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Welcome to the Test Drive Meme for

escordvi! Anyone can participate in the test drive, regardless of invite eligibility. Just keep in mind that only those who have received invitations from the mods can actually reserve on October 25th and apply on November 1st. Our EMP/ATP can be found here.

For your toplevel, please include the following: Character Name | Canon | Armada Choice | TDM (IF TDMING). Current players can use the same header, just without the "TDM" label. We do require those who are TDMin'g to include the label so other players can distinguish between others.

For everyone's convenience, TDM threads can be carried over in game if you wish! If you are still unsure which armada to place your character, you can play it a bit loose and vague in the TDM and make retroactive changes if you carry over the threads. The log itself is set to cover the IC dates of October 11 for new arrivals to appear, and October 25th until the end of the month for the event itself. Characters will appear at random intervals during this time rather than all at once, so players have some more flexibility on how much more adjusted they are for someone else.

If you have any question about the TDM, comment here. If you have questions about the game in general, please comment to the Game Info.

TOPLEVEL DIRECTORY (Updated October 29)

GETTING STARTED

This section can be timed for any time after October 11th until the end of the month, which includes during the current event. These prompts are to benefit those TDMing, but this portion can be handwaved instead and serve as a reference for players to know what their character will have experienced and learned on arrival.

STARTER SHIPS

There are two ships that serve as starting ships for each armada: Stormbringer for the Corsairs, and Royal Fortune for the Paladins. There are various ways new arrivals—or riftfarers as they will be called, among other creative names—will appear on or by these ships. The crews for both ships will also seem a bit odd to some, as it is a mix of humans and various animal folk, non-humans that look more animal than human. Some just look like large versions of their smaller counterparts. From birds, to seals, to even bears, there is no shortage of interesting faces and people on these ships.

🚪 Random room. It could be empty, filled with crates or supplies; down in the hull where the livestock are kept; have the luck to awaken in a bed...or the misfortune of that bed already occupied; somewhere in the kitchens; in the bathroom—any room! Now let's hope the doors can open or someone may have to try and ask for help. Or jump through the porthole if there is one and it's above water.
⛵ On deck. If not in the ship itself, another possible spot to wake up to is somewhere on the maindeck. If they're lucky, they're on the deck itself. More unfortunate souls may find themselves caught in the sails or netting, the crow's nest, or on the top of the masts. Someone should be able to help, right? Or catch.
🌊 In the water. The most unlucky sods will find themselves appearing in mid-air just past the ship and plummeting straight into the water. Good news, there's always someone on the lookout for such a thing and calls for help to throw a lifesaver get the rowboat will be made. Are there sharks? Well... ...Are there?

However the new riftfarers arrive, they will be poorly clothed, practically rags or loose uniforms depending on the ship. Fortunately, veteran crewmates will guide them, escorting them to a room with a strange typewriter in it. After typing their name, the typewriter will magically continue and type by itself at a fast pace until it dings and rolls out the paper. This paper will have the following information:

• Name and Shellphone ID (journalname)
• Armada (Corsair or Paladin, will match the starter ship)
• Cabin Number for their personal cabin on the starter ship
• Apartment Address for their personal address at their base armada location
• A basic map of the starting locations in Eltrut, including written directions (continued in the Eltrut section)
• A basic map of where they can find a chest with their original clothes and belongings (this will be different for every person and will be anywhere either on the starter ship or on Eltrut—players can be creative here).

After that, the crewmate will do their best to explain the basics of how they got here, what's going on, and what they'll need to do to live in Escordvi while they are here, giving them a small leather pouch with money. They will be reaching Eltrut soon, so the crewmate will suggest they look around, meet the others who have arrived. Even from their distance, they will be able to see the giant sea turtle that serves as Eltrut's leviathan.

ON ELTRUT

Once in Eltrut, the new riftfarers will be greeted by several birdfolk who will be happy to give tours to those who may need them. Otherwise, anyone is free to roam as they please and will have a map for the following main places they should visit.

🐚 Microshell. The first stop that is encouraged will be Microshell, the main store to acquire their own personal Shellphone. The paper they received on their starter ship will have their ID and the staff at the store will set them up, explaining how the device and the network works.
✒️ Inkwave, Tattoo Parlor. The next stop is Inkwave, a tattoo parlor run by a very burly but friendly octopus, Knistej. Here everyone receives their own unique magic tattoo, allowing anyone to cast specific single element spells and other magic. Note: tattoos are required before anyone will be able to use their original magical abilities.
📜 MANTA office. The final stop is the MANTA office, where all the request, mission, and task notices are posted. Each armada has their own branch office for armada specific notices as well. A great place to find jobs to earn some cash so they don't stay a hobo forever.

ELTRUT: FESTIVAL

Each year, during the month when the Ghoul's Moon rises, its reddish glow illuminating the waves like blood on water, the spirits of the dead gather at the edge of the tide and their spiritual energy reaches its peak. During this monthly period, spirits and ghosts seem to be most active, dancing and playing in the dark and searching for the last ship they will ride in their journey over the ocean to reach their final resting place. Spirits are powerful and energetic enough that are able to appear in their living corporeal forms and appear as living, breathing people. Or they are able to walk the earth as they once saw themselves. Even if some of their memories of those lost years might be hazy.

