WAR ♞ MARCH ON CENTRAL WEST PLATEAU

[boardmaster]

MARCH ON CENTRAL WEST PLATEAU
20 AUGUST (GLADIA) 2016

The quiet, seemingly unremarkable town of Friedgood doesn't seem like a prime target for a Noir attack. Ask any outsider what a Friedgood local's favorite activity might be, and they’ll likely respond "I don't know, digging?" They're not wrong: Friedgood's primary industry comes from the excavation of precious stones and minerals in the nearby mountain ranges and volcanoes. Those who don't make their living from mining most likely still enjoy digging, as the town is a hot destination for archeologists from the school of Pigeonsblood looking to uncover the ancient secrets of Gammon.

More important than shiny rocks, however, is Friedgood's strategic location within the country, specifically the checkpoint known as Platform 42 and 5/8ths. It forms a stark contrast to the sleepy town it resides in. This bustling travel hub is known as the "Gateway to Gammon", and boasts fast transport to almost anywhere in the kingdom. Security is tight here, with grim-faced Gammon soldiers working around the clock to ensure that criminal activity doesn't stand a chance. Keep your contraband at home — an infraction will cost you heavy jail time. Friedgood is also the only town with a road providing access to Grantebrycge, Gammon's illustrious University town.

By conquering Friedgood, Noir hopes for universal access to all of Gammon.

On the 20th of Gladia, amidst strong winds and persistent thunderstorms, Heroes will arrive to the Central West Plateau. Even surrounded by tall mountain ranges and ominous volcanoes, its ancient wall is truly a daunting sight. A marvel even by modern construction standards, it was built over 300 years ago to defend against hostile nomadic tribes, and remains as strong and sturdy as the day it was built. It also provides an important environmental buffer to the people of Friedgood — the wall is resistant to lava.

Basic info on the war can be found here. All OOC questions about the event may be directed to the thread below.

ONE ♙ The War of Three Armies
It’s time to head to the battle, Hero. You may be walking, riding a mount - your own, or a borrowed spider or boar - or hitching a ride from someone else. It’s a miserable trek to the plateau, but at least you’re not alone. Once you arrive, Verdoni is there to greet you, accompanied by another Gammonian, the commander of this battle.

Pinta [ so god damned salty about not being a naval tactician and assigned to ships ] Ah, yes, the vaunted Heroes I’ve heard so much about. The name is Pinta, ah... naval tactician to Gammon’s armed forces. Ask why and I’ll show you a bloody hell. Anyway, welcome to the Central West Plateau! During ancient times, the volcanoes were said to be a wall of flame that protected Gammon. But if that stopped the Othellians, I suppose I wouldn’t be here, ahaha! Now, with them dormant, we must instead rely upon our steel and our wall. It’s strong enough to protect Gammon even if every volcano in the area were to erupt all at once! At least that’s what the locals say. They didn’t sound too dodgy, but... moving on! If you have any questions, our men will be glad to explain; show you how the cannons work, where the traps are and whatnot. Again, this really isn’t my expertise—oh! Our wizards have been creative as of late. We’ve these wind platforms that will fling those Noirs up, up, up! Into the air! Try not to get caught in them, yeah? Our navy will take care of our seas. They’re an outstanding lot, they are. All we need to do is focus! Gammon shall not sink here!

You’ll then be handed a magical bracelet. The miners use it protect them from toxic air, so this is a precaution; should you need it, it should last for the duration of the battle. Now all you have to do is wait and prepare for the battle. Acquaint yourself with the battleground: explore the Defense Wall and see what traps there are. It may give you some ideas of your own. There are also war cannons aligned on the top wall and within its interior. Otherwise, check your supplies or rest and collect yourself for what will come. Your mount may also want attention.


TWO ♙ Fellowship of the Bling
Initially cloaked by thick fumes of sulfur, ozone and the dreary overcast of the storm, the Noir battalion finally arrives. Their general, Spicy Spice, steps, nay, struts forward.

	Why is it that every time I come around, that Cochrane Bridge wants to go down? [ ADJUSTS HER WORLD CUP BRA ] They can’t keep that wall up forever.
Let’s make this a quick one, so we can get out of this smelly rain! [ gets ready to fire her gun in the air when she remembers something ] And don’t forget, target their puny pathetic healers, first. [ raises gun high above her head, signaling for the attack with a BANG! ]

On her cue, the Noir Vanguard rushes forward with a fearsome war cry, followed soon after by the Rearguard.

