Not Exactly a Blaze of Glory [Closed]

[fromtheskies.livejournal.com]

Character(s): Jenova, Loz
Content: Entering the city, and a family reunion.
Setting: Muspelheim.
Time: Wednesday morning.
Warnings: ...alien boobies?

Three unsuccessful attempts to destroy a world were simply embarrassing, she thought vaguely as she returned to awareness. This time it would take her decades at least to regain her strength, if she was ever able to again-- It was only when she shifted slightly, wincing at a rock digging into her back, that she realized she was no longer a consciousness stretched over a handful of scattered cells, but contained in one physical vessel once more. A very human body, admittedly, she thought, flexing blue-tinged fingers, but it was an improvement, however it had occurred.

She instinctively reached out to sense where the Lifestream should have pulsed at the heart of the planet, and felt-- nothing. A moment's examination was enough to discover that this was not the world she had grown accustomed to, or indeed anything like any of the planets she had encountered in her long existence.

This felt... artificial, constructed. Jenova could sense the imprint of another power on it, though she could determine nothing of its nature or intentions. The matter would require further investigation.

She rose to her feet slowly, unused to a proper body after all this time. Not far away there was a milling crowd of people –- she grimaced imperceptibly at their presence. A world devoid of sentient life would have been infinitely more relaxing, albeit devoid of such petty amusements as could be gained from toying with her puppets.

Clearly there was nothing here for her in this wasteland. Inside the city, perhaps. Doubtless she would encounter some easily manipulable mind from which she could obtain more data on this place. And possibly a coat, she thought, her body shivering as a cold wind swept past her. How very strange that this place should leave her subject to such petty mortal concerns.

She turned towards the fiery gates, feeling faint amusement at their pathetic grandiosity. It was always the nature of mortal races to build what they imagined to be eternal monuments to their power, and such things were so very easily torn down.

"Ah, excuse me, um, miss," said a girl in the rear of the line as Jenova moved past her, "but I think you should wait in line like everyone else..."

Jenova did not deign to reply, continuing on her way with barely suppressed anger. This was most assuredly not the kind of reception she was accustomed to. To be sure, she had previously entered worlds in a blaze of fiery glory and devastation, but surely she merited some degree of awe even in her lessened state? Instead the members of this disorderly assemblage of humanity were protesting as she swept past them, and some of them ever dared to block her path. When she finally reached the head of the line, the man at the gate barely even looked up as he asked her name, handing her a metallic black book.

Patience, she told herself, taking the machine in case it would prove useful. There would be time enough to show the inhabitants of this world their foolishness in scorning her.

I am the ruiner, she exulted, reaching out to twist the gatekeeper's psyche against itself and leave him a gibbering wreck, the crisis, the cataclysm, Jenova, and I will be your world’s destroyer-- The human’s mind was closed to her, she realized with shock, as though he was not in fact human, not alive, not even organic—

The man's expression remained as bored as ever. "Name, please."

"I am Jenova," she spat, furious at being reduced to a petty vocalization of her glory.

Admittedly, it was not quite so degrading as being carried around in a box by Rufus Shinra, and she had at least escaped the planet where she had been trapped for millennia. This would not be the first time she had been forced to blend in with a world’s populace. It would only be until she understood what this place was, where nothing was alive and the people had minds like mirrored glass that she could not see inside however fiercely she struggled.

Searching for anyone nearby who was truly human and not one of the strange light-minded things, she started as she felt a familiar consciousness. The presence of her oldest and most brilliant child was by far the most surprising thing she had encountered in the world. Reaching further, she encountered her three younger children as well, who had recently failed so abysmally in their duty. They should not have been able to exist simultaneously with the greater one who they were merely fragments of, but she had encountered myriad anomalies already.

Smiling at the prospect of no longer being alone and cold, she reached into her childrens' minds and called for a Reunion.

Comments

[lucider-bestia.livejournal.com]

Loz, being a highly intelligent creature of great possiblity, had not taken long to figure out the mechanics of the strange silver object that had been given to him when he passed through the gate. Or maybe it was just the fact that his brothers and he all had possessed ridiculously, unecessarily high-tech cell phones - and so with a little futzing with the thing, and he'd basically figured it all out. It was like a cellphone with bigger text, and letters easier to use than the numbers. And there was no talking...

So of course the first thing he used it for was to try and find his brothers. But he hadn't quite expected to feel the presence of... Mommy?

This meant Loz suddenly stopped dead in his tracks the moment Jenova stepped through the gates of Muspelheim. By then, he was already a mile away or so, following the dilapitated train tracks for no real reason, honestly, just looking around and trying to get his barings. But the sudden presence took him sharply - a warm, dull throbbing situated itself in his head and in his heart, and his mind echoed one word: REUNION. Over and over. REUNION.

Without question, he turned sharply, and ran. As a being who easily defied the properties of phsyics, it took him only several minutes to actually return to his previous position. And there she was - he saw his mother. His mother...

