Perhaps the End of the Beginning

[Lyro]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]gnathicConductor [GC][/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] began trolling [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]electrifiedSolace [ES][/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: I have some unfortunate news, Vixani.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: Our last teammate has fallen.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: what do you mean, nev??[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: its just us?[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: This is not the en<. We can still <o this.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: It will >e har<er, yes. >ut we still have each other.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: i like the positivity! its nice!! all these buttheads on derse are so pissy all the time X([/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: They certainly <o not seem ^articularly amena>le from this ^osition.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: How <i< you get there, >y the way? I was a >it <istracte< earlier.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: Are you currently <reaming?[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: no i DIED silly[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: blazing glory, lasting honor and so on[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: very heroic >:|[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: An< so we are <own one more life. Hmm.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: Well. A<<e< incentive to >e careful in the future, I su^^ose.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: >o you have any i<eas, going forwar<?[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: psh careful is my MIDDLE NAME nev. [/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: from now on i am all caution and safety!!![/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: except wait NO how about INSTEAD we live a little dangerously hmmm???[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: not much to lose now!![/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: lets just leave.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: What are you talking a>out? Leave? An< go where?[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: We have to finish this.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: live with the tentaclebeasts?? idk[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: i guess we should stay. i dont know what to do.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: It’s tough being the only trolls left. You always know what to do and say.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: what do you think???[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: Live with the… what have they >een telling you in your <reams?[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: To a>an<on our only ^oint of sta>ility an< go… wherever ">eyon<" is, that is ma<ness.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: The fact of the matter is that our session can still technically >e com^lete<.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: At least, I cannot see anything that woul< ^revent victory, a^art from our own ^ersonal failures.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: An< so I say we kee^ fighting. We kee^ getting stronger. We try to learn as much a>out the game as we can.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: If we a^^ly ourselves, we can succee<. Even if that chance is slim, it is ^refera>le to sim^ly giving u^ an< floating away.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: your FACE is a personal failure!!! hahaha!!! but ok. im with you!! [/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: i know you nev. youre always “robot robot careful plan GO” but underneath it all youre just a big softy idealist just like me!![/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: so give me a mission, commander!! *salutes*[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: do you want me to alchemize you a cool pretty battle dress because i can TOTALLY do that >[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: …[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: You know what? Yes. Yes, a >attle <ress will <o nicely Vix.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: An outfit. An< then, ^erha^s, something for us to stay in touch together at all times.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: We will have to strengthen our communication lines too. Fin< ways to re^lace our fallen comra<es.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: This may in fact turn out to >e an a<vantage for us.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: Very well. You have your or<ers, soldier. Now let's win this war.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: yay!!!!![/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: i mean. yes maam sergeant lieutenant first class!!![/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: Don't over<o it, Vix.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: oh whats that you say? you want your dress pink?? you have such good taste nev!!![/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: No ^ink. Your maam sergeant lieutenant first class orders you to erase the very color from your ^alette.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]ES: > fine but ill make you fun one day just you wait. talk to you when i have the comm devices ready!!![/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: I'm glad you're still here.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]GC: Talk to you soon.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]gnathicConductor [GC][/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] ceased trolling [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]electrifiedSolace [ES][/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You speed off Derse like it’s last year’s haunch-guard. A quick bolt through the transportalizer beams you back to the Land of Ivy and Grace. You immediately get to work on upgrades to your NECKLACE-5S, making it more universal as well as hands-free. This gaudy yet efficient tiara will ensure your omnipresence as well as your capability. And, you guess you made a super NOT FUN AT ALL headband-esque communicator for Nevari. No way you could show up with a tiara for her. That said, the dress you’ve crafted for her is nothing less than breathtaking. A dulled metallic blue body paired with sharp yellow trim makes for the hautest couture of the season! The carbon-fiber mesh helps with security as well. You’ve made a couple new toys for yourself as well, maybe you could show them off!! Once you’re done, you blast off to the Land of Pure Obsidian and Mega-Sadness to brief with your MSLFC ASAP. Honing on to the beacon on the top of the tower, you land in front of Nevari. