Endgame: In This Last of Meeting Places

[animusmods]

Characters: Aria, Zo, open
Setting: floor 001 for now
Format: action brackets
Summary: Aria and Zo reappear quite suddenly.
Warnings: standard animus event warnings

Aria and Zo tumble out of the elevator more than they step out of it. They look worse for wear; Zo's covered in minor scrapes and bruises, and Aria'a left arm hangs at her side uselessly, bloody and mangled. As soon as they're on solid ground, Zo turns and forces the elevator doors shut without touching them, leaving the broken car lodged in place behind it, and Aria slides to the floor, gasping for breath. They're both on high alert even for all their exhaustion.

SPEAK TO ARIA
SPEAK TO ZO
ESCAPE
-FLOOR EIGHT

Comments

SPEAK TO ARIA

[animusmods]

Re: SPEAK TO ARIA

[greyerrant]

The space marine reacts almost instantly. Loken sets his food down, and he will gently lift Aria up so she can stand. "You're injured." He says, rather redundantly, then asks the important question.

"How can I help?"

[wegotlucky]

There's nothing Neal can do to help her arm. He can't heal her, he has no magic. And even if he did he's not sure it would help. It looks bad, and he's tempted to offer to go grab something-- anything to help wrap up her arm, even if it is going to be film.

"What the heck happened to you two?"

[sageprincess]

Aria!

[Zelda's voice rings across the cafeteria the moment the pair emerges, and in the second moment she's on her feet, rushing towards them. Zo seems to be in one piece, so her attention turns to the retrieval unit (not at all biased), staring horrified at her arm.

The other retrieval units assured her she would be alright, and yet--]

Goddesses above, what happened? Who did this to you?

[keybearer]

[The moment he spots Aria, Riku reacts automatically. Whipping out his Keyblade, he tries shooting a Curaga spell at her. He's not sure how well it'll close her wounds, but darn it, he's not gonna just sit there with two of their only allies in such rough shape.]

Does that help at all? If there's anything else I can do, just say the word.

[ninjainviolet]

[Sheena enters the cafeteria moments after the two have arrived, and intrigued by the crowd, hurries over, her guard raised and lowered within seconds while her concern grows when she sees who's there.]

Aria! What in the name of Martel happened?

[slightlyoblivious]

[ The first thing Yukiko does upon seeing Aria is focus, casting Diarahan. It's the least she can do. ]

I'm sorry I didn't ask beforehand, but that arm looks bad enough that I reacted first.

[ Yukiko gives a sheepish grin. ]

There are barricades and things going up by now. What else do you need? I can be a dedicated healer if you need one.

SPEAK TO ZO

[animusmods]

[fionnuisce]

...What happened?

[Waver had really hoped to just have a little more time for the Tower to be calm, but no such luck.]

Do you...need me to try healing? I might be able to pull that off. [Aria looked too tired to speak, so he asked Zo first.]

[attheclocktower]

[While there was better food elsewhere in the Tower, stored up, Xion wasn't sure how much more it'd last, and thus supplementing meals with at least one of nutrition bars a day was something Xion felt she should do. It also generally made a good meeting place, for those whom she didn't know their routine or how to find.

She didn't expect to see who arrived, however. Xion shoots an anxious look between Zo and Aria, wanting to speak to them both but not sure who to approach first. In the end, she trusted that others - like Zelda - would be able to see to Aria better than she could, for now.

She approaches Zo, eyes wide]

Are you- [No, nevermind, dumb question] What happened?

[oathshackledbird]

[Saber had suggested they talk to Aria or Zo as soon as they could after resting from the last events. This is not how Diarmuid expected to be doing it.

He moves to them, obviously torn between helping Aria and talking to Zo who might be able to better explain what is going on.]

Who did this to you two? Are they following?

[hoasen]

[This isn't exactly the right time for this, considering he needs help, but while she slowly approaches him, she still greets him.]

You are Zo? This maybe the first time we've met in person, but I have heard much about you.

Do you need anything?

[warriorscribe]

Aria! Zo!

*Enoch hesitates between them, then veers for Zo when he sees Zelda going for Aria, kneeling down beside the boy.*

Has anyone tried healing you yet? What happened?

[colorfulbrilliance]

[Hey..it's that kid from when they were put into cells. Meiling can't help but be worried at the sight and speak up.]

