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

[scriptrix]

[Well, that's certainly a worrisome look. Enough that Levy's starting to look a little concerned too.]

...Alice? What's wrong?

[neverfirstclass]

[The Imperial City. At least that gave them a clue about where they were. They must be close to the Heran Empire. Nabila maybe? That would make getting back rough. They'd need to get a ship to avoid the Calamity.

Cloud furrows his brow as he thinks over the maps he remembers poring over when planning his last trip to the Chocobo Forest. It's a shame it's probably a bad time to swing past there right now. Especially if he's not sure where Zack is. Hopefully he's safe back at the ranch.

He's pulled from his distraction as he sees Alice freeze. Levy beats him to asking if she's okay so he just offers a concerned look between her and the other girl.

He REALLY hopes this isn't going to turn into a fight.]

[bag_has_snapped]

[This is really confusing. So far from home if what the girl said was true. Why were they sent here?

And now, Alice's strange reaction is making things even more confusing...]

[answernpcs]

[ The woman at the door looks at Alice with a worried look as well, stepping outside to get closer to her. ]

... Dear, is there something wrong?

[ She briefly moved her hand to Alice's forehead as if to gauge her temperature, then shook her head. ]

You should move inside quickly.

[playing_hearts]

[Alice flinches slightly as she feels the hand on her head. How many times had she felt that same hand when growing up? Lorina had practically raised her and Edith after their mother died. And she hasn't seen her for so long...

No... no this wasn't her. Calm down. This is... a look alike. An illusion. Something else. So just... just stop acting like a child. Alice forces herself to smile.]

I'm sorry. I think I'm just... tired. But I'll be fine. Really.

[scriptrix]

...Okay.

[Levy simply glances uncomfortably between Alice and the woman. She knows there's a story here, but it's not something they're really able to talk about right now. So quietly, awkwardly, she follows her friend inside.]

[neverfirstclass]

[There's no way that Cloud believes Alice's words. He's made the same lie too many times to believe it when someone else says it. For now he just tightens his lips in anxious anticipation as he takes up the rear of the group.]

[answernpcs]

[ She ;looked worried nonetheless, but then walked inside and took them to the living room. There were some old and decrepit sofa in which they could rest, and the woman seemed somewhat embarrassed she didn't have any better to offer them. ]

I'll be taking care of dinner, alright? Make yourselves at home in the meantime.

[playing_hearts]

Th-thank you.

[Alice tries to offer a polite smile, but it doesn't come. She wonders vaguely if it's cold in the room. She certainly feels chilled. Almost numb. There are so many things she wanted to say to her sister. So many things she never got the chance to. It was something she thought of often in the country of Hearts.

But this... isn't her sister. Alice had managed to convince herself that she'd made peace with those regrets. Ages ago. But now it's painfully clear that she hasn't.

But instead of awkwardly standing in the middle of the living room, she takes a seat on the couch. Sitting is good.]

[scriptrix]

[Levy watches the other woman carefully as she sits down, waiting until she's well out of earshot before leaning over toward Alice.]

Alice... is everything okay? Have you met that woman before?

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud's expression somehow manages to tighten a bit more as he crosses his arms over his chest. Right now it's not a matter of if something will happen, but when. That's the read he's getting on this. His shoulders tense up, ready to attack at a moment's notice.]

If we're in danger here you can tell us. We'll keep you safe.

[playing_hearts]

[Their concerned questions finally bring Alice back to the here and now. She lets out a small sigh and then shakes her head with a wry smile.]

No, we're fine. It's just...

[She checks to make sure the Lorina lookalike is out of earshot.]

She looks exactly like my older sister. I guess I was just... surprised. Sorry.

[answernpc]

[ The Doppelganger was indeed out of earshot. It seemed she had gone to the kitchen for the time being, probably taking care of preparing or finishing the dinner as she had mentioned moments earlier.

However, there was someone else who was within earshot, albeit spotting this person might be difficult.

Indeed, there was an expressionless girl looking at them and it seemed she didn't want to be noticed as she did so. She looked fourteen years old at best and was peeking at them from behind a nearby wall. While she was discreet, she made no particular effort to hide. ]

[scriptrix]

[It takes Levy a few moments, but she does eventually spot the girl as she's looking around their host's living room. Blinking curiously, she softly calls out to her.]

Hey... it's okay, you can come talk to us if you want.

[neverfirstclass]

[On edge as he is, Cloud turns with all too much aggression at the movement out of the corner of his eye. His arm twitches, but as his eyes meet those of the hiding girl he freezes stock still. His face wrenches in a mix of shock, anguish, anger and hope, unprepared for the sudden recognition.

He'd know that face anywhere.]

T-tifa...


(ooc: 50 points deducted from me for not recognizing the icon the first time)

[answernpcs]

[ The girl blinks three times when the Heroes of Light call her out, before running away toward the stairs. Judging by the sound of a door closing and locking, it is safe to say she locked herself up into her room.

Only seconds after that though, the woman who welcomed them earlier comes out of the kitchen. ]

Is there something wrong?

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud stares at the young girl, his eyes tracing after her as she runs behind the wall. In spite of himself he makes a mental note of where he hears the door locking and is only shaken from his distraction by the return of the house matron.]

Oh! I...uh...sorry...just reminded of a...childhood friend.

[scriptrix]

[Well. This is uncomfortable. Levy just sits and tries not to look as awkward as she feels.]

[playing_hearts]

[Her sister and one of Cloud's childhood friends? Alice keeps her voice hushed.]

That's.... quite a coincidence...

[She doesn't believe in convenient coincidences like this.]

[answernpcs]

Oh, you must have met my daughter.

[ Her expression saddened and she went on to prepare the living room. ]

I am sorry. She's... Sick. Has been since birth.

[neverfirstclass]

[Those words shake Cloud out of his thoughts quickly. Concern takes over, pushing all thoughts of being manipulated by some other trick of an Avatar aside. No matter what this is, he can't let her go without help if she needs it.]

What do you mean 'sick'? An illness? [He glances at Levy.] Maybe we can help. [Perhaps he's getting ahead of himself but he's in no mood to beat around the bush..]

(ooc: Dear inbox, thanks for eating this tag, no love)

[scriptrix]

[Levy glances back at Cloud, but she doesn't seem all that confident.]

We can try, at least. Does she need medicine...?