it's gonna rain - and it never ends

[thespaceopera]

[ It's midday, or close enough to it that the sun is blazing red hot above the planet. Everything seems ordinary - for disturbing, red-tinted values of ordinary, anyway. But the normalcy doesn't last for long.

Without warning, an explosive sound shocks through the jungle. It doesn't come from any one central point, but rather several points, scattered throughout, strategically placed to the advantage of someone. And from those massive shocks rises a wave of missiles - large, fast, and apparently, freely flying. They're guided, and they've locked onto their target: any foreign ship that is currently within Lato'li's atmosphere.

There's no way to mistake it. They're headed right for the Fleet.

The first wave feels a bit sporadic - timings might be off, but the missiles are still deadly, and if they hit, they hit hard. Shields might withstand this wave, but ships without shields will take direct hits. The ability to stay airborn is very, very quickly lost.

The second wave is much more precise, expertly timed and executed by whomever is firing from below. Even smaller shuttles get caught in the crosshairs, and those ships that lasted through the first volley will take a few more shots. If shields saved you before, they will fail here, giving out under the strain.

And the third wave comes, a little bit longer after, to finish the job. There are more of them, and they are far more advanced - they make the previous two volleys look like warning shots. This time, it's all missiles launched, all targets acquired.

Seven Fleet ships - and many, many shuttles - fall out of the sky, headed straight for the surface at alarming speed. Only four ships manage to escape the assault and exit the planet's atmosphere, retreating to orbit as fast as possible. Those lucky enough to have been in orbit can only watch as all of this happens.

But the missiles aren't the only thing up their sleeve. Just when the dust settles, while the network is surely lighting up with activity, attempts to contact one another and check on the status of fellow ships and crew, A loud, quick, terrible screeching noise shocks the network. It drowns out all communications on any connected devices - ship or personal. Ships in orbit will see all on-board systems flicker, then fizzle out, all non-emergency systems have gone completely down.

And with that.. there's silence. Perhaps too much silence. No matter what you do, no matter which buttons you press, which channels you try, there is no connection. Those who have dropped to the surface are entirely radio silent, and those in orbit have been reduced to the barest of abilities and life-support, with the bare minimum of contact.

So... What can you do now? ]


(( ooc: Feel free to use this post as a mingle for all your crashy or missile-dodgy needs!

• The following ships have been shot down: Bishop, Bloodsport, Blue Fish, Goldstone, Heron, Tourist, Twin Roses.
• The following ships are now in orbit: Blameless, Caprine, First Breath, Huntress, Iskaulit, Red Fish, Starstruck, Vanquish, Wonderduck

Good luck, Dear Fleet...~ ♪ ))

Comments

CRASH SITE

[moseyin]

[After everyone's been accounted for (minus Freyja), once Nami and Sam have reported in, once Zack's wounds have been closed and they've begun divvying up tasks, Cloud finds a toppled tree near the trench of their crash, sits down on it, and just.

Stares.

He doesn't know how long he's out there. The sun arches across the sky, red and gored, but he doesn't even notice the shadows turning and growing. He stares down at the blood still under the fingernails of his ungloved hands. His eyes unfocus and his gaze grows distant. The world around him slips away into a haze.

He doesn't move.]

[collegedropout]

Hey. Cloud.

[Sam wanders over, sleeves rolled up and sweat on his brow. He's moved into Work Mode, a familiar old sense of urgency he's used to back home; always something wreaking havoc. Always something getting blown up or strange abnormalities killing unwitting civilians. This time he at least is relieved to have likewise seasoned fighters and survivors around him.

Though, something about Cloud at the moment isn't looking too good.

He slides down a dirt slope, moving to the man. He's got a number of smaller cuts and a bigger gash on his forehead that has blissfully stopped bleeding; it wasn't so bad. Maybe mildly concussed, but it's not like he's going to sleep or drinking anytime soon. He'll live. Hell, Nami and he are lucky to have survived a crash in such a small aircraft.

(He knew she could do it without adding to their unpleasant kill counts lately.)

(She better not be trying to move around on that broken leg.)]

... Hey.

You alright?

[moseyin]

[Cloud doesn't look up for way too long a pause, blinking slowly before looking back over to the ship. He squints back up at Sam, elbows and shoulders propping him up like the stubborn stems of a wilting houseplant.]

...you're bleeding. Your face.

[collegedropout]

It's not as bad as it looks. I've had worse.

