boxofkururu | team done with destiny

team done with destiny

[ Using a letter to invite Yua out to a small place Nero found - far from prying eyes, with affordable food and drink? It's strange for him. But perhaps it's because he has so many hounding over him - making sure he lived - he couldn't go and meet her to extend an invatation.

Really, it was a shock he could make it out of bed, let along to be sitting at a corner table. However, he was still quite visible, and clearly him. Of course he was - he'd slipped back into his Alchemists' Coat, nice and loosely draped from his body. Plus, who'd not notice the man who'd brought a small Magitek-esque minion with him, half-broken? (His hands were sore and tired and he needed something to work on. Engineers could never keep their minds still - even now, Nero pondered the next move of Omega, even if he couldn't see it.) ]

For both our sake, I hope you didn't mistake that for a love letter, hero.

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At least it wasn't written in flowery language, I seriously would have to question if you were loopy on medication.

[Yua spoke as she walked towards the table, said note in hand. The recent experiences involving Doma and Omega made Yua want to start consuming alcohol but really held back on the thought because her being drunk after one sip would be pretty embarrassing; she's not Yukiko after all. But even so, it's a bit weird for Nero of all people to call for her or maybe she's just the type who won't go screaming to Cid about how he's out of bed and needing to rest.

...yeah, the woman is stubborn enough to not listen to doctor's orders and go running off anyway but when the hell was there rest?]

Were you that bored from staying in bed? I don't blame you to be honest.

Wouldn't you be bored? Having to sit there and listen to healers lecture you about even sitting up - without barely a book for comfort!

[ He might be a little loopy, nursing a simple cup of water for now - looking her over without even wearing his glasses. (There was nothing dramatic here - or so he hoped.) But Nero offers her a seat, across from him. ]

They're more tiring then the injuries. I survived for moons on my own with far worse. [ Even as he speaks, Nero seems to have a small smirk on his lips. Perhaps now Cid understood that he was strong? At least, in one way.

But in another, he simply smirked to himself, the fact he'd defied death one again. How often was he going to do that? Hopefully a lot. ] I thought we could both use some time away from people telling us what to do. Of course, you could always teleport away. Who knows, a new beast might be out there, threatening the wide world once more.

And there are about eight others who can handle it if that ever happens. Besides, it would be rude to just show up and pop back out. I'm not that much of an asshole.

[Oh Yua knows she can be unbearable at times, down right being an asshole because she's more accustomed to speaking her mind and truthfully rather than try to please everyone else. She tried that back in Inaba and it made her wonder what kind of person was she at the time.]

It takes someone stubborn to see things through to the end even while injured. You got guts, Nero.

[ Don't mind Nero smirking at her response - leaning back. But then, he gives a small wink. Though he's trying not to show it, Nero is pleased at getting complemented. ]

Please. I wouldn't flee - not when there was more of Omega to see. [ listen kefka was fascinating - oh, how he wished he could have the wind-up minion and learn more of the strange clowns origin. ] But it was a little rude, being attacked out of nowhere. Next time it invites you, show Omega some manners, would you? With the pointy end.

You deserve kudos as well, Yua. Why, to you, Omega might simply be a side story - a diversion from being pulled around by your allies and enemies both. [ A beat, as he leans back more - before wincing. ] Now I consider it - this is the second time, isn't it?

I got a bone to pick with it more than ever considering it decided to trap me in a hard to breathe cube in an attempt to 'bring more power'. I am no god nor do I want to be.

[Not to mention it made Uncle Middy go into slumber for helping her out. However, the next line may either stun him or confirm any suspicions he may have.]

That depends if you are referring to this star or another.

[ For a long time, Nero has known Yua wasn't... a regular Eorzean. But, he hadn't figured it out - just another bit of frustration in his life.

However, he can't help but double take. ]

...So, you're not the only one who's traveled though stars - no wonder Omega wanted to test your limits in such a crude way!

[ He sounds amazed, though - leaning back a little. Smirking to himself. He was right - this hero was even more curious then he'd expected. There was a reason to trail Yua and her allies - something in it for him. (Other then the confusing feelings of allyship he felt.) Then again... ]

I'm surprised - here I'd thought beings from other stars wouldn't look Eorzean.

If it helps, I looked exactly like hyurs do here. It was just that the Higher Power decided to give me more feline features probably because of my love for cats.

