melodiesoflife | Event || Revelations

Entry tags:

Event || Revelations

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.

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Lust arched a slender brow. She'd never seen this woman before in her life, and yet here she was casting judgment? The homunculus was far from impressed.

"Who's that?" she asked the others. Certainly not someone Lust had ever seen around before. Perhaps it was just some peasant who'd wandered over out of curiosity once the fireworks started going off~

Sonic pointed to Parasraya. "She's right. Believe me - I've fought my share of evil, world-destroying beings, even those who claim themselves gods, and they don't get appeased by showing mercy unless there's a reason."

And he's certain the Calamity isn't Perfect Chaos

"We're heading back into the idea that's going to get us to... Fight... Each other." Sonic face palmed at that. "Greaaaaat..."

"Recently, I've been thinking... ever since Palitutu gave us that ultimatum, during the fight with the Ultima Weapon, and even up through the fight that just ended, I thought she reminded me of someone I knew in my own world," Chiaki offers, stepping forward into the debate.

"Her name was Junko Enoshima. A few of you know this already. Junko was obsessed with despair, and wanted nothing more than to spread it to every corner of the world. She didn't even care about throwing her own life away, because it meant she'd finally succumb to that same despair. I thought Palitutu had become like that from all the knowledge she'd gained up until now. It seemed like she'd given up on beating the Calamity, and had given into the idea of it destroying everything."

She pauses for a moment, shaking her head.

"But now I realize that was wrong. Palitutu had never given into despair, not even for a moment. She said it herself - she didn't give up on hope. The problem is, her hope had become twisted. She wasn't like Junko at all... she was more like another person I knew at home: Nagito Komaeda."

Another pause, as she chews her lip a moment. There are some bad memories associated with this guy.

"Nagito believed in hope as much as I do, but it was a black and twisted kind of hope. He felt that the only way hope could shine as brightly as possible was through the darkness of the deepest depths of despair. He wanted to see that bright shining light, so he did everything he could to drive the people around him to the absolute brink of despair. In the end, he believed so strongly in that ideal that he sacrificed himself for it. He believed so strongly in the ability of the people around him to embody and become hope, that he was willing to give his own life to give them that chance."

Frowning, she glances at Palitutu's body as the life begins to ebb from it.

"I think that's what Palitutu must have felt. She believed in her own ideals... but I think, in her own twisted way, she believed in us, too. And getting us to kill her was the only way to prove to herself that all her work hadn't been for nothing. Bringing her back now would be spitting in the face of her hope, of the dream she worked so hard to bring about. We might think of it as mercy, but I'm willing to bet she wouldn't see it that way at all. That's why I think we need to respect her wishes, believe in our own hope, and use what she left behind to save this world."

She knows not everyone will understand or agree, but Chiaki couldn't stay silent through all of this without saying her piece. There's a brief glance to Jack in particular as she finishes.

For a while, Ira watched in silence as the others made their arguments for and against sparing Palitutu's life. Really? This was a thing that needed to be debated before deciding to land the killing blow. They had a month to discuss this and find her. Now they had minutes.

"Whether the way she views the bigger picture is unforgivable or not, her heart was decided just like our own. We can't change that. Nor will it change one simple truth:" He narrowed his eyes, though for those that knew him, this was calm for him. "The longer we argue about this, the less time she has."

His tone is flat, though now more than ever, he wished so badly to deal more with the Admins over this crap.

To begin with, Sephiroth thought that Sparks had the right idea and he too was heading in the direction of the portal back to Aqures; as who didn't have a pile of things on their plate to be getting on with? Plus surely the others who remained could finish the job, everyone who had attacked surely knew what needed to happen now.

But first it was the way that Jack shouted out about the Avatars, and by extension Narayana itself would know one way or the other what transpires here and although every exhausted nerve ending in Sephiroth wanted nothing but to pass into that open portal, he found his feet rooted to the ground as he looked back over his shoulder.

