Add [ 𝙼𝚊𝚍 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚡 ] (
subtract) wrote in
thenearshore2018-01-03 05:27 pm
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[CLOSED]
Who: Add, Rin Okumura, Zelda, Oscar, Lenneth... and more TBA!
Where: The depths of Henir's temple
When: October 1st through the 2nd
What: Doing science on the spooky chaos temple core was never a good plan.
Warnings: Various degrees of mind control/manipulation, existential horror, and at least one death. Will update as needed.
Once the formal party is over, Add is already back at his temple making preparations. A pair of messages are sent to his "assistants" to ensure that they're aware of the date—a simple reminder and directions to his temple, along with the slightly ominous "Knock first, I'm not chasing you down if you get lost."
The outside of the temple is looking especially unkempt and overgrown today, but if Add's instructions are followed the door will open up into a wide dark space, blue cubes floating aimlessly about. Star-like lights glitter distantly in the abyss, occasionally blocked out by drifting dark shapes. Even further beyond that is a giant blue orb that never quite seems to stay in the same place. It's hard to miss, at least, but trying to gauge how big or far away it is might give you a headache.
Gravity appears to "stick" to the surface of each cube—any surface—but only as long as you remain in contact with them. So, get used to floating around and jumping between them. The meeting point is at the largest cube near the centre of the cluster, as per Add's directions.
Where: The depths of Henir's temple
When: October 1st through the 2nd
What: Doing science on the spooky chaos temple core was never a good plan.
Warnings: Various degrees of mind control/manipulation, existential horror, and at least one death. Will update as needed.
Once the formal party is over, Add is already back at his temple making preparations. A pair of messages are sent to his "assistants" to ensure that they're aware of the date—a simple reminder and directions to his temple, along with the slightly ominous "Knock first, I'm not chasing you down if you get lost."
The outside of the temple is looking especially unkempt and overgrown today, but if Add's instructions are followed the door will open up into a wide dark space, blue cubes floating aimlessly about. Star-like lights glitter distantly in the abyss, occasionally blocked out by drifting dark shapes. Even further beyond that is a giant blue orb that never quite seems to stay in the same place. It's hard to miss, at least, but trying to gauge how big or far away it is might give you a headache.
Gravity appears to "stick" to the surface of each cube—any surface—but only as long as you remain in contact with them. So, get used to floating around and jumping between them. The meeting point is at the largest cube near the centre of the cluster, as per Add's directions.
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Thankfully, Zelda acts as the voice of reason. If Lenneth's state isn't enough to prove their escape, then her words should carry more weight.]
It's as the princess says! At first, I thought I was a goner. When I was further out, I felt as if something was trying to get inside my head. Though I don't feel it so much now.
[He doesn't know if being closer to his God staves off the effect, or maybe it's Add harnessing the power of the core that distracts it away from him. Still...]
This place is givin' me major heebie-jeebies! If we have to fight our way, then let's do that!
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[Add's statement coaxes coherent words out of the Valkyrie, if barely so. One eye half-opens, then the other, though her form has no strength in it. The pain she feels is not physical as mortals would understand it.]
Your souls... are in danger here.
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... I don't feel anything like that. [He can't help but sound a little skeptical. Although... perhaps, he did feel something very briefly when they entered, but since it stopped so quickly he figured it was just his imagination.
But he doesn't feel too concerned about the core trying to attack his soul or whatever. He feels fine. Hell, he feels better than fine, this is the best he's felt in years, and why would his own temple try to hurt him? As far as it's concerned, he's Henir! So Add is definitely safe here. For everyone else, though...
He hums thoughtfully, feeling out more of the void around them. He can definitely feel something a bit different around Zelda and Lenneth right now, though it's hard to be sure when they're surrounded by so much light. His floating eyes blink out again as he concentrates, allowing the ebb and flow of the darkness to guide him.]
This isn't a place where living things are supposed to exist, so it's possible the core is trying to remove what it sees as foreign entities. [and by "remove" he doesn't mean put them back outside] Like antibodies attacking a virus... it's almost as if the core itself is alive. Fascinating.
