melodiesoflife | Dragonsong

Entry tags:

Dragonsong - Open

Characters: Meteor and everyone
Where: Aqures Ixen (Observatory, Zelda's house, his own house), and several miles south into the calm lands by the middle of the trip.
When: July 01st - July 13th
Summary: Faced with being unable to do anything, Meteor has let himself succumb to rage and sadness. He travels south, no monster is safe from him as he journeys down towards the Chocobo Forest before returning home.
Warning: Discussions of death and murder and all the misery from the event, angry Meteor, and lots of tears.

Midnight, July 1st

[Meteor exited his house, his meager belongings slung over his shoulder. Shantotto minion followed close behind, as with his moogle who he stopped to look at.]

You shouldn't follow me, you two.

[The pair looked at one another before shaking their heads. With a sigh, he slung his things over the back of his fat chocobo. Chocoking warked in irritation, but allowed himself to be saddled in the middle of the night.

Getting up onto his mount, he helped the Shantotto minion onto his shoulder as she clutched at his head. The four of them would be travelling companions for a while, as he dangled the slice of cake over Chocoking.

Chocoking looked back at him for a long moment, and Meteor dug his heels into the fat birds side. It warked reproachfully but took off on its own, refusing to be guided as the quartet soared over the buildings towards the south.]

=====

2nd to 11th

[Days later, Meteor sat in the remains of an unpturned wain, long forgotten by Hypello traders. His trip had left a wake of bodies in the calm lands, and even the more terrifying of them were giving the man a berth.

Darkness boiled off him, as he chewed angrily at his tack, the strip of meat tasting more like boiled leather. His armor was rent, from a close encounter with a malboro. And yet he made his camp.

He would have been missing for a long time now, it had been four days since he left under the cover of night. The Calm Lands southern reaches were visible to him, as he had carved a wake of monsters in his path.

His moogle entertained Shantotto, the minion picking up that her master was in no condition to play right now, as dark as his thoughts were of gleefully evicerating things in his path. Sometimes, she watched him as the days wore on, he would be singing that song Zelda had been fond of singing. Sometimes, it would be something else. Always acapella, would he sing, refusing Moggle Mog's music box.

And always, he would cry himself to sleep.]

=====

Midnight, July 13th

[On the 13th day of the month, Meteor returned at the dead of the night. He flew his mount right into town, landing on the roof of the Observatory.

Producing a key, he unlocked the door and crept in. The Observatory seemed darker, more full of shadow now. He didn't care for it. When Zelda was here, there was light.

Moving through the building, he stopped at the door that lead to Zelda's room. He had been there a few times, mostly when he had worked himself to exhaustion. Opening it with a key that he had brought with him, he went inside.

The room still was untouched. He could see everything in the darkness. But it was quiet.

As he turned to go, he noticed an object laying in the corner. Curious, as it wasn't something he had seen before, he reached down and picked it up. Blowing dust from the lid, he opened it up to reveal a familiar sight.

A EXP orb sat there, nestled within delicate paper. And with it, a note. Unfolding the note, he read it over.

The box and orb fell from his fingers, as he staggered back with a choked sob. In his hand, was a simple note in Zelda's writing.

To Meteor,
To replace the one that broke.
love, Zelda

Meteor let out a cry, his eyes blazing with angry light. Anger, pain, frustration, sadness, despair, all of it boiled over as he unslung his axe and with a yell, the window shattered with the force of his blow as he thrust the weapon into the floor.

Meteor sobbed, his heart broke as he slumped to his knees. Another had fallen. Another friend, a loved one was gone.

And he didn't do anything to stop it.]

=====

For Midna:

[There was one final thing he had to do, before leaving the city for good.

Zelda's harp. It had not been with her things in the room, so Meteor was stealing into her home in the housing district. He didn't care anymore, but he would not let the harp leave his side.

It was all he had left.

EXP orb tucked into his waistband, he opened the window and stole inside. Not knowing, Zelda had a roommate...]