ENEMY ♟ Mounted Noir Soldier
Weak against None	Strong against Fire	Immune to None
These soldiers gallop onto the battlefield with their imposing GOLDHORN GOAT mounts. These are bigger and stronger than the average goat, and their golden horns tend to ABSORB SPELLS directed at their riders. Some spells in a soldier’s arsenal: GRISTRELKI sets fire to the rain — literally. It converts the rain in the sky into a barrage of fireballs. Pray your umbrella’s fireproof! With the PLAMEVODA spell, they can turn hot water (i.e. those from geysers) into bubbling hot lava. When combined with a strong cooling spell, the spell can trap you in rock… That is, if the lava doesn’t kill you first! DVIZHE SMERTI is a dangerous spell that paralyzes its target, rendering them unable to even speak or blink. This can be cured with mana exchange. Hurry before Noir strikes with a rain of fire!Of course, the soldiers are capable of HEALING SPELLS to assist their injured allies and mounts. The VANGUARD is lead by an impressive wall of massive shield units, armed with various melee weapons: swords, maces, and daunting battle axes. Herd them into the traps around the battlefield to render them immobile! The REARGUARD, armed with bows and arrows, will try to overwhelm the HEROIC VANGUARD. HEROIC DEFENSE back them up with long-ranged attacks and the cannons! If they get close enough to the wall, the Rearguard will relentlessly attack the Defense! Both units are under strict orders to prioritize an attack on the HEROIC SUPPORT. If they see any Hero or Gammonian soldiers helping each other or performing rescues on the battlefield, they will give chase IMMEDIATELY. DROPS: Shield with Noir Emblem, Flame Staff, Assorted Non-Magical Weapons, Golden Goat Horns, Lava Lamp

In the heat of battle, you will feel the ground beneath you shake and tremble. In a turn of events neither side could have predicted, a dormant volcano in the distance erupts, raining down fire and scorched earth on the area. More alarming, however, is how the resulting earthquake sets off powerful, white-hot geysers on the battlefield. Stay alert! To make matters worse, the approaching lava makes Noir’s fire spells even more deadly, and Noir shows no signs of letting up on their assault.

Spicy Spice You think a little bad weather is going to stop us? Don't make me laugh. [ laughs anyway, then falls into a coughing fit ] Urghh, damn these fumes — Oh whatever, Send in the riders!

THREE ♙ The Desolation of Noir
Undeterred by the eruptions, the geysers, or the bad weather, they’ve called in their aerial units, fierce griffon riders who’re trying to fly over the wall and into Friedgood. Don’t let them pass! Make use of your resources and shoot them down: Heroes with long ranged weapons or magic will find their skills useful here. Learned how to fire a cannon? Now’s your chance! If not, protect your allies, Hero and Gammonian, as they line up their shots.

ENEMY ♟ Noir Griffon Rider
Weak against None	Strong against Fire, Lightning	Immune to Wind
For the first time, Heroes will witness firsthand how Noir’s legendary griffon riders—often called masters of the skies—live up to their name. A griffon’s powerful wings not only lets them soar at great heights; they can whip up terrifying BEAMS OF LIGHTNING. Griffon riders are armed with JAVELINS which they can also throw and cast the same spells as their counterparts on land. However, they share a closer bond with their griffon mounts. Upon losing their master, the griffons will go BERSERK and proceed to kill everything in sight. If a Hero gets caught in a griffon’s talons, the creature will drop them into their boiling demise at either a GEYSER or VOLCANO. DROPS: Mount Treats, Riding Gloves, Noir Lance, Harness, Griffon Feathers, Griffon Talon

The lava is fast approaching and Noir can no longer take the heat. The griffon riders are maintaining their assault, but the rest of their army is falling back to escape. Time for you to retreat too before Gammonian soldiers seal the wall and you’re trapped on the plateau side. Fried Heroes ain’t Fried Good.

• Defense, continue shooting at any enemy target in range! Be attentive and aid your allies as they retreat back to the wall. Do not fear, you have the advantage.
• Vanguard, fall back! Watch the skies for any griffon riders on the way to the wall. Once you arrive, take down enemies who try to breach. Letting even one enemy pass could spell disaster.
• Support, grab the wounded and check the wall’s condition! Any damages should be repaired immediately to prevent the lava from entering Friedgood.

