Event || Once Upon A Dream

[eternitymods]

Who: All characters who signed-up!
When: May 31st - June 04th
Where: The Dream Width (+ Curti Center & Airships)
What: Event log for the Once Upon A Dream Event! Should your character have their own memory, start your own top-level with said memory. If not, then tag around in other characters's memories! Furthermore, feel free to use the Mingle threads at the Curti Center and in the Airships for non-memory related CR. Please refer to the OOC Post for details and plotting. Plot Memories and the second Airship Mingle will be unlocked on May 25th.
Warnings/Notes: Memories with specific warnings will be marked as such by their players.

Please use the following form for your memory's title line:
CHARACTER'S NAME | MEMORY TITLE | WARNINGS (IF ANY)
We will add links to your memories here as the event progresses!

Mingle: Curti Center | Airships #1 | Airships #2
Plot Memories: The Dream | The Nightmare | The Premonition
Holographic Messages

Adrien Agreste | Then and Now
Aqua | Thorny Pathway | cw: spoiler for kh 0.2
Castor | Lord of the Inferno | cw: fire, mind control
Ena | Zera Hamlet, Reprise | cw: mutilated corpses
Futaba Sakura | Early Days | cw: references to verbal abuse/neglect and auditory hallucinations
Ignis Scientia | For The Life of the Chosen | cw: spoilers, violence, death
Irhya Pendhula | The Parting Glass | cw: violence, amputation
Johnny D'Amico | United Earth Prisoner
Kanji Tatsumi | You're a BOY, you know! | cw: bullying, mild homophobia
Lelouch vi Britannia | Julius Kingsley
Monika | Just Monika | cw: spoilers, possible horror, possible deletion
Nanamo Ul Namo | A Good Memory
Noctis Lucis Caelum | Light of the Crystal | cw: chapter 13 spoilers
Okuyasu Nijimura | Lending a Hand | cw: blood/injuries
Prompto Argentum | I'm not one of your experiments! | cw: episode prompto spoilers
Selphie | The Answer | cw: gore/death
Takashi 'Shiro' Shirogane | The end of the beginning | cw: end of season 2 spoilers
Tidus | A Broken Dream | cw: death, bullying

Comments

Tidus | a broken dream | cw: death, bullying

[zanarkandian]

It begins on a rocky cliff overlooking a rough beach. The skies are grey, an omen of the danger to come. On the cliff are numerous people in formal robes, looking important. The main line of defense up here is a giant cannon. In the midst of this group is a mostly-younger party, a summoner and her guardians, that looks somewhat out of place. Tidus stands among them, clueless.

He finds himself looking down at the beach. Young warriors line it, armed with cannons, guns, and there are a few Chocobo-riding knights with swords as well. They're all watching the stormy sea, waiting for something to happen.

And happen it does. A large creature, something like a scorpion, falls in front of the summoner party. A difficult battle ensues: there's a head casting dangerous spells, arms swatting the party, and a fearsome body to tackle. (point 1)

That is the prelude to the bigger fish to fry. A large whale-like armored creature rises from the ocean, far taller than the cliff. The warriors charge, the cannon is fired, and the creature---Sin---responds with an all-powerful gravity spell, vaporizing the warriors on the beach in a pulse of terrifying light. Its crushing power affects all, even those outside of the direct kill zone---those on the cliffs are brought to their knees, and Tidus, standing too close, falls to the beach below. Surviving, but barely. (point 2)

He stirs a few moments later, awakened by the heavy feeling in the air. Still corpses litter the beach, and he looks greener with every step. The scale of it is newly horrifying. Worst of all, Sin has the nerve to simply leave after causing all that destruction. Finally, after being uncharacteristically quiet for so long, he speaks.

"Hey, you! Don't you run away from me!"

He breaks into a sprint, dives into the icy water, and swims past rusting ruins on the ocean floor and floating remains above. He has only one goal in mind: to reach that no-good, gloating, overconfident, rude, murderous father of his. Rainbow lights come closer and closer, threatening to draw him and any unaware onlookers in. (point 3)

[[ooc: Here it is! The scene will repeat as necessary, of course, and here are your choices: point one for combat, point two for some standard sense-slapping, and point three for family drama. All will be elaborated as necessary.]]

Let's see how many points we can reach, starting from point 1!

