melodiesoflife | On That Day, Five Years Ago - Black Water

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On That Day, Five Years Ago - Black Water - Misery Marsh near Esdham

On the bright side, Cloud hadn't thrown up when the ship went down. Of all the things that went wrong that day, at least the fortitude of his stomach remained intact.

He'd braced himself for impact and after that it was fuzzy. Dream and memory intermingled. When he and the other Heroes blacked out and later he wouldn't be able to recall which parts actually happened and which were just projected assumption. He even thought he saw Zack running around on the deck trying to help, as absurd as that mental image of a chocobo trying to help keep an airship in flight was.

The next thing he was aware of was the feeling of thick water lapping against the side of his head. That and a sense of cloying scruffiness around his face. Grunting, he pushed himself up to sitting, half in and half out of some water. The dry ground wasn't very much so, more mud. Looking around blearily he could make out shapes moving in the fog around him. Things slipped into focus bit by bit from there. This was a swamp of some sort, or a marsh, whatever. Same difference.

Next he noticed three bodies laying near him; Reno, Johnny and another he knew was a fellow Hero but didn't really know by name. Dylan or something? His mind more latched onto the fact that the way they were laying was that it was almost like Johnny and Reno were reaching for each other.

The last thing to shuffle into focus were the shapes moving in the distance. They were a bit far off, too far, hopefully, to see or smell or hear them...but there were Malboros sloshing through the marshwater and mud in every direction.

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After any fight, after waking up, they’re on the move—

Like usual, Dylas lingers to the side of the group, always a few steps behind, always slightly off-placed from the central group. He prefers to keep a personal bubble for a number of reasons, but this situation isn’t one he’s prepared for. The landscapes are all unfamiliar, the monsters are hellish, and his companions are three people he hardly knows.

It’s not exactly his idea of a perfect road trip.

Eventually, the number of things on his mind overwhelm him. Midna. Koporo. The other people he’s spoken to. He takes a deep breath and shivers from head to toe, stopping in his footsteps to glance off into the distance. He wonders if everyone is alright. Chances are, they aren’t. He’s been through hell before back in Ryslig. It’s too unrealistic to think that everyone is still as alive as they are. He’d promised her that he’d never leave her, too, but—

His ears twitch as one of his party members approaches him by themselves. He rubs the back of his neck, trying to play off how anxious he looks and feels with a joke.

"Don't worry. I haven't decided which one of you I'm going to eat yet."

His eyes fall to his hooves. It's not even funny, it's...just all he can think of to say.

"What do you want?"

[ooc; No mod replies required. This is sort of a "last chance to talk to Dylas" thing going on since who the heck are all of you.]

"Yeah, well..."

For better or worse, Reno had seen the world of Ryslig and what Dylas could become -- the hunger of the wendigo. At the same time, even under that world's influence, Dylas had generally kept his shit together. Reno respected that. So he was actually semi-aware of the dark joke Dylas was making and didn't take it too seriously.

They hadn't always gotten along, but Reno was sincere when he asked, "You holdin' up okay?"

He wouldn't eat Reno, anyways, he's heard stories of the kind of world he'd been to and isn't so keen on putting that in his mouth.

"I'm fine. There's...nothing wrong with me at all."

His first instinct is always to be defensive, to snap back. He glowers down at Reno before starting to turn away. But. The calamity. His calamity self. He doesn't...need to be an asshole, it's just a comfortable role for him.

So he turns back.

"You're a lucky guy. You and the demon are an item, right? I saw him looking concerned about you for a second or two."

Before the horf happened.

"Yeah." Reno nodded. He and Johnny were pretty official now, reaffirmed when they faced their Shadows. It was a hard road, especially with their own baggage -- romantic and otherwise -- but when it came down to it, they accepted even the worst of each other.

So Dylas was a man-eating monster guy. Reno was a mass-murderer. If they were both deemed worthy of being "Heroes of Light," then it shouldn't matter.

