ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Jun 18, 2019 21:37:56 GMT -5
He followed the Vagabond through the Bailey, admiring the brisk pace that the two kept. Nothing had gotten in their way, and they were almost to the shop. "It really is a beautiful world, don’t you think?” Yuto followed the Vagabond's gaze to the castle in the distance. It looked different than the one they left, and oddly familiar. It took a moment for Yuto to remember why.
"No way! It's still standing? After all these years?" It was an amazing sight, a piece of his life from before was sitting not too far off. ”Apparently, it wasn’t always like this.” He looked over to the Vagabond, curiosity in his eyes. The Vagabond answered before the question even left Yuto's mouth. "I'm sorry, what do you mean it was too consumed by darkness? I was there when the Heartless attacked, my Master and I sealed the heart of the world. He looked back over to the castle. "At least, that's what they told me." Was that why it looked so old? 1700 years would weather anything, but add darkness on top of that? It just had to stain everything it touched.
The man took a deep breath. "Well, I guess anything can happen in almost 2000 years. I shouldn't really be surprised. It's being restored, right?" He turned back to his comrade "They're not just leaving it to rot?" That would be so much worse. It's one thing for something to be touched by Darkness when there's no other option, but too not try and fix something that could be so easily restored would be a crime unto itself.
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Post by hoodwink on Jun 19, 2019 17:11:16 GMT -5
As the two passed through the Bailey, stepping into the golden light from the setting sun, the Vagabond tilted his head a bit at Yuto’s questions. Ah…I had nearly forgotten. With everything that had been going on, the vagrant had almost forgotten his current test subjects back story! Despite the man’s appearance, he had missed countless decades of the world’s development. ”What do you mean it was too consumed by darkness? I was there when the Heartless attacked, my Master and I sealed the heart of the world.” The hooded man shook his head, continuing across the long wall that led to a descending staircase towards the town. ”When you say you were there for the Heartless attacking, which time do you mean, Yuto?” His voice echoed across the rooftops of the town. Standing above it all, the vagrant decided to take a short cut, rather than dealing with all of the winding alleyways. He was sure Yuto could follow him easily enough, at this rate.
”The Heartless have targeted this world for generations…” Standing at the edge of the wall, the Vagabond sized up the distance from where he stood and the small clearing that would lead them to the market. Turning to look over his shoulder, his shrouded gaze fell on Yuto. ”While you were gone, the Heartless continued. As they always do.” He never understood how individuals couldn’t grasp the concept of a cycle. It wasn’t a clear linear objective. ”There have been countless massive wars against them here.” Waving his hands, the Vagabond motioned to the small town around them. The buildings at level with them were small and humble, cozy and protected yet lacking a certain luxury that kept it modest. ”Radiant Garden has never truly known peace. It lies too close to those realms, after all.” The Vagabond jumped from the edge of the wall, leaping to a nearby rooftop. From the rooftop, the hooded man was able to stumble over to an ancient gate lever.
The archway loomed high above the cluttered houses and alleyways, though the old gate that had once stood within was vacant. Instead, lush vines peppered with colorful flowers ran across the ancient stone, revealing the loud din and lights from the marketplace, still alive with evening activity. As the Vagabond leapt down to the small clearing that held the massive archway from the rooftops, he turned and shouted up to Yuto, pointing in the direction of the crowded and lively marketplace. ”Don’t fret! They’re rebuilding the rest of the city! It’s still a resilient and vibrant world!” He chuckled before turning to enter the marketplace. That was when the hooded man halted, remaining still in his tracks.
He had finally remembered what he was forgetting. Turning to look over his shoulder a bit, the Vagabond crossed his arms as he waited for Yuto to enter the small space before the archway. "Hey, Yuto..." He held a finger to the open area around them. There was silence in the small cluttered residential area, the only sound being from the near market. "Have you noticed? The defense system hasn't been working." There was a sinking feeling in his gut. Usually the magical defense system would appear sporadically throughout the city, targeting any Heartless it felt near. Throughout their entire journey, not once had the vagrant seen the magical system operating. "Odd...it was working when we were last here." He knew they had spent some time in the lab...how many days had gone by now? Scratching at the back of his head, he shrugged his shoulders a bit before motioning for Yuto to follow him.
"It might just be maintenance...but if something is going on, I'd rather be prepared." They had to hit the stands to stock up on items. It would be best to investigate later.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Jun 20, 2019 0:52:14 GMT -5
Yuto listened to his friend's explanation of why the world fell. As far as he knew there was only one invasion, but the thought that sealing a world's heart was more of a "bandaid solution" made more sense than he would've liked. The thought that what he and his master did was in vain wasn't a fun pill to try and swallow. Still, a cycle was a cycle and as long as he was there he would help whatever way he could. ”Don’t fret! They’re rebuilding the rest of the city! It’s still a resilient and vibrant world!” He looked around, they were doing a nice job of restoring the world. Obviously, it isn't what it used to be, but it was nice to see that everyone was trying so hard. "Ya'know, the castle garden was the most beautiful thing I ever saw." He followed the Vagabond down from the rooftops.
"Have you noticed? The defense system hasn't been working." The question made Yuto's heart drop. He was so absorbed in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed, but the town's defenses almost launched him in the air when they got here, so the lack of any indication that the defenses were working was a definite cause for concern. "I don't think they would risk maintenance this late. At least not without some kind of manned guard." They would have to look into this. He didn't think it was the best idea, but if something was wrong, they might be the best ones to deal with it. "Think we should ask around while we shop?"
