After the overwhelming popularity of the idea, I'm starting this rp. Remember, this takes place in the modern time. So people won't be very happy if you draw your weapon in public. Be careful. Also, this was an important question, and I'll answer. You can talk to your Inhabiter whenever you want. And I have to have Sephiroth as my enemy. Sorry, Azure Flame

 

Joy sat in the cafe, drinking his coffee slowly. He couldn't believe all of it was real. Final Fantasy, everything. And why Cloud chose him was boyone his understanding. After all, in the games, he was the cool dude. Still, having the Buster Sword was pretty cool. He finished his coffee and walked out slowly. He put his hands in his pockets and tried to imitate Cloud's expression, but he burst out laughing, causing to people around him to look at him. Oh, if only they knew.

"Ah, and you too, I see, no sign of my brother, however," responded Gabranth through Scardigne. "Behold the power of a judge!" he shouted. He slashed his blades through the air three times, sending large gaping shockwaves of energy in their direction. Vaan had August step in front of Balthier and switch to using an axe and sword. August blocked the slashes with the shield, but was buffeted and blown back to the side of Sara/Balthier. Both August and Vaan sure hoped that they had an ace up their sleeve, for everyone's sake.

Mariah hesitated, knowing that if she spoke immediately her voice would crack and the water works would come forth. Getting a closer look at Joy’s injuries made her sad. He must’ve been in a lot of pain.

 

When she was finally ready to speak, she said, “Well, not much. I just got hit in the head by a brick is all. Just my luck. Looks like I missed some action.” She laughed a little, trying to make light of the subject even though she was feeling a little depressed that she couldn’t have been there for Joy. "So what happened to you? Is James...?" She couldn't finish the sentence.

"No, James isn't dead. I don't know what happened, but he seemed to be possessed. Anyways, I went to his house, and he was setting the place on fire. So, I tried to fight him, until Cloud, the little jerk, took over my body. I sat alone, until I had enough strength to take back over.

I was dazed, so I fell in the fire. As James, Sephiroth, or whatever you want to call him, was about to kill me, this girl jumped in and saved me. I tried to save her, and did, by jumping out the window when James summoned a meteor. And now I'm badly injured, and my Buster Sword is gone."

After Joy’s shocking story, the “badly injured” concept finally processed fully through her still slightly clouded head. She saw a memory--Tifa’s, no doubt--of Cloud after a particular battle with Sephiroth. He had been bloodied and gashed. She (Tifa) was panicked to see Cloud like that. The only thing that had gone through her mind was: he needs help!

 

And Mariah felt this for Joy now. “Oh my gosh, you need to get to a hospital!” She could now completely see how weak he was, how much he was struggling to stand, to speak. She put one of his arms around her shoulders to help steady him.

 

“So the Buster Sword is gone, huh? I’m really sorry to hear that. What do you plan to do? Wait, no, never mind. You need to get better first and then you can worry about the rest.”

OOC: I'm a little sad now that there's no Penello for my character to get close to. I'm a sucker for the mushy stuff like what's going on between Joy and Mariah.

(@Not-with-a-whimper, If you really want, you can make a npc for you to control if you want romance. That might be creepy, though.)

Joy nodded, realizing how hurt he was. He swayed on his feet. Joy felt embarrased, but he said, "Can I use you as a support, or something? It's a little hard to stand right now." Joy felt bags under his eyes from all the restless nights worrying about this situation. He just wanted to get to a hospital, and rest. He also just wanted this to end. He had no weapon. He was basicallt useless to all the other people trying to beat the villians.

(@Number XV, Yeah, that would just be creepy. I'll just enjoy the show and continue with my section of the story. Once JesusFreak posts again, that is. )

Mariah could see the physical and mental exhaustion in Joy’s eyes. He was going through a really hard time right now. Who could blame him? In response to his request, she nodded. “Of course...Cloud,” Tifa added softly at the end.

 

Mariah pulled out her cell phone and called for an ambulance. There was no way she would be able to get him to a hospital on her own. “Come on, let’s go over here.” She walked Joy to a nearby bench and helped him sit down. “Try to lay down and rest. I’ll stay with you the whole time,” she said tenderly.

Joy put his head down on the bench, remembering what just happened earlier that day. He was just having coffee. And now...this! It was horrible. He tried to reach into Cloud's memories, anything that might help him fight Sephiroth. But Cloud was either being stubborn, or unable to respond. Joy seriously hoped it was the latter. He looked up at the sky. Smoke was still rising from the fight, and Joy knew he was dead. The police would find out eventually. He heard sirens in the distance, which must be the ambulance.

Mariah stood at the edge of the sidewalk, flagging down the ambulance. EMT’s came rushing out, crowding around Joy, lifting him onto a stretcher. Even though the scene looked chaotic and scary, Mariah felt at peace, knowing that Joy would be okay.

 

One of the EMT’s came up to her with a clipboard. “So, is this man your boyfriend?”

 

Mariah blushed. “Well, um...” Of course, the whole situation was really complicated. But if she said that Joy was her boyfriend, she had a better chance of being allowed to accompany him in the ambulance. And she knew that Tifa wanted to be with Cloud. “Yes,” she lied.

