[F06-SP] deliverance. <<the gemini>>

[Demian 0]

quest.

he received a letter today. bistro told him about it. she said to collect it before she threw it out.

so demian went, mumbling to himself something strong about manners. but when he saw the envelope it was dressed up it, he knew the time had come.
with two careful hands he picked it up. it wasn’t the telling dark, near purple stained black that emmett was fond of using for his official addresses. any from his closest allies also wouldn’t look so… disheveled. raggedy. it came with a red wax seal, a sigil upon it unrecognizable…

to most.

for demian, it was the same one inscribed new on the dog tag he wore.

the first person he told this to was the one most likely to understand. he had to write bistro out of the picture first, of course. said he had a meeting with whoever sent it (it wasn’t a total lie) but the destination he headed for next was not where he’d wanted to end up at.

Demian | L16. | HP: 320/320 | EN: 60/60 | DMG: 16 | EVA: 3 Spoiler equipped phantom. EVA III br-inventory Teleport Crystal (1) sword. ACC III, ABS. ACC armor. MIT III (36) skills Spoiler mods: 0/5 STRAIGHT SWORD R5 aoe-shift. stamina, precision, ferocity COMBAT MASTERY DMG R3 QUICK CHANGE ENERGIST data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== buffs Spoiler   data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== sword arts Spoiler ST | x12 -> x15 | x20 AOE | x15 -> x18 TECH-A | x12 | STUN | 13EN TECH-B | x12 | DELAY TECH-F | x8 | AOE STUN  data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==

[Demian 0]

instead, he chose an indoor cafe on the eleventh. the type that iris would frequent, he figured, though not quite the same one. when the yellow cursored individual strode up to him, sat by the open window, he barely spared them a glance.

who else would turn to look at a passerby cardinal entity? players had much more important matters to attend to, didn’t they? staring out the window at the blue sky above.

her figure cut into the light pouring in, blending in with the shadows drawn across the floor. hatched, both of them, forms trapped in that box stretched against polished wooden planks, daring to eat into the shade of the interior. but, just as demian finally chose to give her notice, as though she knew his eyes would wander, she gradually lifted her weight out of the picture.

“day.”

demian got comfortable, resting his chin on his palm. by the time she’d torn off her hood, it was as though nothing suspect had happened between them.

“i’m here.”

[Demian 0]

a few pats of her hair restored her imagery. day was the equivalent of somebody else’s sunshine. she reminded demian about one of his past sunflowers, and the summer heat in which he basked in as he made sure it was patiently cared for.

his two blinks into cold stares seemed nothing but the normal protocol for her, he noted.

they said nothing but exchanged looks instead. they didn’t need to talk with words… just yet. she chose not to move her head when the waiter came by with their drinks – he’d placed her order in her travel’s interim. demian turned to acknowledge them, however – all players and their hosts in good graces – but noted how her eyes had closed to his exchange, as though she was not at all liken to mean to be there.

no. this time, she had his privilege, didn’t she?

he took his iced latte, and she grabbed hold of a macchiato. demian never did figure to ask if that was the type of drink that she liked. between them, to have preferences at all, was an unlikely…

[Demian 0]

“so what did you want to discuss?”

down to business, the way he liked it. as quickly as one could snap their fingers, he had the envelope drawn out slid across the table. in the same sleight of hand, like a magic trick, he unfurled the page within.

the envelope, now devoid of content, looked as tattered on the inside as much as its exterior. and that wax seal, too, was an invite for day to peer over, humming, intrigued.

and that was not to say little of the missive once within it. folded up in half, and then thirds, was a blank page save a handprint smeared in red upon it, almost like an assassin’s calling card. 

“take a look at this.”

demian gave his friend time to think it over, taking a sip of his drink as he did. it had taste. he made a good call on the politeness, much less the location.

[Demian 0]

day, once calm, now simply looked sly. should he be afraid, given bistro’s demeanor?
it was hard to say. the woman was a different breed entirely, after all.

“huh. do tell.”

“i received the letter today over at an info broker’s.” the paper in his hand was set down over the envelope, his decision willing that it be stored into its container, and so it was. “i’m sure you know the one.”

“(obfuscation?)”

“based on what we know about cardinal, there could only be one answer to this.”

day looked out the window with a grin.

“in its current state… perhaps.”

demian narrowed his eyes, storing away the envelope. “well, what do you have to say about it?”

“hmm…”

it was day’s turn to take a sip now. two hands, delicate, the same way he’d received that information piece that alluded to more of a misshapen puzzle. he leaned forward after she licked her lips.

“well, i’d say… maybe someone’s looking to try a little too hard this time. don’t you agree?”

