The Garden

[poisontippedcure]

WHO: Everyone going after Rose
WHERE: A Spirit Gate within the Vogue
WHEN: May 6th onwards
WHAT: Rose's Labyrinth!
WARNINGS: Plants. There are so many plants. Also, descriptions of self-loathing and canon-typical violence.

The Garden

※

Your search for Rose eventually leads you to her home away from home, the Vogue. When you enter the club, something immediately feels different. Upon opening the door, you're immediately hit with the scent of fresh flowers.

Naturally, you head to the costuming area she usually works in. In the verdant hues of the Dark Hour, something else seems amiss. At first you wonder if it's your eyes adjusting, or if it's a trick of the light. Closer inspection reveals that it's neither. There's a rack of clothes off to the right that has vines growing out of it. The plants themselves appear to be innocuous, weaving in and out of the clothes and wrapping around the wire rack.

Pushing the clothes to the side will reveal a portal behind the rack. Welcome to THE GARDEN.

Entrance

♪- Forest of No Return

Under a beautiful blue sky is a flower garden, with roses as far as the eye can see. There's a gentle breeze blowing, and a slight buzzing can be heard as you wander in. The path itself isn't hard to find--vines wrap around archways and serve as an entryway, beckoning you further in.

Sans those you came in with, there are no people in the garden. However, that doesn't mean there aren't voices. Near the beginning of the path, the voices are quiet, but if you strain close, you can hear them. They seem to be gossiping--indifferent to what they're saying.

"Did you hear about the Warrior of Light?"

"Aye, I heard that she slew Ifrit herself."

"Really, I heard that she single-handedly ended the Dragonsong War after slaying Nidhogg in the Aery."

"That's nothing, you should have seen the part she played in Doma's revolution."

As you walk deeper, however, the voices begin to lose whatever jovial quality they once had. The noises of insects fade away, and the voices grow louder. Near the middle of the path, it's impossible not to hear them. It feels they're having a conversation in the same room as you.

"If it's not one thing, it's another. If you ask me, the Scions need to mind their own damned business."

"It's such a shame, so many lives were lost. If you ask me, they never should have gone to parlay in the first place."

"For the last time, Ahna, the answer is no. All that you'll accomplish is getting yourself tempered by a primal."

"If this is a regular occurrence to you, then you should know. You have a strength that could aid the worlds you land in. And yet, you are... so terribly selfish.

The path continues. The further you go, the closer the vines grow together. Near the end, they've all but blotted out the sunlight, with only an occasional glimpse of the sky shining through. In the dark, you can't miss the voices. They're all but shouting.

"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into. The only thing you'll accomplish is getting someone else killed saving you."

"You of all people must understand! We cannot, we will not falter. We brought our world to the brink of destruction, and now we must save it."

"Fool! Do you want to die here?! GO!"

"Perhaps you brought Kaisou back from the brink and bought them more time, but it never would have fallen in the first place if not for your presence."

"Selfish outworlders who do not belong--rotten deserters who do not understand their purpose in this world--and aimless children selfishly hoarding their power from a world that needs their help?"

At the end of the pathway is a sign. Made of wood, vines have long since reclaimed it. Chains reach from each side of the sign to the last arch. If you choose to brush the vines off, there's a warning written in plain text:

CLOSED

Due to the abundance of harmful plants, the garden is closed indefinitely.

Enter at your own risk.

If you linger long enough, you might catch Rose's voice too. It's faint, a contrast to the louder shouting voices.

"Do you ever think, we've hurt more than we've helped?"

Comments

ONWARDS

[poisontippedcure]

You brush aside the vines and enter the garden. Everything seems tranquil and serene, except you notice that there are a few plants that seem different from those you might originally find.

Eventually, you come to a crossroads. There are three roads leading forward: The one on the left will lead to the Atrium, the one in the middle will lead to the Maze, and the one on the right will lead to the Arena.. Although you don't need to go down each road yourself, someone will have to in order to gain access to the area at the back of the Garden: the Gazebo.

Which way first?

