8 years is a long time

[xroyal_bratx]

Characters: Ishtar (AU1) and OPEN
Setting: All Over the Tower
Format: Prose Action you pick, I follow
Summary: The age up event and Ishtar is out and about doing things.
Warnings: Character personality differences, possible violence and such. Will add more if anything else comes up.

[ the infirmary ]

Ishtar was seen tinkering with a few of the medical bottles and medical supplies. It seemed like she was preparing for possible doctoring for people if they needed it but she didn't pay attention to her surroundings too much. She assumed the infirmary would be an okay place to be without getting attacked but Sidia hung at her side just in case anything unpleasant happens and she decided it would be time to defend herself against the ongoing threat.

Right now, however, she seemed to be preoccupied with her work as she puts another bottle on the cabinet and walking off with the rolls of bandages to get stored. She seemed like a busy body and if anyone had noticed, her appearance changed slightly with her longer hair and taller frame. Her clothes style changed a little and her face longer and appearing a lot older than the usual Ishtar that zoned around Animus.

[ the wasteland; floor five ]

Ishtar peered blankly at the viewing stations as she touched the walls. It seemed like every time she went there, there was an unsettling pain that pinched her heart. She couldn't take it anymore. It had been almost ten years since she was here and there was nothing she could do. She didn't want to believe that the world she knew and the place she came from was obliterated. It wasn't possible. Sephiroth had said the same thing years ago when they had this conversation, but Ishtar refused to believe it just as he had. Maybe now, she understood why he didn't want to think about it.

It wasn't helpful, but she kept scrolling down staring at the emptiness. The remains of what was her world. The Facility, and her own. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists as she turned her form around. She continued down the path without much to say aloud. She looked away from the view finder, knowing that every time she looked and ventured here, that it was always painful, always. She wished that this was all a nightmare. That these eight years she was in some stupid coma.

[ the forest; floor six ]

Ishtar had Sidia out. It had been a few hours. Sweat rolled down her face as she slashes past another amount of vegetation that stood in the way. The clean cut left a good impression on her. A loud call of a foreign language and a huge light, destroys a nearby tree, leaving nothing but the stump. Ishtar continued to repeat the pattern as she slashed through the air and called out these random spells. It seemed like when she needed peace or practice, she was doing it out in the forest so that it would be easier to deal with if anything happened. It wasn't safe in the forest, but even if her abilities were completely neutralized, she could fend off the creatures with Sidia. Her sword skills weren't as pathetic or slow as they were in the past.

Her skills had heightened and gotten better. She was still determined to prove to everyone she cared and love for that she could protect herself and that no one would have to die protecting her. She didn't want to be a burden. She didn't want to think she was a burden and now, she wasn't a burden. If they could see her now.

[ the gothic cathedral; floor thirteen ]

Ishtar was sprawled across the seating area, with Sidia cradled in her arms. Her guard was up but she didn't seem to be moving. There's a peaceful sound of breathing coming from her. It seemed like the former princess was now napping after a long day and wouldn't like to be disturbed, but she wouldn't mind company if anyone chose to wake her up. She was just tired and worn out from everything. It had been too long and there had been a lot she was thinking about up until now. The Gothic cathedral provided her with some sort of peace and quiet whens he required it.

The mumblings didn't bother her as much as the noise she was used to and she could drown them out when she chose to, but it always stopped when she entered and she learned that speaking normally here didn't actually worked. Either way the older woman seemed to be out like a light sleeping soundly on the seating aisle with her precious sword. There was an almost peaceful look on her face.

ooc: all replies with be with the journal: pheliostasqueen

Comments

[terreifying]

"Heeee~ey. What'cha doin'?"

Even after so many years, Rei had not given up on her unique way of greeting people. She's a scientist and not an actual medical doctor, but she still comes down now and then. Just in case there's an emergency and the healers need and extra pair of hands.

