now it goes short and sweet

[a-total-sap.livejournal.com]

Who: anyone who RSVP'd... and some who didn't
What: what's a Refugee wedding without epic?
Where: Radiant Garden
When: Wednesday Sep 16th



Sora had never actually been to a wedding before. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, even receptions, yes - but weddings? What was surprising was that he had grown up on a small cluster of islands where everyone knew everyone, and friends grew up to marry childhood sweethearts. But for some reason, Sora had never actually gone to the wedding ceremony. Something had always happened - he was sick, he had homework, Riku had challenged him to a race and forgotten that a family friend was getting married that morning but it wasn't like either of them would back down...

He had to ask Kairi in the end what was appropriate to wear to a wedding, having decided last minute that Ryune would be too busy actually planning said wedding to help. It was how he ended up sitting outside of the chapel dressed in black pants that were too itchy, a red short-sleeved dressshirt that just felt wrong, a tie which was doing its best to choke him...and sandals. He had to draw the line for comfort somewhere.

He was glad about the change of wedding date too - it threw off the media. Maybe it would throw off Calum too. Sora was an optimist by nature, knew that everything was going to turn out for the better... but he wondered sometimes, about the light and the darkness and a war that never seemed to be won.

Comments

[hyperpsyche.livejournal.com]

Okay, she didn't see Maleficent's "gift" coming. But after Calum showed up right on schedule, Ren's stream of consciousness ran somewhat along the lines of "did that really have to count as tempting fate? Really?" and "oh, fuck this!" (Despite her efforts to maintain ladylike speech, growing up around her father had undeniably affected her inner voice, at least.) Ryune and Brandon far outclassed her and had much more personal reasons for their rage, but she had been pushed just a little too far by now.

Funnily enough, the special (read: gag weapon) knitting needles imbued with a Reflect spell that she had tucked up her sleeves had protected her from Maleficent's spell when she had only been expecting Calum's. But she didn't stop to think about that. She just stared directly at Calum and quietly reached back for her staff. "I know you're probably not much of a praying man, but considering what you just pulled, you might want to think about taking it up," she said through gritted teeth--she was trying to keep them from chattering. "And for heaven's sake, can't you come up with something other than the same old 'icy cold' trick? I'm really getting sick of it!"

She wasn't going to kill him, no. Not only did she know that she had no chance of that, but Josiah was still in there, and she had promised to try and save him. But she was going to make him hurt. Potions and awkward apologies to Josiah could come later.

[seolearo.livejournal.com]

"Calum?"

That was the last thing she saw before the vapor rose around her and the scene seemed to change in the slightest way. Everyone was still in the chapel, but Calum and Maleficent weren't a problem anymore. Everything looked normal enough for a wedding; it had, however, been forgotten.

Ray stood staring at everyone in disbelief, taking a few steps back. They advanced on her, and she retreated further until she felt her back hit the wall. "G-Guys, what -- guys, Calum just -- and Maleficent --"

She dove to the side just in time to avoid a flying dagger. Something was wrong; something was definitely wrong. The wedding had started, but then... everyone had turned against her, weapons drawn. She didn't even know what she'd done! And yet, here they were. Nothing seemed different about them, if you discounted the fact that they were, well, out for her neck now. She reached for the knife she'd strapped on under the dress as the bride lunged with her own weapons.

Her mind raced over the possibilities, and finally, as a Fire spell caught her on the arm - she barely managed to stifle a pained cry - a thought struck her. She'd done a lot of things that could be considered of questionable morality... what if they'd found out? What if was all adding up, and what she'd done recently was just the last straw?

Suddenly, the panic Ray had felt vanished, replaced by a resigned calmness. She'd been right; they obviously wanted her gone, thanks to everything she'd done. She should have left, long ago. Well, that was fine, she'd leave.

But if they thought they'd chase or kill her off without a fight, they were wrong.

[ariakitsune.livejournal.com]

Aria really wished she hadn't shown up. And about now she wished she had given the other ribbon to someone else instead of keeping it.

Fighting Calum was not something she wanted to do for a number of reasons. She couldn't see if anyone else was awake from where she was in the back.

But all she could really do at the moment was watch.

[taistoi.livejournal.com]

Ryune stood steadfastly beside Brandon, until she felt something like cold claws grasp her mind. Briefly, she remembered something about Lilith's spells only working on boys, until that kicked her memory further and reminded her that she had been a boy for a few weeks last summer.

Well, shit.

With a high gasp, Ryune collapsed on the stairs of the altar, dead to the world and dreaming.

