[ 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 ]
[Sebastian's mother smiles at him—whether it's a loving smile or a cynical one, it's hard to say. But it's the last thing Sebastian will see, before the light leaves her eyes. Yet again, Sebastian can't receive a goodbye.
The good news is that despite Cloud's measly 9, this version of Sephiroth apparently sucks, because he rolled only a 6. Cloud slashes him across the chest, as he stumbles back. Still, he'll attempt to stab Cloud back in the shoulder.
Whether or not Zia decides he succeeds, Sebastian and Cloud will both feel a hand tugging at theirs, pulling them away. Sephiroth will shoot off a parting remark—]
No matter the outcome, you know you will never be free of me.
[—before the scene disappears. Momentarily, they'll see a woman they recognize as Zin's wife, but with a distinctly inhuman air, her sclera black. She lunges as though to attack—
And then they're both being yanked, collapsing back into the cavern, just outside of the fog. Zin is on the ground with them, holding their hands.]
[ i think it's absolutely hilarious if sephiroth stabs cloud in the shoulder where he already has an arrow wound, so of course it succeeds. it doesn't go through the whole of it before he's tugged back, and he's still reeling from sephiroth's words when they see zin's wife.
and then they're on the ground and he stares, blankly, at the ceiling of the cave, heart racing. his mind is a million miles away.
but sebastian's sniffling makes him blink as he turns to him before he shakes his head, sitting back up ]
... Pretty sure Zin is the one who saved us, here. [ he doesn't tell sebastian he would've gone even if he hadn't, because it's too late now. it's happened. ] ... Sorry, Zin. We haven't been much use as protection so far, huh?
[ he's looking out at that fog. he still looks a little like he is not totally there, but i'm sure it's fine. ]
[ i think we stole actual bandages going by what sen had in her house
but yeah, cloud will blink back fully to the present before casually grabbing the bit of arrow sticking out of him and YANKING. with a pained groan, but like. he still does it.
[Sebastian may bandage Cloud up! Once Cloud is relatively fine or so much as he'll ever be, they can proceed.
Thankfully, that was the last obstacle, so the rest of the trip is uneventful. Zin gathers the supplies they need, and they all head back. Imagine if I was like "you have to pass through the fog again and get re-traumatized" but no apparently it's a one-way thing.
Once they're all back at Zin's house, safe and sound, Zin will give them a light bow.]
Thank you for accompanying me, despite the great pain it has brought you two. With this, I'll be able to finish the vase... and maybe one day, my wife will reawaken to be able to see it, even if it's only as a corrupted human-turned-fiend.
Now, as promised, your compensation...
[He looks as though he's thinking for a bit, before he lifts up a vase.]
You were asking about the calamity before, right? I can't imagine that you'll want to carry a vase around, but here, take a look. This vase has a depiction of what ████████ allegedly looked like, before they became unrecognizable as a fiend—at least, based off what my grandparents told me, when I was growing up.
[If they take a look, they'll see a young-looking figure dressed in blue on the vase, appearing as though they're crying into their hands by a set of graves. Zin then puts it down.]
Don't worry, now. That's not all I'm giving you, before you think I ripped you off!
[He rummages through some drawers, before he holds out what looks like a VHS tape with the Starlight Hotel logo on it.]
Not too sure what this is, but maybe it's valuable elsewhere? You could sell it for some money.
Next... I saw before that you had a compass on you? May I take a look?
[ cloud squints at the figure, pensive. someone dressed in blue... two graves... ]
And this happened around here, right?
[ but he'll take the vhs tape and put it in his jrpg inventory for now. straight into key items you go. he's letting sebastian deal with the compass like he is not also dying of curiosity at it. ]
I believe I made it, actually. [He examines it.] Ah, yes, this is definitely one of my works. Seems like it's broken, though... Give me a moment, and I'll fix it right up.
[He dashes off to what looks like a workshop area, taking out his tools and fiddling with the compass. After a bit of time, he returns to Sebastian and Cloud, holding the compass out.]
There you go. Should be working now! Consider it part of the compensation package.
[They'll now see the compass needle shaking, as though moving depending on where they hold the compass.]
We kind of... stumbled upon it. [ is the easiest way to explain that, but he looks at Sebastian with a nod ]
I think that should be out cue to get back on the road, then. [ he looks at the man's wife and... frowns a little ] Good luck. With everything.
[ but cloud absolutely wants to go stop the apocalypse now that they have a time and a vague idea how it starts AND a working compass that might be a totally normal compass. ]
You too. Times are difficult now, but perhaps one day, the world will be a better place. Now, I have a vase to finish up! I wonder how it'll turn out...
[But before he immediately goes to his work, he'll at least see Sebastian and Cloud out, waving goodbye as he does.
The compass... points them back to the Time Channel! Hopefully it's not just pointing north and that's a coincidence. Are they ready to go back to the void?]
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guestservices) wrote2022-07-10 05:39 pm
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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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The good news is that despite Cloud's measly 9, this version of Sephiroth apparently sucks, because he rolled only a 6. Cloud slashes him across the chest, as he stumbles back. Still, he'll attempt to stab Cloud back in the shoulder.
Whether or not Zia decides he succeeds, Sebastian and Cloud will both feel a hand tugging at theirs, pulling them away. Sephiroth will shoot off a parting remark—]
No matter the outcome, you know you will never be free of me.
