Event || The Enemy Within

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All characters who signed-up for the event.
Where: In their heads.
When: January 15th.
Summary: The Heroes of Light have a vision-- They are living through a hypothetical future where the Sage share his knowledge with them, and things went horribly wrong as some Heroes of Light became the villains in this timeline. Maybe they'll revise their thoughts on getting all of that knowledge.
Warning: The apocalypse, deaths, tragedies, overall a lot of very bad things.

Mingle Threads: The Antagonists || The Protagonists || The Others || General
Free Open Threads: The Two Years || Other Events

#01 Attempts at Negotiations || Trano Golsaucia
#02 Tactical Espionage Action || Aqures Ixen
#03 Judgmental Glares || Aerilon
#04 The Fight for the Crystallized Bodies || Aqures Tosf
#05 The Dusk of the Heroes || Mysidia
#06 The Fight for the Moon || Lunar Gate
#07 Conflict Above the Stars || Moon Base
#08 The Birth of a God || Crystal Life Tree
#09 The Death of a World || Moon Base
#10 Where Everything Ends || Pandaemonium

Conclusion || The Sage in Mysidia

Comments

Neutral Mingle || Aerilon

[melodiesmods]

If you want to play out something between the neutral characters, then feel free to use this thread! Aerilon is pretty much left unchanged from what it currently is. There are a lot less people though, as it's pretty much stuck in a corner and hardly accessible for the regular population.

Re: Neutral Mingle || Aerilon

[they_call_me_sonic]

Sonic had came to a stop as he arrived in Aerilon. It seemed that this was probably one of the few places he could really hang out at. He'd become determined not to get caught up in either side's petty fights and figure out this problem himself, but it seemed that every time he could find that point, he'd be met up with either side.

Finding a chair by a small cafe, he sat back and relaxed.

"Jeez, what a waste..."

Re: Neutral Mingle || Aerilon

[shining_derp]

Shining Armor was there that day, and when Sonic walked in, a small smile appeared on his face. Getting up and levitating his drink over, he asked, "Can I sit here? Been a while."

[they_call_me_sonic]

"Heh, go ahead! Plenty of room here!" Sonic said, offering the pony one of the seats.

[shining_derp]

Shining did so, and set his drink down. "Haven't seen you in a while. How've you been?"

[they_call_me_sonic]

"Eh, same as I usually am, though it's getting harder and harder to enjoy things." Sonic admitted. "Half the time, I'm jumping in to give both sides the whollping they deserve for being idiots."

[shining_derp]

"I wish I could do that, but I can't y'know, really get that involved." Said Shining. "I worry about my family all the time."

Assumed CR is cool?

[believesinhumanity]

Rock was... really tired. He still didn't get how humans managed sometimes. Since getting the ability to become a robot again back, he'd spent quite a bit of time in that form, but he also spent a lot of time both on and off the battlefield as a human. His Megaman form was more durable and didn't tire as easily, but he also couldn't fight humans in that form. Also, he liked being able to eat human food. It was one of the few pleasures he got to enjoy these days.

Right now, as he came over to Sonic's table, he was in human form. "Hey, Sonic. It's been a while." He offered the hedgehog a small smile. "Is it alright if I sit here?"

Sure! And sorry for the late reply!

[they_call_me_sonic]

"Well, well, long time, no see!" Sonic said, flashing Rock a thumbs up. "Go ahead, take a seat. Plenty around here!"

Once Rock was settled, Sonic added. "Holdin' up alright?"

[believesinhumanity]

Rock sat down with a sigh at the other side of the table. "About as well as can be expected." He replied. "Things are really starting to get hectic out there."

"How about you? Have things been going alright on your end?" Rock didn't entirely agree with Sonic's method of dealing with the two warring factions himself, even though he could understand his frustration with them. If he'd been a more violent person he might have been tempted to bang two sides heads together a time or two himself.

neutral mingle | yuna (open)

[grandsummon]

Somehow the months had turned into years, and before Yuna knew it, two more had gone by in the world of Crystallis. Near the docks of Aerilon, she looked out to the endless sea, half wondering when she would see the Calamity approaching from that direction, too. Sighing, she pulled at the edges of her sleeves, worn and mended and worn again. She had long since changed back to her summoner's robes. Maybe she did it to still cling to some semblance of home. Maybe that's why she felt herself drawn to the water...

Reaching up to grasp her familiar necklace, her gaze lingered only a short while more, before she tore it away, afraid of what she might see.

What horrors awaited her today, she wondered.

[idleskypirate]

It had certainly been a long two years. Vaan hadn't expected something like this to happen. Vaan could agree with both sides, but nor could he advocate for both. So, he had stayed on his own side. He got his own airship and eventually got himself a crew in Kidd and Saori. Kidd being the most experienced, he often let her take control of things even though the ship belonged to him. He learned a lot more about his Assassin job than he ever expected too.

