letsplayamurder | Afterparty

Entry tags:

afterparty,
week 3

Afterparty

[After the execution finishes and Wendy is dragged down into the Earth by that absolute horrific monstrosity of a creature and Typhon gives his goodbye, Quark will stand there for a long moment in the silence, before announcing, in a voice that wavers while trying to go for neutral:]

The bar’ll be open. Sitting around alone isn’t going to help anyone. [he turns to look at Ferdinand] Ferdinand, you’re with me. I need someone to move the table.

[and, taking Cerejeira’s elbow, he’s going to head out of the Arena. So...post trial, the Eatery’s been moved into bar configuration by Ferdinand and Quark. There’s been several of the extra togas gathered and folded to be used as blankets. There are snacks from the pantry brought out and placed on plates and in bowls and left out to eat. The bar is open, but so is the kitchen, if anyone wants to make something.

Both Ferdinand and Quark can be found behind the bar, the latter attempting to teach the former how to use the replicator he’s now got back there in addition to the other drink components. At least it’s keeping them busy. They’re both there to serve drinks, however.

The door is open.]

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[And take a seat he does, though there's a moment of confusion as he reaches to sweep robes that aren't there out of the way and comes up empty-handed before remembering that he changed earlier. Boy, this did a number on all of them, didn't it?]

If only we had something to show for it.

[But rather than dwell on that, he's quick to continue:]

Please, there's no need to thank me. I knew I was not the only one here who needed one tonight.

[He hides a laugh behind his fingers, but settles at Seymour's words. Yeah, if only...]

Quark certainly had the right idea to make a business out of this. I wonder how many interesting things he's received with all those tokens...

[But that's neither here nor there, and not really the point.]

I'll come with you whenever you're ready to see their souls off.

They will appreciate that, I think. Wendy especially.

[He saw and heard what everyone else had to say about what she'd done, and on top of the fact that her trap had been sprung by Alex, of all people? There's no way her spirit is settled at the moment.]

Was all of that a part of the Design, I wonder...?

[Zvei nods. He has no real attachment to Wendy, but he isn't especially mad at her either. It is what it is. There's nothing that can be done now but to attempt to send them off in peace.]

Their Death's, you mean?

[He nods in return.]

Alex and I spoke about it last week, after the trial-- how changing the Design only leads to it correcting itself. Even so, he wished to keep trying to evade it. He refused to give in.

[A soft smile plays about the edge of his lips.]

He was... most determined.

He certainly was. I'm not surprised to hear that he planned to keep fighting, no matter how overwhelming the odds. He wanted to do what he could to protect everyone here, after all.

[A foolish, naive little fancy, something he indulged because he could, but now... Well, it feels heavier now.]

He endeared himself to you as well, didn't he?

[At that, that smile grows just the slightest bit wistful.]

He did. That determination of his reminded me of Lady Yuna... my wife. They have the same spark, the same conviction to protect others, regardless of the risk to themselves. I find it quite admirable indeed.

Oh, you're married! You must miss her terribly.

[Three weeks away, huh... And who knows how many more, given Typhon's... everything.]

It is an admirable trait. I've always found it so myself as well. But tell me about Lady Yuna!

[He's slightly surprised by the eagerness to hear about Yuna, but... well, a distraction is a distraction, and he's getting the sense that that is exactly what this is.

He certainly doesn't mind indulging it.]

She is a summoner, much like myself. It is a heavy title to bear, but she wears it well-- she is Spira's light of hope against Sin.

[Is he proud? Maybe just a little.]

I regret that I am not by her side, though I know her guardians are more than capable.

[You get it.]

Then you should have little reason to worry until you can return home. What is "Sin", though? Some sort of threat facing your world or something?

[A nod, the look on his face shifting to something decidedly more solemn.]

Sin is a monstrous beast that haunts Spira, unleashing devastation upon anything in its path. It is only thanks to the summoners that humanity has been able to survive, for a summoner's aeon is the only thing capable of doing Sin harm.

[Just normal things, you know!]

Ah, so it's a vital role you both play in protecting the very world. A dangerous position to be in.

What is an aeon? A type of magic or ability?

I would show you, had this world not decided I was not allowed access to mine. In simple terms, they are magical creatures given form through their bond with a summoner, and only those they have found to be worthy may call upon them.

[He swirls the wine in his glass for a moment.]

As you might imagine, there are not many who are capable of becoming summoners.

Fascinating... I can only imagine it is quite difficult to be unable to call upon it so suddenly.

[There's magic similar in concept to summoning, in giving form to creatures made by the caster's mana, but Zvei is by no means an expert in such fields and can't even begin to try to compare the two. So he'll leave that thought aside.]

What is the process like to become a full-fledged summoner? I imagine there's quite a bit of training involved.

It is... strange to no longer have that bond, yes.

[Feeling like there's a part of your mind suddenly missing? Very odd, and more than a little disconcerting. Not that he needs aeons to fight, but that lack of connection is... hmm.]

Summoners must be proficient in the use of regular magic before they are allowed to undergo training. One can begin at any age as long as they show the necessary potential... they begin their training in the art of summoning as an apprentice summoner in a temple, and when they have demonstrated sufficient ability, they undergo their first trial.

Their first trial... And what does that involve? How many trials must they go through?

Praying to the fayth.

[Then, realizing that probably sounds like a euphemism for something terrible:]

It is exactly as it sounds-- the summoner must pray to the fayth of that temple and attempt to form a bond. If the fayth recognizes the summoner's wish and the strength of their resolve, they will grant them their aeon.

It is not the training that weeds out many would-be summoners, but the trials.

Ah, I see! Such trials do sound difficult, and make it clear that only the truly worthy can become summoners. And yet only summoners can save you all... my, what a difficult position to be in.

[Though something about this is striking him as a little strange, and after he takes a sip of wine he brings it up.]

Why did you agree to come here, Seymour?

[Surely your world needs you too much to leave...?]

[His smile now is tinged with both sadness and an edge of something that almost seems to resemble... bitterness?]

I seek the strength needed to save Spira once and for all.

[It gets a smile from him.]

"God of Salvation" indeed. I hope you're successful in your attempt, then.

[He's noticed that look, and can't help but wonder... But maybe this isn't the time or place to keep prying too deep. Not with the others around to hear, anyway.]

[And just like that, that edge is gone as he takes a sip of his wine.]

As do I, for Spira's sake. The spiral of suffering and destruction must be put to an end.

Honestly, my world is quite lucky in that the worst we have to deal with are rogue monsters... and of course wandering into monsters' territory, but that's more on us than the monsters themselves.

[He leans forward, propping his elbow on the bar so that he can lean his chin on his hand.]

Surely those are no small threat, if they are anything like the fiends from Spira. Do they often come near the towns?

Some do, yes. Smaller towns are at risk of monster attacks quite frequently, though most are prepared for the possibility and have plenty of guards to ward them off. Others rely on adventurers - and there are always the guilds to help as well, of course.

To most ordinary people, they are a tremendous threat, though compared to the monsters living deep within the Aeli's branches, they're quite weak and pathetic. These labyrinthine structures are extensions of the World Tree, scattered throughout Aelios, and are full of mana, thus making the monsters far stronger.

The World Tree? An actual tree, or is that merely a name?

[Because surely a tree could not be so large as to have something resembling a labyrinth within it? But then again, considering some of the things that exist in Spira, that isn't entirely out of the realm of possibility.]

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