ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
|
Post by ravenheart95 on Apr 29, 2019 11:42:55 GMT -5
Yuto awoke a few hours later to find himself alone. Looking around, he found no sign of the man he came here with. Rising to his feet, he decided to look for the Vagabond. 'He couldn't have gotten far.' Yuto searched the hall they entered in, to no avail. Trying the only other way he could go, the man found his acquaintance hunched over what looked to be some kind of experiment. "Working on anything good?" Yuto asked, leaning on the door frame.
The man seemed absorbed in his work the last time he tried to get his attention. Yuto wouldn't be surprised if that were the case now. That didn't stop him from going to get a closer look at what the Vagabond was looking at, not that he could understand any of it. "What is this?" He wasn't much of a man of science, but he did enjoy learning what he could about everything. This was something he could learn from. He didn't see any harm in asking the question, especially after their little trip into Yuto's heart. If this was something that could help with understanding what happened to him, he wanted to know.
He stood patiently by the Vagabond, waiting for him to look up from his work.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Apr 30, 2019 0:02:52 GMT -5
The Vagabond had no idea how long he had spent testing his hypothesis when Yuto emerged into the room. "Working on anything good?" The sentence caused the man to jolt in surprise, whipping his head around to look at Yuto. He had taken his steel blue jacket off, revealing the bagged dull eyes that peeked from beneath a mop of disheveled brown hair. He wore a tattered and stained white t-shirt, a faded tidal wave graphic on the front. A sudden look of recognition crossed his face as a smile lit up his features. Not his eyes, though. Those remained as dull as ever. "Ah, you're awake~" It must have been some time, as the man seemed refreshed and renewed. The Vagabond looked far worse for ware, having spent the entire time tinkering and exploring his questions. "What is this?"
Yuto motioned towards the table the vagrant hunched over, which hosted his latest attempt at his sealing technique. The glass he had taken from the other room sat there, a dark fluid swirling and rising within, seemingly with a mind of its own. Around the glass were dark sigils, forming signs that were symbols forming nothing in particular. No matter how much the dark fluid within the cup seemed to rage against the glass, it never rose past the odd markings around the glass. "This is our solution!" The Vagabond raised the glass high into the air, standing on the chair he had been sitting on, rising a foot onto the table.
"I've finally done it!" He tossed the glass from one hand to the other, twirling as he stepped fully onto the table, trampling over all of the loose paper littered with frantic notes and scribblings. "I've found a way to ensure the balance of your heart!" This was monumental for his research. Though it didn't necessarily give him an answer to his main objective, which was reversing the state of a tainted heart; it did provide him important information on controlling and maintaining darkness.
"This sealing technique is used to concentrate the darkness without amplifying its grasp on the heart." Placing the cup on the table, the Vagabond hunched on one knee on top of the table as he held his hands around the markings that formed a line around the top of the cup. Screwing his eyes shut and his face into a look of concentration, the Vagabond's hands began to emit a faint purple aura. As they did so, the man pushed his hands down, the line around the cup being pushed down. The darkness within seemed to recoil, pressing down as though the line were acting as a lid, compressing it to the bottom.
The compact darkness no longer swirled or thrashed, but was still, dense, unmoving. Tipping the cup upside down in his hand, the Vagabond grinned as nothing fell from the cup. The darkness within simply stayed still, pressed tightly against the cup by the seal he had crafted. "This will not only amplify your abilities, but allow the roots to halt their growth." The grin faded from his face, his dull eyes never leaving Yuto as a serious look came upon him. "It cannot reverse the effects, though." Resting the cup back on the table, the Vagabond hopped back onto the floor, walking over to Yuto. His dull eyes hardly blinked, the black in them seemingly endless and empty.
"It already has infiltrated the inner structure of your heart. This will keep it so that it won't take over." He rested his gloved hand on the man's shoulder, the serious look turning more into a grimace. "This is not a solution. It simply buys us time." Suddenly the man spun around, walking back to the chair as he spun it to face Yuto. Sitting down and reclining back, the Vagabond yawned loudly as he crossed a leg over a knee. "But, this will at least allow me time to figure something else out. My main research is around changing the state of hearts, after all~" He had gained a mild step forward in this research. It had taught him valuable information on how to control dark energy and manipulate it.
That was an important step.
It didn't solve his main objective, though. Sighing a bit, the man yawned again, this time rubbing an eye rather sleepily. Waving a hand a little, the Vagabond slumped over the table, resting his head on his arms. "I can use my technique once I've rested a bit..." His eyes closed for a moment, though his breathing stayed the same. "It will take a lot more power to craft a seal around a heart than a cup." He chuckled a bit, finding humor in the situation. Tomorrow's problems for tomorrow's me. With that, a sudden snore escaped the Vagabond as his body relaxed against the table. The odd slouching position he was in seemed to be enough to let him sleep. The table had been a fine pillow, it seemed.
