2021-06-01: Gon's Ongoing Grudges
- Log: Gon's Ongoing Grudges
- Cast: Gon Guado, Hilde
- Where: The Moonflow
- Date: June 01, 2021
- Summary: As fates would have it, at a time of difficult truths to accept, Gon Guado has it out with Hilde one last(?) time at the Moonflow. (Despite the date, this takes place some indistinct amount of time shortly after the Guard's final defeat at Luca... and not June.)
===============================<* The Moonflow *>=============================== The Moonflow is a large river that bisects Spira's largest island into southern and northern halves. Strange flowers called Moonlilies grow on the Moonflow's banks, attracting pyreflies that gather on its surface at night, making the water sparkle. Although a beautiful area, the weather tends to be overcast more often than not, the souls of the dead providing the most reliable source of illumination. The primary method of crossing the Moonflow is aboard a shoopuf - an elephantine creature that can swim across the expansive river. The crossing service is funded by the Temple of Yevon and is free of charge. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAc-yvlNWXc&ab_channel=Ultimatefighter343 <Pose Tracker> Gon Guado has posed.
SOME INDETERMINATE TIME SORT OF RECENTLY AFTER THE GUARD'S FINAL DEFEAT OF THE WAR (and not June 1st, 503 PC in Filgaia Times)
Althena's Guard has been routed, and a conquest halted. However conflicted the Drifters of Filgaia and elsewhere of Lunar are, at least whatever dangerous ambitions of one warring power on Lunar has been overturned. Spira's troubles are not at end... but culturally speaking, some sort of normalcy is making attempts at reasserting itself.
The 'normalcy' being that Sin is here, will continue to destroy everything at whim, and there's not much to do other than live with it. It's all the more difficult when the main distraction of the continent, Blitzball, has been turned on its head with the destruction of Luca's famed Blitzball Stadium. (This has not stopped many from making due with just playing in the water wherever, whenever, but it's not the same.)
The Guard, however, has themselves no small number of sympathizers, plants, and other isolated operatives who helped smooth out the Guard's presence by having trade continue - and a bunch of accounts need settled, operatives retrieved, and other such matters. It is not a great time for the faithful of Althena, whom all have to accept in some form or another their failure to see Her will done... but while they have to move with care lest they incur further skirmishes by Drifter forces or rallying Yevon forces, the stragglers are still out there. Waiting for their moment to flee and regroup, or otherwise figure out for themselves what their lives are going to be like from here if they don't have the courage to return home and face Her disappointment.
It's early evening on the Moonflow, and a band of Guard scouts, sympathizers, and other kinds of people of that ilk are together on the side of the river that leads to Mi'ihen. (All of them are fantastically read on the subject of the life and times of the guy, as everyone now is. Lord Mi'ihen has been experiencing a renaissance as a cultural figure as of late - even among people not from Spira. It's weird! Maybe even Althena will canonize him retroactively as a Dragonmaster*!)
(* no, she will not)
<Pose Tracker> Hilde has posed.
The war is over but, indeed, things never end so neatly. Their forces are scattered, and they must be retrieved. Spira is a hostile environment now, and the longer they remain here the greater chance there is that tragedy will befall them. For Hilde, there is no question that she would volunteer to help with that. As one who feels it is her sworn duty to defend others, she will do what must be done to ensure their safe return home.
Hilde is among the band gathered at the Moonflow, acting as a motivating presence and keeping a watchful eye out for them. The role is as helpful for her as it is for those under her protection - right now her feelings are still... mixed, on everything that has happened, so having a concrete goal, people who need her help, gives her a motivating factor she needs.
Right now, she stands tall, and armorclad as always. She's impossible to miss, to those aware of her.
<Pose Tracker> Gon Guado has posed.
The sun continues to set. It won't be long before dark - and when it goes dark, the Moonflow becomes a sight like few other things anywhere. The flitting pyreflies, leaving about their prismatic trails of light as they course about in-between turning into massed balls of unrelenting hatred of the living, gleam beautifully off the reflected moonlight when it comes. But that is not yet, on this cool...
