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the hideaway ➞ open island log
Who: The Hideaway Crew
Status: Semi-Open
Where: On their island, "The Roost," and other places for errands
What: A general catch all log for crew shenanigans and quests! Non-members are allowed to join so long as they're with a current crew member!
Warnings: Other than natural circle of life for animals, presumably none /eyes everyone
Status: Semi-Open
Where: On their island, "The Roost," and other places for errands
What: A general catch all log for crew shenanigans and quests! Non-members are allowed to join so long as they're with a current crew member!
Warnings: Other than natural circle of life for animals, presumably none /eyes everyone
I. GRYPHON AID
A relationship with the gryphons who dwell in the high peaks of the island mountains has been established. Led by the black feathered matriarch, Brynna, and her mate, Kaj, a golden brown gryphon, the majestic beasts prove capable of understanding words spoken to them and while they cannot speak they are still capable of communicating to get their point across. But while they remember their predecessors forming bonds with the original inhabitants of this island, they won't automatically trust Cid's crew. To prove themselves and establish better relations, the following are tasks that crew members should do to help bolster these relations:
🪺 Clean up nests. Gryphons are part feline, part eagle, and both parts neat and messy in their own ways. The nesting and brooding season is still underway, and while there are nests still with eggs waiting to be hatched, others are seeing their first hatchlings. Which just means more messes. Help tidy up the gryphon nests by replacing any bad material or cleaning the ledges a bit. Doesn't have to be perfect, but getting rid of any unwanted debris, old bones, or a good rinse may improve their moods. Gryphons like looking good, too! Decorating the roosts with colorful ribbons or pennants will also curry favor, as long as they are out of young one's reach. Wouldn't want them to choke!
🐍 Protect the nests. While they have always been natural enemies, there has been an increase in basilisks and large snakes that are hunting the gryphons' eggs and young hatchlings. Neither Cid nor the gryphons want to exterminate them completely as that would upset the island's isolated ecosystem, but at the very last the gryphons want them away from their nests and rescue any eggs that were already taken. For those that do not survive or come to late, participating in the mourning or even burying the lost will help.
🦅 Gryphon rides. Some gryphons may want to test the mettle of their new two-legged neighbors and will "offer" them a ride. This "ride" of course will be sending them through a lot of dives, steep climbs, barrel rolls, and dipping way too close to the ocean's surface than they may like. Hang on and the gryphons will be impressed. But if anyone loses their grip, the gryphons will catch them. Or at least make sure they fall on something soft. Like water.
Just be careful round the gryphon roosts. They are on some very tall, steep peaks with a number of tunnels that go into the mountains. Some even have made their nests in caves. Finally, a fair warning to those who may have close affiliation to birds or cats: the gryphons may "flirt" with them.
🪺 Clean up nests. Gryphons are part feline, part eagle, and both parts neat and messy in their own ways. The nesting and brooding season is still underway, and while there are nests still with eggs waiting to be hatched, others are seeing their first hatchlings. Which just means more messes. Help tidy up the gryphon nests by replacing any bad material or cleaning the ledges a bit. Doesn't have to be perfect, but getting rid of any unwanted debris, old bones, or a good rinse may improve their moods. Gryphons like looking good, too! Decorating the roosts with colorful ribbons or pennants will also curry favor, as long as they are out of young one's reach. Wouldn't want them to choke!
🐍 Protect the nests. While they have always been natural enemies, there has been an increase in basilisks and large snakes that are hunting the gryphons' eggs and young hatchlings. Neither Cid nor the gryphons want to exterminate them completely as that would upset the island's isolated ecosystem, but at the very last the gryphons want them away from their nests and rescue any eggs that were already taken. For those that do not survive or come to late, participating in the mourning or even burying the lost will help.
🦅 Gryphon rides. Some gryphons may want to test the mettle of their new two-legged neighbors and will "offer" them a ride. This "ride" of course will be sending them through a lot of dives, steep climbs, barrel rolls, and dipping way too close to the ocean's surface than they may like. Hang on and the gryphons will be impressed. But if anyone loses their grip, the gryphons will catch them. Or at least make sure they fall on something soft. Like water.