It seemed like a solid thought. If they could find someone who knew what was going on then the two men could shop in peace and not have to try and fix anything. It was worth the information, if nothing else.
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Post by hoodwink on Jun 20, 2019 11:45:07 GMT -5
As the Vagabond led Yuto beneath the vast and colorfully adorned archway, the din from the marketplace began to grow louder as they climbed the small cobblestone steps. The two were greeted with the smells of fried food, sounds of people talking and shop owners packing up the shops. Already the sun had sunk in the sky, the waning golden pink canvas darkening to a purple and blue. Stars shown faintly in the coming night sky as torches and lanterns were glimmering their own guidance upon the locals of the world. ”I don’t think they would risk maintenance this late. At least not without some manned guard.” That was exactly the thought that had been nagging the Vagabond after his realization. He was thankful that Yuto seemed to be on the same page. ”Think we should ask around while we shop?” The hooded man nodded, turning to look at Yuto over his shoulder while pointing to the stalls up ahead. ”I think that’s a good idea.”
Entering the Marketplace, the two would be greeted by a large shop immediately to their left, where a Moogle perched on the counter, waiting for customers. Waving eagerly at the Vagabond, the merchant rose to its tiny feet and hopped up and down on the counter, its red pom pom bouncing. ”Oi, Kupo! I’ve waited way longer than you said I’d have to!” It seemed despite the creatures small stature, it certainly had a big personality, and a bigger backbone. The hooded man took on a sheepish stance, rubbing the back of his head as he removed the steel blue hood of his jacket. Revealing his dull green eyes and messy hazelnut hair, the Vagabond scratched at the stubble growing in on his chin as he walked up to the counter of the shop. ”Heh…yeah…sorry ‘bout that, Kupo.” The Vagabond always loved using the Moogle’s renown phrase for addressing people. ‘Kupo’. There was something easy about it. It wasn’t an individual name you had to remember every time. What is this guy’s name, again?
Sometimes, he relied on the phrase too much, it seemed. The Moogle bristled a bit, ‘shooing’ at the Vagabond with its small mitt hands as it crossed its arms, turning its head away. ”Sorry, nuthin’! You keep lollygaggin’ around and never even got the coin to make up fer it!” The vagrant sighed, hunching over in defeat as he began to turn in rejection. ”Oh, blast it, Kupo!” The Moogle shrieked in defeat, shaking its head as it beckoned for the Vagabond to stay. ”At least fight back, ya coward!” There was an affectionate tone in the Moogle’s voice, though it scolded the vagrant without mercy. ”Don’t even got a spine to haggle with, ya don’t, Kupo!” The Moogle leapt from the counter into the large shop that held its wares and stockpiles. Clang! Bang! Noisy sounds of clutter being moved and items being rearranged reached Yuto and the Vagabond’s ears.
Returning to the counter, the Moogle held a large empty bag that it offered out to the disheveled man. ”Load ‘em up, like usual.” Finally, the Moogle’s small and scrutinizing eyes fell upon Yuto. ”Oh! Wow, you actually have friends?!” For a moment, the creature hopped up in surprise, staring at Yuto as though he would disappear at any second. ”Why, I don’t believe my eyes!” The Vagabond was busy unleashing his horde of empty potion bottles into the bag that the Moogle had offered. Without looking up from the sack, the vagrant waved at Yuto, a bored and empty tone in his voice like usual. ”Oh. This is Yuto.”
He was awful at introductions. ”Oh! Would you happen to know why the defense systems are down?” It seemed he was always curt and quick to business with everyone. As the Moogle grunted in effort at moving the bag of bottles off the counter, it shook its head. ”Nah, ya freeloader. What do I look like, part of the committee?” After making sure the bottles were out of the way, the Moogle hopped from the counter yet again to rummage and find what they were looking for. ”'Sides, the Heartless have been awful quiet, past couple ‘a days…” Returning to the counter, the Moogle handed over a large box that was taped up with a label reading ‘For Smelly’ in faded paper. While the Vagabond reached for the box, the Moogle scratched at its chin in thought. ”I dunno why, Kupo, but something definitely smells off ‘bout it.” A broad grin erupted on their face once more. ”Or maybe that’s just you~”
With a laugh, the Moogle ignored the Vagabond’s blatant refusal to acknowledge the comment, opening the box to find many Hi-Potions inside. All of the green within the glass bottles caused a soft glow, one that caused the vagrant to grin widely. The smile never reached his eyes, though. ”Oh! This is more than last time!” It seemed that the news about the Heartless and the Defense system didn’t bother the Vagabond much. He was focused on his supplies. The Moogle sighed a bit, turning to Yuto. ”Any friend of this guy’s a friend of mine. Whatever you need, I’ll give ya a good price on, Kupo.” It seemed that despite the odd dynamic that had emerged between the two, there was indeed camaraderie there. Moogle's were known to be hard hagglers and fair trades folk.
Having one discount something wasn't an everyday occurrence.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Jun 20, 2019 18:03:43 GMT -5
”Oh! Wow, you actually have friends?!” The comment took the man by surprise. Mostly because most of the Moogle's he knew were either silent or only spoke when they needed too. "Uh, hey there." He waved to the shopkeep halfheartedly. His attention was drawn to the Vagabond and his seemingly endless supply of empty bottles. 'How in the-?' Yuto felt it better not to ask. He wasn't sure he wanted an answer to that particular question.
