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| Down To Business |
| (2012-11-27 - 2012-11-27) |
| Aerith finally begins teaching her protege in the ways of properly controlling her magic. Easier said than done, of course. |
| Aerith | Aerith sighed as she sat in one of the pews, looking up at the cross. She couldn't necessarily get into the whole religion thing, though her people were of a spiritual bent. However, the flower girl could understand the idea of it. People needed something to hang on to, to hope for. Perhaps they had this in common, but it wasn't exactly right how easily it could be twisted into something more sinister. But the reason why she was here wasn't to worship, or anything else of the sort. This place was... safe. It had an aura about it that denied anything dark, foreboding, with intent to harm or kill or corrupt. She, who could hear what others could not, knew this, could feel it even now. And so it was a good meeting spot for her protégé, who should be here any moment due to the letter Aerith had sent the girl... and so she closed her eyes and did something she'd never done before. She made an attempt to actively use her senses, the ones she'd been born with. Aerith made her best attempt to relax and spread herself, her aura, around the expanse of the room. It seemed to want to stick to her, holding fast even as she pressed outward. Seconds passed in silence without too much happening... and then her personal space inched outward, slowly but surely. She'd gotten the idea, honestly, from her time in Targ Woods, after the battle. The forest... she could feel it, its presence, covering her like a shroud. She asked, it answered. She wanted something, it gave. She always knew she could do that... but it gave her this idea that she could do other things. And so within the space of five minutes, she'd created a sort of bubble, invisible to all but those with the keenest eyes, that spread out for about thirty feet. No one was there to sense... but she was keenly aware of the air, charged somewhat, feeling and prodding. Good, she liked that. Aerith opened her eyes, retreated her aura, and waited for her guest. |
| Maira | Maira had heard Aerith was in Traverse Town, and thus had come to find her. After asking around, she finally determined that Aerith was at the Church. The strange thing was, the Church was a place most denizens didn't understand. They could not name the religion that Church was fashioned to worship, or who had built it. It simply 'was'.
As she approaches, something raises goosebumps on her skin, giving her a small shiver that makes her giggle. That tickled, whatever it was! Maira moves inside quietly, peeking her head in to spot the golden brown hair of Aerith. "Aha! There you are!" she says cheerily, practically skipping down the aisle. |
| Aerith | Good. She was here.
Aerith motioned for the girl to come over without saying a word. For a brief moment, she could pick up her aura without having to turn around as she entered just at the edge of the bubble she'd made. It needed work, but it was good for now. She glanced at the fae-like girl with a smile and patted the space to the right of her. "Come on, we need to talk." |
| Maira | Maira blinks, then slides into the pew to take a seat beside Aerith, tucking her legs up beneath her so that she can turn to face the woman. She takes note of Aerith's serenity and takes a deep breath, letting it have an effect on her. Though Maira's bubbling enthusiasm is not dampened. "Alrighty, what should we talk about?" |
| Aerith | Aerith turned to face Maira for a moment. "I hear Avira got in a little bit of trouble, and you got her out of it." She smiled, her expression placid, understanding. "You wanna tell me about it?" Because she seriously could have gotten herself hurt, but since she was here and okay, Aerith needed to know what happened. |
| Maira | Maira sighs. Figures, she'd have to talk about this.
"Yeah. Avira was taken. I didn't get many details, just that a dark knight and some lady had taken Avira to Baron. So...Uist and I went to Baron to try to get her out. With Uist's help I was able to sneak into the castle and locate Avira. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who came for her though! There were a whole bunch of other people, including Mercade, Angantyr, Jasmine...See, the woman who took Avira...she had her dressed in a maid outfit with a magical COLLAR around her neck...the woman, she used it to control Avira and make her attack me..." Maira says, looking down at the hands she is now winding in her lap. "I didn't know what was happening...but when Uist saw the collar, he got really angry. I, you know, caught fire...its kind of blurry after that, but we got Avira out." |
| Aerith | Aerith nodded. That was the part she was worried about. She was safe though, so it was all right... but how long would it take for something really, truly bad to happen? At this rate, not long.
The Cetra took a deep breath, choosing her next words carefully. "What if you could control your magic to an extent?" She didn't know what extent that would be, but it'd be more than she had right now. "Would you like that?" |
| Kaydin | "Course she could have been killed, especially if our forces werent so distracted with being on the offensive." Kaydin calls as he walks closer, not wearing his heavy armor, just his sword and the chain wrapped around his arm as he approaches. "Personally I am getting tired of caring for people outside of baron, since they seem to be the ones causing me the most headaches." He says as he seems more stern now, his face looks more detached. |
| Maira | Maira nods emphatically. "Well of course I want to control it better! I can, normally...but sometimes...like if my friends are in danger...it just...happens," she admits.