FOUR ♙ There and Back Again
The wall closes, sealing the lava and ending the battle. Hopefully no one got left behind.

Spicy Spice Now I'm wishing that I didn't wear these shoes (I hate heels). Better get up out my face! [ trips on her way out ] Oh shit!

Catch your breath, Hero. You won. First, check up on everyone and heal your wounds. If you borrowed a mount you might want to take the time to say farewell, since the trip back to Friedgood means you’ll be parting soon.

The people of Friedgood are grateful. They know what would have happened if you lost. There’s no time for fancy parties. They’re pulling out whatever they can find for a makeshift street party right then and there.

You can find bowls of Splotched Richard - a dessert pudding - and Bangers and Mash. If you’re in the mood for something strong you can get pints of Guileless or Pale Noir, maybe a Lasker Train Bomb if you can find someone who’s willing to mix it. Or perhaps you fancy a CreamAle, the favored drink of Grantebrycge.

You’re welcome to stay out and party as long as you like - the party is for you, after all! In fact, the people will respect you more if you get drunk and pass out on the side of the street. But for Heroes who’re tired from the war, you’re always welcome to stagger into the Bollox Inn for a room, free of charge.

Comments

Yukari Takeba | OTA

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[A: For the Vanguard!]

[The battle starts terribly; with the Noir attack ordered to target healers first, the King on the front line Vanguard suddenly finds herself face-to-face with a herd of enemies. Or rather, she marches in right behind the largest group of Knights, Rooks, and others on the Vanguard, and as soon as the battle begins, actually starts to prove her worth as a healer, from the pocket, making sure everyone is kept topped off. Anyone who needs or wants the healing support, just run by her or get noticeably hit in her vicinity - you're getting healed. Unfortunately, it also means Noir starts coming after her with a vengeance.

She'd refused to ride a mount at first (seriously, spiders?) ... now she sort of regrets it, but there is some luck in her being small and unmounted in that with the sheer numbers of Noir soldiers that come after her make a clusterfuck for themselves as they all get tangled up on each other, and on the Blanc soldiers. This should make it easy for the Defense folks on the wall because all the Noir soldiers seem to group up to chase her, as well.] Ack! GET THEM OFF ME!

[B: The Heat Of Battle]

[... But Yukari is pushing herself, and her luck, too far, and more than once she stumbles in behind one of the other people on the Vanguard, panting, clutching at her chest - her mana is tapping fast and she refuses to exchange any with anyone. Her bow is running out of arrows, though she will take a tactical retreat to refill them, but there's something wrong.

Yukari's overdoing it...

... She's definitely overdoing it...

But she returns to the fray each time with more aggression. She's taking potshots at the Noir soldiers' mounts, dismounting them, forcing the mounts to fall on them. She pretends it's not her fault when a few of them fall into the boiling sulfur-water and scream, or fall beneath the feet of their comrades... or right into the weapons of Blanc. She's not the one killing them.

And every time she is hit by a glancing sword or axe blow, an arrow, a spell, she grits her teeth, casts another healing spell on herself, and forces herself on.] Hey, c'mon, there's more of them over there!

[C: It all returns to nothing... it all comes tumbling down tumbling down tumbling down...]

[This is how the battle ends for Yukari, because her luck and skill cannot and don't hold forever:

She levels a shot at a far Noir soldier, but her exhaustion, and the exhaustion of the battle wearing on force her to leave her own flank unprotected. She barely sees the Noir soldier there before the flash of steel comes down for her head, and slices a nasty gouge out of the side of her face, narrowly missing both her eye and her temple. Immediately, the blood trickles into her eyes, the wound swells, and she turns with a screech toward the Noir soldier - and the arrow looses right into their own face. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, but Yukari didn't even lose hers. The soldier, however, gives one final scream and falls, dying swiftly at Yukari's feet.

Just like that, the battle trance she'd been in lifts, and she realizes... she killed this person. She didn't just kill this person - this human being - she was responsible for the deaths of a hell of a lot more Noir soldiers over the course of this fight. She can't stop pretending.

And as she ponders the blood on her hands, an arrow catches her in the shoulder - a fireball to her chest - she'd been being hit by things all day, but she realizes... it's too hard for her to want to heal through it. She can barely breathe over the sulfur in the air. She can barely move... her mana's tapped out.

