melodiesoflife | Intro Log || The Return of the Heroes

Entry tags:

Intro Log || The Return of the Heroes

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light" (only new characters can start threads).
Where: Aqures Ixen.
When: The 5th of September. The new Heroes of Light will awaken early in the morning.
Summary: The new Heroes of Light awaken in Aqures Ixen and are informed by their assigned Moogles of what the situation and what their destinies are. This a log for them to react to the situation, meet each other and be welcomed by the former batches of Heroes of Light. It marks the first time since January that Heroes of Light have appeared in Aqures Ixen.
Warning: N/A

Where you were or what you were doing— It does not really matter. Not any more. Within an instant, the world around you collapses. Reality twists and shatters... Or maybe you are the one who is collapsing and shattering away from reality as you knew it. No matter what the answer is, it will only take a few seconds for you to find yourself sinking into a void, your world vanishing into the distance. There is nothing but darkness as far as the eye can see. Even you feel different: all the powers you might once have had, are now gone. It is silent, cold and it feels as though life itself is slipping out of you.

At this moment, when it looks as though nothing but a never-ending void awaits you, a red Crystal forms before you. In this void, its warmth compels you to grab it. Upon doing so, you can hear a soft, soothing voice speaking:

"Wake up."

Soon, the void itself vanishes and is replaced by distant noises of engines. Had it all been nothing more than a dream? The soothing voice repeats its call one more time, but is soon replaced with a much less graceful "Wake up Kupo." Hand clutched on your Crystal, the call of the Moogle may finally wake you up. But you are no longer in your world, nor in the void. You are before the Crystal of Fire, in the third district of a city called Aqures Ixen. At this point, you may realize the engine noise actually originates from an Airship flying low over the city and headed to dock beneath the castle. As if it wasn't strange enough, your clothes have changed as well. They are now a reflection of the Jobs you are wielding. Last but not least, you are surrounded by Moogles, small and fluffy creatures who are more than happy to tell you about everything you want to know, about your 'destiny' as a Hero of Light, about what awaits you.

Or at least, they will tell you everything they do know, which isn't much in the end.

The only people around you are like you-- There are quite a few of them, all clothed in their Job garbs and most likely wondering what is happening. If somehow you do not realize it, the Moogle who woke you up will be more than happy to inform you there are others like you around. In fact, there are other Heroes who have arrived in the course of the past year and they will come soon! Like you, they have Jobs and a Crystal.

If asked, the Moogles will mention that the city was recently attacked by the Heran Empire and nearly destroyed by Ultima Weapon. What's the Heran Empire? What's Ultima Weapon? Better to ask to the heroes who saw it all.

The Other Heroes
— Shortly Thereafter —
Thanks to the efficiency of Mognet, it does not take long for the other Heroes to come around: those who arrived in this world within the past year. You may have imagined heroic and charismatic figures when your Moogle told you that there were other Heroes of Light in this city. You may have imagined persons with fearsome powers when they told you about how they fiercely battled each other past month. And more importantly, you may have imagined them as people who would have all the answers to your, doubtlessly, numerous questions.

If so, you may be up for a tragic disappointment. Still, for the most part they know more than you on the situation and may be more than happy to fill you in, especially if your Moogle didn't tell you much.

The City of Aqures Ixen
— Anytime —
With the recent attack, Aqures Ixen is under reconstruction. The city was saved for the most part, but there are ruined buildings, the Sixth District is nothing but wasteland now and the Thirteenth District has become a graveyard. Even so, there are a lot of things left to do in the city for newcomers. A few groups of Triple Triad players are playing before Mognet Office in the ninth district, mostly Moogles as many of them are not working after what happened. And of course, they are more than happy to teach the rule to anyone passing by. Characters are free to enter and play games of Triple Triad, and if they do so they will be given very basic cards and explained the rules. This may be the start of a promising career!

Characters are also free to visit the city-- Mognet Office just behind the Triple Triad games is filled with Moogles, most of them panicked, tired, busy or slacking now that their director has disappeared. They can also visit Airship Port in the twelfth district from where characters can board for free Airships from Shoopuf Airline-- Though they have to make a request 48 hours in before to do so.

Or maybe you could visit your new house in the 11th District, and get to know your new neighbors and housemate. Hopefully your neighbors are people you will get along with.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind
— 19:00 —
Characters venturing by the city's outskirts at this specific time will be able to see a most peculiar sight: a flying saucer seemingly abducting a cow before flying away and disappearing into the sky without leaving any traces of its presence. If your character do see it, hopefully there will be someone with them. Otherwise, nobody will believe their story.