Maira takes a deep breath, letting it out slow. "Sometimes when I have the nightmares...I wake up and the bed is on fire..." she confesses, like a teenager embarrassed about uh, nocturnal emissions. Except its FIRE. Of course, of COURSE Kaydin has to walk in just then. Maira's face gets very red, with both embarrassment and anger. It is very clear she does not want to be near Kaydin. Indeed, she ignores him for the time being. |
| Synestria | Walking her way in a few minutes later, Synestria stretches her arms over her head while she looks around the church. It seemed like a nice place to visit after all. However, she can't exactly hear the conversation that's going on at the moment, but with the way she's walking through the pews, it's obvious she's not with Kaydin.... |
| Aerith | Aerith shook her head. "And yet you can't help but do it, because it's part of who you are. And you'll have to accept that no matter what, you'll always care for those in need." It's what she believed about him, and she wouldn't change that stance. "Are you going to sit down and remove that scowl, or are you going to stand there and just glare at everything around you?" She placed a hand on her student's right shoulder. "Don't worry... He's not always this way." |
| Maira | Maira shakes her head. "Yes he is," she assures Aerith. "He's always this way with me, anyway...he hates me, thinks I'm stupid, etc. I'm not going to talk to someone who thinks I'm stupid," she says quietly. |
| Kaydin | Kaydin Instead of his usual armor he wore a black longcoat which was buttoned up so it covered most of his body, his feet wearing black leather boots meant for travel as he watches her. He relaxes so he doesnt look as stern but he does look calm, no emotion on his face as he approaches. "I guess I should be thanking you, Maira. Thanks to you and those others, we have hardened our defenses. The next time you try and do anything in baron, you talk to me first. Dont, and I will treat you as I do any threat to my home. As for hating you, No. I pity you." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith lets him speak. She wanted to hear this, and Maira needed to hear it. Perhaps a lesson in caution was in order before she even started teaching Maira the finer points about using materia, something that no one else would have her learn. |
| Maira | Maira Maira's eyes blaze as she looks to Kaydin. "Funny, I feel the same about you. Perhaps next time you think to kidnap one of my friends you should speak to ME first," she comments. Yes, perhaps Maira needs caution. Her instinct is to protect people and do what is right at all costs. She knows she is naive, but she'll not sit back and let Kaydin blame everything on her. |
| Synestria | Synestria As the tension escalates, Syn walks her way closer to the trio, listening quietly to the conversation. Upon hearing the fortifications of Baron, she drew a little smirk to her face, but didn't say anything. However it's Maira's comment that catches her attention, about the rescue mission. "I had heard about that in rumors, but didn't really think it was true." But her later comments made her raise her eyebrow, but she kept her mouth shut. She does wave to Aerith though, who should recognize her from Manhattan. |
| Aerith | Aerith Okay, time to step in. She squeezed Maira's left shoulder for a brief moment, without force, but at the same time as a warning. On the edge of her senses, she picked up Synestria, but did not wave in return. Not a very amicable situation right now. "Please... let him finish." This was Kaydin... actually being nice. |
| Kaydin | Kaydin "You do not understand the thing I said yesterday. You claim to know that every effect has an effect all it's own, but you really do not grasp the situation do you?" Kaydin asks as he holds his sword out. He closes his eyes and the dark energy surges about the blade like a black cloud. "I constantly have to keep control of my emotions. If I dont, people could die. I wonder what would hav happened if the fight had esculated to outside the castle? Can you personally promise me you will not harm a single person? And even now, people are being warned about how a fire mage attacked Baron and rallying more against you." He says as the dark energy around the blade dims. "Last I checked, atleast a squad of soldiers is being armed with fire resistant materials just so they can finish you off should you come against Baron again." |
| Maira | Maira "Come against Baron!? I merely wanted to get Avira out of there, where she did not want to be. Stop ignoring what YOU did. Yes, people were hurt and I am sorry for it. I am sorry for what could have happened. I am trying to gain better control of my magic. No one came under my orders and you KNOW that! I will stay away from Baron. I want nothing to do with the place. Do what you believe is right Kaydin. I don't know what you want from me," she tells him. She is about ready to leave. She did not come here to be assaulted by Kaydin again. She's tired of this. |
| Synestria | Synestria Resting an arm against a pew, Synestria just listens with an amused smirk upon her face. Oh the stories she could tell about baron at the moment, but it would reveal way too much about her at the moment, and she was among strangers. She does look at Maira as she blurts everything out in anger at Kaydin and raises an eyebrow. Interesting debate, isn't it? |
| Kaydin | Kaydin "I know this but baron doesnt. Your being used to rally people against you. Fear is a powerful tool and can and will be used. Baron is convinced the forces of light want to destroy everything that has to do with the darkness. I did not come to personally attack you, I came to try and help you learn control." He says as he approaches the woman and looks to her. "What did you plan? If no one else came, what were you going to do?" He asks with some concern to his voice as he maintains eyecontact. His gaze isnt intense or anger but calm. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith nodded. Good. This was what she wanted to say... but he said it a bit better. If it weren't enough though, she had a... demonstration prepared. Still, she let him speak. Hopefully Maira would answer without blowing her stack, because if she did, one of the flower girl's major theories about why her fire was going out of whack would be confirmed. |
