Lumi stood there blinking, the light almost blinding as she looked around, everything looked so...different. Maybe it was because she had been in the dark for so long. Putting her hand up to her face she noticed the mark that her commander, had given her in what felt like a life time ago. She could hear the voices drift around her the sound made her smile. Her ears twitching slightly listening for one voice in particular. She wanted to see if he made it home safely. He didn't belong here, he needed to go find his friends.
As she scanned the room slowly the light a little overwhelming for her, she spotted him. Her heart sank, he was still here. Slowly making her way to him it felt like she was floating, tilting her head to the side,
"Your still here...shouldn't you be going home? Finding your friends? Making sure..."
Waving her hand behind her, "That they are all safe from this?"
A small smile played on her lips as she looked at him, if the voice could let him stay she'd be happy in fact she wouldn't even care if she was a figment or not. But she didn't let that fact be known as she stared at him.
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:43 pm
Where was she? Dazed, Xiu slowly lifted her hands, her brows creasing in confusion as she pressed them up against the cool, solid glass in front of her. This was...was this what was separating her from the outside? She quickly leaned forward and cupped her hands around her eyes in an attempt to catch a glimpse of what was on the other side, but she was one met by...blankness, as if a white, opaque sheet had been tossed over the little box that she was trapped in. Letting out a small laugh, the girl drew back and slumped. So this was it, huh. She had failed to save her allies, her friends, her other self, and was now expected to live the rest of her existence trapped in a secluded little room.
Or perhaps not. She turned then to actually give her prison a more careful lookover, only to pause when she noticed a familiar figure laying off to the side. Her heart stilled, and slowly, she forced herself up to her feet and stumbled forward, falling to her knees beside the other girl. Could it be? She took in the familiar face first in shock, and then in pure relief. It was Xiu, the real Xiu, safe and sound and in one piece. The expression on the dozing baku's face was peaceful, oblivious to all that had gone on around her.
Expression softening, she reached a hand out towards the other self, only to jolt back in shock when the sleeping girl's eyelids began to flutter, and then slid open to reveal a pair of bright pink eyes that mirrored her own. Mutely, the awakened girl sat up, her expression puzzled as she examined her surroundings. Her gaze swept through the room without pause before she stood up and curiously approached the glass wall.
From where she remained kneeling, the fragment Xiu watched silently as cracks began to run across the surface of the glass, her heart somehow managing to feel simultaneously heavy and light at the same time. She herself could not be saved, but at least... Go on, Xiu, it's about time you returned back home. I'm sure your friends will be relieved to see you back. Her lips curved up into a smile then, soft and sad as the room filled with the sound of shattering, Live on and be happy, for both of us.
And then the real Xiu was gone, finally back where she belonged. Letting out a sigh, the fragment's shoulders sagged in relief, and she closed her eyes as she let the silence envelop her once more. So that was that, was it? Perhaps it hadn't all been bad, then. Even if she herself was condemned to live a lonely life trapped in here...at least she had been saved.
Her head snapped up when a familiar voice filled her thoughts, and she slowly turned, as if urged by an invisible presence. Her heart stopped when she noticed the door on the other side of the room--had it been there before?--and slowly, she made her way forward. When she reached the door, she hesitated, as if nervous of what awaited her beyond it...and then she gave it a gentle push.
The brave front Xiu had been trying to put on disappeared when she realized what--or rather, who--was behind the door. Expression crumpling, the corners of her lips pulled upwards in a smile as she hurried out to join her friends and companions.
Kaiyumi
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xoxomenai
Apocalyptic Cutie-Pie
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:44 pm
Light flooded his vision, so bright, it was startling in contrast to the nothingness he stirred from. Kiwi lifted a hand before his eyes, and blinking, tried to gaze between the sheer aura.
Figures passed. Figures that held color, form, mingling among grey and silver memories ... He recalled having heard tales, of something the human world called heaven. For a brief, delirious moment he could have sworn this bright white place was heaven. And these colorful figures, they were the angels to attend him to his eternal pardon as a bringer of the apocalypse ...
And then his eyes adjusted, and he found himself standing in a white room, before a white pillar that shown more brightly than any light he had known. All around him were familiar faces. Real faces. Lifen, Lan, Shaheen, and others, students, ... even what he suspiciously assumed were hunters. They were alive then, they were all aliveeeeee.