[And some probably thought her strange because she never posed like normal miqo'te nor got angry at being called a cat. Or did any of their normal tics.]

But we don't call ourselves hyur back on my world; instead the term is human. And we are all not alike; a typical human wouldn't be able to fight back against any monster and too engrossed into smartphones and laptops. [Maybe explain those first.] Oh, uh...like linkpearls except with a monitor and keypad if we're talking a smartphone and a more compact setup like at the base camp during those fights.

[ Huh. He'd need to file that away - not only from another star, but also not even Miqo'te before? A Hyur-man. Human. It was almost amusing, if Nero wasn't still aching. ] So, like the screens Garlemald uses so often to great effect as well. Of course, it's something that I sorely miss here in the greater lands outside Garlemald occupation - but I'd much rather be out here seeing what can be done then remain seated at my screens.

--Unless, of course, it's analyzing a grand new Allagan tomestone or watching your fights from afar. But that's not the point, now is it? To have that technology available so often that commen men don't need to fight? Why, I'd almost say your star sounds spoiled.

[ He needs to ask, though: ] It can't have been peaceful - after all, you came from there, Yua.

[Oh boy, how to put this? She sets her palms together and laces her fingers because how the hell do you describe how your world acts in a simple phrase?]

I think a lot of worlds are like that. Everyone constantly get into fights over what they feel is right and there are those that escalate into something more like wars; my home world being one of them. And trust me, we would be here for weeks if I got into every single battle that's happened and all the repercussions stemming from them.

But...to be frank, I didn't start fighting or using a weapon until I was seventeen. There wasn't even a war going on at the time but there was some...oddities. At the time, I was going to school and preparing for university within the next year or two just like most my age would be doing at the time. I had no idea what the hell I would get into just from going to live with family for a year while my parents decided to take positions overseas. But maybe I should start by asking you a question:

Are you familiar with the term 'Persona'?

[ He's listening quite well - sipping at his simple drink of water as he does. Hah, so it's still never peaceful. To himself, Nero mutters - loud enough for her to hear: ] That's at least ten years after I started fighting.

[ But he gives a small shake of the head, trying to ignore that feeling. ]

If it wasn't you asking, Yua, I'd say it was related to the Allagan term. The mask used to hide ones' true face - I'm quite familiar with it.

What proper Garlean wouldn't be? [ he laughs to himself a little. ]

[Well...shit. She wasn't expecting that right out the gate. Her ears bend down in a sign of apology because if he started...so hearing about child soldiers was not common and usually in countries where there's a lot of turmoil. But even so...]

I...I'm sorry to hear that. No one should go through anything that terrible.

[But the subject changes quickly and thankfully Yua doesn't have to explain what a persona is.]

That's pretty much the general concept of it. However, there is a form of power that is called the same thing. I guess one can call it part of the soul taken physical form and use it to fight back. But it's actually rare to Awaken to it and not many are capable of doing so because it involves a few different factors such as the environment...but I'm getting ahead again. Really should stop doing that and just tell the story.

[Not like they don't have time.]

As I said before, I was sent to live with family for a year while my parents went overseas for work; my uncle and little cousin. The town they lived in was very small and quiet for the most part until a few days into my stay; that's when bodies strung up on telephone poles and antennas starting showing up. There was no signs of what caused them to die in the first place and the police were pretty stumped. Around the same time, the school I went to were talking about something that happens when you watch a TV at midnight when there is heavy rain-

[Taking out some paper and writing material and doodling a quick version of what a television looks like.]

And they were saying that you would see your soulmate through there. I thought it was bullshit at first until when it did rain one night, the TV turned itself on and I saw blurry images. It wasn't the smart thing to do since when I touched the screen, my hand went through and part of my body too. Of course I was rightfully freaked out because that is not normal by any means and decided to tell my friends about it the next day.

Naturally, they didn't believe me until I did it in a public place. But only they saw it but still, it happened.

[ Nero, of course, is listening - and gives a little tsk. She's sorry? For what? It's normal. Even before he had to fight for Garlemald, he needed to defend himself. Softly, though, he looks to the table - trying to avert his confusion as he listened.

A form of summon created from the soul? Nero had looked into the Allagan art of Summoning - it sounded the smallest bit similar, but if it was from the term Persona, then-- it'd be a creation that suited them. Nero sagely nodded. ] Oh, but it's such an important part of the story - being chosen to be Awoken? Why, that must be familiar.