| Maira | Maira She is being rallied against? This seems particularly absurd to Maira. Uist is rolling his eyes in a big way. "Me? That's..." completely ridiculous? Yeah. That. As for her plan, Maira answers honestly. "I planned to distract Avira's captive long enough for Avira to fight back. Then we would flee and get out of Baron, hopefully forever," she informs him. "I had no way of knowing Avira would be collared and made to fight her friends." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith lifted her right hand. "I'm going to assume, since I wasn't there, this was where things went south..." She turned toward Kaydin for a moment. "I think I'll be fine from here, thanks." She directed her attention toward Maira. "Do you know what peace is?" Odd question... |
| Kaydin | Kaydin "Not just you. All the citizens of baron are being made aware that the forces of light will destroy us because of our dark knights." He says as he nods to Aerith and lets her talk, turning to Synestria and tilts his head. "Having fun?" He asks playfully. |
| Maira | Maira Maira glances toward one of the windows, sighing quietly. If only the full sunlight ever touched on Twilight Town. "Peace? I don't know...I guess it is that feeling you get when you are at ease...when you don't have to worry about violence and fighting. Something I hope one day to understand," she replies. To Kaydin, she shakes her head. "That's silly. Angantyr is a dark knight, but he's my friend and Avira's." |
| Synestria | Synestria "Actually yeah. Listening to different curltures speak is quite fun for me. Always has been." Synestria blinks a bit before looking to Maira. "You are a fire mage, yes?" She asks quite bluntly. "From what I heard as I came upon this conversation, Miss, you are...." She then winks to Aerith, not revealing more yet. |
| Maira | "I am a mage, fire is not the only thing I can do. I am just...particularly attuned to fire," she replies. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith smiled. "That's close... but if you want to understand it, think of it like this..." She raised a hand, hoping it will deter Kaydin from speaking any further. Her turn now. "This world we're in, a mash of many, is chaotic. It's stressful, it's dangerous, it's violent, and it won't stop... because life always changes." She shrugged. "That's the nature of things. So if you think peace is the absence of violence or struggle, then it'll never come." She ruffled Maira's hair. "Peace... is having those things around, but remaining calm in the face of them. That means it doesn't happen on the outside, and it never will." She pokes the girl's forehead. "It happens in here..." Then she pokes her chest. "And in here." Aerith stood and walked toward the aisle, headed for the doors. "Before I go any further, I'm not here to treat you like a child or yell at you. I understand your problem, or at least a big part of it. With that said, here is your first lesson in controlling that materia of yours..." She stops a few feet away and turns, her voice ringing clear through the church. "It takes two things to control fire. A spark, and a source of control. The spark isn't anger, rage, fear, or any other emotion. Those make fire stronger, but..." She shrugged. "You lose a significant amount of control when you rely on them." She takes in a deep breath. "The spark... is passion. And I'm not talking about the emotional kind, I'm talking about a drive, a purpose. Something that you put time and energy into." She looked toward Maira. "What's your drive?" |
| Synestria | Synestria smiles a bit and quiets herself as Aerith begins to talk. She knew Aerith's point as soon as she started to try and make it, but she didn't need Synestria's help to make it. However, once the final question was asked, she looked towards Maira, hoping the answer was somewhat positive. |
| Maira | Maira Maira would feel a lot better about this if Kaydin were not around. With him here, she is nervous and on edge. Still, she admires Aerith and wants to learn from her. She pays attention, keeping her eyes focused on Aerith even as Uist places himself between Kaydin and Maira, because he's endlessly protective. Maira nods to Aerith. "I think I understand. I know, I need to feel it...inside. Usually I do. I will work on it. I will," she says, glancing toward Uist. Should she mention what happened with Uist? She's hesitant. Not around Kaydin. She'd tell Aerith when they were alone. "My drive? I...I want to live a good life. I just want to live. I want to protect my friends, I want to...love and...stuff. I just want to /live/ and do it well. I want to help and make a difference for the world," she answers, looking back at her hands, ashes beneath her fingernails. Meh. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith nodded. "Good. Those are good things to put time and energy into. Remember that anything you put time, energy and resources into, you're passionate about. Otherwise you wouldn't waste them." She turned toward Kaydin's direction again. "The problem with just having a spark is that once a fire starts... it quickly goes out of control, and eats everything. When it comes to magic, if you just throw your passion into a fire, it's out of your hands. And when you get angry, frustrated, enraged... it responds in kind." She lifts the index finger on her left hand, and produces a small flame, just half an inch above the tip. "This... doesn't seem like much, does it?" |