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“reporting for duty, admiral!!!!”[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]As Vixani enters, you are hunched over the large round table in the center of your room. The table is completely covered in papers of all sizes and colors, while the war game in the center has been almost completely cleared of all its pieces. You are currently going over several of your scattered papers, pen in hand; occasionally, you frown, switch to a red pen, cross something out and write in the margin. Two large dossiers next to you bear a giant red cross on their cover; each has one of your war game's pieces on it. Finally, on some of the largest sheets of paper available, you have recently penned a series of detailed mechanical schematics combined with what looks like a map of your incipisphere. You finish your last sentence on what seems to be a report, then put the pen away and look at Vixani with a smile. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"At ease, sol<ier. That was fast."[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“i am nothing if not expedient, COLONEL!! i have requisitioned the ordnance that was militarily demanded in a VERY sincere manner, miss adeesa!!!!” [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You try to sweep Nevari up into a big hug but fail miserably on account of the fact that she is twice your fucking size you dummy!![/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You make no attempt to salvage the doomed hug enterprise, and instead arch your eyebrow at Vixani. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"A<miral, colonel and miss? I am honore< to have so many titles >estowe< u^on me. Not to mention eager to see what you have >rought me."[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] You put away the file you were finishing up and turn to face Vixani, hands clasped behind your back. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"I ho^e you will forgive my earlier >ehavior, it was not >efitting of either of us. I was slightly..."[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Pieces scattered throughout the room in a fit of anger. Clenched fists. Torn papers.[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"... <istresse<."[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] You smile again. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"Anyway, let's take a look."[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Uh, you let go when she effortlessly turns at you while still within your grasp. You get ready to call her another military title just to bug her when she tries to kind of apologize?? Ok yeah she was a little short but also super inspiring?? In fact you kind of admire her for it. Everyone else on your team was so up-and-down, MOSTLY DOWN because of reasons, but Nevari always seemed to keep it together and keep everything level. She taught you that focusing towards a goal, a GOOD goal, is the most important and valiant thing you could do. You brandish the comm devices first, handing her the tiara: [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“your own personal…Halcyon Crown!!”[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You delicately handle the tiara, looking it over. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"Ah… this is… not quite what I was ex^ecting, >ut it is certainly very ^retty."[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] A tiara? For you? That would be a first. But now isn't a good time to hurt her feelings; besides, you can get used to anything, provided it has a practical use. You examine the wiring on its side. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"So, how <oes it work? Is it some kin< of tele^athic <evice?"[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“youre right it IS very pretty which is why it’s mine!! guess what you get this super UTILITARIAN and PROBABLY BORING device which i didnt even bother reading the name of!!” [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You give her your best mean look which is basically just a weird, scrunched up face. But it’s ok because you tell her about its comm capabilities. You didn’t skimp. These are the real deal; they work on a fully intra-dimensional range and are entirely neurosympathetic. To put the icing on the cake, you also brandish the MESHED OFFICER GARB. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“hey but this is called the MESHED OFFICER GARB, but i call it the DRESS BLUES”[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]A greedy glint enters your eyes as you listen to Vixani's description of the communication device. You exchange the tiara for the HEAD-MOUNTED MULTI-PURPOSE COMMUNICATION DEVICE (a very sensible name of which you approve) and try putting it on even as Vix continues her speech. Neurosympathetic, she says? You experiment by trying to send it various commands, and you are delighted to see its viewport light up with figures and graphs of all kinds. It does hurt your eye a little bit, but you're sure regular use will help you get used to it. This seems absolutely perfect for what you had in mind. But just as you are about to thank Vix, she brings out an absolutely [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]stunning[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] item of clothing. You grab it delicately, holding it from the edge of your fingers and trying to look at it from every angle. It feels pretty solid too - any sudden application of pressure turns it rigid, absorbing a part of the shock. You are in awe. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"Vix… >oth of these are just… >eautiful. They're ^erfect. How <i< you even manage this?"[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] You take off your PERFECTLY SERVICEABLE SWEATER and put on your new garb. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"It even fits me exactly."[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You beam as Nev fiddles with her new toy! Since you’ve been in the game, you’ve considered yourself an alchemical artist, and this is no exception. Top-of-the-line in quality, interface, and range, your EYE OF THE EMPRESS will provide impenetrable, infallible access to Nevari, and back as well. When you hand her the dress though, you seem to notice her expression soften. She asks you how you managed this. You let out an involuntary giggle as she mentions how it fits her. Oh gosh you’re getting all flustered. Wow! What? You HAVE to show her what else you made![/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You draw two whips from your specibus as showily as possible. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“nev i also made some new whips. they might help with our missions!! this ones called PIETY”[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]As you crack PIETY, an extremely bright light erupts from the critical boom. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“what do you think??”