[ Aymeric frowns as he reads through the reports, then also sees the note with Meteion. Quietly at first, he gently touches the hilt of his sword, as if trying to comfort it. Despite that, the vibes are... Sad. Anguished.
He looks back to the window, letting the sight burn itself into his eyes. The burn on his palm festers alongside it, but he endures. ]
This furthers cements that this is an endeavor of the swords... We are meant to protect history and keep it from straying.
[ But, oof, war. Aymeric is used to seeing battlefields aflame, but his gaze travels to Prompto and Meteion, mostly Meteion. With Aymeric not blocking the window, she can see all that despair. ]
... It will be perilous, Meteion. I worry harm will come to you if you join us, but... I know not if this room is safe.
[ The difficulty in pinpointing and untangling her emotions from the sword, has her a bit shaken up. To feel that deep well of grief, old but renewed loss, has felt it already back in the prism but to feel it so strongly once more. She trembles, eyes a little wet with unshed tears but she blinks quickly and looks to Aymeric as he looks to her.
She looks to the window as well, feels the festering emotions she has buried so deeply, and gives some that feeling of anguish. How awful. How wrong. That earlier excitement, bright and easygoing fun is completely gone now. ]
I... [ It can't, no she can't just stay here, it... she? needs to see this through. It will. No, she must. ] I can't stay here, Aymeric... it's okay. It's something.. we have to do.
[ i'll be okay, she doesn't say but.. she's remembering something as close to a promise as she could have made, back in the prism. ] ..I'll be careful.
Goryokaku... I think I saw that name back on the stage.
[ He'll look at the other two. He'll start exuding reassurance up until his feelings start becoming one with his sword bro. Moving over to Aymeric to give him a light bump on his arm as he gives a nod. ]
The safest place she can be is at our sides, right? We'll watch her back while kicking ass.
[ Looking out the window. Normally, he would be pretty upset even after all that he's been through, but he feels pretty distant from it all. Same shit, different day kind of vibes with an undercurrent of the loss. ]
[The longer they stare at the window, the deeper the sense of desolation and isolation go. The feeling of loss is immense: they'll know just how far this death has reached. An entire world, sealed away from the other timelines, left to rot and wither, its inhabitants losing their minds and humanity and hacking away at themselves and each other until not even their physical bodies remain.
Meteion's blade resonates with the anguish in understanding. This is why it tries to steel itself, even against the inevitable loss ahead. It doesn't want this to happen to another world full of beautiful, bright, kind people.
Aymeric's blade reacts to the touch, the attempt at comfort, like it's grabbing out for that single hand in a desperate bid for something to hold onto. Someone who understands. Sometimes, all choices are painful, and one must simply follow what their heart says is right.
Prompto's blade is the most sure-footed about its stance on this mission. Loss of life is a painful but inevitable thing, and in this matter, it's a numbers game. Hundreds of soldiers, or an entire world? The answer seems obvious.
The door that they've come through has seemingly vanished, but the door on the other side lies in wait, with the sound of war ramping up. They can smell gunpowder and smoke from behind it, along with sharp, metallic iron.
Do they linger, or do they head through and face their fate?]
[ The bump has him looking over at Prompto and gives a nod. In the end, they have to trust their own ability... But with how the trips have been so far, Aymeric has his obvious worries.
His attention turns back to Meteion, frowning. Still, he places a hand on her head for a pat. ]
You're very brave right now. [ But to the question of being ready. ] Though little, we've prepared as much as we can.
[ THROUGH THE DOOR. Aymeric will open it first and go through. ]
[ There's comfort in that hand, even if her wings settle a bit lower but just as her sword steels itself- she, steels herself, she's as ready as she'll ever be. She... she doesn't want to see more destroyed stars... just, for once, she wants to see it saved.
So, she nods and follows right on after Aymeric, one hand firmly settled on the sheath of the sword as the other moves to tuck the withered rose into her idol attire (under her apron....) for safekeeping. ]
[Through the door they go! It opens up into a beautiful little island fortress with rolling green hills and fresh, clean air. The sun is shining brightly and birds are singing a chipper, jaunty tune.