"Whatever you need, I’ll give ya a good price on, Kupo.” The man nodded, moving his brown and blonde hair out of his face. "Yeah, can I get a couple potions?" The Moogle gave a quick nod and trotted off, only to return with the potions. "175, kupo." The price was lower than the man expected. 'I might be able to pay for food for the both of us if i need to.' He took the green bottles and put the money on the counter. He shoved the bottles in his pockets, with some effort. 'Shoulda asked for an item pouch. Next time. He turned his gaze back to the shopkeep. "So, where can we find the committee? do they have a main office, or a stall or something?"
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Post by hoodwink on Jun 22, 2019 12:17:09 GMT -5
As Yuto collected his potions, the Vagabond looked around at the busy evening marketplace. Night had settled upon the small but vibrant garden town, lush with flowers and wooden stalls of food and other stores assorted among cobblestone, surrounded by small houses they had seen in the Borough. All of the smells and din of local chatter caused the vagrant to seem distracted as the Moogle and Yuto talked. ”So, where can we find the committee? Do they have a main office, or a stall or something?” The Moogle took a moment, scratching at the back of his head before shaking it. ”Hm…it’s not much of an ‘office’ or nothin’, Kupo.” Leaning over the counter of his shop, the Moogle rose its stubby arm and pointed in the direction towards the Borough they had come from. The clustered small houses and back alleyways were lit with streetlights, but it seemed darker and distant compared to the warmth of the Marketplace. ”They used to set up shop in a house back there, though I don’t think many members use it much anymore.” The Moogle rose its other arm, pointing towards the Marketplace. Off in the distant evening horizon, one could see the silhouette of the old ancient castle structure.
”Lots of ‘em been tryin’ to rebuild the rest of the city, Kupo. They typically are always working over there now.” The Vagabond had continued to watch the small crowd in the Marketplace, eyeing the accessory shop as he fumbled around his many pockets. ”Sigh…” He had 70 Munny to his name. Barely enough to buy anything other than cheap stall food. It was more than he usually had, though, so he felt he couldn’t really complain. ”Go past the Marketplace, there’s a long stretch of cobblestone road through the Gardens. I wouldn’t recommend goin’ at night, though, Kupo.” The Moogle crossed its arms, looking at Yuto and the Vagabond squarely (at least they thought, its eyes were so small) as its tone grew more serious. ”The defense system doesn’t go out that far. No lights are set up, either, Kupo. It gets dangerous at night, with the monsters and all.” The Moogle threw up its arms, shaking its head before making shooing motions at the two.
”Alright, Kupo’s, scram! I gotta get closing’ up shop if I’m gonna get any sleep tonight! You think Moogle’s take days off, Kupo’s?!” Suddenly, the two were shooed from the shop as the counter grate closed, securing the building for the night. The light from within turned off and a small blue side door opened to their left. The Moogle emerged from it, waving at them as he headed towards the Boroughs. ”G’night, Kupo’s! See ya around!” The Vagabond blinked at the departing creature, looking over at Yuto with a glance of confusion. ”Oh…did you two have a good conversation?” It seemed he really hadn’t been paying attention at all. Groooooowwwlllll. Instinctively, the Vagabond reached a hand to his stomach, looking down. ”Oof, those stalls are making me hungry!” The vagrant turned towards the remaining Marketplace, pointing towards a stall with cooked skewers. ”Let’s get some of that, Yuto!”
Suddenly the Vagabond was off, walking with a steady gait across the cobblestone and into the small Marketplace crowd. Luckily, Radiant Garden was still a small world, so the crowd really wasn’t large enough for a man of his stature to get lost in. He headed towards the food stall, his heart leaping as he saw the sign. ’2 for 60. 1 for 35.’ It was perfect! The man headed up to the stall, greeting the worker as he made his order, paying the appropriate Munny as he was handed his prize. Turning from the stall, the Vagabond held two skewers in his hands, grinning widely as he offered one too Yuto. Already he had taken a bite of his, the meat juice dribbling down his chin over his stubble. It seemed the Vagabond certainly wasn’t sheepish about manners or courtesies around eating.
”Truf’ me! ’S goo'!” He also seemed to talk with his mouth full.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Jun 23, 2019 23:03:40 GMT -5
Yuto listened intently to the Moogle as it explained where the committee might be. The warning was unneeded, anything that might be there could easily be handled, and the lack of the defense system, while off-putting, would mean that the two wouldn't have to dodge beams of light. ”G’night, Kupo’s! See ya around!” The man stepped back to give the Moogle space to move. "Thank you for all the help!"
He looked over to the Vagabond, who appeared to just now be returning to this plane of reality. ”Oh…did you two have a good conversation?” Before Yuto could answer, the man ran off towards the scent of food. Yuto followed close behind. "Yeah, actually. I know a couple of places we could find committee members." He ran down the conversation he had to the Vagabond. "But, you probably knew that already." He looked over to the castle in town. 'So beautiful in the twilight. I wonder what they're gonna do with the garden.'
”Truf’ me! ’S goo'!” Yuto looked back over to see the Vagabond handing him a kebab of some kind. rrrrrrrrrrruuh His stomach told him that it was being eaten, no matter what, and he couldn't really remember the last time he ate anything. He took a bite, grease sticking to the corners of his mouth. It was certainly better than it looked.
"You know we have to try to find and talk to the committee right?" Yuto swallowed his bite. "We may as well do it now. There's a chance that they're going to be working late trying to fix the defenses."