Could they be-

But the discussion, now? Just as it had been before when Rialynn had been possessed. They were all just going to end up fighting each other, again, something which -undeniably- the Calamity seemed to encourage most of all. So Sephiroth listened to those with their opinions as he slowly sheathed his sword back into it's harness and came within conversation range himself. There was a deep frown already pulling between his eyes.

"Perhaps that's exactly what such a being wants to see?" He answers Parasraya, after a beat. "Maybe that's exactly what it is interested in and that might be the wrong perspective. We've certainly been through enough trials, enough games, by various Avatars so far as to indicate such."

A quick look to Lust, though by the look on his face Sephiroth isn't particularly happy to have reached said conclusion. It looked a little like he was trying to eat something really sour. It's clear he'd have been one of the first to put the final blow in if he hadn't thought it was already well in hand.

"Maybe it is a test of humanity. But the answer to that test isn't one that's so black and white."

Edited 2016-09-01 20:32 (UTC)

Cloud shot Lust a sideways glance. "I never said to spare her as the main point. I said to simply let her die. And to put her down if we have to. But she's demanded time and again we kill her, and I'm tired of doing what she wants us to do." Looking back at the prone Tarutaru he gestured at her.

"But she IS dying. Our third option is to let nature take its course. Let her die. And bury her back in her own world. If anything at all she deserves that." He looked around at his surroundings. "I also suggested we take her back because we'll do no good if we're stuck here."

Vincent had been staying quiet, wrestling with the decision and listening to everyone as they spoke and argued. It seemed however, that voices were being lost and something important was being ignored by most. Echoing the younger silver-haired Hero (who was not Sephiroth) as well as Cloud, he stepped up and closer, especially looking at Lust and Jade.

"Regardless of the ideological implications, time is running out and whether she lives or dies will be a moot point if you simply stand by and watch."

He'd done so before--stood by and watched, and it was his greatest sin. Nor could he say for certain that acting would be the better course here... Less personally invested in Palitutu's fate, than annoyed by the delay.

"It might also be prudent for us all to move her, and ourselves, through the portal back to Aquares Ixen, lest we be trapped here."

"He's right. We should move, and quickly." Ellana picked up her burlap sack of assorted poultices once more, looking between the other Heroes and the portal, before her gaze fell on the instigator of this argument. "The fact that you are pleading to show mercy upon one who is by all rights your enemy is a sign you already are 'human', though what all that entails will have to be explored at a later time."

With a sigh, she added, "I can grant her last rites once we're back in Crystallis. It is the least I can offer."

Jack is rather behind Lust's idea for one of the Seers to use their abilities. He can understand Jade's concerns, and even Cloud's. But when Chiaki speaks up, she gets Jack's full and 100% undivided attention. Junko, he's heard of. But then Chiaki talks about something even darker, hope twisted, and it's even more familiar.

"When you get so focused on an ideal that you cant accept failure. You'll do anything for the idea, instead of keeping your morals to the standards they once were." Chiaki. Why is she always guiding him back to the center?

"We would never have become so strong if we didn't have a great threat opposing us. She was strong so that she could make us strong. This was her twisted way of believing in us. Completely nuts." Jack feels the need to point that out. "But we wouldn't have gotten this far if we were just...waiting for someone else to take care of the problem."

Doctor.

Jack looks down, because he doesn't want to dash Lust's hopes, either. Human. She wants to be human, instead of rejecting her humanity like so so many other races that Jack has seen over the centuries. "If she had the knowledge that you seek...why didn't she use it on herself?" Jack looks up at Lust. "Why didn't she use the Stone to make herself immortal? Or to revive Crystallis forever? There's got to be a different way to find what you're looking for."

"But you're right. If there's a way to find out definitively, what she would do, if we spared her? Who has Seer equipped?"

Jade did listen to what the others had to say. Contrary to what Lust had claimed, he had no interest in revenge -- only in reaching a logical conclusion. After a while, he sighed.

"Whether we kill her ourselves or leave her to die, the end result is the same." He inclined his head briefly at Cloud. "Bring her body along if you must. I have no objections to that."