And she just killed someone. She just killed a lot of someones.

The final blow for Yukari Takeba comes as a battleaxe impacts her back from somewhere she doesn't even see. She doesn't have the chance to scream from the pain as the hit knocks the air right out of her, and she goes down like a broken doll, her legs going numb even as her back screams with the pain, and her body folds in a way it's not supposed to.

Someone comes to her rescue - it doesn't matter who, heroes, if you wish it to be you, just mind the way she flops from a midpoint at her spine because it's been cleaved and broken almost neatly and poetically in half.

The battle is won, but Yukari?

It takes two days before Yukari wakes back up, in the emergency infirm tent, her body wrapped in bandages, and a brace around her neck to keep her from moving her back. She's been kept in a magically induced coma... but it seems someone forgot to reup the spell today.

And she stares at the ceiling.]

... I can't feel my legs.

C

[seventhgen]

[The sudden stirring from her bed catches the attention of the other occupant of the room, one robotic girl who she knows well. She seems to have been washing a rag in a bucket of cool water, wringing it out.

She turns back to Yukari, and brightens.] Oh, Yukari-san! You're awake!

[Aigis steps back towards Yukari's bedside, and offers her the slightly damp, cool, rag.] I was going to put this on your forehead to cool you off. Is that okay? [Aigis, that's for fevers...]

[This close, Yukari can probably see that her armor is still blackened and charred, damaged from battle.] Um, you were hurt fairly badly. I think they're still trying to heal you.

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[... Ow.

She's groggy from the sleep, but even still, being awake, the aches set in quickly.

It hurts to breathe. Like every breath in shifts her spine just a little bit and it twinges in pain. There're other aches and pains that are more minor - her chest hurts, and the side of her face stings, still and...

... Oh right. She can only see out of one eye at the moment. Her other eye at least feels like it still exists, but it's buried under the bandages covering the gash on the side of her face.

Her left arm seems to be completely bound up - something with her shoulder? But her right hand is bandaged only to the fingers.

In other words, she looks like hell. She feels like hell. ... And the first thing she sees when she wakes up is Aigis.

Fantastic.]

... Why the cloth? [Her voice is still a little dazed and sleepy, but she can't figure out why a cloth...? Though maybe it'd help or... something. She doesn't know. Maybe keep her awake.

Also Aigis, you're still dirty after two days, at least take a bath or something.]

... And... I can't... [She frowns, and her hand twitches, fingers closing a little, then reopening like she's testing if she can even do it.] ... I can't feel anything under my stomach? Did I get cut in half!? [It hurts - a terrible ache that makes her gasp with the pain just to move that one arm, but she slides her fingers along the sheets until she's touching her own legs.

But she can't feel her hand. She presses into the fabric, and she definitely can feel something like a body under them, but like her legs are badly asleep, she can't feel anything.]

N-no... wh- what happened? I can't feel... [There's something like a dazed panic in her voice, and she moves again... and whimpers, loud and anguished. Shit, that hurts. That hurts a lot.]

[seventhgen]

Yukari-san. [Aigis says with a slight bite to her tone, trying to get her attention and cut through the growing panic that even she can answer.] Please try not to panic. I'm sure it's very painful, but the healers are doing their best to help you.

It seems that in the battle, your spine was... it was severed. Until the healers are finished, it may be... difficult to move your legs. [Or impossible.]

I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you.

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[She does stop moving, though her breathing is definitely elevated as she looks over to Aigis... and grimaces against the pain of having to move even that little bit. Everything is connected to the back, after all. And any motion is translated to pain from there.] I - what!? [Well that makes sense what that horrid cracking impact to her back had been, which was about the last thing she remembered happening before she just woke up.]

And whaddya mean you... I... [She's having a hard time being coherent at the moment, which is a rarity for Yukari, but between the pain and the just-woke-up haze from being forced into a deep sleep for a couple days to skirt the horrid pain and injury probably isn't too surprising.] ... I'm gonna be able to walk again, right? [That note of panic is still there, but there's a least a touch more coherency in her statement.]

[seventhgen]

[She nods, once.] Yes, the healers say that they believe they'll be able to repair all the damage, given time. But it was a very severe wound. I was told you were lucky to survive. If you can, please try not to move too much, Yukari-san. I'm certain you must be in great pain. [She bows her head.] Is there anything you need me to get you? Some water, perhaps? I'm afraid there's only so much I can do to alleviate your pain...

