Hi guys,
As you all are likely aware, NBcon is right around the corner! I figured I'd go over the logistics with everyone so we're all on the same page.
Wednesday, I'm planning on driving up to Mai's place, since he has Wednesday off from school. I'm going to stay with him Thursday and Friday, and Saturday morning at around 2 a.m., we're going to head off to JFK Airport.
Leg 1: Mai's House to JFK Airport: 3 hours 15 minutes
Tsiife and Seik arrive around 6:30, almost simultaneously. We should have time for some breakfast at the airport before we leave!
Leg 2: JFK Airport to Lyall's House: 2 hours, 4 minutes
Tsiife and Seik will split up into my and Mai's cars, and we'll head out to Philly. Lyall's family lives on a rather cramped one-way street so parking might be.... iffy D: But we shouldn't be there long before....
Leg 3: Lyall's House to Scranton Airport: 2 hours, 8 minutes
I'll add Lyall to my car and off we go to pick up Rampy. Rampy's plane lands at 12:55 p.m. so I don't wanna keep him waiting too long x.x I know it'll be a lonely feeling if he has to sit there and wait by himself. Of course, we also only have the vaguest idea of what Rampy looks like D: I hope he can find us at the airport.... just look for the crowd of geeks Rampy!
Leg 4: Scranton Airport to the Hotel: 59 minutes
The final leg is mostly state highways and backroads. I have the feeling it'll be winding up into the mountains so we should enjoy the drive and the view!
Total travel time should be only about 8 hours, but what with waiting in airports I'm guessing it'll be more like 10. Hopefully, we'll be to the hotel by mid-afternoon and get the room set up to our liking.
Of course if there are any delays, hitches, snafus, problems, issues, concerns, or bitches, spam-call my phone into oblivion D: I want to hear it all, preferably BEFORE it fucks up our meeting ^^ Let's make this the biggest and best NBcon yet! ;P
~Soli~
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Indestructible, part 3
((Last part.... couldn't stop writing once I started x.x;;))
"Mai, guard Seik.... we can't have our precious flower taken from us, now, can we?" Alberic smirked at Sparhawk, slinging the sheathed sword onto his shoulder. Unwillingly, yet unable to resist the mastery in his voice, Mai backed up to stand beneath Seik, her eyes fixed on the black-armored form before them.
Sparhawk said nothing, asked nothing. He simply reached onto the sheath in his back and drew the long, black-bladed great sword, the steely rasp of the finely tempered steel leaving its scabbard seemed to echo through the tomb, and Alberic laughed in delight. "Good, that's good, Anakha!" he shouted joyfully, and brandished the sword in his arms as if it were drawn. "Now, let's fight!"
There was no trace of remorse or hesitation on Sparhawk's face; it was as if it were carved in stone, and when he charged at Alberic, his blade crackled with lightning as he swung it around in a powerful stroke. Alberic looked incredulous, delightedly so, as if this were more than he could have possibly expected; he parried Sparhawk's first, mighty swing with a swing of his own, the two men wielding the swords with brutal skill. Even as they clashed physically, Pandion-tempered steel meeting the ornate scabbard of Lightbringer again and again, the magical battle was just as intense, black lightning arcing from Sparhawk's hands and flame bursting from Alberic's maw. Sparhawk wasted no energy on words, and his flat, intense expression did not change one bit.
Lightbringer's sheath was not made for intense combat, and the brilliant blade within was exposed with each chop of Sparhawk's heavy black blade. Glittering white light shone forth from the cuts, and Alberic took full advantage, dazing Sparhawk with the light gleaming from the flat of the blade. Mai occasionally twitched as if to run to Alberic whenever Sparhawk's attacks came too close, but Alberic shook off the magical attacks impatiently. Fused with Bahamut, he was nearly the embodiment of the avatar, and Sparhawk's prodigious skill was not enough to surpass that.
Alberic blasted flame into Sparhawk's face, and he staggered back, scraping a gauntleted fist against his eyes, and Alberic launched himself at Sparhawk, driving his shoulder into the smaller man with a thrust of his wings. Sparhawk fell heavily to his knees, whipping a dagger out from his boot and driving it into Alberic's knee; the dragonkin screamed, his head whipping back, and
Mai could hold herself back no longer, charging forward and leaping at Sparhawk, screaming herself, made wild by Alberic's pain. Sparhawk lurched out of the way, rolling clumsily in his armor, lashing out at Mai with magic, and she fell heavily to the ground, bound to the spot--but her attack had diverted Sparhawk's attention enough that Alberic twirled on his good leg and ripped off Lightbringer's scabbard, burying the glowing blade into Sparhawk's back.
Sparhawk stiffened, looking down at the glowing, legendary blade sticking from his chest. Alberic laughed and laughed, a hysterical sound that caused Seik to stir on the beam above. "HAHAHAHAHA! Yes, YES! Die, Anakha! Die--and let me take your place!" Alberic extended a hand at Sparhawk as he fell heavily to his face. "Give me your power, give me your freedom! Let me be unbound from destiny as you are!!"
