[OPEN] Mission 155

[soul_mods]

Characters: Open to those who signed up here.
Location: An unmarked cavern system outside Death City.
Rating: Various.
Time: March 18th, sunrise.
Description: Shibusen agents brave underwater caverns to take out the first of three Madness emitters.

Missiongoers pile out of the mirrors early in the morning, just as the first hints of sun start to color the walls of the sandstone canyon red and purple; it'll be the last bits of real light they'll see for at least a few hours. The atmosphere is electric -- there're quite a few new (and old) arrivals who're eager to see some action, but just as many people who're feeling rather more apprehensive… And for good reason.

The only way to their destination is blocked by a few hundred yards of sunken tunnels. Luckily they've been provided with mouthpieces, breathing apparatuses with enough oxygen to last about ten minutes: more than enough time, provided that the guests don't lose their way in the dimly-lit, twisted caverns. It's as easy as following the person in front of them, right?

Upon emerging safely from the pool onto mostly-dry land, they'll find themselves in an immense cavern, illuminated by countless, blue fungi clinging to the walls and ceiling, looking like stars dotting a night sky. Already the first signs of the way Madness has been corrupting the wildlife are evident: the mushrooms exude strange spores that make some people's head pound the same way the increasingly noticeable Madness wavelength does.

As they travel further into the watery caves and explore its many branches, they'll begin to encounter creatures twisted by Madness: moles, snakes, beetles, centipedes, all grown to monstrous proportions, some with a venomous bite that quickly turns their victim feverish and delirious. The more daring fighters can easily dispatch those and delve even deeper, and it's near the source of the Madness, in the chamber housing the emitter itself, that they'll encounter the kishin eggs.

There're dozens of them-- eyeless, white, vaguely human-shaped things, but despite their blindness they have no problem finding their quarry, fighting with claws and exuding their own Madness wavelength. If the missiongoers can stand strong against the kishin eggs and the ever-present wavelength given off by the Madness emitter, Shibusen's specialists will have enough time to shut the machine down for good.


OOC NOTES.
- The event summary post containing all relevant links is located here.
- Make your own threads, but please indicate in your subject line [CHARACTER(S) | LOCATION | OPEN/CLOSED] and, if applicable, if you need a kishin egg NPC!
- The locations are the sunken tunnels, the medics area, the cave system, and the emitter chamber, but only the medics will have their designated sub-thread.
- If you have any further questions, the mod thread on the coordination post is here!

Comments

[de_faulty_hero]

As the corpse dissolved, he passed through, getting a little of the blood spattering on himself as he drove himself sword first into the stampeding Kishin Egg behind the fallen one. It wheeled away screaming in rage as he found himself flung from side-to-side until he could brace with his feet and twist the blade to slash open the creature's side. He finished it with a slit throat and dodged swinging claws of his next opponent.

"Don't you smirk at me. I can sense it, you know. I'm doing plenty of hard work here." There was no heat to his words even as he shook his head. "I've never heard you say that word. Makes me think that you're sick."

[pure_lineage]

Cloud was efficiently taking out each and every kishin egg that they came across. He could feel their blood beginning to coat his bladed form and relished in the notion that so many were being taken down. Sephiroth knew that there weren't many other strong fighters in their group, and that responsibility fell onto them to take the creatures out. While he cared nothing for the others, Sephiroth couldn't help but slip back into his old sense of responsibility.

'Yes, of course you are, Cloud,' Sephiroth muttered with a subtle chuckle. It was moments like these, and the odd moments they had to themselves, that he truly felt alive. It was a feeling that he didn't hide from his partner as their resonate seemed to soar to New heights. 'Then I will have to think of more appropriate terms, hmm? Can't have you thinking that after all.'

[de_faulty_hero]

He smirked at Sephiroth's elated emotions when it came to their efforts on the battlefield, and he used that emotion to build on. For others, this was a dangerous situation, given the emitter was still active, but he and Sephiroth were built for these kinds of odds. This was what they were good at, what they took so many missions for.

