ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Apr 12, 2019 1:53:34 GMT -5
"You'll love Radiant Garden. It really is a beautiful world." The name had caught Yuto by surprise. 'You mean it's still around?' He shouldn't have been too surprised, his friend was able to seal its heart. It was also almost two millennia after the fact, so the surprise was warranted. He followed the Vagabond through his portal in a bit of a daze. It was so long since he was there, he never thought to travel back considering what happened to his own world. He figured that if his fell to ruin, so did the others he knew.
"So, how long have you been in Radiant Garden?" The thought of getting to know this Vagabond just now crossing his mind. He barely knew the man and was now following him to a lab in a world he hadn't been to in multiple lifetimes. That being said, this man could be taking him to any world and call it Radiant Garden and Yuto would believe him. He didn't think that was the case though. Something about their shared experience made the Vagabond appear more trustworthy than most people the man met.
He was also excited to see the man's lab. Admittedly Yuto was never much of a computer person, or an academic for that matter, so it would be an interesting experience. 'I wonder what kind of lab has the technology to deal with hearts.' The prospect was mind-boggling. How long was this field of study an actual field of study? He was too curious to turn back now. They also happened to be approaching the end of the Vagabond's dark corridor, so turning back was beyond pointless.
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 12, 2019 10:23:58 GMT -5
A large door of darkness emerged within a tiny alleyway that sat behind a close cluster of homes. Radiant Garden was an interesting world, one with ancient and modern technology and power. Many locals would claim the world had existed for as long as time itself had, the castle that loomed in the distance an obvious reminder to older times. The small town was clumped together by the foot of a tall hill, which the ancient and abandoned castle sat upon. Not connected to the castle, the town itself sat perched within cliffside, shielded on the sides from the tall purple cliffs that jutted out from the earth on this world. The Vagabond walked through the corridor of darkness into the small alleyway.
"So, how long have you been in Radiant Garden?" Yuto's question followed the man from the corridor out into the world. Looking over his shoulder, the hooded man motioned for Yuto to follow him as he thought aloud. "I can't really remember. Do you know this world?" His memory hadn't been the same as of late. He led Yuto down the alleyway, which was cramped against the cluster of houses as well as a towering grey brick wall to their left. "I've been here ever since returning from that place." A sphere of light appeared on the ground beneath Yuto, causing the Vagabond to suddenly pull the man to the side and out of the way. Just as he did, the sphere of light erupted forward, lifting into a tall pillar before retreating back into the ground.
"Woah, careful! Sometimes we are going to trigger the towns defense system." The Vagabond had learned the hard way that due to the darkness within him, he himself triggered the traps designed by the Restoration Committee, originally intended to deter Heartless. "It's designed to fight the Heartless. All it senses is darkness. It doesn't know the difference between us and them" The Vagabond sighed a bit, dodging the occasional Claymore every now and then as he led Yuto down the alleyway. It had been a long time, since he had first found this world. Yeah, I remember how those hit. A grin emerged on his face beneath the shadow of his hood. It had been the reason he had chosen to set up a lab outside of town.
His first time here, those things had knocked him on his backside more times than he could count. Now, it was almost like kinetic memory to move out of their way and see where they were coming from. The duo emerged into a small clearing with more houses. To the left was an opening in the cluster of houses, leading to the towering wall from before that guarded a stone staircase. "It's a bit further. We have to leave the town to reach it." His lab lay in the ancient remnants of the castle that loomed in the distance, behind the town. That was where they were heading. The Vagabond pointed towards the large staircase that led to the wall, heading for it.
He motioned for Yuto to follow. "Keep your guard up. The defense system doesn't work past the Bailey. After that, we'll have to fend for ourselves." Radiant Garden lurked close to the darkness. The Heartless always lurked around or inside the town, though the Claymores worked in keeping most out of the town. Once past the Bailey, it would be a free for all, the Heartless would come. He was sure of it.
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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 Apr 12, 2019 14:34:59 GMT -5
"Do you know this world?" Yuto ran his hand along the wall of one of the houses, remembering the event that happened in this world when he was here last. before he could explain any of that to the Vagabond, he was pulled forward just before something had erupted from the ground. The Vagabond had said something about the town's defenses and how they detect darkness, but Yuto was still in shock over how advanced the world became.
"Ok, noted. To answer your question, however, this world was where I was when I got sent there. It wasn't a fun time." He didn't blame the world itself though. It had no control over the heartless infestation that happened. It was just a place that he happened to be in when everything happened.