Nah, just kidding. They step out from a war council tent and onto the grounds of an island fortress... in the Shogunate army's camp, of course. This is an infiltration mission; it's up to them to ensure from the inside that this army loses. They'll find that even with their bizarre idol outfits and strange accessories (that they couldn't remove even if they wanted to, hm, strange,,), no one around them treats them as strangers or invaders. Seems like they belong here.
The grass is torn up and soaked through in many places with blood. Dirt coats the uniforms of the people rushing by them, trying to help their bleeding, injured comrades away from the heart of the fighting. The air is filled with such an overpowering scent of death, blood, metal and smoke that it's almost suffocating. Hazy clouds of gunpowder rise into the air, casting the sky in a miserable, grey tint. They hear nothing but the whistle of cannon balls, explosions, gunshots, and voices shouting frantically. These voices bark commands, call for lost companions, shriek in agony, cry out of fear in the throes of death: it's all an indistinguishable cacophony.
To the left, there is a medical tent, set up haphazardly. There aren't enough people around right now to guard it. One single soldier stands in the front with a rifle, looking exhausted and anxious.
To the right, there's what appears to be an armory. Most of the weapons look as though they've been picked through already, but several people linger near the area, some resting and others desperately trying to find something new to carry back out.
Directly ahead of them lies the roar of battle. A large, open field stretches far beyond the walls of this part of the fortress. It carries down to a distant beach, where the fully-armed ships of the Imperial Forces have begun to dock and numerous more way out in the bay as reinforcements. Haphazard covers from the shellings are scattered about the place - stacks of grain-bags and wood - with soldiers collapsed behind them, trying to rest and recover. Even from here, it's possible to see numerous bodies, mostly wearing the Shogunate army's uniform, strewn about the ground.
[ Aymeric takes in the sights... Wow. Familiar! What isn't familiar is grass. Anyway, he keeps holding onto the hilt of his sword as his attention darts between a couple of spots. ]
Let us start with some reconnaissance before we head into battle. 'Tis imperative to know the current state of affairs so we may better carry out our mission.
[ He doesn't feel he needs to remind Meteion another time to stay close to them. Babying her would be too rude. Anyway, Aymeric will start with the medical tent? ]
And Aymeric sure is saying things that she.. is focusing on but also taken in by their new surroundings, still she does know it would be good to at least figure out their situation more. So she'll follow after him to their left as they move to the medical tent.
While he addresses the soldier, Meteion is kinda.. peeking into the tent while gently holding that sword closer to her. They'll be okay. How bad is it chief... ]
This is all very terrible, but also not that unfamiliar. The amount of horror is new and he was so used to taking on just machines and monsters up until he learned about himself.
While usually he's just a follower, but as a swordkin, he's going to take some initiative. ]
Alright, I'll go check out the armory situation and let you know. [ He'll head over there to see what's going on here. What's going on over here? ]
Well. The first and most immediately notable thing is that when Aymeric begins speaking to the soldier in front of the tent, their face and figure morph in a blink into someone quite familiar to him. Hm? Or did it morph at all...? Wasn't she always here? She's a member of this army, after all. His dutiful second-in-command, who looks so very haggard and exhausted to the bone. She shakes her head in response to his question, looking toward the entrance to the tent.]
"The situation is... dire. Reinforcements have been blocked; it seems the ships have bested us, this time. We have precious few medical supplies left."
[The sword in Meteion's hand radiates a near-constant misery. It hates being back at this place, knowing what will unfold, but it tries to steel itself nonetheless. The inside of the medic tent is unpleasant, and the smell of death will immediately hit her. In the back corner, there are rows of bodies wrapped in dirty linens. The cots are all full of soldiers in badly wounded states, with exhausted-looking nurses running back and forward, trying to remove bullets and cauterize wounds and comfort the people too far gone to help. One nurse will catch her eye to her, and as she's scanning the beds, one face in particular stands out, the figure tucked under a thin blanket and left in a far back cot.
Over at the armory, Prompto will also see some familiarfaces. Iggy is leaning against the wall of the fortress, one leg bandaged and bleeding heavily, face pale and sweaty. Gladio is also covered in blood, though the impression is he's managed to make it through without too much injury this time. He's loading a Chassepot rifle, expression grim.]
[ Oh that near-constant misery is.. very heavy, just as is the scene before her. The smell, making her eyes blur over, ugh it hurts-- but she doesn't look away. Can't. Even as she tries not to stare at the bodies lining up and instead focus on the nurses and those still on bed being treated.
But, the sight of Bass and Clarte do cause some alarm because w... why are they here? This.. is this right? Anyways, she'll zoom right on over to Nurse Bass with a concerned look in her eyes. ] What.. happened? Are you alright?
[ There's a feeling of concern, worry and stress now. Peering over to Clarte with more dread. ] Is.. Is Clarte okay?
[ He feels his heart sink seeing the pair of them. Rushing over to immediately hover by Ignis, his hand reaching to grab a hold of his friend and support him. ]
What happened!? Where's Noct?
[ He's looking at Gladio as he asks this. Not even registering the surprise gun in his hands. ]
[Prompto runs to his two comrades, and they look relieved to see him, though not too surprised. Ignis will accept the support, somehow maintaining a relatively calm demeanor even in the face of the chaos of war - though he quiets at the question. Likewise, Gladio's gaze falls to the side as Prompto asks after their missing friend, and the look on his face is full of regret and anger. It's not very well-suited to someone so cheerful, but that's what war does to a person, right?
Gladio locks the rifle, the ka-chack! ringing out clearly even through the mire of noise surrounding them.]
"He's holding down a fort out there. We tried to get some reinforcements in, but..."
[He'll glance down toward Ignis, who's hangin' out, bleeding. Clearly that plan didn't work out.]
Double yikes. He isn't really sure how to feel about this. He's anxious, upset, worried, but also accepting that this is war. That people get hurt and lives get snuffed out. It's sad, but it is what it is...
It's Noct so he has to try. ]
I have two friends with me. Iggy can stay here and we can fight our way to him.
[Gladio just shakes his head at that. There's a steadfast determination in his face; after all, it's for Noct, right? Noct, who's trying his best out there to prop up a dying, failing army in its death throes.]
"No time to waste."
[He'll start heading away from the armory and toward the battlefield. Ignis will shift so that Prompto doesn't have to support him as fully, clapping a hand over his shoulder.]
"I'll head back to the headquarters soon, don't worry about me."
[Ignis seems satisfied to leave things in the hands of these two, and will go back to resting up for now. It's a long way back to headquarters, after all.
Gladio also seems satisfied with this. Goodbye sweet Aymeric, there's a new CYOA member on the squad now. Without waiting a moment more, he'll lead the way straight out of the camp and into the blaze of battle on the field ahead.
It's a hail of bullets almost immediately, as enemies who have pushed the Shogunate lines farther and farther back aim from their nests in relative safety. Gladio dives behind a makeshift shelter, bullet spray hitting the bags of grain with a dull and rapid thud, thud, thud. To the right, Prompto can see what appears to be a sturdier shelter that may just barely fit the two of them. To the left, there's a swath of open field, some smoke emerging from a ditch in the ground.]
[Lucia is exhausted, but she's here, alive... for now. If the Shogunate side loses this war, that won't hold. After all, any survivors - especially those who held important positions - will surely end up executed by the Imperial government.]
"Both. The paths to the mainland have been blocked. The general's page was the last one to make it through... We won't be getting past the boats, either. But if we had enough power... Then it's possible we could break through their barrier."
[Her expression is grim, but there's a little hope in it that hasn't been extinguished yet.
Meteion zooms to Nurse Joy Bass, and he's definitely looking like he's seen better days! Phew. He probably hasn't slept for a while, given the state of this base, and his clothing is covered in blood and gore. They're short on hands and need all the help they can get at all hours, to ensure as few lives are lost as possible.]