[Demian 0]

demian’s lips curled into a smile. “no mercy for the ones who come after, huh?”

“knowing what we do about the way it moves its pieces around…”

with day still holding her mug, she set it down carefully on the table. her gaze softened.

“no… i’d rather not.”

he studied her.

“not regarding this faculty, you mean.”

“not regarding a lot of them,” day corrected, leaning back in her chair, “but this one, in particular, the most.”

he did the same afterwards. folding his arms to cover his own torso, while day crossed her legs and set her hands together, locked upon it. the silence between them was filled by the ticking of a ceiling fan, the bubbling of a kitchen kettle, and the bustle of a sleepy city street.

he blinked himself out of his thoughtful stupor thereafter. “you’re right,” he realized, pulling himself together to continue working on his drink. “as much as i hate to admit it.”

“as much as i hate to say it… too.”

[Demian 0]

the look he shot her was baleful; in return, she gave him a pained shrug and a wink. “we can’t all be spared,” she said, “and we can’t all have someone else’s lives given up for us either. look at it this way: if i were them, i wouldn’t have given you a warning like that at all.”

demian stayed quiet, drinking. day gestured to him, humble. “did ‘you’ receive a warning like that yourself?”

he decided to finally smile back. “and what if i have?”

“hmm? sorry?”

in the same flashy manner, he’d slip the letter across the table in a heartbeat. she rolled her eyes. “that’s obviously my letter,” he joked, and then rescinded thereafter with a flash of the item back to its sender.

fingers wrapped around icy glass, the surface of his cup now starting to condense. “to answer your question then,” he replied, peeling his refreshment off the coaster, “no, i suppose i would not.”

[Demian 0]

“well i hope that answers your question.’“

“it answers plenty,” demian decided, cozying up to his chair once again. “thank you for your insight.”

little wonder her owner decided to keep her around, he thought, hearing the freebird chuckle. “it’s my pleasure. now, was there something else you’d wanted to discuss? you didn’t ask me to come all this way just for this little chat, did you?”

demian raised his cup into the air, holding it towards day. paired with her laughter, and her raise of her macchiato as well, he barely had time to admit a, “guilty as charged,” before their drinks met together in a gentle impact.

day’s fingers gently knocked the side of her cup as she withdrew. “at least try to have fun on your little date, perhaps?”

“fun’s an interesting word choice,” demian considered, lips to his straw.

“so you agree. you would see it as a date, then.”

“ah — i’m not the one who should be put up to this…”

[Demian 0]

he let basuke know of his absence for the afternoon past his rendezvous. flitted to the sixth, where he knew his quarry would be. and he spotted them fast.

because the stranger was wearing the exact same cloak that he had on.

he shouldn’t have been surprised. here he was, a dainty young fellow in nothing but farm boy’s clothes and bandages to cover up a broken eye. in the middle of krycim, he must’ve looked no different from his original self, trudging down the path to a new morrow, not knowing what dangers it might bring.

the letter to him, only upon detailed inspection, said something about a time and place. realistically, however, he was two days earlier, and the fact that his stand-in was present before the appointed time was ominous.

so he strode up to the stranger, and raised his voice just a pitch higher. “um, excuse me. could you tell me if this is the right place for meeting a friend right by the waterfall?”

[Demian 0]

he had the seal made shabbily into a vanity brooch. attached to his cloak, none would be the wiser about what it truly meant. with the exception of…

“i heard there were a lot of hot spots nearby. if i got it wrong…”

he felt their eyes fall towards the bait. and, with their smile, he knew he didn’t have to finish his sentence.

“oh! of course! i’ll guide you to the proper location,” they said, and gestured for demian to follow. “it’s the one with the waterfall, right? i know where it is better than anyone.”

if demian winced, it was simply because he hadn’t expected his gemini to act like this.

they made their way out of the settlement, the double in lead, him as secondary to follow. demian’s hood was down, while his body double’s was up. and, though he seemed a little shorter than the stranger, he was sure in due time he would not look as vulnerable as he imagined his current self to be.

[Demian 0]

at the back of a clearing in an obscure nook, they brushed past the broad-leaved foliage to reveal the heart of it all: the pond of reflection.

demian had never been here before. rather, he had been to a place similar to it once, but never in this new, different instance. once inside, he was sure his clothes were going to get wet, stepping through the waters to fight his doppelganger. there was sound rationale behind having swapped to his old clothes before coming here, then. he had to give them credit though, there truly was a waterfall behind it all. how nice.

if only cardinal had offered them such accommodations at the time.

