driftfleet | Shufflemageddon- it's a Bishop Mingle!

Entry tags:

Shufflemageddon- it's a Bishop Mingle!

Who: Bishop crew and any visitors
Broadcast: n/a
Action: Anyone aboard the S.S. Bishop
When: RIGHT THE HECK NOW (and also throughout the month)

[New crewmates, new captain, new reasons to wonder how the ship's still flying]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Because people have memories about things that happened during different times and events before being pulled here. If this place has the power to bring back the dead, then why would it not have the ability to bring people here from different times?

[ The Atroma are powerful, after all... ]

I... he mentioned something about a train. But please forgive me, Noctis, he did not seem to want to talk about it much so I did not press the issue. And... yes, the chancellor is here.

[ She looks off to the side. Noctis and his friends are not safe with Ardyn here, and she hates that. But she looks back at Noctis again at his words. ]

I cannot vouch for it either way, but at this point not a single thing would surprise me... although I am leaning more in your direction. We are here for a purpose, but I highly doubt it is reality television.

...Going inside the Crystal? So you spoke to the draconian? [ Her eyes light up slightly. Ifrit and Bahamut are the two Astrals that she could not do -- Ifrit because of his hatred for man kind, and Bahamut because he dwells within the Crystal, and the Crystal hadn't exactly been easy to get to. She hadn't lived long enough, anyways.

But then he goes on, and her eyes widen. ] You met up with Ravus? Oh, than the Gods... did he give you your father's sword? Did he join you and your friends? [ The look on Noct's face, though, has her stomach tying itself into knots. That's... not good. Her own face falls, though, at that next bit. ]

...so he was not lying to me when he first arrived, then. He told me the same thing as you are telling me right now, but I did not believe him. I was blinded by anger at the time, we were having a rather heated argument and I hung up on him. He will not kill you, though... you've got a strong will and heart, and you have the Astrals on your side. I have faith in you.

_{[He paled when she brought up the train. He swallowed. His face was a mixture of horror and shame. He averted his gaze only to bring it right back to her. He wouldn't hide it, he and Prompto were cool now... at least in his time. Maybe Prompto came here when he fell off the train, but those photos he saw... of the warehouses and the lab...]}

Ardyn got on the train we were riding in... made me think Prompto was him and he was Prompto. They were on the roof of the train car, I... _{[His words stuck in his throat and he looked away again but he had to force himself to get it out.]} I pushed him. Ardyn-- he.... dropped the illusion as Prompto was falling off. I can still hear him yelling. He dropped me then too, on the train car roof. I don't know how long it was before I woke up... Prompto was gone. _{[He twisted as he said this, it shamed him, he hated himself a little.]}

It was a trap but I fell right into it. We didn't see Prompto for days. I thought he was dead and it was my fault... we got to Tenebrae and _{[The castle was burning but she doesn't need to know that.]} there were some people from the castle who talked to me. Maria was there... and that little girl... and we got the passengers from the train off, we left, we were headed to Niflheim and then Ardyn came back, I tried to fight him but Gentiana came instead... she froze him solid. I had no idea she was the glacian. Then I saw you and... Prompto was gone, you were gone, Ignis was blinded, then I saw you I don't know if you were a ghost or a hallucination... _{[Tears brighten his eyes. He had a breakdown in the train car. He took a breath.]}

We found Prompto. We went through Niflheim... I saw Ravus... Luna... Ardyn killed him. What's worse is I was trying to find him and Ardyn... found him first. He was disguised as me and I think Ravus bought it then... _{[He closes his eyes]} I hope he knew even at the end it wasn't me who killed him. I would never-- I'm sorry Luna. I let you both down. I was too late for both of you.

_{[And he isn't even telling Ravus' whole story. She doesn't need to know he killed him again at his own behest.]}

Chancellor Izunia... [ That man just doesn't know when to stop. Her small hands ball into fists for a few moments before she allows them to straighten once more in lieu of reaching to place one on Noct's shoulder. ] Oh, Noctis... you are not at fault for that, and Prompto seems like a very understanding young man. I am cetain that he, too, must know what Ardyn is capable of doing.

