ROUND 5 WATCHING POST

[foundationmods]

Everyone who was there in some shape or form for the meeting on March 1st gets a notice that soon, the location where they'll have to go to watch what happened in the Winchester Incident will be made available for them. Frisk requests a list of those going to see what happened, but doesn't seem to discourage high numbers.

And shortly before the 30th, those that signed up will finally get a name and place - The Hayes Mansion, only a little bit away by drive from the Winchester House. As they drive, the more magically inclined might be able to sense a powerful barrier emanating from the direction the Winchester House is located, though they'll be unable to see anything.

Arriving there, they'll find that any and all other guests have been removed from the Hotel resort, and there's a sign on the door saying that it is Closed for major renovation and fumigation, which would explain the outfits you were given to be 'seen' walking into the place with, as well as all the vans and 'containers' you were told to put your belongings into.

Once inside, a helpful staff member directs you to put the costumes into a specific bin for collection- unless, of course, you would like to keep wearing them - and then another directs you to the front desk, where a pleasant, yet authoritative man is waiting.

Comments

[ghostricked]

[It was impossible to feel before but as the man gets more and more upset it seems that familiar corruption is making itself known from deep down in his soul.

Sissel's eyes are pleading, but there's a flash of anger and despair there too.]

What... ha... it feels like that song...

[WWX's flute song. He laughs bitterly]

Why do you care? Why can't you just leave things alone- that's what you're good at, isn't it?

[He spits those words out like a curse. Maybe literally, as a curl of dark mist escapes his mouth]

[iblistriggered]

[like the song..? He's not sure what that means, but it sounds like a good thing. But the miasma? Not a good thing.

... They were going to have to deal with it, no matter what. Silver steels himself and takes a deep breath]

You're right. We've left things alone for too long. We can't change what happened in the past-- [not without splintering timelines and fucking everything up!! first hand experience] -- and we can't change the decisions those who came before us made. But we're here now. We want to help now. You're a good kitty, Sissel...! Please, fight it with us!

[excavated]

[sending a text in the midst of this quickly before pocketing his phone, steeling himself and pulling his senses inwards - he doesn't want to get hit by the curse again, after all. but 'that song'... he wonders if he's talking about something that happened twenty years ago. so he takes a deep breath in, and out] ... Unfortunately, we weren't in this world twenty years ago. [there's something solemn and sad about the way Syaoran speaks, his expression hanging low] If we were, then maybe - we could have done something faster. Better. Instead of everone in this world forgetting about the past, about everyone in that group - And I know. I know... how unfair it all is. That all this time you were alone, and that you can't change the past - that everything is painful. But Silver-san is right. We're here right here, right now. The past might not be able to be changed. But the present, the future - we still have options. All of us have been thinking it over and over, all this time. To figure out a way to save everybody. To bring back everybody. Because if we do leave things alone... we won't be any better than how the Foundation was, back then - before those people changed everything. That's why we want you to reach your hand out - to help us. So you can help them, too, even now. We might be twenty years late... but isn't it better late than never?

[prayerwheel]

[ Azura skids in, out of breath, enough to hear half of what was said. Are they trying to talk Sissel down? But that smoke coming out of him--no, the miasma, it doesn't look good.

She pulls her pendant out and holds her hands up beseechingly.]

...gentlemen.

[ghostricked]

[Their words and Silver's calming powers seemed to be helping. Sissel's eyes were still wet and hurting and broken but... well these were kids. And he was always weak to kids.

Kids like-

-well, it didn't matter now, because Azura arriving is enough to grab his attention. And with his attention pulled away he has a moment to think.

Think about what Syaoran actually said.]

....twenty years?

[It's been... 20 years? His time with Hayes was blurry and shapeless. Happy in it ignorance- like before he died the first time, before he knew what it was like to be human. Before he was able to understand.

He doesn't want to know, but the truth has been let out, and he can not undo it. But-]

I... I left them to die. I LEFT THEM TO DIE??!

[Because no way could they survive another month, let alone years and years.]

Ha... heheheh... don't... don't talk to me like we're the same, kiddos.

[Around them the kitchenware starts to shake. Appliances start to turn on, pans rattle. ANd his eyes turn a familiar purple]

The Sissel you've been watching in those videos was weak. He couldn't change the past. But-

[And in a sudden rush of blue energy all the knives and sharp kitchenwares fly from their hooks and blocks to float around Sissel- And his body doesn't go limp at all. It seems, like he mentioned in the tapes, his powers have evolved]

I'M MUCH STRONGER NOW! I'll undo this cruel Fate- I'll undo all of it, you included!!

[How good are ya'll at dodging? Cuz shit is heading your way]

[iblistriggered]

[WELP!!

So much for that plan.

Unfortunately, the calming undercurrent has to go, because now Silver has to focus -- as soon as Sissel's eyes go purple, he throws up a shield, glistening and cyan in color, in front of all three of them. But the shield doesn't just cover them physically... Silver also sets up a shield in his mind, a firewall between his brain and the extension of his powers now standing between them and Sissel. It's hard work, and he can't extend that same mental shield to the others... but this much he can do!

