tushanshu_logs | EVENT | ZUGZWANG

EVENT | ZUGZWANG | SEPTEMBER 21-28

Characters: ALL!
Date: September 21-28, 2014
Location: Keeliai
Situation: Something in the city has caused the Foreigner's powers to go off the charts, affecting even those who wouldn't possess any. Things pretty much go downhill from there...
Warnings/Rating: Add warnings as needed.

The state of affairs in Keeliai has been tense since the incident at the Midnight Hotel with Evandau, and the aftereffects have put a touch of pall on the city. Kedan look at each other distrustfully, wondering who among their number might be possessed by Malicant's essence and that suspicion carries to the Foreigners as well. How can they fight for us? they seem to be asking. They can't even stop fighting amongst themselves and the Emperor. Of course, the kedan's opinion of Evandau is likewise not exactly stellar any longer, as whether through inevitability or design, his cold actions of killing those who cross him has come to light. While there's no open dissent in the ranks (and likely, it seems, more due to fear of repercussion than loyalty) there are certainly looks and whispers.

The turtle hatchlings have also picked up on it, and they've become quieter than normal. Especially those who are suffering under shedding the remainders of Malicant's taint if they were injured by the poisoned weapons, they'll seem hesitant to bother their parents for minor things, or if possible will ask a parent who isn't afflicted first.

It feels like the calm before a storm.

LINKS
Powers Going Haywire (Sept 21-25) | Powers Nullified (Sept 26-27) | PART 2 TBA (Sept 28) | OOC Plot Post

OOC NOTE
Reactions to the Part 2 plot reveal will also be threaded on this post and the comment will be unfrozen when the other posts are made. Event questions can be directed to this comment. Have fun!

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Valdis sat on the ground with her arms wrapped around her knees, staring out at the water. The breeze blew softly, carrying the scent of the sea and causing her loose black hair to dance. Even if someone approached her from downwind, she was so deep in thought that she probably wouldn't notice them. Though her body had healed from the fight, her mind was a completely different matter. She had come here to find some peace from the chaos, hoping that the rumors were true and that being here would soothe the darkness and prevent it from taking over again, especially since it seemed that magic was currently useless. So far, it seemed to be working. She felt far more in control and her mind was finally clear, something that had not happened since her arrival to this world.

Edited 2014-09-23 03:47 (UTC)

One would have thought that the absence of a monstrous entity within Anton would have been a relief. Would have been peaceful. He found it wasn't. He found it was lacking. Skulduggery was certainly cheerful, and he had a right to be; but Skulduggery was afraid of himself, and Anton was afraid for others. Skulduggery was relieved to have that burden gone.

Anton just felt unbalanced.

He'd heard tales of the turtle's head. Ryder had prodded at him to see Raine, but Anton wasn't yet certain enough that he was the right person to do so. He felt too ... discombobulated, and the fact that he felt it without any side-effects only made the feeling worse. Some perspective, perhaps, would be beneficial.

Anton just didn't expect to see her there. Valdis. Wolf of the underworld. For a moment Anton just stood there, for once in his life uncertain. He wouldn't be able to defend himself if Valdis attacked, and deserving or not he didn't particularly want to die. Wanting to die solved very little. And Ryder had already left, promising to return in an hour. Anton would never be able to make it home on his own without re-opening a number of injuries. Even the short walk up the curve of the turtle's neck had left his back a mess of agony, and he held his wounded arm close by his side, his torn fingertips curled protectively against his palm.

But the stories he'd heard were true; though he was uncertain, he wasn't afraid. In fact the closer he'd come to the pinnacle of the turtle's crown, the more the emptiness in him had felt soothed. It was a sensation he hadn't felt in life since before the gist, save Ryder's influence. It was dangerous to rely upon, but right now, it was something Anton couldn't deny he needed.

Finally he spoke, quiet and reserved, but unguarded. Unflinching. If he was forced into confrontation for his sins, he'd meet them unflinchingly. "Are you well, Lady Valdis?"

She turned her head at the sound of his voice, releasing her knees and shifting her weight so that she could look up at him. She felt no fear at the sight of him, perhaps a side affect of being in this particular place. The man before her was so different than the man she had fought at the Midnight Hotel. He seemed broken, and not just because he was still injured.

"Better than you it seems." Her voice was even, almost emotionless, yet she looked away from him,"I'm sorry."

It had been her teeth that had torn into his flesh, her weight that had injured his back, her power which had ripped apart his home and, on top of it all, she had tried to take his soul. If only she hadn't given in, if she hadn't become so drunk on her own darkness that it had clouded her judgement.

Edited (typo) 2014-09-23 19:45 (UTC)

"As am I." It was a good start. A reciprocal start. Anton didn't feel as though he should leave any longer, so he moved forward instead, slowly, to join her. "The physical injuries I bear aren't any more important because they linger." He recalled, very clearly, ripping out her throat. Twice.