Just be careful round the gryphon roosts. They are on some very tall, steep peaks with a number of tunnels that go into the mountains. Some even have made their nests in caves. Finally, a fair warning to those who may have close affiliation to birds or cats: the gryphons may "flirt" with them.
II. MYSTERIOUS SHIPWRECKS
Scattered around the island are a few shipwrecks. Not too surprising given the location, and most of the ones found within the inner island, including the inner beach are likely ones from the previous inhabitants. But there are some shipwrecks that are found beyond the island that ran aground on the rocks or reefs that protect it. The crew is tasked to investigate the ships and see if there is anything worth salvaging. Perhaps records or books left behind could also be valuable...?
There are also a few smaller boats and ships scattered about that can be found intact with just needing a few repairs and upgrades to make them sailworthy again. While not so fit to be used out on the rougher ocean waters outside of the island, they could be made for good use in the inner enclosed bay, larger lakes, and river channels both above and below ground.
Note: players can have fun and come up with anything useful that could be found! Items will not be too game changing, but there can be interesting records of how people used to live or useful tools and materials, even treasures found on the ships. Generally they will date back a few decades, up to a century or so, with the ships outside the island being more "recent."
There are also a few smaller boats and ships scattered about that can be found intact with just needing a few repairs and upgrades to make them sailworthy again. While not so fit to be used out on the rougher ocean waters outside of the island, they could be made for good use in the inner enclosed bay, larger lakes, and river channels both above and below ground.
Note: players can have fun and come up with anything useful that could be found! Items will not be too game changing, but there can be interesting records of how people used to live or useful tools and materials, even treasures found on the ships. Generally they will date back a few decades, up to a century or so, with the ships outside the island being more "recent."
III. REBUILDING AND CLEANING
While some clean up and repairs have already started since last month around the town hub hidden within the mountain caverns, there's still much that needs to be done and salvaged. Various materials also need to be found and brought in to their new hub, so while the ship is available to heavier hauls, those who have yet to get their Ring of Returning for a faster trip to and from The Roost, they better do so! Gathering materials from within the island using the newly discovered boats is also possible.
Here are some things that could be done:
🌽 Find suitable locations to create fields for gardens and small crops. Finding, repairing, and repurposing the old ones from the previous inhabitants will make this easier.
👨🌾 Harvest some of the local fruit, vegetables, and herbs found around the island.
🐇 Hunt to start building their own store of preserved meats.
📦 Import any other food necessities that they can't get from the island. Obtained legally or not, Cid won't ask...
🧹 Continue cleaning and clearing out the rubble in the various buildings and rooms so people can comfortably live in them should they wish.
🛠️ Continue repairs and improvements for anything broken around the hub town.
📦 Find and gather materials to help with overall building. Wood, metal, nails, tools, glass, etc. Similar to the foodstuffs, obtained legally or not, Cid won't ask... These materials can be gathered within the island or off the island.
And other possible tasks to help improve their living situation.
Here are some things that could be done:
🌽 Find suitable locations to create fields for gardens and small crops. Finding, repairing, and repurposing the old ones from the previous inhabitants will make this easier.
👨🌾 Harvest some of the local fruit, vegetables, and herbs found around the island.
🐇 Hunt to start building their own store of preserved meats.
📦 Import any other food necessities that they can't get from the island. Obtained legally or not, Cid won't ask...
🧹 Continue cleaning and clearing out the rubble in the various buildings and rooms so people can comfortably live in them should they wish.
🛠️ Continue repairs and improvements for anything broken around the hub town.
📦 Find and gather materials to help with overall building. Wood, metal, nails, tools, glass, etc. Similar to the foodstuffs, obtained legally or not, Cid won't ask... These materials can be gathered within the island or off the island.
And other possible tasks to help improve their living situation.
IV. WILDCARD
Crew log with special crew quests! Which is really just a lot of "go do stuff for the island" lol. All quests are worth 4 points, and non-crew members can participate and also get the 4 points! For more info on the crew, can refer to Hideaway info page here. If interested in joining, comment here.