[He's tired as hell, though; carrying around Nami hasn't been the easiest task, and between that and the actual energy-sucking vortex being in a crash is, he's starting to run on fumes around here. He doesn't even want to go into the fact that this place? It's crawling with secret dangers.

Dangers he's had visions of.

He moves closer to Cloud, determined to make sure he's alright before he can return to Nami. Sam's sporting a fair number of bruises and small nicks here and there, thanks to his struggles with the -- whoever they are, earlier.]

How are you though?

[moseyin]

[He'll have to take Sam's word for it. The guy stumbled away from a shuttle crash in one piece, maybe he's like, super durable or something.

Cloud looks back over to the ship.] Just...trying to catch up. [No,] -catch my breath. There's a lot to do... [So he really doesn't have time to waste sitting around wondering if his hands are still attached but what can ya do]

[collegedropout]

[Sam purses his lips, and for some reason, something about this feels -- familiar. Sam's had a little experience in the mental crisis area, you know? So he puts some effort in his day to day to make sure the people around him aren't sinking into the shit he'd sunk into, especially back in Adstringendum.]

You just looked like you were spacing a little, there. You sure you're good?

I mean, nobody'd blame you, we just fell out of the friggin' sky in a big ship missile.

[moseyin]

[How does he even put this into words...? He's never had to before.

Cloud looks down at his hands, touches his fingertips to his thumb one at a time in a row, then back again. It feels too sluggish to be his doing.]

...you ever...get this weird feeling that, uh. [Back and forth.] That your body's a loaner? That your real one is someone else and you're just...piloting this one? And not always so great?

[collegedropout]

[Sam's eyes widen slightly, and he purses his lips. Shit. Uh. That's heavier than he was expecting, but what's more depressing is how much he wants to say yes, absolutely, all the time. But -- not quite, also. It's kind of sad that there are different levels to this sort of thing. He moves over to the man's side, unsure how to broach the can of worms and boxes of Issues going on. What should he admit to?

Cloud's offering some truthful feelings. Big ones.

So for that, he'll try to be honest, too.]

... Something like that, actually, yeah. I, um. I've been out of control of my body before -- a few times, because of... people who controlled it from the inside. So sometimes I feel like reality's not really reality, and maybe I'm not piloting myself and nothing I'm actually seeing is real. If that makes sense.

So I know that's not exactly the same, but -- I do get what you mean.

Weird feelings about who's in control of what.

... Being a stranger to yourself.

[moseyin]

[Cloud nods along with all of that, slowly, deliberately. He feels like he should be surprised; he'd never gotten any kind of read off of Sam that he could've gone through something similar to what he has, but then again he's never really paid the guy very much attention. Like almost everyone else on the Bloodsport.

It doesn't feel particularly heavy to Cloud, but that could just be because he's gotten used to airing out his dirty laundry in front of an audience. When Sam mumbles that last part, Cloud hums, staring down at his hands and rubbing his first two fingers against his thumb.]

...I repeat my name. Where I'm from. You do stuff like that?

cw for self-harmy stuff because ha spn

[collegedropout]

... Stuff like that, yeah. I used to...

[He stops, unsure what he should say. Ultimately he holds up his hand, palm turned toward Cloud, and lets him observe the thick, ugly scarring on his palm. It looks like something that had been carved into on more than one occasion; Sam's got a fair number of scars all along his arms, some from releasing blood for a spell or sigil. There are even thicker scars on his forearm where he'd cut into himself to try and differentiate reality; Katie has the same set of scars... it's fucking complicated.

But the palm. The palm's always been his go-to. It's always been how he could tell, back home.

Before Cas put his head back together... and sometimes after.]

I used to use pain to keep track of what was real... but I learned from my friends, um. That's not the way to do it -- and it just hurts you and people around you. Your method's way better, honestly.

Now I focus on other senses. The smell of whiskey helps.

[moseyin]

[Cloud leans over to peer down at Sam's hand, frowning faintly; it's definitely a nasty scar, and it looks like something that's got to impede his usage at least a little bit with how poorly it's healed.

Using pain to keep track...was never something Cloud thought about, honestly. Sam's right though, it probably wouldn't work out that well. And Tifa would have beat the hell out of him just for thinking about it.]

Bet drinking whiskey helps too. [Probably not...like, at all, but Cloud kinda would still like a glass or six right about now.] Do you still...y'know, have it happen? I can look out for it.