He rushed forward to throw his arms around his fellow horsemen, beaming them a broad smile that shone into his eyes. A smile that needed no words. They were alive. They were all alive and safe. And they were going homeeeeeee.
However, he noticed a figure through the crowd. Gold armor, dark hair, a face he had spent countless time serving beneath, in the name of the greater good. Kiwi summoned his courage and stepped forward, approaching the figure warily.
Mengyao's eyes retained all their former strength and warmth, but the maddened look in them was now gone. Standing before him, Kiwi almost made to bow - a force of habit - but caught himself and only shuffled an awkward step before speaking: "You see. We have been here all along. Your friends, your loved ones-" Kiwi's eyes slanted in Lifen's direction. "We have been trying to help you." He paused a moment, gaze dropping to his feet. A moment later, his arm came out to cuff the false emperor lightly on the shoulder, and his eyes met Mengyao's evenly. "You almost killed me, and Lifen as well!" His voice was firm, as though to imply what his words would not. That he would remember this. But then his tone softened. "But it was out of your hands. Out of everyone's. If you remember any of this at all, remember not to blame yourself, okay?? ..."
Kiwi knew well enough, what it was like to live with guilt. Even if the Insanity could not touch him here ... He paused a moment in silence, and then nodded to the 'emperor' before stepping back. Even if it was useless to speak such things, to something that was only a memory of the true Mengyao ... he felt it needed to be said.
Then he turned towards the pillar, and smiled softly. White light engulfed him-
And he woke with a gasp, on his own cot. In a Famine tent. He lifted a hand, flexing it, staring to the orange-brown markings; flexed his wings, feeling them stretch and fold at will.
Home. He was homeeeeee. He sighed and wrapped his arms around the cot. Maybe he would stay here. Just like this, just for a little longer ...
It felt soooo good to be back.
[Fin]
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:44 pm
Mjoll blinked shielding her eyes for a moment, as if she'd forgot what the 'sun' looked like. Rubbing the back of her neck, one more chance for goodbyes. She pulled the mass of hair around and was braiding it silently thinking.
She didn't really want to say good bye. However, goodbye like this was much easier than....
Her eyes searched the crowd before she took off running. However she was running towards someone this time. Tackling an unsuspecting Bastion, she grinned before letting him go and backing off brushing down her dress and taking on a serious look. "You're still in hot water." She said pointedly before searching for others, "Help me find Lifen." She added.
With a gasp, Madison awoke, squinting against the burst of light; everything felt tingly and strange. And yet the disquiet, the pain she'd felt earlier, before she'd vanished... it was gone. An odd sense of serenity descended around her, with just the faintest bit of anxiety remaining in her heart. She knew what she was.
And she was at peace with it.
There was one figure, however, that she sought, and her steps became purposeful as she found him. Even though he was surrounded by others, she came up to him, kneeling before him.
"My Emperor..." she said, bowing her head. "Did I... did we... do well?"
She lifted her gaze in entreaty, at last resembling once more the bold woman who had showed off her power at Mengyao's call. It felt like centuries ago.
Kuromeez
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:51 pm
Hasn’t he died? Twice? To cheat death for a second time, if only for a moment, was something he hadn’t expected at all. He tried to move forward, but his outstretched hand pressed against cold glass instead. While Wilson craned his neck forward to peer through the glass, it was anything but transparent. He saw nothing, and as far as he could tell there was no exit for him to whimsically waltz through. Mute, he keeps his hand on the wall, but moves it across its smooth surface until he notices a second person. When he twists his body toward the figure, he realizes it’s himself. Rather, it looks like himself, but he is dozing peacefully in plain clothes. Wilson cocks his head while examining the outfit further. It’s so different from his own attire, so much more casual than his coat and buttoned shirt.
He steps forward tentatively to wave a hand in front of his other self’s face, but he doesn’t stir. He keeps sleeping, dreaming on and on, but suddenly Wilson’s sleeping self spurs to life. His eyes open suddenly, the dark red mirroring his surprise as the copy stares straight at him. But as the other sucks in a lungful of air, Wilson realizes he hadn’t been staring at him, he had been staring through him. Wilson sighed softly, half-lidded eyes gazing at his other self, who takes the opportunity to observe his surroundings before cautiously moving around. It makes him laugh weakly, to see the endless similarities and differences between his self and this supposed original. His physical features mirror his, that at least hasn’t changed, but there is no flicker of chlorine gas behind curious eyes, no lines of worry and regret impressed into his features from years of wandering space and commanding a ship. He is the same, but not.
