FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST | FRAY'S PALACE

[bloodweapon]

Welcome to the Vault. Let your judgment begin.
♫

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[bloodweapon]

[The red eyes make the physical hits do... less than stellar damage, but Sunrise and Kainé get some solid hits on him. V'rhas shakes it off, though his eyes are rapidly flickering between red and gold again. It's Yi Sang's words that seem to have hit him hardest, actually.]

What becomes of... Does it matter? I am standing in your way - you've no choice but to fight me! I'll— I will...

[Well, whatever he was going to say is promptly interrupted by a punch to the face; V'rhas shakes that off too and his eyes glow red again.]

I am V'rhas; your words will not reach him!

[Something about that sounds a little less sure than it probably should be, but don't worry about it, it's fine.

This time he casts Evil Smile on Sunrise, Rutile, and Aaron. Have fun with that Fear status ailment! Another sword slash follows it up, aimed at McGillis, Yi Sang, Argenti, and Arven (5, 12, 18, 9).]

[ledbythewind]

[Richard is really running on empty at this point, but he's still got enough left for a Media for Sunrise, Yi Sang and Argenti.

Then, rather than waste any more SP on casting, he tries for another rapier strike (16), even though he knows that it won't be as effective when V'rhas' eyes are red.]

[vogelfrei]

Are you, though? Fray was brought here as his own construct - the way you said it, it seems like he was physically separate from 'you' after all.

That means that you're made from Fray's mind - you are the reflection in the reflection, aren't you? Fray is part of V'rhas but you are what that part imagines a whole V'rhas to be.

[ This is... probably sophistry, but might as well talk while his Garudyne once again totally whiffs (4). ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Sunrise probably would have wanted to say something, but...

...She is too afraid to do anything right now (2). ]

[speedingticket]

[ As is Rutile!

Where is Sunrise? Doesn't matter! Rutile is now close enough to pull her into a hug and squeeze her like a teddy bear. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Surprise! Sunrise ends up squeezing back, mirroring Rutile. ]

Scary...

[supherb]

[Arven gets right to work on cleansing, throwing Energy Shower at Sunrise, Rutile, and Aaron.]

McGillis is right. You're V'rhas, but this is Fray's palace. He's in here somewhere!

[He tries to launch a fireball at V'rhas, but misses again (7). Ugh.]

[moonshaded]

Why should I even care about that?!

[Reach who, really, is the question there, but in her feral-animal forgetful state, it's not like anything about her yelling is... that weird. Everyone is getting frightened or angry or disoriented or taking huge amounts of damage if their name is Argenti (who she is simply a little too spicy to heal or buff at the moment...perhaps next turn).

She's not really thinking straight, with how it feels like she's been pitched into a fight that doesn't have any meaning, so her next attack on V'rhas is a physical Lunge (13)... that does at least not trigger the wall effect again (15).]

[moonshaded]

[I forgot extra status effect roll for Shadow Wall so she's also fucking afraid now (2) and I will auto-fail her next turn as penance.]

[imperiosity]

[he is feeling so attacked by having all these Fear ailments stacked on him. what is this, the third time!!

But he manages to psych himself up (2) for another go at an attack which ends up being a Garula (12) that says fuck you to the barrier apparently (20)??? okay then.

He sees V’rhas is having a bit of a crisis though, so he’s here to help.]

You sound a lot like a guy in denial to me. How about you stop pretending to be someone you aren’t and get your ass back here already? His bed’s [thumb point to argenti] gonna be cold without you there to warm it for him.

[beautifulknight]

[ AARON!!!!!! ]

[imperiosity]

[uwu he’s helping right]

[beautifulknight]

[ That 18 sure hits Argenti pretty hard, but if anything, through the doubled pain (since he's still inflicted with Rage for one more round) he doesn't care - he can't; one can be forgiven for thinking he barely felt a thing, even if he had grit his teeth momentarily. Adrenaline feels spiked into an unnatural, furious high, intermingling with feelings that make it hard to put his words into something more thoughtful, far more reasonable.

...But, there is something his mind catches a hold of. The sound of a twinge of uncertainty at first in response to Yi Sang's words, and then afterwards (more proof Fray is still there) and even through the fiery rage, Argenti will grasp a hold of it as tightly as possible. He'll force him to recognize who he is, right here and right now! ]

You do not sound so certain!

I remember when I spoke of my undying love for my light of my life, and you blushed. Isn't that proof that my words have reached him? Or...perhaps you are prepared to deny that too?!