Very carefully Anton lowered himself into a kneeling seat, keeping his back straight and laying his bad arm across his lap. "In fact, I seem to recall that you chose not to take me when you could."

He had spent some time, once the gist was gone, thinking about what Valdis had tried, with the darkness. The furious comment about taking his soul put it into context, but it was obvious in retrospect that something had gone wrong. Possibly Anton had managed to resist the attack--but he didn't think so. Perhaps he could have, but the sensation of spiritual tumbling had felt like an averted blow more than a parried one.

Even when he sat next to her, Valdis still refused to look at him. Her injuries had healed, she could fight again if needed, but he could not. Her actions had deprived the foreigners of a valuable ally. When he mentioned the void, it was only the serenity of Asti that prevented her from bristling.

"I appreciate your forgiveness, yet I can afford to be careless with my life," she replied, looking at her hands, "I was careless with yours. And that is unforgivable." Now she looked at him, her emerald eyes soft, remembering the light she had seen, the balance and the lack of true evil. "But, Anton, if I had seen true evil within your soul, then I would have torn it from your body and taken it into oblivion."

"Few things are unforgiveable," said Anton, thinking of Skulduggery, "except to those who perform them." There were exceptions, of course, because there were always exceptions, but they also weren't applicable to this instance, between the two of them. It was difficult to turn his head without exacerbating his back, but he managed a sidelong glance nevertheless.

"Everyone has darkness," he said briskly. "It's our choices which decide whether that darkness is evil or simply dark. Don't add to yours by carrying an unnecessary burden of guilt. It will prevent you from efficiently learning from the experience."

Guilt, Anton had found, was not nearly as valuable an emotion as most seemed to believe. It was important only as an indicator of what one had done wrong, but it seemed to be a common perception these days that one had to drown one's self in it for it to be meaningful, and that was nearly as unhelpful as not feeling it at all. Certainly Anton didn't want the responsibility of being the source of hers.

"Funny." She replied, turning her gaze back to sea. "Wan told me something similar the other day."

Maybe if she could believe their words, then there was a chance for true change. The idea that darkness could be a source of power and yet not be evil was new to her. If she had not seen it in Anton's soul, then she wouldn't have believed it was even possible.

"Nonetheless, we have a war to win and I have rendered a foreigner unable to fight. I destroyed the lobby of your hotel. In addition, the majority of foreigners have probably heard about our battle by now."

She shook her head. She had probably alienated the entire population of the turtle by now.

"If any of my brothers were speaking in such self-pitying terms," said Anton, "I would punch them to shatter their reverie." He glanced at her again, and there was a shade of amusement on his face. "Please don't make me do so on your behalf. That would be painful."

Anton had lived by that credo for so long that he didn't need the validation; but it was still gratifying to know that someone else recognised the very same things Anton had observed in his life-long struggle. More so that it was Wan.

His amusement turned to sobriety. "Are you so sure it was completely you? This ... circumstance ... cannot be coincidental. Our magic was made to feel such a way. Perhaps that does not negate the responsibility--but it certainly changes the culpability. Do not allow the enemy to bring you low in such a manner. It's useless, and does nothing but grant him a win."

She smiled when he threatened to punch her, knowing that he was truly in no condition to do so, "There is no need."

Her smile faded at his question and her brow furrowed as she thought about it. It was true that the magic for the foreigners had gone crazy. It hadn't just been the two of them that had lost control of their powers and the city had sustained some damage from others as well.

"I used to wield that power, but I haven't called upon it since I regained my soul over a thousand years ago. I guess to answer your question, no, that was not who I am, but it was who I used to be."

The idea that the enemy could turn her back into a monster was honestly terrifying. If the enemy was capable of controlling the monster, then there was even more danger.

"If the enemy is capable of such a thing, then I fear for us all." Her voice took on a serious edge, "There are only two people that I know of who are capable of putting me down quickly and with minimal damage, Wan and Raine." She knew what he would probably think so she didn't give him time to cut in, "Don't worry, I can recover even from death. I only say this because dying will cause a reset and destroy any hold that the enemy may have over my power."

"That is useful to know." Anton, in fact, hadn't been thinking that; when people were an immediate danger to others, he absolutely believed in killing them to save the rest, regardless of who they had been in life. But it was useful to know that the death wouldn't be permanent, at least in Valdis's case, though it certainly was with Anton ... provided his weaknesses could be exploited.

That had been one saving grace, on this occasion--ordinarily the gist was immune to damage, and only attacking Anton himself could stop it. Blended, the gist could be injured.

"It appears the enemy is capable," said Anton, "yet his doing so didn't remove your soul, and it was your soul that recognised mine. All he can do with that is force us to react to our own darkness instead of to his. He doesn't make us monsters."

"I hope that you are right." She answered, reflecting on what she had felt during the battle. The power had been both wonderful and terrible, it had been something that she had thought that she desired. But not if it came at that price, because she wasn't willing to pay it.