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Post by hoodwink on Jun 25, 2019 1:13:22 GMT -5
As the Vagabond heartily stuffed his face with the kebab he held, he nodded along as Yuto recapped the conversation he had had with the Moogle. ”Hm…” He looked around the small Marketplace, the evening lanterns illuminating the radiant flowers that were arranged among the cobblestone and adorning the wooden stalls. The sun had fully set, the night sky shimmering with stars as the locals chattered and laughed and enjoyed themselves. ”You know we have to try to find and talk to the committee, right?” Yuto’s question brought the Vagabond back to the present. He nodded at Yuto before voicing his concerns. ”I’m nervous, Yuto…” Looking around the crowd, the Vagabond lowered his voice a bit, his dull green eyes showing no emotion or life whatsoever as he huddled nearer to the man. ”Something’s off here, yeah?” Pointing his now meatless skewer stick around the crowd, the vagrant waved the utensil like a wand as he spoke.
”The defense system in town isn’t responding. That alone could be weird or not, I suppose…” He plucked the wooden stick between his teeth, rolling it with his tongue a bit as he spoke. ”If we leave, this town’s defenseless.” He pointed the skewer in the direction they had come from earlier. ”I know the defense system’s controls are in the Boroughs, that residential district we passed through.” Pointing the stick in the other direction, away from the Marketplace and towards the silhouette of the other ancient castle in the distance, the Vagabond continued to speak in a hushed voice. "I'm nervous...for some reason...something feels off about all this." Truth be told, the Committee had seemed to rely on the defense system and the lessened amount of Heartless over the years when it came to the towns protection. Most members had focused their manpower on the rest of the city, rebuilding it and attempting to make it suitable for living. If there even were any Committee members left in town, it wouldn’t be a lot. He had had a nagging feeling in his gut since they emerged from the lab. The only two able bodied fighters leaving the town would be a dangerous opportunity to present the darkness.
”I say we split up.” The Vagabond plucked the stick from his mouth, snapping it between his fingers as he clutched each piece in a separate hand. He dropped both of them, letting them roll onto the cobblestone without a second thought. Fumbling with his many pockets, the Vagabond began to search for something as he spoke. ”I can check on the defense system. I can get into the building, after all…’cause…I got…” Finally, he had managed to find what he was looking for. The Vagabond pulled out a bright purple card. On the other side it was blank white save for a black strip and a name signed ‘The Vagabond’. On the purple side of the card seemed to be a picture of Radiant Garden, back in its glory days. ”This! Check it out, Yuto! I’m an honorary Committee member!”
He laughed at his own joke, which probably wouldn’t make sense to any other than him. ”I used to help ‘em out sometimes, when I first found this world.” Putting the card back in a (different) jacket pocket, the Vagabond pointed in the direction of the renovated city in the distance. ”I say you go check in with the rest of the Committee members. You were excited to see the world, after all, right?” At the last comment, the vagrant smiled at Yuto. He was thankful for the work he was able to conduct. It had aided him in his research greatly. Maybe it could be a form of repayment… Probably not. At the end of the day, the Vagabond knew this all was simply another chore for them to get done. ”Just tell ‘em I sent ya. You know the directions from Kupo, yeah? I'll meet up with you there, so be careful!”
With that, the Vagabond was off with a simple wave, pulling the hood of his unbuttoned steel blue jacket over his head once more. He was off to check on the defense system.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Jun 25, 2019 2:09:29 GMT -5
'The Vagabond? Nervous? The thought was a little unsettling. Here was the man who spent a great deal of time in the same place he did, who watched Yuto frenzy out inside his own heart, saying that something felt off. That wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was that Yuto agreed with him, something was off with everything. The defenses were out seemingly everywhere, and the night was the best time for Heartless to ambush people. If either of them left, it could spell disaster. The Vagabond seemed to share the thought.
”I say we split up. I can check on the defense system. I can get into the building, after all…’cause…I got…” Yuto looked at the purple card, reading the Vagabond's name on it. "I used to help ‘em out sometimes, when I first found this world.” That was extremely convenient, almost like this was meant to happen. ”I say you go check in with the rest of the Committee members. You were excited to see the world, after all, right? Just tell ‘em I sent ya. You know the directions from Kupo, yeah? I'll meet up with you there, so be careful!” He was right, Yuto was excited to see what had changed in the world since he was gone. It would definitely be an interesting adventure. "If you don't hear something explode, there's a fifty/fifty shot I'm fine." He gave a small smile to the Vagabond at his own remark. He found himself amusing from time to time.
Yuto turned off to the opposite direction of the Vagabond and up towards the castle and the rest of the town. He admired the sky as he walked, the stars twinkling with their own light of life. If anyone could figure out and fix what was happening, it was them.
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Post by hoodwink on Jun 25, 2019 11:10:51 GMT -5
The Vagabond walked through the Marketplace back towards the Boroughs. As he passed under the archway which marked its entrance, adorned with vines and flowers of all colors, the hooded man noticed something that others might miss. For just a brief moment, the span of a blink of the eye (no, maybe less than that), the lights in all the lanterns illuminating the residential streets waned. Within that moment, a strong stench filled the man’s nostrils. It smelled of that place. His pace quickened as he ran his tongue over dry lips. There was sweat he hadn’t known perspiring there. A chill ran down his spine. Shit. He hated being right. It seemed the suspicion he had was correct.
”A fenestration of the giants…” Mumbling to himself, the Vagabond turned down the cobblestone streets, winding between the cluttered homes. His voice rose into a sing song melody, rising only slightly to fill the alleyway. ”Ho—hum, Ho—hum~” Turning the corner of an alleyway, the vagrant was pleased to find the small open clearing in the Borough, with the specific house he was looking for. There were not lights from within, no smoke from the pipe chimney that emerged from its old and frequently repaired roof. The windows alone showed signs of neglect, having a layer of dust over them on the inside, by the looks of it. With a sigh, the Vagabond lifted a hand to his hooded head, shaking it. ”Is this really what it’s been like?” How long ago had he found this world…back when this house had been warm with light and life?
