melodiesoflife | Event || Window of Opportunity

Event || Window of Opportunity

Characters: All Heroes of Light.
Where: Aqures Ixen - Everywhere
When: September 25th - From 12:30 to 22:30.
Summary: Heroes of Light will relive the same ten hours over and over again until they find a solution. This may be a blow to what's left of their sanity, but that's also a window of opportunity! The OOC Post is here for more information! It's not too late to sign-up, anyone can still jump right into the event! However, your vote for the total number of loops will not be taken into account any more.

Speaking of which-- Votes are in and this time displacement madness will be solved after 191 loops. Practically speaking, this means characters going through every single loop will live 2 months, 2 weeks, 3 days and 14 hours in the span of half a day. Hopefully they won't mind the food for the day, the clothes they're wearing or what they were doing when the loop started, because that's what they'll be stuck with until the end. There are some events described below, but there will be no NPC replies. Feel free to partake in these events and of course, make your own!

Warning: Too many time loops may be bad for your mental health.

The Flence Salesman
— All Day Long —
There is a salesman from Flence in the city, and he is going for every person he sees in the streets. Adults, children or elders, humans or tarutarus, it doesn't matter to him so long as he can make money! He will try to sell to the characters specialties from Flence and some crystals at absolutely awful prices, but he's open to negotiations and beyond that, he's extremely persistent. Normally, nobody would care about this, but given the salesman isn't be aware of the loop, he'll keep doing the same things over and over again... Hopefully he won't see your characters, otherwise he might just bother them for every single loop.

Moogle Demonstration for the Future of Mognet
— 12:30 => 16:00 —
For a surprise one-day long strike, the Moogles are demonstrating! There are roughly 800 Moogles together (250 according to the government, 5000 according to the striking Moogles) in the demonstration, all singing slogans and some even holding placards with "More Gil and Less Work" or "Give us Kupo Nuts" signs.

They started at 10:00 and left from the 09th District, but they will go throughout every district and explain what their protest is about. They'll finish at 16:00 and will be back to the 09th District to eat Kupo Nuts and drink Chocobo Milk together.

Biggs' Grand Return
— 14:00 => 22:30 —
After a month spent in the hospital, Biggs is finally back! He leave the Hospital at 14:00 and head straight for the Castle of Aqures Ixen. Noticeably he still has a broken and bandaged arm, but he'll pretend to be totally fine and for that matter, he will be as rude and as unfriendly as ever. He will spend most of the day in the Castle, but will go in Palitutu's Lab by 19:00 to meet with Cid. Among other things, he will side-eye everyone and will accidentally splash Cid's coffee on a Hero of Light working there (or on a Moogle, should the Hero have the good sense to avoid Biggs next loop).

Renovation of the Blitzball Stadium
— 15:30 => 20:00 —
The repairs are going steadily and today, a special dome from Trano Golsaucia is being transported and placed on the Blitzball Stadium, brand new and much more modern than what Aqures Ixen used to have! On the downside however, the airship bringing the dome and the work being done on the stadium are all very, very noisy. So noisy that everyone in a two-district radius will be bothered by it.

Under normal circumstances it would have been only for a short time and easilly bearable, but here it will happen for every single loop.

Have You Heard of the Heroes of Light?
— All Day Long —
Throughout the day, a few people are going to go and knock on every doors in the city, to talk about a most fascinating topic: the Heroes of Light! They will speak about how it is said the Heroes of Light are in Crystallis and how they managed to defeat the empire without difficulties back during the attack! Then they will go on and ask for a contribution (hear: money) to help the Heroes of Light in their cause. Of course, these people are dishonest and the money will go into their own pockets, as they don't believe in the Heroes of Light to begin with.

And of course, they'll go knock on doors during every single loop!

The Accident
— 22:29 => 22:30 —
The one minute that started it all. Who is the imbecile who committed the mistake on Palitutu's computer? Is this a Moogle or a Hero of Light, maybe Cid or Biggs? Whoever it is, after the first time, at 22:29 the program will start again on its own and will activate the loop right at 22:30, sending everything back to 12:30. The characters may try to run more programs to block the computer, cut the energy source or even bomb the building if they so wish...