If you don't want anybody else knowin'. [For Cloud at least, it's embarrassing. No- more like humiliating. It feels like weakness, like being a burden, and he can't imagine anybody else would like someone knowing when they're having an episode.]

[collegedropout]

Not as much as it used to, but... yeah, it still does.

At the most stupid times, at the most ridiculous things.

[Like reading a particular book, or... cutting himself in front of a mirror when he's shaving. Hell, let's not even mention those ridiculous flashes to the Cage, here and there; those usually have him tucked away in his room until he can get a hold of himself. He smiles sympathetically at Cloud's offer -- and of course with some level of thankfulness.]

... You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours?

Or, uh. You help with my deep-rooted issues, I'll help with yours?

[He's more than happy to help, kid.

And yes, you're a kid. He's like 200 years old in spirit, he can think that.]

[moseyin]

Don't have to have a share-and-care session, [Cloud mumbles, because calling it 'deep-rooted issues' is probably accurate but they haven't told each other why they have those mutual issues and Cloud would like to keep it that way. Not that he doesn't care about what happened to Sam- honestly, it's hard to not care, especially now with Sam looking at him with all that understanding creasing his bloodied brow, but Cloud doesn't know if he can absorb another story about torture or trauma or the kind of shit that makes this sort of thing happen and still see the light in the world as a prevailing power.]

Just...yeah. Back-scratching. Let's just do that.

hay hay boiii

[luxoraculi]

[ Lunafreya has been doing her best to find people and heal the injured. The Breathless may be in orbit, but she and Noctis had been down on the planet long before the chaos erupted. She isn't surprised to see Cloud... she had hoped she wouldn't, of course. But she'd hoped that all of the ships and shuttles would have made it out of the line of fire, too.

As soon as she sees him, she makes a beeline towards him. The look on his face screams that he's been here a while, that he's lost in thought. Even as she rapidly approaches, her voice is quiet and gentle, if not a little tired and breathless. It's been a long day of searching and healing. ]

Cloud. Are you well? Are you injured anywhere?

hay girl haaayyyy

[moseyin]

[Cloud doesn't even react to her presence until she's practically on top of him, inches from his side as he pulls in a slow breath and turns his face in her direction. Doesn't meet her eyes, only makes it up to her waist or so.] I uh. The. [He gestures weakly to the ship.] Ship crashed. There's blood, and...

[luxoraculi]

[ She glances over at the ship in question... if there's blood, there's injured. She can deal with that in a second. For now, though, she places her hands against his cheeks and tips his head so he looks up at *her*, so she can get a good look at him and inspect for injuries. ]

I know... but are you injured, Cloud? I can heal you... my magic takes a day or so to fully take effect, but it is thorough. [ He's shaken up, he's in his own world... she's never seen him like this before. She pats his cheeks. ] It's going to be alright.

[moseyin]

[She takes his face in her hands and it's almost like he sees it instead of feels it, like he's three steps behind his body and watching someone else use it. It's creepy as hell, and it reminds him too much of things that have happened before. He should move away from her, he should get away from her before he hurts her.

And then she pats his cheeks, fingers drumming gently on the skin and she says, It's going to be alright, and he falters, hands halfway up to push her away. He hesitates, fingers twitching at her sides before he leans forward and buries his head against her stomach, arms going around her and holding as tightly as he dares.

God, he misses his mom so much. Even if she never really understood him, at least she cared about him, and he never-]

I'm Cloud, [he mumbles against her, hanging on and trying to will himself fully back into his body. She called him Cloud, she can see him fine, so he must be here and fine after all.] I'm Cloud, I'm Cloud...I'm alright...

[luxoraculi]

[ She's trying to scan him for any obvious injuries, but she's paying attention to his facial expression, his body movements, his everything right now. So when he wraps his arms around her middle and tucks his head into her stomach, sympathy washes over her like a tidal wave. This is a whole new side to Cloud that she's never seen, and she wonders what sort of memories this crash, this PLANET has dredged up to put him in such a state.

Luna is never one to push people away, though. Never has been, never will be. So she immediately moves her fingers from his face and into his hair, dragging her fingers through his blond mane soothingly, her other hand dropping onto his back to rub in slow, comforting circles. ]

That's right. You are Cloud, and you are alright. [ Her voice is quiet as she speaks, wanting nothing more than to comfort her dear friend. ] You are alright, you are alive. Everything is going to be just fine, I promise.

