melodiesoflife | Event || Doppelgangers

Thancred struggled to his feet, a dagger in one hand, his other pressed against the greatest of his wounds. It could not keep the inevitable at bay forever, he knew that- and he closed his eyes for a moment to avoid having to look again, to focus on the task at hand.

"Such persistence ought to be rewarded! Sadly, now doesn't seem to be the time, really." He steadied himself, balanced to move, and nodded towards the path Garland had taken. "I'd still like to say we can give this place a chance, but I won't admit it doesn't look like a rough ride." All the more reason to try. At least they could go down fighting.

Edited (tenses, whoops) 2015-04-19 13:15 (UTC)

Yunalesca's words only strengthen Gwen's resolve. She leans hard on her blade, using the thing as a crutch, not even daring to appear prepared to use it as a weapon. "They are protected from this pain, this sorrow. That's why we're here. We take this burden on ourselves, so that other people don't have to. And we'll damn well keep standing in the way of that pain. No matter who we've lost." Her eyes don't even track back to Jack, even though her thoughts do.

Owen, Toshiko, Ianto. Steven. Their sacrifices meant something.

"Because that's the job. You don't even have to call it being a hero, it's just a part of being human." She points at Yunalesca, still surprised that the woman has turned on them. She knew the woman was losing hope, but why would she actively try to stop them? "If you're giving in to the despair, you can't see another way around, fine, then. Step out of our way, let us protect you, as well. You want to fight, fight the one who's done this to us."

The Onion Knight is proud of the resolve of his companions. Not just the ones that stand with them now, but the ones that sacrificed themselves for the hope of a better world.

"Gwen is right! We will all keep fighting no matter what. To do anything less would be an insult to everyone who fought beside us!"

And he would never forgive himself for doing less than his very best in their stead. It would be too much like letting them down. He shifts his stance and draws his sword. His gaze flicks over to Yunalesca, but his focus is on Garland still. His mind whirrs with possible courses of action. Tactics that could give them even the slightest edge. Melodies of life, my own limit break, Ultima.... A decent back up plan. If the first one falls through. It won't let them win, but if all else fails, he at least wants to give Garland something to remember them by.

"Yunalesca, I don't know why you turned on us, but is that truly what is in your heart?"

Did you just steal that line from Cosmos...?

He did, but he ignores that thought and continues.

"I don't want to fight you, none of us do, but the choice is yours."

The boy knows his course of action either way.

Yunalesca isn't entirely wrong, of course. There's still a part of him which simply wants to give up. The hope of somehow finding his way back to Asbel and Sophie, if some form of an afterlife truly exists, is a much more peaceful alternative to fighting this last battle. But would they ever forgive him for giving up? He isn't certain he could forgive himself if he did.

You can do it, Richard. I know you can. You're not alone! I'm right here! Everyone's with you. If you just keep trying, I know you can get through to her! You can stop all this, so please...!

Richard's mouth forms a thin line as he shifts uncomfortably, fingers threading around the hilt of his sword. Is this what it's going to come to? Is he so lost in sorrow already that he is going to imagine his friends' feelings into existence?

His attention strays to those remaining, noting that they are in little better shape than himself. They need assistance, and healing spells he does not possess.

Still trying to slow the bleeding in his side, Richard straightens to his full height, waiting to hear what her response to the others will be. He can't be sure that their words will reach Yunalesca, but they'll encourage one another if nothing else.

"Human actions may indeed play a part in tragedy and suffering...but they can just as easily bring about happiness and hope. Without them, we would not have made it this far. And if we were to chose to do nothing, to simply let go...it would only lead us all to the doom you have described. By continuing to fight, together, we will create hope."

He quiets, his voice taking on a slight hint of warmth, "Everyone. How are you faring? Do any among you still have items left?"

Edited 2015-04-19 21:49 (UTC)

"I could hardly have said it any better. Together, we may yet forestall a complete disaster." Words reminiscent of the advent of the Seventh Umbral Era, indeed.

He glanced towards Richard, hands lifting slightly. "I've a few, but not many. Even my pockets are not inexhaustible, I fear."

"Haven't used one yet." she responds as she starts to pass over one of her higher healing potions. She liked that little advantage of not needing to confront anyone directly... at least until now.

"So this lady, was she a friend then?"

'Mhmm.'