[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You blink at the sudden flash her whip produces and momentarily stop admiring your new dress. An indicator on the bottom-right of your eye's monitor indicates exactly how loud and bright the crack was; you're not sure how useful that functionality will be, but you are glad to have it nonetheless. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"I think that you are a genius, an< I here>y ^romote you to Hea< Alchemist of this session."[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] You had known for a while that Vixani was good at alchemy, but you had never suspected just how far her mastery extended. You should have paid closer attention to her experimentations. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"Your new whi^ shoul< synergize nicely with your existing fighting style - I look forwar< to seeing you in com>at. You have my sincere congratulations. <i< you make anything else while you were at it, or woul< you like to see what I have ^lanne< now?"[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Haha. She just called you a genius. Nevari has never been this nice to you during the whole session. She’s always been decent and respectful, but for some reason everything about her now seems so much more...considerate, you guess? You don’t know, but you’re feeling some things that you haven’t felt in a while. She looks really pretty in your dress...but wait! You have to show her your other whip. You brandish it cockily and exclaim [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“this ones fun! it makes everyone and anything around it super-tranquil! its called BENEDICTION!!” [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You crack it and feel a wave of volatility rush through you. You almost start to feel ungrateful, but the thought of being Head Alchemist sticks with you. That’s a real honor. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“dole out the objectives, sergeant!”[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You feel an inexplicable surge of joy as Vixani cracks her second whip. It's not much, and it quickly fades away, but it bothers you nonetheless. As long as she only uses it on her enemies, however, you can see its obvious usefulness.[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] "^iety and >ene<iction, hmm? Interesting theme."[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] You make a mental note of it, as you walk back to the side of your table where you have laid out your session's map. You gesture at Vixani to take a look. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"We coul< certainly use a >it of >oth, >ut my concerns right now are more ^ractical."[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] The map before you details a complex network of cameras, microphones and network relays, spread throughout your entire session, with even a few on Derse. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"We're running at re<uce< capacity here, so we have some ^retty major >lin< s^ots. >ut with the right tools, we can stay ahea<. Right now, ^rospit is starting to lose its >attle. We can't change that, >ut we can delay its inevitability."[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] You point to several of the ship pieces on your game board. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"Sa>otage, interce^ted convoys, false intelligence… these are all things we can <o to give us more time to ^re^are."[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] You look back at Vixani, her two whips in hand. She's dedicated, no question about that, and you'll have to ensure she stays that way; you've seen what happens when… But even then, even if you make all the right decisions and she does her best, just how much can you hope to accomplish? Just a Seer and a Thief. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"An< when we are rea<y,"[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] you continue, with barely a hint of your hesitation, [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"when we have stacke< as many o<<s in our favor as we can, we will finish the jo>. But it will be har<, and there will >e little time to rest. Are you with me?"[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“ummm yeahhh? we only have each other right?? even so, id follow you into the light of heaven, commandant!” [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]There’s not much left for you, anyway. Without Nev, all you’d have is a creative spark in an endless span of despair. Oh gosh. That whip hit you harder than usual. Such a useful effect, but the drawback is...not ok. Nev didn’t seem super affected by it either! Judging by your increased emotional snag, it seems Nevari must have a bit of pent up negativity! The way she can push through that and be so focused and optimistic is inspiring to you. There’s no simple way to put it. You’re flushed for her, vigorously. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“whats the next step??”[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"Goo< to hear."[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] You're glad Vix is being rational about this; perhaps these speeches aren't even necessary. She certainly seems to trust you, and there's a renewed energy to her that you hadn't expected, considering the direness of the situation. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"I have a few a<<itional items I woul< like alchemize<,"[/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px] you add, handing her a heavy stack of detailed specifications. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"The first thing we'll nee< is to set u^ this network, which will require some ^recision alchemization. I trust you'll >e u^ to the task. My <rones will set them u^ once ^ro<uction is com^lete. Your main o>jective afterwar<s will >e to continue in your ^ersonal quest, in whichever metho< you ju<ge o^timal; I will <o likewise, >ut will >e there to assist you. If anything unex^ecte< arises, we will <eal with it at that time. Any questions?[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]As Nevari hands you the schematics, you realize just how difficult this is going to be. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“super easy nev maybe next time give me a challenge??? also hey just so you know you arent invincible!! feel free to call me over anytime ok??” [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]As you begin to fly towards the gate to leave, you cheekily crack BENEDICTION one more time. You immediately regret it and hate yourself for having the idea in the first place. God damn it. Your jokes aren’t funny sometimes. You steel yourself with the thought of Nev being proud of you again as your return to your own Land. [/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You watch Vixani speed away. Your hands find their way to your new coat's pockets. No, you aren't invincible, and neither is she. But you'll manage, and pull through. You're sure of it.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Damn that whip.[/SIZE]