Reno smirked. "Don't tell me there's no one waitin' for you, though? I find that hard ta' believe. Just keep them in mind an' you'll be fine."

Because there had to be more Heroes somewhere else -- just scattered. They couldn't be the last ones left. Reno couldn't accept that.

"You two look kind of gross together."

Did that sound homophobic? Hopefully, the fact that Dylas' ears wiggle playfully, twitching up and down more excitedly than his face ever emotes is enough to suggest he's teasing.

But if anyone ever asked him, he'd deny being a Hero of Light. He never accepted the title, not fully.

"Hey. How reliable are you?" Thinking about Midna, Dylas decided that maybe he and Reno could take the rear guard for a few minutes. Have a private chat. "I have a favor to ask you, but only if you're the kind of guy who actually gets things done outside of the bedroom."

Gross, huh? Reno stuck his tongue out. "Aww, too sappy for you?"

For waking up in a swamp and feeling like shit, being able to snipe jokes back and forth with someone was a welcome bit of normalcy.

Reno crossed his arms and canted his head. "I realize it's hard to believe, me being so sexy and all, but I really did have a very serious job once that included clothing. What's up?"

"Too crappy for me."

He waved his hand in front of his face, feigning disgust at an imaginary odor. His nose was just as human as anyone else's here, he was thankful for that much.

"Yeah, you're right. It is hard to believe. But I used to be a waiter, so I guess anything's possible."

Once the group started moving again, he fell in rank behind them and walked with Reno, his expression changing from cocky smirk to his usual stoic and/or annoyed.

"We don't know what's going to happen from here on out, right? I don't think we're the only ones who survived, but that might not matter if we don't regroup. What a pain in the ass."

Reno nodded. "I was thinking the same thing," he said quietly. "I mean, we can't be the only ones left -- there's no way! There's plenty a' people too stubborn t' die..."

Besides that, he could have sworn he'd heard a voice before everything went blank, telling them to sleep... Maybe it was just a dream, though.

"We gotta find our way back t' Aqures Ixen. Or, at least, where it was if it's changed." Because Reno definitely didn't remember this swamp on the maps. "That's prob'ly where everyone else would think to go, right?"

"I don't really care where we're headed as long as we're headed somewhere," he admits. "We're just as likely to find people on the road as the destination, or...something like that. It's probably a saying."

It isn't. But he shrugs anyways.

"I'm going to tell you something, but I need you to take it seriously, alright? If you don't, I'll eat one of your fingers to make myself feel better."

He wouldn't joke like this with Cloud or the demon, but he knows Reno has opinions about his beastlike nature. It's all in the name of fun.

Reno offered half a smirk and put a hand on his hip, though his eyes still held some concern. "Yeah, I got just the finger in mind..."

The middle one.

"Seriously, though -- what is it?"

"...I don't know what's going on."

His features droop even while his face stays the same. His body language is impossible to mask, it always is.

"But if something happens to me, I need a message delivered to Midna. I'm not so naive to think everything will turn out to be sunshine and rainbows for us."

Dylas was opening up to him?

"H-hey now," Reno sputtered. "Shut up -- you're Dylas, yer a fuckin' wendigo man, yo. If anyone, you'll be fine! Don't even think like that!"

He huffed and crossed his arms. "Don't be stupid..." He stood there, stubborn for a moment, before he looked away.

"... What even would I tell her anyway?"

"Hey—! Don't get so loud, you're going to hurt my ears."

Now seemed as good a time as any to go back to not making eye contact. Turning slightly to the side, he crossed his arms, watching Cloud and Johnny get a few steps further away before starting to walk again.

"How the hell would I know what to tell her? Er, I haven't gotten that far...but it's not like we know what's going to happen. And I've seen what happens when people...when people die when they least expect it. I wouldn't want to put her through that."

If he even mattered to her that much. No, no, he did. He had to believe that.