[ Murder, death, and destruction should be Izunia's middle name, honestly. Her hand remains gently on his shoulder to offer support, but when he continues and she sees tears in his eyes, it moves to gently cup his cheek for a few moments, her thumb running lightly over the smooth skin of his cheek. ] I... the last thing I recall is passing the ring to you. When I opened my eyes next, I was here. But I can assure you that was no illusion on that train. I promised to watch over you, and I had intended on doing so no matter what.

[ She doesn't remember that because she never got to go through that, what with coming here immediately after death. But her brow furrows. ]

...Ignis... blinded? The four of you have not had an easy time of it, have you? [ Had she lived, she could have done something about Ignis' eyes. She could have tried, at least. Maybe his vision wouldn't be perfect, but maybe he could have seen. Now they'll never know, and it makes her sick to think what awaits him when he returns home. She's grown extremely fond of both Prompto and Ignis, they've been wonderful friends and have done their best to look out for her... to think that she can't return the favor at home and help them when they need it most is disturbing. ]

Gentiana passed my Trident to you then? She told me she would... [ She looks a little relieved, at least for a few moments, especially so when he confirms that they found Prompto. But then he goes on about Ravus, and she visibly pales, eyes widening and a look of both anguish and horror passes over her features. ]

No, not Ravus... not after everything... before the final rite, he came to see me in Altissia. I was so tired and weak, I asked him to deliver the ring to you in my stead but he refused. He encouraged me to fulfill my destiny. I begged him not to return, I wanted him to stay in Altissia and meet up with you there...

[ Her heart is broken; had Ravus listened to her, it would have both made things far less complicated for Noctis and he'd perhaps have stood a chance. He could have lived, he could have ruled over Tenebrae and helped Noctis forge a better world. She had envisioned a far brighter future, one with Lucis and Tenebrae standing strong side by side once more, her king and her brother allied and taking down the Empire and Starscourge together.

But now Ravus is gone. Luna's eyes fill with tears, and she quickly turns away so Noctis doesn't see. At home, she'd promised herself not to cry in front of her beloved king; her job had been to inspire him, after all, not depress him. Ravus had been the only one she'd shed tears to... this may not be home, but she doesn't want him to see her crying either. She draws in a sharp, shaky breath and quickly wipes at her eyes. ]

Forgive me, Noctis. I know you would not do such a thing... that hideous chancellor has been on quite a roll, hasn't he? You did not let anyone down. I knew the consequences of my own actions, and I had accepted them. I embraced my destiny, Noctis, and if it were possible I would do it again and again and again for you. And... Ravus did, too. I'm certain that Ravus held no grudge against you, not anymore. He had accepted how the stars had aligned. He knew you were his king... that you are our king. So please, never apologize for things that were out of your control.

[ She will never blame Noctis for her death, nor for her brother's. He's only confirmed what she'd known deep down inside, but actually hearing it... it brings forth a pain far deeper than Ardyn's knife ever could have inflicted upon her. Luna is usually far better at schooling her emotions, but this one isn't as easy, and no matter how hard she tries, no matter how many times she rubs at her eyes, the tears aren't stopping this time and she absolutely hates that. ]

I...I know. We met up with Prompto again and we talked about it, we're fine... but that still threw me. I could just throw my friends away like that...

_{[He pauses when she touches him, then when she strokes his cheek his tears well up even more, he covers her hands with his own as the tears fall over her fingers. He can't keep it in anymore, it's too much. She had been there, that had been Luna, his Luna... he hoped she heard his apology about not being there for her. It was so hard, it still was so hard in so many ways. He had her in a way now, but only for now. He didn't get to imagine a bright happy future, he just had this moment and he prayed he got to have another and another. ]}

Ignis was blinded during the rite of the Hydrean... you passed the ring to me... I tried to reach you but the water pushed me back, I... I watched you disappear into the depths... then I woke up in the hotel... where we were supposed to have stayed. _{[On the wedding night they never had]} You were gone, Umbra brought the notebook from you, I had the ring in my hand... and Ignis was blind. When we left I didn't speak for days. I was like a zombie. Everything was still going on, people were still shopping and smiling and... the colors were still bright and it was so wrong, Luna.

