Reunion and Time Traveling Finale

[lucetimods]

Who: Everyone!
What: The time-traveling group returns to find an invasion of newcomers.
When: November 20th and Onward
Where: Luceti enclosure
Summary: Who let all these New Feathers in here!? ...Wait, that guy's familiar...
Rating: May vary, as usual high ratings should be taken elsewhere

The adventure to the past is over; the villagers have all been sent home to their own time. But things are different. The changes of the past have echoed into the future. And the world has responded in the strangest way. Why are so many people here all of a sudden? And why are their memories such a mess?

Who really knows?

Comments

[wingenvy]

[He wakes with a gasp, rolling to his feet and ducking behind a tree before he can even think to do anything else. His eyes dart from left to right and all around himself, seeking out anything familiar, dangerous, unknown. Soldiers. Enemies. Monsters. Friends. It's only when he reaches behind his back for his sword and finds feathers instead that it sinks in that he's a) alive and b) ...probably not where he passed out.

...No. Not... he'd died, hadn't he? A quick glance down at his (surprisingly bare) chest reveals scarred over bullet holes, dozens of them. But he's still breathing somehow, and he's got wings, and this place is... really familiar.

What the hell...

Zack sneaks his way into the village not long after, stealing into a shop to get himself some warmer clothes, and by then he's starting to remember, and to thankfully relax a little. Luceti. He's been here before. It's... different, and despite the peaceful atmosphere he can't help feeling exceptionally on edge, but that won't stop him from visiting landmarks and people-watching to try and find familiar faces. It's kind of a relief, actually.

Better than the alternative, anyway. Now if Cloud were here...]

[herobydefault]

[Zack towers over most of the people in Luceti and he's not hard to spot in a crowd; not with that height, not with that hair, even with all the unusual looks people sport. Cloud's stopped on one of the benches in the square, relatching all the straps on First Tsurugi's harness when he glances up and spots him in the crowd.

His heart and lungs squeeze in his chest and he remembers Zack from home, who always guided him and encouraged him and looked out for him, who Cloud didn't remember for years, whose identity Cloud stole because he couldn't life with himself, couldn't live without it. And he remembers Zack from here, Zack and Aerith, and the three of them, they'd been something together. Something that Cloud didn't know if it was still true but it didn't matter, of course it didn't matter.

Zack is Zack. He'll always be Cloud's friend, his hero, and the greatest man Cloud's ever known.

So Cloud drops the harness and sword and jumps up onto the bench to try and get a better view. He hopes it wasn't his eyes playing tricks on him; he remembers for years, for years he would always see Aerith and Zack out of the corner of his eye, wondering if he was going even more crazy or if they were really there. Maybe he'd just imagined Zack because he'd so desperately wanted a familiar face. Maybe he wasn't really-]

Zack- [Cloud breathes, because he's there. And then Cloud is hurtling into the throngs, shoving past them and between them and sliding under arms thrown outstretched to catch other people, family, friends. He doesn't see him around shoulders and backs and then, all of a sudden, he does. Like the crowd had parted to let him stumble through, and Cloud catches himself, reaches out and grabs onto Zack's wrist to stop him, eyes wide and unbelieving.

He is real.]

[wingenvy]

[SOLDIER instincts and a year of paranoid running makes the sudden hand on his wrist an attack, and he can't help trying to jerk away at first; the strength in whoever held him makes him pause, and the face he finds when he turns around makes him outright stop, eyes widening. He'd know that face anywhere, of course - after four years in Nibelheim together and another on the run, how could he not? - but he's different now, like night and day. No longer dead-eyed and barely conscious, or even the frightened and absent kid he'd handed the Buster sword off to as he lay dying in the rain a matter of hours ago. This Cloud is straight-backed and strong, aged by time and experience, emotion and recognition in his eyes. This Cloud is-

-I know you-

-no, I know this-

We met again here, didn't we?

His heart is pounding in his chest, and he stands stark still, swallowing hard. Desperate and hopeful and needing this so, so badly.]

Cloud?

[You said my name- you know my name-]

[herobydefault]

[Cloud drops his hold on Zack when he says his name, because that sounds like Zack. And he definitely recognizes him, so it's not some kind of cruel trick where Zack is from before meeting Cloud,but he doesn't look that young anyway. He has the scar on his face. And he looks so hopeful, and it kind of stuns Cloud a little to think that if he's doing his math right, they're the same age.

Holy. He'd always looked up to Zack like he was older, wiser, so much greater, but now Zack just looks so human and so approachable, even moreso than when he'd been here last- Cloud's so shocked by the revelation that he can't seem to catch his breath.]

Hey, [Cloud says softly, still reeling. He doesn't know what to say and maybe once upon a time it would be habit to fall back onto what Zack would say, what he would do to break the tension but this is Cloud. He's Cloud now. He's his own person, even if he's still figuring himself out, and Cloud just wants to stare and take this in. Zack, alive, and the two of them talking. He takes a step back and looks Zack over and he looks good, healthy, not covered in blood not a wavering, blurry image from his memories.