 

[Lyro]

Dossier: Vixani Trella


[...]


Remarks: *updated*

• Motivated by lack of alternatives and trust/faith in me.
  
  Something else? Last friend in the world, perhaps; useful.
  

[*]Piety and Benediction - whim/joke, or more than that?

[*]Not visibly upset by situation, but might still be volatile. Maintain positive image.

• 
  Still not invulnerable to flattery, within reason.
  
• Apparently suspects that I have my doubts. Work on that.
  

[*]Seems to enjoy military theme; keep playing on that.

Spoiler

Meant to add this in the previous post but forgot. Oops.

 

[Lyro]

There she is. You sigh in frustration at the inefficiency of your mirror's locating abilities. Maybe you should try re-alchemizing it to add more functionality to it. Then again, its plain look does make it look rather unassuming, which has proven to be an advantage a few times. You get into a comfortable position in your chair and hold the mirror in front of you. You decide to spend a few seconds seeing what she is up to before contacting her.


It’s been a bit since you were over at Nev’s. Gosh, she’s so...you don’t know...forthright? That doesn’t sound especially risque to the layman observer, but you don’t know!! It’s something new for you!! You manage to barely stave off dancing your way towards your next objective. Which by the way, doesn’t sound SUPER fun...it appears the Desiccation is rampant among these parts. Better put a stop to it!


It seems she is currently making some progress in her quest. You try to remember what she told you about it, but it has been a while since you talked with her about it. You reach out to her increasingly hefty dossier resting on the table and start leafing through. Ah, yes, this is the one with the Corruption. Desiccation, rather. You look through your mirror again and observe the ruined cities overgrown with the twisted vegetation. Was it always this bad? You decide to keep watching for a little longer; there won't be any need to intervene if things go well.


You skip into the area with the taller buildings. It’s much worse here; you can’t believe you haven’t tamed this area before! The area is eerily silent and you come to a halt. You aren’t really having fun anymore. Death surrounds you. Twisted, gnarled plants cascade down the steps of what seemed to be quite an important building. Everything around you suddenly reeks of decay and you do your best to ignore it. This isn’t that bad. You’ve seen worse. Dark brown vines stricken with blight creep up behind you.


The faint light streaming down from above dims. Above, thorned vines twist and entwine themselves, blotting out what little light streams down from Skaia to the empty streets. The faint sound of distant footsteps can be heard coming from the surrounding buildings… or are they just the normal sounds of debris and dust falling onto the pavement? Was that a monster's snarl, or just a vine slithering against the ground? Are the shadows moving?