"Yeah..." [He lies, like a liar, looking over toward Clarte.] "Just tired. Clarte's doing pretty bad, though. I don't know if they're gonna pull through this one."
[He says it with the deep sort of exhaustion that implies he's already seen far, far too many losses for one more to do anything just yet. The shell-shock of battle is heavy in the air.
Clarte seems to be alive, but is indeed in very bad shape. From where she is, she'll be able to see that they're wrapped in bandages, though most of the bandages around the left side of their ribcage is soaked through with blood. Their complexion is almost an ashy color, and they stare up at the ceiling in an almost unseeing way.]
[ Instinctively, he frowns at that even if he should be letting this battle run its course. It's hard not to feel for others, especially when you can see what these people are going through. Numbers... Fates or not, each person is a life. Still, he takes a deep breath and continues conversation, but makes sure to every so often check where Meteion is. ]
How many of our commanders are out on the field? What of the enemy?
[ Don't worry! Meteion is just miserable, sad, and suffering inside the medical tent!
She gently takes one of Nurse Bass's hands, giving a reassuring squeeze. ] Hang in there.. okay? I'll.. I'll go check on them. [ Really breaking her heart here to see that exhaustion and the weight of it all on him. She squeezes his hand once more before shuffling over to Clarte.
Oh, having and feeling so much is incredibly hard, what can she do? Gingerly, she rests a hand over their own as she looks them over. What... what can she do..? ]
Clarity, is... is there anything I can do for you? [ Her breath catches in her throat, trying to steady so her voice doesn't tremble but it.. it isn't a good attempt. Her hand is trembling too. ]
[It's a miserable balance, isn't it? To have the weight of an entire world on your shoulders, knowing that you'll still lose hundreds if not thousands of lives - some of them achingly precious. The sword at Aymeric's side stirs again, reaching out to him, the weight of it like a lead blanket. Like spectral arms over its shoulders, it holds, and it holds tightly.
After a pause, Lucia speaks again.]
"We have two generals standing. Commander Hijikata is on his way out." [To die in the field, a bullet to the back, as they have to ensure.] "The enemy's number is five times our own."
[And yet, still, even now, there's hope...? She seems to think so.
Meteion's out here living a life, though! Nurse Bass just nods, giving her hand a squeeze in return, before he bustles off to tend to more of their dying and their injured. The wailing in this room is miserable, and the scent of blood grows stronger by the moment.
Clarte, for the most part, seems unresponsive. It's like it takes a while for her words to register at all, and as they look up, it seems hard for them to focus.]
"...?"
[They look like they're trying to say Meteion's name, but the words catch in their mouth. They cough up a mouthful of blood, instead, which likely spatters over her nice apron.]
[ Aymeric's voice is stern, resolute, despite his aching heart. He continues to clutch onto the sword's hilt tightly, as if embracing it back... As if that would assuage its hurts as they continue on. A deep breath, he looks over to where Meteion is. He sees Bass and Clarte, knowing they're simply apparitions—but their pain. It's real, isn't it?
... He remembers when he and Lucia would share the same hopes, or maybe it was she believed in him and his aspirations. Instinctively, he wants to have hope with her. Closing his eyes, he makes a decision. ]
Watch over the girl until a blond man comes to fetch her.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
saturations) wrote2022-03-14 04:57 pm
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[ Aymeric frowns as he reads through the reports, then also sees the note with Meteion. Quietly at first, he gently touches the hilt of his sword, as if trying to comfort it. Despite that, the vibes are... Sad. Anguished.
He looks back to the window, letting the sight burn itself into his eyes. The burn on his palm festers alongside it, but he endures. ]
This furthers cements that this is an endeavor of the swords... We are meant to protect history and keep it from straying.
[ But, oof, war. Aymeric is used to seeing battlefields aflame, but his gaze travels to Prompto and Meteion, mostly Meteion. With Aymeric not blocking the window, she can see all that despair. ]
... It will be perilous, Meteion. I worry harm will come to you if you join us, but... I know not if this room is safe.
