Event || The Answer

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All characters who signed-up for the event.
Where: South Continent of Balance (Imperial Territories)
When: April 20th to April 30th.
Summary: The Heroes of Light have lost consciousness and now find themselves in the middle of nowhere, without their Moogles and away from everything they know. They will have to get back home, but what awaits them on the path? For more information, please check the First OOC Post and Second OOC Post.
Warning: Bad things.

Group 01: Team Hijinks House
Group 02: Team Brigands
Group 03: Team Discovery Channel
Group 04: Sephiroth's (In)Sanity Squad
Group 05: Team (Bad) Shipping Advice
Group 06: Team Blue-Haired Lords on Fire
Group 07: Team Mom and Late Sleepers
Group 08: Nothing Bad Will Happen
Group 09: The Hellhounds
Group 10: Loftwings, A Working Title
Group 11: Team Oni
Group 12: Team F.N.T.I²
Group 13: Team Name-In-Progress
Group 14: Team The-Mods-Couldn’t-Brain-A-Name
Group 15: Seraphim Shenanigans

Comments

GROUP 01: TEAM HIJINKS HOUSE

[melodiesmods]

AWAKENING

[melodiesmods]

[This thread is for playing out what happens as the characters awaken in their initial predicament.]

Re: AWAKENING

[damn_juicebox]

[Rukia's brow twitches. Something's wrong. She knows this before she even opens her eyes. The smell of the cold morning air isn't something that she should be detecting, given that she'd fallen asleep cuddled up with the giant plush bunny that Queen Sarah sent her for Christmas. On the plus side, she'd been so tired from her training that she'd fallen fast asleep in her comfortable ninja robes. But that didn't mean she had her zanpaku'tou with her.]

[So she's outside. She remains still, just in case she's being observed. Her head is still propped up on something warm...or someone? Definitely a person, and probably their chest since she feels her head rise and fall in time with the quiet sounds of breathing. She cracks open one eye just a slit so she can sneak a peek at her surroundings, as well as who just became her personal pillow.]

Re: AWAKENING

[boomchucka]

[Not too far away, Selphie is reflexively curling in on herself to keep the cold at bay. She'd crawled into bed after a busy shift at Cuppa Kupo in her new train themed pajama bottoms and a t-shirt and didn't recall leaving the window open. She wasn't a sleepwalker either. Forcing her eyes open, Selphie was greeted by the sight of damp earth and fresh grass. She sat up with a cautious look and saw her friends nearby.

They were outside to boot. What was going on?

Selphie knew they had to get moving before they were caught unaware by wherever they'd woken up.]

Rise and shine guys! [Comes out in a bright but confused voice.]

[dammit_yuri]

[Flynn was awake but a moment or two before Selphie was, but she beat him to waking everyone else, it seemed. Rather, he was busy taking in the sights and silently trying to reason why and how they ended up in some unknown area. While he did trust those he ended up with, nobody could really take the place of his steadfast comrade.]

Yuri.

[Flynn nudged Yuri, getting his attention. His tone was dead serious and his gaze was adamant - surely, something was amiss.]

EVENT: THE EVIL INSIDE

[melodiesmods]

[ It had been quite lengthy and slow, but the child that had crossed the path of the Heroes of Light had finally managed to tell them everything he had to. In-between the tears and sniffles, the child’s tale probably came out as clear: he had been with his mother when he had spotted a rabbit, and of course he had followed it out of curiosity. But before long, he had lost sight of his mother. This in itself was bad enough, but with all the monsters roaming around, if she were to try and look for him… He didn’t even manage to word his fears correctly. Instead he looked up at them. ]

Please… You have to help her…!

[ Needless to say, he seemed very panicked and afraid that something would happen to her. ]

Re: EVENT: THE EVIL INSIDE

[damn_juicebox]

Of course we will.

[Rukia smiles reassuringly, a steady hand on the young boy's shoulder leaving only to brush away his tears.]

We're more than capable of fighting monsters, do not fear. You will be safe with us.

[It's not like they can just leave him out here in the middle of nowhere and hope monsters don't sniff him out too. They must reunite the family, and then guide them to safety at the nearest village. Rukia looks at the others with a nod. She knows none of them will object to this.]

[And now she knows where to find rabbits in the future, too.]

I'm certain she cannot be far. Let us retrace your steps.

[Rukia holds out her hand for the youth to take if he so pleases, ready to move forward as swiftly as possible. These plains are far from safe for any lone traveler, and his fears are justified.]

[dammit_yuri]

[While Flynn wouldn't object to helping a person in need, the entire situation he felt uneasy and he looked the boy in the eye as best as he could as he knelt down to the kid's level.]

Do you have someplace safe to be while we take care of the issue at hand? You can lead us to where you last saw your mother, but I don't think you should come with us the entire way.

[Their attention could not be divided by having one or two of their battle-ready to watch the child as well, and being at the village seemed like a good choice - assuming that the village was indeed safe. Now was not the time to voice his concerns.]

[dammit_flynn]

Take it easy, we'll give you a hand. I'm sure. We just gotta know the details as the gentleman and young lady said.

[ Yuri replied giving the boy a pat on the head as he seemed hysterical about the situation. Somehow in the town, he managed to find a shirt for his bare chest. At least, he looked decently now compared to earlier. He was going to have some serious talk with whoever decided it was cool to toss him in the middle of him getting dressed. He was lucky to even have his sword with him.

Like Flynn, he felt uneasy but he wasn't going to turn a need for help away. ]

FREE THREADS

[melodiesmods]

[This thread is for you to play out the trip, discussions and interactions between the characters or anything that does not fit in the awakening and event threads.]

Flynn Scifo - OTA

[dammit_yuri]

[Flynn took a seat at the tavern. He wasn't one to frequent such tenements, but that's what people did when they were particularly disturbed, right? The fact that he saw a pink-haired woman go by the name of Esther was quite a shock, given her striking resemblance physically and in mannerisms to the Lady Estellise. Part of him was glad that she wasn't summoned to this world to be forced to fight again, but a mixed feeling of regret and satisfaction flooded into Flynn's chest when he spoke with Esther for those few fleeting moments. Taking a tentative sip of his drink, he decided to down the entire thing before politely asking for another.]

[dammit_flynn]

[ Yuri wasn't paying attention to anything in the slightest, only because he kept seeing people and things that he didn't want to see or couldn't un-see. He was sitting across from Flynn, looking rather disconnected as he drank the rest of his liquor.

Honestly, this could be the worst kind of situation to put him in even if the wounds weren't raw anymore. Silence enveloped the space where the two of them were sitting but it wasn't like it was anything new. ]

[dammit_yuri]

It's not often we don't have much to say to each other.

[It was a miracle he had some gil with him. But they both knew he didn't even have to ask permission if he could buy him a drink. Flynn already motioned for the bartender to give Yuri another of whatever he was having.]

Threadjacking Okay

[damn_juicebox]

Make it two.

[Rukia drags herself onto the stool, looking haggard and fed up with everything stupid in this world. She, too, witnessed a family of doppelgangers, and she's hoping that if she drinks right now, there's a chance the memory will be forgotten in an alcoholic haze. Please let it be so. She doesn't need to remember the sight of Yuri and Flynnette waving happily to their children, one of whom greatly resembled Rukia if she were born with half a brain, and what she could have sworn was a teenage, sullen version of her brother Byakuya.]

[So much for Rukia's former proclamation about not caring for booze. Bring it on, and make it a double.]

I sincerely hope you did not lay witness to what I just saw.

... flynette? srsly? why can't yuri be feminized?

[dammit_yuri]

I think we're all better off not discussing or digesting what we've witnessed in this land.

[Flynn takes another sip.]

Something remind you of the past?

Selphie Tilmitt - OTA

[boomchucka]

[Opting to attempt to gather some information about their predicament resulted in a strange sort of reunion. The perky brunette has run into a boy around her age that bore an uncanny liking -- in looks and personality -- to one Irvine Kinneas. Everything except the name; Ivan. He was kind enough to answer Selphie's questions and help her find some supplies that she'd need before getting back to Aqures Ixen.

It reminded her of being back out on the road with her friends and made her miss them all that much more. It's also why she's curled up in bed in their room at the inn. The afternoon with Ivan and all the walking they'd done in order to find the village, had left the girl leaning towards the partially brain dead. She was dozing in the beginning but it eventually turns into full blown slumber.]

/insert deep bass beat with electronic overtones

[dammit_yuri]

[Quietly making his way in after consorting with Yuri at the bar, Flynn stopped by Selphie's bed. He hadn't spoken much with her, but all he saw was an ordinary girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances, and he could only imagine what was going on through her mind. Sure, she handled herself well enough in battle (must be that military training or something), but Flynn couldn't help but feel some sort of desire to help protect her as well. Only time would tell, he supposed. He moved toward the curtain to shut them so that the street lights wouldn't bother her.]