The log lasts for the entire month and everyone is free to do more than what is included, including general exploring and making more discoveries. So everyone is free to make up whatever you want, whether it be a location, creature, plant, or whatever else might be cool so long as it fits. Characters can also claim whatever house or building or mark a new place for themselves. If a space is needed for a library or a workshop or bathhouse or whatever, boom it exists. There are NPC crew members both human and animalkin alike, mostly to help with sailing the ship, so feel free to use them as well.
The log lasts for the entire month and everyone is free to do more than what is included, including general exploring and making more discoveries. So everyone is free to make up whatever you want, whether it be a location, creature, plant, or whatever else might be cool so long as it fits. Characters can also claim whatever house or building or mark a new place for themselves. If a space is needed for a library or a workshop or bathhouse or whatever, boom it exists. There are NPC crew members both human and animalkin alike, mostly to help with sailing the ship, so feel free to use them as well.
no subject
[Although he is having a small amused thought of Benedikta flying all the way up here all tangled up in ribbons. It's amusing.]
I have only met them once before. Kaveh had been curious about how close he could get. And yet...
[As Joshua is about to explain how Kaveh got absolutely bodyslammed by one of these things he feels a strange hollow in the back of his head.
H̶e̵a̵r̵ ̶m̸e̵.̴.̵.̶
A whisper echoes in the center of his mind, swirling slowly, its anger palpable like a gust of dark wind. Joshua's gaze wavers for a moment, his eyes glossing over as he averts his gaze. After a brief pause, he returns his attention to her.]
... I'm sorry. Where was I?
no subject
Something about Kaveh wanting to know how close he could get...
[Odd, but she thinks nothing more of it than that. A mere distraction—perhaps the ribbon had just been a bit too looped around on his end. And it doesn't help that the gryphons are watching them eagerly, though she entirely misses the way the Matriarch, Brynna, has wandered up and is staring intently at Joshua from over Benedikta's shoulder.]
Not a very smart move, I think. Not all of them are as friendly.
no subject
[For a moment Joshua only seems dazed as if he's lost his place on a page of a book. He seems temporarily confused but he brushes it off lightly to glance up at the larger matriarch that's now staring at him.]
I assure you, I had tried to tell Kaveh that he should approach them with caution. And yet.
[His fingers loop around some more tangled ribbon in a gentle attempt untie them. The motion is soon lost when Joshua feels a terribly sharp pain in the center of his chest. He winces and grabs for his chest with one hand trying to will away the pain but it starts to spread wildly and dark purple lines start to grow angrily under the fabric of his shirt.]
Hnn... Hgn?!
[Hollow thoughts... Swirling anger...]
Not... Now...
no subject
[She'd managed to unknot a piece of that feathery string with a snort under her breath when Joshua's hand is clutching at his chest, and while she cannot see what is happening across his skin, it's the way that all of the gryphons around them start squawking and trilling and batting their wings at him suddenly that has her worried.
There's a rush of wind as both the matriarch and patriarch of the flock come swooping onto the cliffside at the sound of the rest, and Benedikta looks to all of them, and then to Joshua before stepping up to him. It is quite unlike her to feel any concern for anyone's well-being, but...
She's admittedly grown quite fond of Joshua. Birds of a feather, one could say, which is why her brow knits together with worry and a heavy weight of dread that drops into the pit of her stomach.]
Fuck... what is going on!?
[She waves off the gryphons, but Brynna, the gold-feathered matriarch, steps in and beats her wings at Joshua, screeching at him to get away.]
no subject
Now it feels as if it's crawling its way up his lungs and throat, burning and ripping through his flesh like cancer.]
Lady Benedikta- Step back.
[He tries with all his might to push it back down. He staggers backwards on his feet, dropping the ribbons to the ground where they start to burn into a pile of blue ash. Joshua is unaware of how his eyes flash a dark purple-blue. And his voice comes out distorted and not like his own. A deep alien voice. Ultima.]
I̵t̷ ̸w̶a̷s̷ ̷h̸e̶r̷e̶ ̸t̶h̶a̸t̸ ̶w̸e̴ ̴s̸l̶u̸m̵b̴e̷r̵e̷d̷.̵ ̶H̴e̶r̸e̵ ̴t̷h̶a̴t̴ ̴w̶e̴ ̸w̶a̷i̴t̸e̸d̵.̸ H̸e̸a̷r̴ ̶u̷s̷ ̴n̴o̵w̵.̴.̴.̵
[Joshua suddenly yells, grabbing his head as if he's trying to keep his own brain in. This feeling...]