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She looks to the window as well, feels the festering emotions she has buried so deeply, and gives some that feeling of anguish. How awful. How wrong. That earlier excitement, bright and easygoing fun is completely gone now. ]
I... [ It can't, no she can't just stay here, it... she? needs to see this through. It will. No, she must. ] I can't stay here, Aymeric... it's okay. It's something.. we have to do.
[ i'll be okay, she doesn't say but.. she's remembering something as close to a promise as she could have made, back in the prism. ] ..I'll be careful.
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[ He'll look at the other two. He'll start exuding reassurance up until his feelings start becoming one with his sword bro. Moving over to Aymeric to give him a light bump on his arm as he gives a nod. ]
The safest place she can be is at our sides, right? We'll watch her back while kicking ass.
[ Looking out the window. Normally, he would be pretty upset even after all that he's been through, but he feels pretty distant from it all. Same shit, different day kind of vibes with an undercurrent of the loss. ]
Are we ready?
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Meteion's blade resonates with the anguish in understanding. This is why it tries to steel itself, even against the inevitable loss ahead. It doesn't want this to happen to another world full of beautiful, bright, kind people.
Aymeric's blade reacts to the touch, the attempt at comfort, like it's grabbing out for that single hand in a desperate bid for something to hold onto. Someone who understands. Sometimes, all choices are painful, and one must simply follow what their heart says is right.
Prompto's blade is the most sure-footed about its stance on this mission. Loss of life is a painful but inevitable thing, and in this matter, it's a numbers game. Hundreds of soldiers, or an entire world? The answer seems obvious.
The door that they've come through has seemingly vanished, but the door on the other side lies in wait, with the sound of war ramping up. They can smell gunpowder and smoke from behind it, along with sharp, metallic iron.
Do they linger, or do they head through and face their fate?]
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His attention turns back to Meteion, frowning. Still, he places a hand on her head for a pat. ]
You're very brave right now. [ But to the question of being ready. ] Though little, we've prepared as much as we can.
[ THROUGH THE DOOR. Aymeric will open it first and go through. ]
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So, she nods and follows right on after Aymeric, one hand firmly settled on the sheath of the sword as the other moves to tuck the withered rose into her idol attire (under her apron....) for safekeeping. ]
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Nah, just kidding. They step out from a war council tent and onto the grounds of an island fortress... in the Shogunate army's camp, of course. This is an infiltration mission; it's up to them to ensure from the inside that this army loses. They'll find that even with their bizarre idol outfits and strange accessories (that they couldn't remove even if they wanted to, hm, strange,,), no one around them treats them as strangers or invaders. Seems like they belong here.
The grass is torn up and soaked through in many places with blood. Dirt coats the uniforms of the people rushing by them, trying to help their bleeding, injured comrades away from the heart of the fighting. The air is filled with such an overpowering scent of death, blood, metal and smoke that it's almost suffocating. Hazy clouds of gunpowder rise into the air, casting the sky in a miserable, grey tint. They hear nothing but the whistle of cannon balls, explosions, gunshots, and voices shouting frantically. These voices bark commands, call for lost companions, shriek in agony, cry out of fear in the throes of death: it's all an indistinguishable cacophony.
To the left, there is a medical tent, set up haphazardly. There aren't enough people around right now to guard it. One single soldier stands in the front with a rifle, looking exhausted and anxious.
To the right, there's what appears to be an armory. Most of the weapons look as though they've been picked through already, but several people linger near the area, some resting and others desperately trying to find something new to carry back out.
Directly ahead of them lies the roar of battle. A large, open field stretches far beyond the walls of this part of the fortress. It carries down to a distant beach, where the fully-armed ships of the Imperial Forces have begun to dock and numerous more way out in the bay as reinforcements. Haphazard covers from the shellings are scattered about the place - stacks of grain-bags and wood - with soldiers collapsed behind them, trying to rest and recover. Even from here, it's possible to see numerous bodies, mostly wearing the Shogunate army's uniform, strewn about the ground.
