xistentia | War with D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.

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War with D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.

Characters: Ensemble cast, any/all characters of Xistentia!
Summary: D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. comes to Xistentia for the first time, bringing with it violence and havoc. Combat against enemy agents, healing, emergency sanctuary, and "Drift Compatibility" happen here. Refer to the OOC plotting post and the mod announcement!
Date(s): November 4-18
Warnings/Notes: Violence, death, psychological themes, trauma. Please warn for anything else in your subject headers!

WAR WITH DESTINY

By headsman's blade or battle-axe

Fight For Your Life

Everything is, in short, super fucked. Era Ra's warning came at the right time, forewarning of some of the weapons and fighting styles that could be expected from D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.'s agents, but still, the people of Xistentia have not faced a force like this before. The ragtag combination of fighting styles and tactics promises both versatility and confusion.

For better or worse, D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. is in similar chaos.

The first to come are ships from the Western sea, bearing a mix of warriors in and monsters. Some wield old-fashioned steel swords and others bear laser blasters, and their armor is just as varied. Some creatures appear domesticated, while others are feral and snap at their own. However, one primary feature identifies the enemy: their war color is red, which adorns flags and uniforms. Interestingly, the sea and sky of Xistentia seem to be fighting back in their own way, massive waves and a storm, even animals pestering them as they attempt to land the beach. However, it's only a matter of time before the mainstay of their forces reach land, some two hundred fighters. It's then that sentient fires start to whirl into the forests, leaping from tree to tree.

You have the home court advantage. Even the foliage itself seems to cooperate with you, aiding in efforts for stealth by keeping you downwind, twigs failing to crack when you misstep. Soon, you're joined by Xistentia's other forces-- a handful of battered ships taking air, an odd assortment of elves and talking dogs, demons and aliens from outer-space, coordinating counter-attacks.

BATTLE MODE: ATTACK

You're locked in combat with a woman who seems oddly familiar, though you don't know her face and can't think of her name. You hit her in the head, and now a narrow slice of her face shows through her red-rimmed helm. She wields a rifle tipped with a heavy blade, though it crackles with electrical energy. She is a proficient swordswoman, deftly parrying and striking against you, her face eerily expressionless. Her blade has a switch that, when activated, will send out a net that numbs your limbs and drags you to the floor. Here's hoping you won't face this demon alone.

She's not your only problem. You may have noticed, that in every epic battle with evil wizards, there's always some kind of a problematically gigantic elephant. This is one of those days. At least, there's only one, its trunk as wide as a car, its feet moving slow, so that it might crush the trees rather than trip over them.

Fight one or both, or fight the hordes of nameless minions around them. Either way: there's plenty to do. Those of you who thought things were too quiet here? You'll be busy today.

SEEK SANCTUARY

Fighting isn't for you? Well, you'll want to get out of the way, then. The "wards" protecting the city are failing, and people are heading toward The Temple where the protections remain the strongest. Here, the injured need healing in the stone beds. The civilians do their best, comforting children, cooking food, trading intelligence, repairing weapons and armor where possible. Feel free to pitch in; they need all the help they can get.

BATTLE MODE: SUPPORT (PSYLINK)

And here, you've reached the Temple, you've laid yourself down on one of the many glass-and-stone beds within the safety of its stone walls. You know what the other Xistentia residents have told you about it— this is the next phase, after the memory share had raised shields against the psychotropic rain. This is the PsyLink. Through this bond, you are said to be able to activate special defenses. No one seems to know exactly what they are, but desperate times call for desperate measures. And beyond the Temple walls, times are desperate indeed.

Each drift requires at least two people. Your daemons will find and connect you, seemingly at random— and you may find yourself with the unlikeliest of partners.

Drift Compatible

The Kissing Booth participants find it easiest. Everyone else-- it's a wild jumble, finding yourself caught up in a firehose of not only your own memories, but that of someone else. Everything they think, everything they feel, is intertwined with your mind.

You can't get caught up in it. You have to let the memories of the past, your predictions for the future, and the terror of war flow in and out of you, without neither resistance or pursuit, gently tuning them out. And in this serenity, this psychic silence, this acceptance of not only yourself but the other other, you find perfect connectivity— harmony with your PsyLink partner.

