CYOA week 3: souji, clementine, alphinaud

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MEMORY CORE

[ercnerd]

[When they next blink into awareness with the familiar warmth of celestial blood coursing through their reanimated bodies, Souji, Clementine, and Alphinaud find themselves standing in the middle of a large hall. The hall is as dim as the temple whence they came, but it and the moonlit corridors that empty out in each cardinal direction are clear of fog. Unlike the temple, the air here feels more alive.

"Sieghart" and the bodies are nowhere to be seen.]

[illomened]

[this is the funniest shit help me WELL THAT HAPPENED. Souji blinks back into existence in pretty rough shape, still looking pretty Generally Singed and also coughing up a handful of blood into his palm. IT'S FINE.

It's probably not fine. At least the air here isn't so dead... And nothing seems immediately ready to attack them. He'll glance around, seemingly unbothered by his physical state. He's pushed through worse, after all.]

--I think we should try to stay together...

[Considering they have several directions they could go.]

[sageguidance]

[ Alphinaud too blinks back to existence, the moment so jarring he starts in place. He's singed and lightly battered, but feels... weirdly okay, considering what just happened.

(It did, didn't it? He could almost swear that maybe, just maybe...) ]

Y- yes, but... Souji, are you well?

[stillnot]

[ NO i didn't have the post tracked just the thread and i'm stupid!!!!!

anyway clementine is. a little shaken. okay. this is fine.

yeah souji, are you well? ]

... We're going to have to fight either way, I think.

[ercnerd]

[True to Souji's assessment, there's nothing in the hall that poses a threat to the party. It's just them here and nobody else. The four corridors appear identical and stretch far enough that they'll have to traverse the distance to see what lies beyond.]

[illomened]

[SWEET COLA IM IN TEARSJFESIJFS HELP.

Anyway he's fine HE'S FINE. He just politely raises a hand in response to Alphinaud's question even though he's groce right now.]

We're already dead, aren't we? [HE'S FINE!!!] ...You're most likely right, in any case... I feel we should go North.

[This is a history joke.]

WEST - SOUJI

[ercnerd]

[Taking the corridor to the west, Souji arrives alone at a moonlit room, where a hooded figure in white-gold cloak receives him. As he approaches, a bright light emanates from the figure and engulfs the room in blinding white.

The flash fades and Hijikata Toshizo stands before him, illuminated by the moonlight.]

[illomened]

[FIRST OF ALL

WHERE'S HIS FCKIN GROUP HOLY SHIT.

Except he barely has the chance to glance around and wonder where's my fckin group holy shit before he's distracted by 1) the flash of brightass light and 2) the fact that--]

Hijikata-san—!?

[--well. Even if he knows it can't be real, it's his reflex to react like this - to call out and to rush forward. It's been such a very long time since he's last seen his vice-commander, after all.]

[ercnerd]

[Hijikata regards Souji with an impassive mien, neither cordial nor hostile. When he speaks, it's perhaps not in a manner that Souji is accustomed to hearing, as if someone else is speaking through him:]

Do you regret failing to pave the way forward for your brothers?

[illomened]

[Hm. Yeah. That's about what he should expect, he supposes. Hijikata's face, but not what he'd expect to hear - not in context, anyway. Or in harshness, he supposes. Hijikata has always been harsh with him in some ways, and far too lenient in others.

He hesitates, though. Is there a right answer to this? Is there anything he should or could be doing here that will lead him back to the other two? He doesn't want to leave them on their own, even if he hasn't been enormously helpful to them...

The question, though.]

...Why are you asking me such a thing, Hijikata-san?

[The Hijikata that isn't Hijikata, asking about regrets that touch too close to home.]

[ercnerd]

The old creation is rife with such disappointments.

[Hijikata's eyes are trained on Souji, and Souji alone.]

The day you prayed for his health, you traded in yours and consigned yourself to abandonment. Is this the end you wished for your fleeting existence when you reached out to the one you call God?

EAST - CLEMENTINE

[ercnerd]

[Taking the corridor to the east, Clementine arrives alone at a moonlit room, where a hooded figure in white-gold cloak receives her. As she approaches, a bright light emanates from the figure and engulfs the room in blinding white.

The flash fades and Cloud Strife stands before her, illuminated by the moonlight.]

[stillnot]

[ huh. well first she turns around, looking for alphinaud or souji, but...

no luck. so, to the cloaked figure: ]

I know you're not real.

[ercnerd]

[Cloud doesn't contest this. His expression is blank and and his manner of speaking, different.]

The death didn't take, yet you still feel guilt. Shall we erase the events of that night? You need only stay your hands.

[stillnot]

... What does that mean?

You can't change what's already happened.

[ercnerd]

The Creator's gift is boundless.

The brushstrokes of new creation will efface the marks of the old once thought indelible. Blood stains your hands; do you not wish for the opportunity to cleanse them of your most recent transgression?

SOUTH - ALPHINAUD

[ercnerd]

[Taking the corridor to the south, Alphinaud arrives alone at a moonlit room, where a hooded figure in white-gold cloak receives him. As he approaches, a bright light emanates from the figure and engulfs the room in blinding white.

The flash fades and Estinien stands before him, illuminated by the moonlight.]

[sageguidance]

[ He’s shocked at first, but in a few short seconds this goes to relief, and then dread. ]

No—no.

[ Alphinaud looks away. ]

I will not fall for this ruse. You cannot be him.

[ercnerd]

[The figure wearing Estinien's face remains inscrutable before Alphinaud's accusation. His tone is as even as his expression.]

Even with the two of you by her side, the Lady Iceheart perished before the end of her time . . . or perhaps it is because you were there that such a fate befell her.

[sageguidance]

[ He freezes, recalling how he saw Ysayle’s face among the piles of corpses, and quickly squeezes his eyes shut. ]

Say what you will, but I shall not listen. You—you attempt to bring more hurt and despair to my heart, and naught else.

[ercnerd]

The Creator's gift is one of hope. If you could, would you not save her?

[ercnerd]

[Souji and Alphinaud awaken in the middle of what can only be described as space. Looking around, all they see are each other, the baseball bat by Alphinaud's feet, and the occasional star that shoots by in the distance. Clementine and their respective figures are nowhere to be seen.]

[sageguidance]

[ Indeed, he awakens—with a startled gasp.

As if he had just escaped a horrible nightmare, he inhales and exhales deeply, eyes darting around frantically, a hand instantly raising to his chest. And there's... nothing? There's a dull ache, in both his body and head, but he dares not undress to view what may or may not be there. ]

I— I... Is that you for true, Souji...?

[illomened]

[HI HE'S DYING.

Which is to say, as he snaps back into wakefulness in this weird Space™ space, he's, uh. Still bleeding from both the stomach and neck, even though the injuries look somewhat healed. He's also not in the best mental state considering what just happened, but it's fine! It's fine.

Alphinaud seems very real, at least - that's something to focus on. Something solid to direct his energy toward.]

—Alphinaud-san... It's-- really me, yes. What happened...?

[To Alphinaud in particular; he's gotta reserve his words through his BLOODS.]

[sageguidance]

[ Oh! Blood, neat! This is great! ]

I— I don't—

[ Alphinaud rushes to kneel next to Souji, only to freeze suddenly when the dull pain in his chest intensifies with his movements. He hisses, regains his bearings, and moves forth as intended—more gently, this time. ]

I don't know. [ He finally answers, voice strained. ] I had lost sight of you both.

[ The rest, he isn't sure he wishes to say. ]