[Just like that, the compulsion is gone. And in that same moment, everything else comes flooding in at once. The pain, the terror, the regret.
Estelle remains on her knees, making no move to stand. Tears fill her eyes, spilling over and trailing down her cheeks. She makes no effort to stop them. She looks up, too, at the spirit, but she has no words for it right now.]
[ imagine diluc having never let go of estelle, even after kaeya came back with a vengeance and tore his arm out of place. and even still, after blacking out from the searing pain the shards of ice brought.
his vision refocuses and he is indeed still holding onto estelle, other arm limp by his side. the pain is still there and it is burning, but he looks to estelle and his hand comes up to wipe at the tears falling down her face.
then he looks to the fiery figure, a sense of familiarity, but when he also speaks their name, it's nothing but static. ]
Were you the one from before...? The voice we heard, in Envy...
the place they are in is cramped and claustrophobic. they know - they will be scared of the dark, scared of small spaces for years and years to come. or... someone will. it feels like someone else's memory layering over theirs. this place was a prison, is a prison. how did they get out? how did... how did she get out?
the figure finally breathes in slow.]
... You don't have a lot of time. [it's not an answer to diluc's question, so much, but - it does sound familiar.]
What is it that stopped it, the last time? Do you remember?
[ do they know her...? they should, shouldn't they...? he shudders from the memory that isn't his. (though not entirely unfamiliar. the feeling of being trapped. alone.)
it hurts to think, to move, to exist, but sylvain tries to remember. ]
...Our bonds. The hope and courage they gave us.
[ but what can they do with it, now...? he tries to move closer to estelle and diluc in the dark. ]
[Estelle looks up at Diluc's touch. The tears don't stop, it still hurts to breathe, but through all the pain and horror... she's sure that she knows the answer to this. Didn't someone tell her the answer? Even with his ice burning through her back, somewhere in her mind, she can still picture those words.]
Love is a shield...
[Her voice comes out weak -- it's barely audible.]
That's - that's right. Your bonds. Those are the most important thing. I really believe that.
[a pause, and it looks up, wrapping its arms around itself.]
I want you all to think about what bonds you've formed here. At home, too. Think about the people who make you happy, who love you. And I want you to use that love to blow that fucking furby out of the water.
[ sylvain nods. his friends are the most important thing in the world to him. ]
...You're one of them, aren't you?
[ even if they can't quite recognize who she is right now. ]
...I think we can manage.
[ broken and battered, they manage to cobble themselves together. he holds diluc's hand gently, and leans his head carefully against estelle's, even though the slightest movement aches sharply.
he tries to think of everyone he's known, and loved, and lost. (home, and elsewhere.) he thinks of happiness, and he thinks of heartbreak—he tries to remember everything he knows of love.
and above all, he thinks of estelle and diluc, the ones with him now, whom he trusts will make it through this nightmare with him. ]
[There's warmth amidst the pain. She can't reach her hands out to Diluc or Sylvain, but they reach to her nonetheless.
She tries -- tries to push aside her memories of her friends, dead and rotted, or the wretched imitations they just saw, the man she hurt again and again... She tries to remember their true faces. The people she longs to see again -- the people she knows are out there, waiting to return.
[ it's always been the bonds you have in life, and the love that comes with them. he's learned this lesson before and it is a lesson he will continue to honor and practice. as long as they remember it, they will be okay. ]
We can and we will.
[ he gives sylvain's hand a light squeeze, shoulder bumping gently against estelle's. through the pain he manages to sound determined and sure, able to believe in their ability...in their bond, to send that furby packing. ]
it stays away from them, watching as they huddle together, as they try their best. it's hard, to remember the good in the middle of so much pain, but they're managing. she - she is very proud of them.]
... Okay. I'm kicking you out of here. Thank whatever is listening that you guys failed your rolls.
[she laughs, a little - and then the world around them shifts. and they are back in the casino, right where they were before, with kaeya, sieghart, mikazuki and the uwu, the crowd around them watching silently.
but this time, each of them has a little ball of light that dances over their fingers, gives them warmth, a little bit of strength. clarity, too, enough to know what to do with it. this is it. this is the weapon you need to fight this thing. it can be anything. it can back up words, it can be a shield, it can be a weapon, it can be magic, whatever you need it to be. whatever you think will serve you best.
the hostages are approaching. they are going to try and kill you. the uwu's eyes are blank and horrifying as it watches you suffer, enjoying itself immensely.
you can snuff it out, though. you get the impression that this little ball of light packs a punch.
[ he tries to hang onto the sound of her voice... this stranger, who isn't.
but it's time to leave. (to go back. they still have one final stretch.)
they return to the casino, and sylvain takes a good look at the hostages. sieghart, mikazuki, kaeya. he finds that he doesn't feel any fear, towards them, or for them. (a longing, perhaps, but no longer dread.)
the light in his hand manifests into a curse—but it's a power he's used time and again to protect his home. a relic with the power to cut down hundreds of soldiers at a time, to fell a demonic beast. and though his left arm is now useless to him, he only needs the one to fight. ]
All right. Let's do this together.
[ ignoring the pain jolting though his body, he lunges forward, aiming for the uwu. ]
[There's a moment of terror when they return. Estelle sees Sieghart, wounded and broken, because of her. Briefly, she fears that she'll fall prey to the compulsion again... but she doesn't.
Instead, there's something warm. A light...
She closes her eyes, pictures their true faces. The warm smiles of her friends... Then she crosses her arms over her chest and focuses her will on the one thing she truly wants: to protect the people she loves.
The light manifests as a great shield before them -- one to protect them from the oncoming attacks while the others deliver their final blows.]
when they return to the casino there is not much time to think, the hostages are advancing, with aim to kill. as the light dances along his fingertips, left hand/arm the only operable one, he closes his eyes and summons chains. they seem to have no end and even with one arm, he'll be able to pull this off. they're similar to what he once wielded, though instead of dark red and purple chains, these are shining gold. radiating with warmth. with love.]
Together.
[ the goal is to wrap it securely around the three hostages, keep them contained, while sylvain deals the final blow to the uwu, and estelle shields them.
as he does this, he looks at the three, imagines their actual faces. how they truly look and act. thinks about the love he feels for his friends and family, for everyone here and for everyone back home in mondstadt. for those still alive and for those who have passed on.
with them restrained he finds kaeya's eye, pictures his face, alive and well. happy and healthy. shining bright. and quietly: ]
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guestservices) wrote2022-07-10 03:36 pm
no subject
Estelle remains on her knees, making no move to stand. Tears fill her eyes, spilling over and trailing down her cheeks. She makes no effort to stop them. She looks up, too, at the spirit, but she has no words for it right now.]
no subject
his vision refocuses and he is indeed still holding onto estelle, other arm limp by his side. the pain is still there and it is burning, but he looks to estelle and his hand comes up to wipe at the tears falling down her face.
then he looks to the fiery figure, a sense of familiarity, but when he also speaks their name, it's nothing but static. ]
Were you the one from before...? The voice we heard, in Envy...
no subject
it's quiet for a long, long moment.
the place they are in is cramped and claustrophobic. they know - they will be scared of the dark, scared of small spaces for years and years to come. or... someone will. it feels like someone else's memory layering over theirs. this place was a prison, is a prison. how did they get out? how did... how did she get out?
the figure finally breathes in slow.]
... You don't have a lot of time. [it's not an answer to diluc's question, so much, but - it does sound familiar.]
What is it that stopped it, the last time? Do you remember?
no subject
it hurts to think, to move, to exist, but sylvain tries to remember. ]
...Our bonds. The hope and courage they gave us.
[ but what can they do with it, now...? he tries to move closer to estelle and diluc in the dark. ]
no subject
Love is a shield...
[Her voice comes out weak -- it's barely audible.]
no subject
[ he looks for sylvain, reaching for him as he moves closer. now they're together... ]
We stuck together.
[ bonds and love...it's what has kept them alive, all this time. ]
no subject
That's - that's right. Your bonds. Those are the most important thing. I really believe that.
