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 Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 1:07 am
{ ATE : The Broker ~ Case of the Researcher, Part II : 3 }
{ Day 9 }
{ The Broker : Realm of Darkness ~ Xarcabard : Obsidian Study } "Mm, true, so much to learn in this strange new cosmos," they said, crossing their arms in front of their chest. "Anything of particular interest? Maybe I can be of assistance."
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 1:11 am
{ ATE : Disjointed : 10 }
{ Guardian : Mirage Arena : Library } "I do not know," they said, their unseen gaze lowering. "Nor can I quite place the sensation. Scramble was the wrong word... but neither truly suppressed. Afflicted, perhaps..."They hesitated, only to nod as if in self-assurance. "This is so very similar to my nightmarish slumber. There is darkness there, to be sure, something forcibly injected too deep to be normally noticeable, and only in ridding yourself of the stain will the proper memories be restored."
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 1:29 am
{ ATE : The Broker ~ Case of the Researcher, Part II : 3 }
{ Day 9 }
{ Kai: Realm of Darkness ~ Xarcabard : Obsidian Study }
Only scraps of details came back ot here by the time it spoke once more. An offer- she could be whole.. free of whatever was tethering her to them. The sensation of being shut away from whatever pressure was inside her. Like feeling the removal of a weight one didn’t realize was there. Had she become so accustomed to it?
“…I…” her fear, yes she remembered that now, in light of what she’d been dabbling in to start- might as well see if this being could help her be more informed.
"I need to know if I’d be myself-whatever semblance of a self I am at the moment. Or would you just be reformatting my components to make an entirely new being? Do you have something- anything to show me what it is I’d be in for?”
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 1:36 am
{ ATE : Disjointed : 11 }
{ Kyla: Mirage Arena : Library }
“Afflicted-“ she repeated, eventually nodding herself, yes, that sounded-felt about right. Something was working inside her properly and it was caused by something that wasn’t supposed to be there. This darkness that had been saturating her memories, infecting them-
“I’m sorry you had to go through this too.” Again she wasn’t entirely sure why she said that- but it felt like she had to. Guardian of light or not, this wasn’t pleasant. Kyla wouldn’t wish this on anyone or anything.
“If only I knew how-…that thing did it. I can’t remember it properly. Except it’s ..face- if you can even call it that.” Just thinking about it made Kyla feel weak in the knees. Somehow just recalling the look of it’s mask, looming over her- those long limbs bending in such unnatural ways, the horrifying-mind shattering screech- Kyla had to swallow and take a breath a few times to calm herself.
It was still out there somewhere.
…and it was all her fault.
" Can I ask you something?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 1:42 am
{ ATE : Disjointed : 12 }
{ Guardian : Mirage Arena : Library } "Of course," they said, standing patiently and watching the young woman; this close to the Guardian, even in their weakened state, Kyla would have felt warm, reassured, safe.
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 1:49 am
{ ATE : The Broker ~ Case of the Researcher, Part II : 5 }
{ Day 9 }
{ The Broker : Realm of Darkness ~ Xarcabard : Obsidian Study } "Ah, back to the deal," they said, nodding to themselves. "Yes, I have quite a few examples that would likely suffice. Mayhaps we can set up a meeting. You would still be 'you'. Your memories are not getting blended into a smoothie; they will still be in order, from the first chain of your awakening to the present. The only difference is that the length of chain before that, from replication backward to birth, would be severed from your heart. Your mind would retain the memories in a neurological sense--that is, the brain is not getting changed, your neurons are not getting sliced out. But in a metaphysical sense, in the sense of this cosmos' heart-magic, the memories will be separate, with no personal attachment. It will be like you read Kyla's life in a book that was so vividly written you immersed yourself."They paused, bringing a hand to their silhouetted chin. "Hmm, yes, I think a meeting would be a wonderful idea. Someone you would have known who accepted my offer, just to show you what truly occurs. Though I wouldn't be able to set that up until... sometime tomorrow, I'd imagine. Which I suppose means any negotiation is off the table for today.""Any other curiosities?" they asked, bringing the hand from their chin in a casual motion toward Kai, as if to urge her to speak.