The Leviathans and surrounding islands are bright with festive colours and lights so that these spirits may find their way in the dark and shadows. Even Eltrut gets into the festive spirit, "shaking off" its shell to reveal a pumpkin form with a natural glow like a lantern. Celebrations are ripe with music, dancing and good old merriment to see them through.

This year’s Ghoul’s Moon celebrations includes a Farmer’s Market that is situated at the main pier. Locals, farmers, and merchants from near and far away have gathered to the market to sell their handmade goods for autumn, selling anything from fresh grown fruits and vegetables, to pickled jars of eggs, beans and beets. To dried moose jerky and cuts of fresh steaks and cured sausages and tasty cheeses. Don’t forget the homemade soaps, knitted hats and mittens, ribbons, jewels, weapons, fashion accessories and more! Riftfarers are also encouraged to take up their own booths and to sell their own goods and services to the festival goers as well!

🥤 Spooky boba challenge. One of the many market booths is holding a challenge to go along with their seasonal boba drinks (like pumpkin spice!). Several boba drinks are sold with floating pumpkin jellies, candy worms, bat-shaped tapioca pearls and ghost-shaped candies. The add-ons themselves are various random unknown flavours that might take the drinker by surprise. Some might taste like sour lemons, while another might taste like spicy chili peppers. If anyone can drink the entire boba without making a face, they’ll be rewarded with a coupon for a free boba with a very normal flavour.

🎃 Pumpkin collecting. One of the local pumpkin farmers has brought a boatload of pumpkins to the market for the season. But instead of just picking out what pumpkin to buy, the pumpkins have been scattered in a random pattern across a dark grassy patch. With only a few dim lanterns to help, try and collect as many pumpkins in the dark as needed. Just be careful not to trip on the various magical pumpkin vines in the patch that might try to trip others on purpose.

🍬 Candy treat exchange. There are various vendors selling all sorts of seasonal homemade candies and sweets. A little game has appeared between the vendors that if a candy or sweet is bought from one vendor that it should be traded with another person who bought from a different vendor. Buy some candy corns, milk chocolates or fruit lollipops and exchange them with friends to collect the whole set of candies available. And eat them all, too!

🐈‍ Black kitten spirits. The market is a bustling little zone that isn’t free from pesky Ghoul’s Moon spirits. A gaggle of mischievous black kitten spirits are haunting various booths and vendors, stealing items and scratching at things that aren’t theirs. They seem to be so small they fit in one hand, so they are hard to spot! The market vendors are asking others to keep a look-out for them. And to catch them with little wicker baskets, if possible!

🍏 Bunnyfish bobbing. One of the booths selling fresh apples is offering a little “apple" bobbing challenge with a twist! While blindfolded and handcuffed (it was a corsair’s idea), use only your mouth to catch a Bunnyfish bobbing in a bucket of freezing ice water. If a flopping Bunnyfish can be picked up, the vendor will offer an apple smothered in candy caramel and peanuts as a reward! Sweet-sour apples can be purchased by the basket as well.

🧴 Potions & lotions. A beauty guru has a special market booth where she is offering various potions and lotions for a price. These products are boasted to be mood enhancers. Including potions or topical lotions that will increase happiness, confidence or love. While other offer to enhance moods such as anger, sadness or hate. Because there might be someone out there who needs a potion like that. The effects of these products last for about twelve hours. For a little extra excitement, she can give you a potion or lotion at random. They’re also very hydrating!

While there are traditional festival game booths and food stalls scattered all through the main roads of Eltrut, there are special activities set up just outside of town available. A haunted corn maze out in the fields where the volunteers try to scare participants and the corn seems to shift and move to change the layout, but those who make it through will enjoy some corn ribs. Bubble races where participants go on a wild, tumbling ride down a giant hill while inside a giant bubble shaped either as pumpkins or skulls and referred to as "pubble" and "skubble" respectively. Try not to get popped early! Haunted hayrides for a thrilling adventure through the woods that end at an old haunted manor that will leave everyone screaming. And for a bit of a thirst quencher, try some Pumpkin Nog, which comes either with or without spiced rum, this alcoholic treat will warm up anyone with just a few sips.

On the night of the 31st, fireworks will go off to signal the end of the festival. Until then, it's an almost week-long festival for everyone to have fun and celebrate those who have passed.

NAUGHTILUST: MASQUERADE

On the evening of the 30th, the Naughtilust will steadily make its way over towards Eltrut and stop within ferryboat distance of Shellton. The two leviathans will greet each other with friendly accord, the Naughtilust presenting its friend with a large pumpkin shell filled with delicious treats for it to enjoy. All the shops, taverns, inns, brothels, and all entertainment services will be open all night long, and while the main target audience are adults, they do provide some "safe," family friendly entertainment for the younger crowd. Special dancers, musicians, and other entertainers line the streets on the Naughtilust to provide all kinds of delight.

