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srwu Feb. 17th, 2016 01:29 am)
holdthefuture posting in srwu Feb. 17th, 2016 01:29 am)Recent developments with the Lady and the Discovery prompted some to mention a particular Kijin organization as a potential source of artifacts.
Because of this, those who are interested may participate in a hastily organized visit to the once grand estate that was the headquarters of the Gloster Foundation. There are things to be discussed.
After the events almost a year ago, the place is definitely not what it once was: buildings are still damaged, and while some are being rebuilt, others have been abandoned. The giant, lavish manor that was the administrative building, where Seta's coming of age ceremony was held, is one of the latter.
A gloomy atmosphere looms over the area, complete with a sky laden with overcast.
Among those who decided to come, one person is a special case: a certain horned girl, who received a personal invitation from the new leaders of the Foundation...
-
1.
"...So this is where she lived."
After accepting the invite reluctantly, Lenore is naturally anxious about what she'll find. She has no idea what to expect or what she was invited for.
Her caution may be warranted though: as she continues to look around, the sound of many footsteps approaches her out of nowhere!
"-Eh?"
And that's all that she manages to say before she's abruptly tackled to the ground by a familiar group of young Kijin, who proceed to pull her horns and tail.
"...Look! We found the new girl!"
"Wait a minute... she's supposed to be smaller than us! This ain't fair!"
"Hey, tell us! How'd you grow up so fast?"
...Unfortunately, Lenore can't answer that due to being unable to breathe under all that weight.
"H-help..."
-
2.
Some time later, you may stumble upon Lenore again. This time she is not alone, and appears to be speaking to someone in a lounge area of one of the rebuilt buildings.
"...What do you mean?! I have it with me even now, and it's been fine!"
The person in the seat across from hers looks like a younger Kijin, but her demeanor suggests otherwise.
"I mean exactly what I've said, Lenore. We've let it go before, but under the current circumstances, and with this 'Lady' awakening and adding to the world's troubles, we can't let you keep an artifact like Kazan any longer. Astara insisted that we wait until you realized this yourself, or prove us wrong by showing your capability. However, we've put the subject to a vote a few days ago, and decided that this is the best course of action...
"Please understand: Carina is also our responsibility. As long as you continue to carry Kazan into battle, you're a complete component for her plans, waiting for her to get a hold of you. Even with others around you, you can't continue depend on-"
Lenore suddenly gets up from her seat. Her clenched fist shows her struggle to keep her anger in check.
"I've heard enough. I'm leaving!"
-
3. (Note: Please keep responses here to one thread, thanks.)
After Lenore's meeting with the Foundation administrator, a small crowd has gathered at an open clearing outside: they are witnesses to a battle that is now happening.
On one side is Lenore, carrying both Kazan and her own large blade.
Her opponent: the administrator Circe, has no such weapon drawn, and has only been defending herself.
Yet, Lenore is losing the exchanges - getting thrown and smacked around like a pinball. Her most recent attempt sees her being knocked away and eating dirt from an elbow to her gut. It isn't even much of a fight.
"Grrh!"
"I'll admit that you're better than the reports stated. But this has gone far enough, don't you think?"
"...I'm not even done yet. You'd better start taking me seriously."
"Very well. Let's see what happens when I'm the one attacking then."
Circe seems to blink in and out of existence, instantly appearing within striking range. Lenore immediately moves to slash...
"That's fast. But don't think it'll be so-"
And hits nothing but air.
"...Easy...?"
Feeling a presence behind her, she turns around as quickly as possible. But by that time, there's a fist headed right for her face: a fist that stops only an inch away from contact.
"...?!"
Even after it stops, a tremendous blast of air spreads out into the surroundings. Lenore is not hurt by it, but she takes a step back, looking stunned, and drops her weapons.
"...You're strong, Lenore. But that strength isn't honed. The knowledge you have doesn't translate to experience, either. Compared to that, Astara fought for at least a decade, and even the younglings you've met have been training for years now."
"......"
"You know what you have to do."
...Even if you had won this, having Kazan wouldn't bring your brothers and sisters back - the one who wielded it last would've used it to bring back the people she cared about if it were possible."