You snap your head around, cracking your braids. You elicit a small giggle. To call it nervous would be an insult to you and to the whole CONCEPT of bravery. You might be terrified but that is in no way going to prevent you from doing your job. You immediately snap PIETY at the crowd! This is a big one. You might need some help. It is amazing that you have the FORESIGHT to have concocted immediate communication devices for you and your friend. You immediately send out a MILITARY? CORRESPONDENCE: “nev i need a sitrep on sector fucking mirror o’clock, where i am!!!”


Your reply arrives the second she finishes her sentence. You have been scouting out her territory while she explored, and were about to involve yourself anyway. "<o not go into the >uilding in front of you. A tra^ is waiting for you there." You aim your mirror at the streets around her, your eyes searching the darkness. "The street on your right is <eserte<, for now, but something is coming from >ehin< you. It's >ig." Even through the mirror, you gain an impression of its size; at least it's not moving too quickly for now. "Ogres are also waiting to am>ush you <own that little alley in front of you. An< the cano^y is slowly lowering itself towar<s you." You zoom out with your mirror and take an overhead look of the area. "There is a large ^laza that hasn't >een com^letely covere< by vines yet. You can get there through the alley."


Everything is getting darker. You feel the walls closing in on you, and that is in NO WAY an expression. The ceiling (????) is literally caving in towards you. You do your entire best to not go into the building in front of you where a trap is, and succeed. Your commander deftly swerves you to the right before she’s also like hey maybe there’s a safe place ahead instead. You snap back towards the alley, knowing that wide, open spaces like plazas are your forte rather than a restricting city street. You can handle ogres!


As you zag back towards the alley with the poorly-hidden brutes in waiting, you notice the ceiling (why is there a FUCKING CEILING) continue to descend upon you. You whip out (ha) BENEDICTION and crack it at the stupid dumb silly ogres in your way! Agghh...oh, they seem a little...hmmm….distracted now...


The distraction in question has taken the form of an ogre hanging upside down, a particularly thick vine constricting its left leg. You think you can see strange flowers start to bloom on the ogre's increasingly cracked carapace. The other two ogres who were accompanying it are desperately trying to drag it back down to the ground. You swing your mirror's vision around, looking for alternative routes. "They will not notice you if you swing u^ to that le<ge on the left. It will >ring you closer to the cano^y, however, which seems to >e the >igger threat here. Try to just walk ^ast them, first."


“Walk past them, what a fresh idea!” You’re really not in the mood anymore. The mood for what, you retort? Oh. Oh gosh, no, that was really rude! Ah, uh...you guess you do what she says? You definitely don’t want to go towards that weird ceiling. Best to just keep moving. Like she said, there’s a clearing up ahead that you can see! The magnitude of the Desiccation here is really unnerving you. You respond, again, carefully, “they do seem totally occupied...”


The ogres are entirely unresponsive as you walk past. Just before they exit your peripheral vision, the one being shanghaied gets poofed. A rare bit of cover, you guess.


That was rather… uncharacteristic of her. You frown. Could she be…? "They won't >e for much longer. If they have any smarts, they will >e hea<ing to the center of that ^laza too. In fact, I can see several grou^s of un<erlings converging there at this ^oint. Your lan<'s <esiccation has >een attacking them all over this city." Your overhead view shows at least five parties heading towards Vixani's current area; some of them have already lost some members. "This is still your >est shot at it. <o you know where you nee< to go?"


“there’s got to be some Heart to all this...there always is!” You tear forward towards the clearing, despite the warning from your friend. You realize suddenly that this is your last life. You expended your other one in a really, REALLY dumb way and now this is it. You can’t let Nevari down now! Groups of underlings pour in from the walkways and back streets around. You’re faced with an army of super gross enemy guys who look quite mean. You draw BENEDICTION again and begin hacking away at the mass of mooks before you.


