caughtinanetwork | Dream: d a r k l i n k // Interactive + Video afterward

Entry tags:

Dream: d a r k l i n k // Interactive + Video afterward

[ The first thing you will notice is the landscape: there is none. Blackness everywhere, with only a large pillar at its center. It appears crafted of stained glass, depicting Ventus against the backdrop of a world he hopes nobody else here will ever have the misfortune to visit. ]

[ The figure of Ven stands in the middle of it, blue eyes blank and dead as half of the pillar suddenly shatters ear-piercingly, the pieces falling into the endless abyss of the void. ]

Weak, pathetic. That's what you are. Good thing I had a backup.

[ Backup? Oh no. No no no. Not the princesses! Or worse... Aqua has a heart filled with more than enough light to be used to make this cursed weapon. Ven's dead eyes grow wide in an unnaturally pale face, and his mouth moves as though he's trying to utter words of protest.

But no sound emerges. Instead, he summons his keyblade; which, to his horror, shatters to pieces like shards of crystal. Exactly like his pillar. Dread fills the pit of his stomach as he glances about for the source of that voice. The boy in a suit which must look disturbingly familiar at least to the cast. Hilarious and tacky to others.

There's no sign of him. Not yet. What's he waiting for? ]

For what's left of you to die. This is my heart now. My body.

[ And he'd do with it as he saw fit. The horror of how his weakness has put his friends at risk crashes down upon him. He shivers, and shakes his head. No! I can't give up. Aqua... you will not hurt Aqua!

Distant voices can be heard, echoing off the walls of his heart. As though he's stuck underwater and people are talking by the shore of the lake. Familiar voices. Important... the owners of these voices are important.

Mickey? Aqua? Run! Don't...

The actual interactive part of the dream unfolds when the focus shifts from Ven's heart to "real time", which is a moonlit desert in the middle of a dead world. Ven's form, clad in that same suit is visible, and the eyes are molten gold where they are usually sky blue. The smirk on his face is downright sadistic, and gleeful. He will delight in taking away the people who made Ven so happy during those early years. One at a time.

The following battle ensues:

Around the landscape, the faint echo of Ven's voice can be heard: No! If I have to give up my heart, you won't ever hurt my friends! Anyone is free to intercept Ventus-Vantias during this fight or Ven beforehand, or just wake the derp up. ]

[ OOC: Can you please mark in the subject line whether your character is interacting with Ven in the dream, or just through audio/video/action? Thanks! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh, this was beyond painful. He had been there,right there,and he couldn't save Ventus. Seeing this horrible event happen all over again is almost enough to bring tears to his eyes. But the boy doesn't need that now. He swallows hard, and tries to call out for him.]

Ven... Ventus!

[ Mickey, bro, don't do that to yourself. In his heart, Ven knows he should've been strong enough to deal with Vanitas and make it out on his own. The fact that he wasn't isn't neither here nor there right now.

That voice... he can hear it. Familiar, and far away. But not muffled, like it'd been before, in his heartscape. ]

... Mickey? Where are you?

[ Not yet fully awake, he's disoriented. ]

I'm right here, on the device! W-wake up! It's... it's all over, yer safe now.

[He has to believe that, that for now Ventus is safe and unharmed. ]

On the... what's going on?

[ Slowly, he blinks open his eyes, squinting as though he's woekn up from a decade's worth of sleep all over again. His face bears a look of confusion, as he reaches for the unfamiliar device and stares through it at the image of Mickey. ]

That... I was... where is he? [ Vanitas. ]

He's not here. He's long gone. Yer in Vatheon, remember?

[He offers a kind smile. It's really all he can do right now, since he can't offer much proof, and telling him of the future wouldn't paint a pretty picture.]

It's all right now. Ya... had some... bad dreams.

I remember. That felt so real, though.

[ He rubs his eyes, and then his temples. ]

Had to ask. [ Bad dream? Yeah. He sighs. ]

Thanks for sticking with us in that fight, Mickey. I never got to say that to you.

... Dunno how much thanks I deserve. In the end, I couldn't... save anyone.

[He sighs, leaning against a wall as he looks down at the device. Maybe a bit of his backstory would help out. Probably not.]

I was supposed ta be learnin' under Master Yen Sid at the time, but I ran away ta see what was goin' on with the other worlds. I couldn't even control where or when I was going at any time. All I wanted ta do was help. So... there's need ta thank me. I always just wanna help.

More than you know. Aqua would've died if you hadn't gotten her out of there.

Me, too.

[ His smile is weak, but it's still a smile. ]

The star shard, I remember. Mickey... you did help. You still are.

Your belief in me, along with Terra and Aqua helped me wake up here.

Well... I dunno much about the future, but I know I'll always have belief in ya. In all three of ya. That'll never change. We've all got a bond and our hearts are connected. Nothin' and no one can ever break it.

