capeandcowllogs | SUBJECT TITLES ARE FOR CREATIVE PEOPLE

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SUBJECT TITLES ARE FOR CREATIVE PEOPLE

WHO: Magic-chan (now without magic) and Creeper-kun (who will always be a creeper)
WHERE: That damn church lake thing
WHEN: A TIME WILL BE DETERMINED LATER
WARNINGS: UH
WHAT: ILLIDAN HAS A TOY THAT MIGHT BE TERRA'S MAGIC. SHE INVESTIGATES (SO ZELGADIS STOPS GETTING HIMSELF SCREWED OVER)
WORDS: yes

[ Admittedly, this was an incredibly stupid idea. Terra knew that. She knew that Illidan was dangerous -- she had seen what he'd done to Zelgadis, and as she was now--without magic, and without her most powerful weapons, if Illidan wanted her dead, she would die.

But what was there to gain from her death now? It wasn't like he could take any more of her magic.

So, a soft white cloak thrown over her shoulders for the cold, now-blonde hair tied up in her customary ponytail, Terra slunk through the park toward Illidan's church.

Come on, she's a JRPG protagonist. If there's not a forcefield or a mountain in the way, of course she's going to investigate. ]

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[ He might have been drunk on it. Who wouldn't be when the mere sensation of magic permeated everything in his building. It was like being home, but without the fire from the sky, or the pools of lava.

It didn't matter, because right now he was crouched beside the lake, inhaling deeply, his eyes affixed to the water, his skull in hand.

Okay, look, he was a junkie. ]

[ And what a fucking lake it was! With her Esper heritage gone (and thus being TOTALLY HUMAN NOW!!), she couldn't feel the waves of magic undoubtedly rolling off that lake in waves, but she could definitely see it was, well, not a natural well of sparkling spring water, that was for damn sure.

She came to a quiet stop several, several yards away, hand clutching at her cloak and her necklace-cum-fastener, hesitating. This was definitely different. Was this what Zelgadis had been referring to?

Part of her wondered if he could sense her like he used to, when their powers constantly resonated around one another. The other part of her wanted her to move, to see if her magicite still existed.

She really hoped he hadn't been wearing it this whole time. ]

[ He hadn't been wearing it, not that she would be able to tell. Actually, he'd kept it secured and hidden, not willing to allow anyone else near it. It was his.

But although he couldn't sense her magically, there was still a shift in the air around him, the magic ebbed differently, and he turned from his position at the lake, to look at who had approached.

They had been human, he could tell that. Without magic, and when he looked at her, he didn't even recognize her.

With his sight, he couldn't tell what her hair looked like before, or after, nor could he have seen any of her, because all he did see before was the magic, radiating off of her like the sun. Now that the subtle shifts of magic gave him the impression of what she looked like, he didn't know who she was. ]

Who are you.

[ It was probably dangerous to not be recognized by Illidan, but there was a hesitation before she spoke. If anything, that lack of recognition was a comfort to her. He had no reason to feign ignorance of who she was, so soon. If that was true, and he couldn't recognize her, it meant that everything he had seen in her — the deception, the duality, that monstrous power — were all gone. Perhaps, she thought, for good.

Her feet shifted apart on the frost-hard soil, a more stable stance. Her hands fell to her sides, and she tilted her head almost curiously at the demon before her, even if he couldn't see the gesture. The seconds stretched. ]

... You don't know?

[ Her voice, though, that was something familiar. He was blind, not deaf. ]

Ah, Terra, child. Unfortunately, my impairment has worked against me.

[ Silence seemed as dense in the air as the magic Terra could not feel, slipping between them easily around words, like cloth around limbs. She didn't relax. ]

You've never had that problem before. Recognizing me.

[ From beneath the blindfold, one of his eyebrows rose. ]

Child, I am blind. The only sight I have is that of magic. Everything I see is magic.