| Kaydin | Kaydin "How far are you willing to go to follow your drive, your want to live a good life?" Kaydin asks calmly before looking to Aerith and then looks to Maira. "I might be able to help you learn better control over some of your fire magic. Darkness and fire do have one thing in common: without proper control it will either not work or blow up in your face." He offers helpfully as he remains silent. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith points the flame toward Kaydin. "Good point... now sit there for a bit." She cleared her throat. Maybe this would teach him not to interrupt... "Like I said, it's not much. But..." She narrowed her eyes and sent a violent, twenty-foot jet of focused, concentrated flame at Kaydin, making it wink out just two feet shy of him. "It can be directed. Focused." She looked toward Maira. "What happens if it's not, if you just let it do what it wants?" |
| Maira | Maira Maira shakes her head at Kaydin's offer. "Kaydin...no. I can't. I'm sorry. Too much has happened. We can't be friends," she tells him. She's being realistic. A rare thing for Maira. Maira looks back to Aerith. "I will destroy as long as it has fuel to burn--but Fire isn't ONLY destructive. We need fire. Without it humanity wouldn't have survived so long. Without it certain plants could not breed. Food would not grow...I understand the balance. I /do/," she replies. She just doesn't understand it so well when unconscious or when...certain things happen. "Aerith...can we please talk about this more another time?" she asks, glancing toward Kaydin. She is clearly uncomfortable. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith shrugged and turned toward Kaydin. "I'm sure that there is another wing of the building you can have your conversation in." Her gaze was apologetic. "Or maybe just outside, if you don't mind..." Besides, she figured there was something else behind this. Earlier, she'd heard that her spirit friend got angry... and that was important. |
| Kaydin | Kaydin Kaydin doesnt even flinch when Aerith sent the fire for him, watching it come short. When Maira says they cant be friends he shrugs. "If that is the case then." Kaydin asks as he raises his sword arm and brings the sword towards Maira. "I protect and help my friends. If we cannot be friends then you are simply my enemy." He says as he waits for her response now. He then turns to Aerith. "I have better things I need to do." He says as he begins to walk off now. |
| Maira | Maira Maira purses her lips as she looks toward Kaydin. "This or that, all extremes. Light or Dark, friend or enemy. It doesn't have to be an extreme. The world doesn't need to be that way," she says, her voice sad. She can't be friends with Kaydin, not with all that has happened between him and Avira...and them, of course. Some words said can't be easily taken back. Maira looks back to Aerith, then looks down. Her spirit sags as do her shoulders, the weight of her thoughts so obvious in her posture. |
| Synestria | Synestria Standing back as the conversation goes on, Synestria watched as Aerith shot the gout of flame at Kaydin. She then listened as maira explained why they couldn't be friends and how Aerith explained how fire worked. However, she watched when Maira's shoulder's sagged. "Calm yourself, Maira. Don't let his spirit dampen yours. Yours already burns brighter than his. Much brighter.....and I think everyone here can see it." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith walked over and sat near Maira. "Well... that didn't end... quite the way I wanted it to." She placed a hand on her shoulder. "Right... you understand why things need to be the way they are. So you understand the importance of control. Everything you just said was because people put that fire to work with their wills. The stronger your will, the more control you have over your fire. So it's not a matter of emotional strength, it's a matter of putting your hands on that fire, grabbing it, and making it do what /you/ want." Aerith smiled. "Aggressive, I know. But fire is aggressive in nature, doesn't flinch or shy away. You have to be the same." She peered over at Uist. "But that's not the real issue, is it? So you're going to tell me what happened before everything went to pieces." She lowered her head just enough to peer at him through her lashes, making her gaze more intense. "Yes... /you/." |
| Maira | Maira Maira nods a little. She is sorry that things are the way they are. But it isn't all in her control, and she will chose her friends first. She must. Maira looks to Syn, blinking a little. She shakes her head, blushing. "Don't say that...things are just...complicated," she informed her. "I...need to speak to Aerith alone though...if you wouldn't mind?" she asks Syn, apologetic. Uist looks to Aerith, crossing his arms. He strikes an intimidating figure, definitely a warrior of some degree, well over six feet and well muscled, his hair and eyes the color of flame. "Very well. Lets talk then," he says, coming over to take a seat by Maira. How strange it is to him to have someone who can see and hear him. Assuming Syn gives them their privacy, Maira looks to Aerith and takes a deep breath. "Uist and I...we have a connection, you know? I think, during the fight when I was getting hurt and Uist got angry we sort of..." she struggling for words here. It was so difficult to describe, and blurry to boot. "I think we sort of...combined? It became difficult to distinguish myself...something...happened. Everything was different. I don't know. It's hard to say...but sometimes I remember things that don't make any sense. I think, maybe, they might be glimpses of Uist's memories." |
