2019-10-04: Killing Seyve 1
- Log: Killing Seyve
- Cast: Seymour Guado, Belize, Lulu, Rikku, Yuna
- Where: Macalania
- Date: October 04, 2019
- Summary: Yuna's Guardians catch up with their summoner at last. Seymour decides that the best defense against accusations of murder is a murderous offense.
================================<* Macalania *>================================= The Macalania region is home to two ancient, crystalline formations of unsurpassed mystery and beauty. The first is the Macalania Woods - a shining maze-like forest overseen by strange, ancient, birdlike Beastmen who speak in bizarre riddles and weave light like silk. The second is Lake Macalania - an eternally frozen lake surrounded by snowy crevasses, which one can just see the frozen Temple beneath. Macalania is a distant, remote region -- and full of its own dangers. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jz644GeAdE DC: You switch forms to Lady Summoner! DC: Yuna switches forms to Lady Summoner! DC: Rikku switches forms to The Merriest!
<Pose Tracker> Seymour Guado has posed.
"SEYMOOOOOOOOOOOOOUR!"
The door to the room just beyond the Chamber of the Fayth is flung open. It is shockingly cold, though not as cold as the icy hall outside. There is still a layer of frost across the floor -- and the ice is scraped up, into a thin mist. It billows outward, hurtling towards the dais in the center of the room. Towards Seymour Guado and Belize.
The two stand there. Seymour had been speaking to the summoner; he turns from them and looks down, towards the blonde-haired Blitzer who interrupted him. For the last several months, when Seymour Guado spoke to Yuna and her Guardians, he favored Yuna.
He never really stopped to look or pay attention to Tidus. He looks down at him now, and his pale eyes narrow. Frustration shows on his face, for having been interrupted. Whatever he was about to tell Belize is lost.
And then he sighs. A sight of disappointment -- of chiding. The sort of sigh that a master gives a pupil, to put them into their place.
"Please, be silent." The half-Guado turns, pointedly, to an ornate door, dark stone in lighter blues and greens. He turns, as if addressing a child. "Lady Yuna prays to the fayth."
He speaks calmly -- and yet, a few noises can be heard behind Yuna's Guardians. In the tunnel beyond, a pair of footsteps are audible -- and they slow. The shadowed forms of Biggs and Wedge can be seen behind them. Biggs hefts his shield; Wedge cracks his knuckles, with an audible pop that echoes down the ice.
Seymour's lips curl into a slight scowl, as he stands there, facing away from Yuna's Guardians -- though not, necessarily, Belize.
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
Belize is all ears for Seymour, not just because of their general loyalty towards him, but because what he's about to say next may make or break their place on this world. They want to know what they believe is his plan to rid the world of Sin forever--for that is their deepest desire, to avenge their departed Guardians and drive the killing blow into Spira's bane.
But Yuna's Guardian, the newest one, bellows out the Maester's name as he and his entourage barge into the Cloister. They shoot them an alarmed look--but not really shocked, once the initial surprise has passed. Of course they would come here, after what happened with Jyscal's sphere. In retrospect, they're astounded they managed to make it here first. They glance past them at Biggs and Wedge as Seymour's Guardians arrive, then breathe a soundless sigh of their own.
"I do understand how you feel, truly," they tell them. "But there is no need to make haste. We can all talk this through once Yuna has emerged."
As much as they would really like to hear Seymour's explanation *now*, now that Yuna's Guardians have arrived, it would be only polite to wait for Yuna herself. Perhaps they can all cooperate with Seymour's plan, his patricide notwithstanding. At least, they hope they all can.
<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.
Lulu, too, steps into the chamber, having hurried to get here--still hurrying to place herself, to stand--but not immediately moving into further action. She stands, calm, looking between Seymour, his guardians... and Belize. Her eyes linger on each, in turn, though perhaps most of all in the moment on Belize.
"...Maester Seymour," Wakka starts, despondent, disbelieving.
Lulu rememberes, moments ago; talking with Wakka on the way over. ...Facing the enomrity of the crime, amidst this battle. And yet...
She steps forward another pace, red eyes focusing on Seymour's back. "...Unfortunately," Lulu says, "This is a matter that may require haste."
"I'm willing to listen," she says, Wakka at her side and behind her. "...But this isn't something that we can ignore."
The look she gives the doorway into the Chamber of the Fayth may reveal to the astute observer part of Lulu's haste. The way she assesses it, assess Yuna's place, imagines she might appear... It's obvious.
Just as obvious as Wakka's searching gaze to the Guardians, to Belize, for some explanation, something that makes this all right.
<Pose Tracker> Rikku has posed.
Rikku rushes into the room as fast as her legs will carry her. Tidus shout means there's no time for subtlety, and for once she agrees with it to a point. She's been swept into a panic, at the thought of Yuna remaining even one more second in the company of this Patricidal Maester, or the thought of some Otherworlder Military group grabbing her.
Her emotions have been thrown in chaos by these revelations of Seymour. She's upset on principle of the idea of anyone killing a parent. To her - and many of the Al Bhed - family is everything. At the same time though - he's a Summoner. And Rikku - part of the reason she agreed to her own Father's plan was not only that she wanted to protect the Cousin she'd never met.
But also because she wanted to protect all Summoners.
However despite her wanting to charge right in, she at least recognizes how unwise a confrontation would be. "Oh - well that's fine! Fine. Fine. Perfectly fine. Did I mention how fine it is?"
Rikku babbles nervously as Seymour commands they remain silent - doing exactly the opposite and remaining not silent, having caught the sounds of the approaching Guado Guardians, even sneaking a glance.
"It's just we need to get Yuna... away... the moment she gets out. As her Guardians we can't exactly let her get captured by Otherworlders." Before adding, "So it's very urgent."
Rikku doesn't show her hand, before glancing towards Belize - oh right - they saw. "Right - right - what they said!" Rikku's posture is in a fine position to hide her hands, her ring finger toying with the pin of a hidden grenade she hopes she won't have to use. As she tries to mediate between the other Guardians. "In fact - given that it's a warzone out there - maybe we should just table talking altogether and..."
Her opposite hand points towards the front of the temple. "...split up. Until the danger has passed. We take Yuna and go one way..."
This is Rikku realizing there's not exactly a good place to split up at, still she continues on anyway for lack of better options as she indicates where Seymour and co. should go. "...and... the rest of you go the other."
<Pose Tracker> Yuna has posed.
Tidus' voice may have been the first thing into the room, but he wasn't the first ONE into the room. That honor goes to Kimahri, whose claws raise frosty lines on the floor as he skids to a stop at the base of the stairs. His halberd is still on his back, but only just. Seeing that Yuna is safely with the fayth, he draws himself up from his crouch and folds his arms instead, which could mean he's willing to be patient, or... not. After all, biceps Barthello could only dream of, bulge above his armguards.
Auron arrives much more deliberately, leading up the rear. His final step indulges in a loud crunch, as his boot impacts the ice, then swirls slightly to the left with his shifting weight -- a subtle threat, but a threat nonetheless. His eyes glint above his dark specs, which have slipped down his nose a bit, and within them dwells judgement.
Belize may have a sinking feeling, when seeing Auron's glare, that their request for calm and orderly proceedings may have just been denied--
"MAKE ME!" howls Tidus, in the aftermath of Lulu and Rikku's extremely reasonable statements, in an ejaculation of his dislike for the Maester, his fear for Yuna's safety, and his relief over the revelation that his bad vibes have come to very public fruition, all rolled up into one.
--or, yeah that could happen. It just did.
Defiance burns in Tidus' eyes, like the coals in Auron's fanned into full fury. Actually, the two of them look quite alike just now, even though one is young and one is old, one is aggressive and the other is... nominally... calm.
Really, all THREE of them are united -- the way they carry themselves, at their foundation, transcends age, transcends species, transcends even dea*quack*.