[OOC Section Info]

This is the general intro/mingle section! Use it to your heart’s content.

[sunforging]

...

[Scintilla was oddly quiet as they entered, ears pinned back in discomfort at the surrounding sound of voices. Her hand rested on the hilt of her rapier, claws tapping almost nervously as they approached the crossroads.]

Think we...ought split off into groups, or take it all one after th' other?

[For some reason, her heart really wasn't in it right now.]

[hoshikiri]

["Do you ever think, we've hurt more than we've helped?"

Yes. Daily. And nothing can be done to atone for that. Nothing save live.

As much as Takame wanted nothing more than to turn off his emotions and proceed through, that was much more difficult these days than it once was. He's grown soft. Soft from the affection his family here and friends have given him.

He could not hesitate, though. He only succeeded in shutting off his heart halfway. Because if he came to Rose's rescue... appearing as a monster, a weapon like his own Shadow was... she would be angry with him. He was at an emotional crossroads. But so help him gods, may that empower his blade.]

If this place is similar to last year, she is at the furthest edge of this place.

[He tried to sound stoic as ever, but the grit in his tone betrayed that intent.]

[jackdawvision]

[It’s that final faint voice that shakes Edward, more than anything else. Most of what’s been said he can brush off easily enough, but—this is something he’s found himself dwelling on, in recent days, what with the persistent inability to get drunk and the creeping certainty that all this is because he hadn’t done the clean-up right. And now Fugo and Rose and god only knows who else are paying the price for his mistake.

But that he doesn’t say out loud, and even the briefest stumble in his usually-sure pace can be shaken off. They’re here to put things right and to get her back—they won’t leave until they find her. Edward won’t leave until she’s safe.

And then he’ll find the bastard who did this and shove his hidden blades into their throat. Call it fair payment, for what they’ve done on the Vogue’s grounds.]

Should we put it to a vote? Mine’s for the Arena, personally, it’s been too long since I got into a good brawl.

[soulreleaser]

None of that matters.

[ he might be speaking to someone near him. he might be speaking to himself. he might even be speaking to the voices that echo around them, only pausing when the reflection of Rose herself colors the air. he tips his head, seeming to consider, and then lets it go with a shrug. ]

All you can do is live today and try anew on the morrow. Regret and doubt are weeds, and my only aptitude in life has ever been destruction.

[ at this point he'll actually look to the others gathered here, hand on his hip for a moment--and where his speech would usually be colored with the bright boisterousness of a man who's rarely known fear and challenge, there's instead a low, sharp quality to him, clipped and decided. ]

I intend to destroy at least part of this farce, as that is what my powers are best suited for. We should stay together in pairs at the very least. [ a memory comes to him, and his gaze flickers between the three options. ] Keep the strike forces small so that we can cover a maximum of ground quickly. It gives 'this' world less time to reinforce and fester.

THE ATRIUM

[poisontippedcure]

♪- Sunlight Filtering Through the Trees

After walking, you come to a building. A large, glass atrium towers before you. After you enter, the doors slam shut and lock behind you. Before you can do anything else, the voices start again. Well, voice might be more accurate. Anyone who's spent significant time with Rose will notice the voice isn't her, but rather, her shadow.

"Really, have you told the people here anything about you? Do you think they'd accept you if you did?"

"How many people have died because of you? How many people have lived in anguish? How many lives were cut short by your blade?"

"I don't think they know you at all, my dearest Ahna."


As the voice dies out, the makeshift wall opens up to a clearing. The clearing lets in more natural light than the area around it. Ahead of you are five vases, arranged in an x-pattern. Sitting in front of the collection of vases is a plaque. The plaque itself is rusted and looks like it's seen better days. For a mercy, though, the vines have grown around this plaque, and the text is still legible.

As for flowers,
They speak a language of their own.
As for your friend,
How much do you know?

Memories kept hidden,
Never brought to light.
At the end of all roads,
Can we do naught but fight?

Your charge, your query, she lies ahead,
But first, you must solve the riddle of the flower bed.
Above all else, understanding is sought.
Hurry now, and linger not.