"Well I can't tell' er anything unless you figure out what it is," Reno pointed out. He paused, watching Johnny walk as they trailed behind.

"But... I guess once you knew what you wanted ta' say, I could tell her," he conceded. "If I had to. Which I doubt."

Of course he knew the stakes. He didn't want to dwell on it for too long, though. There was a fine line between preparedness and paranoia, and the latter would be too distracting. He needed to be sharp. They all had to focus.

As he was currently half-focused on the particular swing of Johnny's gait, it made him wonder if it was better or worse that they were together. He wouldn't have to worry about planning his last words or sending a message. But it did mean that whatever danger there might be here, Johnny would also be in it. Though he'd likely be in danger... anywhere, really... Reno shook his head. It didn't matter. They just had to be careful.

Is Reno checking out his boyfriend's ass? Dylas can't really tell.

"I don't want you to tell her anything, but I don't plan on dying a second time without leaving something behind. I owe her at least that much. ...No, I owe her a lot more than that, but it'd be a start."

What would he say, though? He picks up his pace a little. Words aren't really his strong suit. He'd rather be punching things. It might even be nice to punch Reno sometime, it might feel good.

"...you think with how many times I've died, it'd be easier. But it sure as hell ain't."

Johnny's butt? Staring? No... Maybe... No.

Either way, Reno gets the strange intuition that he should take half a step away from Dylas, like the other man might hit him for no reason.

"UGH, yes." He let his head fall back to emphasize his full agreement. "Sorry -- but fuck yes. Gods! I mean, I know this sounds weird, but you are the first person to actually say that, and it's so fucking true."

Reno might have been a little bit repressed about past deaths.

"It never gets fuckin' easier!" Repressed and exasperated. "Which one are you on?"

Death, clearly.

Dylas blinks in confusion at first—he hadn't expect Reno to get so excited about dying. After a second of looking like a deer caught in the headlights, the sound that follows is surely unexpected.

Dylas laughs.

"I died three times in Ryslig, but the third one stuck. Four, if you count the whole...body dying, becoming a wendigo thing."

He counted it himself.

"What about you? Are you talking about dying here or your pervert-land?"

"Both," Reno admitted. "I've only got three, so I guess you're ahead."

He counted off on his fingers. "Got drowned by a tentacle monster -- after other unpleasant things." Ew. "Ah, got drowned again because the sea god was pissed we killed said tentacle monster..."

He knew the risk of going out on the water with Poseidon out there, ready and waiting to kill any who dared trespass on his domain. But Kyo was out there somewhere -- maybe. He had to try.

"Then once here. Not drowned, at least."

Reno sighed.

"An' every time it sucks ass, yo. Ya think maybe you'll get used to it or somethin', but nope. Sucks every time."

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Cloud was picking his steps carefully as they moved through the swamp. Given all they'd been through he didn't want to die here, in the middle of nowhere, just because he couldn't tell how deep the water or mud was. Malboro attack wasn't much more appealing either.

His snaking path brings him over towards Dylas as they all make their way along and he gives the other Hero a nod. He's about as nervous and awkward as Dylas is here, but it's not the horned Hero's fault. Considering what happened to Ramza he can't help but wonder if there was something he missed. And then Dylas is an unknown factor, a Hero he wants to trust but doesn't even know.

At least he doesn't buy that joke, "N-nothing I guess." He was quiet for a moment, tempted to leave it there, but he pushed himself to carry on. "I'm sorry. I don't remember seeing you around much before we went to face Garland. How long were you in Crystallis?" He did his best to keep any implication of accusation out of his voice.

"I try not to be seen much," he offers as both an explanation and an apology, though the fact it's an apology is likely only apparent to himself. "I only come out at night. Vampires don't really get along well with all this sunlight."

Being out in the daytime is actually more exhausting for him than he'd like to admit. It's enough to give him a small headache and leave him wanting to lay down somewhere and take a nap like a tired cat, but they need to be pressing on. His tail swishes idly back and forth as he regards Cloud, not really remembering him either.