However, the main highlight is the grand masquerade which is held at the Helice Palace, one of the largest and grandest buildings on the leviathan. As its name suggests, it is designed to fit the image of royalty, with large gardens, multiple ballrooms, grand halls, private and public terraces, and enough rooms to house any guest who may wish to spend the night (with a partner). Normally one would have to pay a hefty fee, but for the Ghoul's Moon, the sirens are opening it up for one grand fee of attending the masquerade and dressing one's best.

This year, the theme of the masquerade is Haunted Funeral Wedding. A strange theme that mixes the formality and dress of weddings, but with a side of macabre as it is implied it is a wedding after death. Those who participate will be required to wear formal wear that can be from modern to regency ballroom, but one' s entire appearance must have an "undead" look: ghostly, ghastly, bloody, zombie, mummy, etc. It can be as tasteful or as gruesome and hideous as they want. Wedding styled gowns are also allowed. Many boutiques will offer costumes either to rent or buy for those who need them. The masquerade itself is open to all, young and old, however what happens beyond the ballroom may require some adult supervision.

It's still the Naughtilust, after all.

🎭 Masked dance partners. While some may already have a dedicated partner, there is a special enchantment that will be cast on all masks that will mask one's identity. There will even be a portion where everyone will be matched up at random with a dance partner. With only dance skills and voice alone, dance the night away or enjoy a song or two with a stranger. Perhaps it will be a chance to find a new friend or a new romantic interest.

🍹 Drunk pirate. There is a truth and lies drinking game offered to drinking adults. For everyone participating, they must share one random unique fact about themselves and the others must decide if the fact is the truth or a lie. If the guesser is wrong, they have to take a shot of straight coconut vodka. Start getting to know each other and start getting drunk like good pirates do!

🥇 Costume contest. Whether they volunteer or not, couples will find themselves suddenly tagged for the costume contest and shuffled into a special staging area where they will need to act out their costume and perform a themed dance. All participants will also receive a temporary enchantment to make their costumes more "realistic" to improve their performance.

🪶 Dancing in the air. Dancers will be "blessed"—or perhaps cursed?—to experience the ghostly wonder of flying while dancing, either within the main ballroom or even just outside on the terraces and gardens. While those in the ballroom can go as high as the ceiling, those outside will only venture up a few feet, so no one will find themselves flying off to sea. Some may find themselves a little transparent at times, but the warmth shared with their partners is still very real.

💐 Boo-quets. Create hauntingly beautiful bouquets that can be used either for the weddings or funerals that are taking place around the masquerade. Or perhaps make one as a gift for a loved one. Just make sure the flowers picked are the less "screeching" kind…or won't whisper dark, embarrassing secrets.

Outside the Helice Palace are special gardens that one can take a romantic stroll around and host hauntingly beautiful weddings under the blood moon. They boast a number of different flora, small hedge mazes, gazebos, and fine statues for those to enjoy. There are also many shaded corners and little hideaways that couples can hide in should they wish to enjoy something else. This year, the flowers in particular fit the theme, with bloody red and black roses and some should be wary as the flowers may be even scream out or whisper eerie tidings. A number of tombstones also fill the area. Perfect for creating a haunting ambience to cling onto each other.

👰 Wedding jitters. While some may have fun with the "undead wedding" concept and pretend to get hitched, there are some spirits who are taking this opportunity to make the vows they were unable to while living. However, even ghosts can feel nervous and some are having cold feet, hiding in dark corners while their awaiting partners are left searching for them. Help the couple before their negative feelings turn them into more hateful spirits throwing ghost hands.

😍 Possessed lovers. Some ghosts desperate to find their "eternal love" will latch onto living "grooms" or "brides," regardless if they are already spoken for not. While some will retreat if confronted, others may prove more stubborn, perhaps even try to force their "betrothed" to the altar. Then there are the rare few that must be dealt with—ghosts that will take to possessing the lover or who they think is the lover of someone. In this scenario, their acting may be good or bad, and some may just want to help spur on relations while others have more nefarious plans to steal the other's soul. One big tell for who is possessed is the eyes of the victim will have red hearts in their eyes. To save the victim, try one of the following methods: 1) throw "purified wine" at the victim; 2) throw "purified rice" at the victim; 3) ring the special bells found on tables right in their ear three times; 4) try and help fulfill their desire (suitable for non-dangerous spirits); 5) kiss them; 6) punch them.

🕯️ Weeping candles. As part of the theme, special candles can be lit either in the halls outside the ballroom or out in the gardens in remembrance of those who passed. When lit, the melting wax looks like tears, and the crackling flame sounds like quiet sobs—and the fumes may make those nearby cry as well. These candles are especially useful in helping lingering ghosts pass on.

⚰️ Floating coffins. There are special coffins set outside in various locations outside the palace. Large enough for two to ~~sleep~~ fit in comfortably, they are "open casket" though a lid can be pulled over for those who want some extra privacy. These coffins can also float through the gardens, allowing for a special private view while being closer to the red moon.