"Alberic!" Mai called weakly, still struggling against the Bind spell holding her in place, but her cry was drowned out by the scream of horror and anguish above them. "SPARHAWK!!!!" Seik was staring down at them as if her entire world was ending, struggling feebly against her bonds, staring down at Sparhawk with Lightbringer through his heart. Blood gushed from Sparhawk's body, pouring out onto the grass, dripping from crevices in his black armor.
Alberic turned away, his expression satisfied and exhausted, limping and dragging his bad leg. But a faint rattle from behind him made him turn, raising an eyebrow, a trail of blood winding down his cheek from a cut in his black hair.
Sparhawk was slowly pushing himself back up, his mail fists pushed into the muddy ground beneath him. "Are you still trying to fight?" Alberic said, his tone a mixture of amusement and amazement. "But you've lost. -I- am Anakha now."
Mai and Seik caught their breaths as Sparhawk reached back around himself and slowly pulled Lightbrighter from his body. Blood flowed even more freely from the wound, but he came to his feet, his eyes fixed implacably on Alberic, and he raised the legendary sword, taking up his black blade with the other. Alberic took a step back, dumbfounded. "But... but how... this is impossible!! You are DEAD!"
Sparhawk charged at Alberic, the weakness of his wounds seeming to fall away as if they had never happened, and whirled both immense blades at Alberic, driving him back; the black blade sheared off one of Alberic's twisted horns, and it went flying, impaling itself into the earth; the other chopped into Alberic's arm, and he tossed his head back like a wounded dragon, breathing flame, but Sparhawk blocked it with the flat of Lightbringer's radiant blade; Mai tried to run to Alberic, but the Bind spell held her fast, and she could do nothing but watch in horror as Sparhawk drove Alberic to the base of the beam holding Seik, and for the first time, Sparhawk spoke.
"Now, I end this."
He reared back, and Alberic lunged, but Sparhawk's arms were faster, burying both swords deep into Alberic, pinning him to the base of the beam, Lightbringer in his chest and the black sword in his belly. Alberic did not even scream, staring up at the star-filled sky as if incomprehending; blood poured from his unresisting lips and he grinned faintly, unseeing. Sparhawk straightened, looking at Alberic pitilessly, the flow of blood from his armor having ceased; Alberic slowly lowered his gaze to meet Anakha's, and understanding dawned within them. "I see..." he whispered, his voice strangled, and a slow rattle filled his throat. "A... Anakha is...."
Then, his head sagged back against the beam, and his body turned into light and dissipated into the night.
"Mai, guard Seik.... we can't have our precious flower taken from us, now, can we?" Alberic smirked at Sparhawk, slinging the sheathed sword onto his shoulder. Unwillingly, yet unable to resist the mastery in his voice, Mai backed up to stand beneath Seik, her eyes fixed on the black-armored form before them.
Sparhawk said nothing, asked nothing. He simply reached onto the sheath in his back and drew the long, black-bladed great sword, the steely rasp of the finely tempered steel leaving its scabbard seemed to echo through the tomb, and Alberic laughed in delight. "Good, that's good, Anakha!" he shouted joyfully, and brandished the sword in his arms as if it were drawn. "Now, let's fight!"
There was no trace of remorse or hesitation on Sparhawk's face; it was as if it were carved in stone, and when he charged at Alberic, his blade crackled with lightning as he swung it around in a powerful stroke. Alberic looked incredulous, delightedly so, as if this were more than he could have possibly expected; he parried Sparhawk's first, mighty swing with a swing of his own, the two men wielding the swords with brutal skill. Even as they clashed physically, Pandion-tempered steel meeting the ornate scabbard of Lightbringer again and again, the magical battle was just as intense, black lightning arcing from Sparhawk's hands and flame bursting from Alberic's maw. Sparhawk wasted no energy on words, and his flat, intense expression did not change one bit.
Lightbringer's sheath was not made for intense combat, and the brilliant blade within was exposed with each chop of Sparhawk's heavy black blade. Glittering white light shone forth from the cuts, and Alberic took full advantage, dazing Sparhawk with the light gleaming from the flat of the blade. Mai occasionally twitched as if to run to Alberic whenever Sparhawk's attacks came too close, but Alberic shook off the magical attacks impatiently. Fused with Bahamut, he was nearly the embodiment of the avatar, and Sparhawk's prodigious skill was not enough to surpass that.
Alberic blasted flame into Sparhawk's face, and he staggered back, scraping a gauntleted fist against his eyes, and Alberic launched himself at Sparhawk, driving his shoulder into the smaller man with a thrust of his wings. Sparhawk fell heavily to his knees, whipping a dagger out from his boot and driving it into Alberic's knee; the dragonkin screamed, his head whipping back, and
Mai could hold herself back no longer, charging forward and leaping at Sparhawk, screaming herself, made wild by Alberic's pain. Sparhawk lurched out of the way, rolling clumsily in his armor, lashing out at Mai with magic, and she fell heavily to the ground, bound to the spot--but her attack had diverted Sparhawk's attention enough that Alberic twirled on his good leg and ripped off Lightbringer's scabbard, burying the glowing blade into Sparhawk's back.
