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[sharktrash]

Who: MANTICORE and possibly you
What: catch-all for all your MANTICORE needs
When: april
Where: various (see toplevels)
Warnings: Squalo, will add as necessary

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[ basic settings in toplevels! feel free to make your own starters, tag each other, threadjack, etc ]

Comments

[snapcrackleburn]

I thought Kid was calling us to practice again but there was a misunderstanding. You can continue resting.

[ He starts towards the kitchen. If Jecht has no one nearby to be cranky towards then he'll settle in again hopefully. ]

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

[Roy's got a good handle on him (take notes, Squalo); after another couple minutes of complaining to the air, Jecht settles back down.]

[Give him a few minutes to lapse back into slumber, and you get the furniture slowly drifting into the air again....]

[snapcrackleburn]

[ Roy makes himself a sandwich while he waits. As he finishes prepping his lunch he see the furniture beginning to float again. The food can wait; he pulls out his phone and starts taking video, walking up to the furniture to get a close up and additional angles. To prove their are no strings involved he swipes his hand above and below the furniture just to make sure it's clear. After a few minutes of footage he's satisfied and he clears his throat loudly. ]

Jecht. Sorry to bother you but there's something you need to see.

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

[Bothered out of his sleep AGAIN, Jecht lurches upright as the furniture tumbles down, blinking blearily at Roy.] Aww, come on, man, I JUST got back to sleep! What's your deal?

[snapcrackleburn]

[ Roy pulls up the video he just took with his phone and shoves it in Jecht's face. ]

I just recorded this while you were asleep. Notice anything strange?

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

Yeah, your phone camera sucks!

[That's a reflexive comment, because Jecht is too busy trying to work out how Roy managed to work this prank angle. Obviously a prank, right?]

[Right?]

[snapcrackleburn]

[ Roy shakes his head. ]

You're welcome to test the camera now if you think it's broken. I didn't do anything to manipulate the video- I wouldn't have had the time any way since I took it immediately before waking you. This has happened twice now, both times while you were there napping.

It appears you have a special ability.

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

Okay, and in the world where that's not complete bullshit I buy that. Now hey, Earth to Roy, what the hell's going on here?

[Gotta admit, his refusal to believe something impossible isn't exactly difficult to understand.]

[snapcrackleburn]

[ Jecht's denial is understandable. Roy would have reacted the same way if he hadn't learned about his own capabilities. Speaking of... ]

It does seem crazy doesn't it? I wouldn't have thought the laws of gravity could be bent so easily but lately I've discovered so many strange phenomenons, I'm not surprised by these things any more.

[ He pulls one of the markers he's been carrying lately out of his pocket and starts drawing something that looks like a magic circle on the table next to the couch. ]

Here. Let me show you.

[ He finishes his drawing and touches it to activate the circle. The table starts to lurch then it folds and stretches at the edges until they've curled into a back and armrests. In those few seconds the table has turned into a chair. ]

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

...You got that at one of those weirdass specialty stores, didn't you.

[Jecht remains stubbornly, resolutely skeptical -- because the alternative has too much dark, disturbing possibility behind it to be considered.]

[snapcrackleburn]

No. I have no reason to lie to you. This is related to the visions and the other lives we've all been taken from.

I understand if you need further proof to be convinced. Name something here you know hasn't been tampered with and I'll use that as an example.

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

I ain't buyin' any of that vision stuff, let's lay down that law right here. Maybe you can do something freaky, what the hell do I know, but that... [Jecht shakes his head.]

[snapcrackleburn]

Why the hesitation to believe? Haven't you grown suspicious?

I hate to break it to you Jecht but I've already been informed of the truth. Between what I've learned about Santiago and the woman from my real home who came to find me I have no reason not to believe the visions I've seen are memories. I only know how to use alchemy because of what I've seen in visions.

It's as real as this table. Well. Chair. [ He pats the wooden "chair" with a couple thumps. ]

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

Maybe for you. Maybe you believe it. But I don't. [Jecht folds his arms, not even able to glare nor even to look at Roy directly.]

I'm human, damn it.

[snapcrackleburn]

...Is there a reason to consider the possibility you're not human?

[ Supposedly the labels had taken people of all kinds. Who knows what limits there are if any on what type of people had been targeted. ]

A fellow doesn't have to be human to be a person.

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

Trust me. Monsters are made in actions as well as deeds. And some people don't... even exist.

[snapcrackleburn]

[ Roy sits in the chair and leans forward, speaking in a low slow voice. ]

I haven't told anyone this but some of the memories that have returned to me have revealed terrible choices and terrible things that I've done with my power. I know monsters can be made. It turns out, I've been called one before.

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

Okay. And were ya the size of this building, traveling the world and destroying everyone you touch?

[Jecht's problems are on a literal other level from moral troubles and questionable choices.]

[snapcrackleburn]

[ He doesn't respond immediately. What a terrible memory. Jecht's denial is understandable even more now. ]

No. I was destroying entire buildings with a simple snap of my fingers. Burning civilians from my own nation where they stood. My commanders called me a hero but I was truly a monster.

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

...Shit. Ain't a picnic either, man. If you believe it.

[snapcrackleburn]

[ Roy nods his head in silence. ]

...

Do you remember any loved ones who would be back in your world waiting for you?

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

There's no going back.

[The absolute finality in his voice says it all. Even if he went back to -- whatever is waiting there, his family's gone. Lost.]