Avoiding the fall of claws, he couldn't help himself as he deflected away a kick with his fiberglass cast. It jarred his arm, but he kept fighting regardless of any damage. As they fought, he felt power building between them, pushing him further, faster, and stronger. "If I get to call you 'whimsy' or 'lover boy', then you can call me 'dorky'"

Apparently new heights needs a capital N lololol >_>;;;

[pure_lineage]

The smirk was felt as they continued to slash their way through their targets. While he was often outwardly dismissive to such shows of pride and arrogance, Sephiroth rather found them amusing. Just as he did this time until Cloud used his cast to block an incoming attack. He inwardly frowned at that, not saying anything, but the feel between them giving away the fact that he didn't approve of the method.

"Is that a fact?" Sephiroth asked with amusement colouring his tone. He didn't mind the nicknames Cloud gave him, not in the slightest, but it still felt somewhat odd to be giving them in return.

That's just how 'new' they are. XD

[de_faulty_hero]

He drew on their combined strength, hearing the timbre of the Masamune's song increasing as he drove deeper into the ranks and closer to the emitter. He didn't feel the madness, but the Kishin Eggs seemed far more wild, strong and quick. He took minor scratches as he used the long length of the sword in his hands to bring down two at a time.

Yet, he found himself distracted from their banter at the feel of something building between them. It seemed to center at his chest, which wasn't the most comfortable sensation, but he also felt somewhat empowered. "Are you... doing something with the JENOVA link?"

Damn straight they are ;D

[pure_lineage]

Sephiroth felt his protectiveness soar when he sensed his Meister being on the receiving end of those scratches. It didn't matter that they had already taken down droves of Kishin Eggs, or that the scratches were minor. No, all that mattered was the fact that he felt that protectiveness surge within him as Cloud continued on.

Yet he was pulled away from his focused thoughts as he felt the confused question being asked to him. Flickering his attention to his Meister, Sephiroth quietened his thoughts. "I am not, no," Sephiroth answered honestly with.

>_> Not really here

[de_faulty_hero]

He had to appreciate the ex-General's protectiveness for any injury that he sustained no matter how many. How long ago had it been that Sephiroth would have relished in his agony and wanted to inflict more pain upon him? Those days were over, and the hovering, over-protective partner that Sephiroth had developed into was endearing. He made certain to try to avoid more injury, but the scratches were little more than annoyances to him.

Still, the strength between them seemed to build even at the honest reply, and he dodged a falling Kishin Egg and lopped the head off of the confused one behind it. "My chest... it feels strained," he said, not wanting to alarm his partner, but it kept getting worse. Still, he fought on as the ranks seemed to converge on them both as others were forced to fall back.

I see nothing xDDD

[pure_lineage]

There was a flash of concern felt within when Cloud mentioned that his chest felt strained. Something like this had never happened before during a mission, and he couldn't help but fear for the worst. Was something happening to Cloud's body that he was entirely unaware of? He couldn't transform out of his Weapon form considering their hostile environment, but what else could he do?

"Cloud..." Sephiroth muttered, his tone obviously holding the concern he felt for his partner. He did what he could to keep himself calm, and instead he stretched out his mind and soul towards Cloud's in a hope that it would help ease whatever was bothering his partner.

[de_faulty_hero]

He could feel Sephiroth's concern for him mounting, and he was certain that if the ex-General was in human form, it would involve plenty of hovering. As it was, he was concentrating on fighting off the Kishin Eggs that were starting to press in on him in significant numbers. He slashed the Masamune, pushing his own soul wavelength to get passed this. Was he having a heart-attack?

He felt the bite of claws in a glancing blow that was deflected by his spaulder, but he shook it off as the pressure seemed to increase with their soul wavelengths, though he didn't assume it was the reason. Grunting, he was forced to give ground for the first time in the battle, keeping the Kishin Eggs at bay because of the long reach of his sword which seemed to sing on a different note.