| Synestria | Synestria Pat patting Maira's shoulder, Syn begins to leave. "All right. And tell Vist I said hi as well, Maira." She then starts to head out of the church, chains jingling upon her hips and legs in musical tones as she heads out the door. Strange one, this one is. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith nodded as Synestria left. They'd have to talk later, and Kaydin needed to speak with her as well. Just because Aerith understood his motives... didn't mean everyone else had the same point of view. And who was she to curb that? She turned her attention back to Maira. "So you two merged, in a way. That's unique..." She peered at Uist. "...If somewhat dangerous. Considering the results, I'd say it turned out well. This time." She folded her arms. "What got you riled up, Uist." |
| Maira | Maira Maira nods, looking to Uist. Uist nods as well, confirming Maira's assertion. "Yes, I believe that is correct," she adds. As to what got him riled up, Uist frowns. "It was seeing Avira collared like a beast, controlled to attack her best friend by a sick woman for her own amusement. Who would not be enraged to see such a thing? If you had seen the look of horror on Maira's face when Avira attacked her..." Uist shook his head, his eyes flashing at the memory. Uist is a man. A warrior no less. Though he remembers nothing of his life, this much is plain. Maira sighs. "Uist has always protected me, for as long as he's been around. That's all he was doing...protecting me and my friends." "--And sometimes the best way to protect someone is to end a fight quickly and efficiently. Sometimes, mercy will get you killed," Uist adds. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith shrugged. "Unfortunately, the results could have been far, far worse. If Maira doesn't have complete control of her materia, and you just jump in, who knows what could happen?" Her eyes narrowed. "Until I'm done with her, you are only to advise. You might be protecting her, but you could very well kill her in the process of doing so." |
| Maira | Maira Uist straightens, narrowing his eyes. He's not a bad sort, but he's certainly prone to stubbornness. "I have saved Maira's life a dozen times at least. I cannot promise not to intervene if it is necessary to preserve her life," he tells Aerith, standing his ground. Maira gawks at Uist. A dozen times!? Is she really that bad!? |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith stood firm as well. She wasn't about to let Maira go haywire just because her little guardian angel thought it was in her best interest. "Protecting her is one thing... but it doesn't let her grow at all. Saving her life those dozen times... did not teach her anything, did it?" She sighed. "You mean well, I can see that. But if she sets her fire off in an awful way because of you, you'll have done her a disservice. Do you really want that?" |
| Maira | Maira Uist bristles, leaning toward Aerith. "It has taught her to stay alive. It has taught her she can count on me, and for the past ten years of her life I have been the only one she ever could. I do not know much, but I know I need to protect her. I would not willingly let her magic go out of her control...but I cannot be in her mind when she is sleeping," he replies. Maira flushes, hiding her face in her hands. "Uist...shush a moment. I know what you are saying Aerith. I will work on it. I'm getting better, I really am. I have something...some people to fight for. I will do my best to keep control. I know Uist will too." Uist crosses his arms over his broad chest, nodding. "I will do what is best for her. I do not intervene unless necessary, or unless asked." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith shrugged. "Doesn't change the fact that she'd do better with guidance than intervention. I'm not saying she doesn't need you... but less as a protector and more as a /partner/. It's how these things usually go, isn't it?" She glanced at Maira. "I'm sure you'll work on it.... but I'm offering to teach you. Might make it go a little faster. If you don't want it, we won't talk about it again." |
| Maira | Maira Maira smiles some, nodding. "Well of course we are partners! And...yes, yes I do want you to teach me. I want to learn magic better. More thoroughly....and of course, better control of it. My fire is powerful, but needs control. My other magics...I'd like to develop those too. Not just the offensive...but the healing and the protective spells as well." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith smiled. "Well remember, the one thing that you need to remember is that no matter what else happens, you have to put your will into a materia in order to use it. The stronger /that/ is, the stronger your magic is, and the more control you have over it at the same time. Emotions have a say, but those have to be under control as well." She sat back in the pew. "This isn't going to be as easy as I make it sound, though. It's going to take a bit... and you have to be ready for that." |
| Maira | Maira Maira nods, smiling. "That's okay. Nothing is really easy, is it?" she replies. She springs forward to hug Aerith then, her mood having certainly improved. It felt very good to tell someone about what had happened with Uist. Someone she could trust AND who believed her. Uist actually cracks a smile. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith hugged Maira back for a few moments before pushing her away just enough to give her a good look in the eyes. "Some of the things I'm going to ask you to do will be a bit... strange. We're not gonna do magic right away, not until you can get a hold of yourself. In fact, I'm going to ask you to take your materia off at night, hopefully that should help you... not be so burn-things-uppy when you're asleep." At least she hoped it would. |
