melodiesoflife | Event || The Empire Strikes Back

Event || The Empire Strikes Back

Characters: Everyone participating in the event
Where: Aqures Ixen
When: July 27th to August 02nd
Summary: The battle for Aqures Ixen is about to begin! The Heroes of Light are going to do their best to defend Aqures Ixen, but will this be enough? Feel free to participate and reply to appropriate threads. New top-level threads will be posted regularly as the battle progresses.
Warning: N/A, will be updated.

July 27th || Mingle
July 28th || Bomb Defusing / Imperial Assault
July 29th || Mingle / Attack on the 13th District / Aerial Battles / Imperial Camp
July 30th || 14th District on Fire / The Hospital / Mognet Office Attacked
July 31st || The Fire Spreads / Betrayals
August 01st || The Second Wave / Ultima Weapon
August 02nd || Final

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The impression is very much one that indicates that she's best off forgetting what she might have seen just for moment there as Sephiroth too dismisses that weakness about as far out of his mind as it can go. Not to forget what has happened, no, but to distance himself personally from it. Authority came with it a certain level of detachment; that there were so many others that looked to you to make decisions and you owe it to them to make the right ones.

A few more civilian deaths, just like in the 13th District no doubt. He's almost bitter in that he'd tried to warn them and they hadn't listened.

Sephiroth set his jaw against the comment that first popped into his head at Zelda's hope that the battle would turn. Surely she didn't mean that? They were vastly outnumbered and it's only down to the crowd-control tactic that the City weren't already overrun with Imperial troops. Perhaps she doesn't know how the numbers break down but it's already fairly obvious what their chances are.

His expression is about as hardened up as it can be, with it's ever-present frown, by the time she speaks again. Sephiroth blinks a few times, genuinely questioning why she's even asking that before his common sense catches up. He knows what she says is true and he hasn't really been doing either of those things, at all.]

So do we all. [An obvious attempt at deflecting her question, directing it to the situation at large, before he takes a breath to add more to it.]

I've been getting what I can, like everyone.

[Not a lie. Technically not really much of a truth though, either. There hasn't been chance for him to stop since the Imperial attack had started so- the best part of two days now?]

Edited 2015-07-29 20:55 (UTC)

[As much as Zelda knew she was still unfamiliar with a lot of things. The hopelessness they faced is crushing and she can’t bring herself to face it until the time comes when they have completely lost. She is sure that her limbs would be frozen in fear if it wasn’t for the hope and valor she saw in the hearts and eyes of the heroes and the soldiers. This is their home and she is going to fight for it.

Her gaze studies his features recognizing the distant look. While she put her emotions in her hope; Sephiroth locked them away. She can’t really blame him either.

Zelda is aware of the state of most soldiers. They were all tired but that doesn’t mean that Sephiroth shortly stop and rest. Her head tilts to the side and her expression suggests that his comment isn’t relevant to what she is saying.]

Yes but we need our leaders in top form and that means that you need to take extra good care of yourself.

[She doesn’t have to tell him that people depend on him.]

When was the last you slept and for how long?

[He's still clinging to the SOLDIER that he used to be. Still holding onto that well-known fact that whenever the situation looked hopeless Sephiroth has always been able to turn it around. Mako or no mako he's intelligent and just as sharp a tactician as he is a swordsman with a blade in hand.

He can work his way around the odds, he owes it to himself to prove that he can. That he still amounts to something that isn't driven by his birthright and a lifetime of infusions with the Planet's life force.

Despite the limitations he knows he has, being more human and so Sephiroth pulls as much of a blank expression as possible at Zelda's pressing concern. So what if he isn't mako-infused, limitations are all in the mind-

-he owes it to all of the military under his command, at the very least.]

I'm fine. [He knows Zelda is a worrier and therefore is quite stern with his reply.]

I caught a nap...[Stops, has to think, not really being able to comprehend the time and how long that was ago. Stepping closer to Zelda again so that he can lower his voice. Sephiroth even places a hand on her shoulder as if that might help to reassure her.]

Please, don't worry. I've done this before.

[She understands what it is he’s trying to do as he steps towards her. His hand is comforting but the fact that he isn’t able to answer her is worrying. She looks up at him trying to determine if she should press the issue or not. She knows that he understands what rest will mean in the long run and she knows he has more experience with war then she does.

Even with all these facts her worry wouldn’t cease.

Zelda slowly shakes her head looking up at Sephiroth with a weak smile. It’s so hard to smile when there is a war going on just outside.]

I am still going to worry. You know that but I trust you.

[Her gaze softens and her tone is light hoping that their conversation stays between the two of them.]

I think you should sleep while you have time. You are starting to look tired. [If he knows he might be more mindful but then Zelda can only hope.]

[Zelda gains that much more respect from Sephiroth in the fact that she isn't still smiling as brightly as she tended to. That indicates the weight of the events going on around them, and he feels it just as keenly even though he's not personally involved in the actual conflict going on outside.]

Could you sleep, hearing what you just heard?

[He too keeps his words as quiet as possible, just between the two of them.]

[She nods though she decides it's best to explain. The answer is yes but there is a lot more to it than just that.]

If it's what I must do. I know that I can't fight alone and if people are to depend on me then I will.