More than any of those differences -- right now, they're Guardians.
<Pose Tracker> Seymour Guado has posed.
"I think, Dame Lulu, that you will be surprised," Seymour says. He does not turn to face her. "If you try... you are capable of ignoring a great deal. Isn't that so?"
His words are, as ever, softly spoken -- and yet there is an edge to them, now. This is a man on the edge of panic; this a man who has seen his ideas unravel, his plans fall apart, and his dreams teeter on the edge of oblivion. Seymour is not at his best.
The footsteps from behind continue. Behind the Guardians, the two Guado Guardians come to a stop. Biggs, bigger and taciturn, stays quiet. Wedge, however, pushes past his huge shield. His arms cross; the tall, wiry Guado glares at the back of Rikku's head.
"That's almost clever," Wedge says. "But that isn't happening. Don't get any closer to Maester Seymour."
Biggs grunts his approval of the sentiment.
'MAKE ME!'
There is a slight twitch of Seymour's eyebrow. Finally, he turns again -- turns to face Tidus, and Auron, and he stares at them both. "Such cruel words and such cold words, to someone who has always been your friend. Tell me... would Lady Yuna truly approve of such a childish display, boy?"
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
Belize's lips purse as Lulu speaks first. She's right; with Odessa outside, they don't have the leisure of speaking all day. But at the same time, Yuna... No, at this point, looking at everyone's faces, it looks like there won't be time to wait for her after all. Seymour meanwhile points out that people can ignore quite a bit and--they don't know if this was targeted at them, but they wince all the same. How much have they chosen to overlook, in retrospect...?
Belize tenses and relaxes at Kimahri's show of force before reining himself in, nods at Wakka's beseeching stare (but doesn't yet offer an explanation), twists their mouth at Rikku's own transparent attempt at diplomacy, meets Auron's eyes over his shades, and--
'MAKE ME!' exclaims Yuna's crush.
Belize just. Pinches the bridge of their nose.
It's even worse when Seymour takes affront at this, and asks Tidus if Yuna would approve of such a childish display, since, based on what Yuna has told them... she actually just *might*. They press their hands in front of their mouth and take a deep breath, and chooses to let the boys have it out over their romantic rivalry for a moment while they face Lulu, the only one here who's actually agreed to listen.
"Again, I understand well how you all feel, and I very much appreciate that Odessa is pounding on the door," they tell the group, including Biggs and Wedge, who've arrived to defend their own Maester. "But Yuna's supplication to the fayth follows no one's schedule but the fayth's own. We all have no choice but to wait, and as long as we are waiting, we may as well discuss this *calmly* and *clearly*," they say, giving a pointed look not quite at Tidus and Seymour, but certainly in that general direction. For general deniability's sake. "Is that not so?"
<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.
"..."
Lulu hears Seymour's words, not facing her. If she tries...
No, that's true. She hears the edge, but she recognizes the insight in them--as well as the dangerous, dangerous tone. She knows that kind of voice, instinctively, reads people far too well enough for this. The two Guado there...
"...It's not only the Otherworlders we'll protect Yuna from," Lulu says, appreciating Rikku's attempt, at least, at quick thinking.
The truth is that she can't really deny the emotion in Tidus's howl, either. She steps up, as Wakka still stands behind, increasingly distressed given the moment.
"There are many things I can ignore," Lulu says. She thinks of what they would have pretended not to see, at his advice.
She takes another step forward, up beside Auron. She, too, is a Guardian. ...It's the only life, really, she could know in the end.
"But very well, Maester. If you want me to be completely clear..."
"I will not ignore this." A look to Belize--a look to Seymour. "We know what you've done."
Wakka looks around, and steps to the side, but not back. He is a Guardian. But still--
"C-come on," he starts, "Maester Seymour! We--we have to stop this! There's a good reason, ya? There's--there's some way this makes sense, ya?"
<Pose Tracker> Rikku has posed.
"It's not." Rikku agrees with Lulu.
"Whatttt?" Rikku tries to make her best 'innocent' tone as Wedge glares at the back of her head, glancing out of the corner of her eye his way.
However Tidus suddenly howls, 'MAKE ME!' And Rikku winces, but then smiles at Wedge, "Does it help if I tell you I don't want to go anywhere near him?"
It's said so cheerfully, but she drops the pretense of civility just a touch now - as it becomes clear that there's no getting out of this. Conflict - whether it just stays verbal or gets physical is going to happen.
She hopes it just stays at Tidus' 'MAKE ME!' as the height of that.
As Seymour casts his shade back at Tidus though, Rikku winces, "Ouchie."
Belize tries to deescalate, calling for calm discussion, and Rikku for a moment is about to agree with them, however...
Lulu gets so serious. And Rikku inhales through her nostrils, with a slow blink of her eyes. And when they open again.
"Why'd you do it?" Rikku follows up shortly thereafter. To her the fact that he was a Maester of Yevon doesn't matter.
Before she adds, softer, so quiet that it only barely carries across the room. "He was your Dad."
For all the arguments she may have with her family. The idea of doing something like that to family is just... detestable.
<Pose Tracker> Yuna has posed.
From Kimahri's expression as he doesn't quite glance at Tidus -- nothing will force those unblinking golden eyes from what he perceives as the primary threat to Yuna, Seymour -- he might think the Maester kind of has a point. The Ronso isn't exactly Chief Keeper In Line Of Unruly Teens, though.
The ACTUAL Chief Keeper In Line Of Unruly Teens is busy facing Biggs and Wedge, having turned to meet them before they even arrived. His katana is still in its sheath, but his hand goes to its hilt, when the Guado Guardians assert their custody over Yuna.
"You don't get to dictate the Lady Summoner's itinerary," he informs them in a measured voice that brooks no argument.
Tidus is less stern and more BOO-YAH, taking Auron's words as support, and Lulu's, too. Fully high on adrenaline at this point, Seymour's insult, and his retainer's determinedly mature attitude, only set him off further.
Lulu and Rikku kind of danced around it, but Tidus cuts right to the chase. Someone's gotta rip off that band-aid.
"You want clear, Belize? Your BOSS murdered his own FATHER! That clear enough for ya?"
(In a clearer-minded moment Tidus might wonder if his jealousy over Yuna's apparent willingness to marry Seymour might, now, be complicated by some level of jealousy at Seymour's apparent execution of one of his own lifelong daydreams. Not that he REALLY wants to KILL his father, he just ALWAYS really WANTS to KILL his FATHER.)
Behind Seymour's back, the door to the Chamber of the Fayth rumbles open. The temperature in the room plunges about ten degrees -- what must it be LIKE in there, at the heart of Macalania Temple?
Yuna emerges from her fourth communion. The first, on Besaid Island, took over twenty-four hours. This one didn't even take twenty-four minutes. And she doesn't collapse down the stairs into Kimahri's waiting arms (or Seymour's, for that matter); she stands on her own two feet, shoulders back, chin high, self-possession intact, fatigue, such as it is, invisible.
Lips parted in shock -- gaze, as it passes over the scene that's unfolding before her, deeply, deeply worried.
Well, she's a work in progress. Maybe next time she'll be able to come out with a smile, too.
"Oh!" she gasps. "But why?"
Why are her Guardians -- her family -- here, here now, in the one place she worked so hard to save them from being?
Her skirt makes soft shushing sounds as she descends the stairs towards those gathered within the chamber.
"We saw Jyscal's sphere," Tidus tells her, energetically but not enthusiastically.
"We know Seymour killed him," Auron adds for her sake (since she just missed the louder, angrier version of this announcement, by seconds), without turning his back on Biggs and Wedge.
<Pose Tracker> Seymour Guado has posed.