His gaze turned to Jack. "But if you want me to change my mind about saving her, I suggest doing so quickly."

"Wait..."

Levy's been listening this whole time, and she's just starting to put everything together.

"You said she was your only hope of becoming human. And Jack, you just mentioned a stone."

She looks at Lust, square in the eyes.

"You're talking about the Philosopher's Stone, aren't you? The legendary stone that's capable of miracles?"

Levy furrows her brow, glancing back to Palitutu. Killing her still doesn't sit right with her, but she knows she's not likely to back down if they bring her back either. But maybe there's a compromise.

"...I know this might not satisfy you, but I can try to make one myself. I've been working in Palitutu's lab since it opened, I've read all of the research notes we've translated, and I've trained personally with the alchemists in Mysidia. If this is that important to you, hire me, and I promise - on my honor as a wizard of Fairy Tail - I'll do everything I can to make this happen."

Edited 2016-09-01 21:17 (UTC)

In the pack he brought back from Ivalice, Ramza has his array of healing potions as well. He draws forth a Phoenix Down, which feels warm to the touch and glows a faint red. He doubts it will be as effective in this otherworld, but that matters not. He holds it up.

"We can all agree that Palitutu has chosen her course. She deserves whatever fate awaits her. But when it comes time to choose to show mercy or render justice, it is not a measure of your enemy. It is a measure of yourself."

He looks toward Lust, Jack, Chiaki, and all those who speak for and against. His gaze lingers on Sephiroth for a moment, or more specifically, on his sword, Masamune. The legend went that the great sword cut only that which needed cutting, sparing everything else from the destruction of its blade. It was a story from which many could learn a lesson.

"Allow me administer this Phoenix Down. It will not return all her strength, if it even restores her at all." Who knows how well the item would work here?

"It may takes weeks, or even months, for her to recover from these wounds. We place her in the hospital, under guard. In that time, we will face the Calamity, and Garland. She may awaken to find a world much changed, and that her mistrust of us was ill founded. Or we may all perish. But we will go and face our judgment knowing that we were the kind of Heroes who did not allow a foe to compromise our ideals, nor the kind who struck a blow when it was not absolutely necessary."

[ Listening to all the discussion happening around her, all the questions, Tear kept her silence as the heroes argued amongst themselves. They had all been united just moments ago, and to see them begin to fall apart again so quickly...

Releasing a tired and resigned sigh, she extracted the flute to call her own Moogle from her pack, summoning Sein to her side once more. Before he could even arrive she began to hum a soft melody, looking to the puffball as soon as he appeared. ]

Grant me the power of a Seer, Sein. [ Her voice was soft but firm, even as the Moogle looked ready to unleash a string of protests about this decision. Nevertheless he complied with his hero's wish, and soon enough the light the light of job changes was enveloping her. ]

Chrom had been quiet for a long while, listening, weighing the options. He couldn't shake the feeling that letting their enemy die like this was the wrong choice to make. Was this the side of themselves they really wanted to show? Was it right? Was it the trait that they wanted to see Narayana embody in return when it came to saving their worlds?

He looked at Falchion, still held in his hand, and his stomach tightened. To make sacrifices...

Chrom turned his gaze toward the portal. Through that gate, Crystallis was waiting. His future wife and son were there too, still locked in crystal. His little sister was unaware of what was happening, and he prayed that she never had to find out. So long as Robin and Morgan lived, Ylisse and her people were safe. They were safe. But if they couldn't reason with Narayana to stop what it was doing, that safety would not last.

"He's right," Chrom said unhappily, nodding at Artemicion (or at Kaji walking through the portal, whichever). "We don't know how to make the sacrifices that Palitutu did. But there are some sacrifices we can make, while others should never be considered. We have no right to put aside the lives of some for the sake of others, no matter how few, or how many." He bowed his head, torn. "Recall what the Sage showed to us. Some of us found the answer in sacrificing the lives of Heroes, but those Heroes never had any say in whether they wanted that path or not. None of us volunteered our own lives to spare those others, and if we cannot be willing to put our own lives on the line, what gives us the right to throw away others? Even our enemies." He looked down at Palitutu, his brow furrowed.

