soul_heart | the first meeting

the first meeting

[ It almost seemed the Primal had beckoned them. Alphinaud, Papalymo, Yda and Urianger had come to investigate Alexander, and there had been a large open passage. They'd all entered together, and there was a city. After a bit of navigation, though...

...there was a Primal standing in the center of the town. Well, it looked like a Primal to all those who could see it, the four who presented themselves inside. They looked like a being of pure Light, eying the four.

But it seems they won't make the first move. Not yet. ]

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[ After a moment, Cordis takes her hand, while listening gently. Oh, how they loved listening to Cid. ]

It destroyed those stars. But their souls survive - sometimes reborn in different ones. [ Cid... how do you know all of this? Papalymo looks close to asking, but decides he doesn't want to know. ] I don't know why ours is safer then ones that came before or after it.

[She gives their hand a gentle squeeze, continuing to just hold on.]

So it's not all lost. You've been investigating it, though, huh? At least we know that it is- and that's why it needs to be protected.

I do not need to investigate it... though I imagine your kind are the least likely to know of that, if not even most deity know.

[ Cordis lets out a soft smile. ] ...you can tell them, love. We-- they're just reflections of our friends, right? They wouldn't abuse this.

[ Cid sighs a little, shoulders slumping. ] I haven't even told them yet-- it's practice, then.

Alexander created our shared Star. This shell is just a fraction of their power.

[ Okay, Urianger lets out a shocked cat sound. ]

No?

Well- we'll do our best not to!

[she lets out a surprised sound as well, her hold slackening.]. Created-? Wait- really? You? But- before all the others- before Hydaelyn, and Zodiark?

Not me. Alexander-- well, they choose a new avatar for every star they make. Give them rules to follow. But that makes Hydaelyn and Zodiark their children.

[ There's a pause. ]

I'm not any older then I look-- well, I'm about five years older. But Alexander simply chose a new avatar when the deity began to wake.

The- the full force of the primal? I guess so! So is this just a really big sibling squabble…?

Five years? I'm not sure I'd have guess. And they chose you? How does that work?

...It is. Zodiark wished to give Spoken free will. Though they did not split our reality into three - that would be Allag.

[ Cid gently pulls them all in more - huh. His wings are even softer, his body less Spoken. He's relaxing. ]

Alexander needed somebody who could watch everybody, but wasn't too involved in fighting. And so, I was branded when I was born - you see, they can see all futures. I didn't end up awakening until later, though - I wasn't a baby and hearing the clicking.

The clicking is what he calls Alexander... calculating the best thing for him to do. Which isn't always th'best.

Allag? Geez- they sure did a lot, huh…

[she gives a soft happy sound, cuddling into him. Nuzzling.]

Yeah. You're a smart guy- not really destined for the front lines, right? So they could choose…

Well, it looks pretty mechanical! So it makes sense. Wait- it's the best, but it isn't?

Yeah. Made him stab his adopted son.

...Alexander thought it was the most direct way to wake a Deity. [ Cid grumps a little. ] It's not Alexander choosing which deities the other become, however. There's other deities at that power level, incomprehensible to us. They only chose me.

Family-!? [she reaches out, clutching onto Papalymo.]

To put them in danger…? Is he okay now? [she hums a little, softly.]. So we don't know what they're choosing on? I mean- it's pretty bizarre to think about anyway…. But this is more gods than I thought there'd be.

[ Papalymo gives Yda a reassuring hold, but seems to be nervous at that as well. ]

He's fine now - and another Deity. But... there are a lot of them.

Not just th'Twelve - but th'Esper of Ivalice, and every bloody Primal is now one of these immortals.

...Yes. That.

Espers? And- the Primals, too- all of them? But- how is the world sustaining all of them?

...That's the question, isn't it. But they don't consume aether - they're tied into the very lifeblood of the world.

