Anniversary Event: Defying Fate

[eternitymods]

Who: Everyone
When: April 8th-11th
Where: Vaikuntha
What: The Heroes of Light relive the three days leading to the Apocalypse, again and again. With this come the chance for them to save the world, but also to explore opportunities otherwise out of reach. Will they find a way to save the world and prevent this terrible fate from coming true?
Warnings/Notes: Depends on the threads.

Comments

The First (Few) Loops || Mingle

[eternitymods]

The world had ended. Vaikuntha had fallen in despair. Ramaa and Bahamut had won. Following their victory, everything had faded to black and you should have ceased to exist. You no longer had a body. You could not move nor speak, you could not see nor ear or feel.

Is this... What nothingness is like? And yet—

"Don't give up."

A voice rose from the void.

"You may have lost... But it doesn't have to remain that way."

A few may recognize the voice of the little girl who identified herself as Ashelia.

"Your power is that to change the face of the world. It is written Vaikuntha fell and the Calamity returned. But... Perhaps you can change it."

The voice pauses.

"I do not know how. All I can do is send you back. But you can do it. You are the only ones who can. Please, don't give up!"

The voice ends abruptly, and suddenly the void is gone. Your body is back, as are your senses— You are back in Vaikuntha. But something is different... Nothing has been destroyed yet. No riots. No Bahamut. The sky is clear as the sun is setting, the people are still holding onto hope. You are back in Vaikuntha, but it is 17:24 on April 08th. You are at the exact same spot you were at, as if nothing had happened.

Except you remember everything that happened, and may still happen should the future remain the same. And you will keep remembering even as time loops again and again. But you're the only one remembering— You and your fellow Heroes of Light.

It all depends on you whether the future changes or not.


[ Please use this thread for mingle during the first or one of the first loops, at any point during the loops. ]

Locked to Frisk.bin

[waningsigns]

[One moment, Frisk is clinging desperately to their very existence, mind a whirlwind of emotions all feeding into the determination running through their veins, the soul beating outside of their body, keeping them alive— and then they're not. And then they are again, tumbling unceremoniously from their bed. They've spent a lot of time there, recently. There's so much horror in the world, and nothing they can do about it, not without their power—]

[But they weren't in bed a moment ago, were they? The sun wasn't shining through their window, the world was ending, and their slate says today is...]

[Their eyes widen, and for the first time in who knows how long, they yell.]

"RESET!"

[A second after that rather unfamiliar sound, there's a series of loud thumps as they come crashing out of their room, down the stairs, and across the house with more energy than they've felt since they got here. They reset. Someone reset, they think they recognized that voice, but it doesn't matter they're back in time and they could kiss the first person they see—]

[They don't, actually, but as they're rounding the corner of the hall at breakneck speed and see their double, all impulse control vanishes. They grab Frisk.bin by the front of their shirt and shake them violently, eyes shining with their grin.]

"Frisk do you remember too?! Reset, Frisk, there was a Reset! We can do something!"

Kuja

[acapriciousreaper]

He was falling. Opalescence was dead, Frisk was dead, Snow White, dead, his Trance was fading, and all he could think about was how he had, somehow, against all odds, managed to end another world.

I'm sorry, Zidane. I tried.

And then fire had consumed him, and that had been it. Not for the first time, he'd found himself adrift in oblivion, alone. And then there'd been a voice.

Not for the first time, Kuja found himself coming to in a place he did not recognize. The world was spinning, the terror of death never quite having lost its grip-

"-comes to thirty five thousand three hundred and seventy-five gil, would you-" He'd reacted in panic, a spell arcing between his fingertips as a blameless, terrified shop clerk dove for cover, a bolt of lightning narrowly missing her. "What..."

"Boss, the hell was that?! You just attacked that girl for no reason, what's wrong with you-" Mojito. Alive. Not at Frisk's, just confused and concerned and- alive.

"Sorry," comes the mumbled apology, and he's rushing out of the store without his ethers, hyperventilating. That wasn't a dream. He'd died, he knew the feeling of it. It wasn't a dream. They'd failed. He'd failed, played like a damned fiddle, a doll dancing on strings once again. He launches into the air and starts flying. He doesn't care where.

It had almost taken him by surprise, when the roof of Kiddilion had been caved in, and the fires of Mega Flare had finished the job. He couldn't shake that cold, dread feeling, the sensation of failure and of death. He hadn't had it in him to do anything other than run and hide.

"-comes to thirty five thousand three hundred and seventy-five gil, would you like to pay cash or... sir?"
Kuja looks up, sees the concerned cashier. Sees the unmarked wall behind her. Sees the blue sky and the setting sun outside. "Just- charge it," he replies, quietly. The purchase is scooped into his... well, wherever the Chemist stores objects, and he staggers towards the exit.