The Vagabond was out like a light.
|
|
ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
|
Post by ravenheart95 on Apr 30, 2019 9:42:20 GMT -5
Yuto looked on in awe as the Vagabond talked about his experiments on containing the darkness in whatever it inhabited. He watched as the man lowered some symbols on a glass containing what looked to be a swirling mass of darkness. The lower the symbols got, the less the darkness swirled in its container. The man was a bit fearful that the darkness would break the glass as it got denser, and even more so when the Vagabond tipped the glass upside down. Thankfully, nothing happened. The darkness stayed firmly in its container. It was an amazing sight, to say the least.
'That's amazing.' Thinking about what the Vagabond was saying about the symbols. "So, it will keep my heart in balance for a time. It was an amazing concept, he would be able to control his abilities without losing himself to them. If the trip into his heart taught him anything, that would be a very bad thing.
"I can use my technique once I've rested a bit...It will take a lot more power to craft a seal around a heart than a cup." It was a reasonable statement, the Vagabond appeared to have spent the hours Yuto was asleep working on perfecting this sealing method. The both of them knew how fickle and temperamental the Darkness can be, so something like this had to take a decent amount of energy to do once let alone multiple times. It had to be a massive drain on the Vagabond.
As if on cue, the man slumped in his chair and immediately started snoring. 'Yep, that's about right.' He looked around for something to cover the Vagabond with. After searching the room, Yuto found the man's jacket and draped it over the man. 'No sense in him being cold.' With that, he turned around and went off to explore the castle. "He's probably going to be out for a while."
Yuto wasn't worried about getting too lost, he decided to mark all the places where he had been. He started with the hall they came in. He marked the doorframe with a broken heart and went on his way. 'He wont mind that i borrowed one of his markers, right?' Yuto shrugged and continued with his expedition. The castle was massive and winding, it seemed like it was endless. Thankfully Yuto was labeling everywhere he went, thus making it easier to find his way if he got turned around. That happened to be a lot.
He spent what felt like a few hours wandering the castle before he decided to head back to the lab. "Let's hope the marks I drew help more than hinder." With that, he started to make his way back.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Apr 30, 2019 12:48:58 GMT -5
Dark pillars ruptured a black sky, towering for what seemed like eternity throughout a silent landscape. The only sound was the dripping of some water unseen, the scuttling of stealthy feet as brilliant yellow eyes watched their every step. His hand was sweating, making his grasp on ___'s difficult. Looking over his shoulder, he looked at the younger man struggling. Sweat was pouring over him, his body shaking and weak. This place, wherever it was, seemed to be steadily draining them of their life. That's what it felt like, anyway, as his feet seemed to grow heavier with every step. Suddenly, a dark figure leaped out from the ground, causing both to leap backwards in surprise. Weaponless and afraid, they scrambled away from the creature, running as fast as their weakened bodies could carry them.
The Vagabond jolted awake with a surprised shout, sitting upright in the chair he had taken his long rest in. His steel blue jacket rested around his shoulders, though he didn't recall having put it there. Sweat had broken out, staining his t-shirt and brow with grease and the scent of fear. Damn it...what was his name? The thought forced the man to feel a pang in his heart, a deep wound that had just been salted. What had happened to his memories? Blinking away sleep, the vagrant rubbed his eyes sleepily as he stood up, letting the coat simply rest on his shoulders and drape over him as though a cape. Looking around the room, the Vagabond finally recalled where he was and what he was doing. The cup on the table still sat there, the darkness compressed beneath the seal.
Licking his lips a little, the man lifted the glass, raising two fingers of his left gloved hand as he seemed to make a slashing motion near the cup. The markings faded as the Vagabond tilted the cup and drank its contents. For a moment, a dark purple aura seemed to radiate around his body as he jolted. "Ah...there we go...awake now." The man grumbled as he scratched at the back of his head, the aura fading as he staggered around the table, leaning against the edge. "Hm..." It seemed Yuto had left, though he wasn't sure where to. He wondered how long he had been asleep. His body felt sluggish and groggy, despite the sudden burst of energy. With a shrug, the man shuffled off back into the lab. He figured the man would be back soon enough.
In the meantime, he would prepare himself for the task ahead.
|
|
ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
|
Post by ravenheart95 on Apr 30, 2019 13:57:46 GMT -5
After wandering for what felt like a while, Yuto finally found his way back to the lab. The markings helped somewhat, though they did also help him get turned around now and then. He would have still been wandering around the castle without them though. 'Not like I could've used a Corridor to make my way back.' He recalled what the vagabond had said about the lab not allowing such transportation. 'Did add a fair amount of tension in getting lost.' Looking up, the man saw his acquaintance was now awake and preparing...something
"Morning, sunshine." He tried to get the man's attention before throwing the marker he borrowed. "Catch. Hope you don't mind, I borrowed it when I went exploring the castle." The man pointed to a small drawing of a broken heart on the doorframe. "Didn't wanna get too lost, yeah?" The man walked up to where the Vagabond was working "Anyway, whatcha working on this time?" Yuto didn't want to seem too hopeful or desperate for that seal, but the truth was, what happened in his heart terrified him. He never thought himself capable of anything close to that, but he was. Anything that could help him control that, or even avoid it, was a godsend.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Apr 30, 2019 14:27:21 GMT -5
The Vagabond sat in the center of the large lab room, cross legged in the middle of a large circle with odd markings drawn around him. He still had his steel blue jacket draped over him as though a cloak, hunched over scribbling on the floor with a thick black charcoal stick. "Morning, sunshine." Yuto's voice disturbed his focus, causing him to jolt his head up in surprise as the marker flew through the air towards him. Catching the thick writing utensil in his hands, the vagrant sat in the center of the floor as Yuto mentioned using it. The man shrugged, tossing it haphazardly behind him as he stood upright. "Anyway, whatcha working on this time?" It seemed Yuto was indeed curious about the task at hand.
"Preparing the sealing technique." The Vagabond stepped out of the circle, careful to not disrupt the markings, stepping over them mindfully. Earlier, the man had focused himself, readying his own heart for the task ahead. Stepping near Yuto, the man pointed a finger at him, his voice serious and slightly gloomy. "Prepare yourself. This may not go easily." Truth be told, it was his first attempt at doing anything like this. The method he had conjured from the bits and pieces of the report he had found, which had directed him on how to seal darkness within a vessel, originally intended for crafting Heartless. The Vagabond shuddered as he wondered what other dark secrets the report held. I'll have to find more of it... Regardless of how eery or gloomy it seemed, he needed it for his research. That much proved obvious to him, especially after this.
Motioning to the large circle he had scribbled onto the floor, the markings similar to that of the cup, the Vagabond instructed his subject. "First, you will want to remove your shirt. I will need to place the seal directly over your heart." The Vagabond stepped back into the circle, sitting cross legged once more. "Afterwards, sit in this circle and focus. You will want to focus on the dark and light within you." The Vagabond knew this might sound vague, but he hoped the recent expedition into his heart had taught Yuto something about the sensitivity of these energies. "Once you are ready, steel your heart. This may not be painless." His tone sounded foreboding, a warning in its own right.
He himself wasn't sure what to expect with this.
|
|
ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
|
Post by ravenheart95 on Apr 30, 2019 21:09:41 GMT -5
"Prepare yourself. This may not go easily." If it was easy, why would they be doing it? Furthermore, why would the Vagabond need to run experiments? Yuto didn't expect anything to be easy at this point. Taking off his flannel and shirt, he made his way to the circle that was in the center of the room, being careful not to disturb the symbols surrounding it.
Taking a seat in the center, he closed his eyes and focused. Luckily for Yuto, the source of both his light and dark appeared to be the same world, just at two different points of time. Both were equally painful to think about, however. One, a time he could never return, the other, a horrible reality that he didn't want to remember. He forced himself to focus on both, no matter how painful they were to think about. It was so he didn't lose himself. If that happened, he wouldn't be able to see all the work his friend did to fix their world. He refused to let that happen. If nothing else, the man was stubborn to a fault. Especially when it came to his friends. "Ready when you are." He gave the Vagabond a thumbs up.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on May 4, 2019 12:21:42 GMT -5
As Yuto took his place in the center of the circle, the Vagabond also stepped within the markings. The moment he did, a sudden pressure of gravity weighed down upon the two. The vagrants movements were normal. His body used to the weight of darkness. As Yuto focused himself, the Vagabond did similar, sitting in a cross legged fashion while clapping both of his open palms together. Closing his eyes, the tall man hunched as he focused himself, a faint purple hue beginning to dance around him. "Good. Stay focused on that feeling..." The hue became denser, more solid as the aura solidified itself around him. Markings that surrounded them also began to glow, shimmering with dark purple light, casting an eery gloom upon the large and looming lab. "That feeling...of being 'in between'."
Cracks began to form in the area around the circle marked on the lab floor. The pressure from before amplifying as it pushed down on the two sitting in the middle. The Vagabond was now shrouded in a dark hue, mixing of purple and black. His green matte eyes had opened and were as dull as ever. A blank expression on his face. As always. This will work! His hands were now nothing but a blinding light of purple as he reached forward with them, pressing his open palms against Yuto's chest as a focused look came across his face. "Focus...on the 'in between'." The lab around them began to quake and tremble, many loose papers fluttering into the air as utensils fell from the countertops and computer modules. What first had been small cracks had now been gouges, the area where the Vagabond had scribbled the markings raised as though a platform in the center of the room.