...No, it's warmer, now, at least for Hilde. It is not a warmth of consuming, burning flame, but the warmth of comfort that comes from a well-tended campfire after a long day's journey. The aspect of flame that brings peace and rest - that of Althena's Blessing. The White magic of Fire.
Hilde's HP has been restored! ...But not her MP.
...But no one among the motley crew assembled cast any such spells.
"I have found you," comes the condescending, angry... haggard tone of a familiar tall man. "In your losing battle, you and yours found it fit to take away more than my pride, my standing, and my patience."
He steps forth, into greater clarity from the fading sunlight. His clawed gauntlets have been polished to capture the gleam of the early evening light, glinting off one claw. "If I told you what, you would offer pithy condolences, a flat denial, or the laughable offer you would assist me after all you and yours have done." There goes that avenue of a peaceful discussion, as he drops into a combat stance. "No... Hilde. I am not content to tend to matters while your kind take leave of our shores and never return.
BGM: Final Fantasy X - Enemy Attack (HD Remaster)
"I will see you humiliated before your defeated, broken fellows!"
<Pose Tracker> Hilde has posed.
In the setting sun, the air begins to grow cool... but then, it warms, as Hilde is surrounded in the light of a spell - a pleasant, comforting warmth, that heals and relaxes. This is all well and good... except, Hilde knows her allies well, and she knows not a one of them is capable of casting such a spell. She quickly looks around for the source, but she doesn't have to look around before he announces himself for her.
"...Sir Gon." Hilde greets politely, turning to face him. She doesn't flinch at the condescending, angry tone. Instead she tends to regard him, and just as she is about to inquire further, he shoots the idea down immediately.
"Hmm." She responds simply, as he states his discontentment, studying him with her good eye. He makes his intention clear and she looks back to the others before looking back to him.
"Allow me to make one correction, if you would." Hilde starts. "...We are not broken. No, never broken."
She shakes her head and draws both sword and shield, watching him carefully.
"Is your hatred of me so great that this is the only answer?" She asks. He had sought her out personally - if it was just about Althena's Guard in general, would he have still done that?
<Pose Tracker> Gon Guado has posed.
"Hmph," the aging Guado harrumphs, "you would say you were never broken... I saw those cracks at Bevelle, when you were brought by that meek one with the hammer." Come to think of it, there was something about her that seemed meek until she started screaming, like she were someone else entirely - but he doesn't mentally wander off that initial point.
"Even now you would assert your moral superiority!" He scoffs, as a direct benefactor of the social divides and power structures of Spira (up until now). "Enough! I have had enough!" Where Hilde has taken careful measure, Gon keeps his anger close as his eyes narrow upon the nearly peerless swordswoman. For a long time, Gon has found himself wanting in his ability to stand up to novel ideas and unique approaches to combat that he never once had to consider until it was thrown at him. Time and time again, he's been overturned and made something of a joke as astute Otherworlders challenged long-held beliefs and looked past several of the cultural curtains.
With nary but a blink of an eye, he comes at Hilde lightning-fast with a lunge, closing the space between them within... the aforementioned blink.
This is his only answer.
GS: Gon Guado has attacked Hilde with Buer Blink! GS: Gon Guado has gained 2 Combo! GS: Gon Guado has completed his action. GS: Hilde critically guards Gon Guado's Buer Blink for 25 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Hilde has posed.
Hilde frowns slightly, as Gon brings up Bevelle. It's true, at Bevelle, she showed a rare moment hesitation. She had her misgivings about how that had happened, and he had seen her at her lowest point.
"...I cannot deny that." She admits, with a slight shake of her head. "...But even so."
But Gon scoffs, and declares that he has had enough. Hilde closes her eyes.
"...I see. Very well then." She replies, reluctantly. Gon charges at her in the blink of an eye. He is a skilled opponent - it is likely that her Althenan allies nearby wouldn't even be able to detect the movement before it would be too late to react.
But there is a terrible crash of metal on metal as Hilde raises her shield to intercept the attack, a look of resigned determination now crossing her face. In one swift movement she turns, pushing back with her shield to knock him off-balance even as her sword comes around in a practice, aimed swing - a sword stroke designed to forestall unnatural forms of healing.
This is far from the first time they have fought - she knows where his talents lie.
