ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Aug 15, 2019 17:00:03 GMT -5
Yuto followed Wantz along the path towards where Cid was, making sure to stay as close as possible. If there was another attack it would be better for them to be together. Thankfully, it didn't seem like that would be the case. He smiled at Wantz's comment about being a seasoned fighter. 'At this point, I'd be marinated.' The thought made him laugh a little. He'd have to remember that for another opportunity for a bad pun.
The two walked for what seemed like a while. Yuto took the time to reflect on everything that he still needed to do. 'I wonder how Vagabon's doing. Kinda wish we had a way to communicate so I could tell him how things are going on my end.' He shrugged; if things went the way he hoped then it would be obvious that everything was fixed.
”Finally! We made it!” Want's excitement made Yuto snap back to reality. He watched as Wantz ran to a giant set of wooden doors. As the doors opened, Yuto braced himself for the conversation he was going to have to have with Cid.
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 16, 2019 15:37:06 GMT -5
Large wooden doors opened to reveal a faint warm glow from the Site within. From the entrance gates was a wide cobblestone path, large enough for at least 10 people to walk abreast, stretching past lines of small humble homes and shops. A few of the small buildings had lights on, though many were dark with the sign of sleep. Outside every small building was a single lantern, lit and shining brightly, adorned on the wall above the door. Every lantern was turned on, giving a calming glow to the long street. There were smaller cobblestone roads branching off of the main one in between some of the small buildings, though some were overgrown and unused, leading to collapsed and dilapidated parts of the town. Others were vibrant with more glowing lanterns and small buildings.
Wantz motioned for Yuto to follow as they began to walk down the large Main Street. Far ahead in the distance was the silhouette of the gigantic ancient castle. Many tall towers jutted from its main form, though some were still broken and overgrown with vines and flowers and grass. It wasn’t here they were heading, as the castle was one of the last things on the ‘to do’ list in terms of repairs. The most important part was the main city. Radiant Garden didn’t have someone who needed a castle, looking down on the city below (though, rumor had it Scrooge McDuck had begun to look into hiring his own construction company and was plotting to buy the building) as though an Emperor.
Though it was still the dead of night, there were a few heads poking out from small homes as a few shouts rang out: ”Welcome back, Wantz!” ”Glad you made it home safe, Wantz!” ”Hey! Who’s that?” ”Who does Wantz have with him?” ”Where’s Biggs and Wedge?” Ignoring each and every comment, Wantz picked up his pace a bit as he turned down one of the smaller cobblestone streets that branched off towards the right. Glancing at Yuto over his shoulder, the rifleman grinned sheepishly. ”Cid didn’t want the base in the heart of the city. Thinks it’d be annoyin’—“ Truthfully, Wantz was beginning to see why. For years he had been a reliable hand to Cid, becoming well known throughout the town as one of Radiant Garden’s defenders. It had its own pros and cons.
Wantz led Yuto down many streets and past many buildings, less and less becoming habitable the further into the city they went. Eventually, almost every building they began to pass was dilapidated and in shambles. Even the cobblestone street had become a bit dodgy. A faint glow in the distance signaled their destination. The two came across a builder slightly larger than the ruined ones around it, a lantern glowing from the above a strong looking blue door. The building was two-stories tall and fairly wide. There was a beautiful garden surrounding the home, flourishing with countless flowers and greenery. Pulling a key from his pocket, Wantz opened the blue door. Inside was an open living space, with a few couches and a crackling fireplace, a single table in the center lined with old refreshments, half eaten plates of food and open books.
”Ugh! Is Aerith the only one that cleans 'round here?!” For a moment, Wantz stomped into the room, glancing around. It was empty. There were two exits to the room other than the homes entrance, one to the left and one to the right. Sighing, Wantz glanced over at Yuto with an apologetic tone in his voice. ”Ah…he’s around here somewhere. Hang tight, I’ll go find him.” With that, Wantz disappeared through the left exit, leaving Yuto alone in the strange new house he found himself 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 Aug 19, 2019 16:21:58 GMT -5
Yuto followed Wantz into the Site and was awestruck at the not just the size but the sheer number of people that he saw after having just set foot inside the area. He expected a few people here and there, just enough to cover the town. He looked around to see a few people just going about their day to day, lights in most of the houses were on. 'I guess they would take a Heartless threat so close more seriously.' A small smirk formed across his face. 'Kinda wish this was around when my master and I were here last.'
The man noticed that some of the locals were staring at the two of them, so he decided to wave. Being in the spotlight wasn't anything new for Yuto, so a few people looking and talking didn't really bother him. ”Cid didn’t want the base in the heart of the city. Thinks it’d be annoyin’—“ Yuto gave a small nod. 'People constantly coming up to a person for various reasons could get both uncomfortable and annoying.'
He followed Wantz into the building to be greeted by a mess of books and a half-eaten meal. The man laughed a little at his companion's comment. "It's cool, man. I've seen worse." He examined the room around him. Computers to one side, books and food to another. It was homey. Yuto felt a small pang of wistful longing in his heart. He missed the home that he had. His warm bed, his friends, his family.
He shook the thoughts from his mind as Wantz turned to him. ”Ah…he’s around here somewhere. Hang tight, I’ll go find him.” Yuto nodded. "Take you're time. let me know if you want my help looking." The worst possible case scenario he could think of was that Cid was out doing something right now and would be back later.