How do they proceed?]
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Let us start with some reconnaissance before we head into battle. 'Tis imperative to know the current state of affairs so we may better carry out our mission.
[ He doesn't feel he needs to remind Meteion another time to stay close to them. Babying her would be too rude. Anyway, Aymeric will start with the medical tent? ]
How are our injured?
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And Aymeric sure is saying things that she.. is focusing on but also taken in by their new surroundings, still she does know it would be good to at least figure out their situation more. So she'll follow after him to their left as they move to the medical tent.
While he addresses the soldier, Meteion is kinda.. peeking into the tent while gently holding that sword closer to her. They'll be okay. How bad is it chief... ]
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This is all very terrible, but also not that unfamiliar. The amount of horror is new and he was so used to taking on just machines and monsters up until he learned about himself.
While usually he's just a follower, but as a swordkin, he's going to take some initiative. ]
Alright, I'll go check out the armory situation and let you know. [ He'll head over there to see what's going on here. What's going on over here? ]
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Well. The first and most immediately notable thing is that when Aymeric begins speaking to the soldier in front of the tent, their face and figure morph in a blink into someone quite familiar to him. Hm? Or did it morph at all...? Wasn't she always here? She's a member of this army, after all. His dutiful second-in-command, who looks so very haggard and exhausted to the bone. She shakes her head in response to his question, looking toward the entrance to the tent.]
"The situation is... dire. Reinforcements have been blocked; it seems the ships have bested us, this time. We have precious few medical supplies left."
[The sword in Meteion's hand radiates a near-constant misery. It hates being back at this place, knowing what will unfold, but it tries to steel itself nonetheless. The inside of the medic tent is unpleasant, and the smell of death will immediately hit her. In the back corner, there are rows of bodies wrapped in dirty linens. The cots are all full of soldiers in badly wounded states, with exhausted-looking nurses running back and forward, trying to remove bullets and cauterize wounds and comfort the people too far gone to help. One nurse will catch her eye to her, and as she's scanning the beds, one face in particular stands out, the figure tucked under a thin blanket and left in a far back cot.
Over at the armory, Prompto will also see some familiar faces. Iggy is leaning against the wall of the fortress, one leg bandaged and bleeding heavily, face pale and sweaty. Gladio is also covered in blood, though the impression is he's managed to make it through without too much injury this time. He's loading a Chassepot rifle, expression grim.]
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... Lucia?
[ Wait. No. They're on those trips and he shakes his head, gesturing with a hand to ignore what he said. ]
Blocked from sea? Land?
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But, the sight of Bass and Clarte do cause some alarm because w... why are they here? This.. is this right? Anyways, she'll zoom right on over to Nurse Bass with a concerned look in her eyes. ] What.. happened? Are you alright?
[ There's a feeling of concern, worry and stress now. Peering over to Clarte with more dread. ] Is.. Is Clarte okay?
[ IS HE DEAD?? ]
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What happened!? Where's Noct?
[ He's looking at Gladio as he asks this. Not even registering the surprise gun in his hands. ]
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Gladio locks the rifle, the ka-chack! ringing out clearly even through the mire of noise surrounding them.]
"He's holding down a fort out there. We tried to get some reinforcements in, but..."
[He'll glance down toward Ignis, who's hangin' out, bleeding. Clearly that plan didn't work out.]
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Double yikes. He isn't really sure how to feel about this. He's anxious, upset, worried, but also accepting that this is war. That people get hurt and lives get snuffed out. It's sad, but it is what it is...
It's Noct so he has to try. ]
I have two friends with me. Iggy can stay here and we can fight our way to him.
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"No time to waste."
[He'll start heading away from the armory and toward the battlefield. Ignis will shift so that Prompto doesn't have to support him as fully, clapping a hand over his shoulder.]
"I'll head back to the headquarters soon, don't worry about me."
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Alright. Take care, man! We'll bring him back in one piece!