[thirteenth_brat]

Well that was just lovely, Roxas thought. He'd had his Keyblades out as soon as he'd heard Maleficent's cackling, but saw no signs of the evil fairy. He did notice the vapor filling the chapel and though it didn't put him to sleep, he did feel a touch of the numbness and weariness it caused. That puzzled him for a moment, because he did see that it put just about everyone else to sleep. Then he noticed that Aria was one of the few still standing.

Of course, the ribbons.

Whatever, he had another problem. Calum was crashing the wedding, though it looked like he underestimated a few people. But just as Roxas was about to open his mouth to say something about it, Ryune conked out.

'What... shit, Lilith!' Of course, Calum wasn't alone. Lovely, where the hell had Merlin gone?

"Well isn't this nice," Roxas grumbled under his breath, readying himself to make a move. He had no intentions of holding back or going easy and since Calum seemed at the moment to be ignoring him...

It was worth a try. Of late he'd been using Oblivion and Bond of Flame. He'd found Bond of Flame flew better when thrown and since he was unfortunately not close enough to just strike, he sent the weapon sailing right at the pirate's head.

[morleidr.livejournal.com]

Calum's face did have any emotion on it, save for that small smile that never reached his eyes. But soon, even that faded away and he stepped into the aisle leading up to the altar, his entire demeanor cold and calculating.

"Don't bother to threaten me, boy," he said quietly as Ryune slumped to the ground and Lilith walked up to him from behind, staying just a few steps back. "Time and time again, I gave you children warnings to let me be. I had no interest in starting a vendetta with any of you, but some people just could not let bygones be bygones." As he walked, something shimmered in his hand - a cutlass, wickedly curved and sharp.

"You honestly think you could stop me? I'll tell you once again - I would love to see you try." At the last moment, he dodged out of the way as the Bond of Flames went shooting past him, lodging itself into one of the pews. He glanced back at Roxas, raised an eyebrow but then turned back to Brandon. "So I will tell you one last time - move out of my way or I will kill you." There was no empty threat in that statement.

[hyperpsyche.livejournal.com]

"Hey, Calum, do me a favor?" Ren said calmly as she moved in front of Ryune to block the path to her. "Shut. UP." She brought up her staff to defend herself and stared both Lilith and the pirate down. Again, she knew that she was out of her league, but she'd never forgive herself if she stood by and did nothing when she was one of the few who had the chance to try.

"Stop acting like this isn't something you started." Oh, she had been waiting for the chance to say this. Sure, she couldn't match him in a fight, but she still had her words. "You possessed Josiah. You refused to help us understand what's wrong with the worlds or even so much as explain yourself, then attacked us when we tried to help our friend. You attacked Amy unprovoked. You kidnapped Ari. You stole Song's memories of loving Orpheus. You attacked me in the dead of night when I was unarmed, then jerked me around in the Star Market just for kicks. You've done who knows what to the real Chase. And to top it all off, you're the one who came in here of your own free will and attacked us during Ryune and Brandon's wedding," she said, losing a little more of the "calm and collected" tone of her voice as she listed each charge. "Forgive me for not being able to see how getting married counts as 'getting in your way," she snapped, eying him coldly.

"Calum, you act all mysterious and make a big show of how you're attempting something greater than we'll ever understand, but underneath all that grandstanding, you're nothing but a conceited, bullying coward and a parasite!" she snapped. "And sure, you're probably just going to ignore everything I just told you. But if you think we're going to abandon everything that we stand for just because you keep waving your lofty, ill-defined delusions of grandeur in our faces, then you're an idiot, too."

Sure, she had probably just crossed the line from "not intimidated" to "suicidal," but she didn't care too much at this point. All Ren wanted right now was to put things back to normal and give the people she loved a chance to be happy. If Calum wanted to take that away, then she was going to do everything she could to make him regret it.

[ondraedan.livejournal.com]

In the midst of this chaos, a young red-haired woman had been easing her way past the numerous sleeping guests, making her way towards the altar. She kept most of her attention on the unconscious bride, seemingly not concerned with the conflict taking place just feet from her. When Ren moved in front of Ryune, however, she paused, giving the other girl a faint smile before hurrying to drag Ryune out of harm's way. To anyone watching, she seemed to be trying to help.

Of course, appearances can be deceiving.

OoC: Mod

[fox_the_kitsune]

Who are you? o.O It'd would've been kind of nice to know beforehand if a new account would be used in this plot... if you're even a known player.

Re: OoC: Mod

[ondraedan.livejournal.com]

Sorry, it's Amy. Mabry said the plot was mod approved, but I can delete the post. ^^;

Re: OoC: Mod

[fox_the_kitsune]

Yeah, the plot's approved. Just... no one said anything about new accounts being added...