A familiar smell took over his senses as a faint whoosh reached his ears. Spinning on his heels, large Darkside arms emerging from his back, the Vagabond’s shrouded gaze was met with a litter of bright yellow eyes. ”Tsk. Guess I should’ve been quieter…” Sighing a bit, the vagrant glanced over his shoulder at the house he had been about to enter. It would be bad to let them get in… It seemed fleeing into the base wouldn’t be a viable option. Suddenly, a jolt of inspiration hit him as he began searching frantically through his pockets.
"Oh! I could try that!"
Yuto left the warm glow of the Marketplace, the smell of cart food and sounds of chattering locals waning with every step. Growing was the darkness, the only source of light the glitter of stars far too high and out of reach. An ancient and overgrown cobblestone path sloped down and out of the city, leading into a vast open field where flowers were budding. Hopefully soon, they would be able to bloom and fill the world with the radiant colors it once had. How long had the rehabilitation been taking? Even locals had lost count of the years that had passed since the last Great War against the Heartless. How long had they been in this state of work and repair?
The path would be overgrown in certain sections, the stones melding with moss and grass, sometimes stretching long enough to make one confused as to where they were headed. Luckily, there wasn’t much obstructing the tall silhouette of the castle under construction up ahead. Though the night was dark and vast, it’s form cracked the sky on the horizon. Once farther away from town, to where the light was only a small distant blur and the sounds were too distant to make out, the path’s consistency only continued to waver. More and more were there overgrown bushes and vines, the cobblestone meshing with moss and other various lifeforms to meld into the grassy terrain. More and more were there large bushes clumped together around the area, thick with only half alive plants. Some were dried up, their roots purple and decayed from the darkness that had once plagued this world. It seemed not all of the scars had been removed.
Whoosh. For a moment, there was a sound disturbing the faint breeze of the wind. It was one Yuto might find familiar. All around the path, surrounding him, emerged the Heartless. They crawled and snaked out of the darkness of night, emerging almost silently. With how dark it was, the only sign of them were the brilliant yellow eyes. They blended in well with black that engulfed the field around them. These were not Emblem Heartless—they were one with the night. It seemed the Vagabond was correct when he had mentioned Radiant Garden residing too close to that Realm.
[[ENEMIES: 10 Shadows, 2 Darkballs, 3 NeoShadows]]
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Jun 26, 2019 9:41:01 GMT -5
Yuto felt that something was off as he walked through the garden. Roots twisted and purple, tainted with the darkness that he knew all too well. The more that he thought about it, the more everything felt wrong. It felt too much like that place. He understood the fact that this world was closely bound to the other realm, but this was far too similar. 'It feels almost as if-' Almost like they were waiting for Yuto to put the pieces together, a harsh wind gave credence to the Heartless that were surrounding the man in the shadows.
"Oh, great, Purebloods." He had a personal distaste for these kinds of Heartless. They were some of the strongest and least predictable of all of them. It made them so much harder to deal with.
Yuto looked back to the town. 'All hell will break loose if they get back to the Market.' He unhooked his bat from its holster. "OOOOHHHH BOOYS, LOOKATWATIGOTHERE!" Waving his bat around and taunting the Heartless may not have been the best plan, but it was the only one he had at the moment. If they focused on him then the townsfolk were safe. In the end, that's all that mattered.
The man scanned the group of heartless, trying to find a weak spot he could exploit. Unknown to him Yuto's eyes were giving off a faint glow, similar to that of his enemies, causing the Heartless to hesitate. "What? Ya scared?" He tilted his head. Heartless didn't know fear. Not that he knew anyway. Either way, it opened up an opportunity that Yuto wasn't going to waste. He launched his bat at the group. "Spin!" His bat erupted into flames as it bounced off a few of the Heartless, stunning them. The rest of the group seemed to regain their composure and went in for the attack. 'Good, they're focused on me. Now I just have to make sure it stays that way.'
[[ENEMIES: 10 Shadows, 2 Darkballs, 3 NeoShadows]]
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Post by hoodwink on Jun 26, 2019 18:41:30 GMT -5
”Ha ha ha!” The Vagabond stood triumphantly in front of the house, his hands on his hips as he held his hooded head high. The large Darkside arms were gone, it seemed he no longer needed them for now. Around the entrance he had scribbled odd symbols glowing a brilliant purple light, arching in a bend around the small cobblestone patio entrance. The Heartless shrunk from the signs, tempted by the heart that stood safe behind them. ”I can’t believe that worked!” Shadows and Soldiers that had emerged were flung backwards by an unseen force when trying to penetrate the space of the seal. It probably won’t buy me much time, though… Knowing stronger Heartless lurked beyond the small mass of weaker ones, the Vagabond was quick to turn on his heels before pushing against the wooden door. Bang! It wouldn’t budge.
Cursing quietly, the hooded man’s left hand began to glow with purple darkness as he placed it over the door. Small dark tendrils snaked their way into the locks, attempting not to break them. Snap! Shit. The lock gave, broken and unusable form hereon, causing the vagrant to sigh and hang his head. ”Ah, well…I’ll deal with that after.” Pushing the door open, the Vagabond entered the small home that housed the Control Systems. The small home was dark and smelled of dust, the only light being a faint glow from a large computer screen. At its base was a keyboard stretching across its length, covered in dust and cobwebs. An old chair, ripped and rather uncomfortable looking, sat in front of the system. To the left was a small living space, an unmade bed littered with old texts scattered about. Papers were strewn across the wood floor and cobblestone fireplace, books scattered and assorted into piles in an array of chaos.
