10th l o s t s o u l ~ [Action]

[illusional]

[Cheyenne was hungry.]

[It had only been a few moments since she awoke, resting in the snow and shivering, and she was already on her feet and walking. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized where she was. This wasn't the desert anymore. No, this place was still familiar... Luceti. But the name held no significance for her yet. Her mind was racing. For the first time in what felt like forever, she could actually think. The hunger was still unbearable, but the shift into the barrier was enough to give her some control.]

[She needed to figure out what to do before she froze to death or gave in to temptation. She didn't know why, perhaps her mind wasn't clear enough to understand, but she knew she couldn't go into the village yet. She needed to wait... but for what? Waiting wasn't going to make things better. Perhaps, if she could find just one person, she could pull herself together long enough to feed without putting them in danger?]

[But did she have the self-control to do so?]

[She was so hungry...]

--

[Much later in the evening, Cheyenne will make her way around the village in an attempt to refamiliarize herself with the setting, this time wearing her blindfold. It hasn't changed too much since she was last here, thankfully. She'll grab a few things from the item shop to bring back to her apartment before finally stopping by Seventh Heaven for dinner. Her memories of Luceti place are still coming back in bits and pieces, but at the very least, she remembers she ate here often.]

[Feel free to run into her at any point, though she'll probably be a little unresponsive until after she's eaten actual food.]

--

((ooc: Okay, so! Cheyenne here is an illusionist. Normally she's much more in control of her powers, but after a month and a half of not feeding at all, she doesn't have a very strong hold on mind right now. The powercap brought back some of her sanity, but until she can manage enough to go into the village without eating every soul in sight, she'll be wandering around the forest just outside the village. Unfortunately, she's doing so without her blindfold on, which means anyone who happens to see her is at risk for being fed on.

If you want your character to run into her in the first part, please fill this out! And keep in mind she might avoid your character in the future if they didn't already know each other from her last stay here. Basically, when someone looks into her eyes, they will be trapped in an illusion of whatever it is they fear the most. Only your character will see the illusion, and they won't be able to move until freed. If your character wears sunglasses/goggles/anything that obscures vision, or is blind, they won't be affected by illusions. And don't worry, she won't feed long enough to leave any damage to your character's soul.

And of course, she'll be completely sane for the second part!))

Comments

[illusional]

[Cheyenne can sense that change in him. She can sense the anxiety wash over as his soul begins to waver from the sudden burst of intense emotion. She's so hungry, so hungry, that it's almost enough to make her forget the well-being of the person in her arms altogether and simply tear out his soul here and now.]

[Almost.]

[But despite the negative feelings she can sense coming off from him, there's another feeling inside herself. She doesn't quite understand it. It feels so familiar... has she done this before? Impossible. The only person she's ever hugged like this was--]

Luke. [Quickly, all too quickly, she drops her arms and forces herself away from him, knocking herself down to the ground in the process. The haramaki falls beside her, but it doesn't matter. Her eyes are closed. And the moment she's no longer touching him, those negative feelings disappear.]

[fabrecation]

[It feels like a wave just crashed over him. All of the negative emotions were washed out as a result, though a few lingered, as he was prone to such things in the first place. The force of it makes him fall heavily to his knees, one hand moving to catch himself and the other pressing against his forehead. All of it gave him a headache, almost as bad as a migraine, though none could ever be as bad as the headaches he'd have back on Auldrant.]

Cheyenne...? [He lifts his head and opens his eyes, and he's just about to look away when he realizes that her eyes are closed. Maybe... she remembers now.]

[illusional]

[Her eyes are closed, but after a moment of so, she clamps her hands over her face and arches forward, her shoulders shaking from more than just the cold now.]

[When she speaks, her voice sounds much less monotone than it had before. It sounds strained, almost as though she were in pain. Everything considered, she practically is. Just trying to keep hold of what's left of her sanity is taking so much effort...]

...I don't understand. I don't want to hurt you, Luke. But I don't understand. I'm so hungry I can hardly think.

[fabrecation]

[It wouldn't do to ask "what happened". If she can't think, then she probably doesn't have the energy to recall why she's so hungry. He's never starved before; he's a rich boy who always had his filling of food, and if not, it wouldn't be long until he had some. But he can imagine the pain she must be in.

He shifts his hand over his eyes and turns his head away to face the forest ground instead.]

Can't you feed on me the way you did it before? I know it won't be much, but maybe it'd help some...

