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

[21stcenturyguy]

[If Duster's expecting a happy story, he's gonna be disappointed.]

A long time ago, there were two Santa Clauses. One wore white, and he was the kind Santa that gave presents to the good kids. The other one wore black, and he played tricks on the bad kids. But after a while, the black Santa's tricks got crueler and crueler. So the white Santa killed him, and got blood all over his suit. So now there is no white Santa Claus or a black Santa Claus. There's just the guy in red.

[He shrugs.]

The white Santa just wanted to protect the kids, but to do that, he had to do somethin' terrible. Do you think he was right or wrong?

[mindofathief]

[...He's not disappointed, but that's darker than he expected. Duster is quiet and watches his own feet as they make their way through the snow. It's a story that needs some thinking.]

So now there's one Santa to do both jobs. [He returns his gaze at Aoi.] If...it was to protect the kids, then yeah. He was right to kill the black Santa. That's what a protector of the people do.

[21stcenturyguy]

[Aoi doesn't look at Duster. His eyes are turned toward their feet. But his hand tightens its grip on Duster's.]

Yeah. That's what protectors do.

[This is not a lighthearted walk in the snow anymore.]

...it's what I had to do. [He lets go of Duster's hand. Just because Duster understands the necessity doesn't mean he wants to date somebody like him. But Aoi doesn't wanna trick him into thinking he's better than he is. Duster deserves better than that.]

[mindofathief]

[...Ah. So it's a story about himself. That's why he calls himself Santa; it's a reference to the legend.

Duster lets his hand drop and swing beside his hip, then slides it into a pocket when it gets cold. Even for someone as dense as he is, Duster knows that Aoi killed someone before. The musician has done it before; most enemies survive another day, but a few...a few die, whether on the spot or hours after a lifetime of pain. It was all in the name of protecting the Nowhere Islands and humanity, wasn't it? He's just as much of a killer as Aoi is.

That doesn't make it any easier.]

Did everything turn out alright? [Was it worth it?]

[21stcenturyguy]

Yeah. I saved Akane's life. It's...complicated, how we did it.

[And 'alright' is kind of a relative term. Akane's told him of a future apocalyptic event on Earth that they'll have to work on when they get home. But in terms of the present, yeah.]

I...just thought you should know.

[This is so dumb, talking about shit like this. He should just dig up his file and hide it in Duster's room for him to find and read through. That'd be way less awkward. Aoi's already kicking himself for ruining this nice date they had going, just 'cause he couldn't find some mistletoe.]

[mindofathief]

[The date's certainly lost some of its magic, though Duster hopes it's only because they haven't picked out their next destination.]

...It's good. That you told me.

[He told Rialynn of his world when he first arrived, and Aoi learned earlier during this mad chase. It's only right that they learn about each other, Duster tells himself.]

There's...it's a hard job, being a hero. I got hurt a lot while saving the Nowhere Islands, and not just in battle. [Emotionally, psychologically. Tanetane Islands was a surefire way to convince them all never to take drugs in their lifetime.]

[21stcenturyguy]

Yeah. [Ok, that's done, and they can never talk about it again. And Aoi can stop privately feeling guilty as hell for keeping secrets from Duster.]

The world's kinda a shit place, and you gotta be tough to survive it. But it's what you gotta do.

[As they walk, they pass by a bonfire. Elves are gathered around, roasting chestnuts and marshmallows on sticks. Aoi's not hungry for any of it, but it looks nice and warm.]

Oh, look over there. You ever roast a marshmallow before?

[mindofathief]

[They should talk about it again, but at home, someplace familiar, and not in the middle of a date. If there's anything that Duster learned while away from Tazmily, it's that true friends care about your problems and will back you up.

...Someone has to play that role for Aoi.]

Marshmallows? Yeah. You can roast pretty much anything over a fire. [He's thankful for the change in topic, and food would be nice. Food and warmth. And a new thing to talk about.]

[21stcenturyguy]

['s not like Aoi has nobody to talk to. He's got his sister. What more does any guy need?]

Ok, hotshot. Show me what you got. [The elves happily hand over spare roasting sticks and marshmallows as the join in around the bonfire.

Aoi takes one and immediately lights his marshmallow on fire. That's the best way to do it, burn it and then peel off the crackled shell and enjoy that melted goodness inside.]

[mindofathief]

[Patience, grasshopper. It's like the marshmallow is secretly alive and is trying to attack them and must be set on fire as soon as possible. Doesn't stop Duster from poking at his to make sure. He learned to be cautious after a jar of jam attacked him.

He sets his marshmallow over burning logs at the bottom of the fire where it's hot enough without any flames. The triangular hold formed by three sticks makes for a decent marshmallow oven, so long as Duster holds it there for a minute.]

How does it taste? [Hmmm, hmmm, waiting for it to melt without burning.]

[21stcenturyguy]

[Aoi tries to say, 'It's great' through the oozing, burny goodness, but it comes out more like purposeful groaning. But groans of assent. Yeah, there's bits of charred marshmallow skin in there, and the melted sugar burns its way down his tongue and throat, but no pain, no gain. Least his way doesn't take forever.]

