exsiliumlogs | open log » ❝ mission oo1 debriefing ❞

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#plot post

open log » ❝ mission oo1 debriefing ❞

Date & Time: 04.17.3312
Location: The Initiative Hold training gymnasium.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: Taking place during the aftermath and after; Major-General Silas Sterngate gives a debriefing of the success of the mission and the changes that have taken place.
Warnings: None.

[ Taking place during and after this Aftermath post right here. Feel free to tag in there as well as tag in here! As always, mission tags are still up for tagging until the end o' time! ]

Once everyone is gathered into the Initiative gymnasium, it takes only a few minutes before Major-General Silas Sterngate is ascending the stairs to the small stage. He strides up to the microphone and taps it only once before he begins to speak. "I see that everyone has made it back alive. Safe. I am glad for that," he begins. The Major-General takes a moment to scan the large room, overwhelmed with bodies -- ragged, worn, exhausted. He smiles then, and shares a curt nod. "It goes without saying that our mission was a great success. A great one. The Masked have become noticeably weaker. Some of their technology -- it's missing, as though it were never there before. The value of the United Earth's dollar has shifted, dropped. It is likely that they will not notice these changes. No, but we will."

Raising his arms up with great pleasure, the Major-General is grinning. He's scanning the room and he's meeting the eyes of everyone willing to meet his own. "It is all thanks to you. To your efforts. We have dealt a blow to the United Earth, and we can see it. Not only that, but we've brought life back into this world where there once was none. There are vines -- there are flowers, foliage that blooms within the Cities of Exsilium that was not there before. This mission was truly one of great promise, and with it came great reward.

Thank you. Thank you for your involvement, for your work on this mission. There are many more ahead of us. They will become both easier, and more difficult. Your continued cooperation will be... well-rewarded. Both with information and with gain."

There's a loud sound as the doors hoist open to the training gymnasium. The Initiative attendants are available at each of them, though only for the willing; the wounded. Major-General Silas Sterngate's voice lifts above the room one final time: "You are free to return to your homes. Be safe, and may the fruits of your labour be truly evident and in your favour. Thank you."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Do you think it's safe?

[ his question is asked a little more haltingly than the others-- and quietly, with a light tilt of Riku's head as he examines Fayt's reaction. ]

Your universe...

[ A soft hum as he considers the question. It is something he's thought about, wondered since being in this place. But he also remembers what he said to the others before being engulfed in that light. ]

There's never a guarantee that something will be absolutely safe, no matter what you do to protect it. [ pause, knowing that wars will always happen, no matter the peace treaties that could be signed. ]

But I know it's safe from the fate that was going to happen to it.

[ Glancing at Riku, Fayt smiles a little. ] Because I believe it is. That it continues to exist.

[ Riku looks away from Fayt then, and chuckles quietly. ]

Why did that sound like someone I know...

Sounds like the universe is in good hands once this war's finished.

[ Admittedly, Fayt wouldn't want to join the Federation if they asked him to, even if just as a diplomatic adviser. It's just not something he would want to do when knowing that so many worlds are probably suffering from the attack that the Creators have done. Plus, there's still some things he wants to figure out for himself and if it just so happens that the universe would need saving again during his travels, then he won't hesitate.

But just chuckles softly at Riku's words. ]

I think your universe will be in good hands, too. Once everything here is finished.

[ Riku straightens and shrugs. ]

It's already in good hands. I'm not the one that saves them.

[ what's a good name for what he does? a slight smirk comes to his face. ]

I guess you could call me the schedule-keeper. I don't really do anything, but the person that does is really bad at being on time...

[ And Fayt can't help but laugh at that. ]

Is that right. Then the universe is definitely in good hands.

[ How many times did he need a talking to, about how he shouldn't be so quick to do the most irrational decisions, thus putting himself into danger. Too many times, probably, but he'd like to think he got better.