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[She was lucky to survive? Yukari sighs. How lucky can she be...

... at least the damage is healable. Back home... it probably wouldn't be.

Then again, she'd also already died here, and that definitely isn't curable in any way. How much worse can it get?

What can Aigis do to help...]

You could always kill me. I bet I'd come back fully healed instead of having to deal with this.

[It's odd enough she says what she does in the first place, but it's yet more odd that she actually sounds serious.

Sleepy, kind of depressed, but serious.]

[seventhgen]

Y-Yukari-san! Please don't joke about that! [Aigis says, genuine concern in her voice.] I could never do something like that to you! You're my friend, after all. I'm sure it will only be a few days' discomfort, so please, don't lose hope!

A

[long_live_the_queen]

[There's a reddish glow on the parapets of the wall; one of the cannons is pointed more or less in Yukari's general direction. Or a bit in front of her and the thin line of Gammonian soldiers, at least.

The distant hum escalates into a crackling roar, and a familiar red fire streaks overhead before impacting in the middle of the Noir charge. It sends a number of soldiers and mounts and...parts of both flying in every direction. The ground where they once stood was a smoldering, shallow crater, so uneven it turned ankles almost just by looking at it.

Kaede's looking out for you! At least for the moment. Isn't she nice.

The shot broke the back of that charge in particular, but there'd doubtless be others. There always were.]

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[Broke the back of. I see what you did there.

Regardless, the sight of parts, blood, other things flying through the air is sickening, horrifying, but even though her stomach turns at the sight, Yukari can acknowledge two things - that shot saved her life, and the lives of those around her, and that she doesn't have time for nausea. Her life is right on the line, and the Noir soldiers have it out for her in particular, and she can't be incapacitated, so she swallows hard and tries to focus on what happened.

Alright, looks like the soldiers are dazed and scattered, and while it's hard to tell exactly who just blasted that hole right into the Noir charge, she has an idea. She acknowledges it with a wave back toward the wall, then lifts her bow and gets ready to start after what's left of this particular charge.

The thing is... Yukari doesn't go for kill shots. She shoots the mounts, legs, arms, even stomachs, but she's as always going for incapacitation rather than death.

That, of course, should leave the Noir soldiers vulnerable to those with less moral compunction. She might not even say anything.]

:V

[long_live_the_queen]

[Gosh what do you think she is, a killstealer??

Thanks for setting up those easy shots, though. Much easier to put targets out of their misery when they weren't galloping this way and that.

Kaede couldn't see many details from up here, between the sulfurous clouds and ashes, but she did see that wave. And vaguely who that wave came from. She kept her gun aimed in the gesture's direction feeding mana into the gun to speed the next shot.

The next burst of flames punched into the ground near the first crater, engulfing the charge's remnants. Both with fire, and when the shot pierced the ground right into a geyser.

Oops.]

I STILL SEE IT

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[Killstealer? Yukari isn't even going for kills anyway.

... Kaede can have all the loot anyway. Yukari might secretly be starting to be a little apathetic to the idea of dying.

She at least has backup, it seems, and she levels the bow toward the remaining enemies, only to watch them all explode, as well. She flinches with a squawk though when the ground erupts into boiling hot water, and a bit of the steam catches her, forcing her away from the area.]

HEY. NOT ME! [NO FRIENDLY FIRE, KAEDE.]

:V!!!

[long_live_the_queen]

[THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FRIENDLY FIRE THERE'S ONLY FRIENDLY RUNNING INTO ARTILLERY RANGE

Though the cannon doesn't fire again while Yukari is scrambling backwards. Probably because the cannon was cooling down again. Or, maybe, just maybe, Kaede was being nice!

There might be a very distant "Oops" somewhere in the background.

She's totally being nice, yep.]

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[KAEDE SHE IS NOT ONE OF THE PEOPLE TRYING TO KILL YOU, SO STOP BEING ONE OF THE ONES TRYING TO KILL HER.

... Right. Okay. So she can retreat some... and some more. And some more.