"It's a bit further. We have to leave the town to reach it. Keep your guard up. The defense system doesn't work past the Bailey. After that, we'll have to fend for ourselves." The statement struck him as strange. "If that were the case, why not just open a portal directly there?" It was a sound thought process. If they were headed into danger before their destination, why risk it? 'Does he want to see what I can do? He did say he was a researcher.' He didn't mind if that was the case, but there was no need for secrecy. He came here of his own volition. The man brushed some of the blond out of his face and followed the Vagabond to the Bailey, making sure to watch for any of the town's defenses along the way.
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 12, 2019 21:41:56 GMT -5
"This world was where I was when I got sent there. It wasn't a fun time." Yuto's voice cut through the Vagabond as the hooded man walked in front of him. To be reminded of such a time wasn't fun, he was sure. He took a silent comfort in sharing the experience with someone else, finally, though. As the two made their way up the large staircase that led them to the top of a long wall that guarded the town, the Vagabond took a moment to sink in the sight before him. Spread out before the two was the open world outside of the safe town. Vast purple canyons and looming cliffs jutted out in all directions across the horizon, some marked with black spots. The Vagabond knew these little black clusters were Heartless, grimacing at the sight. "Why not just open a portal directly there?" Yuto's voice caused the man to jolt in surprise, as if he had forgotten the other man was with him.
"Ah, about that..." The Vagabond turned to look at Yuto, though his face was shrouded in shadows. "I can't." He began to walk down the long stone pathway that led to the large Bailey on top of the city wall. Speaking over his shoulder, the vagrant motioned for Yuto to follow him. "The lab I have has some fortifications I wasn't able to remove right away." The hooded man shrugged, seemingly unbothered by the fact they were marching directly into enemy territory. "Unfortunately, something in it doesn't allow for portals to be constructed. Possibly some energy field or magic spell or something."
Science was never the Vagabond's strong suit. On his own home world, though the man hardly remembered much, he had never excelled in academic studies. After the event in the Realm of Darkness, the Vagabond had been exposed to new worlds with different scientific laws as well as hosting 'magic', something the Vagabond didn't understand in the slightest. The Bailey gate was closed, as usual, though it did have a small lever on the inside of the city to raise it. Ever since the installation of the Restoration Committee's defense system, there hadn't been a real need to post guards by the entrance into the town.
"Pros and cons to finding a lab, rather than building your own, I guess~" It was true, the vagrant had simply stumbled upon the lab during his excursions through the city sewers. As the two entered the small Bailey, which had two windows on the side to show more of the world that lay beyond, the Vagabond held up a hand. "Be on your guard from this point on." Though he was hooded, the vagrants eyes scanned the area as he turned the corner to walk down the stairs. Out of the Bailey was a large pathway in between the cliff sides. It sloped heavily, leading up (right) or down (left).
The Vagabond made his way towards the right, where the path sloped upwards and curved off to the left between the cliffs. He kept his guard up and eyes peeled for any sign of Heartless.
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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 Apr 13, 2019 11:18:12 GMT -5
As they walked, Yuto took in the surroundings. Sure he had been here before, but so much time had passed that he barely recognized the place. Tall purple mountains overlooked a massive gorge filled with pockets of black that were no doubt heartless. "Ah, about that...I can't." The man looked at the Vagabond in confusion. As far as he knew, these portals could be opened anywhere. "The lab I have has some fortifications I wasn't able to remove right away. Pros and cons to finding a lab, rather than building your own, I guess~" The Vagabond's words cleared up some of the confusion that Yuto had. It made sense that if someone couldn't portal straight inside, there was no point in a person risking their necks by portaling into a warzone.
As they approached the end of the Bailey, Yuto noticed the path that the Vagabond was taking. It was steep and lead both up to a section between some cliffs and down int what Yuto assumed was a path that led further into the gorge. "Be on your guard from this point on." They were leaving the town and its defenses. Though the glowing spheres sounded like bad news, they were better than what was likely to come when the two men left its borders. "Lead on." Yuto followed the man up the path between the cliffs to where he assumed the direction of the lab was.
As they walked, the man couldn't help but be amazed that this part of the world existed. "It's nice, being able to explore this world without having to run for my life." He decided that when they were done that he would take the time to explore the town and its surroundings in depth before he left. 'All that after we run these tests or whatever the Vagabond is going to do.' he reminded himself. It was hard not to be excited about the prospect. So much had changed, and he wasn't able to truly enjoy the world the last time.