"Well, if she's not going to listen to reason, sometimes you just have to punch them a few times. Actually knock some sense into them. If we're even re--"

"Oh, I know. If you're not going to listen to reason, then you're going to have to listen to my fist Yunalesca! I'm not hitting you to hurt you, I'm hitting you so you'll snap out of this stupid despair! We're not backing down, so DEAL WITH IT!"

Chelsea sheathed her blade and made the first, easily the most foolish, charge at the barricade in her way, and with a leap she aimed to bring a fist into the woman's cheek. "WAKE UP AND LISTEN!"

Thoughts that she neither wanted or needed crashed like waves in Yunalesca's mind.

Rikku...
Doesn't it cause you pain to see family and friends like this? I will give them release...
That -- that's not what they want! The Onion Knight is right this isn't... what's in your heart, is it?
I will give them hope, in death.
The blond haired man with the long hair... did you hear him? By fighting together -- we can create hope. Not the false hope that their deaths would bring... but real hope, in uniting together.
They are blinded by their pain, they cannot see the truth through the veil of futility this world has cast upon them.
You're wrong... the young man with the light hair, and the dark haired woman... can't you hear the truth and feeling in their words? You can -- wait, w-watch out!

Yunalesca snapped her gaze upwards, just in time to see a fist aimed her way. Narrowing her eyes, she reacted quickly, lifting an arm into the air and flicking outwards with her wrist with an invisible strike laced with a Blind spell, meant to knock the girl back and away. She didn't waste a moment now, crossing her arms over her chest and lowering her head -- lifting it and casting both of her arms outwards as she lifted from the ground, her hair fanning wildly out behind her.

"Hope is... comforting, isn't it? It allows us to accept our fate no matter how tragic it might be. Sorrow cannot be abolished... it is meaningless to try. I will not let you drown in your own despair. Let me be your liberator." She beckoned with her long fingers, welcoming the next sorrowful victim.

Edited 2015-04-21 02:25 (UTC)

Rikku’s knuckles whitened as her grips tightened on the blades at the taunting. Same old Ahriman crazy mantra. It came as no surprise that Yunalesca betrayed them – Rikku hadn’t trusted the woman for hot Bikanel second.

As their former companion began revealing herself for the fiend she was, Rikku had to fight every fiber of her being not to just start screaming. It wasn’t fair, they’d defeated her already. Now she'd lost people she held dear, and their only hope was to get this nutcase to fight for them? Fate had a sick sense of humor. They’d be lucky to face her and live.

You have to try something, or you’ll never forgive yourself.

The thought rang of truth, as much as she thirsted to start fighting. Naïve hopeful Rikku had left the moment her companions fell, but perhaps the thief in her had a few tricks left. She stepped forwards slightly, taking a less aggressive stance – though her daggers were ready at her sides should they be needed.

She thought back to Yunalesca’s monologue in a time that felt far away. It had all sounded crazy, yes, but if she could find a pattern to the madness…maybe. It was a shot in the dark, but any shot was worth it.

“Yunalesca – you were the first Summoner that defeated Sin. When did you decide to start becoming it?"

She narrowed her eyes at the creature before her - no taking it back now, "Letting whole worlds get destroyed? You used to give people hope right? You did that with teaching, with granting the final Summoning. Now you want to turn whole worlds into crystal. If you let that happen, you’re no better. That’s not hope, that’s just giving up. Getting tired in your old age? You tired of helping people? Because there won't be anyone to help when everyone's gone - and I think that's probably your point. You just want a way out because you're a tired old hag. And what about him?”

She indicates Garland, “You know you can help him if you team up with us, that’s the only way you’ll be strong enough. Otherwise, you’re leaving him to suffer forever. Do that, and then you can still have your shot at us after. Or, are you too tired?”

Edited 2015-04-21 04:18 (UTC)

Gwen cries out and even reaches a hand out when Chelsea charges, but is too far away to stop the child. She gets batted away, only a single stroke, and Gwen breathes out a sigh of relief that she seems okay, not badly hurt.

Her blade does not rise. The tip remains hard in the floor, and she leans her weight on the length. She pauses, listens to Rikku's words, the other woman who comes from Yunalesca's same world. There's some sense to what she's saying. Keep them talking, build on it, but how?

