melodiesoflife | Endgame || Apocalypse

Entry tags:

Endgame || Apocalypse

Characters: Anyone
Where: Pandaemonium
When: March 05th
Summary: The first phase of endgame begins! The Heroes of Light are on their way to deal with Garland as they’ve left their unfinished businesses in the hands of their friends amongst the NPCs. How will it end? The mingle threads shall not be modded, only The Guardian will be modded. Please do not start individual threads for The Guardian, reply in a single thread. Starting from now on, the game is officially in endgame. Please do not post any new posts on Mognet or in the Log Community, unless they’re backdated to before this event. The second phase of endgame will be posted once The Killer Of World thread will have been unlocked and completed.
Warning: ̩̼͋ͬͅ.̷̳̗ͦͣ͐ͭͣͬ̈́ ̤̙ͫ̉.̨̯͖̗͓̥̭̣̂̄ͣ̏ͯͫ ̶̼̻̳ͫͧͥ̆.̭͎ͮ͂ ̳̤͓̖̫͌ͪͥ̄͗̐̌.͚͍̀ ͈̻̠̥̜ͦͦ̆ͨ͋.̼̹̹̠̟͚͎ ͙͇̲̘͖̉̌̒͂̈ͮ.͇͙͑̍̽ ̪̭̹̤͓̯̜ͦͣ̒̾͆͗ͦ͟.̝̯̲͗͊̽ ̛̙͌̈ͤ̚.̪̮̰̘͚̏ͦͤ ̲̼̺͓̣̝̐.͗ͨ͜ ̧́̑̄ͥ.ͬ͊̋ͣ ̝̠͍̭̯̽.́ ̊̽̈.̡̥̖̣͓̬̠̰͗͑͂ ͍̭̩̝̉͊̑̃̓ͤ̇.͆̔̀̈́̐̋ ͇̬̤̲͉̜͙̓̍ͦͯͤͥ̔.̯̻̺͔̰̞̙͋͡ ̻̼̣̮͖̮̋ͬ.̖̝̞ ͕̦̙̞̹̲̖̓̃.̌ͯͯ͟ ̺̘̪͊̊.̲͖ ̧̼̙̋ͦͧ̂́̑͑.̷̼̬̭͔͙̹̫ͦͧ̔̄͐̏ͫ ̱͎ͥͥ̈͝.̲̣͖̪͓̯ͩ̓̈̿ͧ̅́ ̪͈͚̺̦̝͎̒ͦ̇̚.̂̆ͯͦͩ̃̀̀ ̬͕̼̆.͎̃́͐̄͒̑ͪͅ ̠̳͎ͬ.̛̭͓͗͌ͪ ̴͉̱͉̘̯̟̔͐.̫̣̥̔͑͛́ ̝̭̤̜͖͎̙̈ͪ̿̓ͯ͂̚.̟̲̥̥͈̭̳̈̋ͥͦ ͔̩̈͋͐͗̚.͓̝̼͍̈ͧ͊ͅ ̥ͥ.̷̬͍͙ͥ̓͋ͅ ̪̯̠ͨ́̂.̱̙̘̫̰͕͈̎̓̊ ̧̻̃̎.̬̇̄ ̘̣̺̼ͯ͋̀.̯ͬ ̆͗͆̆̋͝.̴̞͖̫́ͬ͌̉̍̿ ̪̹̥͙̑ͅ.̵̻̮͓̉̃ͯ͑̊̈́̚ ͚̽̒̚͘.͇̮͇̻͍͈̠͂̓ͣ̀͡ ̩̠̖̋.̺͎͈̦̺̈́ͮͬ͌̋ͧͩ ̳̠͕͙̎ͩ͜.̛̆ͥ̒͑ ̘̠͓͚̱͗͜ͅ.̢̠̠̥͍̬̂̊͋͊̂̄̐ ̦͛.̰͚̫̱͙̩̅̓ ̲̜͌̒ͭ͑͠.̠̆̈̏͆̉ ̰̹̳̻̥̮̬ͨ̍̐̆͗ͫ͜.͕̥͔̳ͩ͞ ̣͓̥̑̍͊̽̄̀.̳̘̭ͭ̔̎̍͜ ̟̞̯̏.̙̯̦̞̱̘ͬ͐ͩ ̯̠̣͉̪̅̅ͣ́ͅ.̡͗̍̿͊͐͊ ̲̙́̽̽́.̝̟͇͈͚̿͝ ̑͜

