Post by raz on Jan 26, 2017 10:31:28 GMT -8
Above Ophelia, and on his knees, Raz buckles, offering her a terse smile as he forces strength into his arms to keep them straight at her sides. His body a shield to the immense pressure from above. His board to the side, useless. How much thought did he put into this idea...? Not a whole lot, really. But it was the first and only thing he could think of.
"K-Kat... S-Sorry. I... I dunno if I can get us through this. I don't even really know what this is but... D-Doesn't matter. If that weird thing, says I can't fight I'll keep fighting even harder, heh... Ghn... "
He gulps, balling up one fist as the sweat collects on his brow and his smile stays tense, but never falters.
"I won't... I-I won't ever, stop, protecting you... S-So, don't worry..."
Panic spreads to Ophelia as her friend takes the brunt of the inexplicable force that brought them down. And yet even to this moment, he's so kind...But...
"You idiot...! You can't die here just for my sake! You're the one who still has a life ahead of you! If anything..."
She's in tears. Even now, she can't help but feel as if things haven't really changed...That she's always been someone too frail to do anything on her own.
...No. She can't dwell on that now. In fact...she has to prove that wrong. So many have suffered for her sake. She can't have someone bear everything for her forever!
"I should be the one shielding you...! I can't...I can't let you die for my sake!
...But. It wouldn't be right for me to disappear as soon as we found each other again... would it?"
He can't lose her. But he has a promise to keep and can't die. A paradox... But the answer sat right there staring him in the face.
And so he laughs, letting his eyes fall shut.
"...You're right. I am an idiot, a total, freakin' moron... I, I never thought of my life as something to throw away but, I don't want to lose you, and for a second it seemed like those were the only two options...
...But they're not."
With no small amount of effort he moves his hand to lace with her own, bringing it to his chest.
"I won't stop protecting you. You just... protect me, too. I'll keep your heart safe and you keep my life safe, that's how..."
A light shines, connecting them as he holds her hand tighter still and turns his attention upward, toward that oppressive thing that's become the sky.
"...That's how we'll both make it through this. Together."
She looks to him and smiles, nodding at the light turning ever brighter as she turns to see the force that aims to bring them down.
"Of course...But we shouldn't leave our friends hanging either, can we?"
She urges her friend up, despite all the pain that may ensue. The pain is nothing compared to what may happen if they simply gave up. It's a struggle, but they stand tall despite the difficulty.
"They're going through the same thing we are...It's probably in our best interests to give them a helping hand...You agree, right?"
A sort of energy pulses through them...but it would seem that it needs something else in order to be completed.
"Let's show this beast how frail it's reasoning really is...!"
"Right!"
Power bounds back and forth between them as they stand tall against the oppression, trails of pink and green swirling a circle that surrounds them. A pulse of power from above intensifies the pressure but they don't falter for even a moment, lifting their linked hands to the sky as their eyes fall shut in concentration.
"The future's ours to grasp, not yours to take! So, everyone, raise your heads and reach out for it!"
Pink and green trails of power entwine between them and unite in their linked hands as eyes snap open, and the words they cry imprint on the minds of everyone present.
"Cardiac Bloom Etude!"
From that circle below them a flower springs to life, translucent pink pedals forming a bud that surrounds them and invigorates them body mind and soul. And they share a smile before pointing upward in unison, the bulb blooming outward and scattering into a storm of petals that spread throughout the area, fluttering on unseen wind and through the crowd that shortly after finds itself invigorated. Some among them reach out to grab the petals, power flowing through them and giving them the strength to stand, defiant.
Wounds are healed by the storm, but as it seems the petals are almost at an end two players raise their hands, and a similar bud blooms around them before scattering to join the storm. Life and Heart players, throwing in their lot with the Fraymotif to keep it going and keep the storm of petals venturing throughout the void...
A petal before Wayland, who takes a hold it gingerly between index and thumb before offering it to Zwei with a smile even as his knees buckle.
A petal breaching the yellow orb to hover before Charles. Among the fear and regret an obvious beacon of positivity and reminder of those things in his life.