Turn one on the other, then get out of the middle. Daleks and Cybermen. Remember? It's the best shot.

"He is the one consumed with despair the most," Gwen uses her free arm to point at Garland. "He's spreading it loose in the world. He can't just drown in his own despair, he has to force it on everyone else, drag all of us down with him, because one hope is enough to make him think all his pain isn't real. This world won't be freed from it while he is still standing."

"We won't fight against you." Louder, hoping that she can get her point of view through to the whole group. "Because you're still a hero, just like us. You're still trying, damn it. You're trying to stand between this world and destruction. But if your fight is to free this world, you have to start with him." She lets her arm drop. "We'll fight with you. You don't have to stand there alone."

The Onion Knight had to stifle a cry of frustration as Chelsea launched a rash attack at Yunalesca. He'd really been hoping negotiations wouldn't break down quite so fast. He's about to put his back up plan into motion. It's better than nothing.

But then Rikku and Gwen are trying a different tactic. It seems like a long shot, but he'll wait. If there's the slightest chance they'll succeed, he'll take it. For now, he keeps focused on his options. Thancred mentioned healing potions. The Onion Knight himself can cast Curaga....

As his mind flies through various possibilities, he keeps his eyes on their opposition.

Richard inclines his head slightly. "I understand."

So they are not completely without healing items, but still dangerously low. The tension in the air is easily felt, a thin line drawn tight, and weary dread seeps into him. Yes, the words of his comrades are beautiful and noble, but they cannot hope to stand around exchanging ideals forever. Eventually, something will snap, and he's willing to account for the very real possibility that it's going to be one of their necks. Yunalesca is already in a position to attack them, and unless Rikku, Gwen, and the others succeed in changing her mind, she has a distinct advantage, hovering in the air with each of them well within range.

'She must have some reason for doing this... I can't believe anyone would want to have her comrades killed!'

Yes, it's flawed logic, surely... But to her it must be truth. That it's better to...give in now and die peacefully than continue to suffer knowing that...that they're dead.

'Then, we just need for her to see our truth. To see that there's a different way!'

He takes a few slow strides towards Chelsea to make sure the girl isn't badly harmed, gaze flickering warily up at Yunalesca.

"Hope isn't the same as acceptance of what is. Hope is believing in something better and having the courage to reach for it."

Chelsea could've nailed the landing.

Chelsea could've not tripped over one of the bodies of a fallen ally.

Chelsea could've been patient and not gotten herself blinded.

But she failed all of those things. At the least she managed to brace her fall and be thankful for her helmet, which, were it not for that, she might've hit her head on the ground, and might not be trying to wipe things off the visor as if that were the issue at hand.

"Well... I would've done the same thing. Just get up and keep trying"

"And hope is thinking that you'll realize that your way isn't the right way. No one way is, but at least, giving up and just dying is the WRONG way! If we die, then what about the people we leave behind, and the people they leave behind. You're asking for a spiral of despair and that's just STUPID!"

"Indeed." Thancred reached for one of his remaining potions, glancing quickly over the others to see who was most in need, and moved a little closer to them. "I've well lost my taste for despair by now, and care not to revisit it." Though Minfilia and K'pandolu were dead- he could, at the very least, do what he could to ensure they had not died for nothing.

-Which, in turn, meant he'd best be prepared for whatever came next. The potion wouldn't forestall the inevitable, but as long as he could stay up for long enough…

"We shall, at the very least, make the attempt. This- our companions' efforts- must not be for naught."

The spiral, Spira. Yunalesca's thoughts turned inwardly again, her head bowing just slightly, strands of her hair slipping forward.

Perhaps she was tired... Their idea of hope is too fragile, too easily crushed under the weight of their own expectations. What do they fight for? A way home? And end to the suffering this world this had caused them? It is too much to ask for, that they could attain all these things... the only true end to their pain and sorrow... is for it to live on in their deaths.

No, that... that can't be. I don't... I don't really believe that you could feel that way! Can't you hear them? Even now, all their words of encouragement... they all want to fight, and they wan't you to fight too. Giving up their lives here for the sake of the false hope for a tomorrow they'll never get to see... It's not right! Everyone that's fallen before now... you can't let their deaths be in vain!

Her eyes shifted just slightly to the side, catching one last glimpse of Garland before he was out of her line of sight, swearing above all else that he looked like Zaon in that moment.

My father, my love, they both made this choice.
Your...

The first High Summoner closed her eyes, what were these voices that played through her head, now of all times? And why did they sound like the words of Braska's daughter? Snapping her neck upwards, she opened her eyes, banishing anymore doubts from her mind. Garland would succeed. Her father and Zaon's legacy would be protected. She didn't have to be alone, indeed. Without saying another word, her resolve steeled, and she held out her hand, suddenly making a fist as she cast Absorb on the nearest target, stealing even more of their energy in order to build up her own.

No, stop! Please, Lady Yunalesca, don't...!

Rikku had known it was hopeless, like crying at the dark. Her breath catches when she sees Yunalesca seem to struggle. Had something really started to get through? The cry that results when the spell strikes is quickly choked off as her body convulses, a precious portion of her remaining lifeforce leaving in a spark. She collapses to one knee, gasping. A ruse, it was all a ruse! In her foolishness, she’d let hope get the best of her and what had happened? Her guard went down.

So many steps closer to death, the grief and adrenaline no longer numbed the pain of her injuries, it laced the words to her comrades, “You’re all wasting your breath!” She clawed at the ground in frustration before pushing herself up to her feet, “Stop thinking you’re talking to a woman, and realize what stands before you – is nothing more than a fiend!” First making a fist, she holds two fingers up to her lips, casting Stealth.

As though cut from film in an editing glitch, the girl is gone. Barley a moment passes when, without a sound, a whirlwind of daggers appears above Yunalesca, hurling down at the creature in razor sharp rain as the ninja casts Throw.

Edited 2015-04-25 20:42 (UTC)

No. No. What part of 'we aren't going to fight you' is no one understanding?

Gwen, it's too late. She's going to cut you all down if you don't fight back!

No. This woman was their ally. That was always Jack's job, to kill those who turned on Torchwood. It's Suzie Costello all over again. Gwen shouts her reply, angrily, to the thought that has filtered into her head, as well as to her other allies at the same time. "I'm not going to kill a woman who's just lashing out because she's afraid!"

Gwen moves to stand by Chelsea, to hold guard over the kid. She can protect her allies, even as she refuses to strike back at her other ally. "You can stand up against your own damn despair, you don't have to hurt us just because we won't!"

Well, that's it, plan B it is. The Onion Knight casts an apologetic look at Gwen, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, it's too late now. She won't listen to reason and we're out of time."

Then he turns to Yunalesca, and activates his limit break. Hurling a shuriken at her a la the ninja class and then vanishing and appearing behind her for a back attack. It helps that the shuriken throw is enhanced by a little skill he picked up from the archer class: River of Blood. He's hoping for enough support from his allies to move on to step two in his planned combo.

"Gwen... She has made her decision. I'm afraid we have little choice but to find a way to stop her. Otherwise, we won't be able to reach Garland at all." He glances her way, feeling tired and knowing that he must fight once again, whatever the outcome.

'That's it? You're really going to just give up?'

No... It may not be necessary to kill her, he thinks stubbornly. But they're running precious short on time and energy. They must act, even if that action isn't his preferred one. Richard lifts his rapier, shivering with electric energy as his mind whirls through possible battle tactics. She will be strong, he knows.

Asbel, Sophie... Wherever you are, I hope you'll lend me your strength and your courage... this one last time.

'Richard...!'

The prince shakes the voice from his head painfully and focuses on Yunalesca, his steps slower than he'd like as he leaps around the forms scattered over the floor, swinging the blade up towards her, crackling with a Thunder Blade.

Was this fear? No way to be sure- but it seemed too much thought through for an impulsive response, at the very least. No more time to think it over, though. If they were lucky, they'd have something left over- assuming they made it through.

Thancred swallowed the potion and reached for a set of his own daggers, moving to ensure they wouldn't interrupt the paths of the others' attacks before casting Throw himself. In the next moment, he activated Stealth, waiting to see what would come next.

The attacks came suddenly. Especially the back attack from the feather-helmed knight, and since his hit connected, so too did the subsequent blows. The daggers and shuriken all carved paths in her bare skin -- legs and an arm -- which took her down to a knee. But there was no reaction, other than the blank look she used to look upwards as the eletricity of the thunder attack coarsed through her body.

Did these heroes truly have so much strength left?