C'mon, you cooking it, or waiting for it to die of old age? [He's teasing. It's not sentient, Duster. Don't freak out.]

[mindofathief]

It'll be ready in a moment.

[He's not looking at Aoi, but from the sound of it, he's reaping what he's sewn. At least they're not groans of pain.]

Okay. [Enough time has passed. Duster slowly pulls the marshmallow from its warm prison, careful not to touch the burning wood, and holds it to his mouth. He blows on it a few times.] This way, it's soft all the way through.

[21stcenturyguy]

's already soft. It's a marshmallow. [Aoi is on to his second already. He's not hungry, but it's a challenge now.]

They're best when they're melted. I'll make you one.

[It's not gonna look as aesthetically pleasing as Duster's evenly toasted, golden-brown marshmallow, but Aoi thinks gooey is better anyways.]

[mindofathief]

Softer. And done the way I like it.

[He holds the marshmallow gently between two fingers and pulls it off the stick. Some residual sweetness remains, but that's the sad truth of roasting marshmallows. You can't each all of it.

The marshmallow is warm, soft, and sticky without the sharp taste of burnt sugar. Duster savors the treat before picking up another.]

It's getting all over your fingers. [He points out, not that Aoi hasn't noticed.]

[21stcenturyguy]

It ain't a problem. [Aoi just pops his fingers into his mouth and sucks off the marshmallow goo one by one. See? No big deal.]

If you don't want it, then I'm gonna eat it.

[Because standing in a crowded huddle of elves is not the place for Aoi to be mentally picturing the way Duster likes it done. Moving right along.]

[mindofathief]

[Way to go, Aoi. Even Duster can see how dirty this can get. How could you taint the pureness of Christmas?

Duster eyes those fingers with apprehension before stabbing the marshmallow onto the skewer.]

...I'll have one more. [And be really careful in how he eats it.]

[21stcenturyguy]

[Taint Christmas? Perish the thought, man. Aoi wasn't even trying that time. If he wanted, though, he could totally trim Duster's tree. Roast his chestnuts. Let him sit on Santa's lap and make his wishes come true. If, you know, Duster's into that sort of thing.]

Ok, so we'll only be here for another hour, then. [He teases as he puts the tip of his stick back into the fire to burn the marshmallow residue off. It's nice and warm here. He can feel his cold nose and cheeks finally dethawing from the harsh winter wind.]

[mindofathief]

[Good thing Duster doesn't share his friends' psychic mind-reading abilities. All this poor guy wants is a warm marshmallow and hold his boyfriend's hand in the snow and enjoy the spirit of Christmas.]

That's enough time. [He focuses all this attention on the marshmallow. Who knows what Aoi will get up to once he looks away?]

Anyplace else we should visit?

[21stcenturyguy]

[While Duster is roasting his second marshmallow, Aoi looks around the surrounding area. Yes! He spots what he needs.]

Yeah, we should go over there, by that house. You know, check out the stockings they got hangin' up.

[Nothin' else important hanging up there, it's fine.]

[mindofathief]

Those socks you hang up?

[The marshmallow turns brown, and Duster leaves it for another minute before pulling it out.]

How does a tradition like that start? [Hopefully it's not a sad story like the bloody Santa one.]

[21stcenturyguy]

The guy who inspired the Santa legends, Saint Nicholas, supposedly wanted to help out a poor family, but they wouldn't accept charity. So he climbed down their chimney one night, and left money in the stockings they had hanging by the fire to dry. They didn't know who'd done it, so they couldn't return it, so they were able to keep it and live better lives.

[It's a happier story, at least. Except for the breaking and entering part. Just goes to show, sometimes you gotta bend the law when you're trying to do somethin' good.]

They're only supposed to get filled up on Christmas eve, but the rules might be different here. We can take a closer look and see if it looks like there's anything inside.

[mindofathief]

[No murder! Its a cute story about a nice man.]

Won't we be taking presents from other people?

[Maybe it's a communal selection of stockings? He pokes at the marshmallow and pinches off a bit of the hot marshmallow to eat.]

[21stcenturyguy]

Dude, we're not taking the stuff. We don't even have to go inside. I just wanna show you the tradition.

[Way to think like a thief, Duster. Aoi's not gonna straight up steal from these guys. He'd be a pretty shitty Santa if he did.

...he might steal a bite of marshmallow from his boyfriend, though, if only to get him to hurry it up.]

[mindofathief]

[Duster blinks. Oh, right, not every trip has to involve picking up random items hidden in the room. Don't blame him; he survived saving his world by taking food they found lying unguarded.

After Aoi takes his bite, Duster peels the entire marshmallow from the stick and shoves the whole thing in his mouth. With a quick shove back into the fire, the residual marshmallow burns off.]

Alright, alright. I won't take anything. [He hands off the stick to a nearby young elf that was marshmallow-less.] Let's go.

[21stcenturyguy]

[Aoi leads Duster to the window to peer inside.]

See, it's full of stuff. That one's got a candy cane stickin' out.

[These lumpy Christmas socks are truly a sight to behold.]

C'mon, let's try the door. See if we can get a closer look.

[Yes, that doorway right over there, decorated so festively with sprigs of plants.]