"The innocent lives on Crystallis should never be held in lower regard than any other life, whether we know them or not. Palitutu was right about that too, but we didn't want to listen to her." His face was solemn, and regretful. How long had they spent holed up in Aqures Ixen instead of tending to the needs of the people? How many refugees died in Hera, and Flence, and Aerilon, because there wasn't enough time, or not enough resources to escape?

His jaw clenched slightly. "I can't agree with her methods. But I don't think her intentions are evil, nor do I think she will continue to fight against us. She's bought us time, and for that, I am grateful. I can't deny that she has knowledge and power that would serve this world far better if she were alive." He sheathed his sword. "We are Heroes, not executioners. Justice is not ours to deliver. I would plea that she be healed and brought back to Aqures Ixen. Let Cid decide what is to be done in a proper court of law."

Pyrrha frowns as she listens to Chrom's words. She knows he's right, and truthfully, she feels the same way. Huntresses are protectors of the people, not contract killers. That sort of thing is the purview of the exact sorts of people she's been sworn to fight against. But something does bother her enough to prompt her to speak up.

"I agree..." she starts, bowing her head sadly for a moment. "But if we heal her and bring her back with us, how will we hold her? She's proven her ability to appear from nowhere and disappear just as quickly many times over, and she can still disable our Jobs. If she decides to leave, there won't be anything we can do to stop her. And that may lead to another confrontation just like this one in the future."

"Oh, are we REALLY still having this argument? C'mon, let me just kill her and go on our way." Deadpool said. "I'm Deadpool. Merc with a Mouth. Merc as in Mercenary! I kill people for fun! Mostly money, but also for fun!"

And out come the katana. "Seriously, all I have to do is drop one blade right here and you guys can spend the rest of your days yelling at me for taking her life. C'mon, I know you guys want to!"

"...that, and if we keep arguing, she's going to die anyway because we're too busy bickering over if we should kill her or not and at this rate, we'll be arguing until October or people forget to check their tags."

Ales had debated leaving and letting the Heroes argue among themselves. He thought this was dealt with, that they would kill Palitutu out of respect. But no. His faith in the others returned too swiftly.

"Are you all idiots?!" It all burst out. The puppet shuddered as his mental connection with it faltered. "She gave us her knowledge, she tried to destroy the world, and you're sparing her?! Don't you remember what happened with Narasimha? You want to save someone just to let others die?! Have you learned nothing?! Why is it that in every world, the 'heroes' never think?!"

He pointed at Ramza. "She's right about you. You don't know what it means to sacrifice anything. You're going to save her, she'll tell us that we failed, then she'll teleport away to ruin more lives. She's not above threatening the civilians. Why do you think this will be any different?!"

Mary still had her blade ready. It would be a justifiable kill at this point both by circumstance and by the tenants she was trained under. The only reason she hadn't was because of the unique circumstance that they were in, and that of course there was a new schism forming. The last thing she needed was to make enemies of allies.

But still she let her eyes settle on Chrom. "I've always been an executioner before being a Hero. And might I remind you that some of the sacrifices that Palitutu made were many of the people and buildings of Aqures Ixen in the process of acquiring the Ultima WEAPON? And the fact that she took all of Trano Golsaucia hostage when I attempted to apprehend Artemicion. Not to mention the entire population of Aqures Tosf when she brought all of us to this world. And that she fully intended to sacrifice us to start this all over again. Regardless of her intentions you shame yourself by deferring to her words about the importance of innocent lives. Sacrificing many innocents to save everyone else is no victory."

"I honestly thought this was over..." Twilight said. "Look, I don't like killing as much as the other person and I still regret my actions a few months ago, but even I know that this is a ridiculous idea to even think of saving Palitutu with what she's done."

"The magic of friendship can only go so far and, believe me, if you guys spare her and she harms another person, I'll make sure you learn that friendship hurts."

Johnny has to finally interject, as he's as fed up with everyone as Ales is.

