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ripplingoutward2013-07-21 07:28 pm
02 ~ The Strings Shenanigans that Never Were
WHERE: Anywhere around Hinoto-Ri
WHEN: Any time, any place.
WARNINGS: ... only that anything could happen?
You could be anywhere, doing anything. You could have been drifting off to sleep, or in the middle of your daily routine. You could be in the middle of something very important, something life-altering or earth-shattering. You could even be in the middle of something that will decide the fate of the universe.
All of that doesn't matter, because the second you close your eyes for any second, you're pulled into what feels very much like a dream. The voice of a man speaks out to you.
"Welcome; it's a pleasure to meet you."
The man appears before you; white coat, dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. Overall, relatively ordinary-looking, save for the white mask on his face with the butterfly motif. He introduces himself as Philemon, a dweller of the place you are now in - a place between mind and reality. He then asks you if you remember your name. Odd question, right? But it has a purpose.
~*~
Upon waking from your dream, you find that you are no longer in the situation you had been in when you first closed your eyes. The city you now find yourself in is vast, strange, and cut off from the outside world entirely. As the dream fades from your mind and confusion sets in, the last words Philemon spoke ring through your head.
A plea for help, and a city in danger. Was this the place Philemon was talking about?
Welcome to Hinoto-Ri.
TERRA | Butterfly Effect AU
[It's not the most welcoming time to find yourself in an entirely new location, that's for certain. But there's one person that seems to have arrived during this dangerous time of night.
The black-coated figure would be wondering what the hell was going on, since he'd been in a very different kind of darkness before he had blinked and wound up here, but he's a little preoccupied at the moment.
A little help would be greatly appreciated.]
[ Around Town ]
[ So. Exploring seems to be a thing. Terra's wanderings have brought him to the Virgo district, where he seems to be... well. Lost. There's so many different stores, vendors, and people in one place that he's finding himself slightly overwhelmed. Food, weapons, armor, accessories, clothing--
Clothing. That's a thing he should look into. Along with a few other basic necessities.
... Where should he even begin? ]
Re: TERRA | Butterfly Effect AU
But, well, he's probably the only one around who could even begin to sympathize with Terra's predicament, so perhaps it was fate that Isa's errands brought him to the same shopping district as Terra.
Maybe Isa was distracted that day, or too lost in his thoughts, because he found himself colliding with another man in the middle of the street.]
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It's a good thing he hasn't lost his touch with keeping his footing after a head-on collision from another party, otherwise this would've been rather embarrassing for both of them. As it is, he's only slightly shaken, and he immediately turns to see how the other party is.] Are you okay--
[And then he stops. And stares, surprise, clearly on his face. Those eyes - that heart - this could only be--] ... Isa?
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Then the man says his name, his real name, and the panic dissipates long enough for Isa to be able to tell who he really is.]
Terra? What....? [What's going on, what happened to you? There's far too many questions to ask right now]
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He'd have to think about this later, when he's not so stunned.] It's... a long story.
[Really long. Really, really long, and he's not too clear on all the details at this point.]
dark hour go go!
how do you walk in these ok nothe whole hour thing? yeah he isn't quite sure he gets what it means. at least it was that way before he blinked and found himself in a very different world and- no way, was that an unversed?
no wait, the unversed were gone. vanitas couldn't make those anymore. it had to be something else, and someone was in trouble!
talk about your rude wake up calls.
'Okay,' he told himself. 'Wake up a bit more. You gotta help!'
he summons wayward wind before running over, trying to remember how not to fall flat on his face in doing so - and succeeding, mental pat on the back! ]
Incoming!
[well, it was only polite to warn whoever this was about a sudden Firaga going right past them to the horn...right?]
aawwwwww yis
It takes every ounce of self-control Terra currently has not to gape in shock. However, that self-control doesn't stop him from vocalizing said surprise.] Ven?
[His voice is rougher-sounding, like he hasn't talked in a very long time, and almost inaudible because of it. But it's still very distinctly Terra's.
He turns his attention back to the Destroyed Behemoth just in time to react to the energy attack. He dodges, then finally calls a Keyblade to his hand. Just his lucky day, Ends of the Earth actually answers his call.
Pointing the Keyblade at the horn now - let's see how it likes lightning.] Thunder!
[It's a good thing the hood of the coat hides the headache that the Thundaga spell caused.]
:D
Terra? Is that YOU?
[color him just as surprised as you are, at least before the sudden Thundaga spell. yep, definitely Terra. and definitely time for tag teaming a monster for old time's sake.]
Freeze!
[one Blizzara spell later, and he's already trying to get behind it. magic can only do so much when you're not Aqua, after all.]
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What is that? Happiness? He hopes it is, anyway. What else would bring a smile to his face like this?] We can talk later!
[He sees that Ven is making his way behind the behemoth, and that smile turns into a smirk.] On it's back - it's weak point is it's horn!
[Another Thunder-like spell gets hurled at the horn to make his point, but this one wasn't channeled through Ends of the Earth like the proper Thundaga. The color was also wrong - blue instead of the familiar yellow, and directed like a projectile of some sort.]
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[Yeah, he kind of figured that this thing wanting to eat them took priority, which is why he started looking for an opportunity to- Oooooh, just the horn.]
On it!
[Double-jumping and gliding up onto its back, and running along its spine!
....was that the same kind of thundaga that vanitas used. it totally was, wasn't it.]
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Okay, it totally was. Don't tell Aqua.
As Ven runs up towards the horn from behind, Terra makes use of some of Xemnas's rather cheap teleporting tricks to get up there from the front.
He feels the headache that Thundaga caused getting worse as he forces another attack out, Ends of the Earth emitting a red-orange glow as he lets the multi-string combo loose.
At least Ars Solum isn't something unfamiliar for Terra. Judging by the behemoth's reaction? It's very effective.
Your move, bro.]
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[Cheater cheater pumpkin eater he is so gonna force you to eat something sweet later for this! But for now, hitting the horn with Ars Arcanum sounds like a really good idea.
No, your move!]
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He lands, and you can hear the smirk in his tone.] You really think she'd share her notes with me? Come on, Ven!
[He almost sounded like his old self there. Almost. Okay, back to the destroyed behemoth. Which is damaged enough that it's gone to it's knees now.
He knows he's going to regret this after the fight. He knows he will - but the red of the night sky and the heaviness in the air feel like something he experienced in a dream. But this feels all too real.
So maybe...
Maybe the ability from that dream was real now, too.
Whatever he plans to do, he needs to do it fast. A quick nod, then he looks back at the behemoth and reaches into his heart.] Can you hear me? I need your help...
[Sure enough, there's the blue summoning circle, followed by the tarot card representing his arcana - Judgement this time, instead of Strength.
He can think on that later. A hidden smirk and an outstretched hand, then--] Persona!
[A sound like breaking glass as the card shatters, and an armored figure appears, greatsword in hand and eyes glowing yellow under it's cracked helm.
It was nice, seeing Titan again. A wave of his hand, and he gives the order.] Scar the earth, Titan!
[That Destroyed Behemoth doesn't have a chance against the Light and Earth-aspected slash damage that hits it. Now Terra just has to deal with the splitting headache that summoning a Persona for the first time would cause, and the questions from Ven that are sure to follow.]
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[You could have gotten her on a good day! Besides, with the ache in his joints, they haven't moved much in a while.
But they sure were getting one heck of a workout now, especially when suddenly very giant thing and it looks like Terra was controlling it. ...Though that attack was still coming his way.]
Wow... [That was so cool! And how that happened...! Did he just leave a crevasse in the middle of the city street? And since when did Terra know how to use Light spells!
He was about to voice it when he saw that look on his face.]
Terra, are you okay?
[Because you look like what he can only guess he did when he was still a zombie!]
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His vision is also going in and out of focus, and fading around the edges from the pain. He's not sure when during the fight his hood fell off his head, but it must have, because the red light of the Dark Hour was stronger than it was when the fight started.
Ven's voice cuts through, and he makes himself look up. He won't lie, but he does make himself smile faintly.] I feel like I was run over by an Iron Imprisoner, but I'll live.
[That's... probably the longest sentence he's said in a long time. If you'd caught him not even a week ago, he wouldn't have been able to manage even 'that'.]
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You look like it. [Worry worry bend down slightly so he can use Ven as a very tiny crutch if need be. ...A very tiny and wobbly crutch at that.] C'mon, you can't fight like this.
