[ this is the second time in a row dw give me sebastian's comment but not jan's. hilarious? anyway, cloud is like oh finally an actual timeline for our stupid time travel adventures and shares that with a glance at sebastian. ]
Did they ever tell you exactly how it happened? [ HOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, MAYBE. anyway; ] Might as well all go in. Not sure how deeply we'll have to go, and if one of us is outside when something happens in there, we won't be able to communicate.
[ our walkie-talkies... anyway they will accompany the old man inside in exchange for backstory, please. ]
[Zin gestures to what looks like a grave marker near the entrance of the cavern.]
No one's sure, exactly... but from the sound of it, a spirit lost control and became a powerful fiend, back then—now known as ████████. A few dead humans were found on the scene as well, though no one's certain whether they died first, or if ████████ killed them after becoming an evil spirit.
[Anyhow, inside they go! They can see inside, at least, with the cavern lit by glowing mushrooms.]
Watch your step—there are some traps lying around, set up by people who were hoping to take out the fiends.
[ cloud is walking around cautiously, looking every which way for traps or fiends or whatever. and god imagine if the bad guy's name was marshmallow. How wild would that be. ]
It usually happens because of grief or despair—an inability on the spirit's part to let go or move on from something. Any spirit can become consumed, though outright becoming a fiend only happens to those powerful enough to obtain physical form, yes.
[Anyhow, Sebastian and Cloud anxiously watch their step, but these are MAGIC traps where your chance of activating them are determined by someone sitting behind a computer screen rolling dice, and so as they walk along—arrows suddenly coming flying from nowhere at them. And at Zin too, who yells and ducks.]
[ OW? he flexes his arm a little and hisses. owowowow motherfUCKER ]
... I'll be fine for now. [ he's just going to break off part of the arrow with a loud snap. so it is less sticking out of his shoulder! but he leaves some so they can still ... take it out later. ] So long as I don't remove it, it won't bleed much.
[ it'll just FUCKING HURT but he is stoically bearing that because he is embarrassed an old man and sebastian both dodged and he didn't. he missed his reaction command :( "that's the wrong square game" his reaction command ]
Let's just keep going. You said you needed stuff for paints, right?
I'm all right... Don't worry about an old man like me.
[Yikes over Cloud, though.
He points deeper into the cavern, although what lies further ahead is obscured by fog.]
Not much further, now—it's just a little past that fog. However, danger still lurks. Here, give me your hand.
[If Sebastian will let him, Zin will hold one of his hands.]
Hold your friend's hand, too. When we enter the fog, you may see things, but whatever you do, you mustn't let go. As long as we stick together, I can lead you through to the end.
The fog might be the fiends' doing, actually... After all, they have more at their disposal than simple brute force.
[But yay, everyone's holding hands now. Zin will lead them into the fog, until everything around them is obscured.
But as they continue in, memories of their real lives trickle in. Or are they their real lives? Maybe they're just a faraway dream.
Whatever the case, it won't be long before they can all see a woman in the near distance. She likely won't be familiar to any of them—except to Sebastian, who will recognize her as his mother.]
[ those memories mixing in with his... it's confusing, but maybe that's just what the fog does. the figure that shows up there, though, feels too real to be an illusion, and before he even realizes he's saying it— ]
I— Mom?
[ is this his mother? she's different from the one he was remembering when recounting his experience to ren — the one who had abandoned him.
but... this one had done the same, hadn't she? he hasn't seen her in years either. ]
[ he is going ... to tighten his hold on Sebastian, because he does not like this, actually. he remembers sebastian's parents abandoned him! that is definitely a real not-made up thing, just like the fact that they are good travel companions. ]
It has to be. Don't pay attention to her, Sebastian. We have to keep going.
"Is this just the fog?" Don't be foolish, Sebastian. Oh, what am I going to do with a son as useless as you...?
[Then, she turns to walk away. They'll be able to see where she's heading, though: a village, which Cloud may recognize as his hometown. Both Cloud and Sebastian, however, will clearly see that it's up in flames, with people screaming or running about, before collapsing from their injuries.]
Yeah... [ he takes a deep breath, and holds onto both of their hands a little tighter. ] Right.
[ he has to bite his lip and blink back tears when she turns away, and those words feel familiar for a whole other reason...
the sight of the burning village coming into view pulls him away from that, though. he... he doesn't think that's zin's village that they just came from, so does that mean this is coming from cloud's memory...? ]
[ his grip on sebastian loosens, as the double memories of village murder start to meld and he almost expects a fiend to show up holding a very long sword. ]
... It's not real. Right? It can't be.
[ he doesn't sound entirely convinced, and he's looking at the fire like he wants to rush in and do something. he doesn't yet but. but! but. ]
[Well. A field holding a very long sword doesn't show up, but a man sure does. Really almost went with the shirtless version instead but I was nice, thank me.
