boxofkururu | pile of creds

[He's still frowning, trying to do the same- his heart just isn't as in it as it should be, as he watches the other.]

It's not a speciality I'd spent much time on- which seems a rather substantial lack now. But then- it isn't something you would expect to find until it happens to you. [He leans back a little, humming.] Proof… Other people?

[ Waving down the waitress to get another drink - he'd already finished his - he sighed. ] While recovering from... well, I had a lot of time to read. [ If this Thancred didn't know of Lizeh, then he wouldn't know of her death.

Pinching the bridge of his twitching nose, Th'ancred shakes his head a little. ] Yes. Such as you.

...As you might have guessed, we're the same person. [ it's bullshit ]

[He's going more slowly- still considering, still thinking all this over. There's a nod at that- even if he's thinking of the wrong thing- Lahabrea- there was certainly a lot of time then.]

Such as me. … It also sounds too ridiculous to be true, you know. And yet.

[there's- another nod, a little pursing of his lips.]

I'd surmised as much. It's still… very strange. And we're not… the only ones, I take it?

We're not, sad to say.

[ said with clicks of his tongue - as he manages a sly smile. ]

Whatever decided this world was prime for this... craziness has a thing for us. Guess they thought our Scions needed more eye candy.

[ but as he talks, his ears lay flat against his head and his tail begins to wag. fists curled up, he finally says it mixed with angry clicks. ]

Pity the forces of nature thought mocking us with Ascian in our form was fair.

[He manages a smile- that's weird and deeply messed up, but if they're looking at it that way- half-understandable, perhaps.]

Well- I should think we couldn't deny them that much.

[though- what of home, as well…? And then- he wouldn't call himself an expert, but the clicking, and the body language- he's almost prepared for bad news. Except not at all when it actually comes, and he half-rises, cards falling from his hands.]

They thought- what? As though all else was not enough-

[…he's drawing attention. Worried looks- concerned. He forces himself to sit down, push the anger back. He needs more information.]

How did this happen?

[ he expected that reaction, but still remains angered. one of his hands almost darts all the way to his linkpearl, but he lowers it. he can explain it - even if he doesn't know all the answers. ]

To understand why that, we need to step back. To... that time, when Ultima Weapon was woken. The Warrior of Light - and allies [ oh god he is not drunk enough to explain miscarlet ] charged in, to stop what our foolishness brought.

[ there's a long pause, as his voice goes quiet. his hand now lingers on a triple triad card - of course, the nero one. ]

...The Warrior of Light was killed in action. But there's... [ nope still not drunk enough ] many interesting and exciting ways the world can harm you. She was revived, by Ascian power.

[ and thats when shit begins to go wrong. ]

… That time. I remember.

[If not… quite this way, and he stays quiet, listening- hoping not to make it worse for Th'ancred. Twelve. It's not- he doesn't know what he'd do, really, if it were him. He hopes- he prays- he'll never have to find out.]

She- I'm sorry. […that card. Nero was involved- coincidence, or not? But that's not the most important details, and he lets out a breath- not quite hissing, but close.]

… Ascian power. Does that mean…? [possession? something else- something worse?]

It's her. I... [ fuck, he thinks, looking into his second drink. ] didn't believe it was, for a long time.

But after that? More and more people began to come here. And Minfilia welcomed them with open arms. [ Which he still doesn't want to believe. She's the one who's in control, after all, not him. But she's been so welcoming of everybody - even if they're Ascians. He lets out a hissing, bitter laugh. ]

Who'd believe the Scions working with Ascians? And Dravanians - the enemy of Ishgard. [ he doesn't even want to mention the tame primals yet. ] I hate it.

… You mean- actually brought back? That's… No. It would be hard to believe.

[he sighs, reaching for his own drink- a good choice, after all- this is a lot to take as it is.] …As though something had been broken, perhaps? That does sound like her. [Walkers of the Path, welcomed- no matter their origins. And still-]

Even so… it is hard to accept that. [Hard to swallow.] What's happened since they arrived? [has there been trouble?]

She holds Ascian power now, but... she remembers me. And acts as she did.

[ It must be her. But he lets out a snort. The only thing broken here was his mind. Sometimes, he wonders if he's really dead. ]

They haven't made a move, no. But...

[ He shudders a little, continuing to drink. ] Not for lack of trying - I'm surprised we haven't fallen to pure chaos - there's far too much to comprehend today. At least we have a beachside house to go to - there's a Free Company all these... alters join.

… Well. After that- some effect would probably be expected. That is… good to hear, at least.

[It's worrying, all the same. He frowns, finishing his own drink.]

Then what are they doing? Waiting?

Well. We'll have a good view, should everything come about, then. How many of these alters are there, then?

Who knows. At least that Elezen [ haurchefant ] claims we're changing history in some splendid way - defeating threats from the future. Can't trust it.

[ Even if he's sure that it's caused good, he can't believe the Ascians only want good. ]

Of us? Well. There's you and I... and then, let me see. There's the Ascian, one who's a dragon, and... that other one. [ not even he believes that one of them was chosen to represent Hydaelyn. That's a leap too far. ]

But it's not just us. There's another Y'shtola and Yda [ well not exactly but it's complex ] as well - and a few more Urianger. He's as fun as always.

…of House Fortemps? [what.] Not… quite the source I would have expected. [Then again, what source would he have expected.] It would be a hard job to disprove that…

[he. winces a little at the Ascian- Twelve, why- and looks incredulous at the others.] A dragon- truly? [He would ask about the lot, but… well. Really.]

It's a bright side of some sort that we're not alone in this, strange as it is. What do they think of it? [He has to wonder. And- he looks pleased, a little.] Urianger must have several theories about the matter, then.