A petal before the kneeing Clear, and all the others that would stand against even this, drifting before their eyes.
A petal into Rid's phantom hand, a reminder it's still there and a light that wipes away the illusion to reveal it.
A petal for each and every one of the would-be band, playing on even now. One to Mac to give him strength to pull himself out.
A petal racing down into the dark after the falling Mimi, flying into her to give her strength to rise again.
A petal that gives Charlotte the strength to keep herself upright, and a petal to give to Lambda.
A petal drifting between Chronos and Lycoris, as if beckoning the former give it to the later.
A petal flying into the fallen, to give them the strength to stand.
A petal that drifts into the hands of the curled up Medi, a warmth among the cold.
A petal before the eyes of the grounded Knight, who brings everything to bear in reaching out and taking it in his fist. Strength to rise to his knees, then a shaky stand.
Useless... It's all useless!
Another wave of force drives downward, the pressure on them beyond belief. But the petal scatter running through the crowd and darkness remains. The pain they'd been subjected to, counteracted, and the wounds and injuries faded. Most remain on their knees, those standing forced to them as the gravity ticks higher still.
And the Knight curses. The pain is gone but what can they do like this?
"...Hey. Hero boy."
A tap on the back and those words bring his attention to Rivers behind him, her, Falks and Kyana on their knees with fatigue evident in their smiles. And he can't help a snort, shaking his head.
"You ever gonna let that one go?"
"Not a chance. But if you wanna test your luck maybe we can work something out later... For now, hold our your hand."
Rivers holds out a petal between her middle and index fingers, the Knight's eyes widening as Falks and Kyana follow suit.
"Hey hang on... If you-"
"C'mon man, we'll be fine."
Elsewhere, a group of players inch their way over to Clear. A blonde boy with shaggy hair, an androgynous troll with wicked overbite, a red-skinned alien in a turtleneck and a sporty girl with a red ponytail and fancy dress, that same four from before offering her each of their petals. Them and more living players, more lost pawns.
"We can take this. But this isn't a fight for an army, I can tell... Sometimes, you've got to put all your eggs in one basket and rest your hopes on one... Or, a few. That's the kind of operation this is, otherwise we sit around here doing fuck-all for who knows how long."
The armored man like a bear, Jarvis, and the troll with horns like radio towers, Siguna, are joined by living and ghost alike as they offer petals to Raine with warm smiles and words of encouragement and a similar sentiment.
"This all started with you guys, and it spiraled way out of control... But, you guys should be the ones to end it. Once and for all."
Lee and Cosmo, two members of Falks' cadre, boys dressed in baggy pants and vests. Lee a stern-eyed youth with short, neatly trimmed hair and Cosmo with a wider smile and windswept hair, each offering Siren and her companion a petal with a nod.
"These petals are our hopes and dreams... Our wills. Precious things, and we're all entrusting them to you guys... So hold them with pride!"
All around, the dead and living alike offer petals from their knees, passing on strength, consolidating it. Even as the pressure from above drives them further down, the pain is gone, discomfort and growing difficulty of movement all that remains.
But that's not enough to keep them down.
The Knight holds his hand out with a nod, three petals tucked into his hands with smiles that he returns. Others join in to offer their scattered blooms and he cups his hands to accept them all, grateful
"...Thanks. Thanks, so much, for everything, everyone."
He hugs the petals closer to himself, warmth radiating off them and seeping into him as he accepts them into himself. And he braces his backfoot to the ground to stand, not shakily either but stand tall, fists clenched at his sides as he looks to the eye in the sky.
What the hell... What the hell are you idiots doing?! Pinning your hopes on a handful? How desperate can you get?! You can't accomplish anything with those fragile so-called wills of yours so you pawn responsibility off on others, huh? How sad can you get when you're out of options?
"...You're wrong. And, I think you know you're wrong too, is the thing. These precious things I've been entrusted with weren't passed on to shirk responsibility but to pass it around to each and every person here. This is everyone putting everything they've got to surpassing you. And so I won't waste it."