"Mister Tribal, are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."

He stops, turns, afraid of what he might say, but in the end he settles on a reply. "Quite fine, just- It's nothing. What was your name?"

"Um. Marie, sir."

Kuja turns to leave. "Thank you, Marie."

Not a second chance. A time loop. It's impossible, completely impossible, the sheer amount of magic involved-

But how?

For the first time since Bahamut, he checks his iMog. 5:47 PM, April 8th.

Without thinking, he starts furiously composing a message. Frisk, Frisk, Asriel, Papyrus, Madhuri, Matilda, Snow White, Conway, Red, Chara- Everyone he knows.

Has anybody else been reliving their last three days on Vaikuntha over again? Asking for a friend.

But the world refused to change | Anyone with an airship

[timecrash]

The world shatters. He'd tried, in the end, to keep going, and perhaps to Serge's credit he'd lasted longer than most. Time twisted and bent around him, and he heard the chord- not the one that Ramaa had been talking about, but the one that happened every time he used the Arbiter's skills. The one that brought to mind the feeling of whalebone beneath his fingers, of incense and bells, the soft and far-off sound of a voice in prayer he can't quite remember... The feeling of sunlight on his face, and a fleeting image of feathers falling from the sky.

It hadn't been enough. Abandoning a timeline to bounce back once, compressing time to do it again, all the while trying to save- everyone. Anyone. It hadn't been enough.

In the darkness beyond time, he'd heard a voice, and, in a strange way, the faintest hint of something- deeper. Another note, something familiar but forgotten, not a chord like he'd heard before, but an actual song. The power to heal. To fix. To make everything better.

And then he was standing in his room, with a phone in one hand. "Serge, please don't shout at me. I'm coming to the Center. No matter what happens-"
April the 8th. He'd been on the phone with Mom, arguing about the evacuation. She hadn't listened to him, and when the hamsters...

"No," he says, louder than he'd intended. "I'll come to you. Stay put."

He practically flies out the door, mind racing as he runs for the airship hangar. He'd steal one if he had to. He has an opportunity- a second chance- to fix everything. To make it right.

"Hey! I need an airship and I need it now! Who's going Hisan way?"

A Near-Vimes Experience

[old_stoneface]

MISTER VIMES?

Vimes looked up, into a grinning face. All the face could do was grin, really. He had the sense to at least look apologetic about it. "Yeah, alright. What is it? I'm a bit busy, if you can't tell!"

There was a pause. ER. IT WOULD SEEM I AM HAVING ANOTHER NEAR-VIMES EXPERIENCE. THIS IS MOST IRREGULAR.

"Oh. That... means I'm technically having a Near-Death Experience. Right?" There was a glimmer of hope, there.

NO. There wasn't really any arguing with a voice like that.

"Oh."

IF IT HELPS, DO NOT THINK OF IT AS DYING. THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE-

And then Vimes was gone, whisked away from the world to... somewhere. The grinning, robed figure stood there for a moment, as though confused, and fished a tiny, golden hourglass from the depths of its robes, examining it with a careful eye. After several seconds' rumination, there was a faint grumbling, and the hourglass was carefully stowed away again.

A TIME LOOP. I ASK YOU...

---

The world came back into focus as Sam Vimes' foot slid out from underneath him. There was a shout, and an explosion of profanity loud enough to make the snow fall from the roofs of the buildings nearby, as the Captain landed on his rear in the street. "What- what in the hell-"

Curti Centre | OTA (now in the right place)

[boomchucka]

The First Loop 17:24 – House B-06

Even though Selphie knew she was being manipulated, getting strung along did a hard-emotional number on the usually cheerful SeeD. A certain Empress who shall remain nameless had spun pretty words together that had her in a doubtful state of mind. The battle had gone by so quickly that it blurred to the point of being difficult to discern what all had happened. Yet, it seemed that as quickly as it had started, everything was over, and the world had ended.

Or so Selphie thought as she opened her eyes to glance down at a frying pan full of eggs that were beyond saving. The heat on the stove was turned off and the pan was tossed in the sink with water. The sizzling symphony from the water hitting the pan left her in a confused state.

It was Trabia Garden all over again but on a significantly larger magnitude.

“Wha…?” she murmured before her eyes widened in recollection. “Bahamut! We were all on Bahamut’s back and…” she trailed off as Jaelyn came into the kitchen, scowling at the ruined dinner. “We failed.”

“Selphie…?” Jaelyn queried as the SeeD began to piece a few things together with a panicked look. “What’s wrong?”