Mingle Thread
The Guardian
The Killer Of Worlds

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THE ENTERPRISE
[Despite having his own allocated cabin aboard the Enterprise, Sephiroth spent hardly any of his time in that area that was for restricted personnel only. It would be rude, not to mention excruciatingly unprofessional to closet himself away during this, the final approach.

He'd have happily been deployed with any of the other accompany airships and squadrons, yet Sephiroth had already made arrangements for the majority of his own ground forces to carry out duties back in civilization, in his stead. To a certain extent he found himself lacking in not having those strong men and women behind him this time, yet for the first time in a long time it seems -ever more so as they get closer to what was the Heran Capital- that a larger purpose has started to dawn on him.

A ghost of that time-worn SOLDIER focus starting to slip back into his demeanor. The focus that had been tested untold times during his tenure on Crystallis, and had turned the tables on adversity more times than he'd admit to.]

This is it, then. Garland's fortress.

[Sephiroth spoke lowly but not to anyone in particular. Slightly iridescent green eyes fixed solidly forwards out at the landscape that grew larger before them.]
--
SECTOR XIII – MILITARY
[Of all the places on Crystallis that Sephiroth might have envisioned he'd ever visit, the Heran Military Headquarters had certainly not made any list at all. They'd been at war with the Herans for so long, after all. They had been the enemy right up until the Calamity had caught up to them. It doesn't take very much effort at all to recall the attempted invasion of Aqures Ixen; his finest hour as a military officer, yet his darkest in terms of the devastation it had left behind.

He'll tell himself later, perhaps, that it gave a sense of closure to walk the halls of the once-enemy and that's why he'd gone to sweep with a small squad and any hero that also wanted to come. Maybe if he repeats that mantra hard enough it'll become truth.

As for right now, Sephiroth stands within one of the larger offices which had to have been for a higher ranking officer, just by the regalia -crystallized but otherwise still in pristine order- dotted around the room. He reaches out just to touch the edge of a picture frame that he's peering down at with something creeping into a frown - the words Admiral Matsya inscribed beneath it. The face seems familiar yet-]

Hm.

[-Prajapati often wears that deep hood, and he's hardly an acquaintance other than in passing sometimes at the Village of Santa Claus as he's on duty. She did attend that meeting but again, they hardly shared a single word. This detail might well get overlooked in the time that they've got to stand around sightseeing...]

[Lydia was always leery of taking up Sephiroth's time, even when reassured it was alright. She was ESPECIALLY leery of doing so whenever he was busy, and as he'd become more so. But for once he wasn't surrounded by soldiers and military, only the rest of the Heroes with them.

Much smaller than his imposing presence, and her lack of shadow and Silent nature thanks to her Job probably only added to her own lack of presence. But she moved to come and stand beside him, following his gaze, hood of her cloak down and expression solemn.

Dark eyes turned to him when he spoke, then looked back out.]

The last time I was here...was on this ship. Leaving, free from captivity.

[And now she was heading back. She wasn't a fighter, not really--not the way others were. But she couldn't NOT fight, not try and do this. Too much was at stake.]

On my world, there's a book called Paradise Lost. It's all about God's highest angel and his fall, to become the ruler of Hell. It's more sympathetic than most portrayals.

[A pause.]

The capital of Hell is called Pandaemonium. It means "All Demon-place" or similar, if I'm remembering right.

[Maybe a hint of fear, of nerves in her voice--more than she's showing anyway. But she's there, turning her eyes back up to the SOLDIER's profile.]

[There is the distinct impression that Sephiroth hadn't noticed Lydia creep up to be beside him, never mind how he doesn't react with any sort of surprise. She's doing what she does best, after all.

Sephiroth half tilts his head in her direction, just enough for him to peer down the side of a cheek and over the bridge of his nose at her; somewhat through a silver bang. His bright green eyes with their slits still retaining the iridescence that all but advertises the preference of his custom job.