Yeah, we do, huh? Aqua really needs to make you a wayfinder.

I'm glad Xehanort took me to Master Eraqus. I wouldn't have met any of you otherwise.

[ And that he's himself again. That merge with Vanitas was beyond horrible. ]

Wayfinder?

[He pauses, trying to remember just what those things were.]

Are those the things that look like Paopu fruit?

Paopu fruit? [ He reaches into his pocket and pulsl his out. ]

Oh, yeah! The star-shaped fruit from the Destiny Islands. That's right.

Aqua made 'em for Terra and I. They're good luck charms with some special magic cast on them.

She said they help give whoever holds them an unbreakable connection.

Haha! That aint' too far off from what the fruit does... at least that's what Riku told me.

But I bet you three had that special connection even before she made them... though a little magic never hurts. She's a resourceful gal.

I remember Sora and him talking about it a little bit, too. Aqua heard it as a legend somehow. Maybe she read it in a book.

Probably, but those charms have saved our skins more than once, I think.

[ His smile stays small, but turns fond. ] Yeah, she is.

The worlds were supposed ta be closed off... but I guess they have a way of connecting to others without us even knowin'. Just like all of us. These things are sometimes beyond our control... but sometimes that's fer the best.

That's good, right? Maybe they're starting to heal.

That'd be some really great news. And I know someday we'll all know peace again.

That's what I've been hoping for. I think Sora's really got what it takes to help you and Master Yen Sid make a difference, if Aqua, Terra and I can't be there.

[ He tilts his head, reminded of something that's been troubling him since his arrival. ]

Aqua never mentioned Master Eraqus. Is he helping you and Master Yen Sid?

[... Oh walt dammit. All good cheer is erased in seconds at that inquiry.]

He... Um... N-No. He's not.

[Oh man, does he really have to tell him? It physically hurts to admit this.]

... He's gone, Ventus.

What... [ Did someone just activated the Blade Charge command style and shove their keyblade through his gut? Because the pain his heart feels upon his hearing that statement is beyond words.

And somehow, the numbness that immediately follows is worse. He blinks quickly at Mickey, his gaze one of disbelief bordering on devastation. ]

Gone? Mickey... you can't mean gone gone. Right?

Because there's no way anything would've happened to him. No way!

[ He's not taking it out on Mickey. It's.. intense denial and disbelief. Master had been fine the last he'd seen him. And now he's being told that he's probably... no. He can't even think it.

What had happened to their family? Would he never be able to apologize for the things he'd said to his Master that last time? ]

Edited 2012-04-27 16:41 (UTC)

[The long pause should answer some of those questions. He grits his teeth a bit, trying to stay composed. This isn't something that can just be said over a communicator.]

... Where are you?

[The hick in his voice is gone - he is articulate and fully legible. That really means it's serious business.]

Just... tell me where you are, and I'll try to explain it as best I can.

W-Where m'staying with Terra and Aqua.

[ The hitch isn't gone from his voice. Eraqus is the closest thing he's got to a father, and once the shock wears off... it'll hit him even harder than it already has.

He pauses, taking a shaky breath, and then sends the coordinates of the house, since the muns haven't sat down and figured out just where this is OOCly yet. ]

Stay there, okay? I'll be over in a few minutes.

[But he'll keep the device on as he starts walking - running - towards that location. He's not leaving Ventus alone at all, afraid of what might happen.]

I... yeah. I'll be here.

[ Shock's temporarily numbing him, so he won't be going anywhere for now. Afterward though, he'll be running off to deal with this. ]

[Once he arrives, he doesn't bother knocking. Formalities later, friends now. He just goes right in and finds the boy.]

Ven... I'm sorry. I-It thought you knew, and...

[ He's sitting motionless on the side of his bed, head in his hands. ]

Seems I'm always the last to know. S'not your fault.

[ Aqua's likely known and hasn't told him, either. ]

W-When did it happen?

[He sighs, and props himself up on the bed.]

... Ten years ago, when everything was happening with you, and Vanitas.

[He closes his eyes as the horrible memory comes back. He wasn't there to see it personally, but it still stings all the same.]

Xehanort was manipulating everyone he could get a hold of, including Master Eraqus and Terra. They wound up fighting each other. Xehanort probably thought he could use one to get rid of the other, but they couldn't bring themselves to do it. So... Xehanort stepped in... and Eraqus... protected Terra... until the last.

[ Ven's eyes widen in renewed shock, and he starts to shiver. They had been fighting when Terra'd sent him packing to the islands. ]

Don't tell me... that was when it happened. It's my fault!

[ he is too grief-stricken and ashamed to look at Mickey. ]

I-I went back to confront Master about the things I'd heard. That I was supposed to be a weapon. The Master said... that I shouldn't exist and attacked me. Terra... Terra was protecting me when it happened!

