2021-08-20: Let's Show Fate Who's Boss

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  • Log: Let's Show Fate Who's Boss
  • Cast: Xenia, Seraph Clarine
  • Where: Celesti Wastelands
  • Date: August 20, 2021
  • Summary: During an unlikely meeting in an unlikely place, Clarine inspires Xenia to try and oppose the tragic outcome she predicts one more time.

===========================<* Celesti Wastelands *>===========================

Decades ago, the nation of Celesti ripped itself apart in a vicious civil war. Outside of a handful of settlements, its former territories are lifeless. The remains of trenches, bunkers, and barbed wire lines serve as lingering reminders of the conflict--scars that have yet to heal. The earth is dry and barren, and much of the groundwater has been contaminated by biological or chemical weapons.

Travel through the Wastelands is treacherous. The roads are pockmarked with shell craters, and Reapers have been known to haunt its blasted plains. A handful of functional rail lines cross the wastes, but these travel directly to their final destinations. The shattered remains of ghost towns dot the landscape. Some may yet hold things of value, but experienced travelers know better than to go treasure-hunting on a whim. The war-dead of Celesti do not rest.

Ghosts aren't even the strangest things one can find here. As the war dragged on, both the Congressional Knights and Aquvy Union dug up ancient weapons to aid their efforts--including, it's rumored, ARMs from Zeboim. These rumors draw both the daring and desperate into the wastes, and more often than not, to their end.

BGM: Shin Megami Tensei IV - Blasted Ichigaya
<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.

Though desertification is an ever-looming threat, Filgaia is yet home to some very different ecosystems. Dry, sandy plains may be the most ubiquitous, but there are areas that still manage to maintain decently-sized stretches of grassland and forest. This division is at its most strikingly visible at high elevation, in particular from mountain ranges that seperate the yellow and green.

One of these places is the mountain range that runs through Zoara, particularly at its north end. To the west, a desert wasteland where a mighty civilization once thrived. To the east, the lands of the Papal State of Saint Heim, still full of life and sporting an impressive forest, by Filgaian standards. And to the north, an endless ocean, stretching out as far as the eye can see. You might say it has something for everyone, as far as sight-seeing is concerned.

It's just that it isn't really the sort of place that easily lends itself to that purpose. The mountains are tall and treacherous, difficult to traverse for most. Not something that would be on most people's radar as anything worth bothering with for any purpose, least of all simple sightseeing.

But apparently, there are some who think differently, even in the middle of the night, with no illumination save for the light of the full moon. Any who would brave the mountain this night will undoubtedly be surprised to hear that they are not here by themselves. The first sign of their presence a song, carried by the gentle breeze, reverberating from somewhere high up.

If there are lyrics to the song, they are not being sung, any syllables there may have been replaced with a generic vocalization. But the person doing the singing can definitely carry a tune, making for a beautiful, harmonious melody, with shifting undertones that most often seem on the melancholy end of the spectrum. The voice carries easily, making it easy to lead one to the source, a black-cloaked figure who stands at the edge of a plateau, gazing out over the ocean.

And, the most notable attribute of this voice, to those who recognize it... it sounds exactly like Xantia's voice. Though Xantia may be known to hum random little happy tunes to herself, this is on a completely different level. Nobody has ever heard her sing like this before.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

As an avid sightseer, Clarine spends much of her time exploring the remote places of Filgaia. As a Seraph she can reach locations that the average person simply can't, and by her very nature the elements are of little concern to her. To her, a tall, treacherous mountain simply means a time investment. It might not pay out, but if it does... then it will be worth every minute.

And this mountain range certainly pays out. It's so rare to see so many different environments at once. Even Clarine, in all her years, has very rarely seen its like. Even she is left awed and mystified by the very sight of it as she finally reaches an appreciable height, looking out over the land as the light of the full moon coats everything in a faint illumination.

Right as she's considering capturing the image before her with her Picto Box, however, a song reaches her, drifting on the breeze. A beautiful song, and though there are no words it carries with it emotion that causes Clarine to stop in her tracks.

But perhaps most striking of all... is the familiarity of the voice. She knows that voice, but she has never heard it quite like this. And so she is drawn to that voice, drawn to the black-cloaked figure at the edge of the plateau.

Clarine almost hates to interrupt her. She waits for a lull before interjecting, though perhaps her presence might be detected before then.

"...Xantia? Is that you?" She asks quietly.

<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.

