QW: Ascend

[whimsy]

==> QW: Ascend
You do. You ascend straight up the structure you built to Venn's portal. Cael had let you complete the thing without really thinking anything of it. As far as you can tell Alex has taken charge there to keep her off of your back. He and Ocia are the only two who see the logic in this, who see that you have to do it. So you ascend Venn's home and go through his first gate. Then it's a fairly simple path to the second one.

[/center]

quibbledWhimsy [QW] began pestering vociferousCryptid [VC] at --:--

QW: I know you said you'd be by my side
QW: But the fewer people here the better
QW: Less can go wrong.
QW: You'll see afterward.

==>

LAND OF BOTANY AND TEETH

Back in your own world you make your way through the familiar landscape. You had plenty of time to explore it and you're pretty sure you know where your Quest Bed is. Ocia's the only other person who needs to be there and he can find it using his own methods, so you don't bother letting anyone else know.

Hephaestus' machines have been clearing forest, but not far from your treehouse there's a thicket of trees they did not bother to clear. It's the only real irregularity that stood out to you so far, so you head there.

[/center]

[style=width: 450px; padding: 10 25; background: #666611; border: 1px dashed black; font-size: 11px; font-family: courier new; font-weight: bold; color: 66DD11; text-align: left;]quibbledWhimsy [QW] began pestering nihilPhilanthropist [NP] at --:--

QW: I'm almost to my Quest Bed
QW: Don't keep me waiting
QW: For our second first date.
QW: Seriously
QW: Don't be long
QW: Or I might kill myself from anxiety.

[threeam3]

==>: NP: Respond.

Looks like it's that time.

[/center]

Blue eyes scanned the log quickly, not even bothering to read the sender. So... It was time then. Time for everything to begin happening. Ocia stopped himself, wondering if all of this was alright. He had been following his vision twofold for some time now, but at the same time he was afraid. Afraid that maybe they were all right about everything. Afraid that perhaps he was going to hurt his friends rather than help. In the brief period that they had been in the game, Ocia felt change hit him like a brick. At one point he was stoic, sarcastic, and cool. Now? He was morbid and constantly down. The game just wasn't fun. He wanted to go back to his land and have fun with the Consorts. He wanted to fight the Denizen.

And the blue-eyed psionic wondered if he would ever be able to.

-- [NP] responded--
NP: Make sure you're on your bed before you do.
NP: Actually...
NP: ...
NP: That was a bad joke.
NP: I'll be there when I can.
NP: I have a feeling I'm not the only one.

It was scary, to think about the future. But his visions were almost over.
And then, then they could all play the game in peace.
No killing, no lying, no secrets.

[whimsy]

==> QW: Wait
Your death was coming and all you could do was sit there and wait. However temporary it may be it doesn't change the fact that it was remarkably unnerving to be there waiting for it to come. You consider sitting down on the Quest Bed but that thought leaves you uncomfortable. That's the spot where you will die. You can't even look at it. So you weave your vines through the trees into a makeshift hammock and sit down in it, swinging back and forth.

[/center]

[style=width: 450px; padding: 10 25; background: #666611; border: 1px dashed black; font-size: 11px; font-family: courier new; font-weight: bold; color: 66DD11; text-align: left;]QW: No one else should be here
QW: I didn't tell anyone the location
QW: And Alex is watching our backs
QW: So
QW: I'll be here
QW: Waiting
QW: Don't be long.
QW: Lucky you
QW: You get a girl alone in her bed
QW: He he

[lofora]

[style=width: 450px; padding: 10 25; background: #ffffff; border: 1px dashed black; font-size: 11px; font-family: courier new; font-weight: bold; color: 6a006a; text-align: left;]barbaryShaman [BS] began trolling quibbledWhimsy [QW] at --:--

BS: ✯ ffuuck.
BS: ✯ liisteen.
BS: ✯ yy∞uu pr∞bs hhaatee mee.
BS: ✯ iit's n∞ biig iiff yy∞uu d∞.
BS: ✯ ii gaavee s∞mee seerii∞uuslyy shhiittyy aadviicee.
BS: ✯ buut chh∞∞siing thhiis tiimee wiill pr∞bs bee beest ff∞r mee c∞nsiideeriing beeff∞ree ii w∞uuld'vee t∞ld yy∞uu t∞ l∞∞k aat thhee l∞ng ruun.
BS: ✯ thhiis iis thhee l∞ng ruun.
BS: ✯ s∞ l∞∞k aat thhee shh∞rt ruun ii guueess?
BS: ✯ aasceend liikee aa m∞thheerffuuckeer aand kiick s∞mee aass, kaayy? 8)
BS: ✯ ii stiill g∞t yy∞uur baack, eeveen iiff yy∞uu d∞n't waant mee t∞.
BS: ✯ whhiichh yy∞uu pr∞baablyy d∞n't.
BS: ✯ buut ii meeaan yy∞uu d∞n't hhaavee aa hhuugee saayy iin thhaat maatteer, naawmsaayyiin? 8)
BS: ✯ aanyywaayy hh∞llaa baack iiff yy∞uu geet thhee chhaancee / waant t∞.