To the right of the inscription are five bouquets of flowers. Among the bouquets are Hydrangeas, Lilies, Violets, Sunflowers, and Roses.. Each bouquet rests atop a pedestal that has an engraving at its base. Once you move closer, you can make out the engravings clearly.

Hydrangeas

That which dies once is born again,
The fairest lily is always a friend.
To the south of me these bonds do grow,
Is it joy or sorrow that we will sow?

Plain Text

>Lilies are south of Hydrangeas.

Sunflowers

Earnest emotion leads way to regret,
In the west the sun doth set.
From the same direction do the Hydrangeas bloom,
A friendship born and gone so soon.

Plain Text

Hydrangeas are west of Sunflowers

Lily

From the east the sun does rise,
As red pagodas under over fairer skies.
From humble origins a hero is born,
Could violets ever deserve such scorn?

Plain Text

Violets are East of Lilies

Rose

Under fair skies do sunflowers bloom,
A life long-lived and bereft of doom.
To the northeast do these petals fall,
A quiet life, forsaken by all.

Plain Text

Sunflowers are northeast of Roses

Violets

To the northwest of me your target keeps,
Among a bed of flowers doth the maiden sleep.
But what is a rose without its thorns?
A life, a legend, now forlorn.

Plain Text

Roses are northwest of Violets

[OOC Section Info]

The Atrium is a puzzle section. Characters must place each flower in its corresponding vase. The way will open when all flowers are correctly placed.

Solution

Upon Success

Upon placing the final flowers in the appropriate vase, the lock to the door of the atrium clicks open. Before you continue on, the voices start up again. Although you're free to leave, something compels you to listen before you leave.

"See, you were better off staying home. There was no reason to go to Eorzea, and there's no reason for you to be in Kaisou now. And really, why do you even care what happens to these people? When you get down to it, the lot of you are--"

"You're wrong."

"Brat, are you talking back to me?

"They're my friends. Say what you want about me, but leave them out of them. It's because of them that I---"

With that, Rose screams, and the feed is cut short.

[jackdawvision]

[Edward rolls his eyes heavenward once Rose’s shadow’s voice fades. Pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out an annoyed breath.]

Bloody shadow. How many of us have killed someone? [Softer, more worried:] Does she truly think she’d be seen differently?

[Anyway, as for the puzzle, he reads the plaque and then looks at the flowers. Then:] Which one of these is in the center? Once we know that one, the rest should fall into place easily.

THE MAZE

[poisontippedcure]

♪- March


As you continue through the garden, you come upon another sign. This one, also overgrown with vines, reads:

MAZE
Turn back.

If you brush the vines aside and continue forward, it's clear that the sign is not lying. Ahead of you is a massive hedge maze. Walking forward, it's impossible to miss the sound of something slithering around you.

Upon closer inspection, that "something" is the hedges themselves. Branches appear to be breaking and regrowing in real time, and you can hear the rustling of leaves as they rapidly change their places. If you look deeper into the maze, you can see paths appearing and being blocked off. As you step forward, the entrance will suddenly close as branches appear out of the earth and bar your way forward.
It's at this point that flowers start to appear on the wall before you. At first one, two at a time, they eventually gather together to form a "drawing" of Rose. She's in a room with a distinctly eastern flair, with a small sack strung over one shoulder. The window is open.

"Well, I don't care what they say. There's no reason I shouldn't go to Eorzea, is there? Mother's just being overprotective."

With that, the flower drawing sneaks out of a window, and the "memory" abruptly stops. As it stops, the hedge recedes, and you and your companions can chart a path forward.

Welcome to the maze.

[OOC Section Info]

The Maze is a player-controlled combat-oriented section. How long each fight/section takes is up to the player. When you feel you have finished with a section, roll a d20, and look for the corresponding prompt in the index.

MAZE [INDEX]

[poisontippedcure]

[ROLL: 1-5; CW: VIOLENCE]

You attempt to go forward, but after several turns, you're not sure that you've made progress. Before you can double check, the hedges close in around you, trapping you and your companions.

