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insusurro2020-05-19 01:47 pm
- [ event ],
- [ open ],
- [ whispers ],
- aerith [ asha ],
- aerith [ riddle ],
- andrea [ yan ],
- angeal [ ariel ],
- cid [ ariel ],
- cloud [ peach ],
- cor [ asha ],
- elena [ liz ],
- regis [ ariel ],
- reno [ abby ],
- rikku [ iola ],
- rude [ peach ],
- rude [ yan ],
- rufus [ hebe ],
- sephiroth [ bird ],
- sephiroth [ cat ],
- sephiroth [ nyan ],
- sephiroth [ sten ],
- shelke [ dalrint ],
- squall [ peach ],
- tifa [ ash ],
- tifa [ asha ],
- tseng [ mil ],
- veld [ hebe ],
- weiss [ shikki ],
- zack [ asha ]
ARRIVAL.
π ππ πππ π ππππ ππππ ππ ππππ πππ π 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.
ππππππ is within a few hours walking distance. ππππ 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.
ππππ ππππ πππ ππ ππππ ππ?
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[ At least now Zack's forgotten himself. He's just gazing up at Weiss with the most absolutely lost look in his eyes. ]
... Youβ You kidnapped me!
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So... I'm free to go? You're not gonna try to stop me?
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That I haven't decided. I may need your strength.
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That'sβ! No. Look.
[ Count to ten, Zack. Just like Angeal taught you. Not.... directly but by doing it a lot in your presence. ]
Nibelheim, okay? They... did what they did to me in Nibelheim. Which makes us the same, right? Maybe we could just... work together? I'm sick of fighting people I don't need to fight, man. Lookβgimme your arm, I'll give you my number right now. I reckon that's the next best thing to holding me hostage in a cave.
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Was I unclear? [ yes. ] We are working together.
[ because he says so. clearly. ]
My brother and subordinates are still trapped. You will show me the way to the Shinra building, and from there we will raze it to the ground and let them out.
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Guessin' I don't have much choice in the matter.
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[ so pleasantly. so pleased. ]
You should be pleased. Shinra took your life from you as well. This guarantees your freedom.
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You really think that? 'Cause I'm thinkin' this shit never ends. There's always gonna be another Shinra. Always gonna be another nutcase with silver hair. Freedom's less of a guarantee and more like somethin' you gotta fight for as long as you mean to keep it.
[ He pushes himself to his feet, fists clenched. ]
If you stand in my way...
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[ he's on his feet in a flash, heaven and earth both drawn and trained upon him. ]
Life is a battle in which only the strong survive. The only guaranteed way to live is to become the strongest. The only good way to die is at the hands of someone stronger than you.
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My strength isn't my own. Everyone I've ever cared for fights beside me. Nothin' in the whole world is stronger than that.
[ His fists remain at his sidesβfor now. ]
Nobody has to die here.
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I'm not fool enough to think one escaped experiment wouldn't rat out another.
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[ All that blood... Tighten up, Zack. This isn't the time to show weakness. ]
On the cliff. That was my doing. If I go to Shinra now, they're just gonna send more men after me. You know them. You know they wouldn't give a damn what I've got to say.
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[ he cocks his head. curious. ]
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[ It's really hard to stay not looking sad about this Weiss you just do not understand. ]
No matter what.
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[ he takes a step forward. ]
Every life you take? That's another point of value to your name. They will not allow you to run about unchained, but they will kennel you with the rest of us "monsters" they cannot control. They consider it a waste to kill a perfectly good weapon. I would have met my end a long time ago if they hadn't.
[ he shakes his head. ]
No, no. They will send my brother or myself to gather you up and bring you down.
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[ Zack takes that final step forward that brings themβtoo close. But he's fierce and in Weiss's face when he lowly proclaims: ]
I just want to find my friends.
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one big heavy hand is dropping on top of his head.
ruffling his hair. probably too strongly - he quite literally doesn't know his own strength. and he's laughing. the boy wants to fight him so badly and he'd love to indulge, but breaking such a new toy so quickly would be a waste. ]
I will help you find yours if you help me liberate mine.
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[ Weiss is laughing at him. Okay. That's fine. At least he's not threatening to kill him or worse. And it's kind of nice to be teasingly roughed up a little.
Or maybe it's just that Zack smiles too easily. Trusts too much, even now. ]
I gave you my word. I'm gonna help you fight for your freedom and everyone elβ Hey, cut it out! I'm fresh outta hair gel and I can't go seein' my friends lookin' like a ragamuffin.
[ Hahahaha this is fun, trying to swat Weiss's hand away from his hair and get some play wrasslin' going with a playful lil shove. ]
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he's fond enough of zack that he'll allow it, shoving him back with a little more force than is probably necessary. doesn't know his own strength. sorry zack. he still seems friendly enough though.
there's still the whole will die in three days problem to attend with but, eh. that's a later weiss problem. ]
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Still grinning though. ]
Let's make some moves. Oh! We need a plan, right? Maybe a little subtlety is in order...
[ Zack's gaze sweeps Weiss's chest again. Again, a totally normal bro thing to do. Really, though, sick gains. ]
... And maybe some shirts too.
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If I must.
[ to the shirts to being chill, like, everything. he can bide his time but like he's pretty sure the way to winning this isn't his go to. ]
Perhaps disguises would be wise before we enter the city proper.
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[ Zack starts pacing a little circle around Weiss, hand on his chin, thinkin'. You can tell because this is his Thinkin' Pose. It doesn't often help, but it at least makes him look busy. ]
And where can we find disguises...?
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This is only my sixth time aboveground. [ is his way of explanation ] The city of Kalm is near here, isn't it?
[ boop beep boop boop ive only ever seen a word map in the brain internet. ]
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[ Dammit. No fun shopping montage with Zack riding in a cart while Weiss pushes. There goes that boss-ass scenario. ]
Unless you got enough to secure us some new gear, I think that plan is out.
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