“Something’s wrong…” Selphie muttered as she abandoned the frying pan and was dashing to the door to grab her boots and jacket.

“What’s wrong? Wait, Selphie!” Jaelyn pressed. “Did you sleep at all last night?”

Selphie cast a worried look at her moogle before she opened the door and finally nodded. “I did, but I need to find out what’s going on.”

Selphie dashed out the door and began sprinting toward the Curti Centre to try and find out what was going on.

Locked to Minimus – Pick a Loop

Enough time had passed and Selphie finally slowed down enough to process the Empress’s words. The words that were so wrong and incomprehensible, that the SeeD had denied them within moments of hearing them. According to the Empress, everything that had been sacrificed on Crystallis had been in vain. The four heroes – Sephiroth, Tear, Sayaka and Minato – had given up their lives for nothing. Everything had been undone in a matter of minutes and Selphie had been powerless to stop any of it.

Selphie knew that everything hadn’t been done in vain, but the way that the Empress had said it all, had left the brunette in a state of shock that hadn’t completely worn off. The anxiety crept back up and left her utterly speechless as she eventually sank onto a nearby bench and stared off into the distance. The timeline of events eventually reduced the young woman to tears that she didn’t bother to hide.

Devastated didn’t even begin to describe how Selphie felt about the Empress’s words.

Wildcard! – Pick a Loop

Come at me! Send me a message on Discord, Plurk or send me a message!

Adrien | OTA

[modelcivilian]

This... being was not unfamiliar.

Nothing anyway.

Everywhere... nowhere... waiting.

And with a gasp, he was back, standing in the kitchen in Arito, home in tact, lions outside, nothing had happened. Looking at the date though, everything was about to happen. Staring at the date, breakfast burning, it took a scratch and nudge from Plagg and Blanc respectively to bring him back to attention. No attempts were made to salvage breakfast at this point; just start again.

Try again.

Don't give up.

Lavode and Sparks Golsaucia were the two places he headed to after a bare breakfast, his stomach rolling at the thought of what would soon come. People could stop him in either location, but he was in a hurry to the library (requesting the day off and checking out a few books) and then Lady of Bliss.

After, he would be found in Arito - just Arito - as Adrien to prepare himself for later. He had to stop it this time - this time he would make sure the riots didn't get out of hand and that explosion didn't occur. Pidge would know how to get the lions out while he tried mitigating the situation and Marinette could help with evacuations, but he had to figure out a way to stem the violence. He didn't get help last time so he couldn't assume he'd get that much again.

[OOC: While the set-up for the first loop, can be played with on subsequent ones. Just be advised that he might become gradually more frustrated and died during a few. Also, encounters further in Arito will be as Chat Noir. Fortunate that he's patient enough to keep trying as he'll gain details where key points of rioting occur and know where the explosion takes place.]

Curti Center [cw: suicidal ideation/thoughts/possible attempt]

[wheretheresawill]

Around noon on the 8th, a Moogle with an electric blue pom can be encountered fluttering at high speed around the Curti Center. If she sees you and recognizes you as a Hero of Light - or anyone friendly looking, honestly - she'll fly up to you, wringing her paws.

"Please, come help, kupo! It's Terra, kupo, he's - something's wrong with him, and he won't listen to me, kupoooo!" She realizes she's shouting and quiets down. "I'm really scared, kupo..."

Terra's little apartment at first seems to be empty, sword in its sheath hung by the door and everything lived-in but not particularly messy. Mogila, however, flies straight into the bedroom, whence comes a Mooglish scream.

Terra's not on the bed, or even in the chair; he's wedged into a corner with his face buried in his knees. This is somewhat impeded by the fact that Mogila is patting him over frantically, looking for injuries perhaps. The perceptive may notice that while Terra's greatsword was hung up, there's a shorter blade resting on the bedside table.

"I'm fine, Mogila. Go away." He does not sound fine, at all.

Prince Asriel Has A Total Meltdown

[bleating_heart]

Loop 1 - Relapse Locked to Chara (and possibly Papyrus/Asgore)
The door to Asriel's room is closed. A while back, the sounds of smashing and furniture getting thrown around could be heard muffledly from outside the room, and the thump of something falling over to hit the door. All in all, it's remarkably similar to what happened with Frisk months ago.

Asriel's slate signal reads "connection lost". Chazz is nowhere to be found. The door is partially blocked with something in front of it, and there's only silence on the inside.

Asriel in his room, locked to UT characters, Kuja, Conway, Corrin, Megatron.