 

“Alright, I assume you want to stay with him?”

 

“I’d be very grateful to.” She climbed into the vehicle and, after the doors were closed, she felt the ambulance speeding off. She kept her gaze on Joy, whose eyes were closed. She couldn’t tell whether he was still conscious or not.

 

“Ma’am, I think you might need to be evaluated as well,” the EMT said to her.

 

“Me? Why?”

 

“It looks like you took a nasty hit. I just noticed dried blood on the back of your head. We need to make sure you don’t have a concussion.”

 

“Oh, alright,” Mariah said, a little surprised. She hadn’t realized the shrapnel had actually left a gash. “But Joy is obviously in a lot worse shape than I am.”

 

“Of course. He’ll be our first priority.”

"Looks like you guys need some help." Chuck said, gunblade in hand. He raced at Scardigne/Gabranth, ready to slash him. Don't be reckless. Squall said in his head. It'll get both of us killed. I don't know why you're even bothering to help them, they'll just end up getting in your way. "Squall, shut up and let me fight! I'm not a lone wolf like you. Or I guess in your case, a lone lion."

Joy opened his eyes. It wasn't that bad, like you see in TV. It probably was because of Cloud. He seemed to be on an Ambulance, with EMTs all around. He noticed Mariah, and smiled. At least she was here, and safe. And then he heard Cloud's voice. You realized it will only be a matter of time before a witness claims you were fighting, and then the authorities will be on you. There will be no escape. Joy nodded. Don't, I'm coming up wiht something, Cloud. And that is what you're worried about? When Tifa is basically in this room? Cloud stayed silent after that.

Scardigne intercepted the blow and caught it in the cross formed by his own. He hadn't been prepared for that much force to be behind it, however, and lost a little of his balance due to that. "No weakness!" shouted Gabranth in his mind. "You need to fulfill your purpose, you need to destroy these monsters!" he continued. Scardigne was confused for a moment. "But they don't seem like monsters. They were worried about getting that one to the hospital and were willing to put themselves in harms way to protect them," he replied to Gabranth. "Do not be deceived. They only wish to preserve the life of one of their strongest to make their future terrors come more easily. They are inhuman and ruthless. Don't ever forget." Scardigne snapped back into the fight and gathered a mass of fiery magick (because that's the way it's spelled in Final Fantasy XII) in front of him in the middle of his three targets. "Execution!" he shouted and the massive orb of fire detonated, blowing them all off of their feet.

They arrived at the hospital and Joy was rushed in on the stretcher. Mariah had an uneasy feeling. Didn’t Joy say he had been fighting?

 

“Yeah,” Tifa chimed in. “Cloud fought Sephiroth. And from Joy’s story, it must’ve been quite a sight. People might’ve noticed, and Joy could get into big trouble once the witnesses tell the authorities. It’s probably not good for him to be here.”

 

But he needs the medical attention! Cloud needs it! If Joy doesn’t get it, it’ll take him months to recover. He’ll be vulnerable, and Sephiroth will--

 

“I know, you’re right,” Tifa cut in. “I just wish I knew what to do.”

 

That makes two of us.

OOC: Sorry I was doing a lab for Science homework. :c

 

Sara had a hard time allowing Balthier to take full control over her. She didn't like others bossing her around. Especially Balthier. Look, if we're going to help August and Vaan we need to work together. I'll give you some control but you have to be willing to let go when I ask you. Sara relaxed slightly, he was right. She would die if she didn't work with Balthier. Fine, I'll work with you. She told him and allowed Balthier to become one with her. She stood back up and pointed her gun straight at Gabranth or Scardigne and fired multiple times. Scardigne charged at her but she moved faster than she thought was possible and dodged and fired her gun a few more times.

Joy lay on a bed at the hospital. The doctors came in and out, but he didn't pay attention to it. He took some meds, and just startted to watch TV. But he had an uneasy feeling, like something important was about to happen. He felt his feet get up, and draw him out of the room. He didn't hurt as much, now that he got rest. He made sure to stay out of sight of the doctors. And when he passed a closet, he felt a tingling sensation. He crept up to it, and slowly opened the door. He expected to see an enemy or something, but he only saw his Buster Sword, completely intact.

OOC: Wait, JesusFreak, was this before or after Scardigne used the massive fire spell and knocked you off of your feet?

OOC: I didn't see that post. I just read it now. I don't know. It could be before I suppose? Was the massive spell damaging enough to have the three of them knocked out or hurt? Or just dazed them a bit?

Mariah turned the corner and came into a hall on her way to Joy’s room. There she found Joy standing in front of a closet. “Joy! You need to stay--” but she was cut off by what she saw him looking at: the Buster Sword. “How is that possible?”

 

Tifa became wary. “I have a bad feeling about this. Something’s about to go down. Be on your guard, Mariah. We have to protect Cloud.”

 

And Joy, Mariah thought.

 

“...And Joy,” Tifa replied knowingly. “So, you have special feelings for him now, huh?”