This time, the flowers surround you from all sides. The scene they paint is gruesome. It looks to be inside a building, and there are bodies everywhere.. You may not know exactly what happened here, but whatever it was, it wasn't pretty.

You hear the sound of a door opening. Off to the side, Rose appears in the scene. She's smiling. She hasn't seen the bodies yet.

"You'll never believe it! I beat Titan. I know you all were worried, but I--"

Rose stops as she sees the carnage before her. Whatever you've seen her break down over in Kaisou thus far, she's somehow handling this worse. At first her eyes can't believe what they're seeing, and then she nearly doubles over in pain.

"I don't, I don't--"

It's at this point that her shadow steps in.

"This is all because of you, you know. They were after you."

As if on cue, the flowers from the memory detach themselves from the walls. They reform into life-size Garlean soldiers, and move to attack. If you want to move forward, you have to win.

[ROLL: 6-10]

The path ahead of you clears, but if you didn't know any better, you would swear that the hedges themselves are trying to hamper your progress. Going forward to take a turn, the way before you suddenly closes, forcing you to turn around.

As you move, flowers gather on the walls beside you. It's another memory.

In this one, Rose is tucked into the corner of an old-looking building. She's hugging a blanket close to her, and even only looking at flowers, it's clear she's been crying. Another figure comes into the scene and offers her a mug of something.

"I thought this might help warm you up, dear friend."

Rose wipes away a stray tear from her eye, and attempts to smile.

"Thank you. Haurchefant, do you---do you think I could have done anything differently? I can't help but wonder--if I had anticipated it being a trap, if I had come better prepared, they'd all still be alive, right? The Crystal Braves anticipated me being naive. They bet on me falling for their rouse, and they were right."

As the memory ends, you can hear rustling behind you. The flowers have begun to take shape and appear to be wearing distinct uniforms. Whatever happens next, it's clear you need to defeat them to advance forward.

[ROLL: 11-15; CW: SICKNESS]

The path opens before you, giving you some resistance. Although you feel like you take an occasional wrong turn, you still feel like you're making progress. No matter how long you walk, however, the end of the maze doesn't appear in sight. After about an hour, you find yourself at another dead end.

The hedges closed before you, a scene plays out.

In it, Rose is attempting to rest in a bed. Well, "attempting" being the operative word. It's clear that she's very sick at the moment, there's an extremely distinct pale color to her skin. Her normal bright red hair is streaked with white, so much so that her normal color is almost completely gone. She coughs and spits out something white.

"I--I'm not going to die, am I?"

"I'm scared."

"I can't--I won't--why did it have to be me? Why couldn't someone else have been the Warrior of Darkness?"

As before, when the scene ends, the voice of Rose's shadow echoes from all around.

"How many people would you have killed, had you turned? All of those who gave their life for you, and you couldn't even have fought death bravely? You're just a brat."

When the shadow's voice dies down, the lilies from the nearby wall gather and surround you. This time, they take the form of grotesque monsters, who are all to eager to attack you and your companions.

[ROLL: 16-20]

The path ahead of you clears, and you proceed largely without issue. Victory feels within your grasp, you're almost out of this terrible maze. You can see the end in sight when a hedge closes over the opening.

As before, a scene plays.

This time, Rose appears to be in space. Those who went to Takame's dungeon last year may recognize the scene. On what appears to be a deserted planet, a lone patch of flowers has appeared. Rose is in the center, crying.

"You're all gone."

"I don't want to move forward without you all. You were with me at my worst."

"But, I can't stop here, can I? If I do, all your sacrifices would be for nothing."

"I just, I wish it wasn't always me. Why am I always the one left standing at the end? I'm the one who deserves it the least."

As the scene ends, you can hear the voice of the shadow echo once more.

"Good. You know your place."

Behind you, the flowers from the illusion begin to gather and form a new enemy. This time, there's only one. It's a part-bird hybrid that's distinctly blue, and appears no taller than Rose herself. Unlike the previous mimics, this one will not attack on sight. It will, however, attack if you attempt to leave the maze.

