melodiesoflife | We are off to see the Crystal Tree!

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We are off to see the Crystal Tree!

WHO: OPEN! Those setting out towards the Crystal Tree~
WHAT: Terra has arranged an expedition. Keep in mind that this takes place after the January Event!
WHEN: January 17th - January 27th
WHERE: Plains of Sorrow, Crystal Forest & Crystal Tree~
WARNING: None.

[ooc: Information and plotting about this adventure is posted here. If you have any questions please post them here as well. It's assumed that Terra posted up a help wanted for the heroes who don't know her to see if they want to come along. Settings will be described in top posts to keep thing organized!

Please note that the Friendly Monster and Crystal Tree sections will be one long thread.]

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Terra wasn't expecting his response and it took her a moment to find the correct words. There are a lot of things that have happened since that trip and the last week has been even more troubling and confusing. She nodded her head feeling a strange sensation rise in her chest; guilt?

"We did. It was nice and simple." It was what she needed then but now that felt like so long ago.

Like two years ago.

Terra fidgets slightly before looking out over the plans. It's so much more complicated than she thought and while she wants to ask Vincent she still can't put it into words.

[Fai looked at the trees they pasted. They were beautiful he had to admit, but he knew that trying to figure them out right now might distract them for too long. He figured doing the task at hand would be the best. So he kept quiet before his eyes came across the Adamantoise.

It was not something he knew all that much about, but it didn't stop him from firmly gripping his gun even more.]

Since we have somewhat of an expert of the monsters here, we should ask what we should do? Could we try going past it without it attacking or would we have no choice?

It's an interesting though, but then again one can never be sure where answers might be. So a forest could be a good place in this world.

[He crossed his arms, it was a little chilly, but he knew he would manage for the time being.]

Well I guess a lot of people want to focus on doing some good.

[if by 'research' you mean 'ran into and had to deal with'… yes.

On the way back it is, then.]

If we were in Eorzea, I'd have no qualms saying we could make it past without any trouble- unless it was spawning or guarding its eggs, of course. Here, though? It could take offence if we simply looked at it. [or simply- she's not too optimistic about Crystallis' wildlife. And given the pacing…] We could always try, of course- but be prepared.

Edited 2016-01-23 13:39 (UTC)

"Fair point. They don't seem to be any sort of alien race that I've come across before. But it's so hard to tell."

"But you guys, Cloud and his buddies," sorry to put it that way, but Cloud was the first one of the group that he'd met. "This isn't the only similarity to your world, is it? Place I come from is nothing like this, magic isn't real, and we don't have the cool giant birds."

[Terra looks out over the plains feeling her heart twist in her chest.]

Yeah. [Her tone is soft and wistful as she watches the empty desert.]

I really want to do something good.

[He leant on his heels briefly as his eyes glanced up at the sky with a soft smile.]

So do I. I guess it's something everyone wants to do... [he paused, but he was trying to think of something else to say but drawing a blank.]

Guess all we can hope is this will end up eventful.

[Terra tries to smile though it's difficult and strained.]

Let's hope.

[She lowers her head before glancing at Fai. She wants to ask him about the future, about what he saw and did but she couldn't find the words. Instead she turns back towards the camp her eyes resting on her friends before turning away.]

I was thinking of walking... do you think it's safe if I stay insight of camp?

Vincent just nodded, but did not elaborate. 'Cloud and his buddies' huh? An amusing way to look at it, the darker gunslinger thought. "They are unfamiliar to creatures from Gaia as well."

At least they didn't exist in any context or form Vincent was familiar with on Gaia.

Vincent let it trail off, noticing the fidgeting as well. Huhn, he hadn't expected her reaction--as while it was honest, she also seemed sad. But he also didn't know how to broach if anything was the matter, especially with the relationship.

Besides, it wasn't necessarily his place--even if he felt both Sephiroth and Terra benefited from it. It would be nice, for them both to be happy. Vincent would like them to be happy.

Instead he just moved slightly closer, offering his companionship silently and assuring her he was there.

Vincent let the silence go on as he thought about how and if he wanted to respond. "I do remember the vision of the world breaking apart." Murmured more quietly. "I also decided to stay, to meet up again and continue." Perhaps not any visible reaction as he was as stoic as ever, but his words were clear enough.