 

Well...I guess I do. I don’t know, it might just have something to do with the feelings you have for Cloud. But I think I...love him. And whenever Joy looks at me, he seems glad that I’m with him, and I feel safe. It sounds weird, but I think he might love me back.

 

“Hmm. You may be right about Joy. I hope you are. Yes, whenever I’m around Cloud, I can almost never tell what he’s thinking, and sometimes it hurts, but one thing I always feel when I’m with him is...safe.”

 

All was quiet inside Mariah’s head for a moment as the two women were deep in thought. You know...if Cloud won’t talk to you about the way he feels, whether good or bad, maybe you should try talking to him.

 

“I have thought of that, but I want to give him his space. He’s already got Sephiroth to deal with--I don’t need to make his life any more complicated.”

 

That’s how you think of yourself? A complication? Tifa, I can’t believe I’m hearing this from you, of all people! You're so much more than that! And anyway, you need to have this conversation before Cloud faces Sephiroth again. You need to know what’s going on in Cloud’s head. Just try it. Try talking to him. You never know when your next chance will be--if there even will be another one. Talk to him.

 

“Okay,” Tifa said, defeated, but also with a trace of confident resolve. “Mariah, do you mind if I...?”

 

Mariah smiled. Go for it. She allowed Tifa to take over.

 

Her head turned toward Joy. “Cloud, can you hear me?” Tifa asked.

OOC: Before hand works. The spell wasn't enough to knock them out, just stagger them and make them fall to the ground. Now they have to get back up and continue the fight, because if they don't then this man WILL kill them.

 

Vaan yelled in August's head. "Hurry! Get up and get ready, he won't be showing any mercy." August decided that it was time for the big guns and tried something Vaan had said he could do, but that August had never tried before. Energy gathered around his fist and an odd symbol formed on the ground. "Cataclysm!" August shouted and punched the symbol. Large spires of earth rose from the ground in front of him, however Scardigne skillfully dodged each one and used the last to launch into the air and charge towards Sara whom he viewed as potentially the most annoying and harmful in this fight for her ability to continuously stay away from the front lines and shoot bullets that severely injured him, even with his invisible Magick armor.

OOC: Alright, it'll be before then.

 

Sara panicked slightly as Scardigne charged towards her. Quick! Dodge at the right moment. Wait for my signal. Balthier had her wait until Scardigne was a few feet in front of her before he shouted, Now! Sara without even thinking, did a somersault over Scardigne and as she landed shot three more bullets at him. He dodged two of them but the third bullet went straight into his left shoulder. Good job. Now stay focus. Balthier reminded her. Sara nodded, quite shocked at she was able to do that even with Balthier's help. Not like I'm complaining. She muttered and moved away from Scardigne towards August. "What should we do?" She asked August, feeling quite tired already. Sara wasn't like a video game character who could fight for long periods of time...she was human and had her limits.

August was breathing deeply. He couldn't take much more of this, but he thought he knew what to do. Scardigne seemed to be preparing a big attack, so he figured why not fight fire with fire. "Let's all use what strength we have for some of our best attacks all at once," he suggested. "You and I'll use Quickenings. Chuck, I'd appreciate it if you'd use a limit break, and fast! Ready? 3, 2, 1! Red Spiral!" August shouted forcing primal energy to spiral up and around Scardigne and a great beam of light to crash down. He only hoped that the other two would help out. As powerful as that move was, August knew that it wasn't strong enough to defeat Scardigne/Gabranth.

Sara nodded, she had remembered what Quickenings were after she played Final Fantasy XII once. She wasn't sure how in the world she was going to be able to do it. But if August could do it with Vaan...she was certain.. well sort of... that Balthier would help her. Ready? Balthier asked as August counted down. Ready. She thought. "Fires of War!!" Sara felt ridiculous shouting that out but if was pretty much a matter of life or death. And thankfully to her embarrassment it worked. Her Fires of War and August's Red Spiral surrounded Scardigne. All they needed was Chuck's limit break and maybe, just maybe they would beat him.

(To whom it may concern, I extended my most recent post quite a bit. Of course, I really want to get to the action, especially since my character missed out on the last round, but I figured now might be a good time for a Cloti interaction--before all hell breaks loose and they don't have time to maybe try to resolve their issues.

 

That is, if it's okay with you, XV. If not, I can re-edit the post so that no conversation is potentially initiated.)

Scardigne wondered how it got to this. Maybe these people really were demons. He was only barely holding on at this point, and a third attack might put him under. He used the last of his strength to summon forth his Judge armor, vastly increasing his strength and defense. He only hoped that it would be enough to see him through this.

 

August managed to stay conscious long enough to see Sara use Balthier's impressive "Fires of War" move, then suddenly dropped to the ground. "What's happening to me?" August thought. "Unlike many of the others you actually summon forth different weapons to attack. That takes energy. Plus there were all of those attacks and injuries you had to endure, finishing in that Quickening. Face it, we're spent, man," answered Vaan. Slowly but surely he slipped into nothingness. "I guess, for now, it's all up to you two," he whispered.