen skull-tipped cane, Banda, sits at his side. Above him, the cloudless sky of the Land of Steel, the shining silver eye of the Moon, and the countless gemstones of starlight against the velvet night. Around him, darkness without measure, physical darkness that sloped through the ruins of the city like the predators they were.<br />
<br />
<br />
On his left hand, nothing but his stolen Magic Crest. Nothing at all.<br />
<br />
<br />
Something new. Kojirou shakes his head and stands. First, he would find Caster and get another Shroud. Then…<br />
<br />
<br />
As ever, Kojirou Sasaki would wander.<br />
<br />
<br />
So-thinking, the swordsman walks into Hell, sword at his back, cane at his side, his footsteps dogged by the laughter of 'Nothing'.</div>SwordHunterGilhttp://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=1172/Sparks_In_The_Land_Of_Steel&diff=67911172/Sparks In The Land Of Steel2014-12-18T12:50:14Z<p>SwordHunterGil: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2014/12/18 |Location=Land of Steel |Synopsis=Chloe von Einzbern and Dominic Masoch encounter Kojirou Sasaki, the Avenger-class Servant who wanders ..."</p>
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<div>{{Log Header<br />
|Date of Scene=2014/12/18<br />
|Location=Land of Steel<br />
|Synopsis=Chloe von Einzbern and Dominic Masoch encounter Kojirou Sasaki, the Avenger-class Servant who wanders the Land of Steel, and wind up in a fierce battle, with all three putting their lives on the line!<br />
|Thanks=<br />
|Cast of Characters=617, 655, 662<br />
|Tinyplot=<br />
|Tinyplot2=<br />
|pretty=yes<br />
}}<br />
{{Poses<br />
|Poses=:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; THE LAND OF STEEL <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If anywhere can be called Hell, it is the Land of Steel. The ashen-grey landscape is little more than uniform dust, as far as the eye can see. The warp gate emerged on some desolate part of this horrible reality; there are no defining features, no distinct elements, nothing. There is no foliage. There are no animal. There are no people. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is as if the world one day up and died. Of course...that is, in fact, exactly what happened. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There is nothing here. No - worse than nothing. Nothing would be a mercy to this tortured landscape. This is nothing but a 'ruin' of the world-that-was. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the distance, however - much further than walking distance would allow - there are lights.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:655|Dominic Masoch (655)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span><span class=" bold_fg_w bg_n ++ hw">Extraversal World Name: Unknown <br />Rank: B-A (Unclear. Need Further Data) <br />Notes: Highly reminiscient of Odin. Air seems different from many Extraverse worlds. Recommend noting for Alchemists, Engineers, or Scholars. Do not recommend as casual destination.</span> <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dominic Masoch sighs heavily, the action stymied greatly by the purple bandana currently around his face to cover his mouth. It is not for the air's impurity that he wears it, but for the heavy dust that such a desolate world would contain. The natural ability of his body to process magical energy is likely a life-saving adaptation, but he will be fatigued tomorrow. It is denser here. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He wipes dust from the screen of his mogPad and gives a scowl at the world, as if his nobility would cause it to be less godawful to walk through out of respect for his station. The mogPad is slipped into a messenger-style bag he wears over one shoulder to rest the satchel at the opposite hip of his long, slender-bladed sword. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"If anything, it will make a good story for the Light Warriors," He murmurs to himself. Yes, he was out here to catalog some extraversal worlds of varying variety for club activities. Pulling down his bandana, he takes a sip from a bottle of water and then drops it back in his bag. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As he walks, he says in a loud voice, "mogPad, dictate" A pause, "New note on open file: I have yet to find life here. I see lights in the distance and will make my way there. End dictation," He finishes. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then he just keeps walking towards those lights. They may not be reachable on foot in a timely, but he won't let that stop him. He is stubborn, if anything.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:617|Chloe von Einzbern (617)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Chloe von Einzbern... Probably got in a fight with Illya again. No no, not the knockdown drag out kind where she tries to murder the other girl; she can't particularly do that anymore. But still one of those stupid little fights that girls have that causes one to storm off in a huff. Well Tonight, it's Chloe that went storming off, and when she did she went wandering. But of all places to wander to, a realm where the very planet itself died and the air is laden with practically noxious levels of magic.<br /><br />"Geeze, this is kind of depressing."<br /><br />It's so barren. The sheer empty bleakness for as far as the eye can see in the ruined old dead lands is a huge buzzkill, enough so to actually kill a bad mood; leaving the girl with little else to do except somberly trudge on, hands folded behind her head, scarlet cloaks fluttering lazily behind her. At least until she sees the lights.<br /><br />Could there actually be people in a place such as this?<br /><br />Curiosity wins out a little too quickly over caution as she starts heading in that direction.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It's a very, *very* long walk to get anywhere near the lights. It might take hours. Fortunately, time is easy to tell - the sun and the moon remain high in the sky, so as the moon starts to sink below the horizon and the sun starts to rise, it becomes easy to tell that the source of the lights is, in fact, a city. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It's not a city as anyone from either world would recognize it. It's a vast metropolis, tall and shining in the sunlight. It looks more like a hive than a city; it built upwards, criss-crossing each building with metal pathways. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well, the world may be dead, but human life persists. Like insects, they've built a hive for themselves. This far out, the fine details can't be seen, but tiny objects seem to be flitting back and forth above the buildings. Maybe some sort of vehicle? <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suddenly, from behind them, there's a voice. It's gentle and calm, and filled with just a bit of cynicism. "Were I you, I wouldn't head further in that direction. That city belongs to the A-RAYS. Liners aren't welcome there." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was definitely no one there when they left the gate. But, should they turn around, they'll see a man. He's maybe five-foot-seven, with blue hair and violet eyes. A lavender kimono hangs off him, tattered with age and use, and a purple-and-gold hakama in similar condition hangs over that. On his back is a nodachi nearly as long as he is tall. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Etched across his skin are...tattoos? Patterns, of some kind. A deep and terrible black. They're...eerily forboding. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He has a wry smirk on his face. "Although...I suspect that you aren't Liners at all, are you?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:655|Dominic Masoch (655)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;While Dominic could be considered at the peak of his physical condition, Dominic still suffers fatigue. Partway into his journey, he finds hunger gnawing at his stomach and reaches into his satchel. He removes a plastic baggy of what appears to be jerky and sniffs at it. He takes a large piece out and takes a tearing bite with his teeth, getting about half of it, before finally noticing the girl that seems to be heading the same direction as him. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Young Miss!" He calls to her in a tone of formality, in clear defiance of their less-than-formal current surroundings, "Would you like some Behemoth Jerky?" He holds out the large piece of dried meat in her /general/ direction, in case she had managed to hear him and want some. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the city comes into view in the dawning light, he takes out his mogPad and raises it up, wanting to get the distant hive in frame for a picture, "mogPad, please delete last. Signs of life foun-" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When did the man get behind them? <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dominic whirls around swiftly. Even while distracted, as a Fencer, he should be hard to sneak up on. A place like this, where it was silent and dead all around, should make it nearly impossible on top of that. His mogPad settles on the man and takes a picture with a loud CLICK noise, "Ah. Good day, sir. What, if I may ask, is an Array and a Liner?" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He slowly lowers the mogPad, "Oh, yes, my manners. I am Dominic Masoch of Ramuha."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:617|Chloe von Einzbern (617)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Now that is a sight. Even Chloe can't help but issue a small whistle of appreciation, filtering through her teeth, at the towering city; its spires and bridges, gleaming in the rising sun. A squint and that golden gaze focuses intensely on the city- tracking every little flitting figure and darting object up high.<br /><br />For the record, Chloe doe accept the jerky; it gets a sniff before she starts chowing down on the tough slab of dried and cured snack meats with an idle 'fanks' from a half full mouth. "You don't look like you're from around here." Idly commented. Not that she would know what people from 'around here' would look like, but a young man with good proper manners and formality even in a wasteland seems fairly out of place. But when Dominic whips aorund, she doesn't even turn. Not for a good moment anyway.<br /><br />"You know. I'm not the easiest person to sneak up on." She opens in reply, sucking on her teeth with a light 'tsk'. Still, she keeps her hands folded behind her head, one boot scuffing toes on the barren earth. "But I think you just pulled it off.<br /><br />Now she turns, head tilting at the very sight of the tattooed man in the kimono.<br /><br />"You're not normal."<br /><br />This girl has no filters it seems. But she doesn't clarify what that's supposed to mean. The term 'Liner' sounds familiar and for good reason. But she merely drums fingers on her hip. "Well. Are you going to enlighten us, or what?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The strange man's eyes flick to the mogPad as it takes the picture. Those violet eyes are filled with little black flecks that cannot be natural. He watches Dominic for a long moment, his smile unchanging. "Ah. I thought so. You're from beyond the Gate." The strange man takes a step forward, and it becomes apparent that he isn't leaving footsteps in the ashen sand. Chloe probably immediately realizes this as an effect of Presence Concealment. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Dominic Masoch of Ramuh." The man's eyes flick down to the sword at Dominic's waist. "Are you a swordsman, Dominic Masoch?" There's something about the way he says it - and the flicker in those violet eyes - that doesn't go well with the calm expression on his face. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It mostly certainly isn't fear. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I haven't yet gotten to see the swordsman skills of those from beyond the Gate. I've been to the stars, but that held very little interest for me. In fact, it was a bit disappointing." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The man's eyes flick over to the little girl. "Ah...of course. My thoughts got away from me. It's been a very long time since I had someone talk to me in my own world." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He looks up at the sky and smiles. "Those people you can see flitting about in the distance are A-Rays. The hundred subspecies of humanity, the beastmen, the mighty. The Liners are those who inherited humankind's weakness and made it strength." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Although...that's just a poetic way of saying it, I suppose. The A-Rays are the beastmen, and the Liners are humans who can survive in this hellhole." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "As for me...I'm Sasaki Kojirou." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Avenger-class Servant."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:655|Dominic Masoch (655)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dominic has the convenience of answering both Chloe and Avenger at the same time: <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You are correct, I am not from your world. I hail from Galianda. I am exploring this world on behalf of Alexander Academy and the Light Warriors," He lowers his mogPad and slips it into his back. It's still on dictate mode, so with a good picture of Sasaki, it is also writing down the things he says for editing later. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In formal and noble fashion, he hooks an arm under his stomach and bows at the waist, "A pleasure to meet you, Sir Kojirou," And a bow to Chloe as well, "And you as well, Young Miss. You will pardon my rudeness, but I cannot kiss your hand at the moment," And he would have if she'd held it out to him earlier. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"However, ah... not normal?" He asks to Chloe, standing up properly and taking off his hankerchief so his mouth is revealed. He calmly folds it and places it into his pocket, "How so?" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And yes," He replies to Sasaki, "I am a swordsman. My world classifies my job as a Fencer. I see you are one as well. Are you of the Samurai Job?" He asks in a cordial and matter of fact fashion. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The talk of Beastmen simply goes over his head. To fathom humans and monsters mixing into one being is hard for Dominic, even as he grows to learn the Extraverse has such interesting beings. He blinks a few times and tries to let that information sink in.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:617|Chloe von Einzbern (617)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Oh hey manners. Chloe should be giving her name right about now, but instead she kind of segues off that for just a moment longer. "Oh yeah I could see they're not exactly fitting the bill of the standard human. You know, two arms, two legs, hands, feet, that kind of thing." Well the two got their answer on the topic of Liners and A-Rays.<br /><br />Her eyes flit to the sands- the lack of footprints, and again she clicks her teeth.<br /><br />"Nope. He's not normal. He's an abberation; an irregularity; not normal. A fluke in the Grail System?" She ventures while repeating for Dominic; pausing to fold her arms across her chest. "Avenger Class huh. Never heard of it before now."<br /><br />Now it's the talk of Jobs that goes over her head, but Chloe simply stretches arms upwards. "Heh. Chloe von Einzbern." Okay there it is. A little late now but she gave her name.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm not a samurai at all," Kojirou replies, "I'm merely a swordsman who wasted his life. I'm afraid I never served a lord in life. Though in death..." He trails off, letting the thought go. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ancient Servant's eyes turn towars Chloe again. "von Einzbern. Ah. I remember her. The little white-haired girl with the Berserker. It's been a very long time since I thought about the Einzbern girl." Kojirou's smile fades, turning flat. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It's a very nostalgic day today." Sasaki notes thoughtfully, pursing his lips. "An Einzbern girl, the Grail...and a swordsman who isn't a Liner. Very nostalgic, indeed." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Are you strong?" Avenger suddenly asks, and there's that flicker in his eyes once again, that flicker of hunger that doesn't at all match up with his peaceful demeanor, that doesn't at all fit with that handsome, peaceful, smiling face. "Are you both strong?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:655|Dominic Masoch (655)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Chloe von Einzbern. Well met, young lady." Dominic nods his head when she gives her name. He gives her a polite smile and a nod of his head. She reminded him slightly of Kyra in her demeanor, and he liked that. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I know not of a Grail, but Berserkers are a rare Job in my world," He looks to Chloe, "You knew a Berserker?" It's mostly a cross-cultural piece of confusion on his part, "They say you cannot train to be one, merely be born with the potential." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But he gets asked if he is strong, and when that gets asked, he puffs up a slight bit, "Yes. I would say I am one of the best Fencers at Alexander Academy. I have won numerous tournaments and am well-experienced." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He looks towards this man who leaves no foot prints, a man whom the young lady called an irregularity and a fluke, and a man who stated he wasted his own life, "Why do you ask?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:617|Chloe von Einzbern (617)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Gold eyes widen. It is when Avenger dredges up the past on hearing her name and recalls a 'white haired girl' that Chloe's breath catches briefly in her chest. Try as she might to not show it, a brief flickering flutter crosses her expression. A tingling pang twitching from within. Jealousy perhaps? Nevertheless, she lets her eyes slide closed with a slow breath filtering through teeth.<br /><br />"Heh... It should have been me." Murmured under her breath before giving a shake of her head. "Oh I knew a Berserker alright." Given to Dominic after a second. "He tried ripping my arm off- wasn't exactly the most polite guy, unlike you." But then those gold eyes slide back open half way. "Nostalgic huh. How long ago was it?" Asked before her lips quirk into a soft smirk. "Strong?" She doesn't miss the odd glimmer of light in the old Servant's eyes. "Why? Were you wanting to find out?"<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The instant the assent of strength leaves Dominic and Chloe's mouths, there's the sound of metal scraping against a sheathe. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Long before the world died," Avenger replies as he swings Monohoshi Zao out of its sheathe. It's a stupid blade - stupid, impractical, and massively oversized. It's long and thin, as unwieldy as a sword can be. It looks like it might shatter with the right amount of pressure on the right place. Moreover, Chloe can tell with just a glance that it's not special in any way - it's not a divine sword, it's not a magic sword, it's not a fairy sword, it's not unique in any way, except for how incredibly pointless it is. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Moreover, Kojirou doesn't take a stance. He just draws the sword and holds it casually at his side. It looks ridiculous - a five-foot-seven-inch man with a five-foot sword. It's also ludicrously well-kept, shining in the sun's dawn as brilliantly as the city below, like an arc of fire in Avenger's slender fingers. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'd like very much to find out how strong you are," Kojirou informs them. Though his tone is neutral, the hunger in his eyes is most definitely not. The tattoos on his body - the /scars/ on his body - seem to twitch and shift as he speaks, and the little black flecks in his eyes do the same.