letsdeadaland | Wouldn't you like to use more than words?

The last thing you recall is likely your own death. Whether it was fast or slow, it's over now. And you're... where are you?

One moment, you were among the living. The next - you may be one of the unfortunate ones who actually died. In which case, you've found yourself flowing in the lazy rivers of the river Styx, unfathomably deep underground. Just for a moment, mind you. It's not long before your consciousness is yanked from the waters by some scary monsters, shoved into a healed body, and pushed through a portal.

Or, maybe you were caught red-handed and sentenced to your doom. But, instead of a proper death, you were whisked down into the Veins of Tartarus. And there's really only one place that could lead to... Or is it?

You've been tossed down here by the will of the Titan, but what you find is A helping hand swooping you up - possibly literally, and potentially out of the grasp of the Titan himself.

Not a moment after, you're whisked through another rift, this one a shimmering gold. Into a realm of slightly more stable platforms and a lot more shit to look through. The area is practically littered with the ill-gotten goods of a thieving God (who is happy to note via pop-up illusion that you are touching his stuff). Here, however, you are safe; assured that Typhon cannot find or hurt you here.

For the moment, you can breathe before the next part comes.

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[Ferdinand has had some time to cool off and put himself into some form of sanity. it's a tenuous thing though, he knows. He also has an idea of how to steady himself a little. At some point he wanders a little away from the group to do a once over of his physical condition. His body is healed and the blood and other mess of death vanished, but he is not unscathed. He spends some time prying himself out of first his ruined riding jacket, and then his even more ruined and bent armor. Moving around in the chest piece fucking hurts. He tosses it aside, and then sets to work with his gauntlets and greaves. They are less damaged- he could polish them up if he wanted and use them. But right now they feel foul to him. The once shiny steel corroded with sins long before he came here. The little wyvern wings on the greaves seem to mock him. Next comes his shirt. There are giant holes in it, which he eyes... he's not sure how patch-able they might still be, or if it's even worth trying now.

Stripped to the waist (thank the Saints Omega had not gone for his legs- his breeches and boots are mostly fine.) he goes over his flesh. New scars dot him- ones mostly healed even before he died. And the new one over his heart and out his back. Ha. They go well with the Sword of the Creator's nasty work on his side. He huffs. More rugged, right?

Once he's done going over his status, the armor is... honestly just tossed off the side of the platform. Bye bye. That done he goes exploring their surroundings, eventually stumbling on the Assal with a bitter laugh. He considers tossing it too... but he wants to be armed if Typhon comes back. His ancestor's shackles in weapon form can be retired once this is settled, he thinks.

The weapon slung over his shoulder he sets to wandering, peering at all the Stuff]

Edited 2025-08-17 19:04 (UTC)

[ Omega, also having had time to right himself after his talk with Ivilezlei, finds Ferdinand after he tosses his armor and finds Assal. He is as delicate and subtle as ever in his approach: ]

FERDINAND. WE MUST SPEAK IMMEDIATELY.

Oh? Well, speak. I certainly have nothing better to do.

VERY WELL.

[ Omega pokes him squarely in the chest with a claw. ]

YOU MANIPULATED ME.

[He looks down at the claw, then up at Omega. His eyes are wide in surprise, but no confusion. It's as good as a confession]

Yes. I did.

I WANTED TO STOP! I NEVER WANTED TO KILL YOU! I WANTED TO BACK OUT! YOU KEPT US GOING! YTOU MADE ME BELIEVE THIS WAS NECESSARY! YOU MADE ME SO BLIND, SO FOCUSED ON SUCCESS THAT I OVERLOOKED THE FACT THAT I WAS NOT USING THE REAL CHAOS EMERALD! I BECAME SHORTSIGHTED! YOU USED OUR FRIENDSHIP, AND YOU USED ME, ALL WHILE HAVING US BOTH LIE TO OUR FRIENDS! YOUR MANIPULATIONS, AND OUR ACTIONS, LED TO OUR MUTUAL LOSS OF LIFE!

[ And with all that out of the way... ]

...AND I FORGIVE YOU FOR ALL OF IT.