Talking About It Locked to UT cast, Kuja, Megatron, Conway, Plague Knight, and anyone else who decides Asriel temporarly borrowed their soul during loop 0
Asriel's imog slate lights up again. His status message has changed, simply stating "I'm sorry. @home.". It looks like he's online. And at home in his room, too.


[Private Group] Locked to Kuja, Frisk.exe, Megatron
>hey
>i guess you allxkij
>i guess i should tell you all the purpose of this group

Asriel is typing...

Asriel has stopped typing.

Asriel is typing...

>things went bad
>i don't know
>i had a therapist back home
>someone to talk to
>i was doing really well
>but now we have three days over and over again
>can't really get a new one. nobody would believe us anyway, we'd have to get past the "no i'm not crazy i'm just part of bullshit time travel" phase
>people talked to me
>it helped bt

Asriel is typing...

>i just think
>we need to talk to each other if nobody else
>to people that might understand
>the specifics
>not like these logs are gonna get saved anyway. Might as well right
>nobody will remember except us

Asriel is typing...

>you can just leave if you don't want to deal with this. password for all future groups is omnicide if you ever want to
>no caps

Asriel is typing...

Asriel has stopped typing.

Corrin

[bladeofconquest]

Locked to Nozomi; Loop 1

They failed.

Corrin failed.

Not only did they fail, they played right into Ramaa's (or Kalki's or whoever she truly was) hands. As the world gives way around her and she falls into nothingness, Corrin can only close her eyes in sorrow.

I'm sorry everyone...I've let you all down.

I love you so much, Silas.

"Don't give up."

Corrin's eyes snap open. Is it not over? Change fate? But it's too late for that now, isn't it? All that's left is-

"Ah!"

Corrin winces in pain as her finger goes to her mouth. She's nicked herself...cutting carrots? Blinking in surprise, she looks around. This is the kitchen of her house in Nakagawa. She glances out the window and sees the late afternoon sky. But that's-

With a clatter the knife falls to the kitchen floor as Corrin races out of the house to investigate. She's expecting the street outside to be littered with bodies, of the cultists they'd had to kill to escape the city, of-

-of all the people they couldn't save. But instead she's greeted by the same old sleepy street she's been living at for the last few months. There are no bodies; just worried-looking people trying to go about their day. A few of them spare worried, confused glances at Corrin standing barefoot in the front yard of her house, staring in shock around her, chef's apron still on, blood dripping from her finger.

With a start, she suddenly turns and runs back into the house. "Nozomi? NOZOMI?" She calls in alarm. She has to know if this isn't some sort of strange dying dream or...something else entirely.

Ah, and her finger is stinging just enough to be irritating. But first thing's first; where is her housemate and friend?

Undyne | OTA

[exspeariment]

Everything was dark. The world had been destroyed. And Undyne had helped cause it. She had helped destroy all of existence.

She had failed her promis-

"-TERMINED!"

Words tumbled out of Undyne's mouth that she had spoken three days ago. She stumbled while in the middle of taking steps she had took three days ago.

She had felt this before. Back in her world.

The world had Loaded.

Many questions ran through her mind. Why did it only load to now? Was there anyone in Vaikuntha besides her and the kid who remembered the load? Was this the kid's doing?

It probably was.

Undyne wasn't complaining, but she wanted answers.

She ran off, to try to find Frisk.

Re: The First (Few) Loops || Sephiroth (cw: intended suicide, Prompt 2)

[neverbeamemory]

1) The First (Few) Loops

Nothingness, yet still somehow aware is a state of being Sephiroth wasn't unfamiliar with at all. In his experience, he's been here twice before, after all. Yet it was only just as identifying the void began to cross his thoughts that the voice rose out as if from all around him.

He didn't recognize the voice-

Out of seemingly nowhere Sephiroth suddenly sat up with a sharp exhale of breath. Back in the main living space of his residence at Curti, mid-rep within a set of situps. Yet naturally, his body was still caught in those near-enough automatic motions so breathing came in again as he laid back on the mat. Feeling all the senses yet again, the sweat between his bare back and the mat, how warm he felt due to the exercise, the rhythmic thumping in his chest as his pulse steadily returned to resting level. His eyes closing under the pressure of racing thoughts as he forced himself back into calm-neutral, panicking would be detrimental.

Surely he couldn't just continue with the routine now. It was as said, they'd been given another chance and Sephiroth wasn't one to squander an opportunity. He made a silent promise; Ramaa was going to pay for this. But first, he had to know what pieces were in play.

Sephiroth made for the Curti center first, keeping his awareness widespread and listening out for others who might also have been sent back - if it would be him alone, it would prove harder with only one more go at events.

