General voice test and also testrun post for Exitvoid

[only_destroys]

[[In case you've played FFXIII and you're wondering why Lightning's such a jerkface here, it's because my initial canon point for this muse is Chapter 4.]]

-1- (First person test)


I'm about done waiting around for answers. I don't like being taken for a fool.

I'm gonna get a few of the stronger fighters together and raid the bridge. I don't believe that it's invincible - hit it hard enough and long enough and something's got to give. Once we get in, I'm sure plenty of you have some questions you'd like to ask the captain.

Who's with me?


-2- (Third person test)


The end of the most recent docking didn't go as well as it might have. There were complications. For some, getting back to the Charon or not became a question of seconds.

For one passenger (that would likely be your character, for tagging purposes), it looked like there wasn't going to be enough time. Too many monsters, too much distance to travel, too many injuries... until, that is, Lightning went back to get the last straggler herself. Possibly just throwing them over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, she made the deadline at the last possible moment. Everyone's back in one piece.

It's a few minutes later, now. People are catching their breath in the wake of all the danger and excitement. Lightning just leans against a wall looking at nothing, an expression of mild frustration on her face. After reaching some decision, she sighs, gets up, and approaches the person she saved before.

"Next time, why don't you just stay on the ship?"

Comments

2!

[ethereal_earth]

Out of breath and shaking slightly, Terra looks up from where she had slumped on the floor of the ship. She's obviously shaken, but she gives Lightning a grateful smile.

"We need food. And I... thought I could make one last run. I was wrong." She gets to her feet, hefting a sack full of various items. "I wouldn't have made it back without your help. Thank you."

[only_destroys]

She folds her arms, frowning at Terra. "No amount of supplies are worth it if you don't survive long enough to get them to the ship. If you let your pride get in the way, then the best you can hope for is to be the only one who suffers for it."

What? Tact? Sensitivity? Please, this is Lightning we're talking about.

[ethereal_earth]

"You're right." Terra wilts a little under the scrutiny, but rallies quickly. She had managed to get a lot of food, after all. "I'll be more careful next time."

Except she probably wouldn't, not if putting herself at risk could benefit everyone else. Still, it did bother her that she'd put someone else in danger because of her actions. "Are you hurt at all? I can heal you, if you need it."

[only_destroys]

"I'm fine." She took a bit more pain than she's letting on, but that's never stopped her from acting tough before. "What about you?"

[ethereal_earth]

"Are you sure?" Terra had always been good at healing, and noticing when others needed more help than perhaps they were letting on. "I'm fine, just a bit winded. Thanks to you."

Another smile, slightly more confident than the first one had been. "I'd like to help you, in return for you saving me." So let me heal you. Please. She nearly says it, but she's not sure how this woman would react.

[only_destroys]

"If you want to help me, then do it by getting stronger before the next docking. Otherwise, you're probably better off staying behind."

Not acknowledging the healing thing. It's part that she didn't pick up on the subtext, part that she's got pride issues, and part that she does have her own healing magic, although it's not exactly her specialty.

[ethereal_earth]

Oh. Terra's shoulders sag and her smile fades. "I... I will." Only the large bag of food keeps her from feeling even worse about all of this. That, at least, would help everyone - even if she'd almost not made it back in time.

"Thank you, again. If there's anything you ever need help with, please let me know." Like healing, or any kind of magic. She doesn't say that out loud, though; not yet.

[former_endboss]

Hmmm. Hitting things hard is my specialty, but I also prefer subtle operations whenever possible.

Do you have an extraction plan other than 'beat feet?'

[only_destroys]

What use is an extraction plan going to be? In case you didn't notice, we're in the middle of the ocean.

[former_endboss]

Well, if you had some sort of auxiliary craft or float-plane standing by, or some way to throw off pursuit, I would be more inclined to think that this might be more than a suicide mission.

[only_destroys]

We're more or less prisoners here. If they wanted us dead, they would've killed us by now. I'll take my chances.

[former_endboss]

You know, at some prisons, they punish escape attempts by firing squad or guillotine. Even if they want us alive, they might not want us alive that much, and so far, it sounds like you haven't done any planning.

[only_destroys]

What do I have to lose? I've seen people die here. They came back to life the next day.

[former_endboss]

And can you count on that? I mean, I don't always die when I am killed, even in my own world. I don't act cavalier with my life because of that. The long sleep of the grave is not something I enjoy taking chances with.

[only_destroys]

Even if I don't do anything, I'm living on borrowed time, and I'd rather do it on my own terms.

[former_endboss]

So this is a suicide mission then? Good, I wanted to clear that up.

That said, if you have a proper plan, I might still be willing to accompany you. And don't say that no plan survives contact with the enemy, that's a saying for the weak minded who don't want to exert themselves or leave margins of error.

[only_destroys]

The important thing for now is getting a team together. We can worry about the plan after that.

[former_endboss]

I think you've got it backwards. Plan first-what do we need to do this? Because if the answer is 'enough power to blow this boat clear out of the water and snap it like a twig' then I'm in on this.

[only_destroys]

Now you're speaking my language.