[cidsgirl]

Rikku is hit with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia when she suddenly finds herself back in Spira. She questions the existence of Vaikuntha, but her spiraling thoughts are quickly ceased at the sight of a machina war cannon placed in her vicinity. It's of Al Bhed origin, and Rikku hasn't seen one of these in quite some time. They used to be littered throughout Mushroom Rock Road in preparation for Operation Mi'ihen. She went once with her father, Cid, before being ordered to follow through with another mission.

A crusader jogs passed her, and when she watches him keep forward, she notices the backs of a familiar group people she once fought alongside. There they stand, their attention focused below the cliff. Rikku's heart begins to pound as she grows more and more confused. Suddenly, a Sin Spawn strikes in front of that group, granting her absolutely no time to take everything in.

But Yuna is out there, and this all feels too real for Rikku to deny. A gun is attached to her person, ready to be equipped. She's wearing the same outfit she wore in Vaikuntha just moments ago and she doesn't allow herself the time to make much sense of it. She runs toward the battle scene with a lump in her throat and a strong sense of anguish clouding her heart.

You got it!

[zanarkandian]

Rikku's early arrival does not go unnoticed. There's a dirty look turned her way by one pig-headed Auroch, who's just situated himself on the front lines to aim at the creature's head.

"We got this. Why don't you help somebody who needs it, ya?"

Tidus can't let himself be distracted for long, but there is something very familiar about the design of her costume.

"Hey, lay off, Wakka! She's just trying to help!"

A mage in a very belt-heavy black dress gives the new arrival a considering look before turning back to the threat before them. She'll cast her magic on the arms and consider the rest later.

The monster, of course, responds by spitting its poison at the group.

[cidsgirl]

The poison doesn't reach where Rikku was by the time it spits, but little droplets burn the open space in her chest from the splash of it. She winces at the pain, but quickly digs into her Stash for a Remedy.

"Hey! Tidus," she lifts her arm and tosses a hefty (for its size) bottle of Remedy his way, "catch!"

Finally joining them in the range of the monster, Rikku takes out a potion-soaked pad and sticks it to the spot where the poison caught her. "Everyone okay?"

Rikku cocks her machina weapon and readies her battle stance. Right now, her thoughts are a blur and she's running on pure adrenaline.

[zanarkandian]

Oh, that feels good---and she's right. Yuna needs to save her energy for more powerful magic. But hasn't he heard her voice before? She knows him, but how? The only Al Bhed he's really talked to at length are Rin and...

"Rikku?" he mutters in disbelief.

It's a distraction, and there's a distinct grunt of annoyance as Auron blocks a swing from the creature with his hefty blade. "Enough, focus on the battle at hand!"

Finally, Tidus does, encouraging his allies with a Haste spell, He then speeds forward for a blade swing, eager to see this new warrior in action. The monster responds, most unhelpfully, by hardening its defenses with a spell.

[cidsgirl]

She gives Tidus an affirming nod accompanied with the slightest smirk. The creature's swing, however, as well as Auron's voice - not to mention his mere presence - disrupts their little reunion.

No time to think, must act.

Rikku lifts her gun with one hand, holding her arm steady with the other, and aims it at the enemy's head. Its movements are constant, but seem to follow a pattern that she can work with.

"Eat this!" She shoots, she... kind of scores? By striking the side of its head, anyway. "Ergh." Hey, it did some damage, at least.

[zanarkandian]

Whoa, nice! Tidus would definitely loudly congratulate her at a more appropriate moment. The head's poison definitely needed to be dealt with, and with Wakka and Lulu's earlier efforts it hesitated. Of course, it still had another formidable weapon---two, actually.

The arms took that moment to swipe, clamping in on the center of the formation---Tidus, unluckily for him. He yelped and hacked away at an arm in retaliation, hoping to prevent it from doing that again at the least.

"Everyone, be strong!" called Yuna from the back row, casting a light healing breeze. She was trying to edge her way to the front---the name Rikku was familiar to her, could it be true?

3 It's been a while since I played 10 so I hope I did this right!

[euphemia]

She had kept up with most of the unfolding scene, although not very well. So much appeared to be happening at once that Euphemia was overwhelmed. A quiet calm disturbed by a sudden massive whale-beast that proceeds to wipe out the warriors on the beach. It's frightening in a way and maybe just a tad disturbing, but she can't help but watch in horror while trying to make sense of it all. Nothing made sense, really. Not the combat, the monster, or why this was happening at all.