Sparhawk stiffened, looking down at the glowing, legendary blade sticking from his chest. Alberic laughed and laughed, a hysterical sound that caused Seik to stir on the beam above. "HAHAHAHAHA! Yes, YES! Die, Anakha! Die--and let me take your place!" Alberic extended a hand at Sparhawk as he fell heavily to his face. "Give me your power, give me your freedom! Let me be unbound from destiny as you are!!"
"Alberic!" Mai called weakly, still struggling against the Bind spell holding her in place, but her cry was drowned out by the scream of horror and anguish above them. "SPARHAWK!!!!" Seik was staring down at them as if her entire world was ending, struggling feebly against her bonds, staring down at Sparhawk with Lightbringer through his heart. Blood gushed from Sparhawk's body, pouring out onto the grass, dripping from crevices in his black armor.
Alberic turned away, his expression satisfied and exhausted, limping and dragging his bad leg. But a faint rattle from behind him made him turn, raising an eyebrow, a trail of blood winding down his cheek from a cut in his black hair.
Sparhawk was slowly pushing himself back up, his mail fists pushed into the muddy ground beneath him. "Are you still trying to fight?" Alberic said, his tone a mixture of amusement and amazement. "But you've lost. -I- am Anakha now."
Mai and Seik caught their breaths as Sparhawk reached back around himself and slowly pulled Lightbrighter from his body. Blood flowed even more freely from the wound, but he came to his feet, his eyes fixed implacably on Alberic, and he raised the legendary sword, taking up his black blade with the other. Alberic took a step back, dumbfounded. "But... but how... this is impossible!! You are DEAD!"
Sparhawk charged at Alberic, the weakness of his wounds seeming to fall away as if they had never happened, and whirled both immense blades at Alberic, driving him back; the black blade sheared off one of Alberic's twisted horns, and it went flying, impaling itself into the earth; the other chopped into Alberic's arm, and he tossed his head back like a wounded dragon, breathing flame, but Sparhawk blocked it with the flat of Lightbringer's radiant blade; Mai tried to run to Alberic, but the Bind spell held her fast, and she could do nothing but watch in horror as Sparhawk drove Alberic to the base of the beam holding Seik, and for the first time, Sparhawk spoke.
"Now, I end this."
He reared back, and Alberic lunged, but Sparhawk's arms were faster, burying both swords deep into Alberic, pinning him to the base of the beam, Lightbringer in his chest and the black sword in his belly. Alberic did not even scream, staring up at the star-filled sky as if incomprehending; blood poured from his unresisting lips and he grinned faintly, unseeing. Sparhawk straightened, looking at Alberic pitilessly, the flow of blood from his armor having ceased; Alberic slowly lowered his gaze to meet Anakha's, and understanding dawned within them. "I see..." he whispered, his voice strangled, and a slow rattle filled his throat. "A... Anakha is...."
Then, his head sagged back against the beam, and his body turned into light and dissipated into the night.
Indestructible, part 2
((Yeah, I know I just posted part 1.... sue me >.>))
"What have you done, Alby...." Mai's voice noticeably shook as she looked up at Seik.
Alberic turned, the large sheathed sword in his arms gleaming faintly in the moonlight. His tail curled slightly as it swayed back and forth, serpentine and sinewy, and the twisted horns on his head cast long shadows over his mottled, black-scaled face. "He will come. He will have to." His voice dropped to a caressing murmur, and he stroked Mai under the chin, nibbling on the tip of one of her ears. "And then, we'll see who destiny favors."
Seik was lashed to a crossbeam above them, unconscious, her head sagging and her arms outspread. Alberic had wound her entire body in wire; the tomb--King Ranperre's Tomb--was awash in moonlight, and Alberic laughed and laughed. "It is not I who makes you suffer, Seik!" he screamed at the sky, his wings flung wide. "It is FATE! Fate is the enemy here! Adelbert, fate is what separates us, what punishes us!"
The beast paced around the tomb, occasionally perching on the beam to which Seik was lashed, curling his arms tighter around the sword. He hummed or sang; he laughed often, his eyes filled with an indescribable joy, with unbreakable resolve, with insanity, with hatred; he nuzzled Seik's face, licking it, and grinned down at Mai as if daring her to stop him; he spread his wings and soared above it all, glorying in his freedom, but always descended to earth again, snarling and glowering around him, seeking his enemy, impatient and hateful. Mai stood there as if rooted, staring at Alberic, mesmerized and repelled, unable to look away. He was beautiful in this form, beautiful and terrifying, but the curse--the obsession--the love that bound them kept her here, helpless to do anything but serve him, helpless to stop him from devouring himself with his own madness.
"What have you done, Alby...." Mai raised her eyes to Seik once again. "She's going to die...."
