wrfmlogs | the taste of dried up hopes in my mouth

the taste of dried up hopes in my mouth

Who: Song, Seph, and Jalen
What: It's time for another little "talk" with Medrau
When: Wednesday night, July 25
Where: Rainbow's End, Song's headspace
Posting Order: Whoever replies first determines the cycle

If there was anything untoward about waiting on her bed for two hale men who were both romantically involved elsewhere, Song didn't care a wit except to find it amusing (and with Josiah gone more often than not, could she really be blamed when her sense of humor listed in that direction?)

Not to mention that, given what she'd been dealing with lately, she'd take any excuse for a laugh.

She'd shooed Amy out, granting her permission to sneak back in and watch if she could get Larkin to sleep in the nursery. That task would surely give her enough time to get the spell cast on Seph and Jalen without the extra distraction of an over-protective wife - no offense to Amy.

To fill the time, she played at meditating. Song had never actually had much success with meditation, but she'd found that if she just listened very hard, locating and identifying the most distant sounds, she would start to lose her sense of gravity and feel as if she were floating or tilting to the side. Whether it counted as actual meditation or not, it felt cool, and also quite relaxing, so that's what she did.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"On the floor is fine. Be sure to make yourselves comfortable."

Song's Dream spell was considerably faster than the rough version Margaret had helped her design. She'd spent the last two or so years refining it to mimic the Nobody element it was based on. Still, it was a work in progress. What she cast now was something between the second and third tiers - fondly titled "Dreamira" and "Dreamija". Ultimately it would allow the same depth as Brixon had once enjoyed, but she wasn't quite there yet.

For now, it didn't matter. She had no need of exploring the reaches of her own heart to find Medrau. Her shadow was far, far too close to the surface.

She cast the spell just as if she were performing its most basic level, but in double, splitting the threads of power and flinging them in unison at her pair of would-be bodyguards. It was an effort to concentrate on both links at once. With Brixon's element, it had been possible to bind her fellow dreamers one at a time, tracing neat little bridges between their waiting minds. The problem here was that, once the spell was cast, she would be caught in the dream. There was no holding it half-formed.

The connections felt right enough, more or less, and there wasn't time to triple-check. She focused the spell with its name, "Dreamija," and pulled.

There was no gentle void to ease them into the dream. What faced them instead were the streets of Radiant Garden, marred by fire and fissures. Smoke hung in the air like a dusty curtain, shrouding the highest points of the city and painting the sky a filthy orange-gray.

Jalen immediately found himself a spot and sat cross-legged, idly tapping his fingers on his knees. It was as close to fidgeting as he got, and considering how often his wife tended to bounce around or rock on her heels, he was surprised it hadn't rubbed off. When the spell hit, he frowned slightly, not used to the sensation. Amy had only pulled him in this way a few times, and it felt different, for lack of a better word. He was more used to meeting her in his own dreams, or sometimes being drawn into her's by her need of him.

To say that he was shocked seeing Radiant Garden like this was an understatement. He stumbled backwards for a moment, then regained his footing, looking around at the destruction. He was incredibly glad he'd made Amy wait behind, whether she liked it or not. Even if it was just a dream, the danger was all too real, and emotionally, he didn't think she'd deal with it well.

Seph found a spot against the wall to sit. The dream spell didn't feel as odd as he expected.

He was mildly surprised at the state of Radiant Garden but, not particularly distressed by the sight. It was only a dream after all... He'd seen things far worse in his own dreams lately.

No time to think about that. Were the others close? this would be a bit more difficult if they had to look for each other. If he couldn't see them after a quick scan of the area maybe he'd see if he could effect the dream at all.

((Sorry I didn't get around to a tag earlier today. Surprise extra work hours and then a date with my little sister happened.))

Song was in no mood for dawdling. As soon as she'd taken stock of her surroundings, she was in the air. She didn't bother with the fancy transformations she usually preferred, but simply levitated, floating above the rooftops. From there, she made of herself a beacon, creating a glaring white light that flashed above the district, looking as out of place as she could make it. That would summon her friends well enough, and with any luck, her enemy too.

Jalen snorted as he caught sight of the light in the sky.

Well.

That was probably a sign. He began to make his way towards it, keeping aware for anything that might try and ambush him.

Well that made things easier.

Seph walked straight through some flaming debris instead of going around. He ignored or didn't notice that he pretty much recreated a certain scene in a certain game with that move. Just with a different background.

The fact that he'd somehow ended up in a familiar leather coat he hadn't been wearing before the spell was cast probably didn't help.

From her aerial vantage, Song soon marked the approach of her friends and was calmed momentarily by a wave of relief. The spell had worked.
Now to hope something useful came of it.

"Alright, Shadow, let's try this again." It was muttered under her breath, but there was no need to raise her voice to be heard in her own mind.

I'm listening said the wind and the smoke, projecting across the dreamscape. That was all Song heard. The swordsmen, however, were subject to more.

To Seph, the voice continued on immediately after the bold announcement, lowered to blend with the hiss and crackle of fire.
Big Brother, it said, Maleficent's failed experiment.
Look, he's dressed for the occasion.
It's been too long.
You have been missed, Sephiroth.
The Dark mourns you.
Sephiroth.
Sephiroth... the name repeated in a barely discernible susurrus, sounding as if spoken just over his shoulder.

For Jalen, a much different temptation was crafted. Medrau had no words for him.

Instead, there were screams.

Faint, and far off in the distance, from the direction of the castle, came Amy's voice, in an agonized cry. It wasn't her husband's name she shouted, or any. The sound was too broken for words.

The screams caught Jalen off guard, but only for a second. Amy wasn't here, she was safe, tending to the kids and no doubt fighting the urge to drag him out and take his place.

And for all I know-

He shook it off, taking a breath before continuing on to Song. He'd know if Amy were here, and she wasn't. End of story.

Nice try, Medrau.

Still, it was taking a bit to calm his pounding heart.

"Sephiroth isn't here," he mutters quietly. Too used to such things from his own nightmares, he supposed. He didn't let the voice stop him from continuing his current path.

Even if he somehow still held a connection to that particular darkness it was unlikely he could end up here accidentally. Sephiroth's connection to Cloud would still be quite a bit stronger and who knows where the spiky haired ball of angst was anyway?

Failed experiment... That depended on what exactly Maleficent had been trying to do... besides make Sephiroth cross with her anyway.

There were doubts there but, he still had far more than a successful experiment would have ended up with.

Though the taunting whispers continued, Medrau made no further attempts to mislead Jalen or Seph. Either she was too focused on her counterpart, or she didn't care enough to bother.

Song, meanwhile, was declaring bold challenges at thin air.

"Quit with the games, Medrau, and let's talk face to face."

'Oh yes,' thin air whispered, 'because that worked out so well last time.'

"Why the show, then? Why even go to the trouble? Nightmares are hardly enough to shake us anymore."

'It is exactly that. A show. This is what you expect of me, is it not?' This was said to all of them. 'The Heartless. The Shadow. The grand villain set up to fall, just so you can keep feeling like heroes? If that is how you see me, and I am part of you, than how can I be anything else?'

Jalen finally reached Song and stopped, craning his head up. He hoped she'd come down before he got a crick in his neck.

"Awiergan's doing quite a job of not being what we expect, doesn't matter how we see her." He muttered to himself.

When he got close enough Seph jumped to the rooftop nearest Song. He wasn't sure she realized that they'd found her already.

"I suppose we'll have to do this the hard way," he said loud enough for the others to hear.

'I'd rather not.'

There was, in the manner of near-meta understanding often granted by a dream, the impression of Medrau snapping her fingers.

The city was gone, or they were moved, and the sudden quiet made the previous ambiance of disaster seem deafening. The four of them were in a black room, or perhaps a simple void, as any walls that might exist here were just beyond the range of detection.

Medrau sat at the same wire-mesh table from Song's previous dream, sipping the same tea, but there was only one chair, and the whole of the set including its crafter appeared to be contained within a thick-walled glass box.

"For my protection," explained the dark-haired copy of Song, waving a hand at the box. "I'm afraid I'm not as generous as my other self with tea. I can make up for it with a peace offering, if you'll kindly listen."

Jalen might've been more startled at the shift in surroundings if he hadn't been subject to his wife's repeated 'funtimes' of neon trees and multicolored bunny rabbits that wore tutus. The sudden silence was unnerving though - at least until Medrau's voice broke it. He stared at her in her little box and tried not to snicker. Something about it was striking him just a bit funny.

Now is not the time.

Seph was a bit disoriented by the shift but, recovered in an instant. His eyes fell on Medrau and...

