middleofsomewhere | The Will to Fight: Conclusion

The Will to Fight: Conclusion

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!)

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"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?"

"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?"

"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."

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."

"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.

"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."

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.

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."

"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.

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."

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."

"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."

"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."

"Okay. Yelling first," Soldat says with half a smile, making it almost a joke. They probably would yell first, anyway, but might as well make her aware they're willing to do what it takes. "And you're welcome. Glad I could help. You didn't sleep at all the rest of the trip?" That's a little concerning. She's not dead, like they are; nor is she conditioned to going without sleep, like they are. That can't be healthy for a teenage girl.

Raven trusted him to do what it took, which is why she'd slept. Trusted him to take her down, if needed. "I rested."

"Resting ain't the same as sleeping, Raven," they say, not quite a scold but with clear concern. "Next time come bug me again, yeah? I'll be happy to sit with you some more."

"Did you get any sleep while on the mission?" But she listened, and she'd do that next time.

"I'm dead, Raven, and also done growing up. And anyway, my power doesn't come from managing my emotions," Soldat counters, which probably answers her question well enough. They'd gotten a little sleep, but a couple hours while on the road is almost worse than none at all. "I can get away with going without sleep for a little while. All that happens is I crash for a while when I get back."

Except, apparently, when they die. Which, frankly, doesn't surprise them anymore. Dying cured tiredness and aches and pains back in Beacon, why not here, too?

"I've gone with little sleep before too. I was and am part of a superhero team, remember?" But his point is fair, and she'll try to do to better now that she knows he won't mind.

"I remember. Don't mean it's healthy, though. Maybe when you hit your thirties I'll stop harping on it." But the smile they're giving her over their shoulder is to show they're mostly teasing. They put the first sandwich together on the pan and let it start to sizzle under a lid, to get the cheese nice and melty.

Raven just gave a snort, as her answer. She might've been half-smiling too.

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The Will to Fight: Conclusion

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