You watch Vixani take out her new whips. You don't think you've seen them in action yet, this should prove interesting. She should be able to handle this situation, the underlings already seem quite terrified of her land's corruption. You think you see some of them hesitate to attack her, as if they are considering joining forces with her. Interesting. You make a note of it in another folder, and turn your attention back to Vixani. "The ogres and im^s shoul<n't >e of any concern, I think you will <is^atch them easily. Many of the ogres are also alrea<y injure<, they will not >e a high ^riority. I woul< >e more concerne< a>out the..." You try to think of a name for the strange, plant-like underlings you don't recognize from elsewhere. "Thorny ones. Thorns. And >ram>les. The ^lant ones."


You’re absolutely cleaving through the mass before you. You’re downing ogres left and right; this whip is something powerful. Just like you wanted! A dark fortitude overcomes you. Vines pierce the air towards you, but you infallibly counterwhip them before they reach you. It should be too much to handle, but you’re in a sort of trance. You dance back and forth, almost in rhythm, wreaking havoc and defending in time. “I’m aware of the threat, Nevari. Should I pretend you’re still helping?”


She's moving so quickly. You're having trouble keeping track of her attacks. You don't think you've ever seen her be so adept at this before. She's right, she doesn't seem to need any of your help right now. That's not what's worrying you. You flip back through her dossier to a page you've bookmarked and skim over the page. Your expression darkens, and you try to compose your response carefully. "I know you can han<le this, Vix. I am just here to su^^ort you, shoul< you nee< me."


Your dance quickens. You feel a strange, unfamiliar emotion course through you. You feel like you want to scream, but you’re strangely content with that. Before your blackout can envelop you, you get some praise from a friend. Oh, you were such a meanie to her, too! Gosh, she’s so sweet. You realize she’s probably just trying to support you in the heat of battle, but that doesn’t make it any less genuine! You immediately lose focus and flail about, forgetting the timing of your previous pace.


A slithery tendril easily knocks you off your feet, stunning you. You’re not entirely sure what happened. You were totally crushing it a moment ago--SMACK--a vine connects with your abdomen. Stars fill your vision as you wonder exactly what happened.


You grip your chair's armrests. What is she doing? The efficiency with which she was fighting seemed to disappear. Did you say the wrong thing? You look at your notes again. You never directly witnessed what happened before, but one of your more useful former teammates confided in you, and you agreed to hush it up. No, you didn't say the wrong thing - you said the right thing. You look back at your mirror, at Vix lying prone on the ground, and you feel powerless. If only she had told you how dangerous her land was. You should have prepared her better. You could have sent out some of your drones with her.


Only she can save herself now. But not in this state. You steel yourself. "Oh, it a^^ears you were right. You're han<ling this just fine >y yourself, aren't you?"


You watch as the sky above you closes into a black mass of detritus. Something big is coming. You feel a sense of peace despite your environment. "I know you can han<le this, Vix.” Her words wash your mind clean. You desperately try to stand when you’re hit with a real haymaker.


That...that wasn’t very...genuine...of her. You immediately feel not anger, but sadness. You’ve lost the faith of your dearest (and only, now!) friend. Melancholy cuts to your very core. Battle rages on around you. You feel disgusted with yourself. Sitting here. Lazing about. Feeling sorry for yourself. You piece of shit. A deafening BOOM fills the air as the ground towards the bottom of the plaza ruptures. A warped, contorted mass of organic matter rises ominously. You continue feeling SORRY FOR YOURSELF. Like it matters. The Heart is about to demolish you anyways.


What if you just fucking SHOWED her? That’d be ONE way to prove yourself as something more than some heap of decomposing garbage. “It’d be easier without this annoying GNAT in my ear! Get your hands dirty with some real hand-to-hand combat for once and then you can spout off your incessant BULLSHIT!” You jump to your feet and bare your teeth at the monstrosity before you.


You are temporarily distracted from Vixani's situation by the ENORMOUS WRITHING MASS approaching her. You try to get a better look at the sprawling creature by shifting your mirror's perspective, but its tiny surface cannot do it justice. Whatever it is, however, it's closing in on the prone troll. She's still not moving. Did you misjudge her situation? You're about to try again when she… Well. You're not going to lie to yourself, that did sting. But did your gamble pay off? That's all that matters.