He sent me to Destiny Island and that was the last time I saw Master.

[ To think that... that Xehanort had taken advantage of this. He is angry, as much as he is sad. At Xehanort, Vanitas, and himself.

The Master had been right. He shouldn't have been allowed to exist to be used as he had been. ]

[If Disney allowed for swearing, that's all that would fill Mickey's head. He gets on his feet, and grabs Ventus by the arms, determined to make him believe.]

It's not your fault! It was never your fault! Xehanort is the one that did this to all of us. Eraqus raised you for years... he wouldn't just give it all up. It hurt him to even think about what had happened to you.

[He loosens his grip, getting down on one knee.]

The three of you were as good as his children. Xehanort tried to twist that love into something cruel... but he didn't win. You've got to believe me.

[ Ouch. Xehanort's in for it. ]

But... [ He hears Mickey out, though, and bites his lip. ]

Terra was there, too. He probably would've thought...

[ The same as him. That it was his fault. Ven's pissed. ]

'Course he didn't. E-Even when I was mad at him... Master was the closest thing I had to a Dad. I can't remember anyone else. Terra and Aqua're like my brother and sister.

But is Xehanort gone, then? Because last I remember, he was calling himself Ansem and giving Sora and Riku trouble, too.

[He sighs, leaning back. Never any easy questions, huh?]

... Unfortunately, Xehanort kept doing a lot more damage. But for every plan he's made, he keeps getting defeated. Sora and Riku have done a great job at thwarting him... but the battle's not over.

[He shifts around, sitting down properly.]

Before I came here, Master Yen Sid and I were talking about putting Riku and Sora through the Mark of Mastery test. Normally it'd take a few years, but with Xehanort being such a pain, we're trying to speed things up. but I know the boys can do it.

... They'll fight as hard as you three did. You all did your best, and shouldn't be ashamed of anything. Eraqus would be proud of you.

[ Sadly, no. Though he appreciates Mickey not keeping him in the dark. ]

I bet they have. But how many times is he going to keep hurting people?

This can't go on. Somehow... I wanna help them end it.

[ He's got the utmost of confidence in both of them. But he wants to be there to help, too. A look of pride mixed with surprise comes to his face, and he smiles a little. ]

Yeah, they can. If anyone can do it, it's those two.

Terra's a Master in his heart, where it counts. Aqua's a Master through and through. Master Eraqus would be proud of 'em.

[ He's not counting himself among that number yet. Not after how he spoke to the poor man. But he's not talking about that. Or the fact that he really doesn't think he's strong enough to take that test himself. He may never be. If he can't even deal with half of his own heart... he's not fit to ever be a Master. ]

[Well, he caused this 'problem', so he needs to do everything in his power to 'fix it', or at least mend up as best he can.]

You're important in your own way. Aqua and Terra couldn't have gone as far as they did if it wasn't for you. You gave them another reason to keep on fighting... and you've done great things on your own as well.

[he looks up and over at Ventus with half of a smile.]

The keyblade finds its owner before the test. It was meant to find you, and you were meant to wield it. We need your help to end Xehanort's plans once and for all... Riku and Sora have done their best, but when the time comes, we'll all be working together. Riku, Sora, Aqua, Terra, Kairi, you and me. We're all connected by the bond of our hearts, and no matter how hard Xehanort tries, he can never break it. We all need and care about each other.

That's ultimately what the keyblade is for... to protect those within your heart.

[ You know he'd never see it that way, Mickey. Not in a million years. ]

Mickey... [ His smile is small, but there. ]

Thanks. I'll do my best to help you guys. I owe it to Master Eraqus, and everyone else, too.

To protect those within my heart? Yeah, you're right.

[He nods slowly... then, after he scoots over, he opens his arms and tries to give his buddy a hug.]

... And because of that bond... when you are hurt... we all hurt. So we will protect you.

[ Ven's surprised, but then he puts an arm around Mickey. ]

Thank you. I...

[ He's lucky to have such great friends. ;A; ]

It's okay... It's okay. There's no need ta thank me.

[You can almost hear 'Dearly Beloved' in the background. ~~*mun sobs incoherently*~~]

Yeah, there is. You've helped me more times than I can count.

[ Like he has Aqua and Terra, too, right? Not to add to the fact that this is the first time he's let anyone see him this upset almost ever. And Mickey's stayed with him through it.

~~Yes, you can. ;A;~~ ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Dream: d a r k l i n k // Interactive + Video afterward

video

video

video

video

video

video

video

video

video

video

video

video /You saw nothing

video

video

video

video

video

video

video

video

video

video

video

video

video - action

action

action

action

action

action

action

action

action

Re: action

Re: action

action

action

action