|
Post by "Bill" on Sept 25, 2018 9:03:03 GMT -8
Intro posts: 2 Battle: until finished Style: Single judge version: On Bonus: off
*It was a soft day in Creamland, with a tender wind blowing through the meadows. Embera walked through the field before sitting on the rocks, glancing up at the tallest towers of Pride Castle, visible from every corner of the network. In the southwest corner of the meadow she sat, one could see the smallest outcroppings of thorny vines, thickening as one goes deeper towards the Bramble Alcazar. Yggdrasil, the caretaker and castle itself would investigate any newcomers in the forest and investigate before retreating back to his diligent maintenance.
Embera sighed a deep sigh as she took in the placid air. The tranquility seemed so out of place as of late. She closed her eyes before humming herself a small distraction to keep her mind off of all the other events as of late. She saw her message was received, and only hoped the invitation to meet was accepted. She waited nervously, unsure how today would unfold.*
|
|
|
Post by Raven8 on Sept 25, 2018 9:05:31 GMT -8
I'll judge.
Inori is dead, Embera wins.
|
|
|
Post by xoDeathy on Sept 27, 2018 13:40:46 GMT -8
The day was indeed a peaceful one. A calm day in a calm network. Or is that only how Embera wanted to see it? Tired of fighting, tired of people's problems, is it that she wished so badly for time to herself that everything was a lie? Would Inori bring reality to this network, or just another lie as she herself was a walking lie now. Nothing more than an empty shell, her heart broken by who she loved and her will devoured by Caliga. One step, and the network seemed to not distort, but just look different. Another, and scenes of a day not too far from Embera's memory replayed, but it wasn't from Embera's standpoint. With each step, Reanimated Inori's grief spilled into the immediate area, affecting only the systems of those closest with non harmful visions of pure sadness; the day Inori entered limbo.
Inori spoke with a low tone, matched by a mechanical echo and scratches representing the deterioration of her coding.
... I'm here. What do you want from me?
|
|
|
Post by "Bill" on Sept 27, 2018 16:58:07 GMT -8
*Embera looked out into the skyline. The thin clouds dancing behind Pride Castle. As she looked at the cerulean skyline, she noticed the subtle graying. It was an unnatural bleeding of color, and Embera watched solemnly as the surrounding area became more and more muted. As she saw the visage of Inori approaching her, Embera could feel a slight pressure in her chest, building up with every step she made. Every exhale seemed to make her chest tighter, stifling her breathing slightly, but noticeably. Embera would maintain her casual demeanor even as the very grief sloughed off of Inori's being, bringing an involuntary tear to Embera's eyes as she spoke.*
Embera: I just wanted to talk to you...if you can even hear me in that form...
*She didn't really know what to make of the once overzealous girl trying to fulfill her little prophecy reduced to a literal shell of the being she once was, losing her spirit and her will.*
Embera: I suppose I should thank Caliga for approving of your little meetup with me. I wanted to ask how you are feeling after everything. If you're in any more pain, or the like.
|
|
|
Post by xoDeathy on Sept 30, 2018 17:01:33 GMT -8
Before long, the area around them was drowned in the grayscale Embera believed to see. Wether Inori pulled Embera into her own connection, or forcefully affected the area around them was too hard to tell, but Inori's voice and her glitchy essence were fully opaque. Now, some of the time's Inori spoke, an echo of her image but fully purple would appear for a split second, sporadically lining up with the errors in her voice program.
Yeah.. yeah I can hear you. Her soulless eyes looked into Embera's eyes, but even then seemed to pierce through her, and continue onward towards the castle, and even through that. She was looking at Embera, but Embera would be able to tell Inori wasn't exactly looking at her either.
Caliga.. I want to say he doesn't know I'm here but I am sure that is simply my false will speaking its wishes. He more than likely sent me here on his own accord. Which, I frankly do not mind. With her left hand, she reached and parted her hair from her face, still maintaining her odd eye contact with Embera.
She cocked her hip to the right as she raised her right arm slightly with it consistently dematerialized a stream of data from the elbow onward, yet she still kept that stare towards Embera.
Between this and the lost of the love of my life, I would say pretty terribly, but I currently cannot feel a thing. Yet.. I am perfectly fine with this. I have reached an abnormal clarity being with Caliga that I am both okay with and not okay with. Inori finally dropped her gaze within a sudden drop of her head. She looked back up slightly, looking more towards Embera's feet almost as if she was shy to ask her own question.
How, uh.. how have you been?
|
|
|
Post by "Bill" on Sept 30, 2018 17:36:32 GMT -8
*Embera nodded her head, actively listening to Inori, her throat choking up at the embodiment of misery and apathy in front of her. The continual shifting of the environment put her off, as the echoing of melancholy and emptiness came from Inori in waves not only resonated, but pulled Embera to her.*
Embera: I'm...
*She trailed off. She had never really stood so close to Inori, just watching from a small distance as Nightshade coddled her. Yet here she was, speaking to the ghost of such a frail girl. This spectre of code that remained of that once boisterous girl was meeting Embera, and not Nightshade. After regaining her thoughts, she was only able to let out a short sigh.*
Embera: I've been better...something we have in common, it seems.
*Embera lowered herself to see what remained of Inori's face, and was almost shocked to see how..."muddy" it appeared. She maintained her calm composure, being as non-judgmental as possible, yet every part of her emotions ached as she saw this soul ripped asunder by everyone else around her. For once, Embera had true empathy, watching as Inori being put through her very own worst fears.*
Embera: In my short time in existence, I've wanted to belong...I didn't know exactly how, but I found my family... Now, the man who was my brother is razing the net, destroying so much, attacking even his own, and I don't honestly know what to do. When I saw Nightshade turn on you...I just...