Was it an UFO or just a hallucination? Only the future will tell...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[spoiler: this kid also likes to talk. subject matter may be more narrow, however.

He crosses his arms, closing his eyes as though a bit annoyed while trying to think. He'd put off going towards where he'd be staying all day because he didn't want to immediately start off on the absolute wrong foot (and be certain he was the only one who "remembered"). He wasn't even sure if he bought this still.

But the question gets him to stop.]

The Keyblade, right?

[Funny how he says it with such familiarity and disregard for "world order"; yet as he looks at Ven with half-dead eyes, they almost seem to brighten a bit at the mention of one of those names.]

Unfortunately I'm the only one from any version of our "worlds" that I or Riku remember that- Wait, you know Terra?

[At that, even Rae does a double-take at such a casual mentioning of the Keyblade -- if only because she's gotten the ~secrecy vibes~ from Ven about it before now, in how he never really talks about it (or his origins) and would always change the subject when she first inquired about it.

Ven's reaction is a tad more animated. He starts firmly enough that he takes an impulsive step back out of surprise -- and so he probably doesn't need to verbally confirm that they're talking about the same weapon, right?

Between that, the puzzling phrase any version of our "worlds," and the sudden slap of reality and half-recovered memory that hits him at the mention of Riku's name, Ven's at a total loss for a couple heartbeats and -- congrats, this is rare -- speechless.

But both his sense and his voice come back to him at that last part, and for the moment that's all that really matters to him. Everything else can wait.]

Y-Yeah! He's one of my best friends! Why -- how do you know him? When did you see him?

[ANSWERS PLEASE]

[Considering the weapon on his back, it probably should not have been much of a surprise - especially with a rather familiar jewel set in its hilt. Not that it was a proper Keyblade, only a mockery of a mockery.

Fakeception.

Yet the doubletake and super-animated reaction gets only a raised eyebrow from him. He's far too used to others knowing about his -- their -- worlds for him to really care about keeping that secret. Yet the nature of where and how he met Terra...

Oh boy; how does he start?]

Back on the world I was on before coming here - he was one of those "saved" just like everyone else brought there.

[Totally not vague, right?]

He offered to teach me a few tricks before the kid who pulled us there lost his grip on him; probably back in his version of the Worlds now.

Saved? [He doesn't miss the implied air-quotes, but even if they weren't there, that would be puzzling enough.] Wait, so... you met him in another world -- and people were brought there? [Just like here... no--] Just like Aqua.

[That's said much more quietly -- audible, but obviously more of a thought than a direct remark. Yuna said she came from a world that brought people in at random -- one that didn't let them leave at any time -- so is this something like that?

He's still not sure what's meant by "his version," but right now we're totally concentrating on Terra and this might be Ven's only chance to put some recent fears to rest, so, again, he's plowing on ahead with the subject, if a little hesitantly.]

How... how was he? Was he-- [ah, he can't really ask if Terra seemed "normal," can he? Only he or Aqua would know that for sure.] Uh... well -- what did he look like?

Right. Though now that I think about it, I think there was at least one "Aqua" mentioned on the-

[Crap no don't say graveyard floor that would not be a good for this kid if he was anything like a few other friendship dorks.]

...floor with names of all who'd been there.

[Nice save there, Ira. A+]

As for Terra... Brown hair, blue eyes, always hiding in that black coat the Organization wears. Then again, so did I when trying to hide from the more unsavory group in that world.

[This totally isn't helping is it. Whoops.]

[BOSS SAVE. Much appreciated, although Ven doesn't know it.

For whatever reason, he dares to look relieved at that simple description -- only to tense up at the latter half of it, his expression going blank in the way it does when, in a moment of shock, a person isn't quite sure what to think, or to feel. The puzzling mention of Aqua is even pushed to the side -- for now -- because Ven's suddenly turning to his moogle with an unnaturally intent look, enough to make her jump slightly.]

Rae--

K-Kupo?

Give me the Time Mage clothes.

Hm? But wh--

Please. [It's said with the same firm authority that anyone else might use to insist Now -- a thinly veiled demand with a touch of impatience. Puzzled but obedient, Rae does as he asks -- and in a blink, Ven's usual day-clothes are replaced with one of those aforementioned black coats (or a very accurate replica, down to the last detail), complete with gloves and all.

"The Organization" rings no bells -- but he's absolutely positive that this coat is the same one he saw Terra... no, the man who vaguely resembled Terra, wearing. If Terra himself was seen in something similar...

Could it really be a coincidence?

Well, he's about to find out. The look he gives Ira is easily the most grim expression he's worn so far.]

The coat he was wearing -- it didn't look like this, did it?

