Event: Day 355 [OPEN]

[bastionpc]

Who: Everyone, everywhere
Open: Open
When: Day 355
Where: See threads for specific locations
What: The last day, which is the longest day ever.
Format: action
Warnings: E N D G A M E


See threads below for locations.

Comments

[hellpyre]

[Rin really didn't have much to contribute to all of this, given that when the fighting broke out it took all of five seconds for one person to decide she was the best face to throw a punch at.

Which meant that they were getting the hilt of a sword back at their face and promptly sat on until the glue started shooting. Rin luckily dodged it (just as Zayna did so by stepping away from her father) and went over to where Ikuri and Zuko were, glaring down at Zahi as she heard him practically spitting fire at the two of them.

Ironic, considering there were two fire wielders standing right there.]

Of course we're gonna fuckin' side with that asshole. He's an asshole who has actually proven he can be trusted, unlike you.

I agree with Ikuri-chan here. Please. Shut the fuck up.

[scary_music]

[So, Ibuki came back with the intention of evacuating innocents before the fight broke out]

[... whoops, looks like she was too late]

... whoa...

Everybody got boogered!!!

Does that mean we won???

[fuckthemancers]

[Dammit, everyone, this is why we can't have nice things.]

[With Paarthurnax seeming content to curl around the Monument, Zulf has to hurry over to Zahi. Sorry, everyone, he got separated for a moment. Because. You know. There was a riot.]

Ikuri, no- Ibuki, it's complicated so no.

And Zahi...

[Zulf is looking tired, but when he glances over to Zayna, there's a hopeful glint in his eyes. He's been betrayed, but not completely like he thought. He can get through this.]

Zuko is right. Don't judge Ikuri so harshly. Tempers are frayed, after all, or else we wouldn't have had a riot just now.

The end doesn't justify the means. I'm sorry, but I can't stay trapped by the past anymore. I don't think anyone else should be, either. When trying to go back to it all involves methods such as this, I disagree all the harder.

Everyone needs to calm down. That includes you as well.

[And Ikuri. Definitely Ikuri in second place besides him.]

[twinked_witch]

[As some of the crowd jumps, Megaera steps forward, intentionally taking several punches. While she is definitely reacting with grunts and getting knocked around a little before Colin's secondary turrets kick in... She's pretty obviously entirely unharmed by the end.

And then Ikuri is in Zahi's face, and Zuko's checking him, and...

... She just sort of walks in towards Zahi.]

... Ikuri. Don't kill him in an act of rage. If death is truly what he deserves, it should be done only with due deliberation.

As for you... It's funny. If you'd chosen to speak instead of scheme, my oath back home would have bound me to help you. Now, though? That same oath's exactly why I cannot, no matter what, take your side.

[freedom_engineer]

You murdered that child's friend while she was on a mission of peace and aid. A kick to the mouth is the least you should expect from her.

[Colin's inspecting a building that the newcomers had set upon. He doesn't look happy, but his tone is level and relaxed.]

Ikuri. Come to me. He isn't going anywhere. This is now a matter for the justice system. Ibuki, join me, or head over with Ippo again?

If anyone cares, it would be safer for Zahi and everyone involved if Zahi were placed in the brig. I'd offer to do that myself, but I suspect that none of our guests have a high opinion of me being left alone with with their leader slash guide.

I'll get you the solvent for the goo if you decide to move him. We can leave him there for now though, if you prefer.

In the meantime... we still have a final core that we supposedly need to decide what we need to use for. Nathan's got a good plan for an alternative to Zahi's plan.

But that's just my opinion.

[He doesn't see any need to give Zahi any more attention. There's far more pressing matters that require their attention.]

[scary_music]

... I dunno, it kinda seems like we won, Zulf-chan.

[she runs over next to Ikuri, gently nudging her towards Colin]

Ikuri-chan, Ikuri-chan, come on, let's go with Papa-chan.

... say, Papa-chan, are we still watching movies tonight...?

[1/3?] - ends up being simpler/cleaner

[darkshooter]

[Zuko's outcry was not acknowledged openly. Neither had it stirred any particularly negative feelings. Ikuri had expected that response from her, to be honest...it matched what she knew of her, and what she'd seen of her character. She would not agree with Zuko, but she also would not hold blame for her.]

[Megaera was...a slightly different matter, despite being a trusted presence. It was the phrasing, you see. 'Act of rage?' As though rage alone were the only reason? 'Careful deliberation?' What was there to deliberate? Already, there's been too much talking. And if this fool were allowed to speak again - what then? More of the same. That relentless pushing of his ideology, 'justice' and 'the right thing' - words and concepts that should burn the tongue of a snake! But here, he dares defile them... cloaks himself in them, as though they would keep him safe and warm. As though playing at them would grant him their favor. Oh, he certainly believed so. Who else would die in his crusade for 'right?']

[The liar sought power. That's all today was about. That's all Crona's death was about, for him.]

[There's nothing to deliberate, Meg. Not as far as Ikuri's concerned.]


[Colin and Ibuki together...they serve to weaken her resolve. To entice her away from this horrible scene: yes, to forget today, to come home with her family, to pretend everything was alright. And those very thoughts, ironically, turned her resolve back around again, because-]

[Ikuri could not forget.]

[She wanted to go with them both. But this foe was not dead. She could not turn her back to him...could not invite the killing strike. Nothing could be finished until he was finished...and if you did not finish the enemy...it came back.]

[Zahi could not come back. Not his schemes, not his followers, nor his methods, or his way of thinking. It had to stop today. ...Would killing Zahi finish it? Would it stop future atrocities?]

[She had no answer. But when she posed the opposite question, asked what possibilities awaited if her enemy lived... that terrified her. That, by itself, told her what needed to be done.]


