Intro Log || Exactly As Planned

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light" (only new characters can start threads).
Where: Aqures Ixen.
When: The 5th of November. The new Heroes of Light will awaken early in the morning.
Summary: The new Heroes of Light awaken in Aqures Ixen and are informed by their assigned Moogles of what the situation and what their destinies are. This a log for them to react to the situation, meet each other and be welcomed by the former batches of Heroes of Light.
Warning: Abundance of marshmallows in the streets of the city. It's still in the process of being cleaned out.

Where you were or what you were doing— It does not really matter. Not any more. Within an instant, the world around you collapses. Reality twists and shatters... Or maybe you are the one who is collapsing and shattering away from reality as you knew it. No matter what the answer is, it will only take a few seconds for you to find yourself sinking into a void, your world vanishing into the distance. There is nothing but darkness as far as the eye can see. Even you feel different: all the powers you might once have had, are now gone. It is silent, cold and it feels as though life itself is slipping out of you.

At this moment, when it looks as though nothing but a never-ending void awaits you, a red Crystal forms before you. In this void, its warmth compels you to grab it. Upon doing so, you can hear a soft, soothing voice speaking:


"Wake up."

Soon, the void itself vanishes and is replaced by distant noises of engines. Had it all been nothing more than a dream? The soothing voice repeats its call one more time, but is soon replaced with a much less graceful "Wake up Kupo." Hand clutched on your Crystal, the call of the Moogle may finally wake you up. But you are no longer in your world, nor in the void. You are before the Crystal of Fire, in the third district of a city called Aqures Ixen. At this point, you may realize the engine noise actually originates from an Airship flying low over the city and headed to dock beneath the castle. As if it wasn't strange enough, your clothes have changed as well. They are now a reflection of the Jobs you are wielding. Last but not least, you are surrounded by Moogles, small and fluffy creatures who are more than happy to tell you about everything you want to know, about your 'destiny' as a Hero of Light, about what awaits you.

Or at least, they will tell you everything they do know, which isn't much in the end.

The only people around you are like you-- There are quite a few of them, all clothed in their Job garbs and most likely wondering what is happening. If somehow you do not realize it, the Moogle who woke you up will be more than happy to inform you there are others like you around. In fact, there are other Heroes who have arrived in the course of the past year and they will come soon! Like you, they have Jobs and a Crystal.

If asked, the Moogles will mention that the city was attacked by the Heran Empire a couple months ago and by their resurrected evil king who had taken the form of a Marshmallow giant a couple days ago. This sounds crazy? Welcome to Crystallis.


The Other Heroes
— Shortly Thereafter —
Thanks to the efficiency of Mognet, it does not take long for the other Heroes to come around: those who arrived in this world within the past year. You may have imagined heroic and charismatic figures when your Moogle told you that there were other Heroes of Light in this city. You may have imagined persons with fearsome powers when they told you about how they managed to destroy the giant evil King Moggle Mog XIV a couple days. And more importantly, you may have imagined them as people who would have all the answers to your, doubtlessly, numerous questions.

If so, you may be up for a tragic disappointment. Still, for the most part they know more than you on the situation and may be more than happy to fill you in, especially if your Moogle didn't tell you much.


The City of Aqures Ixen
— Anytime —
With the quite recent disaster and the disasters brought about by the Giant Moogle King, Aqures Ixen is still under reconstruction. Some buildings are being worked on, in particular a lot of people are working to restore one of the Castle's tower that was destroyed during the recent event. Noticeably, there are a lot more Hypellos than usual since Aqures called Balicea for help. Zo long as yoo don't mind zeir aczent thoogh, it'z fine.

And besides the reconstructions, there are a lot of things to do in the city for newcomers. A few groups of Triple Triad players are playing before Mognet Office in the ninth district, and a Blitzball Match is set to start at 19:00 in the (nearly) brand new stadium! Characters are also free to visit the city-- Mognet Office just behind the Triple Triad games is filled with Moogles, most of them plotting for a new strike. They can also visit Airship Port in the twelfth district from where characters can board for free Airships from Shoopuf Airline.

Or maybe you could visit your new house in the 11th District, and get to know your new neighbors and housemate. Hopefully your neighbors are people you will get along with.


The Laboratory
— Anytime —
A location where a lot of Heroes of Light seem to be gathering is Palitutu's Laboratory. It is a place where employed characters can research into various topics. However, most importantly, characters can see a file with their name...

