Event || Revelations

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All the Heroes of Light and their Moogles.
Where: Order's Sanctuary, The Interdimensional Rift and their Homeworlds.
When: August 03rd - August 30th

Summary: Following the battle against Palitutu, all the Heroes of Light were transported into the Interdimensional Rift. They were told by Palitutu they would have to find her to prove they can break the cycle-- But before they could reach their destination, a malevolent entity from the Rift stripped them from their immortality...

And now, they woke up in a decaying and dying world, most specifically in a place called Order's Sanctuary. From there they are ready to jump... Into their homeworlds! Feel free to use this post for the Mingle at Order's Sanctuary and should your homeworld be the stage for the Heroes of Lights' next adventures, feel free to make a thread for it and as many sub-thread as necessary! Please refer to the OOC Post for questions and plotting.

Warning: Whatever you come up with.

Comments

[shinrasfinest]

[Not to mention, given the so-called cult that's becoming a nuisance in interrupting the supply of that all-curing water to the more remote parts of this continent, it could be argued that flying in any kind of heavy-duty transport like a helicopter might attract an undesired kind of attention. Hence why the raid, a few days ago, at the mako reactor Elena has been dispatched to now had been so heavy-duty.

Both reassurance to the public, as well as a warning to others.

With his hooded head still bowed, Sephiroth's not sure he heard much of anything as a random stranger pushed through the bushes towards him. It had to have been instinct of a kind which made him drop his hand and look instantly up at her as she started to talk about being turned around.

It's dark, there isn't much in terms of moonlight going for them down to the shadows the trees throwing shapes around but as Sephiroth peers out from the hood that mostly hides his face in the same shadow he needs to stand up a little taller to be able to look over her and determine if there is a threat here or not. There might be a tiny sliver of green flaring somewhere in the darkness of his hood if she tries look while getting closer, but if she gets much closer-]

-you've come a little far from the main road just to get to Gongaga.

[-there is no way she's going to get him by just his voice, right? He doesn't sound particularly friendly, but who even does when they're suffering from a migraine.]

[provenworth]

[Normally in these situations, Elena is better prepared. Has a whole backstory prepared for those random encounters where the suit isn't instantly recognized. A persona that would easily be forgotten after she left. She's mentally kicking herself for being so lackadaisical about the mission. ]

I know, I know.

[She got this. Something about seeing a sunrise from the nearby mountains from workers at the Saucer. It could fly. Except....

Except...

Gaia, the man was tall, the straightening of his back a clear, non-verbal way to communicate a sudden need to be intimidating. A defense mechanism. But why?]

I heard from a friend of mine that works over at the Saucer that the sunrise...

[She had meant to turn, to motion to the eastern horizon, once making eye contact. A lot could be said from looking at the eyes. But it was hard in the dark and under the hood she could see nothing but a hint of green. Familiar green. Terrifying green. Her therapist said she would still have flashes from the smallest of things. She was glad that none of the Turks had green eyes. She couldn't jump to conclusions. They were dead. He was dead. Not hiding in front of her in the dark and shadow, making small talk.]

...the sunrise is to die for. So I figured I'd stop by here first, catch the sunrise, then continue on my way.

[shinrasfinest]

Hm. I didn't realize that it was so early already-

[Her comment makes him raise his head, slowly and turn to look in the direction of the eastern horizon where Elena had made the eye contact with him instead. Sephiroth is oh-so cautious in breaking direct line of sight with this woman, but trusts his peripheral vision well enough to catch a sudden movement if this was going to turn out to be an ambush.

As the shadows within the hood move, she can catch the side of a cheek, marred recently by a healing gouge across it which had been a near-miss with a bullet a few days -and a few potions- ago.

If only a few threads of the shorter bangs to his silver hair hadn't fallen forwards into the light just in that moment...]

[provenworth]

I'm a bit early, actually. Didn't want to have to race the sun to find the best viewing point.

[Speaking of vantage points, her shorter stature grants her a different perspective than those of her peers. And Elena sees more of the ghost instead of, what she was sure, was another man. A wound above a strong jawline, slow in recovery. Strands of silver -

SILVER.