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 19, 2019 23:13:40 GMT -5
As Yuto made himself comfortable in the entrance room, the crackling fire providing a light warmth throughout the space, the door to the right would creak open softly. Standing in the doorway was a woman older than Yuto with brown hair tied back by a pink ribbon. Slight bangs framed her face, her green eyes warm and kind as they fell on the stranger. Only faint signs of budding wrinkles betrayed any sign of aging. She radiated with a light unmatched by many. ”Oh—!” It seemed they had been expecting someone else in the room. ”I, thought I heard Wantz…”
The woman wore a well made pink and red dress, tall brown boots adding to their height as she balanced a brown bag in her hand. ”Are you a new member?” There was a friendly smile on her face as she placed the bag of items on the table, walking over towards Yuto before offering a hand. ”I’m Aerith, it’s nice to meet you!” It seemed this ‘Aerith’ was one who was always kind and welcoming, even to one they didn’t know intruding upon their ‘home’. The door to the left opened in the middle of the introduction, albeit much louder than Aerith had opened the other one, Wantz walking in with a grin on his face before noticing Aerith.
”Wantz! Welcome back,” There was a slight ice in the tone. What was that? ”I see you didn’t get to the cleaning I asked you to do last night.” Wantz stiffened, his face going pale as a slight trace of sweat seemed to form on his brow. ”A-ah—“ Unable to defend himself, Wantz helplessly glanced around the room before noticing Yuto. Suddenly his face lit up. He was saved! ”Oh! I see you’ve met Yuto!” Hastily, Wantz made his way over to where Yuto was, slapping the man on the shoulder while a forced laugh escaped him.
”This is Aerith, Yuto! She’s one of the Committee’s original members! Keeps the place—and everyone in it—in line!” Beaming at Yuto, completely avoiding Aerith’s stare, Wantz began tugging Yuto towards the door he had entered from. ”Er—well, we’re gonna go meet up with Cid, fill ya in later!” Whisking Yuto away, Wantz led them up a carpeted stairway to the next level of the house. ”Phew…she’s scary. Don’t piss her off.” Sighing with relief, Wantz led Yuto through another wooden door that revealed a long hallway. Multiple doors lined the hallway, which led to a larger living space like the one downstairs ahead, towards the right a second hallway disappeared around the corner.
Leading Yuto to the second door on the left, Wantz opened it to be greeted with the powerful light of computer screens. A massive computer system took up the entire back wall, multiple keyboards and buttons littering the control panel. In front of it was a man hunched over in a tall chair, typing furiously away at the multiple screens, all flashing with different pop ups and code entries. To the left of the room was a table with two wooden chairs, a bookshelf with a few books as well as a tall lamp. The light was dim but refreshing compared to the glaring screen displays.
”Ah—So you’re the one from town, eh?” Spinning in the chair, the old man revealed himself. Though he was still rather fit and muscular, he had a large gut and reeked of cigarettes and beer. Wearing a stained white t-shirt, tucked into purple pants rolled up and comfortable slip-on shoes, he surely didn’t strike the image of a ‘legend’. ”Been wonderin’ what’s been goin’ on—haven’t been able to get jack shit from this thing all day.” He was grumbling as he motioned towards the computer. Wantz closed the door behind them, though his face was a grimace at the smell of the room. ”Cid, just how long have you been in here?” He tended to forget about time while he worked.
”Shut yer yap, kid!” Waving Wantz’s comment away, Cid motioned for Yuto to take a seat at the table towards the left. ”Wantz told me you said some stuff was happenin’ in the city. Sure enough, I can’t get into the system. Tell me what you know.” Wantz moved to say something, but knew how Cid would react. It was his own fault. He glanced at Yuto apologetically. It seemed he’d have to go into detail for Cid, who was a perfectionist.
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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 Sept 4, 2019 10:33:54 GMT -5
Yuto looked over to the door that had just opened to reveal a brunette woman who introduced herself as Aerith. He took her hand in his own in a firm handshake. "Yuto. It's a pleasure." Looking at her, he couldn't help but feel some sense of familiarity from her. Before he could give it more thought, Wantz came through the other door with gusto before catching the woman's eye. Almost immediately his entire tone shifted as Aerith chastised him.
Yuto couldn't do much more than smile awkwardly as Wantz made an effort to escape the room before the situation got worse. As the two climbed the stairs Yuto pondered the familiar feeling he had around Aerith. 'Of course! They're both the same that way.' He laughed as Wantz made a comment about how scary the brunette woman was. "Don't worry about it. I have a friend who's the exact same way."
The two men stepped through another door only to be greeted with the harsh light of several computer screens all flashing with pop-up windows of code only to close almost as soon as they showed up. Yuto didn't try to understand anything on the screens. Computers were never his forte to begin with.
”Ah—So you’re the one from town, eh?” Yuto nodded at the pudgy, aged man, who had decidedly dressed for comfort above all else. ”Been wonderin’ what’s been goin’ on—haven’t been able to get jack shit from this thing all day.” Yuto couldn't help but feel uneasy at that statement. The last time the town was defenseless...he didn't want to think about it. ”Wantz told me you said some stuff was happenin’ in the city. Sure enough, I can’t get into the system. Tell me what you know.” Cid's "request" snapped him back to reality. "Right. Well, to start..." He ran the entire situation he knew to Cid, looking to Wantz to add in any details from when he showed up. "Which, now that I think about it, you should've probably got some form of a diagnostic report from the Bailey. That is where the Vagabond went. Anything like that show up?"
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 4, 2019 21:54:23 GMT -5
As Yuto filled Cid in on the happenings in Radiant Garden, the old man scowled in his swivel chair, leaning back as he scratched his chin in thought. Wantz stared at the old geezer expectantly, waiting to hear what sort action Cid would be planning. ”Now that I think about it, you should’ve probably got some form of diagnostic report from the Bailey. Anything like that show up?” Cid’s scowl deepened as he leaned forward in his chair, glaring at Yuto for a moment. It wasn’t that he was angry at Yuto—just angry in general. Shaking his head, Cid pounded a balled up fist against the arm of the chair with a springing thud!