It's ok. I was just asking...

Re: OoC: Mod

[ondraedan.livejournal.com]

Still sorry though. ^^;

Re: OoC: Mod

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

So you're warned, there may be another additional account posting during this log.

Re: OoC: Mod

[fox_the_kitsune]

Ok.

...

[ariakitsune.livejournal.com]

Aria had belted on her sword and pulled out her tiki torch staff before she started weaving her way through the sleeping guests. She gave this stranger a somewhat distrustful glance as she came to stand next to Ren.

"You're nuts," she said to Ren. "And who the hell are you," she said to the stranger.

Re: ...

[ondraedan.livejournal.com]

"Awiergan," the woman grunted, finally managing to get Ryune safely concealed behind a pew. "I thought I'd try and help, since..." She trailed off, giving a quick glance around the chapel. "Well." Ducking down a bit, she gently shook Ryune's shoulder, trying to wake her. She knew it wasn't going to a damn bit of good, but it made things seem more real.

"What's going on?"

Re: ...

[lovely-fatale.livejournal.com]

Lilith watched as her woven spell took hold of Ryune, stepping up next to Calum as he taunted the last standing members of the group. The girl was one thing... but the boy was going to be another problem entirely. Her eyes drifted over to the red-haired girl before she turned back towards Brandon and worked yet another spell, this one stronger than the one she had placed on Ryune.

Even if she couldn't put him to sleep, there were other methods of distraction. The warm magic, almost uncomfortably so in the mind, crossed the space between them, and began to take hold.

[anzila.livejournal.com]

Brandon's eyes widened as Ryune and most of the wedding party collapsed, including his and Ryune's families. Turning back to Calum, his eyes slowly became a solid storm gray, little flicks of power racing through them. His aura continued to expand, power crackling about him as Calum's words only made his rage grow.

Even if he did take great satisfaction in Ren's verbal bitch slapping of him.

"No Pirate, don't you threaten me. You steal one friend's body, kidnap another, threaten my family, and disrupt my wedding, and you expect me to grovel and scrape to a parasite who lives off the labor of others? If you think for one second I would step aside and let anyone harm Ryune, much less a little cockroach like you, then you aren't just arrogant, you're a fool. You would love to see me try Thief? Because I'd love to show yo-"

Suddenly Brandon felt the warm caress of his mind. Normally Lilith's power would be enough to overwhelm him, but at that moment Brandon's unique style of magic saved him. Because his power had been given him by the Cheshire Cat, Brandon's magic was tied to his emotions, and right now he had a boundless rage to draw from. That, coupled with the techniques he had learned to resist Maleficent and Song's abilities, caused him to shove back the cloud of magic, and his head snapping around he snarled, "No you don't bitch!"

Lifting his arm, he hurled a bolt of searing white lightning at the succubus, seeming to burn the air between them.

[morleidr.livejournal.com]

Calum listened to the Ren's speech impassively, only raising an eyebrow at the end. "Really now, Miss Ren. That was hardly necessary." Magic sparked in the air and the same telekinetic power that had held Ren and Ari captive months earlier raced through the air, headed straight at Ren with enough force to knock her back into the wall. He didn't need to waste his time with these... children.

And then the boy just had to go and actually start a fight.

He stepped in front of Lilith as the magic hurtled towards them, and pulled his arm back, murmuring a spell that caused black-and-red-laced lightning to appear in his hand just as shadows circled around him. He threw the magic towards the attack headed towards them, and the two energies collided in midair with a thunder clap loud and strong enough to rattle and shatter some of the high windows.

Calum tilted his head to the side, looking at Brandon in annoyance. "You're in over your head. But I'll gladly oblige to your demand for fight. Just to forewarn you - this will be a fight you'll lose."

He closed his eyes, whispered a single word in Welsh, and a tiny globe of black energy appeared in front of him. He peered over the magic at Brandon and then smiled faintly.

[hyperpsyche.livejournal.com]

Ren smiled cheekily at Aria as she joined her. "Yeah, I noticed. I'll smack myself for this later, prom..." Her smile faded once the redhead showed up and started moving Ryune out of the line of fire. Had she been there before? "...ise. Hey, what--"

Ren was interrupted again when Calum's spell hit her--or rather, hit the needles still in her sleeves. She grinned ferally at him in response. "Not this time, pal," she said as the Reflect spell bounced the attack right back at its caster.

Whether the redirected spell would work against Calum or not, Ren beckoned Aria to follow her over to the pews where Awiergan and Ryune were hidden. "Long story short?" she told the redhead, "This is, sadly, par for the course with us.