[ Anyway, the Knight of Beauty is not thinking of anything specifically logical about this at all, because the next thing he does is go in for a flying tackle (19) to try to force them both into a tumble on the ground (pretend this is either after everyone attacks this round or something, so he is the last one taking action.) This is what happens when you let him be affected for three rounds, he thinks of hairbrained moves like this.

But, in doing so, he triggers the Shadow Wall's (2) effect and even though Rage will finally come to a climax this round, he is now afflicted by Fear (2), which is something he'll deal with properly next round! In addition, there is a memory that has vanished from his head, albeit temporarily:

"The truth is an ugly thing." ]

[bloodweapon]

[The words get him to pause. McGillis's argument in particular seems to be troubling him, but Arven and Aaron are definitely not helping!! His eyes flash again, unable to settle between red or gold and even when he tries to shake it off, it simply doesn't seem to work. His expression is just as uncertain as his words now.]

Enough! If you've time to talk, you've time to act—

[And that's about when Argenti tackles him, and down V'rhas goes. Considering he's not wearing armor, he goes down hard despite the Shadow Wall and he has to blink the stars out of his vision for a moment. His eyes settle on gold.]

You— That isn't—

[He's been incapacitated this turn and is unable to attack! Enjoy your breather while he struggles to free himself from Argenti's weight.]

[supherb]

[Well, Arven's certainly not going to try to attack while Argenti is right there on top of V'rhas, so...]

Get him, Argenti! Embarrass him with your love 'til Fray shows up!

[Arven,]

[moonshaded]

[help me god this is the funniest time for this to happen


Anyway, here's Kainé: 🧍‍♀️

She really...can't remember what she's supposed to be doing here, and the feeling that maybe more important things are slipping away from her, truly special things that she should know, leaves her paralyzed.]

[gardenful]

[ Aeirth is also not going to attack! ]

Go Argenti! Get your man back!

[ ANYWAY. ]

I’m sure you can see it, V’rhas, but Fray’s got a lot of people that really care about him. We’re not gonna let someone we all care so much about leave just like that.

[imperiosity]

[Oh, well. Argenti grappling with maybe!Fray does make it easier to hit him but yeah, like Arven, he’s not keen on causing friendly fire.]

Seriously, you might as well give it up. He’s only gonna get more embarrassing the longer this goes on.

[So, he walks up to them so he can give V’rhas a dope slap (16) while he’s still pinned on the ground.]

[imperiosity]

[and then he immediately pays for it by triggering the barrier (8) and getting hit with Forget (1) in addition to forget





……fuck, who was he again?]

[beautifulknight]

[ ...

Wait. What was he doing again?

...First, the fact of the matter is that he resists the feeling of Fear (1) with great effort, because how could he be afraid of that face? He feels disoriented when reason slowly comes back to him and he realizes what he's doing, and he blinks. When he speaks, his voice is soft, gentle as he looks down on the other man with a gentle smile that seems teasing, yet playful. ]

This isn't what?

[ His body still might ache a little, even with the bit of healing in mind, but Argenti will try to at least give him a sweet hug (14) because he will try to take opportunity of this while he still can. But he will grant words too. ]

It isn't really so bad, is it? Did you really want to fight us? I know that deep within your heart, that it was not your desire - that this outcome was not Fray's, either. I remember well those words spoken with care, telling me that he was a danger, and recently, that we should turn back...

I know in his heart, he wished for others to reach out to him. To who he really is, and bring him back. Because Fray...he has come to learn the Beauty of friendship, love, and life's joys as his own person. As someone who wants for himself; who lives his own life.

And, isn't that beautiful?

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis is standing back to Argenti can kiss the bride. It worked once, why not again? ]

[ledbythewind]

Isn't what? Do you doubt what you see right before your eyes?

[Namely, all of them here fighting to bring him back.]

If you can't believe in us, then at least believe in Argenti.

... he deserves that much.

[cirquedesang]

[Given how they finally have Not-Fray on the ground, and how it's Argenti pinning him... who does have quite a lot to lose if they can't make him snap out of it, Celeste will actually stand back and take up what piddly support role he can play...!

So Argenti gets both a Dia and a Rakukaja.]

You've got this, Argenti. Bring him back to us.

[cleansewithfire]

[ Well. Argenti is doing things and Sunrise feels no need to meddle with that. ]

Please listen to Mr. Argenti. I am fairly certain he could do this all day if he so wished.

[speedingticket]

[ Oh, Argenti's on top of him like that... Okay...

Here, big guy. Rutile casts Rakunda on Fray to lower his defense. To, um. You know. Make whatever Argenti wants to do a little easier. ]