I'll see if I can turn that off first. Anyway, I already said I should be able to get us out of here, I just need some time. Rushing me isn't going to make this any easier.
[Add goes quiet for awhile as he immerses himself in the core's controls. He almost looks like he's asleep, the shadows wrapped around his body growing thicker bit by bit. Sure enough, though, the stinging bite of the void gradually recedes, giving the two goddesses just enough room to breathe. The shadows continue to fight back fiercely against Zelda's golden light, but at least they're kind enough now not to snuff it out at the source.
The void is more courteous to Rin, who is now being properly recognized as Henir's shinki... so, he might have to shake off a shadowy tendril every now and then. At least they're not painful or even that clingy, but they're very persistent in their efforts to draw the shinki in with his god.]
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[Said with a bit of bite to her tone. She has no idea what the fuck antibodies are, but they don't sound good, and Add's understated reaction sounds even less so. Perhaps that's why even when she feels the pressure of the void ease off of her, she doesn't pull back her own power in turn. She does the opposite, in fact-- letting more and more golden light spill from her hand, enveloping herself and Lenneth in it and fighting off the tendrils that still try to lick at their heels. Still, the intent remains passive for now, acting more as a shield defending the goddesses rather than a sword to combat the core with.
She is willing to give Add a chance to gain control of the situation, but the moment it seems like he can't...
She glances down to the near-lifeless valkyrie in her arms.]
Lenneth, how are you feeling now?
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[Rin relents as his master advises them not to hurry him. It's only fair since none of them could connect with the void, and somehow control it. It's their ticket out of here, even if having to stay within the core any longer seems to be more dangerous. The shinki notices the toll it's taking on Add, his body becoming more cloaked by shadows. If he's not careful, Add could disappear within the darkness.
Rin looks over to the two goddesses, and Zelda's light seems to shine brighter. Did she have to increase the power just to ward off the darkness? The thought only makes Rin even more anxious. The core doesn't have much to feed on, since Rin lacks memories, but it does affect him. The more Add gets accustomed to the darkness, Rin feels an increase of that coiling, icy darkness from before. Slowly, but surely weaseling into his mind.]
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[Little of this crosses her face, save in a scowl, and perhaps it shows in the way she abruptly sits upright.]
Do you require my power?
[How she's feeling matters far less than accomplishing their task.]
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There's a small series of ripples at the edge of the void. The dynamos cut through the darkness, visible only as faint trails of light as they're dragged to the centre where Add is. The machines settle around him immediately, sparking even more brightly as the overwhelming power quickly spreads into their circuits. It makes the shadows around Add almost look like a thundercloud, streaks of electric energy bursting out occasionally as he adjusts Dynamo's formation.
He lets out a tiny sigh, basking in the power that now courses through him with purpose, guided by Dynamo's precision and his own will. This is more like it. Now he can really do anything he wants. He can go home, find Jakob and Roxas, fix every mistake he's ever suffered—anything. The possibilities are limitless as long as he has Henir's power.
He hears Lenneth speak, and a wall of eyes springs open around her again. He stares at her thoughtfully, considering the silent whispers of the void before giving an answer that echoes through the abyss.] I think I will.
[... and without a word of warning, the core pulses and she's violently ripped from Zelda's hold, dragged through the darkness to stop abruptly at Add's side. She's unharmed by the sudden shift in location, but it's certainly enough to be disorienting.
Add extends a hand to her, eyes still shut and cloaked in so much darkness only the bolts of energy from Dynamo and glowing patterns of his clothing can be seen clearly. Blue rings of rune-like symbols now encircle his wrists, and a larger blue ring of the same floats behind him.]
I only need a little bit more. Lend me your power so we can all leave this place.
[If she takes his hand, it's ice-cold.]
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[Zelda yells for the other goddess as she's snatched away from her arms, a high and slightly shrill sound edged with panic. She doesn't know Add, not really, but call it intuition, call it experience with the madness power inspires, but every passing moment Add is cradled in the void's embrace is one where Zelda feels their chances of escape slipping out of their reach.