Open to threadjacking if you are!

[damn_juicebox]

[Despite their situation, there is one specific thing that Rukia has been looking forward to.]

[SLUMBER PARTY.]

[Whether their room is being shared by the entire group, or if they're separated into two rooms, she's excited for the chance to enjoy one of her favorite things. This will be the second slumber party she's had, and when she returns from her shopping, her arms are loaded with slumber party supplies.]

I found everything we need!

[There's a hairbush, a variety of snacks and beverages, and some paper and pens just in case any of them need to write any poems.]

[What? It happened before.]

[Rukia realizes that Selphie is exhausted, however. Hopefully her exclamation didn't wake up the young lady. It probably did, though.]

I apologize. I wasn't aware you were already asleep.

Ichigo Kurosaki - OTA aka tl;dr aka I got too carried away typing this while studying

[blackmoonreaper]

[Apparently Ichigo wasn't the only one in the village with less than perfect social graces when a raven-haired girl roughly bumped into his shoulder then asked what the hell he was staring at. She was a spitting image of one of his sisters, Karin, if she was a teenager and he had no idea what to even say to that.

Then it went from weird to worse when her overly protective father suddenly showed up with another girl in tow and accused Ichigo of giving one of his beautiful and lovely daughters a hard time. There were words exchanged that started to turn into a bit of a shouting match. But at the admission that Ichigo was being a youthful little stalker for preying on the man's daughter was the final, annoying as hell straw.]

As if I'd do that, you crazy old goat! Why the hell are you always so weird, dad?!

[It had come out of his mouth without thinking and it was a beat before he realized that he wasn't arguing with his father. That man was someone else entirely and none of the small family knew who he was. Feeling a mix of confusion and a bit of guilt for making that mistake he apologized for arguing with them but not without pointing out that the girl--Kayo and her sister Yuka he found out later on--shouldn't be pushing into people like that. There was an awkward and stretched silence between the small group as Ichigo was examined closely by the father before a heavy hand was clasped onto his shoulder and words of accepting the apology followed after. He seemed like an honest lad, after all.

And that was that. Other than the slight tightening of the hand on his shoulder with more bright words hiding the threatening undertone that if the man found out Ichigo was lying he'd hunt him down himself the situation somehow fixed itself. As simple and as complicated as his disputes with his father tended to be back home but he knew he wasn't anywhere close to going back home yet. Nor being back with his family.

After awkwardly spending some time speaking to them the family continued on their shopping trip in the market. The whole exchange was tiring, confusing as hell and a bit hollowing. Maybe he should stretch his walk a little longer before going back to the inn to see if the others were back yet... ]

that was an interesting read XD

[dammit_flynn]

Hitting on under-aged girls now aren't we?

[ Yuri had watched the whole thing unfold from the side with a bag full of groceries he bought of the group and was making his way back. Like Ichigo he had experienced some seriously bizarre incidents, including getting jumped by a dog that looked almost like the spitting image of Repede's father, Lambert followed by a few puppies that were similar to Repede as well except they didn't resemble any dogs from his world.

That was a weird situation he found himself in. At the end of that, he gave the dogs a few slabs of meat-- followed by some other things to the owner as he left. The owner himself looked exactly like Niren and conversing the the fellow was more than enough to stir Yuri's discomfort. However, he was good at hiding that so he simply brushed it off and decided to tease his house mate instead. ]

Yo, Ichigo.

[damn_juicebox]

[This results in nearly bumping straight into Rukia. She was moving at an unhurried pace, however, so she's able to draw back in time once she realizes he's there. She thought she'd recognized his shouting. What really surprised her was the fact that she recognized the other shouting voice also. She looks at Ichigo's face, then past him. Hmmm... Same height and build, same hair...only the clothes are different.]

So you've run across doppelgangers as well. I wondered what the commotion was about.

[Considering the doppelganger she'd encountered an hour ago left a powerful impression on her, she does wonder if Ichigo had undergone a similar effect. She regards him again, her expression serious.]

...Are you well?

[dammit_yuri]

You too, hmm?

[Flynn sighed, walking alongside Ichigo after the scene dispersed.]

I know we haven't talked much, but if you need help processing anything, I'm here, all right?

Grumpy needs a hug

[boomchucka]

[Selphie had been picking up supplies for their trip home when she heard Ichigo's outburst. Sure, he was a bit on the surly side of things from time-to-time but far from a bad person. It sounded like she wasn't the only one enjoying a blast from the past as she quickly paid the merchant for what she'd already purchased and rushed toward the sound of her house-mates voice.