”Nothin'! I’m locked out, damn it!” Turning his chair, Cid began to type furiously at the keyboard before him, multiple screens lighting up at the sudden action. BEEP! Glaring red scenes took over the screen—a single word popping up in bold text: ACCESS DENIED. Pointing at the screens with a sigh of exasperation, Cid looked back at Yuto and Wantz. ”Earlier today I was notified of forced entry—so I went inta' the system in order to throw up some extra walls and guards…” Slamming a fist against the keyboard out of frustration, the old man pushed himself away from the module altogether. ”I got kicked out! Someone got past me and locked me out!” Rubbing his jaw a bit, Cid reached for a nearby pack of smokes that lay in disarray on the surface sprawled out beneath the monitors.
Lighting a cigarette, the old man coughed for a moment before waving some of the smoke away. Wantz grimaced. He hated the fact that Cid had picked back up on this habit. According to Aerith, he had been on and off the habit too many times to count. ”At first, I wasn’t that worried. We get hackin’ attempts from time to time…but it’s never usually too serious.” It was a blessing that the Heartless were not fundamentally equipped to deal with technology. Though there were rumors of those that were able to possess such machinery, never before had anyone actually seen Heartless proficient in navigating computer tech. ”But, whoever’s goin’ after the system seems to know what they’re doin’…” The geezers face grew serious as he looked at Yuto and Wantz.
”I’m glad to hear the city’s safe—for now. Wantz, take Yuto and meet up with Biggs and Wedge. I’m gonna work on booting out the hacker from our system to throw back on our defenses.” Groaning a bit, muttering about being 'too old' for 'shit like this', Cid butt the cigarette out early—the old ashtray he did this in showed many half smoked cigarettes. It seemed despite his lapse into the habit, Cid never fully committed. Perhaps that said something more about his character than he realized… ”I’ll fill Aerith in and have her contact Yufi. That girl is faster than any gummiship I’ve ever seen.” For a moment, at the mention of ‘Yufi’, Cid’s face broke into a soft smile. It seemed he had a soft spot in his heart for those he cared about.
”I’ll have her meet up with y’all and send some reinforcements.” With that, the old man cracked his knuckles together as he straightened himself in his chair. Turning back to the computer module, he began to type furiously at the keyboard once again. As Wantz motioned for Yuto to follow and exit, Cid spoke over his shoulder. ”Yuto—thanks for helpin’ out our town. We won’t forget it.” Without even a second glance back, the old man began to type furiously once more. Exiting the room, Wantz closed the door once Yuto would exit back into the hallway, leading the man back down the stairs they had come from. Upon arriving in the living room they had first entered, a closer eye would notice that the once disheveled room was now spotless and pristine. Aerith didn't seem to be anywhere in sight, the room being vacant and silent.
Looking at Yuto, Wantz rested a hand on his hip as he thought of the task ahead. ”How’re you doing on supplies, Yuto?” The rifleman had ample ammo and potions in the small sack-like bag he carried on his hip. He always tended to keep ample stock while out on patrols—one could never be too careful on this world, after all. ”Should we stop anywhere before we head out?” Despite his own readiness, Wantz didn’t want to rush his new ally off into a battle ill equipped.
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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 Sept 18, 2019 6:05:05 GMT -5
Cid's mention of being locked out took Yuto by surprise. 'Did the Vagabond get sidetracked? He's not altogether so I don't doubt it, but something like this-' His train of thought was derailed by Cid's instructions to meet up with Wantz's friends. The man moved to follow the rifleman out of the room before Cid called over his shoulder. ”Yuto—thanks for helpin’ out our town. We won’t forget it.” Yuto gave a thumbs up and a smile. "Never a problem Cid. Happy to help."
He followed Wantz out the door and back down to the room they started from. Aerith was nowhere to be found, which was a shame because Yuto wanted to thank her for her hospitality. ”How’re you doing on supplies, Yuto? Should we stop anywhere before we head out?” Yuto doublechecked his belt. He had his bat, his Replikeyblade, and a couple of potions. 'That on top of my healing magic...I should be fine for right now.' He gave a thumbs-up to Wantz "I'm good, you?"
He couldn't shake the feeling that something happened to the Vagabond, however. He would have to find a way to get to the Bailey and see first hand what was wrong. "You ready?"
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 18, 2019 11:00:53 GMT -5
Seeing Yuto’s ‘thumbs up’, Wantz nodded with a smile. Good. He didn’t want to waste too much time getting to the town. ”You ready?” Yuto’s question caused him to turn, opening the door that led back out to the Construction Site Town, stepping out into the night under a canopy of stars. ”Yeah—“ Truthfully the rifleman was nervous. Not because of the possible Heartless they would be fighting, but for what it all meant. Why is our system being hacked into? Wantz began to lead Yuto back through the small alleyways that led them to the more open market street. At this hour, despite the lit lanterns outside of each door, most windows were dark with the sign of sleep. I’m nervous about leaving them, too…
Wantz and Yuto reached the gate to town, having the armed watchmen open the large wooden and metal barrier to reveal the dark path looming before them. Though they had just come earlier in the night, it somehow seemed darker and more foreboding than before. A shiver passed through Wantz, though he refused to show it visibly. The woods and fields always creeped him out at night. Grabbing the lantern on his hip, Wantz turned the device on as he clasped it back to his belt loop. With this, their immediate proximity would be illuminated on the journey, but nothing else. Pulling his rifle out, keeping it leaned over his shoulder, Wantz began to lead the way down the cobblestone path that stretched out into the open fields lined with tall thick trees.
If the constant threat to their lives was eliminated, it would be a beautiful world. For a moment, Wantz led Yuto in silence as he kept an ear out for any sign of danger. Tch—damn paranoia. With a sigh, Wantz scratched at the back of his head, turning to glance at Yuto as he raised an eyebrow. ”So—Yuto, where’re you from?” He remembered from their earlier conversation that the guy had been to this world before—but it didn’t seem like he was a local. A world traveler, huh… There was an odd pang of jealousy that passed through Wantz’s heart, just as a familiar presence began to cling to the air. Darkness draped over them like a curtain, even the starlight seemed dimmer for a moment as a sound dreaded by many echoed faintly in the night. Whoosh.