She's the only one left floating out towards the edges of the core now. Well, almost the only one.
Oscar, take me as far away from the center as you can.
... Yes, mistress.
To the other three, her light seems to dim and grow smaller, but in truth she's floating farther and farther away. Perhaps... with the Triforce and Oscar's help, she can break out on her own. Perhaps she'll be able to get help. But it will be a gamble, if her suspicions are correct. She'll only have the one chance, she thinks, and if it doesn't work, well... she doesn't want to think about what might happen to her if it doesn't work.]
... Take care that you do not lose yourself to this power, Add. This is not how we intended to harness your temple's energy.
[... Even if a part of her so desperately wishes she could believe him, believe that they truly are just moments away from freedom.
She can't.]
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Was it because of the Dynamo, or has Add adjusted to the core? Rin starts to become a little wary. Especially with Zelda's light dimming, it only adds to omnious feeling that looms over them. Rin's body tensing up as if bracing himself for the worse. At least now that the Dynamo are close, he may be able to implement the override code if things get out of hand.]
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[Part of her is too harmed to protest, too pained and bruised to register the treatment as harsh or inappropriate. When one hurts, one expects to hurt further. That is simple logic, easily parsed.]
[Whatever the case, she offers no protest, no complaint. She merely reaches one hand out in silence, placing it into his. Her god power requires no effort on her part; it simply is.]
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The darkness roars in his ears and Zelda's words are lost on him. It's too late to back out now anyway. They've come this far, he can't stop now, no matter what the cost...!
Add reaches out with his free arm as Dynamo's position shifts, forming a wide ring in front of his fingertips. The bolts of wild energy cease, instead shooting bright sparks between the six machines and tracing up and down Add's arm, sometimes reaching as far as his chest. He seems undisturbed by the shocks, though, his eyes still closed and a serene expression on his face as he focuses his power through Dynamo.]
Dynamo, run program N-101340-0R. [A nonsensical command to every else in the room, but moments after he finishes the string of numbers a tremor shoots through the void. The darkness seems to twist and converge, gathering at the centre where Add is until a small pitch-black orb becomes visible, impossibly dark in comparison to everything around them. More energy builds around Dynamo before surging forward, electricity spiralling around the black orb before getting sucked in and disappearing. Slowly but surely, the tiny ball starts to grow as energy is fed into it.
There's an intensely powerful sensation of gravity coming from the orb, though Rin and Lenneth will find that an invisible force is holding them in place to keep them from getting dragged in. It's uncomfortable, but they're not going anywhere whether they like it or not. Zelda doesn't get any such protection, though her distance and the combination of Oscar and the Triforce is enough to keep her from getting pulled in (for now). Although, if she tries to reach the edge of the core she'll find that it's always just slightly too far away, as if the limits of the space are constantly expanding by just enough to irritate her.]
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Also that black orb is concerning and she'd really rather keep her distances from it as much as possible. It's easier said than done with only her own and Oscar's power to draw from though, and her voice is strained as she calls out:]
Wh... What is that?!
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Though flailing between the pull of the orb, and the power that keeps him still, is a little unpleasant. Rin grits his teeth as he braces himself against the two opposing powers.Even as the orb amplifies in size, it still seems manageable enough for Add to harness. He doesn't get what's going on, but there's no immediate danger yet.]
sorry for the delay, everyone
[The Valkyrie is not 'radiant', for no light truly seems to shine from her. Her presence illuminates nothing nearby. Yet she is clearly visible in the darkness, as if light shone on her and nothing else. Energy streams off her like a corona, tugged but not drawn into the void they face.]
Is that intentional?
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Continuing like this could kill him. This is already too risky, he should back out before it's too late... and yet, no matter what logic manages to rise through the haze of the void's influence, he can't will himself to end the program. He wants this to work. He needs this to work.
Add grinds his teeth until they ache, but he endures. He has no choice but to endure.
... and, strangely, it somehow works. His body holds, and just when it feels like he's about to be crushed into a fine dust, the pain starts to subside. An ice-cold numbness washes over him, and before long his trembling stops. His body is unharmed, and he feels... nothing.