He smiles at Riku. ]

It's thanks to you that things are good and going, isn't it? Otherwise, where would it be if not for you.

[ I think you're giving me too much credit.

He almost speaks with those words, but he stops himself, rubbing the back of his neck. Sora would probably nudge him to just say thanks. so he nods slightly. ]

Yeah... sure.

Hey, give yourself more credit.

[ Fayt should take his own advice some times, since he doesn't take any credit for all the accomplishments that have been done to help with the war efforts back home. He still faults himself for all the losses, for all the people who gave their lives, for those he couldn't save. As much as anyone would say it's not his fault, he still believes it is. ]

Everyone plays a part in their world. What you did might not have been known or seen, but it's still part of the bigger picture.

[ He thinks of all those unknown faces who worked so hard to make sure things were ready, who wanted to end the war and did all they could for the country they fought for. ]

Those unmentioned actions are the ones that should be praised. Because of all the hard work and effort put into them.

Fayt--

[ You don't understand what I've done. I shouldn't be praised.

he doesn't stay anything, just straightens and gives the other a guilty look. after a moment, he sighs, and looks back away. ]

Thanks.

Maybe I deserve some credit, but some of it should get taken away for other things I've done.

[ He almost wants to ask just what happened with Riku and the world he came from for that look to appear on his face, for the words that came from him. And a part of him just can't help but compare it to another's face that held the same look, had the same air around him but covers it up with arrogance and mockery. Fayt's seen it before and he can see it here as clear as day.

Another soft hum before he speaks. ]

I know someone who was like that, but he's a lot more.. vocal when he tries to hide his faults. [ a soft chuckle ] Despite the bad things he did, he continued to travel with me and helped where he thought it was due. You know why?

[ Fayt looks back at Riku, his face soft with understanding. ]

It's because I forgave him for all the things he did. And in the end, I consider him a friend, albeit an odd one.

[ another smile ] I'm sure your friends will be the same, Riku.

Stop being so nice.

[ Riku's voice carries some exasperation when he says it, far too unnerved to see someone like Sora right beside him, older. protectiveness flares up in his chest, and he knows he shouldn't be protective of someone who seems to be far more capable than he is, not just in age but technique. if he could save his universe, if he shows a magnitude of power...

he doesn't know... this seems so dangerous.

but, maybe he isn't telling Fayt to 'stop being so nice' at all. maybe this is half for Sora and Kairi, too. ]

My friends ... did forgive me. You're just like my best friend.

He used to tell me that too, in not so nice terms.

[ Hearing an echo of Albel's words just makes him smile a little fondly. Despite all the insults and mocking tone, he knows that it's just the way that Albel talks to him, to everyone really. However, he's aware that he's too nice some times, too giving when not wanting to receive anything in return. Because if he were honest, he doesn't think he deserves it. Being the root of all the attacks from the Vendeeni, there's no way he could accept anything when helping others out.

Giving what he can, it's all he can do. There isn't much more to him than that. ]

I guess we have more in common than just being able to go to different worlds.

Yeah.

[ ... though he wishes he didn't, because he feels like nothing more than a teenager now, next to Fayt.

he takes a good look at him and then places a hand over the bandage he has over his arm, protectively. ]

I guess we do.

[ It's true that Fayt does speak from experience, from seeing things too quickly and suddenly and just learning about how the universe really works- he's definitely not the same college kid that'd been going to school and majoring in symbological genetics so that he could do what his parents did as well. There's a hidden weariness to him, one that could only be identified by another veteran of wars and constant fighting. Despite the short time he had to adjust to the path he'd been thrown on, it does feel like he's been walking this path for much longer.

Even with tiredness, he still has the will to continue on, to keep fighting where it needs to be done.

Glancing over to Riku and noticing the way the other is holding his bandaged arm, he wonders if the medical staff here isn't capable of healing everyone completely. Then again, it's not like the Diplo or any of the other advanced planets where it would take a simple scan through to heal all injuries. As advanced as this place seems, it's not all that advanced compared to other worlds. ]

Hey, is your arm still bothering you?