Darkness snaked out from the Vagabond's open hands, glowing with the brilliant purple light. It slithered its way from the researchers palms into Yuto's chest, seeking the heart. Once found, the tendrils coiled around it, searching for what their master sought. Small black markings began to appear on Yuto's chest, directly in the center of it. The markings were incomprehensible, much like the ones the Vagabond had drawn earlier. Slowly, they began to form a ring. It's working! He hoped it wasn't too much on Yuto's heart or body. The man had seemed to hold a strong light from before, and the Vagabond was sure that would aid him now.
All in all, it seemed the process was working, though he had no clue how painful it would be for Yuto.
|
|
ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
|
Post by ravenheart95 on May 5, 2019 12:38:57 GMT -5
He focused on the Vagabonds words as the air around them became dense and heavy. 'In between.' It was an odd feeling to be sure. Both aspects seemed to be vying for control of his thoughts. He forced them to share equal space as his acquaintance went to work.
'Doesn't seem like the lab likes what we're doing.' The sound of the floor cracking made that a little more than obvious. It wasn't hard for him to ignore, however. He was used to being a distraction, he knew how easy they were to tune out. The light, on the other hand, was a bit harder to ignore. Even though Yuto's eyes were closed he could see a bright purple coming from somewhere in front of him. Assuming it was the Vagabond, he steeled himself for whatever was about to happen.
Feeling the floor rise, the man couldn't help but be a little concerned about what was going on. 'We'll worry about that later. Focus.' The self-chastisement was more needed than he realized. Another couple of seconds and who knows what would've happened. The two opposing forces of his heart were only being kept at bay because he was focused on them co-existing whilst being knowledgable of each other. What the two men were doing was risky because of it. Now both the light and the dark of Yuto's heart were aware of each other and he didn't know how long his heart would last because of it. If he lost himself to that frenzy again, he didn't think he'd be able to come back. 'Focus!' The more his mind wandered, the less likely this was to work.
Focusing did nothing to prepare him for when the tendrils made contact with his body, however. They were somehow both warm and cold and felt like pure darkness. It didn't help when the tendrils found their way inside him and wrapped themselves around his heart. It was an unusual feeling, to put it lightly. Then the symbols started appearing. It started off as a slight tingling sensation in the center of his chest, almost tickling him. It didn't last as the sensation started to burn. Not intensely, which Yuto was more than thankful for. It was like someone was steadily pouring alcohol on a wound. Sharp for an instant, then just bearable. It was the initial sting that caught him by surprise, however. All the things that were happening were making it harder and harder to focus, but he managed. 'This has got to end soon. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep focused.' He hoped that whatever the Vagabond was doing would be over soon.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on May 7, 2019 20:28:41 GMT -5
The Vagabond focused intently on the task at hand, his face an expressionless dull slate as his dull eyes concentrated on the markings appearing on Yuto's chest. Slowly, the dark purple, almost black markings were beginning to form a circle. Yes! That's it! Whatever Yuto was experiencing, it didn't seem to keep the man's focus at bay. Thankful for his test subject's resolve, the Vagabond continued the probing of the tendrils, snaring them within the man's heart in order to form a seal similar to the one he had crafted on the cup. As the circle continued to form in the center of Yuto's chest, the dark radiating aura from the Vagabond's hands ruptured form the markings, casting the vagrant in tattered clothing in an eerie light.
His brow was sweating, the disheveled brown mop of hair on his head becoming a greasy mess as it fell into his eyes. Ignoring the disturbance, the man kept his pressure against Yuto's chest, the markings continuing to etch themselves onto flesh. I must not lose focus...! If he were to lose concentration on all of the darkness he was using to formulate this technique, it would mean the end for both of them. The pale long arms that snaked out between the two, connecting them, shook with exhaustion and effort. Sweat marks appeared on the vagrant's faded white t-shirt, around the armpits and neckline. The Vagabond licked the sweat off his upper lip, his dull eyes never once blinking as they concentrated on the dull purple light, the markings forming a circle on the chest.
After a painstaking eternity of silence, the markings finally formed a single 'O' shape, the purple light fading from them. The aura began to fade from the Vagabond's hands, who was panting in exhaustion as the pressure around the two seemed to fade. It almost seemed as though the room were brighter now, though there hadn't been any lights lit. The Vagabond's arms fell, his hands falling to his sides as he slumped forward, shaking form the trial. "Ha...the sea...the seal...is formed..." His voice was a croak, groggy from the heaviness of his eyelids that fell upon him. The markings around the two no longer glowed, though the area they had sat on still sat raised slightly above the ground floor, ruptured into a small pillar that had jutted out from the ground.
The lab was scarred from the trial, the floor ruptured and jagged though nothing else seemed to have change. Falling backwards, the Vagabond lay on his back, his dull eyes closed as he lifted a single hand into the air, forming a victorious fist. "You did it, Yuto!" A tired laugh escaped his lips.