He took over that Free Company, while their leader roamed. Him and his strange twin - a female alter of his from another world.

[ A beat. ] Yes, a dragon - due to his body being corrupted. Some misuse of magic. [ In other words, Flow. Th'ancred, however, hasn't experienced it - and doesn't know much about it. ]

[ But he laughs, still that clicky hissy laugh. ] A lot of them seem to... enjoy it. Yda-- well, one of them goes by Lyse again, if that tells you enough. [ another beat. ] Oh, Urianger does. It's the most I've ever seen him outside of the Waking Sands. [ another beat as he takes another sip. ] Can you believe he adopted Alphinaud and Alisaie both? [ and a weird third kid... ]

He and- well. If people have changes races, that doesn't sound quite so strange. [but it does still sound strange.] …Their leader- someone else?

Hm. That's… not impossible, but very difficult… Some disruption of aether, and then- replacing it? […he doesn't know. But it's curious.]

Ah… [he hesitates, and smiles.] That's good news for her- it must be a relief for the two of them. [he snorts, amused.] Good news indeed! I always wondered why he didn't seem to want to visit more. [she blinks, surprised- and grins.] Hah! I was sure he cared, you know. [of course Urianger did.]

There's a female us, as well. Nearly forgot her. She's cute and charming - she's another Hyur.

[ Is he the only Miqo'te him? He honestly thinks so - he's a mistake in the whole system. Makes sense there's so many him. But he softly snorts. ] Something like that - having his aether ripped into the lifestream, if I recall. And awakening elsewhere.

[ But, a shrug. ] Something about wanting to stay with his books and his mourning. But him and Moenbryda-- Moenbryda's staying with us, as well. Alas, she's still only into him. [ A bit of a shake of his head, she's nice and cute still. Even if she's got a lot of power. ] He cares more then he's let on for quite some time. It's almost scary, seeing him smile.

[ ...Oh god, he knew it'd come up, though. ]

...Their leader... Twelve, he's something else. I mentioned alternate timelines?

[his eyebrows rise] Is there really? Well- I can't think what else I'd have expected, certainly.

[…he does mean the cute and charming, purely.]

Ah… that would most likely do it. Though how… [he shakes his head. He wants to keep poking at that, but- neither of them really know.] Not a good time.

[he nods, slow- and leans forward a little.] Ah- she is? Well, that's a shame… But it's good that she's around. [gives Urianger more reason to be out and about- ~~more ways to give him shit, potentially~~.]

You did. He came from one of those?

[ Deeeep breath, he's gotta answer this on its' own. He can talk more about how nice it is to see Urianger out and about, and how weird his other selves are... later. ]

Multiple. He claims to have been Urianger at one point, but he's far too cruel. He's the one who revived the Warrior of Light, and he-- [ a slight buzz seems to enter his ear, knocking him out of the anger for a moment, but it passes. Minfilia was going for her daily call. ] He's an Ascian. Not a regular one, either - stronger then any who've been seen before. And he calls himself Miscarlet.

[ There's another deep breath, as he drops his voice. ]

He tried to throw me into the Void. [ When he tried to attack Miscarlet for feeling like the source of this corruption, but still. He adds, quickly: ] Not that there's not some form of Void Lord in this damned company.

[This is about to be enough on its own, for sure.]

He- what? It's hard to imagine him like that… [he frowns, folding his arms- eyebrow briefly rising at the buzz. Who-? And then- he's the one to have revived Th'ancred's daughter- but an Ascian? Of more power than any they've seen- he blanches.] So strong- and he's the leader? Do the others know?

[he breathes out, sharply.] Twelve- I'm glad to hear he didn't. … The Void has a ruler?

[ That face is the sort he used to wear - before he turned to this. ] Before he gave up. More then know - they accept him, nevertheless. [ This is why he keeps having bad days. ]

And, yes. The Cloud of Darkness...

[ beat ]

...or, the Cloud of Light. Different alignments depending on the misalignment. Though I don't know much about whatever the Cloud of Light may be. There's too much for me to care about that.

[ If he knew it was Minfilia, he probably would have ended it by now. ]

Gods above. [he signals for another drink, and sits back, heavily.] I don't understand- what are they thinking?

Depending on misalignment… The balance of worlds? That sounds… [faintly familiar. maybe.] Are they here?

Who knows. There's talk of friendly Ascian, working with us - but that's bullshit. They're horrid creatures - all of them.

[ Not that he realises that balance of this world is more important to them then chaos. No, he just wants them all gone - due to the nightmares. But he gestures for another as well. He's still paying, after all. ]

That-- I'm not sure about it. You'd need to ask Nero. [ That one word seems to hold the most hatred that Th'ancred could muster. ] He somehow became the Cloud of Darkness. The world keeps rewarding murderers - who knew?

Friendly… That would be beyond strange- a miracle, I'd think.

[That is an impressive amount of hatred- and he grimaces, the reason for it becoming obvious.]

You'd think- it ought to balance out somehow. And yet…

It could be the void simply recognised him as kin of some sort.

And the miracle never happen. Unless it's to mess us up.

Hah, now that's a good one. Only the most wicked.

[ But as he laughs, somebody else has entered the bar - wearing a soft black dress, it's Minfilia. She's looking around, and-- oh. So this is why he didn't answer the call... she looks just as she would have to Thancred before, her eyes gentle. ]

[he snorts, shaking his head.] So it seems. Perhaps in time… ah, but there's no telling.

[Well, it's rather a depressing thought- but maybe it's helping, a bit. He smiles, before spotting movement out of the corner of his eye and turning to look. He's not used to seeing her in black, but…]

Minfilia? [he glances at Th'ancred, briefly, and raises a hand to wave.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject