Footsteps in the Snow (Central Lost Continent)

[acceptedoblivion]

Characters:Saori Nakagawa, Ira, James Kidd, Lydia Deetz, and NPCs
Where: Lost Continent (Center)
When: March 5th
Summary: The four awaken in the chilly tundra of the Lost Continent without a sign of civilization nearby.

At impact, Ira had held out his hand in an attempt to summon another Corridor - at the very least, he wished to get those already injured to safety. Yet as he reached out, something far more inexplicable had reached back. He found himself falling, before oblivion accepted him. It was a sensation he hadn't felt in years, this sleep of stasis that had overwhelmed all of them - one that he thought would never be again. As it took hold, he didn't know if his hand had grabbed air or railing, but he knew, in the end, there was no fighting it any longer.

What he didn't expect, was suddenly finding his face hit with something so bitterly cold. Grunting, he shakily moved to place his hands beneath him, wincing as he felt the chill within his gloves. Why was it so cold? Hadn't they just been over the desert?

None of this made sense, but he... had to get moving.

Blearily looking around, he saw three others lying in the snow around him. Without much thought, he stumbled in the frigid clime to reach out to the one nearest to him in an effort to shake their shoulder and wake them.

"M-Mom, L-Lydia, Mary," he called out through his teeth chattering. Of all the times he was mad about inheriting shit from Riku the island kid- "We n-need to get moving."

Wait, why did his voice suddenly sound more matured? And when did his bangs get so long? "Ugh, the h-hell's going on?"

Comments

[randomnpcs]

Gelin attempted to scoff at Mary's suggestion, but he chocked on his aching throat and had a coughing fit. "That would be a nice story. The Heroes of Light coming back one last time to save us all."

He looked up, watching Mary for a few minutes. In that time, his eyes lost the tragic faraway look and only focused on what was right there in that room. "If you're serious about this, don't risk fighting or sneaking past it. I don't want anyone else to die." His gaze turned towards the door. "It's near Trano Golsaucia. Once you see the flying temple, you have to turn back and head to safety, alright?"

[needsteaplz]

Saori gave Gelin a light rub on the back for that cough.

"Oh ye of so little faith, I can't blame you for thinking we were gone though. Five years is a hell of a long time after all. What? Did you honestly thought this sword was just for show?" Sadly Garland's sword didn't have a big giant sign, but the design alone seemed to scream its previous owner was a big deal.

"Right now though we need to rest up, stock up, and see if we can get touch with the others." Surely they couldn't be the only ones left.

[acceptedoblivion]

"Yeah, except it's not just a story." Ira, for his part, let out a faintly amused noise as Saori finally let the more blatant hint out of the bag. He let the blanket slide of his shoulders, revealing the vampire bat on his shoulder once he figured she was warmed up again. Hints of his custom job's garb were exposed by the lowering of the warm fabric, even though no one would likely recognize them

"...What. You couldn't tell? Sorry. Not nearly as original as that." So what if the statement he made was technically a lie in the sense that the engineer would glean it as? Gelin didn't need to know that to know that the four standing before him were more than what he'd claimed themselves to be to the others - simply four souls who were once lost in the snow.

[randomnpcs]

Geline eyed the sword. It was unusual that such a fine lady to carry a big sword, but if she were traveling in the dangerous world of ruin, it made sense to have a powerful weapon with her. She and the oddly-dressed boy and the the bat--

"You can't be..." They were exceptionally brave people, but it was almost too good to be true. "What are your names?!"

[acceptedoblivion]

Oh, but Gelin... they can and are. As much as he would hate to admit being a hero of light.

"Name's Ira," he answered, before gesturing to the bat on his shoulder. "This is Lydia," -to the captain- "Mary," -and then, to his mother, "-and Saori. We were forced into Sleep the moment we crashed. Why, I couldn't say... but we do still live."

[needsteaplz]

"We maybe scattered at the moment, but knowing some of the company we keep, they're probably devising up a way to survive and group up like us." While all the heroes may not have seen eye to eye on many subjects, Saori would have to say tenacity was what they all had in common.

Gelin's choice of a question didn't go unnoticed though. "Since you asked for our names, I guess you had any past meetings with Heroes before?"

[not_most_days]

It was her Assassin instincts and habits that had Mary being a bit more secretive about their Heroic standing. There was no telling who was an agent or what resentment was seeded in their absence. But since the others were going forward with it all there was no reason for her to leave them out in the cold. Pardon the expression.

"We find ourselves at a disadvantage but we're still in the fight. The world can yet be saved but we might need a little help in that way. Supplies and information and all that. Of course, don't tell too many folks about this. We don't want the Archfiend to know we're coming." She winked and tapped her finger to her lips.

[randomnpcs]

"No way..." Gelin sat back, taking a moment to consider the validity. "I don't recognize your names, but I know the ones they talk about in the Village of Santa Claus. Anise? Santa? Not the actual Santa, but the guy that used to run the bank? The people that had businesses moved here.

"Anyway," he straightened up and pulled the blanket off his head. "I did meet one years ago. She was searching for a Moogle in a black mage hat, had golden hair and pointy ears. She was beautiful...." He gazed off into the distance, thinking of the girl he could and and should have asked out.

[not_most_days]

Mary's face dropped at the question, and she glanced at the others to see if they were going to take up the task of answering it. Her lips pursed for a moment and she looked away from his gaze as she spoke up.

"I'm sorry. She passed some time ago. There was an enemy who was controlling us, using us against each other. When we had them cornered they delivered an attack that felled her beyond what our protections at the time could save us from." She sighed and shook her head. "Near as I know she was laid to rest in Aqures Ixen. It must have been nearly a...no, nearly six years ago at this point."


(ooc: Santa Cloud had no lasting legacy? D: )

[deadlyvu]

Lydia had been perfectly content to let the others talk, warming up and staying quiet as a bat against Ira's shoulder and neck. Now though, her interest was piqued. Careful of his longer hair, as she moved to get some distance and sort of 'dropped'. Transforming again as she did so, to be a still small older girl with long dark hair, and dark eyes. Pale as a ghost, and wielding the vampire job.

"Santa? About yea-tall?" Holding up her hand. "Silver hair?" If it was Creep Kringle, she'd be happy to see him. After the stunt he'd pulled in battle, she owed him both a hug, and a smack on the arm. Him running a bank was new though, as she remembered it being run under Mr. McDuck.

Then the rest of what Gelin said registered, and she moved closer. Listening to Mary's words too, and taking the man's hand in comfort. "Lady Zelda was an inspiration to many of us." Sympathy and understanding in her smile.

[randomnpcs]

Gelin jumped at the sight of Lydia popping into existence, but as he was unable to land on his feet (considering that he was sitting), he ended up landing on his butt and falling back.

"Y-y-y-y-y-y-yes! That guy! And don't scare me like that!" He pushed himself off the floor and readjusted the blanket.

"I haven't seen Zelda in years, and to be frank, when one of us runs into a Hero, we can't expect to see them again. But," he closed his hand around Lydia's, "if she really is gone, you have my condolences. Losing people is always difficult."