The observers are quiet. And Lenore, who is standing, but hunched over from her injuries, does nothing either...
Because of this, those who are interested may participate in a hastily organized visit to the once grand estate that was the headquarters of the Gloster Foundation. There are things to be discussed.
After the events almost a year ago, the place is definitely not what it once was: buildings are still damaged, and while some are being rebuilt, others have been abandoned. The giant, lavish manor that was the administrative building, where Seta's coming of age ceremony was held, is one of the latter.
A gloomy atmosphere looms over the area, complete with a sky laden with overcast.
Among those who decided to come, one person is a special case: a certain horned girl, who received a personal invitation from the new leaders of the Foundation...
-
1.
"...So this is where she lived."
After accepting the invite reluctantly, Lenore is naturally anxious about what she'll find. She has no idea what to expect or what she was invited for.
Her caution may be warranted though: as she continues to look around, the sound of many footsteps approaches her out of nowhere!
"-Eh?"
And that's all that she manages to say before she's abruptly tackled to the ground by a familiar group of young Kijin, who proceed to pull her horns and tail.
"...Look! We found the new girl!"
"Wait a minute... she's supposed to be smaller than us! This ain't fair!"
"Hey, tell us! How'd you grow up so fast?"
...Unfortunately, Lenore can't answer that due to being unable to breathe under all that weight.
"H-help..."
-
2.
Some time later, you may stumble upon Lenore again. This time she is not alone, and appears to be speaking to someone in a lounge area of one of the rebuilt buildings.
"...What do you mean?! I have it with me even now, and it's been fine!"
The person in the seat across from hers looks like a younger Kijin, but her demeanor suggests otherwise.
"I mean exactly what I've said, Lenore. We've let it go before, but under the current circumstances, and with this 'Lady' awakening and adding to the world's troubles, we can't let you keep an artifact like Kazan any longer. Astara insisted that we wait until you realized this yourself, or prove us wrong by showing your capability. However, we've put the subject to a vote a few days ago, and decided that this is the best course of action...
"Please understand: Carina is also our responsibility. As long as you continue to carry Kazan into battle, you're a complete component for her plans, waiting for her to get a hold of you. Even with others around you, you can't continue depend on-"
Lenore suddenly gets up from her seat. Her clenched fist shows her struggle to keep her anger in check.
"I've heard enough. I'm leaving!"
-
3. (Note: Please keep responses here to one thread, thanks.)
After Lenore's meeting with the Foundation administrator, a small crowd has gathered at an open clearing outside: they are witnesses to a battle that is now happening.
On one side is Lenore, carrying both Kazan and her own large blade.
Her opponent: the administrator Circe, has no such weapon drawn, and has only been defending herself.
Yet, Lenore is losing the exchanges - getting thrown and smacked around like a pinball. Her most recent attempt sees her being knocked away and eating dirt from an elbow to her gut. It isn't even much of a fight.
"Grrh!"
"I'll admit that you're better than the reports stated. But this has gone far enough, don't you think?"
"...I'm not even done yet. You'd better start taking me seriously."
"Very well. Let's see what happens when I'm the one attacking then."
Circe seems to blink in and out of existence, instantly appearing within striking range. Lenore immediately moves to slash...
"That's fast. But don't think it'll be so-"
And hits nothing but air.
"...Easy...?"
Feeling a presence behind her, she turns around as quickly as possible. But by that time, there's a fist headed right for her face: a fist that stops only an inch away from contact.
"...?!"
Even after it stops, a tremendous blast of air spreads out into the surroundings. Lenore is not hurt by it, but she takes a step back, looking stunned, and drops her weapons.
"...You're strong, Lenore. But that strength isn't honed. The knowledge you have doesn't translate to experience, either. Compared to that, Astara fought for at least a decade, and even the younglings you've met have been training for years now."
"......"
"You know what you have to do."
...Even if you had won this, having Kazan wouldn't bring your brothers and sisters back - the one who wielded it last would've used it to bring back the people she cared about if it were possible."
The observers are quiet. And Lenore, who is standing, but hunched over from her injuries, does nothing either...
Tags:
From:
3
From:
Re: 3
...You're free to go, without the sword. As I've promised, we won't be troubling you any more either.
[In front of her, Lenore slumps to the ground. Her head is lowered, so it's difficult to tell what she's feeling. But it's definitely nothing good.]
I...
From:
Re: 3
Come...Let's go somewhere quiet. And I'll get you something to drink if you want.
From:
Re: 3
Kei...please stand back. This isn't over yet.
You're still going to- Argh!
[Circe is cut off by one of Lenore's phantom arms - the one that controls darkness. The disembodied limb seizes her by the neck and holds her in the air.]
No matter who it is, I'm not going to let anyone get in my way. If swords don't work, then this will.
From:
Re: 3
How far are you going to take this...?
From:
no subject
[She tightens her strangling grip with the phantom hand, and glances at the other Kijin to her sides, who are staring at this wide-eyed.]
...If this is what it takes to show all of you not to interfere with what I want to do, then so be it.
Y-you...
From:
no subject
You're trying to be a hero. To punish Carina and bring her victims back. Does any of this look like that?
From:
no subject
That's enough.
[The missing "leader" of the Kijin looks annoyed to say the least. Somehow it's easy to tell that she was annoyed at how this entire situation was turning out.]
Circe, I thought I told all of you not to rush ahead with all of this until I decided to come back here.
From:
no subject
Guh...and who knows how long that would've taken. You know how everything is turning out, we don't have the time for dilly-dallying.
More importantly...
[Immediately after, she looks at Lenore, who is more angry than surprised that the phantom arm was defeated.]
You again... I don't have time for this.
[The horned girl then picks up Kazan, which lies next to her on the ground, and addresses Kei.]
I haven't forgotten, but...sometimes being nice doesn't work. Sometimes you have to do things like this to prove your point. That's why...!
[She suddenly darts forward with a burst of speed. Flames erupt from Kazan's edge as it's swung down at Astara!]
From:
no subject
[As soon as he heard what's going on, Izuru rushed to the place. Winded, he tries to squeeze his way through the crowd, only to witness...]
Astara...
No, Lenore, stop!
From:
no subject
[Before Astara can finish that thought she is forced to turn to face Lenore. In spite of the blazing blade coming towards her, the expression on her face is anything but worried. Astara catches the edge of Kazan in her bare hands after dismissing RB. Neither the blade or the flames seem to bother her.]
Don't force me to do something I don't want to. Just give me the sword and we can end this now.
From:
no subject
...So ultimately what you wanted was the same damned thing, then!
[The blaze around the blade expands into a torrent of fire that threatens to consume the surroundings.]
Only you were trying sugarcoat it. That's even worse...
Whatever methods you used, I wouldn't have given it to you. If you want it, then you can pry it out of my cold, dead hands.
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
[Her gaze shifts from Lenore to the worried faces of the Majestic Princes in the audience.]
...fine, if that's what you want. I'll do it this way.
[Astara seems to be ignoring the whirling flames around her. Despite the show of power her expression still hasn't changed at all. The flames began to flicker out as she focused, keeping it contained before it could expand any further.
The Kijin then suddenly slides her palm along the blade to grab onto Lenore's hand. In a single motion she steps forward, slamming her palm into the other Kijin's shoulder while pulling and twisting the hand holding onto Kazan.]
From:
no subject
Is this what you want?
From:
no subject
[Struggle as she might, Lenore cannot do much against that. The simple grappling move brings her spinning to the ground in an instant, and Kazan drops out of her grip.
Nevertheless, she tries to reach for the blade, while tears flow from her eyes - her usual tough facade is gone. The weapon is only inches away from her now...]
I...want to see them again. I want them back...! Everyone...
[But she can't reach it; her strength has been expended.
The fight is finally over.]
From:
no subject
...I couldn't see any other option.
[Astara reaches out and takes possession of the blade resting in front of her.]
...did you really think that this could bring back the people that you lost?
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no subject
[Lenore is initially silent, but...]
...Yes.
From:
no subject
...both it's previous owner and I have lost people precious to us...if it could we would have tried to a long time ago.
But it can't...and if you stay stuck in the past you'll never be able to move forward.