[ For a moment, he was honestly surprised that she hadn't picked up on that. What with the blindfold. ]

I know.

[ There's a pause. She's not that dumb, Illidan. Please follow this trail to its natural conclusion. ]

You're not surprised that you couldn't see me.

What is, is. In this world, little surprises me. One week I was as I once was, and the next, it was taken away. To return from the dead without power does not strike me as unusual.

[ Although it may be because he has her power. Curious. ]

[ Very curious. Seconds continue to tick by, and Terra takes her first steps forward since arriving. They're not the tentative doe-steps of the girl chasing after his heel for answers. ]

You were there.

[ He nods. ]

I was, and you perished. You also called me something before you did.

[ Her step faltered. ]

... Did I?

[ Terra's memory of those last few moments was fuzzy — she was dying at the time, after all — but some part of her tensed. ]

[ He nodded, watching her curiously. He had to read the magic as it ebbed against her, and then flowed back. ]

You did. You called me father.

[ Her fingers twitched, right foot sliding back across the grass. The memory, fuzzy as it was, floated to mind from some submerged depths. Pain, most of all, her Esper's body depleted and nearly broken across the pavement. The brightness of the sky, and a dark silhouette above her.

On the verge of death, she had assumed she was hallucinating. Apparently not.

Terra said nothing in response, one hand snaking up to the pendant hanging from her throat. ]

[ He watched her through blind eyes. Impressions of magical sensations against the all consuming black of blindness. ]

It's curious, isn't it? That you would use such a term for me.

[ Zelgadis had stopped her tongue before, when he was afraid for her safety. Now it seemed useless to hide. No, she thought, not useless. It was a long shot, but perhaps there was a chance this could be settled without a fight.

There was a tight curl of some flame-hot emotion bundled in her chest as she looked at Illidan, painful and tense, but it was not one she could name. Her voice was steady. ]

You look like him. [ a beat. ] And your magic is similar.

[ He watched her carefully before his lips split in something that looked almost like a smile. Not quite, but enough of one. A curious one. ]

How odd. I had not expected that.

[ Terra closed her eyes for one brief moment, letting out a soft breath, mist in the cold air. The pendant was warm in her hand, but even that, too, she released. ]

I've told you before, humans of my world... are not born with magic.

[ And here, then, was quickly approaching the moment she had come this way for. Doubt was starting its cold creep up her spine, but it was too late to turn back now. ]

You know... what happened to me when I died.

[ His eyes narrowed. ]

I do. You perished.

[ Her jaw tightened. ]

Illidan. You... [ And here went the longest of shots possible. Against every instinct to the contrary, Terra relaxed. Her voice, which had been on edge for this encounter, softened in disappointment. ] Was I mistaken?

[ The tone of her voice. The softness, and hardness all at once brought back memories of a time when he'd believed he could impress with power. When he could actually win the affection of the one he loved. It was enough to shock his slightly drugged mind into lucidity. ]

About what? What do you think you were mistaken about?

Entrusting you. [ Once again, her hand clasped at her pendant — a gift from her father to her mother, before Terra's birth. Her gaze drifted down from Illidan's face to the ground, and the lake beyond. Give her the strength she no longer possessed in arm or spirit—! ]

I saw you, as I laid dying, and... part of me mistook you, but enough of me knew you. Enough that... with the last of my strength, I gathered my power... No. The potential that you saw. It would have disappeared with the rest of me, but instead...

Was I mistaken? To leave it with you?

[ His teeth clenched, and his hand worked against the bleached skull, but he didn't say anything for several moments.

There was potential in giving it back to her. It would forge trust, would it not? But like this, she was tiny and vulnerable, unable to harm even a rat.

Yet with the power, he could use her. ]

No.

[ Had... had that actually worked? The surprise and hope were organic, proven wrong in the best way. She practically stumbled forward. ]

You mean...?