[ooc: Feel free to encounter Sephiroth in any later/early loop as well. His initial steps won't be much different, reuniting with the same people at the start of every loop is all good. Might help the sanity a bit.

Though he wouldn't have joined Tyzias' linkshell right away.]

---
2) That Loop that He Needed to Know; one of the 9th's, Afternoon.

By now it was clear that they might all be stuck in these loops of the last three days for a lot longer than anticipated. Albeit Sephiroth hadn't yet done much to influence any of the events, more like observing and connecting them in his mind first before really taking some time to think about where his very particular type of pressure might be exerted to best adjust an outcome. With all the chaos all across Vaikuntha, it was going to be no small task.

Yet, for one with the experience of being a part of a sea of souls yet still retaining himself, reliving the same events didn't yet seem to be having much of an effect on his mental state. Sure, Sephiroth would begin to feel the strain at some point, but it would have to degrade his strong sense of will away, first. He was focused entirely on one goal; averting the end of this reality, to which for now he seemed inextricably bound to.

For that he needed knowledge; so much more than he might be able to garner though, while still bound to a mortal coil. Sephiroth needed more, to know this World as personally as he'd known his own. Then perhaps he'd be able to see clearer; besides, he'd be alive again the next loop-around.

Jennifer was sent screeching through the halls of the Curti center, looking for assistance, as the poor mog had come home to the scene of Sephiroth's suicide. Expertly executed by turning his katana on himself and falling onto the blade, the sword cleanly pierced right the way through his body. Even the pool of blood seemed pristine, undisturbed as it had congealed underneath where Sephiroth had slumped onto the kitchen floor.

Considering the workers at the Curti center had all but abandoned their posts by now, likely there wouldn't be anyone to help clean up the house, or dispose of the body- and what does it matter anymore, given events to come.

Naoto Shirogane | OTA

[pishirogane]

Result: Cult dismantled. Few followers fled. Unfiltered messages turn citizens against us. Though they actually lack strength to stop us, discouraging support for us needs to be hindered. Contact Mognet. Striking Moogles?

Naoto is writing and keeps writing in her pocket book. Not on the network as that's been compromised before, and this allows her to keep the notes. Fortunately, those who are posting on the network allow her to fill in more pieces of the puzzle. Reinforcements or supplies needed to be taken to Captain Gaator's team, Catmancers might be needed for the cats in Parasraya, Arito needed to be approached from another angle...

She's at the Curti Center while working on these notes should anyone want to bother her.

Minimus Ambus | OTA

[legalcy]

A1. Time to Study

[Something was happening with the timeline, and Minimus was not please to say the least. After Brainstorm sent them to the past and threatened to disrupt millions of years of history, the idea of tampering with what had already come to pass made his processor uneasy.

Then again, they were simply redoing the most recent era. Perhaps the universe would not unravel due to the repeated days. Perhaps everything, all of the actions in the various timelines, would coalesce and stabilize.

That means that he cannot waste any time to optimize the catastrophic events. For the first few timelines, he follows the news, watching what is happening and writing notes. He's following you seeing if you're up to no good.]

A2. No Fun Allowed

[And if he catches you doing something illegal in one of the time loops?]

Stop right there!

[You're in trouble for the rest of time.]

B. Dancing King

We really need to learn some new moves, man! [One of the young dancers continues performing a dance that's some sort of stylish shuffle.]

Yeah, like, what if Bahamut is the embodiment of hate and evil, and all we need is a big show of the power of love? [The other dancer does a split.]

And you believe this to be true?

[Minimus certainly doesn't. All they are doing is ignoring the inevitable in the most self-demeaning fashion possible.]

Hey! You wanna join in? Teach us some of your movies!

[Minimus jerks away. They don't know about his Dancer Asterisk and won't remember this. Then again, why should he waste time having...fun when he has a massive responsibility.]

I...[He takes a step forward, then back.]

OTA (CW: Talk of Death, other warnings tbd)

[immortalmarshal]

Even Death Can't Stop You (April 8th, First Loop)

Cor thought it was over. It finally happened; the one thing he's been half expecting for much of his life, and in the worst way possible. The world ended, yes, and he could not stop it. They could not stop it.

But...Cor actually died. 'Cor the Immortal', dead. His last conscious thought was an apology to his oldest friends: I'm sorry...I failed you all...

And yet, that young voice called out thru the void. Cor recognizes that voice from last Christmas - that little girl who asked them to become one with Valkunthia, so to speak. Cor wanted to respond, tried to respond, but he couldn't. There was no voice, no mouth to speak--

And before he knew it, he was alive again. Whole, unharmed, and breathing normally. Even as the Curti Center employee sitting before him gives him a negative regarding any potential pings of anything related to Eos.