"This is why I always said I've never been a Hero. This whole situation and all of you are full of bullshit. This is the person who turned on all of us and blew up a chunk of Aqures Ixen, not to mention all the shit Ales just said. Keep her alive if you want, fine. But consider me done and over with all of you if ya do."

And with that, he marshes off towards the portal.

"Would that it were so simple," she murmured, almost sulkily at Ellana's observation. She eyed Jack critically, and her pulse began to quicken. Was he changing his mind now? He had better not! He'd made her a promise, in exchange for exhibiting her powers and making herself vulnerable to the suspicions of the others.

Lust stared at Levy, completely silent. An offer to create the Philosopher's Stone. All they had to do was let Palitutu die. Such an easy choice to make! Why, Lust could deliver the killing blow herself, and certainly had no reservations about killing a small and helpless foe.

And yet...

She couldn't speak. She tried, but her throat was tight. Her hands shook. Her violet gaze fell to the little Tarutaru and lingered. Let her die. Take the knowledge she wanted. Be human. It was all she wanted--

You shouldn't do that! It's dangerous and they need to be purified.

The memory echoed sharply in Lust's head as if someone had just screamed in her ear. Her eyes lifted abruptly, staring straight forward. That boy's voice. She'd been ready to kill that monster, the one they called a 'Hellion,' and Mikleo had invisibly flung himself directly in her path to stop her from delivering the death blow. Why had he done that?

No, it didn't matter. She shook her head to rid herself of the memory, she needed to take that Stone. But more memories were pouring in.

Not everyone wants something tangible. There are some things we seek that really don't have an obvious tangible benefit. At least at first they don't seem to. Sometimes it's as simple as doing something nice for someone. Most of the time there's no reward, except that you've done something nice. For some people that wouldn't be enough, but for others...it is.

Lust's pulse seemed to slow to a crawl. Images flashed rapidly in her head, a whirl of voices and sensations. Her eyes grew wide, and wider still, as a bead of sweat trickled down her temple.

*************************************

This time she's sitting by the fire, idly scratching her nails against her palm, when Badou comes to sit down beside her.

"You know," he starts as he exhales a small puff of smoke into the air. "Sometimes you look like you feel out of place in your own body."

* * * * *

"All of it's really humanity trying to make sense of our world and our roles in it. Who are we? Why do we feel something? What causes someone to love someone or something?"

A shrug, still at ease beside her fellow hero. "There's no easy answer, or simple answer, and it's constantly changing because humans don't know either. We're searching just as much as you might be."

Lust stared at her with a sidelong impassive stare for a long moment, quietly digesting what she'd said. Lydia was right, it was more than a little unbelievable for a species that had existed as long as it had to still fail to understand the basic composition of their personalities. A homunculus was born into existence already fully aware of what they were and what they were meant to do.

She sighed.

"So it's pointless trying to understand, it seems," she concluded. Not exactly the answer she wanted, but it seemed to echo with what she'd learned from others. How annoying.

"I wouldn't say that, although some philosophies would agree with you." Lydia replied gently. "It's more..." Quiet again, thinking, then speaking once more. "Humanity, that is, being human? In some ways, what separates us from other animals and beings, is that we question why? We seek more purpose than mere existence and survival. We try to live."

Looking up at Lust, there's a smaller smile on her face now--as some of this was a lot more than Lydia had studied in school. "In that attempt to 'live', to make life meaningful for ourselves, and to figure out what our purpose is..." Then she spoke with confidence. "Some would say that is what being human is."

* * * * *

"Lust, what are you doing?" Mikleo mused grabbing the handle of her spear. His voice was even as he did so. There was some way to help it, he was certain. She didn't need to kill it so she could save it.

His intervention surprised her. That much was obvious from the way she stilled, staring at him mutely for two seconds before she resumed the casual smile she donned so easily. "Isn't it obvious? I'm putting it out of its misery."

