ARRIVAL.

[insusurromods]

𝑰𝑵𝑺𝑼𝑺𝑼𝑹𝑹𝑶: 𝑨 𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑳𝑫 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑻 𝑫𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑵𝒀

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 you moved under your own power. The shadows that dwelt in the corners of your vision vanished, the world is bright and the shackles of destiny fall from your liberated limbs.

You're free.

But before you can take that next step, before you can alter your fate, a terrible howling fills your ears. It's an ill wind full of malice, one that rips you off of your feet and back, back, back from this chance to seize your destiny. The shadows coalesce into a single entity, its hands locking around your throat. It cannot let this stand.

You think that maybe this is the end. The world goes dark as it rushes past you, this is the end.

Except you wake to the feeling of rain on your skin.

The cliffs around you bare the scars of a fierce battle. Before you, a massive city faces the sea. Behind you, greenery sprawls for miles. Midgar has never looked so beautiful, but it has also never looked so unlike itself. The Sister Ray points proudly towards the sea. A bustling city crawls out from its shadow, looking wealthier and more robust than the slums ever did. You don't have long to ponder this.

Because you aren't alone. Others are coming to, looking just as confused and uncertain as you do. Some are battleworn and bloody, as if they were pulled from a fierce battle. Others appear to be in perfect health, as if they were simply pulled from a long slumber, though no less confused and lost. The howling that filled your slowly begins to fade, and as it does, the rain begins to clear.

𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐀𝐑 is within a few hours walking distance. 𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐌 lies not much further in the opposite direction. There is no presence urging you to walk to one or the other, no voice from on high telling you what path your feet should walk. Underneath this infinite blue sky the choice to go - or to stay - is entirely yours.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐎 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐓?

Comments

[thelasttsviet]

[To say Shelke was a bit overwhelmed would have been a remarkable understatement. She could barely recall what she wore during the hazy, lost years of her childhood. And it wasn't as though her options would have changed much, considering what Hojo had done to her. So the racks and racks of clothing in the store they entered, the mannequins and shelves, all full of clothing (most of it probably too big) had her eyes a bit wide, her steps faltering once they were inside.]

Ah...

[A soft, hesitant sound, that trailed off into a sigh.]

I do not to where to start. My sister always took me shopping, and that was so long ago...

[She was glad Elena had pressed her on things like that. Looking like a child but acting like an adult had gotten her strange enough glances since she'd started helping the WRO.]

Sorry.

[petitepistol]

[her gaze flickers back to Shelke, she takes in the hesitance, the reluctance not in the shopping but in everything that goes with it-- style. Elena offers her another smile, gives her a thumbs up]

Hey, that's no problem. This is what I'm best at, y'know! I take pride in my talents.

[she ushers her to a circle of racks which appear to possibly have her size, best guestimation, and she begins to take some items to drape across her arm: some blouses, a set of shorts or two, a nice jacket from the display by a mannequin nearby]

How about this? If any don't feel right just let me know.