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In the aftermath of the final murders, Betel-Po had been fluttering all over town listening and getting information for Lydia. She'd been going over her sketches, and the news of Zelda's loss was hard. People's reactions had been varied, and she wasn't surprised.

Regretting that she hadn't taken advantage of getting a photo of Zelda, it had spurred her to approach Cid and ask for more film. She might just start getting photos of everyone, just in case. After a few days, she'd started going to the Observatory and looking around the areas she knew Zelda had been at. Both to sketch while at the memorial, but also so she could start gathering information to try and do a real and proper painting. It was her mother's forte, not hers--but Lydia felt she owed it to Zelda.

To all those still in Crystal, to those who came before.

On the 13th, as the tiny bat carrying a messenger bag of supplies awkwardly made it's way, she was surprised to find herself not alone. The sobs might have stopped by now, but whatever noise there was was new. Cautious, Lydia was silent as she moved and headed for the source.

"...Mr Meteor?" Said almost too quietly, afraid to disturb him too much but recognizing a friend in pain.

[OOC:Sorry for tl:dr set up...]

Meteor hadn't moved from where he had sunk to his knees in the last few hours. He could barely function, a wreck of a man, filthy and covered in dirt and the blood of numerous monsters. His once cared for armor was rent with damage, and his beloved axe was thrust into the floor.

The window was blown open, so precise was his attack but he cried softly, almost oblivious to Lydia's approach.

"I didn't do anything..." he kept whispering over and over. "I couldn't do anything. She's gone, she's gone, she's gone..."

The messenger bag being set-down nearby made more noise than Lydia did as she moved over. Cautious, but coming close and sitting down by the older man. Ignoring filth and blood, and wrapping her arms around him in a hug.

"It's alright." So very soft, and very quiet. Sympathizing and trying to be comforting.

"How can it be all right...?" Choked out Meteor, despite the hug. Fresh tears sprung from him as he couldn't meet Lydia's gaze.

"Why was it her? Why was I away? I didn't even think... I wasn't planning..."

His voice hitched as he broke into sobs.

"I wish I had answers for you."

It's hard, as she's still a small teenager, while Meteor is wearing armor and an experienced adventurer. Doesn't mean Lydia isn't hugging him as tightly as she can, trying to stay calm and give him what comfort she can.

"I know it doesn't seem like it, but it will be alright. You're not alone, and I know it hurts. But you're not alone, and the hurt will fade."

"..."

She was right, he knew it deep down. It still didn't help the wound was raw. The fact he had no chance to tell her he loved her one last time.

Looking down at the fallen Experience Orb, he reached out and picked it up, holding it in the twilit morning. "I wish... I had been there but... I would have lost myself, Lydia. I would have harmed innocents, even if my legs carried me as fast as possible towards the site of the incident."

He swallowed as he touched Lydia's hand with his own and leaned against her, tears flowing from his eyes. "She... this is almost all I have left of hers."

And he opened his hand to show Lydia the crumpled note.

Lydia nodded, and leaned her head against his. "Then you'll cherish it, and cherish her memories." Still holding him tightly, and moving to stroke his hair gently, comfortingly. "She was very wise and perceptive. I'm sure she knew how you felt."

"Sometimes I wonder... why she stayed with me, even in the vision," he said softly. "Look at me. I'm a mess. Not just physically but mentally."

He closed his eyes, unwilling to meet any gazes for the moment as he continued. "I'm not a good person, Lydia. I'm a villain. I work for a purpose, I was once a hero, but now I am fallen. Even knowing this, she stayed with me."

"What makes me special that I could be loved by her?"

"I think you're a good person, Meteor." Lydia said quietly, firm in her belief. "And while I can't tell you, because I'm not Zelda--I urge you to believe in her. Know and believe that she thought you were special and worth it."

A tighter hug, and briefly brushing her head against his affectionately. "I think you're worth being friends with too."