Seymour is descending the stairs, by the time that Belize speaks. When they do, though, his footsteps slow. He hesitates a moment; as if their words remind him of who he is, or who he professes to be. He seems to hesitate for a moment. His eyes, briefly, meet those of Biggs and Wedge Guado. There is a shared look between young Maester and old Guardian.
And, then, a shared nod.
Biggs and Wedge relax, a little. Wedge's hands slower. Biggs's should does not -- but neither does his hand stay quite as close to the hilt of his sword. But, Belize's words do not dispel the tension in the room. It is clear as the Guado Guardians refuse to step away.
And, as Maester Seymour shoots a glare, first, at Lulu -- and then a pointed, yet exasperated, look at Wakka. It is Rikku's words, though, that make Seymour's look grow icy indeed. He stares at her, and his expression is intense -- furious, even, as he looks at her. "Why? Because--"
But once again, he is silent. The doors open -- the doors to the Chamber of the Fayth, and now, Seymour is faced with the question that has haunted him since Belize warned him. He turns to look at Yuna, as she steps out -- as she sees her Guardians again, and then he looks down at her for a moment.
And then, sharply, at Auron. The calm of before -- the way Belize almost got him to stop and talk -- it all vanishes. Suddenly, Seymour feels the realization of before. He says, coldly, to the legendary Guardian: "Yes, and? What of it?"
And then, his eyes are back on Yuna. There is a novel in that look. It is halfway between pleading and furious; a stone's throw from hopeful, and yet one step over the edge of despair. "Yuna..." The more familiar address; the one he never uses. And then, his words are more formal.
"...You knew of the sphere's contents?" And then he tries -- and fails -- because his words, despite being softly spoken, have an edge of accusation. "Did you not?"
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
Belize's hopes of getting everyone to calm down enough to talk are in vain. Although they almost get Seymour to calm down, their words only incense Yuna's Guardian's even more, save for Rikku, and *she* gets riled up just the same when the others do. Even Lulu cuts them down verbally, something that makes them wince again. Really, hearing Lulu talk that way... That's when they know this won't work out. That... they don't know what will happen, but it won't be a peaceful discussion. Because, as Tidus so eloquently put it, Seymour murdered his father. To many people, and rightfully so, that is the end of discussion.
If it weren't for Belize's impression that Seymour has a plan to destroy Sin for good, and their own deep and abiding hatred for Sin, that might have been the end of discussion for them, too.
As it is, they wince a third time, shamed into silence. Then the door to the Chamber of the Fayth opens, spilling out its intense cold, and Yuna emerges. Belize folds their arms tight. The one last reason Yuna's Guardians might have had to let calmer minds prevail has left; with Yuna here now, they'll want nothing more than to snatch her away from Seymour and run off with her. And still they do understand their feelings, but...
Seymour's uncaring coldness in the face of Auron's statement brings muted shock. They already know he admitted to it, and they know his passion behind it, but... They look away. Nothing can stop this ball from rolling, now. They almost want to apologize to Yuna for telling Seymour the truth when they hear how he speaks to her, but--ah, so many buts--they've made their choice. Until they've heard Seymour's plan to destroy Sin, they must stand at his side and protect him. If he, and not Yuna, will be the one to carry out their revenge for them--if he can carry out their revenge without having to feed Yuna into the maw of the Final Aeon--they must.
<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.
Why? Lulu can thihnk of many reasons. She knows some of that history. ...But as she's discussed before... hating one's own father does seem to her to be quite the luxury. It does not supply her with sympathy here. ...She would have more for Belize, does appreciate their difficulty as Seymour's ally...
But Lulu made her choice of priority long ago, and it does not change.
Tidus is right to take Lulu's words as support; she gives it to Auron, as well, to Kimahri, and takes it in turn. This is... a large course of action. She knows it. Even making this challenge is extreme.
But Yuna comes out, and Lulu's eyes go to her. "We will not let you face this alone," she says simply.
But there, Seymour... His fury is there. He addresses Yuna. Lulu glances to Belize in the moment--but sees... She thinks they have made their choice, at least one. Lulu watches--and then turns forward, again.
Lulu doesn't speak for Yuna, though she has her guesses, now. ...Wakka speaks for no one--
But he steps up with the group, even if he does look miserable about it, holding his weapon.
<Pose Tracker> Rikku has posed.
It's one of those things that's hard to say after all. It's no wonder that Tidus can say it outright. And the rest of them can't.
Often she finds herself envying how easy these things come for him.
Rikku though did not flinch so much when Wedge stares at her, she does when Seymour shoots her that absolutely chilly look - suddenly wishing she could look anywhere else but in those furious eyes.
It's one of those moments where someone can make her feel like she said something stupid, even though she knows she said something absolutely right.
Part of her is really glad to be surrounded by Lulu and Auron and Kimahri and Wakka and Tidus in these moments.
However then Yuna appears, and Rikku cries out suddenly, "Yunie!"
She knows after Djose, how fatigued she is after communing with the Fayth. She knows. Even if Yuna can make it look herself look indefatiguable, she knows.
Rikku almost begins to dart forward to go to her, even with Wedge's eyes on the back of her head.
Seymour addresses Yuna - and Rikku swallows. Even as Lulu reassures Yuna that they don't face this alone.
"I wished that I could help you." She says, of that time when all the Guardians were in the dark, simply knowing something weighed upon Yuna in regards to Jyscal.
"And now I-" Her eyes slide sideways at the other Guardians as she amends, "-now we can. So you can rely on us to get you through this Yunie. Promise."
<Pose Tracker> Yuna has posed.
The Besaid beads of her long earring clink gently around her neck, as Yuna submits to the group's waiting eyes -- to Lulu and Rikku's vocal support -- to the Maester's question, with a tentative nod.
"Yes... Seymour," she replies, quietly, matching familiarity for familiarity and softness for softness, but there, the mirror ends; where Seymour accuses, she is gentle, and, perhaps, very slightly confused. The reason why becomes evident at once, at least to him: "Did you... not... consider my offer?"
To go with her, to Bevelle, where she would stand with him as he confessed to the other Maesters, and turned himself over to Yevonite justice. Yuna, student of Yevon's teachings and laws practically from birth, belives it is entirely possible he would be allowed to depart as her Guardian, to serve as penance; this is by no means a guaranteed death sentence she's asking him to sign up for.
It is, however, a guaranteed 'acknowledge and try to make restitution for your crimes' sentence. A take-responsibility sentence. A submit-to-a-higher-authority sentence.
Not that anyone else here knows what she means, at least not in any totality. Indeed, Tidus looks way more bewildered, now, while Auron, who at least suspects he's understood, politely resists the urge to roll his eyes at this display of naivete. Kimahri remains completely indifferent to anything that is, or is not, on offer.
Yuna's delicate hand is encircled by an even more fragile silver bracelet; it is slender and pale and, by any practical standard but perhaps a dancer's, weak; it is well-cared for on principle, but in practice, roughened by travel and combat and, perhaps crucially, long hours of healing and Sending, Mi'ihen sand still under her fingernails; it is, most of all, very small.
She extends her hand to Seymour, and her heart dares to kindle hope, even now, for his redemption. It shines in her eyes, not like the sun on the sea, not with such boldness and strength -- but like the moon. The kind of shine that can only be seen in the darkness.
It isn't too late, they promise, in tones of green and blue, as they meet his, entreatingly. It's never too late to atone.
<Pose Tracker> Seymour Guado has posed.
Seymour is less certain of Belize's resolve. They did not finish that talk -- and they seemed only a little less concerned by the truth of his father's demise. He wonders, for a second, if they really will stand by him. And yet, he keeps his back to them. His eyes are on the group.
The group of Guardians that are squaring off against him. He sees the way Biggs's hand is on his sword; the way Wedge begins to raise his fists in anticipation.
But in the end, like they have been ever since he set foot in Luca harbor all those months ago, his eyes are only for Yuna.