_{[How could the world still turn after losing her? How could the sun keep rising and setting? The world should have ended... he died that day. He knows it. He may still walk and talk and smile with his friends but his soul left with Luna.]}

Yeah I got the trident... _{[Oh dear, shes's crying. He pulls her in close and rubs her back. Oh Luna, his poor Luna. He nuzzles her and rocks her gently.]}

I saw a vision of you and Ravus arguing in the flower fields about you throwing your life away. I think I understand his side now. He was misdirecting the Empire's troops to give me trouble and save you some. He thought he could save you and he rose through the ranks in the empire to do it, to have as much power as possible so he could protect you that much better. But that's why he could never stay in Altissia... after you were gone, Luna... he empire labeled him the reason for me getting the Hydrean's blessing. I guess they realized he was undermining them for your sake and they sentenced him to death. There was nowhere for him to go but with Ardyn... I just wasn't fast enough. By the time I found him he was gone. Ardyn had already done his worst. _{[The hulking daemon Ravus was turning into was tough, almost too much for him to take down if he hadn't had his friends they would never have ended it for him as he wanted.]}

He cursed Ardyn in his last words... so I think you're right... maybe he knew. I just wish I could have said something to him. The last time we saw each other we both drew our weapons arguing over you.

I'm sorry, Luna... I'm so sorry.

It was not your fault, Noctis. It was that hideous Chancellor... there is a darkness in that man like none other. His ability to be able to get into the minds of his victims... it's just awful. That was not your fault.

[ Her poor, sweet man. She does her best to use her thumbs to wipe away his tears. She knows Noctis well enough to know that he's probably made very little time to mourn his losses; for his father, for her, for the loss of Ignis' vision. He has probably kept everything all bottled up inside and he can only just now really let it out. They are the same in that aspect, not wanting to show others any sort of tears or grief. ]

Poor Ignis... but Noctis, that was not your fault, either. Fate is an extremely cruel mistress. [ And Ignis knew what he was signing up for, she knows he had. That his duty to his prince turned king was a dangerous one, and that whatever happened to make him lose his precious vision he'd done so with as much dignity and grace as possible. Ignis is a strong man, and just knowing that only makes her more grateful that Noctis has him as friend and advisor. ] Oh, Noctis... my sweet king, you have been through so much in such a short amount of time. I wish I could tell you things will get easier, but... the only thing I can really say is that when it is time for you to return home, remain vigilant. Ardyn will do anything and everything to push you to the brink... you must not ever let him win such a battle. I believe in you, and I know that no matter what, you will see your destiny fulfilled and take what is rightfully yours back. You will banish Ardyn and the darkness and live long and happily as the true King of Lucis.

[ This is what she chooses to believe, at least. That he will live and make their world a better one for future generations to come. She has all the faith in the world in Noctis, after all.

She's glad that he got the Trident. It was the last thing in the mortal realm she could do for him, is to offer a weapon to him that could help keep him safe in battle. Besides, there was no other worthy of such a weapon. A weapon gifted unto the first Oracle by Bahamut himself... if the blood of the Oracle was no more, then there was no better hands for it to be in than the King of Kings.

She rests her head on Noctis' shoulder when he pulls her in close, and her arms wind around him as well as she squeezes her eyes shut. She had known Ravus would be killed for his actions, but she had hoped that perhaps he could escape such a fate, that he could team up with Noctis and his friends. ]

He... was merely worried about me. My brother made many bad decisions in his life, but he made most of those decisions with me in mind. [ The road to hell is paved with good intentions, although not ALL of his intentions had been so good. She's not stupid enough to know that Ravus had been the one to suggest the attack on Insomnia, that if he hadn't been so blinded by hurt and anger that King Regis would not be dead right now, and perhaps Noctis' life would be a little less difficult. ]

He promised me he would hold the Imperial Army off for you, and I am glad he did it. He wanted to give you your father's glaive personally... he even went so far as to call you his King. [ In front of her, at least. She'd been so shocked, but so HAPPY to hear him say that that he'd made her cry from pure joy. To think that even after she was gone, the two of them could FINALLY get along. That Noctis would have another friend, and that he and Ravus would have common ground. ]

I loved Ravus... we may have argued and we may not have seen eye to eye all the time, but he was still my brother. To know that stupid, hideous Chancellor killed him... I asked Ardyn Izunia about Ravus when he first arrived, and he would not tell me anything. He was his usual condescending self, and we got into an argument. Admittedly, I lost my temper and started yelling...