[hoshikiri]

[He'll not turn back. Not until his sister is free.

Takame recalled Rose mentioning she'd come to Eorzea on a whim. And not contacted her family in a very long time. But right now that didn't matter. His grip on his sword tightened a little and behind him his tail stood completely, unnaturally still.

He vaguely recalled a maze of sorts within The Grand Cosmos. This was very different, but he didn't doubt there were many enemies about.]

... We must proceed with caution and try to commit to memory where we've turned, correct? [He isn't a leader by any means, deep in his heart he still sought approval for every suggestion he made even though he simply wanted to spring forward on his own.]

[soulreleaser]

[ right.

no.

Veldora watches the memory dutifully, like a man waiting in line to ride the roller coasters at the park, but when he's turned out to the maze itself, he takes just a few moments to watch the cracking, winding branches, staring at the hedges as he runs their movements through his analysis to see if he can pick out a pattern

but there isn't a sense to it, and thus, Veldora loses his patience with it. he has no appreciation for fine topiary. ]

Stand clear. I doubt it will let me go over, and so, I will go through.

[ and then he's shifting his form, flicking his black-onyx wings as he digs his claws down to brace himself in the earth, as he opens his maw and spews a gout of black flame--both his innate obsidian fire, and the strange shadow magic that's come to manifest in his time in Kaisou, burning extra hot and extra bright as he cleaves through a layer of the maze. ]

Quickly now. It will likely heal as fast as I can ruin it. If only I were at my full strength, tch.

THE ARENA

[poisontippedcure]

♪- Seeking Victory


As you continue onward, you approach another sign. This one says:


ARENA
Enter at your own risk


Going forward, the path is a dead end. Much like the areas before it, everything is surrounded by hedges. Before you is a circle-shaped arena, surrounded on all sides by a steep drop off. It's not clear just where it goes, but whichever way it is, it's a long way down. On a pedestal in the center of the arena is a familiar hairclip which calls to you. You'll need it to advance forward.

Leading to the arena is a suspension bridge. Testing the bridge will reveal that it's stable, and can safely hold at least two people at a time. Leaves crunch under your feet as you and your companions make your way across the bridge, the area around eerily silent. Nothing seems to happen until everyone is safely off the bridge and in the center of the arena, at which point the pedestal and hairpin both disappear. Before you and your companion can do anything about that, a recording plays:

"For the last time, let me out!"

"You truly don't understand the situation you're in, do you? You're a gardener, you should understand. The tiniest bit of toxin in the soil can mean death for an entire garden. What do you think you are to your friends?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh come now, that might work with your idiot companions, but it won't work on me. Whose recklessness was it that got themselves captured by Krusnik? Whose stupidity was it that got themselves killed in the cabin? And that's just here. I'm sure I don't need to go over the list of what you've accomplished at home."

"What are you--"

"Isn't it obvious? In this garden, you are the poison. You bring nothing but death and destruction to those around you. You can try to fight it all you want, you know it's the truth. And that's why you're going to stay right here. Remember that poison needs to be killed, so that the plants around it can heal."

After that, the recording ends rather abruptly. As the voices die out, the bridge snaps, leaving anyone who ventured to the center platform trapped. If you listen, you can hear the sound of vines snaking up the side of the platform. As they appear, they warp and twist around themselves, almost forming the shape of people. The voice starts again. Only, this time, instead of addressing Rose, the shadow is addressing you.

"Can we have the first challenger step forward? Don't be shy. If you want out of here, you'll have to fight your way out."

OOC Section Info

The Arena is a hybrid section. Characters will fight plants that have turned into mimics of characters from Rose's world. Some plants need to be killed, and some need to be healed. If a plant that needs to be healed is killed, it will immediately respawn, and vice versa. Enemies can either be controlled directly by DMs discretion or by players. Once you have everyone you want for an arena thread, please let me know via this journal or discord, and I'll roll an enemy.