It was done. The Vagabond didn't have another death on his conscience.
|
|
ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
|
Post by ravenheart95 on May 11, 2019 0:17:45 GMT -5
He couldn't tell what was more uncomfortable, the creation and movement of the markings on his chest or the tendrils feeling their way around his heart. He decided that they were probably about equal. Yuto sat there with the determination to make sure this went smoothly, despite how violated he was feeling.
After some time, he felt the markings reach the bottom of the circle they seemed to be making and the light that was in front of him for so long faded away. "You did it, Yuto!" The man opened his eyes to see the Vagabond laying on the floor with a fist in the air. Yuto looked around the room, surveying the damage their experiment caused. It wasn't too bad all things considered. The room even felt brighter, though there were no lights on.
The man breathed a sigh of relief as he examined the new markings on his chest. "That was...intense." The man poked at his new "body art" tenderly. "And a lot more violating than I thought it would be." The man understood that the Darkness didn't care for people's feelings and personal space but that didn't make him feel any less uncomfortable.
"A few questions, just to make sure I understood what you were saying before we started," He looked back to the Vagabond. "This will slow the darkness in my heart while helping me to control it?" Yuto swallowed, almost afraid of his next question. He steeled his nerves and blurted it out. "But what about what happened in my heart? That frenzy I went into? is there a chance of it happening again?"
He was genuinely concerned about the answer. He felt that if he fell prey to that again, seal or no, he might not come back.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on May 13, 2019 15:59:19 GMT -5
The Vagabond lay on the cracked and ragged floor. If one were to walk barefoot throughout the lab at this point, they were sure to have gotten cuts on their feet. The jacket he had draped over his shoulders during the process had certainly aided in cushioning him, allowing him to rest on such a disastrous environment. "That was...intense." Yuto's voice echoed throughout the empty lab, the only other sound being the Vagabond's breathing, ragged with exhaustion. "And a lot more violating than I thought it would be." At that comment, the vagrant barked out a rough laugh, sitting up with a quiet groan as he crossed his legs. Sitting up straight, the Vagabond leaned forward a bit, resting his hands on his ankles as his dull matte green eyes pierced Yuto with a thoughtful gaze.
"A few questions..." It seemed Yuto was still a little uncertain about the reason or meaning behind the sealing technique. The Vagabond nodded thoughtfully as he listened, crossing his arms and resting a finger on his chin. "But what about what happened in my heart? That frenzy I went into? Is there a chance of that happening again?" Ah. So that was the crux of his point. Shaking his head a little, the Vagabond placed both hands on his knees before steadying his gaze once more on Yuto. "That's the main reason I felt it necessary to use such a technique..." His voice seemed distracted, distant, almost as though he were thinking of other things while talking of this. "That frenzy, in your heart, that showed me just how deeply rooted your darkness is."
It may have been a hard fact to hear, but it was one nonetheless. The Vagabond continued without a shred of mercy in his tone, which remained dull and dry. "The seal itself was intended to ensure it cannot grasp such a strong hold over your heart again." The vagrant pushed himself into a standing position, slipping his arms back through the sleeve of his jacket as he pulled it fully on. "It is designed to concentrate the darkness in your heart, walling it off from gaining control without eradicating it." Truthfully, the Vagabond wasn't sure if he could eradicate the darkness within Yuto's heart. It was already so intertwined, the researcher wasn't sure the man's heart would sustain such a process. What a pity. It reminded him of the Heartless he had experimented on.
We're too similar... It wasn't a comforting thought, but a bitter one filled with resentment. Waving a hand absentmindedly, the Vagabond stretched as he continued his explanation. "Basically, the seal is meant to allow the darkness in your heart to exist without dominating it." He raised both hands, pointing his index fingers into the air. "Typically, once a heart begins to rely on the darkness within it, the darkness grows and consumes more and more of the heart, like a disease..." His fingers began to draw closer together, before stalling right before one another. "The more and more you utilize it, the more footing it gains. The seal is drawing a line in the sand, so to speak, making it so that even while you utilize the darkness in your heart, it won't gain any more footing than it already has." This time he pointed directly at Yuto.
"Long story short, you'll still have your ties with the darkness, but it won't be able to put you in a frenzy like before." At least, that was his hope, anyway. Truthfully, the Vagabond wasn't sure exactly how long the seal would last, depending on the strength of the darkness within Yuto's heart. Sure, he had ensured that the seal he had crafted was strong enough for the presence he sensed now, but there was no telling if it would grow too powerful over time or not if he didn't come up with a more permanent solution. Ah...there's always more to do.