She was right of course. Meteor couldn't help but tear up however as he held her hand in his, the other holding onto the orb. Fresh tears and sobs broke free as he finally started crying, but in relief this time than sadness.

Lydia was right. He had too much to live for.

"Thank you."

There would be no judgement from Lydia; she'd seen so many things--not just on Crystallis, but elsewhere too. A head-shake. "You don't have to thank me. We're friends." A tighter hug, and another brush of her head against his comfortingly.

"...have I told you about my best friend before? From the Neitheworld?" She did have a point.

"Bits and pieces. Only that he is uncommonly strange," said Meteor.

"What is he like?"

"I think you'd like him. You're a lot more cultured and polite than him, but he's often painted as the bad-guy." A hint of laughter, and Lydia shifted to sit more comfortably while keeping her hold around him.

"Beetlejuice is a prankster. Of an extreme nature. He's the ghost with the most, and has a lot of magic to back it up. Most people just see him as rude, and gross, and selfish, and manipulative and lazy. But I know he has a good heart, because I've seen it. Even if he doesn't like showing it."

So affectionate there, as he really was her best friend. "He's arrogant and has an ego, and rubs a lot of people the wrong way. But he makes me laugh. Sometimes he doesn't always think things through, but when I need him--he's always come through and been there for me."

Much more quietly, a tighter squeeze. "After we moved to Peaceful Pines, I didn't really have any friends. I wasn't willing to put myself out there either, when I'm the weird girl, the odd one. But meeting Beetlejuice, and having him as my friend, even if he can't go to school with me? It helped me make other friends. Bertha and Prudence and I are all outsiders, and they don't always 'get' me either, but I wouldn't have had the courage or confidence to even try and be friends, without Beej's influence too."

"It sounds like despite his flaws, he was good for you. A true friend, and I guess that's the lesson here, isn't it?"

He managed to smile at Lydia as he added, "A good friend, a true friend, would support others, wouldn't they?"

There was a grin and a giggle. "Who said there was any kind of lesson, Mr. Meteor?" Impish, and amused. "I'm just telling you about my friend." Lydia had been known to be clever at times.

He laughed a little at that, nodding. "I guess so. You have a good friend. What else does he do, besides bring out the best in someone?"

[After settling down in his new housing situation, he couldn't help but feel the call of the Calm Lands take over him again. Above all, he needed space to think and sort out all that had been dumped on him in the span of a few hours after first waking up in the hospital.

It'd been a chore to try and eat the vegetable dumplings his new housemate had brought back with the mental images the accounts had wrought. The smell of downed fiends was almost welcoming, though the sheer numbers gave him a moment's pause. Someone had left a path of the creatures, and while ordinarily most wise people would not follow it, Ira found himself doing the exact opposite. After all, he hadn't seen one familiar face in particular crystallized or in the city. Maybe he'd be out... here...

Well, someone sure let themselves go, he thought after almost a day of following the trail of corpses and blood stained grass. He stopped just within earshot, but didn't dare draw too close just yet.]

...Hey. [Man, and he thought his own sister was bad with this whole grieving thing.]

... hi.

[At this point in time, Meteor was still upset and while the diffuse of darkness had snuffed itself at Ira's arrival, he wasn't looking up.

Moggle Mog floated over to Ira gratefully.]

Thank goodness someone with a reasonable head is here. Tell him to clean up at least.

[Shantotto minion nodded, tugging at a clean edge of Meteor's outfit before pointing at Ira and then at Meteor. Her expression was worried, a surprise considering the little one was often in the middle of something ridiculous.]

[Well, that certainly got him to raise an eyebrow before he smirked.]

Sure you don't have me mixed up for someone else?

[It was almost laughable that someone considered him reasonable by any means without murdering a mad scientist with a zombie fetish.]

Though he does have a point. Despite the impressive path you left in your wake, something will eventually give in a crucial point.

[It's said out of concern, however much he's waving it off.] Unless that's what you want to happen.