“over here,” the gemini beckoned, hand gestured alongside it. he followed their call, sights to the waterfall, allowing them to begin once he’d gotten close enough. “it’s quite a private meeting spot, isn’t it? but this is where friends usually meet.”

“i see,” demian replied, becoming alert. “thank you for your help. so all i’ll have to do now is wait for the one i’m looking for, right?”

they looked distraught. “what are you talking about, demian? … i’m already right here!”

Spoiler

ID231419 | md2+1-3 = 0 | -> Demian

---

Demian | HP: 320/320 | EN: 60/60 | DMG: 16 | EVA: 3

The Gemini | HP: 320/320 | DMG: 128 | MIT: 32 | CONCENTRATION | DEFY DEATH

 

[Demian 0]

sloppy. was he always as such? the moment the announcement came and went, he ducked out the gemini’s way. his attacker went for a jab, having bounced backwards, ready on the ball of their heels, before striking out forward. a clean and obvious telegraph. no predictive quality behind its thought process, demian noticed. 

with a step to the left, he dodged it. then, he snapped his fingers, beckoning cardinal to swap his current equipment to a prepared loadout. trinket gone, what was there to replace it was his beginner’s armor paired with his standard sword. now, looking like the fighter he was more familiar with becoming, he was ready.

his other needing to follow through with their cut gave demian enough time to lash out with his reformed sword, the blunt edge of the blade pushing down the entity to the ground. their limbs broke through the water’s surface with heavy splashes — first their knees, then their hands. demian whirled around the back of his opponent, eyeing their collapse.

he noted, only then, that the hood of his other had only just begun to fall.

Spoiler

> FREE ACTION: QUICK CHANGE
 | [phantom.] Demian | HP: 320/320 | EN: 60/60 | DMG: 16 | EVA: 3
 | [sword. , armor.] Demian | HP: 320/320 | EN: 60/60 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 4 | AA | MIT: 36

> POST ACTION: TECH-A

ID231420 | bd10 | -> The Gemini

16+2 * 12 = 216 DMG
216 - 32 = 184 DMG
 | stunned.

13-2 = 11 EN

---

Demian | HP: 320/320 | EN: 49/60 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 4 | AA | MIT: 36

The Gemini | HP: 136/320 | DMG: 128 | MIT: 32 | CONCENTRATION | STUNNED | DEFY DEATH

 

[Demian 0]

a pitiable sight. with an upwards swing against their hind, he sent the gemini flying, crashing further into the pond. their cloak was now soaked. demian’s had already disappeared. the sleeves of the coat that draped over him swayed gently with the tread of his steps. in his approach, the man rested the sword on his shoulders. silence hung between them. demian’s form creeped gently over the shaking gemini, sprawled beneath his shadow.

his enemy looked like such a mess. it almost tasted like disloyalty to him, that it would show so much fear in lieu of what cardinal could do. he was familiar with its machinations, after all. why send him a creature who wouldn’t seem fit to take his place?

“come now, you can do better than that…”

demian lowered himself to a squat. the gemini winced. there was a hardiness to his visage with the eyepatch in replacement for the bandages he once wore. in that enlightenment, he slid it away from his gaze with a snap.

Spoiler

> POST ACTION: AOE-I

ID231421 | bd8+4 = 12 | -> The Gemini

16 * 15 = 240 DMG
240 - 32 = 208 DMG

15-2-2 = 11 EN

---

Demian | HP: 320/320 | EN: 38/60 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 4 | AA | MIT: 36

The Gemini | HP: 1/320 | DMG: 128 | MIT: 32 | CONCENTRATION | DEFY DEATH

 

[Demian 0]

there were no visible differences to his face underneath that mask, but he figured it would’ve made the gemini less intimidated. at the very least, if he couldn’t accomplish that, it could’ve drawn their interest instead. 

he was right.

demian saw the same red eyes staring back at him, and that was where he decided their square one would be. “you know, you don’t have to do this. there was only one conclusion to this skirmish, so why did you take it? what did you think would happen?”

he saw his eyes turn downwards, an expression of shock melting away into one of sorrow. it was the same as it was before: he hadn’t changed, and he supposed, if his reflection was any indication of his prior self, neither would he have changed over the years.

“what else could i do?”

the gemini’s voice, though somber, and different, was very much not unlike his own.