[ There's a note of concern in his voice. ]

[ his eyes go back up to Fayt, and then down at his arm. Riku's face slips into something that could be seen as troubled and concerned and confused... unsure of how to say something that's on the tip of his tongue, and unsure if he should say it, as well. after a minute, he just exhales. ]

I can't feel it.

What?

[ Shock is evident on Fayt's face when he hears that before his eyes dart to the arm that Riku had been favoring. It melts away to the concern as he thinks of all the possibilities as to why the other can't feel it. And before he realizes it, he's rambling. ]

Did you sustain nerve damage during the battle? Or is it just dislocated? Can you move your fingers at all?

[ It's one of those moments where he sorely wishes they were on the technological advanced Diplo instead of here, where healing would be much easier, much more efficient than the medical care they're getting right now.

However, he does know that his symbology works here, albeit making him more tired than it usually does. But would it even work on this kind of injury? He could always try, granted if the other would allow him, but would Riku even do that considering they'd only just met each other despite fighting on the same battlefield just hours ago? And there's a small chance that if it isn't treated now, then the other wouldn't be able to feel it at all, permanently. ]

I could try healing it, if you want.

[ ... wait--

what? oh, wait, did he think-- ]

No!

Stop. [ he hisses softly, putting a hand up to Fayt's face. ]

I couldn't feel it before. I haven't been able to feel it for a few months. I meant that I can't really feel it, so I can't tell if it's really bothering me.

It sounds like serious nerve damage then.

[ And that makes him even more concerned than before since he knows that it isn't easy healing nerve damage the correct way. One wrong move and the ends could become inflamed for the rest of his life, resulting in more pain than feeling nothing at all. He's no medical expert in this field but he did have to learn a thing or two considering his major at the university.

Still, it must be disconcerting in not being able to feel anything from that hand. To lose a sense, especially if one had it before, it can only imagine how it is.

Fayt holds out his own hand. ]

Would you mind if I take a look though? I could still try..

[ Riku looks from Fayt's hand to his face, turning his body away a little, protectively. ]

There's no point. It's dead. You can't heal something that's dead.

[ ... his stomach churns at the thought of his arm actually being able to move for once. if only.

maybe part of him doesn't even want it healed. after all, maybe he deserves not being able to use this hand properly for what he did. ]

Edited 2012-05-10 06:45 (UTC)

[ His hand drops a little at those words, hearing that defensive tone in his voice, or maybe it's more like defeat. And a part of him can't help but wonder what it is that has happened to Riku for him to have that kind of tone, especially when he seems so young to have it. There are always a whole bunch of possibilities, but in the end, Fayt can't determine anything. Not when there isn't much he knows about the other, considering this is the first time they've spoken to each other. ]

Do you really believe that?

[ Voice on the softer side, he wants to know, to understand just what it is that keeps the other on this thought process.

Riku faintly reminds him of Albel, though not to the exact degree of the swordsman as the other is much more polite than his traveling companion and friend. And if that's really the case, then Riku's holding on to demons that he doesn't want anyone else to know about, that he doesn't really want anyone to help him with. Because it's something he has to atone for himself, by himself, if at all. If that's really the case, then there's no way Fayt can let him continue on thinking that he has to be alone for whatever it is that's haunting him. ]

Or maybe it's something else that you believe and leaving your hand like that is a reminder for you.

[ his eyes narrow when Fayt says that, his lips thinning.

how is he seeing straight through him? this is unnatural. he's not used to being known so easily by a stranger and this is just unnerving him, his shoulders shifting up. his shirt moves along with him, the collar hiding some of his face as he does so. ]

I really believe that.

[ he looks away sharply, but shifts his arm. ]

Try to heal it if you want. It won't work.