Whether one is deciding to pledge their eternal vows or not, some party crashers in the name of Captain Salt's Lonely Hearts Crew will appear, and they are different from the same crew that appeared in Latrommi— all of the ghoulish, ghastly kind. Only those of the undead will rush in, but because of the setting, not many will actually believe they will do harm and in fact some of the lonelier guests and ghosts may take them as a partner. But for the more determined, there will once again be some bride and/or groom abductions, be they dead or alive. Best to thwart their efforts or some weddings will turn into funerals.

GHOST PROBLEMS

All threads for these prompts are worth 4pts.

On the edge of the watery world of Escordvi, where the horizon blurs between sea and sky, tales of the Farplane echo through the salty winds. This underworld, a shadowy mirror of the living seas, is where the souls of the departed find their final resting place, guided by the spectral hand of Envoy Jades and his ship, The Asmodeous. The Farplane, this is where the spirits and ghosts can spend the rest of their eternity in the bliss they choose.

Envoy Jades, with his tattered coat and a gaze that pierces through the veil of life and death, has sailed the seas for as long as anyone can remember. He sings old sea shanties and sleeping lullabies as he makes his rounds collecting souls. And while his appearance is ghoulish and grave, it is said that his presence is kind and encouraging, often coaxing ghosts to enjoy their last days in celebration in the realm of the living before taking his ship to embark on their final journey. The ship, said to be forged from the remnants of sunken galleons and woven with the souls of the lost and found, sails the seas like a looming ghostly shadow all month long. It is said that those who witness the ship's passage may catch a glimpse of their own fate, as their reflections ripple through the water.

However there is a bit of a problem. Those out and about need to be careful as there are many restless and vengeful spirits about. Many are harmless and are out to play pranks, however there are some who may have grudges and can be dangerous, even possessing people. The following methods are known to work to help those who are possessed: 1) help fulfill their desire; 2) beat them down; 3) find some "blessed" water or relic to expel the ghost (many will be sold around the festival but whether they are real or fake is a hit or miss); 4) dunk the person in the ocean. Once released, help capture the ghost and bring it to the shore where Envoy Jades can collect the wayward soul.

👻💀 Ghostly possessions. Be careful not to be possessed by ghosts that are obsessed with love who will make the person possessed do anything and everything to find love, even if it means hurting someone. Or ghosts with a very opposite personality compared to the possessed, which will make them act how they normally wouldn’t act. Or even ghosts that used to be dangerous or murderous that will possess others and make them want to murder someone too. Ghost possession can be any and all sorts, from dangerous to playful.

🧜 Mermaid ghosts. Ghosts of mermaids that perished in a terribly violent way are around and swimming about various docks and boats looking for unsuspecting victims to attack. These mermaids look half-eaten and angry and will attack anyone on sight and try and take a bite out of them in return. Be careful when docking and escape while you still have all your limbs. Trying to fight a ghost-mermaid-zombie off could be tricky.

👻 A dead man. A familiar looking ghost of a man once alive is wandering about demanding that his seamstress be returned to him. He keeps blathering on and on about how he owns his woman and that no one can take her away from him and that she is his to control. With a closer look, this ghost’s neck is ripped open so he has a hard time speaking clearly and his angry ugly shouts come out as wheezes and growls. Most believe this delusional ghost doesn’t deserve to be around, so find a way to destroy or send it away.

🌹 Emberbloom victims. Many of the lost ghosts wandering about are ghosts that carry beautiful red and orange flowers that look like the bright sunset. These ghosts are the departed spirits of murdered people that were buried on the Leviathan, Elah. These ghosts seem happy enough to be wandering about once again but they also seem sad that they never found their true love to give their flower to. Help these ghosts find their true love (Maybe it’s you? Maybe it’s someone else?) and help them give their ghostly sunset flower to another.

🐄 Bull ghost. A massive skeletal bull ghost is also out and about wandering the lands. It doesn’t seem particularly aggressive or violent, even if it looks like it could stomp on someone and kill them instantly. Actually, it seems quite nice and likes to listen to love songs. Try avoiding a fight and sing him something pretty instead.

🎃 Pumpkaboos. Little pumpkin-like ghost spirits are dancing and playing all over the Leviathans and the surrounding islands. These little spooks are playful and sweet and enjoy lighting the way for people walking around in the dark and are said to be spirit guides that lead ghosts to Envoy Jades’s ship. But while sweet, be careful, as these little spirits are able to hypnotize others and can control them to do their little pranks and harmless bidding. But they mostly want to play.

Every now and then, The Asmodeus will appear on the shores of Eltrut and other places that are having issues with ghosts. Although the ship may appear dark and dangerous, it will only appear to only collect the roaming spirits nearby before departing. It will remain active until dawn, and once the ship has been loaded with the spirits ready to depart, it fades away on the ocean’s horizon.

However, The Asmodeus should be mistaken for the ghostly ship that attacked Eltrut’s shores last year. In fact, while also collecting the wayward spirits, when it's off in distant waters, its speed picks up and seems to be searching…perhaps for this very ship that has not been seen since last Ghoul's Moon.

