hugtopia_logs | it's a paaaaarty

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it's a paaaaarty

♥ Who: Aera Mirus Fleuret and YOU.
♥ Where: Around town and at her residence.
♥ When: NOW!
♥ What: Smoothies. It's literally a party... to make smoothies. A smoothie mingle, if you will.
♥ Rating: S for Smoothie. Also I can't imagine this getting rated any more than a PG 13 for language and shenanigans.

[ A - It's shoppin' time! ]

[ In the morning, Aera can be found hanging around various areas of town, mostly picking up little things. Party hats, she's discovered, are some of her favorite things. She's also got to make sure she's got plenty of cups, too. If one is to throw a party based on the premise of whipping up various smoothies, then one needs to be properly prepared.

She's also dropping hand written invitations off and handing them out to random people, because why not?

The invitation simply reads:
'Dearest friend and or loved one,
It has been brought to my attention recently that smoothies are delicious and, apparently, on occasion, magical. With this in mind, I've realized that I do not actually know how to make a smoothie.
You are invited to my home [INSERT ADDRESS HERE] this evening for a smoothie party. Supplies will be provided, but if you wish to bring anything, please do. The more the merrier!

P.S - if Ardyn says he did not want to throw a party, do not believe him. He is lying. He is very excited about smoothies.

-Aera Mirus Fleuret'

That last part is probably a lie. He's probably not that excited for smoothies. ]

[ B - PARTAAAAAY ]

[ As the sun sinks and night falls, Aera's opened her home up to anyone and everyone. Upon your arrival, no matter who you are, you will be greeted with a hug and a kiss to the cheek, along with having a delightful party hat strapped to your head. How festive!

In the kitchen, she's got lots of things ready for smoothie making. Well... things she thinks would make for good smoothies. But if you've brought anything, she'll gladly take it with a thanks and place it with the rest of the things in the kitchen.

Go on. Make a smoothie. Drink the smoothie. Mingle. It's a smoothie party, after all. ]

[[ ooc; it's a mingle friends! Feel free to start your own threads, tag whoever you want, and have a fabulous time making ~~chaos~~ smoothies. ]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

With a wave of his hand in a rather dramatic fashion he indicated the lover of the host, none other than...

"Ardyn. The gods gifted him with the ability to absorb the daemons into himself in order to heal others. Entirely believing that he was the Chosen One to become king, he traveled the world healing people.

But they betrayed him. They rejected him and gave his brother the Stone and the ring to control it." Again, his free hand swung dramatically in the other direction to indicate none other than Somnus. Amazingly, both were at this party. "Ardyn was tortured and imprisoned for two millennia, until I discovered and released him, while the usurper carried on burning entire villages to the ground and taking control of the country through 'divine power'. More nations rose up in the centuries following, one being Niflheim, and while we have few details it isn't hard to imagine that the tyranny and oppression of Lucis rule likely gave birth to its own opposition.

If those from our future are to be believed, the end result is a world of darkness and daemons. ...You might blame the release of Ardyn for that. If he was to be their official sacrifice, then releasing him naturally released the daemons - but that isn't entirely true. If that were there plan they failed either way. Daemons had already been re-surging before Ardyn was released."

With that, he leaned slightly towards Pyra. "You can place blame on Solheim for its ultimate fall as history oft does, but the people thereafter sought only refuge. For that they and everyone they knew were set aflame. They tortured, tormented and betrayed, and in the end it brings us a world of endless night that no doubt most will perish during. That is what our gods would give us should we choose to follow them."

Throughout his explanation, she continues to hold his hand, looking in the direction the two men to which he gestures. The long history of their world seems deeply ingrained in a prophecy and accounts from all sides. She appreciates Verstael's perspective, the information he reveals. More pieces to add to the puzzle, as it were. When he leans in, she doesn't lean away, watching him carefully.

The Stone he refers to must mean the Crystal. In her own world, she's met a few who had been furious at being rejected by the crystal. Their expectation, their belief that they had been worthy ended in them being burned. This was their error: their assumption of interpreting their god's will in the first place, regardless of signs of greatness, nobility, or capability. However, unlike in her world... she does know his has an Oracle or two. Perhaps their will had been clearer; but for her, it seems that he interprets his gods in bad faith regardless. It's understandable, given the evidence he presents.

Of course he wishes to save his Empire, prevent its fall from happening. She suspects this will be the basis for his actions here on out. He believes that whatever grand plan the gods have for his world is faulty, if entirely destructive, and that perhaps he might come up with something better. At this, her head tilts. Ever has she played the observer; for countless millennia, she's watched the world develop from life anew to empires rises and falling. Neither the fall of empires nor the hubris of mankind is new; but so, too is their innovation and persistence to overcome... If he thinks he can develop something better than the gods themselves, then she expects a solution not based in emotion or fury at divine beings, making them scapegoats or assuming their intent malicious even if it might be. Destroying or subjugating them won't destroy the scourge, after all, and it seem excessively destructive when their world has been so torn apart as it is. He has to think beyond that, overcome it.