"I suppose that it is good to know that the magic holding my soul is stronger than the enemy's power." She said, wondering again how Michael had been able to pull her soul from the void and put it back together. She might never know what power he possessed that was stronger that the will of the enemy, but she supposed that she was grateful.

"If he can only force us to react to our own darkness, we must conquer that darkness, because then he cannot use it against us."

At that Anton could only smile, and it managed not to be indulgent or condescending. "Darkness cannot be conquered, Lady Valdis," he said gently. "It can only be fought to a balance. That is why our choices matter so. If we live with the expectation of victory, we will only lose when the darkness makes its rise once more. The point isn't to defeat it--simply to fight it."

He rubbed the bandages around his fingers, feeling the sting of torn flesh where the claws had grown in and vanished equally suddenly. "Likewise, our personal darkness cannot be distinguished. Accepting them without giving into them is the best we can do; it minimises the hurt they cause to our morale and allows us to continue the fight. Such a war is simpler when one understands that there is no end, and does not expect one."

"In a manner of speaking, you are correct" she said, "but there are many ways to conquer darkness." She smiled, "And the definition varies depending on who you talk to."

"Isn't it true that by recognizing my darkness and accepting it, that I can gain control over it? Because if so, then it has, in a way, been conquered. That doesn't mean that I won't slip, but as long as I believe that I can overcome it, then it has no true control over me." She sighed, wondering if she truly believed what she was saying, but perhaps, now that her head was finally clear, she could try. She paused to gather her thoughts.

"Faith is a powerful weapon," she said, her eyes widening, "The faith the Kedan have in us, the faith we have in each other, in ourselves and our powers...that is what is under attack."

"But, as you said, it is still possible for you to slip," Anton pointed out. "It cannot be truly conquered, in that case, and even still the perception that it can be conquered opens you to disappointment." He would have shaken his head, but the precursor to doing so jarred his back and he thought better of it. "I have found that acceptance is a more powerful position--though perhaps that is not the same for you. Ours magics may be too different."

Anton mulled over her words and nodded once, and slowly. "The enemy seems to revel in darkness ... chaos. Anything broken would serve him. Possibly emotions more than most. It would explain why he sought to taint and poison so many, given what powerful persons are here. Yet it seems odd ..."

He murmured the last, gazing out past the turtle's head. "It seems odd that, if Evandau were tainted, he would work on such a minuscule scale, one by one, instead of in a greater whole."

Valdis shook her head, "As far as I know, the only magic I possess is the magic holding my soul together and protecting it from the void, and that magic isn't even mine."

She paused, taking in his words. She didn't particularly want to bring the fight up again, so she chose her words carefully, "The enemy's taint has been purged from my system and this...event...has taught me much about my darkness."

"As for Evandau...It only takes one pulled string to compromise the integrity of a tapestry. One pulled string to unravel all the hard work of the weaver." She sighed, "But I fear it is only a matter of time until the enemy loses patience and tries something more drastic than just pulling on strings."

"That depends on the string, and the weaver," Anton murmured, "and whether this pulled string isn't the herald of something greater. He seems to enjoy needling the people here. I wonder why he waits, unless to play with us."

He considered the view past Asti's head, and then said, "I realise this is somewhat unsatisfactory given the circumstance, but I apologise for killing you."

That was the thing that had burdened him the most. He wasn't dwelling on it, because he tried hard not to give his sins that much control of him; but it warranted at the very least the apology, paltry though the gesture was in comparison to what he'd done.

She followed his gaze, settling it upon the water. If this was him just playing with them, she wondered what he was really capable of.

"I came back," she said in response to his apology, this place was too peaceful to dwell on past pain, "And if I hadn't jumped in, then you might have killed someone who does not have that ability." She shrugged, "And with the Emperor possibly against us, whomever died may have stayed dead."

Edited 2014-09-30 00:49 (UTC)

"And for that, I thank you," said Anton, "as I will have to thank Master Wan, more explicitly." Once he was able to walk that far, perhaps. Anton wasn't the sort to dwell on shame, but the thought of going to Wan directly nevertheless made him feel uncomfortable.

"Wan is kind." She said, "I do not believe that he will blame you for what happened."

Though the words were aimed at Anton, they were also a comfort to her. She knew that at some point she would have to go and see him. He had missed most of the battle, so he did not know of her dark power, yet another comfort.

"Perhaps not," Anton acknowledged, "but he still deserves the thanks." It seemed like an end to the conversation, but Anton still sat quietly. It was peaceful, here, and he didn't mind the company, even in silence.

"Indeed."

She gazed out at the ocean, happy to just bask in the serenity. There seemed to be no more need for words, they had reached an understanding, and that was all that mattered.

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EVENT | ZUGZWANG | SEPTEMBER 21-28

26th | Asti's Head | For Bakura | For Anton | (No Warnings)

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