boxofkururu | (no subject)

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[ Nero had vanished, after being saved from the Crystal Tower.

This, of course, was expected of him. What hadn't been expected was Cid going after him, with barely a word. He'd been seen running out, holding a piece of paper. A few weeks, he had returned, looking frazzled and refusing to talk about what had happened. Or, really, leaving his workshop except to get quite a bit of food and odder and odder supplies.

That is, until he was found just outside, looking faint and void-tainted. His skin seemed to almost be peeling away, with ooze underneath. But even as he was turning to some form of monster, Cid had tried to stop people from entering - he'd been placed to be monitored by Y'shtola and Urianger. Hopefully, they could stop... whatever this tainting was doing.

So, of course, there was only one person that the Scions could turn to - in case it was far too dangerous. Somebody who could enter the workshop and find whatever was being hidden - even if there were whispers of Cid going back to the Garleans.

But that couldn't be true, could it? The workshop was empty of any other people, but a soft groan could be heard from one of the back rooms. ]

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...Of course it's not.

[ That's what happened, though. ]

The Scions were a lie.

Hrm. [she shifts, tail flicking, uncertain. She thinks- she'd like to ask for a second opinion on that.

She shakes her head, though, frowning.]

They're not. They're friend, my good friends.

[ Though he doesn't know why, he's crawing into her arms to watch the progress on Omega. Is this... emotion? ]

...Elidibus restored me from Null. Saved me from Hell.

[well then. she wraps her arms around him, looking to see what's going on.]

Indeed…? That much is good, I suppose…

[…she doesn't want to owe Elidibus anything, though.]

That is why I am Lahabrea. He gave me this name. And showed me truth.

[ Actually, for once, Elidibus was confused and didn't believe time travel had happened - and, so, he had to convince his new Ascian he was just messed up.

For once, Elidibus didn't do the wrong thing with information. ]

The truth… With the Echo?

[…well. He tried, then.

She leans forward a little, rumbling again.]

What did you see…?

I have no Echo. [ He snaps a little, even in monotone. But... he then pauses. ]

You want to listen, Scion? I thought you'd be trying to banish me.

…? I thought Ascians possessed some power akin to it- I thought that was common.

[she nods.]

I want to understand what happened.

We do. But... it is not your Echo. It is simply part of Zodiark.

[ He closes his eyes, though, under his mask. ] You are a queer one. But... it was long ago. [ He's forgotten how long. ]

I was abandoned there. And... an Emperor appeared. He stole what I was. Like his others.

[ He's confused, but this is... okay. But there's others? ]

Oh…? I see, I think…

[connected all through that being. Yes- it makes sense to her.]

If it was the First Rejoined, that was… the first Calamity? A long time, indeed…

[she frowns.]

An Emperor- of that Hell? Who were these others?

...Never knew. Didn't seem like those of any of these worlds. [ He says, quietly. Yes, this is the beginning of Multiversal Bullshit. ]

...Weren't fighting the Emperor. Elidibus came, and... exchanged for me. A youth.

[ He doesn't know it was literally Firion. Elidibus gave him tribute so that all Eorzeas wouldn't fall. ]

...Life for death.

No…? [huh.] Well- I don't know what I'd expect the hells to look like, but… somewhat similar, I'd imagine…

A youth… [her ears drop. it's- not anyone she knows, she hopes- no, they'd have noticed, right…? but that's still not good.]

… A trade. All the same… [she leans forward, bumping her head against his- an attempt at getting some comfort. she's concerned.]

The Hells of Eorzea are less... strange. [ how does he explain a different realm...? his words are still faded

but he nods ] He was... battling. Even as Elidibus took me.

He... I've only felt alive since then after escaping Omega. [ He doesn't know what emotions feel like. ]

Even when fighting you Scions, it's all the same.

That place must be strange indeed, then. [because their own hells should be a little different from the ordinary world, after all.

She makes a soft sound, for this stranger. Twelve…]

You have…? Then… Is that what Null does?

[she fusses a little, fingers in his hair.] It shouldn't be.

[ A stranger who was once a friend, and once an enemy.

But now, what is he? He doesn't know. He should have lashed out at her, but he leans into her fingers. ]

Null removes all. Emotions... power... form.

[she's still confused, but she's tipped well over into caring by now, carding her fingers through his hair.]

…Something depriving you of all that you were. That's… terrifying.

… I'm glad you're out of it.

...We're enemies.

[ He says, simply, in monotone - even if he's hella confused by all of this. ]

Maybe so. But… we weren't always. Were we?

[she curls up a little more, ears flicking.]

...I don't know.

[ She wasn't real before - was she? But he lets out an uncomfortable grunt - he doesn't get all of this. He's frustrated. ]

I should have attacked you.

[she really should ask one of the others for their thoughts, she thinks, and huffs at him a little.]

I suppose. But- well, you're stuck with me now. [she leans forward to headbump him a little.]

[ As he's headbumped, he gives an angry grumble. ]

And now what. We continue to watch... those? A half-digested part of Ultima, another half-digested part being gripped by it, and... a traitor?

[she huffs, tail flicking.]

They're mine, too. […sort of. point being: don't be rude. But that reminds her- ah, she should check in. She brings the linkpearl up, to talk.]

Urianger?

...K'pandolu - are you safe?

[ But Urianger sounds a little... frustrated? He can sense Miscarlet nearby. But the Lalafell looks up to listen, letting out a mumble. ]

The Impure.

I'm fine- well, not in trouble, at least. He's- well, a lot of things happened, I think… [she flicks her ears, concerned.] What about you? How is everything out there?

[…she puts a hand on his head, shaking her head.]

He's fine.

Nero and Cid have been working quite effectively, though they still have been speaking with disdain. Even if only one of them can communicate well.

[ There's a hey! from Nero, but Urianger continues. ]

However, there is a feeling familiar. That man, born of Gods and carrying memories of eternal suffering. In other words, Ser Miscarlet.