He feels a little fidgety in the wake of her statement; he hadn't endorsed the break-in to the Heran facility, at all. It had set the Calamity free, as well as those Heroes Kalki had summoned there.]

Undoubtedly named such to inspire insecurity in the face of what is the inevitable climax of our journey on his World.

[With so many countless worlds recycled through it, it's no small wonder anymore why Crystallis has so much in common with so many others.]

How close that runs to your Paradise Lost, however, remains to be known.

[Lydia is perhaps one of the only Heroes that can conjure that particularly supportive smile.]

[That smile does bring a return, even if it's small, of her own.]

Paradise Lost is heavily themed in Christianity, one of the dominant religions in the west of my world. Things here, and from a lot of other worlds, seem to be based more on Order versus Chaos rather than good or evil.

[A step closer, dwarfed by him but beside him if he'll let her. Trying to imagine and see what he sees.]

I'm not sure what I'm doing here, or why. But...I didn't know where else to be this time. It's not like I can help evacuate people, or stay behind and try and organize a last minute relief party or something.

[Dark eyes back up to him though, along with that smile.]

I'm glad you're here though. You're an inspiration, whether you want to be or not. And I am grateful, if nothing else, that I'll be facing this with my friends.

Hm. Good and Evil are both relative and subjective, though. I wonder to what extent Order and Chaos might be.

[It feels empty, probably as a result of all of his focusing on the battle ahead, with regards to where exactly his own moral compass currently sits at. He's hardly the 'bleeding heart' when compared to some of the Heroes, yet recently he's gotten chillier with regard to his own role in this. He's not going into this expecting anything.]

There is indeed no where left to run, it's the end. What comes afterwards, though, is something we might just be able to change provided that it's approached correctly.

[He seems to smile a little tighter in response to Lydia's last.]

I'm honored to be considered that way. I've hardly been the sturdy pillar of strength that I'd have liked to be.

[Lydia kept her voice quieter, taking a tiny step closer by his side so he'd hear but no one else would.]

I think you've been more of one than you think, at least to and for me, Sephiroth.

[Hands behind her back, looking up at him again with a clear smile.]

All the things you've had to deal with, to shoulder, and worry about? And yet you still fight, you still do what you think is right. You try to be the best you can.

In school, there was a cheesy inspirational poster on the wall, back before we moved out to Peaceful Pines. "It's not how many times you fall down, but how often you get back up, that makes you succeed."

[A small giggle, perhaps a bit sad.]

I still think that's horribly cheesy, and too simplistic...but it's not wrong either.

[Cloud was not there for Sephiroth's muttered remark, but he was walking up on the Silver Elite. The grunt was busy with his own distractions, fiddling with his newly upgraded gear and trying to find that perfect balance between comfort and function. He didn't even realize he was walking up on Sephiroth until he heard his voice.

He stopped short at that moment, gawping for a moment, trying to decide what to do. It seemed like Sephiroth hadn't noticed him yet. He could just back up and walk away if he so chose. Pretend that they hadn't crossed paths. But that would be another day on the pile of him avoiding his Hero. At this point he wasn't even sure why. He wasn't thrilled with some of the choices that Sephiroth had made but it was too far out at this point to be disillusioned with him.

Maybe he was avoiding him in order to keep from adding any more uncertainty to the Former SOLDIER's plate.

Did he have the right to?

Biting his lip, he makes a decision.]

Sephiroth...are you ready?

[If the Silver Elite knew he was there, he makes no such indication. As Cloud is stood there though, the silver pauldrons on Sephiroth's shoulders seem to hug more around his frame as he raises his arms into what could only be guessed, from the back, as his quite-usual folding of arms as he gazes out of the windows at the crystal city they were about to embark upon.]

Hm-?

[Clouds voice cut through his not-so deep thoughts just then, and the Colonel -though not in any uniform of Crystallis anymore- side-stepped to face the voice that had come from behind him. Almost as an after thought he released the small crystal of a pendant that he'd been turning around in one of his hands. It hung on a black cord; Zelda's once-upon-a-Starlight gift to him.