As Sebastian's mother walks into the village, Sephiroth approaches her, raising his sword.]
[ he's about to agree that it isn't, but then it looks like his mom's about to die, and even though he knows she probably isn't real, and he's not even sure who she is, and despite how cold her words were to him a minute ago... well. cloud's already loosened his grasp on his hand, so he's going to try to break free and run toward her. ]
[ i can't even say sebastian is the one who screwed things up here because from the way cloud tensed when he saw Him, he was seconds away from running too. he'd taken a step back, free hand reflexively going to his sword-- but then sebastian starts to run, and cloud's quick behind him. ]
Sebastian, don't! Get away from them!
[ cloud is always slashing at ghosts, and so this isn't new! because he's trying to attack sephiroth with his great big sword to attempt to help sebastian and his mom.
(how is sephiroth here? how did cloud ever forget him??? something in him is twitching with something beyond his usual horror and hate, which, hmmm, no time to unpack that! it's some canon bullshit.) ]
[Cloud can't get there fast enough to prevent Sephiroth from cutting down Sebastian's mother, as she falls to the ground, blood spilling from her. Still, weakly, she tries to hold her hand out for Sebastian, as she turns her head towards him.
However, Cloud is at least able to intervene when Sephiroth then tries to slash at Sebastian, sword clashing against sword.]
Brave, but foolhardy, little puppet. What do you think you can protect?
[ no no no, not when he's finally found her again— he reaches to try to take her hand, but he's pushed back when cloud comes in between him and sephiroth.
...right. cloud's saving him, again. he shouldn't keep causing trouble for him like this. he's stupid and useless and that's why she left the first time, isn't it?
but he still makes another desperate attempt to reach her. ]
[ is clouds very valid comeback as he pushes back against the sword. He might not have been in time for Sebastian's potentially deadbeat mother, but he can at least save Sebastian himself. ]
I won't let you touch him!
[ just-- for once. for once, can't he do this much? what's the point of beating sephiroth if he still wins every time?
there is no time to think about that as he pushes with all his might to push him back and tries to slash at him. their usual combat style is so much more anime than this but Im sparing Jan. and rolling a nine. gonna suck when his vision of Sephiroth mega stabs Sebastian ]
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guestservices) wrote2022-07-10 05:39 pm
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Did they ever tell you exactly how it happened? [ HOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, MAYBE. anyway; ] Might as well all go in. Not sure how deeply we'll have to go, and if one of us is outside when something happens in there, we won't be able to communicate.
[ our walkie-talkies... anyway they will accompany the old man inside in exchange for backstory, please. ]
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No one's sure, exactly... but from the sound of it, a spirit lost control and became a powerful fiend, back then—now known as ████████. A few dead humans were found on the scene as well, though no one's certain whether they died first, or if ████████ killed them after becoming an evil spirit.
[Anyhow, inside they go! They can see inside, at least, with the cavern lit by glowing mushrooms.]
Watch your step—there are some traps lying around, set up by people who were hoping to take out the fiends.
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[ glowing mushrooms is my favorite aesthetic jan thank you ]
Oh, yikes... thanks for the warning.
[ he is now anxiously focused on the ground... am i going to have to roll for not getting caught in a bear trap ]
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Does it only happen to physical spirits?
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[Anyhow, Sebastian and Cloud anxiously watch their step, but these are MAGIC traps where your chance of activating them are determined by someone sitting behind a computer screen rolling dice, and so as they walk along—arrows suddenly coming flying from nowhere at them. And at Zin too, who yells and ducks.]
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[ he wonders what would have hurt that spirit so badly... but doesn't have much time to dwell on that, because hello arrows ]
Whoa!!
[ ALSO DUCKS with a 13 ]
Did we do that?!
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[ cloud is so busy thinking about the plot and only rolls a two when it comes time to dodge. goodbye cloud. eat some fucking arrows ]
--Shit, watch out!
[ he tries to move the old man out of the way but his 2 probably killed him instead ]
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... Oh. Oh dear. Will you be all right?
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Oh jeez... do you want me to try to bandage that [ because they have supplies from the future now!! ], or leave it for now?
[ then to zin: ]
You're okay too, right? [ you're old... ] H-how far in do we need to go to get to the stuff you need?
[ HOW MANY MORE TRAPS WILL THEY ENCOUNTER ]
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... I'll be fine for now. [ he's just going to break off part of the arrow with a loud snap. so it is less sticking out of his shoulder! but he leaves some so they can still ... take it out later. ] So long as I don't remove it, it won't bleed much.
[ it'll just FUCKING HURT but he is stoically bearing that because he is embarrassed an old man and sebastian both dodged and he didn't. he missed his reaction command :( "that's the wrong square game" his reaction command ]
Let's just keep going. You said you needed stuff for paints, right?
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[Yikes over Cloud, though.
He points deeper into the cavern, although what lies further ahead is obscured by fog.]
Not much further, now—it's just a little past that fog. However, danger still lurks. Here, give me your hand.
[If Sebastian will let him, Zin will hold one of his hands.]
Hold your friend's hand, too. When we enter the fog, you may see things, but whatever you do, you mustn't let go. As long as we stick together, I can lead you through to the end.
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W-what? What kind of fog is this?
[ HE THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST GOING LIKE 20 FEET INTO THE CAVE TO SCRAPE SOME MINERALS OFF THE WALL
gives cloud a "what are we doing" look as he tries to reach for his hand... because he guesses this is what they're doing? ]
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Is the fog part of the traps set here? I didn't know fiends had feelings.
[ give them the lore while cloud gets ready to hallucinate... again... except he probably does not constantly hallucinate with this backstory ]
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[But yay, everyone's holding hands now. Zin will lead them into the fog, until everything around them is obscured.
But as they continue in, memories of their real lives trickle in. Or are they their real lives? Maybe they're just a faraway dream.
Whatever the case, it won't be long before they can all see a woman in the near distance. She likely won't be familiar to any of them—except to Sebastian, who will recognize her as his mother.]
Oh, Sebastian...
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I— Mom?
[ is this his mother? she's different from the one he was remembering when recounting his experience to ren — the one who had abandoned him.
but... this one had done the same, hadn't she? he hasn't seen her in years either. ]
Is this... just the fog?
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It has to be. Don't pay attention to her, Sebastian. We have to keep going.
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He's right. Stay strong...
[Meanwhile, Sebastian's mother continues speaking.]
"Is this just the fog?" Don't be foolish, Sebastian. Oh, what am I going to do with a son as useless as you...?
[Then, she turns to walk away. They'll be able to see where she's heading, though: a village, which Cloud may recognize as his hometown. Both Cloud and Sebastian, however, will clearly see that it's up in flames, with people screaming or running about, before collapsing from their injuries.]
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[ he has to bite his lip and blink back tears when she turns away, and those words feel familiar for a whole other reason...
the sight of the burning village coming into view pulls him away from that, though. he... he doesn't think that's zin's village that they just came from, so does that mean this is coming from cloud's memory...? ]
H-hey...
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[ his grip on sebastian loosens, as the double memories of village murder start to meld and he almost expects a fiend to show up holding a very long sword. ]
... It's not real. Right? It can't be.
[ he doesn't sound entirely convinced, and he's looking at the fire like he wants to rush in and do something. he doesn't yet but. but! but. ]
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As Sebastian's mother walks into the village, Sephiroth approaches her, raising his sword.]
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[ he's about to agree that it isn't, but then it looks like his mom's about to die, and even though he knows she probably isn't real, and he's not even sure who she is, and despite how cold her words were to him a minute ago... well. cloud's already loosened his grasp on his hand, so he's going to try to break free and run toward her. ]
Wait— Mom! Look out!!
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Sebastian, don't! Get away from them!
[ cloud is always slashing at ghosts, and so this isn't new! because he's trying to attack sephiroth with his great big sword to attempt to help sebastian and his mom.
(how is sephiroth here? how did cloud ever forget him??? something in him is twitching with something beyond his usual horror and hate, which, hmmm, no time to unpack that! it's some canon bullshit.) ]
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Come back!
[Cloud can't get there fast enough to prevent Sephiroth from cutting down Sebastian's mother, as she falls to the ground, blood spilling from her. Still, weakly, she tries to hold her hand out for Sebastian, as she turns her head towards him.
However, Cloud is at least able to intervene when Sephiroth then tries to slash at Sebastian, sword clashing against sword.]
Brave, but foolhardy, little puppet. What do you think you can protect?
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...right. cloud's saving him, again. he shouldn't keep causing trouble for him like this. he's stupid and useless and that's why she left the first time, isn't it?
but he still makes another desperate attempt to reach her. ]
Can't you at least say goodbye to me this time?!
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[ is clouds very valid comeback as he pushes back against the sword. He might not have been in time for Sebastian's potentially deadbeat mother, but he can at least save Sebastian himself. ]
I won't let you touch him!
[ just-- for once. for once, can't he do this much? what's the point of beating sephiroth if he still wins every time?
there is no time to think about that as he pushes with all his might to push him back and tries to slash at him. their usual combat style is so much more anime than this but Im sparing Jan. and rolling a nine. gonna suck when his vision of Sephiroth mega stabs Sebastian ]
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