"Your offer," he repeats, softly. "Your offer to stand by me... as I surrender everything that I have built towards. It was not the offer that I had hoped to hear, Yuna." But, she couldn't know that he hoped she would agree to the plan he has voiced to none.
He steps backward, away from her offered hand. "I will not submit to punishment for something that is not a crime, but pure righteousness, Lady Yuna." Then, he holds his hand out to his side. A wind billows up around him.
That is all the cue that Biggs and Wedge need. The two of them rush in -- not right at the Guardians, but splitting to each side, as they flank out into the center of the circular room. Seymour grabs his staff from where he rested it near the stairs.
He looks at Yuna, and he tries to keep his calm -- even as his lips curl, into what becomes an angry snarl, until he clamps it down. "So, it comes to this? What a pity."
GS: Seymour Guado has adjusted their boss level for 2 opponents!
<Pose Tracker> Yuna has posed.
Seymour's wind rises and his bodyguards close in. Yuna backs away, into the lines of her Guardians -- Tidus, Kimahri and Auron immediately close ranks around her, though, unlike when this happened in reverse at the doorstep of Macalania Temple, they aren't as tall as Guado, and she isn't hidden entirely from view.
She flinches at his snarl, but does not apologize.
"Knowing the truth, I came... I came here to stop you!" she tells him, both softness and gentleness dropping away from her voice and revealing an adamantine core underneath. Firm, but not cruel, she adds, sadly, "I had prayed that you would be willing to stop yourself."
"So much for that!" Half-jokingly.
"So much for that." Dead seriously.
Auron and Tidus look at each other.
Kimahri keeps his eyes, still, on Seymour.
All three of them prepare to rush Yuna towards the exit.
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
It'll probably be a long and interesting talk later, if Belize and Lulu ever get the chance to have one. Belize certainly doesn't begrudge Yuna's Guardians their decision to stick by and protect their Summoner--they would expect no less from any Guardian of their Summoner--but they consider, at the very least, Yuna and Lulu friends. To have to fight against them, here and now... They meet Lulu's eyes for that brief moment. No, even if they've made their choice, they can't be happy about it. Seymour might well sense that hesitation, even as they stand at his side.
Seymour and Yuna discuss their apparent misunderstandings, and make it clear that each one's reality is not compatible with the other's. How droll; at least this resolves the love triangle, Belize things bleakly. They see the hope in Yuna's eyes, but having at last seen a piece of Seymour's true self, they know he will not accept. And, naturally, he doesn't. Dread builds in them as he and his own Guardians build up for a fight; they draw their bow and nock an arrow, but keep its point towards the floor.
They feel they ought to say something. To make one more, perhaps one last attempt to calm everyone, to prevent the fight that is brewing like a storm. Yet, they sense it's already too late. When Yuna declares that she had come here to stop Seymour, that sense becomes a prescience.
They shut their eyes momentarily, and in that moment steel themself.
Ultimately, it won't be enough, but even with their prescience, they can't possibly know that.
<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.
Lulu says nothing, as she watches Yuna extend her hand. Extend her hand to a man who in no way seems to her to merit her kindness, her warmth, her help, but it is never about merit for Yuna, never was and, likely, never will be. She sees that shine in Yuna's eyes.
Lulu, too, has a prescience in this moment. She cannot quite bring herself to watch Yuna's face as Seymour answers, focusing instead on him, and on the two Guado guards here. He speaks the answer... And that is that. The guards suddenly flank--
Lulu immediately starts to step forward. Her eyes do meet Belize's again, as they did in that moment--and just as then...
She is not pleased with it. But she is resolute, as she looks at them. There is a simple knowledge of competing priority. Not even a friend can sway Lulu's certainty here. Not even the maester.
Lulu ends up far closer to Yuna, already considering the best spell to cover their escape, if and when it becomes necessary, so that the others can rush Yuna out.
...And Wakka straightens his shoulders, despite his despair. "...This can't be happening," he says, in his long cadence, but he readjusts his grip on his weapon nevertheless.
Lulu has no words, either, to stop this moment. It is past time for her words... has, perhaps, long been past that time.
<Pose Tracker> Rikku has posed.
Rikku holds her breath as Yuna extends that hand. As she makes that offer.
Rikku believes in Yuna. Perhaps even so much that in that moment she wonders if she can cause Seymour to step away from the darkness in his heart. She's seen Yuna's offers cause even hardened foes to waiver, even if they never crossed the gulf.
And yet. Yet.
Seymour does not. This does not shake her faith in Yuna any less. It simply makes her dislike Seymour even more.
The guards begin to flank their Maester. And their Maester grabs their staff.
And Rikku simply steps forward alongside Yuna, on the opposite side of her as Lulu.
On any other occasion - she'd smile at the contrast between Tidus and Auron in that same line.
"There's still... maybe a chance that it doesn't go any further."
Rikku notes to Wakka. Her priority is not punishing Seymour after all.
It's Yuna. Just as it has always been.
However, she hedges her bets with maybe, because Seymour and his Guards are looking awfullly aggressive...
A glance towards Belize, perhaps causes her to wonder if there's hope that they won't join in that aggression.
<Pose Tracker> Seymour Guado has posed.
Seymour has no further retort with words. Not yet. Not immediately.
And in a way, it might be fitting that Wedge and Biggs Guado are the ones who start this. For them, this is not complicated; for them, this is not fraught. Their loyalty to Maester Seymour, first and foremost. Yuna's Guardians were, at best, allies of convenience. Belize is, at best, an ally of convenience.
Which is why the stand down ends not with spells being slung, but ice cracking as Wedge Guado leaps into the air. The tall, lanky Guado spins in the air, foot coming back -- and comes at Lulu from the side. He kicks, hard, for her midsection. Then, he throws a fist at her cheek, and a knife-hand chop for her neck.
Biggs roars, then: "Looks like this is on!" And he rushes for Auron, slamming the huge tower shield on his arm for the samurai, trying to bowl him over.
This moves Seymour to action.
He moves a hand through the air; a half-circle, and half way through it, his clawed fingers trace a line of red light. Then, he pushes his hand forward -- and a gout of flame forms, and hurtles towards Yuna.
"I have no intention of being stopped, Lady Yuna," he says, as sparks and embers flicker about him, then die.
GS: Seymour Guado enters a Counter stance! GS: Seymour Guado has attacked Lulu with Guado Guardian Pummel! GS: Seymour Guado has gained 1 Combo! GS: Seymour Guado has attacked Yuna with Fire! GS: Seymour Guado has completed his action. GS: Lulu takes a solid hit from Seymour Guado's Guado Guardian Pummel for 120 hit points! GS: Rikku used Defend! She takes Seymour Guado's attack on Yuna on herself! GS: Rikku completely evades a hit from Seymour Guado's Fire!
DC: Belize switches forms to Summoner Belize!
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
Belize gives Lulu the slightest of nods when their eyes meet again. They know. They understand. They wish they could have her unhesitating resolve; for all that Seymour calls everyone else's opinion of his patricide self-righteousness, they do think that there is something genuinely off about Seymour if he can claim he committed no crime and mean it.
Truly, they can relate to Wakka in that moment.
They catch Rikku's glance, too, and their mouth slants to one side. The only chance they won't join in is if that aggression doesn't start at all. Good thing Biggs and Wedge are here. Belize wonders, genuinely, if they and Trommel genuinely don't care that Seymour murdered his father. Do the Guado see family ties differently? Is this, perhaps, a cultural difference? Were anyone to stop and question this aloud, would it stop the fighting?
No. It wouldn't. But it's, perhaps, a discussion to have with Seymour later.
Black magic is usually used to attack. In Yevon, where black magic is looked upon somewhat askance, it's been developed to the point where it can be used for support as well. So Belize uses it now, channeling the element of fire through their bow, Seymour's staff, and Biggs and Wedge's weapons, causing little licks of flame to burn along them, bolstering their power.