[illusional]

[For a moment, one of her hands suddenly shoots out towards Luke, but stops halfway, and is quickly redirected and punched into the snow. She shakes her head. She's trying so hard, so hard, to hold on to herself right now. She knows she wouldn't be able to muster the concentration needed to adjust which part of the soul to feed from.]

[Her voice, while still strained, slides back into being more monotone.]

Get away. Get away from me, Luke. I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to... I can't think...

[Her other hand falls from her face, but her eyes are still closed. She lets out a sound that from anyone else might have sounded like a laugh. But from Cheyenne, it comes out forced and cold. She looks back up again, a strange grin on her face that doesn't look the least bit happy. Something isn't right.]

[She's gone.]

[He'll have a few seconds to escape, but that's the only opening he'll get before she jumps out and pulls his arm away, with full intention of looking into his eyes by force.]

[fabrecation]

[Luke didn't look at her. He couldn't see her smile, or the way she reached out to him.

But he heard her warning and her laughter, and it makes him tense. Right now, Luke knows that he's in danger. He has to escape, or else she'll look into his eyes and -

He gets into a standing position, at least. Maybe he can talk to her, or let her at least touch him again, to try snapping her out of this. It wouldn't be that easy and he knew it, but there was something else at stake for him. Mainly, the fact that there were still the others in the village. She could outright attack them, without her knowing who they are. Luke, at least, had the luxury of her recognizing him. If she fed on him, or looked at him...

That's about all he can think of. His hand is still over his eyes, but they're also tightly clenched shut, as if he knows what's going to happen to him. He takes a step back, but even if he wanted to run, he wouldn't be able to see, knowing that she might be there in his path.]

[illusional]

Why are you walking away, Luke? [She's close. Though not touching him, he should be able to tell by her voice that her face is only inches away from his. Reaching up, she runs her hand over his, not pulling it away from his eyes but keeping the contact on it. She's using her curse to her advantage now.]

Luke. Why won't you look at me. Are you afraid? Is that fear I see? I can see it in your soul. Such a pretty color... [That laugh again. It's completely hollow, and even more mechanical-sounding than before.]

Do you know what it's like to starve to death and never die? Do you? Do you want to know? I can show you. Open your eyes. I want to see them. I want to see your eyes, Luke.

[fabrecation]

[Those feelings came over him again. Fear and despair and self-hatred. He shuddered, but he couldn't move away from an illusionist's touch. What he could do, however, was dig his fingertips into the sides of his face in an attempt to keep it there.

His mind was racing. He didn't want to know what it was like - he can only imagine that that was what she felt like. But... the more Luke thought that, the more he shook and let out a small whimper of fear.

For all he knows, he ought to feel this. What had he done to deserve any more than that? Nothing. He destroyed thousands of lives, he's stolen everything from someone, he nearly destroyed his world, all because he existed. The more she touches his hand, the more he feels like he can see them - People with miasma coating their hands reaching out to him, crying out to him, trying to drag him into the endless sea with him - ]

Sh-Shut up, shut up! [His voice shakes, but it's forceful.] I won't - I'm not - You can't see them!

[failazure]

[She had heard something moments ago, but it wasn't until she heard the sound of someone screaming-- and that someone sounding very closely to Luke-- that Noel took off in the direction of the source. Every alarm in her head was going off, and Luke or not, she felt that someone was in danger.

Honestly, Noel had no idea what she was seeing when she turned up at the scene. She never met Cheyenne during her last stay in Luceti, so she didn't know who the girl was, or what she was doing. All Noel assumes is that this girl was doing something to hurt Luke, and she wasn't going to stand by and let it happen.

So in an attempt to break apart the two, Noel lunges toward their direction and yells--]

Stop! [Running, running.] Let him go! [If neither of them moved quick, Noel will be attempting to shove Cheyenne away, and hard.]

[illusional]

[Cheyenne makes no move to try and escape Noel's charge. Why would she, after all, when she's used to being more or less untouchable in her own world. But Luceti is much different from her own world, and not only does her curse not extend as far, but her body cannot regenerate from wounds while inside the barrier.]

[Cheyenne is thrown to the side and lands in the snow with a soft cry, her eyes snapping shut to protect them in case she landed on her face. She's still only wearing a new feather dress, and she's not exactly immune to the cold. The more she's knocked down, the more it's going to start effecting her. Not that she's in the right mind to care about such things.]

[She starts trying to get back up, but it might take a minute. Insane or not, that still hurt...]

[fabrecation]

[Again, Luke falls to his hands and knees thanks to the force of all that negativity leaving him for the most part. His eyes fly open, and he ducks his head and turns it to look back at Noel. He can't look at Cheyenne - who knows if her eyes are open now or not.]