"No!" He whirled on her as if summoned, grasping her around the throat, stroking her like a restive kitten, purring, his wings enfolding them. "No. She will not die. Either she or you or both--you will bear my child, Mai. I might kill her. I might not. But either way, we will free when it ends. Either way, destiny will break tonight. He will come. He HAS to come. I am waiting for him.... and when he comes, I will kill him and take his place."
Seik coughed, lost in her enchanted sleep, blood trickling from her lips. Mai turned from Alberic with a choked sob. Alberic laughed, drawing his tongue up her face from her chin to the corner of her eye, where tears were already welling. "I think I love that face the most, Mai...." he whispered.
A sound from behind them, a snapping twig, made them both whirl, and Alberic crowed in delight, sweeping air with his wings. Sparhawk was there, in black armor, his implacable eyes fixed upon them.
"What have you done, Alby...." Mai's voice noticeably shook as she looked up at Seik.
Alberic turned, the large sheathed sword in his arms gleaming faintly in the moonlight. His tail curled slightly as it swayed back and forth, serpentine and sinewy, and the twisted horns on his head cast long shadows over his mottled, black-scaled face. "He will come. He will have to." His voice dropped to a caressing murmur, and he stroked Mai under the chin, nibbling on the tip of one of her ears. "And then, we'll see who destiny favors."
Seik was lashed to a crossbeam above them, unconscious, her head sagging and her arms outspread. Alberic had wound her entire body in wire; the tomb--King Ranperre's Tomb--was awash in moonlight, and Alberic laughed and laughed. "It is not I who makes you suffer, Seik!" he screamed at the sky, his wings flung wide. "It is FATE! Fate is the enemy here! Adelbert, fate is what separates us, what punishes us!"
The beast paced around the tomb, occasionally perching on the beam to which Seik was lashed, curling his arms tighter around the sword. He hummed or sang; he laughed often, his eyes filled with an indescribable joy, with unbreakable resolve, with insanity, with hatred; he nuzzled Seik's face, licking it, and grinned down at Mai as if daring her to stop him; he spread his wings and soared above it all, glorying in his freedom, but always descended to earth again, snarling and glowering around him, seeking his enemy, impatient and hateful. Mai stood there as if rooted, staring at Alberic, mesmerized and repelled, unable to look away. He was beautiful in this form, beautiful and terrifying, but the curse--the obsession--the love that bound them kept her here, helpless to do anything but serve him, helpless to stop him from devouring himself with his own madness.
"What have you done, Alby...." Mai raised her eyes to Seik once again. "She's going to die...."
"No!" He whirled on her as if summoned, grasping her around the throat, stroking her like a restive kitten, purring, his wings enfolding them. "No. She will not die. Either she or you or both--you will bear my child, Mai. I might kill her. I might not. But either way, we will free when it ends. Either way, destiny will break tonight. He will come. He HAS to come. I am waiting for him.... and when he comes, I will kill him and take his place."
Seik coughed, lost in her enchanted sleep, blood trickling from her lips. Mai turned from Alberic with a choked sob. Alberic laughed, drawing his tongue up her face from her chin to the corner of her eye, where tears were already welling. "I think I love that face the most, Mai...." he whispered.
A sound from behind them, a snapping twig, made them both whirl, and Alberic crowed in delight, sweeping air with his wings. Sparhawk was there, in black armor, his implacable eyes fixed upon them.
Indestructible, part 1
Alberic had not been home for two weeks.
-----
They won't stop bleeding.
He's gone, now. I think I'm free, in a way, but it's a horrible feeling. A part of me is free that was being held back. And as I look at it, I feel more and more horrified. I'm trapped by destiny.
I know my time is shorter and shorter. Once he comes into this world, I will be gone. I saw it myself, over and over. My son. My conquerer.
That's how destiny works, isn't it? You're trapped. There's no way out, until you die. And then... and then....
I don't deserve to be delivered. I knew what I was getting into. It's many years beyond my time. But I'm so scared. I don't want to die. I'm still a coward. Death frightens me. Will I just stop? Does that mean I'll fade away and--that there will be no "me" anymore? Then, it'll be just as if there was never any "me" at all.
But no. That's why he's coming, isn't it? So there is "me" left behind.
But he's not me. He's himself. He shouldn't be saddled with my legacy. A coward's legacy. A failure's legacy. A failure of a friend, of a husband, of a father--nothing but a cursed Prophet that never should have allowed anyone near.
But I had to let them near. Because without them, I would die, and I'm scared to die. Please. I'm scared to die.
I'm trapped by destiny. It's coming closer all the time. I can hear it. I can feel it. But aren't I the guy who makes a living changing destiny? Isn't there a way I can avoid this? Isn't there some sort of thing I can do to change how things will go? Can the magician pull one more rarab out of his hat, change fate one last time?
Of course there is a way. I am a coward. I'm desperate. I'll do anything at all. I don't want to share my life anymore. I don't want to be afraid anymore.