In some ways it was almost eerie how well they fit together. They were already similar in so many ways; Albel had even mistaken, during the vision of memories repeating over and over, that Vincent might be the father... Such was not the case however; that 'honor' had not been the gunslinger's.

Perhaps it was simply that ShinRa left its mark on them, molded them both in various ways. Perhaps a certain scientist simply had distinct tastes. None of it worth musing or devoting thought to at the moment other than an appreciation that they worked well. That Vincent was rather glad to be working with, and interacting, with this version of the silver-haired-SOLDIER.

As suspected, no reply needed and the gunslinger simply fell into step. Placing Sephiroth closer to the 'outside' of the perimeter as he would take the close-range combat with Vincent providing support. Logical and a practiced strategy.

Terra was grateful that he hadn't pressed her, of course, she didn't know how much he had learned about the past few days. She didn't want to be the one to tell him. She didn't thinks he could but a voice to what had happened. Her head tilted slightly to the side, her eyes shimmering in the dim light of the moon.

"Thank you." Her voice was soft and she lightly rested her head against Vincent's shoulder.

The future was far to heavy and she didn't know what to think or say about it. Her heart hurt and every time she saw those she had sought comfort with it only hurt more. Vincent too... he hadn't been there and hadn't seen the horrible things she tried to do. She was exactly the monster that she thought he was.

Trying to not tense, as Vincent wasn't one for physical contact usually. Awkward at the best of times, even around those whom he called friend. But if it helped, he would bear it. Letting the silence stretch on, before venturing in a soft tone. "Did you have a vision, like Yuffie?" She could answer or not as she chose, but he wondered all the same.

Terra tensed and moved to stand up straight. She looked up at Vincent for a moment and then cast her bright gaze towards the ground.

"I did."

She didn't know what else to say about the matter but she wasn't ready to talk about it. It had become so complicated and she could barely handle simple things.

Vincent hadn't meant to provoke that reaction, although clearly it was...bad. Especially since he was aware that both he and Sephiroth, among others, were dead. Permanently. Clear enough as well that this vision might be part of what was bothering Terra.

"I meant only to confirm." Bowing his head in apology, tone contrite. "You needn't talk about it or go into it." Maybe unnecessary, but he felt she needed to know that.

Bartz Klauser... Let me know if I'm spelling it wrong.

[As his name sounds vaguely Germanic, much like her own, she at least gets his last name written correctly as she writes it down in the book. His question prompts her to look up, then grin.]

This? A record of our journey. See?

[Rialynn isn't shy about sharing what she's got, and she passes him the journal. The older pages are a little more crinkled, as if they got wet at some point, and contain stories she wrote down listening to other bards, as well as written accounts of her former travel companions.]

Every single person here is in the middle of shaping this world's history. Someone needs to keep track of it, right?

[When the song finishes, Rialynn offers a polite bow of her head as her audience shows a brief, calm display of appreciation. This is more along the lines of what she expected to encounter when she first set out as a bard -- traveling to strange new places, meeting new people, and sharing songs and stories as a means of bonding together.]

[Of course, she didn't imagine those new people would look like giant mole people or tiny fire lions, but that just makes the experience all the more interesting.]

'What about ballads? You said you knew some of those. Those are songs that tell a story, right?'

[Rialynn nods at the Moomba.]

That's right. I've been working on a few of my own, but most of the ones I know were written and performed by other bards. Let's see... There's the one about General Taylor...

[She pauses, realizing she has more people watching than just villagers as she catches Mary's eye. She raises her eyebrows, a silent question to see if she's needed to help out with the group's duties.]

"I know... you've never made me say anything." She paused, her fingers moving over her heart as she looked out of the night. Stars glimmered and winked in the dark canvas of night as if to offer small lights of hope down upon the world. Terra wasn't sure what hope they could offer her. The reason that she had turned out as she had was because she didn't have hope anymore.

Albel stopped her, if it hadn't been for him things would have been worse.

She looked over at Vincent tears now dotting the corner of her eyes. "I just... I can't put it into words but... I've never been more confused about how I feel." She didn't know anything anymore.