QUESTS

The current MANTA Board is available, but we have a couple of additional quests that are specific for the event! Teaming up is of course encouraged, no matter what the affiliation. You can assume they acquired some kind of ship for the quests out at sea, either the starter ship or some other ship heading out there. All quests will be worth 4 points.

Killer Sharkgulls

Eltrut port and ships

Seagulls can be a pain to most ships. Yet, seagulls that have evolved to be violently carnivorous can be even worse. These birds, effectively named sharkgulls, have been seen attacking ships and ports alike. They are big enough to eat small children in one gulp, or will do their best to eat full-grown humans after they've ripped them to bite-sized shreds! Beware and kill them before they can kill you!

Message in a Bottle

Everywhere

It’s a popular tradition to write a handwritten message and put it in a bottle and to send it out to sea. Sometimes messages come back with written responses. Sometimes they don’t! But writing a message can be a very therapeutic or fun thing to do. It might net the writer a few new pen pals or some well needed anonymous advice. Pen a letter, place it in a glass bottle and release it into the ocean's waves to see what happens. And be sure to respond to any bottles you find, too!

Plundering Pumpkins

Everywhere

There’s been a rumour going around that wearing a mask crafted from a carved pumpkin is an effective countermeasure to scare away ghosts. Demand for pumpkins has thus spiked all month, and farmers are struggling to keep up with demand. Some people are willing to pay a very high price for people to, ahem, acquire pumpkins from the local farms for them, while farmers will pay with coin and free produce to any who will help guard their crops for harvest.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Minus a few clips, the chest he had found earlier had pretty much made him whole after arriving with nothing whatsoever. To indicate his answer, Vincent first needed to discard the candies within his arms. So after unceremoniously dumping them in Reno's pumpkin, he silently moves his good arm loosely to the side- moving his cloak just slightly to indicate his gunbelt in a manner where Reno could see- but those around them could not.

Cerberus, of course, was tucked away neatly within- a green materia embedded within the stock. Hydra and Griffon were hidden where he was staying, for as vaguely perturbed as he was- as much as Vincent truly wondered if "traversing a rift" would lead to trouble, he wasn't foolish enough to walk amongst civilians with a sniper rifle and a semi-automatic machinegun on his person. Especially when the civilians, as strange as they appeared, seemed perfectly normal. ...Pleasant, even. In their way.

That being answered sufficiently, he then chooses to address Reno's main inquiry.]

Deepground.

[As for major events partaining to that, there's quite a few. But as was his way, the single word sufficed.]

[ He took a second to pick through the spoils, giving Vincent a moment to situate himself as he pleased. Once he heard the rustle of fabric and jingle of clasps, he glanced up and gave the ex-Turk a quick once over. His brows raised in appreciation as his head bobbed with a quick nod. ]

Good shit.

[ Always armed to the teeth. As it should be.

But then the reply had him pouting his jaw out a bit. The appreciation and amusement in his face smoothed out to something more keen and practiced. More professional and focused. ]

We're the only ones here that knows about 'em.

[ He had no qualms speaking openly in public about it--for the conversation they were going to have might as well be spoken in gibberish for all anyone around them would know. And there was no one here that would even know how to use the information, assuming it could be parsed, and further assuming anyone would try. ]

Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and Nanaki's here. And I dunno if you know the guy at all, but Zack's here too. An old friend of Cloud's--we'd get into trouble together before shit hit the fan.

[[ooc; Sorry for the delay! My internet went out for a week and I despise phone tagging. :( The problem's sorted now and I'm back and v happy to continue but if too much time has passed between responses, please don't feel obligated to reply!]]

[So no Reeve. Or Shelke. Or Yuffie. Or Cid. Short of the ninja, part of him had wondered if the fact that communication had been lost with the Shera prior to the jump was in some way related to this- that somehow, this had happened to them too. Yet... No.

He doesn't show disappointment. He certainly didn't show any of the faint worry that went through him at that realization. Instead, his expression mirror's Reno's own. And, as he moves his arm to allow his cloak to fall back to where it should be...]

I've seen Cloud. He told me about her.

[Aerith, of course. Truly, any of his friends- Cloud, Tifa, or Nanaki being here was... bizarre. Considering he'd not long seen or spoken to them upon Gaia. Hours ago, for him. At various points in the future, for them. Ot them here.

But Aerith...

That one's the most perplexing. And Zack... Where had he heard that name mentioned before? Three years ago? When Cloud had-? A bell's ringing there. And it gives him an inkling behind the ex-SOLDIER he'd spoken to upon the Royal Fortune. Possibly the same person. Perhaps not.

But that makes him think.

His eyes then move- darting around the street. He'd half-expected to see another tall man in the vicinity. One that was completely devoid of hair. Part of him cursed himself that he'd not perceived Rude already. But as he looks... it becomes obvious. Unless Turk covert operation training happened to be better nowadays, Rude wasn't anywhere close.

His eyes move back to Reno, his brow furrowing.]

And you? Your people?