She's seeing things. Has to be. Must be. Trick of the eyes. Trick of the waning moonlight. Creating false ghosts in shadows. She has to pause, mentally holding her hands to her sides to prevent her from rubbing at her eyes. To erase the illusion that stubbornly refused to fade.]

...That's a nasty injury you've got there.

[Panic scratches inside her head like a trapped Tail Vault trying to break free of its cage, her heartbeat accelerating. Elena has to force her breathing to stay calm. Her right hand feels empty without her firearm, the weight a calming comfort. Her left moves carefully, smooth and non-threatening, to reach inside her jacket.]

Were you attacked recently? I've heard there's this nasty group of thugs running around causing trouble.

[A small phone is removed from its resting place against her chest and flipped open, her face illuminated by the bright screen. She doesn't bother to hide the ShinRa logo that is exposed and upside down. In this light it might not even be discernible unless you had exceptionally strong eyesight in the dark. She just had to get a look. One good, confirming glance at the man beneath the hood.]

Look, I have a Mastered Cure that I could use to help after checking for infection.

[Just one...small...peek. And if she's wrong then everything will be fine. But if she's not...then at least she can hit the panic button that auto-send her location to the rest of the Turks.]

So long as you don't mind help from a stranger.

[shinrasfinest]

[The fleeting glance of his face vanishes again as Sephiroth looks down and back at Elena well before she's steadied herself enough to make a comment on the injury that -with everything else that's going in- he's mostly forgotten is still there. Never mind the scenario behind it that he likely won't forget for a long time; if he hadn't moved exactly the way that he had at that time, it's likely he wouldn't have had a head.

Quickly his eyes, and all of the attention that comes with it, are drawn to where she's reached inside her jacket. As smooth and seamless as the gesture is, there is something obvious just hovering shy of his perception. What exactly was this woman doing out here? Her story didn't quite seem kosher and-

A phone. Flipped open. It took yet another moment, eyes squinting almost to oblivion as he tries to make it out in the dark, but within an instant of seeing the flaring logo on the screen something tightens claws around the bottom of Sephiroth's chest. It took everything he had not to take a sharp breath in as the dots connected, a slip of self-control perhaps as a shudder ran right up his back as the consequences multiplied.

A Turk. Had to be. Not one that he recalls, mind-]

A Mastered Cure Materia, hm? Given all the trouble in the area, it sounds to me like you're up here for a little bit more than a sunrise-

[Due to the dark, he's not noticed how the woman also comes with a firearm before but now he might well be looking for it. Inspecting her while at the same time trying to keep his face in the shadows of his hood. It's only going to work so far, until she steps closer. Sephiroth quickly comes to the conclusion that it's only a matter of time before this is going to go somewhere just as lethal as the assault at Gongaga a few days before.

He backpedals some, towards the entrance of the cave, discreet enough to make his retreat not seem so knee-jerky, but at the same time he knows that there is a greater chance of someone inside there at least catching wind of the encounter going on outside. Another flash of the side of his face then, higher up and almost as far as his eyes, as he had to look back and down to near-miss a stumble against the rocky outcrop. This time an entire section, one half of his silver bangs fell full-forwards, across his face, out from within the hood.]

-don't you think you should...get on?

[provenworth]

Just more prepared than most. There are wild animals that live in the forest and you can never be too careful.

[Which was an understatement of the century. She started carrying the Cure materia with her at all times ever since the Crater incident.

She was losing him, the conversation losing its innocence and becoming more questionable. Inquiring. Suspicious. She'd frown if he face wasn't illuminated, but instead gives a whisper of a smile when she spoke - forced through the screaming alarms in her mind. So long as he kept talking, she could - ]

.....! [Retreating. He was retreating towards a gaping maw of darker black behind him. Her phone lowers to her side, thumb still hovering above the send button.] Look, I'm just -

[Fuck.

Elena didn't want to see it. Fuck. Didn't want to acknowledge that it couldn't be an illusion. That it was a man that was flesh and real and trying to escape. Fuck. Escape to where? Shit. To whom? Fuck. And for what?? Because she saw it. The curtain of silver that fell forward like it had in the pictures and the videos and the partial face - lips, jaw, chin, cheekbones - that had haunted the dreams of those who had gone against him. Fuck me.

Her phone drops, clattering against the hardened earth, and her heart stops for a good, long second.]

I'm afraid I can't do that.

[Her body moves out of instinct, the side of her jacket flipped up and out of the way as the firearm is removed and the barrel aimed at the center space between his eyes. The mask of friendliness is ripped off and replaced with one of cold, hard anger. Both hands are used to keep her gun steady, to ensure that there was no waiver, no leftward tendency if she had to shoot.]

I'm going to need you to remove your hood. Slowly. And keep your hands where I can see them or Gaia help me I will empty my magazine into your head.

[shinrasfinest]

[That rustle, click, is a sound that feels a longer time coming than it really is. No matter how he knew it was inevitable though, that doesn't stop the hammering of his heart against the inside of his ribcage, the choking pulse which knots in his throat.

His eyes move first, through the gaps in somewhat-matted silver across his face as Sephiroth gets his balance back and, spreading his arms with gloved palms up, very slowly straightens back up to his full height. Next his head moves, equally slowly, back to center position. Cover blown though, there isn't any point in making sure his hood falls back all the way, but damn are those gleaming mako eyes sharply fixed on the end of the barrel of the handgun. Moving fluidly, just enough so that he can keep focused on the position of her trigger finger - slits like hairline chips in the middle of that blazing color.

At this range, logic tells him that dodging is a near-impossibility, but logic can hardly be applied to any of this situation.]

-Ok. Just, hold steady-

[The migraine picks it's time to knock at the front of his forehead, which causes a small grunt as he turns his palms inward to slip them into the hood on either side of his head. Slowly-

-the hood falls back eventually on it's own as Sephiroth's gloved hands are moved away from his head, to being with his arms bent up and palms-forward facing Elena; the standard surrender gesture. If there is any doubt as to the identity of the man, the sun that's now starting to rise over the mountains brings yet more light onto the situation. Silver hair that hasn't had the chance for a good clean in a while is tied up high and tight in a braid that vanishes down into the rest of the short cloak he wears, a few fly away bits looking characteristically untidy as the chin-length bangs at the front hang heavily forwards.

And then there is the graze she'd spotted across his cheek, not quite parallel to his jaw but clearly a near miss from some sort of assault rifle.

If there is one difference, though, it's the clear fact that he may well be looking at her with something not so far off absolute terror. He could do nothing about it if she did decided to open fire...as if he really were just...human.]

[shinra_dog]

[Rather fortunately for Sephiroth (at least for the immediate moment), when Elena's phone lands, it does end up sending out her distress signal. It's evidenced by the way the ping! can be heard from inside the cave, received by Reno's PHS. The thing was useless on Crystallis, but here, it was fully functioning again. Reno had nearly forgotten it.]

[It was also lucky Reno couldn't sleep. Not for lack of trying, but he was too uneasy. Most of the time he only dozed lightly, sudden noises waking him easily. He'd been tossing and turning as it was when the strange, murmured sounds reverberating through the cave suggested a conversation somewhere. Of course, he'd assumed it was two of his own party.]

[But he was wide awake when his phone sounded, training immediately kicking in as if no time had passed at all.]

Shit!

[Reno rushed to the cave entrance, PHS in one hand -- and then hurriedly raised the other, lest Elena accidentally shoot him.]

Whoa -- whoa! Elena, what're you...? Let's just take it easy, okay?

[bloodypast]

[Vincent slept lightly, when he slept. Insomnia was something of a constant companion, but recent events had left him exhausted. Exhausted enough to doze at least, although the ping echoed loudly enough. Unusual and conspicuous, and then Reno's reaction had him up and awake shortly thereafter.

While Reno rushed though, Vincent moved more quietly--applying every measure of stealth he could. Which wasn't easy with metal-tipped boots, but hopefully the slight tap would be ignored in the distracting mess. Keeping himself low, cloak and mantle hiding him well as he blended into the shadows. Coming to the entrance it is easy to see that Sephiroth is tense, his hands raised up. Reno's hands are raised too, and Vincent stays in the shadows but pulls his own fire-arm.