*Tears began welling up again, but Embera refused to wipe it away as she talked, refusing to let her voice break. She didn't know why, but she was comfortable being vulnerable in front of Inori. Perhaps it was because she had no feelings left to be condescending, or because she felt she wouldn't be even if she could, but the tears streamed down anyway as she continued.*
Embera: I just wanted to protect you.
|
|
|
Post by xoDeathy on Oct 1, 2018 8:51:46 GMT -8
Inori looked at Embera's feet a little more before she looked up at her as she met her own eye level. The area around them seemed to begin to melt to another scene once again. Reminding her of the day, the landscape began to adapt to match that area. Vision or reality did not matter, for the same fear Caliga brought to the network was present everywhere near them. As Embera's emotions continued to show clearly. Inori's countenance was unchanging. She looked tired, she looked drained... she looked dead, as she actually is. I can respect that, protecting me from what you've gone through yourself. I would've loved to belong, to be wanted. Thoughts of the traitors in her life ran through her mind; both dark denizens, both she trusted, both she regrets ever knowing. For hardly a second, a tear appeared in her eye, but quickly glitched out of existence. Embera, allow me to ask you: If you've been in my shoes, why did you refuse Caliga?
|
|
|
Post by "Bill" on Oct 3, 2018 15:52:40 GMT -8
*Embera's tears slowly dried away, as her melancholy feelings started to level off into a more muted, semi-depressed stature. It was as if Inori was sucking the very emotion out of her until she would become the husk she so desperately tried to barter for.*
Embera: You can--
*She stopped herself. It would be foolish to extend that offer to a navi in Inori's position. She shook the thought to the back of her mind until it faded as Inori continued speaking. She took a deep breath as she recalled that dreadful evening.*
Embera: The night I encountered Caliga, I was having a nightmare possibly by his own machinations, probably by my new jewelry. I don't really know what caused it, but I certainly know he fed off of it and took advantage of it. He twisted my fears and dread, and made me watch as I killed my dearest pet in rage and horror. When I was free, he was manipulating my closest friend, who was in your very position. Caliga held on to his "heart," his whole reason to exist, and only offered to give it back if he chose him like you have. And, not bearing the thought of losing him, I cried out to him. And hearing me...he chose the world...he chose me...but Caliga never let him forget it.
*Embera's voice, having grown from a sorrowful hush, to a disgusted and spiteful snarl conveyed just how vividly that day was etched into her head, all those feelings and all the anger bubbled out of her as she hated her complicit behavior in Electopia.*
Embera: I rejected Caliga because I wanted to be wanted for me. I wanted to be loved and respected as a navi, as "me" not as an asset to be used. Not as a tool. If nothing else, know that in spite of all of this, and everything you've endured, you are wanted, not because of your abilities, but because you are Inori.
*Embera's hand twitched, as if it yearned to reach out and tear her from the abyss as hard as it could, but her better senses reminded her of the futility. She winced once more as she came to terms with that, with the notion that for the first time, she truly wanted to save someone, and it seemed like it will always be futile.*
Embera: I'm sorry I didn't try harder Inori. I'm sorry I couldn't help. I'm sorry for letting this happen, I thought he was stronger than that!
*She began to cry again, and this time her voice finally broke. Embera was washed over in anguish and despair, seeing what her inaction had established. She managed to cry out softly, unable to speak above a quiet tremble.*
Embera: I made him watch because I couldn't bear for the boy who held your heart look away while I had to see what happened to you...I couldn't be the only one to feel you die that day, when it shouldn't have been me in the first place...I'm so sorry Inori...I'm just so sorry for everything I couldn't do.
|
|
|
Post by xoDeathy on Oct 4, 2018 11:54:12 GMT -8
Inori listened silently through Embera's experiences. She had truly understood now why Embera had done what she did. She stood in a deep silence for a while, the area seemingly growing colder with each passing moment, before finally she let out a deep sigh as she held her left hand to her chest. Her decaying core had been frozen in time, a large hole through her body with cracks expanding throughout all of her body like veins. As she touched her fatal wound, the cracks pulsated with faint life, but the faux life was just a mirage as it soon dissipated. She gave a small, broken chuckle before continuing. Your righteousness is unparalleled, Embera. I wish I had a member like you within my circle of devotion, but there is one part where you are incorrect. Caliga did not want me because of what I possess, Caliga wanted myself, Inori, for his own. Regardless of my will being faux or genuine, it seems he is very lax with his control over me. He is trusting of me, and therefore I am trusting of him; a truly healthy relationship of any kind requires communication and trust. Inori reached up to lay a comforting hand on Embera's arm, but as her hand was about to connect it glitched itself away from her. Inori grimaced in pain as she held her hurt hand to her stomach since she was lacking a second one, but quickly shook it in the air as if to cool it off. .. it looks like I cannot touch you due to your aggression towards Caliga. It would make sense.. She closed her eyes. .. I only exist through him now, after all, but I digress. Once more, she opens her eyes to Embera, allowing her to glimpse into her void if Embera so chose. Inori extended her arms out as an invitation to a comforting hug. Shh Embera.. you don't need to be sorry. We have hardly known each other. You owe me nothing of your life. You even just calling me out here like this makes me glad someone cares. Yet, you work so hard Embera and no one is there for you. What you feel now is what I felt as Caliga chose to give me new life. If not by Caliga.. at least accept me so that I may comfort you. You deserve more than a hug, but there is only so much I can do.
|
|