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[Terra, hush, you haven't even seen yourself in a mirror. He does accept the help, though, and steadies himself as he gets up by placing a hand on Ven's shoulder.] No, probably not. I'm still recovering from the last one.
[... what last fight, Terra. D:
The air is still too heavy - he doubts the Dark Hour will be ending anytime soon. With the Destroyed Behemoth gone, they have a small window to find somewhere safe. Thankfully, Titan hasn't disappeared yet, so there's at least something to act as a line of defense as they retreat.] Lead the way.
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Last one...?
[What last fight, Terra? D: Now you got him worried! ...Well, more worried. He shakes the thought off for now, holding onto Terra's wrist as he leads them to a nearby storefront. Hopefully whoever it belongs to doesn't mind two late night customers!]
This way!
[Little did he know it was an ice cream shop... it's like the city knew he hadn't eaten in a decade.]
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[It was very angry at him. Well, at Xehanort. ... details.
He gets a slightly far-off look when he notices the sign on the storefront, but shakes it off fast - whatever familiarity was here with this shop, he could figure it out later.
It's almost automatic, how he unlocks the door with the Keyblade and then locks it again once they're both inside. But once inside, he finds himself taking his hand off of Ven's shoulder, leaning against the door, and letting himself slide down to sit on the floor.] Safe...
[Safe, and in a vaguely familiar city, with his Persona keeping watch outside.
Now the question barrage can begin. He hopes he can withstand it.]
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[He meant it as a joke, but then flashbacks to the Mirage Arena reminded him of otherwise. With the Master's armor and "No Heart"...
He internally cringes.]
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[Looking up at you now, Ven, and he appears to be trying to take in what he can visually before anything else. Slowly, a small smile forms on his face.] You haven't changed at all.
[At least on the physical level. On the Light/Darkness scale, that's... another story. And he wont' bring that up yet.]
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Of course! [He says with the most factual tone ever.] Can't say the same about you, though.
[Squint. How did you get to be so much older, biffle.]
How long was I asleep? And what was that thing you summoned? Or that thing we defeated, for that matter? It didn't feel like an Unversed...
[Oh noooo you unlocked the barrage.]
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His eyes lose a little bit of focus as a slightly confused expression replaces the smile on his face. Hold on, trying to keep up--] One thing at a time, Ven.
[At least it's only three questions. Frowning thoughtfully now, his eyebrows furrowing in concentration as he drudges up the words he needs.] The thing we fought was a Heartless - a being born from the darkness in a person's heart.
[Next question up. Try to find the words again, Terra - this one's a little trickier.] The thing I summoned ... it's called a Persona. It's... like a Keyblade, in a way - an extension of myself. A portion of my heart and mind given form.
[A mask one wears to face the world.
He goes silent for a few seconds as he lingers on the answer to that first question. He knows it, and it hurts thinking about it. However, answer it he does, this time quieter than he did the other two.] It's been... eleven years now. Almost twelve. I found you sleeping about a year ago, but I couldn't...
[He couldn't wake you up. He didn't know how, or have a clue where to begin.]
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[He knew that look. That was the look of not being able to keep up with things at all, just like he had back when he was-
...Heartless? Why did that sound familiar?]
Heartless... Persona?
[He guesses it makes sense, but... hm. He'll have to think on it when he isn't in shock, because that sure was his unspoken question being answered.]
Eleven...?
[Years? Really?
... He sits down on the floor in front of Terra, eyes wide and mouth agape as his gaze falters. He'd been asleep that long? But, he didn't feel any older aside from the occasional stiffness from not moving his limbs nearly as much. Didn't look any older, either!
But this tightness in his chest...what did it mean?]
...wake me. [he finishes the sentence, hand over his heart as he goes uncharacteristically quiet.]
That's because... I smashed it. [a beat] But Terra, what happened? It used to be me who couldn't keep up with you two.
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[Eleven years was a long time for anyone to search for someone, let alone search for someone when you couldn't remember who it was in the first place.
Looking back up at Ven with slight confusion again.] Smashed it...?
[His eyes widen when comprehension dawns. 'It' - of course.] Your heart... you broke your heart, to break the X-blade.
[Oh... oh, Ven... no wonder you'd been asleep so long.
