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video; un: felix & raddude5000
[As the battle rages on outside the South Naelor fortress, two network messages will reach all fellow Orbers through their headsets. They come through only several minutes apart.]
___________
video; un: felix
[The POV recording is transmitted through to the network without context save Felix's associated username; dumping viewers immediately into the sight of a beaming Jun Shortaxe. He's standing in a stone-walled room, clapping with arrogant glee as he steps closer into the room.]
--you're wrong about the deal. The king's deal was done the moment the heirloom was taken away from the palace... it told me that itself. [He is facing Felix as he speaks, only turning to address a second unseen person as an afterthought.] Hi, Finn. Made it here like a real hero, I'm proud of you.
[Finn's shattered reply is heard instead of seen, Felix's POV fixed solely on Jun with unerring focus. He is capturing everything; every subtle twitch of his body language, every laughing shrug of his shoulders. It's only when Finn's confusion turns to anger that he comes into frame, stepping between Felix and Jun with sword outstretched in one hand and glowing orb in the other. With a quick toss, the orb is sailing through the air towards Felix. When he snatches it out of the air, viewers are granted a brief but detailed look at the orb itself. Veteran Orbers will recognize the power emanating from it immediately. This was their target.]
Your little act was always a bit too much, just so you know. [Felix drawls, offering his own amused assessment of Jun's betrayal just before pocketing the orb out of frame.] See ya.
[Those watching closely will notice the shadow Felix cast suddenly disappear, indicating that an invisibility spell was Felix's final gambit to leave successfully with the orb. Unfortunately, the ploy is shortlived. Just as Felix's point of view shifts towards the nearest window, Jun's deeply disinterested voice issues a simple command: Do it. Immediately, what could only be described as intense pain pollutes the mental recording with distortion. The crackle of electricity and Finn's scream can be dimly heard through the limited visibility and roaring static.
When the video feed resumes again, Felix is clearly on the ground. Waves of pained distortion still radiate through him, picture flickering as he begins to lose consciousness. From his new position on the floor, only Finn and Jun's legs can be seen. The latter slowly moves towards him as the former seems to freeze, dropping his sword in horror.]
He has about an hour. Being hit by that spell is not a joke... I should know. It was worth it, though. [The voice is unmistakably Jun's, hammered home as he kneels down into frame and reaches out towards Felix and retrieves the orb, which now glows even more brightly in the presence of its partner. He stands, back now to Felix, facing Finn fully. The picture is practically strobing now, capturing only a few frames of every second as it gives into blackness]
I'm sorry, I really did want to help Degar. [The regret in his voice even sounds genuine.] But the heirloom isn't something I can give him. He'd understand. All I'm doing is fulfilling the promise we made as kids--
[If there was any words or violence exchanged between the two of them, it's lost to the sudden grip of Felix's unconsciousness. The feed cuts completely.]
(( ooc: for full context of what Felix's recording captures, please read the npc thread HERE ))
___________
[To those on the battlefield, it will only be roughly eight minutes after Felix's video appears that an earthshaking noise and blinding light erupt from the South Naelor fortress. Rubble rains down from the keep's tower, shattered by the a set of imposing red wings. A red dragon with a single teal scale centered on his chest perches on the half destroyed tower, its origin as inexplicable as it was sudden.
The dragon lingers for a moment, staring at something in the wreckage, before taking wing towards the battlefield.]
[A few stunned moments later, another video appears on the network:]
___________
video; un: raddude5000
[The view is unclear, rubble obscured by dust and smoke and a distant din of battle. Finn’s voice however, is recognizable, and as the video shifts to where he is kneeling, so is the sight of Felix, who was lying motionless, plainly injured and bleeding. The placement and number of his wounds aren't clear, only their severity is obvious. The external distortion caused by Jun's spell is almost as nightmarish as the mental distortion Orbers experienced secondhand.]
We need help in the fortress-- Felix is hurt, bad and I... don’t know what to do. He needs a healer or a doctor, now. Like, ‘ten minutes ago’ now.
[Finn couldn't know how accurate Jun’s 'hour' claim was, or how much leeway there was in either direction. Felix had scarcely moved since going down, and if he was conscious it was only barely. His death felt all too real a possibility. Panic clouds Finn's voice in the face of it, speaking quickly.
He turns the camera back to himself, in part to spare Felix the voyeuristic exposure of capturing what could very well be his final moments on camera. Finn, dusty but uninjured, looks exhausted. The darker blood of the dremnin on the front of his armor and the brighter, fresher blood on his hand from touching Felix were visible as he pushes away a loose lock of hair. Sabriel’s careful braid saved him from complete dishevelment, but only just. He doesn’t quite look in the direction of the video, shoulders held up tensely as he speaks.]
