UN: Zodiac | Midmonth Post

[kaisoumods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Libra App
WHEN: October 15th
WHAT: Zodiac Network Post
WARNINGS: None!

[We've reached the second half of October. The victims of the Event Horizon have returned to Kaisou, along with some bodies. Meanwhile, the Zodiac employees have been rescued from the Unknown, but it's still open for people to explore]



Childe, Xie Lian, and Noa have joined the app. Say hi everyone!

[The post then continues on as normal.]

Hello. Thank you for using the Libra App.

Thanks to everyone that helped save my colleagues from the Unknown. Working at Zodiac isn't great, but that realm sounded like it was somehow worse- so I'm sure they appreciate it.

And to my colleagues, as a special favor I convinced Janet not to throw another potluck to welcome you back. You guys are getting doordash gift cards instead, you're welcome.

In other news.... what the hell happened to the group that went on a fishing trip? Over 20 of you going on a fishing trip sounded weird enough, but then you guys came back with dead bodies?

On second thought, maybe it's better I don't know.

Now bye.



This post is sponsored by Seven Stars Mall. Enjoy our exciting new indoor amusement park, a 7-star shopping experience, and don't forget to take a photo with our mascot, Rex, just outside the mall! Post it on social media with #7StarRex to enter a sweepstakes for a $10,000 and other fun prizes!

[As of now ICly, Even Horizon is back and the Zodiac members have been saved fro the Unknown, though you're still welcomed to explore it! Also you're completely welcome to continue backtagging both events!

Users will have the option to choose their own display names and user pics if they haven't already. If nothing is chosen, the app will use their real name and a quick photo taken of them from their camera's phone. Like always, there'll be no responses from Zodiac. And as always, feel free to keep backtagging the event logs! ]

Comments

[vanescere]

[While Faye's usual answer would be whichever Leon wanted most, she knows he'll want her answer.

... and in truth she doesn't often have fried chicken.]

Fried/ yuo said greasire and comfroting hte better, after alll.

[There wasn't really much more comforting than fried chicken. Other than something their mom would make, anyway.]

> action

[sg09r]

I stand by it. Sit tight.

[He shows up fast, once the hot chocolate's in a thermos with some marshmallows already floating in it. He holds the thermos and Zero's leash in one hand and a bag of greasy fried chicken in the other, and behind him is the good sweet dog himself.

He knocks. Calls:] Faye? I've got chicken. And I brought Zero with me, he missed you plenty.

[vanescere]

Coming.

[Faye's voice cracks just a little as she calls from her place nested in a chair wrapped in a blanket, letting Leon know she heard him. He doesn't have to wait all that long, with the sitting room nearest the door, before the lock clicks and Faye tugs the door open and steps aside to let him in.

The way she appears is quite different from her normally positive disposition, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, tears still clinging to her lashes as she tugs the blanket a bit more tightly around her shoulders. It's incredibly nice to see Leon and Zero after what happened... and she makes her best attempt at a smile for them.]

I'm glad you came, I.. [She takes a shaky breath.] I think I needed this.

[She absolutely needed to see him. She didn't like to let anyone see her cry... but around Leon she always felt safest.]

[sg09r]

[Leon steps forward, and should she let him, he'll wrap his arms around her in a tight hug. Guilt squirms inside his heart, because goddammit, he's her brother, he's supposed to keep her safe—why did he think she was on a fishing trip? Why didn't he check?]

You don't have to be okay, Faye. [He smiles back, small and tired.] I'm your brother. What're big brothers for if not to cry on, right?

[Zero, the best of boys, will pad past Leon and try to nose at Faye's hand. He missed her. He would like pets.]

Well, big brothers and big dogs.

[vanescere]

[Of course she lets Leon hug her, her brother is one of the small group of people she won't try to hide from. Though when he does, her breath hitches as she holds him tightly in return. She doesn't want to cry, she doesn't.. but the tears fall anyway.]

I know I... I'm just... [Her words tremble as she speaks, but she's trying so hard.] I wasn't strong enough.. I couldn't save him...

[Sure Noah is alive again just like she is now... but the guilt was still trying to eat her alive. The image of his body just slumped against the wall covered in blood haunts her, there every time she closes her eyes.

Zero's nose on her hand is just as grounding as hugging Leon is, and Faye releases her grip on Leon's shirt with that hand to give the best boy the ear scritches he always deserves. Big brothers and big dogs indeed. She's remarkably lucky to have both, she was especially lucky to have a big brother like Leon.]

[sg09r]

[He just holds her tightly, rubs her back gently. Poor kid. He feels guilty, himself, that he hadn’t known, that he hadn’t checked—maybe if he’d known he could’ve charged in and kept her safe. Maybe—

But he won’t say that. Not here and not now. He just holds his baby sister tight, and doesn’t let go.]

Let me tell you something I’ve had to learn over two lives. [A breath.] You can’t save everyone.

[The words are harsh, but his tone is soft and regretful. Like he wishes otherwise, too.]

No matter how strong you are, how fast, how prepared—you can’t always save everyone. And that’s not your fault, if you can’t. You did everything you could.

You can’t save everyone, but you tried. That matters. That matters, Faye, more than you know.

[vanescere]

[Faye does her best to listen when Leon speaks, even as she can't hold back the occasional gasped breath or distraught whimper. The most difficult part perhaps is that rationally Faye knows that nobody can save everyone. She hadn't been able to stop people dear to her from getting hurt... whether that was Yasuho taking a hit and keeping her safe, or having to watch helplessly -- uselessly -- when Blade took so many hits while they'd fought against Arianrhod.

She hates it. People dear to her keep getting hurt. She hadn't even been able to do anything when Leon's apartment was attacked and he was injured.

Faye does her best to breathe when he finishes speaking, tries her hardest to steady her voice... but even still, she sounds broken when she finally manages to speak.]

I can't... I know I can't but... I've never even made any difference when I've tried...

[Her breath catches in her chest, and she can't bite back a sob before she manages to wrangle her voice once more.]

So what does it even mean if I've failed every single time...? Why... why can I never do anything right...?

[Faye's voice gets very quiet then, weak and small as if she's even afraid of the answer.]

... if I can't save anyone, then what good am I...?

[sg09r]

Hey. Hey. [Pulling away just a bit, but only so he can look her in the eye, hands on her shoulders.] Hey. Even if you've failed every single time, that doesn't mean you're no good. It only means you just have to pick yourself back up again, and learn from your mistakes, so the next time something like this comes up again, you can do better.

[A pause, and a breath.]

And even if you fail again, that's fine. That's okay. What matters is the trying.

[What good am I?

He makes a quiet little noise, then pulls her in for a hug again. Softly, wretchedly:] I know. I know how that feels. I promise you, Faye, you're still good. You're still worthy, you always have been. It's not—Your worth is not in how many lives you save, how much good you do. Your worth is in you, innately, as a person, living a life no one else does. You are a whole world in yourself, please never doubt that.