She said "Don't make others suffer for your personal hatred." [Open]

[iknowtheconsequences]

When: The 21st.
What: Discovery that Ib is gone.
Where: District 14, and then the Hospital.
Warnings: Angst, Evangelion references, a sad penguin.

[District 14:]

Kaji had put Ib to bed last night, both he and his daughter had been hopeful and happy, a step closer to solving this mystery of the Black Crystals. Fairy Tail was on the job, and Kaji couldn't find a more capable group of people. He had told Ib that it was up to her if she wanted to go along. And there was that determined look again. A kid shouldn't have to be so strong, so brave, but she was.

But then this morning, she was missing. Had she changed her mind? Kaji wasn't going to run off without telling her, so early in the morning, he can be seen throughout District 14, asking any Heroes that he can find.

"Excuse me, have you seen my daughter?" No panicking...yet.

[Hospital:]

Kaji had written up and sent out a letter, asking the Heroes if they had seen her, but Shinji had been intercepted by Rose on his way to Mognet Central. When both the despondent moogles came back to him, somehow Kaji knew the truth before they said anything.

No. Not her. Not now! No! Why? Why would she have held out so long and then be taken away now? He rushes into the hospital, with a purely desperate look on his face. Not her.

There, a tiny form trapped in crystal, and the sight makes Kaji's heart instantly shatter. All the questions, the truth he searches for, the facade he pushes the world away with all crash at once, and there is just a father weeping for his daughter. He leans over, tries to hug her form, and the inside of his head is screaming. Ib crying mingles with Asuka screaming and Shinji Ikari in pain, and Misato looking at him accusingly...

He doesn't know how long he stays there, two very lost moogles and even Pen-Pen waiting at the foot of Ib's bed, just as lost as he is.

How the hell is he supposed to go on from this?

New beginnings.

[confidentia]

Who: Ace, OPEN
Where: Hero Training facility
When: The second half of September, but before visiting the Sage
What: Having taken up the position of an instructor of magic at Chrom's school, Ace takes his time adjusting to his new responsibilities. Anyone is welcome to join as either a student (Black Mage, Summoner, Chocobo Knight) or a sparring partner, whether it's before/during/after a practice, or maybe they're just having a lunch break together. Anything goes!
Warnings: None, so far.


Him, a teacher? Ace had never even come close to being a model student during his time at the academy. Most morning lectures had him slumped over his desk as he caught up on lost sleep, which, in hindsight, hadn't been the most... respectful way to go about his lack of interest.

( How he nonetheless managed to achieve near-perfect results on tests was always beyond his classmates' comprehension. )

Maybe he wasn't the most well-suited candidate for the job, but it didn't mean he wouldn't at least make a solid attempt. On top of his time spent in Crystallis, he'd been given the benefit of a thorough military training, so should his experience serve to ease another Hero's concerns, he was willing to do his best. If anything, it granted him an opportunity to keep a closer eye on what the others were up to.

More importantly, though, it helped him take his own mind off certain things.


( In a way, it still felt like he was returning to his roots. )