[ he holds out his arm for Fayt to take, eyes reflecting... some semblance of fear and also--

hope.

what if Fayt could heal him? was that a sign that he should start moving forward? ]

[ There's a certain amount of conviction in those words, a sort of resolve that says nothing can be done about it and any attempts are pointless. A belief in that any effort is a wasted effort. And there's something else as well, something he's recognized before.

But Fayt has his own conviction as well in that anything can be changed, as long as you believe it can. He's learned that not everything has to be logical, that there's a certain way of doing things, that the book is always right. Believing has it's own kind of strength and with belief there's resolution that something will get done or will happen the way you want it to, not according to something.

So it's with determined eyes that he takes hold of the other's hand with both of his, left underneath and right resting on top. ]

Alright then.

[ Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he focuses on the symbological powers he hasn't really used up until this moment. Reasons for that are his own but at least he knows that they work in this world, none of it being siphoned of. His very genes hums at the usage of it, making runes glow across the skin on his arms and a faint circle on his forehead. If his eyes had been opened, they would be giving off a certain glow as well- all of this a signifier of him using his abilities.

True manifestation of his powers would more destroy than heal, but this time he has to make a concentrated effort to focus on renewing rather than obliterating. The light surrounding his hands intensifies, a warmth coming from them and transferring over to the one in between. There should be a tingle, a foreign feeling at the use of a different kind of magic that Riku isn't very familiar with, but not unpleasant. This continues on for what seems like hours when really it's only a couple of minutes and it isn't long after that the light begins to fade and the runes start disappearing.

Fayt takes another deep breath before slowly opening his eyes, the slight glow still present there before flickering out, leaving their natural green.

It takes him a few seconds to orient himself again, blinking a few times before his mind comes back into focus. Slowly letting go of Riku's hand, he looks to the other while gesturing to it. ]

So? How does it feel?

[ there's a quiet noise from the depth of his throat; surprise.

he's never seen this kind of magic before. it's like... light, and healing--it's intense and he shudders quietly at how it just seems to consume every nerve in his arm. his eyes shut tight and all his body tenses as the magic works, intensive and concentrated. there are things changing.

he knows this much.

a short gasp echoes from his lips as the light dies down. he looks to Fayt first, watching his face.

then he looks to his hand. and he breathes in slowly before he flexes it--while he he'd only been able to move two fingers of his hands, all four except his thumb move, and his eyebrows arch in surprise, though his mouth stays in one firm line.

...

he... could move some of it at least... ]

[ Watching Riku move his fingers, he can tell a little that there's some improvement but not as much as he would have initially liked to see. Although, it's better than there being no improvement at all and considering symbology itself isn't his strongest suit, he can be a little happy about this. If he were like Sophia or Nel, who could use symbology a lot better than he could, the other's hand would have been healed all the way. And the thought that if he could improve his own abilities in order to help in this way, or any way really, makes him determined to better himself. He'd have to find a way somehow, but he would.

Fayt offers a small smile, a hint of tiredness there after using the spell along with the general exhaustion from the mission itself sinking in. ]

Looks like there's some improvement there. Not as much as I'd hoped for though.

[ A part of him waits for the inevitable questions that are bound to come up, as he knows that the runes had appeared on his person while trying to heal Riku's hand. Ever since that attack on Elicoor II with the Vendeeni and his destroying their spaceship, ever since the manifestation of his powers, it's been like that and he hadn't realized until someone else mentioned it to him. It'd been easy to figure out why after learning the truth about himself, which is why he tries not to use symbology as much.

At least it'd been like that at first. Now he can't have those sorts of reservations, despite the initial instinct is to not use it. He's willing to do smaller spells now but using the very core of Destruction is something he won't do unless he really has to. ]

But. Do you still believe that you can't be healed, Riku?

[ That question seems to hold more than one question and honestly, Fayt intended it to be that way. ]

open log » ❝ mission oo1 debriefing ❞

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