Edward, Scintilla, Zulius, and Lapis

[poisontippedcure]

The figure that steps forward this time has a certain other-worldly appeal. She was human once, but has sense taken on the form of a god with distinctly rabbit-like features. Those from Eorzea will recognize her as Tsukuyomi, the former viceroy of Doma turned primal. Those that are familiar with botany will recognize the flowers in her hairpin as belladonna.

The apparition turns to face you, and smiles.

"It's going to be a long night."

Takame, Veldora, Furina, Wrio

[poisontippedcure]

The figure that steps forward this time isn't human at all. It's a rather large dragon. Those from Eorzea will recognize the dragon as Nidhogg. Instead of Nidhogg's usual eyes, however, there are two flowers in their place. Those familiar with botany will recognize them as wolfsbane.

Nidhogg will open the fight by sending a giant laser that pulses several times. The first pulse will lock on to wherever you're standing, and will stay in the same spot.

THE GARDEN OF MEMORIES

[poisontippedcure]

♪- Spinning Thoughts, Bound Hands

Regardless of which route you take, should you find yourself successful, you will arrive at the center of the maze. The foliage has completely grown over the area, meaning that whatever view of the sky you once had is now gone.

Despite the darkness, there are candles burning, and part of the area is lit up by small, floating crystals. If you go forward and inspect the crystals, you'll see that they are memories that Rose has formed with the people of her homeworld and of Kaisou.

Unfortunately, as your eyes adjust, you realize the way forward is still blocked. With nowhere else to go, this gives you time to inspect the memories more closely.

OOC Section Info

This is the Garden of Memories. This section is meant to serve as a breather before the final encounter. Characters are free to see any interaction they've had with Rose here before. If you'd like me to generate a memory, please let me know!

[jackdawvision]

[Edward is just going to collapse on the ground. He's had a rough time, he's very tired, and if he looks closer at the crystals he thinks he might see something Rose really doesn't want even her closest friends to see, let alone the coworker who gets on her nerves sometimes.

Instead, he flicks out one of his hidden blades, inspecting it best as he can in the darkness.]

She's not poison. No matter what her shadow says, no matter what she may believe deep inside the darkest pit of her heart, she's not. [The blade slides back into its housing with a soft sound.] I've known people who were poison, who did endanger those around them. [Vane, Rackham, Roberts. Even Edward himself, to some degree, although he keeps that part to himself.] She's not a thing like them.

[fionnuisce]

[With the area seeming relatively secure, Waver holstered both pistols and returned to his normal clothes, slowly sitting down on the ground with a slow and tired sigh. He was going to regret pushing himself tomorrow, but it had to be done all the same.]

Everyone still in one piece? I brought a couple healing potions, but don't expect miracles out of them.

[hoshikiri]

[Seeing their path barred yet again, Takame's tail lashed once behind him. Seeing the crystals floating about, he felt his chest tighten. He's been through a rift like this before. He saw the first man he fell in love with... he saw the man whose soul stabilized his own ask why it came to this after doing everything right.

There was only heart pain to follow. But his eyes were fixed forward.]

You are through here, aren't you?

THE GAZEBO

[poisontippedcure]

♪- Enemy Attack

After a time, the gate blocking your way forward in the Garden of Memories gives way. You walk forward, each step echoing through the trees. Eventually, you reach the end of the path: the Gazebo.

Similar to the area before it, this area is lit by crystals. Unlike the previous area, however, these don't contain memories. Looking closely will reveal static.

If you've spent significant time in the Garden of Memories, it's likely that your eyes don't need to adjust. The light is more than enough to illuminate the figure at the center of the room. It's Rose, but something's off. Did she always look so malicious? Were her eyes always this yellow?

Once your eyes adjust, you may also see the gazebo tucked into the corner. It's difficult to see inside, as vines have grown over the gazebo itself, making it almost look like a prison cell. If you look closely, you can see a more familiar figure inside. This is closer to the Rose that you know--but she looks entirely defeated. Rose is tucked into the corner, hugging her knees. When she sees people arrive, her eyes light up, but before she can say anything, her shadow steps in.