What was wrong? Their resonance was better than ever, the madness not even coming close to touching them. Their confidence was unbeatable, and yet, why was it getting so hard to breathe? He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to draw in a breath even if it sent pain through his entire being before his eyes caught on a strange glow from his chest that was only getting brighter as the Kishin Eggs closed in again. He blinked when a ghostly black orb emerged, absorbing light around it yet still shifting. That looked like the Black Materia, but how...?!

Pardon my lack of icons T3T

[pure_lineage]

Sephiroth's concern for Cloud remained just as strong and as present as before when the blonde didn't seem to be getting any better. In fact, whatever was happening to his partner was getting worse with every second passing.

He was so fixated and distracted by the problem, that he failed to sense the threat taking a swipe at his Meister. It was only fortunate that it was a glancing blow with no injury. However, any thought of fixating on that problem disappeared the moment he saw something far too familiar emerging from Cloud's chest.

'...How...?' Sephiroth managed to mutter in stunned awe as he watched the Black Materia, as ghost-like as it was, beginning to hover and spin around as it absorbed the light around it.

It's okay. We get to look at Sephiroth's butt anyway

[de_faulty_hero]

Once the object had emerged, he found that he could breathe easier, yet his gaze remained fixed on it. When was the last time he had seen such an object, especially since materia didn't exist in this world. How had it even been in his chest when Sephiroth had been in possession of it last?

There wasn't much time to consider his shock as he felt pain light along his arm as claws sunk in. Instinctively, he reached to grasp the Black Materia, to take it into safe keeping. The moment his fingers brushed the orb, a shock way of power knocked back the Kishin Eggs before he became very aware that the materia had turned into a considerable sized Meteor and slammed down in front of him, deafening and blinding him as the ranks of Kishin Eggs were destroyed.

Oh geez, he hoped the emitter was alright.

You do make a good point xD

[pure_lineage]

The impossibility of what was occurring seemed improbable to him, given the fact that he had absorbed the Black Materia into his body over two years ago, and yet the imprint of it remained within Cloud. He couldn't even begin to figure out what the connection was, or what would happen here in this world because of it.

That was when the Kishin Eggs moved in to take them down, and the pain lacing through Cloud's arm broke him out of his thoughts. 'Cloud!' Sephiroth called out right as his partner reached out to take the Black Materia into his grasp for safe keeping. Everything around them seemed to go to hell in that moment, and he watched in wide-eyed surprise as the materia morphed into Meteor before it slammed down into the rows of enemies in front of them.

Meteor...? But... how...?

I knew you'd see it too

[de_faulty_hero]

Their shock seemed combined when the object of their previous contention drove into the ranks of the Kishin Eggs, though in a much more minor scale. The dust that was thrown up was probably a good reason why such things didn't happen underground anyway. He couldn't help but cough as he inhaled his share of the dust that blocked all view of anything and anyone in the area.

Cloud also felt a significant decrease to his strength, and his knees almost buckled beneath him. He wanted to breathe deeply, but he already knew the folly of that as he slowly forced himself to take a step, waving his free hand in front of his face in an lame attempt to clear the dust.

"That was... Meteor, wasn't it? And the Black Materia?"

Haha I cannot unsee it now ;)

[pure_lineage]

Curls of dust ripped through the area as Meteor came crashing down into their enemies. He was safe from the dust entering his lungs while in his Weapon form, unlike his unfortunate Meister who near-instantly began coughing as the dust swamped the entire area. Yet it wasn't that which caused the ex-General alarm.

He felt the shocking decrease in Cloud's energy levels after such a devastating attack. It was in that moment that Sephiroth transformed back, leaving his left arm partially-transformed, as he stood protectively in front of Cloud.

"It was something akin to Meteor, just far smaller," Sephiroth answered with as he remained defensively glancing around for any Kishin Eggs that might try to take advantage of their current state.

[de_faulty_hero]

He continued to cough and wave his hand in front of his face to dispel the dust, but it was useless. There was too much of it, and his eyes stung already. It would be best to backtrack out of the caves, but that was almost impossible as well given the lack of visibility.