[whimsy]

[style=width: 450px; padding: 10 25; background: #666611; border: 1px dashed black; font-size: 11px; font-family: courier new; font-weight: bold; color: 66DD11; text-align: left;]QW: Don't worry
QW: I'm just going to roll with it.
QW: I just wish
QW: Everything was here and ready
QW: Because I think I might chew my knuckles off
QW: Though I'm about to die
QW: So I don't need knuckles anyway.

[ross]

amorousApocalypt [AA] began trolling quibbledWhimsy [QW]

AA: Hey, Cali.
AA: Just thought I'd
AA: You know
AA: Check up on you
AA: See if you're okay
AA: I hope you and Cael are getting along.
AA: I'm sorry for inflicting her on you
AA: Actually, no, that's wrong
AA: I'm not sorry for asking her to watch over you.
AA: She's the only family I have and one of the few people I can absolutely count on.
AA: I know you probably hate me
AA: But
AA:
AA:
AA:
AA: Forget it.
AA: I'm about to head through my last gate.
AA: For better or worse, this is it.
AA: Goodbye.

[cael]

-- ferventAugmentum [FA] began pestering quibbledWhimsy [QW] at ??:?? --

FA: WHERE DID YOU GO YOU STUPID LITTLE GIRL
FA: IM SUPPOSED TO BE WATCHING OVER YOU
FA: GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW
FA: I SWEAR ON MY MOTHERS GRAVE I WILL END YOU MYSELF IF YOU DONT ANSWER ME AND GET YOUR SCRAWNY SELFISH UNGRATEFUL ASS BACK HERE RIGHT
FA: NOW

[threeam3]

==>: NP: Finish All This.

Looks like it's your time to shine.

[/center]

An ocean gaze focused on Cali, hanging in her little viney coccoon. He moved his bangs from his face, his emotions clouded. Ocia breathed deeply, pulling himself from the stone table. Her deathbed. Skaia worked in odd ways... The boy looked up to the sky, wondering if the Eldritch Gods were watching him at that moment. His gaze narrowed. You'd better be fucking happy, he thought towards them. He looked back to Cali and grinned, a forced grin. A grim one. He was troubled, he wouldn't lie, but this was how it was supposed to be.

He hoped.

OCIA:Let's get this over with.

He rose his arms, his hands sparking black and white.

[whimsy]

==> QW: Reply
You really don't want to have to deal with Cael.

[/center]

QW: What are you going to do?
QW: Kill me?
QW: Because I'm kind of beating you to that
QW: Go back to Ross
QW: I don't need you
QW: He does.

-- quibbledWhimsy [QW] has blocked ferventAugmentum [FA] --

==> QW: Be the martyr
That is what you're doing, isn't it? This self-sacrifice so that others know the cost of God Tier and the trouble you have to go through. You are a martyr. But should you be considering yourself such or does that defeat the purpose of the title? Maybe Reni's right and you really are just selfish.

Ocia was there now. You hadn't seen him since your date on Prospit. Actually you hadn't even fallen asleep since then. Maybe that's why your dream self isn't too important to you, as Cory warned. Still you can't help but feel a gentle flutter in your stomach at the sight of Ocia, despite everything that has been going on. Despite your revelation and your circumstances. There had been something, after all, and there still was, that made you feel so giddy on that date.

You give him a sardonic smile.

[/center]

SPOILER: Click to show

CALI: You don't have to sound so eager about it
CALI: Maybe a 'nice to see you'
CALI: Or a hello kiss?
CALI: So what am I supposed to do?
CALI: Just lie down?

[alexander]

==> ZA: Await the Knight of Doom.

Time passes since the guardian's threats.

All that's left is for her to ascend.

You have just gotten out of a STICKY SITUATION. Needless to say, you are BLOODY, BRUISED, AND BATTERED. You aren't even sure if you can handle ANOTHER FIGHT. But you still need to keep going. Cali is counting on you.

However, you're sure she would be unhappy to know the LENGTHS YOU HAD TO GO TO. So instead, you simply stay far away from her quest bed. You can see it, you can see the two specks interacting. You assume it's Cali and Ocia. All that's left to do is wait.

You stay FAR OUT OF SIGHT, watching for anyone who might interfere. Under your arms is a PAIR OF ROLLER BLADES.

There's blood on them.

[/center]

[threeam3]

==>:

Do you really want to do this?

[/center]

No. He didn't. But the choice wasn't his. It was never his.