His feet leave the ground. And he rises, even as the intense pressure tries to force him back. Even in the face of that he ascends, unperturbed, upward in into that gap in the sky, that red ringed boundary.
"I'll face you head on. We, will."
"K-Kat... S-Sorry. I... I dunno if I can get us through this. I don't even really know what this is but... D-Doesn't matter. If that weird thing, says I can't fight I'll keep fighting even harder, heh... Ghn... "
He gulps, balling up one fist as the sweat collects on his brow and his smile stays tense, but never falters.
"I won't... I-I won't ever, stop, protecting you... S-So, don't worry..."
Panic spreads to Ophelia as her friend takes the brunt of the inexplicable force that brought them down. And yet even to this moment, he's so kind...But...
"You idiot...! You can't die here just for my sake! You're the one who still has a life ahead of you! If anything..."
She's in tears. Even now, she can't help but feel as if things haven't really changed...That she's always been someone too frail to do anything on her own.
...No. She can't dwell on that now. In fact...she has to prove that wrong. So many have suffered for her sake. She can't have someone bear everything for her forever!
"I should be the one shielding you...! I can't...I can't let you die for my sake!
...But. It wouldn't be right for me to disappear as soon as we found each other again... would it?"
He can't lose her. But he has a promise to keep and can't die. A paradox... But the answer sat right there staring him in the face.
And so he laughs, letting his eyes fall shut.
"...You're right. I am an idiot, a total, freakin' moron... I, I never thought of my life as something to throw away but, I don't want to lose you, and for a second it seemed like those were the only two options...
...But they're not."
With no small amount of effort he moves his hand to lace with her own, bringing it to his chest.
"I won't stop protecting you. You just... protect me, too. I'll keep your heart safe and you keep my life safe, that's how..."
A light shines, connecting them as he holds her hand tighter still and turns his attention upward, toward that oppressive thing that's become the sky.
"...That's how we'll both make it through this. Together."
She looks to him and smiles, nodding at the light turning ever brighter as she turns to see the force that aims to bring them down.
"Of course...But we shouldn't leave our friends hanging either, can we?"
She urges her friend up, despite all the pain that may ensue. The pain is nothing compared to what may happen if they simply gave up. It's a struggle, but they stand tall despite the difficulty.
"They're going through the same thing we are...It's probably in our best interests to give them a helping hand...You agree, right?"
A sort of energy pulses through them...but it would seem that it needs something else in order to be completed.
"Let's show this beast how frail it's reasoning really is...!"
"Right!"
Power bounds back and forth between them as they stand tall against the oppression, trails of pink and green swirling a circle that surrounds them. A pulse of power from above intensifies the pressure but they don't falter for even a moment, lifting their linked hands to the sky as their eyes fall shut in concentration.
"The future's ours to grasp, not yours to take! So, everyone, raise your heads and reach out for it!"
Pink and green trails of power entwine between them and unite in their linked hands as eyes snap open, and the words they cry imprint on the minds of everyone present.
"Cardiac Bloom Etude!"
Cardiac Bloom EtudeFrom that circle below them a flower springs to life, translucent pink pedals forming a bud that surrounds them and invigorates them body mind and soul. And they share a smile before pointing upward in unison, the bulb blooming outward and scattering into a storm of petals that spread throughout the area, fluttering on unseen wind and through the crowd that shortly after finds itself invigorated. Some among them reach out to grab the petals, power flowing through them and giving them the strength to stand, defiant.
Wounds are healed by the storm, but as it seems the petals are almost at an end two players raise their hands, and a similar bud blooms around them before scattering to join the storm. Life and Heart players, throwing in their lot with the Fraymotif to keep it going and keep the storm of petals venturing throughout the void...
A petal before Wayland, who takes a hold it gingerly between index and thumb before offering it to Zwei with a smile even as his knees buckle.
A petal breaching the yellow orb to hover before Charles. Among the fear and regret an obvious beacon of positivity and reminder of those things in his life.
A petal before the kneeing Clear, and all the others that would stand against even this, drifting before their eyes.
A petal into Rid's phantom hand, a reminder it's still there and a light that wipes away the illusion to reveal it.