The answer was in front of me all the time. All I have to do is change destiny. I have the right. After all, who on Vana'diel is stronger than me? And she'll be waiting for me, when it's done. She'll be happy. Because she would be fine, even if I turned into a monster, as long as I did not vanish.
I don't care who I have to kill. I don't care what I have to throw away. I won't vanish. I will not let myself die. I don't care about forgiveness anymore. If I decide he needs to die, then he will die.
-----
Seikatsu had been missing one week.
-----
They won't stop bleeding.
He's gone, now. I think I'm free, in a way, but it's a horrible feeling. A part of me is free that was being held back. And as I look at it, I feel more and more horrified. I'm trapped by destiny.
I know my time is shorter and shorter. Once he comes into this world, I will be gone. I saw it myself, over and over. My son. My conquerer.
That's how destiny works, isn't it? You're trapped. There's no way out, until you die. And then... and then....
I don't deserve to be delivered. I knew what I was getting into. It's many years beyond my time. But I'm so scared. I don't want to die. I'm still a coward. Death frightens me. Will I just stop? Does that mean I'll fade away and--that there will be no "me" anymore? Then, it'll be just as if there was never any "me" at all.
But no. That's why he's coming, isn't it? So there is "me" left behind.
But he's not me. He's himself. He shouldn't be saddled with my legacy. A coward's legacy. A failure's legacy. A failure of a friend, of a husband, of a father--nothing but a cursed Prophet that never should have allowed anyone near.
But I had to let them near. Because without them, I would die, and I'm scared to die. Please. I'm scared to die.
I'm trapped by destiny. It's coming closer all the time. I can hear it. I can feel it. But aren't I the guy who makes a living changing destiny? Isn't there a way I can avoid this? Isn't there some sort of thing I can do to change how things will go? Can the magician pull one more rarab out of his hat, change fate one last time?
Of course there is a way. I am a coward. I'm desperate. I'll do anything at all. I don't want to share my life anymore. I don't want to be afraid anymore.
The answer was in front of me all the time. All I have to do is change destiny. I have the right. After all, who on Vana'diel is stronger than me? And she'll be waiting for me, when it's done. She'll be happy. Because she would be fine, even if I turned into a monster, as long as I did not vanish.
I don't care who I have to kill. I don't care what I have to throw away. I won't vanish. I will not let myself die. I don't care about forgiveness anymore. If I decide he needs to die, then he will die.
-----
Seikatsu had been missing one week.
Friday, August 8, 2008
The Coward
A bright flash filled the night sky and the heavens seemed to break apart; water pouring downwards as thunder rolled off towards the distant mountains. He'd seen this place before, it was familiar, and yet so alien. Small eyes drifted upwards from all around, from cracks and fissures in the earth. There was something ominous about them, but he felt no fear. No, he felt enlightened, felt compelled to follow their gazes. Steeling himself for what he might see, he licked his lips and turned his face skyward. Large drops of water crashed against his bare forehead, mixing with the dirt and grime that had collected upon him from his travels. The mixture left a sour taste in his mouth, but he ignored it, his jaw slacked already.
For overhead was the most awe-inspiring and terrifying scene he'd ever seen. A wyvern of incomparable size loomed above him, wheeling just below the cloudline.
Frantically, the Tarutaru glanced about, looking for something; anything! to stop this menace or elude it if nothing else. Nothing offered itself up though, nothing for the sacrifice. Even the small eyes had winked shut, returning to the darkness wence they had come.
"Veovis..." a voice whispered from all around him, and at once he knew it to be the wyvern speaking.
"Wha...?" The Taru asked the darkness around him. It seemed to be closing in.
"Veovis.... you are a coward.." the thing spat, cackling as it descended downwards. The Gods seemed to answer its insult, sending several crackles of lightning followed by another peal of thunder, then the rain worsened. "You flee your past... You flee your friends..your enemies.. your world.. You have shut yourself away beyond the realm of Man, into the Canyons north of your true home.. You are a coward," the wyvern then drew back and opened its tooth-filled maw. It went on speaking, though its mouth no longer moved. "How far will you run Coward? To the ends of Vana'diel? No sea can carry you far enough from the truth."
Veovis grabbed at his over-sized ears and tugged them down, trying to drown out the horrid sound of the creature. Its voice was loud, booming from all sides, and sounded as if many voices spoke at once, a terrible cacophany of sound.
"Im.. I'm no coward.." the white mage managed to stammer, only to be answered by a snarl from the beast.
"A coward -and- a liar! You've run as far as you can..."
He closed his eyes then, as whispers of other voices crushed in around him. Dozens of them it sounded like, and try though he might he couldnt drown them out.
Words of hope, of praise, of friendship. Words cast in the world of Light; promises of love and longevity, of togetherness eternal. The very words that had lead him to this realm of despair.
"They've all abandoned you.." the beast laughed, the sound piercing through the rest of the voices, the memories, the thoughts, the hopes and dreams. "And now youre alone, because you could not help them. Because you were afraid!"
"I was afraid.." he mutely repeated the words. "I've always... been afraid.."