[Rialynn flashes a smile and a wink at Duster. She wasn't about to interrupt her song to ask for space (nor would she have done so even if she weren't singing), so she appreciates his subtle handling of the situation.]

[When the song finishes, she inclines her head in thanks at the quiet, subdued applause from the villagers that assembled to listen to her.]

...And that's just one of many things bards do. The bards and dancers here in Crystallis are even more special. There's real magic in their music and moves, that can baffle enemies, strengthen allies, and change the flow of battle!

[She shoots a pointed look at Duster, giving a subtle jerk of her head to invite him up to join her if he so chooses.]

Would you like to hear the music of a maaaaaaaaaagic bard?

'Yeaaaaahhhhhh!'

"I think you're allowed to have slightly higher expectations than that," she smiled, sitting down beside him and passing him a small leather pouch where she kept her salt crystals. He was welcome to take a pinch of two to suit his preferences.

Of course, she didn't sit TOO close. He'd seemed like he was on their side, and everyone else was perfectly fine with his presence. But red eyes, as far as she could tell, usually hinted at something less than pleasant.

"So what's your name? What made you decide to head out on this exploration?" Basic information for her journal, really.

Tasting it first, Vincent was definitely a loner and quiet. But there are those along, including the organizer Terra Branford, who know him well. "What is yours?" Came the response, a hint of dry amusement in the low voice before Vincent politely passed the pouch back.

The food was fine, as far as he was concerned. "I am a friend to Terra. Also to Sephiroth and Albel." Perhaps 'friend' was too general, but Vincent felt he was friends with them. There were quite a few others along that he knew as well, so this is where he felt his skills could be useful.

"Well, I wouldn't say it's obvious," she gestured with an open hand. "But people who travel a lot have a lot of good tips, and knowledge about moving around, blending in, things like that." He also didn't bat an eye at the unusual appearance of the villagers, which would indicate he was fairly accustomed to dealing with other species.

She stuck close to his elbow as he weaved his way into the restaurant, and slid onto her chair with a sigh of relief. Turning her head, she noted that there were several smaller tables with tiny chairs, probably to accommodate the lion-like denizens of the village. Was it wrong to think it was cute?

Her attention snapped back to Jack as he mentioned making his own notes, and she perked up with interest. "Really? Did you bring those notes with you, perchance?" Would he show her these notes, or tell her about them? Was he a bard too?

Rialynn shifted to the side, dropping her pack to the ground and nudging it under the table so other customers wouldn't trip over it. Then she rustled around until she found her thick book. The last third was still clean with pages waiting to be filled with adventures and notes. The first third was slightly weathered, a few of the pages crinkled with dried moisture. "You're free to look through it. I don't have much written for this leg of the journey yet..."

Just a few notes on the people she was traveling with. Like 'Vincent Valentine - NOT A VAMPIRE :)' on the bottom of the previous page.

As for his question, she nodded. "I haven't been out there as long as most of the other bards, so I don't really have much of a reputation yet. But I've been involved in a few adventures."

"Emotions are often confusing. Life does not make it any easier, as it often seems senseless when one is in the middle of it." More philosophical than anything else, but hopefully it would bring some comfort. Terra was not alone, nor was she the first to ever be confused by various emotions and unable to put them into words.

"I will always listen, if you choose to share." But she needn't, and she knew that. Simply offering his presence and willingness to let her speak.

At least with a Malboro there was a chance that the lookout would be able to smell it before it got too close. On the other hand, if you could smell it then it was probably too close to begin with.

"I have to admit, I'm still not so used to such creatures. Back on Earth you'd only see things such a size in the ocean. Whales, some sharks. Anything on land was never nearly that large. And those plant creatures...I've heard of carnivorous plants before but nothing like those. If it wasn't for the fact that I've been in this world for over a year I'd never believe it if someone told me about them."

She rose to her feet, feeling her knees complaining about having been sitting still for too long. Not a thing she needed to worry about with her Assassin jobs equipped. Being a mage made her much more keen to her body's condition, especially being a less experienced one.

"Your world is a lot like this one, is it not? Is all of this...normal to you?"

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We are off to see the Crystal Tree!

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