time ticks on

[cancrymods]

TRACING A PATH

True to her word, following the fight in the Luxuria Underside, Lana shows the Executors where they can travel further down into Purgatory. From the now familiar set of stairs, though, comes something unexpected – a cold, damp breeze that chills you to the bone and makes you feel oddly sleepy. The sense of unease this generates is amplified by the reaction of the accompanying Executors – Rei seems particularly susceptable to the drowsiness inducing effect and while Birdie doesn't seem to be affected, she's nevertheless oddly quiet and a little brooding, like she has something on her mind. Either way, it seems wise to prepare for whatever may lay ahead before proceeding. Take your time to spar, train or whatever you need to do before proceeding to the next Layer...

Comments

[discutio]

"Have I ever left your side, even knowing what we do? Have I done anything to make you believe that I would?"

His hand didn't move, kept extended in silent offer.

"Chiron, Ardyn, whatever it is you wish me to call you...I don't care. I care only for not repeating my past mistakes and not failing anyone else. Especially not you."

[schardynfreude]

He thinks of Aera, softening. He thinks of Aera, hardening in turn. The love, the betrayal, different parts of himself seeing the memories with different lights.

"I offered my hand to you before," he states, carefully neutral in tone. "You understandably rejected it." in one universe

"I would...like to believe you. I am..." The neutrality cracks. Chiron peeking through. "I am not...well. Whatever I may say, whatever I may do in the time we have left--I pray you'll forgive me."

[discutio]

"I was someone else then." he answered softly. Not an argument, but an acknowledgement. "He made quite a few decisions I would not wish repeated." Failure after failure. Mistakes and missteps, and what was the result? Truthfully, he wasn't sure--but the fact that he was 'Phoenix' at all told him how it ended and left him to fill in the gaps himself.

"Whatever becomes of all of us, I will be with you until the end. If you fall too far, then by my own hand I will pull you back. I understand if it is...difficult, to trust me. All I would ask is that you give me a chance and allow me to prove my words as truth."

[schardynfreude]

"I warn you of regret each time, and each time you express no such thing. I...would like to be worthy of that. I'm afraid of...someone else inside of me. It is me, but the kind of man who would murder a loved one and ruin a world..."

Chiron, as it must be, shakes his head but at least, at long last, takes Phoenix's hand. Squeezes tight. "I feel the weight of several lives on me. I'm not well. I do not always feel like me, or that I know who I am at any moment. If you swear to stay by my side...know that you may not always know whose side you are by."

[discutio]

"I'm not afraid of that." Phoenix placed his other hand over Chiron's, smiling faintly. "Or of you, whoever you may or may not be. I choose to believe there to be a good man in here somewhere, and I have no intention of leaving him behind even amidst all else."

[schardynfreude]

He opens and closes his mouth a few times, not that Phoenix sees that going on.

"...And what if I leave the good man behind?"

[discutio]

"With all of us here?" he answered gently. "Do you really think it will be that easy?"

[schardynfreude]

"I don't know." Honest. Earnest. "I should hope not, but...the good man might have to share space with a monster."

[discutio]

"Perhaps so. And should that be the case, I trust you'll find myself and the others reliable if he should need help finding that space."