”Yeesh…it really hasn’t gotten any use.” His voice was low but seemed deafening in the silence of the small home. Taking a few steps forward, the Vagabond flinched with every creak and groan the old floors made beneath his weight. Moving his way to the old computer module, the hooded man blew with all his might as dust was flung into the air. Waving it away as he coughed, the Vagabond dusted off the seat with his gloved hand before plopping down into it. Leaning forward, the man tapped a few keys, causing the screen’s glow to intensify as it sprung to life. Lifting a hand to shield his eyes, the man groaned.
”Ugh…these things make me sick…”
Towards the outskirts of town, Yuto faced off against the Pureblood Heartless. Those that weren’t stunned by his projectile attack surged forward, greedy for the heart they sensed. Darkballs flung themselves across the path, hoping to devour the man as they gnashed with their wicked teeth and large jaws. Shadows seeped into the field floor or simply sprung forward, swiping out with their claws once within reach. Luckily for Yuto, the NeoShadows all seemed stunned by the attack. Beyond was the Marketplace, Boroughs, the denizens of Radiant Garden. Surely without the defense system, these monsters would move unchecked to the town. Thankfully, Yuto’s taunt was successful in keeping their attention on him.
Heartless were fairly mindless and mostly greedy, after all.
The group surged forth, hungry for the heart that fought them.
[[ALL ENEMIES REMAIN. MANY STUNNED.]]
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Jun 28, 2019 0:59:48 GMT -5
His extensive experience with the Purebloods kept him from taking to much damage. That didn't mean that they didn't get lucky. A Darkball struck Yuto from behind, sending him further into the crowd. "Thaaaanks, that was exactly what I needed." He swung through a couple of shadows, causing them to melt back into the darkness they came from. 'I can't risk taking too much time. Every second he spent in this fight was another chance for one of the Heartless to escape.
The man made his way out of the center of the group and aimed his bat at one of the DarkBalls. "Burn." He launched a black fireball at the Heartless, stunning it for a moment. Yuto took the opportunity to focus some of his darkness into his bat, causing it to become engulfed in a black flame. "Showtime." A small smirk crept its way onto his face, the glowing of his eyes getting slightly brighter. He rushed the group of Heartless, cleaving through the newly recovered Darkball and another three Shadows.
"At this rate, the town will be safe in no time." He drew his Replikeyblade and rushed through the group of Heartless with his Flame Dash, stunning a good portion of the rest of the group. Hopefully, the Vagabond was having a better time than he was. Yuto had serious doubts about it though.
[[ENEMIES: 5 Shadows, 1 Darkball, 3 NeoShadows]]
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Post by hoodwink on Jun 28, 2019 11:15:28 GMT -5
Tap tap tap. The Vagabond clicked away at the keyboard, his frustration mounting with every moment. BEEP! Once again the screen flashed red, bold letters appearing as the same robotic voice chimed: ”Access Denied.” Sitting up straight, the Vagabond clasped his hands together as he took in a deep breath, attempting to quell the rage building inside of him as he focused. ”Who changed the password?” He may have just been getting it wrong. Truthfully his memory was not what it used to be, ever since returning from that odd…what was it? A library? No, that was inside of it. Was it a mansion? A castle. That’s right. It was returning to him now, only a faint memory. A tall castle, looming in a darkness that had reeked. Shaking the thought away, the hooded man slumped in his chair. The sounds of the Heartless continued outside. It seemed the seal he had placed was holding them off…for now.
Groaning in annoyance, the hooded man got up from the chair, kicking it away. ”Damn! I hadn't expected this...” He paused mid-grumble. The sounds outside had ceased. What? Did they leave? That didn’t sound very Heartless like. For a moment, the man’s heart jolted. Ah! Did they find a local to attack!? Rushing for the door, there was a sudden stench that caused the man to halt in his tracks. Obviously, the smell of darkness was flooding the Boroughs, due to himself as well as the Heartless. The smell that invaded his nose was stronger, danker, more putrid on every level. It caused the Vagabond to halt for a moment, gagging as he pulled his hood tighter. It’s like that place! Already his body was shaking, involuntarily. He was thankful for the large oversized coat he wore. It hid his form well, only showing its mass.
Straightening himself, the Vagabond didn’t hesitate as he went for the door a second time. Clutching the handle with the busted lock, the researcher opened the small wooden barrier.
As Yuto continued to fight with the Heartless, he would begin to hear faint shouts echoing from ahead. Down the path were small orbs of light, though the shouts themselves were incomprehensible. Some of the Heartless paused at the sound, looking away only to be fodder for Yuto's attacks. It seemed the man wasn’t alone out in this field. As he continued to battle the Heartless, dwindling down the numbers, the lights only grew as the shouts got louder. If Yuto cared to look over, he would finally see the faint sign of three figures running down the path towards him. As they got closer, the shout could be heard. "Hey! We're here to help!"
Slowly, the overgrown path and field around Yuto would grow illuminated as the three strangers arrived. All three had small lanterns fastened onto their belts, illuminating the area around them. Though the Heartless began to focus on them as well, it didn't seem they were defenseless. One was a tall man, wearing a long-sleeved blue and green patterned tunic and baggy olive pants. He seemed only slightly older than Yuto, sporting short brown hair with a green headband. In his arms was a long rifle, which he had just finished loading. Bang! Bang! Shadows were blown to vapor as the other two following behind charged in. Both of them looked almost identical, other than a few aspects.