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:24 am
{ ATE : The Broker ~ Case of the Researcher, Part II : 6 }
{ Day 9 }
{ Kai : Realm of Darkness ~ Xarcabard : Obsidian Study }
With eyes noticeably narrowing Kai considered the beings words. Without physical proof to settle her theory on, she could once again only take this being at their word. They demonstrated a great deal of power, but such grandeur could just as easily be done by a mage of monumental proportions far out stripping Yen Sid and the like-
Such a person in existence wasn’t beyond comprehension- not if she wished to become one herself in some form. Only then could she escape her fate on her own terms. But fi there was another way…
“ A meeting would suffice. Otherwise all you say is simply very – very well executed hearsay.” She pulled one fo the thicker tombs off the pile at her side, it took both her arms to hold it, and pry open it’s spine.
“As for other curiosities.. this pressure inside me reminds me… I’ve been trying to understand the full scope of the capabilities of the keyblades and their connection to hearts.”
Her finger deftly turned the pages. “I want to know how hearts are made and how they called to certain keys. How the keyblade’s function in regards to the pieces that create the construct of the heart. Why?”
“My initial design was to find a key that could open a door to another world- another universe entirely. Nothing short of something capable of resonating with kingdom hearts itself seemed strong enough. But I don’t want to fly too close to the sun- and alas- I am incapable of ever wielding a power like that on my own merit- being incomplete as I am.” She sighed and settled the book atop the pile again before turning her back to the broker and reaching up towards the shelves behind her to find another.
“Kuro Oni expects results from me… whilst I adhere to his needs in the meantime there is only so much the wealth of knowledge this castle has to offer can help me. I imagine- my answers to my focus of study are much more succinct, and beyond my grasp....but-” and she turned to look at the broker once more. " If I'm to truly accept this..offer fo yours. I cannot live with myself until I exhaust every other alternative. Until I can udnerstand that your way- IS- the ONLY way."
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:28 am
{ ATE : Disjointed : 13 }
{ Kyla: Mirage Arena : Library }
Being so close indeed helped. She hadn’t realized her eyes were betraying her until the guardian visage melted in her vision- and she wiped away her tears on a sleeve. She focused on the atmosphere around her thanks to them being so close.
“Did- I mean… was everyone at the start supposed to have the same kind of fight or experiance?” By fight she meant the behemoth, the towering heartless at the start of every game. Some described fighting it in passing and Kyla had thought by now that it was rather odd she didn’t not recall experiencing the same thing.
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:37 am
{ ATE : Disjointed : 14 }
{ Guardian : Mirage Arena : Library } "I... do not know," they said, lowering their head in apology. "I was locked away, trapped in shadow. Only some of my shards were free to wander the worlds. That said... while I cannot say what was supposed to happen, I can say that many of them recounted similar tales: invading heartless; awakening their heart's power; finding themselves alone on chunks of land, trapped with a great, towering shadow; and finally being pulled into the abyss.""There were exceptions--specifically, those who fell into darkness before awakening their heart's power. But to my limited knowledge, all those who passed that point experienced a similar trial," they continued. After a moment, they tilted their hooded head in questioning. "Does your experience differ?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:56 am
{ ATE : The Broker ~ Case of the Researcher, Part II : 7 }
{ Day 9 }