GS: Belize has attacked Belize with Burning Weapon! GS: Belize has attacked Seymour Guado with Burning Weapon! GS: Belize has completed their action. GS: Belize takes a solid hit from Belize's Burning Weapon for 0 hit points! GS: Mighty! applied to Belize! GS: Seymour Guado takes a solid hit from Belize's Burning Weapon for 0 hit points! GS: Mighty! applied to Belize!
<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.
Wakka does not answer Rikku for now. And neither does Lulu, in the moment. But what happens...
Lulu acknowledge that nod--it's in her eyes, the way she looks back at Belize, returns their understanding. It is the way it is.
But Seymour's attack is sudden--his guards take the initiative, but he sure doesn't seem to call them off. For a moment she is not thinking of that, though--
Ice cracks, and Wedge Guado leaps towards Lulu. She turns towards him, but he's too quick--he impacts her side, doubling her over through sheer inertia, and his fist slams into her cheek. She manages to move only enough that the knife hand slams against her upper shoulder, knocking her to the ground where she slides away instead of possibly breaking her neck.
her eyes snap up. She feels the flames, instead of seeing them, headed for Yuna.
"Hey--"
Wakka has much less trouble rolling up to Wedge Guado to attempt to body him straight off of Lulu than he does attacking the Maester. Lulu herself does not stop to appreciate Belize's magic, though--
Instead she rises, and her eyes flash as she looks to the Maester. She channels her power--
The scent of ozone rushes through the air as lightning crackles from the Guardian's hand, erupting across the room to shoot straight for Seymour in forking spears.
GS: Lulu has attacked Seymour Guado with Thundara! GS: Lulu has gained 2 Combo! GS: Lulu has completed her action. GS: COUNTER! Seymour Guado counterattacks Luluwith Counter Attack! GS: Seymour Guado takes a solid hit from Lulu's Thundara for 135 hit points! GS: Seymour Guado has been weakened by Disease! Seymour Guado can't gain THP until the Disease is cured! GS: Disease! applied to Seymour Guado! GS: Lulu takes a solid hit from Seymour Guado's Counter Attack for 119 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Rikku has posed.
Rikku wildly hurtles something in mid-air in the same moment that Seymour forms that gout of fire, already beginning to push Yuna aside, grasping her as she twists in an effort to roll with the spell.
It's quite a gambit in a sense. She's fully ready to take on that blow for her and has raised her arm bearing her targe accordingly. However - Wedge might mistake the item she threw as a grenade - which had been in her hand.
Thus when a fish scale bursts into a huge bubble of water in mid-air - Seymour's spell explodes against it. The entire area around Yuna and Rikku blanketed in scalding steam which dissipates just a few moments later in the Macalania air.
"I think the Bachelorette party is off Yunie."
Rikku notes quietly as she shields her cousin from the steam, it sounds like she's joking, but on some level she isn't.
Rikku always has loved the idea of young love - marriage. She used to imagine lots of children just so whoever is the youngest never feels that way for long.
So if Yuna wanted to get married young - she was fully in support. She just wanted it to be for love... happiness.
Rikku eyes Belize for a moment as she sets their weapons aflame and with Lulu already hurting.
"Alright - that's bad. Here let me help out with the defense some." She indicates to Yuna - and maybe Lulu, noting how much more serious this has gotten with Belize joining in the mix.
Rikku opens a pouch to grasp a potion, to flip off the top, then unstoppers a vial, pouring in a shimmering substance that looks like the light of Gaia and starlight combined. The party may have seen her gathering it on the Thunder Plains.
Then shaking the vial with her hands like a bartender mixing a drink, she palms a handful, and throws it up high.
"Lulu heads up! Trust me-" It sprinkles over the party like a gentle rain. It sparkles in front of each of Yuna's Guardians and the Lady Summoner herself - prismatic and swirling alchemical barriers that become translucent a moment later. Physically - their reflexes seem to sharpen, movements quickening. "-this'll work!"
Rikku seems to notice the fact that she's suddenly moving like a Chocobo on Tantal Greens.
"Maybe a little too well!"
GS: Rikku has attacked Rikku with Mix: Mighty G! GS: Rikku has attacked Yuna with Mix: Mighty G! GS: Rikku has attacked Lulu with Mix: Mighty G! GS: Rikku has gained 1 Combo! GS: Rikku has completed her action. GS: Rikku takes a solid hit from Rikku's Mix: Mighty G for 0 hit points! GS: Quick and Shield! applied to Rikku! GS: Lulu takes a solid hit from Rikku's Mix: Mighty G for 0 hit points! GS: Quick and Shield! applied to Lulu! GS: Please react using the attack number in +queue. GS: Yuna takes a glancing hit from Rikku's Mix: Mighty G for 0 hit points! GS: Quick and Shield! applied to Yuna!
<Pose Tracker> Yuna has posed.
Yuna was not at all ready for this to descend into violence; naive to the bitter end, it seems. Even as Seymour's flames rush to consume her, she is wide-eyed and credulous, shocked to be attacked by a person who is both a Maester of Yevon and, very nearly, her betrothed. (He's also a fatherkiller and maybe she should have remembered that, especially considering that it's the main thing they're discussing, but... well, Yuna is Yuna, in good times and bad.)
Rikku saves her. Yuna gazes up at her, regret briefly softening her expression. "I'm sorry," she tells her cousin, though what exactly she's apologizing for -- the failed marriage, maybe? -- is unclear. More and better apologies are going to have to wait, though. She accepts a hand up, then faces Seymour in earnest. No matter how much she draws herself up, she's still tiny in comparison. But something about her towers, as she makes him a promise.
"With or without you, I will go to Bevelle," she tells him. "I must."
Auron is extremely ready for Biggs. Kimahri, for Seymour -- but when Wedge moves first, he moves after, interposing himself between the second Guado Guardian and Lulu after their first interchange is over. He and Wakka will keep them busy.
Tidus was BORN ready for all of this, and he rides his righteous fury all the way down, as Yuna commits to the fray -- she's drawn her rod and is levelling it, defensively, in the first stance learned by any Spiran white mage.
"All riiiight!" he shouts, "HASTE!"
Time magic swirls around the summoner, stacking with Rikku's alchemy, and when it fades she is a blur of white and pink and blue.
A chanting blur.
She's already a soprano but there's something faintly Flight-Of-The-Bumblebee to her now-squeaky timbre as she casts -- then casts again -- then casts again -- then casts again.
"shieldusfromfieryfuryshieldusfromthunderousbaneshieldusfromfrigidblightshieldusfromwaterywoe..."
She glances at Belize, and the sorrow, which hasn't left her, intensifies. She was a lot closer to the other summoner than to the Maester. Her shoulders hunch a little.
"--shieldusfromearthenrage!"
And then, as, haste or no haste, she's taking a well-deserved gasp of air, the chamber fills with light. An orb of light corresponding to each of those five elements winks into being, then orbits each of Yuna's allies as though her magic is planets, and they're each the sun.
The only person she forgets to ward is herself.
GS: Yuna has attacked Rikku with NulHarm! GS: Yuna has attacked Lulu with NulHarm! GS: Yuna has gained 1 Combo! GS: Yuna has completed her action. GS: Yuna heals Lulu! She gains 100 temporary hit points! GS: Yuna heals Rikku! She gains 100 temporary hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Seymour Guado has posed.
When Seymour sees the way that Rikku keeps his spell at bay, his eyes narrow. He glowers at her, but says nothing else.
Besides: Seymour wasn't sure, until they acted, that Belize wouldn't put an arrow in his back. When their fire swirls about the magus staff, he nods at them. He holds the weapon up, as he prepares his next spell.