The perky brunette didn't dare interrupt the exchange between the group and kept her distance. She didn't want to eavesdrop and kept her urge to charge in and make sure everything was okay in check. There were a lot of swirling emotions going around in this village as the family around Ichigo. It wasn't much longer before the family went on their business and Selphie approached her house-mate.

She pulled an apple out of the bag as she caught up to Ichigo and tapped his forearm. She presented the fruit to him with a worried frown on her face.]

You okay?

Rukia Kuchiki - OTA

[damn_juicebox]

"What's with that look? Are you struck dumb and mute by my good looks?"

Rukia started with a blink. She'd been staring, she realized, but how could she not? His face, his mannerisms...and now, even his voice...she knew him. But as he stood there with one furrowed brow, scratching at his cheek, it became perfectly clear that he didn't know her.

"Wait, you aren't really mute, are you? Shit, that would be awkward." He was actually starting to look worried, and Rukia had to give herself a mental kick to shake out of her stupor.

"No, I...you just..." The words faded as she stared at his face. How could everything about him echo so strongly, and yet, not be him? No...she knew the answer to that. It was just the first time she'd been able to see him and not fear for a fate where they had to fight, and he had to die on her blade.

"Eh? You're a weird one." His tone was good-natured, despite his words, and he was smiling as he leaned back and folded his arms. "I heard some Heroes of Light were around. You must be one of 'em." He let his gaze drift to her sword, which rested sheathed at her hip. She'd bought it just this morning. "You any good with that thing?"

Rukia's lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't summon up the courage to speak as she willed. Kaien had been the one to teach her how to handle a blade properly. For hours and hours, and days upon days, he'd pulled her aside and trained her personally. She'd treasured those lessons, where she was looked upon as a subordinate, and not a noblewoman.

Finally, she exhaled, then smiled. "Yes. I had an excellent teacher."

"That so. Huh." He tongued the inside of his left cheek and tapped a finger against his elbow. "I'm not too shabby with them myself. You want to go a few rounds? The kids will go nuts if they hear I was sparring with a Hero of Light."

Kids...he had kids... The thought made Rukia's heart swell with warmth. She'd always thought he would have been a remarkable father, had he and his wife produced children. Here, at least, he had a family of his own. He looked so happy, and so alive.

"It would be my pleasure," she answered him with a bright smile.

* * * * *

She spent hours in the fields outside of town, clashing blades with this villager who so resembled her late vice captain. The feeling was so nostalgic. The man was as skilled as she remembered Kaien to be, which he'd claimed was just a natural talent of his ever since he was a kid swinging a stick against his childhood friends as they played Knights of Hera.

When the sun started to go down, he thanked her, and started to return to his home. Rukia had asked if she could visit again someday. He'd granted his permission with a toothy grin and a two-finger salute. 'Any time,' he'd told her.

Rukia returned to the town in high spirits, feeling better than she had in a very long time. Fighting Aaroniero all those months ago had hurt her, and so had her confrontation with the Shifter ghost who had chosen to wear Kaien's face. But this encounter healed those wounds. Had Kaien come here previously, then, to try and save the world? He must have, if his doppelganger existed. Then maybe she might meet him again in the days to come. Nothing would have made her happier than to introduce him to her friends, and to Ichigo. Especially Ichigo. The resemblance they shared was uncanny, enough that they could have been related. And they actually were cousins, though Rukia had no way of knowing this yet.

She stepped into the inn's common room, refreshed and satisfied.

And hungry. All of that sparring had done a number on her body, and a hot meal would hit the spot. Then she could wash off down by the river, if the inn didn't have a tub she could use to clean away the sweat and grime from her hours of training.

[dammit_yuri]

[Minutes before Rukia came into the main room, Flynn had entered from sparring with a wooden dummy outside as well. It was a practice that helped keep his mind from wandering, and the less it wandered after seeing the doppelgangers, the better. He spent so much of his life hating that man, yet still striving to be like him - surpass him - and restore his family name that was destroyed during one fateful mission. It was difficult to look the lookalike in the eye. Unfortunately, his mind did indeed wander, and he ended up with a broken play-sword. Retiring for the evening, Flynn had a towel draped across his shoulders as he poured himself a glass of ice water from a pitcher on the table, witnessing Rukia step in. He poured her a glass.]

Hi.