As long as he can stay focused....]

S...Sissel... please...! This isn't you...!

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Unbidden, Moriarty materializes into existance, not covering Silver, but Azura - a second shield for her if need be, the chain of his coffin in his hand and ready to be summoned as an impromptu shield.

He flinches a little at the feeling of the Miasma in the air, but he's been cursed before in the middle of a fight. He calls to Silver mentally -]

I will focus on giving Azura time to work, and shield her from other angles if need be!

[Otherwise, he's not going to be doing much - though his other hand has his rifle cane in it, just in case everything truly does go to hell and a decision has to be made between them and Sissel.

Because, honestly, he feels none of them would be able to 'pull the trigger' in that event happening, so to speak.]

[excavated]

[shit. he realizes almost immediately that it's his own fault for saying it like that, but - Syaoran was never one to flinch or hide away from the truth. he's seen too many times... ...Sakura dying, in front of his eyes... the screams from that very first day, but still, he brings his fingers up to help with the defenses-] Fuuka Shourai! [and in addition to the shield that Silver has up, there is now a wind barrier between the group, ready to deflect anything that attempts to go at them and redirect anything dangerous so that it doesn't hit anybody in the group, Sissel himself included. but he also has to be the one to speak up here, because he knows it's his fault. he was the one that ignited this. even if Azura plans on taking him out with his song, please, let his words go through-!!] It's not like that!! If you- [it pains him to say this, it frustrates him and his eyes sting with tears] Did you ever once think that you were going to leave them there to die?! I don't think so! And not being able to do something - anything - that's not your fault!! That's not weakness! Maybe it's presumptuous of me to say this, but... not once did they ever think that the choice you made was a mistake, Sissel-san! And neither were the choices that they made, or the choices that any of us made! We all - worked so hard to get to this point - ripping that all away - the relationships, the pain and toil - Everything they went through - Do you really want everyone's efforts to be in complete vain by erasing it all?! That's not just unfair to us - but it's unfair to them, too!! Because by undoing it all... All you're doing is erasing the versions of 'them' that existed!!! [he knows how that feels because he is absolutely guilty of doing exactly that, which is why the tears surprisingly flood at full force] Because I lost someone important to me there, too! [and it makes his heart twist and ache to feel like he can't do anything, either, so he Gets It]

[prayerwheel]

[ Undoing his cruel fate, huh? She's heard something like that before. Seeing the pain etched on Sissel's face is almost enough to break Azura's heart, because no one should have to go through this sort of thing, especially because of the Foundation's incompetence.

Well. She'll leave the speeches to Syaoran, and she gives a curt nod of thanks to Moriarty for the assist. She really doesn't have a good way of defending herself. Support and offense only, over here. ]

You are the ocean's gray waves
Destined to seek life beyond the shore
Just out of reach

[ The Winchester's curse is nasty, but she hasn't had the pleasure of interacting with it while it had a hold on someone, thanks to her detour last time. She doesn't know how much effort she needs to put into cleansing this, but she'll keep singing, for him, for the people who died and were forgotten in the mansion.

The water spirals out of her pendant and surges towards him. ]

Yet the waters ever change, flowing like time
The path is yours to climb

[ghostricked]

[The wind wall sends his weapons flying, and the miasma churns up, unable to reach the actual shield to try and corrupt it. But still, Sissel keeps trying to break through, howling like a pained beast. He can't physically breach it, but his telekinesis tears at the wall. Like he's trying to Trick the barrier itself- maybe with enough time, he'd be able to damage it. He certainly has the mad will to keep trying.

But Syaoran's words make him pause]

I... I promised... I promised I'd come back. That I'd find a miracle... I have to try!! Please, just let me go-!

[His weapons try to raise again, but they are wobbling as his body is wracked with sobs... and when Azura starts to sing they drop again. He just can't make himself fight anymore]

Ah... ha... is this... why humans cry so much... I never knew...

[and with another bitter laugh he hits his knees... then curls up in as small a ball as his now much bigger body will allow.

He's so very tired]

[iblistriggered]

Roger!!

[Silver curls the shield around in an arc, but as soon as Syaoran speaks and Azura's song begins, he can tell it won't be needed much longer]

Y...you still have time, Sissel... we're going to find a way....! And we want you to help us. So please... let us help you, too. It's time to rest, now.

[excavated]

[Sissel talks and while Syaoran is done crying, there's a sympathetic look in his eyes of understanding, of an apology - he doesn't say anything because he feels the slight tinge of the song's effects, in spite of his innate, strong magical resistance because... he knows that Sissel is being put to sleep to heal out the rest of the miasma as much as can be done in his state. ... well. their work here is probably done, for now. at least, until he wakes up again. when he does... hopefully - he can speak to Sissel more properly. because even now, he believes a miracle can still happen. it might be twenty years late, but, he still believes. and that's when he says the last words until everything calms down.] I'm sorry... And, please, for once - have pleasant dreams...