Can he think beyond that?

Perhaps he can. Or, she will try to facilitate the idea.

"Before, you seemed to worry your future self may help instigate this darkness that befalls your empire." Or at least in part, accelerate that darkness. She pauses before continuing mindfully, "The scourge makes that darkness. You and Ardyn subjugated a god with that scourge." It seems apparent to her to not use that which destroys his world to enslave gods, especially if it leads to bringing more darkness.

But she will give him this:

"Perhaps... your gods do not see past their own prophecy."

She keeps close. "But... Besting them utterly doesn't necessarily mean destroying them." Such is the simpler solution, the easier way-- not that it would be an easy at all. But it is the way in which a few others seem to jump to so readily. Destruction only proves power, not innovation or creativity, and it does not prove to her that humanity in his world can live without them or that their obliteration may make things worse. If he wants to prove them obsolete, humanity must first prove it has no need of them, that they can devise solutions of their own to overcome the machinations of the powers that be.

"Bestithia... I think you can do better than that," she says softly, in a way she hopes may be encouraging. How she would like to see it: a world wished into existence not necessarily without gods, but where there is no need of gods and their might, where humanity can strive on its own. The gods and their tools can remain in the heavens, away from it all. Her own world had almost been like that, until someone decided to steal the weapons of their god down to the earth. "Present the world with an alternative that does not involve using scourge or Ardyn."

Human potential... how far can it go, and can this man deliver? And above all this, is he intrigued or challenged by 'defeating' them in a way that trumps their own plan, or will he cower from the idea and think he is incapable?

"Do you think you can overcome your gods in that way?"

Tempting as it was to burst forward, like an athlete at the beginning of a race, it was a foolish man that didn't listen. Pyra had earned some respect from him, so despite being resistant to change, he listened with a critical ear.

He felt the gods a threat. Or at least, a potentially very large one, and one that showed little compassion for the pain of mankind. Not only that, but their enemies used the same power, and defeating the gods would let him discover how to defeat Lucis. He didn't particularly want to leave them be.

Though it was true enough that with his new goal such things were no longer at the top of his list to do. He had been considering asking Regis for assistance with various tasks and finding a cure of all things. He was a man with many important tasks in front of him - he hardly had time to schedule for the gods.

In silence he held onto Pyra as he thought.

"I will overcome them in any way that is necessary. Dealing with them may be placed to the side for now, but if they dare to impede my progress I will not stand for it."

At his answer, her expression smiles. At the same time, it seems more withdrawn.

"Do you wish to change the future of your world, Besithia?"

There was something that made him hesitate. Changing his world made a much larger difference in his life than most others. It meant giving up on something things and starting on others. It would be a massive and quick change, and came with its own dangers and lingering regrets.

However, he could not give in. He realized it had to be done, so he answered firmly, "I do."

To that she has no immediately response, although her hand remains in contact with his.

"The future you seek... there may be consequences."

"There always are."

Though he sought to address every issue he could think of, the overall outcome could be quite unpredictable. There were too many parts to account for, especially when dealing with other people.

And there is no way to be fully prepared for any of those diverging paths unless he might somehow have a way to look into them himself.

"I trust you will be cautious."

"I will be vigilant."

At the very least, once he set his mind to something he wouldn't let much stop him. The main issue was redirecting his intentions - like most people he didn't like changing his mind. He was somewhat set in his ways and being uprooted, in a sense, left a sour taste in his mouth.

"There is no knowing what may come. I will need to balance many things... I'm not sure the others here fully comprehend the intricate game we play. There is not merely one nor two factors in play. We speak of potentially hundreds with many that might be unknowns, and we must address everything we can for the best chance of success. I will not allow anything to get in my way, however."

Him making an effort to consider all possible avenues does sound fairly more reasonable.... if "all possible avenues" didn't mean hundreds and hundreds of factors to consider. A single man cannot accomplish this alone, and even more worrying still-- what right does he have to make a decision that effects others' futures without their own input?

"Anything.... and anyone to get in your way? What if someone else believes otherwise?"

"This is the fate of the world. If someone were to attempt to sabotage plans to save the world, I would stop them."

Simple, straight facts. He didn't intend to play games, particularly when he was taking on so much already.

"Unless they come with reliable ideas or new information, I've no interest in people meddling in such affairs. I have work to get done."

No interest in people meddling in such affairs, when he might be meddling himself. "Would you not cooperate with others...?"

"Of course I would, if they were helpful."

The answer required little thought. He didn't mind assistance. He actually worked with people quite often on a business level.

"I hope you ... do, Besithia, especially among all of those from your world." Whether he means using people or actual collaboration, at the very least, it would be a courtesy to them for him to take their input and opinions into account. "Including Noctis."

"Noctis?"

He raised a brow. 'Noctis' wasn't an important name in his time. But, he had been reading plenty, so he had seen the name, and he had his suspicions about who that was.