Yellow eyes began to form and appear as the Heartless emerged. It was only a matter of time. They were the only two hearts for miles. Wantz knew it would happen sooner or later. Readying his weapon, the man backed towards Yuto a bit, firing at the nearest enemy—a Shadow. The creature melded into the ground just before the bullet landed, causing Wantz to curse as the rest of the creatures appeared. Surrounding them were a few Shadows, Soldiers and NeoShadows. It wasn’t a large group, but being out in the open at night like this made Wantz uneasy. Any fight they were going to do—he wanted to get it over with quick. Blasting another round at the nearest Heartless, Wantz shouted out at Yuto.
”Take out the Neoshadows! I’ll hold off the small fry!”
[[ENEMIES: 6 Shadows, 4 Soldiers, 3 NeoShadows]]
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Sept 29, 2019 19:55:18 GMT -5
Yuto followed Wantz for a while, unable to shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong. ”So—Yuto, where’re you from?” The question caught him by surprise. He should've expected it, but Wantz was the first person to ask. "It's not that important. Yuto waved the question off. "What is important is that I'm here now."
As if on cue, the whole world seemed to dim. 'Great.' He looked around to see just over a dozen pairs of glowing yellow eyes stalking the two men. Yuto felt Wantz's back to his as he kept an eye on the Heartless on his side. Blocking a Soldier that decided to rush the two as Wantz fired off a couple of shots.
”Take out the Neoshadows! I’ll hold off the small fry!” Yuto nodded. It was a solid plan, Yuto had a better shot at taking them out quickly due to how much faster they were than there smaller counterparts. "Keep an eye on the Shadows best you can. They like to ambush people." Enough time in that place, purebloods were commonplace for Yuto. "Ready?" The man waited a few seconds, sizing up the Heartless and figuring the best way to get this done quickly."NOW!" He rushed the Neoshadows as fast as his body could take him, activating his Dark Flare form as he did so.
Jumping past the other Heartless, Yuto swung at the first Neoshadow before jumping on the second one and bashing the third into the ground. 'The sooner this is done, the better.' He aimed his bat at the Neoshadow that he was standing over. "Burn" A large fireball launched itself into the ground, disintegrating the one Neoshadow. He turned to the other two, waiting for either to make a move.
"How ya doin' over there?" Yuto called, not daring to break his gaze from his enemies.
[[ENEMIES: 6 Shadows, 4 Soldiers, 2 NeoShadows]]
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 30, 2019 10:57:30 GMT -5
As Yuto sized up the NeoShadows, Wantz provided cover by shooting any Heartless that made moves near the two. Though his rifle wasn’t the most powerful weapon, it was enough to give the creatures pause. ”NOW!” Yuto’s sudden burst of energy surprised Wantz, who glanced over his shoulder as he watched the man’s bat become engulfed in dark flames, illuminating the night with an eerie purple glow. Oh no! Misunderstanding the situation, Wantz turned, aiming his gun towards one of the NeoShadows. Just then, Yuto leapt through the air, unleashing a powerful combo on not just one but two Neoshadows within the blink of an eye. Woah—that guy’s strong! Encouraged by his comrades abilities, Wantz turned back to the Shadows and Soldiers.
In his moment of distraction, he had allowed a few to get a little too close for comfort. Tch—as if I have to use this on pipsqueaks like these! Feeling ashamed, Wantz’s hand was swift as it switched a mechanism near the handle of his long rifle. Click! Taking a single jump backwards, Wantz unleashed his rifle’s Burst Attack, unleashing a small barrage of bullets that caused the nearest Heartless to fall back. The attack caused a loud SNAP! to crackle through the night, as well as a brilliant flash of light, providing more than enough for what he needed. Digging his heels into the grass, Wantz used the butt of his rifle to swiftly defeat the closes Soldier, hitting it with all his might directly in the head with a swift combo as it burst into dark vapor. It seemed his Burst Attack had been more potent than he gave it credit for!
Meanwhile, the NeoShadows were not sitting idly by, waiting for Yuto to kill them. Both twitched in bloodlust and agitation as they began their counter attack. While one melded into the grass floor, disappearing as a shadow of the night, the other rushed Yuto in a diagonal left facing charge. Lashing out with its powerful talons, the creature swiped a furious combo at the man stained with darkness as the second Heartless inched itself closer. Appearing out of the grass on Yuto’s right, the second Neoshadow found its moment of opportunity during the first Heartless’ attack. In an uppercut style strike, the Heartless shot from the ground, melding out of it as though a shadow, lancing out with its claws at Yuto. Wantz was busy dealing with his own Heartless, not even seeing the attack—he wouldn’t be able to provide any cover.
”Huff—who’s—huff—next?!” He wasn’t used to getting close to Heartless. Typically, he partnered up with Biggs and Wedge to provide cover. He was used to working in a triad, not a duo. Gritting his teeth a bit, the man ran a couple feet to his left, avoiding a dangerous lunge from a Shadow as he clicked! the mechanism on his rifle again, returning its fire to normal. Grinning from relief, Wantz brought the gun to a steady aim and fired at the Shadow closest in pursuit. Getting it directly in the eye—the already wounded creature evaporated instantly. ”Yes!” He was holding his own—albeit, sweating a lot more than he had thought as well as breathing heavily. Though he had avoided damage, he wasn’t used to being in this type of combat—and what made it worse was the open night around them.
Wantz couldn’t help but feel like the darkness was creeping in every second.
