Event || The Empire Strikes Back

[melodiesmods]

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

Comments

[bloodypast]

[Vincent privately agreed. But then, people often ran counter to what was intelligent or sensible, and were masters at justifying it to themselves. Nor had he been immune to this tendency.

He probably still fell prey at times, but he tried to recognize it more.]

Curb, and take a step to your left to avoid stray debris.

[forcegalactic]

Thanks again. [While he trusts Vincent to be a decent human being and warn him of trip hazards, he doesn't know him well enough to entrust the entire crate of precious elixirs to him. The older man could easily outrun this stout, middle-aged store owner.]

Are you gonna keep followin' me until I get home or what? I don't want to think you have some ulterior motive for helpin' me, but it's mighty suspicious of a fella to help a stranger out this much.

[bloodypast]

[That brought a faint noise of amusement from Vincent, although his expression remained neutral.]

Fair point. I assumed we were both working for the defense of our city here, hence my offering aid.

[Turning enough to catch the other's eye, Vincent inclined his head.]

My name is Vincent. I am one of those they call Heroes of Light.

[forcegalactic]

Vincent. [He stops and turns his head to get a better look.] I thought you looked familiar.

[Still, he couldn't be too sure, but whether or not Vincent really was a Hero of Light, he needs to know that the older man was going to be defending the city alongside the others.]

Mordecai Benmont-Jiminy. [He states his name with pride.] Everyone calls me Barkeep, and I'm gettin' ready to protect this place.

[bloodypast]

[Vincent inclines his head again, acknowledging.]

How would you prefer to be called?

[Something he'd always tried to do, even on assignments. Unless he had a good reason to not use someone's preferred way of being called, then he used the address they chose.]

If you are familiar with Yuffie, or Cloud, or Tifa, or Sephiroth, I am from the same world as they are. I am also housemates with Yuffie.

[forcegalactic]

Barkeep, as I am a proud owner of a saloon. [obviously]

Yuffie? I remember her. Tried to buy a drink off me, but I got the better of her! Ramza warned me she was gonna lie about her age.

[The housing district grows closer.</small]

[bloodypast]

[Vincent nods, not-smiling even if he's amused inside. He is not surprised that Yuffie tried that.]

She tends to be like that. Better as an ally though, and she has a good heart. Where is your house?

[Vincent is asking, so he can help Barkeep navigate any doors or other obstacles.]

[forcegalactic]

A-08. [He hoists the crate higher.] Keep tellin' me where to go, I'll appreciate it.

How you know her? You been on adventures together?

[bloodypast]

I could simply carry the crate, if you wanted, Barkeep.

[Vincent is willing, and it might be easier for Barkeep than listening to directions.]

We have. Also where I know Tifa and Cloud from.

[Sorry, man of few words Barkeep.]

[forcegalactic]

Sure you could, but I'm almost there anyway. [He trusts Vincent a little more now. Next time, he'll let him carry his things.]

You know all of 'em? From the same planet, had adventures, that sort of deal? Now that's a good coincidence! Sparks is from an alternate universe --one that I didn't create-- as he doesn't know who Ginny is. That's his girlfriend, by the way. My wife and I set them up together, and Red with Croach. For some reason, in their timeline, this ain't happened. They don't even remember Gork's baby.

[Sorry, man of many words Vincent.]

Now we may have had some differences in our pasts, but we're all still friends that help each other out. Well, until Red turned into a crystal, that is. It's been the same between all three of us, and I'm glad I recognize someone. Makes things less lonely, am I right?

[bloodypast]

[Vincent is more than happy to listen. Often you could learn a lot when you let people simply talk. It was a good way to gather information.]

There is something to be said for comforting familiarity amidst the sea of unfamiliar surroundings.

[Trano Golsaucia had reminded him a bit of the Gold Saucer, which had been amusing. Also slightly reassuring, until he'd run into familiar faces like Tifa.]

[forcegalactic]

That's a good way to put it.

[He doesn't add more, as by now, they reach his house.]

Can you open that for me?

[bloodypast]

[Vincent doesn't reply, suiting action to words instead as he moves over and opens the door. Then stepping out of the way, so that Barkeep can enter more easily with his burden.]

[forcegalactic]

[Another nod of thanks, and Barkeep enters. The living room is crowded, as half of it is taken up by an in-house bar and its alcoholic stock.

He waddles over to a coffee table and sets the crate down.]

Anythin' I get for you? Somethin' to drink? Cake?

[bloodypast]

[Vincent's eyes automatically noted exits, entries, points of lines of sight. Habits long ingrained into him. Moving out of the doorway, though not yet making his way to take a seat. Unsure if he wanted to stay or go, now that his helpful errand had been completed.]

No, thank you.

