melodiesoflife | (no subject)

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[While the rest of the Heroes are busy bearing their souls in letters over what they saw in their shared vision, Graham is a bit stuck in an existential crisis. He doesn't know what to make of what he saw, where it came from or if it was even true. Even if it wasn't, it depressed him greatly. The Calamity truly scared him; even the idea that he could turn into a static crystal statue at any time unnerved him. The fact that he might slaughter his way through so many people in order to save the world caused him a lot of conflict, as anyone who spoke to him in the vision might have pieced together. Life was already worthless in Graham's eyes, and that made taking lives something that made him feel guilty. So what was the point in saving some worlds if he had to kill so many people to do it? What was the point to anything they do now, if this was how it was going to turn out?

Graham had never really been on board with the idea of being a Hero, and this little vision only cemented that fact further. After yelling something along the lines of his resignation at his moogle, he left the house, not even knowing where he was heading. Kuprono followed after him, and it was a good thing he had.

Not long after Graham had first arrived in Aqures Ixen, he had run-in with some local thugs who thought he looked like an easy target. Graham easily took them down, and had fun while doing so. Tonight, they'd returned for revenge. Now fully healed, they collected a few more people and some weapons. The circled the young mechanic in an alley and didn't give him much of a chance to say anything. That was okay by Graham this time. He had some frustrations to work out anyway, and he was thankful this gang had come along at the right time! Last time they got some busted heads, broken ribs, and popped joints. This time, it was going to be a hell of a lot worse. At least you can rest easy in that he'll leave them alive, though just barely.

Any nearby Heroes, police especially, will be stopped by a panicky moogle, wringing his little hat in his paws as he manages to get out the words "Graham, kupo" before leading you towards the scene of the crime. Even before you reach that street, the sounds of the fight can be heard. Graham, a nearly unrivaled fighter back home, is a high-level Assassin as a Hero, and the gang can't even keep up. One of the thugs tries to run off, and he hits him hard on the neck with his wrench. One swings a sword at him, and Graham deflects it and kneecaps the guy. Someone tries to cast some protection spells on his allies, and Graham uses a Thief ability to take it for himself.

Gangsters are scattered at his feet, unconscious or moaning, and he's half-drenched in their blood. Unlike last time, when he was just having fun with them, he's taking this seriously. Maybe he's enjoying himself, but that sort of grin on his face isn't a joyful one.]

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[As one of the recent recruits to the local law enforcement, Aya just happens to have been one of the police officers to have been stopped by the said panicky moogle.

[After instructing the moogle to take her to Graham's rampage, she's guided to the scene where she arrives in time to find the "poor" gangsters riddling the alleyway.

[She doesn't draw her sidearm immediately. But she does give stop because she knows this man and yet, technically, this is the first they've met. A brief flash of the man she had met at the docks flies by and there's no question now that she knows who this is. But his name eludes her.]

Had enough yet? [Her tone is leveled and calm, because again she isn't bringing her gun into play just yet, not until she knows what's going on. And that's only in the event that she needs to defend herself -- and given the circumstances, she very well might -- but in that case then she has other resources in her "arsenal" than simple brutal fire.]

[As one of the gangsters tries to use Aya as a distraction and take off, a wrench suddenly catches him by the front of his neck. Graham pulls him in close in one smooth motion, arm going around his upper arms to keep him from throwing a punch Graham's way. Graham gives Aya a thrilled, unhinged grin.]

Nope! Isn't it great that a whole dozen of these guys came by right in the nick of time? And here I thought I'd ever feel good ever again!

[And before the struggling thug can get away, Graham knees him hard in the kidney, and unceremoniously drops him on the ground, giving him a swift kick for the hell of it.]

Although... I was havin' fun. Are you here to stop me? Would you really stop someone from having the time of their life? That's the real crime here. The crime of raining on a parade!

[He swings his wrench around in circles on his fingers, eyeing Aya up. He remembers her too. She was on his side. But considering now he didn't consider himself to be on anyone's side anymore, it didn't matter.]

[Aya winces as Graham beats up the thug like it was nothing, mostly for the poor guy who was just trying to escape. Her memories of this man are rather fuzzy, but from what she does remember... Well, she isn't surprised to see him dispatch these thugs so quickly.]

From the looks of things, it doesn't seem like these guys are much having the time of their lives like you are, so forgive me for having to kick down the rain. You're not really giving me much choice.

[She then rolls her eyes.] Honestly, if it's steam you're needing to blow off, there are better ways than this.

I will respectfully disagree! There is really nothing better than this. This is the absolute best way! That's a really happy story, huh?

[He does a little spin in place to demonstrate just how happy he is! That's when he notices some of the gangsters making a break for it, tottering off, vainly attempting to drag off their unconscious friends to the nearest healers. Graham droops.]

A happy story with a sad, disappointing ending. The perpetrators make off into the nights before justice is done being served. Ah, happiness is so fleeting, isn't it? I was hoping this moment would last forever, and I could feel like this for the rest of eternity! I don't think eternity is up, so I guess nothin' truly does last forever, and I will have to mourn the passing of this great moment.