[[ENEMIES: 5 Shadows, 3 Soldiers, 4 Neoshadows]]
”Urgh—my head…” The meager groan broke the silence in the small open lot where the Vagabond lay. Grit and cobblestone bombarded his tastebuds as the hooded man realized he was laying facedown in front of the old base. Ah! The computer system! Jumping upright, the man was forced to stagger back as a sharp pain erupted between his eyes. ”Urk!” For a moment, the Vagabond thought he was going to vomit. Raising his gloved hand to his shrouded face, pressing it over his mouth, the man closed his eyes and gathered his bearings while the world around him spun. What the hell happened? He remembered attempting to login on the computer, only to be denied access. After that…something had brought him outside.
What was it?
It was then that the Vagabond heard a faint clang! in the distance, almost sounding as though steel had hit cobblestone. It came from the left… Gazing around the empty area, the Vagabond glanced over his shoulder at the small house behind him. Emitting a faint glow in the night, due to the lights being on, it looked so isolated, despite being surrounded by other homes of similar build bunched in small alleyways. With a sigh, the Vagabond’s gaze lingered on the alleyway in front of him, which turned to the left. ”Tch—guess there’s nothing I can do about it anyway…” Feeling a bit of frustration, the Vagabond turned around, stepping back inside the base only to turn off the lights and close the door. For a moment, the tall man looked down at the lock he had broken. Damned Heartless...making me rush things... If he had only gotten time to use the key card.
”Y’know…they should really get better locks by now.” Supposing no group of organized citizens could ever get anything accomplished, the Vagabond began to construct another seal around the house, similar to one he had done earlier, with a few variations. This should work fine. It'd be better than a normal lock, anyway. Beginning to walk down the small cobblestone steps that led him out of the small opening and into an alleyway once he was done, the Vagabond looked around the Residential District as he walked. It seemed darker outside than before. Hm…I must’ve been out cold for a while… His immediate memories were returning to him, mostly, as he recalled having placed a small seal around the home in order to prevent the Heartless from entering.
Did I really pass out from some Heartless, though? The Vagabond had a nagging feeling he was forgetting something rather important. Why hadn’t his heart been taken, then? Had his seal protected 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 Oct 2, 2019 14:29:20 GMT -5
Yuto watched as the Neoshadowsmounted their counter-attack. His attention was immediately drawn to the one running right for him. 'That eager to die, eh?' The man readied himself as the Heartless struck to his left. Guarding the ferocious combo, Yuto was completely unaware of the Neoshadow that had snuck up on his right. The sudden pain in the man's right arm was the only thing that brought the second Heartless to his attention. 'Damn thing must've gone into the ground.'
There was no time for him to dwell on that, though. The longer he was in his own head, the worse off he'd be. Kicking the one Neoshadow away and putting some distance between himself and the other, Yuto brought himself back to the fight. 'I might not be able to, but if I can hit both of them that'd help a ton.' Straightening up and hefting his bat on his shoulder, Yuto waited for the two Heartless to be in the perfect position. Unfortunately, that never happened, as the Neoshadows split up for another hit from both sides.
'Or now. Now works too.' He swung his bat full force at the one running straight for him, unleashing his Shadow Strike as he did so. As the fiery arc dissolved the one Neoshadow, Yuto turned in time to block the one coming from his left. "Y'all're getting on my nerves now." Pushing back the Neoshadow before nailing it in the head with his Fire Raid and finishing it off with a Flame Dash.
Having taken care of the major threat, Yuto turned his attention to helping Wantz.
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Post by hoodwink on Oct 2, 2019 19:10:20 GMT -5
Wantz grunted in effort as he double stepped backwards, narrowly avoiding a furious swiping attack from a Soldier. These bastards just twirl through the air! That’d be a convenient power. Already a few smaller wounds had began to litter the rifleman, the Shadows and Soldiers were quick enemies after all, excellent at close-combat. It wasn’t a great pairing for someone like him. ”Tch, screw that!” Shaking off any doubt, Wantz readied his gun as he fired at another Shadow nearing in, causing it to fall back due to the damage. Others soon swarmed to take its place, though the nearest Soldier was soon vanquished as Wantz unleashed a flourishing rifle-butt combo to its head.
Sweating and heaving, Wantz was driven by sheer adrenaline at this point. The Heartless had continued to surround and lunge at him. Gritting his teeth, the rifleman forced himself to relax as he reached for the small satchel he wore on his hip. A bright green light erupted around him as he used a Potion, aiding him in recovering from most of the wounds he had received. A soothing calm flowed through him as he sized up the nearest enemies. The Soldiers are almost done… They were definitely the more powerful enemy—but the Shadows in their numbers were deadly, too.
Aiming his gun steadily, Wantz aimed for the closest Shadow, a wounded one preparing to lunge yet again. Bang! Firing off the shot, the Heartless puffed! pack into the darkness from which it came. No hearts were released from such mundane weapons. Readying himself, Wantz backpedaled in order to avoid two attacks from a Soldier and Shadow, not noticing the other Heartless that began to circle around him. Lunging from the darkness, a Shadow took the man by surprise as its clawed hands found Wantz’s unprotected back.
”Argh!” Stumbling down to a knee, Wantz barely managed to keep a grip on his rifle as he spun around, delivering a swift kick at the small demon. Bang! Firing another shot point-black at the Shadow, the Heartless fell without a cry. Wantz was panting heavily, reaching for his wounded shoulder blade with his free hand as the other Heartless began to close in.
[[ENEMIES: 3 Shadows, 2 Soldiers]]
Clang! Clang! The clash of combat rang through the small alleyways the Vagabond emerged from, having reached the large opening that led to the main marketplace of Radiant Garden. Passing through the stone archway, the hooded vagrant kept his steps quiet and his stature crouched as he skulked into the scene. Ahead was the rather large shop of the Moogle acquaintance he had on this world—overrun with jittering Shadows and Soldiers. A few armed locals were fending them off, albeit with some difficulty, while the Vagabond noticed more commotion in the main plaza.