The only thing she knows or recognizes is that one of the ones in combat is the boy she met on the network. Yes, it had to be him, except he was so deeply engaged with the situation he did not even notice her following when he takes a dive off the cliff and lands to the beach below. She gasped, stunned and afraid that he met an unfortunate fate. Surely, she did not just witness this boy die. Yet no, he survived and seems determined to keep going despite the ugly fall he just endured. How foolish, she thinks. That even now he would think to continue. His passion to continue engaging this battle seemed deeper than just a need to win.

And somehow, she finds herself watching as he began to shout at the beast. With the damage done it was now leaving, except Tidus did not appear to be done with him at all. He made a rush for the creature and even went as far as throwing himself into the sea to swim towards him. How reckless, she thought to herself, then dashed to follow him and try to call him back if necessary.

"TIDUS, WAIT! Come back!" She shouted, her feet carrying her as fast as they could while trying to reach the water's edge and debate if she wanted to even go in after him. Was she just as reckless as him? "Come back!"

No worries!

[zanarkandian]

There's very little that can distract Tidus from his grief and rage right now. His damn good-for-nothing father had to kill all those people, just like he did back in Kilika, and maybe Zanarkand---he had to reach him.

But he heard an unfamiliar voice calling his name---which stood out, because the group didn't tend to use his name much. The surprise slowed his step just enough that he remained in earshot and looked over his shoulder at the strange pink-haired girl.

"I can't let him get away!" A tattered cloth floated by, and he angrily shoved it aside. Ugh, he deserved what was coming to him. No doubt. Tidus resumed his hopeless pursuit.

[euphemia]

He can't let it get away, he shouted. What get away? The giant monstrous beast that apparently already did enough damage as is? She couldn't understand. Why was he so determined to chase it when there were suffering behind him?

"Tidus, please!" She entreated, relieved to at least see that he stopped his pursuit of the massive whale-beast that was slowly getting away. That was a start at least. Now she just needed to get him to realize this wasn't exactly real. Of course, Euphemia was having a hard time believing that herself. It just felt all too real despite how strange it all was. The world he once lived in was so much different than hers.

"I don't know what has you chasing it, but... you have to snap out of it!" She pleaded, then attempted to catch up and perhaps, maybe, close the distance so that he didn't think of chasing that hideous thing even further. "Tidus ... this isn't real."

[zanarkandian]

"I wish that was true," he spat, glaring at that evil, evil thing. "I've been wishing I'd wake up for a long time."

But something this sick and horrifying...he watched another body sink into the depths, trying hard not to retch. This didn't need to be any harder than it already was.

[euphemia]

It was difficult not to pay attention to their surroundings. The carnage, the destruction. It was surreal to think this was all caused by this monstrous beast that now appeared to be long gone. But at least she managed to stop him, even if it seemed he wasn't quite aware that this wasn't real. Well, not anymore.

"Tidus?" She murmured, distance closed so that now she could speak directly to him instead of shouting from afar. At least there was no longer a chase, but she wasn't sure for how long she might have his attention. He was clearly running off adrenaline. The adrenaline from something she didn't quite know about the boy who seemed so tremendously positive some time ago.

"I don't know what or ... who it is that has you like this, but ... can we try to wake up together? Sometimes, we just need a little help."

[zanarkandian]

He turned to fully face her...it was so strange, she seemed like she didn't belong here. The same way that he didn't, maybe. Honestly, at this point, all he wanted to do was wake up, so he could risk it. Maybe.

"How?" he asked, eyes pleading.

Point 2

[melodiouspacifist]

He knew this guy, he'd met him before when they first got there and he'd met him again on the airship. He was the guy who said he was kind of like a Nobody, but he wasn't.

He saw him fall on the beach.

"Oh man." Demyx groaned and tried to close the distance between them.

"Hey!" He met him twice he was sure he knew his name if he just tried to remember it. "Tidus!" That was it.

They were going to be mad if he just let their teammate die or something.

[zanarkandian]

Tidus awakened with a groan, not quite processing what had happened at first. There was almost a scent of burning that clashed with the sea, and the skies looked even darker than before.

Even weirder, a man in black was leaning over him. That wasn't ominous or anything.