What happened? Why are you here?

[imperialsun]

[Well he'd been here to prepare something to celebrate with Chidori but that certainly put everything on hold.]

Zo!

[He'd ask what happened but he's heard enough from listening to his conversation with the others.]

Do you still need additional healing?

[puppy_lancer]

[Since it seems that Zelda and Saber would be able to take care of Aria, Lancer speaks to Zo instead.]

Glad to see you again, kid. You okay? Where've you been?

Re: SPEAK TO ZO

[idkworldruler]

[He didn't spare Aria or any of the others a glance. Having opted instead to wait, watch and listen. Once he was satisfied with what he had heard, he turned to Zo.]

You should really go and rest for the moment.

[evokingfool]

[After watching and waiting for everyone to finish talking to Zo, he walks over once he sees an opening.]

Zo, do you need anything?

Re: SPEAK TO ZO

[myblueskies]

Zo! [Romeo doesn't bother with questions like what happened or how Zo is hurt, he knows the others will ask that, and he knows they will help, they have magic and healing. Romeo doesn't have any of those but he rushes up to Zo and wraps his arms around him, mindful of his injuries but uncaring about getting blood on himself.] It will be okay Zo, you're here now and everyone will make sure no one can hurt you!

[bydefacto]

[Sealand looks wide eyed at the both of them, before speaking to Zo.] What - What happened to you both? Who did that?

[stitchedupbodyguard]

Are you okay? Do you need any help?

[Because Veronica is slow on the upkeep but she still wants to help them.]

[cursedchosen]

[Regardless of appearances, Zelos really did have a soft spot for children. And, as far as this awful tower went, Zo really didn't seem like much of a threat. That still did leave a large number of unanswered questions, though.]

Any idea what's going on, kid?

[Although, getting a closer look, the kid was pretty worse for wear.]

Anything you need?

Organizing barricades/escape/etc.

[no_longer_a_king]

Everyone! [Arturia climbs onto a table as Aria and Zo leave.] Everyone, listen to me! Something is about to come through those doors! Something coming to get Zo and Aria.

[Her voice is firm and allows for no argument. This is a matter of survival at this point. Those things may not be after the residents, but without Zo and Aria who knows what will happen to them.]

Those two have done absolutely nothing but risk themselves for our sakes. It is now time to pay them back and ensure they get to safety. Do whatever you can: barricade the door, escort them upstairs, do whatever it takes! We cannot let them fall into Ruana's hands!

You! [She points the edge of Caliburn to a random person assembled here.] Start pushing the tables against the elevator door. You! [She points at another.] Follow Aria and Zo. Do whatever you can to obstruct the path upstairs. Do it now. We have no time!

[keybearer]

Where do you think I should go? I've got magic on my side, so I can at least try to help buy us some time.

[He looks down at his Keyblade, then over to the elevator doors.]

I already mentioned this to Aria, but I was thinking of trying to heat the doors. Make it tougher for those things to break through.

[If that doesn't work, there's gotta be some other way. He'll wait and see if the others weigh in, just to be safe.]

ESCAPE

[animusnpcs]

[The doors of the elevator shaft burst open, and Aria and Zo take off running up the stairs. The retrieval units pour out of the elevator shaft, having apparently climbed up it and torn through the elevator car blocking the way by force. They won't attack anyone who doesn't get in their way, at least for now.]

Re: ESCAPE

[greyerrant]

[ Loken clamps his helmet on, leading the way up the stairs with long, step-eating strides, a translucent green battle-brother by his side holding a massive cannon in two hands. His chainsword is out and growling, on low charge for the moment. ] How far?

FLOOR EIGHT

[animusnpcs]

[As the group reaches floor eight, it seems something in the Tower has shifted--the staircase cuts off here, opening into the maze instead. It seems like, to continue up the staircase, they'll have to run through the maze. Aria tries to cut into the walls of the maze, but they prove impervious.]

...We'll just have to go through.

[And they're running again.]

[sageprincess]

[Zelda grits her teeth at the sight of the maze, thoughts immediately turning towards Riki and his ability to manipulate the glamour. If this awaits them this far down, what's in store for them as they run higher up?

No time to think about that now. She continues dashing after Aria.]

Watch the walls. He might try to use them to stop us as he did downstairs.