A small fire had started, flaring up from one of the many shop stalls that littered the cobblestone plaza. The Vagabond didn’t need to see—he could smell the scent of countless Heartless. Luckily, Radiant Garden was a world full of able-bodied locals, as well as hardened adventurers. Many were holding the Heartless at bay, though others had already fallen. Gritting his teeth from the shadows of his deep hood, the Vagabond readied himself for the worst to come. The locals fighting at the Moogle’s shop were doing just fine, more and more of the Heartless beginning to disappear. Phew... It was best for him to pretend to be a bystander until absolutely necessary, given the nature of his abilities...
Running by, the Vagabond was able to finally glimpse the plaza in full view. It was the armory shop that was set ablaze, countless Shadows and Soldiers leaping around it as the locals and travelers attempted to fend them off. Many were taken by surprise, as typically the world’s security system was operational. In the middle of the plaza, holding off the majority of the Heartless, were two stoic dark-haired warriors in leather armor. One was taller and more lean, wielding a Broadsword and Shield, the other was shorter and more stout, wielding a powerful Hammer. Both were horned.
”Ha! It's Biggs and Wedge.” The Vagabond whistled in impressed awe. ”Yuto musta reached the Committee.” Resting his hands on his hips, the Vagabond looked around the plaza. There was no sign of the other ‘regulars’, or Yuto. Where is everyone…? Were the two warriors all there were? That didn’t sound right…typically, the entire Committee joined in to help defend the world.
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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 Oct 14, 2019 12:43:51 GMT -5
As Yuto ran to Wantz he saw how much trouble the man was in. 'Damnit! I told him to be careful.' Using a Dark Corridor Yuto appeared next to Wantz. "Tired already? There's only a few left." He flashed the man a playful grin. "Don't worry, I can give us some breathing room." He lifted his bat into the air. "Erupt!"
As he did so, a ring of fire surrounded the two men. His Flame Wall wouldn't last long, but it would give them a minute or two to catch their breath. "Much better. Now, let's get you up." Yuto helped the rifleman to his feet. Looking the man over, Yuto saw just how bad Wantz was hurt. With a sigh and a pointing of his bat at the man, Yuto healed the man. "Mend." A green light surrounded Wantz, healing a good portion of his wounds.
"Hope that helped." Yuto took a look at their now fading defense. "'Cause we're gonna have to fight again in a second."
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Post by hoodwink on Oct 15, 2019 12:48:44 GMT -5
”Tired already? There’s only a few left.” Yuto’s voice reached Wantz’s back, causing the man to jump in surprise. How had he suddenly appeared next to him? The rifleman had been so preoccupied with the situation he was in he hadn’t noticed. ”Don’t worry, I can give us some breathing room.” Sighing in relief as the ring of fire burst to life, causing a Shadow to burst into flames and disappear as the others quickly realized what was happening, Wantz was given room to breathe. Leaping backwards away from the two, the Heartless retreated behind the flaming wall, waiting for their opening. ”Thanks.” Stumbling to his feet with Yuto’s aid, Wantz felt sudden relief as the man worked his healing magic.
Magic… Wantz had always longed for such a power, as any without such would do. For a moment, the man looked around them, the fire blazing brightly in the pitch black. It always makes things easier. What did he have, other than his gun and his potions? There was merit in going toe-to-toe with the beasts, but Wantz would have much preferred to have magical powers that allowed him strength and security. ”Hope that helped, cause we’re gonna have to fight again in a second.” Yuto’s warning snapped the rifleman back to reality. The flaming ring protecting them was beginning to fade, the Heartless inching in with every gap they were given.
Wantz nodded, readying his rifle once more as he took aim. Just as Yuto’s Flame Wall ended, the remaining Shadows melded into the lush grass floor, while the Soldiers leapt through the air over the dimming flames to spiral towards their prey. ”Watch out!” It seems the attack had begun. Bang! Firing off a shot at an airborne Soldier, Wantz sent the creature crashing to the ground, staggered. The other was gunning for Yuto, spinning through the air as though a top, its sharp talons whirling and glinting in the fading fire light. The remaining Shadows emerged, one each lunging towards Yuto and Wantz separately as they aimed to support their stronger fighters.
Wantz grunted in effort as he brought his rifle up to block the Shadow’s swiping attacks, though the small Heartless was quick. Backpedaling a bit, Wantz aimed to gain some needed distance in order to fire off his rifle. Unleashing a rifle-butt combo on the Shadow, he gained space and fired off a second round. Bang! The Shadow flung backwards, falling to the ground dazed. The Soldier was getting back up, but Wantz seemed to have fended his share of the Heartless back for now.
He looked over to see how Yuto was fairing.
[[ENEMIES: 2 Shadows, 2 Soldiers]]
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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 Oct 29, 2019 13:20:44 GMT -5
Wantz's warning was just in time. Yuto had spent his focus on his comrade and their now extinguished barrier. He turned in time to duck under a Soldier before drawing his other weapon. 'Well, no better practice than on the job, right?' The man cracked a smile at his own thought.
He straightened himself and turned to the Heartless, his eyes beginning to glow a soft yellow. This fight was dragging on longer than it should've, and Yuto was starting to get annoyed. "I got the Soldiers, you worry about the Shadows." He figured it was the best course of action. Yes, both Heartless fight up close, but Wantz would have a better shot with the Shadows due to the fact that they were less erratic.
The man kept his attention on the Soldiers, making sure that he could see both as to not be ambushed again. It happened more often than he cared to admit.
He decided to go on the offensive first, rushing the Heartless before they had a chance to do the same to him. Luckily Yuto caught the two Heartless by surprise, letting him land a few choice blows. With a quick flurry, the injured Soldier melted into nothing.