Edited 2024-10-29 21:11 (UTC)

(( We live in backtags here, so don't sweat it at all. Glad ur Internet is back tho!! ))

[ He went back to snacking on the caramel apple he pulled from the pumpkin, giving Vincent plenty of time to mull things over as he needed.

Reno licked caramel from his lips with another small nod. ]

Last thing she knew was Chief getting run through in the temple by Sephiroth. I let her know he pulled through, but otherwise, Cloud's the only one that doesn't mind spoilers.

[ Another shearing crunch as he bit off another mouthful, watching Vincent with a raised brow as his gaze flitted around. But then he realized what--who--Vincent was looking for, and there was a moment that his jaw stiffened with a snort. But he smoothed it over as he looked down at the apple in his hands, spinning it around to find a spot still covered by caramel. ]

Just us, buddy.

Reeve asked Bossman to have us sniff around Deepground for you, so whenever you get that intel, you're welcome.

Edited 2024-10-30 19:23 (UTC)

[[ooc; thank u!!! the strangest things always seem to happen to me at the worst possible times, gosh]]

Noted.

[He'd made his feelings perfectly clear to Cloud that he could get behind the no blabbing sentiment. As he'd mentioned to the ex-SOLDIER, there was no point. They didn't even know if their future- any future for that matter- was fixed. And he couldn't even speculate.

Answering questions, he could do. If they were presented to him. And if the answer wouldn't destroy the asker. Beside that- beyond his and Cloud's prior discussion, he very much doubted if he even could look Tifa or Aerith in the eye and...

...Well. Moving on.

His expression by now had smoothed, vaguely cold. Unreadable. Of course the Turks were involved. It went without saying given the WRO's funding, and their benefactor's interests. Three years ago, he would have been suspicious. But not now. Not really. If Rufus Shinra intended to show his hand, it would be years until he would find himself in a position to. If.

Regardless, they're allies. And for that reason, he provides information.]

Two Tsviets are down. [It wouldn't be enough. Nothing but Weiss would suffice to call the invasion of Midgar a success.] I'll likely be presumed dead by now. Ground units will evac for aerial bombardment.

[Not great news for those captured and held somewhere in Deepground. And to be frank, part of Vincent wondered if bombing Midgar's ruins to Hell and back (If it could even go ahead- given the Shera going off the radar) would get the job done. It'd take out the Deepground troops, certainly. But Nero? And Weiss himself?

...He's unsure. And a touch concerned.]

Thanks for the map, at least.

[ He wiped some juice and caramel from the corner of his mouth with a thumb, wiped the excess on the wrapped and sucked the sticky sugar excess from the pad of his thumb while listening. His posture was too lax to suggest he was doing anything but being idle and simply going through motions on auto-pilot while listening, though there was a familiar sharpness in his stare as he dissected the briefing in his head. ]

So. You're ahead of me then. The WRO got the global network back up not long ago and those mass kidnappings kicked into high-gear. Kalm was the latest.

Which two? We dug up a little bit on some names, but we were in the middle of hightailing it outta there when I got dropped here.

[ He wondered--this wasn't the first time he'd heard of Deepground, and Tseng gave the clear to make that much known to Reeve. If only he could remember that girl's name..

Well. He shrugged to himself about it and tore off another bite of apple, letting the silence settle for a bit. It sounded like the issue was being handled. ]

Don't mention it. What were you getting up to before Reeve called you in?

[Vincent surveys Reno's posture as he listens to what he has to say. This man- it was clear why he was one of Veld's favourites. At a glance, one might think he was lazy. His posture suggests he's paying more attention to what he's eating than anything around him- but the sharpness of his eyes indicates an awareness that takes everything in. There was no chance of being attacked here, like this. But were anything to happen, Vincent half-suspected Reno would react faster than even he could.

Regardless.]

Azul and Rosso. Within Deepground, they're known as the Azure and the Crimson. The problem is those that are left- Nero and Weiss.

[It was hardly as if either of the killed Tsviets were inconsequential. Especially so, given the former totalled the WRO building. The latter had a killstreak a mile wide. The problem was that those that remained were even more dangerous.]

...There's another. Shelke. She's working with us.

[Or was, until their comms failed at around the same time the Shera dropped off the grid. Another point of concern. At Reno's last question, he turns his gaze to him, his eyes narrowing slightly. Sharing objective-related information was one thing, but personal things?]

...Traveling.

[The same trip he'd made for years. Exploring a little. Seeing their Planet, this brave new world without mako, for himself. Bridging the gap between the Planet he remembered from the past to how it was in the present. And of course, beginning and ending every expedition by visiting her. Lucrecia.

...Lucrecia.
There was always a heaviness when he thought of her. But now, after Deepground, after what he had recalled when Chaos had overtaken him...

He's silent for a while. And, abruptly:]

Protomateria. Have you heard of it?

[ Veld had an eye for talent, though he doubted he could out-draw a marksman that wasn't entirely human. ]

Yeah, I remember Azul. Rude and me recruited him back in Costa, but we never saw him after that 'til we started sniffing around about this new rogue cell and got those other names, too. Deepground's an old SOLDIER project that had something to do with Genesis, but nothing came up on ShinRa servers for Chief.