Actually, she seems to be running toward a totally different part of the battlefield, away from whatever mess of broken soldiers is lying in the last pile. The Noir soldiers holler and follow her, and they start to group up again for round two. If they can get her, it'd be worth it but

man they're not being real smart about this with what just happened before.]

c

[cutiepanther]

[ Sometime after Yukari had been admitted, Maki had seen to it that she was a part of the team that was overseeing Yukari's care. She filled out charts, slept by her bed, and applied more algae as needed over her healing wounds.

Things were getting better, as least from an external standpoint, but Maki or anyone else couldn't really tell how things would be when Yukari woke up.

Maki was standing at the end of Yukari's bed with a chart in her hands, in a white coat, looking... tired. Like she hadn't slept in a while. The same sort of look her parents used to have, when they returned from 48 hour shifts at the hospital they ran.

But hearing Yukari's voice brought her out of her haze as she stared at the paper, lowering the clipboard to see Yukari's eyes open. ]

Yukari-san! [ She moves to the side of the bed, looking down the girl's body for anything that might have cut circulation. ] I'll try to prick them, they might just be numb from being in bed... [ At least if she's looking over Yukari's legs she doesn't have to look at her to say: ] I'm glad you're finally awake.

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[This isn't a minor spine injury, Maki, it pretty much got severed. Algae or not, that's going to take some doing to heal.

Honestly, though, Yukari is definitely not expecting to see a redhead when she wakes up. She wouldn't expect it anyway (lol canonpoint) but definitely not one she's... not as distant from as she thinks, apparently.

... And she's avoiding eye contact.

Which is great... Yukari only has one eye to look with at the moment - not that she lost the other, of course, just that it's bandaged over due to the damage near it.]

... I... what? [She might be a little dazed.] What happened to me? ... Where am I?

[cutiepanther]

[ It's magical algae used in Petrosian hospitals, Maki's been told it can work literal miracles. It's all Maki can hope for. They don't have X-Rays or CAT scans or any other way of really seeing the extent of the damage...

Despite the fact that they might not be the closest of friends, to Maki she still sees Yukari as someone she couldn't just leave why she was under medical care. ]

You were hurt in the battle. P-Pretty badly. But we're doing everything we can...

[ Putting down the clipboard, Maki takes a deep breath. ] Do you remember anything?

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[She's still going to be paralyzed for a bit, though. She can heal - which is probably saying more than what would usually happen - but she is definitely going to be paralyzed for a while.

Also this might be a better conversation of Yukari wasn't so... depressed.]

... I coulda told you that... [Sigh. What does she remember...]

I remember... Some Noir soldier came outta nowhere and slashed me across the face... [Which is why the bigass bandage over her eye...] And so I

[Oh wait.

Wait this just got worse.

She just... goes quiet. And pale.]

... I... um. I... I shot 'em with a bow. I...

[Oh NOW she vividly remembers the scream as the Noir soldier hit the ground, how they went still so quickly...]

I got 'em in the eye and...

[Ah... goddamnit. This did just get worse.]

... I think I killed 'em.

And while I was thinking about that... something hit me from behind and that's all... that's all I know...

[cutiepanther]

[ Yukari is... a mess, to say the least. Maki can't help but worry about her. She's already had to come to a painful realization that she might not be as strong as she believes she should be herself, and it's hard for her to listen to Yukari's own troubles.

She knows better than to make it about herself. Instead she listens, as best she can, curling her hand into a fist at her side to calm herself. ]

I-It sounds like you didn't get hit in the head and suffer any kind of memory loss then. We don't have CAT Scans or things like that here, so we just have to rely on magic for the most difficult diagnosis.

[ But...

Medical things aside: ] Are you okay, Yukari-san? I mean, you did what you had to do. Things... like that happen in war. [ Maki's being as mature as she can be about it, but then, she was crying only a day ago into Nobunaga's shoulder because she had lost someone she was trying to heal in the middle of the battle. So in a way she can understand. ]

C obviously...

[burnmydread]

[ He hadn't seen her in battle, though he expected her to be on the support team, what with her being a King and all. They haven't really talked since that last passing of notes, but this really isn't how he was hoping to see her again. He'd looked for her when the battle ended, just as he'd looked for Aigis and for Souji. He'd needed to ask around when he couldn't find her on his own, figuring that she didn't want to talk to talk to him just yet, but...

Nearly died isn't what he expected to hear.