[ Cid is gentle as he says that, looking to himself. ]

We're... written into existing, you could say. Our souls are always meant to be around, just awoken when Hydaelyn senses a Calamity. But due to our connections to you Voidsent, we're not going to give ourselves up - not that we were going to.

Primal are just lesser aspects of the Twelve. But Esper are their own beings from another Star.

So- she can support them- like that?

If it's when a Calamity's coming… then are you meant to help do something about it? I wouldn't want you to.

From somewhere else…? From somewhere that was destroyed?

[ Cordis sits up to explain now. ] From what 've heard - they're meant t'protect Man from dyin', and then die themselves. But ours are... rebels.

[ Papalymo seems to look between them both. ] I'd better hope you are! [ the kirin purrs a little. of course, even a being of nature and beauty has this mindset. ] If you're just us but reflecting Light, I wouldn't want to think you'd just up and die!

[ Cordis gives a little smile, before giving Cid a small kiss on the cheek. ] It's weird. But there's both, well. Dalmasca, my homeland, and there's also-- ah, an Ivalice which was another Star. Which has a territory called Dalmasca. And th'Esper came from there, which was... destroyed.

Oh- so that's what you meant.

No. You guys- you're all worth more than that, right? And we were rebels before, weren't we?

[she smiles back, cuddling into Papalymo.]. Huh! It must be strange, to think about…. Maybe some tales came from there? And… I dunno. Whatever Espers are born from?

Mist, I think. Uh, like Aether, but... different?

No. It's the same, but it's infinite. In here, it's still created. A lot of iterations-- different versions of stars-- have infinite magic. In other words, it's due to Alexander that these Deity haven't become like Voidsent.

Again, I don't have control over it.

[ Cordis kisses the blushing Cid again, to make him to quiet. ] ...The Archon and the Path of the Twelve... and th'Ala Mhigan Resistance... all rebels, in a way.

Oh- just called different things, in different places?

Because you link them with those places? Well- I think it's a good thing! Though it'd be nicer if you knew how, huh…

Right! But we're all in this together, aren't we?

It really would be. [ Cid grumped a little, with Cordis kissing him again. Papalymo swished his tail a little, moving closer to Yda. ] But I'm more of an agent of Alexander then an Avatar - I don't have all these powers all to myself.

Not that it matters.

[ His voice trembled, and Cordis kissed him again. Deeper. No angst right now, Cid. It was time... to distract. ] If your sibling is truly in our realm, Yda, you'll need an escort, won't you. Because... you're Voidsent.

[She wraps an arm around Papalymo, nuzzling into him and giving him a gentle kiss.] Right- if they're spread among those other worlds, I'm guessing there are other Avatars.

Ah… I guess so! I mean, you know we don't mean any harm, but… it might be hard to convince some people. Would you two be willing to help?

...I'd be up for it. How about you, Cid?

[ Cid gave a soft stretch, scratching at Urianger who'd begun to slowblink. ] I can't right now - there's thing I need to do here for Alexander.

[ Oh. Cordis slumps a little. So it really was just an excuse to get them here. But then Cid gives a frown. ] We'll go on a proper date soon, Cordis.

Guess it's just me. But-- 'm more steady around my allies. They know me.

Oh… that's too bad. I'm sorry we interrupted.

But that'll be nice! Maybe we could get to know you, too? Properly, I mean.

...I'd like that. An'... I could introduce y'to my friends, too. [ Oh, he looks awkward. But he expected this to get interrupted. Cordis... doesn't expect much of his own life anymore.

...huh. Was that just a soft meowing sound? ]

I'd like that a lot! [she grins- nuzzling into Cordis a little, trying to comfort Cordis.

Her ears prick up, and she lifts her head.]. …Urianger?

[ Cordis seems to narrow his eyes as Urianger looks up, sighing a little. ] I... brought another companion with us. I know I asked you to not bring your child, but...

[ that's when a small red and black kitten fights its way out of his neck scruff, mewing loudly. ]

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