| Maira | Maira Maira nods a little, laughing. "Yeah...I guess that would be good, huh? I have always just been afraid that someone would steal my materia...but I guess I should be safe where I am now," she replies. Of course, Maira doesn't know it might still happen anyway. The spark in her can ignite even without the use of materia, and THAT is what she really needs to learn to tame. One thing at a time. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith nodded. "Just in case that doesn't work..." Which she doubted it would, because Maira said she could do some magic on her own. "...Then there's a lot I need to learn about you. I wouldn't be surprised if there's something else we need to do." The first rule about dealing with a Cetra was never to ignore any possibility. Aerith knew that one fairly well, because she surprised herself constantly. She turned toward Uist. "These nightmares she has... what started them, d'you think?" |
| Maira | Maira Uist thinks on this for a good while, as does Maira. "Before the world fell to darkness, her nightmares were mostly fever dreams. Maira was ill frequently as a child. Now..." he says, looking to Maira, who continues where Uist left of. "I dream about our world falling to the Heartless...sometimes it is like I am reliving it, but sometimes I am just...feeling and seeing images I can barely rememer, I just FEEL an overwhelming sense of dread..." |
| Aerith | Aerith And her nightmares were the same. Just that she was... there in the thick of it, almost having been eaten by the darkness that came out of nowhere. She had no door to stumble through, no escape route... just the screams and whatever tried to devour her. Aerith nodded. "That says a lot. It says you were, in a way, aware they were coming, had a split second of a realization before things went out of control." |
| Maira | Maira Maira nods a little, sighing. "I...guess so..." she replies. She doesn't really want to think of it. She relives it enough, and she's sure Aerith does as well. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith placed a hand on Maira's head and runs her fingers through her hair. "We're gonna set up shop at an inn nearby, and then we're going to get started in the morning. I doubt we're leaving Traverse Town for a while... but maybe that's for the best." She stood and headed for the exit. "Come on, let's go." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith entered the Red Door Inn with Maira on her back, fast asleep. She felt a bit tired herself, but... she still had business to tend to. She'd told Kaydin to meet her here, and by all means she meant to arrive first. Aerith got herself a two-bedroom suite, and after heading upstairs to put her young student to bed, she headed back down and waited for everyone else. |
| Kaydin | Kaydin Kaydin knocked on the door and would wait for the door to be answered before coming in, looking to Aerith. "So what did you learn from Maira?" He asks, as if Aerith was secretly a spy! He looks about the place as if to see if there were any dangers nearby. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith quirked one of her brows. "Learn from her? Kaydin, if there were anything to learn, it would be that she's afraid, confused, and still has nightmares about the day our world fell." She sighed. "What's gotten into you?" |
| Synestria | Synestria Synestria walked into the room quetly after turned her radio off. She gave kaydin a bit of a look after he asked Aerith that question, but shook her head. She then looked back to Aerith. |
| Kaydin | Kaydin "She could have gotten Avira stealthly and instead she and those others caused a royal rumble in my home, not to mention she has people protecting her if she is remotely unnerved about anything. Forgive me if I am offended that she was part of the ones who thrashed the castle and country I am supposed to protect." Kaydin says to her. |
| Synestria | Synestria "Nothing about her seemed to say 'stealth' in my mind, Kaydin. I think she wanted to get her friend back, even if it meant her own life." She then shrugs. "That's just me though." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith shook her head. "Listen... I understand what happened and what went wrong. But we're both going to admit that this... Morrigan started this. She represents Baron just as much as you do, and that means I can't rightly side with you... much as I empathize with your situation." Aerith turned toward the door. "I'm going to be frank... She's afraid of you, and she blames you personally for doing what you did, regardless of your orders." |
| Kaydin | Kaydin "Look, Avira beaten Morrighan badly at Balamb. Morrighan was so angry I dragged her out of tifa's bar before she could blow up the place." Kaydin says as he shakes his head. "I wasnt lying when I said people in Baron are afraid of people like her and you and everyone else who believes to use the side of light. They all believe that you will end us because we use the darkness, no reconverting, destruction. And that rumble in the castle only strengthens that fear Aerith. Your people may be in the right for rescuing avira but their method was wrong and you have to admit that much." He says calmly. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith shrugged. "If she'd known any better, which I don't think she did..." She glanced over her right shoulder. "Then again, someone her age is lacking in tact. I'd know, I was that way too." She smiled. "She tried to be quiet, then her friend saw the collar, and everything went to pieces. Then again, you can't see him, sense him, or even catch wind of him." Aerith turned toward Kaydin. "I'm going to sound like a broken record here... but Baron uses the Heartless. They are known for devouring entire worlds in an instant. And they are using your honor to advance their cause." She shrugged. "You can't toe the line forever. I'll keep saying it until you believe it, and act on it." |