In this space, you find yourself having strange conversations. You and your partner will share ghostly images, some of which seem to be images from the past— while others seem to be present-day moments from the battle outside, fighting the enemy, as if you are somehow in two places at once. You must find traction and stay in the now and stay calm, but it's harder than you think.

The instant you latch onto that memory or emotion, it's a mistake... but you forget.

Your shadow is here. Whether out-of-context, or right here where it was meant to be, it's trying to kill you.

But you're not trapped here alone. Someone is calling your name, a familiar voice in the pandemonium. That voice comes from your drift partner. It's up to them to pull you back, remind you of who you are, and balance you. Hold on to them - they're your anchor, but you'll have to do the same for them. A successful drift means helping each other. Do it well, and you'll help to power the temple's defences. Fail, and there'll be trouble for everyone seeking sanctuary here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Having worked alongside machinists before, Era isn't phased in the least by gunfire from behind her. As soon as the enemies are downed she retrieves her sword from where she pierced the ground, giving it a very cursory glance to assure the blade is still in fine condition (it is).

She blinks at Juno's question - her armour is dusty and splattered with blood (from her enemies), and one of the scales on her cheeks is chipped, with coagulating blood smeared on it from a small cut just above. Other than that she appears fine, and she holds up her shield in answer, as though to say 'why wouldn't I be okay?'.

Her concern is more on Juno's hands. Era may not have any of her full strength healing abilities at the moment, but Clemency is a powerful healing spell in its own right. She lifts her sword and shield in front of her, taking a second to cast the spell on her companion. Once complete, a ray of light shines down on each of them - Juno's healing a majority of the burn damage, and Era's sealing any shallow cuts and easing the pain of deep bruising. ]

Are you well?

[ the shield is a good enough answer, one that juno acknowledges with a slightly uncertain nod because he's got a hell of a lot of questions he needs the answer to and--

well. you know. he'll ask for them once he's actually through being surrounded by this weird ray of light that makes him nearly jump straight out of his boots. he doesn't anticipate it, jerking a little, but feeling a wash of something good against his skin--his hands, his fingertips where he'd pulled out the troublesome jam in the gun. ]

I'm...

[ a beat as he stares at her. ]

Uh.

[ another beat as he lets out a slow breath in the silence of the moment. seems like there's at least a little bit of time now. ]

I'm okay just... what the hell was all of that? That was crazy!? Cool crazy, but still.

[ While Era knows that most of her skills are unique to her world, it's still a bit... strange. Because it all seems very straightforward to her.

She doesn't quite know how to explain all of it in any detail beyond a simple: ] Abilities unique to Paladins.

So like a knight or something?

[ it's all he really has to equate it to really, even though it's still a little baffling. things are explained with science where juno is from. magic? curses? total bullshit in his mind. for now, he'll try to take it for whatever that means because even if there's a lull in the fight, it's still a fight. he looks down at one hand a moment, the other tight around the rifle before lifting it up into a position he can use if something suddenly tries to come at them. ]

Got all kinds here don't they.

Very similar. Aymeric is a knight proper, sworn to the Holy See of Ishgard. I am a free agent, holding no oath to any one person or place.

[ She fights for all, with no particular affiliation. Era often switches between the three Grand Companies of Eorzea. One month she may be of the Immortal Flames, and another of the Twin Adders. The only one she hasn't had an opportunity to join has been the Temple Knights of Ishgard, though she would find it strange to be a subordinate in rank to Aymeric after all this time...

Her daemon, Emeraldd, comes up alongside her. It is a blue beacon of sparkling light amidst a battlefield, yet Era does not mind in the slightest. Emmy is a fierce summon in its own right, able to easily take down foes that may prove troublesome to less seasoned combatants.

It's still strange to be wielding a sword and shield with a Carbuncle at her side, however. ]

I will likely switch to a more offense-based job should the enemies' numbers not dwindle. Once I do, Aymeric will provide cover for you in my stead should you find need of it.

Hey, whatever's gonna work for the both of you, I'll take it.

[ juno's met aymeric just briefly a few times, but in all honesty, he seems like a guy who can be trusted. hell, he's even got the bearing of one of those real old fashioned knights, so he'll absolutely believe era when she assures him that aymeric will be lending them cover where they need it. ]

I'll cover you both, it's the only hat I've really got, but it works.

