Darkclouded Aftermath

Darkclouded Aftermath
Date of Scene:	16 December 2012
Location:	Cornelia
Synopsis:	After the events of the Temple of Fiends, the Shard Seekers, along with Tifa and Rinoa, made it back to Cornelia to bring the prince to Princess Lara. Elated, she allowed the heroes to stay as guests. However, tensions rise as the health of the prince has not improved...
Cast of Characters:	Reize Seatlan, Lily, Faruja Senra, Tifa Lockhart, Shiki Misaki, Rinoa Heartilly, Luso Clemens

---

Reize Seatlan has posed:
A day passed since the terrible night at the Temple of Fiends. A battle broke out that only promised failure, secrets exposed, one of the many things occured in that dark night. Through the looming darkness, the Shard Seekers and the mercenaries managed to take the prince to the ruling Princess Lara. Grateful, the princess allowed the rescuers to stay for the night.

However, the prince never woke up.

The strangest thing, since the entire time...

Reize had been silent.

The usually cheerful boy that managed to keep the group afloat did not say anything through th entire trip. Instead, from that night, he was rather deathly quiet and somber.

Here he is at a quarters that was allowed to be used as a conference room. Earlier, Reize went to check up on the prince, who was still unconscious. The bleeding managed to halt, but... Something ill about him. He had not awoken from his slumber.

So here he is...

"Why?" Reize could only ask, "Why did no one withdraw when I called for it?"

Shiki Misaki has posed:
Shiki Misaki is here.

This is a miracle in itself. Nobody in the Shard Seekers has seen a whit of her for almost two weeks: almost ominously, she vanished on the day of Priel's 'admittance' into the merry band. She hasn't even had time to speak to anyone; she knows nothing about Manhattan, this, or anything else. She hasn't even had a chance to explain herself yet.

So she stands, a wallflower in the quarters-cum-conference room, unsure of what is happening, or why Reize is so angry.

Faruja Senra has posed:
One Temple Knight Faruja Senra has had better weeks. Between Manhattan's lingering grip upon him, the frankly embarrassing loss to an Abomination, the beating he received, and his own actions thrown out into the open? The rat has been forced to use his spear as a walking stick. Dressed in his robes, he knocks on the Prince's door. After a moment, he enters, bowing to the pair.

"...Any change?" A healer's eye scans the fallen Prince. Frown. What a disaster.

Tifa Lockhart has posed:
Tifa Lockhart was sitting in a corner, her knees pulled to her chest as she sits there in the corner. She doesn't enjoy losing after all, and this was a hard blow too, the way things happened there. She shakes her head "I was making sure everyone was getting out. I couldn't leave anyone there."

Rinoa Heartilly has posed:
Rinoa is herself quite shaken up from the previous day's events. She's not exactly a battle hardenned warrior like some people, and so facing death and defeat is not something she is used to. It's a miracle no one was killed, and a relief the prince was rescued and they were able to flee with their lives.

Still, Rinoa is all worked up, wondering who those powerful fiends were..And why didn't the prince wake up? Angelo whines at her side as she paces back and forth anxiously in the guest room.

When Tifa responds to Reize's question, Rinoa nods in agreement. "It was..A mess. I was scared too, but I was afraid of leaving the others.." Still, she HAD followed orders and retreated once she was certain the fiends weren't giving chase, and everyone was alright. She's glad she was able to flee with the fallen Faruja at least.

Finally, she glances towards Faruja and the door to the prince's quarters expectantly.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
There is a glance towards Tifa's way. It is a faint smile towards her. Well, that is true. She did stay to make sure that folks managed to leave. He couldn't be nearby to prevent anyone from going after his companions with the prince in his arms. The explanation, however, earns a nod. "...Yeah... I suppose I am frustrated with---..."

And then, a very familiar voice came. This voice is something that is akin would be best described as a dagger in the back. When Faruja speaks upon his entrance, everyone may notice Reize's eyes widen. It is like that dagger twists. The dark secret that he found out... the truth as to why there was a bounty that came out.

Reize wanted to explode at the burmecian. He is trying to bite back any anger he feels. He has heard of the recent events.

Instead...?

"...No."

Reize turns towards Faruja for one moment. It is a tired look, the eyes a bit mixed with emotions over how to handle himself. An adventurer and a leader.

A kid.

"...He has't woken up. I haven't figured out why. No one could figure out why."

Shiki Misaki has posed:
Shiki catches that expression, and it tears at her. The inherent desire to devalue herself that she's only recently fought off nips at her heels, a feeling of 'why weren't you there for them' which is rebuffed by the logic that she couldn't, was probably purposefully waylaid from being in Manhattan- and subsequently left to follow the breadcrumb trail here to Cornelia. And despite that...

"I'm sorry, Reize."

Shiki can't help but apologise. She knows one of them will refute it. She just wants to say it: the first thing she's probably said to him in weeks.

Faruja Senra has posed:
Faruja looks into the young man's eyes. If their positions were reversed, he'd have hands about his throat. The fact that the young boy doesn't yell, doesn't give into wrath, only makes him feel more for the boy. There's no shame in his eye; so far as he was concerned, he was perfectly justified in his actions towards Riku. But there is regret, and acceptance of one of the people he wishes to protect.

"...I see." He sinks against a wall, leaning back his head, breathing coming slow and heavy. The entire event had left him /drained/. Then Shiki speaks, and he manages his first ghost of a smile in some time. Sweet, wonderful Shiki. These were the people he had to fight for, grow stronger for, no matter what.

Lily has posed:
Lily's leaning against the wall, her face unspeakably downcast.

It's not as though she didn't listen. It's really more that she couldn't hear through all of the yelling and the teeth and the pain. But she is still now a sad, sad Lily, slumped against the wall.

Tifa Lockhart has posed:
Tifa Lockhart stands up at that, shaking her head. She understands what Reize is feeling, even if she can't put it into words. She moves to Reize, facing him, and putting her hands on his shoulders "... Reize. You cannot let yourself be beaten down like this. There was nothing else we could do at the time, we were outclassed. The victory is that we all got out of it alive. As long as we're alive we can mend our wounds and strike back. We got the prince out, that's all that matters right now, alright?"

Tifa was the backbone in Avanlanche as well. Even if it doesn't entirely erase the issue, if she can help lighten up the weight of it, she does what she can.

Rinoa Heartilly has posed:
Rinoa can feel a certain tension in the room when Reize glances silently at Faruja. Yes, she remembers what Garland had said about Faru putting a bounty on a child's head. It makes her wonder, but now's not the time. There's already enough tension here.

She looks over at Reize, frowning softly. "sorry things didnt go better. But, at least we're all still alive. As for the prince, maybe he's just in a coma or something? Looked like he sustained a lot of injuries.." Garland had tortured him badly enough. She still remembers those haunting screams..

Reize Seatlan has posed:
There is a lot that Reize wants to say. There are so many things that Reize wants to ask. However, the main topic is the situation.

"...No. I wanted to make sure that no one was killed. I saw that it felt like there was nothing to be gained from the battle.." He looks towards Tifa with a faint smile. "... There was nothing other than to fight a futile battle." He lowers his head, "...And I am the one responsible for charging us into a fight that we would had been better to just retreat. We /had/ the prince. We could had left." There was his actions as the leader, leading his friends to a fight that they could had been killed. His father would not had condoned that. He clutches onto his pendant.

There are things that Reize wants to tell Faruja. However, Reize looks right towards Shiki and then back to the group. "...Everyone is still alive. That is what is the most important." He look ahead, "...Good for you to join us again." That consideration occurs, "...I don't know what is afflicting the prince. I plan to do some more research."

Faruja Senra has posed:
Thank Faram for barmaidens. He'd hug Tifa right now if it weren't a horrible violation of personal space, and Reize needing her arms more right now than he ever would. A glance to Lily. His gaze softens. Poor girl. He'd be far more than downcast. The strength of those here fills him with mixed awe and shame. Was he truly worthy of being amongst them?

"That is no coma, Lady Heartilly. I know not what, but some great evil has been wrought upon him."

Indeed, they should have retreated. Mistakes were made. So many, many mistakes. But one thing that Reize says gets a nod. "Quite. We are lucky to yet live. Learn from this, Reize."

He sighs. The boy's not the only one at fault, here!

"Given our opponent, I have little hope...but I shall call upon Mullonde's library, and share what information I may find."

Tifa Lockhart has posed:
Tifa Lockhart shakes her head again "Reize, the safest path out is getting rid of what may chase you. It wasn't a bad decision. It might have just been the wrong one at the time, but that's not something you can foresee. Its not your fault alone here, everyone was fighting." She moves over to kneel next to the prince, checking on him "We could try to find Aerith for that. She has a good sense about those kinds of things. Meanwhile, we can have the prince rest in some better place no doubt. A leader is not always there to make the right decision. But to turn a bad situation into a better one in the end."

Shiki Misaki has posed:
"I can explain where I was, if you want. I figure I owe you guys," Shiki says, walking over to wrap her arms around Lily.

She holds up the back of her hand- although there's no countdown there any more, the gesture might help explain. "The Gamemaster issued his first new mission a few minutes after I walked out on you guys. I had to leave there and then and go right across the continents /again/ to get to Goug. All so I could buy him a sea-salt ice cream."