She definitely looks older now, being taller and less scrawny. Her hair is a longer and caught up into a little ponytail. A pair of thin-framed glasses rests on the bridge of her nose. If her mother, Yui Ikari, were in the Tower right now, the two might be able to pass for sisters.

[pheliostasqueen]

Ishtar turned towards the young woman that spoke to her. She's not familiar with who it was but she had probably seen her around maybe once or twice. There were many people that she didn't really hang around because of her problematic trust issues. Facility had turned things against her and trusting and getting close to others made her feel a sense of insecurity.

She felt as if she would lose all the people she cared about if she opened up her heart again. She offered the other a small smile as she stacked another box up in the cabinet, "Organizing mostly. I don't want patients to come in and everything is all over the place," she replied to the girl with her usual tone.

Ishtar noticed that a lot of people seemed a lot older and she didn't know if they were all the same age as her or not. It didn't seem like it would matter because everyone was older. She thought it was eight years into the future but that could be a lie for all she knew but right now she felt that it was right.

[terreifying]

"Mm, that's a good idea."

She quickly scans the room with her eyes.

"I see nobody's here yet today. That's good. We don't want people injuring themselves as soon as they get out of bed."

[pheliostasqueen]

"Yeah. People get hurt from time to time, but there are also times where it gets a little dangerous and there's a lot of people around. It's better to be prepared for all of it with where everything is."

She replies chuckling as the girl scans the location with her eyes. Ishtar was just that kind of person.

"Yeap, not yet, but I'm sure someone will show up eventually and yeah that's true. It's not as bad as that. I'm glad. I just don't like to see people getting hurt or anything like that," she replied with a small smile.

[terreifying]

"I don't like seeing people get hurt either. But I'm not a full-time healer like you. It's really great that we have someone with your skills around."

Otherwise, everyone would just have to make do with Rei and her cheerful but tough bedside manner.

Infirmary

[godheals]

With Heaven destroyed and God dead, there was only one thing Raphael could still do-had to do. It was part of his nature, and even killing God couldn't take it away. He had to heal people, no matter who they were or what injuries they had.

So, he wandered into the infirmary, still wearing his white newbie jumpsuit. He never saw a reason to change-at least, not yet. When he sensed and saw a woman in there stocking the shelves, he started to help her. Not because he liked the woman, but because up-keeping the infirmary would help save lives.

Infirmary

[pheliostasqueen]

Ishtar turned to notice a young man had started to help her stack the things. She didn't expect to do it without a reason of course. Sometimes, she expected people had reasons for what they did and Ishtar didn't ask any questions about it. She was content with the assistance with help regardless of who provided it.

"Thank you," she mused softly as she continued to stack the boxes until there were no more to stock. She moved her way to get the boxes of bandages that were lying around. She got used to organizing everything, so if the infirmary ever looked messy, she would try her best to straighten it up.

Infirmary

[godheals]

"You are welcome..but this is just part of what I do. There is no need to thank me."

After all, this was his role. Thanking him or not thanking him, it wouldn't change. Not as long as he still held his name. Raphael walked next to her to help her with the boxes of bandages.

"Who are you?"

Infirmary

[pheliostasqueen]

"I guess so, but it's very nice to have someone help out regardless of their reasons," she replied putting up a finger with a little bit of a chuckle as she pulled out some more bandages. She didn't mind thanking people, because it seemed like the right thing to do. She would never change her ways, so it was difficult to simply just abandon the way she thinks.

"Oh, excuse me. My name is Ishtar, I've been here for a while," she replied with a small grin, "I also work here from time to time, and you are?"

Infirmary

[godheals]

"..The reasons do matter sometimes, for me." That was the best way he could express his viewpoint on the subject. After all, some of the Fallen Angels had good reasons and intentions, but their plan would have only worked in the short-term, and it would have ruined everything in the end.

Raphael listened to her as he helped pull out bandages from the box. Ishtar..so, this was another person with the same name..but from a different place.

"I am Raphael..although, I must say that you are not the same Ishtar that I know from my universe."

Floor 5

[neverbeamemory]

It can't have been healthy, how every so often Sephiroth felt the need to come onto this floor and spend some times staring into the viewfinders as if it might spawn thoughts he hasn't had before.

But to see Ishtar on this floor wasn't something he'd expect. He was careful not to approach her suddenly but this in itself gave Sephiroth the time to notice things. She was taller for a start, and even from a few feet behind her he could see how older she looked. She was a teenager still the last time they had spoken, and now?

"I wouldn't have thought this would be a floor that you would frequent Ishtar."

He spoke from a few feet behind her, eyebrows raised and waiting for her to turn around so that he could verify the changes that he thought he was seeing.

Floor 5

[pheliostasqueen]

Ishtar didn't know that he ventured this place before, but from time to time she would spot Sephiroth here, but she never approached the man for certain reasons. Most of the time it was better not to bother him when he seemed to be in deep thought. Her relationship with this man named Sephiroth was odd and kept her on her toes.

It seemed like they got along at some point but sometimes it could be bad enough where she might have gotten hurt for it. Ishtar rested her head against the cold walls, as she stared off, not paying attention to the man approaching her, but she had picked up a presence, due to her abilities being better at sensing people.

She bolted up hearing his voice as he approached her, turning around and facing him. He was right. Her appearance was completely different. Her face was a little thinner, longer, and her eyes sharper. Her overall form had showed that she had grown into a woman and like he had noticed, she had grown about two or so inches, making her a little taller than the last time they met.

"Hello, Sephiroth," she greeted him with a small nod and a soft tone, "I wander from time to time, when there infirmary doesn't need me," she replied as she faced him fully now. He didn't look all that different from what she remembered.

[neverbeamemory]

Growth spurt? It was the only explanation Sephiroth could come up with within himself but he was fairly certain that no one ages overnight like that. So he kept that to himself as he spent a little too long perhaps verifying what his eyes were telling him. She was closer to his apparent age now then he recalled before and he was good with details like that, it's not like he'd simply have overlooked her growing up.

Indeed, even if Sephiroth had aged it probably wouldn't have shown. But hell even her tone was more mature. Somewhat subdued and somewhat less hyperactive than the teenager he'd met before - and since when did she take a break from her mission-to-help everyone.

"Not that I'm sure the drones can manage for five minutes without you, but this floor doesn't seem like your type of place."

[pheliostasqueen]

It was a strange growth spurt to grow so fast over night, but Ishtar obviously didn't find that strange. When she woke up, she became older and her mind expanded eight years and there was nothing odd about it. She only thought that she had been here eight years and her body showed it as well. He was perceptive with it.

People learned a lot of things as they grow up and so she learned to be better at speaking when it came to people she knew or people she's been around for a while. She kept her tone the usual calm that she had gotten used to. It was even strange that her emotions were quite controlled compared to her usual outbursts that she always had when she spoke with him.

"No, it doesn't, but it reminds me..." she closed her eyes as she turned towards him. Ishtar had someone else tend to it while she was off taking a break. She learned that no matter how much she helped people out, she had to make sure she was also doing alright. If got weak then it would mean people would have to look after her. She didn't want that.

"It reminds me that I can't give up, and I can't surrender to this place," she shook her head a bit, offering him a small smile, "How have you been?"

[neverbeamemory]

Was this actually Ishtar? Sephiroth wasn't actually convinced now. It could be she was some ghostly apparition from the future - realistically he could be dreaming this and the admins could make it so real he'd never know for sure. She sounded almost sad, despite the determination that he thought he could still pick up in her tone.

Plus one for another mind-bending thought. Sephiroth shook his head a little and tried not to have his gaze drawn to the viewfinder himself. This floor was designed for such pulling of heartstrings.

Her question threw him off as well. They had conversed not more than a few days ago and he was fairly sure she knew how he was. He might have psychotic tendencies but, or at least he thought, his moodswings were improving.

"How do you mean?" He asked delicately, with a raised eyebrow.

Infirmary

[concept_killer]

Shiki stumbled his way into the infirmary loudly, looking for anything to reduce the pain in his head. It was a brain hemorrhage and Shiki knew that. He had died from it or complications caused by it a few times already. It was caused by his eyes seeing things that his brain couldn't comprehend and he was far enough gone that there was no point in wearing the bandages anymore, his almost glowing eyes free to view the world scribbled with lines and dots.

"Painkiller.....non...non-aspirin."

He had to get it out in between breaths. The pain was strong enough to drive a person insane and it had done so before. Thankfully, after going through it before, he's become more resistant to it.

Infirmary

[pheliostasqueen]

Ishtar dropped what she was doing when she saw the person stumble into the infirmary with his pained form. She moved over quickly, grabbing a bottle of painkillers that were non aspirin. She also grabbed the bottle of water that she never opened yet and moved over to help him at least stand, while giving him the medicine.

"Here, and I can use something to calm it down with my magic if it still hurts," she mused as she gave the boy a worried look.

[concept_killer]

"The medicine is fine..."

He hurriedly poured out a few pills after he got the bottle and downed them fast. Relief wouldn't come fast but at least he could relax because it would come eventually.

"Magic won't be needed. Delaying the inevitable isn't something I prefer anyway."

[pheliostasqueen]

"Okay, if you say so," she replied handing everything over to him. She waited patiently for him to take the pills and see if it had any effect on him. She knew that the magic would only help temporarily, but it was better than nothing with the medicine.

"I see," she mused with a nod of her head and stared at him a little, "Are you doing alright though?" It had been a while since she's seen this person. The last time she helped him, she couldn't remember.

[concept_killer]

He puts on a forced smile, just for the sake on halting any worry. Though the thought of relief here soon would be enough to make anyone smile.

"As well as someone can do in this situation. Which isn't much but it's always best to take advantage of it."

[ the gothic cathedral; floor thirteen ]

[sanguine_corruptio_lamia]

Some things didn’t change. Duzell smirked at the sleeping woman, then scooped her up into his arms, sword and all. There was indistinct mumbling coming from who knew where, but he ignored it. He took Ishtar up to the next floor, and set her down on a long couch. Her sword was propped up against the side. Better for her to sleep here than in that strange cathedral.

He let her sleep, knowing humans were much frailer compared to vampires. Duzell wasn’t accepting of weaknesses, but tolerated it to an extent, for certain humans. Eight years wasn’t a long time for him, the great and powerful vampire king that had outlived every human he knew. His changes were mostly internal, and only those who really knew him, were aware of any differences in him.

He wasn’t tired, but he didn’t have any reason to leave her side. A minute later, a fuzzy cat was snuggled under her arms, large feline eyes watching Sidia to make sure nobody tried to take it away.

[pheliostasqueen]

Ishtar felt she was being swooped off the ground, but she didn't want to wake up. The sound of the coming person was enough to tell her who it was. She was used to his presence, and nothing changed about it in the last couple of years. She curled into his form, and feeling somewhat more comfortable. It was better than the cold benches that she was resting on, that was for sure.

She was exhausted, he was right. There had been so much going on and meeting with many people had exhausted her. She still had to finish things up in the infirmary, and she hadn't got her hands on that specific area yet either. She knew he was different from before, but the changes were not obvious if she didn't look hard enough. Ishtar definitely looked deeper than the front that he usually put up with her.

She had learned to read people and learned that there wasn't a chance that she would return home any time soon, so she learned to accept things and notice things that she never noticed before. The thing that kept her attached to him now was not because he treated her differently from the rest, but the fact that he was there for her. She wouldn't lose him again and he would disappear.

Eventually, she stirred a little from her sleep when the warmth that she was cradling against disappeared, but she was sure that he was nearby somewhere. She turned a bit, groaning.