[Zelda's be flying back to the observatory when she's felt tired and rested, healed herself and her loftwing before going out again. It's hard to turn away from a fight but it's better than being unprepared for what might happen next.]

Its hard but when I close my eyes, I think of those I love and I think of home. It makes sleep come a little bit easier, even if it's only for a few hours. [Link is now in stasis but she wants there to be a city for him to come home to when he wakes up again. She believes in him with an unwavering faith.]

[As Zelda explains, Sephiroth turns his head downwards and closes his eyes. It raises nothing but bitterness to think of home though-

All of those he'd cared for, all of those he might have loved had betrayed him. Sephiroth shakes his head very lightly as he comes up with a loss at what might give him that drive that Zelda describes. He has his honor only, his sense of duty that he's got a death-grip around...

But she has a point. He can't deny it, really.]

I'm not sure that it's such a good idea for me to do that.

[He spoke plainly, yet the implication that thoughts of his home give no comfort at all is crystal clear.]

[She only has a small inclination of the troubles that Sephiroth experiences at home but she knows that there is tension between him and Genesis. She looks down slight, her tone soft and gentle.]

I suppose not.

[Zelda's gaze shifts up towards him curiously.]

There is at least one person you want to protect though? Something here that drives you. Honestly, it doesn't even have to be a person but maybe thinking of that can help.

[She hopes it will help but she doesn't know what Sephiroth holds dear. She can tell that he's dedicated and has pride but she doesn't know what drives him forward.]

[One day...he knows that Zelda probably above all others is due an explanation for all of the reasons he is like he is. One day, but not today.

He meets her gaze again and that wall he put up between the outside world and his emotions creaks under the pressure. She's not the first person to ask him such a question and it had eaten at him how he hadn't been able to find an answer then. The hollow feeling it stirred is similar to that he'd felt upon leaving that reactor...]

My drive to succeed here is a part of what will keep me awake.

[There is indeed someone that he wants to protect; that realization is buried for the time being though. Much more, it's a very raw feeling that he's not sure what to do with and doesn't have the time to fathom it out currently. Sephiroth's light snarl tells to Zelda that she did prod at ~something~ though.]

I can't afford to let my focus stray, and being awoken from a nap in an emergency likely wouldn't afford very sound tactics.

[Zelda doesn’t push forward knowing that it might be hard for him to answer her; more so in their current situation. He knows that she is there for him, his friend, and that’s enough for the young goddess. Her smile softens as she looks up at him, as if understanding the meaning behind his words.]

That’s admirable of you. [Her smile becomes wistful as she continues.] Link gives me strength. Even though he isn’t here, I want to fight and I can only hope he’ll be able to wake to a bright happy home. Though there are a lot of people I want to protect too. [Sephiroth included.]

[She pauses taking a moment to think.] Perhaps to nap at uncommon times.[Assuming the empire plans to attack in the middle of the night when most are resting.]

I trust you to keep up your health but I did want to tell you that you looked tired. Maybe try and sleep for a little longer this time around?

[She’s softly begging him to rest a little more than 3 hours.]

[He can't help but to smile smally as Zelda talks about Link. He hasn't seen the young hero around for a while and her words all but explain why; like so many others before him he's had to have fallen to the stasis. Sephiroth took a breath while trying to think of how to answer Zelda but in the meantime she spoke again so he had to quickly get back on track.]

I'll see what I can do. I can't promise, but I can promise to try.

[Though really, even if Sephiroth did manage to retire into the basement which has been sectioned off as a kind of rest-area what would he do other than lie there and imagine what might be going on? He doubted he'd even be able to get one hour of rest, let alone the at-least three that Zelda silently begged for him to get.

He didn't feel all that tired, either. Yet...but it's likely that the intense environment has a hand to play in that. Tensions and activity is buzzing inside the command hub.]

That’s all I ask.

[She smiles glancing around at those who were frantically running around. The tension would remain until the end of the battle and there was little that could be cone about that. Zelda releases a heavy sigh.]

I should go.

[There is much for her to do and with her loftwing she feels obligated to do as much as she can. Not many can fly as she does. She looks up at Sephiroth with a smile.]

I’m able to fly over the city. If you need me to check on any locations let me know. I move a lot quicker than others and I’m able to avoid the moolge killers.

[Mostly because she strikes them down.]

[The heavy sigh makes Sephiroth look briefly around, falling back into his role as the superior commander in this battle. He won't forget the promise he's made to Zelda, but now is certainly not the time to be taking a nap. Maybe later.

He blinks a few times and puts a little more distance between the two of them.]

An extra set of eyes from the air wouldn't go amiss. We don't have the technology to keep in touch with our airships so-

[A knot stops his words, thinking easily back to the explosion that just happened above the 12th District.]

-if you happen to see anything that might prove problematic; don't hesitate to send a runner from one of the bases if you can't come yourself.

[Zelda nods and then her expression softens.]

I will make sure to inform you. I'll see you again Sephiroth.

[She doesn't waist time. She bows slightly, showing respect to the commander and then she leaves. She doesn't want to insult him in front of those he's in charge of and she hopes that she's given him enough respect.

Her loftwing squawks when she notices Zelda's coming.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Event || The Empire Strikes Back

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down

July 29 | After Airship Down