melodiesoflife | Hidden Truth [Log]

Hidden Truth [Log]

What: A log for everyone to gain the information in the Hidden Truth video tape.
Where: The Observatory.

There had been a flurry of letters sent out from Jack and Chiaki, first to Zelda to ask to borrow the Observatory, and then to every Hero of Light, alerting them that they had uncovered some intelligence received in the Heran Empire before the Capital had fallen to Crystal, and that everyone needed to see it immediately.

Jack, Chiaki, and a few others brought in a screen connected to a machine that some would recognize as a VCR. "With our peace mission to the Imperial Capital over Christmas, we returned with a recording made on 20th-century Earth technology, the kind that doesn't have an analogue on Crystallis. It took us time to build a machine to be able to play it. This information comes from Kalki, recorded what appears to be years ago. We obtained it from the Imperial Spy, Jenni. As of right now, we still have no reason to believe that Kalki is alive. But this comes from her, and I apologize to everyone who might be upset by seeing her again."

With that, Jack plays the recording. He stands by the screen and repeats the words for everyone to hear, for those who cannot understand English. Since Kalki's first words are to explain why she is recording it this way, it makes sense why he has to do this. He keeps his own emotions in check throughout, until the explanation of the Bard song that everyone gets to hear. That seems to upset Jack.

Once the recording is over, Jack pauses. "We will need some help from any other English speakers to create a written transcript of the recording so that anyone can access this information at any time. The tape and player will remain here for any Heroes to review. We ask that you please be careful with the machine."

Finally, Jack sits down to let the room descend into the inevitable chaos.

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Jack is looking at his former roommate in deep concern, but whatever is really weighing on her mind isn't what she is speaking to.

"Who's the closest, then? I'm only at almost five jobs mastered." Jack looks around the room, and his eyes light on the people he'd bet money on being the most powerful among their ranks. Sparks, Yuna, Ramza, Cloud, Jade, Zelda. Either them or the ten year-old who could apparently curb-stomp him.

Rukia caught that look. The fact that his gaze lingered just a couple beats longer than normal seemed signal enough that he wanted to talk. Rukia was hesitant. She didn't usually open up about the things that bothered her, even when asked directly. But this wasn't just her problem, she knew. It concerned everybody. Given that Jack was orchestrating the meeting to begin with, he ought to know what happened. What he chose to do with that information afterward was up to him, she supposed.

After the meeting concluded, Rukia waited outside the building. She leaned against the wall, arms folded behind her, looking pensively at the sidewalk. When Jack exited too, she glanced up, her face solemn. It had just been a look; he might not have wanted to speak at all. So she said nothing, waiting to see what it was he wanted.

Jack was shaken up a bit in the meeting, himself, but he follows Rukia outside anyway. Sometimes it helps to throw yourself into another person's problems. He expects that he's going to have to run after her, but is surprised to see her waiting there. His eyebrows are raised in concern.

"Rukia. Sorry I didn't get a chance to warn anybody about what was in there." And yet, Rukia wasn't one of the people he expected to be upset. "What she's talking about- it makes the job ahead seem impossible. But we can do it...if we share the load. Nobody's got to take this on all by themselves." With a pointed look. He knows the look of someone carrying a burden that they probably don't have to.

He thought she was shaken up by the video? Rukia blinked at him a moment, then frowned as she directed her gaze forward. "That's not it," she said, dismissing his apology as there was certainly nothing he needed to be sorry about. "It's just a lot of information to take in at once. I'm trying to sort it out."

There was more, of course, but she wasn't sure how to put it, no matter how much she mulled over the things she should say. "What she spoke of, about merging with the Calamity to become a god. You are aware that was the role I played in the Sage's vision?" Rukia turned her head to look at him seriously. "I don't think we killed Garland, but there are a lot of events that took place I cannot fully remember. Either way, I nearly accomplished this goal."

She wanted to tell the entire story, but decided to pause there and gauge his reaction before continuing any further, if at all.

Maybe not precisely the video, but by something that was brought up by it. He listens carefully, because if he got it wrong, then what is the problem? He is very clearly surprised by Rukia's admission, but his face softens back to one of compassion. "Ah- no, I believe I was already-" dead. "I wasn't around by the time that part of the vision."

"You almost did it?" The tone is actually impressed. "But you know?" Jack's brow furrows. "You know that you aren't to blame for anything that happened in that vision?" But everyone has been holding on to it in their own ways.