GS: Hilde has attacked Gon Guado with Minus Strike! GS: Hilde has completed her action. GS: Gon Guado takes a solid hit from Hilde's Minus Strike for 139 hit points! GS: Disease applied to Gon Guado!
<Pose Tracker> Gon Guado has posed.
They both know where all their talents lie - Gon is not fast enough to get past Hilde's defenses, and she takes advantage of his overcommitment into the initial strike to batter him back and swing true across him. Once again, her blade will know the odd color of Guado blood in her resignation to once again take up arms against someone with a blood vendetta.
He spits appropriately color-tinged saliva on the ground as he doubles over and takes a step back, crossing a leg inward as he makes use of his superior wingspan to swing both claws inward while trying to catch Hilde at the tail end of her return from that stroke, to assert a proper defensive stance.
"But even so," he coughs once, "how odd you would still yet cling to that 'honor' of yours...!"
GS: Gon Guado has attacked Hilde with Bunyip Stance! GS: Gon Guado has gained 2 Combo! GS: Gon Guado assumes the Stoic stance! GS: Gon Guado has completed his action. GS: Hilde guards a hit from Gon Guado's Bunyip Stance for 78 hit points! GS: Hilde activates Guard bonus!
<Pose Tracker> Hilde has posed.
Gon makes use of his long arms, swinging both claws inward toward her. Still returning to a neutral position, it's too fast for her to block completely. Hilde has to make a choice - and so she raises her shield, block his claw from hitting her shield arm even as the other rakes across her sword arm. Were she without her armor, this would be a lot more serious.
"Is it so odd?" Hilde asks, curious. "I am still alive. I still have people who rely on me, who look up to me. I will not abandon my honor yet, for their sake."
With that Hilde takes a few steps to put some distance between herself and Gon. As she moves back, a faint blue aura surrounds her sword. With a thrust of her sword an arrow of energy is loosed from her sword, rushing to strike Gon as she moves to regain her footing.
"And what of you, Gon Guado? What do you hold to?" Hilde asks.
GS: Hilde has attacked Gon Guado with Force Blade! GS: Hilde has gained 1 Combo! GS: Hilde has completed her action. GS: Gon Guado takes a solid hit from Hilde's Force Blade for 131 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Gon Guado has posed.
'I still have people who rely on me, who look up to me.'
Gon's holding his gauntlets defensively, arms in a horizontal criss-cross, but Hilde can hear the grunt and maybe even hear teeth grind if her hearing is good (above and beyond the wailing Pyreflies just doing their thing back there).
An arrow of energy loosens from Hilde's sword, in that he sees the glow surrounding her form and is watching her form for movement - specifically the feet - and fails to catch that she's not approaching as the energy arrow strikes true and throws his arms wide open like he might be thrown aside as easily as ever.
She can see there's a glint of something in his left eye, reflected by the ambient light of pyreflies starting to shine brightly to the setting sun.
"Everything you damned Otherworlders have taken!" He comes in to try and intercept Hilde's capacity for regaining her footing, a wide inward swipe of the claw trying to strike at her sword arm and throw her off-balance from there. "Our way of life! The future of my people," the same people who abandoned Bevelle to their fate.
...Almost all of them. There are at least two who didn't.
Following the maneuver, he makes a smooth back-flipping motion, gesturing with his right hand in a provoking measure as his face hardens from the softness escaping his eye. "You and yours... you took them," he grows accusatory without specifying the exact nature of the accusation. "The giant shadow you leave in their absence... no." Their? His sneer hardens. "I have dealt with my share of Iron Giants towering before me."
A 'come on' gesture.
"I will not suffer yours to stand before me either!!"
GS: Gon Guado has attacked Hilde with Iron Giant Provocation! GS: Gon Guado enters a Counter stance! GS: Gon Guado has gained 1 Combo! GS: Gon Guado enters the stance! GS: Gon Guado has completed his action. GS: Hilde critically guards Gon Guado's Iron Giant Provocation for 30 hit points! <Characters> Kaguya says, "that was a daiklaive"
<Pose Tracker> Hilde has posed.
Hilde catches that grunt in response and sees the glint on his eye. That if anything makes her realise that he has something planned - and that realisation may be what saves her as he rushes in suddenly, moving to try to intercept her.