Jun has the orb. He... I mean I think the orb is part of him now. It did something to him, turned him into a... [Finn pauses, searching for a word to describe the beast. There were no creatures like it from his world, where dragons were something else entirely.] I dunno, a dinosaur or something, and he’s heading your way now. You need to--
[His voice stops short, cut off in his throat by some kind of impossible emotion. A desperate part of him still wanted to implore some kind of leniency from them, some kind of mercy or understanding... but he holds it back. What mattered right now was everyone’s safety. If there was anything left to save of Jun Shortaxe, he couldn’t prioritize it right now. Not over everyone else.]
You need to stop him.
___________
video; un: felix
[The POV recording is transmitted through to the network without context save Felix's associated username; dumping viewers immediately into the sight of a beaming Jun Shortaxe. He's standing in a stone-walled room, clapping with arrogant glee as he steps closer into the room.]
--you're wrong about the deal. The king's deal was done the moment the heirloom was taken away from the palace... it told me that itself. [He is facing Felix as he speaks, only turning to address a second unseen person as an afterthought.] Hi, Finn. Made it here like a real hero, I'm proud of you.
[Finn's shattered reply is heard instead of seen, Felix's POV fixed solely on Jun with unerring focus. He is capturing everything; every subtle twitch of his body language, every laughing shrug of his shoulders. It's only when Finn's confusion turns to anger that he comes into frame, stepping between Felix and Jun with sword outstretched in one hand and glowing orb in the other. With a quick toss, the orb is sailing through the air towards Felix. When he snatches it out of the air, viewers are granted a brief but detailed look at the orb itself. Veteran Orbers will recognize the power emanating from it immediately. This was their target.]
Your little act was always a bit too much, just so you know. [Felix drawls, offering his own amused assessment of Jun's betrayal just before pocketing the orb out of frame.] See ya.
[Those watching closely will notice the shadow Felix cast suddenly disappear, indicating that an invisibility spell was Felix's final gambit to leave successfully with the orb. Unfortunately, the ploy is shortlived. Just as Felix's point of view shifts towards the nearest window, Jun's deeply disinterested voice issues a simple command: Do it. Immediately, what could only be described as intense pain pollutes the mental recording with distortion. The crackle of electricity and Finn's scream can be dimly heard through the limited visibility and roaring static.
When the video feed resumes again, Felix is clearly on the ground. Waves of pained distortion still radiate through him, picture flickering as he begins to lose consciousness. From his new position on the floor, only Finn and Jun's legs can be seen. The latter slowly moves towards him as the former seems to freeze, dropping his sword in horror.]
He has about an hour. Being hit by that spell is not a joke... I should know. It was worth it, though. [The voice is unmistakably Jun's, hammered home as he kneels down into frame and reaches out towards Felix and retrieves the orb, which now glows even more brightly in the presence of its partner. He stands, back now to Felix, facing Finn fully. The picture is practically strobing now, capturing only a few frames of every second as it gives into blackness]
I'm sorry, I really did want to help Degar. [The regret in his voice even sounds genuine.] But the heirloom isn't something I can give him. He'd understand. All I'm doing is fulfilling the promise we made as kids--
[If there was any words or violence exchanged between the two of them, it's lost to the sudden grip of Felix's unconsciousness. The feed cuts completely.]
(( ooc: for full context of what Felix's recording captures, please read the npc thread HERE ))
___________
[To those on the battlefield, it will only be roughly eight minutes after Felix's video appears that an earthshaking noise and blinding light erupt from the South Naelor fortress. Rubble rains down from the keep's tower, shattered by the a set of imposing red wings. A red dragon with a single teal scale centered on his chest perches on the half destroyed tower, its origin as inexplicable as it was sudden.
The dragon lingers for a moment, staring at something in the wreckage, before taking wing towards the battlefield.]
[A few stunned moments later, another video appears on the network:]
___________
video; un: raddude5000
[The view is unclear, rubble obscured by dust and smoke and a distant din of battle. Finn’s voice however, is recognizable, and as the video shifts to where he is kneeling, so is the sight of Felix, who was lying motionless, plainly injured and bleeding. The placement and number of his wounds aren't clear, only their severity is obvious. The external distortion caused by Jun's spell is almost as nightmarish as the mental distortion Orbers experienced secondhand.]
We need help in the fortress-- Felix is hurt, bad and I... don’t know what to do. He needs a healer or a doctor, now. Like, ‘ten minutes ago’ now.
[Finn couldn't know how accurate Jun’s 'hour' claim was, or how much leeway there was in either direction. Felix had scarcely moved since going down, and if he was conscious it was only barely. His death felt all too real a possibility. Panic clouds Finn's voice in the face of it, speaking quickly.
He turns the camera back to himself, in part to spare Felix the voyeuristic exposure of capturing what could very well be his final moments on camera. Finn, dusty but uninjured, looks exhausted. The darker blood of the dremnin on the front of his armor and the brighter, fresher blood on his hand from touching Felix were visible as he pushes away a loose lock of hair. Sabriel’s careful braid saved him from complete dishevelment, but only just. He doesn’t quite look in the direction of the video, shoulders held up tensely as he speaks.]