But these archaic and barbaric solutions won't prevent the next loop from happening. Only hard work and scientific solutions shall prevail!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kuprono and Graham were not on such good terms. The instant he appeared to meet his new charge, he was grabbed by the neck of the wrench wielded by a panicked and confused Graham. Since then, he's been too afraid to stay near him for long. Plus he felt Graham was a bit embarrassing, as noted by how he attempts to hide behind his friends in the crowd, pulling his hat down low and hoping Graham stops.

Graham thinks about Rukia's offer for a moment, and nods.]

We can be the catalysts for change. We can help extend the olive branch that brings the city and moogles together! Yes! Is this what it means to be a Hero, then? Aren't these the sort of deeds that they'd do?

[He furrows his brow now, tossing his wrench up and down one-handed. He wasn't interested in getting involved after talking with Sephiroth and Ramza, but he did promise Kobato he'd try...]

Alright. I have to start somewhere, and this might as well be it. We'll see if this can become a happy story yet!

[Rukia listened with a smile. Grandiose speeches seldom bothered her. (He should hear some of the Soul Society captains when they got passionate about something.) He seemed earnest in his desire to be a Hero, and that was good enough for Rukia.]

Yes, a good start indeed. I take it you're newly arrived, then, much like myself.

[At least, he sounded like he knew as much about his duties as a Hero as she did. Which was to say, not very much. Since she noted that the acceptable greeting around here seemed to be a handshake, she stuck out her palm.]

Rukia Kuchiki.

[Earnest, yes; happy, no. He liked the situation the Heroes were in even less than the idea of being a hero himself, but if he wanted to get home, he needed to play along. He pouts for a few moments before Rukia introduces herself, which gets him to grin. Most people would never do such a thing to him as offer a hand for a handshake. It might have to do with his reputation, and the first impressions he tends to give.]

Another person who is interested in who I am? Are all Heroes here such kind souls? Is this their way of luring me into the same roles? It will be a long time until this story is finished. Graham Specter will chose his own path, whether the ending is happy or not!

[And then he'll shake her hand. Damn that's a strong grip he's got.]

[Kind...? She hadn't really thought of it that way, but she supposes so. Her own grip is fairly firm for a woman, but his gives her a little zing. Just a little too tight there.]

You are uninterested in the role you were assigned?

[She asks bluntly, if only because he's the first who really seems unclear about what to do. He means to do something at least, she'll praise him for that.]

Interesting.

[Rukia jerks her head a little, motioning for him to follow as she turns to seek out the merchants' section of town.]

Where are you from?

Only to the point where being involved will get me home faster. Not really the charitable work of a hero, but I never claimed to be, asked to be, or wanted to be a hero. A man's entire nature cannot be changed just because you swap his labels! But, will I really know if I don't try? I suppose I can't make that claim until I do, so I promised that I will. Though I didn't promise when or how or for how long!

[He laughs a little at that; it's hard to tell if he thinks that's because he thinks it's a nefarious plan, or he really just thinks it's funny.]

Does it matter where I'm from? Most people here seem to be dragged in from such far-off corners of places I didn't even knew existed until now. I'm from the darkest corner of the most far-off place, thrown into spotlight and told to play hero.

Hmmm... I suppose you have a point.

[By now she's starting to be a little more aware of the mania. She's not sure how much of it is normal for him, though, or how much can be attributed to the time loop. As for his question about whether or not it matters...]

It does.

[She looks up at him, walking side by side.]

There are cultures and regional backgrounds to consider. Even combat styles common to a place's native inhabitants.

[But she was essentially arguing for unnecessary details. If he didn't want to answer, she wasn't going to twist his arm about it.]

Well you certainly can't be blamed for being homesick. I'm concerned about what's happening in my world as well.

[Graham was already getting pretty homesick, and his face falls at Rukia mentioning it.]

If there is any reason to take up this ridiculous Hero job, it's to make sure I can go home. Even if... [His shoulders slump, hand holding his wrench falling to his side, so he has to drag it along the street beside him.] Even if I was told it might be going through the same problems this world has. Even if I was told that I may not even get to go back, whether we solve this problem or not.

[He stops, clenching his shoulders and holding his wrench to him tightly, as if for dear life. It's all he's got of home now, really.] Even with all of that... I have to try! Right?! There are no absolutes in this or any other world!

