Event || Window of Opportunity

[melodiesmods]

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!

Comments

[damn_juicebox]

[This will probably never cease to feel mildly nostalgic, crossing blades with a good friend and trading blows. She's far less awkward than when she'd first begun to learn swordplay. Rukia keeps her blows light so as not to damage his keyblade. She isn't sure what it's made of yet, and has no desire to break his weapon. But once she's sure the structure is sound, she'll strike a little faster.]

[She takes a step back and to the side, angling herself to get a little higher on the gentle slope of the hill.]

[makingfriends]

[His weapon's tougher than it looks, don't worry. He's had it broken twice in his life, but those were both extreme cases.

Ven's had a number of different battle scenarios drilled into him, so Rukia's shift in elevation is taken in stride; he lets her have the slightly-higher-ground, shifting his own footing in response, but in exchange makes a quick, low sweep with his Keyblade. It may be obvious that he's still trying to get a feel for her style, not moving as fast or hitting as hard as he could, either.]

[damn_juicebox]

[At least her rise in elevation will put her at eye level. Her face is serious, at least at first, as she studies Ventus's reflexes and skill. She pushes, just a little faster, just a little harder, until she can accurately gauge whether or not she should offer a little mentorship.]

[It doesn't seem likely, however. He knows how to handle a blade, that much is clear. He may even be better than her if he's particularly deft with his strikes. As Rukia uses her weapon with both hands, she's able to put a little more punch into her blows. He goes low, and Rukia leaps, aiming to strike his shoulder with the flat of her blade in retaliation.]

You're quite good. I take it you've had instruction before arriving in this place.

[makingfriends]

[Ven jerks when he sees her strike coming, bringing his shoulder up so that his spaulder catches the brunt of the blow.]

Thanks. I've trained for as long as I can remember, yeah.

[It's meant as a harmless remark, but considering what he's admitted to her before concerning his memory -- and lack of it -- it might mean more than what his easy smile suggests.

Still, his reaction is quick as he brings his weapon up and around, looking to lock blades and gauge her strength.]

[damn_juicebox]

It shows.

[And her smile is pleased, hinting at her pride. She's grown very fond of Ventus.]

[As for her strength? It isn't great. She's not weak, that much can be said, but neither of her jobs lend her any significant stat boosts in that regard.]

Are you prepared for a foe that uses spells?

[She won't hit him with any of her low level magic until she knows he's ready.]

[makingfriends]

[He nods once, firm and eager. Terra and Aqua usually avoided magic during training, so he'll always jump at the chance to get some practice in with that.

Ven disengages and withdraws a couple yards, again running over his Time Mage skills in his head as he stays tensed and ready to move. He's applied his own Red Mage magic as he only knows how -- as he did with his true abilities -- so he's curious how others go about it.]

Ready! Don't worry about going easy on me!

[damn_juicebox]

Understood!

[Rukia leaps back as well, facing squarely against her young opponent. She's not too worried about him. Her spells are low in level, and he indicated that he had defenses prepared against them. The tips of her fingers glow with a soft pale blue light, and around her, the tips of the grass are kissed with frost. She always did have a strong affinity with ice.]

Ice!

[She throws the spell with a sharp shout, palm extended and fingers curled.]

[makingfriends]

[That's interesting -- same spell, but very different style. Ven doesn't have too long to muse over it, though, because the chunk of ice warrants dodging; so rather than leaping or rolling to the side as he's used to, he stays where he is for an instant -- and at the last moment takes a slight step to his right as he activates Flash Step, disappearing for a heartbeat and then reappearing in a blur several yards over to finish the movement.

It's a technique he's determined to master; it's as close to his true speed as he's going to get.]

Keep 'em coming!

[HE'S GOT THIS]

[damn_juicebox]

[Oh, very nice! Rather than looking frustrated at having her spell miss, Rukia looks quite pleased indeed. Magic in this world is far easier to use than it is in hers, that's for sure. In her world, she'd probably still be muttering those ridiculously long incantations.]

Okay!

[She summons the power to her fingers once more, rejoicing in the icy chill as she sends another sphere of cold hurtling toward her sparring partner.]

[makingfriends]

[Again Ven Flashes to the side, this time adding some footwork that sends him into a quick aerial twist -- he doesn't expect any underhanded maneuvers from Rukia, of course, but staying on the move and remaining unpredictable are probably good things to practice while he has the chance.

Side-to-side seems simple enough, though, so...]

Try 'n stop me from getting close!

[That said, he'll make a quick, normal dash forward.]

[damn_juicebox]

If you wish!

[In that case, she doesn't unleash her fire spell directly at Ventus. Instead, she throws it at the patch of ice she made with her ice spell gone awry, kicking up a blast of thick white mist.]

[Good thing she didn't choose water instead of ice, or it would be scalding steam instead of mist.]

[makingfriends]

[That catches him by surprise, enough to make him slide to an abrupt halt -- but he has no wind magic on him, so while it's habit to want to clear it away with that, he switches gears and uses it as cover instead, quickly casting Haste on himself.

Then he barrels recklessly through, but cuts a sharp right at the end just in case Rukia's planning something.]

[damn_juicebox]

[He's correct in his assumption that Rukia was planning something. But she didn't quite expect him to occupy the exact same spot she was rushing to occupy. The moment he banks right, he finds Rukia in mid-leap, arms lifted, and eyes wide in startled surprise.]

[Then her forehead crashes into his. BONK.]

Kch...!

[Rukia recoils, her free hand immediately flying to her aching cranium. Ow.]

[makingfriends]

[He wasn't expecting anything of the sort, either, and in the split-second that he tries to think of which Time Mage abilities would be useful in dodging--

--it's too late, and he gives a startled Ow! as he also staggers backwards, all that prep and grace gone in an instant. As soon as the few stars clear from his vision, he gives her a concerned look.]

Ah -- I'm sorry! You okay?

[damn_juicebox]

I'm fine.

[Her eyes are winced shut, but she's not angry. That was her own folly, for trying to be stealthy and tactical instead of sticking to his challenge of keeping him from getting closer.]

What about you? Do you need a Cure spell?

[makingfriends]

[He shakes his (still somewhat sore) head, his smile apologetic.]

No, I'm okay! Don't worry.

[He has a very hard head, you could say.]

Nice move with the mist, though! I never thought of that.

[damn_juicebox]

You think so? Thank you.

[She does look pretty pleased with herself about the combination.]

It will likely be easier once I've learned how to Doublecast. I'm glad to see that you found it effective. You have a keen grasp for tactics yourself, I did not expect you to change directions while obscured.

[makingfriends]

Oh, yeah! That's a good point. Huh... I wonder if Doublecast can combine spells from other Jobs, too. [If so... well, the monster population around here is going to really be hurting one day, for one.

But he's not quite at that level just yet, so anyway--]

Heh, I don't think I would've tried it just a few years ago. I guess I picked some stuff up along the way.

[Just. Not gonna mention who he might've picked that stuff up from.]

Do you normally use your magic like that?

[damn_juicebox]

Since coming here? That was my first attempt to create an effect.

[And she's rather pleased with how it turned out. There are likely more effective spells meant to create similar circumstances, but this isn't too shabby for low level spells.]

Magic in my world is a bit more unwieldy. They require long and complex incantations. But it is not unusual to use a binding spell followed by a destruction spell.

[makingfriends]

Incantations? [He knows what that is, but he's never used magic that required it, here or otherwise.] That'd be pretty tough to use in a battle, though, wouldn't it?

[damn_juicebox]

Yes, but useful. Some enemies forget that we have access to our spells, seeing our zanpakutou as the only weapons at hand. Those who are truly gifted are able to cast spells without the incantation. My brother can cast high level spells with relative ease.

[There's more than a hint of admiration and awe in her voice at the mention of her sibling.]

[makingfriends]

Wow... that's like skipping a whole step, isn't it? We don't use incantations where I'm from, but your skill controls how fast you can cast your spells, and how many strong ones you can use -- it's got the same feeling as the magic system in this world, just without Jobs, and you learn what spells you want to learn instead of just getting them like we do here.

[Casting speed is really nbd, though. Ven only has a couple high-level spells in his arsenal -- in terms of his true powers -- but he's able to cast most things instantaneously.]

[damn_juicebox]

Yes, it's much simpler. It's strange not to have access to the binding spells, but the rest are somewhat similar.

[Rukia looks at her hands curiously.]

The effects are somewhat weaker, but I can't begin to describe how much better it is not to chant paragraphs of complex phrases to bring the magic to bear.

[She looks at Ventus curiously.]

I never asked you what you did before, did I? What kind of skills did you have prior to arriving on this world?

[makingfriends]

[Ven perks up slightly at the question, only to glance off to the side for a moment -- more a case of trying to decide how best to put it than because he's dodging the answer.]

Oh... I was... a student. I guess I still sort of am. [He was never named Master, but his teacher's gone now, so... he's not really sure where that leaves him officially.] My Master taught us how to use our Keyblades. Magic, too. A lot of the spells in this world are the same as the ones I knew already, actually -- but I still had to start over when I showed up here. It's like my real magic was sealed, so I have to use these Jobs like everyone else.

[He shrugs. It was annoying, starting at square one again -- and still is -- but there's nothing he can do about it at present.]

I'm a lot weaker than I was, but it's not so bad! Once this is all over, maybe I'll be able to take some of the stuff I've learned and apply it to my real abilities, somehow.

[Leave it to him to find that ray of sunshine in just about anything.]

[damn_juicebox]

Well. As long as you continue your training, I'm confident you'll have little difficulty.

[He impresses her, and she's not afraid to say as much in all honesty. It will be interesting to see how much more he continues to improve.]

--Oh, speaking of which. I meant to ask you about your weapon.

[Rukia points at the keyblade he bears.]

I can understand why it has the name it does, but why is it a key to begin with? What does it unlock?