Since he had stepped into the Medium, the voices had gotten stronger. More commanding. He had listened the entire time... Cali drew close and joked; he smiled slightly. She wasn't afraid of death, it seemed. Yet he was afraid of what life would be like after this. Always knowing what step laid ahead- he had grown tired of it. It used to be a fun game that he used for mischief. Now? It was a curse. The future of Skaia was horrible- he knew why Cali chose him. The things she saw had to be even more damaging.

She drew close and he put a hand on her shoulder. He moved slightly, hugging her from behind, and sighed. Yet for some odd reason, he couldn't help but smile. He was doing the right thing- that he was happy about. It was just the means to do so that bothered him. It meant that Cali would be for the most part immortal- Alex would be soon, as well. He was still curious about a lot of things, but they wouldn't be brought up just yet. As he stood behind her, he spoke to her.

OCIA: Hey...
OCIA: Things are about to start happening-
OCIA: And the game looks like it is going to be much harder.
OCIA: The teams will need your vision, so you have to distance yourself from me.
OCIA: Until we can survive all of this.
OCIA: Specifically, we need to dismantle the puzzles.
OCIA: And discover their truths...

He didn't know what to say. He didn't like talking this much to begin with... And always felt rather bossy.

[whimsy]

==> QW: Face your death
It's not like you really feared the death part of this. That part you were surprisingly okay with. It's more of an anxiety like one feels right before Christmas that you feel now. And have been feeling. Despite all of Alex's boner talk. But you're ready for this and everything seems to be in place, so with a deep breath you sit down on your Quest Bed and listen to Ocia's words. They sting, but it's a simple fact that you knew deep down. You could hide from your visions with him around but that never meant you should.

[/center]

SPOILER: Click to show

CALI: I
CALI: Know I have to distance myself
CALI: For many reasons
CALI: A lot will change after this
CALI: It's kind of scary
CALI: But
CALI: I'm ready
CALI: I've had a long time to get ready.

[ross]

==> Knight: Descend

Impossibly bright white lightning strikes from thin air, leaving a void-black afterimage that bleeds down to the ground and consolidates, two-dimensional darkness gaining form and weight and color.

The thunderclap announces the Knight's arrival.

Beaten.

Bloody.

Broken.

You see it in the distance, the towering minaret of Cali's quest bed. You've seen one like it already. Yours.

Grown from the seed that broke your heart, the ENCHIRIDION is made manifest in your hand. Its every page is solid black with written word.

Impossible geometry flashes into your mind and you stumble. You fall.

You stay down.

RISE UP

You've paid too high a price to come here.

Struggling under the weight of the cost of freedom, you rise up.

You run.

[/center]

[alexander]

==> ZA: Interfere.

So he did show up.

You immediately notice the speck heading towards the quest bed, heralded by the clap of thunder. Followed by the afterimage.

God dammit.

You can't let him interfere and screw ths whole thing up. You make it a point to, if nothing else, stall him for as long as you possibly can. You doubt you have the strength to outright win a full battle right now, but hopefully you can keep him busy.

You vanish.

As fast as you can, you move in front of the Knight of Doom. You're pretty sure you can't win a direct fight right now. But, you doubt Ocia needs a lot of time, I mean really. How hard can it be to kill someone if they're letting them kill you.

However, you need to draw his attention.

You place down CAEL'S ROLLER BLADES beside you.

[/center]

SPOILER: Click to show

ZA: It's time for you to leave.

[threeam3]

==>: Make It Quick

I'm so sorry.

[/center]

Ocia hugged Cali, hearing the thunderclap, and he waited. Waited until Cali was relaxed- even if it was for a second. He breathed deeply, his hand brushing her cheek, tracing her jawline. His other hand brushed through her hair. His blue eyes looked into the distance- Alex was watching him, but he had turned away to see Ross in the distance.

It was at that moment that his grip tightened and he twisted. There was a crack- he gently laid her on the Quest Bed, making sure to keep her looking natural. She didn't breathe. It was over. In under a minute she would be gone, without pain or worry... And she would rise up. By then, he hoped to be gone. His job here was done.

He pulled himself away from the Quest Bed and made his way to Alex. His eyes found the roller blades... So that vision happened after all. A grim sadness took him and he cringed internally.

OCIA: ...
OCIA: ...Don't get hurt.

He didn't know why he said that. He didn't know why he didn't say 'Don't kill him', or 'Be civil'. He felt as though his voice was pointless; anything he said just wouldn't be enough. But his gaze said enough- they were a team. He respected Alex, but also feared his determination. Death wasn't simple- at least, it wasn't for those destined by Skaia. Yet Alex seemed to do it so easily. He hadn't experienced the voices of the horrorterrors in his ears. Ocia looked at Ross and turned away. He held his hands up, the static electricity of the Void surrounding him, and began to levitate.

It was time to leave this gig. A new show was about to start.