Still, coughing, he was alarmed when his Weapon abandoned their resonance and returned to human form. He kept his grip tight on the hilt as if to encourage the silver-haired man to stop from doing such things. Yet, he couldn't deny the relief in sagging against the ex-General's larger frame as exhaustion set in more profoundly now that their resonance was gone.

"You should stay in Weapon form. I can protect you better, and there is all this dust," he murmured, coughing occasionally as he accidentally inhaled more. He didn't even know if any of the Kishin Eggs had survived.

[pure_lineage]

His actions had been proven right when he felt the blonde sagging against him in exhaustion. Regardless of his partner's stubborn nature, he wasn't about to let Cloud push himself when the younger male obviously needed the time to recover. While the energy drain had been significant on him, it hadn't been nearly as taxing as it had been on Cloud. Even if it had, he would stop at nothing to protect the man behind him.

"And who's going to protect you?" Sephiroth snapped in return while trying to avoid inhaling too much dust. Shifting his position, he fluidly moved to swipe his bladed-arm through the air in an attempt to create an air slice to cut through the dust, or at least find themselves a path out of the area. It worked... to a degree, but it wasn't anywhere near as effective as when Cloud wielded him.

"Keep close," he muttered as he moved to follow the direction he was cutting. With some luck, the momentary lack of dust in the air would help both he and Cloud breath a little better.

[de_faulty_hero]

Regardless of what Sephiroth wasn't saying, he knew that whatever had happened to create this mess had taken plenty of energy from his partner as well. He continued to lean for a few more seconds, gathering himself before smirking at the snapped words. "Is that concern for my well-being I hear?" He couldn't help but tease even in such a situation.

He looked up when Sephiroth's shoulders bunched, chuckling softly at the sight of air blades trying to move the dust away from them. No one could see them, and it didn't seem to help all that much. "Apparently your air slices just move the dust around," he remarked dryly even as he followed after Sephiroth.

He knew that they couldn't well be separated given their link, but he wasn't about to risk it. Besides, there were benefits. Regardless of his exhaustion, he moved up and slipped his arms around Sephiroth's waist, giving an squeeze. "Apparently I now have a strong enough will to activate Meteor," he murmured affectionately.

[pure_lineage]

Sephiroth glanced back at the smirk and the words that Cloud spoke. While he'd never admit to it, they both knew that was the truth, and he wouldn't deny it even if he wouldn't admit to it. That was why he gave a half-glare, half-pout in response to Cloud's words before turning his attention back towards their surroundings.

"Perhaps, but it will tell us if there's anything in our path as well," Sephiroth muttered in a hope to save some dignity while Cloud followed behind him. The hold around his waist had him momentarily flashing his gaze down before it returned to their path. It was... nice... Sephiroth thought while the hold around him tightened.

"I didn't think such things would be possible in this world," he thoughtfully murmured. He would have touched Cloud in return, but he didn't want to lower his guard. "Are you... okay with that?"

[de_faulty_hero]

The half-hearted glare was amusing, and he knew that Sephiroth was concerned for him and his well-being. He wouldn't deny the ex-General that either, aware that it was a good outlet for Sephiroth to expose his care with. So, he made no complaint about being protected in the dust area that they were in and he kept in close for safety and comfort.

"I think everything will be dead," he replied dryly. He hadn't seen how much damage Meteor could do, but judging by the silence and the amount of dust, he doubted much survived. "We should get extra souls for this epic success," he added as his hands slipped down to slide over Sephiroth's hips before he playfully groped his partner.

"It wasn't the real Black Materia... it felt different," he murmured even if he was practically walking on Sephiroth in his attempt to keep close. "I'm fine as long as I learn to control it."

I can't believe that I never replied to this. I'm so sorry that I missed it :(

[pure_lineage]

It certainly did feel that way as he tried to stretch out his senses. Sephiroth continued to move forward regardless, even if his movements were slow and cautious. With his eyes remaining sharp to the dusty world around them, he murmured, "Have you heard of pairs making such an attack?"

His question, though, became far more strained when there were suddenly hands touching him in places that only got them in trouble. Inhaling a sharp breath, his own hand snapped down to grab at Cloud's to regretfully pull them away.

"How so?" Sephiroth couldn't help but ask, even if there was a touch of huskiness to his tone. Despite everything, he found himself hanging for the answer his partner would give.

You're a bad person D:

[de_faulty_hero]

He forced himself to listen and feel out for any danger that might be in the area, but aside from coughing and questioning voices, he heard nothing of the Kishin Eggs in the area. Perhaps they really were vanquished, but his attentions strayed to his partner. "No... but I've never asked either." They kept to themselves when it came to the system they lived in.

He found himself amused by Sephiroth's vocal change, enjoying it as he stepped up to the silver-haired man. He would have carried on a little more, but he felt a hand grasping his wrist and forcing it away. He made a soft noise of disappointment but relented to the refusal.

"It wasn't as... heavy to me. It felt like it was connected through the both of us, but united and not... opposing," he murmured softly. "It felt like it was there to help us both."

I really am :(

[pure_lineage]

The fact that Cloud had never asked didn't come as a surprise. Sephiroth was a far cry from discovering further information about how their partnership works here within this world. To him, it was something that was private, and while those of the city knew that they were partnered, he was more than happy to keep it at that little amount of knowledge.

He could feel Cloud's amusement though at his actions. While he wouldn't have hesitated in taking things further, he would never do so with the possibility of harm coming to his partner. That was the only reason why he forced that hand away, even if he would have preferred Cloud's attention on him.

Sephiroth did pause, however, at Cloud's softly murmured words. While he'd never admit to it, the moment that he had caught sight of the Black Materia, he had felt a fear shoot through him of the possibilities that could arise because of that symbolization. Yet Cloud's words moved to comfort him greatly from his concerns as he subtly inclined his head and murmured, "As if our united desire was there to manifest and protect us?"

Out of the sandbox :|

[de_faulty_hero]

He had normally just found things out in this partnership through trial and error. It hadn't led them astray just yet, but he might have to inquire about that attack. It had been some kind of resonance attack he suspected given that he and Sephiroth were so tired. It was also obvious in the way that his partner was being protective of him.

He was walking so close to the ex-General that the pause caused him to bump into his partner. His arms found their way around Sephiroth's waist again, more to steady himself but didn't deny that he held on longer than was really necessary. "That's what it seems like. Perhaps we're now powerful enough to create such attacks when we want to."

How the hell do I keep missing the notifs? 8|

[pure_lineage]

Things always seemed to be rapidly changing between them, something that Sephiroth usually just blindly followed along with, but this was one aspect that hit far too closely to their past. It left him somewhat unsettled to know what his partner truly thought in regards to the appearance of something similar to the Black Materia, given the symbolism that it caused between them.

Yet there were still arms wrapping around his body, and he couldn't help but glance down at where they joined together. His hand slowly came to rest on top of both of Cloud's, as if taking comfort from the gesture, while the words slid over him. Momentarily closing his eyes, he couldn't sense any level of negativity within his partner - something that left him subtly murmuring, "Mmm perhaps we are."

Because Sephiroth doesn't actually like Cloud :|

[de_faulty_hero]

Cloud remembered well the power struggle that had once existed between them involving the Black Materia. It's appearance back then had signified his complete and lack of control of himself and slowly revealed his broken psyche and flaws. Sephiroth had found ways to build him up and then destroy him, and he remembered well what it had felt like to press his hand into the mako crystal where the ex-General's forming body had been contained. How he had wanted to just die then... yet, Sephiroth's presence had still remained, holding what little remained, refusing to allow him into the Lifestream. Even then, no matter how twisted, Sephiroth had kept him from death, regardless of him remaining a shadow of himself.

He paused from withdrawing his arm when Sephiroth's hand came to rest on his own, and he remained there for longer. He rested his cheek on the ex-General's shoulder. "I'm glad we've come so far against all odds. Never forget the past, but never let it hold you back either. We're more now than what we ever were before this place."