Before he can form it, lightning arcs out. Some of Lulu's lightning twists off into frozen floor, sparks exploding when hits the ice. Much more of it hits Seymour -- slamming him backward with a shower and a spray of sparks. He shouts in muted surprise, coming up with a hand over his side.
Which is when Wedge Guado cries out. First, he rams his shoulder at Wakka. He tries to smash him backward, and then throws an axe kick at his chest -- and tries to kick him back into Kimahri, and then the both into Lulu.
"Your resolve is what I admire about you," Seymour answers Yuna. "If only you put it to a better use, Lady Yuna."
Seymour turns his wrath onto Rikku, though. He turns, and then throws a clawed hand out. Lightning crackles off it -- shooting off his hand, arcing and spiderwebbing into the floor. It dances and skips, before striking at the Al Bhed. When it does, arcs of it linger, jumping across the flagstones and frost nearby.
At the same time, Biggs slams his blade into Auron's hard enough to ring -- and then he tries to circle around. But, for the moment, he is locked in place with him.
Which is when Seymour aims the magus staff at Yuna. A ball of water appears; it swirls through the air, serpentining, before it comes smashing down for Yuna.
GS: Seymour Guado spends 1 Combo on Poison! GS: Seymour Guado has attacked Rikku with Thundara! GS: Seymour Guado has attacked Yuna with Watera! GS: Seymour Guado has completed his action. GS: Rikku completely evades a hit from Seymour Guado's Thundara! GS: Yuna takes a glancing hit from Seymour Guado's Watera for 82 hit points! GS: Seymour Guado assumes the Stoic stance!
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
If it's unpleasant for Belize to meet Lulu's eyes across the Temple-made-battlefield, it burns coldly to have to see Yuna's sorrow. Seymour nods to them in what they perceive as gratitude, perhaps for their loyalty--they know they too were shaken, and Seymour must have seen that--and that helps, but only so much.
Enough. They've already made their decision. Nobody would believe or appreciate it if they turned wishy-washy now. Besides: just as Seymour was willing to kill his own father to defeat Sin for good... so they, too, must be willing to fight their friends if it would mean an Eternal Calm.
That mantra helps a lot, honestly. Their gaze steels, and they let anger rise in their heart as Lulu unleashes crackling lightning bolts on the Maester. They can understand jumping to the defense of their Summoner, but they didn't even try to hear him out! Do they think so ill of him that they would dismiss all of the good he's done for that one evil?! Fine! Then be that way!
Yuna's NulAll spell, cast at ultra-high-speed thanks to a bit of time magic, will neutralize or severely weaken their spells, and Rikku's item mixture amplifies everyone's defense--so Belize opts for their other specialty, which is undermining others' attacks and defenses. They aim a flickering arrow at Lulu when she has several bodies rammed into her, and summons a technique into it to dampen Lulu's own magic just before firing.
GS: Belize has attacked Lulu with Silence Attack! GS: Belize has gained 1 Combo! GS: Belize has completed their action. GS: Lulu guards a hit from Belize's Silence Attack for 45 hit points! GS: Mute! applied to Lulu!
<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.
Lulu is, on some level, always prepared for situations to escalate to violence, but in this case... It is no ordinary matter.
No, she remembers what she said, on the way in. If what they heard was true... Then it may be necessary to do as they are doing now.
"Thank you," Lulu says to Rikku in the now, drinking the potion immediately and letting herself feel the shielding around it--and the speed, as well. Wakka, too, does this--
But things move more quickly even than Yuna's voice casting. She takes a breath as she finds Auron shifting in to help Wakka keep her from direct confrontation, and feels Yuna's magic whirl about her.
But she stares at Seymour in the moments as her lightning comes. He seems surprised--but Lulu is preparing to move on. ...Unfortunately, Wedge acts quickly--Wakka gets hit hard, but Kimahri is too sturdy to be moved, and only Lulu's balance is lost, not her shielding as she moves quickly out of the way--
Just in time to get hit by the flickering arrow that comes of Belize's power. The arrow itself is spectral, doesn't even leave blood through the blue barrier around her--
But she feels her magic dampen, her voice too quieting. "Lu!" Wakka calls, and Lulu rises, shakes her head. She straightens her shoulders, and lifts the Cactuar doll in her arms next--
And then she prepares. Lulu breathes in, and it is not magic she uses, not words, but a technique; she pulls on the energy around her, intensifies that which within herself can use it--
And the same purple energy bursts around Rikku, and Yuna, and their entire party, enhancing magic power where it was lowered.
GS: Lulu has attacked Yuna with Focus! GS: Lulu has attacked Lulu with Focus! GS: Lulu has attacked Rikku with Focus! GS: Lulu has gained 2 Combo! GS: Lulu has completed her action. GS: Rikku takes a solid hit from Lulu's Focus for 0 hit points! GS: Surge! applied to Rikku! GS: Lulu takes a solid hit from Lulu's Focus for 0 hit points! GS: Surge! applied to Lulu! GS: Yuna takes a solid hit from Lulu's Focus for 0 hit points! GS: Surge! applied to Yuna!
<Pose Tracker> Rikku has posed.
"It's okay." Rikku beams at Yuna, "Just tell me what you're apologizing for later - alright?"
It's what she told Marivel... more than anything... what she wants between Yuna and her...
However as soon as Seymour answers Yuna - Rikku's eyes narrow.
However she sees the sparks grow, and her eyes grow wide. Just as Yuna's quickened spellcasting chant washes over her. She wants to breathe easy, but it's... Thunder.
"It's okay - Yunie's got me. It's okay." She hyperventilates, dancing around on the floor, skipping from side to side with a little hop to like she's getting prepared for a flash on the Thunder Plains. "It's okay. It's okay."
And then sudenly there's a flash crackle of spell energy, and the smell of ozone. Her shriek - half drowned out by the thunderous boom, might make one think they got her.
Yet one might suddenly notice a shape that rolled behind Kimahri. "I-I'm okay..." It's unclear if she's talking to Yuna or convincing herself of that.
Trembling like a leaf, she gets back up to her feet behind him, her gaze suddenly whipping to look at Lulu as Wakka calls out in alarm and realizes she has to push past fear. Lulu's sudden burst of magical energy seems to help with that - getting past fear, with anger, as she suddenlyc alls out to Seymour.
"When you say better use do you mean - like you did?"
There's a light ping, before the girl pitches an object across the room.
"With your Dad?"
The grenade like object is sacrilege in and of itself in the Macalania temple. A hated Machina weapon. When it strikes the ground between Seymour, Belize, Wedge and Biggs it detonates into a plume of caustic blue smoke.
Upon inhalation it would make talking - or casting spells - decidedly less comfortable.
GS: Rikku has activated a Force Action! GS: Rikku has attacked Belize with Use: Silence Grenade! GS: Rikku has attacked Seymour Guado with Use: Silence Grenade! GS: Rikku has gained 1 Combo! GS: Rikku has completed her action. GS: Seymour Guado guards a hit from Rikku's Use: Silence Grenade for 72 hit points! GS: Mute! applied to Seymour Guado! GS: Belize guards a hit from Rikku's Use: Silence Grenade for 82 hit points! GS: Mute! applied to Belize!
<Pose Tracker> Yuna has posed.
"Move," growls Auron, entirely happy to be in a blade lock with Biggs in the sense that it means the Guado Guardian's blade isn't anywhere near his ward(s, really). But he'd be MORE happy if, when he unexpectedly shifts his leverage point, then goes for a leg sweep, Biggs would take the invitation and cease to be between them and the door.
"Your willingness to do the right thing even when it's hard, for Spira's sake, is what I admire about you, Maester Seymour," Yuna replies, sounding fierce... and disappointed. And also soggy, as she gets well-soaked by the edge of his Watera. And also worried, for Rikku and the lightning -- and Lulu and the silence.