A petal for each and every one of the would-be band, playing on even now. One to Mac to give him strength to pull himself out.
A petal racing down into the dark after the falling Mimi, flying into her to give her strength to rise again.
A petal that gives Charlotte the strength to keep herself upright, and a petal to give to Lambda.
A petal drifting between Chronos and Lycoris, as if beckoning the former give it to the later.
A petal flying into the fallen, to give them the strength to stand.
A petal that drifts into the hands of the curled up Medi, a warmth among the cold.
A petal before the eyes of the grounded Knight, who brings everything to bear in reaching out and taking it in his fist. Strength to rise to his knees, then a shaky stand.
Useless... It's all useless!
Another wave of force drives downward, the pressure on them beyond belief. But the petal scatter running through the crowd and darkness remains. The pain they'd been subjected to, counteracted, and the wounds and injuries faded. Most remain on their knees, those standing forced to them as the gravity ticks higher still.
And the Knight curses. The pain is gone but what can they do like this?
"...Hey. Hero boy."
A tap on the back and those words bring his attention to Rivers behind him, her, Falks and Kyana on their knees with fatigue evident in their smiles. And he can't help a snort, shaking his head.
"You ever gonna let that one go?"
"Not a chance. But if you wanna test your luck maybe we can work something out later... For now, hold our your hand."
Rivers holds out a petal between her middle and index fingers, the Knight's eyes widening as Falks and Kyana follow suit.
"Hey hang on... If you-"
"C'mon man, we'll be fine."
Elsewhere, a group of players inch their way over to Clear. A blonde boy with shaggy hair, an androgynous troll with wicked overbite, a red-skinned alien in a turtleneck and a sporty girl with a red ponytail and fancy dress, that same four from before offering her each of their petals. Them and more living players, more lost pawns.
"We can take this. But this isn't a fight for an army, I can tell... Sometimes, you've got to put all your eggs in one basket and rest your hopes on one... Or, a few. That's the kind of operation this is, otherwise we sit around here doing fuck-all for who knows how long."
The armored man like a bear, Jarvis, and the troll with horns like radio towers, Siguna, are joined by living and ghost alike as they offer petals to Raine with warm smiles and words of encouragement and a similar sentiment.
"This all started with you guys, and it spiraled way out of control... But, you guys should be the ones to end it. Once and for all."
Lee and Cosmo, two members of Falks' cadre, boys dressed in baggy pants and vests. Lee a stern-eyed youth with short, neatly trimmed hair and Cosmo with a wider smile and windswept hair, each offering Siren and her companion a petal with a nod.
"These petals are our hopes and dreams... Our wills. Precious things, and we're all entrusting them to you guys... So hold them with pride!"
All around, the dead and living alike offer petals from their knees, passing on strength, consolidating it. Even as the pressure from above drives them further down, the pain is gone, discomfort and growing difficulty of movement all that remains.
But that's not enough to keep them down.
The Knight holds his hand out with a nod, three petals tucked into his hands with smiles that he returns. Others join in to offer their scattered blooms and he cups his hands to accept them all, grateful
"...Thanks. Thanks, so much, for everything, everyone."
He hugs the petals closer to himself, warmth radiating off them and seeping into him as he accepts them into himself. And he braces his backfoot to the ground to stand, not shakily either but stand tall, fists clenched at his sides as he looks to the eye in the sky.
What the hell... What the hell are you idiots doing?! Pinning your hopes on a handful? How desperate can you get?! You can't accomplish anything with those fragile so-called wills of yours so you pawn responsibility off on others, huh? How sad can you get when you're out of options?
"...You're wrong. And, I think you know you're wrong too, is the thing. These precious things I've been entrusted with weren't passed on to shirk responsibility but to pass it around to each and every person here. This is everyone putting everything they've got to surpassing you. And so I won't waste it."
His feet leave the ground. And he rises, even as the intense pressure tries to force him back. Even in the face of that he ascends, unperturbed, upward in into that gap in the sky, that red ringed boundary.
"I'll face you head on. We, will."