At the last moment she catches his claw with her sword, shifting the angle of attack slightly to where her armor is stronger, allowing her to keep her footing and divert what would have otherwise been a grievous blow. And then he backflips up...
...and makes a provoking gesture?
Hilde frowns, at that. She straightens up, and her gaze becomes a bit more cool.
"...You will suffer it, Gon Guado. I will not fall simply to assuage your wounded pride." She replies. "The Guado still live, do they not? Spira still lives. You should be with them now, rather than seeking single-minded vengeance. If their situation is as dire as you say, should you not be there to aid them? ...Or are your grievances simply that they have not grown in a way you approve of?"
He provokes her... so she does not rise to it. Instead she remains where she stands, sword and shield at her side. She may look relaxed at first glance... but to the talented eye, her defense remains ironclad.
GS: Hilde has attacked Hilde with Phalanx! GS: Hilde enters a Counter stance! GS: Hilde has completed her action. GS: Hilde accepts Hilde's Phalanx for 0 hit points! GS: Shield applied to Hilde!
<Pose Tracker> Gon Guado has posed.
Hilde holds her ground and scolds him for his words, for his attempts to provoke Hilde his way. The Guado's eyes close somewhere around 'should you not be there to aid them,' and the glint in his eye is revealed for what it truly is:
That's a tear.
"...Would that I could find the both of them." The both of who? Where Hilde remains cool and keeps her ground, she can see where his is starting to slip - or has been. The anger, the accusations, the everything -
This is a man who may have lost more than what he just said, but he does not deign to elaborate further before throwing himself whole-sale into Hilde again, a whirling dervish of claw strikes much like the Ochu that whips their tentacles about, dashing himself against that ironclad defense.
GS: Gon Guado spends 3 Combo on Gatling, loading 3 into Gatling! GS: Gon Guado has attacked Hilde with Ochu Whirl! GS: Gon Guado has gained 1 Combo! GS: Disease expired! GS: Gon Guado has completed his action. GS: COUNTER! Hilde counterattacks Gon Guado with Counter Attack! GS: Hilde takes a solid hit from Gon Guado's Ochu Whirl for 131 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Hilde gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Hilde enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Gon Guado takes a solid hit from Hilde's Counter Attack for 200 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Hilde has posed.
Hilde is very alert and observant. Most of the time, this is an advantage... but when she catches that tear in his eye, she hesitates, for just a moment. A moment too long, as it happens - as soon enough he is upon her, claws whirling about. There's not enough time to solidly ready her defense. Her shield arm raises to intercept the blows but many have already slipped through, eliciting a grunt of effort as she tries to steady herself.
She manages to find some purchase, however, and her blade lashes out in a quick, retaliatory strike to get him away from her and put some distance in between the two of them. She takes a few steps back, as well, but keeps her sword at the ready - pointed in his direction but lowered to the ground as she assesses him.
"...Sir Gon, what has happened? Both of who?" Hilde asks, concerned.
Ah, it's back to 'Sir Gon', now. Her cold tone has gone, and now she is moreso concerned for him.
GS: Hilde has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Gon Guado has posed.
The retaliatory strike hits as true as any other in this encounter, about his right flank, and throws him back off-balance where he spins to pivot on one foot, find a twinge of pain running through his side, and have to repeat one more slower whirl before falling to a kneel. With his posture, the way Hilde angles the sword, it could be seen to him as a preparation to land a finishing blow.
The last of the sunlight disappears, and the pyreflies light up to let outside forces carry them around wherever, up and out of the water and back as it lights up in beautiful, eye-catching rainbows of trailing color.
He doesn't meet Hilde's gaze, downcast as if a horror is fighting through the arrogance he wore in his attempt to single out and deal with Hilde, once and for all.
"My daughters," soberly, "they disappeared after the withdrawal from Bevelle." 'The withdrawal,' as if the only thing the Guado had in mind when they left Bevelle was themselves, and themselves only. The Guard knows full well Bevelle was not withdrawn from. The exact opposite.
Not even the Red Priestess herself could make them falter - that was the turning point of Yevon's morale in the war. The winds changed that day.
