The Will to Fight: Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

The battles rage loud and ferocious at the gates of the city and off in the ruined wastelands of Erda, and on the walls a struggle of a different kind occurs. The team who stayed behind at the towers are small but determined as they move stoically across the walls to right the stones that have become misaligned, even as their friends battle not too far away.

The city begins to hum. It's a quiet hum, not loud enough to be heard out where the others are fighting but it vibrates even through stone. The recovering monks assure them that it is done, the wards are back up and no demon will be able to enter the city.

Eventually the battle is won, all three battles. The demons fought back and killed, a major blow to their gate system that will keep them back for hopefully a long time. Those waiting in the caverns return to the city and by the time they get there the illusions are gone. Everyone can see the world for what it really is.

But despite the ruins of their world the people are relieved, the adrenaline of the fight coursing through their veins and the mood is one of hope. They will build again, their people will survive.

All Voidtreckers please return to the Voidtrecker Express. Departure will be in a few hours

It has landed not too far from the city, cloaked to make it unnoticeable to the citizens, for all the good that does. No one has been particularly subtle this last week. People can begin regrouping, packing up the camp and getting any wounded not already healed to the train.

However roughly half an hour later another message appears on their SCA.

Passenger Persephone has requested we remain on system System #86525656412355 for an additional day to further assist the people of Erda. The Voidtrecker Express will depart on the morning of Day Fifteen of the month of Kazoo.

The train remains where it is, so the voidtreckers can use its facilities. There is definitely a lot that can be done to assist those of this world and the citizens will welcome any helping hands.

After an extra day they finally depart, returning to the void once more.

(OOC Note: Once the wards are up any characters who are demonic in nature will not be able to enter the city either!)

Comments

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I'm bad with names too, or I'd offer to try and think of one for you." Raven said, with a hint of apology in her calm voice. But she did reach out and pet the little ghost. It wasn't any more awkward than with Silky, right?

[worthallthis]

The ghost certainly doesn't seem to mind. The chain-rattling subsides, and it bobbles from side to side gently, as if on springs inside its little plastic base. "Don't worry about it. If they wanted one, they probably would've bothered me more about it whenever I brought it up. They're just my little ghost friend, now."

A second shirt joins the first, and they scoop the ghost up entirely while they step into their boots. Laces can wait. "All right. I. Think I ought to eat. Or I'm going to regret it before too long."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Do you want company?" It was probably a stupid question. She'd rested some, but some food would probably be good for her too.

[worthallthis]

"It's a rare day when I don't want company." They look a lot calmer, now, with clothes and shoes and the ghost hovering over their palm close to their chest. They give her a wan little smile. "So. Yeah."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I should probably get food before I pass out again for more rest." Raven murmured. "And I definitely prefer your cooking to mine." Considering she didn't really cook...

[worthallthis]

"All right, company it is." They slip back out of the cabin and let the door slide shut behind them, lantern slung over their shoulder properly and tablet tucked into their hoodie pocket. "Don't think I've got the patience for putting together waffles this morning, though."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I won't expect them every time." Raven said, managing to put some amusement in her voice. "As long as you don't want my cooking."

[worthallthis]

"Nah. I'll make something quick and easy," Soldat promises, starting down the car's isle in the direction of the kitchen car. "For both of us. Cooking is. It's not just a means to an end, you know? It's comfort. Relaxing. Defined steps leading to a predictable end, and then you get to eat it, too."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"See, I can do that with spells and potions and other magical stuff. When it comes to cooking, it just does not work for me though." Raven followed behind, also kind of glad for the company too. She'd only actually slept on the mission because of Soldat, afterall.

[worthallthis]

"Well, it's not for everyone," Soldat allows with half a smile. "Only a handful of us back in Beacon actually liked to cook. And Misty got the same relaxation out of gardening. I will never understand that." Gardening is not Soldat's hobby of choice, not by a long shot. Dirty in the plates is awful.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I'm not much of a gardener myself. I'm used to working with dried herbs mostly." Raven confided. "Some of the spells I've seen call for fresh, but they're not usually ones I needed."

[worthallthis]

"I was always afraid of pulling up the wrong thing. And, you know. This." They hold up the metal hand, with the ghost still sitting on the palm. "Not so great for digging."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Put a glove over it, and it might be fine." It would have to be a long glove, and Raven might not be serious in her suggestion. She probably wasn't, actually.

"How're you doing? Do you want to know what you missed, kind of?"

[worthallthis]

"Eh. Too much work for not enough rewards. If I have to, someday, maybe. Until then I'll stick to cooking." As long as there are other people who can handle the gardening, that's good enough for them.

They settle their hand and the ghost back against their chest. "Love to. We won, you said. Right?"

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"We did, although it was hard. Near the last keystone, two giants--even bigger than the normal big demons--had made it through the gate. We were able to take them down, but it was hard. I managed to hold and slow one for a while, but it was already injured AND it was taking all I had."

[worthallthis]

They give her a weary but proud smile. Maybe it took all she had, but they'd seen those before they got into the demon realm to start shooting, and it's pretty damn impressive, as far as they're concerned. "Yeah? All on your own? That's amazing."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"It was injured already though, so I can't take all the credit." Raven looked hesitantly to the side. "I was also very angry." She's not proud of that part, in some ways.

[worthallthis]

"Still pretty impressive, Raven." They don't look at her again, instead focusing out along the train car. They're almost to the kitchen, at least. "You never did explain why getting angry is so bad."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Raven was quiet for a bit, trying to think of how to put it in words. "My emotions are tied to my power. The stronger I feel something, they react. Which is part of why I have to remain controlled and calm so much. But my anger...I worry it makes me more likely to be like him."

Like her father, in other words.

[worthallthis]

That sounds... hard. Soldat is quiet a moment, holding the door to the kitchen car open for her. "Everybody gets angry. I get angry. I used to have a really big tree out behind the house I'd go out and punch a lot when I got angry. But it doesn't turn me into the Asset again." (No. You know what I mean, buddy. You're not the same anymore, either. No.)

They set their lantern on a counter near the storage car door, so they can just leave it there and move about, the ghost figurine next to it. "I don't think you're going to ever be like him. If it helps."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I don't want to be." Raven said, with some vehemence. "But...even the times when I've been angry, but controlled... I've scared my friends. I'm worried he'll be able to have some influence over me--even if I'm in control of my anger."

Raven moved to get tea from the cabinet, and start making some. Automatically going to make two cups, since he was there with her.

[worthallthis]

It's not an invalid worry. Soldat still has trigger words. It's entirely possible someone could influence them, control them. So they can't brush off the idea that someone could maybe reach through her magic to influence her, too.

They're quiet a moment, disappearing into the storage car for the fixings for an egg-and-cheese sandwich. Quick and filling and, above all, comforting. On their way back in, they have an answer: "I think not wanting to be is important. You magic works because of how you feel. That's what you said. And that's part of how you feel."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Raven was kind of glad he didn't respond right away. It meant he was taking her worries seriously, thinking it over. Not just responding with some platitudes automatically.

Focusing on making tea for them both, while she responded. "I hope it's enough."

[worthallthis]

"If it's not, you've got me," Soldat offers with a shrug. "I'm not going to stop you just because you get angry. Everybody gets angry, and I trust you to stay in control of yourself." They work on buttering up the bread, first, and look over their shoulder at Raven's profile. "But if you try to hurt innocents, I can always shoot you."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Try yelling at me first, but yes." Raven says, albeit with a smile. "Thank you. Also, thank you for letting me share your tent on mission. I think that was the only time I got any actual sleep."