But at this rate they're going to compliment one another to death. Tidus isn't into it.
"Coming through!" he tells Yuna, interposing himself shoulder-first. Facing Seymour directly at last, he raises Brotherhood before him, in a two-handed grip. In the frosty light of Macalania Temple, the sword is paler than usual... and, perhaps, sharper.
> Tidus uses Talk!
His eyes narrow at Mister Maester. "I knew you were bad news from the first time we met!" Tidus informs him, angrily. "And what's even your game plan here? You can't stop Yuna from turning you in eventually."
Indeed, the summoner is edging towards the door (and, thus, Auron and Biggs -- and Kimahri, who has fallen back from the engagement with Wedge to try to make that conflict two on one), gesturing for her Guardians to follow her. "Hurry, everyone!" Her gesture is expansive enough to contain another flourish of her staff, which sends cleansing magic pouring warmly over Lulu. It lingers, sparkling, at her throat.
A small smile lingers too, on Yuna's lips, born all-too-briefly for the black mage, but born, all the same.
GS: Yuna has attacked Lulu with Esuna! GS: Yuna has gained 1 Combo! GS: Yuna has completed her action. GS: Lulu takes a solid hit from Yuna's Esuna for 0 hit points! GS: Restore reduces negative status durations by 3 rounds each! GS: Yuna assumes the Stoic stance!
<Pose Tracker> Seymour Guado has posed.
Rikku's grenade explodes between Seymour, Biggs, and Wedge. The concussive impact blows back Wedge. He slams into the wall opposite; ice cracks, and the stone has a crack too, though he steadies himself. The wounds from fighting with Wakka and Kimahri, though, have slowed him. He has a bloody gash on his side from where he took a hit from the Ronso's spear.
Biggs manages to deflect much of the force with his shield. Seymour hacks, raising a sleeve over his face as if to block the smoke -- but it is much too late. He looks at Rikku, and when he speaks, his voice is briefly raspier. "But of course."
He can only pay so much mind to Lulu's focusing. Especially when he is being shouted at by Tidus. "Oh, my sincerest apologies. You are quite correct--yes, you have a man who has dealt with Bevelle politics since he was thirteen by the spheres." Seymour's expression turns flat. "I shall let you figure this out, child. A maester knows when he must lecture... and when he must teach."
He throws a hand out -- and a larger ball of flame manifests. It swirls into existence -- and then slams down into the ground between Yuna and Tidus. The frost on the floor flash-melts, burning the flagstones black, as streamers of fire hurtle for Yuna and Tidus both.
Across the room, Biggs roars -- his plate armor has a crack where Auron has broken through. Blood drips out -- and he grunts, as Kimahri lands, slamming a spear into his flank. Then, the huge Guado steps backward, hefting his blade up. "Ronso, too, eh... doesn't MATTER! I've been putting humans in the Farplane since half of you lot were in swaddling! Life is short!"
He holds his broadsword over his head -- and golden light flashes up the blade. Then, he slams the sword down. Orbs of brilliant golden light explode -- first smashing Kimahri and Auron backward, before another erupts by Lulu; a fourth explodes at Rikku's side; and then a fifth blasts into Wakka's back.
"...Bury! STOCK BREAK!"
GS: Seymour Guado has attacked Yuna with Fira! GS: Seymour Guado has attacked Rikku with Guado Guardian Stock Break! GS: Seymour Guado has attacked Lulu with Guado Guardian Stock Break! GS: Seymour Guado has completed his action. GS: CRITICAL! Rikku takes a glancing hit from Seymour Guado's Guado Guardian Stock Break for 175 hit points! GS: Lulu takes a glancing hit from Seymour Guado's Guado Guardian Stock Break for 91 hit points! GS: Yuna takes a glancing hit from Seymour Guado's Fira for 81 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
Belize's arrow strikes true--but in return, Rikku comse to Lulu's defense and mixes up a grenade that, upon explosion, emits a silencing field. Belize recoils, bringing up their sleeve and the defensive armlet underneath to soak some of the explosion, but they're not prepared for blue smoke instead of blasting shrapnel. They inhale it, then cough and gag, their voice rendered a whisper. Just as well, considering how they've been unable to find the words for anyone, even as many of the others--Yuna, Rikku, Tidus--have Words for Seymour.
Belize doubles over for a few, that smoke debilitating them with a momentary coughing fit; eventually, they balance upright, arms shaky. The flames have flickered off of their arrows, but that's fine. They draw back several new arrows and imbue them with cursed power, of a type that won't leave a *physical* mark but will leave those the arrowheads strike feeling significantly under the weather, as it were.
Those arrows fly across the battlefield, seeking out Yuna and each of her Guardians.
GS: Belize has attacked Yuna with Triple Distress! GS: Belize has attacked Lulu with Triple Distress! GS: Belize has attacked Rikku with Triple Distress! GS: Belize has gained 1 Combo! GS: Mighty expired! GS: Belize has completed their action. GS: Lulu completely evades a hit from Belize's Triple Distress! GS: Lulu enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Rikku takes a glancing hit from Belize's Triple Distress for 0 hit points! GS: Break, Cripple, Jam, Mute, Slow, and Weaken! applied to Rikku! GS: Yuna takes a solid hit from Belize's Triple Distress for 0 hit points! GS: Break, Cripple, Jam, Mute, Slow, and Weaken! applied to Yuna! GS: Yuna enters CONDITION GREEN!!
<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.
Lulu does as she can; but the focus is a means to an end, too. Sacrilege or not, Rikku's attack may give her an opening she needs. Her--and Auron, and Tidus. he speaks up, and while Yuna edges towards the door, Lulu notes her presence--
And then she feels the sparkle at her throat. She looks at Yuna, and amidst her focus, and her anger, and her intent--she has an instant to show something softer in her eyes at Yuna, even if she can't share a smile in turn. It will be enough. It must be. Because...
"Life can always get shorter," Lulu snaps to Biggs as he roars, bracing herself. The light crashes up from her, exploding, even as it hits Wakka's back. The two of them--experienced Guardians, both, from more than one Pilgrimage--hit near the ground together. But Wakka is up first.
A cursed power comes. Each Guardian is aimed... But Wakka, near Lulu, sees it before his sister does. he looks up--"I don't think so!"
Hurling himself into the path of it, he takes both arrows head on, stumbling backward as the strike gives him a double dose of weakening force--it's like he's at the end of the game, battered by tackle after tackle, and he stumbles.
"Wakka," Lulu starts--and then sets her jaw. "...I won't waste the chance. Get back with the others."
"...This..."
He doesn't. Despite all that's happening. But Lulu does not stop, either--she steps forward again. "Yuna!" she calls. "We have to go!"
Lulu extends her hands; the cactuar at her feet spins wildly, accepting her focus. Breathing in, she begins to channel all the force she's able. She feels out the Temple, the elemental power it represents...
"...Some crimes are too heavy," she says, through her injuries. And black power erupts around her.
Lifting her hand, Lulu starts to draw on magic--but this is none of the four elements she has used before. The air itself bursts into gravitic power, the fury of Earth itself crashing once--twice--three times--
In moments the air around Seymour and his guardians especially is erupting in bizarre black shells of power, edged in blue, raw attractive force seeking to make the opening she seeks.
GS: Lulu has activated a Force Action! GS: Lulu has activated a Force Action! GS: Lulu spends 1 Combo on Link! GS: Lulu has attacked Seymour Guado with Get Down! GS: Lulu has launched an attack Link! GS: Lulu spends 3 Combo on Gatling, loading 3 into Gatling! GS: Lulu has attacked Seymour Guado with F U R Y! GS: Lulu has gained 1 Combo! GS: Seymour Guado takes a solid hit from Lulu's Get Down for 81 hit points! GS: Seymour Guado takes a solid hit from Lulu's F U R Y for 227 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Yuna has posed.