The song ends up stopping at a bit of an awkward spot, before Clarine has said anything. It certainly could lead one to believe that their presence must have been detected, even though the cloaked figure doesn't react in any other way to make that more obvious. But when Clarine speaks, the figure abruptly turns to face her.

The face below the hood is unmistakably Xantia's, though she's wearing a pair of blue-tinted shades, that's new. She looks surprised, though that's not so odd given the circumstances. Squinting a bit, as if she can't believe her eyes, she briefly brings a gloved hand to her shades, adjusting them. It's not the gloves she usually wears, either.

"You're... Clarine? Huh. What are the odds of meeting here, of all places and times. Is this what they call fate?"

Though it's debatable if she meant that as a question to Clarine, she does leave enough of a pause to answer it, looking at the Seraph with a faint smile the entire time. Then, she slowly turns back to assume her former position, looking back out across the ocean.

"...Actually, I prefer to think that something like 'fate' doesn't exist. If it did, there wouldn't be much of a point in doing anything. Might as well sit back and hope things are meant to get better. You only have to take a good look at this planet to see how well that's working out."

She turns back again, cloak kept tightly wrapped around herself. Must be cold up here, if you're a mortal.

"What do you think? If you believe there's probably no way to change a certain outcome, but you don't like that outcome... does it still make sense to fight it?"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

Clarine studies the face before her for a moment. It's Xantia's face... but her mannerisms and clothing are different. And the way she refers to her... there are a lot of questions to ask.

"...I am Clarine, yes. And who are you...?" She asks. But she goes quiet, then, as the cloaked figure who resembles Xantia speaks of fate, and asks her a question. Clarine frowns for a moment, a pensive expression crossing her face.

What would she do, in that situation?

"...It is a difficult question. I think... if it is an outcome that must not come to pass, then you must try." Clarine replies, shaking her head. "Can you withstand it? The pain of the possibility that things may have been different, better, if you had acted, rather than did nothing..."

Clarine closes her eyes for a moment.

"...It can consume you." She admits. It sounds like she's speaking from experience.

<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.

The cloaked figure looks surprised when asked who she is, briefly, before stifling a laugh with a snort. "What, you can't tell?" No straight answer at this time, but that alone pretty much says enough. Xantia doesn't play games like that, she always answers questions directly and honestly.

Instead, she expounds on matters regarding fate, waiting for Clarine's answer on that. While the Seraph speaks, the figure stands still with a hand placed on her hip. It's difficult to tell what she may be thinking, but she does seem genuinely interested, at least. It probably doesn't quite feel like Xantia's usual curiosity. This feels more like... being studied, or being judged.

The eventual reaction seems to confirm that, the woman with Xantia's face letting out a short chuckle in response. "An interesting point of view. Guess that's the sort of mindset you need to have, when you're ready to go against the very goddess you owe your existence to. I wonder how far you'd be willing to go in situations like that. If I've got you pegged right, probably even further when, rather than your own, it's for someone else's sake."

With that, she grips her cloak at the neckline, and with a flourish, swings the garment off her body, slinging it over her shoulder. This makes it that much more obvious that this isn't Xantia. The technologically advanced feeling bodysuit is one thing, but it's her hair, freely exposed now that it isn't covered by a hood, that probably stands out the most. It's much shorter, and much more blue than Xantia's.

"Pretty sharp, aren't you? You could tell right away. Wasn't trying to trick you or anything, but still. You must know her pretty well to so easily notice that I'm not her." She inclines her head slightly. "My name is Xenia. Pleasure to meet you."

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

'You can't tell?' Clarine takes note of that... and so too does she take note of the feeling that she's being judged. It's a different feeling than the Xantia she's used to.

"...You know much about me." Clarine observes. ...She doesn't try to deny it, either - her judgment of her character is right on the money. There'd be no point in lying. And that is when the figure in front of her removes her cloak with a flourish, proving her suspicions correct. Short, blue hair rather than long and red, and that outfit...

"Physically you are similar... But your mannerisms are distinct. You carry yourselves differently." Clarine replies, and meets Xenia's nod with one of her own. "It is a pleasure to meet you, as well..."

A Xenia that looks a lot like Xantia... she seems to recall Xantia telling her of a rumor like that what feels like forever ago.

"...If you do not mind my asking... what is your relationship to Xantia? Did she tell you about me?" Clarine asks.

<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.

Though she seemed surprised at this unexpected meeting, Xenia has quickly adjusted to the situation, now seeming completely relaxed, speaking casually. The studying of Clarine's reactions continues after revealing her true identity. She carries herself differently, huh? Xenia bobs her head up and down a few times at that. "Yeah, I get it, I get it. I could do a better job at impersonating her if I really tried, but that just sounds like a pain. Probably wouldn't help anything anyway."