He's alive. It's like Death has no hold on him, that it cannot be a barrier to him anymore.

"They say, 'You really are Immortal'..."

He steps away, looking shell-shocked as something breaks inside of his head. He starts to chuckle, and then laugh...but it's sad, heartbreaking...and borderline hysterical. His face sinks into his hand, tears beginning to mix with the self-deprecating laughter that everyone can hear... Sure seems like he might need to be left alone. Or maybe he needs a helping hand?


Figuring Things Out (Second Time Loop and forward)

Once Cor was reassured that yes, he's alive and still mortal; and yes, they are all stuck in a Gods-damned time-loop? He starts to get to work. And what better way to figure things out than to talk to his fellow Warriors of Light?

That means that, if he meets you in person, he will go up to you and ask point blank, "You got a moment? I need some help with a couple of things, if you're not busy with any of the bigger stuff."

Home Crew (Fourth Loop and After, Closed to fellow Yun'Ashia residents and visitors)

His first attempt to deal with the Council...well. It could've gone worse, Cor will admit. At least no one pulled out any weapons on him. Or Ignis. But the mayor had mentioned one thing, so Cor sent out a message via Mognet to those living in, or potentially visiting, Yun'Ashia:

Hey, if you're going to be in Yun'Ashia until we head to the castle, come over to my place. There's a problem we need to figure out a solution to. Non-residents welcomed, too.

With that message posted, Cor had setup the main living room as a large meeting room of sorts. Lots of drinks, both alcoholic and not, are available among the spread of decent-looking snacks. Tommy's busy sharpening his knife in one corner as Cor smiles and greets anyone that drops by. "Thank you for coming. I...I could really use your help on this one."

Wednesday 10th 21:11 - Adventure to the Ghost City of B’Alesia

[neverbeamemory]

[SEMI-OPEN; Serge, Others looking into later?]

"Crystallis is like a black hole, it takes everything and in return it gives nothing." - Thursday 11th 05:11

It was early morning on the final day in Sparks Golsaucia that those two adventurers were eventually found, clearly shell-shocked by something which must have occurred during their B’Alesia expedition. Sephiroth hadn't interacted with them for the last few cycles he'd seen them, but that repeated phrase stuck in his mind. It wasn't long into this latest loop before he made the connection to a mention of the same phrase in Takeshi's notes.

Out of all the chaos observed so far, the link to Crystallis makes these particular events stand out. Even if this particular event wasn't fixable or even relevant to Vaikuntha's fate (which logic dictated it had to be), it wouldn't be a complete waste of time to him; making contact with spirits on the other side of the life/death boundary could be the first significant step towards understanding the cycle here.

It had been easy enough to convince the adventurers to accept his company -even if he weren't the only otherworlder with a similar idea- and so here they were, stalking the dead streets of B'Alesia with zombies and skeletons a-plenty. All around were the remnants of the once-vibrant city and the lives of those that had lived here, demanding a silence that -while it doesn't particularly bother him deeply- in turn, keeps Sephiroth's focus held utterly on the groups' surroundings as they proceed through the City.

The Calamity has been taking over the monster population of the whole Planet so far, within today so it would be foolish to be anything other than attentive.

Not Quite the Dead Sea But It'll Do

[timecrash]

Serge had been a little surprised to see someone else tackling this, but Richard had suggested he give it a shot and it's not like he's averse to the company. Besides... Ramaa had said something about him existing on Crystallis, and he wanted answers.

B'alesia was creepy, though. Even Serge's normal chipper attitude is sorely taxed by the ever-present undead. The silence is broken, after a while, by a question. "So, uh. Where'd you get the coat, anyway? It's pretty cool." He hadn't spent much, if any, time around Sephiroth. The guy was sort of around in the background at major events, but Serge hadn't really seen him talking to anybody. "What brought you out here, anyway? Not exactly a lot of us signed up for this."

What is an Armageddon Without Dancing?

[acapriciousreaper]

The evening of the tenth, the Hilda Garde arrives at the Castle of Sen Riqeaux. Kuja strolls past the guards, bearing an invitation, and makes his way, of course, to the dining room. A bottle of wine in hand- a fine old vintage he'd purchased, after the Amontillapo caper.

He'd taken care, too, to prepare for the evening. The formal affair he'd worn to the banquet, all those months ago. All that remained was for his 'date' to arrive. Doubtless it would be an extremely interesting evening. If, quite likely, a brief one.

[eternitynpc]

Interesting or not, she walked into the dining room ere long. The table was already were prepared with food and her eyes were green this time.