[Always polite at least.]

When did you arrive, Barkeep?

[forcegalactic]

No, I can't let a guest in without offerin' somethin'. Here, sit down. You a drinkin' man, Vincent?

[He waves a hand towards a couch and walks behind the bar.]

Around May. Showed up in the temple by Trano Golsaucia. They expected us to walk all the way through the snow to get to the nearest city, can you believe it? [He pulls out two glasses.] Adventurin' aint' my style, so I stayed here most of the time, but I did go out explorin' that Stiltzkin Castle two months ago. Was enough danger for a year, but then we got invaded, and I'm not lettin' my new place get wrecked so quick. I had to stay, right?

[bloodypast]

[Vincent doesn't exactly reply as he moves over towards the couch. Settling himself, his posture and manner remain professional albeit at ease at the same time. Clear that he is a stoic type, hardly an open-book.]

We arrived around the same time then.

[forcegalactic]

[With no reply in regards of what to drink, Barkeep took out his high-quality beer and poured it in a tall glass. Classy, yet casual enough for a home visit.]

Good, good. So we're on the same page. Say, Vincent. Where do you live? Who's your roommate? I'm with Ramza here, good kid, doesn't get into trouble much like Yuffie, and not a drinkin' man. Those are some of the most trustworthy men you can find, even if they ain't good for business. But that's why we serve food in our places, Vincent. All about offerin' anything your customers need.

[bloodypast]

[Interesting, and a small city. Despite it seemed odd, it did not surprise him. The Heroes all seemed to be clustered together in one district.]

A-02, with Yuffie.

[Not that this bothered him much. If anything it was nicer than a lot of the time they'd camped while traveling around the world chasing Sephiroth-the-madman. He'd made his boundaries clear, and so long as Yuffie respected that, there was no issue.

If anything, from her moogle's reaction, it was a good thing he was fairly used to taking care of himself. Having someone he was familiar with also did not hurt, considering getting used to a new housemate would be awkward. So long as whoever he stayed with knew to respect his privacy? Vincent would deal; but not having to worry about explaining that helped.]

[forcegalactic]

[Here's your beer, Vincent. It comes with a doily.] Enjoy.

With her? Well, that's gotta be an interestin' livin' situation!

[He smiles to himself and plops down on the armchair.]

Now tell me: what kind of things does she get up to in there? Is she a good roommate? Does she cause a lot of trouble for you?

[bloodypast]

[Not really a beer man, but it'd be rude to turn down. Nor will he comment on the doily. A nod of his head in thanks, before his attention is given to the other questions.

What does she get up to? Good roommate? Cause trouble?

That last one was easy, as the answer was almost always yes. Not that he wasn't used to it by this point. Besides, she'd seemed to have had plenty of trouble herself recently considering what she'd told him when he'd arrived. Nor did she seem to be dealing with it well.]

I am used to her.

[forcegalactic]

Oh, come on, Vincent. Tell me some good stories! There's got to be a lot of 'em!

[He clapped a hand on Vincent's shoulder. What a spoilsport. A funny story would be handy right about now, when the city is threatened and Barkeep must face an unknown enemy in a day.]

Don't have to be a master storyteller, just give me the most important details!

[bloodypast]

[It's probably a good thing Vincent is sitting down. The physical sign of camaraderie is not something he's used to, and his head turns quickly to the Barkeep. A hint of displeasure seen only at his brow in his otherwise stoic expression.

He was hardly a story-teller; quickly coming to realize his host however was. A nosy one too. Normally Vincent just 'listened' and tried to avoid being the target of these kinds of attention. This was not to be this time, unless he wanted to be ruder than he felt necessary.]

She knows better than to enter my room without permission, or she'll get shot.

[Unspoken that he gave her the same courtesy. Hardly also what the Barkeep wanted, but Vincent wasn't likely to spill secrets that easily.]

[forcegalactic]

[Barkeep soon takes away his arm to rest on his knee. This guest is trying his hardest to be as unsociable as possible and needs to be pushed to talk. The beer should help, but something must fill the silence until then.

What was Vincent hiding? Did he have an embarrassing or scandalous secret? All this made Barkeep more curious]

And how does she know? You nearly shot her one time while she was snoopin' around?

[As much as he could condemn Vincent's actions, it made for an interesting piece of gossip.]

[bloodypast]

We were part of the same group on Gaia, she has seen me in battle and knows how good my aim is.

[Not to mention how private he was, aloof, and didn't like to be disturbed at times.]

This is also how I know Cloud and Tifa, though we are all from different points along our respective time-lines. Save Tifa and myself.

[Good luck getting Vincent drunk Barkeep. He may not be modified/experimented on here, but he knows this tactic. A swig is all he'll take for the moment.]