♪ EXEC_05/. ♫

[fallbythesword]

[Jacqli has come to the Plane with a very aggravated scowl on her face and a bright red crystal in her hands. It's glowing faintly, and that glow seems to have a pulse - much like a heartbeat, but slower.]

Persistent human... Whatever.

[She takes it over to the swingset, sits in a swing, and stares down at it. That scowl turns into a more thoughtful, slightly concerned frown.]

It's already smaller. Hm. It may not be enough...


((OoC: Canon bump to after she sings EXEC_SPHILIA/., before Croix and the party find her in Cat Mansion. (PS: if you want a download, I can provide. /whistle...~) ))

Comments

[grand_gaia]

Is...everything alright?

[fallbythesword]

It could be better. [She looks up at him, still thoughtful.] I went through a lot of trouble to get this, but I think it isn't going to be good enough. I'll have to think of something else.

[grand_gaia]

[Isaac leans in for a better look as she talks.]

What...is it?

[fallbythesword]

This is the Heart of Gaea. When the Holy Maidens finally created the new land - imperfect, though it was - this was what supported it. I need it for my own reasons.

[inhumanity]

Shall I kill the human for you?

[GREAT FRIEND?]

[fallbythesword]

[SHE ACTUALLY CONTEMPLATES THAT FOR A SECOND. .... Then she shakes her head.]

No, I need him alive. For now. I'll remember your offer, though.

[Faaaaint smile.]

How are you, Christopher?

[inhumanity]

I'd be better if I could help a friend. [pout]

[fallbythesword]

Hm. Maybe you can help me. Can you think of ways to make a heart grow more powerful?

[YOU KNOW WHAT'S BAD? THAT THIS ISN'T ENTIRELY METAPHORICAL.]

[inhumanity]

[but you're talking to a shonen hero in the form of an insane assassin]

The only thing that grows the strength of the heart is bonds with other hearts.

since this is before york's canonbump i'm going with he still looks the same as always. y/n/taco?

[decrypts]

[it's been a little while since he's seen her - but it never fails that her presence always seems to draw him near, whether he's consciously aware of it or not. before he even approaches, he can tell that there's something wrong, but if he even thinks he knows her as well as he's come to, it's going to be unwise to point that out right off the bat.

so .. he walks up to where she's sitting and takes the swing next to her, staring at the crystal in her hands with a vague sort of curiosity.] Something tells me that's no ordinary keepsake.

[beagoodman]

[Hey, hi, I'm not sure they met since the Halloween plot, but then it's time to catch up, right? Also, concerned lady, Steve is to the rescue...!

Steve slowly walks closer, remembering their first meeting when he almost caused her a heart attack. He hopes it won't be like that this time, but never be too sure.]

Is everything alright, ma'am?

[fallbythesword]

I already did that. I asked her to open herself to me, and she did. We shared our feelings. [She frowns at the thing again.] It must not have been enough.

y! also hi there notboyfriend.

[fallbythesword]

[She was expecting him, really. He seemed to come around a lot whenever she found herself on the Plane. ... She may not know exactly how she feels about this right now, but no matter, it's not going to keep her from talking to him by any means.]

Good guess. [She tilts her head.] This could have been the way to fix things in my world.

[fallbythesword]

[No heart attach this time! She's aware enough of her surroundings since she's not being bombarded with her worst fears. Thank the goddess...

Anyways. She looks up - recognizes him immediately and nods.]

It could be better. It's one of those times where what you planned doesn't line up with reality, that's all.

hi there notgirlfriend. ♥

[decrypts]

[it seems like it never fails that he finds her without even trying - but he's come to see that as meaning that maybe they're getting closer than he thought they might have been in the first place.

but it still doesn't mean the fact that she's expecting him doesn't make him smile, if only just a little. because he doesn't want to seem too lighthearted when this might not be one of those situations.

he hums lightly when she answers him, still staring at the crystal in her hands.] You mean .. instead of you having to destroy it?

[beagoodman]

[Steve nods, and feels pretty relieved that she seems to be doing okay besides that little annoyance she has.]

It means you just have to try harder. Ma'am, I'm not sure we've been properly introduced. The last time we had some difficulties on a few levels. I'm Steve Rogers, it's nice to meet you properly this time.

[inhumanity]

Did you hug each other? A proper embrace solidifies a friendship.

[fallbythesword]

Is that... strictly necessary?

[fallbythesword]

[She gives a small exhale of a laugh, and a slightly dark-tinted smirk.] No, that was in the past. This is a different matter.

This is the Heart of Gaea. When the two Holy Maidens came together to sing Metafalica and create a new land for the people to live on, this crystal was formed from their feelings and meant to sustain it. They failed, though. Something went wrong, and the land they created was unstable, warped and corrupted. Also, one of their souls became this. [A pause.] And I was going to use it for other reasons, but since the song failed and this Heart of Gaea isn't strong enough, I'm at a loss.

[Which was all said entirely casually. You know. Like she's just reporting back some generic bits of data in an experiment of some sort.]

[fallbythesword]

Try harder... [Her brow furrows as she very carefully considers that... and then she looks up at him with another nod.] That sounds pretty simple, but you have a point.

Yes. Last time was... interesting. [slight twitch!] But it's nice to formally meet you, Steve. You can cal me Jacqli. [beat] Not ma'am.

[grip_on_reality]

[when she spots Jacqli on the swingset, she heads in that direction. to make her presence known, though, she calls:] Got a new bit of jewelery there, Miwa?

[she knows perfectly well that's not what it is, but Jacqli hasn't struck her as the type you have to tiptoe around, and she'd rather indulge in dry humour than seriousness any day]

[decrypts]

[of course it would be something different – because it doesn't ever surprise him when he finds out something new about her or where she's from. he thinks that by now he should know more about both of those things than he does, but as it stands, jacqli remains one of those people that prefers to be an enigma, and .. if that's how she wants to be, then fine by him.

what she says to him doesn't .. doesn't exactly make sense, because he doesn't think he'll ever quite understand everything about her world, but .. something about it clicks, and he finds himself nodding.] Wait .. there's a soul in that thing? Like .. does it –

[he pauses, and he finally notices the way it's flickering, almost like a heartbeat.] .. What were you going to do with it?

[inhumanity]

How else are you to know you have become friends?

[fallbythesword]

[She appreciates the humor, and she smirks.] It's rather large for jewelry, though I'm sure that wouldn't stop some people.

[fallbythesword]

We haven't hugged, but we both know it.

[Holy shit a roundabout admission]