You will not. Escape me. You will not see the light of day again...!
no subject
Get back! All of you.
[Because whatever the fuck it is, it is not right. Even Benedikta knows that as she spots that flash of blue in his eyes, hears that voice that sends a chill down her spine. She does not know the voice, but she knows that whatever is happening is not good.
Her hand lifts, wind and aether swirling around her fingertips, her other hand going to the pommel of her sword.]
Who!? Phoenix, I swear to the fucking Founders... if you do not tell me what is going on—
[Let what escape?]
no subject
Joshua can barely breathe. He's barely holding on this time. If he has to stop Ultima here and now before it can unleash on this world... He must tell her.]
It is... Ultima.
[He has no way to elaborate because as soon as he utters that dreadful name the black energy nearly engulfs Joshua's entire body in a whirlwind around him. And Joshua screams.]
Y̷o̶u̵ ̷h̴a̷v̵e̷ ̵h̵e̸l̸d̵ ̷u̶s̴ ̵l̸o̵n̶g̶ ̸e̵n̶o̸u̸g̷h̴,̴ ̸P̵h̶o̵e̶n̷i̸x̶.̸ ̵N̷o̴w̵ ̷y̴o̸u̶ ̷w̴i̴l̵l̷ ̸w̵a̷t̶c̴h̶ ̵a̷s̷ ̸w̸e̸ ̷e̵v̵i̵s̷c̶e̴r̸a̴t̵e̴ ̶t̷h̸e̶ ̷D̴o̴m̸i̷n̷a̸n̵t̷s̴ ̸l̴i̶m̸b̶ ̸f̸r̸o̴m̵ ̷l̸i̸m̸b̷.̶
[He has to hold on. He has to stop Ultima here. Just as the situation seems dire, bright, warm flames erupt from Joshua's back in the majestic shape of a phoenix's wings, casting a brilliant light and scorching the ground beneath him.]
Benedikta... [His voice is still there, barely.] You must... Go...
no subject
However, when Joshua says that name...
Ultima.
Benedikta freezes.
Now there is a name she has not heard in a long time. Not since her days with Barnabas—days that she has since locked away in her memory, ones that she doesn't want to remember anymore. He had spoken to her of Ultima before, she has read the scriptures, heard about the beliefs. Barnabas worshipped him... but that he would bring about a new world in the name of his god was the extent of what Benedikta knew.
Still, deep down, she always knew that there was more to it than that, and in her pursuit of power, dominance, and a place to belong, she had spent all those years vehemently denying the things that she could see. She pulled that veil over her eyes and pretended that everything was going according to plan, and that Barnabas had needed her for his own. That was what mattered, in the end, wasn't it?
So hearing that name brings back an onslaught of all sorts of complicated feelings, and then hearing that—
"—we eviscerate the Dominants limb from limb."]
What do you—
[She barely has time to get the question out before the eruption of flames nearly engulfs the nest, and there is more squawking and screeching from the gryphons as Benedikta shields herself from the heat.]
And leave you here with the gryphons? I think not.
[There's a sharp wind that cuts through the flames, shoving all but Benedikta and Joshua back.]
No, you will explain yourself, Phoenix!
[He, or Ultima, or whoever the fuck this is in front of her cannot just talk about eviscerating the Dominants and then tell her to run!?]
no subject
Perhaps that's where Joshua's folly is. He has spent all this time in this world enjoying it for what it is. Making new friends and comrades, bonding with his family, making amends with old acquaintances, finding love... Maybe it was silly of him to think that even for a moment he could enjoy true peace.
And Ultima is his price.
The whiplash of her wind power has Phoenix's flames flaring out. They wisp around and envelop Joshua for a moment in a protective feathery cocoon which holds the dark energy inside of it, closely and intimately.]
To protect my brother and to protect our world... I captured a part of Ultima inside of myself. [Joshua's voice is weak.] So it could not escape, for it is my fate to protect what I can with the flames I have been given.