[ Oh, her surprise was enough of a gift, but the thought that she would forge some sort of trust from it would prove even better. ]

Of course. I needed to be certain that you were who I believed you to be, however. Sound can be toyed with, and without the only way I can recognize you...

[ He trailed off, and waved his free hand in a 'it doesn't matter' motion. ]

[ It was a reasonable enough excuse, and Terra might have believed it plainly—if not for the memory of Zelgadis's stone-riddled face, and the shallow scratch his wire-like hair had left on the back of her hand. But if she could get her Magicite out of his hands, have it destroyed without anyone else being put in danger... she exhaled. ]

What a relief. Where have you been keeping it safe?

[ Please, she thought, let him not be carrying it! She knew that she had not reached the pinnacle of magical strength before her death, but the thought of Illidan permanently acquiring any of her spells in that way... or worse, if he had somehow been able to summon her Esper-self from the stone. Using her power to harm someone... it was the one thing she worried after most. ]

Edited 2011-02-28 13:09 (UTC)

Inside, of course.

[ He wouldn't inform her of what he had done with it. No matter what she thought, a scratch on the surface of stone wasn't enough to worry. He'd flaked off a modicum, just enough to be the catalyst.

The Well of Eternity, or this world's version thereof didn't need her power to perpetuate himself, he had been more interested in consuming it, slowly. Over time.

Of course, back in her possession, this would do the same. ]

[ This was almost too easy. Terra was still, even after all this time, so used to fighting knife and claw against every scrap of adversary, that being able to talk to a solution seemed novel to her.

Maybe, when she returned to her own world, she really would be able to bridge those two worlds.

She took a step and a half towards the entrance of the church before halting, turning back to Illidan. This could be a trap... but what could he possibly take from her now? ]

Will you show me?

[ He smiled, and stood, dropping the skull to the ground as he did so. It rolled on the ground, before it bumped against a rock, and stopped. His shoulders twitched in an involuntary stretching motion. ]

Of course.

[ It was so succinct, and he outstretched a hand to lead her inside. ]

Will you be able to take it back into your person?"

[ She wavered a moment with hesitation at the question, gaze darting from his outstretched hand to doors of the church. She had no intention of taking that power back, but she couldn't say no. She was so close now; she couldn't let this chance slip away. ]

Yes... but it will take time for my body to readjust. [ a beat, then taking steps. ] Taking it too quickly has driven people mad.

[ The glow of his eyes permeated through his blindfold as he turned his head down to look at her. His steps, however, didn't falter. ]

And why would it to you? You have had this power for some time, have you not?

This body is weaker. [ She hadn't before her death realized just how much her Esper heritage affected her body, but she was certainly aware now. ] I can't even feel magic like this.

It is still yours, isn't it? There should be little difference.

Or perhaps you merely need a filter to return it to your person.

Maybe you're right... [ Terra shook her head, taking a breath as they crossed the threshold. ] But I won't need a filter. Just time.

[ He gave a look of acquiescence, and nodded. ] Perhaps time is proper.

[ He approached the dais, and moved for what was once the Tabernacle. Illidan had no knowledge of what the container was used for, but with time, the church had slowly morphed from a serene building of white and marble. With his presence overtaking the very air of the place, the floors had slowly warped to black, the areas that had once only been decrepit, now not only housed spider webs, but also large shards of green crystal that grew far too quickly to be natural. The container itself, once held on a large table was corrupted. What was once gold was now black, lines of green crystal laced into the former metal, wrapping themselves around it, and bursting forth completely from the black to cover the seal of the container, keeping it locked from any interlopers.

When Illidan raised his hand to the container, however, the crystal almost shuddered under his touch, and then split smoothly, and he reached in to pull forth the stone. ]

I admit, it has been a comfort to me, child. For many eons, the only thing sustaining me was my own ability to feel and absorb the magic energies around me. In this world, there has been none, and to survive has been a trial.