It looked like he had another project to work on, now.
|
|
ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
|
Post by ravenheart95 on Jun 3, 2019 1:58:36 GMT -5
Yuto listened to the Vagabond's explanation attentively. It was a relief to hear that he wouldn't fall prey to that frenzy again, at least not for a while. 'I can worry about it then.' For now, he was just glad to have some understanding of what he signed on for. It gave him a sense of peace. Yuto stood up and walked over to where he left his clothes, being careful not to trip over the gashes in the floor.
He silently thanked himself for throwing his shirt and flannel to the wall on the other side of the lab. The gashes hadn't spread that far, making it so the clothes were still in one piece. "So, I'm assuming you may have something else planned?" It was more of a statement than a question, but Yuto was curious. What else could this person be thinking of doing? There didn't seem to be anything else left to be done.
Yuto absently rubbed the new markings on his chest. It was going to be something that he was going to have to get used to. As far as tattoos went, there could've been worse. 'That's basically what this is. A magic tattoo.' The man stretched and made his way back over to the Vagabond, curious as to what would happen next.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Jun 5, 2019 11:37:30 GMT -5
All in all, Yuto took the information pretty well, in the Vagabond's opinion. I suppose it isn't surprising... Most that entered that place already had to face hard realities. Everything else just feels...small. As Yuto collected his clothing, the Vagabond turned to the large ancient computer module that lined the dirty window, tinted with filth and age, used as a table for all the scattered notes and parchment papers. Reaching into one of his many pockets, the Vagabond began to scribble more notes down with a pen as Yuto's voice broke through the lab. "So, I'm assuming you may have something else planned?" The question surprised the vagrant, who finished his writing in thoughtful silence before sheathing the pen back into its original pocket.
"Er...well..." Scratching at the back of his head, the Vagabonds dull green eyes found Yuto, his face its usual blank slate, empty of thought or emotion. "I need some more supplies...so I was thinking of running into town." With a sigh, the vagrant leaned against the ancient module, crossing his arms as he looked up at the ceiling. "After that...well, I'm not sure." For a moment his eyes closed as he seemed to take a moment. "I have my own research to continue...though truthfully, it would aid you tremendously if it pays off." Opening his eyes, the Vagabond had a curious expression on his face as he looked at Yuto. "The only thing is I've been kinda...stumped, lately."
The last experiment he had pursued before this ended horribly. How are the roots different? He had absorbed darkness from world's hearts before, yet anytime he tried to do so with a being who's heart was tied to the darkness, it perished. How can I make a heart endure the sever? For a moment, a look of frustration came across his face as the Vagabond stayed with his arms crossed, looking down. Pushing away from the wall, the Vagabond pulled up the hood of his steel blue jacket as he made his way for the lab's exit. Waving a hand in motion for Yuto to follow, he hollered over his shoulder: "C'mon~ We can talk more of future endeavors on the way!"
He was excited to get some fresh air. The lab reeked of that smell.
|
|
ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
|
Post by ravenheart95 on Jun 10, 2019 23:32:42 GMT -5
"Stumped? On what?" Yuto followed the man out of the lab, it started to feel like that place. He knew that talking could potentially help with getting past mental blocks. Anything to help the person that was helping him. Part of Yuto wanted this to work for anyone else that could be going through what the two of them were, but he also wanted to learn as much as he could about the Darkness.
Despite what his heart showed, he was still able to help at least one person with his power and experience. That hope, in his mind, made it all worth it. His thoughts were also everywhere at once. He got to see Radiant Garden only once, and it wasn't exactly as a tourist. He was excited to see what changed and all the new, or rather old by everyone else's standpoint, things the town had to offer. It would be a nice distraction from all the turmoil and stress of what the future may hold.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Jun 11, 2019 16:00:48 GMT -5
As the two exited the lab, entering into the labyrinth of hallways that eventually turned into the old pipe systems of the ancient castle, Yuto would notice the markings from his earlier venture had vanished. No more were the small arrows the man had scribbled with marker in order to find his way through the odd tunnel system. There was a reverberating darkness about the place, one that seemed to breath and twitch in the corner of one’s eyes, disappearing as they looked over to it. Hm…it’s a bit stronger now… Though his face was shrouded by his hood, the Vagabond wore a grimace as he led Yuto through the hallways. He didn't enjoy disturbing the balance of areas or worlds. I'll have to be mindful before my next experiment...
”Stumped? On what?” Yuto’s voice echoed through the empty labyrinth, causing the vagrant to feel small beneath the vast dark ceiling. The man was great at asking questions the Vagabond found difficult to pontificate upon. For a moment, the two walked in silence, the only sound being their faint echoing footsteps. ”Hm…stumped on what, indeed…” There was a sigh at the end of the sentence, one that the Vagabond felt in his bones. As they continued to walk through the darkness, eventually a faint light emerged in the distance. ”Essentially, I’m stumped on everything…”
He was grateful to see the exit up ahead, the tall looming entrance that marked the cave they had entered the tunnels from. The darkness is so rooted in me, it’s on autopilot… He didn’t even have to think about the task at hand when it came to finding his way through the darkness anymore. It was as easy as breathing for him now. Was it always this way…? There was a fog in his memory he couldn’t shake off, lost in his own thoughts as he felt the golden light of the afternoon upon him. Standing at the entrance of the tunnel system, the Vagabond turned to glance over his shoulder at Yuto. ”What makes certain hearts break, while others thrive?” It was a question he had been asking himself a lot lately.