[ Right over the network too. She'd been scolded profusely by Ignis for taking Ardyn's bait, and Noctis -- the OTHER Noctis -- had made her promise right then and there to stay away from the chancellor. Something she'd TRIED to do, but he just kept showing up and harassing her... ]

You need not be sorry, Noctis... it wasn't your fault. Ardyn will stop at nothing to make you suffer... what a disgusting, depraved man.

[ She can feel it in her bones, though. The next time she sees Ardyn, sit is going to hit the fan. She's sad and crying, yes, but she can also feel anger rising up within her. That man had better hope to the Gods that they don't bump into one another face to face for a good, long while. ]

Yeah, he can... he's unreal...

_{[He didn't like showing his emotions period, he was just reserved like that. He was never comfortable with it. Luna was an exception but she'd seen him at his lowest so many times. The time in Tenebrae when he was in a wheelchair, when he was thrown to the rubble by Leviathan like a rag doll, and when he was a crying blubbering mess on the train. He knew she saw that... that was her.

And he didn't WANT her trident because of what it represented... but at the same time he needed it because if she was gone he wanted every memento he could have of hers. The sylleblossom in their notebook and the ring of the Lucii just weren't enough. He couldn't look in their notebook without crying because he needed more, he needed one last note from her.

But something she said caught his attention. He wasn't sure if he should say anything about what Bahamut told him... so he just let her speak. She needed to let this out anyway.]}

Ravus called me his king too.... to my face, or to what he thought was my face. He offered my dad's sword to me too. I got it after... after he was gone...

and I do need to be sorry... Luna... Luna you should know....

_{[He bit his lip for a second but it bothered him, she needed to know.]}

Luna, I'm going to take care of Ardyn and the darkness... the starscourge... it'll be fine but I won't be able to live a long life the way you want. I... I can use the crystal to purge the darkness from the world but it'll cost me my life. Bahamut told me that before I came here. It's not something I can change...

[ Luna knows that very well, she's the same way. She does her damn hardest to keep her emotions to herself, especially when it concerns her beloved young king. The only person who has really seen her cry in many years is Ravus, and that is because she had trusted him with it despite everything. It isn't as though she does not trust Noctis or his friends, but she's got a duty to him still, one she's carried through death and into the Fleet, to make sure he stays inspired and happy and safe.

But she's not doing a very good job of that right now, is she? Crying over Ravus and making herself look silly. That right there is enough to get her to stifle her tears and wipe them away just as quickly as they came. Briefly, at least. ]

I am just... glad that he acknowledged you in such a way. He had changed, he was more like he used to be. It made me happy to know that he'd finally accepted the truth and realized that Niflheim was the enemy, not Lucis. I had so hoped for the two of you to join forces...

[ She trails off, though, silencing herself to let him speak. Her eyes widen in absolute horror, and she can feel herself shaking her head. This is the ending she'd known he'd get, deep down. She'd hoped and prayed that it would not come to pass, that he'd rule over Lucis and change the world for the better, that he'd live until he was old and grey and surrounded by many children and friends.

Both she and Noctis were born to be sacrifices unto the world. Nothing more, nothing less. Their existences were meaningless to the Gods, they'd been pawns for the greater good. This is something she can accept for herself, something she had already accepted a great many years ago. But not for Noctis, never for Noctis. ]

The Draconian really told you that...? [ She looks down, feeling her eyes water again, and she quickly shakes her head. ] I knew your destiny would not be an easy one, and I had a horrible feeling that may be the outcome, but I had not wanted that to come to fruition. Sometimes... I wonder why the Gods had to choose you, why you had to be the one to suffer such a fate.... it is not fair...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Shufflemageddon- it's a Bishop Mingle!

seeing yuri talking about ardyn was hilarious ngl

He would not want to talk about him, he's a scared baby

such a cinnamon roll

Too good for this world.... mmmm too delish.

/gently wraps the cinnamon roll up

Wrap him up and deliver him to Victor kthnx

yes ma'am