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Post by hoodwink on Oct 30, 2019 11:41:38 GMT -5
”I got the Soldiers, you worry about the Shadows.” Yuto’s voice echoed through the clearing, annoyance clear in his tone. Wantz couldn’t help but agree—the Purebloods power at this hour was just obnoxious. Typically Shadows and Soldiers weren’t so…well, threatening. ”Got it!” Used to supporting rather than being purely offensive, the rifleman couldn’t help but agree with Yuto’s strategy. While his comrade launched towards the Soldiers, Wantz ran through the grass, hoping to gain a better vantage point. Running up a small hill to their left, Wantz silently hoped Yuto could handle himself while he took this time to prepare. Only one Shadow had followed him—he’d have to get the others attention somehow.
Spinning on his heels once he reached the top of the hill, a loud Bang! crackled through the air as Wantz pulled the trigger. The Shadow behind him had just leapt towards the mid-range fighter, swiping with its glinting claws before dissolving in a puff of dark mist. The shot had burrowed directly through the wounded creatures head, destroying it. Shouting out in victory, Wantz saw from down the hill Yuto making quick work of the Soldiers. Surfacing in the dark field near Yuto’s back, the last Shadow revealed itself, bright orb eyes blinding in the darkness. Bang! A second shot fired as it caught the airborne Heartless, causing it to lurch and fall behind Yuto uselessly. Clank! Click! Pulling the lever on the side of the barrel, the rifleman took a deep breath as he reloaded.
Bang! Puffing into nothingness, the wounded Heartless was no more. It seemed the two had defeated the enemies! ”Phew…” Wiping sweat away from his forehead, his headband soaked by now, Wantz felt his legs shake slightly before he shook the sensation off. That had been a harder fight than he had thought. ”The hell’s the deal with ‘em…?” Glancing around the dark empty field caused a slight terror to settle deep in his heart. Walking back down the hill towards Yuto, Wantz called out. ”Hey! We did it! You okay?” Reaching his comrade, he’d inspect Yuto’s condition, using a Potion if necessary. The journey ahead wouldn’t be long now, but the fight had been unexpected and surprisingly difficult. Something’s happening…
With the things Cid had reported, as well as the power of the Purebloods, Wantz was beginning to get worried.
”When, Wizard?!” Biggs voice boomed over the din of chaos occurring in the plaza. The horned warrior twirled with their broadsword, making swift work of the Shadows and Soldiers that had appeared. Beside them was their shorter and stockier identical twin, slamming their large hammer to crush the Heartless back into the darkness. Fire continued to consume one of the small shops, as many of the locals had to either flee or focus on fending for their lives as the Heartless ran rampant. ”I told you, I’m not a wizard!” The Vagabond cupped his mouth, shouting over the noise from atop one of the tall cobblestone walls that lined the marketplace. I swear, every time with these guys… He genuinely had enjoyed Biggs and Wedge upon first meeting them, as they were both people of few words (his favorite kind of people), though their tedium was growing exhausting.
Scribbling on the stone with his gloved hand, which glowed a faint purple as black darkness snaked around it, the Vagabond continued his work. Truthfully, he was in a bit of a panic, at the moment. Not wanting to terrify the locals or jeopardize his own security on this world, the Vagabond was not taking a fighting position in this chaos. Instead, he had instructed Biggs and Wedge to draw most of the Heartless’ attention while he worked on creating a seal. Damn it! Where are they?! For probably the fiftieth time, the Vagabond’s free hand rummaged furiously through the many pockets of his hooded coat. He couldn’t find his research. The familiar crumpled ancient paper was nowhere to be found.
”Shit!” He was working on the fly, trying to amplify his new Seal Technique with no source material. A respectable endeavor, but perhaps not the best choice when confronted with such a serous issue. This was orchestrated… His notes going missing after finding the hacked defense system couldn’t be a coincidence. …something’s going on here… Try as he might to wrack his brain for answers, it took most of the man’s focus to continue his seal.
Scribbling with a new haste, the Vagabond worked.
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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 Nov 6, 2019 20:27:44 GMT -5
There was a loud BANG followed by Wantz's voice. Yuto spun around to see the gunman walking down the hill. ”Hey! We did it! You okay?” Yuto waved to his comrade and made his way forward, attempting to meet in the middle. "Nice shootin', Tex." The man patted his friends shoulder. "You must be a bane to rodents everywhere." The smile never fading from Yuto's face as he attempted to lighten the mood. "Anyway, I'm fine." He looked Wantz over to make sure he was still in fighting shape, his eyes still glowing faintly.
Is it just me, or did those Heartless seem stronger than usual?" The man couldn't help but feel like they were buffed somehow. Looking over to Wantz with some concern, he motioned for them to keep moving. "We need to get where we're going." He thought for a moment. "We should also find the Vagabond. If anyone could help us figure this out, it's him." There was something going on here, something that reminded Yuto of that place. Needless to say, he wasn't a fan. The sooner they found the Vagabond and figured out what was going on the better.
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Post by hoodwink on Nov 7, 2019 1:03:10 GMT -5
Laughing at Yuto’s quip, Wantz slipped the sling crafted onto his rifle across his shoulder—allowing him to holster the long gun on his back. He was thankful for the man’s humor, as the weight of worry was beginning to wear on him. ”Is it just me, or did those Heartless seem stronger than usual?” Wantz found himself nodding immediately to Yuto’s question—he had been thinking the same thing. At the mention of finding some ‘Vagabond’, the rifleman tilted his head a bit. ”Vaga...bond?” He was focused on finding Biggs and Wedge. Many of the other Committee members were preoccupied. I hope the town's okay…
Shaking his head a bit, Wantz glanced back at Yuto. ”Whoever he is…if he knows what’s going on—we definitely need to find ‘im.” For a moment, the rifleman wondered exactly who this ‘Vagabond’ was. The name was a little sinister, in his opinion, though Yuto himself seemed like a reliable and trustworthy enough guy. Just who is he…? A mysterious man wielding a bat and a wooden Keyblade, appearing in Radiant Garden's time of need with an ominously named ally. It was just all so bizarre. Well…I guess I signed up for this. His feint of heart was waning, fiery courage taking its place as a grin set upon his lips. Joining the Restoration Committee had given him everything he had been looking for—excitement, adventure and aiding the world.