Noel, don't - don't look at her eyes! [He gets to his feet, his knees shaking as he does so. He looks up at Cheyenne, but only at her stomach. Even with her eyes closed, Luke knows that he can't look at them, seeing how they could fly open any second.]

We... We have to get out of here. [It's mostly because of the fact that now Noel's thrown into the equation. If it was just him, he'd still fight against Cheyenne. But he can't put Noel in danger...

So, with images still flashing through his head, he forces himself to turn and take Noel's arm. Come on, before she gets back up...]

[failazure]

[Noel's heart was racing; even more so after she had separated the two. Moreso than what had happened to Luke, something... something didn't feel quite right. When Noel touched her...

Thankfully, it's when Luke yells that her attention returns to him.] H-Her eyes? What?

[What does that even mean? Before she has a chance to question him, though, he already has her by the arm and is trying to get her to leave with him.

...for now, all she can do is to trust Luke. To be honest, she'd rather get the hell out of here with him than to stay and wait to see what she does next. If Luke runs, she'll run.]

[illusional]

[Running is a good idea. Cheyenne turns to the two of them, eyes still closed but fully able to sense where they are regardless. She's hungry. There's two of them... and the new comer feels powerful. If she could get them both... if she could get even just a little...!]

[But when she tries to take a step, her legs refuse to move. Her whole body is trembling from the cold, and as much as she tries to ignore it, her body isn't capable of handling the drop in temperature.]

[She tries to force herself to take a step. She falls over again.]

[And then she starts to "laugh" again.]

[They'll likely be long out of sight before she even tries to move again, at which point she'll return to her internal struggles with her own mind and try to head deeper into the forest, hopefully further from the village.]

[fabrecation]

[As soon as Luke knows that Noel's following, he starts to run. He has to get them in the clear, especially since he's sure Cheyenne saw them both. He doesn't even look back at her, even if his concern for her makes him want to. He'll just regret it if he does, and he'd be useless to Noel.

It's only when they break through the forest and end up in the square that Luke stops and looks back at the treeline, breathing hard and moving in front of Noel just in case he needs to urge her to go on again. Now he just hopes he didn't lead Cheyenne right to the village...

But after a few minutes, it's clear that Cheyenne didn't give chase. Now, Luke can finally relax... sort of. He feels unsteady, and he sways slightly before he presses his palm into his forehead, then moves to lean against one of the shops, his hands and arms shaking. He can still see those images surfacing in his head - bodies everywhere, his friends walking away, Asch... a replica...]

Are you... okay, Noel? [He does, at least, have enough semblance of mind to keep looking out for Noel. If he could just suppress the rest of the memories, he'll be fine.]

[failazure]

I... [She stops, wanting to catch her breath first before continuing. It feels like they had run forever. When Noel turns her back and scans the forest... she can't see that girl anymore. They must have been able to escape.

She's glad they're out of there... and that she found Luke before something really bad happened.

The blonde turns her head back to him, taking a shaky step forward towards him.] ...I'm okay. Are you okay? Who-- Who was that girl? Did you know her?

[fabrecation]

[Luke raises his head a little to look back at Noel, though he turns it back to stare at the ground just a moment later. It's too hard to try concentrating and stay calm when all the worst memories of his life keep playing for him.]

H-Her name's Cheyenne. She's an illusionist... She isn't usually like that.

[He won't answer that part about himself being okay. Saying that he was would be kind of a lie at the moment.]

[failazure]

An illusionist...? [She doesn't think she's heard of the term, but her next question is thrown into the water when she takes a better look at Luke.

He doesn't look like he was injured, but... something doesn't seem right. Not in the least bit. That much should have been obvious, considering his screaming back in the forest.

Now she's worried. Convinced that something terrible must have happened, she edges on closer to him.]

What did she do to you? [...] You... You don't look well at all.

[fabrecation]

[... Right. Right, he's... being too obvious. Luke presses his hand against his forehead for a few seconds before he straightens out, though he keeps his eyes shut. There's a slight sting behind them that he doesn't want anyone else to see.]

I'm fine. I'm fine, really, she... didn't do anything. Just... She just touched me, that's all.

[... He purses his lips and lifts his head a bit, creating a slight cringe. Once he thinks about these things, it's hard to stop.]

1/2

[failazure]

[...]

She... touched you? [Without thinking, she reaches out to carefully touch his arm, as though she were trying to comfort him in some way. She doesn't think he's o--

Ping.

kay...]