"You always will be." The Wyvern affirmed. "For you are a coward, and such is the cowards lot."
"Im a coward.." the meek taru quietly stated, as if admitting it to himself for the first time. How untrue that was though; he'd admitted it a thousand times over. In his months of seperation from society he'd claimed that everything had been his fault, due to his fraility and cowardice. Even when he'd found his friends again, he never allowed himself to draw too close out of his own fear of letting them down, just as he'd done to himself. He'd told them all he was to set upon a journey of self-discovery. And what a lie that had been, he had only crawled back under his rock, deep within the canyons of Tahrongi.
"You know of what I speak," there was thunder again, more rain. The hilltops were soaked, the earth sliding under his feet as the rain saturated deeper and deeper. He had to stumble to catch himself. He turned sharply to peer down towards the canyon, and to his shock he saw nothingness below him. The earth fell away to an infinite abyss. All around him was this abyss. "You know it is the truth. The truth you run from. That you are a coward. You couldnt save your parents. You couldnt help your friends. They've forgotten you by now, you know.."
"Shut up!" Veovis cried out, releasing his ears and snapping an angered gaze upwards. The beast chuckled.
"Hit a nerve, did I? It matters little.." It took to wing again, flapping up huge gusts of wind as it moved skyward. Veovis was now standing on a small island in the middle of absolute darkness. Choking darkness, darkness that clung to him and restricted his movements.
"You ran... you ran away.. and hid yourself, too. They must think you dead, they never came to seek you, did they?" It laughed again, then turned that maw back towards the healer. "But you cant run anymore.. theres nowhere left to run..."
As it spoke, the darkness swarmed in around him, thousands of hands grabbing at him, tugging him towards that inexplicable darkness. "No!" He cried, struggling as hard as he could, but to no avail. "No...!" he said, or tried to, but found his breath cut short. The very last thing he saw was that terrible maw closing down around him.
And then there was warmth. Sun beams filtered in around him through cracks in the rock, bathing his world in light. Birds quietly chirped somewhere in the distance. Some bug made a high-pitched ringing sound as it called for its mate. The wind blew gently, blowing the sweet scent of plants in bloom far to the south on the grasslands of the Sarutabaruta. He was safe, there was no wyvern, no darkness, no voices.
With a sigh, he tossed his blanket aside and stared up at the cracks, into the sunlight. He wasnt dirty as he had been when they'd first found him; he knew of a freshwater underground spring he used to bathe in, having no fear of being seen in this place of the wilds. He had lost his shame the moment he'd removed his priestly vestments. Altana was with him, or so he believed, and She always would be, but his days with the church had long since passed. The debacle that had cost him his role as Bishop had scarred him and his name deeply enough that he was shunned in nearly all churches of the land.
"This is the only place scumaru like me should be allowed to residey-widey," he muttered, cursing his native tongue at the same time. "So close to home.. yet so far.. I can even smell it," he went on, ears drooping at the thought. How he longed to be beneath the banners of Windurst again. To hear the teachings at the various schools of thought and magic. To stand proudly before the Star Sibyl, as one of her people. And how his stomach growled as he thought of the delicious Rolanberry pies the cooking guild was famous for. Chuckling despite himself, he recalled some distant memory of being a hotshot, walking into the cooking guild after a particularily difficult mission, boasting of this and that and being aptly rewarded with 'as many pies as he could carry'. When was the last time he'd even tasted pie?
Chewing idly on what was left of last nights meager stew, he kicked his small foot over the dying fire, smothering the last of its embers.
He rose quickly and started for the entrance of the cave, wrought now with the memories of his friends. Where had their journey taken them, he wondered. What would it had been like if he were brave enough to make it with them? What adventures could they have seen? All unknown forever, all for fear. Fear of failure. Of loss. Of pain. Of living.
"I pray every day that I will see you again my friends.." said the white mage softly, fingers tracing the ampulla that had been made for him by his dearest of friends, and even then the thought of her brought up a lump in his throat and caused his eyes to go a bit misty. That was perhaps the one loss that hurt him the most profoundly. Truly, he'd loved all he'd journeyed with. But he loved one above the others, one who had sealed herself forever within the chambers of his heart. One who would forever be perfect in his eyes, no matter how imperfect he may be. "I pray hardest," he continued in the same soft voice, still toying with the stones linked together by simple string, "that I will see you again Solitia..and perhaps I will...one day when i'm stronger.. but until then.."
He sighed and hung the beads back about his neck beside his phial and stepped out into the bright sunlight. It was just after midday, he figured, by the heat of the sun. Several Dhalmel idly lurched about in the distance.
"Until then.. I'm just a coward."
For overhead was the most awe-inspiring and terrifying scene he'd ever seen. A wyvern of incomparable size loomed above him, wheeling just below the cloudline.
Frantically, the Tarutaru glanced about, looking for something; anything! to stop this menace or elude it if nothing else. Nothing offered itself up though, nothing for the sacrifice. Even the small eyes had winked shut, returning to the darkness wence they had come.