"So anyway, welcome to the wedding. Friend of the bride or the groom?" she asked, tilting her head at the stranger.

[ondraedan.livejournal.com]

Awiergan gasped as the spell cast bounced off of Ren, scowling inwardly. Damn. That was one more still standing.

"I knew you Refugees faced a lot of dangerous things, but this..." She shook her head, then glanced down in feined embarassment at the question.

"Neither. It's just that I'd heard- about the wedding, I mean, and I wanted to see it. This shouldn't be happening." She sent a scowl in Calum's direction.

[thirteenth_brat]

Roxas wasn't sure what to make of the stranger, but he had more important issues to deal with. He knew that whatever of Maleficent's spell had gotten to him was slowing him a little, but he really didn't think that Calum should have been able to dodge his Keyblade like that. How had he even known it was coming?

Well, there was probably an answer on that. Bond of Flame was imbued with fire. Calum seemed to have some issues with fire.

Maybe it was time to heat things up?

Roxas recalled Bond of Flame and began gathering mana, shaping it into Fire... Fira... Firaga...

He waited until he was sure Calum's attention was firmly on Brandon before releasing the spell.

lets end this, hmm?

[morleidr.livejournal.com]

Calum didn't react when his telekinetic spell bounced off of Ren and went hurtling into a few empty pews off to the side, shattering them and sending long, sharp splinters everywhere. At the same time Bond of Flames vanished back to Roxas, Calum narrowed his eyes at Brandon... and the ball of black magic in his hands exploded.

Dense, suffocating black smoke filled the chapel, obscuring anything and everything from view, and filling the large room with a noxious smelling odor and snuffing out the Firaga spell.

In the midst of it all, Calum quietly said, "Enough with these games." And then, the room became silent as the grave.

[anzila.livejournal.com]

Brandon was halfway to his attack when the smoke rose up, and he froze, trying to figure out where the next attack would come from.

That attack, however, never came, and in a moment he realized why.

Brandon wasn't sure when it had happened, but somewhere along the line his heart had connected to Ryune's in a way that was almost impossible to describe. The connection wasn't some fancy of his imagination or magical spell, it simply was a part of him, as intrinsic to who he was as his arm or heart. When she was happy he felt joy, and when she was sad he cried along with her.

That connection had just vanished; or rather the one who he was connected to had been taken so far away he could barely feel her warmth.

She was gone. He’d failed her. He’d broken his promise.

Again.

Those simple truths pressed down on Brandon like a massive bolder made of his mistakes and failures, crushing him under their weight. Yet, even greater than his horror and guilt was the utter bone deep terror that came with the realization that the woman he loved was now in the hands of a mad man, a ruthless pirate who would be more than willing to kill her if he felt it necessary.

Because he’d been too weak to protect her.

Brandon was still as the smoke cleared, staring blankly at the spot where Ryune had fallen. For a moment there was no movement at all from him, and then the room seemed to tremble. At least, that’s what he thought until he realized the one shaking was him.

Then it was as if a dam broke, and all his rage, fear, pain, guilt, and any number of things came welling up from within, threatening to drown him. He had to let out that flood somehow, had to let it out before it consumed him, and so with a cry of rage he brought his fist to the stone floor of the chapel, thunder booming through the building as he punched a crater in the floor, a wordless scream on his lips.

He just sat there for a moment, collecting his breath, not minding how his fist screamed in pain, or the cries of those around him, or anything else. He just sat in the settling dust in silent thought. Finally though, he stood.

“I’m going to get her back.

[seolearo.livejournal.com]

Ray was backed against the wall again, breathing heavily. She was sporting a good number of slashes in her dress, blood dulling the blue color. She held onto her dagger with a death grip, determined not to fall no matter how many of them she had to tear through.

She paused, spotting a white light to her left, and turned to see Ryune casting Holy. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me," she spat furiously. "I got asked to be a bridesmaid for this!?" Not missing a beat, she cast Ultima, and the church seemed to shatter with the brilliant light and thunderous sounds of the spells.

And with a gasp, she woke up, eyes snapping open. For a frantic moment, she wondered where she was, before remembering the wedding and.... Oh god, Maleficent. She'd made them dream right when Ca--

Calum!

Immediately, she shoved herself to her feet and started looking for him. She couldn't see well past the smoke, but what she did see was the majority of the wedding guests slumped over or fallen to the floor in sleep. Few were awake. The chapel wasn't in the best shape, either. She didn't see the bride, though... Oh hell, they didn't...

"Brandon!" she called when she saw him. "What happened? Where's Ryune? Is she okay?" She paused, looking at the scene and back at him suspiciously. "Brandon... What happened? Where are you going?"