It was almost scary. He had never actually... seen her before. Felt her presence, an ache deep inside himself for her, but had never laid eyes upon her. And honestly? He found himself extremely intimidated, nervous... almost scared. A feeling, a strange mix of joy and apprehension washed over him - so intense, he felt tears brimming in his eyes. Sniffing them away, he forced himself to move closer to her still - with the hesitance a wolf pup moves closer to its mother, a part fear, part respect, part excitement sort of emotion that was difficult to press down.

He still didn't come close enough to actually touch her - simply idled nervously around the edges of her presence, circling but never actually closing in, about fifteen feet away or so.

[fromtheskies.livejournal.com]

Jenova had not expected any of her children to arrive so soon, but it was rather a relief that one had. Though she herself had no use for such worthless traits as altruism, she rather wished one of the richly dressed passers-by had offered her their coat. Dying of hypothermia would be ineffably humiliating, and she had already endured entirely too much cold during her years in the Northern Crater.

She sensed Loz as soon as he appeared, though he seemed too afraid to approach her. Not the brightest of her children, to be sure, but he was strong, and his loyalty and devotion were unquestionable. In any case, she was around to do whatever thinking was required.

It was strange, though, that his brothers weren't with him. Three fragments of one soul as they were, she had not expected them to be so easily separated. If someone here was interfering with her children, she would be most displeased.

"It's all right, Loz," Jenova said reassuringly when he continued to hang back. "Mother needs you."

[lucider-bestia.livejournal.com]

Loz's eyes widened when he was addressed, and he froze in place. Finally, it occured to him that his Mother appeared to be clotheless - taken on the wretched form of a human, yet somehow he found her form as a human undeniably beautiful - and he noticed the distinct chill in the air. Although his body was not very vulnerable to the elements, he was not sure of what terrible things his Mother's body were ridden with.

Slowly, he approached her, his head bowed dismissively. Already he was unzipping his black jacket down, and sliding it off, he hesitantly held it outward - "Mother, you're cold," he said quietly, and very hesitantly moved behind her to place the oversized thing upon her shoulders. "Forgive me. I'll protect you."

[fromtheskies.livejournal.com]

Jenova wrapped the coat around herself with relief. This was infinitely more dignified than standing around to be ogled by the surrounding crowds.

Now she could devote her concerns to more important matters, such as determining what precisely this city was. She opened the ridiculous book she had been given at the gates, and blinked in surprise as it turned itself on. Cautiously pushing a few buttons at random got her absolutely nowhere.

Jenova glared at the little machine. Organic technology was more her forte than electronics.

"Ah, Loz," she said, "I hope you understand this somewhat better than I do."

[lucider-bestia.livejournal.com]

Loz blinked and looked down at the object. His brows upturned in a look of sympathy; she could not understand such simple technology. How unfortunate of her to be racked with such a horrid body.

"Don't worry about it, Mother. It's very simple. You type the words, they appear on the screen. Or, you can write with this..." He motioned to the stylus sitting in the small groove ontop of the keyboard. "Although it is not really necessary, since you don't need to use such infantile means to contact us."

[fromtheskies.livejournal.com]

"Of course," said Jenova quickly, fiddling with the journal for a moment. "I was merely testing your knowledge."

...this might actually prove useful, once she had the chance to experiment with it for a while. Another button called up what seemed to be a map, and she examined it with interest for any signs of who held power in this place. But the city seemed to lack any central authority. Another indication of its artificial existence; no truly human society could maintain itself for long in a state of anarchy.

She did see a nearby place of lodging, though, and icy sidewalks were not particularly comfortable to stand on while barefooted. Jenova was beginning to suspect that his human form was going to be even more troublesome than she had expected. "I think," she said after a moment, "that perhaps this Reunion should be located indoors. Come."

[lucider-bestia.livejournal.com]

Loz didn't make any commentary against her intelligence. Of course he would believe her. Apparently Mother was just that much more clever than he. Quietly he watched her as she fiddled with the device, still anxious and fidgety as ever. As pleasing as it was to be near to her, it was still strange - like she may not be pleased with him, or something along those lines.

He perked at the sound of her voice, however, and gave her a nod. "Yes, of course, mother." And so he began to walk - slowly, so his mother may walk side by side with him, making sure to make sure she did not step on anything uncomfortable for her feet. But then it occured to him - he could simply eliminate the problem entirely by picking her up.

"Mother, forgive me - but may I carry you?"

[fromtheskies.livejournal.com]

Jenova blinked at Loz's suggestion - the idea had not occurred to her. But it did have the benefit of getting her to this... Morem O Lisboa place far more quickly. She revised her opinion of Loz upward slightly. Such a considerate child. And possessed of common sense (considerably more than she generally had, but that particular thought did not occur to her).

"That course of action seems advisable, Loz," she said sweetly. "You may do so."

[lucider-bestia.livejournal.com]

Loz, entirely pleased that he was able to please mother, gave her a nod and suddenly scooped her up in his thick arms - cradling her as if a child against him. In truth, it looked as if he were the father and Jenova the daughter; her size compared to his massive stature was comparable, and she looked young for her... age.

Once he felt she was secure in his arms, he began to walk to the hotel - the Morem o Lisboa, was it? It'd take them some time, but Loz decided to take the initiative and began running - an inhuman speed, hopefully mother wouldn't mind - but otherwise the trip could take literally hours.