After beginning to inspect Cloud as he would anyone who had seemingly managed to sneak up on him, Sephiroth then suddenly dropped that whole notion. His expression softened a little and he nodded at the shorter blond man.]

Always ready. Yet the gravity catches up, should you ponder too hard.

[Sephiroth's words go a little sideways in Cloud's mind. He glances out the window at the land below, and how far away and down Pandemonium is even now.] I guess it would catch up if I recklessly jumped ahead too.

[He chuckles a bit, his own dumb thought breaking his mood briefly. It sets him in a slightly better mood, even as he sees the pendant that Sephiroth is wearing. He looks away for a second, but only just, and then back to the other Hero with clearer eyes than he's had in a while.]

Hey I....I wanted to apologize for being so distant lately. I know you've had a lot on your mind and I'm sorry I turned my back on you.

[He was exaggerating a bit, but it's still something he literally did back at the Fairy Tail hall some months back. And the fact that he hesitated to help Sephiroth with his Shadow while he had been there for him didn't sit well, no matter how it all went.]

[That Cloud can still come back in reply with such a pointed statement tells Sephiroth all he needs to know about just how much the younger man has grown into his role as a Hero of Light. If only he'd been able to adapt so fluidly; things might have been a lot different for him. But then - Cloud does indeed end up the real Hero.

Trying to hide the pendant back into the belt of his SOLDIER harness was only going to draw more attention to it so for the time being at least Sephiroth let it hang freely there. It swung as the tall silver haired man shook his head, making a lot more of an effort to keep Cloud's eye contact this time.]

It's no ones fault but my own despair that I've been drowning in. This place uncovered so many weaknesses in myself that I hadn't counted upon being so virulent.

[It's not a confident dismissal of a shrug, but Sephiroth does manage to indicate that he's very much done dwelling on all of that now.]

I'll do what I can, even if my own Calamity doesn't let me carry this right til the end.

[For a moment it looks like Cloud is about to tell him that it's not his fault or some platitude along that vein. But then he stops, looking down and pursing his lips for a moment.]

Yeah, you're probably right. When it gets down to it you're the one who had to overcome it. [He looks back up.] But we're still here for you. You're still one of us as far as we're all concerned. Maybe next time...well I guess there might be a next time but...maybe now that you've gotten a better idea of what you have in you you'll know what to do with it.

[He self consciously tugs on a strap on his armor, very aware of who they are, were and could be to each other. For a moment it feels again like when they first encountered each other here, a grunt and his Hero. And yet, it's all on its head.]

As long as you do your best I'm sure you'll be fine. And we'll be here to pick up the rest and have your back when you need it.

Hm.

[A silent huff of an acceptance to Cloud's suggestion. For all the help those that care about him might offer, indeed it is for Sephiroth to have been able to accept his Calamity Self and -well- some things can't possibly be accepted, no matter the up-side. Besides, it's not as if anyone knew the context in which the Sage had offered his advise to them, in conquering it; there is still no tell if it would give any 'bonus' or not.]

No matter how this ends, I'm resolved now with the fact that this is a different path. For what that might be worth, won't ultimately be for anyone to decide.

[Cloud blinks a little, surprise rolling briefly across his face at Sephiroth's words. They're a touch harsh, but a bit more open than his words have been over the past few years. Open to the fact that he is at least something else than his past self. His encounter with his Shadow may have gone badly, but the lesson may still have been learned to a degree.

But as ever, Cloud smiles.He gives Sephiroth's chest a friendly rap with his knuckles before moving to walk past him.]

[Now where is he off to? It's not as if Akane meant to be stalking Sephiroth's every move, but someone like him is hard to miss! Like a nuclear bomb, really. When she catches a glimpse of that glorious silver mane breaking off from the rest of the group, it gives her pause. He's moving into one of the more official looking headquarters. She's never been to this city before, so she doesn't know the locations at all, but wherever he's going, it must be something important.]

[Well... She knows he can take care of himself, really she does. But she's seen how nasty some of the monsters are in this place that the soldiers are fighting, and they might not have seen and disarmed all of the traps. It surely wouldn't hurt him if a White Mage were to tag along, just in case.]