Should your character decide to go there and peek at their file, there are two possibilities. Either the file is corrupted and they cannot access it: too bad for them, but at least their life will remain a mystery to them. Or should you decide the file isn't corrupted, they will find a summary of their lives up to their canon point, as if written by a third-person omniscient narrator. On the column left to the text, to the top there is a portrait of them, and beneath it there is a 3D model of them. Said portrait and model can be switched to any year of their life. At the bottom there is a percentage, indicating 0%. On the right column, there are various links, most of which are grayed out. The clickable links lead to their Homeworld History and their future post-canon point history (corrupted file for unfinished canons).

At least, they can lock this file away if they don't want anyone to see it.

The Hospital
— Anytime —
Characters who have already been in Crystallis before do not wake up by the Crystal of Fire like everyone else. Instead, they will wake up in the Hospital of Aqures Ixen, in a room where there are over a hundred of other Heroes of Light like them-- Maybe even some familiar faces... Except they're all in Crystal Stasis. More than that, this room is locked and all the windows are closed, making it impossible to leave. If they kick against the door or yell however, a nurse will come and open the door, setting them free. The nurse will be surrounded by two guards and all three will be... Scared, to say the least. As if they expected you to kill them where they stand.

And everyone in the Hospital will react the same way. Guards everywhere will have their weapon at the ready, at least until they realize you are "normal."

A Moogle will eventually come to you as well, and explain to you why this strange behavior is a thing: You did actually kill plenty of people a couple days ago. And if you focus a lot on the matter, you may even have flashbacks of what you did during the Night of the Thirteen Moogles, while you were being possessed. But you were possessed so that doesn't matter... Right?

Comments

[provenworth]

01 ₮ The Awakening
[Laying stretched out more like a corpse without its chalk-line, the repetitive ‘Wake up’ in her ear is enough to cause her eyes to snap open. It takes her several minutes, however, to curb the slight nausea from what she had just witnessed. And then it hits her – the city was destroyed. At least, that’s what she had to guess based on how it all crumbled together before disappearing into a vast darkness. Her friends there, gone. Again.]

Are you awake, kupo?

...Mmm. [Pushing herself up onto her hands and knees, Elena shifts until she’s in a seated position, unwilling to move until the throbbing of her headache passes. Which gives her enough time to take in the aircraft overhead, the damaged city, and finally her clothes. The last part earns a frown.] What is this?

Part of being a Hero, kupo. It appears you’ve been identified as a gunner.

...Huh. [Not surprising, considering her background, though she’d be curious to know how that decision was made and who made it. Fingers run over the fabric of her vest and pants, an eyebrow lifting slightly at the belt and holster combo.] Decent quality at least. What is this place?

Aqures Ixen. You are at the Crystal of Fire, kupo.

So no red obelisk? No Temper or Gene or Tim? This isn’t some undiscovered part near Ruby City, is it?

I’ve never heard of Ruby City, kupo. Is that where you’re from?

[Her head shakes, shifting long blonde hair from side to side. A new place. A new city. A place that wasn’t home. And if it wasn’t part of Ruby City then just where the hell was she now?]


02 ₮ Within the City
[Walking around the city, mindful to stay out of the way of construction, Elena is a silent observer of the work that was being done. The flurry of activity to rebuild reminded her of all the work that was in progress in and around Edge.

The fact that there are opportunities to divert her attention is hardly refreshing – feeling more like an attempt to keep a Hero’s mind off their current situation. Though she’d be lying if she wasn’t the least bit curious about Blitzball. But that would be for another day and time. For now she was doing what she did best, taking in inventory in regards to the city, its inhabitants, and collecting any information she could in the first go-around.]


03 ₮ House B-09
[Standing in front of her assigned house, Elena glances from the front door to the Moogle floating at her shoulder. Her posture alone – back straight, arms crossed over her chest, chin up – all speak to her discomfort and an attempt to hide it.]

Harmon. I’m not exactly a fan of the idea of having to live with complete strangers.

I don't make the rules, kupo. You can change houses later if you want.

That doesn’t solve the problem right now though.

[Giving a heavy sigh, Elena approached the door and gave a series of taps. After waiting for just a few seconds, the door was slowly opened and her head poked into the main room.]

Hello? I’m not a burglar. I was told that I supposedly live here now...

03 ₮ House B-09

[greenmagick]

[Terra is waiting to meet those assigned to the two empty rooms in the house. She is used to the waves and changes of the new heroes by now and while she doesn't always move to greet them it makes sense that they'd get two more housemates. She's missed having a full house.

With that in mind Tempest has cleaned the rooms and tried to make it homely. There are extra flowers around the house, mostly daisy's, which doesn't make sense considering the chilly weather.