[ A clever Turk could have the world at their fingertips through ShinRa's network, but a lot of experimental sectors had taken to scattering a lot of their information. Or just out-right deleting it. A smart decision, but infuriating none the less for a Turk when they had a job to do.

Still, his brows quirked and his head cocked as he mentioned Shelke. ]

Now I know that name..

[ His brows knitted and his jaw pouted as he focused to think about it. ]

Yeah..Gun had her in custody.

[ He wagged the apple towards Vincent as he recalled the incident. ]

Her and Nunchuck. We almost got her back to HQ, but they got attacked by a group in SOLDIER uniforms. Wiped out the entire unit and grabbed her. Almost took Gun and Nunchuck down too.

[ He took another bite out of the apple after that, letting the information settle with Vincent. He figured there would be a moment of anger, but. Well. Vincent was once a Turk; Reno knew he didn't have to explain anything, least of all the detachment with which he recalled the situation. But he was still no less ready to move if Vincent should want to make something of it. ]

'You catch up with your old partner yet? He dropped by after Meteorfall, y'know.

[ A huff as he swallowed down the bite. ]

Proto...

No, haven't heard of that one. What's the situation?

Edited 2024-11-03 04:18 (UTC)

[Less human than even Reno knew now, given his lack of protomateria. But no. Vincent had absolutely no desire to go into that- least of all when the other man was full flow with choice intel. And indeed, yes. Even though Reno's account of things seemed like old information, it was still worth turning over in his head. And he does. ...Enough so, that it elicits a request.]

If you see her, [Be it in a few hours. A few days. Even the next time the rifts spat people out into this world:] I'd like to be informed.

[He wasn't Veld. It wasn't as if Reno owed him anything. But still... call it a professional courtesy. Wwhether Shelke was an enemy or not- he couldn't help but be concerned given her mako dependence and what a condition like that would entail here. But even then, it's a concern he's resolved to keep a lid on.

At the mention of his ex-partner...]

No.

[How brisk. But that was ever his way. Part of him was surprised Veld had resurfaced. He'd imagined him to live the rest of his life hunkered down in a boobytrapped cabin out in the middle of nowhere with his daughter, surrounded by a few miles of landmines. He turns his gaze back to the crowd, and then back to Reno. Protomateria...]

...

[Given all Reno's disclosed to him, he shouldn't hold his cards so close to his chest. But even then...

There's a hesitation. Not out of trust, or a lack of it. More that it's personal. The lack of it was the reason why he couldn't control Chaos. Why it wasn't him any longer. Why it was fighting him, threatening to consume him. But the bigger picture, what it meant was something he wanted to go into even less.]

It's... something that's come up a few times. Deepground have it. It's something to do with a new Weapon they intend to awaken.

[A pause.]

It's an extinction event. This Weapon- Omega- exists to gather the Planet's Lifestream and find a few Planet, leaving ours a shell. Hence why Deepground took the hostages they did.

[ It stood to reason Vincent already had the information he needed, if plans were already being made for sweep and two of those names the redhead was only just getting had already been taken out.

Maybe he was just being charitable? Or he could've been testing the waters and making conversation, but he wasn't surprised by the professionalism that was maintained. It was, if anything, refreshing. ]

Will do.

[ A small, forlorn little sigh as he shrugged. It wasn't his business what Vincent did or didn't get up to with his partner, and he wasn't gonna comment on it. Nor was there anything else of pertinence to add.

He finished the last bite of his caramel apple, disposing of the core in the bag it was wrapped in for now to toss later. Once Vincent continued, he hunkered back down to continue their little conversation.

Reno sucked at his teeth with a sneer. ]

Oh come on, how many weapons does the lifestream have? At this rate if something actually went wrong, we'd be screwed.

Don't tell me this one's got Sephiroth written all over it, too.

Thanks. I owe you one- since the first time was free.

[And Reno definately had provided before this little favour. Who knew. Perhaps Vincent would be in a position for Reno to collect one day. Right now? No. Not at all. But as an ex-Turk, he meant it. If that time came, he wouldn't renege.

The faint exasperation behind Reno's sneer does not go unnoticed. He keeps his voice even- quiet.]

After all that's been done to it, [Things they were both complicit in. Not just Reno- so there is no judgement in his tone.] I'm not surprised.

[There may have been hundreds more Weapons- one for every contingency. Global warming, disease. Another calamity from the skies. This one, though. Omega... It was the last resort. The final will of the planet to live. ...And it would have been the last Weapon, if Deepground didn't trick the planet into seeing no other option.]

...As far as I've seen, Sephiroth's gone. Weiss, however...

[It sounds an overembellishment to compare Weiss to the threat that Sephiroth was. But...]

...I'm concerned. I imagine the company records were scrubbed?

[ It couldn't be helped. This was the same redhead that relentlessly tracked down one of Rufus' half-brothers and kept pestering him about birthday parties just to give the President some chance at and semblance of more normal relationships. Fortunately for Vincent, Reno wasn't entrenched enough in his life to push it as much.