Edited 2016-07-07 19:17 (UTC)

[Considering the crap Moggle Mog had to put up with on a near daily basis, this WAS reasonable for him.]

Nope, kupo. I don't at that. He's sulking.

I am not.

Yes you are, kupo. She might be gone but... [Moggle Mog dodged a thrown rock.] See? I'm trying to deal with this and he just keeps getting angrier!

[Watching the reaction to the proverbial poking of the bear, it certainly put a few pieces of the puzzle that is his acquaintance's sad state. Something he wasn't familiar with himself, not in that way, but.]

I see. That's why...

[He lowers his chin in thought for a moment, before approaching and placing his own sword in the dirt. He doesn't sit just yet, gauging the other warrior's reaction first in case he too needed to dodge a flung rock, but rests a clenched fist on his hip.]

Moglin and Lydia mentioned what happened. Sorry for your loss.

[It's clear they were close, if what he was beginning to suspect was anywhere close to the mark.]

That made Lydia laugh more, as really she wouldn't put it quite that way. "I doubt he brings out the 'best' in people, given he annoys most people and likes pranking them. Even if they don't get the joke a lot of times."

What else did BJ do? Hmmm...

"Well, as I said--he has his moments where he's a bit of a con-man, in that he doesn't really see the point of work, until it's something he cares about. He can be lazy and arrogant, but he's really fun to explore with. He jokes a lot, and he also does care for his friends." An impish chuckle. "I haven't asked him to, but sometimes he's taken revenge for me on Claire, after she's gone too far in her bullying at times."

[Meteor grumbled, trying not to care and failing miserably as Moggle Mog sighed.]

Can't you like, beat some sense into it? Isn't that how things work when you lose a loved one?

Godssdamn you Moogle! Shut up!

"Really protective of his friends I take it," said Meteor. He shook his head. "I'm just glad you have someone like that in you life."

Lydia's smile stayed, but it was no longer quite so genuine. She was happier Meteor was more cheered up. But she really did miss Beetlejuice. It had been over a year, and Crystallis has been hard--harder still without her best friend.

Don't mind her if she just snuggles against him more, both for his and for her comfort.

( and how unlucky for midna, who happened to be sitting on zelda's own bed that he had chosen to break in. wiping furiously at her eye she immediately drew back into herself, rising into air. )

Who's there?!

Noticing Lydia's expression change a little, he let her rest against him.

He resolved to at least clean up next time they had this sort of thing happen though.

...

[Stepping out of the shadows, he said,] I didn't think Zelda had a roommate.

[To Meteor's recollection, he wasn't sure if he remembered Midna yet.]

Good, because she needs it. It's been a rough couple of days in the aftermath. Zelda's death, all the mixed reactions to the same from the Heroes, Bigg's letter...

Lydia had mostly successfully kept herself busy, and distracted, but now it was starting to hit her now. At least she wasn't alone, and Meteor didn't seem to mind her leaning on him for a bit now. "Once...once we're both up for it, I've been coming here to learn more about Zelda. I wanted to paint a picture of her, since I didn't get a photo."

"A painting... yes, I think that would be nice."

He remembered that people, not just him and Lydia alone liked Zelda. And yet, they were recovering as friends. "I think that'd be perfect."

And I didn't think she kept such rude company! ( she was lashing out, angry with no one to be angry at... but being disturbed in such a fragile state didn't suit her, and so she crossed her arms. )

Well? Explain yourself.

I had thought the harp was unattended, so I was going to remedy the ownership of it.

[He made a face. Lydia had helped him, and he didn't look like a filthy vagabond again but...]

But if... she was close to you as well, I will leave it be.

Like she said, it would take time but the hurt would lessen. They just had to remember they weren't alone. Lydia took a deep breath, and moved so she wasn't hugging Meteor--but not far away. "When you're feeling a bit better, why do you clean up? I'll help with any mess here, and then you can help me with some sketches."

"All right. I.. could use a bath after all."