[—before the scene disappears. Momentarily, they'll see a woman they recognize as Zin's wife, but with a distinctly inhuman air, her sclera black. She lunges as though to attack—
And then they're both being yanked, collapsing back into the cavern, just outside of the fog. Zin is on the ground with them, holding their hands.]
... Well, I imagine that was a bad time.
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[ he sniffs and wipes his eyes with his free hand. ]
I know you warned us, and... I knew it probably wasn't real...
[ he turns his head slightly in cloud's direction, though he doesn't make any attempt to meet his eyes. ]
Sorry you were stuck saving me again.
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and then they're on the ground and he stares, blankly, at the ceiling of the cave, heart racing. his mind is a million miles away.
but sebastian's sniffling makes him blink as he turns to him before he shakes his head, sitting back up ]
... Pretty sure Zin is the one who saved us, here. [ he doesn't tell sebastian he would've gone even if he hadn't, because it's too late now. it's happened. ] ... Sorry, Zin. We haven't been much use as protection so far, huh?
[ he's looking out at that fog. he still looks a little like he is not totally there, but i'm sure it's fine. ]
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[He's looking out at the fog for a bit too, before he shakes his head.]
Well, we're almost at our destination—but perhaps we should take a moment to get you patched up.
[hello sir your shoulder? Presumably Sebastian still has his looted supplies.]
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[ rummaging around in their makeshift bag for whatever they brought that passes for bandages... ]
Here, just— uh, well, take out the arrow first... and then hold out your arm!
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[ i think we stole actual bandages going by what sen had in her house
but yeah, cloud will blink back fully to the present before casually grabbing the bit of arrow sticking out of him and YANKING. with a pained groan, but like. he still does it.
anyway have at the shoulder, it's fine ]
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Thankfully, that was the last obstacle, so the rest of the trip is uneventful. Zin gathers the supplies they need, and they all head back. Imagine if I was like "you have to pass through the fog again and get re-traumatized" but no apparently it's a one-way thing.
Once they're all back at Zin's house, safe and sound, Zin will give them a light bow.]
Thank you for accompanying me, despite the great pain it has brought you two. With this, I'll be able to finish the vase... and maybe one day, my wife will reawaken to be able to see it, even if it's only as a corrupted human-turned-fiend.
Now, as promised, your compensation...
[He looks as though he's thinking for a bit, before he lifts up a vase.]
You were asking about the calamity before, right? I can't imagine that you'll want to carry a vase around, but here, take a look. This vase has a depiction of what ████████ allegedly looked like, before they became unrecognizable as a fiend—at least, based off what my grandparents told me, when I was growing up.
[If they take a look, they'll see a young-looking figure dressed in blue on the vase, appearing as though they're crying into their hands by a set of graves. Zin then puts it down.]
Don't worry, now. That's not all I'm giving you, before you think I ripped you off!
[He rummages through some drawers, before he holds out what looks like a VHS tape with the Starlight Hotel logo on it.]
Not too sure what this is, but maybe it's valuable elsewhere? You could sell it for some money.
Next... I saw before that you had a compass on you? May I take a look?
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looking at the image on the vase with interest... he kind of wonders if those graves are still around here somewhere. ]
Oh— no, this might be really helpful, thanks!
[ he blinks when the subject of the compass comes up, but he quickly gets it out and hands it over. ]
You're familiar with compasses like this?
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And this happened around here, right?
[ but he'll take the vhs tape and put it in his jrpg inventory for now. straight into key items you go. he's letting sebastian deal with the compass like he is not also dying of curiosity at it. ]
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Yes, so the story goes.
[Then, he nods at Sebastian.]
I believe I made it, actually. [He examines it.] Ah, yes, this is definitely one of my works. Seems like it's broken, though... Give me a moment, and I'll fix it right up.
[He dashes off to what looks like a workshop area, taking out his tools and fiddling with the compass. After a bit of time, he returns to Sebastian and Cloud, holding the compass out.]
There you go. Should be working now! Consider it part of the compensation package.
[They'll now see the compass needle shaking, as though moving depending on where they hold the compass.]
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[ not even a lie.
seeing the needle on the compass move now, he takes it back excitedly and turns around in a few different directions to try it out. ]
This is great, thanks! We didn't know if it was broken or if there was just some secret to it that we didn't know.
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I think that should be out cue to get back on the road, then. [ he looks at the man's wife and... frowns a little ] Good luck. With everything.
[ but cloud absolutely wants to go stop the apocalypse now that they have a time and a vague idea how it starts AND a working compass that might be a totally normal compass. ]
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You too. Times are difficult now, but perhaps one day, the world will be a better place. Now, I have a vase to finish up! I wonder how it'll turn out...
[But before he immediately goes to his work, he'll at least see Sebastian and Cloud out, waving goodbye as he does.
The compass... points them back to the Time Channel! Hopefully it's not just pointing north and that's a coincidence. Are they ready to go back to the void?]
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Do you think maybe this will help us tell what year we're going back to or something?
[ ... ]
With all these weird coincidences so far, it kind of feels like we're supposed to be doing this, doesn't it?
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[ they're hitting all their quest markers! ]
Which means hopefully the next one will be the last, and we can stop whatever happened back then to ruin the world.
[ but yes, cloud is ready!! for!!! more time travel!!!!! with their friend the magic compass!!!! whee ]
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