[But still, she did not strike.
And still, she did not move.]

[Not even when Ibuki tugged her, though if she only knew...if only her light knew how her heart had been pulled at the same time.]

[2/3?]

[darkshooter]

[No, she's got more to say here.]

Am calm, Megaera.

Am angry. But calm.

[...seems so. Her voice is even, everything about her seems steady.]

Ask your question. 'If death truly.' Why? Why ask that?

Were there. You saw Crona die. Zuko, too. Rob too. ...We all fought. Killed few enemies. Crona already gone. Man's scheme, his scheme, reason all dead. Reason they were enemies.

...Why, didn't say we'd help? [Yeah, she sounded angry then.] Would help them. Like helped me. Not leave them alone, out there...not leave them alone, face sadness by themselves.

...But he made enemies. Told them, so he could profit from them. From us. Tried to take it all. My family away, my future-- away...all in danger. For the fight that he brought here. That he chose.

Now, Zahi bends down, forced to submit. Helpless, like he wanted us.

[Now she looks down at him.]

Zuko said, you lost. Did you? While you live, more schemes. While you live, more enemies. Seek revenge.

You would make more die. [She shakes her head.] No. Too many dead now, not more. Only you die today. Your schemes die. Only those that would help them.

[Honey, you just contradicted yourself- but nope, Ikuri walks closer to him. Stops and looks down...and then puts her sword away.]

No more lies. No more saying, you're friend, when you are enemy. Enemy who brings ruin, who hurts us. Pretender. Pretend you care, pretend you help others. Colin only helps himself? YOU only help yourself. Others die for you! All you talk about...is what you want, what you think right.

No one should die for your right. Crona should not died for your right. Grey, Red, everyone, what about them? People I killed, were dead for you - all for you. Kill more?

No.

[3/4] - last one comin' up.

[darkshooter]

[Then she kneels down...and focuses on whatever wound she successfully dealt with that kick.]

...Could let you live. Destroy mouth. Cut out voice. No more speaking to others, telling things to hurt them.

Cut out your eyes. No seeing your plans. No seeing them prevail. No seeing who to strike, who to deceive.

Cut your ears. Then, no more plans whispered to you. No reports. No one say, 'Yes, Master, we succeed.' No one say your name. Your name lost to you, forever.

Cut your fingers, hands, arms. No strands for webs. No traps you weave. No signals to your soldiers. No explosions.

Cut toes, feet...ankles. Can't walk. Can't go from place to place, can't move free...crawl on the ground, like snake. Blind, deaf, and weak.

...cut out tongue. Snake's tongue. End your lies. Keep...then destroy, and burn. Revolting trophy...keep no part of you.

[And then she tilts her head.]

Perhaps...you may be healed? Technology, magic...reverse, like you wanted? Make sure no. Cut everything. Destroy it all. Cut, make pieces, many pieces. Take away, far away, each piece. No reunion for snake. No new skin.

...

We...you, I, are bound...by chains of agony. Deeds haunt me. Perhaps...my deeds shall haunt you. We can see each other in dreams, and nightmares. Pretend we're friends...like before. Lies. Drive us apart...see each other as we are. Learn there's only one truth. Enemies, and murder. We have both murdered. No, only left is each other. Only you, only I. Only for our battle.

Make us... [she reaches for Zahi, towards his head.] Very much... [and grabs a nice handful of his hair. doesn't jerk it back, but there's a very tight pull - it's done to keep his attention and, of course, to send an obvious message.] like...a balance. Light, carries dark; made what I am by others, seeks the truth. You, the dark - made by yourself, cloak in false light, seek lies to gain power. Both seek to help. Both seek to hurt. To help others, they hurt each other. They hurt the people near them.

To gain a home...to end their enemy. They fight forever.

We, together...in circle. Always spin. Always...until broken.


[...]

[4/4] - end of tealy dears

[darkshooter]

[She releases him.]

[And then she stands.]

...Want ask Crona. Have her answer. But Crona...not speak. Never again.

...

Sleep tonight. But don't dream of being awake.

I will be there.


[...
she turns her back on him, and walks away.]

[scary_music]

...

[Ibuki found herself unable to move as Ikuri spoke, a brief wave of despair washing over her. No more killing... please...]

[And, relief as Ikuri let go of Zahi and walked away. Ibuki hurried over to Ikuri's side, reaching for her hand]

... thank you... I know it... was hard to stop yourself, Ikuri-chan.

[darkshooter]

[...why would you thank her for something like this? Yes, she accepted the will of her friends instead of her own will, but here that could mean...]

[...]

No thank me... he could kill you...


[She might be trembling subtly, too. That was a fair bit of emotion summoned back there.]

[scary_music]

Ikuri-chan...

[Ibuki then just pulled Ikuri into a hug]

[freedom_engineer]

[Colin sighs, and steps over to Ibuki and Ikuri. He puts what he hopes is a comforting hand on Ikuri's shoulder, and he pets Ibuki's hair gently.]

come on, you two. There's still work for everyone else to do here. We don't need to be present for that.

[He starts to gently attempt to lead Ikuri away from Zahi and all the goober'd strangers. He's fairly certain Ibuki will need no such urging.]

[twinked_witch]

[Megaera stays, watching Zahi, and his reactions to all of this. Ready to fight if anyone else tries anything - unlikely at this point, given the goobers, but...]

[darkshooter]

[Don't worry, Colin. She's done.
Kid said everything she needed to...now she's just tired.]

[You lead, she'll follow.]

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[Now that all that has just finished happening, Rob's gonna try to drag this conversation onto a more useful track.]

So for everyone who's sticking around, we really need to let the Ura know that we're having this conversation and that they should come over. Any volunteers to run over there? In the meantime we might as well get back to getting some food in front of everyone while we wait.