daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[Freya starts to say something, but abruptly stops.]

[“Human lives? They’re nothing but orphans. The only reason they take care of orphans is so they can become l’Cie. There is no other way to use them.”]

[Her teeth click as her jaw snaps shut, clenched, and her hands ball into white-knuckled fists. Freya stands suddenly, nearly knocking over the chair in the process, irately pacing to another part of the room.]

Yeah, that's exactly what it was. [She almost growls the words. A part of her knew it was dangerous to get this worked up, considering the brand, but it wasn't exactly easy to extinguish the sudden betrayal and bitterness that wasn't hers.] Good little expendable weapons. No wonder she wasn't exactly torn up about watchin' the world burn.

[He's almost surprised by her reaction, but perhaps more so caught off guard by how immediately correct he was.

(Of course, though, it shouldn't be surprising. The MTs, remember? he tells himself. They were the same. You'd come to this conclusion because that's once how you thought, as well. You helped create them.)

Ardyn's jaw clenches, and he nearly stands when Freya does, unsure if he should try to calm that newfound agitation swelling through her.]

It seems to be a theme across worlds; though that makes it no less comforting for you. Do you remember anything else?

[Breath hisses through her teeth, and Freya raises both hands to run them through her hair again.]

...some flying old guy. Her was givin' some big speech about my Focus--that task. Said I'd forgotten all about it, and me or one of the others there had to become some monster called Ragnarok to wreck Cocoon.

I... think he was right. Had another vision, back at the start, of waking up somewhere I'd never seen, feelin' like I was missing something important. That someone else was gonna suffer if I didn't remember. I think someone else's got this same mark I do.

So then you suffered from something like amnesia?

[The parallels between then and now keep growing. Missing memories, leaving them questioning everything 24/7.]

And I assume you've not met anyone with a similar mark, else you would've mentioned it earlier.

[He leaves off there for now, giving her time to reply, while he mulls this over quite ardently in his mind.]

Guess so. No better explanation.

[After a quiet moment, Freya sighs, shaking her head.]

...no one with something like this. Don't think I could forget something so unique. Never seen one of those monsters out and about, either, 'cept in the October fog, so don't think anyone else with it's run outta time.

Then it's hardly fair that you should carry the burden of this curse with no way of fulfilling it.

[Not that it's truly fair either way. Fulfilling it meant, what? Turning into stone?]

Is it too much to hope that it is defunct? Inactive? [What do you plan to do? is the question that hangs delicately in the air between them.]

...guess that's all I can do. Got the powers this thing is supposed to grant long before it showed up, so who knows? Maybe the monster won't for a while. But... it's been ticking away, slowly. Changing.

[Freya shakes her head and runs a hand through her hair once more, turning around and leaning against the wall, glancing up at Ardyn.]

This is all I've got, Ardyn. [She pauses, swallowing, and it's difficult not breathing harder than usual.] Tryin' to remember something that could help, not... some two-faced priests, a stupid poem, and a rant about how bad turnin' into one of these things is.

[Freya glances passed him, at the corner of the room.] If I had any shot at this? If that Cocoon or whatever really was around? I think I'd try. I remember those things, Ardyn--the Cie'th. I don't--I don't want to be one of those.

[Ardyn brings up a hand to rub at the back of his neck. He wishes there was something to be done, but this Cocoon did not exist here. And her “purpose” — to destroy a settlement — was hard to condone, despite the fate that awaited her if she did not. All of her memories thus far have not indicated anything that could possibly help her out of this situation.

The feeling of helplessness encroaches again, and there is very little that he hates more.]

…In my world, there was something that could change people into monsters. It was an illness, not a… curse, not really, but the parallels are difficult to ignore. There was very little that could be done about it, though there was very specific healing magic that could transfer it from one person to another. I possessed that magic; and I do once more.

[He gestures to her, eyes scanning her face.]

My meaning is that there are other people here, with abilities from different worlds, that might have a solution to your problem. A bit of research to be done, a bit of reaching out to see if anyone has any idea what to do. The experiences here are vast, and literally multiversal.

[A pause.]

This would, of course, require you to tell others about your predicament. Not keep it only to yourself and… I.

[She meets his gaze, listening and considering every word of it. Ardyn has a point. She didn't really know the nature of the mark, so perhaps...]

[Freya breathes out, tilting her head towards the ceiling.]

Yeah. Guess so. I know a couple people better connected than I am. I'll ask if they've got any bright ideas. But... in the event this doesn't pan out? I don't want to just throw this around on the app. Can't stand the thought of how everyone'd treat me if they all knew.

I understand.

[He has memories of his own that he doesn't necessarily want floating about on the app, but for reasons different than her own.]

...Eventually, though, those close to you will have to know. I realize it isn't my place to say that, but...

[He trails off.]

Yeah, yeah, don't you worry.

[Freya scrubs a hand through her hair, needing something to do with the anxious energy coiled in her chest.]

My girlfriend'd have my head if I kept it from her. Just not gonna go post on the internet, "Hey, guess what! I'm dying! Woo!" [She waves her hands sarcastically and does a little voice to go with it.]

[But they drop back to her sides with a sigh, her gaze dropping to the carpet, and Freya has to swallow around a lump in her throat.]

...Thanks, Ardyn. I know I'm askin' a lot, dragging you into this.

RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

Not the regain I was expecting from this thread but I'm not complaining

ahaha happy to help!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject