luministi | ❧ Time is Running Out

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❧ Time is Running Out

[while the music still plays, the two voices beyond the door finally stop arguing for a moment. if anyone is listening, they can hear this:]

[the first voice is obviously Resarci's--accented as always. his tone is firm] I think I've said all that I can.

[the other person sighs wearily. as he begins to speak, it becomes obvious that this is Mayor Caligin, though there is no trace of his usually-cheerful tone] I know, Ernesto, but I still cannot believe they... [he trails off] I never thought it would come to this.

[there is sympathy in Resarci's tone, but that firmness doesn't fade] Neither did I, but it doesn't change what's most important here. The project must be successful. As it is now, the subjects are too unwilling for our testing to proceed as planned.

[he pauses] Yes. Yes...you're right. [sighs again, and there is a beeping sound, followed by humming]

What is it you have done?

Only put up a barrier. They cannot reach you this way.

Ohhh! Brilliant, Constantine--as always. [his tone picks up with excitement] Now, shall we initiate the protocol? It will bring the project back on track. I guarantee!

[Caligin's tone, however, is subdued] Not quite yet.

[confused] But...why wait?

I want to speak to them first. After...everything, I owe them that much.

If you insist, Constantine, but remember--it is for the good of the project.

[a brief pause before Caligin says] Of course.

Then we shall talk again when it is done. I must prepare! [footsteps are heard against the floor, fading into the distance]

[suddenly, the doors fly open and happy, bright music practically bursts out, along with puffs of white confetti from two confetti guns. inside is a grand ballroom with expensive, vast crystal chandeliers hanging along the ceiling and around each one are swathes of white cloth tied off to give the whole room the feel of being in a giant tent. white and yellow rose bouquets in grand vases in the shape of lions bookend rows of chairs facing a flowered trellis, and beneath it is--Mayor Caligin himself.]

[only...while color floods the entire ballroom, Caligin is physically in grayscale, just like every broadcast of his has been. he extends his arms, grinning at the people in the room beyond and starts to speak.]

Welcome and hello to my most illustrious citizens! I hope you have enjoyed your stay in my humble abode. The joyous occasion you have been waiting for has finally arrived--!

--Is what I would love to say. [his smile fades as he steps down away from the trellis] However, there won't be any such ceremony today. What a shame, too. [he clicks a button on a small remote in his hand, and everything but the chairs shimmers and dissolves, the music stopping, revealing thousands of security screens set all around the room, each one watching a spot in town or inside the mayoral house itself. just in front of Caligin, however, a sheen like an oily spot can be seen stretching from wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling.]

I am--[he pauses for a moment]--disappointed it has come to this. We could have done so much good for so many people together... [he glances down at the remote in his hand] But I'm afraid it is time to say good-bye.

[ooc: You heard the Mayor--this is your one chance to speak to him. He is about to initiate a protocol recommended by Resarci. What he actually does comes down to all of you and your actions right now. This plot will run for one week real-time, during which characters can speak to the Mayor on this post. This is it, citizens! Can you convince the Mayor not to do what Resarci is planning? And as for what that is...well, hopefully, you won't have to see.]

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It doesn't matter. About me, or about them.

The world goes on. You keep up with it, get ahead of it. Lookin' over your shoulder at the bodies just holds you back.

Not even when one of those bodies belongs to someone you cared for?

[cared for?

cared for.

not a chance. those cowards weren't worth shit. they dropped out, gave up. he couldn't look back at them - wouldn't. they made their choice]

Not even. They're a part of me, so what the fuck do I need them back for?

Where I go, they'll go.

He's... He's right.

I lost -- I lost a very precious friend, not long before I came to this town. It was... my fault. [Xion exhales.] If I could do anything to bring him back... If I could somehow go back and change things, make it so that it was me instead of him... [She lifts her head.] I'd do it in an instant. I love him. He's my best friend -- My first friend. I miss him so much... [Her eyes drop for a moment before raising.]

But, like I said, he's -- He's not gone. Not really. Because he's still with me, even now. Even though he's gone. He's a part of me, and not just because... not just because I have all of his power now. [Xion presses her hand to her chest, over her heart.] He's a part of me because I love him, and I always will. And that means he's with me wherever I go.

Your father... He's the same, too, isn't he? You finished out his work -- You kept going, for his sake. You're carrying him with you. You still have memories of him. And... And memories never go away, even when it feels like it. They're always there, deep within your heart. You'll never forget him, and he'll always be with you. Even if he's not standing next to you.

Edited 2010-10-01 03:14 (UTC)

[he doesn't reply immediately, and when he does, his voice is quiet] I miss him terribly. His memory is a heavy weight in my heart. He would have enjoyed this town. I filled it with things he would have liked.

Did...any of you like the town? The different shops and restaurants? Was it a comfortable place to live?

I... [Xion stops to think about it for a moment, gazing around at the others in the room. Her eyes linger on Fuu, Braxiatel, Verita... and then stop at the Doctor for a moment before she looks back at the Mayor with a small, soft smile.]

Yes. If I'm completely honest... I did. I had... I had a chance to live -- really live, even if it's just been for a few months. To me, a few months is... It's a lifetime. But, because I've been here, I... I've made friends. I've found someone who understands me, someone who... who I'm going to miss. A lot. [Xion closes her eyes for a long moment before taking a deep breath and opening them again.]

So, even though... Even though I should be back home, doing something important I have to do... There are really important people waiting for me, people who are sad because I... [Her voice falters for a moment.] There's something really important that I need to do. Because in order for someone else, someone who can stop all of the bad things in my world, to wake up... I... [She exhales.] I have to go away. I have to... to give my life, the one that I have because my best friend died. And it's -- It isn't going to be easy. I know that. But I have to do it, and even though I can't do it because I'm here instead of home... I'm...

I'm grateful. I'm grateful for this opportunity. And I almost wish I... had more time. Because... I wish I could get to know all these people better. I wish I could spend more time with my new friends. But I can't keep putting it off for myself -- That's just selfish. There are people who need me.

And -- And even though I'm going to... Even though I'm going to die? [She falters again; it's the first time... she's been able to say that.]

If someone could bring me back, but it would undo everything I worked for, if it would make other people suffer -- I wouldn't want to be brought back. Because it isn't right. It isn't right to make other people suffer just because I want more time with my friends, just because I want to see Roxas again. And it isn't right... that you did this to us.

Hell no.

[flat, harsh - but honest.

Grimmjow is a lot of things, most of them awful and cruel, but he's nothing if not honest] You made it for people, humans. So of course not.

[damn, just look at that brat go. talking and talking, acting like he knows, acting like he's anything but weak.

Grimmjow ends up sighing and stuffs his hand in his pocket]

I don't plan on dyin' again, not like the brat. And I don't give a flying fuck about what's right or wrong. But I'm sick of wasting time here, jumping through hoops because you're running after something you're never gonna catch.

[lifts his chin and gives the mayor a long, hard look] Kill me, if you think you can. But I'll be laughing my ass off in hell when you try it again and get the same shit result.

It was never my intent to cause any of you harm. And in truth, I still haven't, even if evidence tries to say otherwise.

But you misunderstand what this protocol means. It isn't death. As I just said, I don't mean you any harm. Should I go through with the protocol...[and by this point, is he having doubts? one has to wonder] If I go through with it, you will not remember a thing. That is all. The project will start from the beginning once more with all your memories wiped clean. That is...memories of your time here. I cannot completely erase the ones made before you arrived.

[his eyes glance over at the monitor fixed on his father's portrait] Like our loved ones, they are always with us no matter what.

...

[a brief tremor goes through him - not out of fear, no.

it's barely restrained violence, which he brings under iron control as soon as it starts] It won't make a difference.

It'll all end up the same.

[quietly, his eyes still on his father's portrait] Then I've heard everything I can from you--unless you have some final thing you would like to tell or ask me?

[says nothing at first, just shrugging his shoulder harshly and turning his head away.

after a second:] Just let it go already. You'll be better off.

[Cissie's remained quiet this whole time, though her hands - bow still held within them - have been shaking too. Finally, she steps up... and her bow breaks completely in half.]

... You haven't heard me yet. Sir, about this whole "bringing people back to life?" I've seen it happen.

[bites her lip] But I've never seen people brought back with their sanity intact. Every time someone's tried, something goes wrong. Everyone knows of "the bad Robin." He killed scores of people upon digging himself out of his own grave. The girl before that... instantaneously leveled a whole city upon her resurrection. Something within those people was triggered. Something violent that didn't exist before.

If you bring your father back using this technology, I... I fear how he might react. I don't know him - nor can I pretend to - but I suspect that if he wanted to be brought back, this wouldn't be the path he would choose. I certainly wouldn't.

[moves towards the others from where he held back near the door]

I agree. Although I am beginning to believe death works differently amongst our different worlds, [he glances at Grimmjow, as well as being aware of how strange this is coming from him], the dead should remain dead. We honor them with our memories and our deeds, and they in turn watch over us until we join them.

You brought us here against our will, with nothing to show for it but confusion and pain, all so you can resurrect someone who has long since gone. Perhaps you should focus more on those who are here now, those who need you, and not ones who you can no longer help.

[And that's his two cents, as I won't be around for the conclusion. Sorries to everyone.]

[he nods, considering the young man's words] Death...is indeed treated differently in other places, even different worlds.

[turns away, hands held behind his back] When had I lost that focus...? But you must understand that I did what I did to protect us all from even more sadness.

[steps up next to Oswald, her expression grim] Everything has its time--people, towns. Even entire worlds.

It's human nature to want to fight that. No one would deny you that. But can you see it now? You're trying to get things you shouldn't have. I've lived a very long time, and I learned long ago that trying that only creates sadness. You aren't preventing it at all.

[ooc: Just some two cents from Sara as well!]

I heard similar things from the Doctor. Perhaps... [trails off]

Do you have any final words for me?

Only that I've seen--I've lived through--terrible things. Things that happened because of people with the very best of intentions. You're a man of science. You of all people should know that good intentions alone do nothing to avert tragedy. I think... [her voice catches] I think my brother would have wanted me to tell you that. He would have said it himself, were he still alive today.

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❧ Time is Running Out

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The Doctor is so proud of her ;_;

lkdshglkhg<33

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