...She was in a box. It was ridiculous and defied logic. Anywhere but in a dream they likely wouldn't be able to hear a word she said in there.

But it was a dream and physics went out the window.

Aria would certainly be at least giggling by now if she were here. And probably getting mental images that involved adding plants and turning it into a terrarium.

"Why would we want to listen to you?" Seph asked, banishing the silly thoughts from his mind.

"Because I am not the one threatening to do that to your home." She gestured again, this time indicating the ravaged city they'd just left.

Song, for her part, seemed to be hanging back. Medrau was right to shield herself. Her Other was in no real mood for talking this time.

Setting her teacup down and steepling her fingers, Medrau said, "Let's discuss the First Darkness."

At Medrau's words, Jalen's eyebrows almost went up into his hair. Now wasn't this interesting?

"What's wrong, tired of being a lackey?"

Great, Amy's tendency to be a smartass was rubbing off on him. He was sure she'd find it hysterically funny when he told her...after she was done hitting him with Igor.

Seph's first thought was to say that it wasn't his home but, he held his tongue. It was likely that she didn't just mean Radiant Garden.

Did he want to know what she had to say? He wasn't sure.

He glanced at Song and remained silent.

"I am tired of being controlled by what I am."

Song snorted derisively at that, but then bit her lip, feeling a bit hypocritical. Then again, it was difficult to avoid hypocrisy where Medrau was involved, given their relationship.

"I see no great benefit for me in staying on as an enemy to the Refugees," Medrau continued. "Apparently I haven't been spared Song's incessantly rebellious nature." This she said with some wry humor. "I am aware that my change of heart," she smirked slightly, "is due in part to recent reconnections made with the Light I abandoned, but who am I to argue with the gift of a broader perspective?"

She laid her hands down flat on the table now, leaning forward slightly. Change of heart or not, she was still a sucker for the cliche.

"To get to the point, I want to help you eliminate a threat greater than me, and to do that, we'll have to summon him first."

Jalen was, surprisingly, rendered speechless by this turn of events. Oh, he was still making comments in his head, along the lines of 'Trap' and 'She's more insane than I gave her credit for', but as far as words coming out of his mouth? Nada. He stared hard at Medrau for a moment before turning to give Song the same look.

"Interesting."

Seph was trying to look at this objectively. Which was not easy under the circumstances.

"You must realize how insane this sounds."

He turns away, looking at nothing except the darkness surrounding them.

"If you are sincere... Why? And where did you learn of this?" He didn't feel the need to state the obvious. The obvious being that they would likely believe she was trying to fool them despite her claims of a 'change of heart'.

"I am a child of Darkness," she responded to the last question first. "We're all part of the same entity. You know I'm just another Heartless, in the end. It is only this link to my Other's mind that gives me sense of self enough to speak with you."

Song looked as if she was tasting something sour, but held in check the scathing, mocking tones she was tempted to take. More or less.
"Back to the point, why summon the First Darkness? How would that be any better than leaving the whole mess alone?"

Medrau's smile seemed very nearly sad... or perhaps she was trying at pity. She did take the time to catch each of their gazes before replying.
"The First Darkness will come again whether or not we summon him. I am giving you the choice to catch him off guard, instead of sitting on your hands until he deems himself ready. After three embarrassing defeats, I somehow doubt he'll underestimate the lot of you again."

Jalen remembered being pulled into a pool of Darkness; being trapped in Alexandria away from his wife and son. It wasn't something he ever wanted to experience again, but he had his doubts about Medrau's sincerity, and dealing with the First Darkness before they absolutely needed to...

Though she had a point.

"I don't think a decision like this should be made just among the three of us."

Yes, he was purposely leaving out the Shadow.

Seph stared off into the darkness, his expression carefully blank. There were so many risks here. Both in trusting her and in disregarding her.

"It is not a decision to make without a great deal of thought and more information either."

Medrau indulged in a satisfied smirk.
"Of course. By all means, discuss it with the rest of the gang. You know where to find me when you come to a decision. I have only one more warning that might sway you."

She met Jalen's eyes, unblinking, and then flicked her gaze to Song, targeting them specifically with her next words.

"If the First opts for patience and bides his time until your lives are spent, he will target those you've personally trained. Your children, and whatever families they've built for themselves by that point." She sipped her tea. "Something to keep in mind."

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