When Elena steps in Terra straightens, there is a soft smile pulling at her lips as she looks at the woman. Her thin fingers gently pull at the hem of her dress as she nervously greets her new housemate.]

Yes. Hello.

[There is a slight pause before she continues.]

I'm Terra and this is Tempest.

Hello, kupo [Tempest bows her head with a smile, floating next to Terra's side.]

It's nice to meet you.

[provenworth]

[This was a positive start. Elena hadn't been quite sure what to expect when she entered the house, so finding the woman standing there - waiting? - and greeting her in such a friendly fashion was something of a relief.

Her head and shoulders dip forward slightly in a faint bow in the amiable act of returning the woman's good courtesy.]

Likewise, Miss Terra.

[Because things could have been a lot worse. She could be rooming with somebody that she actually abhorred. But, then, what was the odds of that happening?]

I'm Elena and this is Harmon. I take it that you're a Hero as well?

Others in the house are welcome to jump in any time <3

[greenmagick]

Ah, Yes.

[Her smile doesn't change though it's clear that the title makes her a little unease. Her own past has shown that she isn't a hero but she's trying her best. She takes a small step forward, her fingers continuing to tug at her dress as she nervously greets the woman.]

I've helped clean a room for you to stay in. There were others here so you might find some personal effects in the room.

[She's tried to clear the things away. Her room, which is the biggest, is now filled with things that Ameena, Fayt and Genesis left behind. The man room has most of Genesis's books but she has a few in her room as well.]

I also made tea.

[Terra doesn't know what Elena might want to do. She doesn't want to push or pry but she wants to help. She's even closed the flower shop to be home today.]

01 ₮ The Awakening

[whereishe]

[Yuna doesn't really like meeting the new heroes. It's always a little sad if she see's someone that she's known once before. So instead of meeting the new heroes she walks around them as if on her way to somewhere else. Her ears and eyes are open, picking through the new arrivals curiously.

Nothing seems out of the ordinary until she hears a name of a very familiar city. She almost trips over her own feet but instead stumbles a little to turn and spot the owner of the voice.]

Elena?

[The surprise in Yuna's tone is enough to grant recognition.]

[provenworth]

[Still seated, Elena has been questioning her moogle for the past ten minutes. Though, depending on who passes by, it might look more like an interrogation. On the verge of giving up on information, Elena had gotten to her feet, eyes still focused on the little floating furball, only to pick up the sound of her name.

In a voice all too familiar.

That seemed to recognize her.]

Yu...? [Her head turns to the voice, to the all too familiar woman, and her expression goes from disbelief to elation.] Yuna? Is that really you??

[whereishe]

[Yuna doesn't know what to say or what to do. She hasn't met anyone who's known her since waking up in Crystallis and just hearing her friend call her name made her heart ache. She hadn't been a lone but then no one's really understood. She can't talk about her time in Ruby City so easily.]

Yeah.

[A hand comes up to cover her lips while a smile played across her features.]

You're here.

[It's to hard to believe.]

Within the City

[shinra_dog]

[While the other Heroes might have gone to the Crystal of Fire to greet the new arrivals, Reno had avoided it. Not that he hadn't been tempted. But after what he'd seen the Night of the Thirteen Moogles... He just wasn't in the mood for more disappointment. And that's what he expected.]

[Instead, he tried to go about his daily business without thinking about the crystal. It was difficult. When he wasn't focusing in the lab, he was focusing on his food, or speed-walking from place to place to make the faces in the crowd blur. He wouldn't expect to see someone new from home.]

[Reno is clearly injured from whatever caused the damage to the city. One arm is in a sling and, though he moves swiftly, a trained Turk eye can see he still moves with great care not to be jostled by others.]

[provenworth]

[The city...was a lot larger than she expected it to be. Then again, having been in Ruby City for so long, she'd gotten used to living in an area that was a lot smaller in scale. She's had to slow her pace considerably to look around at the various buildings, shops, laborers and residents, asking Harmon a question here or there about a particular person or store.

A flash of red among the crowd ahead catches her attention, causing her to stop. Standing to the side of the street, she continues to survey the street while making sure to keep track of the red-heads movement. She had no expectation that there was any hope that the owner was somebody she knew, if the mechanics of Heros being brought were anything like Ruby City.

She can't see the owner's face yet, but she can see the injury and the carefully taken steps to keep moving with minimal contact with those around him. It took somebody with a considerable amount of skill to move so deftly. And, as the red-head came closer to where she stood, she understood why.]

...Reno!