Then Reno's voice is identifying her...Elena. Elena...the blonde turk? One of the 4 remaining ones with Shinra.

Despite the identification, he doesn't lower his own firearm and keeps his aim trained on her. Just in case, but he doesn't want a fight anymore than the others do. Not hard to keep to the shadows for now, crimson eyes trained on her and watching.]

[provenworth]

[Okay. Okay. Everything was going to be okay. Elena was perhaps being jumpy. That's it. Of course it was understandable that she was over-cautious coming across a random stranger in the middle of the woods in the dead of night. And the moonlight could easily play tricks. At least the man was smart, moving exactly as ordered to remove the hood and show that he was -]

...Fffuucckk.

[The word is uttered low and slow under her breath. A striking contrast to the string of obscenities that now flowed like a torrent in her brain, the content so rich in vulgarity that it might have even shocked Reno.

Elena doesn't move for several seconds, doesn't breathe either. She's staring, mouth slightly unhinged and eyes wide, at the man standing in front of her. At the silver braid that belied its actual length, bangs that fell over brilliant green eyes that all but glowed in the growing pre-dawn light.]

How many times do we have to -

[Eyes move quickly from hands to face, to hips and legs, back to the chest, then face, then hands. The hands. Hands that are lifted, palms outward, and elbows bent in clear surrender posture. Surrender? That didn't make sense. And where was that infamous blade of his? Why hadn't he struck her down yet? Why did he look at her with such...such.. fear?]

...Reno?

[She hears him before she sees him, eyes darting to the cave - she could tell it was a cave now by the brighter shades of purple that stretched across the sky - where he emerged. Feet plant more firmly to ground her posture, her weapon unmoving from its target as she turns her attention to the red-heaad.]

Reno, what the fuck? [Elena is furious and confused and there's a hint of that panic rat in a faint waiver of her voice.] Why aren't you in Edge? What the hell are you doing here? And with...and with...

[She can't even say his name. Won't say it. Her attention goes back and forth between the two men, making sure that her glances to Sephiroth are hard and firm and daring him to move. Reno, on the other hand, gets an incredulous look. She's utterly oblivious of the man in the shadows and the gun aimed at her, too busy having a small aneurism.]

What are you waiting for?! Take him down already before he does something!

[shinrasfinest]

[It isn't what she thinks it is. Was what Sephiroth wanted to point out, but logical judgment -a somewhat skittish Turk with a handgun trained between his eyes- held any comments firmly under wraps. Speaking, or even moving an inch could well be the last thing that he did.

As the front of the short cloak opens out around him, Elena would be able to see something else she may also find perplexing. Underneath the poor attempt at a disguise Sephiroth wore what seemed to be the old, standard 1st Class uniform; still with the signature belt-harness arrangement but otherwise not a fiber of leather on anything that he was wearing. An additional strap seemed to lead back behind him, into another harness arrangement but, sure enough, he'd left Masamune in the cave. There hadn't been any need and, quite rightly, if there had been any circumstance in which he'd need to defend himself to that extent then a retreat into the cave would be needed to alert the others anyway.

But damn if that initial reaction isn't there, to take the distraction Reno offered and blow it right open. Disarming the gun in his face was preferable and from keeping his eyes trained completely on Elena as she looked between the two of them he was almost convinced he might be able to pull it off-

But hang on...Elena-]

...not doing anything-

[It's hard to put a softer tone into any voice when there is such a threat in front of him, but behold his attempt at reassurance.]

[ninjainviolet]

[ Sheena had been trained to be on guard even while asleep, so the sound of voices had found their way through while she slept. But it wasn't until it registered that one was a voice she didn't recognize that brought her fully awake.

Hearing the threat, and seeing Reno's reaction, she knew the woman meant business and knew what she had to do.

Getting to her feet slowly, she used to cover of darkness and Reno's movements to get into position. She had to time this just right...