[ Sorry Aymeric, Prompto is replacing you with another beefy tall dude. He'll keep his hand on the handle of his sword and follow after Gladio. ]
Show me the way, big guy!
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Gladio also seems satisfied with this. Goodbye sweet Aymeric, there's a new CYOA member on the squad now. Without waiting a moment more, he'll lead the way straight out of the camp and into the blaze of battle on the field ahead.
It's a hail of bullets almost immediately, as enemies who have pushed the Shogunate lines farther and farther back aim from their nests in relative safety. Gladio dives behind a makeshift shelter, bullet spray hitting the bags of grain with a dull and rapid thud, thud, thud. To the right, Prompto can see what appears to be a sturdier shelter that may just barely fit the two of them. To the left, there's a swath of open field, some smoke emerging from a ditch in the ground.]
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"Both. The paths to the mainland have been blocked. The general's page was the last one to make it through... We won't be getting past the boats, either. But if we had enough power... Then it's possible we could break through their barrier."
[Her expression is grim, but there's a little hope in it that hasn't been extinguished yet.
Meteion zooms to Nurse
JoyBass, and he's definitely looking like he's seen better days! Phew. He probably hasn't slept for a while, given the state of this base, and his clothing is covered in blood and gore. They're short on hands and need all the help they can get at all hours, to ensure as few lives are lost as possible.]"Yeah..." [He lies, like a liar, looking over toward Clarte.] "Just tired. Clarte's doing pretty bad, though. I don't know if they're gonna pull through this one."
[He says it with the deep sort of exhaustion that implies he's already seen far, far too many losses for one more to do anything just yet. The shell-shock of battle is heavy in the air.
Clarte seems to be alive, but is indeed in very bad shape. From where she is, she'll be able to see that they're wrapped in bandages, though most of the bandages around the left side of their ribcage is soaked through with blood. Their complexion is almost an ashy color, and they stare up at the ceiling in an almost unseeing way.]
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How many of our commanders are out on the field? What of the enemy?
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She gently takes one of Nurse Bass's hands, giving a reassuring squeeze. ] Hang in there.. okay? I'll.. I'll go check on them. [ Really breaking her heart here to see that exhaustion and the weight of it all on him. She squeezes his hand once more before shuffling over to Clarte.
Oh, having and feeling so much is incredibly hard, what can she do? Gingerly, she rests a hand over their own as she looks them over. What... what can she do..? ]
Clarity, is... is there anything I can do for you? [ Her breath catches in her throat, trying to steady so her voice doesn't tremble but it.. it isn't a good attempt. Her hand is trembling too. ]
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After a pause, Lucia speaks again.]
"We have two generals standing. Commander Hijikata is on his way out." [To die in the field, a bullet to the back, as they have to ensure.] "The enemy's number is five times our own."
[And yet, still, even now, there's hope...? She seems to think so.
Meteion's out here living a life, though! Nurse Bass just nods, giving her hand a squeeze in return, before he bustles off to tend to more of their dying and their injured. The wailing in this room is miserable, and the scent of blood grows stronger by the moment.
Clarte, for the most part, seems unresponsive. It's like it takes a while for her words to register at all, and as they look up, it seems hard for them to focus.]
"...?"
[They look like they're trying to say Meteion's name, but the words catch in their mouth. They cough up a mouthful of blood, instead, which likely spatters over her nice apron.]
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Then I will go with him.
[ Aymeric's voice is stern, resolute, despite his aching heart. He continues to clutch onto the sword's hilt tightly, as if embracing it back... As if that would assuage its hurts as they continue on. A deep breath, he looks over to where Meteion is. He sees Bass and Clarte, knowing they're simply apparitions—but their pain. It's real, isn't it?
... He remembers when he and Lucia would share the same hopes, or maybe it was she believed in him and his aspirations. Instinctively, he wants to have hope with her. Closing his eyes, he makes a decision. ]
Watch over the girl until a blond man comes to fetch her.
[ Time to abandon child. ]
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