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

[asphodels]

[ At least she's being completely honest this time, she thinks, and not dancing around the issue. As much as she adores Zack and Cloud she doesn't really want to worry them, and the idea of being the one that causes them problems is something that makes her feel incredibly uncomfortable. She was raised taking care of herself, after all, and she had spent most of her childhood running away from the Turks. She was independent, but she realised that she could rely on them too, even if it meant they would worry.

That's what it was like when you loved someone. You took care of them and you loved them even when you were worried about hurting them.

Aerith smiles softly, her hand reaching out to find Zack's, to have something to hold onto. What she wants is for them to happy - all three of them, her and Cloud and Zack - for as long as they can manage. If the world would stop dropping comets on them and crashing them into planets... Maybe it would be possible. ]

Okay. [ It's an easy enough thing to agree to, and she reaches out, hand pressing against his stomach gently. ] Are you still hurting?

[wingenvy]

[He gives her hand a light squeeze, eyes closing. There's no pain when she touches his wound, and the skin is sealed over, but it feels... stretched, thin, like a patch too small for a hole, like a seam on the edge of tearing. Cure can fix a lot, but sometimes you still need time to sleep it off and let the body do some healing on its own.]

Kinda- it comes and goes. It's not the worst ever, and it shouldn't last long. You took real good care of me, like always.

[feel useful, now?]

[asphodels]

[ At least he's resting and relaxing, Aerith thinks, and that makes her happier than she can put into words. She can breathe out and reach for him and know he's there, a solid weight, not going anywhere. He's healed and he's going to be okay, even if it'll take a little bit of time for him to get his energy back. The thought of actually losing him again, of not seeing him, or having him slip from her fingers... It terrifies her, and it makes her stomach twist into knots.

It's probably better not to think about it, she decides, lips turning into a frown. ]

I did my best. It's not the same as if I was at home, but...

[ At least she could do something for him. ]

[wingenvy]

Hey, hey, you did awesome. You used that materia way better than I ever did, believe me.

[He's always been more a pro with the offensive materia, not so much the curative stuff. there's a very good reason why his equipment is geared towards status-effect reduction instead of, like, bullet-proofing or magic buffs. which in itself is a bit of a joke, but hey, what can you do.]

Took a little convincing, I know, but... no regrets, giving that one to you. You've always been a natural healer.

[asphodels]

That's because I'm used to it. It's what I used to do when I travelled with Cloud.

[ Party healer was her domain. She knew she wasn't the best at physical fighting so she supported the group with materia and healing. She had told the others that she could take care of herself and it was true, she could, but she could be supportive as well. ]

I'm glad. [ Turning her head, she kisses his cheek gently. ] Do you understand, now, Zack?

[wingenvy]

...Yeah, I get it. Just wasn't used to it, y'know? You being in a fight. I guess it was kinda... scary.

[it was so clearly divided between them for so long- she was a bastion away from the battlefield, a place where he could visit and unwind and feel a little less like a monster, more human, again. now instead of being far from all of that she's come to embrace it in her own way, like him.

it's not bad, not really. but it takes some adjusting.]

[asphodels]

I know. I remember the first time we saw monsters together and I was so scared. I was scared of the sky, too, and being too far from my mom, and SOLDIERs...

[ Aerith shifts, moving to sit up a little, to lean a little closer into Zack, to hold onto him - because she is afraid too. She understands. She had been afraid that he'd slip from her fingertips just like Cloud had been afraid of losing her, just like she had worried and fretted and let herself die to protect the people she loved best.

Fear is normal to her now, so she understands. It doesn't mean she'll let him hold her back from her potential. ]

I learned to fight because I had to. The Turks kept coming to find me and one day Cloud fell through the roof and I realised what my duty to the world was. I had to be strong, Zack, just like you. So we have to believe in each other now, don't we?

[wingenvy]

Mmm... I think I can manage that. Just be patient with me, alright?

[He might mess up again- not for lack of believing in her, but because he wants to protect her, no matter what. He's got a lot to make up for after all.]

[asphodels]

It's okay. It took a long time for the others, too, sometimes! Cloud once told me it was too dangerous just because I was a girl.

[ She had sorted that problem out quickly, thank you very much. ]

[wingenvy]

Oooh, damn, bet you gave it to him for that one.

[even he knows better than to say something like that. ...mostly.]

[asphodels]

He got just what he deserved, and I got to go with him.

[ Sucks to be you, Cloud. ]

[wingenvy]

Sounds kind of like a win for him, actually. A win-win. Lucky both of you.

[he's rambling a bit, but it's nice to keep talking. feels lively and all that. he doesn't want to go back to sleep just yet.]

[asphodels]

I was happy. And I'm even happier now.

[ Even in the middle of a planet, even if they've crashed, even if everything is going to hell. ]

I have you.

[wingenvy]

Hah, well. It's great to be had.

[he gives her hair a sleepy kiss, tucking her closer. she's nice and warm, he can't help wanting her near.]

I can't imagine being happier, myself.

[asphodels]

[ Aerith smiles, soft and gentle, settling closer against him and finally relaxing, some of the weight slipping from her shoulders. They're both exhausted, but they're safe together. ]

Do you want to hear a secret?

[wingenvy]

Heck yeah I do. What is it?

[this is kind of out of nowhere, but he's into it.]

[asphodels]

See this ribbon? It's the one you gave me.

[ She tugs on it gently, not enough to undo her hair. ]

And... [ She leans up, kissing him on the jawline. ] I started wearing all pink.

[wingenvy]

[he blinks, brows lifting in surprise.]

...Seriously? For this long? Aerith...

[it was such a silly, indulgent gift on the first day they'd met, something he'd barely put any thought in. he just wanted to do something nice for her. for her to hold onto it all these years...]

[asphodels]

Mhm.

[ It's so easy to settle down against him again, curl around his body and hold on. She's not afraid he's going to disappear anymore, not really, but it doesn't mean she doesn't want to cling tight. ]

Every day since I got it.

[wingenvy]

That's amazing. You're amazing.

[he's kind of honoured.]

...Hey, you wanna know a secret, too?

[asphodels]

Am I? Hm.

[ She's smiling, though, and perks up as she looks at him. ]

Always! Are you going to tell me now?

[wingenvy]

[He leans in, his voice low and conspiratorial.]

I wore a ribbon, too.

[asphodels]

Really? [ Beaming, she shifts up, smiling fondly. ] Where?

[wingenvy]

It was for a mission. There was this monster giving folks some trouble - instant death magic, hefty attacks, the worst kind - and I needed something that could keep me alive for it. I was digging through some of my old equipment and found it- this fancy red ribbon I got off a giant Tonberry. It was pretty cute, but not really my thing... actually, I was thinking of giving it to you back then, but when I had it checked out at Shinra the tech told me I needed to hang onto it. Good thing, though! Turns out it was made to repel all kinds of things- like, say, instant death magic?

[he lightly taps the side of his head with a finger.]

Stuck it right here, and I came back safe and sound.

[asphodels]

You found a ribbon that repelled magic?

[ For all that the two of them were desperately unlucky at times - and it's not something she would voice even if she knows it's true - sometimes they could be incredibly fortunate. That's how Zack had fallen into her church, how they had met, how they had continued to find one another...

She shakes her head, reaching up to press her fingers against the spot he's tapped. ]

That means we need to get you another lucky ribbon.