[He does not regret his choice of holding a piece of Ultima inside of himself. For so long now he has been able to protect what he loves. But at the end of the line, he knows his fate. His fate is to protect what is needed. And to die doing so.]
If you will not go... And take them with you... Then Lady Benedikta please forgive me for my next request.
[Before he can't hold this pain any longer.]
Please strike me down.
no subject
So what is he even going on about? What does this mean?
But then he makes that request, and she falters yet again.
A request that should not have her questioning a thing. One that she would have gladly followed through with mere months ago when she'd arrived. She cared little—if anything at all—for him, or any of the other Dominants for that matter, but hearing those words come out of his mouth all while her winds whip about and they stand at the center of them with her sword in her hand, she cannot bring herself to drive it through him and end this. Or destroy the darkness that attempts to wash over him amidst the flames.]
Fucking absolutely not! And have the entire crew on my ass about it?
[She goes on the defensive instead, shoving down the bile that is her sentimentality.
Her eyes dart about, as if she means to search for whatever she wants to say, or ask, next within the dust and debris that's being kicked up now, the swirling gales pushing back the screeching gryphons, her own voice rising above the noise in anger.]
Better yet, how do we stop... this?
[Ultima? What even... she has no idea what she's even looking at and, if she's being honest with herself (which she isn't), she is panicking and she wouldn't know the first thing to do about striking down a fucking god. Still, she lifts her sword anyway, shielding herself from the tongues of flames as she pushes forward towards him. Her hand reaches out, perhaps to pull him free from it all, but the moment she touches the fires, she snaps back, memories of that day outside the Caer rushing forth again.]
So that you can tell me what the fuck is going on!
no subject
So they are at a standstill if she won't do one of those two things. Joshua knows with every fibre of his body that he does not want to hurt Benedikta. He does not want to see her ripped apart by Ultima if he can't hold on.]
Lady Benedikta, for all that I am... For all the respect and fondness that I have for you now... Please... Go...
[He doesn't have another answer on how to stop this. It starts be become too much for Joshua. He can't plead with her. Darkness begins to rise within him, manifesting as angry wisps of black poison that flicker and whip upward from his mouth and chest. Joshua's once-bright flames falter and fizzle, leaving behind a ragged swirl of blue energy.]
No! No!!
[Joshua's flames dim to a dark blue hue, while his eyes, once bright, now open black, glaring into Benedikta's very soul.
U̷̧̼̪̫͊̄͘L̶̢̦͛̾̽̃̊T̸̮̭͍̭̤̮̳̕ͅI̵̯͉̖̹͂̓̀͆ͅM̶̤͎̗͙͙̣͕̺͙͍̅ͅẢ̶̰̤̘͚̭̻̘͓̤̐̏̋̈͑͘]
no subject
And those voided eyes somehow find a way to stare past her every defense and into her soul. No, beyond that, into her aether. Almost as if whatever this is is reaching inside her to thread Garuda from her meticulously and painfully.
She still doesn't quite understand what's going on, and by now, the gryphons have flown off in fear, found another ridge to perch on and keep a close watch on things. For the best that they are further away, she thinks...
But she reaches past the darkened flames, wincing when they burn through her leathers, and manages to grab hold of Joshua's shoulder so that she can shake him.]
Phoenix, I know you are in there. Wake up.
[Try as she might, the panic rises in her voice, shattering it, as she starts to shake him more vigorously.
G̵̢̨̼̪͈̰̜͋̉́̈́͊̓̅̎͗̐̆̒͘͝Ą̸̩͕͓̹̙̯͖̋̊̆̽̊̉͗͆Ŗ̶̜͍̘̱̫̬̖̝̞̔́̈͋̏͜Ų̷̦̦̳͉̺͚̳͓̣͉̖̻̟͇̒͊̎̽̈́̈́̃͗̔́̒̈́͗̕͝ͅͅD̸͙̫̗̒͐̃͑͊͂͗̑͒͝A̵̧̢͓̝̺̳̰̳̰͉͈̤͇͉͔͐͐̍͂́̉͒̏͘̚͝ͅ.̶̰̣̘͈̲̩̞̥̀͌͛͑̊͋̈́́̌̈́́̚͜
If her fingers could tighten any further upon hearing that, they do, and she feels her Eikon stir, the already thick aether growing heavier like a fog, wind and flames clashing with one another.]