[For a moment, Ira is looking between Ven and Rae as though not fully brought to speed. He even mouths out a confused "Time mage?" to Lin who merely shrugs at him before turning back to Ven and-

seeing that-

...]

Yeah. That's exactly it.

[So that coat exists even here. What he would give to set them all on fire.]

[If it wasn't already glaringly obvious, that wasn't the answer Ven was hoping for. His shoulders sag, disappointed, but after a moment he remembers himself and adds, somewhat flatly,]

I see... Thanks. [~~FOR CRUSHING MY HOPES~~ Still. Brown hair, not silver. Blue eyes, and Terra cared enough to teach Ira some fighting moves. He must not have changed after all, right?

That gives Ven some confidence, even if the mystery of the coat and this Organization and those two strange men and the other world that Ira came from are all still very up in the air. But for now...

For now, he smiles, even if it's lacking the light of the ones he gave before. Even if it's a little sad.]

Really. I'm glad he made some more friends. [There he goes again, assuming friendship left and right. Better than having him break down on the spot, though, right?

And then, a little sheepishly,]

Sorry for all the questions. I haven't heard from my friends in a long time, so...

[Longer than you think.]

[After how long he'd been in that other world, he'd almost forgotten the term "sugar coat" and its definition. ]

...Hey, I wouldn't worry too much. That was only one of many possible outcomes, you know? And the Terra I know did make more friends. You guys seem to just manifest impossibilities from the friendships you make.

[However many friends that Terra had, Ira has NO IDEA... but one or five totally counted in the "friendship dork handbook" right? ....Ugh, he sucked at this kind of thing!]

Nah. I'd probably be the same way if someone mentioned Sora, Naminé or Xion, too.

[He won't doubt it. Though with the awkwardness looming in the air, Moglin decided it was time to interrupt it this time.]

You were about to ask where he's staying, right? It's B-10, kupo!

[You sure do like the word "version" and other similar phrases, huh.

Still, that remark makes him nod once, lightly but decidedly -- because while all those mysteries still remain, he's had a couple fears assuaged today. Considering his circumstances, he can't be so greedy as to ask for much more right away.

But the mention of Sora immediately gets his attention -- the second name is... familiar, like Riku's, but not nearly as much; the third... no, the third doesn't sound familiar in the slightest. He's so preoccupied with those thoughts that Moglin's remark takes a couple seconds to sink in, and by then Rae's already picked up Ven's slack.]

B-10? That's where he's staying, kupo! Along with Saori and Meredy--

Huh? Oh -- yeah! That's right! That's our house. [Hold up, tho, let's back it up just a bit--] But -- you know Sora? And... you mentioned Riku, before.

[...Ventus

Ventus you don't even begin to realize how odd that probably sounds

"oh you know this guy that you look and sound totally identical to

huh

imagine that??"]

[Well, one cannot say that he didn't try. Pondering what he could possibly say to cheer this guy up what is it with people who have the kicked puppy look that makes him want to cheer them up-

you know what he's just going to blame riku for that

-but when Rae speaks up, that thought train speeds right on down the tracks in the opposite direction than it was headed previously. Oh great, so they're housemates. This is going to go well after this conversation. Yet when Ven mentions Sora and Riku, he can't help but be surprised.]

Well, yeah. Kind of hard not to when he's- [Waitaminute.] How do you know them?

[Congratulations, Ventus. The proverbial shoe is on the other foot.]

Oh -- ah...

[Heee kind of. Walked right into that complicated web, didn't he.

Well. Simpler things first.]

Well... I don't -- actually know Riku. But he's one of Sora's friends, right? His best friend. [That last part comes out unconsciously -- as if Ven was obligated to add it, even though he's not sure why.]

Sora... well -- it's -- ah... He... helped me out. A couple times. It was a long time ago, though. [A thoughtful beat.] He was here, when I arrived -- but I didn't get to see him before...

[...Ah. Yeah. Another difficult subject.]

[Ira's eyes narrow a bit. No kidding Riku is Sora's best friend. Had it not been for the hesitation, he probably would have just waved it off because it was just something that Sora would continually tell others he met.

If anything, it was just confusing and worrying him more. Unfortunately that makes him a bit more snappish.]

Wait... He's here!?

[Then it hits him; the past tense. And at that exact moment, something snaps.]

Before what?

[...He remembers. He remembers all too clearly who was the first person who treated him like he was another person, like he was real. A Sora helping him choose his own name, before his memory was completely wiped by the administrators. He remembers a shade talking in Sora's voice. Being drained to another "death" to the voice telling him to save them somehow. Checking the gravestones to see not just one, but two Soras named side by side.