She's on her feet now and facing the creature; the underlings around her are either all dead or have managed to flee through the twisting alleys. You've never seen her like this before; is that a good thing? If the alternative is just another dead troll, you don't particularly care. "Then, >y all means, im^ress this annoying gnat. That'll >e a welcome change from what you've >een <oing so far."


The Heart winds and writhes its branches chaotically at any and every sapient creature within range. Dozens of ogres, imps, and even basilisks and more get poofed on contact with the strange, anarchic creature. You receive a less-than-encouraging response from your FRIEND. “SHUT UP!!! SHUT UP SHUT UP!!”


A blank RAGE fills your mind as you bound towards this insane creature. You slice every vine or branch that comes your way. The imps littering the area don’t even strike a chord with you now. You relentlessly dodge your way towards the center of the plaza where the hub of this fiend awaits you. You come close to losing yourself entirely as you seem to...perform combat...in this area...you black out.


As you come to, you notice a strange sensation...almost...relief? The sky is clear. Uh...you feel a little bit empty as you wonder just exactly what happened...


A glowing yellow eye floats into Vixani's field of vision, attached to a small, hovering robotic body. Four more show up shortly after, and start examining her in detail, moving up and down her body. Finally, your drones have reached her. The moment she rushed in to attack that titan, you sent out as many medical drones as you could spare to her location while you prepared to move out yourself. You clear the ruin of a skyscraper and spot her, surrounded by your drones, in the middle of the devastation of her battle. You accelerate your own backpack-drone's propellers and fly down to her level. "Vix? Can you hear me? Are you hurt?"


With your eyes still a little cloudy, you notice the devastation surrounding you. There’s not a live Ivy in sight. Only sliced, dead vines. And...a bona fide mountain of grist. You feel a little woozy. A strange yellow shape approaches you and you try to jump to attention, but you mostly just manage to stand up a little straighter. You hear Nev cry out to you just after. You don’t feel hurt. Definitely spent, but...uh...pain-free, you guess? Except….oh no...what exactly did you say to her??


Your eyes widen and you freeze in place.


You land and remove your personal drone, rushing to her side. Your visor is showing reports from your medical drones. You spend some time examining them while you perform your own cursory analysis of her status. "A few surface woun<s, may>e a s^raine< ankle, nothing serious." You lock eyes with her. Is she in a state of shock? Or maybe she's piecing together what just happened? You decide to smile at her. "Goo< jo>, Vix." You turn to look at the huge pile of grist behind you. That could easily finance your troops' upgrades; you'll have to convince Vixani to share it with you. "Very goo< jo>, in fact."


Your pump biscuit beats hard in its cage. You don’t know what to do, how to handle this. You really don’t know what happened. That’s not true, you DO know what happened, but you don’t know what came over you. You try to reconcile what you said in your head and fail miserably. Now she’s telling you how good you’ve done. You have to say something! “I...” Talk! Speak! “I...uh...I...”


Your eyes dart back and forth as you entirely fail to be non-chalant, you numbskull! You briefly make eye contact with Nevari before you blast off into the sky. You need some time to think.


You watch Vixani take off without attempting to hold her back. You think she'll be fine, she probably just needs some time to cope with what just happened. You can barely believe it yourself, and you watched the whole thing. Of course, you'd already heard of her previous… episode, but that was nothing compared to what went down just a few minutes ago. Another entry for her dossier. You assume there will be fallout to deal with, naturally, but she will bounce back. You do genuinely believe in her, after all.


In the meantime, it would be a shame to let all this grist go unused. Looks like you won't have to beg it off Vixani after all.


--------------------------------------------


Dossier : Vixani Trella


Abilities : *updated*

• Berzerker Mode (tentative name): when put under high pressure/angered, develops significantly greater combat abilities. Can be induced if circumstances allow for it. To be used only in an emergency.
  

Remarks: *updated*

• Repressed resentment for my meddling? Or perhaps just a way to get back at me. Either way, need to work on my image problem.