Shut up.
no subject
Somewhere far away he swears he can hear... Benedikta's voice is sharp and grabbing as it always is. Yet, he can't seem to find his voice. He's been... snuffed out.
My flames may flicker...
Clive. Jill. Dion. He's so ... so sorry.
Ultima's dark gaze pierces into Benedikta. And for all that she tries to reach Joshua... It is Ultima's cold hand that snaps out to grab Benedikta by the throat. Ultima knows who this is, the Eikon of wind. Ultima's power. A gift surely easy to be ripped back.]
G̶a̴r̴u̴d̸a̷,̷ ̷t̷h̴e̴ ̸W̸a̶r̷d̴e̸n̸ ̴o̵f̶ ̴W̷i̷n̵d̷.
no subject
Benedikta tries to fight back, tries to call upon her control over her winds, but her aether feels drained, almost non-existent, like it's been snuffed out or stifled by whatever Ultima is. They still rage, but they are uncontrolled and chaotic, twisting and churning every which way with no rhyme or reason anymore, chasing off the gryphons that had stayed behind.]
I̵ ̶h̴a̴v̵e̵ ̷c̵o̸m̸e̶ ̴t̶o̶ ̶t̴h̷a̷n̶k̸ ̷y̶o̴u̷.̵
[Her brow furrows, and her throat constricts further, and she can see Ultima's brow arch.]
Joshua—
[Is all she manages to strain out of her, as she tries to look past the blackened flames to the Dominant in front of her, tries to reach beyond the blackened flames and this creature's consciousness to find him.]
C̶u̵r̶i̵o̸u̶s̷.̸ ̶I̴ ̷f̴e̶e̵l̶ ̶h̵i̴s̶ ̴a̴e̴t̴h̶e̸r̸ ̷w̵i̵t̵h̸i̶n̸ ̴y̶o̶u̶,̸ ̶t̷o̵o̶.̸
[Panic widens her eyes, and Garuda grows louder. Cidolfus—
It's like it can read her thoughts. Somehow, it knows exactly what she had been thinking the moment she did.]
O̶h̸?̴ ̷R̵a̵m̸u̷h̶ ̵h̴a̶s̴ ̶n̵o̵t̴ ̴t̴o̶l̸d̸ ̵y̴o̷u̴ ̴o̶f̵ ̷h̷i̵s̵ ̴f̸a̵t̵e̶?̵
[Its voice is humourless, but she can sense its mocking tone.]
A̸ ̴p̵i̵t̷y̸ ̵t̴h̴a̶t̶ ̵h̵e̷ ̷d̷i̴e̸d̵ ̶s̸o̸ ̸s̸o̷o̶n̶.̸.̷.̶ ̶b̴u̷t̴ ̸i̶t̵ ̴h̷a̷d̵ ̵t̷o̴ ̷b̸e̵ ̶d̶o̴n̴e̷.̶ ̷T̴o̵ ̸s̵e̷t̸ ̶o̵u̶r̶ ̶p̷l̷a̴n̵s̶ ̸i̵n̷ ̷m̸o̴t̸i̸o̴n̸.̵
Wh—?
[Died? Absolutely not... If he had, then he would have told her. She would have known when he had shared everything else with her.
Tighter still, that cold hand squeezes, commanding every morsel of her attention again.]
̵A̶s̵ ̸d̶i̴d̸ ̴y̴o̶u̴,̶ ̸o̷u̸r̴ ̸l̶o̴v̷e̷l̶y̸ ̴l̷i̷t̶t̵l̸e̸ ̵b̶i̷r̴d̵.̶ ̸Y̵o̴u̸ ̸s̷e̷r̷v̶e̴d̶ ̶y̸o̶u̵r̷ ̷K̴i̴n̴g̴ ̶w̴e̷l̶l̴ ̸w̷i̴t̵h̶ ̸y̴o̶u̷r̵ ̷h̵e̶a̵d̷.̸ ̵[There's a pointed pause, and a cant of Ultima's head.]