[ Terra's white heels clicked loudly on the black floor as they crossed through the church, and it was almost a shame that Illidan could not see in conventional ways; the juxtapose of the girl in pure white, was like a hole torn in the darkness, vibrant life against decay. (If the women at the shop had known this would be the only church Terra would wear that dress, they probably never would have sold it to her.)

When Illidan finally retrieved the stone, the breath caught in her stinging throat like a beast in a net. She'd seen many stones such as this in her world, each just a touch different. Like the rest, it possessed that red core encased in green—like a heart trapped in emerald, veins of blood and power stretching out. It looked like any other piece of Magicite, but none had the same impact of looking at a stone and realizing that was her.

Her walk slowed to a stop at the sight of it, but as Illidan spoke, bile pushed upwards in her throat. She swallowed it back, willing her tense arms to relax. To have helped the one responsible for hurting one of the few people who honestly felt some positive emotion toward Terra made her feel ill, but the charade was almost over. Her voice shook as she moved forward. ]

I— I'm glad it helped. [ So close—! ]

I only wish Zelgadis would have given me the opportunity to explain what happened, but when given the information he requested, he attacked. If he had not, then perhaps he could have remained as he was, but...

[ He trailed off, and gripped the magicite in his hand. It was warm to the touch, and the sensation of holding it was enough to send his senses into a haze of magic-induced pleasure. ]

I cannot allow allies of mine to attack unprovoked and walk away. I hope you realize that Zelgadis is indeed an ally still. Perhaps, you will inform him that if he wishes to apologize, or if he will admit to his own folly, I shall return him to his former state.

After all, I am the one who activated the magic. It would take but a thought.

[ and then his palm outstretched. ]

[ A tremble ran up Terra's spine, her muscles tensing as Illidan spoke, eyes snapping up to read his face. Was he telling the truth? It seemed too simple an arrangement. An apology? Was that really all Illidan wanted from Zelgadis? Perhaps this was a trap, but not for her. Zelgadis's magic was stronger than Terra's, and more versatile. Cursed again as he was, Terra doubted Zelgadis saw himself as ally to Illidan. Zelgadis didn't trust Illidan, and so Terra shouldn't either. But...

But the face he wore now was the one from his nightmares. He was no longer the person he chose to be.

Terra closed her eyes, and nodded once. ] I'll tell him.

[ It was his choice to make. Just as this was hers. Terra steeled her nerves and reached forward, breath held back in her lungs. Part of her feared a reaction like in Narshe, with the frozen Esper and the sudden explosion of power that sent her hurtling across the continent with power and fear, or the madness of Kefka, but... it was too late to turn back now. Her hand fell to the stone. ]

... It's still warm.

[ And no reaction beyond that. Terra released her breath in an audible sigh, fingers curling around the stone and pulling it away from Illidan. ]

Did you fear I had sucked the magic out of it entirely?

[ He smiled. Wan, but it was a smile. He had not, but only because the well had been enough for now, enough to hold back, and he knew it wouldn't be for long. ]

[ With nothing stopping her, Terra pulled the Magicite close to her chest, both hands cupping around the stone. Partly in an instinctively protective gesture, part simply to warm her fingers. She shook her head in response to his question, forgetting momentarily he wouldn't see the gesture as it was. ]

No... [ The stone itself would have crumbled to nothing if he had, for one. ] It's... strange. Feeling this, and knowing this was once... me.

Indeed.

[ To him, it was amazing that so much power was in something so small. Yet the smallest items were so easily concealed. So easy to steal. ]

Yet the smallest packages can contain great power.

[ So easy to get your golem not-boyfriend to shatter into a thousand pieces— er, guard carefully, of course. Terra nodded. ]

Yes. [ A pause. Now she just had to get out of here. Her fingers tightened on the Magicite, and she swallowed past a drying throat. ] ... Thanks for keeping it for me.

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SUBJECT TITLES ARE FOR CREATIVE PEOPLE

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