One was tall and lean, the other shorter and more stout. Both had identical dark brown hair, shadowing most of their dark face. Two horns were on the tops of both of their heads. They both wore the same matching leather armor and black pants and boots. The tall and lean one wielded a Broadsword and Shield, the other fighting with a long Hammer. Charging the NeoShadows, the two pummeled and hacked at their opponent with ferocity. It seemed all three were here to aid Yuto. As the two horned warriors finished off the remaining Heartless, the man with the rifle walked over to Yuto, the area lit from the lantern on his belt buckle.
”Thanks for holding ‘em off!” The rifleman wore a friendly smile, offering a free hand to Yuto. ”Name’s Wantz.” Pointing over to the other two warriors, who had finished their battle and made their way over, Wantz continued. ”That’s Biggs and Wedge.” The two horned warriors stood side by side, remaining silent but nodding at Yuto. Rolling his eyes at them, Wantz waved a hand. ”They’re good people, just odd balls.” He laughed at his own joke. Biggs and Wedge remained silent, their faces expressionless. ”Who’re you, stranger? We know you’re a friend of the fight, since we saw you fighting those things.” For a moment, Wantz blinked and looked around, almost as though he had forgotten where they were.
”What brings you out here?”
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Jul 4, 2019 1:29:43 GMT -5
Yuto did his best to keep the Heartless' attention, however, he heard what sounded like shouting from not too far off. 'Not good. Please don't let those be locals. PLEASE. He went to keep the Heartless from the noise, only to be interrupted by two distinct "bangs". The man risked a glance at the direction of the sound to see two men in identical outfits, one with a hammer and the other with a sword and shield, run in and disperse the remaining NeoShadows. All Yuto could do was stand in surprise at the men.
It took a moment for him to realize that the gunman was introducing himself. "Wantz? Nice to meet you. Name's Yuto." He took the gunman's hand, letting the flame on his bat die though his eyes still glowed a faint yellow in the darkness. He gave a short wave to the two men behind Wantz.
”What brings you out here?” Yuto turned back to Wantz. "Hmm? Oh, I was looking for Committee members, there was something I wanted to talk to them about." He tilted his head "What about you? It can't just be a coincidence that you guys are out here." The man was skeptical at the possibility of this being completely random chance. Were they on patrol? Part of the committee? 'Vagabond would probably know. He may not seem like a social person, but he is an honorary member. Maybe he's seen them before.' Whatever it was, Yuto decided it best to not say everything right off the bat. At least not until he knew more.
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 5, 2019 11:15:30 GMT -5
Creeeeaaak Hinges rusted from time and lack of use groaned, breaking the silence of the small Borough courtyard. Immediately the Vagabond was forced to take a staggering step backwards, rushing a hand to his face in order to cover his nose. That smell! It made his stomach roll and mouth dry up. It reeked like that place. Memories began to flood the Vagabond’s mind, rushing to him the moment the smell hit his nostrils. Stabbing pain erupted in his head, causing the hooded man to stagger to his knees. ”Ugh…w-what is this—?” Holding his head due to the pain, for a moment the vagrant thought he would lose his meager meal on the cobblestone.
”Ah…so this is what they were drawn to.” A voice broke the silence. It wasn’t his own, but someone else’s. One he hadn’t heard before. S-shit—I w-was careless… His vision blurred as he felt his consciousness slipping, he couldn’t tell where the voice was coming from. Collapsing in the open courtyard, the Vagabond slipped into a slumber.
As Yuto introduced himself, Biggs and Wedge remained vigilant, silently scanning the area for Heartless. Wantz listened to the man, nodding along as he holstered the long rifle on his back. His face lit up a bit at the mention of the Committee. ”Well! Lucky you and lucky us!” The man laughed, draping an arm over Yuto’s shoulder as he slapped his own stomach heartily. ”’Cause we just so happen to be Committee members!” Looking over towards the twins, he cupped his mouth and hollered. ”Oi! Biggs and Wedge! Seems the geezer was right!” Releasing Yuto from the pseudo hug, Wantz set the lantern clasped to his side down on the ground, sitting cross-legged near it.
”There’s this old guy who runs things, named Cid. He said something seemed off ‘bout the defense systems programing lately…” Sighing a bit, Wantz leaned back, resting his weight on his hands behind him as he looked up at Yuto. ”I don’t really get that computer stuff…so I said I’d just take these two and check out the town.” He gestured towards Biggs and Wedge, who hadn’t moved at all the entire time. They simply stood there, weapons at the ready, waiting for any sign of Heartless. For a moment, his gaze turned serious as he looked back at Yuto, leaning forward as he rested his hands on his knees. ”So—Yuto, since you're out here, something must be off, yeah?”
Looking down, Wantz rubbed the back of his neck. He seemed bothered. ”It’s been a long time…since I was in the town…sorry to say I don’t remember you if we ever met before.”
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Jul 10, 2019 23:38:48 GMT -5
A wave of relief washed over Yuto as the man said that he and his friends mentioned that they were with the committee. Even more so when Wantz mentioned the problems with the defense system. 'Glad to know they're actually doing something about it.' He sat on the ground across from the gunman.
”So—Yuto, since you're out here, something must be off, yeah?” He wasn't far off, the defenses were down. "That about sums it up, yeah." He debated on telling Wantz everything and settled on telling him the important stuff. "The defense system is down in the Market and a couple of other areas." It was nice to not have to dodge the defenses while trying to do things, but the safety of the citizens was more important.