There was no need for him to look at her like that. What was there to be sad about? He knew very well what she was, and how she operated. Killing without remorse was a specialty of hers. Still, she didn't try to jerk her spear out of his hands, since she had no desire to hurt the young man with a careless brush against her razor sharp spearhead. She would wait until he let go of his own volition.

"Surely you don't think such a creature will survive more than five minutes out there. It will be easy prey for even a weak predator so long as it has a nose for blood. Run along, now."

"There are others way to assist it than assist in killing it, Lust. It's not always about life or death," he replies giving his brows a knit. He didn't release her spear but he did loosen his grip some on it.

"We can always take it to a ranch of sorts. There certainly can be someone who can help it. I can use first aid for the time being on it."

He replied softly.

"That may be true, but it's not the only thing that can happen, no matter how harsh that reality is."

"A ranch, out here? How ridiculous," she scoffed, somewhat annoyed by his soft heart...but somewhat intrigued as well. Selflessness and altruism baffled her. She could never understand what drove people to do such things.

Her gaze shifted to the tiny-winged raptor. It was strange that it chose to remain, waiting to be healed or attacked. Surely it had to know there was a chance she might attempt to cut it down, if it understood human language as well as it spoke. Was it testing them, perhaps?

"Do as you will," she sighed, pushing her hair back. "But I don't see how it benefits you or the creature by choosing to be merciful."

"It's a long shot, but there must be something we can do to save the creature. We can't simply let it die, or kill it without thinking about other alternatives."

He replied simply because Mikleo didn't like the idea of killing unless it was absolutely necessary. He wasn't the type to just watch others get killed without any given legit reason. That was always why he seemed to be the one that rationalized with many people.

"It doesn't have to benefit us in any way. It's simply what I feel is the right thing to do," he replied with brief look. He walked past her to examine the creature, pulling some bandages and other things out of his bag that he carried with him.

After a few quiet moments, there was a crunch of rubble, and Lust was crossing the mossy courtyard to take a knee next to Mikleo to assist him. He said it didn't have to benefit them, but there was still something Lust was getting out of this: a desire not to disappoint this strange person who seemed to believe in her so earnestly, and tried with all his might to help her. She wasn't sentimental, but the boy was...useful. Lust had no wish to antagonize him or push him away until he ceased to be useful.

Her fingers moved with practiced ease, pressing strips of cloth down on the wounds before binding them with gauze. Having studied alchemy so extensively gave her more than a little knowledge on the physical body. Knowing how to kill and heal required nearly the same information.

"What instills this feeling in you?" she asked, casting a glance at him. She wasn't smiling, which meant she was serious about her question. "Was it something you were born with, or raised to know?"

"I'm not quite sure what you're asking but like I said before, I just want to do it. There's really no reason why I feel this way. I want to help it and that's all that really matters, don't you agree?"

He mused giving her a side glance as well.

"I suppose it's something I've always known. Gramps always taught us that these kinds of things are what brings smiles and gratitude to others and I kind took the words and made it my own, without any real reason or purpose."

"So you believe you were born altruistic, then," Lust said, trying to confirm his answer. Bad news for her, then, it meant she was never going to possess even a fraction of Mikleo's kindness, no matter how much he tried to teach her.

Her brow lowered just slightly, a subtle indication of her frustration. Smiles and gratitude? Now he was beginning to sound like a children's birthday card.

"Then it's time you accept that I was not born with these things as you were," she remarked. "Telling me how I should feel is pointless. I can't produce those feelings just because you believe--"

"That's not entirely what I'm trying to say. I'm not quite sure how I can explain the entirety of feelings and emotions. I suppose I worded that poorly," he replied with a small sigh as he got up making sure that the raptor would be fine.

He thinks for a moment on how to explain this to her in the best way possible. "I understand that you are different from me, and I'm quite aware that I'm note mortal either. It's difficult to grasp things, but you've more or less done things on your own, that are their own acts, whether you had a motive or not, Lust. I think that's something that defines you pretty well. You have those traits. I suppose it's the matter of recognizing them for what they are."

* * * * *

Everyone has something in their past they'd rather not talk about, and oftentimes they allow it to color every facet of their being.

I'd like to believe that even if you consider yourself dangerous, that doesn't mean there's nothing in you worth taking care of.

You are mistaken. I have murdered innocent people for my own gain, because I believed my master would grant me a soul and make me human. Complete. But I was... Hm.

[A small, self-deprecating chuckle.]

Somehow I knew she was lying. She had no intention of granting my wish. But I wanted it badly enough that I was willing to do anything she asked of me. Anarchy. Manipulation. Genocide. I felt no regret. Only lust for the one thing beyond my grasp. I am a homunculus...a creature borne of desperation, blood, and sacrifice. I am not human. You cannot hope to redeem me.

[Flynn pauses for a moment.]

I think there's been a misunderstanding here. It was never my intention to offer you redemption. My best friend is a bit similar to you, I think. He's done some terrible things. They may have been necessary, and they weren't things I would have done, but he had his reasons even if I cannot stand behind him. I can't even begin to imagine your circumstances, but from what I've learned about you, becoming human is very important to you, isn't it? It's something easy to take for granted.

I suppose... the question is, now that the carrot isn't dangling in front of you, do you intend on continuing down that path of anarchy, manipulation, and genocide?

[She meets his stare for a long moment, offering only silence as a reply. Finally, she answers him with a question of her own.]

What do you think I will do?

[Because the truth is, she doesn't know. No one else has made that kind of pact with her, or offered her any chance of becoming human. For now, she's content to find her own path, as she has the capability of doing this in a way she couldn't before. But that doesn't mean she won't change her mind if a deal too good to pass up is presented to her.]

[Lust presses her fingertips lightly against the ourobouros tattoo above her breasts.]

As you can see, I am mortal in this world, but not human. The desire to be whole is still there.

Hmm.

[Flynn thinks for a moment. It's not an answer he would give lightly without any thought.]

I can't say that I know you well enough to be able to ascertain what you'd do in almost any situation. May I ask, though... What is it that you consider humans having that you don't?

[She studies his face silently for many long moments before she answers.]

The ability to feel compassion, and to be kind. Being able to feel joy. Sorrow. Love. Even to have a conscience. He said the woman I was...she was supposed to be kind. They'd loved her. That's why they tried to bring her back to life. Sometimes I have flashes of her memories.

[Lust closes her eyes.]

When I feel the things she felt, then I will know I have become human.

* * * * *

Look, you don't gotta be a bleeding heart, saint-type to risk yourself for someone else. Some people are just worth sacrificing for. You just know it, that they're better than you are, and that they deserve happiness. You don't have to think about what you're doing or what you're risking, because you know, instinctively, that if they were gone, there'd be no point in you still being alive.

If you gotta ask, then you don't have a person like that. And you'll know it if you find one. So until then, don't fucking worry about it. We've already got enough shit to deal with without wasting time on psychological musing.

* * * * *

Regardless of what sort of experience death is here, I don't wish it upon anyone and that includes you. It still means you'll pass and I can't let you do that to yourself. There are many ways to solve the problem with the right solutions. I'd rather make the effort than none at all. Mercy Killing doesn't seem appropriate for this situation.

Easy for you to say. If you suffered these symptoms, I believe you might reconsider.

I honestly don't think I'll change my mind even if I were in your situation to be honest. If there's a will there's a way. I'm always prepared to fight the odds when it is necessary.

* * * * *

Darres was particularly concerned because this wasn't the disposition she exuded before when they first met. Without hesitating he offered his hand, figuratively.

"What's wrong?"

Lust pulled her head back, apprehension written all over her face. "What a thing to ask. How do you expect this conversation to go?" She held up one hand, the other settled on the bell of her hip. "Do you think I'll tearfully confess all of my frustrations and confide in you as if you were a dear friend? I sincerely hope not." Her lifted hand dropped as she shook her head in disdain.

Not caring for her rudeness, she turned her back on him, loosely holding her elbows as she sauntered away with queenly arrogance. "You were useful to me before, but I need nothing now. Don't mistake my interest as anything more than academic."