[failazure]

[There is a ringing. There is a loud, high-pitched ringing that is going through her head. It's not only annoying, it--] Ah--

[Hurts.

She knows it. Noel already understands what is happening, but it's too late. She can't pull away. She can't. Why is this happening again!?]

Ah... Ahhhhhhhhhh!

[Luke...!]

1/2

[fabrecation]

[Ping.

Luke suddenly shoots his eyes open and stares ahead for only a second before the pain hits. He squeezes them shut again, and both hands go to his head now, clutching the sides of it. Not only that, but there's a light glow around his body - not as strong as it would be if it were Asch or Lorelei calling him back on Auldrant, but enough to be noticeable at a distance.

This is a familiar pain, one of someone stabbing into his head. He doesn't even think of who could be doing it, just that it hurts just like all the other times it would happen without him expecting it.]

Not... again - AHH!

2/2

[fabrecation]

[All Luke can hear is a loud ringing, resonating sound in his head, just like back on Auldrant, and it seems like there's nothing else around him. But Noel will be seeing something else entirely.

A man with brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, piercing blue eyes, and a beard. His posture is proud, and he's obviously military. He smiles at Luke and rests a hand on his shoulder.

"Master!"

Happiness and warmth.

"Foolish replica Luke."

A blinding light from Luke's hands, and a giant object before him shatters into pieces.

Apprehension. Did he succeed?

"You've finally proven useful, replica."

That same man, the smile is no longer kind. It's a sneer, a mocking, triumphant gaze. Something was wrong.

Fade to dark.

Fade to light.

A rock slab, a small animal watching him, a few standing. People he knows. Others are on the ground, so still that it's scary. An ocean of violet mud is all around them.

"Mommy! Daddy!"

A little boy reaches out to them. They can't get to him. He sinks in the mud crying out for his parents.

Dread.

(Did I do this? No no no no no)

"No one told me! It's not my fault! It's not my fault!"

"I'm returning to the bridge. If I stay here, I'll just be irritated by some ridiculous ranting."
"Ever since you lost your memory, you're like a completely different person..."
"Ion! Don't even bother talking to him! He's not even worth it."
"Luke... Don't make me think even less of you..."
"I was stupid for starting to think you had some good in you..."

Retreating backs. Denial despair anger betrayal -

Crushing realization.

Broken sobbing.

A flash, a city blanketed in violet. A man with Luke's face stands across from him.

"That's right! You're a second-rate copy of me! A mere replica!"

denial denial grief panic it can't be everything was a lie mother father life baticul natalia guy the promise

replica replica luke copy second-rate foolish replica akzeriuth everyone no no

"You're lying! It's not true it's not true it's not true!!"

Screaming, the aimless swinging of the sword, panic broken can't think no more please please you're lying please

Clang, the sword is out of his hand and he's on the ground with Asch's sword raised above him -

"DIE!"]

1/2

[failazure]

[Her eyes are dull. Noel can't hear his screams any longer. The world around them goes dark. All that there is now are memories.

His memories.

She can see everything he sees. Hear everything he hears.




Feel everything...

His happiness. His apprehension. His fears. His denial.

His despair.

No more.


She doesn't want this. These memories were not her own to experience.

Stop.

But there is nothing she can do.

Noel is in-tune with Luke. For these few moments... it's as though their minds were one.

Betrayal. Death. Abandonment. Grief. Denial.

Pain.

It's too painful.

Somewhere, far away. She can feel the droplet of tears touch her cheeks.

And when the man who shared the same face as Luke raised his sword, all Noel could do was scream.

LUUUUUKE!]

[failazure]

[The connection breaks.

Seconds had only passed.

But it felt like a whole lifetime for Noel.

She snaps her hand back, trembling. Her legs collapse and she crumbles onto the ground.

Her breathing is heavy. In the back of her mind, she realizes that she had been crying.]

L-Luke...

[What has she done?]

[fabrecation]

[As soon as the connection breaks, Luke takes a few steps away and bends over, hands still gripping his head as the pain begins to fade. The glow, in turn, dims until he looks normal again. Once that happens, Luke slowly loosens his grip and lowers his hands.

What... What just happened? Did someone get into his head again? But who...

He looks behind him to find Noel on her knees with tears falling down her cheeks. He jumps slightly and leans back a little, simply because the sight of a girl crying will always make him feel awkward and unsure of himself. But that only lasts for a second or two, and in the next, he finds himself kneeling down in front of her, one hand frozen in mid-reach towards her shoulder. What is he... supposed to do for her? Right now, he's not even sure what's wrong.]

Noel...?