Welcome to Gaia! ::

[Long catch-up post is long.]


In a word, Sayrike was overwhelmed.

The mental and physical whiplash of the past week had been taxing, today and yesterday in particular. It was quite amazing how these other Earthlings could handle this on a daily basis. The Atlantica battle had been fairly eventful (though maybe not as much as whatever happened in Atlantis), and Sayrike had worked with Jenny, Kyle M., Kichi, and a few others to help clean things up after Kyla had run off and the other Kyle had released the icy tornado/water spout of doom on the field before going after her with most of the rest of the group. However, there were some remaining heartless and geists, and plenty of merpeople were injured during the fight, so Sayrike decided to stay and help take care of things in Atlantica. As she helped carry the wounded off to the sides and tended to their ailments, she had to marvel again at how real the people were--not a cartoon or a red shirt extra, but actual beings who spoke fondly about their families or whispered fears about their own death. What a world this was.

Eventually, they got beamed back (okay, maybe not beamed back, though Sayrike did wonder what Merlin would think of Star Trek) after everything was over, the girl casually noticing a new group of people standing outside of the ship. The blue mage wondered who they were, but it seemed like things were a bit tense. Sayrike had encountered enough drama for one day, so she continued inside the Red Rose, opting to rest and catch up with Anthony and Jenny instead. It seemed like the battle on the surface of the water was filled with its own surprises too. During the return trip from the Cove, Sayrike was gradually filled in on what happened in Atlantis (and not entirely surprised at Kuja and Seymour's betrayal), and a little relieved inside that she didn't have to endure the chaotic experiences down there.

Once they arrived at literal Disney Land (psh, who wants to call it Disney Castle when you can call it Disney Land?, Sayrike thought to herself), a new person awaited them. He seemed to be more of a no-nonsense kind of guy. So, two Kyles and two Joes now. Sayrike had hung back a bit and didn't get a chance to introduce herself, but she was sure she'd get the chance eventually. It's a small world after all, she chucked to herself. Oh man, I crack myself up.

But then Kyle brought up the issue of Louis. At first, the blue mage wasn't quite sure what to think. It had only been less than 24 hours before when she had accidentally blinded the man while fighting that black entity on the Pearl, and the conversations she had with him while leading him around, the stories he told about Ivalice--

--which, just last night, she had talked with Kyle about. Sayrike remembered her expressing the feeling that, unusually, she hadn't gotten a good idea about Louis' character, despite asking him a barrage of questions. And then there was the issue of Louis' ability to use darkness...things began to click together, yesterday's questions being filled in. Her eyes narrowed. Louis had lied to her. About everything. How stupid must she have looked for being so inquisitive about Ivalice and his past! But then, how panicked he must have been about being put on the spot in a mini-inquisition. Heh. Serves him right.

But...why would he lie? Why would he not want to join the rest of them? Had something happened to Louis after being ripped from Earth that made him turn away from his own people? Apparently, as the avatar of Mateus, he had done some not-so-great things to the Earthlings before as well. But on the other hand, he had helped others out, Sayrike included (though that was a bit of a mixed bag, too). And there was the way Louis had spoken of protecting others. That had not felt false. And...well, Sayrike couldn't really judge him on being dishonest about his identity, not when she had fudged a little bit about her own.

The girl internally sighed. At the end of the day, she wasn't someone who held a grudge or stayed mad at someone. She had only met the guy yesterday, really--well, she had met all of them yesterday. And yet, sometimes it seemed like "yesterday" was 4 years ago, with everything that had happened. As the group argued about how to handle Louis, Sayrike decided to stay quiet; she felt that, as a relative-newcomer, her opinion wouldn't matter much among them. Plus, arguing took up too much energy and emotion. If he would accept her help, Sayrike would do what she could to help the former Ivalician, if given the chance.

Finally, the hangar doors opened, revealing...a festival in their honor. Sayrike was shocked and more than a little embarrassed. Now this was unreal. The smiling, shouting crowds, the atmosphere of happiness and excitement--how did they deserve this? How did she deserve this? Just trying to survive the trials of the day didn't merit this kind of praise. Didn't every single person in the crowd have something they've lost and overcome as well? Sayrike wasn't feeling like she had earned any of this. The others surely did--they had been fighting for the Disney Kingdom all this time--but Sayrike still felt a bit like she was just along for the ride. Still...the faces of the people from Hawaii after the Power Ranger skirmish and the merpeople's expressions of gratitude came before her, and she knew that, whether she possessed magic or not, she would have helped them however she could.

Other, unfamiliar Earthlings stepped onto the stage and stood with them. Many of them seemed to know each other already, she noted with a twinge in her gut, as they beamed at one another with barely contained ecstasy. Yen Sid's voice boomed over the onlooking crowd, praising them. Sayrike simultaneously wanted to enjoy the limelight but also quietly sneak away into the mass of people. The aethecite Sayrike received felt warm and familiar in her hands. She held it up to the light, where it simply stayed clear with a hint of a blue and gold sheen reflecting inside. The chain would look good paired up with the gold chain of her pocket watch, and she immediately attached it.

Still fingering the jewel now in her pocket, Sayrike followed everyone else into the room with the Cornerstone, again silently observing the events that transpired there. When Yen Sid asked them if they wanted to stay or go, Sayrike had to give it a good think. Now that she could defend herself, should she go off and travel alone, helping out where she could, seeing what this new world had to offer? Being with this group was all right, but it was a lot of work--they were always fighting amongst themselves or running off or having individual struggles that sometimes put the rest of the group in harm's way. Everyday was literally a battle. If she were to go it solo, freedom awaited her, and the ability to choose when and where she wanted to go. The blue mage spent a moment fantasizing herself as a cloaked, mysterious traveler, dispensing aid wherever she went. She hadn't set roots with this group yet. She could still leave.