[ But as he looks to the diagram of a TV - mulls over her words - there's a slight look of disgust. ] Showing off their slaughters - reminds us of somebody, now doesn't it.

But this teevee tried to draw you in - are you certain it wasn't a creation such as Omega does now? [ He kids, he kids. He doesn't expect Omega to be on another star - not one where it didn't make itself obvious, that is. ] Did you try and avoid other teevee, or did you do the right thing and investigate more?

And it sucks.

[What? Yua might be a hero but she sure as hell doesn't see her as one. If she and the other members of Wanderer's Haven didn't go fight the baddies and whatever decided to threaten the world, who would? Not like she doesn't trust people but...again, folks ask random strangers to help pick up literal shit for money so.]

I may be called one but I really do not feel like a hero. It's a good thing that I can be around people who won't hero worship and tell me things truthfully. But maybe I'm one of those weird ones, who knows.

[But at Nero's next question, she can help but smirk.]

I did what any stupid, bored, and a bit curious teenager who discovered something new and crazy while dragging along a few friends: I jumped in. And if I could make sense of where we ended up...think of it like the Rift with Omega. Except instead of one being making everything, imagine millions. We didn't know it at the time but we had stepped into another world created by the Collective Unconscious. It was all made by the thoughts of people. But as we learned of its existence, we also realized that it was part of those murders.

You see, someone was pushing victims through TVs to this world. However, there was a really big downside in the form of Shadows. Think of them like the usual monsters we see here but ten times as deadlier. You see, the only way to fight against a Shadow is by using a Persona and if anyone who wanders around that world without one...well, I don't think I need to remind you what happened. It gets worse because of the weather: when it was foggy on our side, it was clear on the other and that made Shadows more aggressive and willing to attack people. A lot of what we know we kind of stumbled on by falling flat on our faces and getting into danger. We weren't very smart back then but at least we learned quickly such as the one of the only ways to Awaken to a Persona.

It was after I had Awakened my first Persona, Izanagi, that my best friend Yosuke and I went inside and found ourselves face to face with himself except with yellow eyes: his Shadow. The only way to gain the power of Persona is to 'face yourself', to confront your Shadow with your true fears and worries and what you really feel and not deny it. Not accepting it when you do not have any back up gets a bit dicey because the Shadow can and will go berserk and try to kill you.

Hah, being a hero just means having more people begging for your help.

[ Even now, Nero can snark - but it's true, isn't it. A hero is just somebody who had the right skills at the right time. With his own spare piece of paper, Nero had begun to doodle out concepts, however, as he listened. But as she mentioned people being pushed in, Nero bit his lip. ]

...A little like the Void as well, then. A mix of Omega and the World of Darkness? Why, this realm sounds quite chaotic - I wonder if it'll inspire Omegas' next fight? [ Of course, he knows it's an understatement. But then again, he doesn't bring up his little trip to the Void lightly. ]

These Persona sound like they showed up just in the nick of time - well, that you figured out how to awaken them. But your friend had to fight his own fears? Why, that sounds like something Garlond should do.

[ nero no. But he laughs a little, softly frowning. ] So let me guess, Yosuke refused to accept his flaws and was savaged by his Shadow, until you and your allies saved him.

Technically it was just me who could. Teddie was just the one able to point out the weak spots and Yosuke passed out after he was dumb and denied himself.

[No lie.]

But once we called the Shadow down and Yosuke finally woke up, he was able to realize his true feelings and accepted himself, gaining his own persona in the process. Now someone would think that after that, we would not try to go in but once we learned about how the killer was the one able to push people into TVs and going to the police wouldn't do anything since they wouldn't believe us without proof we...kind of decided to try and solve the mystery ourselves. It only snowballed when several of my classmates got shoved into the Other World and we had to go save them.

Actually, you already met one of them. She may not be from my version, but Yukiko was the third one kidnapped but the forth to gain her persona.

Hah. You're all heroes, aren't you? From the very beginning--

So Yukiko is from another Shard as well. Just as I thought! [ aw, nero is looking a little pleased at himself. ] A pity she's from the same as yours - imagine, learning of more and more of what Omega could only dream of. [ He's kidding - I think. ] But, still. Solving a mystery sounds like a rather mundane beginning to the legacy of the Warrior of Light.

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team done with destiny

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