...]

What happened to him?

[Ven, you have ten seconds to explain before worried fake!biffle bolts.]

There's... this thing called crystal stasis -- when Heroes turn into crystal. Sometimes it's just for a few days, and other times it's... longer.

[As in, they still haven't recovered.]

Sora turned a couple months ago. They're keeping him in the hospital with the others -- I check in on him, though. He's okay. Just... the same as he's been.

[And Ven hasn't been able to shake off a shadow of guilt since. As if he should've been able to stop it -- even if he knows by now that he couldn't have.]

[Yeah that... doesn't really help. Looking to Lin, he asks:]

Which way to the hospital?

Uh-um, that way but- [And the moment Lin points toward a direction, Ira sprints off.] W-wait!

I'll see you later!

[Sorry Ven, but some things one just needs to see for themselves.]

H-Hey!

[Ven starts after him on impulse -- but he's been pretty obedient in staying inactive since the doctors told him to take it easy, and this is the first time he's tried to move so fast in weeks. Combined with an injury that's still not-quite-healed, the pain makes him cringe and stop dead a step later even before Rae throws herself in front of him with her paws on his chest.]

Kupo! Take it easy!

[He starts to argue, but -- it's not as if he doesn't know where Ira's going, huh. More than that, should he follow? If he's a friend of Sora's, maybe he doesn't want anyone butting in just yet, least of all a stranger; maybe he needs that time alone, like Asbel did when Sophie turned.

Ven frowns, but finally relaxes and steps back. If he doesn't show up at the house within a couple hours, he'll go looking. Otherwise, it might be best to let him be.]

[To not only see Sora, but ~~Kairi~~ a girl that was ~~too familiar~~ ~~a friend~~ ~~someone important to Riku~~ ~~was she there too before?~~ ~~why can't he remember her name~~ important, but couldn't place because of his messed up memories that weren't even really his to begin with. It on top of everything else just caused all trains of thought to come grinding to a halt.

He no longer stopped trying to avoid heading to the house he was assigned to after that.]

--

[It took almost no coaxing after visiting the hospital for Moglin to convince Ira to go to where he'd be staying inside the city. How easy it was after a day of obstinate behavior oddly worried her more than anything else he may have said, especially after how sullen he seemed. Considering that he'd been so animated before, even maybe a little excited to hear someone he knew was here only to find they were in crystal stasis...]

...Just like home.

[For a minute she didn't quite get it, but when she did-]

He's in stasis back in your world, kupo?

Something like that. [Oh boy; progress!] He chose to reclaim his real memories, so...

[But as he's about to continue explaining, they arrive. Two hours after they met (and likely after it's grown dark), he slowly opens the door to B-10.]

[It's pretty good timing, because Ven's about five minutes away from just getting up and going, gut feeling or no. He's in the living room on the couch ~~not as a way of watching the door, certainly not~~ where he's been since he returned himself half an hour ago. Rae's nowhere to be seen.

As soon as the door opens, Ven's head snaps up.]

Ira!

[It's a relieved tone -- and if his expression's any indication, it's genuine.]

[Honestly he was not up to talking much after seeing ~~those two~~ Sora in crystal stasis, memories from a year ago resurfacing so easily. From what he'd seen when...

It wasn't time to think about that, what with that tone of relief his new.. friend used. But what should he do?

... When in doubt, snark usually worked.]

Somehow, I just knew you'd be waiting.

[A bit amused at the predictability? Maybe. It had been too easy to peg Ven for the friend-centric soon as he mentioned Terra's name.]

[Snark or not, Ven takes it as a good sign. His smile's back in place in a heartbeat as he stands, keeping the weight off his left leg more out of habit by now than anything else.]

Why wouldn't I? I've gotta stick by my new roommate, y'know?

[Yeah, "roommate." Not just "housemate;" Ven has the only double-room in the house, so. Guess where you're staying, unless you prefer the couch.

After a moment, though, the smile sobers a tad.]

How was he?

[~~oh thank light he bought it i mean uh~~ An amused sound escapes him as he closes the door behind him, shrugging. ...Wait.]

"Roommate"? [Consider him surprised.] And... about the same as you said.

[No news is better than bad news, he supposes. He pockets his hands with an affirmative sound.]

Mm! Saori and Meredy have the other two bedrooms. I've had the double one to myself ever since Sora... [Well. Yeah. That.

On the plus side, Ven's among the small number of teenage boys who actually keep a neat room for the most part. You can't complain there.]

...Well, the place isn't huge, but -- you want a tour?

Intro Log || The Return of the Heroes

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ninth district → B-10

B-10

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