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 13, 2019 23:13:44 GMT -5
The Vagabond led Yuto up the sloping path, bits of ruin jutting out from the occasional cliffside. The gorge path turned to reveal a small open clearing. The clearing was walled off by the large cliffside, the path continuing upwards on the other side. On the left was a small tunnel, decayed and abandoned to the gorge, broken and forgotten. The tunnel didn't lead anywhere special, the Vagabond had explored this path many times on his own. It simply led to a small ruined room with pillaged loot and dust. Holding up a hand, the Vagabond stopped in his tracks as the path ended to form the clearing.
"They always try and ambush people here." The hooded man crossed his arms in frustration. He wasn't keen on the idea of a fight, as the two had important research to conduct. Finally, we'll get some answers! He had never stumbled upon another who had entered that place and escaped. Knowing the horrors first hand, the Vagabond was gripped with an exciting hope he hadn't felt since before then. If he escaped...maybe his heart is like mine...or... Sighing a bit in annoyance at the hold up, the Vagabond reached into one of his many jacket pockets. Pulling out an empty Potion bottle, the vagrant tossed the glass vessel directly into the center of the clearing.
As it shattered on the gorge floor, dark pools began to emerge on the mans back, just as multiple Heartless appeared. Just as I thought. It was so boring, how predictable they were. Showing this boredom with an obvious lack of enthusiasm, large Darkside arms protruded from the mans back over his steel blue jacket. As the creatures of darkness gathered in the clearing, the Vagabond used the large arms to lift himself into the air, using the dark hands as feet. Turning to Yuto, the hooded man sighed and shook his head. "You can hang back, if you want. This is honestly pretty routine."
With that, the man leapt into the clearing, the large Darkside arms pummeling the earth with a powerful quake as they crushed a pair of Armored Knights into dark vapor. Many other Heartless began to form and move towards the vagrant, Neoshadows and a Morning Star leapt into the fray, followed by more of the Armored Knights. It wasn't a huge mob, but the man with the protruding dark arms seemed to be outnumbered. "It's every time with you lot, isn't it?" There was a slightly humorous tone in the Vagabond's voice as he stood straight in the small crater his attack had formed.
The large Darkside arms hovered over him, waiting to strike the next opponent. The hooded man turned his gaze, scanning the area as he smirked beneath the shadows. "You're all so excited~ Did something good happen?"
[[9 Enemies: 5 Armored Knights, 3 NeoShadows, 1 Morning Star]]
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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 Apr 14, 2019 4:29:03 GMT -5
As they walked through the path up into the cliffs, they entered a clearing with some ruins and an upward slope on the other side. "They always try and ambush people here." Yuto looked around at their surroundings. 'Kinda cliche really. The place looks like an arena." The Heartless were never ones to worry about things like that though. If they sensed hearts, they attacked. It was instinct for them.
Almost as if on cue, Heartless sprouted from all directions in response to the shattering of glass. Yuto looked toward the direction of the noise. 'What was that?' He didn't have time to think about it. "You can hang back, if you want. This is honestly pretty routine." That wasn't an option. Yuto didn't care how routine it was for the Vagabond, any change to what was known could be fatal. Granted, the Darkside limbs were a sight to take in. 'Well then.' He was definitely amazed at the sheer power of the limbs and how effectively they took out some of the Heartless.
"Yeah, I'm helping. Like it or not." The man rushed into battle with his bat at the ready. Ducking under the Morning Star's bouncing and blocking two of the Armored Knights, Yuto bashed a NeoShadow clear across the clearing. This was child's play compared to what both men had experienced. Spinning on the spot, Yuto leveled his bat at the Armored Knights that attempted to hit him. "Burn." A large, black fireball launched from the tip of his bat. Exploding on contact, the two Armored Knights were left as nothing more than dust in the aftermath.
He dodged a few more blows from the group and made certain to keep his distance from the Morning Star. Keeping wary of his foes, the man risked a glance at his current comrade's progress.
[[7 Enemies: 3 Armored Knights, 3 NeoShadows, 1 Morning Star]]
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 14, 2019 9:43:00 GMT -5
The clearing was a whirl of motion as the Heartless and men of darkness moved. The Vagabond watched Yuto from beneath his hood as the man used his metal bat to forcefully remove some of the pests that had disturbed their journey. To be expected... Understandably, he hadn't had any doubts about Yuto's capabilities, he knew what it took to escape that place. The clearing ground shook as the large Morning Star began to bounce around, its spiky body a threatening weapon that smashed and stabbed the earth into small craters. As the rotund Heartless made its way across the clearing towards the Vagabond, the hooded man looked up and reached towards it with his arms.