̵O̴h̵?̸ ̶Y̴o̶u̵ ̵d̸o̶ ̴n̵o̵t̷ ̷k̶n̷o̶w̷?̷ ̴O̴d̵i̵n̴ ̶k̷n̴e̶w̷ ̵y̵o̵u̶r̶ ̷h̶e̴a̵d̸ ̴w̷o̶u̷l̸d̷ ̴m̷a̴k̴e̸ ̷a̷ ̵g̶i̵f̵t̵ ̶f̴o̶r̴ ̵T̵i̷t̴a̷n̶.̷ ̵A̸n̸d̶ ̷i̵t̵ ̴d̶i̴d̸.̸ ̶I̴n̷ ̶a̸ ̷b̵o̸x̶.̶
[Its other hand comes up to caress her face, brushing back her hair.
A tool for war, but you were no longer needed. You played your parts flawlessly, and for that, you should be proud of yourselves.
She can feel the burn of tears forming in her eyes, disbelief filling every crevice of the soul that he empties out of her until all that is left is the Eikon, trembling, needing release, and as the faintest ring of gold shimmers through her amber eyes, Ultima's fingers loosen, and he throws her to the floor where she crumbles into a fit of coughs and gasps to force air back into her lungs.]
B̶o̵t̵h̷ ̶o̶f̷ ̷y̶o̶u̸,̴ ̶l̵o̷y̸a̶l̵ ̶s̸e̶r̷v̶a̵n̶t̴s̵ ̶t̵o̶ ̵t̷h̶e̵ ̵v̶e̵r̶y̶ ̷e̵n̶d̵.̷ ̸Y̵o̷u̴ ̵h̷a̴v̶e̵ ̶m̸y̶ ̶t̸h̵a̸n̶k̸s̷,̷ ̶G̵a̴r̸u̶d̷a̵.̴
[The questions have her reeling, every word stabbing at her like a hot knife to her back, each one placed there not by Ultima, but by Cid. Dead? But he would have told her, surely. Right? She would have known. Through the promises, he wouldn't lie...
And Barnabas...]
P̵l̷e̴a̴s̴e̷ ̷g̸i̵v̴e̷ ̷m̸y̸ ̷r̵e̷g̶a̵r̴d̵s̷ ̶t̸o̷ ̵R̵a̵m̶u̷h̸.̸
SHUT UP!
[As if it was the hand itself that was holding her back, there's a strong surge of wind that comes at both Ultima and Joshua alongside her high, loud shriek, picking up the dark flames and debris.]
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Yet, it also feels as if he's sinking. Down... Down... Down... Into the darkness where he may never wake up. It feels heavy. The watery darkness burns like fire across his skin. Slowly growing and licking at his body like a blackened plague. He curls into a ball, not unlike the small and weak child he used to be when he was near the edge of his life once before. Dying ...
Stop.
He can hear the voices echoing from all around him. Ultima's unnatural tone mocking Benedikta with threats and cold words. A memory flashes in his mind of the day that he too watched Cid Telamon fall. Ramuh lost forever. While he had not known the man well that day Joshua felt the guilt of being too late. Being a step behind. Not being able to stop a man's death. A man who the world, their world, needed.
Benedikta. Cid. He's so, so sorry.
Yet the words that follow are ones that Joshua doesn't want to believe. Gardua's head? Sent to Titan? ... It cannot be true. It is a lie. What purpose would that serve but to cause incredible turmoil? Ultima... Your plan.
The sudden surge of wind jolts Joshua out of his trance. With effort, he begins to regain a portion of control, his flame wings bursting forth and thrashing against the darkness. The vibrant red aether clashes fiercely with the encroaching dark blue, a silent battle raging within him for dominance.]
My flames may flicker... but they shall never be snuffed out by the likes of you, Ultima. By all that I am... You will not continue.
[Joshua has just enough hold to struggle with Ultima on the spot. But he's still struggling. Now... Now's the time to somehow stop Ultima. Somehow!]
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And yet...