Minato didn't know why exactly he was waiting, having been told that she wouldn't be waking up any time soon thanks to the spell. But he did anyway. Something about silly sentimentalism or something. He's never been terribly good at it.

So when he hears her voice, Minato rouses quickly out of his daze, blinking with a surprised expression as he looks down at her. ]

...

[ "She's lucky to even be alive". People say stuff like that when they think people should be grateful despite suffering. ]

...

[ Quietly, he reaches out carefully, putting his hand next to hers. ]

What about your hands?

he could've gone a and smacked her around with friendly fire! :D

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[... Is she still dreaming?

No, she wasn't really dreaming before. Whatever magic they were using put her too deep under to dream, probably a good thing considering the horrid nightmares she'd probably have, which would just cause her to jerk around and possibly aggravate the injury to her back more.

But his voice is deep and soft, and it floats in a way into the hazy, half-asleep cloud obscuring her mind, her thoughts. She rolls her one uncovered eye over to look at him, and winces as her head moves the barest bit out of instinct, pulling on her back, sending twinges of new pain on top of the persistent hurt from where her spine had been shattered.

... Why is he here?

Oh, guess he is a friend. And he'd been trying to be better at that.

... He shouldn't be here. He shouldn't see her like this. She probably made a mistake somewhere. She feels weak and vulnerable, but even though some part of her emotions are raw and painful, there's a dreary apathy that's set in, as well. That it might be better for her to just... be put out of her misery than have to sit here like this. Not like she wouldn't come back.

It takes her going through all that and then some before his question sinks into the haze of her mind, and her one eye blinks, hard, a grimace on her face as she concentrates.

Her fingers twitch, her hand flexes, clenching, unclenching, but trying to pick it up ends in a little grunt of pain and exertion.]

I can feel 'em.

But... it hurts to move anything.

[It's all back into her back. He might've heard about the injury - her spine's in pieces at the moment, and since everything is connected to the back and spine...]

What're you doing here?

[burnmydread]

[ Maybe he shouldn't be there, but he is. Maybe she wants space, but it's too late for that. He'll give it to her if that's what she really wants, but he needs to make sure that she's...he can't say "okay", she's clearly not okay. But intact.

Quietly, he reaches out, stretching those extra few centimeters to touch the tips of her fingers with his. Don't strain yourself, Yukari. He knows that showing weakness isn't what she wants and he won't point it out. ]

I heard what happened.

[ Confirming her theory. ]

I wanted to see you.

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[It's even arguable she's intact, all things emotionally considered. But she's alive and that counts for... pretty much nothing.

She'd almost rather have died. At least then she wouldn't be stuck infirm for so long. It wouldn't hurt.

Plus, she'd be able to sleep. And not care about what's still looming ahead of her when she goes home. What she's going to lose. What she never had to begin with, being here confirmed it-]

You sure? I must look real pathetic. [She doesn't move her fingers. It doesn't matter if he wants to touch her.] ... And ugly. I wonder how many gross scars this is gonna leave.

[burnmydread]

[ He's quiet, perhaps painfully so. He's always been more of an observer in any relationship, making him an adequate soundboard for the gripes and turmoil of the lives of others. He never realized it was an issue that he never opened himself up in turn, not really. It's easy to fall into the same silent expression, eyes the only real indication that he's actually listening to what's being said.

Not that she can really see him right now, though. ]

You're not.

[ Pathetic or ugly. He knows that just arguing and refuting her points won't make her feel any better, though. Naysayers don't change personal appraisals when you're at your lowest point. But at least he can voice his own opinion. He doesn't move his hand, but he doesn't push, either. ]

I'm sorry.

[couldntpullthetrigger]

[She sort of appreciates the silence, actually.

... It's almost nice enough to get her to fall asleep again.

But he talks again, and she blinks away the sleepiness, turning toward him again... or as much as she can between the metal around her neck trying to keep her head steady, and the fact her own right eye is covered by the bandages.]

For what, not being prince charming to come rescue me before I took that... whatever... to the back? [Probably an axe or sword. She doesn't know. She doesn't care. ... That came out with more bitterness than she wanted, but she doesn't care there, either.] ... You're forgiven. It wasn't anyone's fault but my own stupid one. And now here I am.

[She frowns at the ceiling. Some of her rage seems to have sparked, but it's not enough to overcome the depression.

It's more enough to fuel it.]

... Honestly I'd rather be dead again.