The large dark side arms protruding from his back mimicked his hand motions as they reached through the air and grabbed the Morning Star mid-hop. Though the Heartless was covered in metal spikes, the large dark arms felt no pain as their muscles clenched and their grip tightened. "How dull. Such an obvious attack." There was an obvious boredom in the hooded man's tone as he began to spin, holding his arms out in front of him. The large dark side arms kept a firm grip on the large Heartless as suddenly the Morning Star was being spun around the clearing by the gigantic muscular Heartless arms the Vagabond had control over.
Releasing the Morning Star, falling backwards a bit and onto his backside due to the dizziness, the Vagabond laughed as the creature hurtled through the air towards its comrades. The large Heartless was launched into the small group of NeoShadows, two of which managed to meld into the floor in time. One was not so lucky, perishing instantly as the Morning Star crunched through it with a sickening stab. The Neoshadows was reduced to dark vapor that floated through the air. The Morning Star also happened to crush an Armored Knight as it was planted directly into the cliffside.
Due to its large spikes, the Heartless was stuck in the side of the cliff that walled off the clearing from the path. It flailed its weak arms as its rotund form attempted to release itself from being stuck, to no avail. Oh! That's handy! Now the two wouldn't have to worry about the large menacing creature. Glancing over towards Yuto, the Vagabond sighed in relief as he watched the other man hold his own with ease. He hadn't expected any less, but wanted to make sure nothing happened to the heart that held the answers he needed.
With that task finished, the Vagabond began to move towards Yuto. Running across the clearing towards his comrade, the large dark side arms poised above the vagrant, ready to strike.
[[4 Enemies: 1 Armored Knight, 2 Neoshadows, 1 Morning Star]]
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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 Apr 14, 2019 14:02:29 GMT -5
Yuto watched as the Vagabond launched the Morning Star into the side of the clearing. With a loud crash, the Heartless appeared to be stuck. 'No need to worry about that right now then.' Turning back to what was left of the so-called ambush. He hefted his bat and threw it full force. "Spin!" The bat became engulfed in flames as it struck an Armored Knight, causing it to vanish into a black mist.
Catching his bat as it came back, Yuto turned to the remaining NeoShadows. He decided to close the distance with his |Flame Dash|. He managed to catch one of them by surprise, allowing for a follow-up. An opportunity that the man took advantage of. With a hefty swing, the NeoShadow dissolved. The other NeoShadow, who had melded into the ground, re-emerged behind him. The man reached for his replikeyblade just in time to block the Heartless' attempted attack. Using the clashing of the two as a point to spin around and swing at the torso of the creature. The impact caused the creature to slide to the side roughly a foot.
Spinning again, Yuto struck the Heartless with both of his weapons. The NeoShadow dissolved into nothing. He looked over to the Vagabond. "Uhh, should we bother with this guy?" The man motioned to the still stuck Morning Star. If they didn't have to worry about it then moving on would be nothing. Yuto would rather be safe than sorry, however. There were enough times in that place where the man left Heartless alive only to regret it later. Whatever the Vagabond chose, Yuto would go with. He looked towards the researcher, waiting for an answer.
[[1 Enemy: 1 Morning Star]]
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 14, 2019 22:30:09 GMT -5
As the Vagabond made his way across the battlefield, he realized he hardly needed to rush to his comrades aid. Yuto finished off the remaining Heartless by the time the hooded man reached him, the large dark arms retreating into the man's back as he laughed heartily. "Wow! You really know some moves!" It seemed the man was a dual wielder low key, which was pretty rad in his opinion. Though the Vagabond didn't normally like weapons or violence with weapons, there was something charming about someone using something like a bat and a key to vanquish enemies with flourishing combos. What an interesting time, I've ended up in!
"Uhh, should we bother with this guy?" Yuto gestured towards the Morning Star that currently was stuck against the cliffside. It's small arms flailed at its sides as its yellow eyes watched the two hearts out of reach. The hooded man barked another laugh as he doubled over, clutching his stomach while pointing at the Heartless. "HA! You idiot!" The Vagabond continued to laugh for a good moment before recovering himself, wiping a tear from his unseen eyes. "Oooooooh wow, that was great!" He was certainly in good spirits. Today was a good day. Shaking his head a bit, the hooded vagrant waved off the large Heartless as he turned to head back up the path across the clearing.