The doubts in the back of his mind vanish in an instant. This is what he was always meant to do. This power is his to wield as he chooses.
The void pulses again and the orb's growth starts to speed up, now drawing energy from both Dynamo and the surrounding space as the darkness around them starts to spiral inwards. Add opens his eyes to smile blissfully at his creation.]
There's nothing to fear. No one will enter until the portal is complete.
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That's the portal? That swirling, incoherent mass that sets her every instinct aflame? That's supposed to be their way home?
... She should have known better, she thinks, fleetingly. She should have known it could never be this easy. But she was blinded by her desire, her desperation... just as she had been seven years ago. How truly, truly foolish of her. She allows herself a moment of mourning for the hope she held, then swallows her resolve.
It's time to end this.]
... Ancient creators of Hyrule!
[Her voice rings out across the void like a bell, clear and commanding for all who might hear it. The light of her magic, once concentrated at a point on the back of her hand, now radiates from her entire being as she prays, shining brighter and more ardently with every passing second, as if her body can barely contain it now that she's decided to unseal it.]
Hear the prayer of your chosen! Hear the prayer of the blood of the White Goddess! I beseech you, lend me your power!
[She burns like a sun against the darkness of the core, for that brief moment its equal and opposite in every way. There's no way to tell if the Golden Goddesses hear her desperate plea, so far removed she is from their sacred land, but as she lifts her hand, the symbol of the Triforce is emblazoned onto the nothingness above her, glowing a molten gold in stark contrast to the pitch blackness that surrounds them all.]
Now, Kageki!
[Then-- she begins to move, pushing towards the edge of the void with as much speed as Oscar can muster. And with a cry, she concentrates her power into a beam much like the one she blasted the core with when they were still on this outside, this one obviously a much more potent force than the previous. Before, she still had hope of being able to control and contain the core's energy, but now...
If she breaks the damn thing, so be it. She only has one chance at this.
This power is hers to wield as she chooses.]
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Zelda must have presumed the same thing. He sees that brilliant light consume her, and it cuts throw the darkness like a knife. Yet, she focuses her power to the outer parts of the orb. Maybe she's abandoned the plan, and decided to bore a way out of the core? If their predicament has come to this, then...was it the right time to use that override code, or was it already too late? There's no time to debate, Rin just shouts it out.]
Dynamo! Code: Paladin!
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[The sudden gathering of power behind her draws her attention, and she turns slightly to see what in Asgard's name is going on back there.]
...Is she resisting?
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The core is suffering, and he can feel its powers being drained away every second that light is allowed to exist. It's enough to make his smile drop into a cold glare, turning his attention away from the portal.
Allowing Zelda to enter this holy place was a mistake. If she lets her do as she pleases, she'll ruin everything. The light burns, and the grasping tendrils of the darkness can't touch her, but there's a gap in her armour. Add reaches out to it, drawing on the full power of the void to converge on that single point. He must stop her.
The darkness swirls around her and surges forward, travelling up the shadows cast by her golden light to cling to Oscar's vessel. The protection Add bestowed on them before is off, and the void bites and claws at the fibre of their beings with an intense fury. If it can't snuff out the light by drowning it in darkness, it'll tear out her traitorous shadow to stop his interference.
Add is so focused on neutralizing Zelda that he almost doesn't notice the command being called out. Dynamo shudders in response, three of them abruptly cutting off power to the orb and shaking against the darkness' hold. Add is now scowling as he turns his attention back to the orb, giving Zelda a chance to breathe.]
... You don't trust me. [His voice is cold and detached, but there's a pang of hurt in it as well. Not just Zelda, but now Rin too? He glares at the shinki as the shadows around him start to tighten, not enough to cause harm but certainly enough to prove just how in control Add is right now.] You never should have come here. You could never understand how important this is, you don't even have a world to go back to. You can't make progress without taking risks. I'm not going to lose this chance!