Stepping back a little, she used a Guardian Seal on herself for protections and cast Shunshin to hasten her movements before disappearing with Smoke Bomb and reappearing behind Elena, grabbing her and reappearing some ways back into the cave--facing away from Sephiroth. But, she wasn't done yet.

Still under the haste spell effects, she immediately stepped back and pulled out a Pyre Seal, which multiplied and surrounded the other woman--almost like walling her in. ]

I wouldn't move if I were you. Otherwise, each one of those cards will explode. You see, I kind of don't like it when people try to hurt my friends.

[bloodypast]

[Sheena moving past Vincent was noted, and he hoped she wouldn't do anything too reckless or rash. Elena was clearly spooked--and knowing what he did about Sephiroth, Vincent did not blame her. Nor had it been clearly established just when they were yet. He wasn't certain if the blonde turk would consider him an enemy or not, regarding his affiliation with Avalanche.

Keeping his eyes opened, he shifted position smoothly as Sheena moved Elena via her ninja Job-skills into the cave. Pivoting in his crouch, keeping his firearm out and trained on Elena. Of course, now Elena could likely make him out against the cave-wall, weapon trained on her. Just in case, in addition to Sheena's seals.

No need to really hide anymore then, and they needed to all calm down.]

Elena, I would believe her.

[Besides the fact that Vincent had his own gun trained on the blonde and wasn't known for hesitating. This would be the only warnings the female turk would likely get.]

Your panic is understandable. There are different circumstances at play here, however, that require him alive and unharmed.

[shinrasfinest]

[During the instant in which Sheena poofed in and grabbed Elena, Sephiroth took a sharp breath as his life seemed to flash both before and behind his eyes at the same time. He crunched them shut, expecting to hear the loud hammer of the gun going off and that might be the last thing he ever did hear. But it didn't come.

It almost didn't feel real, as then a moment later he opened his eyes and found no one stood before him; before reason caught up and he remembered then that Sheena was indeed in their company. Off the back of that thought, something swelled up into the base of his throat, stole words away as Sephiroth's eyes fell to the phone that had crashed to the floor. A glance to Reno, as he stepped closer and crouched to retrieve it -whatever signal had been let off might not leave them much time before more trouble would come- and offered it to the red-haired turk. It seemed logical that Reno would have the best idea in how to 'disarm' whatever had been called upon them.

Still without a word. He then turned back to the cave, the short cloak ghosting his movements as he did so and made to also retreat back inside. But stopped just then, sharply, as another prickly feeling crept it's way around the front of his forehead. It caused a deep frown, as again he raised a hand -squeezing thumb and forefinger between temples to try to focus past that pesky headache that came from time to time.]

Well, that was enlightening- [He spoke to no one in particular, but seemed to be quickly catching up in terms of that elusive 'when' which had escaped them still, so far.

As steps were taken into the cave, and back into the vicinity of the others, one phrase stuck repeating around his head. 'How many times...']

[shinra_dog]

Reno took the phone and disabled the alarm. Still, it wasn't like Elena would have set it off accidentally -- Tseng and Rude would inevitably be on their way.

"We gotta move," he said, tucking Elena's phone into his inside jacket pocket. "We got maybe an hour t' get as far away from this cave as possible -- an' that's a generous estimate."

He sighed, shook his head, and rested a hand on Sheena's shoulder. "It's okay, Sheena -- she's my coworker." Meeting eyes with Elena, though, he affirmed, "That will still blow up, though, if you move -- sorry."

Shaking his head, he rubbed the back of his neck. "Things're... complicated. Elena, what year is it?"

He had a hunch, based on what she'd said to Sephiroth. How many times. He assumed she'd have finished it with do we have to kill you? Which meant that Seph had died here at least twice now -- and, since Elena said Edge, that city had already been built.

"... How's Rufus?" He looked at her hard, concerned. If his hunch was right, she could tell by looking into his eyes what he meant: Geostigma.

[provenworth]

[It doesn't make sense. None of it does. The planet had been healing. Slowly, yes, but they were looking for ways to stop using the Lifestream. Providing that all-curing medicine to those still infected with Geostigma. They were getting better as a planet. But then, if that was the case, why was he here. His presence brought nothing but calamity.