"After that it was just finding you guys. Couldn't get to you soon enough... it looks like you've been totally chewed up, but at least you're safe here and now..."

Lily has posed:
"Sorry... I'm really sorry. Over all the noise... and all that pain... I couldn't hear ANYTHING!" LIly's voice, and eyes, they are BOTh tearing up as she finally tries to get a reply out. "I--" *Hiccup*

... Mrf.

Shiki Misaki has posed:
Shiki Misaki holds Lily tight.

words words words words someone delete this when you post the log making it up to twenty words for buffer.

Luso Clemens has posed:
A sound of sheathes clacking on top of one another, the clicking of heels walking across tile, and a cheerful voice talking outside the door can be heard from the room's occupants. "Alright, thanks a bunch guys! You can be sure you won't regret it now! After all, you've gotta remember the sixth golden rule of Clan Gully; No matter what happens, we'll get the job done!" A short laugh followed and then a farewell was given. Must have been talking to a guard. "Alright, seeya!"

It was then that the doors swung open, revealing Luso Clemens, boy wonder, carrier of too many weapons, wielder of the holy sword, and the main character! ...Among other things. Wearing a bright grin on his face, he steps into the room, adjusting his backwards angled hat with a hand as he viewed the occupants.

"Hey guys! What's up? I heard from the princess that you were in the castle, so I decided to drop by!"

.....What's that? Is it the sound of shattering glass? No. It's the sound of an idiot not reading the atmosphere. And also the sound of the tension being brutally beaten with a club.

That's Luso for you.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Sigh.

Reize wants to keep his emotions in check. He is completely angry at one thing. Tifa earns a glance towards her way. It is a sad smile, especially when she kneels beside the prince. "...Yeah, you're right."

And then, Shiki's explanation. Reize offers her a tired smile, "...Glad you can join us again." Reize looks over towards Lily, kneeling over to her while Shiki hugs her. Well, Lily is not feeling too happy. The boy leans over to give her a kiss towards her forehead.

A smile is given towards Luso when he enters. "Hello, Luso." It is a calm smile from Reize, compared to his cheerful one. "...I am afraid that I should be taking care of a few things since we are here." He is starting to walk away.

As the boy stops near Faruja, the voice is low enough for only Faruja to hear.

"...We have much to talk about in private..."

And Reize is moving to walk past the burmecian.

Faruja Senra has posed:
An ear perks to Shiki, and Faruja turns as she holds Lily. Indeed, the little, innocent girl needs a big sis, and Shiki certainly fits the bill right now. "...Thank the Lord you are alright, Shiki." Damn Sho! Yet another enemy in need of ending.

Faruja pauses as Tifa speaks. Silently, he considers her words.

Luso's entry gets a bow. "Ser Luso." His voice lacks energy. The rat feels like he wants to collapse.

"...Quite." The young boy's words hit him like a blade to the gut. He doesn't stagger. He nods. After a few moments? The Burmecian follows behind after a quick bow to the others.

Shiki Misaki has posed:
Shiki Misaki puts her chin on Lily's shoulder, pressing her cheek against.

"I don't know what happened to you guys, but I'm here now. I promise I won't make you worry again."

She looks up, unsure of why Reize and Faruja have to talk about something in private, and of course somewhat bewildered by Luso suddenly barging in. That's the second new face she's seen, and not a pleasant place to reunite with Tifa, either.

"If she can get here soon, Tifa..."

Tifa Lockhart has posed:
Tifa Lockhart nods to Shiki "Well I'm not sure where she is honestly, she left the bar last week to go train. What happened in Manhattan affected her alot, and she's taken all of the measure she can so it doesn't happen." She shakes her head "I can try to go find her though, she can't have ventured very far. Still should try to find some alternate plan if we can't find her. There must be others that can figure this out."

Luso Clemens has posed:
Blink.

Blink blink.

"Eh?" Luso glanced back at the departing Reize and Faruja, a confused expression on his face, before turning his attention back to the others within. "What happened here? You guys look like someone just set fire to a sack of puppies!"

Smiling sheepishly now, the boy crosses his arms, tilting his posture aside a bit as he spoke. "Now obviously that's totally evil and no one should do it, but it's pretty accurate right now!" With that said, he stepped inside, moved his arms to fold behind his head in a more lazy fashion.

"A bunch of new faces I haven't seen before though!" He came to a stop at the prince's bedside then, glancing down at the poor fellow. "....Wow, he's REALLY knocked out. Someone sure hasn't been getting their sleep, huh?"

Tifa Lockhart has posed:
Tifa Lockhart shakes her head at Luso "Nothing like that, but not that far off either, I suppose. Those two just have something to discuss, something that doesn't please either of them obviously." She stays sitting next to the Prince. Not much else to do for now. She looks up at Luso though "What are you doing here anyway?"