That shadow of dread nonetheless descends upon her, that twinge of doubt a sharp one in the back of her mind. That uncertainty that there might be more to it than it is leading her on to believe, and that she should not take its word for it. She shouldn't... She shouldn't... so then why do those tears still burn her eyes? Why does the wind sting her cheeks as it continues to whip around them? Why does she feel fear and rage both spinning into what could potentially be a very dangerous?
Why does she hear Garuda's screams in the darker, deeper recesses of her aether?
She watches in unveiled horror as Joshua comes to, or she thinks so, at least—his wings and his red flames that war with the black terrifying in their own right—a sight that rattles Garuda from within.
But the moment she sees him struggle yet again, as soon as she finds an opening...]
Phoenix...
[She surges forth, whipping the flames out of her way, tears wetting her cheeks, breaths clipped an uneven as she tries to control this violent burst of aether that is about to break...]
Joshua—!
[He'll feel a hand slapping him right across his cheek with as much speed and strength as she can muster.]
Snap out of it! Control it, for fuck's sake!
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Benedikta...
The pain of her palm across his cheek is somehow refreshing. It stings across his skin like a rip of razor wind and his head jolts in the same direction. It brings the sort of clarity that he needed. The pain. It's right here.
His flames, red and orange like a blazing sunset roar upwards. They storm angrily in a whirlwind and begin cacoon the both of them ... in a protective shield.]
Benedikta. My Lady. Please... find my brother.
[Ultima's dark flames start to fade. There's only an angry noise before his voice is gone and Phoenix can take hold again. Joshua's eyes blink and the void of blackness is gone and replaced with his sad crystal blue.]
... Find Cid. [In whatever capacity that may be?] You are... not alone.
[And with that, Ultima is sealed once again and Joshua's flames start to swish away only leaving Joshua's weak and burnt body- collapsing in her arms.]
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[As Joshua collapses in her arms, as both the flames and the wind start to fade, the swears fall out of her unbidden.]
What the fuck—!?
[Her scream echoes through the nest, startling the gryphons that have stood by to watch. Her hands are shaking and confused tears burn hot against the edges of her eyes, blurring her vision because... what had just happened? What did she just witness? Ultima using Joshua as some sort of puppet? And for what? To deliver a message? Her mind is racing too fast and too far for her to even process anything but the things that it had said and the fact that Joshua is lying unconscious in her arms, all the while she can feel that rage coming to a boil. She wants to scream, to let it all out, and she can feel Garuda rattling on her ribcage, feeding on that burst of aether that her wrath feeds into...
"Find Cid," he tells her. The man who lied. The man who kept secrets. The man who betrayed her not once, but twice now? And for what? Redemption?
Oh, she will find Cidolfus, alright, and there had better be answers when she does.
She falters a moment, Barnabas's face flickering through her mind's eye, and there's another violent rush of her aether, the winds whipping about, a storm of dark clouds already brewing overhead...
...
And it will be a miracle if no one hears her scream from atop the mountains, that anger like fire trying to crawl out from under her skin, that power diving through her with no place to go but out, and even then, it is not enough. She trusted them... she trusted them and this is how that is repaid. Betrayal in every sense of the word. If this is some sort of penance, then she refuses to pay it. If this is the gods' way of making her pay, then she will not bend the knee to anyone. She will not bow her head, will not hold out her heart...
Don't just stand there and stare—!
She whirls around to look at the gryphons, and they all bat their wings at her in protest, and only the patriarch is brave enough to approach her.
She could leave him here and fly down to find Cid and the answers that she seeks—the lies that she knows will come—but just as she shoves Joshua off of herself and turns to walk away...
...
...
She stops, runs a hand over her face.
For fuck's sake.
And hoists him off the ground, throwing his arm over her shoulder to lift him up onto the gryphon's back, and together, they carry him down into the Roost, the storm following as they soar down through one of the many skylights above.
She doesn't even wait until they are on the ground to climb off.]
FIND ME IFRIT.
[Her voice belts through the entirety of the caves, echoing through the corridors and outward, and it would be a wonder if Clive didn't hear her himself. When several people just stop and stare at her—]
STOP FUCKING STANDING THERE AND BRING ME CLIVE ROSFIELD!!!
[—and off they all run to search for him.]