Jun has the orb. He... I mean I think the orb is part of him now. It did something to him, turned him into a... [Finn pauses, searching for a word to describe the beast. There were no creatures like it from his world, where dragons were something else entirely.] I dunno, a dinosaur or something, and he’s heading your way now. You need to--
[His voice stops short, cut off in his throat by some kind of impossible emotion. A desperate part of him still wanted to implore some kind of leniency from them, some kind of mercy or understanding... but he holds it back. What mattered right now was everyone’s safety. If there was anything left to save of Jun Shortaxe, he couldn’t prioritize it right now. Not over everyone else.]
You need to stop him.
video; un: redgrave
We’re on it, kid, swear it. I’m—sorry.
[That this happened. That he trusted someone and then they turned around and repaid him like this. That he had to learn the hard way. Finn doesn’t deserve this, Dante knows that too well.
But I’m sorry has never solved any problems in Dante’s life. That’s what his sword’s for. So he gets down to business right away:]
What kinda dinosaur are we talking about here? Might be a demon, might be something else.
Video;
Looked kinda like a big red lizard, with uh, bat wings? [ Not a very specific description, but how could they miss it? It seems like that might be all he is going to say, before continuing in the last moment:]
You guys have to make it worth it. Don’t let anyone else get hurt…
no subject
We won’t. Only people getting hurt will be us—nobody else is gonna get caught up in this.
[He falls silent for another moment. Then:] What about you? You’re safe for now, right?
no subject
He'd heard that name from Dante before. Suddenly, the memory of their bet winds itself around his gut, squeezing tight. It wasn't how Finn would've chosen it to happen, but he can't help feeling like he understood Dante better now than those few days ago.]
I'm fine. [He answers his question stiffly, quickly moving onto the thing that concerns him most:] And I don't want any more of us to get hurt, either.
[Maybe a petty thing to wish for in the face of how many were already hurt already, but Finn can't quite help expressing it.]
Jun--the dragon, it has a blue scale. I think it's the orb.
no subject
[At least they do in Dante’s admittedly very limited experience with dragons. Ugh, what a time to not have his powers or guns on hand. Next time they come to a world like this he’s bringing his guns along.]
Well, I guess we know what to target. [A silence.] You think there’s any way to get to him, while he’s like this? Like—I don’t know, if someone brings up Dweyre, will that make him stop and consider for a second, or just piss him off?
video; 1/2
[The pacing slows. Finn seems to remember a little too late that he's still on video, discomfort showing only briefly before he closes that channel.]
audio; 2/2
I tried that. Talking to him about who he used to be. [Ugh, Finn could feel emotion rise in him again like a tide. The constant up and down was exhausting. His powers of repression were considerable, but it was all just too fresh.] I really don't think he wanted this, not this way. I could've sworn I saw him as a kid, like... really saw him. Him and Degar and Dweyre. He just wanted to be a hero, like they promised back then.
I think the orb could feel that he was close to remembering what that felt like, y'know? And then it did... this.
[His voice goes a little higher at the end, breaking into a strange sort of laugh.]
But it's not like we can just talk to him now, he's a freakin' dinosaur-dragon!
audio;
[But Finn shouldn’t need to pay that cost. Plenty of people around to do that for him.
He listens a little more, then lets out a breath.]
We could. Maybe. Just gotta bring him and his ego crashing down, and frankly? [He shrugs, not that Finn can see it now over audio, and says something with a confidence backed by experience:] We’ve fought much bigger and much worse than a fake dragon hopped up on borrowed power. Can’t be that hard.
no subject
Still, the brief wave washes over him quickly, preoccupied with the pressing need of their situation. And the knowledge that at the end of the day, Dante was being kind. And the encouragement that follows is actually something Finn kind of needs to hear.]
He loves to hear about himself. [Finn laughs, a little darkly.] Like, a lot. If you hit the right buttons, drawing his aggro like that might actually work.
no subject
[Plus, kinda takes one to know one. Dante's one of the best demon hunters on his world, and he damn well knows it.]
Funny thing is, once you start telling and showing them they're not really all that, that there's somebody better than them, the really insecure ones? They lose it spectacularly. Start making mistakes a rookie knows better than to make.
You know what the right buttons are? Dweyre and Degar, that's two I can name off the top of my head, but you know the guy. I just heard the Grand Cross sing his praises.
no subject
He--[His voice is halting, but Finn finds it quickly.] He doesn't just care about the fame. Maybe that got mixed up in it eventually, but the hero part... it's not an act. Or it wasn't always one. He really does think the deal he made with the orb was for some greater good; that he's helped more people than he's hurt. It's this... justification he's built up around it.
He doesn't seem as sure about it as he tries to come off. He still really sees himself as the same guy Degar knew. I don't think he likes to think the orb changed him at all.