We are both quite adaptable.

[ Aymeric and Era had fought alongside each other only once prior, despite being close companions throughout the entirety of her involvement in the Dragonsong War. Even without much experience as a team on battlefields they work phenomenally well together, actions flowing seamlessly; synchronized well enough that one would never guess this was a relatively new combat partnership.

So they are, indeed, quite adaptable - at least when it comes to each other. ]

You are a good shot. I haven't worked alongside a Machinist in some time.

[ And given that the flood of enemies still doesn't seem to be dying down as much as Era would have thought by this point, she hesitates for only a moment before pulling out her rapier. It would be only a matter of time before she needed to engage in combat again, and it's best to take advantage of the lull to change gears.

In the blink of an eye she's no longer in a haubergeon and heavy armour, but leather boots and caster robes of eye-catching crimson. Sword and shield replaced by rapier and enchanted pommel.

Emeraldd flicks its tails at her, apparently disapproving (it would much rather her equip her Soul of the Summoner, but it's biased). Era ignores her daemon, leaving it to bounce over to her Chocobo in her distant line of sight. ]

[ the notion is reassuring. juno's not... nervous. well, no. maybe he's a little nervous. war doesn't fit juno well, but he makes it work for the greater good, because there are people counting on them here, people who can't fight, and his nerves and his body trying to tell him how vile the smell of blood and hot plasma in the air is needs to come in last place in comparison to everything else here. ]

Glad I can be useful, I -

[ his voice cuts off as he watches the transformation happen. it's quick, but juno doesn't miss a beat, watching the flow of color come forth from her and stepping back just a few paces to give... whatever the hell she's doing some breathing room.

she's gotta stop shocking him like this all in one go. ]

- You really gotta give a lady some warning before you do the whole... whatever it is you do!

[ Well - that gives her two things to apologize for. She offers a bow (and the blatant display trust, keeping her back exposed and having the faith Juno will cover her); quick, formal, and sincere. ]

My apologies for startling you, and for having the assumption you were not a lady.

[ he's a little taken aback by the gesture because really, who does that these days. his eyes trail up towards the area behind her before gesturing quickly. ]

Not important, trust me. I get it a lot here. It's not like home.

[ and it's an honest confession. he looks more amused than anything when era pulls up from her bow. ]

[ if you haven't noticed, she and aymeric are both p old school old fashioned! even if her fashion game is always on point. ]

I don't see how one's identity isn't important, but perhaps you could enlighten me when circumstances are not so dire?

[ LOOK HE'S NOT USED TO IT!!!! but he is in total awe of it even if he doesn't look it. juno's a skeptic at times but... this place really does things to said skepticism. seeing era's kind of like seeing something he used to love come to life. ]

Not where I'm from, but yeah. Details later.

[ he drops down alongside the cover he's made for himself before, still fairly intact, rifle settling in nicely. ]

Go out there and do what you do best, and don't worry about me.

It has been some time since Era encountered Juno last, though in the time since they last spoke his bullets had provided ample opportunities for her to use her magic to its fullest. Now though, with the adrenaline of battle worn off and the euphoric warmth from her Psylink with Aymeric naught but a lingering memory, Era feels only a jittery sort of uncertainty she isn't accustomed to. She should get back to the forefront of the fighting soon - she hates to think so highly of herself, but she is certainly one of Xistentia's more accomplished living weapons.

It's incredibly tempting to just equip her sword and shield and walk out into the middle of the violence to fight nonstop until the war has been won. Era needs less rest than most of the people she's met. Two days, four days, six days - as long as she had food and potions she could just keep going and going and going, thinking of nothing but the current moment.

But Anima is currently resting inside of her weapons, making her hesitate. Era doesn't need him with her to augment her strength (she's outgrown the boon her beloved companion can grant her) but she does not want him to awaken all alone. It's enough to keep her within the temple walls, not quite pacing but something close; burning off a nervous energy that rings in her head whenever her thoughts stray back to Aymeric and how everything is going to change when the fighting stops.

"Era."

Juno had expected to see her at some point within the temple, though the days always seem to stretch long between her stays. He catches her seated as she is, resting, but maybe looking too tense to rest, and makes his way over. His jacket is draped over his shoulder and both of his hands look neatly wrapped up from knuckles to fingertips - something that someone else had done with care.