[Elena doesn't even give him a chance to respond, navigating around other pedestrians to get to him.]

[shinra_dog]

[Reno stopped short, hearing the familiar voice. He hadn't heard that voice in over a year...]

[The person behind him bumped into him and Reno winced, ignoring the other man's mumbled apologies and turning instead to the approaching woman.]

Elena?

Within the City

[dragonflame]

[Bloom was hoping that the Spa was doing well and that she knew she couldn't go back until she did what she was meant to. The moogles and staff she hired should at least do a decent job when she wasn't there. She hired them for that and there skills. Never the less she is handing out flyers.]

Please come see our new spa. Come relax and get a load off. It will get you refreshed and ready for the next task.

[Seeing another figured she held out the flyer for the Spa and what they had to offer.]

Would you like a flyer?

[provenworth]

[Because she's not paying attention to where she was going - another airship above capturing her attention and keeping it for longer than she ought to let it - was the main reason why she nearly ran into the woman handing out fliers.

Had it not been for Harmon, who had yelled out a frantic "Look out, kupo!", the impact would have been worse. Instead, Elena just barely bumped the woman in the shoulder, her hands grabbing at the girl's arm to balance both herself and the other from falling.]

Oh shit, sorry. Are you all right?

[dragonflame]

I'm fine.

[She was rather glad she had better reflexes due to training.]

Being in a place you don't know, you tend to lose focus. At least I assume you aren't from around here anyway.

The Awakening

[soldierofloveandbeauty]

[Minako was just running around minding her own business and was more than a little interested when the new arrivals game if only because she had little hope her friends might arrive, instead as she got closer to the crystal she felt that maybe this might not be the case after all, but it won't stop her from being polite.]

Hi there new arrival! I'm Minako and it's nice to meet you.

[provenworth]

[Polite and friendly were good attributes to use on Elena right now, who was suffering from disappointment that she was in yet another city without her consent. Having picked herself up off the ground, Elena was attempting to get her bearings before heading off when the blonde approached and introduced herself.]

Ah..hi. I'm Elena. Are you another Hero?

[soldierofloveandbeauty]

I am. You can usually tell who is by the fact they are usually followed by a moogle in someway or form. Though I guess Artimus my moogle is off somewhere else for the moment.

[Mostly because she had sent him off to do something while she did whatever she wanted.]

You should have a moogle yourself.

Around the City

[not_most_days]

[A bit later in the day, after greeting the newcomers, Kidd is busy preparing for her own business. A Moogle Manhunt will begin the next day, and for that she needs to get her people ready.

In the back of a bar called the Eagle Eye, the hooded woman sits penning a few letters between sips from a bottle of rum. A moogle flutters next to her, collecting each one and sealing them into envelopes as she works.

She seems busy with what she's doing, but she looks each time someone comes through the door, and the presence of the newcomer with a moogle in tow warrants a nod.]

[provenworth]

[In desperately need of a drink to help soothe some rather ruffled nerves, Elena is quick to find a bar and find her way in. She doesn't speak to anybody, watching instead with an observant eye as she makes her way to the bar.]

This might not be a good idea, kupo.

Why not? I've been in seedier places.

Its not that, kupo. Its, well...you're going to need to have money to buy anything.

[Elena stops.]

So this place doesn't run off a barter system.

Nope.

....Damn.

[Turning to head back out, Elena's attention moves to the hooded woman at the back of the bar and then to the bottle of alcohol. She pauses almost longingly before giving a sigh.]

You know, you could have told me sooner, Harmon.

It wasn't relevant sooner, kupo.

[not_most_days]

[The Assassin catches the conversation from the bar, not perfectly, but enough to tell what is going on. The moogle alone was a clear sign that Elena is one of the new Heroes, and the money issue isn't an uncommon one.

She rises from her chair and wanders over, neck of the bottle in hand but holding it to show she's not planning to use it as a weapon.

Mary slides up to the bar and places the bottle down between herself and the blonde.]

Consider this a gift to the new Hero. Just buy me a drink when you get yourself on your feet. The currency they use around here is called gil by the way.

Around the City

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud is ever the dutiful sort, and after helping welcome the new Heroes he's busy at work helping to remove all of the marshmallow fluff around the city. Of course he feels a bit personal about this job. After all he'd just been working hard to help rebuild after the invasion and now they're cleaning up AGAIN. The feeling isn't as strong this time but he still feels a bit responsible as one of the Heroes.

His eyes go wide as he spots the blonde woman walking down the street. She seems familiar, like someone he's met before.]

Wait...it couldn't be.

[Spearing his shovel into some fluff he runs after her.]

Hey wait!

[provenworth]

[Elena would be lying if she didn't feel some sort desire to try a handful of the marshmallow fluff that hadn't been cleaned up yet. But, considering she had no idea about its composition or what would happen if she did, she merely walked by while taking deep breaths of its sweet scent.

After passing by a rather busy group - and somehow missing the blonde man with the crazy-spiked hair - she's considering taking a turn when she hears a voice calling from behind her. Pausing, Elena turned slightly towards the direction of the caller.]

.....Huh?

[neverfirstclass]

[It doesn't take Cloud long at all to catch up with Elena, but the sudden sprint has him bending over to catch his breath after the fact. A normal jog probably would have worked just well.

So standing there in front of this familiar face he breathes hard two more times before looking up with a grin.]

I didn't expect to see you here! Kunsel was able to get me your name after that mission but you never returned any of my mails. It's good to see you again Emma!

03 ₮ House B-09 // Sorry not-sorry I have to do this before he heads back off to Esdham

[shinrasfinest]

[Hopefully Elena has had time to at least have a look around the house, get a little familiar with the bedroom arrangements and feel welcomed enough by Terra and Tempest's hospitality, impeccable cleaning (which Spencer did also help with while Sephiroth had spent the morning at the spa that had recently opened) - before the to-be military-bound SOLDIER stops by before making his departure.

There is no reason for him to pause at the door, of course, even if the chances of the Aqurean government taking advantage of the spare space in their home were high enough to warrant at least a little anticipation of the new Heroes.

Sephiroth strides through the door much like he's always done, briefly looking around the hallway for anyone who might be around before heading straight up the stairs to retrieve the large rucksack that he'd placed in a corner next to one of the bedroom doors; as planned he'd pick up the pack quickly, do something with his hair so it wouldn't get caught up and bid a quick farewell if Terra was around.

He didn't want to drag out the goodbye, after all, he'd be returning more often than he did before.]

I'll admit I made a screeching sound

[provenworth]

[She did, in fact, get some time to get a feel for the house and her room more in particular after her tea with Terra. There was a bit of an odd feeling to it, considering that there were items in it from previous residents, but she was sure that feeling would go away in time. Eventually she'd find a way to personalize the room a bit more - that is if she didn't still consider moving out as a legitimate option after a while. Considering how friendly her housemate has been, Elena found no real reason to rush in moving out.

She's been sitting on the bed, taking mental stock of what was currently in the room, means of entrance and egress. Elena couldn't stop the constant feeling of having to be on alert. This was a new city, after all. She wouldn't truly be comfortable until she became more familiar with both the city and the people within it.

But at least, so far, she's not come across anything that would really warrant alarm.

Footsteps sound through the bedroom door, announcing the presence of somebody - Terra? - heading up to the second floor. Which was perfect timing, she had several more questions to ask the woman about the city and opportunities for employment. Moving towards the bedroom door, a quick list is put together in her head. She would ask about job opportunities, about the city at large, about living arrangements and any sort of cooking / cleaning schedule...

And she's so busy in thought that, as the door is opened and revealing her other housemate. It takes her a moment to realize what she's looking at. A tall male - ba-bump - with silver hair - BA-bump - and cat-like green eyes - BA-BUMP BA-BUMP BA-BUMP. She knew that figure, that profile, like the back of her hand. And for the briefest of seconds, time and Elena's heart stops.

'I'm never going to escape him.'

She's instantly dizzy, a hand grabbing at the door frame to keep herself from falling. The other moves to her face, covering her eyes. Surely if she didn't see him, then he wouldn't exist. He was just a ghost. A haunting memory. It was impossible that he was here, in this world, in this house.]

[shinrasfinest]

[If she looked closely enough at one of the walls, at about a foot higher than her head height, there are likely four holes and two wide indentations running vertically upwards. A tell of a large wooden bracket that used to mount something on the wall just there.

Of course it's taken down now, given as Masamune would be coming with him to Esdham where it might actually see some action as opposed to being a decoration. Plus the fact they've moved all of the things of his that are staying behind into the twin room where Terra sleeps.

The click of the door opening as he picks up his large rusksack naturally causes Sephiroth to pause. He too wondered-]

Terra-?

[He didn't get chance to even make contact with Elena but her body language screamed for the fact that she appeared like she was going to faint. The rucksack is immediately dropped and the two steps closed as she grabs for the door frame.]

Hey- are you OK? [If she'd have buckled, indeed if it looked like she were going to collapse, he'd have caught her; it's that simple.]

...it's a lot to take in.