The king stiffens when the other stretches a hand toward him. He expects the other Wilson to push him backwards against the wall, but instead there is only a void. His hand slides through his body like the king is a ghost waiting to make amends and die at last, and perhaps he is. His shoulders go slack with sadness when he spins around to watch his other self. He doesn’t know what exactly to expect, but he realizes the end is near. Wilson watches the other press his own hand against the glass, but unlike him, there is a response. He hears the glass croon, bending beneath the other’s hand to form spidery cracks that spread out from the epicenter at first, but pick up speed exponentially. The once-sleeping Wilson presses both hands against the breaking glass at first, but the king watches his shoulders steel up with quiet determination before he begins to physically struggle against the wall.
The wall falls apart, the shards clinking as they rain to the ground. He watches the other walk out. Wilson parts his lips as if to say something, but no words come to him. A part of the king wants to tell this other copy to never regret again, to never blame himself for mistakes and errors because he knows, he’s been through them too. They must be the same age, but somehow he feels like he is the more experienced one, with more years of grief and pain and leadership under his belt. Thinking about the other’s fate makes him worry, but there is a strange sense of relief too. He cannot remain, but at least he will, and he hopes the other will make use of that extra time. Yet, there is something strangely lonely about watching his other himself walk away, his back shrinking. It’s not only surreal to essentially watch himself leave him, but to know he cannot follow. Wilson must remain here. He crosses his arm while releasing another sad sigh. There is nothing in this limbo, yet he must prepare himself for an eternity of existing-yet-not-existing. He wonders if madness will consume him, or perhaps he would find himself in unending grief and regret.
There is that voice again, the white pillar. He feels himself turning around, pressing forward until he stumbles upon a door. This time, the door is transparent. His jaw clenches when he realizes what is waiting for him on the other side. A shaky hand reaches to touch the door, it trails over its surface until he grasps the handle. Wilson swallows the lump in his throat when he observes the figures standing there, a range of faces and features that are waiting for him to join.
His heart is beating faster. For some reason, this is quite possibly the most nerve-wrecking thing of his entire existence. What does he say? What does he do? What expression to make? What will they think? A deep breath. He steps through. He smiles, genuinely.
His eyes crinkle with amusement as he wonders aloud, “Did you ever catch that pesky android of mine?”
PARDON THIS HORRIBLE BEHEMOTH OF A POST ALKDF;L. Reply or don't reply it's up to you. uvu <3 Get out dem commander feels kay
She woke up again, eyes opening up like a scared doe, expecting to be stuck in the darkness she had fallen in to, hands shooting up to her face to verify that sh was real again, they were here, again and she had a chance to try again. She could not fall in to that sleep again, she had warriors, friends who she promised to return home in the end. They were her friends, and she would do anything to keep her promises to them. She owed them.
Sitting up again, she looked around, hoping to catch sight of them, to know they, too, were safe. What she did not expect was seeing all these members, those who she had fought with, against and for. It was . . alittle overwhelming, and she found herself raising to her feet, the warmth of the White Pillar whispering to her in her mind, making her allow a ghost of a smile to show over her face.
It was strange, to be trapped between two thoughts of reality. She was going to be able to go home - no smothering darkness and loss in the sleep she had been stuck in, but at the same time, it was a little saddening to know that she would be leaving this fragment, this world behind. A strange interest had come over her as she followed it's story.
She could never forget.
Hearing her voice from behind, she gave a little quick turn, eyes looking up, expecting the one who had called to her, a small smile still on her lips. "Hello again, Emperor." She offered, giving him a little bow. There was no animosity for him, just a comfortable look, and a bit of regret.
Turning to Kiwi, she could only give him a glance, quiet and motherly, knowing that he was more than entitled to his words, but not feeling that she should interfere. She would just tell him what she needed, and answer the questions he had.