Following the overgrown path, Wantz motioned for Yuto to follow. ”C’mon! We’re getting close!” If they hurried, they could make good timing despite the battle that had interrupted them. Picking up the pace a bit, Wantz waved for Yuto to follow as he began to jog through the winding fields of purple flowers and thick trees, orange light from the small lantern swinging on his hip illuminating their path.
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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 Nov 22, 2019 9:04:38 GMT -5
The way Wantz had repeated the Vagabond's name caused Yuto to realize a couple of things. Either the two haven't met or, just as likely, the Vagabond didn't tell anyone who he was. Understandable, considering the types of skills he had. "He's a...friend? Associate? We've been helping each other." Yuto didn't know how else to describe their relationship. The Vagabond has done nothing but help so far, yet Yuto couldn't help but feel something major was off. Still, maybe that was a harsh mentality to have, especially considering the similar events they shared. "Either way, he should be able to help."
As the two made their way down the overgrown path, Yuto noticed that things seemed brighter than usual, even in the cover of night. 'Is it because we just beat the nearby Heartless? He shrugged it off. They had enough to worry about without him bringing up random things like this. "So, we have some time before we get there. Mind if I ask you what brought you to Radiant Garden?"
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Post by hoodwink on Nov 23, 2019 0:22:15 GMT -5
Hearing Yuto’s description of the Vagabond, Wantz nodded and smiled. ”Well, any friend of yours is a friend of ours! You’re doin’ us all a huge favor, after all!” The Restoration Committee certainly wasn’t what it used to be. Times of peace were a blessing yet also a disadvantage. Most of the veteran fighters were only getting older, and while Wantz had been in his own fair share of battles, not all younger Committee members could say the same. We need all the help we can get… Still, something about this ‘Vagabond’ character was nagging at the back of Wantz’ head. Why do I feel like I’m forgetting something?
”Mind if I ask you what brought you to Radiant Garden?” Yuto’s question broke the rifleman out of his thoughts, causing his pace to halt for a moment before continuing down the overgrown path. ”I came here when I was little.” Wantz gazed up towards the starry night sky. His voice seemed faintly distant. ”I don’t really remember where I came from, only that Ma brought me here.” Looking back down, the young mans pace slowed a bit. ”I don’t remember my dad…Ma never liked to talk ‘bout him. She made us a new life here and joined the Committee. Things were good, for a while…” For a moment, his voice choked, though he was quick to recover himself. ”But there was a breach in the Bailey—she tried to help defend it…but…” He didn’t really need to say the rest.
Wantz clenched his fists at his side, finally halting for a moment. There was a pained look on his face as he gazed down at the illuminated grass and cobblestone beneath him. Creak. The lantern hooked to his belt swayed slightly, casting shadows in random directions. ”But, that’s why I joined the Committee, and stayed.” A look of determination had come across Wantz’s face, a proud fire burning in his eyes. ”Ma loved this town. It was a solace for her when we needed it most.” There was a sudden rage brimming inside of him, leaking out into his tone and words as he spoke. ”I won’t let those bastards take everything from me.” Heartless. It was always Heartless. With a new determination in his step, Wantz continued on, leading Yuto through the dark field that would lead to the town.
Finally, ahead in the distance the two would see a familiar ancient castle in view, mountainous cliffs cracking the dark horizon lush with green grass and flowers of all colors sprouting throughout. Tall and powerful walls sheltered the town itself from view, but Wantz’s keen eye immediately noticed something peculiar. What’s that orange? Above the walls was a soft glow emanating from the light of the town—building windows glowing with warm light of hearth and evening rest, lanterns illuminating busy streets bustling with late-night shopkeepers and craftsman working for the next day to come. All of this was familiar and welcoming. What wasn’t was the odd orange glow emanating from random spots, spilling over the tops of the walls to mix with the gold of soft light.
That was when the rifleman noticed the smoke.
Breathing was hard. How long had they been running? Under his feet was the familiar path leading to the Bailey. Wantz’s rifle jostled and smacked against his back, though he was too alarmed to care. Thump! Thump! Thump! Pounding against his ribs, the heart within protested and demanded rest. Fire! Why is there fire in the town! It had only taken him moments before realizing the odd light he had seen from the fields. Finally the steps of the Bailey came into view, sturdy as iron despite the rocky terrain and cliffside crags. Rushing up the first group of stairs in a few bounds, a familiar whoosh! caused Wantz’s teeth to grit. ”Yuto! Ignore them! We don’t have time!” Already NeoShadows began to form from the shaded cracks in the stairs. Armored Knights appeared among the small platform leading to the next set of stairs, clanking and creaking through small dark portals.
Ssssssssss! A small fireball whizzed past his head. Luckily the rifleman was hardly new to the game, his reflexes saving his life as only his shoulder was singed. Crimson Jazz’s lowered down from the night above, pointed hats jolting and sliding from the kickback of the casters spell. Rushing forward with all his might, Wantz dove forward through the platform, rolling on the ground just as the Armored Knights began to slash—coming up behind them to continue forward up the stairs. As another fireball hurtled through the air towards him, he leapt up the last remaining steps as he rolled on his side—finally emerging in the Bailey. Standing up and brushing himself off, Wantz earnestly looked for Yuto.
He wouldn’t just leave the guy behind, after all.
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