"Nah, let 'em be. Maybe they'll learn a thing or two~" The Vagabond chuckled to himself as he walked through the clearing and back up the path. Bending towards the left, the Vagabond continued up on the winding path between the cliffside. After making the turn, a large and ancient castle loomed in the distance. Decayed and forgotten, parts of it crumbled away to expose gears and pipes within, revealing a deeper construction. Shouting over his shoulder, the Vagabond pointed towards the structure jutting into the sky with his hand. "We're almost there!"
The path wasn't too long, they would reach it in no time! The Vagabond quickened his pace, heading up the path towards the looming castle ahead.
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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 Apr 15, 2019 1:20:38 GMT -5
"Nah, let 'em be. Maybe they'll learn a thing or two~" They left the Heartless stuck in the wall, which Yuto had to admit was kinda funny. It kept flailing its small arms and legs in vain. The man stuck his tung out at the creature as they passed it by. He tucked his weapons away as the Vagabond lead him up the path on the other side of the clearing.
As they walked, the man noticed a large ruin at the top of the hill they were climbing. "We're almost there!" He looked up to see the Vagabond point toward the ruined castle. "That's new." Granted, almost everything here was "new" to Yuto, but he could at least guess what and where some things were. The castle was entirely unfamiliar to him. 'I might take a detour or two to explore the place.' The prospect of learning about what happened to this place and how it was still around after all these years. His working theory was that the heart being sealed held off the Heartless. But if that was the case, why were there so many here now? 'If anyone is even close to having answers, it's this guy.'
Yuto still wasn't sure what to make of him. He had an air of 'mad scientist' about him, but not in a 'one accident away from being a super villain' kind of way. The "accident" had already happened a long while ago. If Yuto were to try to put it to words, it would probably be something along the lines of 'so lost in his own mind, he can't always see what's real.' Not that he had a lot of experience with really anyone like that. However, that place did have him see the odd vision that was so vivid it was like it was actually happening. The man shrugged the thoughts off and continued to follow the hooded man to his remote lab.
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 17, 2019 5:01:27 GMT -5
"That's new." Yuto's observation caused the hooded man to look over his shoulder in confusion. "New? It's ancient." Shaking his head a bit, the Vagabond continued a steady pace up the path. I wonder if that strength applies to his heart? He was already beginning to think of the task ahead. As the two walked up the path, the Vagabond held out a hand, pointing a finger in the air as he addressed Yuto without turning. "You know, not just anyone can escape from that place~" The hooded vagrant continued his jaunty pace as he placed a hand over his own chest. "It requires a certain demand of strength..." Both arms fell to his side as the two rounded the bend in the path that curved to the right.
Here the cliffside had receded due to the climb, as the two emerged towards the base of the castle, where a large round clearing disturbed the cliff. The castle loomed above the two, shadowing the entire clearing in its massive glory. The large pipes lining the interior showed obviously due to the abandonment, as well as many gears and cracks. The entire castle seemed like it could fall at any minute, with innards jutting out as it reached towards the sky. Stepping into the clearing, the Vagabond turned to Yuto, his gaze hidden in shadow. "...and sacrifice..." They had reached the base of the castle. Looking around, the Vagabond headed across the clearing towards the edge, motioning for Yuto to follow.
"Stay close, the path ahead can be dizzying." Afterwards, the Vagabond simply jumped off of the side of the clearing, out of view. Landing beneath on a small path crafted by the cliffside, the Vagrant looked up, waiting for Yuto to follow. Down the path was a vast cave-like entrance, overgrown in vines and leaves as darkness swallowed it from within. Pointing towards the gaping maw, the hooded vagrant shouted up to Yuto. "We have to go through the castle tunnels!" He had stumbled upon the lab by accident, having broken into the castles underground pipe systems through the city sewers.
It was a much needed improvement.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
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Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Apr 18, 2019 2:57:03 GMT -5
The Vagabond's confusion over his statement was amusing. Time was odd in that place and apparently inconsistent. What ended being a couple of millennia for him didn't seem to translate the same way fo the hooded man. "You know, not just anyone can escape from that place~ It requires a certain demand of strength..." The statement made sense, if not for the fact that he wanted, no, needed to make it so both him and his friend could make it out of that place they might have perished. or worse.
"...and sacrifice..." That was the part that stuck out to Yuto. 'Sacrifice?' The thought rung in his head like a bad echo. "Two millennia and an entire world. I'd say that's more than enough payment." The thought that he was basically alone was always a bitter pill to swallow. His friends, family, even the people he didn't particularly like. All gone. "Like I said when we met, no one leaves that place unscathed."