"I am sorry, that I am not her," she trailed lightly, eyes deflecting for a moment, before looking to him. "I hope you are well, though."
kurotomato
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:51 pm
Dakota sighed as he looked around. He had been drifting after being awoken. From the battlefield and after killing the Wilson King, he felt drained and confused and troubled. So he had drifted from the world and somehow ended up to the tower.
Confusion seemed to be his forte as the white pillar spoke to him. He was already awake, he knew this world was fake...he did.
But even in this fake world, something had felt so real to him, so...Right that he couldn't help but bring it up in his mind. And when he did, she was there. Not coporeal. She was what she always was, A figment of a dream that somewhere deep he might've harbored.
"Madeline...." He reached out to her form, the alien form of her. Wilson's form of her and knowing it was her and not, made no difference to him. Instead, he brushed his hand over her cheek, touching the soft skin that his fake self remembered. The slight curl of hair that he played with. The dark eyes that he watched and saw himself in.
"He really loved you, you know." He whispered to Madeline, "I don't know if I will in my world, but in this one....he felt it so much that it built a well that only you could fill...I'm not him but I am. I'm...different. So when we meet again? If I remember this? I'll come find you....and maybe we can start with a date or something?" He grinned, winking at her. "Catch you on the flipside babe."
Happy Ending? Sin didn't want an ending at all, she wanted a beginning, she didn't understand why she should be the fragmented reflection when she felt so much loyalty, hope, desire. Yet what could she do in the face of all that had happened? How could she struggle when there was nothing left to rally her spirits and drive her to fight? She sighed softly and walked forward her eyes searching, in her heart Mort would always be her King, Om her land, and despite what had happened…she'd had friends.
The pain had lifted from her body, but she still winced slightly when she saw Julian. She could still remember the feeling of running her fingers through his hair before everything went dark. The love she felt for him wasn't romantic infatuation but a strange tugging sensation, a protectiveness she couldn't explain. Perhaps residue from the 'real' world, it pained her to think he viewed her as less, an imperfect copy. Still, he looked so strange and alone standing there that she moved to his side and stood silent for a moment. There were so many questions she had, so many curiosities, who was his true friend? Why was she better? Even Belladonna, who she had felt such a bond with had told her she was an unworthy copy. Her lips trembled and then she frowned and bit the lower to keep it steady before she crossed her arms.
"It would seem…that your belief was substantial…" She murmured softly unsure how else to say it.
She did not want to tell him that he and the other betrayers were right, in the end she still felt they should have chosen differently. What world could possibly be better than Om, who could rule them with more justice and kindness than Mort? How had she failed so utterly and been so blind? Perhaps she was just a flawed creation…but she wished she were more.
Reeshie Hack
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:04 pm
The emotion that all fragments had been given.. this pillar insisted it was a blessing. Mot had been happy to simply fade away. To be given a chance to say goodbye was...
But there he was. Confused and dazed, he wasn't sure how to approach this at all. The relationships he'd had were not real.. but they'd felt so real when he lived them. What now...? Would those fragments still see him too, for what they had been?
The dark haired boy stepped forward, looking around for anyone he recognized.
The girl who killed him, who'd looked so pained to do so?
The priestess who was so shy she could barely talk?
His King?
He rubbed his arm, watching as others talked to one another. One last goodbye, huh? Yeah.. Mot approached the purple skinned lady he'd conversed with, hesitantly tapping her shoulder. "Um... Miss?"
Not existing, and then existing again, was really kind of confusing Bastion. He just stood there, staring up into nothing, and wondered why this life he'd been given had to be so confusing. Just as he'd thought it, that life threw him another curveball, and it slammed into his chest.
It was impossible to believe that Mjoll, his Mjoll, was doing this to him on purpose. That her smile, that smile he'd memorized and dreamed about, was shining up at him. It almost made the last few moments of his life.. less real than they'd ever been. But if this was fantasy, just as all of his other fantasies had been, he'd prefer them over reality anyday.
She scolded him, and his heart settled. That was his Mjoll. He knew their time was up, but this last chance was a blessing, a miracle.
Her smile was a miracle.
He grinned a cheshire grin, and wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him. "I'd rather be in trouble with you, than without you." He murmured, leaning down to kiss the top of her forehead.
Lifen? She wanted to find Lifen? He wanted to never move from this spot. He wasn't going to be particularly helpful.