Right now, it was being put into good use as he made his way to the docks. Kidd and Saori had gone ahead to scope things out and would return with the ship soon enough. Vaan wanted to wait for them. Aerilon was a place where he didn't have to hide, but he was never quite sure these days.

Then, he spotted Yuna. Jumping from pillar to pillar on the docks, he stopped next to her and crouched down. He pulled back his hood and greeted the woman with a soft smile. "Hey, Yuna."

[grandsummon]

Visits with Vaan had become common, well, perhaps not as common as she would have liked, but still they were something to look forward to. Seeing him, dashing from pillar to pillar like that, was a reminder of a more simple time, a time she wished she could go back to... before everything had been so complicated. Although her chest felt heavy, she still managed a smile -- just for him.

"Back on land again, huh?" she remarked, trying her best to sound as light and happy as she could -- the way he probably wanted to remember her. Things with the heroes from Aqures Ixen had only become more and more complicated over the last few days, from the bits and pieces she'd heard.

"You... didn't happen to see any of the heroes movements, did you?" What would she even do if they had? She wasn't nearly the confident mage she had once been, not since... Her head drooped, along with her tone. "I heard that something might be happening soon."

[idleskypirate]

Vaan wished he could visit more often. But he and his crew were trying to make sure they stayed up to date on events. It was all they really could do right now. Aside from visiting friends, anyway. He was glad for the smile though, much better than what he saw what he felt was only yesterday. She seemed so lost, so broken and it broke his heart. His visits, what they did when alone, it helped to a degree but he knew he couldn't replace what she felt she lost.

And really, he didn't want to. But he wanted to make sure his friend was happy. Even though he wasn't sure any of them ever could. He knew that tone, but chose not to call her out on it. Instead, he nodded and brushed his hand through his hair, pushing some behind his ear.

"Something is going to happen. I seem to keep hearing things in different places though. Mysidia, Aqurus Tosf... I'm still trying to track who is going where and why. Mysidia is the place my crew and I are going. How about you? What have you heard?"

[grandsummon]

"Rikku..." she started, "she was doing some research, I think." The details of which were still a bit lost on her. Even during her time in this world she had never quite gotten a grasp on the computer and science side of life. For as long as she could she had remained at the hospital trying to help in ways she knew how -- until circumstances had pushed them out.

"I'm not sure what exactly it might mean but... if I can help her..." the old Yuna would have said something here about how she was going to do everything she could. That Yuna would have stepped up to the challenge even if she hadn't understood all the details. But this Yuna... "Then -- I suppose I should."

It was a sense of duty that kept her going. Ever since the rift incident -- it had felt like everything she touched turned to ash. Everything, except Vaan... so far. "Will... you tell me about your adventures this time?" If something really was going to happen, and she was going to put herself in the middle of it... she wanted to hear, at least one last time.

[idleskypirate]

Vaan knew something was going down, something big, he just wasn't sure how to tell Yuna. His crew was going to Mysidia because a big fight is going down. A WEAPON was going to be used, that's what Kidd had told him. They needed to figure out what to do without choosing sides, but in the end... would it even matter?

"I think you should," He replied, moving to sit on the pillar rather than crouching. "Rikku's a smart girl, if she's on to something, then it's worth checking out."

At her request, Vaan gave her a look. This time? Ah, that's right. The last few visits, he'd refused to give her any details on what he was up to. She did seem to thrive on them, he noticed. Even if he had more misadventures than adventures. His lips quirked into a small smile. "Alright, you win. But let's do it over some lunch. I'm starving."

[waterstrikes]

"Rikku! What the--?!"

Tidus stumbled into the cramped supply closet, trying in vain to open the door.

"Very funny. Can you let me out now?"

When there wasn't any answer, he gave up for the time being. Granted, things were tense lately, but with the Calamity approaching, no one had been in the mood for pranks. He'd forgone most of his blitzball uniform but he still wore similar shorts and a metal pauldron. Light was able to stream a path in the opening on the ceiling, making it easier for him to distinguish his surroundings. He hadn't thought there would be anything interesting. He hadn't expected to see the one person he had been avoiding.

"Yuna...?"

[grandsummon]

She hadn't realized it, at least not at first, when Rikku had insisted on her going to the supply closet. Even when the door had closed and latched behind her the first time she thought it had been a mistake, any minute now her cousin would come and let her out, with some quip about how could she even have been locked in somewhere like that?

But as the door opened and shut suddenly that second time, all the pieces finally crashed into place. Sitting on a overturned bucket, Yuna felt her heart sink, it was all she could do to keep focused on her clasped hands that rested in her lap -- and when he finally turned to see her, she winced, thankful for the darkness.

"I see now," was her response, barely audible, as though she didn't even want to be heard. "I'm sorry. I didn't... realize this was her plan." If she had had even an inkling, well... Yuna wouldn't have gone along with it.

