Argenti's Palace

[beautifulknight]

The stage is set they say;
They don their masks and shields,
Shadows creep and cover their minds;
Now, what beautiful role shall they play?

𝓜𝓮𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮


♫

Comments

[vogelfrei]

[ The satisfaction of having given the statue the final push is short-lived. The mirrors descend and McGillis finds himself confronted with a voice more familiar than any other. Gaelio speaks to him as if nothing had ever happened, as if he was still a shining knight, untainted and pure. The forgiveness he'd almost offered and then withheld is suddenly within grasp--

The image of Gaelio solidifies and it's too late for McGillis to avert his gaze. After a lifetime of pretending not to see, he's looking at this bright eyed fake Gaelio head on.

And he knows it's too late. Whether real or fake, McGillis is dead and Gaelio is alive. Their paths are never crossing again. ]

... after I've resisted him all my life, now you dangle him in front of me like he's a gift you can just give away? Please. Don't make me laugh.

[ And he sends another Giant Slice towards the fata morgana of a man he almost loved. (9) ]

INTERCESSION NEEDED

[beautifulknight]

[ Partings are always filled with sorrow, but conflict.

The heart is never so straight and narrow to be set upon one singular path. But the image persists when it still remains.

The reflected Fata Morgana is sturdier than what it may appear. But, perhaps McGillis near not face this phantom alone.

If he had help from another... ]

[destage]

[Sayaka rushes off to help as soon as her mirror is shattered--she wants to return the favor to the others, to people who have tried so hard to help.

If they can't fight the battle on their own, Sayaka wants to help them.]

McGillis-san--steel yourself! This mirror is sturdier than it looks, but it's not indestructible! You can do it!

[...Sayaka admittedly says this while attempting to fire off an Agilao (6) again, and I choose to blame Avrae's terrible rolls on her fatigue but there was in fact an attempt--]

[beautifulknight]

[ ...The mirror remains.

But, let it be known Sayaka did try. ]

[destage]

[(if allowed and we don't need a second character for intervention--)

Sayaka digs deeper into her resolve, grimacing a bit because girl you are burning through so much metaphorical SP--but you know what.

Agilao upon you again, mirror! (12)]

[vogelfrei]

[ It's a bit anticlimactic that he can't shatter the mirror on his own - but at the same time, it feels fitting. The McGillis who rejected Gaelio and yet yearned for him was a creature of perfect solitude. The current McGillis hates giving Braphine what she wants, but is still beginning to understand that there is something to be found with others.

Of course the last reflection of his old life needs to be shattered by a person from his new one. It's poetic, even if it's not the kind of story McGillis himself would enjoy reading.

He gives Sayaka a smile. ]

Thanks. It's much appreciated.

[destage]

Don't mention it. Do you need a bit to recover, you think?

[There's still people who need help, but there's kind consideration in Sayaka's tone, and the smile she gives McGillis is warm in kind.]

[vogelfrei]

I'm good to go. No need to worry.

[ He's a professional soldier, he definitely won't let some people from ordinary lives upstage him here! famous last words before getting critted again ig ]