| Synestria | Synestria "Not only are they using heartless, Kaydin. They have Archfiends under their power." Synestria says quite bluntly. "Archfiends that cause the destruction of worlds, not help them. So Baron is using Heartless that destroy people's identities." She raises one finger. "They use Archfiends that destroy the very fabric of the world you live on." She raises a second finger. "And they are actively using the Dark Knights and the Red Wings to advance their causes." She then holds up a third and fourth finger. "Four things you need to open your eyes to, Kaydin. And using the 'I'm just following orders' line won't help you if you're killing women and children in baron's expansion campaign." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith shook her head. "You're a good man... I'm sure all the Dark Knights have honor, and listen to reason. You are a perfect example of such." She smiled, her eyes mourning just a bit. "You said you pitied Maira... why?" She was honestly curious about that. |
| Kaydin | Kaydin "What would you ask of me? Abandon Baron? Sure I will keep my morality but what about those in baron which arent consumed to Darkness. Morrighan is actually a good person but she has had a rough life and is abrasive. The reason why Baron is using more heartless is the lack of talented people working for them, atleast thats the impression baigan gives me. If I leave it will cause a vacuum. I believe I have gotten across to Baigan finally that the people who control the heartless arent to be trusted." Kaydin says as he sighs as he looks to Aerith. "Is it wrong for atleast wanting my nation to succeed?"" |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith shrugged. "It's your morality... against all the lives that Baron might take, now and later. As I said before, if you're among them when the fighting starts, you're complicit in their actions after it ends." Aerith took a few steps forward. "I'm asking you to do something you think is horrible. In retrospect, it might be. Maybe you could change things from within, as you plan on doing." Oh yes, she knew what he was thinking. "But what if things are too far gone?" She sat on the bed. "But that's beside the point. Why do you pity Maira?" |
| Synestria | Synestria stands back a bit. Her own knowledge imparted, she leans against a wall and listens to Aerith and Kaydin. Knowing that Fiends are being used by Baron should be enough of a shock to open someone's eyes, at least. |
| Kaydin | Kaydin "Because she has no home and no control over her abilities. Those sorcerors may be fiends but there are still numerous good people of Baron. In some regards I am jealous of her but that is neither here nor there. Maybe if I brought someone from the outside to Baron to try and convince them that we are hurting others, maybe we can change their minds." Kaydin says calmly. |
| Synestria | Synestria You're thinking backwards. Try taking someone from Baron, and put them somewhere else in the world, to see baron's impact on everyone else, instead of bringing people to Baron. The center of a hurricane is always calm, while destruction is being caused all around it. If you stay in the eye, the world seems perfect, until you step outside of the eye of the hurricane." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith nodded. "Both ideas sound good... and both have their issues." Note that she didn't necessarily say she was out of the running, nor did she say she was up for it. "In any event, I'm going to remedy the first two very quickly. You don't have to teach her control in any offhand way, leave that to me. As for the good people of Baron, those not lost to the Darkness, I'd advise the leaders to consider them above all... and how this is impacting everyone besides the top levels." |
| Kaydin | Kaydin Kaydin nods as he would listen to this and sighs. "I will see about getting Morrighan to see things. She is a good person. And Baigan is simply blinded by his loyalty to baron. The king is infallible and all that because he was once a great dark knight. In truth I think he may be enjoying the power." He says as he would sigh and looks to Aerith and then to Synestia. "If you both think your ideas is better then mine I welcome you to come try." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith nodded. "Like I said, let me take care of Maira from now on. I'll set myself up here in Traverse, see if I can't get her to stay with me." She glanced toward Kaydin. "So... you wanted to tell me something, right?" |
| Synestria | Synestria steps back again, listening to what's going on. She didn't really have much more to say at this point. |
| Kaydin | Kaydin "Yes. However I am torn between telling you for your personal safety or tell you and you go telling your friends and then another balamb happens." Kaydin says as he would watch her and then watches Synestria. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith shrugs. "If it's for my own safety, I think I have the right to know. Of course, if I tell anyone else, their safety is at risk as well, so I promise not to go off and yak to someone else about it. Still, if you don't want to, that's fine." She smirked. "They're going to come after me either way, all of them." |
| Kaydin | Kaydin "Avoid manhattan." Kaydin says as he begins to leave. "Nothing more and nothing less. My conscience is appeased." Kaydin says as he walks to the door and opens it. "Aerith. Someday I will be forced to do whats right. But in the mean time time I dont think I will be popular when I do." He says calmly as he goes to leave. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith considered his words for a moment... and then nodded. |