"Dearest Kuja. Pray, make yourself at home." She smiled at him and took her own seat. "You may be honored knowing it is the first time in quite a long time I have accepted such an invitation. What has it been, Fifteen years...?"

She pondered for a moment as she took her glass.

"But most unfortunately, this is the first time altogether I did so knowing my partner would not leave the dinning room alive."

Finn | OTA

[hatejakku]

[ ooc: Feel free to use this as a wildcard thing! If you want me to put up a private top-level or whatever, hmu at linatrinch or on discord @jb#9174. ]

locked: Finn, Tilly, and... Ultros

[hatejakku]

[ Finn couldn't express how badly he didn't want to do this. Picking up Calamity Knight and stomping over Bahamut's shoulders sounded much more preferable. The thing is-

The thing is, they already did this once. Wasn't once enough?

Close to the start of a new loop, Finn stood at the water's edge somewhere south of Arito and just waited for the big guy to show up. He stood on the shore in his Summoner's garb, hands on his hips, scowling in silence. ]

The Lost Woods - Kanji, Naoto, Marinette, and Ren

[pishirogane]

Two children left their parents in hopes of finding a fairy that could save the world. Naoto had seen a depiction of a fairy before, but didn't know its powers. Aside from that, the fact two kids just left like that? Without any aid into a forest that others had gotten lost in...

... Alright, she might be the last one to say they shouldn't have done that given her record, but she shook her head to stop thinking about it.

"We should be close. Keep your eyes peeled and stay on guard."

[topgun_textiles]

"Yup."

Then, with almost well-practiced precision, he took another piece of ribbon from his coat pocket and tied it to a nearby treelimb, further marking the path they'd taken. He thought about cutting the trees to mark them, but he'd read too many stories about faeries cursing and simply fucking with mortals to really muddle their chances. Or worse, harm the kids.

"I mean, should we look for circles of mushrooms or somethin'? I brought a little cake..."

Yeah. Too many faerie stories.

Wednesday April 12, 12:12 - OTA

[cureofmanyworlds]

It took a few loops for Nozomi to take heed of a mysterious older gentlemen who was defeating monsters with just a goldsmithing hammer. The man seemed extremely strong... but, after what happened to Ganeshan, she wasn't going there to recruit him for his strength. No, this wasn't his fight to fight. She wanted his help in some sort of way.

Thus, she and a few other Heroes (maybe) have gone to Safer Osu to help him in fighting the monsters and getting his help.

"Remember, we're not here to get him to fight Bahamut, we're here so he can help us in any other way." She said. To herself? To the others? Hard to say, but she's doing this to make sure they all know the score.

(OoC: Anyone is free to join in, please keep it to one thread if you do.)

[bladeofconquest]

Corrin nods. "Got it." She replies. She's tagging along mostly as a respite from all her cult-related activities, to keep Nozomi company and also to meet this man who can defeat monsters with a goldsmith's hammer; those aren't even meant to be weapons! Yet this man-an elderly gentleman if the reports she's heard are true-wielded one against a horde of monsters...and won! He must be an incredible warrior, and this has piqued Corrin's interest.

As they walk, Corrin looks over at her friend. "So you must have some ideas about how you want him to help." She says conversationally. "Let's hear them."

Curti Centre - Wednesday April 11th, 10:00 am | Mogaruru, Selphie, Uendo and open to others

[boomchucka]

Selphie is tired and could use a nap to recharge after accompanying Mogaruru to her home to save her family in the middle of the night. With the family safely accommodated in the Curti Centre, the SeeD has a feeling that Mogaruru might have questions about what is going on.

Settling down on an easily found bench in the main area of the Curti Centre, the perky brunette pulls out her iMog and sends a message to Uendo to ask for help in explaining things. Jaelyn is hovering nearby, just in case.

[whirluendo_of_puns]

Uendo -- or rather, Kisegawa -- sends a brief reply in return: I'll be right there. Fortunately they're still at Curti Center, trying to figure out where their skills would be the most useful.

It doesn't take her long to find Selphie. The girl looks exhausted -- not that Kisegawa can blame her. The situation is taking its toll on everyone.

"There you are. You look like you haven't slept a wink." She glances around. "Will Mogaruru be meeting us here?"

Into the Woods We Go (Earlier Loop) - Gladio, Ravus, Pidge, and anyone we find along the way

[hashtagdaddy]

Gladio shifts the pack on his back, the survival supplies within rustling at the movement. He eyes the forest ahead of them warily.

He's heard how easy it is to get lost within this place and hopes his survival skills and their rapid planning are enough to keep them from becoming lost themselves. Pulling out a thick rope, one even he couldn't snap in one go, he takes his first steps into the woods.