[So that's exactly what Akane does.]

[It takes her a moment to find him, since she not only has to catch up on foot, but figure out which way he went once inside the headquarters. She listens carefully for the sound of his footsteps, then scurries toward the sound.]

[Swinging around the door frame to the office, she smiles in relief now that she's found him. Except...now what? She didn't think that far ahead. ~~Tickle attack!~~]

It's dangerous to go alone. Even for you!

[It's a kindly meant 'lecture,' delivered with a smile, but that quickly fades as she sees his study of the photograph.]

Are you okay?

[He'd have flinched and knocked the photo frame over, had Sephiroth not been sharply aware of the fact that there wasn't any way he'd have been let off to explore this sector all on his own. Just because it seemed that all the military had been evacuated, didn't mean all risk had been eliminated - especially with the traps that kept being uncovered and with crystal monsters quite a threat on their own. It did make him wonder though, all of those refugees they'd taken...how many of them were actually Heran soldiers...]

.... [He considers Akane for a moment, his green eyes taking on more of their 'glow' in the dim lighting.]

It seems that the majority of the soldiers all got out safely...[He's looking down at the photo again.]

Admiral Matsya...seems more familiar to me than she should...

That's a relief. I feel a little guilty, making the people of this world fight this battle alongside us. But I suppose they have more right than anyone to fight back, don't they?

[Her smile is gentle as she looks back at him. The glow of his eyes doesn't really bother her. He's an intense man, but she's gradually become accustomed to his ways, even admiring his more exotic qualities.]

[Akane's attention drifts to the photograph, and she steps into the room fully so she can draw close and get a better look.]

I don't think I've seen her before.

[She's been in this world less than half as long as Sephiroth has, so it's not really surprising. Akane's attention was focused more on Kurma than Prajapati at the meeting.]

Have you met the Admiral in person?

It's easily forgotten, that they were at war with each other before we came along.

[Not that he's berating Akane for how she might feel guilty, but it's plain to most people that Sephiroth has hardly ever not been involved in one battle or another. To think of an existence without that is nearly impossible. He might have tasted a little of it here, only.]

It depends on how you might look at it. All life on this world currently comes from repeated cycles which if I recall it correctly originates from us one way or another. But yes, they have as much a right as anyone.

[And it's back to looking over the photograph which his leathered fingers have taken the corner of. Trying to match up pieces of the various hundred-thousand people who might in some way match that description.]

No. We were on opposite sides of the Battle. I'm wondering, though...if they were all evacuated beforehand then...might have passed her in the street a thousand times and...wouldn't know.

[That's not the only concern, clearly, but it's much to late in the game to alert anyone to anything if any refugees might have had a plan to re-assert Heran control while Esdham was occupied here...]

[Akane edges forward to get a look for herself.]

She does seem familiar. But I can't remember where.

[She props her chin up on her knuckles as she searches her memories, trying to recall. ...Nope, nothing.]

After this is over, maybe you could take it to the Santa Village. There are a lot of Heran refugees there, I'm sure at least one of them knows where she is and what happened to her.

Potentially.

[Yet if he were to confiscate this photo frame, where exactly would be put it? They were headed for Pandaemonium, for Garland; Sephiroth didn't have the room to take along an item that wouldn't be necessary and it's not as if they were going back to the Enterprise to drop off goodies, first.]

We'll have to see if the opportunity might come up, or not. It might be best left alone, now.

[Besides, it feels as if the items here shouldn't be disturbed, much less stolen. Like a tombstone, or some other location that should be kept exactly as it was left.]

Here...

[Akane reaches for the photo frame and flips it over. Her hand dips into the pocket of her robes, removing a small screwdriver with a zodiac symbol stamped into the handle. Looks like she took a souvenir away from her brother's puzzle room. Delicately she unscrews the back of the frame, and slips the photo free.]

You never know when the opportunity will come again. Even little things can come in handy!

[She smiles and holds it out to him. This much, at least, he should be able to slip somewhere in all of that leather and armor.]