[he lets Omega talk, the guilt over it he's been holding back for weeks finally clear on his face. Saints, it feels... not good, exactly, to stop trying? But it certainly feels better. Is this what they call catharsis?

But the forgiveness rocks him, THAT brings confusion]

You surely can not be serious?!

HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN ME NOT TO BE?

[ He places a hand on Ferdinand's shoulder. ]

WHERE WOULD I BE IF I HATED YOU FOR THIS? WHERE HAS HATING EGGMAN FOR MOST OF MY EXISTENCE GOTTEN ME? WHERE HAS TYPHON'S HATRED AND ANGER GOTTEN HIM?

YOU ARE STILL MY BEST FRIEND, AND TRULY, ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS I HAVE LEFT IN THIS WORLD. WE NEED EACH OTHER, FERDINAND. I NEED YOU, AND YOU NEED ME.

[His eyes start to fill with tears, and he takes the familiar handkerchief, the one Velvet used on his lip during Zvei's trial, out of his pocket to wipe them with]

I do not deserve a friend of your caliber, Omega. I... I am so... so very sorry. For everything. I thought I was doing what needed to be done... but that does not excuse it.

WHETHER WE DESERVE EACH OTHER IS NOT A CONCERN RIGHT NOW, FERDINAND. WE HAVE BOTH PAID FOR OUR SINS, ENOUGH FOR A LIFETIME.

ALL WE CAN DO IS START OVER, AND FIGHT WITH ALL WE CAN TO MAKE IT BACK TO THOSE WHO NEED US.

[he nods weakly]

Yes... yes of course. Goddess, ha... when did you become so mature? I makes me feel like I am falling behind!

I'VE HAD TO, OR I SUSPECT I WOULD HAVE MADE A FAR GREATER FOLLY THAN THIS WEEKS AGO.

...

...SEE, I DID NOT SAY WORDS LIKE "FOLLY" BEFORE I MET YOU.

[Bad feelings don't often linger for Aglaea. Even before her soul started fraying, she doesn't let things fester. There are people she can't stand, few people she hates, but she just can't let that occupy too much of her mind. The negativity that sticks with her is only ever... inward.

So when she spots Ferdinand shucking his damanged clothes... without any hesitation or shame, she approaches. Right as he's pulling his shirt off.]

If you'd like some help fixing or replacing anything, I could lend my aid.

Hm? Oh! Aglaea... I-

[he's surprised that she is willing to speak with him, let alone help. He looks down at his shirt and jacket... but after a moment he reaches into the inner pocket of said jacket and holds something out for her.

It's a handkerchief. Well stitched and embroidered. Something intended to be nice, certainly. But torn brutally by something sharp; considering what pocket it was taken from and the scar on his chest, it's not hard to guess how it was damaged]

I... could only ask if you could repair this?

[... Ah. Something in her eyes softens, just a little. She may not know the specific importance of the handkerchief, but she understands the importance. Such things are often passed through families, given to sweethearts... they're tokens of remembrance as much as they are accessories. So when she reaches out to take it, she does so as if he's holding something made of fragile glass.]

I can fix your shirt as well. Or make a new one, with what can be found here. It wouldn't be a bother.

[They have nothing but time right now, it seems.]

... I don't have my kit with me, unfortunately, so you'll have to make due with gold thread for this. Is that acceptable?

More than. As long as it is in proper state to return to Velvet, I will be content.

... I do not know how salvageable my shirt and jacket are. At least they blood did not come with them?

Edited 2025-08-18 23:09 (UTC)

I suppose that's one thing we can be thankful for, here. But I've salvaged clothes that were in much worse a state.

[Her death was, in the end, pretty quick. The fight was drawn out, but as soon as Zvei's tentacle pierced her chest, everything had faded relatively quickly. She didn't know what exactly she looked like, after she fell, but... well. She's been alive for a long, long time. She'd been with Cerydra in the battles of the first Flame-Chase Journey. She knows what it looks like, seeing a body all bled out, and she's sure her clothes were almost entirely gold by the time she was found.

The thought doesn't bother her, but... knowing it might bother some of the others makes her feel a little differently.

... Ah, but...]

... Returned to her. Seems like you're determined to find a way out of here.

Wouldn't you like to use more than words?

A day or so after arrival, invest(?)

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