She grins at the obvious questions regarding her identity. "Well, that's obvious from looking at me, isn't it? We're twin sisters! She's the slightly older one. As for your other question..."

After tossing the cloak loosely back over her shoulders, Xenia crosses her arms. "If only it were that easy. Xantia won't talk to me. We kinda got off on the wrong foot. It's a shame, but I suppose it makes sense that she doesn't trust me. Being told things you don't want to hear by someone you can't remember who looks just like you... I get it."

With a shrug, she continues, "Still, I like to stay informed about my sister's friends. Since she won't let me, it'll be up to you guys to help her. So tell me, Clarine... what does my big sis mean to you? Enough to save her from herself?"

Even though she never spoke any of her words less casually, there is a subtle shift in forcefulness behind her words. Regardless of what her motivations might be, this does appear to be a matter of some import to her.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

"Indeed, I would not advise it. It would likely cast suspicions on your intentions." Clarine replies with a shake of her head. ...Not that she knows what those are yet, if she even has any.

"Twin sisters... I see. My apologies. We Seraphim do not have family in the same way you do, so some aspects of it may pass us by..." She replies, resting a hand over where her heart would be for a moment before going quiet and listening as Xenia explains the situation.

Xantia doesn't trust her? Clarine frowns slightly.

"...May I ask what happened?" Clarine asks. If Xantia wouldn't talk to her... something serious must have happened. But while she's considering that, though, Xenia says something... worrying. Clarine can hear the shift in tone of her voice. She was already taking her seriously, but the way she says it...

"She is... a valuable friend to me, but... what do you mean by that? What manner of trouble is she in?" Clarine asks, concerned.

<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.

"Sure don't need any more of that," Xenia replies with a wry smile. "I'm probably gonna look suspicious no matter what. That too can't be helped. She had the time and opportunity to make friends. I don't have that luxury."

On the subject of twin sisters, she lowers her shades a little bit. Without their blue glare obscuring it, it makes it obvious that the sisters' eye color isn't the same either, Xenia's are actually a reddish color. "A Seraphim thing, huh?" She pushes the shades back up her nose. "The way you act seems human enough. Body language is similar enough. And yet, something else entirely. Maybe that'll help you understand."

Not explaining that further, she instead shrugs at the following question. "Short version? We had a misunderstanding. I came to help her. She attacked me. I defended myself. Her friends obviously took her side. So now I can't get close." She sighs, and shakes her head. "Like I said, I don't blame her. She can't understand, not as she is now."

Xenia pauses, and turns to look out over the ocean again, seeming to need a moment to mull over the response to Clarine's request for more information. "...I didn't ask you about fighting fate for no reason. That's pretty much what I've been trying to do. If nothing changes, Xantia is going to end up remembering her true self. With how motivated she is to uncover the truth, it's only a matter of time. She's already gotten very close."

Xenia whirls about, her expression now very serious and intense. "But that can't happen. She thinks it wouldn't change her, but she's wrong. It will take over her life. There's no way she'll remain the Xantia that you know now. That's what I'm trying to prevent. For her own good, she must stop searching for her memories."

With a chuckle, she shakes her head. "So you can see why we can't get along."

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

Not having the luxury to make friends...

"...That is a shame. For what it may be worth, it is my hope that is able to change. It is... difficult, to be alone..." Clarine replies. She notes the difference in eye color as Xenia lowers her shades, and then nods. "...Perhaps."

Xenia explains, then, what happened - the misunderstanding, that lead into a fight. Clarine nods with a pensive frown.

"...I see." She replies. She studies Xenia as she looks out to the ocean, and listens as she explains. She doesn't interrupt. She wouldn't even if she wanted to, with how serious she looks.

"...Indeed, I understand. Of course she would react strongly... seeking her lost memories has been her driving force since before I even met her. To deny her that... it would be crushing..." Clarine replies, shaking her head. If Xenia had told her directly to stop searching... it'd be no wonder that Xantia attacked her. She frowns.

"And you are certain, that if she finds them it will change her completely?" She asks.

<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.

Xenia just gives kind of a non-committal shrug in response to Clarine's sympathy for not having friends. "Eh. I'm used to it. Got my own circumstances to deal with before I can think about that stuff." And that's all she's about to say on that.