[Demian 0]

“if you claim to know what i might’ve gone through, what i’ve been through… why didn’t you find a different path instead?”

demian blinked. he remembered what day had said to him before, and remained quiet. the gemini narrowed his eyes, and did what it knew to do. “let’s face it. we both know why you really came. if it wasn’t to die, it was to end me — so no threats would endanger your own way of living. to each their own means of survival; it was the same in the past, and it’s the same here.”

his other placed a hand upon his own chest. “i wouldn’t have needed to attack you if you hadn’t confronted me, sought me out. you wouldn’t have needed to take arms either. so really, it’s your own fault—”

“— then why’d you send me the letter?”

his gemini stopped talking. demian pulled it out with a summon, drawing the envelope from the lining of his coat. he held it up. 

[Demian 0]

“i remember distinctly that this challenge was supposed to be initiated by players,” he said, “but it must first be issued by you. if you hadn’t sent the invite, i wouldn’t have come.”

demian let the letter drop. it dampened upon contact with the water, and slowly dissolved into ashes once it hit the rock beneath it.

“ah… that’s…”

his quarry shifted their eyes. “so let’s face it together. ‘we both know why you really came.’ you knew it only had one outcome, and you took it anyway, so i ask of you: why did you take it? what were you hoping would happen?”

now it was his turn to sit in silence. the gemini stewed, biting his lower lip, and demian counted the seconds that went by on his interface clock. finally, he got an answer.

“i was hoping for things to change.”

[Demian 0]

demian contemplated on that answer.

“does death count as change enough to you?”

“i’ve watched you enough to tell that it does,” they admitted. “what with your excursion to the eleventh this morning.”

“and pray tell, did you not want that?”

they opened their mouth to speak. they found no words.

“if you hadn’t come here, you could’ve lived your life, knowing you had to return here to watch us, but also be free to do what you wanted. is that not enough for you?”

the gemini shut his eyes. “well? …is that enough for you?”

demian wondered if he was in the mood to give a proper answer. 

his replacement spoke in the interim. “were you aware this was a choice you were given to make? to do as you so pleased before returning to cardinal?”

“...”

his answer was low, in hushed breaths. “it’s an autonomy i never realized i could exercise, nor wanted to. does that placate you?”

[Demian 0]

the gemini didn’t look convinced. 

“and how does that make you feel?”

“i… i feel…”

demian felt his own hand trembling. he took a breath. “i imagine that it’s a gift, that so many others might’ve cherished if they had the same luxury. and i don’t feel it; i know it.”

“so we are of the same,” the double said.

“yes,” demian swallowed. “yes. i know you.”

the gemini coughed in his struggle to laugh. “so you would claim to know me. then if i leave it unsaid, you would know of what i want?”

“... change, is that it?”

the gemini remained silent for a moment. “yes.”

“change,” demian found himself saying, “change that only i could bring.”

“yes,” the gemini decided. demian offered the reflection a hand. “ultimately, still, that would be my wish.”

“then i can help you with that.”

demian watched his former self grab a hold of his own hand. he helped him off the ground. then, with a quick flash and a sleight of hand, like a magic trick, the gemini found himself impaled, a long steel edge jabbed through his abdomen with precision.

they said nothing. they exchanged looks instead. demian had smiled. 

they didn’t need to talk with words after all.

_^kill.

[Demian 0]

he strolled in through the doors of a different cafe this time. it was at sundown, and for some reason, in taft, there wasn’t much of a sign that the player base was returning to rest just yet. and day had been present faster than he’d expected.

“back so soon?” she asked. demian simply took a seat beside her, a nod the best acknowledgement she would receive. 

the whole time during his entrance, she’d been slumped over the square table. there were drinks already present, too, which meant she didn’t need his green cursor to get what she needed. he took note of the place for future reference.

“i’m more surprised you had the time to show up.” he looked over her sad form, head tilted. “aren’t you usually off tailing your player?”

“she’s busy somewhere else today. it happens sometimes. now i’m just waiting for her to get back.”

[Demian 0]

“aww,” demian cooed, leaning in his chair. “what a loyal dog.”

“yup, that’s me,” day replied under her breath, shaking the gloom off her shoulders. when he reached out for his own glass and she turned to face him, earnest. “and what about you? how did your little date go?”

“no other dogs around here than you.” demian’s arms were folded, and there was a wistfulness that lingered on his face. “it could’ve gone better.”

“what about mostima? you could’ve gone and found her to complain to instead.”

“visiting my brother.”

“aww,” his friend cooed back, back straightened. “yeah, i should’ve figured. poor demian… abandoned like a stray cat.”

demian rolled his eyes, earning a chuckle back. “okay, enough of that. since we have time to kill, i figured a gossipmonger like yourself would want to know what happened earlier.”

“you’re absolutely correct.” 

day leaned forward, resting her chin on the bridge between two hands. “so dish! what happened on that little date of yours?”

“ah — i thought i told you to knock it off…”