Rukia stared at Jack. Of all the reactions she could have anticipated, him being impressed was not one of them. "Of...of course I know that," she replied quickly, trying to pretend the red flush in her cheeks didn't exist. "My feelings on the matter aren't what's relevant." She waved her hand quickly to dismiss the matter, since this wasn't a plea for pity or sympathy. "The point is that until now, I couldn't help wondering if perhaps I was wrong for not following through. Yuri convinced me to abandon the attempt. And yet, if that was the only option available to us, I thought it might be worthwhile to follow up and find out how it could be done. Just in case."

She folded her arms with a hard sigh, frustrated. "After seeing the video, I'm convinced the idea is a poor one indeed. It's not a matter of sacrifice. I was fully prepared to give my life if that's what was necessary to keep our worlds safe, and I still am. But I have no intention of playing the fool either. If this is the sort of thing Garland would fight to the death to prevent, then I have severe misgivings about the benefits it purportedly offers."

Her head dipped forward slightly as she closed her eyes, her brow furrowed. "I confess that I...do...feel some guilt for having considered it as an option outside of the vision, even after all that took place." And that was what really ate at her, especially after Yuri fought so hard to convince her to put her faith and hopes in finding another way.

Well, she almost became a god! That's...nuts, but kind of impressive, given the scope of impossibility of the problem! But, Jack puts it all back under wraps quickly. He takes a deep breath and gives a very understanding nod as Rukia explains herself. She doesn't want sympathy, but she's getting it anyway, too bad.

"Considering your options isn't a bad thing. We still-" Jack shakes his head. "We still didn't know what we were trying to achieve with the things we were doing in that vision. I still don't know why some people were pursuing the crystalized heroes?" Jack shrugs. "But of course you were thinking of it, we were all trying to reason it through."

"Now we know. And if you think about it again, if things get worse, and you consider 'but what if someone took control? Was Kalki right, could we fix it all this way?' That isn't bad, either. You can consider it, and come to the informed conclusion that it isn't what you want to do."

"You haven't done anything wrong."

Rukia frowned at his remark, trying to recall the circumstances. Save for a few sharply defined moments, most of what she remembered and knew had become foggy, like a dream three nights past. "Something about sacrificing a select number of heroes in an attempt to satisfy the Calamity? It's hard to recall--"

Tromp tromp tromp tromp. A rhythmic sound of dozens of high heels clicked in steady staccato. Coming around the corner appeared a huge multitude of women, some bearing signs, others simply raising their fists in the air. And they were all wearing wedding dresses.

"What do we want?"
"A fair price for cakes!"
"When do we want it?"
"NOW!"

One sign featured a picture of a bride and groom cake topper, sadly turning out empty pockets. Another said 'Raise bread, not prices!' And yet another proclaimed '60,000 Gil for Wedding Cakes is Highway Robbery!'

And they were marching straight down the street where Jack and Rukia were holding their conversation. They stamped their feet in unison, hard enough that Rukia could feel the vibrations in her ankles. They bustled past in their silks and taffeta and white netting. One of the signs bumped a window sill of the tailor shop's second floor, upsetting a flower pot that promptly fell on Rukia's head and knocked her flat.

Beware the Brides on March.

Jack's own features screw up as if he's trying to remember. The Heroes, a sacrifice...

...and then one of the strangest displays that Jack has ever seen comes up the road. What in the- That's more high heels than Jack's seen since the last time he went to Scorpio's.

The flower pot falls too quickly for Jack to interrupt, "Rukia!" He throws a hand out towards her, as if he could possibly slow its fall, but too late, the ceramic impacts with her head. No time to even glare at the disruptive protesters before Jack is at her side, checking her head. Fingers nestle into her hair to check for damage. "Rukia? Rukia." Quieter. "You there?"

There was no blood, thankfully. Just a few big shards of pottery, and a lot of soil. She raised her head dizzily, wincing as she allowed Jack to check her throbbing skull for injuries.

"Th-they didn't even apologize!" she stammered, flabbergasted at the sheer rudeness. And they'd been in the middle of a really important conversation, too! A conversation about...

...about...?

Rukia blinked blankly. "What were we discussing again?"

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Hidden Truth [Log]

Re: After the Translation

Closed to Jack (Keep threading above for the meeting, that's fine!)

Re: Closed to Jack

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Now that I finally stopped laughing at this

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