It didn't matter that he didn't carry the famous blade or wore the usual standard uniform for 1st Class instead of leather - Leather that was always present. Leather that never stained with blood or 'stigma. He always wore leather, that much she remembered. So why..?]

As you shouldn't, if you know what's good for -

[She knew this sensation. Of her world shifting, moving under the influence of Haste, and being taken away from where she wanted to be. Its a dizzying feeling, one that causes her to wobble only slightly, her body frozen in its posture, unwilling to bend for whoever dared move her against her will. Her firearm threatened nobody now but a cave wall.]

W-what... [The voices come at her from different angles. Different genders. One unknown, one known. Eyes snap from the woman, to Vincent just to her side. Her weapon too moves to square at the woman's chest, her attention returning to her.] Friend? You call that monster a friend?! Who the hell are you and why should I let you live if you're protecting that - that...

[Her breathing is quickened, almost gasping, the a major visible sign of her distress. Her panic. Caught in a trap, moved where she could not see the one who had caused so much harm to this world. And to be trapped. Tapped by people she didn't know and were clearly affiliated with the enemy. Trapped by people she knew; people she trusted. ]

If it was understandable, Valentine, then you should have been the first to put an end to him. [She speaks low, just barely audible enough so that he can hear her. She had held a lot of respect for the man. She can't imagine how he had found himself in this situation.] How could you let this happen?

[Its a low blow, and in all honesty one she would not have said if she didn't feel so betrayed. Which is only amplified by the sound of Reno's voice behind her, speaking to Sephiroth. She's outnumbered and she knows it, feeling the trained aim of Vincent's own weapon on her. She moves slowly enough to not pose as a threat, returning the weapon back into its holster, now taking the pose Sephiroth has been in moments before.]

...... [Her lips press into a thin, angry line when she glances over to Reno. She lets her eyes say what she won't. That she's hurt by his actions. That he's betraying her by standing there, with him. For allowing them to hold her now as hostage.] Nothing complicated about it, Reno. A bullet to the brain ought to do it. Or do you really want to go another round? Cause if you asked me, I'd rather pass.

[Its all anger she speaks with, and utterly warranted in her book. But she doesn't miss that pointed look through the haze, the question just beneath it. Its a stupid question, considering she had left Rufus in his and Tseng's care.]

He's better, as you should already know. All signs are gone and we're just working on physical therapy.

[bloodypast]

[Crimson eyes narrowed, and only when Elena's gun is put away is his own lowered. Still out, but no longer aimed directly at her. She has valid points, and is intelligent--and further, Elena was a Turk. The Department regularly dealt with sensitive and confidential information.]

It's complicated; related to time-travel, Elena. THIS Sephiroth is not the monster the one on this world would become. Reno, myself, we're pulled from different points than the ones you know here in the present--and we've been traveling for months. We have Cloud as well, but a younger one not yet traveling with Avalanche.

[This is a risk, but if anything--Elena has to understand before she'll stop being a threat. Big risk, big reward, right?]

That is how this has happened. That's why Reno is here, instead of where you expect him to be. We have a larger mission, requiring all of us alive and unharmed, and your part of that mission now is to keep silent about it to anyone else. Even us.

[ninjainviolet]

[ Her gaze still steely and steady, Sheena doesn't flinch when Elena trains her gun on her. She hadn't been joking when she had called Sephiroth her friend, and it shows.

Taking a cue from Vincent's lack of explaining Sheena's true origins, the ninja doesn't go into too many details about herself. ]

I already told you. I'm his friend. [ And that's all that matters to Sheena right now. As for the rest...

The ninja doesn't even glance at Reno when he approaches, though she really wished he hadn't said her name. Oh well. This woman will just spend a lot of time looking for a strange woman by the name of Sheena who has purple hair who uses exploding cards. And never find her. ]

A co-worker, huh? Well... Forgive me, but I'm going to keep the cards up anyway. [ Even if the gun is holstered. Sorry, Elena, but Sheena's guard isn't going to be dropped that easily, so she'll just keep an eye on her while the others do the talking.

For now. ]