"Don't even think about it. You're the reason they're here, you know. They put themselves in danger, all for you. You're exactly where you need to be."

And then the shadow turns to face you and the party that just arrived. Her lips twist into a smile as she addresses you.

"And what do you all think you're doing? Trying to rescue your princess? Please. Are you so blind you can't see it? She's making all of your lives worse."

"Since she's come here, all she's managed to do is put herself and others in danger. How many people said not to antagonize the zealots? And what did she do? How do you think she ended up here? Running that mouth of hers, as usual."

"You're better off going home. Leave now, and I won't hurt you. Don't tell me some spoiled brat who ran away from home is worth all of this."

The shadow will not attack at first. It will, however, attack you if you try to free Rose. Whether you decide to talk to the shadow or attack, it's clear now is the time for action.

[fionnuisce]

That's enough. Do you really think this kind of self-loathing is accomplishing anything? If we really thought she wasn't worth it, we wouldn't have come in the first place.

[Back in his normal clothes, Waver stepped forward with his fingers tapping restlessly on the handle of his cane.]

Of course she's worth it. She's our friend.

[action] >GIVE INSPIRING SPEECH

[soulreleaser]

[ it's better that no more of Rose's memories are on display--it's already an invasion of her privacy that Veldora's seen as much as he has. he'll have to binge read something that makes his head hurt in order to forget. perhaps that Neon General Evangelism that everyone raves about so much...

he leaves his ponderings when the voice of Rose's Shadow cuts through the quiet and the static, tipping his head like a dog that doesn't understand the command being issued to it. he stares at her smile, and seems to soak into her words--and for a moment, he thinks of his sister. not hot-blooded, whimsical Velgrynd, no; he thinks of cold-hearted Velzard with her unyielding, glacial nature, and for just a moment

he pities this creature that's been born of Rose. that gives voice to the pain in her heart, the weight on her chest. he breathes out, and where his voice would usually be a booming testament to his own bravery, he finds a modicum of calm. ]

She is worth it. All of her. [ a hand rests on his hip, the other hand coming up to turn its palm upward as he picks through his thoughts and sorts them into neat, contemplatives points.

he is Chaos and Destruction incarnate.

he is childish and excitable.

he is not stupid. ]

Yes, she makes impulsive, emotional decisions. She has growing to do. We've lost blood and been hurt in this task to retrieve her--a task we would not have had to undertake if she'd listened to cooler heads and more experienced hearts, but--there's no one among us who is without fault, without foible--without sin, as you're so desperate to paint it.

We are friends. That means we raise joy with one another, and that we share our burdens much the same. If we must put ourselves and our darkness on display--I personally have led to the deaths of more people for far less reason. It is not my place to act as judge, nor jury--and least of all executioner. I accept her for what she is, and hope that in our time together, we can learn from one another and come away better than we were alone.

She's a hot-headed brat, but she's our hot-headed brat, and we love her for it regardless. All of her. [ he straightens out, hands to the side--and he stares at the Shadow, gold eyes to gold. ] Including you. Her virtues and her vices, her joy and her sorrow, her triumphs and her tragedies.

You are my friend, Rose--and we, all of your friends, are going to bring you home.

[ and with the power of God and anime on his side with apologies to Jun, he clenches his fist and wreathes it in black flame. ]

[sunforging]

[This really wasn't her wheelhouse. Alphinaud and the others always did the bulk of the talking and negotiating; such things were a bit out of reach for a simple blacksmith.]

[But...no one understood a Warrior like a fellow Warrior.]

Fine, I guess you want me t' meet ya halfway at least? She ain't perfect. None of us are. Hells, I got the smarts of a concussed chocobo at the best'f times. But that don't mean nothin' to the people what care about us.

Ain't nobody alive who just makes folks lives better. Even th' best of friends can be right headaches sometimes, but we keep comin' back 'cause we know they're worth th' trouble. So if you're hurtin', share it with us. So we can help, even'f we can't understand. I-

[Then she paused, brow furrowing in concentration as a clawed finger came to her head in thought. How did it go again?]