"Veovis..." a voice whispered from all around him, and at once he knew it to be the wyvern speaking.
"Wha...?" The Taru asked the darkness around him. It seemed to be closing in.
"Veovis.... you are a coward.." the thing spat, cackling as it descended downwards. The Gods seemed to answer its insult, sending several crackles of lightning followed by another peal of thunder, then the rain worsened. "You flee your past... You flee your friends..your enemies.. your world.. You have shut yourself away beyond the realm of Man, into the Canyons north of your true home.. You are a coward," the wyvern then drew back and opened its tooth-filled maw. It went on speaking, though its mouth no longer moved. "How far will you run Coward? To the ends of Vana'diel? No sea can carry you far enough from the truth."
Veovis grabbed at his over-sized ears and tugged them down, trying to drown out the horrid sound of the creature. Its voice was loud, booming from all sides, and sounded as if many voices spoke at once, a terrible cacophany of sound.
"Im.. I'm no coward.." the white mage managed to stammer, only to be answered by a snarl from the beast.
"A coward -and- a liar! You've run as far as you can..."
He closed his eyes then, as whispers of other voices crushed in around him. Dozens of them it sounded like, and try though he might he couldnt drown them out.
Words of hope, of praise, of friendship. Words cast in the world of Light; promises of love and longevity, of togetherness eternal. The very words that had lead him to this realm of despair.
"They've all abandoned you.." the beast laughed, the sound piercing through the rest of the voices, the memories, the thoughts, the hopes and dreams. "And now youre alone, because you could not help them. Because you were afraid!"
"I was afraid.." he mutely repeated the words. "I've always... been afraid.."
"You always will be." The Wyvern affirmed. "For you are a coward, and such is the cowards lot."
"Im a coward.." the meek taru quietly stated, as if admitting it to himself for the first time. How untrue that was though; he'd admitted it a thousand times over. In his months of seperation from society he'd claimed that everything had been his fault, due to his fraility and cowardice. Even when he'd found his friends again, he never allowed himself to draw too close out of his own fear of letting them down, just as he'd done to himself. He'd told them all he was to set upon a journey of self-discovery. And what a lie that had been, he had only crawled back under his rock, deep within the canyons of Tahrongi.
"You know of what I speak," there was thunder again, more rain. The hilltops were soaked, the earth sliding under his feet as the rain saturated deeper and deeper. He had to stumble to catch himself. He turned sharply to peer down towards the canyon, and to his shock he saw nothingness below him. The earth fell away to an infinite abyss. All around him was this abyss. "You know it is the truth. The truth you run from. That you are a coward. You couldnt save your parents. You couldnt help your friends. They've forgotten you by now, you know.."
"Shut up!" Veovis cried out, releasing his ears and snapping an angered gaze upwards. The beast chuckled.
"Hit a nerve, did I? It matters little.." It took to wing again, flapping up huge gusts of wind as it moved skyward. Veovis was now standing on a small island in the middle of absolute darkness. Choking darkness, darkness that clung to him and restricted his movements.
"You ran... you ran away.. and hid yourself, too. They must think you dead, they never came to seek you, did they?" It laughed again, then turned that maw back towards the healer. "But you cant run anymore.. theres nowhere left to run..."
As it spoke, the darkness swarmed in around him, thousands of hands grabbing at him, tugging him towards that inexplicable darkness. "No!" He cried, struggling as hard as he could, but to no avail. "No...!" he said, or tried to, but found his breath cut short. The very last thing he saw was that terrible maw closing down around him.
And then there was warmth. Sun beams filtered in around him through cracks in the rock, bathing his world in light. Birds quietly chirped somewhere in the distance. Some bug made a high-pitched ringing sound as it called for its mate. The wind blew gently, blowing the sweet scent of plants in bloom far to the south on the grasslands of the Sarutabaruta. He was safe, there was no wyvern, no darkness, no voices.
With a sigh, he tossed his blanket aside and stared up at the cracks, into the sunlight. He wasnt dirty as he had been when they'd first found him; he knew of a freshwater underground spring he used to bathe in, having no fear of being seen in this place of the wilds. He had lost his shame the moment he'd removed his priestly vestments. Altana was with him, or so he believed, and She always would be, but his days with the church had long since passed. The debacle that had cost him his role as Bishop had scarred him and his name deeply enough that he was shunned in nearly all churches of the land.
"This is the only place scumaru like me should be allowed to residey-widey," he muttered, cursing his native tongue at the same time. "So close to home.. yet so far.. I can even smell it," he went on, ears drooping at the thought. How he longed to be beneath the banners of Windurst again. To hear the teachings at the various schools of thought and magic. To stand proudly before the Star Sibyl, as one of her people. And how his stomach growled as he thought of the delicious Rolanberry pies the cooking guild was famous for. Chuckling despite himself, he recalled some distant memory of being a hotshot, walking into the cooking guild after a particularily difficult mission, boasting of this and that and being aptly rewarded with 'as many pies as he could carry'. When was the last time he'd even tasted pie?
