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

[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."

[acapriciousreaper]

Well. So much for pleasantries. He is, at least, going to take a seat when it's offered. "...Ah. And here I was, hoping for a pleasant evening with a lovely hostess- I never seem to have any luck with queens."

He sighs, taking the other glass. "It's an honor, certainly. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you accepted, nor that you intend to kill me while the night is yet young. After all, I suppose, it's what I would have done, in your position. Although, I suspect, my plan was a bit less well-thought-out than yours must be." The bottle is offered, her glass filled, and then his own. "Though I must say, there are a number of commonalities that intrigue me."

[eternitynpc]

Ramaa took the glass in her hand, looking at it with interest, but she didn't drink of it. No, thank you.

"I hope, at the very least, that this contains enough poison to kill a Behemoth."

She kept looking at the glass before turning her gaze toward him.

"You are allowed two questions. After answering your two questions, I shall hand over to you two facts. One that will certainly make your ego swell." A pause. "And one that will shatter what little trust you may have in the Curti Center."

"Do not bother trying again next loop for different answers. I may not be aware of the time displacement, but I had the sensation something was wrong. Next time, I will simply kill you upon receiving your letter."

[acapriciousreaper]

Kuja snorts. "Poison? And ruin a perfectly good vintage?" He takes a drink, savoring the wine for a moment. "No, poison's never been my style. I vastly prefer the simplistic beauty of a fireball- a fleeting blossom of flame, blooming and wilting in the space between moments..."

He finishes his glass, at least, before setting it down. "Very well, two questions. The first, and most important: How is it you knew specifics of my relationship with Garland? Mere spying, or do you perhaps have means of gazing into our memories somehow?"

He considers another moment, buying time to think as an hors d'oeuvre is plucked from its plate by a manicured hand, examined, and then sampled. "The second... Suppose, for a moment, that we win. Far-fetched, I know, but... entertain the notion. What is Her Majesty's next move?"

[eternitynpc]

"Pray that you do not win. All I can say, is that it shall not be a pretty sight." The question appeared to bore her. However... "Your first question, however, is very interesting. It ties into both of the things I intend to reveal to you."

"Long ago, on the old world, there was a race known as the Herans. They devised the original mean to bring those with a certain potential to them. To manipulate them, they gathered all the information they could on their targets, information I familiarized myself with in a past life." "The Dream Width has the same... Criteria than the Herans did, when it comes to picking you."

Now onto the news that was to supposedly swell his ego.

"You resonate with the Melodies. This is why you were chosen. Out of all who come from your universe, you may very well be the only one who possesses such a gift. Even if Zidane was to show up, he would likely be from an alternate reality to yours."

She raised her glass to him and smiled.

"Here's to you. You are unique. In a way, superior to all originate from your universe. Zidane, Garnet, you name it. They're not even close to being as important as you are."

[acapriciousreaper]

Kuja frowns. "The most important..." There's a moment of quiet laughter, at that. "Perhaps a few months ago I might have thought that terribly obvious. Now, I'm afraid, it just makes me feel slightly ill."

He takes another drink. "Since my second question technically didn't receive much of an answer, I hope you won't begrudge me another. Mostly... I want to know why you're going along with this. What is it that Narayana offers that mere death would somehow deny?"

[eternitynpc]

She chuckles and shakes her head. No more questions, sorry.

"Now for that other fact I promised you. Chandius... Cid. The individual in charge of the Curti Center. A reserved one, is he not?"

She raised her glass before her face, staring at it intently as she spoke with a monotonous tone.

"Like me, he is an individual reborn from the old world. But his existence is one that preceded even mine. One that has overseen the cycle of the Heroes of Light since time immemorial. His name was... Garland." A pause. "He was tasked with, ah, ensuring the absorption of other worlds into Crystallis, killing countless worlds for the sake of his world's survival. I am quite certain the irony will not be lost on you."

"Tragic, isn't it? You rejected your fate as an angel of death... Yet by opposing and fighting me, you have become a Garland's Angel of Life." She lowered her glass and smiled cruelly at Kuja "Kuja dearest, let it be my turn to ask you a question. What do you expect Garland, oh I mean, Cid, to do once you have outlived your usefulness?"

[acapriciousreaper]

Somehow, it always comes back to Garland. He can't escape it. The glass is set down. "The irony? Ramaa, irony is a device for original works. I look at the world around me and I see a planet full of life, being preyed upon by a planetary parasite... An omnicidal maniac too sick of life and too afraid of death to allow herself to die with peace and dignity, and a chessmaster named Garland pulling the strings behind it all... You call it irony, I call it plagiarism."

The sneer softens, after a moment. "If what you say is true, then I owe you a debt of thanks, for the advance warning. A doll I may be, dancing on the strings of a master, but at least now I have something to cut. One final thing, Ramaa, and then I suppose we can just go back to killing each other like civilized people- but I'd be a tremendous hypocrite if I didn't at least try."

He stands, adjusts his clothes. Somehow, he doesn't much feel like eating. "When we do win, and all your plans have been brought down around your ears in tatters- I hope, for your sake, you come to understand the folly of your actions and aid us against what foes may come. After all... well. I'll save that line for the opportune moment."

[eternitynpc]

She chuckled at his words. Unfortunately, no answer to his question.

"You are all too correct." Then her smile suddenly faded. As if she'd dropped the act. "History repeats itself. It is a never-ending cycle. Existence itself is but a gigantic puzzle. Once the puzzle completed, you can do naught but undo it and start anew. You may go about it differently, start with different pieces, in a different order. But try as you may, the end result shall always be the same. We both are living proofs of this immutable fact."

"The only way to be free, it to destroy the puzzle itself."

She finally placed her glass back on the table.

"The fear of life and death drives my every actions. Yet... It's not so simple as that any more. I have lived already. I have known death as well. So, so many times. Would it be too melodramatic to say I am tired?" She rose an eyebrow. "Perhaps if I fail, you shall be the next Kalki and see for yourself."

She waved toward the exit.

"Pray, ask Reno and Selphie should you wish to know more about Garland. You can return to your airship. This concludes our discussion."

[acapriciousreaper]

He masks the brief surprise at being 'permitted' to leave. But, he bows. "Perhaps you are right. But, I owe it to Zidane to try anyway. If he could defeat cruel entropy itself, then perhaps there is yet hope. Good night, Ramaa."

He turns to leave, and exits, if he is able.

[eternitynpc]

He is, indeed, allowed to leave without being stopped. His airship won't be stopped in any way.

Not all deaths are physical in nature, after all.