How could one city be filled with so many people like him? He had no right to express so much concern for a creature only interested in using him to test her Corruption power. That kindness and compassion was better wasted on some other simpering beauty who would doubtless be swept off her feet.

He listened to her patiently. The tall knight partially pivoted, to allow her more space and a less direct stance. More so for his own comfort since he wasn't the assertive type.

"I only asked out of concern." He confessed softly. Sure, there was currently nothing beneficial that could come of this to him, but he wasn't someone who sough profit to begin with. Darres was far too generous for that.

"You can take it as you like, but I'm here if you need help." Darres didn't know anything about her, and he would have liked to learn, but it also wasn't his business. Nevertheless he at least wanted to make sure she realized that he was an outlet. A resource. That she didn't always have to resort to her own means.

* * * * *

...You recall the man with the eyepatch named Badou, don't you? Have you seen him?

No, I have yet to find anyone since the incident, outside of those who I am close with. They have all found me or I have found them. I'm sorry I can't be more help.

[She's quiet for a moment.]

If you don't know, then I have my answer. Thank you.

... I see.

Don't look so glum, Mikleo. From the very beginning we knew many of us would not survive the ordeals presented to us. It's not surprising that we should lose a few more.

Yes, that is true. We have already known that there are things that happen out of our control and we can't save everyone, much less protect them all. It's still frustrating to think about.

Then don't think about it~ We'll never get anywhere if we only dwell on our failings. And there's much to be done.

It's not that easy, you know?

* * * * *

"A soul. Not just any soul, but your soul." Jack points at Lust's hand. "Using the Stone to get back what's yours? Not a problem at all. I've known people that have lost their humanity and then relished in it. Or thought that doing as much harm to other people as possible was the way to get it back. Or thought that they became something greater and then had to steal away what they could from other people to make them the same. It's all just a way to justify their existence."

Jack nods. "This is the same. But without taking from somebody else. So okay. Count me in, then." Jack grins devilishly.

*************************************

The shaking in Lust's hands turned into a violent shudder that ran through her whole body as her internal conflict turned into all-out war in her mind. To be human. To possess humanity. Were they different? Were they the same? Was either truly within her grasp?

Why could she not agree to the blue-haired girl's offer?

The answer struck her hard, like a fist to the gut. Because it was not the path that led to humanity. Choose to be human, and you will never be. And she couldn't shake the awful, stomach-souring idea of seeing Mikleo, Flynn, or even Lydia and Badou look at her with that kind of pity and disappointment.

Suddenly Lust's eyes rolled back, and the tension that had kept her upright all this time left her. She crumpled to the grass.

Jack cries out in surprise as Lust drops. It looked like she was merely considering the offer, deep in thought, upsetting thought, but nothing so hard. He reaches towards her and just barely misses as she falls. Damn.

He starts to go to her side, but- wait. Jack is a really physical person, and he can tell when someone else isn't, like Lust. Ironic with such a name? So he peels off his own coat, wraps it around her, before daring to ghost a hand over her form. "Not injured. Just- in shock. She's all right."

He looks up at the people nearby. "There's another way. To find what she wants. So consider her vote cast. You know where I stand. Chiaki's right. Palitutu is...lost."

He stands, cradling Lust with him. "But do what you think is right." He glances at Ed, "If that portal leads where I think it does, I'll take her back to your place?" Not that Ed needs to hurry back if he can help here, but just pointing out that he knows where she needs to go.

K'pandolu nods in response to Jack's words, eyebrows furrowed, fingers pressed hard against her left arm.

"After everything-" she gestured to Ales, and where Johnny had been- "I cannot believe she would be willing to change. Let her suffer the consequences of her actions. Let us look to the future, and what we need to do to save this world."

Ed looks a little out of it himself, but is snapped back to reality by Jack. He nods at Jack.

"I... I was just about to offer my help, what with Philospher's Stone and all. You can take her to my apartment above the shop. Levy, we can talk this over once Lust is awake and work something out. Right now, we've got more urgent things to deal with."

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