He followed the man further along the path, still bitter about having been reminded of what he lost. He preferred to look at the path ahead, it made things easier. The castle was immense in its size. Gears and pipes sprouting every which way as the castle itself reached to the sky. He looked back to where the Vagabond was supposed to be, only to see him gone. "We have to go through the castle tunnels!" Yuto looked over the ledge to see his hooded companion standing in front of some cave-like entrance.
Taking a deep breath, the man took a step off the ledge and dropped to the ground below. "Gotta admit, I didn't think I was going to take an actual leap of faith." His normal demeanor was slowly returning. He was glad about that. Being angry didn't suit him, and he didn't want to ruin his chances at finding answers. "So, the tunnels," Yuto smiled gestured for the Vagabond to lead. "Shall we?"
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 18, 2019 14:49:04 GMT -5
"Gotta admit, I didn't think I was going to take an actual leap of faith." The Vagabond chuckled at the joke, thankful for Yuto's humorous spirit as the two faced the looming entrance ahead. "Shall we?" Taking the lead, the hooded man entered the darkness, allowing his eyes to close and his heart to guide him. He had traversed through this dark labyrinth many times, at this point able to let his body guide him. Truly, it was a handy autopilot to have gained after the time he spent here. "Stay close. It'd be a shame to be lost down here." The hooded man chuckled a bit, shaking his head as he led Yuto through the winding tunnel system.
"I'm kidding, of course~" Though the area was pitch black, the hooded man had no issues with leading them towards his hidden lab. "One can always just follow their nose~" The stench of darkness was dominating the area, as the castle itself had been abandoned to time...let alone its underbelly. Though the stench permeated their surroundings, it grew fainter in a specific direction. This was the way he had found the place the first time. Ever since returning from that place, the Vagabond had grown sensitive to the senses of light and dark. After a countless amount of time, roaming in the dark, the Vagabond suddenly halted in his tracks, holding out his hand behind him as he warned Yuto.
"We're here." Reaching at the darkness before him, the Vagabond grabbed onto a door handle by instinct, heaving the ancient barrier open as it creaked and groaned in protest. "Here we are~" Reaching to his right, the vagrant flipped 'on' a light switch, the sudden illumination causing him to lower his head and gaze at the floor. Though the hood aided him in the brightness, they had spent a minute roaming the dark. Urgh...nausea... He hated bright places. I need to switch these lights out. It was a task for another time, the hooded man groaning as he stepped into the cluttered room before them. It was a small room with a tall ceiling, littered with pages and books scattered everywhere, writings on the walls as well as papers tacked to the space.
There were ancient paintings, most unrecognizable at this point, spaced out on the empty spaces between large bookshelves. Across the room was a large gaping space, almost as if a wall had been moved to the side in order to reveal a large tunnel. Lifting his hands to his sides, the Vagabond shifted his shrouded gaze to Yuto as he welcomed his guest. "Welcome, Yuto~ This is my study space." Pointing a finger towards the open wall, the hooded man motioned with his other hand at the table and chair littered with books and pages. "Back there is my lab. We don't have to rush to the experiments, though. Feel free to rest. Make yourself at home." He didn't have much to offer in terms of amenities, but was genuine in his invitation of hearth. There was a bond he felt that they shared, Yuto and him. It was because of that place. "Please, ask any questions as you rest. I am open to explaining the experiments ahead."
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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 Apr 18, 2019 22:13:42 GMT -5
As they wandered around the tunnels Yuto could just barely make out where all the twists and turns were. It was amazing that the Vagabond found this place enough times to memorize the path, let alone find it the first time. "One can always just follow their nose~" An odd choice of words. 'That place can make anything possible.' He decided to ask about it later.
The walked a little further before the hooded man stopped. "Here we are~" The man threw on the bright fluorescents. Yuto blocked his eyes and let out a small groan. Lights never normally bothered him, but these were something else. They had also been wandering dark tunnels, but it didn't seem like they were in them for long enough for the light to be this bad. The man followed his hooded companion inside and blinked hard.