"They disappeared. Did they go to fight? At their age...? They're children..."
GS: Gon Guado has completed his action. <Support> Tio says, "and apparently the texture of food is awful yay"
<Pose Tracker> Hilde has posed.
Hilde watches him carefully as he spins back, expecting him to stand up once more as he falls to a kneel... but Gon does not. He doesn't even meet her gaze. And then he answers, and Hilde gasps in horror.
"Your daughters...?" She repeats. "Then why are you-!?"
She stops herself and takes a breath, shaking her head. No, that's not helpful right now. She wants to scold him for picking a fight with her rather than looking for them... but she can understand the grief he must be going through that might drive him to attack her.
"C-certainly not...!" She replies, as he wonders if they went to fight. At least... she hopes not. But, would any of her allies really be willing to hurt a child? ...There was a time when she would be able to say 'no' with one-hundred percent certainty, but these days she isn't so sure. So instead...
"...We were... routed, from Bevelle, Sir Gon." Hilde admits, sheathing her sword. "Bevelle is safe. I... cannot say for certainty, but they may be there still."
She hopes, at least - or that they're safe, wherever they are.
<Pose Tracker> Gon Guado has posed.
Who ever imagined a man like him - whose virtues may not even need a single hand to count them - could ever come off as someone that deeply concerned? A clawed gauntlet clutches at his chest, as if he might not have the wind in him to cast the 'prayers' that Spira's White Magic disciplines express themselves through.
"Bevelle...?" He scoffs at the idea. "Why would our own go there?" It does seem odd, through that perspective. Why would any Guado go to Bevelle after that? Would Bevelle take them? The Guado left them to die. (Then, as Hilde points out, the Guard were routed from Bevelle.)
"No. They would not be so foolish to go there," he has some of that anger back - but based on his desperation, he must have looked about anywhere and everywhere else except for the truth. He may have done so outside of the direct wishes of some of his fellows.
This is a man who has profiteered off of the suffering and emotional vulnerability of a land ravaged constantly by death, and cannot look into the shiny reflection of the water behind him. (Also, there are pyreflies there.)
He can't use the Guard as an excuse, can he?
"..."
<Pose Tracker> Hilde has posed.
Hilde frowns at that response, as he refutes the idea that a Guado would go to Bevelle. Not just the idea, but the implication behind his words.
"...Can you not think of a single reason?" Hilde replies, shaking her head. "This may seem... hypocritical to say, all things considered, but would not a single Guado go to the people of Bevelle to aid them in their time of need?"
She shakes her head once more, folding her arms in front of herself.
"Regardless, can you truly afford to discount any possibilities? At the very least, you may be able to eliminate the possibility and ask if anyone has seen them." She replies. "I'm sure someone might be able to help you. I would like to help however I can, but my capabilities may be limited..."
<Pose Tracker> Gon Guado has posed.
"Enough." Gon interrupts as Hilde offers to help with admission to her diminished capabilities, rising up and... not quite coming off with the same condescending air he puts on at the worse of times and the worst of times. (There is never a best of times, or a good of times.)
Another cough escapes him. He still can't look Hilde head-on, turning away when he actually does manage to get it in him to come upright. One hand at his chest, the other dangling like a limp (and very long) branch.
"The Guado take care of Guado affairs," after inadvertently dragging everyone else into them, he nonetheless dismisses as he starts away from Hilde with his back turned - as if he knows full well she's not the sort to take that sort of advantageous strike opportunity on him. That tiniest modicum of respect for their duels over the war, and then some.
His children, going to Bevelle, he would scoff if he had more fight in him - but there seems no further point. Once again, Hilde has repelled him - cementing that score as it were.
<Pose Tracker> Hilde has posed.
Gon interrupts her and Hilde frowns, unfolding her arms. He turns away from her and she shakes her head slightly.
"...Is this truly the correct time for that...?" She replies, massaging her forehead... and then sighs. "...Regardless... I do hope you find them - and that they are safe and unharmed, when you do."
The idea does worry her, that they are missing. She can only hope things go well.
And, indeed, she doesn't strike back at him. She turns back to face her allies who are waiting for her... but she does pause to look back as he leaves.