It pertained to his research, though that was most likely only obvious to him. The Vagabond had a narrow minded way of thinking, sometimes, assuming others were simply in on the know that only he knew. It truly was the mental gymnastics of a madman. Squinting his shaded eyes as he glanced at the sky, the hooded vagrant was surprised to see how late in the day it was. ”We’ll want to pick up our pace, it seems.” He couldn’t have the market closing, he needed to work as soon as possible. Walking a little faster, the vagrant headed along the cliffside path, leaping back up to the clearing at the base of the ancient and forgotten castle.
He waited for Yuto to emerge on the clearing before pointing towards the path. ”I’m not sure if there will be many Heartless or not, considering the time. If we see any, we should just run or sneak by, I think.” He didn’t want to waste his time fighting Heartless when he could be buying supplies.
Truthfully, the Vagabond loathed fighting.
|
|
ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
|
Post by ravenheart95 on Jun 16, 2019 23:03:19 GMT -5
'Everything, huh?' That would make anything difficult, not knowing what direction to go. 'Kinda sucks.' He followed the Vagabond through the labyrinth of pipes and darkness, trying to think of something else to say. after a moment, he decided that perhaps saying nothing was the best course of action. A few minutes later, the exit started to come into view. It was impressive for the Vagabond to have the route from here to the lab and back memorized, to say the least.
"What makes certain hearts break, while others thrive?” The question took the man by surprise. "Well, it's...." He wasn't sure how to answer. His heart thrived and survived because he willed it to, he CHOSE to have this happen. Yuto barely heard or understood the Vagabond, he was to busy thinking of the question. He only snapped out of his state when his face met the wall that he stepped off of earlier.
"Son of a-!" He pinched his nose and looked up for a few seconds before making sure he wasn't bleeding. The man looked up the wall, trying to find the best way up. 'Portal's out, castle doesn't like it for whatever reason. Hmmm...' The man looked down at his hand, remembering how it had changed during his frenzy. 'Yeah, don't think I'm risking that anytime soon.' He looked back at the wall. It looked to be tall enough for him to at least grab the top. Yuto took a couple of steps back and took a running start before leaping up and catching the ledge at his waist.
"Totally misjudged that." The man pulled himself up the rest of the way up. 'Should've tried to get higher.' He walked over to the Vagabond. "I’m not sure if there will be many Heartless or not, considering the time. If we see any, we should just run or sneak by, I think.” It was a decent plan, fighting wasn't exactly something he was in the mood for at the moment.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Jun 16, 2019 23:44:14 GMT -5
As Yuto clambered his way back up to the clearing, the Vagabond began to walk towards the path that led towards the town. They had to move quickly if there were going to be any items left! Curse this castle! He truly loathed not being able to utilize his portals. Y’know…something might be causing that… He had never really looked into it before, simply abiding by the inconvenience. With a shrug, the hooded vagrant set forth down the path, knowing Yuto would be close behind him. His gait quickened as he lifted his hooded head into the air. Sniff. Sniff. No darkness seemed to be lingering in the air. Perhaps the Heartless they had defeated on their way up had been all that was there?
Making his way down the dirt path surrounded by ancient ruins and rubble, the Vagabond continued to ponder his own mountain of problems. So I know I can limit the amount of darkness in one’s heart… That part was similar to the world hearts, at least. The difference was that he couldn’t absorb or extract the darkness within a person’s heart. Any time he had tried on his test subjects, they perished. Teasing it out of a person is somehow more complex… He didn’t understand that part. He had figured it would have been the opposite. Some things just didn’t go according to plan.
Reaching the bend in the path, the hooded vagrant continued to sniff the air. ”No sign of ‘em here.” His voice was low and mumbled, though the silence in the path caused it to echo faintly. They were coming upon the clearing, where they had stumbled upon some enemies earlier. Staying close to the cliff walls on either side of them, the Vagabond remained cautious as the two entered the clearing. Nothing happened at all. Not even a menacing breeze. Looking around, the vagrant gnawed at his bottom lip from the confines of his hood. ”Hm…it’s oddly quiet, this evening…” He voiced the concern aloud, not really aware he had done so.