[He's lost half the output of his dynamos, but he turns to the orb again anyway, focusing more and more on all the power he can reach. He doesn't need dynamo for this. The coordinates are already set, all he has to do is will the void to bend to his whims. He tightens his hold on Lenneth, the shadows wringing her out and grasping for more power in any place they can reach. He needs more, more...
The edges of the space around them seem like they're starting to shrink, the orb growing ever larger as it sucks in everything around it.]
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All her hopeful thoughts are cut off by sudden and excruciating pain. Zelda screams, wordlessly, in abject agony as the shadows pry at her mind, her soul, her very existence, her light sputtering and flickering as she struggles against the icy bite of the core's wrath. It's only because she's so self-disciplined that she's able to maintain any kind of focus at all, that her light isn't extinguished then and there. This is the kind of pain that leaves men hollow shells of themselves, she imagines.
It stops, eventually, after what feels like an eternity, and Zelda does indeed takes the chance to breathe. Something... is happening down there, between Rin and Add, but she can't quite comprehend what exactly, her nerves too overcome with relief that, for however briefly, the pain has stopped. She runs a mental checklist on herself instead as she recovers; she can still feel her fingers, her toes-- she can still see, for whatever value seeing has in this place, and--]
Os... car?
[Something's missing. She can't-- she can't hear Oscar's voice, she can't sense his feelings... He's still alive, she's sure of it, somehow, but she can't--]
Where... [Her voice is hoarse from her crying, but her tone is still one that demands an answer.] Where have you taken him...?
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Rin cringes as the darkness around him start to tighten. It's not enough to do damage, but it did make it that much harder to breathe and relax. His adrenaline already surging with the events happening around him. Now the void is squeezing Lenneth of her power, and it makes him even more restless. Rin has nothing else on his arsenal to use against Add. The only thing was trying to reason with his god.]
I don't understand how you feel, but this isn't how you want to do this! You don't want to hurt anyone! But everyone is in pain, don't you see that?
[ This isn't Add. It's not the same person who was so unwilling for him to go, because Rin could potentially lose his life.]
This isn't worth the sacrifice of your friends, you know that!
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...Is there still a chance?
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Yes. It would be better for all of them to give in to the void.
The thought starts to seep into his mind... though first he has to finish what he came here to do. He needs to reach those other worlds, to pull in his friends (Jakob, and... what was his name again...?) and share this wonderful emptiness with them. So for now he brushes the thought aside, scoffing at his shinki's nonsensical words.]
You don't know anything about me. What makes you think this isn't what I want? [Of course it's what he wants. His heart is empty, it'd be different if he cared, wouldn't it?]
You're not my friend. You're just a tool. All of you are.
[The darkness shudders again, more power being poured into the orb. The whole core starts the quake like it's ready to shatter, pushed to its absolute limits by Add's command. The gravity is becoming painfully intense—even Zelda will find now that a small hand of darkness grips her in place, hanging onto whatever spot it can touch in her weakened state.
It's getting close to completion. Just a little bit more...]
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It hurts.
It hurts.
Her light flickers like a firefly's between the pulses of pain that course through her body, just barely enough to keep herself from being completely caught up in the void's clutches. As she thought, she won't be able to pull off that stunt again. Despair curls around the edges of her mind, thoughts of surrender gently tempting her to give in, let go, why bother fighting anymore when you've already lost? It would be so much easier. It would make the pain stop.
She can't.
She can't.
She can't.]
He's... lost his mind...
[But what can she do? What can any of them do, when the very space around them is their enemy?
She finds her thoughts drifting to Link.
Zelda prays.]
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It's true, after all. He doesn't know Add very well. It's possible this was his god's intention the whole time.Maybe, Add's showing his true colors now?
Of course, he's simply a tool. What value does someone, who doesn't remember their past, and has already died, have? He should just give up, right? There's no use fighting anymore.
As the void squeezes around his form, the resistant spirit that Rin possesses, begins to yield. The mental strain of the core paralyzes him. He closes his eyes, feeling weaken by the abyss's influence. His consciousness slips with the numb coldness of the core trying to consume him.]
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