'I wish only to hear your words, share your feelings, and know your thoughts.'

[May we please...be friends?]

[hoshikiri]

[Even behind a cell, Rose is not harmed as he was last year as the group arrived with him battered and with a broken limb. Though her spirit was very broken, that much was clear. And Takame despised the sight of that.

Past all of that, what Takame had to say was relatively simple as he prepared to enter a combat stance.]

You are as aware as she and the rest of us are that I am not leaving this realm without my sister.

[jackdawvision]

[Huh weird Edward looks slightly nervous. He did antagonize the zealots a bit himself it's probably just that. (It is absolutely not just that but fuck if he's gonna say that out loud to everybody else here.)]

Oh, those louts on the way in? They weren't that much of a danger. [Yes, they fucking were, but Edward is being a little shit on purpose.] That's a hell of an assumption, though, to say you've single-handedly made everyone's lives worse. Wrong, too. I know whose feet to lay the blame at for making my life worse, and Rose, lass, they don't belong to you.

[A shrug.]

Do you think you're the first to ever decide to run away from home so you can make something of yourself? Do you think you're the first to want more to life than what was waiting if you stayed at home?

Your friends aren't leaving. I won't either, annoying as I'm sure you think of me. I've come this far with the rest of them, I'll see this through.

POST GAZEBO

[poisontippedcure]

[Walls are built, and walls are torn down.]

[Whether you fought the Shadow until the end, or successfully talked her down, the results are the same. The Shadow sitting in the floor as the vines slowly creep away from the gazebo, letting Rose out.]

[She wants to forget this ever happened.]

[She wants to go home right now, and not have to worry about her emotions, or what any of this means, or about the fact that her friends have seen a part of her that she never wanted to put on display. She wants to pretend that she was never kidnapped, that the Black Order never targeted Kaisou, and that they’re still on the stupid island with its stupid oranges.]

[But life is never that easy, not really.]

[It takes all the strength she has for Rose to leave the gazebo. And it takes all the strength she has to keep walking, to keep forging ahead. She doesn’t want to face these feelings, but after everyone came this far, it feels like it would be an insult to them not to.]

[So she walks up to the Shadow, and she gives it a hug. It’s the worst part of herself, but it’s still a part of her.]

I–when I was younger, I ran away from home. I always had a streak of being hot-headed, and I didn’t always look before I leaped.

[Rose takes the Shadow’s hands in hers. She doesn’t know what’s more uncomfortable; that other people are hearing this, or that she’s saying it out loud at all.]

At some point I convinced myself that if I had made different decisions, if I’d stayed home, if I’d been more cautious, then everything that happened would have been different.

[She gives the Shadow’s hands a light squeeze.]

But the world doesn’t work that way. Being close to people means sometimes you hurt them, and sometimes they hurt you. But that doesn’t mean it’s worth it to stay away–it only hurts because it’s important, after all, and I’m sorry I didn’t recognize that earlier. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you earlier.

You did well. Now it’s time to rest. My friends are here, and I can’t leave them behind.

[She gives the Shadow one final hug, as the Shadow slowly starts dissipating into a flurry of petals.]

[And her legs are like iron. She thinks about standing up, so she can face all the people who came here to save her, but she doesn’t even have that energy. So instead she just turns, and gives them a half-hearted wave. What do you even say in a situation like this? What do you do?]

Hi. I think—I broke a few promises, didn’t I?

[hoshikiri]

[Takame's chest felt tight. Seeing what Rose did a year ago, how he spoke to his Shadow in a similar manner. Hoping he would understand, accepting that part of himself he hated so much and even to this day still wished was just a little different.

When the Shadow disappears and Rose speaks to everyone Takame did as he did with the Shadow. Slowly walked forward to approach Rose.

Only this time he pulled her into his arms to hug her tight.

Words were never his strong suit, he just held her so close that his shoulders shook, though that was just as much from tears of relief his body wouldn't allow him to shed. Even his tail came around her protectively.

She's alright. She's unharmed mostly. She's still with them... kami be good, she is still with them.]