The sun hadn’t set quite yet, but it was certainly lower in the sky. Sunset would certainly be upon them within an hour or so, at this rate. Where are they? Normally, Heartless became more active at night. Why were the outskirts of town so barren? Maybe the Committee restored the defense system out here? The thought made sense at first, but the more the researcher thought about it, the less it added up. He hadn’t seen any of the cylinder lights that signaled the systems power around them. Glancing around the clearing, the vagrant kept his guard up as he began to walk steadily across it towards the path on the other side.
No enemies appeared as he did so. It appeared to be a regular, quiet evening at Radiant Garden. Turning his head to glance over his shoulder, the Vagabond waved Yuto forward, signaling the ‘all clear’. It was odd. He had the feeling he was being watched, but no enemies seemed to be around. Sniff. Sniff. Nothing. No scent. No darkness. ”Something feels off…” Looking around him, the vagrant continued onward as he led Yuto towards the town. Walking down the path, the two would be able to see the Bailey up ahead in the near distance. He continued to glance over his shoulder as they walked, wondering why he felt such an odd sensation.
All of his other senses were telling him everything was normal, fine, a-okay. Why was his gut telling him to be on guard? Shrugging the feeling off, the Vagabond decided to choose to distract himself with conversation. ”Do you need anything from the market, Yuto?” Come to think of it, he wasn’t sure how much Munny the man would have. He himself didn’t have much to his name. He typically utilized the bottle deposit this world’s market had.
|
|
ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
|
Post by ravenheart95 on Jun 17, 2019 23:10:14 GMT -5
He followed the Vagabond through the path they took to arrive at the castle, continuing to contemplate the question posed. Yuto barely noticed that they were alone the entire time. It wasn't until he crossed the clearing after the Vagabond that something seemed off. 'There were heartless here earlier. Maybe they left?' It seemed like the most logical explanation. He shrugged it off and continued on his way. Nothing had shown up, and that was a good thing. The Vagabond seemed to be in a hurry and nothing was stopping them.
”Do you need anything from the market, Yuto?” The question came almost as if on cue. "A couple potions, really. Never know when healing magic is out of the question." He had enough for a couple and food, and that was if he stayed on the cheap side. He didn't find much when searching his home. He was amazed to find any; if he was being honest. "I'm sure what you need is far more important." His statement was absent of any real thought, his mind went back to the question the Vagabond had asked about hearts. Yuto knew the answer would come to him, he just wasn't sure when.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Jun 18, 2019 11:20:15 GMT -5
Clink! Clank! The empty bottles that occupied many of the Vagabond’s pockets filled the early evening with a light melody. Luckily it seemed as though Yuto was after similar gains from the market. That’ll make shopping easy. Though the vagrant was thankful for the respite of the town on Radiant Garden, he felt weird when he was around groups of people for long. Somehow the distance and isolation he felt from the realm of light had never truly left his heart. He felt like he never really connected with people like that. Walking at a steady pace down the dirt path, the Vagabond kept his shrouded eyes peeled and aware.
Everything was quiet. The two emerged at the steps that led to the Bailey in quicker time than the Vagabond had anticipated. There wasn’t a single thing out of place. Golden twilight filled the world, the sun beginning its last hours as its light continued to wane. ”We should make it just in time!” His weather stained shoes pounded against the cobblestone steps that led up and into the Bailey. Clink! Clank! The empty potion bottles in his many pockets continued to rock and bang. He believed in their sturdiness. No Heartless had emerged on their venture. Stepping onto the long Bailey platform, walled off and sheltered in heavy stone which guarded the entry gates to the town, the Vagabond walked over to the window that remained the only portal of sight out into the world beyond.
In the distance was a ruined castle, different than the one that remained behind them. This one seemed to be composed of a small city as its base, with many looming towers cracking the sky. Some of the towers were collapsed, broken and dilapidated. All around the tower were flowers and vines, vibrant with life and color. They may be done with the rest of the city, soon… According to the locals of the world, it had been some time since the beginning of that construction project had started. Some were unfair towards the Committee, in the Vagabond’s opinion, they didn’t have quite the manpower to undergo such a large project with ease. Many of the city buildings seemed in fine order, countless flowers blooming around it, contrasting with the vibrant purple cliffs.
”It really is a beautiful world, don’t you think?” The hooded man turned towards Yuto. ”Apparently, it wasn’t always like this.” He continued towards the gate, motioning for Yuto to follow as he began to turn the lever. Why did he have the feeling he was forgetting something? "I guess the flowers and fields used to never grow. The world had been consumed by too much darkness." Though it was in much better state than its past, it still wasn't quite there yet. Lost in his thoughts and the turning crank, the Vagabond opened the gate in order to allow them entry. Ahead would be the town, lit with lanterns and aloud with evening activities. Entering into the safety of it, the Vagabond turned the lever in order to close the gate once more. All sounded well and good on the world. Then why...do I feel like this? There was a nagging at the back of his head, one that made his heart quicken and his lips dry. What was he forgetting?
|
|