Lily has posed:
"H-huah?!" Suddenly there's a SHiki hugging her. Lily quiets quickly, more from being startled than consoled for now, but she hugs back.. and peeks over the girl's shoulder at Luso as he comes in, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. But, even so, for now she's silent...

Until Reize comes in, anyways. Then she's looking straight up to him, blinking. "r-Reize?"

And she's pecked on the forehead.

To this, the girl says nothing, but she DOES spring a huge smile. Beaming and kind of mousy!

Shiki Misaki has posed:
Shiki gives Reize a little wink before he goes.

Luso, however, is like a storm, made of sugar. She has no idea who this boy is but she's glad for him being here.

"I just got here. Name's Shiki Misaki- but I've been with the Shard Seekers since the beginning. I'm just walkin' in at the tail end of all this crazy stuff," she explains. She rubs Lily's back and gives her a pat, then finds somewhere to sit down, suddenly realising she's been on her feet for... too long.

She sits down and deflates entirely.

Luso Clemens has posed:
"Yo, Tifa!" Luso greeted, giving the usually-a-barmaid a silly salute after. "I came to the castle to meet with the princess and let her know that Clan Gully is in the area and ready to take on evil wherever it may be! 'Cause that's the Clan Gully way!"

He glances off at Shiki next, smiling cheerfully and waving back. "Shiki's your name then? Nice to meetcha, my name's Luso Clemens. Proxy Leader of Clan Gully! Fighting evil, taking down mark, serving the people. That's our M.O.!" And then he glanced over at Lily. "And who's this?" He asked curiously, resting an arm on top of the grimoire hanging at his side.

Tifa Lockhart has posed:
Tifa Lockhart shakes her head "What happened was anything but plesant, so don't worry about it. We're going to deal with it. Not that we wouldn't take help, but honestly we're not sure what to do either. Sleeping Prince here is in a sort of magical coma, no idea what's going on yet, so that's what we're going on for now."

She doesn't know what's up with Reize and the girls around him, but she does have a passing thought after seeing him kissing Lily in front of Shiki. Might be a good idea to stay out of that business.

Shiki Misaki has posed:
Shiki Misaki gives Tifa a reassuring glance.

"Unfortunately, this sort of thing's totally not my field of expertise. I'm no good at all this magic stuff, for serious. I'm a modern city girl. ...a tired modern city girl."

Luso Clemens has posed:
"Uh-huh...Well! I wouldn't worry too much about it, Shiki!" Luso exclaimed, giving the girl a thumbs up. "I came from the big city too! Dropped into a world of magic and swords, I didn't think I'd ever get used to it. Now look at me!" Smiling in a silly manner, he spread his arms out, referring to himself. "Game Hunter extraordinaire, at your service! Ahahahaha!"

Well that was kind of big headed, but at least he's able to back it up with action...perhaps. "Anyway, I'm saying you'll get used to it eventually! If I can do it, anyone can!"

Tifa Lockhart has posed:
Tifa Lockhart looks over to Luso. So many youngsters with overbundant energy it seems. But that's for the best too, no use getting yourself down after all "Well if you got any idea or know anyone to help with the prince it would be appreciated at least. Everyone is just a bit bummed out after what happened to retrieve the prince, and not to mention Manhattan. Its like we're on a downslope, and noone's enjoying the ride.

Luso Clemens has posed:
Nodding in understanding, Luso rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he mulled over the prince's situation. "You say he's been stuck in a magic induced coma, right?" He asked after thinking for a bit. "...So if it took magic to cause it, why not use magic to break it?"

It was an idea at the very least.

"Now that I think about it, I do sorta recall seeing some powerful magic users in Manhattan. Especially that one little guy with the key! What happened to him anyway? I bet he could do something about this!" But alas, Luso hadn't seen Mickey at all since the a little before the fall of Manhattan. There was no easy way to go looking about for the king...

Tifa Lockhart has posed:
Tifa Lockhart hms thoughtfully, nodding "That's why I wanted to see Aerith about it, she's good with magic. But a key you say? I guess that'd be worthwhile to check into it as well. Its better than nothing at least.

Luso Clemens has posed:
% "Right. I'll see if I can't find out anything myself while I'm out too." Giving Tifa a thumbs up, Luso then turned and began to head for the doors again. "Anyway, I'm gonna head back out now. Lots of things to do and see, you know?" Smiling, he waved back and added. "Hang in there, Tifa! Thing's are gonna get better soon, I can bet on that!"

Tifa Lockhart has posed:
Tifa Lockhart smiles softly, nodding "Thanks Luso, I'll see you around. If you see or hear anything that can help, it would be appreciated as well."