”It’s been a long time…since I was in the town…sorry to say I don’t remember you if we ever met before.” The statement struck Yuto as odd. "I haven't been around for a while, so I wouldn't remember you either. Do I look familiar?" He couldn't think of anyone that he met last time he was here that helped fight the Heartless, let alone with a rifle. Yuto scratched the back of his head, trying to recollect his last adventure on this world.
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 11, 2019 20:40:48 GMT -5
Wantz waved Yuto’s question off, a smile on his face as he stood up. Brushing himself off, the man rested his hands on his hips as he looked down at Yuto. He seemed relieved. ”Nah—just haven’t been to town in…” For a moment his voice trailed off as his eyes lifted towards the sky. ”—Wow…I can’t even remember how long.” For a moment his face fell into a frown. Shaking his head a bit, the man returned to his cheerful demeanor, shrugging it off. ”Well, glad to meet you, Yuto! I never liked awkward reintroductions anyway!” With a laugh, the man looked towards the city, raising a hand to his chin in thought. ”Though, you do bring worrying news.” Motioning towards Biggs and Wedge, the rifleman walked towards the two.
”Alright boys! Seems like the defense system is down, just like Cid thought!” With a sigh, he shook his head before pointing in the direction of the town. ”Biggs, Wedge, can you two go look into things there? We can’t leave these people defenseless! We'll go check back in with Cid and the gang!” There was a sense of urgency in his voice, a seriousness that hadn’t been there before. Clearly, whatever was happening was something that made Wantz nervous. As the two nodded and turned to head towards the town, Wantz turned back towards Yuto, walking over before offering a hand to help him up.
”Okay, Yuto? I’m gonna take you to the Committee!” He had a friendly smile on his face again. ”I think whatever’s goin’ on, you can help us out! You were fighting those Heartless no problem!”
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Aug 4, 2019 19:20:32 GMT -5
He nodded as Wantz talked about being gone for an unknown amount of time. 'I can definitely get that.' The more time he spent here and around the Vagabond, the more he seemed to meet people that he seemed to be able to relate to in one way or another. Yuto took the man's hand and returned to his feet. "You seem to be prepared for something like this. Run drills often?" He watched as the other two men made their way towards the town.
”I think whatever’s goin’ on, you can help us out! You were fighting those Heartless no problem!” Yuto looked back towards Wantz, a bit of a smirk forming on his face. "Yeaaars of practice, my friend." He gave Wantz a friendly pat on the shoulder. "More than I care to admit." He gestured for Wantz to lead the way. "Lets go see...Cid was it?"
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 4, 2019 23:35:32 GMT -5
Wantz lifted Yuto up from the ground, laughing at the man’s own friendly demeanor as he turned to head towards the Restoration Site. Lifting the small lantern from his belt loop, the rifleman motioned for Yuto to follow him. As they continued on the overgrown path, Wantz looked over his shoulder, eyeing Yuto with curiosity. ”Hm…you said you had years of practice, right?” It wasn’t uncommon. On Radiant Garden, Wantz had also grown up used to the threat of Heartless and learning how to defend himself from the possible enemies. ”That’s good! We always need more seasoned fighters.” Truthfully, many locals on Radiant Garden trained in some sort of defense style, due to the Heartless always being at bay.
Very few had actually faced the beasts, though, fewer than Wantz’s heart cared to admit. ”Cid’s kinda an odd guy…but he means well.” He figured it best to warn him now. ”He’s sorta off his rocker, but he’s a legend ‘round these parts. We all respect him—and no one questions his orders.” It was both informing and warning at the same time. Wantz wanted to make sure Yuto knew how to act before coming across the Boss. Cid himself had formed the Restoration Committee (according to him, he did the most work, too), having been a resident on this world for as long as anyone Wantz’s age could remember. He wasn’t just a legend around Radiant Garden—he was a hero.
Luckily, there were no other Heartless outbreaks as the two continued on through the dark field. Eventually the path became less overgrown, the cobblestone forming back together to form a solid floor beneath them. The bushes and trees lined the path, creating a canopy of leaves above their heads and walls of greenery around them. Though it was dark, Wantz always appreciated these types of nights. Minus the Heartless attacks, of course. Sighing in relief, Wantz pointed ahead. Barely in sight was a large cobblestone wall with a gigantic wooden double door in the middle, barred in the center. Atop the wall were many torches lit, showing it to go around in a square shape around the Restoration Site within.
Large crane and building silhouettes cracked the dark horizon as they peered from above the walls. Few lights could be seen, scattered across a dismantled and hodgepodge landscape. ”Finally! We made it!” Wantz let out a victorious shout as he rushed down the path, almost forgetting to make sure Yuto was still following. Being out in the open at night always made him nervous, he was thankful for the respite the Restoration Site offered. Once he reached the doors, Wantz waved his lantern above his head, covering and uncovering the hood of it to signal the watchmen. Without any obvious movement or sound, the wooden door’s bar suddenly lifted as the two doors swung outward.
Looking over his shoulder to find Yuto, Wantz had a triumphant grin on his face as he motioned toward the open gate. ”I hope you’re ready to meet everyone!”
Darkness. Nothing but black. The sky seemed almost non existent as the large full moon hung above. It was the only light upon the dark purple shore he stood on. Sand grains crunched beneath his navy shoes, his pace staggered and jagged. Looking down, he could see blood splattered across the steel blue coat that sheltered him, his pale hands vibrant in the pale moonlight. Stained with splattered red, his face twisted into a pained grimace as he remembered just who's blood this was. With a shriek of terror and hopelessness strangling his throat, the Vagabond panicked.
How had he ended up here—?!
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