"Stay close, keep your eyes open, and make sure you use your markers. With more than one person marking our path we have a better shot of making it back out of here. Hopefully with both kids and with extra intel."

[sonoftenebrae]

With time repeating as it is, there's little danger for the questing party in these woods. Still, any information that could give them an edge against Bahamut could prove invaluable. Their mission is an important one.

Besides, Ravus can see how much saving the children means to Gladio.

"Do you know what the children look like?" Ravus asks as he uses his sword to slice a mark in the nearest tree trunk. He doesn't expect to find many children, but having an idea of what color they wear or whether the children are hypello or human might help as they search.

Grand Theft Airship and Rescue - Kenichi, Finn, and Okuyasu

[failtsuninari]

At this point, Kenichi had lost track how many loops he had tried to convince O’aka to lower the price of some of the bigger airships. Even if he could predict how the shopkeeper’s mind worked, it was like talking to a stone wall. As a god of business, he could understand O’aka’s stance on the matter since as far as he knew, the Heroes didn’t do enough business with him until now. Kenichi let out a sigh of resignation.

“Very well then. I’ll be sure to pass your grievances to the others. You have my word: your business shall prosper once we take care of Bahamut. For now, consider this my down payment,” Kenichi said as he left a large sack of gil and one of the vouchers on top. He briskly walked away, not even waiting for a response from O'aka.

After the door to the Curti Center closed behind him, Kenichi let out a sigh. “Geeze, I don’t like doing this, but we don’t have much of a choice now. Now are you two sure you want on this?”

[hatejakku]

Sure? No. Not really. There wasn't much left of their options, though, and Finn was starting to grasp at straws. If an airship could help-

BB-8 whistled loudly, though, spinning around and rocking in place. "Well, he's sure," Finn translated, amused. "And it's not technically against the law since we'll be starting over in a few days, anyway. If it works, the badge is worth it. How do we do this?"

Tuesday 09th/ 04:01 - Arito flower lady

[neverbeamemory]

[Loop requisite: Arito riots delayed or prevented. Perhaps can use this as a top-level in case others want to explore this event?]

Tuesday 09th/ 04:01 - Arito flower lady

[neverbeamemory]

[The locations in Vaikuntha are starting to bleed together a little, having looped those last three days so many times by now. Still, he'd never gotten time before to explore Vaikuntha to the extent he'd have liked to whereas this is giving ample opportunity to learn all sorts about this new Planet. The more he does so, his desire to remain with an existence after all of this is becoming all the more hardened.

Whatever the means necessary.

With the riot that was supposed to have erupted last night quelled, if not prevented entirely, the silver-haired swordsman approaches the Summoners guild at first light. He's been here a few times in previous loops, observing, but never interacted with the woman or with anyone inside the Summoners guild. It's always been a place of interest to him, considering the circumstances thrust at them, but there's always been something else to investigate-]

Beg your pardon. [Doesn't hurt to be polite.]

...forgive me the question if you will, but- do you come here often?

[Bitter irony churns like a spiked club somewhere deep inside him at the concept of involving himself with a flower girl, but no stone is to be left unturned, after all. Besides, he's smarter than to pull heavy comparisons where there might not be any evidence for them.]

A meeting, Locked to Reno/Selphie

[acapriciousreaper]

The Hilda Garde hovers over an unremarkable patch of ocean, Mojito dutifully holding it steady. Kuja, for his part, has insisted on all iMog slates to be turned off, batteries removed, and put in a box- before being stuck under the engine so as to maximize the amount of noise interference, if indeed the slates are a means of surveillance. He's not an unkind host; lunch is provided, but this is important.

In the cabin of the airship, Kuja takes a seat at the surprisingly-utilitarian table, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I apologize for the inconvenience, but I absolutely could take no chances on being overheard. By anyone." He inhales, crosses his arms. "Both of you were on Crystallis, yes? I need to know what you know about Garland."

[boomchucka]

Having complied with Kuja's request to power down her iMog, Selphie settles herself in a seat to his right. Truthfully, the SeeD doesn't know a lot about Garland, but she's willing to provide what little she does know. Her fingers drum on the table briefly before she clears her throat to speak.

She might as well get the conversation started.

"Reno will likely know more than I do about Garland, but I'll share what I know. From what I understand, Garland was responsible for preserving life, no matter what the cost was going to be. He believed that it was impossible to break the cycle of destruction as it was called and thought the worlds that had already been devoured by Narayana were an acceptable loss if it meant saving Crystallis from destruction."

She looks over to Reno with a curious look to see if he had anything else to add.