[sanguine_corruptio_lamia]

In the beginning, Ishtar was nothing more than a nuisance for him. His annoying responsibility to keep alive, because she was his link to her relatives in his search for Phelios’ reincarnation. He didn’t know when he started to see her differently. Just that it happened, and Lailis of all people was the first one to point it out to him. Even when he had decided to sacrifice himself to take Lassen down with him, Duzell hadn’t fully admitted the truth to himself. It wasn’t until here, this weird tower away from their familiar home world, that he was forced to finally face the truth.

That still didn’t stop him from having plenty of inhibitions about having his feelings found out by anyone, especially Ishtar herself. She had been in love with that incompetent bodyguard for as long as Duzell knew her. He wasn’t going to be second best to a human of all things. If she wanted that clumsy buffoon, then she could have him.

Even now, Duzell wasn’t really sure if she had decided to just settle for him because she was a clone. She wasn’t good enough for Darres, so she took whoever was available next? Humans were damned complicated creatures. The vampire still didn’t understand them, not that he expended very much effort in the first place.

He took a little cat nap of his own, and when he stirred a couple hours later, found Ishtar still asleep. Just what had she been doing to exhaust herself so much? The kyawl rubbed his head against her chin, then stretched up to lick her nose with his rough little tongue, trying to wake her up.

[pheliostasqueen]

It seemed like at first; their relationship seemed to be like that and it was for the pure fact that they shared the same thoughts. It was different now, that she looked at it more. The time she spent with him, seemed to be long and different. It was as if he would never leave her behind. She wouldn't know what to do if he decided to leave her behind. It was her who wanted to stay attached at first. She still did now.

Times have changed, and she knew she couldn't chase Darres any longer. In fact, when would he ever return her feelings? She always loved him with all her heart and nothing came out of it. It was hard to even be around him at times, but eventually, she learned that it was easy to let it go. Especially, when you no longer had the person to look at or chase after. She turned her eyes towards something else. She started to notice things around her more and the people around her. Especially Duzell, because he was important to her. He was family. At least in the past he was like family.

Now, it felt like there was more to it than just family. Ishtar didn't decide to pick him like she could pick fruit. It was more like it ended up being that way and it molded well together. She felt warm and happy just being around him and having him support her. The things she did, and the things she would do, he always seemed to help her out from time to time. It was complicated; but Ishtar made her choice. She had to think about it a lot and the words of people talking to her before rang through her head many times.

If Duzell had felt that way about her, then she wanted to know. She wanted to know the truth. She was content to know that there was someone who loved her and would somehow cherish her. She groaned when the cat licked her nose and opened her eyes, staring at the familiar cat that she had been used to for the longest time.

"Hello, Duzie," she smiled brightly. She must have been really tired, but she felt he was here most of the time, so she could relax, "You're mighty loving today," she mused kissing the cat on the nose as she sat up and stretched. She had concluded years ago that Duzell was the most important person to her, because she was in pain when she lost him; so much pain and sorrow. She even thought about him from time to time back then.

[sanguine_corruptio_lamia]

If cats could smile, he just might have had one on his face after Ishtar kissed him. Instead, he settled for a drowsy yawn, opening his mouth far and wide while furrowing his long whiskers. He was much more amorous than affectionate, and getting him to talk about his feelings was just about as hard as trying to change his stubborn mind.

Loving, he could be. There were many other men and women around with more curves and attractive looks, but they didn’t capture his attention the way Ishtar did. They were nothing more than passing fancies. Had this been over a hundred years ago, Duzell wouldn’t even have hesitated to share himself with others. He’d never even asked Ishtar about loyalty when it came to their relationship, and a lot of humans didn’t seem to care about fidelity. Ishtar, though, could be a romantic at times. He didn’t think she would like it if he slept around. She didn’t even want him to take blood from anyone else.

“(Overworking again? You’d make the cranky old man proud.)” He was referring to Keld, who had always been after the stubborn girl to act like a proper princess. Of course, she wouldn’t think to work hard while in her advisor’s presence – only when he was gone. Duzell still remembered all the times she had lazed around, whenever she wasn’t getting into trouble somehow.