Good. Check. Zack is a real person and in decent health.

Cloud's smiling reflexively, a small thing but completely genuine. He nods in Zack's direction.] You look good. You look okay. And I'm okay, I remember everything. I'm okay. [He tacks that on the end because he can remember the times he first saw Zack here, it's coming back. Zack was always so worried, the mako poisoning. Zack carried around a breathing corpse for a year.] I'm great, thanks to you.

[wingenvy]

[Zack is quiet for a moment, taking that in. The words, the expression on Cloud's face - smiling, he's smiling and relaxed and so at ease and normal and it's breathtaking, it's everything he's hoped for for so long now - it's enough to make him shiver. Less than a day since he'd last looked in Cloud's eyes and found almost nothing, no recognition or conscious thought, only a lost and vacant stare lost in mako and his own mind. And now this. If he didn't already know he was in Luceti he'd have thought he'd died and gone to heaven.

...Well. Okay, he did die, but at least he knows Cloud didn't.

The moment breaks, and his lips curve easily into a huge, happy grin. He breaks the distance between them in a single stride and pulls Cloud into the biggest bear hug he can manage.]

That's awesome! It's great to see you, Cloud!

[wise_maiden]

[There's something to be said for mutual people watching. Eventually they start to notice each other.

This is definitely a case of seeing ghosts, she's sure, those phantoms that had plagued Luceti before they all went to the past. It's a face she hasn't seen in a long while, one Raine had long expected not to see ever again. Even though he had appeared and disappeared several times before then.

And yet.

She waits for some small sign of recognition before approaching -- unless he gets tired of her watching and does it first.]

[wingenvy]

[He usually doesn't put up with creepin' for long before moving in- and Raine's kind of a staple member of the community, so it doesn't take him long to remember that hey, he knew this lady. His memories are still acting up quite a bit, but he figures there's no point in gawking in silence when conversation is more likely to trigger them. Thus, over to her he wanders.]

Hey, so- am I crazy, or do you know me? Because I'm pretty sure I know you.

[wise_maiden]

[If that were anyone else, it might almost sound like a bad pickup line.

But that was the problem with testing the waters like this -- not knowing for sure, how much would be too much.

Though she relaxes, slightly, when he crosses the distance, even if he still seems fuzzy on details. That was fine.]

You're not crazy. ... Although I'm sure you'll begin to question that after being here for a period of time. [Gotta get some wry humor in there, somewhere.] My name is Raine, if that helps.

[wingenvy]

...That does help, actually.

[The memories are still sluggish, but it's easier with a name matched to the face. A... teacher? And a healer. Yeah, that sounds about right.]

Okay, yeah, we've definitely met. When I was here before... you've been around for a really long time, right?

[bulletrina]

[There's a blonde. Not the one he would have been thinking of, but the blonde now in question has difficulty ignoring Zack. Aside from the hair that's sure to draw eyes his body language is more telling—that something doesn't seem right, or that he doesn't seem well, or something just feels...wrong.

Maybe it's bad for a stranger to ask. Maybe she should move on, but this isn't the most normal of days... heck, when has there been a normal day recently?]

Um... sir? [Yes, that's her trying to get Zack's attention. What should she ask? Oh, maybe—] Are you lost? Do you need any help?

[Yeah... that'll do it...]

[wingenvy]

[Wow, how long has it been since somebody called him sir?

Five years, idiot.

The girl doesn't look familiar, which is telling, at least; he's been dealing with so many "do I know them or don't I" faces today that it's a relief to be meeting a perfect stranger for once. He smiles at her and shrugs his shoulders, glancing around.]

Not lost, not really. Just... getting a feel for the place, you know? I've been here before, but my head's still trying to catch up. If that makes any sense.

[bulletrina]

It makes perfect sense to me. I think I'm in the same boat with you. [Maybe... yeah. Of course she'd pick him from the crowd. Like two kindred spirits crossing paths... that'd make a nice poem, actually.]

It's just... It feels weird. This is Luceti, isn't it? But something's... different.

[fabrecation]

[... Okay, so

When Luke was thinking to look for someone with black hair and blue eyes, Zack wasn't exactly the person he had in mind. But he still feels genuinely happy to see him, because he remembers Zack was his friend, and he hadn't seen him in a long time.

So, even though the irony of having the same colors as his... technically ex... makes him give a bittersweet laugh, he still grins as he jogs over, hoping he'll be recognized. So many people have had problems with memory lately that he's learned to be on the wary side.]

Zack! Hey, Zack!

[wingenvy]

[His memories are still pretty foggy, but the faces of his friends are doing better than the area itself to jog it, so it only takes a couple of seconds for a name to come to mind.]

You're- Luke? That's right, isn't it? I remember you!

[fabrecation]

[Oh man, oh man, Zack remembers him, too! Luke lets out a short, happy laugh at that, and he has a grin on his face once he gets close enough to slow to a stop.]

Yeah, it's me! When did you get here? Do you remember everything?