What...?!

[Their own worlds are being afflicted as well? No one told Rukia that! She's been worried more that the people she knows are going to fret over her sudden absence, but there's some sort of calamity there too?!]

How did you learn of such a thing? Are there records?

[He seems distressed. Perhaps she shouldn't press him right now. Sometimes it's too easy to forget how fragile a human can be.]

...I believe you are correct. I feel obligated to make the effort, personally, but what you choose to do should be your own decision.

Another Hero told me. The one with long, silver hair. [He's not sure he got his name. He was busy thinking about this terrible situation.]

He didn't offer proof, but... Maybe he was lying? Do you think he would lie? Would he do that to try to get me to play along in this Hero business? Am I being tricked?

[Graham's hands wring tightly around his wrench, like he might snap it in two, if that were possible.]

I haven't met him, so I cannot say.

[Graham certainly appears distressed, though. Rukia didn't mean for their harmless quest to result in so much trauma.]

But I do believe that we are needed here. The records I've studied indicate as much. As to how it affects our worlds... I don't know.

[She shakes her head.]

I'm sorry I cannot be of more assistance.

Every day that I've been here has only brought on more questions, and zero new answers. Life is always complicated, but how is one supposed to go on if there's no light at the end of the tunnel? Are we supposed to trudge along in the dark, never knowing if our efforts are good for anything at all!?

[He stops walking very suddenly, and plops down on the curb. He suddenly doesn't feel like going on.]

If we really are needed here, is it as some sort of sacrifice?

...I don't know.

[But history seemed to indicate that's what had happened to the heroes summoned 2000 years ago. His concerns were valid...and shared. The knowledge haunted Rukia's mind too. She looks down at Graham, the hunch of his back, and sighs. Gently she rests her hand on his shoulder.]

I plan to take the job of Scholar. Supposedly it allows one to read the language of the Ancients, and increases one's ability to research information. Perhaps you should consider taking this job as well. This way, we can find the answers for ourselves, or at least understand more than we do now.

[Even the Scholar job couldn't help Graham focus on studying. Best to leave him to combat classes and taking down the enemies so the others could focus on academics.

The hand on the shoulder is a surprise to him, and he looks up at Rukia with wide eyes through his long hair.]

A... scholar? Me? I was told I was an Assassin. What kind of role for a Hero is that? Only more evidence that I am, and always will be, the villain. I know what my role is, and it's the same as my old life. Can a person really change? Can a man really swap out his nature just because someone put a new label on him? I'm still the same person I was! I... am, right!?

[An assassin? This guy? Who told him something like that? Rukia looks down at him, studying his face. He looks so lost and hopeless, how could she respond unkindly?]

I don't know about your past. And as I'm sure you guessed, I know even less about your future.

[She removes her hand, then sits down beside him.]

What kind of person do you want to be? That should be all that defines you.

[Tossing his wrench back and forth in his hands now, Graham seems to intensely consider this question.]

I'll tell you a sad story: Some people go their entire lives without know who they are or what their purpose is. They trudge through life without meaning or direction, and die without even coming close to an answer!

Isn't that what every person wants? People think they can be whatever they want, but there are too many things, too many factors that keep them from this. Otherwise, everyone would be what they want and the story would have a happy ending! But it's not that way at all!

I was happy as a villain. Was I? I think so! But now that I'm a hero I don't know! I'm not happy to be turned into this without my permission, but there's nothing I can do to change it! Just like everyone else! Is it fate? I don't believe in fate!!

[All riled up again, he leaps to his feet, tossing his wrench up high and catching it as he does so.]

My purpose is to dismantle. To tear everything apart! Not to destroy or create. Not to build up, but to bring down. And I'll do it on this world or any!

[...Okay, she's starting to think this guy might have actually cracked. He'd started out so normal! Did she give him the wrong advice?]

Oi...

[Tear everything apart? That, combined with his apparent love of being an assassin, is enough to give her reason to pause. He doesn't seem entirely evil, but he might be teetering on the brink. She'll have to keep a close eye on him.]

As long as you're tearing apart the right things, we won't have any problems.

[Rukia remains sitting, watching him with a flat stare.]

If you plan on dismantling this Calamity, then we're allies.