Kimahri and Auron are slammed backwards by Biggs' attack; the former lands on all four paws, while the latter is forced to take a knee.
They share a Significant Look... then, as one, look back at Biggs and Wedge.
The Ronso moves first -- but doesn't approach. Instead his jaw gapes wide, his chest expanding, expanding, like a furry blue bellows. Then with a snap of his core muscles, it contracts, and out pours an immense gout of Fire Breath, which melts the floor, as Seymour's did. And also, as he twists his neck a bit, weakens some of the stalactites on the ceiling.
The whole world is flame and falling ice -- and Lulu's gravitic hellscape, too.
Then, striding through the chaos... Auron appears, about a nose-length from Biggs' face, and less than a katana-length from Wedge's, when his katana is suddenly Three Sizes Too Large, that day.
BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kEDa6bXnA8&feature=youtu.be&t=157
He stops abruptly, causing his longcoat to flap loudly at his knees, and redistributes his weight to his hips. He's holding his katana in an odd grip, one that is not at all about speed.
Sometimes, it's all about momentum... redistribution.
And the legendary Guardian isn't here to strike out.
Don't you know that sometimes you are a shooting star?
"Farewell," he tells the Guado Guardians.
---
Tidus' face screws up like a squashed tomato -- a hearty blend of embarrassment at his ignorance, and disgust at the Maester's attitude. There's really only one POSSIBLE response.
"SEYYYYYYYYYYMOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUR!!"
And he LEAPS into the air, lands in a handspring, soars again, twists into a spiral, and slams Brotherhood right at Seymour's stupid face.
Right at Seymour's stupid HAIR.
---
Behind him, Yuna takes Belize's arrow right in the back, which gives her just enough warning to stagger forward in a miserable little hop to also take TIDUS' arrow, this one in front.
She is REALLY bad at this whole summoner/guardian thing. But she is easy to read -- Belize sees her expression as she looks up, the curse coursing through her veins, and now they, too, know what it is to feel the full force of Yuna's disappointment.
She wheezes something that might be the other summoner's name, and might be 'why'.
Then the force of the shot sends her spinning off her feet.
GS: Yuna spends 3 Combo on Gatling, loading 3 into Gatling! GS: Yuna enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Yuna has attacked Seymour Guado with L1! GS: Yuna has completed her action. GS: Seymour Guado has activated a Force Action! GS: Seymour Guado guards a hit from Yuna's L1 for 124 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Rikku has posed.
"You're the worst." Is Rikku's answer to Seymour simply validating her rejoinder. Rikku doesn't wince at Tidus's statement. He means well. She wonders if his Zanarkand was a nice place to live in when it came to such things.
Rikku's lip curls as the condescension towards Tidus rolls off Seymour. "You still think of yourself as a Maester? What a joke." It should be a joke to her that one of Yevon's Maesters would turn out like this. She shouldn't be surprised. Yet some part of her actually hoped this one would be good. Or at least be good to Yuna.
However - then the Guado Guardians turn their wrath on her. Rikku tries to predict when Biggs is going to attack. Moving from one side unto the other. However she predicts wrong. She tried to feint him out - and instead stepped right into it.
The blast scythes her off of her feet with a shriek, and knocks her across the room. It looks like it was a particularly bad hit.
Or at least it does until Yuna's protections flicker away. It still hurt, though not as much as it might have. Coughing, she gets up on her feet.
"Wow you sound a bit grumpy 'Gramps Guado'. Let's see what you have to say after a bunch of little humans show you how it's done!"
However - Belize's arrow... Rikku barely sees it coming her way out of her field of vision, and jerks out of the way. Or at least tries. It glances off her targe - just as she sees Yuna take the full force of one. Then another. "Oh gosh - Oh no oh gosh-"
Rikku initially didn't feel any pain so she wonders if she's unharmed.
That's wishful thinking.
Rikku is mid-run towards Yuna when suddenly her steps start to slow, and suddenly grabs her stomach, looking decidedly green around the gills. "Oh my gosh..."
Dry heaving in a way that makes it look like she's going to lose her whole meal from the party, she puts a hand to her mouth and holds it in.
"Why are you even helping him!?" She asks Belize suddenly, before sounding like she's talking to herself. "This is so messed up - I never wanted to hurt any Summoners. Not even him!"
She's feeling so sick that she simply reaches into her pouch and unstoppers a potion, before she notices. "Yunie!" Her steps grow less ill with every one she suddenly takes towards her. Until she suddenly makes a little dive on her knees, holding up a potion for her. Ready to help her drink it if she's having trouble. "Hey. Hey Yunie. Drink this quick."
Hearing Lulu sound the retreat punctuated by the fury of her spell trio, she vows to her quietly, "We're getting you out of here."
GS: Rikku has activated a Force Action! GS: Rikku has attacked Yuna with Use: Al Bhed Potion! GS: Rikku has attacked Rikku with Use: Al Bhed Potion! GS: Rikku has completed her action. GS: Rikku heals Rikku! She gains 100 temporary hit points! GS: Restore reduces negative status durations by 3 rounds each! GS: Rikku heals Yuna! She gains 125 temporary hit points! GS: Restore reduces negative status durations by 3 rounds each!
<Pose Tracker> Seymour Guado has posed.
Arrows fly acorss the battlefield. Wedge raises a fist into the air, to salute Belize. Seymour gives them a quick, brief nod -- no spoken praise, because that may be rather much, given the circumstances. Then, his eyes turn back to Lulu.
Power explodes from around her. It is a ripple through the Temple. Ice lifts off the floor, then falls down, landing shattered like a dropped plate. Lulu summons orbs of pulsing black light -- and then orbs smash into them. Wedge is struck once, twice, three times. Kimahri's flame breath washes over him, pitching him all the way backward.
When he is smashed into the wall, this time, he crumples over bloodied.
A hole is shorn through Biggs's shield. Another blasts a piece of his pauldron out, and then a final one drives him backward. "Gh--Maester Seymour!"
Which is when Auron is gone, in a flash. His too-huge katana in a blur of steel and motion -- and then a gout of blood splashes on the floor, and Biggs crumples into a heap with a clatter of steel.
"No..." Seymour screams. "...No!"
The spells slam into him. One strikes his side, leaving a burnt hole in his robes. Another shatters his staff at the midsection; he drops the two halves. The third clips him in the cheek, and he spins, then falls down; his hair burnt black, a deep black singe along the skin of his cheek.
He rises -- and Tidus comes down, spinning in a spiral, and Brotherhood comes up. Seymour is not trained in melee combat. He has instincts -- and this is a problem, as he sees a blade made of water crashing down for his face. He does the most logical thing that he can think to do:
He reaches his hand up.
In a second, Tidus sheers clean through half his hand. Thumb, index, and part of his middle finger drop to the ground. Then Seymour screams, blood-curdling, grabbing the ruined limb.
He looks up, blood welling between his fingers, and his eyes wide with grief. Bright, red human blood -- unlike the more orange blood from Biggs's and Wedge's wounds.
He spits, furiously, and his face is now a mask of rage and pain. Pale eyes are wide, and baleful. "You," he declares, "are going nowhere. Feel my pain..."
And the lights in the room snuff out, before there is a swirl of red fire at the ceiling, about an orb of darkness -- and a chain slams into the ground, shattering the flagstones again.
"ANIMA!"
The chain draws her forth from the darkness. A being bound in chains and bandages, a screaming head, arms bound, with a sickly pallor -- and not unlike a fish, somehow. She sways, before she lifts to the top, and looks down. Her gaze falls, first, on Tidus. Then, brilliant blue-white light explodes under his feet in a terrific column.
She screams.
DC: Seymour Guado switches forms to Anima!
<Pose Tracker> Seymour Guado has posed.