[trueknight]

[With Yuri more or less breezing around the village, spotting Zack isn't any big surprise. Especially with all the years he spent around the guy ... there was no way he'd somehow waltz right past or something along those lines sorry luke, get taller i guess.

So, hey there Zack! You see any girly-looking guys that look familiar in that crowd during your people watching? Because one just called out to you and is making his way over.]

Hey, Zack!

[wingenvy]

[Oh man, it really is reunion day. Zack's on the brink of feeling overwhelmed about it, but spotting Yuri just makes him grin like an idiot. Definitely a welcome face.]

Yuri! Oh man, talk about long time no see!

[trueknight]

Hah ... Almost feels like it was just yesterday to me, but I guess that's just how this place is.

[Oh the joys of not really advancing much past the time period you were last brought in from and also vanishing forever repeatedly.]

[thestormishere]

[ It's dark when Lightning finally shows up, which means she's at a disadvantage when most people are already thinking about clearing the town in favor of their chosen abodes. She's... not sure where to go herself. Her memories aren't helping that much.

That is, she thinks she remembers where she used to stay, but...

Now wearing a close-fit but overly-long green jacket and khakis swiped earlier from one of the "stores," she shoves hands in pockets and hesitates, sticking to the light in the middle of the village. It's not out of concern for her own safety - a woman like her is by no means afraid of shadows - wary, perhaps, but fear makes no appearance amongst the range of emotions playing through her head as she explores. She stops at one point, shielding her eyes from the artificial light to look out around her.

She makes a decision, steps forward... and then seems to think better of it and backtracks a bit, turning with an odd look on her face.

And that's when she sees him and-- damn it all, it's like she's in a fucking movie - something the rose-haired woman would have made a face and hurriedly walked away from if she'd caught her sister watching. Her heart leaps into her throat, eyes round as she catches sight of Zack on the path.

100% flabbergasted expression = 100% attractive, right? ]

[wingenvy]

[Well. It's Lightning. She could still be attractive wearing a paper bag or something equally silly.

Zack looks about as shocked to see her as she is to see him, though; he stops dead in his tracks, eyes wide and staring, jaw agape. There's that eerie "you know this person, don't say anything ridiculous like HI WHO ARE YOU" feeling, but he's been here long enough and had enough awkward reunions to know that he can't just rush over and pounce her, either. But she's... important. She's very important. And as soon as he remembers her name he'll-]

....Light.

[And just like that, just like that, he knows.

Oh my god.]

[thestormishere]

[ As she absorbs his reaction, for a moment it almost looks like she's about to recover. Then, he says her name and there's really no chance of it at all.

It's funny because she's already had her own share of reunions back home: good, bad, long-awaited, unexpected... most of them were where the other person had five hundred years of her not being in their lives. This manages to be different in ways both subtle and broad, and she's lost on how to react.

Her emotions are still... odd. She's not used to them peppering her memories and, more importantly, acknowledging that it's okay that they're there. For nearly two weeks she's been dealing with a blank, extrapolating how she must have felt just from analyzing her past actions. Dealing with the more current feelings as they reappeared. (Believing that perhaps that way was for the best.)

She loved this dude. No way around it, as hearing her nickname out of him throws it back in her face. ]

Zack.

[ She probably doesn't even say it loud enough to be heard very far; without realizing it she echoes a gesture she made once before when they'd been separated and then met again, her hands held out and lifting just slightly- ]

[thestormishere]

[ It's different this time, though. This time she smiles. ]

NOW THAT I FINALLY GOT AROUND TO THIS.......

[explaining]

[It's past dark by the time Guy finally slips out of Good Spirits to catch his breath. The preoccupation is good, keeps his mind off things he's not sure he knows how to process just yet, but he needs a break. A quiet walk around town is probably just what he needed.

Away from the streetlamps along the main road, the shadows encroach into the path and Guy almost trips over a root. He pauses to adjust his boot and glances up, a hand on a tree for balance when he sees two bright, glowing blue-green points in the darkness a little further down the path and thinks monster, hand going for his sword.

And then a person comes into view and Guy straightens up with a gasp. He knows him...!] Zack! That's you, right?

I WEEP WITH JOY

[wingenvy]

[Zack had just been out for a nice night stroll, because... well, it's hard to shake off the guardedness he'd lived with for so long, just because he's back in a peaceful place, and he's had some trouble sleeping. Sometimes it's nice to wander around with a sword at your back and the moon above you. He'd also wondered if Good Spirits was up and running and how it was doing, though it was awfully late to drop in. Still, that's where Guy catches him, and if the face hadn't brought a name to mind, the voice would've done it. He knows that voice.]

Whoa... Guy? You're back here, too?

[explaining]

[And Zack remembers him.]

Haha, looks like it! Kind of feels like a reunion party, doesn't it? [To hell with pretenses. Knowing what Zack has to return to when he goes back, it's enough to put Guy in motion, jogging over to Zack and throwing his arms around his shoulders to give him a quick, tight hug.] Your eyes really do glow in the dark! That's pretty interesting.