"I arrived in...May." And then the murders began. Literally. "I guess it's not the greatest outcome for you, being stuck here with me. That's why you're here, right?"

Cloud just sort of glanced at Dylas at the comment about not wanting to be seen much. He knew enough people like that as a natural state. Vincent came to mind, but so did Sephiroth to a point. The admission of being a Vampire caught him a little by surprise though. "Vampire. Like the Job? Or...?" He didn't sound scared, more curious and trying to parse out the specifics of it all. He was friends with a talking pony. Who was he to judge?

Being out in the day may not have been idea for Dylas, but at least the thick fog of the marsh was keeping most of the sun at bay. It was hell on their visibility though. "May....oh..." He frowned. It was all a scramble then and he never felt satisfied how it all turned out. Another example of his friends being messed with and nobody being held accountable for it.

But the last bit was what really confused Cloud. He looked Dylas up and down and he could guess what he was getting at but... "I mean, being here at all isn't really the greatest outcome. But Johnny and Reno are good friends. And we haven't really met before but I don't have reason not to trust you if that's what you mean."

"The job. I've got two too many hooves to be a real one, I think." And sure enough, if Cloud ever looked down, he'd notice that Dylas' pants do not end in a pair of shoes. The vampire job keeps him from click-clacking as he walks, but the swamp does that, too. And right now, he can feel how wet and gross the swamp is, but after you walk everywhere barefoot for a while? You kind of get used to it.

"Huh. I didn't think you'd be so quick to say that. I'm not up to anything, but...I figured you came over here because you didn't think I was trustworthy. Reno's the only one here I've ever really spoken to."

Cloud gave a little shrug as he glanced at the hooves. He'd seen a lot at this point and it didn't really surprise him. He considered the pony among the Heroes as a friend after all. "I dunno. You could still be one. I don't see what having hooves would do to stop that." But it really didn't matter. He was just rolling with it.

But then he shot a toothy grin back at Dylas for his self deprecation. "We've all had our lives to manage. It was easy when we first arrived in Crystallis, but over time we got caught up in more and more things and more and more Heroes arrived. I couldn't be there to greet everyone like I used to. Frankly it's been a bit exhausting, and loud too. We were flailing around with our ideals but no real direction."

He looked around at their small group and then gestured at the barely visible path ahead. "This all isn't ideal, but it's simple. We don't know where we are, so we go forward. We're going forward because we don't want to stand still. And we trust each other because we're all in this together."

Dylas is a little lost for words at the first response, but he remembers that not everyone knows what a proper vampire looks like. His ears flick before he answers, and he forces a sigh out. "The transformation into a vampire is different. They...don't have fur or anything like that. I used to look like you before I started having to worry about fleas." He doesn't have to worry about fleas, they don't really enjoy dead skin and coagulated blood.

"You and I see the world in different ways." But despite his low voice and general lack of emotion, it doesn't sound like he's chastising Cloud for his words, either. "I used to know someone who thought like you. I haven't seen them for a long time, though. You should...work on keeping yourself that way. It's a better way to think then what runs through my head."

Proper vampire. Wouldn't that be relative to that world though? But Cloud nodded as he listened, opting not to raise that point. He had no reason to doubt or denounce Dylas' understanding of things. Cloud just knew by this point, by interacting with the other Heroes, that there were many ways things could exist. Ponies, for example.

"Maybe. My best friend back home was like that too. He encouraged me to do better even when I doubted myself. If not for him, I don't know what I'd be like." That's a lie. He knew what happened to his future self back on Gaia and how he dealt with his scrambled memories. Sort of. "He's in Crystal Stasis at Aqures Ixen, or he was before all this happened. I hope he's okay. But you don't need to tell me to try to hold on to who I am. That's been on my mind for a while now."

His smile vanished, taking on a more purposeful glare into the murky distance, "I refuse to be a puppet, even to my own destiny or to the future."

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