On his face, he wears a looks that seems a bit gentled from before, and this time when he meets her, he isn't alone. At his side, trails a stately white peacock, though the backs of her tail feathers, nape, and her claws are tinged the faintest pink (blood comes out in time, but there's only so much you can do while the rest fades off.)

She moves a bit ahead of Juno when he calls Era's name, as if feeling the need to scope her out before Juno moves anywhere near her. She hadn't been at the battle when he'd seen Era, having sent his daemon away to the temple not long before settling down in a shitty equivalent of a fox hole.

"Nice to see you're in one piece," he says, and his voice sounds tired, wrung out. "Didn't have any doubts, but. Yeah."

Era senses Juno's approach before she actively registers it; head tilted the slightest bit in his direction and horns detecting the vibrations from his movement. It takes a moment before she comes back to herself when her name is called, blinking a few times in rapid succession until she focuses on first the unfamiliar bird, then Juno. The disparity in their height is more significant than Era recalls, right up until she realizes the difference is that she is seated. She doesn't actually remember sitting down.

"Juno." She nods her head in greeting, this time first to the man and then his daemon. Her own daemon, Emeraldd - or Emmy, as she prefers - is curled up at her feet like a loyal dog. A sleek blue, faintly-glowing and fox-like dog. It hadn't been by her side out in the field, though it had been within her line of sight at all times, taking down enemies with a ruthless efficiency.

The bandages catch Era's attention, making her itch to use her white magic to try and fully heal whatever lingering damage there is on Juno's hands. "Your hands are still injured?"

Dahliad takes point, settling herself down near, but not touching Era, tipping her head in brief examination before Juno moves to crouch down beside her, arms draped over his thighs as he greets her back with a faint nod. His hands come together briefly as she mentions the bandages, glancing them over a moment before looking up at her with a look of confusion.

"I..."

Juno holds it a beat before shaking his head. "No. I hurt myself again, I uh... I ran into a friend of mine." God it hurts, calling Nureyev "a friend" when they'd been through so much only to have Juno just break free from it and run. Nureyev deserved a better person calling him friend. Hell, Juno certainly doesn't feel that he deserves the privilege of someone so clever at his side. He closes his eyes a second before glancing down. "He patched me up just fine. Couple of scrapes. Don't worry about it. But you -" he tilts his head a little. "How are you feeling? Last time I saw you... you were going pretty hard on the field."

Running into a friend usually doesn't equate to injuries, though Era says nothing on the matter - perhaps Juno's gun seized on him again, or any other of numerous accidents. Her lips purse in an almost-frown. She has the feeling that it may be more than just a couple of scraps, but again she says nothing because it isn't her place and Juno seems in good enough health otherwise.

"I'm in good health," she says. It's true, really. There are a few aches and pains, though nothing serious. Bruises, shallow cuts, and few more damaged scales. "I'm quite accustomed to fighting like this." Which is also true: most of Era's memory consists of fighting in some capacity. Honestly it had been more strange for her to have gone so long without fighting for her life, so the war had been almost comforting to her in an unhealthy sort of way.

"I participated in a Psylink a short time ago and am still a bit... disoriented."

Era doesn't like to admit to such things but knows she does not seem herself, even to those she doesn't know very well.

"Oh."

Juno knows about the whole psylink bullshit. He's thought about it, hesitated, walked away from it (for the time being). He moves into a seated position, leaning back against the wall behind him and looking her over briefly. he brings his hands together, smoothing one hand over his knuckles and holding loosely to his own hand. dahliad settles between the both of them and seems to doze quietly with a slight lean against juno's side, her feathers settling as evenly as they can.

he looks from his knuckles to era's face, eyes meeting hers curiously.

"What was it... like? Haven't really heard much about it or done it."

Had it been anyone else Era would have politely refused the Psylink herself, but she cannot think of anything she wouldn't trust Aymeric and so here she is now: a woman coming to terms with the fact that her most cherished friendship is changed forever, for better or worse. They've yet to discuss what this means for them, though that discussion will wait until the end of this war.

"It was..." She averts her gaze, finding it easier to think and speak at this moment without meeting Juno's eyes. It's difficult to find the proper words to describe such an indescribable experience.