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:05 pm
His eyes traced hers, so familiar, so memorable, and yet they were not hers, not really. It was not, after all, really Hua Lifen standing before him, her expression calm, just like his Lifen.
Just like the woman he had fallen in love with.
His eyes flickered sideways, towards Kiwi, and he shook his head a little. He did not flinch away from the other's touch to his shoulder, but he seemed to stiffen briefly and then relax a moment later.
"No," he said. "No, I didn't. You are not them."
There was no malice in his voice, no anger. It was merely a statement, a simple fact. He looked sideways, his gaze moving past Lifen's before it landed on Madison's, kneeling on the floor beside him.
The faintest hint of a smile touched his face.
"You did well," he told her quietly.
"All of you did well."
xoxomenai
Sosiqui
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kuropeco
Dramatic Marshmallow
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Blade Kuroda
Militant Raider
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:07 pm
Shun woke up from that strange darkness that had over taken him moments ago. Shaking his head, he looked around to see the remnants of the fragmented world. There were others around, but they were a little different from before. As he gazed around, he heard the white pillar speaking to him. It explained to him that the real versions of the kings were awaiting.
So they had succeeded then. Of course they have. The white pillar, he didn't really know so much, but he felt as though he could trust it. And in any case, it was almost time to go home to the waking world. Soon he and the other awakened players would leave and continue on with their normal lives. After all the madness and fighting and such, this sounded rather nice. But first, there were a few things that needed to be done he felt.
The reaper made his way around, managing to find the figment of Xiu. As he approached her, he simply placed a hand onto her shoulder.
"Your people are waiting," he said quietly, then moved on to look for Mitsu. It was only right that he bade farewell to her. Perhaps he could also fill her in on this or that while he had the chance.
While he searched, he spotted the doppleganger of Mot approaching Riley. Oh right. There was that whole... budding romance thing going on between the two before they awoke.
Kaiyumi
inu-mitsu
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:10 pm
One hand rose slightly before freezing in the air, curling slowly into a fist and returning to Julian's side. With his vision restored, he could see the subtle differences in her. This wasn't Lumi and yet she was. A piece of her, stolen. He sighed and reached a hand up behind his head, rubbing at the back of his neck.
"I couldn't leave, not yet. I had to..." To do what? Tell her who she was? Who she was to him? How in Jack's name could he tell her that when he didn't even know himself? He sighed and glanced away. "I'm sorry... For making you cry. I know... I know you and my Lumi aren't the same, I still..." His eyes closed, an almost pained look on his face for a moment before they opened again, returned to her. "I still have bits and pieces of my own life here. But that doesn't change.. It can't change the fact that it hurt knowing you were crying and it was somehow my fault. Ghouls crying is hard enough, knowing you're Lumi, that you're a part of... of my Lumi, is worse."
OhJack! He'd said it! Well... sorta. He'd just said "my Lumi" take it how you will. Julian just hadn't known how else to call her. She wasn't his... not really. He'd taken her to Prom and they spent a lot of time together and got along, but he didn't have the guts to do much else. He couldn't even ask her out on a proper date, ask if she might want to be his ghoulfriend. He'd had a crush before, but that had been all wrong. He'd confused friendship and tried too hard. He still cared about her, but she was nothing more than a friend in his mind. Lumi... She was different. She tried to hard and was far too reckless, but they could sit and talk for hours if they wanted, sharing tea and reading together, just enjoying the moonlight like two good little nocturnals.
He turned when another voice addressed him, giving Sin a small smile. "I... That doesn't make me feel any better about it, about what I did," he replied, dipping his head a bit. "You're still Sin in far too many ways. Your boil- her... your boyfriend would kill me if he ever found out what I did, this world or any other." He looked up then, his face reflecting a measure of the sorrow he had felt, the part that still lingered when he had watched Belladonna kill the copy of his best friend. "Can you forgive me?"
Wyntre IceBlade
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Reeshie Hack
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ama ama lei
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:14 pm
He could see, feel and smell. He sighed but he felt peace. He want to share this feeling but he didn't have anyone to talk. The cozy bed and Silence had been good enough, however, he thought he needs somebody to talk with in the very end. He regret. If he allowed, he want to make true friend.
He knew he couldn't. But he thought this quiet ending well matched with him. Nobody knew his death but it would be peaceful and warm.