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:655|Dominic Masoch (655)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is an awkward noise that leaves Dominic when Chloe comments to his demeanor. He clears his throat with a gentle ahem-ing tone, "Ah, I see. Well to treat a lady with anything but the utmost respect is uncouth where I come from," This is the response she gets from him. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He is saved from further response when he hears the telltale and gentle noise of a sword being drawn. The corners of his mouth upturn into a gentle smile as he turns his attention back towards Avenger, "I see," He replies, taking off his messenger bag and walking a short distance away to set it down in the dirt. It would only weigh him down. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When he has returned to his original position, his right hand wraps around the guarded hilt of his blade. With a smooth motion, he draws the blade. It gleams like fresh silver in the morning light. At 39 inches of blade-length and forged of mithril, it is a high-quality rapier. No Fencer would ever be caught without theirs. If Chloe copied it, she would get a very nice sword with no special powers. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dominic's body shifts. The Fencer is a one-handed style, so to fight he doesn't even have to take off the cloak he wears to cover his left arm and side. That hand remains firmly upon his hip. It is the right hand, gripping his blade, which comes up and has his blade held at waist-height, parallel to the ground in a classic stance. One boot drags across the dusty ground as he turns profile to the man, finishing his positioning. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"On guard."<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:617|Chloe von Einzbern (617)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Chloe could ask.<br /><br />She does not.<br /><br />Rather than dwell on just how long this world has been dead, her focus is fully on the Servant as he draws that blade. To her, no howling wind, no blowing dust, could hope to drown out the telltale song of steel singing against the lip of a scabbard, as that unwieldy sword is drawn. Her gaze flits from blade to blade as Dominic follows suit shortly after, and she holds her arms up in an exaggerated shrug. She's not carrying any weapons.<br /><br />Visibly.<br /><br />"Haaaaah... That look in your eyes already says it before it left your mouth." She points out. Before two words leave hers.<br /><br />"Trace On."<br /><br />A flicker-flare of scarlet light forms in her hands, laying down a grid-line framework and outline of a shape in each of her hands, short, curved, bearing a cylindrical handle. Before the projection begins to fill itself in,, two swords from seemingly nowhere now rest in her grasp, one blade black, one blade white. They could be twins. But they aren't.<br /><br />"I'm pretty sure he's already ready for us." She notes to the Ramuhan. "He's a Servant after all." Even if he's an abberation of the normal system. It's kind of intriguing.<br /><br />Not that this stops her from up and vanishing- and re-appearing with no warning much closer, opening right out the gate with trying to test the defenses of getting past that oversized sword, with the married swords, Kanshou and Bakuya.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Avenger watches the Fencer draw his blade like a junkie watching a dealer pull out a hit and dangle it in front of him. And why shouldn't he? This is what he wished for. This is what he literally lives for. What else is there for Sasaki Kojirou, in this day and age? What else can there be but swordsmanship? This is the greatest pleasure he has ever taken - perhaps the only pleasure, the only ambition, the only desire every lodged inside his heart. He cared nothing for the Holy Grail. His victory was a mistake. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This was always his one and only wish. As Dominic takes up his stance, Kojirou's lips twitch upwards in a smile. "A European-style swordsman and an Einzbern girl...it really is just like those days long ago. I wonder if it's fate that the first swordsmen I meet in all the wide multiverse are you two..." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ancient Servant looks up at the sky and parts his lips in a genuine smile. It's a pleasant moment for him, for sure. Maybe it's the first pleasant moment he's had in years. Who can say? It's not like time means much in the Land of Steel, and certainly not to a true immortal. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The familiar light of Projection draws his eye - as do the swords that appear. "Ahhh...no wonder. Are you like that Archer, then? That mysterious man...yes, I didn't recognize the cloak on you, but I know those swords anywhere." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chloe vanishes and reappears directly in front of him. Kojirou's voice is as calm as can be as he brings the massive blade around. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "And this style of attack, too." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Monohoshi Zao is not a fast sword, in the hands of a normal person. But Kojirou...as Chloe brings her blades around, Kojirou brings up Monohoshi Zao, the massive sword flickering into a blocking stance, his free hand pressed against the flat of the blade to reinforce it. The twin swords collide with Monohoshi Zao...and then, Monohoshi Zao yields, as Kojirou lets the blade fall downwards to throw Chloe off her balance. It slides off her blade, the grinding of metal against Projection, as Kojirou brings the hilt of the blade around for the back of her head. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'd like to see something new, Archer-class Servant!" Avenger tells her, "Show me something I've never seen before! Show me the swordsman's skills from beyond the world itself!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He glides to the side between them, his sword levelleing out again at his side. Though he appears to be unguarded, it's clear now that Kojirou is /never/ such a thing.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:655|Dominic Masoch (655)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"European? I know it as Ramuhan. My land produces swordsman of both your style and mine," Dominic said in an even tone. He would have to read about this Yorropeun later. Unsurprisingly, he won't find much on Moogle.com, Galianda's leading search engine. And he wouldn't touch any of the others like Kweh-hoo. It will be a fruitless search. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not fruitless, however, was holding his attack to allow Chloe the opening maneuver, "I hope he is. I do not intend to be an easy opponent for him," He notes as she jumps in. Calculating gaze watches the interception of the blade and the gentle deflection. By using such a large weapon, the man could interpose a line of steel on orthodox and predicted attack vectors. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dominic smiled. He'd just have to use non-orthodox attack vectors. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Many an unprepared swordsman has fallen to one of the more surprising moves in the Fencer's Arsenal: Piercing Blow. Meant to compensate against longer-weaponed opponents who were outside melee, but too close for Nighthawk, the Piercing Blow is a technique which Fencers rely on against opponents who use a proximity-heavy defense. Or for monsters that hide behind bigger monsters.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dominic shut his eyes for a moment and took a long breath. And then when he opened them again, the yellow cracks that ran through his irises had lit up in a brilliant gold. He was channeling MP into his blade, but still not advancing. Instead, he simply flicked the blade and thrust it forward, projecting another 39 inches of sword, comprised entirely of magical energy, from the tip of his rapier as a surprise attack. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His hope was that Sasaki would not expect a straight thrust to come from almost once-again the length of Dominic's blade.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:617|Chloe von Einzbern (617)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>That block came so suddenly, and so fast. As the twin blades meet with the oversized katana, Chloe is halted dead in her assault right then and there with a flash of sparks before the oversized sword lowers and Chloe goes forawrd. She is off balanced, yes, but she lets her momentum take her in a tumbling roll, twisting as Avenger brings the grip of his sword around.<br /><br />It's not perfect, the soft grunt of pain and dull smack of the hilt says she took more than a winging hit from the strike, but her roll ends with her on one hand and on her toes. Like a runner on the block, almost.<br /><br />"... He knows that--..." It's what Kojirou SAYS that makes her falter. Only for an instant. To be recognized as Archer while using swords was shocking enough. But he recognized her from her opening attack. "Hoh... Was he one of the ones you fought, back then?"<br /><br />Nevertheless the swords in her hands are cracked, split along the spine, edges chipped away. She tosses them away. And in a flare of red she holds two new swords. One long, black, and straight edged. The other slender, made almost of blue crystal. And both quite heavy. "Okay then, try this..."<br /><br />She waits to throw herself in again. Not until Dominic makes his lunge and that MP fuelled magical edge makes to try and pierce that guard, Elucidator and Dark Repulser are brought to bear. What seems like a wild flurry of swipes and swings is a calculated attempt at keeping that long sword busy guarding against a flurried frenzy of blows meant to overpower and punish defense- so that the Piercing Blow has a better chance to connect.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dominic's approach is a damn good one. Kojirou wasn't expecting that - he hadn't expected the young man to have magic. He contemplates blocking it for a brief instant before deciding that that would be a poor idea; it would leave him open to Chloe's dual-wielding style. He also contemplates dodging it, but that carried potential risk; what if he misread the nature of the attack? It could be a Noble Phantasm of some sort, after all, with some sort of instant-kil properties. It was probably a ranged attack, though; initiating a strike from that distance was highly unlikely. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He's made the decision in the space of half a heartbeat, his mind already made up before Dominic even releases the strike. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dominic can tell within an instant, as Kojirou shifts his foot slightly to the side, that Kojirou read the nature of the attack just based on his stance. As Piercing Blow comes screaming forward, Chloe right in front of it, Kojirou brings up Monohoshi Zao again. It's not a block. It's not a parry. It's not quite either, not /really/. The ancient Servant clangs Monohoshi Zao off the first sword with a casual, testing motion as he steps around to the side. As the wild flurry begins, Kojirou steps into synch with it in a heartbeat, stepping just outside its range as he brings the sword around. It's like watching an intricate dance, with the swiftly-moving Piercing Blow as the music; his eyes keep tracking it with each motion. He's giving up a lot of ground, but he's also leading Chloe backwards - Dominic and Chloe can probably tell within an instant that he's allowing himself to be lead. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And the reason for that is probably painfully obvious to both of them. Piercing Blow could actually kill him, or injure him, or wound him severely. Against two opponents of this level of skill, being wounded in such a manner would be as good as a lethal mistake. He can afford nothing against either of them - the Archer with uncertain skill, and the swordsman with a magic sword. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kojirou can feel the blood pumping in his veins. As soon as he's passed out of the range of Piercing Blow - as soon as he's *confirmed* that Piercing Blow has a range - he stops his odd step-back-parry tango. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He steps forward, his blade flashing in the light of the rising sun. Each strike is blindingly fast, faster than Monohoshi Zao has any right to be - faster even than most Servants have a right to be. It's painfully difficult to follow, but the intent is clear - push Chloe back towards Dominic, so he can attack them both at once. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A defensive battle against a skilled opponent with a range advantage - let alone two of them - is a losing battle. Kojirou's only hope is to close the gap.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:617|Chloe von Einzbern (617)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>They say it takes two to tango, but what of a dance with three? Far more complicated than it has any right to be, that much is for certain. Especially when factoring in Dominic's apparently level of skill, and Kojirou's tactics. There's no denying, Chloe is going to have work closely with the Ramuhan man on this one. And with many split-second decisions, and little time for verbal communication.