"Ergh...who are you?"

[melodiouspacifist]

Demyx hadn't given much thought to how he looked to others, he was just wearing what he always did.

"Demyx." He smiled, it was fine if he forgot his name.

"You're gonna have to wake up now."

[zanarkandian]

"But I just woke up," he answered, confused as anything. He steadied his hands under himself, made an attempt to push up, and...whoa there. This was worse than any nightmare he could've possibly imagined.

Broken bodies littered the beach and broken weapons surrounded them. "Annnd I wish I didn't."

[melodiouspacifist]

"I'm not good at explaining things but this is like...a dream I think." Demyx tried anyway, crouching to shake his head at the scene.

"Or a memory maybe? Not mine though. I've never been to this world before."

There was a bit of wonder there, but it wasn't time to explore the strange new place, not when he was supposed to be dragging his teammates out of strange visions.

"Do you remember the airship?"

[zanarkandian]

"Airship?" Had that been the thing Rikku had been after in the ocean? He was almost sure...but there was something else too, something that felt a little further away.

"No, but should I? Ugh. Sorry. Lots of memory problems lately," he groaned, pressing the heel of his hand against his forehead.

It didn't feel right, but there it was.

Point 1

[wheretheresawill]

Terra doesn't really know this person - actually isn't one hundred percent certain which of the people in the battle is the one lost in this dream; Tidus looks familiar from the network, but there are plenty of people Terra doesn't know - but if they're in a fight, Terra should help them out, right? There's time to talk about how this is a dream later.

"Hey, need some help?" When Terra reaches for a weapon, he finds a greatsword settling easily into his hands. It's no Keyblade, but he's been getting used to other weapons. It'll do.

[zanarkandian]

The gathered guardians eye him suspiciously---he almost resembles one of the Crusaders, but there's something not quite Spiran about him. Tidus is the friendliest of all, of course, and he's quick to wave him over.

"'Course we do, right guys? Sooner we win, sooner they can start the real work."

There were pitying looks from the rest of the group. This wasn't something to be rushed, but Tidus was confident. He welcomed Terra with a haste spell, then began with an attack at the body that was slapped away by a swing of an arm.

Nearby, an older man in red carrying a sword similar to Terra's scoffed. "Its defenses are strong. Tear them down first!"

"Roger!" Tidus shrugged it off with an easy smile, deciding to take a moment to recover and see for himself what the stranger could do.

Terra has never been fast before ever in his life.

[wheretheresawill]

The magic that settles over him is unfamiliar, but its effects are easy to feel: a strange lightness in his body, sharpening in his vision, the world so much slower by comparison. Is this how Ven feels all the time?

The older man seems to know what he's talking about, so Terra attacks the right arm of the creature, recovering to await its counterattack with a swiftness he's never felt before.

"Thanks for the magic!" So fast...

hee :D

[zanarkandian]

"No prob!" Tidus's weapon isn't as sharp as theirs, so he's not quite as useful for that. Once everyone's sped up, he steps back and allows a man like a great blue walking lion to take his place. Kimahri's spear easily pierces the arm too, and soon there will be an opening to attack the core.

Unfortunately, that's just when the head starts wiggling suspiciously. It spits its venom right at the party---ugh, poison. Irritating, but the group will solve that quickly enough.

FFX poison is worst poison

[wheretheresawill]

Despite being much faster now, Terra isn't looking at the head, too focused on his target, so he takes a glop of poison right to the face. "Augh!" It hurts too, and lingers in a way he definitely doesn't like. He doesn't think he can die in someone else's dream, but that doesn't mean it won't hurt.

"I think it poisoned me!" He takes a swing at the other arm, and is proven right when he sways on his feet as the poison courses through his body. It's powerful stuff, too. He's not sure how much longer he'll last.

Definitely

[zanarkandian]

"Hang on!" Yuna looks like she's pre-occupied with setting up their defenses at the moment, so Tidus takes the opportunity to rummage in his pouch and pull out a bottle of antidote. He bounces over and presses it directly into Terra's hand, knowing from experience that poison can mess with your reflexes.

"Drink this. Don't worry, you'll be okay!"

Unfortunately, the sinspawn is very uncooperative, so Tidus has to attempt to fend an arm off with his sword. It swipes him, but nothing too serious---luckily Lulu got some spells in and the head appeared to be weakening.