[a pause, and it looks up, wrapping its arms around itself.]
I want you all to think about what bonds you've formed here. At home, too. Think about the people who make you happy, who love you. And I want you to use that love to blow that fucking furby out of the water.
Okay? Can you do that for me?
no subject
...You're one of them, aren't you?
[ even if they can't quite recognize who she is right now. ]
...I think we can manage.
[ broken and battered, they manage to cobble themselves together. he holds diluc's hand gently, and leans his head carefully against estelle's, even though the slightest movement aches sharply.
he tries to think of everyone he's known, and loved, and lost. (home, and elsewhere.) he thinks of happiness, and he thinks of heartbreak—he tries to remember everything he knows of love.
and above all, he thinks of estelle and diluc, the ones with him now, whom he trusts will make it through this nightmare with him. ]
no subject
She tries -- tries to push aside her memories of her friends, dead and rotted, or the wretched imitations they just saw, the man she hurt again and again... She tries to remember their true faces. The people she longs to see again -- the people she knows are out there, waiting to return.
...
Her throat feels tight, but she nods.]
no subject
We can and we will.
[ he gives sylvain's hand a light squeeze, shoulder bumping gently against estelle's. through the pain he manages to sound determined and sure, able to believe in their ability...in their bond, to send that furby packing. ]
no subject
[the figure says to sylvain.
it stays away from them, watching as they huddle together, as they try their best. it's hard, to remember the good in the middle of so much pain, but they're managing. she - she is very proud of them.]
... Okay. I'm kicking you out of here. Thank whatever is listening that you guys failed your rolls.
[she laughs, a little - and then the world around them shifts. and they are back in the casino, right where they were before, with kaeya, sieghart, mikazuki and the uwu, the crowd around them watching silently.
but this time, each of them has a little ball of light that dances over their fingers, gives them warmth, a little bit of strength. clarity, too, enough to know what to do with it. this is it. this is the weapon you need to fight this thing. it can be anything. it can back up words, it can be a shield, it can be a weapon, it can be magic, whatever you need it to be. whatever you think will serve you best.
the hostages are approaching. they are going to try and kill you. the uwu's eyes are blank and horrifying as it watches you suffer, enjoying itself immensely.
you can snuff it out, though. you get the impression that this little ball of light packs a punch.
so - how do you want to do this?]
no subject
but it's time to leave. (to go back. they still have one final stretch.)
they return to the casino, and sylvain takes a good look at the hostages. sieghart, mikazuki, kaeya. he finds that he doesn't feel any fear, towards them, or for them. (a longing, perhaps, but no longer dread.)
the light in his hand manifests into a curse—but it's a power he's used time and again to protect his home. a relic with the power to cut down hundreds of soldiers at a time, to fell a demonic beast. and though his left arm is now useless to him, he only needs the one to fight. ]
All right. Let's do this together.
[ ignoring the pain jolting though his body, he lunges forward, aiming for the uwu. ]
no subject
Instead, there's something warm. A light...
She closes her eyes, pictures their true faces. The warm smiles of her friends... Then she crosses her arms over her chest and focuses her will on the one thing she truly wants: to protect the people she loves.
The light manifests as a great shield before them -- one to protect them from the oncoming attacks while the others deliver their final blows.]
no subject
when they return to the casino there is not much time to think, the hostages are advancing, with aim to kill. as the light dances along his fingertips, left hand/arm the only operable one, he closes his eyes and summons chains. they seem to have no end and even with one arm, he'll be able to pull this off. they're similar to what he once wielded, though instead of dark red and purple chains, these are shining gold. radiating with warmth. with love.]
Together.
[ the goal is to wrap it securely around the three hostages, keep them contained, while sylvain deals the final blow to the uwu, and estelle shields them.
as he does this, he looks at the three, imagines their actual faces. how they truly look and act. thinks about the love he feels for his friends and family, for everyone here and for everyone back home in mondstadt. for those still alive and for those who have passed on.
with them restrained he finds kaeya's eye, pictures his face, alive and well. happy and healthy. shining bright. and quietly: ]
I love you.