Looking around he saw papers everywhere, bookshelves with books missing. The place looked well used. He continued to look around and let out a short whistle. "Welcome, Yuto~ This is my study space. Back there is my lab. We don't have to rush to the experiments, though. Feel free to rest. Make yourself at home." There wasn't much in the study area, but it was leagues better than what he currently had. "Thank you. Truly." He took a seat in an empty chair. "Please, ask any questions as you rest. I am open to explaining the experiments ahead." Yuto perked his head up at the invitation to probe the Vagabond's brain. He leaned forward in his chair. "I have two, maybe three questions. Firstly, what did you mean when you said one could follow their nose in the tunnels?" The entire time Yuto walked in those tunnels all he could smell was how damp and dank they were.
"Other than that, what kind of experiments do you plan to do to me?" He figured they had to do with his heart, but that didn't mean he wanted to go in completely blind. Yuto sat there waiting for the researcher to respond.
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 18, 2019 23:34:09 GMT -5
The Vagabond couldn't help but smirk beneath the shadow of his hood as he leaned against the wall that led to the large exposed tunnel entrance. I'm glad he's the type to ask questions. Truthfully, it would have disheartened the vagrant had his latest acquaintance not have any regard for his own wellbeing. Test subjects needed to last, after all. Pushing himself from the wall, the Vagabond tapped at his nose with his pale finger, answering Yuto's first question. "Darkness. It has a distinct scent." He had first recognized it after he had left that place. In the world of light, darkness seemed to disturb the realm with its reek, at least to him, anyway.
The hooded man shrugged a bit, shaking his head before crossing his arms. "Perhaps my nose is sensitive..." Waving the thought off with his gloved hand, the vagrant continued on in order to answer Yuto's second question. "As for the experiments..." Clasping his hands behind his back, the Vagabond began to pace around the room, his shrouded gaze scanning the ancient portraits no longer recognizable. "Through my research I've been able to assess and calculate the amount of darkness within a vessel." One of his fingers trailed the rim of a frame, gathering dust at the tip that he wiped on the wall. "By channeling my own darkness into another vessel, I have been able to slowly extract said darkness and harness it."
He turned to Yuto, hands behind his back once more as he took a single long step over towards the table where his new acquaintance sat. "Depending on the vessel, this essentially allows me to transfer darkness from one heart to another." Turning once more to face the direction of his lab, the Vagabond took a few long steps back to the tunnel entrance, leaning against the wall once more. "Depending on the strength of the host, I am able to steadily remove darkness from it, storing it instead in myself." The hooded man looked up towards the ceiling with a sigh, a wistful tone in his voice. "I have only tampered with tainted hearts, though many were too far gone to lose the darkness that composed them." His shrouded gaze fell back to Yuto.
"World hearts have been successfully restored to order with this method, however. I have reason to believe a strong hearted individual can withstand the transfer, as well." A long pale finger pointed at Yuto. "That's where you come in."
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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 Apr 19, 2019 2:44:52 GMT -5
He listened intently to the man's speech. The prospect of being able to transfer darkness from one heart to another was an interesting one, though it did raise one question in particular. "So, if you've been taking this darkness into yourself, how have you not lost yourself to it?" It had to take incredible strength, or a place to transfer the darkness. Either option was intriguing. "I have reason to believe a strong hearted individual can withstand the transfer, as well. That's where you come in."
The man held up his hand. "Just to see if I can guess the rest. You want to take the darkness in my heart, and in turn, cure me of our affliction?" The idea was an interesting one. He wasn't sure how well it would work though. 'I chose this when I took a dip in that ocean.' He looked up. That was something he never thought to ask. They were both in that realm, the Vagabond might have seen that shore in his travels.
"Another question, if I may. Did you happen to come across a shoreline when you were over there?" Interacting with that darkness might add a new variable to the experiment. The more both of them knew, the better the experiment might go. If the Vagabond knew what he was talking about, that would save an explanation. If not, then there would be multiple. It was as simple as that. 'Maybe he had something similar happen to him. If he remembers. Yuto stretched in his chair and waited for his acquaintance's response.
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 19, 2019 11:35:58 GMT -5
The Vagabond leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, deep in thought. Once I'm sure I can actually restore an afflicted heart... The next step would be to conduct research on how to extract them. One step at a time. Yuto's question jolted the hooded man out of his thoughts. "So, if you've been taking this darkness into yourself, how have you not lost yourself to it?" His acquaintance was certainly not lacking in good sense, the researcher had to give him that. As Yuto correctly guessed the remaining explanation, the man couldn't help but grin a bit from the shadow of his hood. Oh...he really is a team player! There was excitement gripping him to his bones, though the vagrant forced himself to contain it. "Another question, if I may. Did you happen to come across a shoreline when you were over there?"