He wasn't going to sugarcoat it anyhow, he was still covered in a lot of gross stuff.

One more hug, as she didn't care as much about the gross-stuff. At least she could ignore it for now, anyways. Then she got to her feet, and offered him a hand if he wanted it. "Why don't you go get clean for now, and then we'll clean up here. Alright Mr. Meteor?"

"All right. Though I hope I didn't lose my key." he said thoughtfully.

The observatory had to have someplace to wash up, right? "I'll keep an eye out for it." Lydia knew where some of the cleaning cloths and brooms were, so she headed for that. It was starting to get more light, but that didn't bother her too much. Still dark enough to be night, and Lydia was as comfortable in darkness in the observatory as at home.

Making sure to keep track of her sketch supplies, as well as anything of Meteor's she found. Putting them somewhere safe and cleaner, while also being careful of Zelda's stuff too. Hopefully it wouldn't take too long.

Yeah, he knew of a few places he could clean up. His outfit was almost a complete disaster and would need burning but other than that, he remembered from his long hours working there, he basically had a bathrobe here.

( her eye flicked over towards the harp, then back at the adventurer, narrowing slightly. midna wasn't sure she liked the idea of zelda's things even being moved just yet, but... )

You were close with with her then, is that it? Come to covet her belongings for some meager reminder that she was just here only hours ago? ( she turned her back, chastising herself for having those feelings, herself... )

Hn. What would Zelda think of something so pitiful as that.

Edited 2016-07-09 03:21 (UTC)

I don't care for your judgment. I am planning on leaving town, and this cursed land.

[His eyes were dark with anger.]

Edited 2016-07-09 03:23 (UTC)

Good thing Lydia also makes clothes, so if he wants Meteor can get her to make him clothes again later. Maybe not the armor though--that's a bit advanced. She has things mostly cleaned up (including what little got on her) when he's back, and his stuff is nearby. Also as clean and organized as she could make it, and she's sketching at a table and desk. Pulling from her memory, trying out various poses and to get Zelda's profile just right.

"I hope you're feeling better. I know it'll be hard--all of this has been really bad lately." There's a small brave smile on her face. "I am refusing to give in to the bad though, so let's focus on the good and our memories right?" So come help her get a nice picture of Zelda to use as her base for painting.

( she sounded harsh because she hated feeling the same. she had sworn how many times that she wouldn't allow this zelda to suffer the same fate hers had?
when midna peered over her shoulder this time, her expression was more neutral, the tone controlled. )

You're leaving because of what happened? ( she turned, facing him more fully. ) Self-exile, is that it? ( or something else...? )

... I wasn't there when she died. I didn't even know it happened until I felt it.

When I managed to get there, the crowd was already dispersed.

I didn't save her. When she saved me, I couldn't return the favor.

[His hand balled into a fist as he grit his teeth.] She stayed with me, even in the vision. I loved her, and I never got a chance to tell her again how I felt before this happened... I'm a godsdamned fool for even trying.

( midna wasn't there either. it was just another run of the mill day, zelda going out trying to keep some sort of order among the rag-tag group of heroes. only... she didn't come back this time.

she wouldn't be coming back... )

Tell me, how well do you think you knew Zelda?

[At this, Meteor grit his teeth.] I know a lot of things. How she worried about everyone, her cares and dreams, how she got sad when her closest friends became statues.

I also know how much she tried to keep us all together. She even stayed with me, during the vision, and afterwards she helped me recover.

Godsdamnitall...

That isn't how it works. [He shot Moggle Mog a glare.] I may only be two, but I know that much.

[And he thought the real thing was an idiot when he was new. Antagonizing a grieving ball of emotions was likely not going to end well.]

I'm not good with feelings. [Huffed Moggle Mog.]

[Meteor sulked a bit more, unwilling to give his moogle an edge.]

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Dragonsong - Open

Probably early-morning 14th? Before dawn...

Before dawn is perfect

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late evening on the 7th work?

sounds perfect to me

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