Sayrike looked up, sweeping her gaze across the other people from Earth. And yet... She absentmindedly rubbed her midsection, recalling those moments when the Earthlings at Disney reunited with the returning group. If she traveled alone...she would forfeit having someone greet her when she returned home at the end of a battle. It's a sacrifice she had made before. The solitary life had its own pleasures, but...

...maybe it's time to try something new?

When everyone was giving their approvals to stay on board, Sayrike nodded. "Eh, why not? It'll be something to spice up my life," she joked. But her lighthearted words did not reflect the finality of her new resolution. Sayrike could be indecisive at times, but when she made a decision, she stuck to it. She would see where this path took her for now.

Most of the group wandered off after business concluded in the Cornerstone room. Sayrike hung around for a little while, watching people talk to Yen Sid or other group members, just silently observing while deciding on what to do. She eventually settled on exploring the Castle, maybe trying to find the library or gardens to clear her head and relax. So much had happened, and she needed to unwind before joining the festival activities.

After a nice but short stroll through the gardens, Sayrike felt herself drawn back to the Cornerstone room. The Cornerstone was such a mysterious object that she wanted to take a good look at it--when no one else was around to make fun of her for looking silly while she studied it. The rest of them should be gone now, enjoying the festivities or something. A curious and inquisitive person by nature, how could she pass up the chance to look up close? She quietly entered the room, gingerly tiptoeing down the stairs and peeking in the room.

"Urk--Uh, yes, hello there! I, uh, didn't expect anyone to be here, sorry for interrupting! Am I interrupting? If I am, I can leave..." The surprise of finding people here and the embarrassment at being caught red-handed exploring the castle alone left Sayrike slightly flustered. She cleared her throat, taking a second to compose herself, and began again. "Er...yes, I apologize, I was--um..." she looked down, suddenly noticing the extra body, and pointed to the figure lying on the ground, "...wondering, is that who I think it is?" What was a Nobody doing here? Or, at least, a Nobody who wasn't on their side?

Being called "oneesan" reminded Bobbi of one of her friends back home, who used to always call her "aniki." She wasn't surprised at the stab of regret, and the gentle smile she'd had for the last few moments faltered for just a moment before she forced it back into place. Her "imoutochan" was just one more person on the surprisingly long list of people she'd lost with Earth. She hadn't fully realized how many people were important to her until they were lost. And yet here she was, standing with an apparently amnesiac young man on a jewel-toned stained glass mosaic bearing their faces, considering his offer for a dance.

Why not?

"Sure," she said, standing from her crouch and placing her hand in his. She let him pull her in and lead the dance, waiting to see if it would be a waltz or some other dance she didn't know.

"That's good, I suppose," he smiled and nodded, "Glad she doesn't hate me. If we're both residents here, might as well get along right?" he laughed, hoping he had kept his understanding of the situation straight, "Louis Luciano... that does have a kind of ring to it though doesn't it? Rolls of the tongue well enough. Still, doesn't sound familiar... nothing about that name rings any bells."

"You are right though, no good trying to guess if it's my real name or not, without my memories or him to ask personally, it's all a matter of assumption and hypothetical reasoning," the boy crossed his arms and tilted his head, "So, what next?"

[ATE: Liberation From Fate: 20]

Azrael clicked his tongue, crossing his arms over his chest. This was stupid, accepting a deal like this from anyone....

"Hey, if you wanna go first, by all means." At least he'd know if it was 'safe' after her. So long as the long term effects didn't suck...but even then he was iffy, his body language easily showing his reluctance. But he hadn't left yet, and he was still sizing up the Dark One.

[ATE: Liberation From Fate: 22]

Azrael gave Rumple a long, slow blink like you'd see out of a cat that didn't give a s**t. Of course, as soon as Rumple was in his face, his body tensed, and his fist swung out. He really didn't like people invading his personal space without warning.

The Dark One didn't move, didn't blink, didn't react at all--but Azrael's fist stopped, as if it struck some invisible wall inches from the precious golden scales of his face.

His eyes narrowed, but the way his lips curled inward, it wasn't a look of anger, or disgust. He was contemplating.

"Hmm, what to do what to do," he said, casually turning away from Azrael and walking back up the rubble pile. If he'd been holding the hand against the wall, it would have suddenly lost resistance. "He said you'd be difficult, but not like this. Always on about 'survival' and--ah!"

He suddenly turned around, one eyebrow raised and his lips grinning again. "You don't trr~rrust me. Either because you know me, or because you don't. If you know me, though, rrrrr~really know me, then let me be clear," he said. "If you make this deal, you will survive, you will be free, you will be more powerful than you are now, you will be able to continue on exactly as you have been, and there will be no debt to repay. That's in no uncertain terms, yes?"

"If that's not enough, then I'm left with the annoying chore of doing this twice," he said, curling his lips as if in some minor frustration and rolling his eyes, shoulders sagging dramatically. "Not impossible, but a thorn in my side. It'll be our secret."

"I never said you said no, now did I~?" he retorted, his sickly-sweet smile not hiding the dripping venom of his tone at all. "No loss to me, I suppose. What to take in return, though..."

"We can sort out that business later. Dearie!" he said, flippantly turning away from Azrael to look to Elleon. "First thing's first: need to do a bit of weeding." he made some snipping motions with his fingers. "Look inside your heart. Look deep, find your black little core, and look for something distinctly not yours. Then rrrrrrr~rip it out~! Wishes can't affect those touched by those little beasties, so if you want this, you've got to sever that little tie."