"Confusing, though moreso at the beginning. I experienced flashes of his memories, feeling emotions as he did. He would have felt and witnesses some of mine in return, few as they are. Some memories tried to lure me in, but my familiarity with meditation made it easy to let everything pass me by." That was the easiest part of the entire thing, if she's honest. "The most disorienting part was feeling his emotions as I felt my own. His fears, guilt, pride, happiness..." Love, Era recalls. "They were a wonderful comfort. Like I was wrapped in a thick blanket warmed by fire, I suppose."

She wraps her arms around herself absently, as though seeking to replicate that warmth. "When it was over I found I missed that feeling. His arms around me were an anchor that made the transition easier, but my mind still feels strangely empty now after having been joined so wholly with another's."

Edited 2017-11-27 14:15 (UTC)

It's an in-depth answer that Juno hadn't really anticipated, but he's attentive, eyes focused solely on her. He doesn't like the sound of it, someone being in your head and rifling around your feelings, emotions, memories. He almost doesn't like it, but considering the state of the war, it's probably best that they do what they can. Like the memory beds - that'd be something he hadn't wanted to do either, but when you're faced with that kind of choice, who really cares about how personal it gets at that point?

But there's something about how it's gone and affected Era that makes Juno bristle just a little protectively, shifting closer by maybe an inch or so on the ground to sit that much nearer before looking away to give her that quiet kind of privacy.

"Hey," And his lips press together into a thin line a moment before he gives a nod. "Doesn't sound like you had too bad a time... confusion aside." He observes as she wraps her arms around herself, and Juno leans back just a little more, watching on. "Did you know the guy you drifted with?"

Because he honestly doesn't know still so!

"Those sound like some pretty... intense feelings."

Era blinks at Juno in confusion until she realizes that she hadn't even insinuated she knew the man she was linked with. It had seemed to obvious to Era that she would never have agreed to drift with a stranger, and she took that knowledge for granted.

"I know him, yes," she answers softly, noticing the change in Juno's proximity but not particularly minding it. "We went through war together in Eorzea. There is no being here I trust more than him."

Not exactly an understatement, though Era will admit to her Chocobo possibly beating Aymeric by a very small fraction. There isn't much that can beat a loyal Chocobo after all.

"I would not have agreed to it with anyone else, regardless of how it might help."

Selfish? Probably. But given how large a percentage of her few memories are incredibly traumatizing, or would be to a good portion of others in Xistentia, Era has good reason beyond her own comfort.

That makes sense - why would you let some rando rattle around in your skull with all the old bones and detritus of what makes you who you are? Juno's mouth twitches a little bit as he leans back and takes it all in. He's still a little confused about the whole Drifting thing, but then again, most technology has eluded him despite his living far into the future, suffused with technological advances.

"You think that feeling's gonna wear off after a while? Like maybe it's some kind of hangover from being attached?"

Or you know, you might have some feelings or something. Who. Knows.

"I'm sure it will fade in time, like the memory of a dream."

As much as she dislikes the idea of forgetting things (an entirely rational fear, given her history. even if sometimes it feels irrational) Era is more than fine with memories of certain things fading, just enough that they aren't at the forefront of her mind any longer. Usually she prefers it happening to her less than pleasant experiences, but in this instance...

"It was not a bad experience, but I will avoid doing it again."

Juno’s expression knits as he listens, giving a slight shake of his head. “Think it might be worth talking to him about? Maybe he’s feeling the same thing as you. Could help you sort out whatever it is that’s really sticking around.”

Trust him, he’s a detective ok.

He reaches out briefly, a hand clapping her shoulder lightly, careful of any bruises she may have or visible injuries that have yet to fully heal just yet.

"We are..." Era can't help the way her cheeks flush, stark against the ivory of her scales. "We both learned something enlightening about the other that we need to digest and discuss at a later time."

Still not quite accustomed to such casual, physical contact Era jolts for a fraction of a second before settling once more. It's clear the reaction wasn't from any injuries (as her healing spells took care of those), but merely from being startled.

"S-So discussion regarding the Psylink itself is not a priority for either of us."

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War with D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.

junooooo

errraaaa

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~*~ timeskip ~**~*~

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