[He whirls around, swinging to point the wrench at Rukia, stopping short a few inches from her nose.]

Then take me to it! If it can be taken apart, then that's why I've been brought here. That would be my true purpose on this world! I'll save the world and end this madness, and then go back home! Isn't that what everyone wants?!

[The idea that he, Graham Specter, may be able to help save the world after all, is overwhelming to him in several ways. It's terrifying and flattering.]

Take it apart with a wrench?! Don't be a fool!

[Rukia grabs hold of the wrench and yanks on it to bring him closer to her level.]

Of course that's what everyone wants! If it were that simple, don't you think someone else would have done it already?! Charging at that thing would only get you killed. You would help no one!

[She lets go of the wrench with a grunt of anger.]

If you want to stop it, then you'll need dedication and patience. Master your jobs, learn the secrets of the calamity's defeat! It will take time and teamwork, so don't throw away your life so readily.

[He wasn't expecting her to do that, and looks surprised the whole while she dresses him down. When Rukia lets go of the wrench, he grows indignant. He doesn't take well to being told what to do. He really doesn't have a firm grasp on the situation he's in yet, but then again, Graham doesn't really have a firm grasp on a lot of things, reality especially.

He tosses his wrench back and forth to each hand with some extra oomph. Smack, smack, smack.]

Of course with a wrench! Anything can be dismantled - machines, people, things! And if there's a way to dismantle this Calamity, then I'll be the one to do it. With or without a team. Don't think you can discount me so quickly! I will figure this out, I will take it apart and I will go home! If I can't do that, then I'm worthless!

Worthless? No. But you are woefully unprepared. If you are an assassin, then surely you know the value of studying your prey.

[He may not like being told what to do, but unfortunately, Rukia has a bossy streak a mile wide. If she winds up sending him off to his death with an ill-placed word, she isn't sure she could forgive herself. With a quiet 'hmph' she stands to her feet and folds her arms.]

Let me propose this, then.

[She fixes him with a direct stare.]

I already know I can't take on the calamity and win as I am now. Therefore!

[Rukia holds up a finger.]

If you can't defeat me, you surely cannot fight the calamity with any hope of success. Once a month, you may challenge me as you wish. But if you are unable to win, you must undergo further training. Get stronger. Get smarter. All the while, I will be doing the same. But if you best me, then you are welcome to depart with my blessing.

[She folds her arms again.]

Is it a deal?

[Graham listens to, staring right back as she does. As she gives her proposal, his grin slowly gets bigger and bigger. In response to her final question, he swings at her with his wrench with full strength, but it's an intentional miss - it hits the curb, right beside her, and the stone cracks beneath it. He's also hunkered down with it so that he's eye to eye with Rukia, just a few inches separating them, and he's grinning ear to ear.]

Do we get started now?

If you think you can.

[He's dangerous. He could have brained her easily. And yet, she senses there may be potential. If so, it's worth protecting. So as he leans in, she smiles coolly, lowering her lashes just fractionally.]

[Then she seizes his wrist, and with a soft flutter of her robes, she flips around, trying to throw his weight off-balance to drive her foot into his back.]

[She almost gets him, but a normally fast Graham is only bolstered by the parkour ability that comes with his Job. She has his wrist and she's behind him, so the best he can do right now is whip his giant wrench over his back to block her kick just in time. This is a difficult position to attack from, so all he can to is attempt to break away from Rukia's grip with a sudden jump forward.

And to think, this all started with them going to find kupo nuts.]

[He's fast! She meant to use his back for a springboard, but the wrench will suffice too. Bending her knees, Rukia launches herself backward to put a significant distance between them. At the height of her arc, she grips her other wrist and opens her palm to target the mechanic.]

Water!

[Of the four offensive spells to which she has access, water is probably the one that will deal the least consequential damage. All she needs to do is take him down. Once that's finished, she can heal his injuries and help him stand.]

[Oh right, magic. Graham had forgotten that was a thing people here could do. He didn't have any himself, so he hadn't considered it. He's able to dodge, though, considering the distance between them now, and he darts wide to the side, swinging the wrench low to try and knock Rukia's feet out from under her. While still considerably strong, it's good news for her (and every other living thing in Crystallis) that he doesn't still hit with the superhuman-like strength he had back home.]

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