{ The Broker : Realm of Darkness ~ Xarcabard : Obsidian Study } They nodded solemnly, though they did not immediately respond; they seemed to hum slightly, as if trying to parse their response. "Well, you are not alone in your search for answers," they replied. "Still, perhaps I can help you along.""The secret of the heart's origin is not darkness, as Xehanort would insist, though perhaps he is not entirely off the mark. When an entity is born, you might say they have no heart... because in truth, hearts are formed with the culmination of memories," they explained. They waved toward her, as if to single her out. "How else to explain your own creation? All that was taken of Kyla were memories, and yet here you stand. As a person lives and grows, their body translates its experiences into memories, storing them in the heart.""Such is why it is beyond my power to give you a full heart and allow you to keep your original's full memories stored in your heart; your hearts would be too similar, and by some strange protection upon the earthlings, any close resonation would... unravel," they continued. "In fact, I can tell you that the process of my deal brings you right to the brink of that. I'm told it's... terrifying for the briefest of moments, and then simply passes.""The keyblades are a less enigmatic mystery. Believe me or not, but standard Keyblades do not simply 'appear' to those of strong hearts. In fact, it's almost quite... mundane," they said, shaking their heads. "Keyblades are forged. They are created with the intent of bending the power of light to the will of the wielder. For ages, masters forged keyblades for those they found worthy, training them to protect the realm of light. There were times that a keyblade was passed down instead, of course, but they are more frequently created for the wielder. The final touches of the forging process are what bind the key to one's heart..."They paused, only to shake their head again and bring their hand up to their face. "Crap, I'm rambling. Sorry, it's been awhile since anyone was curious enough to bother listening."
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 12:35 pm
{ ATE : Project PHOENIX ~ Renewal : 18 }
{ ??? : The World That Never Was : Skyscraper Ruin #3289-b17.5 } "Notoriously pompous he says," the man laughed, "Wouldn't want you to have a reputation of being pompous. Well, let's go meet the half in this 3 and a half man rebellion." And then figure out how to get my power back otherwise I'm as good as dead in this world.
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 1:02 pm
{ ATE : Project PHOENIX ~ Renewal : 19 }
{ Day 8 : Mid-Afternoon }
{ Adam ; Daj : The World That Never Was : Skyscraper Ruin #3289-b17.5 } "Would you like to meet them first, or meet our benefactor?" he said, tilting his head. "We could get your powers set up now, get you up and running and safe from the darkness. Otherwise, you'll probably be stuck in the castle to stay out of reach."
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 1:20 pm
{ ATE : Project PHOENIX ~ Renewal : 20 }
{ ??? : The World That Never Was : Skyscraper Ruin #3289-b17.5 } "Whichever you think is most wise. I'll admit feeling so... powerless is mildly unnerving knowing just what our opponents are capable of. To be merely human just doesn't cut it here."
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:01 pm
{ ATE : Project PHOENIX ~ Renewal : 21 }
{ Day 8 : Mid-Afternoon }
{ Adam ; Daj : The World That Never Was : Skyscraper Ruin #3289-b17.5 } "The Broker it is, then. Daj?""Contacting now," he said, the prongs of his shell expanding around a field of energy, revolving around him slowly. "Will probably wanna meet at the usual place.""Right-o. To the bridge, then," Adam said, offering a hand. "Hold on, corridors are a no-go now."
With the other man's permission, Adam and he dissolved into golden dust, only to reform at the edge of the vast crater underneath the Castle That Never Was. The translucent bridge still extended from the cliff to the castle entry, but more visually surprising would inevitably be the vast swell of activity throughout the city: small specks of light, not unlike Daj's form, were flying about at random, entering buildings, flitting between alleys. And the city was largely like a ruin, less out of destruction and more out of deconstruction, with orderly patterned chunks of buildings removed.A few seconds after the two of them reappeared, Daj did the same, narrowing an eye at Adam. "Sure, just leave me behind, why don't you," he said, mildly frustrated. Anyway, they'll be here soon."
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:15 pm
{ ATE : Project PHOENIX ~ Renewal : 22 }
{ ??? : The World That Never Was : Skyscraper Ruin #3289-b17.5 } After the unsettling feeling of being turned to dust and reformed somewhere else in the blink of an eye, the man posed the question he had before their departure but had chosen to withhold until now, "Who or what is the broker? And while we are at it, where are we now?"
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