There might even be something important on the back! People do that with photographs sometimes.

[People like Zero...]

[Not that Sephiroth were holding the frame at all but she whisks it away a beat later. He watches not-quite with suspicion but it did feel, for the moments it took her to get in the back of the frame with her tool, as if Akane were desecrating something that it wasn't right to vandalize in such a way. For a great many of those left behind, this City had become their graves.

Though Sephiroth's expression held much of that hard, stern facade that was a given, as Akane held the released photograph out for him to take he took a deep breath and at least tried to soften some of those scolding edge of his gaze. As always, Akane had reached outside of the box that he didn't even know was really there.]

Better to be prepared.

[He takes the picture between thumb and forefinger and flips it immediately to see if there would be anything on the back -there isn't, but just in case- before doing exactly as she might expect and tucking it somewhere inside his leather coat and harness arrangement.]

Even if it does feel like we're disturbing where we perhaps shouldn't be.

[Probably for the best he doesn't know what she did with an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, then. She doesn't seem the least bit apprehensive about what she's done, smiling brightly as if she's instead been very helpful. She cranes her neck to take a peek at the back of the photograph too, but alas.]

Nothing? That's a shame.

[She settles back onto her heels, and admittedly she's a little surprised to hear him remark on a matter that borders on superstition.]

Well...I guess that could be said of the whole city.

[She turns to face him a little more directly.]

What made you decide to explore back here, then? If you don't mind me asking.

[He definitely has her curiosity, and her attention.]

[As Akane settled back onto her heels, Sephiroth has allowed his cautious gaze to wander the room again. To think how much must have gone on, been agreed on, strategized, argued....all in this office at one time or another. Border skirmishes in the desert, the attack on Esdham, the attack on Aqures...]

That's true.

[The crystal made a literal crypt of a lot of the City. There were places however, like this one, where there was a significant lack of people being caught up in it. The military center in particular looked the most like an evacuation had been in a more orderly fashion.]

I-I'm not sure. I guess I- [He looks to Akane and then over the vast desktop again, towards the standards and other regalia which adorned the back wall.]

-I felt that I needed to see this place, for myself.

[If you were to ask Jade, he'd claim to have followed Sephiroth into the military headquarters out of mere curiosity. That is certainly a part of it, but in this case he has a few reasons that are a little too personal to admit out loud.

One is the surroundings themselves. Crystallized areas, especially those that are indoors, still tend to put him on edge. The Crystal Caves taught him the best way for him to stay focused on the present is by being near others, and now of all times it's imperative he doesn't get distracted thinking about the Sage's vision.

The other reason, well... Memories of that other future always bring back the shock of Sephiroth dying in the lab, right in front of Jade. All because of his reckless meddling with the Rift. Even though the concern is probably unwarranted, looking out for his friend does give him some peace of mind.

That in particular he's never going to admit, though.]

I always wondered why she had such high standing among the Heran survivors.

[He walks up next to Sephiroth to have a better look at the picture frame. Having spoken with Prajapati directly, Jade is able to recognize the face. This confirms some suspicions he's held that he was never able to prove until now.]

[Likewise, the fact that there seemed to have grown some never-mentioned silent acceptance of things between the two housemates had kept Sephiroth from raising any tone of objection when he'd noticed that Jade had taken it upon himself to accompany. There were a few soldiers that had accompanied the Colonel, after all, yet simply there wouldn't be a set of circumstances at this stage where Jade's presence wasn't appreciated.

Similarly, such things would probably never be said out loud.]

Hm?

[Sharp green eyes flick up from the picture frame to outline Jade's profile as he made that remark. Then quickly back down as if the comment alone might make the resemblance easier to see for him. It takes a beat longer but a certain tightening of skin around the edges of Sephiroth's nose -like he might be getting a bad whiff from somewhere- soon indicates that he's caught up.]

Prajapati. But what of it then-

[They've left Aqures Ixen and the larger world of Crystallis behind them to come here. Perhaps it might be exactly what the Heran's were counting on in terms of a chance to have a resurgence...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Endgame || Apocalypse

Mingle Thread || Sephiroth

The Enterprise

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Enterprise

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Military

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