He looks down at the floor again, and he feels his fists clenching as his temper picks up. Anger was too easily remembered, and he hadn't felt properly in so long...
It was going to be tough, not acting on it.] Xehanort happened.
[Elaborate, Terra - 'Xehanort happened' could mean anything. He takes a slow, somewhat calming breath, and continues.] He wanted to survive, to see the Keyblade War. He decided...
[Oh. He's shaking, from trying to contain that anger of his. He closes his eyes and takes another slow breath to steady himself, and hopefully keep the anger out of his tone.] He decided... that he needed a new vessel to do that with.
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[It was all he could do in order to silence Vanitas for good and end that threat to the worlds. He couldn't just let him overpower himself and hurt Aqua and Mickey!
He just wishes he didn't have to sleep so long in order to repair it within someone else's Heart. Also that he'd learned how to deal with the negative emotions while he was asleep, instead of being both angry and confused as to how to deal with it at the same time.
Especially at the mention of Xehanort's name and the Keyblade War. He could remember it, vaguely, of his former Master telling him of the legend, but that he would use his best friend to see it...
...When did his fists clench and his shoulders start shaking?]
...Sorry.
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That is Ven, struggling with anger.
His own temper is still flaring, but he can feel concern cutting through it. As muddled as his memory is right now, he doesn't remember Ven ever losing his temper.
He doesn't really remember Ven having much of a temper to begin with. Seeing his best friend/little brother struggling to deal with it like this... it ached, somehow.
He has to push aside the still too-vibrant memories of that terrible fight aside - risking letting them linger, letting his temper continue to rise? It wouldn't serve either of them now.
They both needed to calm down. More importantly, it seemed Ven needed to learn how.] Take a deep breath. Slowly, though - you want to be able to count to four when you breath out.
[It... sort of works. If you let it. It's only barely working for Terra.
He looks away again as he tries to take his own advice. He needed to be calm, or he was going to bring down a meteor or something on this shop.
He really didn't want to do that.] ... Don't be. If anyone should be sorry, it's me. I didn't see him for what he was until it was too late. By then--
[Cutting himself off now. Because by the time he'd seen it, Xehanort was revealing his hand. Master Eraqus had been killed, and their home had been ripped apart.
... Crap. He's getting angrier. Had his temper really been this bad? Or had the absence of it simply made him more aware of it?]
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It makes him really really mad. Why did it have to be Terra, too? Was ruining his life and Vanitas's short, miserable existence not enough for his former master? (Not that he pardoned what his darkness did, but you can't blame him for feeling bad for the guy or what he went through while his Master more or less enjoyed a cup of tea and encouraged the self-destructive behavior.)
'One... two... three... four... fix...six... seven... eight...'
Huh. It did sort of help, if he focused on the numbers instead. But ignoring wasn't gonna cut it for long.]
No, it's not. He... was my former Master, after all.
[He pulls his knees in close to his chest, shaking his head.]
If I'd remembered sooner, then Master Eraqus would have known he was lying the entire time. Instead it took him hurting Mickey for me to remember it.
[His plans for him, creating the x-blade... and what he'd planned to do with it and just how terrified he was at realizing just how weak he was. But kicking themselves would get them nowhere, right? He couldn't have helped not remembering what happened just as much as Terra couldn't help being...well, Terra. Which just left one person to blame.]
It's his fault, not yours.
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But Terra, where's Aqua? I remember her carrying me back home and saying she'd be back soon, but...
1/2
He should've known that question would come sooner or later. With both of them here, all that was missing was the one among their number that had officially earned the rank of Master. Outside of the uncertainty of 'the Realm of Darkness', Terra had no way of knowing where their mutual best friend was.
All he could do was be honest.] I don't know. I went to look for her in the Realm of Darkness, but I found myself here again instead.
[Here again. The last time he had been here...]
2/2
It was a long shot, considering how long it had been since he was last in Hinoto-Ri. She could have gone home at any point between then and now.
'Don't get your hopes up, Terra.' If only taking his own advice weren't so difficult. If she was here, then that would mean that the three of them would be together again.
He looks back up at Ven and manages the closest thing to one of his old grins that has been seen so far.] She might be here. We can start looking once the Dark Hour is over.
[Because like hell does he want to risk running into another Destroyed Behemoth or three.]