<br /><br />A challenge, for certain, considering her lack of a propensity to play well with others.<br /><br />Elucidator and Dark Repulser are high quality blades, heavy and powerful, lending well to that defense punishing and vicious Aincrad style. But copies can only last for so long. Even good copies. Indeed, there's no missing the fact that the Avenger-class Servant is taking her for a ride; and when he turns the pace around and starts making to put HER on the defense and back her into Dominic, she does begin to back that way.<br /><br />Every ringing blow degrades the swords in her hands further and further. It is Dark Repulser that shatters first, a fatal crack suddenly wrenching in a SNAP as Monohoshi Zao meets it again. But rather than let herself be danced right back at the Fencer, Chloe uses the last strike that Elucidator has in it to force herself aside. Using the very inertia of blade against blade to jink to her right, a silver sword with ancient nordic runes along the spine now held in both hands. It's a longer blade- sized more for a giant of a man than a small slip of a girl like her. But with Naegling in hand she seeks to try and pincer the swordsman between herself and Dominic.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:655|Dominic Masoch (655)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dominic had hoped that the hit would land, but had suspected that it may not. In a fight of raw and pure swordsmanship, he was on even ground, if not out-classed. It was hard to tell with extraversal opponents. He had made an error in playing such a trump at the start of the fight. He had revealed the effective length of his blade in his opening move. When Kojirous teps back far enough, he can see exactly where it fizzled out and the mana lost cohesiveness. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That may have cost him the fight in the long term, especially against an opponent who could stand against two opponents in conjunction while he reads into his moves. Dominic moves in with Chloe when she advances, thoughts running through his mind: <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'His blade is sixty inches.' <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'My effective range is seventy-eigh inches and thirty-nine inches. I cannot properly form mana quickly enough to use the ability on the intermitten distance.' <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'I will have the advantage in attack ranges between sixty-one and seventy-eight inches, he will have the advantage in ranges fourty through sixty, and we will be theoretically even on ranges zero to thirty-nine.' <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'I cannot get caught in the 61-78 inch range. I will die.' <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'If I am incorrect about his efficacy in close range, I will die.' <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'I cannot be wrong.' <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'The girl plays a secondary factor in the fight. She provides a secondary front that requires his attention, dividing his skill between multiple opponents.' <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'I have just met the girl, but I have to trust her to read the flow of this fight.' <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'She will come through. It is necessary.' <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Following in the wake of Chloe von Einzbern, Dominic presses forward. He tilts his body to the side, the blade of his opponent skimming back him with a gentle whistling through the air. He takes a slow stance and shifts at the last second, barely avoiding one of those stinging hits. He is unharmed, but the beret on his head falls to the ground, split in half horizontally. A few locks of blonde hair land with it, a testament to how close he came to scalping the young man. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He lets instinct take over as he follows in after Chloe. She has a utility advantage over him, he can see, with her blade-switching techniques. As she moves to pincher, he will dig boots into the ground and come at Kojirou from the other side. His arm lashes out in a trio of mundane, if skillfully delivered, jabs and thrusts aimed for the center of his opponent. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Right now, as much trust as he is placing in his own abilities, he is placing more in Chloe's abilities. It is foreign for him to trust a stranger, but battle forges strange allegiances.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kojirou's deadly dance picks up the pace as soon as he notices Elucidator and Dark Repulser cutting away. Monohoshi Zao may not be capable of cutting swords made by the gods, but steel? It's more than capable of that. He's a rapid, brutally fast swordsman, each strike flowing into the next as if he was a river in human form. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kojirou's eyes flash as the girl leads him to the right with a sudden reversal. The massive Naegling appears in front of him. It's far too large for him to block, far, far too large. Monohoshi Zao would shatter in an instant from just one blow; he doesn't even need to test this sword to see that. The European greatsword is a bigger threat than the longswords or the Married Blades ever were. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Ancient Gleaming Blade forces Kojirou into the trap like a doomed rabbit. He's forced to step between the two, relying solely on his False Eye of the Mind to keep an eye on Dominic. That's a very bad position for him to be in. With Naegling, Chloe controls the range of the battle better than he can; considering the speed of a rapier, that means that his opponents functionally rule the battlefield. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As he expected, Dominic flashes out with the speed advantage of the rapier, rather additional magic. It clearly took him time - actual time, not just seconds - to restore his strange power. That was good - there wasn't a mundane strike that Kojirou couldn't see. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That wasn't to say that they were any less lethal, particularly in the situation he's found himself in. Kojirou steps to the side, shifting his profile to a flat one as the first strike comes in - and allowing him to keep an eye on both opponents, rather than rely on his False Eye Of The Mind. It wasn't that he couldn't, but it was easier to respond to strikes like this. As the second strike comes in, Kojirou swings his arm upwards, compensating for the thrusting nature of the strike to knock the blade away with minimal damage to his own arm. It might hurt, but that wasn't nearly as dangerous as being cut by Naegling or stabbed by the rapier directly. A little cut was nothing. It wasn't even a flesh wound, and it wasn't going to impair him. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The third strike is more difficult. As Dominic lunges in, Kojirou's eyes flash once again. He turns around to face Chloe, stepping backwards into the rapier attack - and slightly to the right. The rapier passes under his shoulder as Monohoshi Zao flows into a rapid shot against Chloe - and in the span of a heartbeat, Kojirou releases the rapier from his arm, tosses Monohoshi Zao to his other arm, and brings the flashing blade around for Dominic's throat. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No words need be said. Kojirou is not toying with them. He doesn't need to compliment their skill. The fact that he's taking it as seriously as he is - that he's fighting the way he is, that he's taking such risks - should be compliment enough for them, if they're half the swordsmen he thinks they are.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:655|Dominic Masoch (655)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He would normally feel satisfaction for landing taps to the arm. That is a point where he comes from, after all. Only the last time he scores a point, he killed his first Hume. And this situation is no less life-or-death. It's that moment's falter as the realization he may find himself in these situations more and more that leaves him faulty and slightly lacking in technique. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That is why he reacts slightly too late to avoid the whistling blade that is coming in towards him in any sort of real way. He clutches out /something/, though, falling flat backwards and catching a hand against the ground to leave himself bent backwards. This means that while Kojirou's blade misses his trachea, jugular, and other lovely and vital parts of his body, he gets a NASTY looking gash that runs up against the underside of his jawline and arcs up to his ear, almost three full inches of cut. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When he stands back up, it looks pretty bad. Blood seeps down his neck and jaw, soaking into the collar of his clothing. He hopes it won't scar. He hopes if it does, Kyra will think it looks dashing. He is a high-school boy after all. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Panting slightly, he realizes that if he acts rashly and moves back into the fray, he will be putting himself further open. He needs clarity of action right now and he needs to relocate his center. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So rather than attack, he takes a deep and steadying breath and then retakes his defensive stance. He will let his opponent come to him. That is the best strategy right now.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:617|Chloe von Einzbern (617)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>There is no faking the fact that Chloe's breath is coming heavily. The pulse of blood thumping in her ears over everything else, the rapid flutter of heart beating in her chest.<br /><br />This is a *fight*.<br /><br />Even if the two seemingly have Avenger pressed for the moment, a Servant can always pull out some form of insane counter, or game-turning trump card in the blink of an eye. And though Chloe now decides what ranges this battle is waged at, she is now inifnitely more wary than she was when walking through the desolate wastes.<br /><br />But let not wariness and caution be mistaken for indecisiveness.<br /><br />Let it never be mistaken for that .<br /><br />She was already moving to bring Naegling down- not directly upon Kojirou, but to his side in a chop to try and hold him in line with Dominic's stroke, but the sudden inhumanly fast swing of that absurdly long blade comes as she's in mid-swing.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"-No way."<br /><br />In an instant she forms not one- but ten swords, broad of blade and absurdly thick, lining them in front of her like a wall of steel. And still, Monohoshi Zao cleaves through the fakes with a crashing shatter ablating to dull the blow; yielding a grunt from the girl, holding another sword much closer to her chest, cracked terribly- much like one of the ribs under her armor after having to absorb the last remnants of the strike.<br /><br />As far as Servants go, this one is some kind of beast.<br /><br />And when that slash draws Ramuhan blood, Chloe grits teeth. But Dominic saving himself from spraying the contents of his arteries all over the dust is relieving for only an instant. The Servant is still between them. But while the young nobleman is put on the defensive, she can cover for him.<br /><br />Swords..<br /><br />They just appear- seemingly from nowhere as they did before. But this time they hang in the air. And it's like they wait there for just a moment or so before Chloe grunts. A swiping motion of her arm is all the command they need, as they fire off like bullets, lancing groundwards to try and keep the swordsman herded and impale.<br> <br><br />
<br />
:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ten swords shattering doesn't surprise him. Kojirou remembers Archer well, and his particular gimmick. Seeing a little girl wielding the same power, with the same expert skill, surprised him greatly. She was stunningly competent. It was a good thing Monohoshi Zao kept her on her toes; the impractical nature of the sword was probably all that was keeping him going. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kojirou draws blood, and his heart bursts to life, pumping furiously. The sound of it roaring in his ears is exciting. How long? How long since he's fought real swordsmen? The A-Rays don't use swords; they're pure strength, pure physical battlers who don't care about technique. And while there are skilled Liners, none of them compare to *this*. None of them use real swords, either; just their magical Knight Arms, their strange weapons made of bone and Grain. This is... <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This is something Kojirou's longed for for almost a thousand years. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But...but! But. That moment is tainted. Just a bit. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kojirou is a man who's been in countless battles. He's fought for longer than most people can imagine - from his own lifetime, in the middle of Japan's Sengoku Era, to the impossible Holy Grail War, on through the thousand years since that age. His life has been one of swords - more completely than anyone young, even that boy whose fundamental nature is 'SWORD', could possibly understand. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He can tell that Dominic hasn't killed a lot of men. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It's a simple thing to see, that moment of hesitation. In a way, it impresses Kojirou that the young man can fight him so well, even with Chloe's assistance. Just training, just contests, would never normally allow someone to fight this well. Certainly, Kojirou hadn't killed many people in his life, but he wasn't afraid of it, either; he had killed who he needed to kill, but largely, he had simply practiced that pointless technique until he had attained a mastery beyond human comprehension. After his death, in the Land of Steel, he had become a monster soaked in blood, and those terrible skills had become polished further still, shining like a challenge to the gods themselves. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To kill this boy now would be a terrible, /terrible/ waste. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chloe makes the decision for him, dictating the terms of the battle with her ability all over again. One of the blades slashes past Kojirou's cheek, another past his shoulder, narrowly avoiding fatal hits only thanks to his own inhuman speed. The blood that pools from the cut is hideous and black, and as Kojirou ducks and dodges and weaves the rest of the strikes, further cuts appear on his body. He doesn't bother trying to parry them; they're too fast, too many, to dedicate his blade to any one of them. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; However...when the covering fire is finished, Monohoshi Zao vanishes into its sheathe. Kojirou looks over at Chloe and Dominic, his violet eyes nearly black with wriggling sigils and symbols. The cuts on his arms are already starting to seal up as the black blood melts away with a hissing sound. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Come back when you've been in more battles," Kojirou tells Dominic slowly, "That moment of hesitation would have cost you your neck if we were alone. Once you've become comfortable with killing men, seek me out again, and we'll duel one on one." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Archer-class Servant. It seems our parlor tricks are well-suited to each other. I'll look forward to fighting you again. For now, though..." Kojirou looks over towards the city. "I imagine we've attracted attention. You should leave. I intend to." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The patterns on his body wriggle and writhe again. The pulsating darkness of his eyes fades to violet. And then he simply vanishes, like a gust of wind blowing across the ashen plains, as though he was never there.<br> <br><br />
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:'''{{#var:655|Dominic Masoch (655)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'Come back when you've been in more battles. That moment of hesitation would have cost you your neck if we were alone.' <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A statement that rings with an undeniable truth that Dominic cannot deny. As his opponent sheaths that long sword of his, Dominic brings a gloved hand to touch at his wound, wincing slightly. A very true statement. If Kojirou had been just a little swifted, just a little less impeded, his blood would be staining the dirt. Dominic cannot deny that. And yet... <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'Once you've become comfortable with killing men, seek me out again, and we'll duel one on one.' <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That is a statement that brings mixed parts understanding and fear in Dominic. Understanding because it, too, is a truth. In this Extraverse, Dominic will have to become used to fighting other humes with real weapons. And fear because the sheer idea of him becoming comfortable with bringing death on others frightens him. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Moments like these are when those who seek the Sainthood of the Blade find themselves off the path. So delicate and narrow a trail it is, to carry a knowledge of how to kill, but a wisdom of its usage, and a temperance of its skill. So his reply is carefully given. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I will seek you when I have grown in experience, but I may never find killing others a comfortable act. A blade is heavier when bloodied and I feel a life should only be taken when it is necessary," He notes, finishing with a simple, "But you are right. I would have died today." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He flicks his rapier slightly, a standardized motion meant to clean blood. And then he sheaths it calmly. It is after he does this that he takes out his hankerchief again and holds it to his open wound, trying to keep the blood from getting much worse. He watches the man simply vanish. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I should head back to the Academy. And inform my instructors I will be missing my first lessons today."<br> <br><br />
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:'''{{#var:617|Chloe von Einzbern (617)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Avenger-class Servant.<br /><br />Just what IS he?<br /><br />After that last flurry of flyng swords, when Kojirou decides he's done, and stands there regenerating for moment- just long enough to give his last words to the both of them for this encounter, Chloe is left with her hands braced on her knees. Her breath slows- and eventually levels out to normal, much quicker than an ordinary girl's would; aided by the superhuman Heroic Spirit stamina granted by the Class Card housed within her body.<br /><br />But for as calm as she looks, Chloe is acutely aware of how badly that fight could have gone if she or Dominic had misstepped or miscalculated even the most minute twitch of motion amid that fray. "Heh... I'll be sure to have a lot more swords by then."<br /><br />She's a cheeky little thing, at the very least.<br /><br />But then Kojirou takes his leave. And with a very valid tidbit of advice, as golden eyes turn towards the city.<br /><br />"Not bad." That's to Dominic, more directly now that they're not in a life or death fight anymore. "Huh. and you really wanny go another round with him too. ... You kind of remind me of my big brother a bit." Now she's holding her hand out. "We should go. I'm pretty sure the people in that city can cover a lot of ground very fast. Want a ride back to the gate, at least?"<br> <br><br />
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}}</div>SwordHunterGil