Chewing idly on what was left of last nights meager stew, he kicked his small foot over the dying fire, smothering the last of its embers.
He rose quickly and started for the entrance of the cave, wrought now with the memories of his friends. Where had their journey taken them, he wondered. What would it had been like if he were brave enough to make it with them? What adventures could they have seen? All unknown forever, all for fear. Fear of failure. Of loss. Of pain. Of living.
"I pray every day that I will see you again my friends.." said the white mage softly, fingers tracing the ampulla that had been made for him by his dearest of friends, and even then the thought of her brought up a lump in his throat and caused his eyes to go a bit misty. That was perhaps the one loss that hurt him the most profoundly. Truly, he'd loved all he'd journeyed with. But he loved one above the others, one who had sealed herself forever within the chambers of his heart. One who would forever be perfect in his eyes, no matter how imperfect he may be. "I pray hardest," he continued in the same soft voice, still toying with the stones linked together by simple string, "that I will see you again Solitia..and perhaps I will...one day when i'm stronger.. but until then.."
He sighed and hung the beads back about his neck beside his phial and stepped out into the bright sunlight. It was just after midday, he figured, by the heat of the sun. Several Dhalmel idly lurched about in the distance.
"Until then.. I'm just a coward."
Monday, August 4, 2008
Summerfest Inspired
It was a blessed day, one right out of the novels that Tsiife no doubt had in her bag. That is to say the weather was warm and the sky bright on the sunny shores of Purgonorgo Isle. The day was almost spontaneous in its gathering; Once the group realized they all had new swimsuits and hadn't had a proper day at the beach it was fairly obvious what had to happen next.
The whole group of them had gathered aboard the Manaclipper for a festive day in the summer's light. As expected there was a fair amount of humor and a touch of mischief; Caen'ir's withdrawal to unclothe to his swimming trunks was met with a more forceful approach at which point he was tossed into the blue waves. Had it been any deeper the blind man might have drowned, but even his dour mood couldn't last in light of the warmth that day.
There was food prepared by each of them, readied like it was some sort of wedding ceremony. When this was brought up Seikatsu and Sparhawk only smiled and held hands, neither side admitting anything to the other.
Alberic and Mai spent a portion of the day away from the rest only to return some time later at the missus' behest. Alberic loudly declared his conquest of his lady and his sexual exploits on the sand, warning everyone to stay away from the big tree on the other side of the island, and the smooth rocks that people used to tan, and the little patch of soft grass, and the sandbar on the OTHER side of the island, and the...
Lyall and Briddy spent the day splashing about in the waves. It had been a long time since either of them properly enjoyed the ocean and it was a simple bit of friendly sweet fun for them. They, too, were mum on the details of the big day.
Caen'ir spent most of the day lounging on the beach and letting the waves creep along his ankles. He held a book to his chest and seemed lost in thought for most of it. That, or he was trying to drown out Tsiife's colorful description of the newest piece of literary prestige she had happened across.
The sun set and the couples clung together and the rest all enjoyed the beautiful view. Once it was dark enough there were fireworks set off for no real reason aside to use them and mark the occasion. In all it was a lovely day on the beach followed by a wonderful night out under the stars. And Mai didn't have to punch anyone except Alberic playfully, and it was a perfect day in Vana'diel.
The whole group of them had gathered aboard the Manaclipper for a festive day in the summer's light. As expected there was a fair amount of humor and a touch of mischief; Caen'ir's withdrawal to unclothe to his swimming trunks was met with a more forceful approach at which point he was tossed into the blue waves. Had it been any deeper the blind man might have drowned, but even his dour mood couldn't last in light of the warmth that day.
There was food prepared by each of them, readied like it was some sort of wedding ceremony. When this was brought up Seikatsu and Sparhawk only smiled and held hands, neither side admitting anything to the other.
Alberic and Mai spent a portion of the day away from the rest only to return some time later at the missus' behest. Alberic loudly declared his conquest of his lady and his sexual exploits on the sand, warning everyone to stay away from the big tree on the other side of the island, and the smooth rocks that people used to tan, and the little patch of soft grass, and the sandbar on the OTHER side of the island, and the...
Lyall and Briddy spent the day splashing about in the waves. It had been a long time since either of them properly enjoyed the ocean and it was a simple bit of friendly sweet fun for them. They, too, were mum on the details of the big day.
Caen'ir spent most of the day lounging on the beach and letting the waves creep along his ankles. He held a book to his chest and seemed lost in thought for most of it. That, or he was trying to drown out Tsiife's colorful description of the newest piece of literary prestige she had happened across.
The sun set and the couples clung together and the rest all enjoyed the beautiful view. Once it was dark enough there were fireworks set off for no real reason aside to use them and mark the occasion. In all it was a lovely day on the beach followed by a wonderful night out under the stars. And Mai didn't have to punch anyone except Alberic playfully, and it was a perfect day in Vana'diel.
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