"You mean the boy. He has yet to be born."

Speaking of which, he should probably learn Noctis' birthday. Thus far he'd been more interested to learn about Solara, however, given that she would be the granddaughter of his Emperor.

All the more reason he should talk with him. Plenty of those of Eos seem interested in altering some aspect of the future, with which she doesn't agree in the least. She only hopes that a few of them might consider that their actions will have consequences that effect more than just their own circle; in Verstael's case, that circle seems to include only the Empire. Can he look and care broader than that, however?

"He is of your world and of your future. It would be worthwhile."

To him, it was like a random name pulled out of a hat. Though he knew of his existence, it was difficult to feel very connected to someone who wouldn't even exist for quite a while. So when he quirked a brow at her with a perplexed expression, his question was both blunt and genuine.

"Why?"

He wasn't sure what Noctis really had to add.

She turns to fully face him. Why, he asks, as if his own opinion is the only one that matters-- or... perhaps not that, at least not maliciously. Perhaps he's never checked himself to stop and consider the voice of someone who is so distant to him, chronologically speaking and by country. Going by what he mentioned earlier-- that he will cooperate with others, so long as he sees them as helpful-- she hopes he will.

"He, too, wishes to protect his world," she replies carefully. "Your attempts--" And his want to alter a future. "--may potentially effect all of those who come after you." Especially if they are not in a sound way. She means Noctis, of course, but altering the future could drastically change everyone else he might know in his own world that has yet to be born. "It impacts more than just yourself, but the entire world. Will you see the forfeit of their potential lives as your responsibility?"

At the very least when he asked his question his ears were open for answers. While he didn't necessarily 'get it', or see the importance of Noctis, being so distant from him, he did become more thoughtful. This very thing was something he had been questioning in a rather large way.

"The weight of millions of potential lives has been on my mind," he answered somberly. Something that others seemed willing to cast aside quite readily. He was hardly a highly moral man - he tended to logic out his 'morals' and try to decide what was best, not coming to snap decisions the way most did about what was 'right'. Especially when what was 'right' was so subjective.

He still didn't understand why Noctis in particular, but it couldn't hurt, so he went ahead and gave in to the request, "Very well. I will speak with him then."

"I hope their their voices will be on your mind..." Millions of lives on his mind, and hopefully-- what they have to say. People are people, not faceless beings, and not tools. She is certain that if someone else were to try to devise to change an outcome of a future they did not like, he would want to hear of it beforehand as well. For all he knows, someone of his past might want to do the same, and then, suddenly, there would be no Verstael born later on, maybe no empire regardless. But hope is hope.

"...As a lot of those here in this party are from your world, as well," she continues with a smile.

"Considering the future we seem to be headed towards, it would be difficult to imagine there would be many objections unless I negatively target specific people that they care about. As is, having heard and read some of the information... much of our life would be gone. Not just human life, but I can't imagine many species would survive the darkness. Plants and animals would be nigh-extinct, and there would be little left for surviving humans to return to. Over great lengths of time new life might arise, but that would take so long that it would be difficult for the average human to feel invested."

He wondered how many would really survive. Even if light returned, so much would be dead that they would be wastelands. Then again...

"...I suppose Niflheim has survived even in barren lands."

"Humankind... is resilient." Over the years, over millenia, over hundreds of thousands of years, they have endured, and part of that is due to their ability to pass down what they know to future generations.

"Even with the darkness upon the land, have you heard of pockets of them to endure?"

"Yes. But only within a small area. The rest of the lands are forfeit... And without light for plants nor safety for animals, there will not be much left even if daemons are defeated. It wouldn't be much of a world to live on for quite a long time."

And they might recover, but it wouldn't be the same, and he could only imagine how long it would take a planet to birth new life after that. How many thousands of years might it be...?

"Some species apparently adapted to these outside conditions--" Such as news of some flower beyond the barrier, or those spiders. "--But you are... right, it would take a very long time. Thousands and hundreds of thousands of years, in my world."

She pauses thoughtfully.

"Something like that is happening here in this world, only instead of a vast darkness, there is an toxic atmosphere that completely inhibits growth outside the barrier... to the point that it obscures the sky above." She looks up at him then. He is a man of many ambitions, some of which sound completely reckless to her, but not once has she heard him speak of failsafes, bailouts, or alternatives for any of his plans, or precautions in case he is effected. He's only mentioned risks. When he had been investigating the Scourge in his own world, even allowing someone to corrupt a god with one, did it ever occur to him that something could go wrong, or that his trust in designs or others would fall through, she wonders. "Did no country in your world make preparations for... failure to thrive?"

Humans aren't incapable of planning for doomsday-like scenarios, at least in the (first iteration) of her own universe: they had built a seed vault in the arctic to store a variety of species in the case of a fallout or unrelenting drought. The people here, too, cultivate species within their zoos and botanical gardens-- but even then the locals hadn't the foresight to see how things might go wrong to lead to this desolation.

it's a paaaaarty

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