Yunalesca crouched there for a moment, then suddenly shot up from the ground, a mass of hair coming up from beneath the earth as she ascended. With the long strands came large-snake like appendages for her to perch upon as she readied her next spell. Turning, she cast an arm outwards, trying to catch the Onion Knight with Curse to prevent him from using his limit break again. She quickly flicked her gaze back towards the group, her other arm reaching upwards to cast Silence trying to head off another magical onslaught.

everyone.. going to... their best...

Rikku’s feet make no din as she lands to the side of her companions, appearing once more as stealth diminishes. She lets out a breath of relief that they joined in her fight – if she’d stood alone against the fiend it would have been short lived – or rather Rikku would have been.

There’s no look of surprise as the monstrous snakes burst from the ground, though the assassin braces herself with her daggers with a steady determination. Whatever blows Rikku has left to deal, she will make count for every life this woman claimed from Spira.

Rocking to the balls of her feet when Yunalesca raises her hand, she narrowly dodges the Silence attack. “Lulu, this one’s for you.”

Nonono what are you doing? Don’t!

The black mage that once tried to help a young thief overcome her fear of magic would have been happy to see her now, as the assassin holds out an arm. Summoning Magic Burst, the non elemental attack thrusts forwards in a beam of blinding light towards the enemy with a gesture.

Unfortunately, the voice in her head has not overcome such barriers.

Ahhhh!

The blonde stumbles slightly, shaking her head as if that would dispel the thoughts and the foreign yet familiar terror she fells, she mutters to herself, “Would you shutup? Dang you're so loud, you're gonna get us killed!”

The Silence would have been debilitating, if not for the Ribbon ability from Gwen's Gunner job that grants her immunity to status ailments. She isn't sure who all else got affected, but the spell washes over Gwen with no change. Unfortunately for Yunalesca, that gives Gwen the idea to try the tactic right back to her. It won't harm her, Gwen tells herself that, but maybe it will help this entire situation de-escalate.

"You're too strong to be this afraid! You've come this far, why? Why let yourself fall now?" Pointing out that even a spell isn't going to stop Gwen Cooper from trying to talk the situation down.

Welsh Stubbornness: 1, Magic 0.

"I can make you get out of the way without harming you!" She is still keeping close to Chelsea as she finally, finally lifts her gunblade, and fires a Status Bullet: Silence.

Chelsea should have been beside Gwen but she suddenly wasn't. Only seconds ago did she disappear. It was soon that something else light up the upper part of the room, as gunfire echoed, distracting from the status bullet coming from below as a hail of handgun fire gave way to no body causing it.

Even as she emptied both clips of 14 and threw the empty guns at Yunalesca, she stood atop the ceiling, invisible for a good while still. Clearly words had failed for the time being but even now, still, nobody had landed a single good hit on the woman.

Blame her dad, but she still felt that a good punch, with all her feeling into it, would at least get SOME of her point across, some of EVERYONE's point across.

"If you're going to be the big damn hero, then be the big damn hero already! If you're really my girl, you know what needs to be done!" For once in nearly 10 years, 4 of them in Crystalis, Chelsea agreed with the voice of her dad, entirely.

Gunner is one of the many classes the boy mastered on his way to completing the onion knight class. So Ribbon protects him from her status effects.

And everyone else focusing on her gives him enough of a distraction to move to stage two of his plan. Now that he's behind her, his attention turns to Garland.

"Don't think you can just walk away you coward!"

And with enhancements from Dualcast and In the Red he drops the crowning spell of the Black Mage class on the retreating Garland. Twice.

"Ultima!"

The Onion Knight also has one more little surprise for his opponents, but that will have to wait.

It was just dumb luck Thancred managed to evade the Silence spell, though the appearance of the appendages certainly took him by surprise. He took a moment to refocus, eyes flicking over to see what he could take advantage of. Better to keep some ammunition with him, if she should use Silence again, he decided, but if they could still keep Yunalesca occupied, so much the better. He casts a thunder-based ninjutsu before looking for an opening where he can strike a direct blow.

Event || Doppelgangers

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

SECOND PHASE.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

HELLBITER.

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

COME AT ME WITH YOUR REMAINING LIMIT BREAKS IF YOU FEEL ITS RIGHT, YO

(no subject)

(no subject)