She has plenty more to say on Xantia's situation. And when Clarine asks if she's certain, she can only let out a deep sigh. "Of course I'm certain. Why would I discourage her from remembering everything, including me, unless I knew for sure it would end badly? She's probably told you about what happened in Dazil, that time she attacked all of her friends. That's a preview of what it's going to end up being like all the time, if she remembers everything."

With a grimace, she sharply turns away from Clarine. "Don't know why I'm telling you this. I already know it doesn't work, trying to get people to help me. Just seems to backfire. Like I said, I get it. You're her friends, not mine. Of course you'd want to do what she wants, not listen to me when I say it'll be bad if she gets what she wants."

Turning back, she raises a single finger. "So I'll only ask one thing of you. Maybe you can at least believe that this is for your own good. Don't tell her you spoke with me. Don't even tell her you saw me. If you didn't think it was possible for her not to trust someone, you will be very unpleasantly surprised if you give her reason to believe I may have put you up to something. If she thinks you're on 'my side'..." She shakes her head. "I don't know if she'll ever look at you the same way again."

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

Xenia says she's used to it. Clarine frowns slightly, at that. That's a saddening, in it's own way...

The incident in Dazil... Clarine was not there for it, but she remembers being told about it. It must have been awful, for everyone involved. As Xenia turns with a grimace, Clarine shakes her head.

"No, I... I do wish to help her. I am certain she, of all people, would be the last to wish a repeat of that horrible event." She replies. "However, I... I do not know where to begin. It would certainly go poorly were I to simply ask, and sabotage... the idea of it does not sit right with me."

Xenia makes a request then, a suggestion - that Clarine not let Xantia know they met. Clarine thinks for a moment and then nods hesitantly.

"Yes, I... I understand. I will not." She agrees. It does seem like the best path... but she still feels uncomfortable about it. She is a being of light - she was meant to reveal and illuminate, not... hide and conceal. Deception has never been her specialty.

<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.

Xenia doesn't visibly react to Clarine's earnest wish to help Xantia. But after the assent to her suggestion, Xenia nods, briefly turns away, and then back to Clarine.

"If you really do want to help her, maybe you can find a way where I could not. You're right though, it wouldn't be easy. You'd have to try to subtly steer her in the right direction if she's about to make a mistake. You can't be too obvious, or it won't matter what you do or don't say to her, she'll figure out what you know and who you heard it from."

With a smile that lacks amusement, she adds, "Really, talking to me at all put you in a bind. Sorry about that. I think I needed the talk more than you did."

With that, she turns, pacing back over to where Clarine saw her originally, the edge of the plateau. "...I haven't forgotten what you said, about fighting against fate. Here I thought I'd given up. But... maybe I'll give this one more try."

When she faces Clarine again, her smile appears more sincere than it did before. "Y'know, you've got a real gift for inspiring people, Clarine. You should be more proactive about using that. Take some risks. Stick your nose in other people's business more often. That's how you make things happen." Wrapping her cloak fully back around herself, she gives a little wave. "Let's show fate who's boss, shall we?"

That seemed like a vague way of saying goodbye, but the method by which she planned on leaving may not be entirely clear until Xenia hops backwards, directly off the mountainside. Considering how calm she looked, she probably had a plan of some sort... but its nature won't be obvious even if Clarine were to rush over and peek over the edge. At least there's no evidence of her having hit the rocks or waves below. She is simply gone.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

Subtlety... maybe she can do that, but it'd still be a matter of figuring out how best to approach it. Still, she nods.

"Yes..." She agrees. There's a weak smile at Xenia's own as she apologizes. "It is alright. I do not think either of us anticipated this conversation to happen today, after all..."

Xenia says she'll give it one more try, before turning around with a more sincere smile. Clarine's own brightens up a bit, at that.

"Ah... thank you." Clarine replies with a nervous chuckle. "That has always been a...weakness, of mine, I'm afraid..."

She's always been fairly shy, reluctant to overstep boundaries. Maybe there's truth to what Xenia said, after all. But, she nods, then.

"...Yes. I can only hope." She agrees. And that's when Xenia leaps backward off the mountain. With a gasp of surprise Clarine quickly hurries over to the side, only to see... nothing. No sign of her whatsoever.

...Well, she supposes that's better than the alternative. With a sigh, Clarine finds herself staring up, focusing on the light of the full moon.

"...Let us hope this ends well. ...For everyone." Clarine murmurs. Maybe it's a prayer to a goddess who no longer hears her. Whatever the case... she hopes someone is watching out for them.