[moseyin]

[It's hard to believe that everything's going to be just fine, not when Zack bled all over the floor and Aerith almost vomited after just trying to talk to this Planet, not when their ship's dug a trench in the forest from the force of their crash and not when the woods are teeming with a bunch of bloodthirsty assholes, but...

Here, with Luna's arms around him, he thinks maybe for a little while it'll be all right.

After a moment he pulls back and away, scrubbing at his face and standing up quickly, embarrassed.] Sorry, [he mutters.] Sorry. It's just. It's a lot. I'm fine.

[luxoraculi]

[ She feels just awful for poor Cloud. When he pulls away and stands, she shakes her head at him. He has no reason to feel apologetic -- this is kind of a big ordeal. He literally fell out of the sky in a ship, crashed, he's seen some things and right now he isn't okay. That is very much allowed. ] Cloud, please don't apologize. There is no need for it. Here.

[ She reaches forward and takes his hands into her own, and for a brief moment they glow a soft white. She lets his hands go and instead reaches up to lightly touch his face once again, but this time she leans up on her toes to press her forehead to his and closes her eyes. ]

Blessed stars of life and light... [ The hands on his cheeks emit the same warm, soothing white glow as before. He never answered her question as to if he was hurt or not, and with how embarrassed he seems she doesn't expect he'd tell her the truth even if he WAS injured. So she takes it upon himself to weave her healing magic into him. Even if he isn't injured, a blessing is still a blessing and hopefully it will help to ease some of his fatigue.

When she's done, she pulls away and drops her hands to her sides once more. ] Let your heart be at ease, Cloud. I now that it is not easy, but I have found that the calmer one stays in a situation like this regardless of what has happened and what could potentially happen, the better things tend to turn out. Have faith... so long as we all stick together, things are bound to turn out fine.

[moseyin]

[He's not particularly hurt; a bruise or two, maybe, just because he's been made SOLDIER tough by both labs and battle. Most of his wounds are all internal, though when Luna invokes whatever it is she invokes and that glow washes over him, it's as good as a mastered Cure spell. His shoulders feel less tense, his aches disappear. It makes him feel a little more ready to get back into the fray.

More than whatever power she used, it's Luna he's drawing strength from. He'd likened her at first to Aerith but now he's beginning to wonder if he'd gotten it all wrong. When she tells him not to apologize, when she holds his face in her hands and tells him to just stay calm, to have faith, he can hear Tifa's gentle voice whispering "It's okay, Cloud. Slowly, slowly..."]

Little by little, [Cloud murmurs, heart aching for Tifa's quiet strength, how she always seemed to just look at him and know what he was thinking, and finding comfort in the echoes of that in Luna. He could always be himself around Tifa, because she's seen the worst of him and she still loves him for it. He can be weak, and vulnerable, and scared and she still thinks he's her hero.

He takes a deep breath, pressing Luna's hands into his cheeks with his own before holding her elbows instead, head still ducked in shame but feeling much more evenly keeled than he did a moment ago.] Okay. Okay. I'll take it slow. ...I'll be fine, I promise.

[luxoraculi]

[ Luna can see the change coming over him; the Cloud that she's familiar with is surfacing again. As he places his hands on hers and then her elbows, another smile finds its way onto her lips. It's good to see him coming around again. Lightly her thumbs trail over his cheeks, before the finally drift away and allow him his freedom once more. ]

I'm glad... come, it is dangerous out in the open. We should reconvene with everyone... there is safety in numbers. [ She reaches once more to take one of his hands so that she can properly tug him along when he's ready to move. ] I believe if we can all come up with some sort of plan of action, that might be wise. Like... perhaps, taking a rotation of shifts. People to watch over those still injured while others go out searching for parts and whatever else may be needed to fix the damaged sihps.

[moseyin]

Luna- hang on, [wow she is a lot stronger than she looks, and Cloud stumbles after her before he matches her pace.] Wait, I can't go, I gotta stay with my ship.

[luxoraculi]

Mm? [ Cloud, you ain't seen nothin' yet. She stops mid-step and peers up at him, before sighing. ] Ah, yes, of course. Forgive me... mm, I should find Noctis and figure out what we are doing tonight for shelter.

[moseyin]

What- no, don't be crazy. You guys can sleep in my quarters, they're still in one piece. [Seriously, he's not gonna be like 'well good luck buddy hope you don't have to sleep in a tree' to Luna, no way.]