| Synestria | Synestria Synestria actually smiles quite broadly at kaydin's first sttement, but keeps quiet. It's one of those very frightening 'I was right' sort of grins. However, her gaze turns to Aerith. "Come after you? Probably because of your calm demeanor and pure intentions, right?" |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith considered his words for a moment... and then nodded. Just like she'd heard... they were coming. And from what he'd said, soon. Of course for all he'd know, it was a nod of acquiescence, of acceptance. But no. If she was right about this, Baron would have friends. And if they had friends, they would more than likely attempt to overwhelm their defenses by sheer, brute force. It was how Baron had operated last time. Why not do it again? "I'll keep that in mind." Oh yes, and she'd keep in mind the fact that she had to see David Xanatos about something that didn't involve the upcoming battle at all... she probably wouldn't get another chance. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith considered his words for a moment... and then nodded. Just like she'd heard... they were coming. And from what he'd said, soon. Of course for all he'd know, it was a nod of acquiescence, of acceptance. But no. If she was right about this, Baron would have friends. And if they had friends, they would more than likely attempt to overwhelm their defenses by sheer, brute force. It was how Baron had operated last time. Why not do it again? "I'll keep that in mind." Oh yes, and she'd keep in mind the fact that she had to see David Xanatos about something that didn't involve the upcoming battle at all... she probably wouldn't get another chance. After he closed the door though... she smiled. "What's right isn't easy or popular, Kaydin." She turned toward Synestria. "I suppose that means you have to go back home, right? I hope you don't mind if I follow you. I have some business with David." |
| Synestria | Synestria "Believe it or not, Manhattan isn't my home." Synestria smiled to Aerith knowingly. "But I can take you to his building again if you wish." She says with a rub of her nose. She turns a little, putting her hands on her hips for a second. "Hmmm.....The closest I can get you is Central Park though. You'll have to walk from there." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith nodded. "Good enough. I just hope he has room in his schedule to see me. We have much to discuss." She stood and stretched her arms above her head. "Let's be on our way tomorrow, though... I have to look after Maira for a bit." |
| Synestria | Synestria I....have a question about that, Aerith." She says quite pointedly before looking towards the door. "You are Cccccetra.....and have the wissssdom of your ancccesssstorsssss. But, are you sure you are the right one to teach Maira the basssssicssssss of her elemental magic?" |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith glanced toward Synestria for a moment. "I'm sure there are others... why do you ask?" |
| Synestria | Synestria "From what I've ssssseen of you, Aerith, your actionsssss are to protect otherssssss whenever possssible. Maira will need to underssssstand all asssspectsssss of the flame, but she will need to know what flame actually issssss. It may represssssent passion, drive, and anger, but all it actualy isssss....is energy. Capable of desssssstruction as well assssss rejuvenation, but it issssss energy, all the ssssssame." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith nodded. "In the end, that's what everything is. Energy and potential, and it changes with those who use it. I just wanted to give her an example, a demonstration. It's why I said that the one thing all magic needs to be effectively controlled... is will." |
| Synestria | Synestria Perhapsssss both of usssss could give a demonsssstration, Aerith. You have talentsssss that I can't ussssse, and I have a few talentssssss that you may not know of." She says with a wink. |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith nodded and headed toward the door. "I'll see what I can do about that. Mind you, we'll be a while if we're going to start teaching her together." |
| Synestria | Synestria smiles. "Provided she doesn't run from the sssssssight of me. In the meantime, get ssssssome sssssleep. And I'll only teach her the basssssicssssss. Mosssst of my advanccccced ssssspellsssssss, I only know in my native tongue." |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith smiled. "There's a strange thing about materia, Synestria... you don't need words or incantations or spells to use them. But if you could teach her the concept behind what she's doing... what she's supposed to feel... then things will just go naturally, I think. I'll just focus on application." |
| Synestria | Synestria I've never used it, mysssssself." She then tilts her head. "I do have one quessssstion. How come you're not ssssurprisssssed by my lissssp?" |
| Aerith | Aerith Aerith smiled. "First of all, that's not a lisp." She opened the door. "And second... I told you before, I have an idea of what you really are. This just confirms it. Maybe one day you'll stop hiding, though I understand why you have to." She waves over her right shoulder. "See you tomorrow!" With that, she leaves. |
| Synestria | Synestria waves to Aerith. "If only you knew." And she heads outside. Never did like beds. |
| Aerith | Aerith headed for the room she'd set up for herself and Maira. As silently as she was able, she unlocked the door, opened it just enough for her to get through, then closed it with a soft click. Aerith secured the room before heading over where she'd put Maira, on one of the two beds. She'd even managed to tuck her in. She ran her fingers through the blond hair, wondering if she'd have those nightmares again. Whether she did or not, Aerith would be here to stop anything truly bad from happening. After all, she was responsible for the girl now, and she would give anything to see that haunted look in her eyes turn into something softer. Until she could figure out how to penetrate the veil of sleep and peek into her dreams though... she would have to watch over her. With that thought in mind, Aerith moved to her own bed, took off her shoes, and turned out the light as she moved under the covers. Tomorrow, they would be quite busy... |