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

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.]

[She tries to get out of the way, but the edge of the wrench catches her ankle, upsetting her balance. Rukia lands on her backside with a grunt, but she isn't ready to break the offensive just yet. Fire or lightning would most certainly be a greater shock, but she's adamant about not hurting him. She just needs to win. She's responsible for the tragedies that take place if she fails, and he leaves to face the Cataclysm alone.]

[She cannot afford to lose.]

[Rolling up to one knee, she punches another sphere of water at her opponent. She doesn't want to use up too much of her magic or she won't have anything left for her Cure spells, but if that's what it takes...]

[Once she was down, Graham used the momentum he had to twirl in a circle, bringing his wrench up high, planning on bringing it down on Rukia. She might have been pulling punches, but it was definitely hard to tell if he was.

But there's that magic again. He didn't know she could cast another spell again so soon, and just as he's about swing down, he gets hit square in the chest with the spell.

He staggers backwards, looking surprised. Not as much of the spell itself as to how much it hurt. Pain was something he usually ignored easily, thanks to years of practice. Being starting level is no fun at all, but that's okay - he still has a few decent skills from his new Jobs, in case she tries it again.

One of those skills is parkour, and Graham runs right at Rukia, but suddenly jumps and launches himself a nearby lamppost. He's getting some good distance, aiming to land swinging either right next to her or right behind her.]

[Suddenly she's not there.]

[The ability doesn't always kick in, and it's taken some getting used to, but she's glad for it. Her Transience allows her to dodge and counterattack, which she does, delivering a swift chop of the side of her hand into his middle in an attempt to wind him.]

[And here he had been hoping to rely on the same ability. Lesson #2 has been learned - keep in mind the broad scope of powers people can have here. Graham wouldn't be making the same mistakes again.

He takes the hit to the ribs and doubles over a bit, surprised and impressed with how well she hits. It's slowed him, but it hasn't stopped him from trying to swing the wrench her way with his opposite hand, giving it everything he's got left. His expression has turned from mad enjoyment to anger rather quickly. He can't move like he used to, he can't hit as hard as he should. It frustrated him beyond words. He should be better than this!]

[She at least recognizes the frustration in his face, just before she leans back. The wrench barely nicks her chin, enough to cut her with the edge, but not knock her head clean off of the neck. She retaliates with another burst of water from her hand.]

Do you understand now?

[Instead of pressing the attack, Rukia leaps backward, holding out her palm to threaten another spell.]

We are changed from what we were. It will take time and training before we are able to stand against the obstacles we now face. If you understand, then cease.

[He tries to block the shot with the wrench, and he mostly does. It still makes him stumble back at bit. While Rukia speaks, he holds it out like he's ready to jump back into action, grimacing viciously. But he knows she's right about being changed. He absolutely hates it. With a growl, instead of attacking, he slams the wrench off the street as hard as he can, cracking more of the stones. A hit like that should have shattered them and send the pieces flying.]

I hate this! Why make me weaker if I'm supposed to be some kind stupid Hero?! I don't even wanna be one! This will never make sense to me!

Then do nothing!

[She's glad he's seen reason, but coddling him will likely do more harm than good. He's frustrated? So is she.]

If you cannot gather the willpower to seek answers, and you have no wish to help these people, retreat and become a hermit! Leave that work to the rest of us!

[She folds her arms, leveling a stern stare at him.]

But I refuse to let you charge blindly to your death simply because you cannot see any other path available to you.

[Wracked by distress, Graham drops to his knees, hands clutching his head. His wrench clatters to the ground in front of him.]

Maybe I will! I'll leave and live in a cave and meditate every single day until the answer on how to get out of this stupid, ugly world hits me! I'll live out a pathetic and sad story until the whole thing is over! Or maybe I'll become enlightened and I'll solve whatever problems this place is so I can just go back already! Anything to get out out out out out!

You're behaving like a child.

[And she has no idea what to do about that. Nothing seems to be getting through to him, and she's frustrated. Even scolding him makes her feel a little mean, if he's going to take it that personally.]

[Graham is too lost in his own little world to ever successful argue with, his mood too volatile. The best thing to do is to let him ride it out, and see if it and his opinions change in the next few minutes. Because there's a good chance they will.

He hops to his feet now, looking indignant and angry. He's not helping dispel that childish accusation much. A large, especially violent child, anyway.]

If wanting to return home makes me a child, then I'm a child. I was taken from my home and changes from who I am, and told I'm someone else now! A Hero of Light! Just because of some old, vague prophecy? Why is everyone so accepting of this?! Why hasn't everyone who's had the same thing happen not protest in the streets?! I'll take this place apart bit by bit and piece by piece until I get an answer!

Because it is necessary.

[She folds her arms, her expression stern.]

The calamity must be stopped at the source, or it will not only destroy this world, but mine and yours as well. You truly believe no one else in this world misses their home, and their friends? How thoughtless.

[Her gaze remains fixed on Graham.]

We are fighting a force we know little about. For our best chance of success, we cannot afford this ignorance, and neither can you if you have any intention of taking action.

[Graham growls, frustrated. He can't just run out and fix this immediately, and waiting is the worst. He isn't patient in the slightest.]

I haven't been given any evidence to those claims. Have you? If I'm so ignorant, then tell me!

Evidence? No. But there's no evidence against it, either. I can't afford to take a chance in this regard if there truly exists such a threat.

[She unfolds an arm, pointing at him.]

That is why I suggest you do your best to learn more, just as I must.

[Graham hefts his wrench over his shoulder, standing squarely.]

Alright! I want answers, and I will get answers. I'll figure this out so I can get out of this place as soon as I can. It will be Graham Specter who gets to the bottom of this and ends it once and for all. If I have to tear apart this world from one corner to the other to find the answers, I'll do it!

Hopefully that won't be necessary.

[But his new determination pleases her, and her stiff posture and stern stare warm into a smile.]

But I'm glad to hear it. I would have worried for you otherwise.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Event || Window of Opportunity

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