It's not very happy for them, so no. Not really. [Aya nods to the thug Graham had just recently beaten down. She isn't about to feel sorry for a bunch of low-lives that were probably asking for it, but she also isn't about to start dancing over them, either.]

So you like stories? Fine. Tell me what happened here.

[If Graham started this, she's going to have no choice but to do her job and take action. Which is a pain, considering that she does recall them working together at one point in a possible future.

[...A possible future in which she attempted to assault a civilian population, mind you, but a possibility nevertheless.]

I'll tell you a sad story, one about a bunch of idiots who thought they could rob me. It turns out they didn't know what they were getting themselves into. So their story got sadder and sadder from there! How they didn't learn their lessons the first time I dismantled them all. The place is so full of sad stories just like this, that sometimes it's hard to face the day. But fortune has smiled upon me today, and I got to impart some great wisdom with my fellow man!

[After gesticulating dramatically to tell this little story, Graham suddenly turns and smashes his wrench on the pavement in front of one of the thugs who was trying to crawl away. He gasps and whimpers at being narrowly missed.]

And since they didn't learn their lesson the first time, I got to teach it all over again to even more of their friends! Isn't that great?!

[She mutters:] Great.

[Aya is less than enthused when she says this, but if what he's telling her is true...]

While I think what you did was unnecessarily over the top, if these guys were really the ones giving you trouble then I'm going to have to take them in. [All of them. Ugh.] Unless you want to share a cell with them, I suggest you don't get in the way.

[She would rather not have to fight over this, but if she has to then she will.]

Now now, I never said I was done with my lesson. School's still in session. It's pop quiz time! This one's for all the points! How many idiot gangsters will it take to stop me next time?

[He jumps in front of the guy he was just harassing, and is disappointed when he doesn't get an answer.]

What? Nothing?! That's an F for you, then. Except that it was a trick question. Considering your two poor showings so far, the odds are in my favor that you'll never stop me!

[It's distinctly possible that he'd forgotten Aya's there. Or maybe he's ignoring her. Hard to tell.]

[He's ignoring her.

[Aya grits her teeth. It's bad enough that Graham is putting her more and more into a bind. He has to complicate things.

[Without reaching for her gun, she marches forward and snatches him by the sleeve, throwing him back.]

I said don't get in the way. Do you want to get yourself arrested?

What the hell is wrong with you?

[Right after Aya grabs his sleeve, her wrist is grabbed by the business end of the wrench. Graham looks mad, but he's more mad that she managed to grab him first. He should have easily stopped her before she got so close. Further proof to himself that he's still not close to his normal level.]

I'm already in the way. I've been in the way. I created this way! I think you're the one in the way.

[That's when he turns from angry to excited, a devilish grin breaking out on his face. If Aya doesn't move fast, she's going to get tossed head over heels by the wrist currently caught by the wrench.]

[Luckily, Aya is pretty fast. Probably not nearly as fast as Graham, mind you, but she's quick to throw her hand back before she can watch her wrist be taken off by that wrench. She retreats a few swift steps, reacting rather than thinking, and Graham is beyond being talked down at this point.

[Does she want to arrest him? Not really. Part of her still somewhat sees him as an ally, and/or someone who she'd rather not have to contend with. Which is why she makes use of her spellcasting and hurls a large bubble of water straight at Graham's face.

[It'll either cool him down or piss him off. Who knows.]

[Magic. That one thing Graham keeps forgetting to account for. Not that he hasn't come across some unpredictable opponents in his time, but magic still manages to sneak up on him. Especially since he's not a caster class himself.

He blocks the burst with his wench before it pelts him in the face. He still gets soaked from it, which is annoying on a winter's night. Graham doesn't have magic, but he does have his own tricks. He'll react by being an utter shit, launching forward and using Steal to try and make off with Aya's gun. He's been wanting to dismantle of those anyway.]

[Graham used Steal. It's super effective!

[It doesn't take long for Aya to realize that he's gone for her gun. And by then it's gone.]

HEY! [On one hand, it's not one of her guns that she's a special attachment to, but comes with her job. But on the other -- IT'S HER GUN.]

[Graham spins it around on his finger for a moment before tucking it into a pocket. Mine now.]

What a happy ending to this story. I've only recently had the pleasure of dismantling a pistol back home, and now I get to see what makes the ones in Crystallis tick! It could only get better if I had the chance to take it apart right here and now, but I guess my luck will only take me so far.

[A thought occurs to him, like a light bulb lighting up above his head.]

Dare I push it so far? There's only one way to find out.

[That's when he drops a Smoke Bomb. And then uses Flee. Meaning that when the smoke dissipates, he's gone. Totally gone from battle. Leaving Aya, behind, sans her weapon, to deal with the aftermath of his carnage. Look, he really wants to take that gun apart, okay.]

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crusty old tag is crusty and old oops

<3

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here's how to avoid turning this into an unending fight thread