Still, the acknowledgement of his humor and comment did make Reno huff with a little lopsided, toothy grin. ]

Same, but the point still stands that it's finite. It'd be pretty nice if the megalomaniacs could chill, yo.

[ A casual shrug. A kid interrupted their conversation by toddling up to Reno and just burying their hands in his pumpkin of overflowing treats. He grunted and pulled it away, pouting before tutting at the kid. ]

That ain't how you ask, kiddo.

[ He loved being able to hold things out of kids' reach it was a very useful talent to have as a fully grown adult when pitted against a young child. They gave him sad little puppy eyes and asked nicely for candy, and the dirty enabler the redhead was, he just handed over a piece and sent them on their way, picking up conversation again afterwards. ]

Yep. Even Chief couldn't scrape anything together to cross-reference about Deepground, and Bossman had no idea.

When we were poking around, we hadn't got to anything about Protomateria, but you know how the early stages of recon goes.

[ Boring and exciting all at once. Something shiny and new to pick apart and get into, but all one could do was scrape the surface. He hadn't yet got to the fun part of getting to the really juicy intel. To finding that one little thread he could pick and pull at like a cat tapping a glass closer and closer to the edge while the owner watches, panicked and helpless. That unraveled everything and left something exposed at his feet. Truly knowing something was one of life's little pleasures that he chased, much like simpler adrenaline rushes.

There was a beat, but he finally piped up again with a dismissive shrug: ]

Tell you what though--tell me how Rude's doing, and I'll call us even.

[Megalomaniacs chilling out? Yeah. no. It's not in their nature. But even then, he can't help but agree. Because yes, it would be nice to go at least a few years without some form of major crisis threatening Everything.]

Wouldn't it.

[The child and his doomed action of raiding the pumpkin is met with little to no reaction. Just a glance- and little else. Even then, even though the child is simply a child and absolutely not interested in anything the pair are discussing, he falls quiet accordingly, crossing his arms about himself when the sticky-fingered little kid glances to him expectedly, as if to signal he didn't have anything.

The pitterpatter of tiny feet signals the kid's departure, and Vincent glances around before resuming.]

You won't find anything about Protomateria. It's an old thesis. The scientist behind it...

[Lucrecia.
The thought was always a painful one. Always. But there had been a sort of solace in the pain. Something that he ...liked. Now? After what he had learned, about what happened in the Shinra manor's basement? It was just pain.]

...Is no longer with us. Another scientist trying to piece it together-

[Shalua. That's... not a great feeling either. Less painful, most certainly. But still. Not pleasant. Not when he can still see the fear in her eye. Not when he could hear the sound of metal buckling. Not when he could still smell blood mixed with oil.]

- isn't, either. Even Reeve doesn't know.

[Pointless to go into the fact that Shelke had said she would look into it. Pointless to talk about how, exactly. So, he moves to what he can answer. Deepground.]

...It's located underneath the Shinra building. Underneath Reactor 0. From what I heard, the project was abandoned when the President died. Deepground was locked down, and those within were expected to die.

It started as a medical bay for wounded SOLDIER operatives. As you can likely imagine- [And yeah. He was sure Reno didn't need to imagine.] R&D turned it into an experiment- with the intention of creating SOLDIER ops without free will. I'm sure you can imagine why.

[Sephiroth. Obviously. And a whole bunch of other, less problematic, runaways.]

...And they did. Those were called the Restrictors. They're dead now- killed in a coup. And Deepground belongs to Weiss.

[A small pause. Rude.
He uncrosses his arms from about himself, and looks Reno in the face.]

...I've no idea. I haven't seen either of you.

[That could be considered a cold thing to say. Or something deeply worrying. But given Rude's occupation? Actually quite heartening. To have seen or heard from him would indicate a body had been found. To not?

...Well.
Could be that someone was being a Very Good Turk and operating in the shadows.]

[ He didn't say anything about the ways Vincent hesitated over certain phrases, nor did his face betray anything. He only watched dutifully, minding the information given to him while leaving Vincent to his grief.

He sucked his teeth at the news of the operation being shut down and left to rot with the death of the President. He wasn't surprised by anything any more. That did sour his expression, though it was only in the way his lips pulled into a tight line and his gaze hardened. ]

Not surprised the old President would pull some shit like that. Glad he got what was coming to him.

[ His head lolled to the side as his eyes closed softly, brows knitting and arms folding across his chest. He heaved with a slow sigh, and shook off the taste of disgust in his mouth. ]

No news is good news from us. But if you happen to see him here before I do, make sure you warn him about the ass-kicking I got waitin' for him. Cloud should have space for you on the Avalanche.

[ An awful name he hated for reasons that had fuck-all to do with Cloud's merry band, but he kept that to himself. ]

But if you want some quiet, hit me up. There's just a bunch of grumpy old guys on my ship that won't bother you.

[ Insofar as Reno was concerned, Vincent would always be considered a part of this odd thing the Turks had become. ]

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