"..." Silence hung through the small space between the two, the Vagabond's expression unknown as he remained still. H-he's...been there?! For a few moments, the vagrant said nothing. Only the gaping shadow of his hood seemed to stare at Yuto, quiet in its vastness. "Y-yes..." He was surprised at the choking sound of his voice, licking his lips to wet them. He hadn't realized how dry they had gotten. He's been there. The thought was tempting, and for a moment the Vagabond almost allowed himself the mistake of opening himself to another. That wouldn't do, though. He was the balancer. He was the one taking in the darkness, not pouring it out.
Shaking his head a bit, the man reached a gloved hand to his head, pushing himself off the support of the tunnel wall. "Follow me, when you're ready...I have some tests to run." With a faint wave, the hooded man turned and walked into the tunnel that led to the lab he had salvaged. His voice had sounded distracted, almost as if his mind was focused on something else entirely. He wasn't mad at Yuto for mentioning it.
That man couldn't have known the significance of that shore, and what it meant to the broken vagrant before him.
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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 Apr 19, 2019 15:27:54 GMT -5
The silence that surrounded his question was more than a little concerning. 'Maybe he didn't go there.' It would make about as much sense as anything else. That place seemed to shift its own reality on a whim. "Y-yes..." The way the Vagabond choked out his answer took Yuto by surprise. 'That bad, huh?' He stood from his chair and stretched out as the Vagabond beckoned him to follow.
He noticed that the researcher's demeanor was completely different now. Distracted and far off. 'Did I say something wrong again?' It was a habit the Yuto had. Not an intentional one, of course. He just never thought before speaking. Sometimes people would laugh, other times he'd get in trouble, and sometimes something like this would happen. The person would get far off and distant. He caught up to his acquaintance and put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, sorry if I said the wrong thing back there. I tend to do that sometimes." He tried his best to comfort the man.
He thought for a moment. "You know, you never asked me anything outside of my name and if I've been to this world before." He moved his hand behind his head. "Is there anything you would like to know before we get started?"
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 21, 2019 20:25:02 GMT -5
The Vagabond began to head through the vast entrance that led to his lab, halting as he felt Yuto’s hand on his shoulder. “Hey. Sorry, if I said the wrong thing back there. I tend to do that sometimes.” The apology took the Vagabond by surprise, looking over his shoulder at Yuto with a new pang of guilt. Raising a hand, the researcher shook his head a bit, his tone softer and warmer than before. “It’s okay, really.” The Vagabond meant it. He knew Yuto hadn’t meant any harm by asking what he did. At the mention of asking questions of his own, the Vagabond simply shook his head and motioned onward.
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll find out everything I need during the tests.” There was a slight anxiety coursing through him. He had never worked on a person’s heart before. Licking the sweat off of his upper lip, the hooded man led Yuto further through the tunnel to a large room. The room had vast windows that revealed ancient and forgotten hangars, barren of any vehicles or weapons. Below the wide window was a long computer module that stretched as far as the glass, though this was ancient and broken, thus the Vagabond had covered it with a long and tattered tablecloth. Over the tablecloth was an assortment of scribblings and diagrams, drawn hastily in ink from previous experiments. He was never good with computers. He preferred writing things out.
On the opposite wall was a gigantic circular gate, one that could no longer operate without the computer mainframe. Instead, in the large spherical gate was a long table, littered with straps that hung vertically. This is where he put most of his test subjects. Turning to Yuto, the hooded man's expression was lost in shadow. “The work I do is hardly science. There will be no recordings of data, odd computers or hook ups or anything like that.” The Vagabond gestured to the vertical table that hung in the gate.
“Essentially, I am going to examine and explore your heart with my own energy.” It certainly was the furthest thing from what he thought of as ‘science’, but the Vagabond knew what he was doing. This was hardly his first rodeo, so to speak. “When you are ready, we shall fasten you to the examination table and I will begin to run some tests.” These ‘tests’ were not run on computers.
The Vagabond was going to probe into Yuto’s heart in order to really see what he was working with. I’m curious to see the state his heart is in. Though Yuto may not have the same situation happening to him that the Vagabond was, the opportunity alone was worthwhile. Earnest and hopeful, the researcher couldn’t help but smile as he removed his hood, revealing a pale face beneath disheveled brown hair and dull green eyes that looked empty. A broad grin was on his face.
“Let me know when we can get started!” There was a lot to do. He was excited for all of it.
((Thanks for the patience bruh!))
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