[waterstrikes]

Tidus felt a storm of conflicting emotions boiling under his skin. He was annoyed at Rikku, for one. He had already made up his mind, and Yuna hers. What did she think would happen? They'd make up? It wasn't that simple anymore, and all he wanted to do--or thought he had wanted--was to move on.

He finally turned away. It was painful to look at her, even in the dark. "Don't worry about it," he replied, a little too rushed.

"It's not like you went out and did this yourself." It wasn't Yuna's fault. Being stuck in a small space, and having to face something he'd rather not, left him with more nervous energy than usual. He chose to focus on trying to open the door. The sooner they were out of here, the sooner he wouldn't have to see Yuna sad, and he could continue pretending everything about their world was still okay.

[grandsummon]

She closed her eyes, hearing that. Squeezed them shut, even. Almost as though the harder she tried, the easier it was to deny what was happening. She kept her silence for an uncomfortably long time... how long did Rikku plan to keep them in here? Until a miracle happened? Miracles didn't exist -- she knew that now more than ever. They'd probably starve in here first, if that's what her cousin was waiting for.

"It's no use," she sighed, eventually. "The door is reinforced several times to deter thieves from both factions of heroes," she tried to look away, at the far corner of the room, at the corner closest to her... wanting to focus anywhere but where Tidus was.

"She'll probably... give up sooner or later." The summoner shifted on her less-than-comfortable seat. "I'm sure you have -- other things to do." Was that some bitterness? Or... sadness.

[waterstrikes]

"It might deter them, but there's a way around it," he argued, more as a retort to her than an actual disagreement. What was Rikku even thinking? He gave the door a few kicks and punches before he finally gave up. He shook his head. He hated hearing Yuna sound like that.

It hurt.

"We all have other things to do right now," He wasn't terse, but it was close. There was an underlying defeat in his tone. Even if he was done trying to escape for now, he didn't move from his spot. He tried to keep as much space between them as possible. After all, wasn't that what Yuna wanted?

"Look, it's not that I don't appreciate you...trying to apologize for her. But-- it's fine. I know Rikku won't keep us in here forever," It just felt awkward, like some reluctant parody of what they used to have.

Re: neutral mingle | yuna (open)

[not_most_days]

Ever since the schism between the Heroes, Mary had decided to cut out and start doing things her own way. The squabbles between the two factions weren't helping the world as it stood. The choice between sacrificing everyone or hoping for a new chance to just appear was a fool's game.

Aerilon remained free, as she'd hoped, and while her work with the Assassins lacked much strength to help, she was still able to do some good with some tactical piracy.

Walking down the docks, Mary smiled as she spotted the other Hero. She always appreciated the earnestness of the young woman, and yet she recognized the look behind her eyes that ran in contrast to her innocent appearance. Yuna was a woman who had seen the world for what it was.

"It's been a long time since last laid eyes, lass. How are you holding up?"

[grandsummon]

"Kidd," she turned, with a bit of a surprise, though it softened nearly immediately as she realized what it signified. If Kidd had returned, that meant that Vaan had also... She nodded in reply to the question, trying to mull over the best way for her to answer. She couldn't be honest, Yuna was sure of that at least, but she had always been a poor liar. It was best to just skirt around the truth...

"It's been... about the same, I suppose." Around the time she had relocated to Aerilon was probably when things had been at their worst. Since then, she had thought of it as coasting along...

"It's good to see you, again. Has... everyone on your crew returned as well?" she tilted her head with interest, "If there are any supplies I would be able to help you with before you're all off again -- " another small nod, "please, let me know."

[not_most_days]

Kidd paused, raising an eyebrow at Yuna. While she'd been impressed with the young woman for a long time she didn't really associate her with the activities her crew got up to. While she couldn't quite read between the lines she could at least see there were some words hidden there. She couldn't pry though. At least she could be sure that she wasn't up to no good.

"Aye. All back safe and sound. We make sure not to bite off anything bigger than we can handle." Their supply raids would only ever hinder both sides, and even then they couldn't do anything about the Calamity. Their goal was simply to keep civilian casualties in the conflict to a minimum.

But from what she just heard at the pub, all of that may have to come to a change soon.

She kept her worries from reaching her face and stroked her chin in thought. "We might need to take on some cables for our next quarry. It might need a touch more personal than our shipboard cannons."

[grandsummon]

"Cables..." Unfortunately that wasn't something Yuna could likely help with. The more time dragged on, the more useless she felt. She nodded a little at the comment to show she was paying attention, but at the same time her thoughts seemed to wander. Cannons... were they going into battle? Well... it was only a matter of time until the factions of heroes collided again, but she had always hoped it was somehow later than sooner.

Now, it seemed, those hopes were also coming to an end.

"Are you... preparing for something important?" A pause, as she realized how that might have sounded. "Ah... I'm sorry, I don't mean to say your missions might be unimportant, I just wondered... if it might be something dangerous. That's all."