The Fateful Hour

[timenpcs]

Characters: Mikoto, Warrior of Light, Firion, Refia, Edward, Locke, Genesis, Blank, Vivi, Rikku, Mjrn, Serah
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Time to confront Lufene about Garland's whereabouts.
Location: Bran Bral Underground - Lufene's Suite
Date: September 1, 1804
Warnings: Violence, possible death
Notes: Additional information on this week's segment can

Comments

[smallmage]

Lufene was about the last person Refia wanted to see, for a variety of reasons, but they needed information. Garland getting away had been something that no one had wanted to think of, but the unthinkable had happened - they'd failed their mission. If they wanted to keep going, then this was something they needed to do.

But Refia was still seething quietly at the thought. "I'm not talking to her," she announced as they approached the door at Bran Bal. "If I do I'm just going to try and claw her eyes out." And that would get them absolutely nowhere.

[dewdrop_pebbles]

"Likewise." Mjrn's voice was quiet but tense. And unlike Refia, she had long nails that could probably accomplish such a feat. Instead of giving into that urge, though, she hung back and gripped her spear. She would certainly aid them in combat, if it came to that, but the more removed she was from the situation, the better chance they stood of walking away without one.

[nomerevessel]

Getting information came first. Mikoto knew that as well as the others. Oddly enough, she found that she had no particular desire to strike Lufene down, though perhaps that would change as soon as she saw Lufene's hatefully smug face. But for now all she could think of were the other Genomes. If they achieved nothing else from this trip, at least they could save them.

She felt a sense of foreboding which only increased as they went deeper underground. And here was Lufene's chamber again. Ignoring the knot in her stomach, Mikoto spoke.

"Lufene."

[notathiefcole]

Locke adjusted his bandanna, not sure of the wisdom of reentering Lufene's lair. Still, he would follow with the group keeping an eye out for any suspicious actions on her part. Standing off to the side, his instincts took over as he began to blend in with his surroundings. He was prepared to sneakily search around her, should he determine any reason to.

[morehatthanmage]

"I...I don't really want to go back there." Vivi said. A little pointlessly since he was still following. He didn't want to see someone who'd address him as a toy again. But he didn't want to be apart from the rest of the group, either.

[timenpcs]

Barely a glance did Lufene spare for her guests as they entered without permission, again. "Garland's not here," she told them in a bland tone. "So much for you were going to free me." A melodious laugh burst forth from her ruby lips, but it was not in the least bit kindly meant. They were useless, the whole lot of them.

Still floating in the air, she settled on the shoulder of the angel, perched on high to look down at the others. "I'm busy. What do you want?" Busy packing up not much of anything so she could move on to more more amusing pastimes.

[melodiesoflute]

This was a bad idea.

Why were they here again? Lufene was nothing more than a monster, a monster devised by Garland's wicked desires. If they lingered here for too long, what other horrors shall they be forced to witness? Edward was tired of Terra, tired of the battles and the bantering with these villainous knaves. Yet, he knew he could not leave here. They needed answers, they needed to stop the whatever this woman has planned. Garland may have slipped out of their grasps, but they won't be thwarted so easily.

"Then were did he go!?" He yelled up to her with a frown. "I am certain you would know, but would you tell us...I wonder." The bard was literally glaring daggers at the woman. He was in no mood for her games, but like the others they were at her mercy.

"Where has Garland gone? We shall settle this nonsense once and for all!"

[dewdrop_pebbles]

As Edward shouted, Mjrn came to stand at his side. She glared at Lufene as well, though rested a hand on Edward's shoulder in a reminder to calm himself a little. Lufene was a monster, on that she could agree, but they needed her information. Yelling at her would accomplish nothing.

[for_cosmos]

"Tell us where he has gone. We have no patience for your trivialities." the Warrior of Light said, echoing Edward. The more he saw of Lufene, the more he was reminded not of a helpless victim or someone who was being controlled, but of the villains who had been the warriors of Chaos. That was not a good reminder to have, especially when they were in the midst of facing Garland, who had finally revealed himself to be the man that the warrior considered one of his greatest enemies.

He had almost resolved not to speak during the confrontation with Lufene, but He could not keep silent. They only needed to know where Garland was, so that they could find and defeat him. They could force that information out of her, if they needed to.

[xredthespianx]

Blank didn't want to be here any more than any of the others, but they needed answers and as fate would have it the only one who had those answers was Lufene. Wonderful. He stayed close to Vivi, resting a hand on the Mage's shoulder. No one deserved to be called a toy and treated like they didn't matter, especially when that person was a good friend of Blank's.

He left the talking to the others. If he opened his mouth he'd probably make things a whole lot messier.

[notathiefcole]

From one thief to another, Locke spared a knowing glance to thief as he stayed to the shadows, slowly and methodically repositioning himself into Lufene's blind-spot. He was determined to ensure that he and his friends would not be caught flat-footed should the unthinkable happen.

[morehatthanmage]

Vivi moved closer to Blank, trying his best to curl up into his coat and remain hidden from Lufene's view. Maybe she wouldn't notice him.

[timenpcs]

"And why should I tell you?" Lufene saw no purpose to be served in telling them, and not a one of them was polite enough. "Mannerless little slugs, making demands like an unruly child." Her arms folded over her chest and she looked far from impressed with the whole lot. "He trounced you so you come back here clamoring for revenge and disrupting my private quarters because you're sulky.

Her tail snaked along the neck of the angelic statue and rested atop her head. "Shall we teach them a lesson or two, you think? They're hardly worth the effort." She pressed a finger to her lips, feigning serious consideration, then began a soft snicker.

"If you answer my question, I'll answer yours. That's only fair, isn't it?" As if plotting to wipe out all of life on Gaia qualified as fairness. Not that Lufene gave one whit about being fair, but she was very interested in playing games with these little mice come boldly into her lair. "What will you do when you find him?"

[nomerevessel]

Mikoto stepped forward. "We will kill him," she replied coldly. "That is what we intended to do the first time. Our intentions have not changed."

She watched Lufene warily. Locke had told her about the statues. They must not be moved. But if anyone told Lufene not to touch them, she would immediately do the opposite just to be contrary. Mikoto could only hope that no-one would give the game away.

[melodiesoflute]

To be brutally honest, Edward's patience was painfully thin now. The little harlot was just as smug as Golbez, just as ruthless and just as evil. They needed to do more than just end Garland's life, they needed to kill Lufene as well. The woman was possibly a bigger threat than Garland could ever be, to allow her to roam free would be a fool's error. Glancing over towards Mjrn and Mikoto for a moment, Edward's livid gaze settled upon the witch.

"As Mikoto has said, we shall end his life, but if you plan on impeding us; you shall face our wrath as well!" Such bold words, it was clear that what Edward had on his mind now. He wasn't going to leave Terra without thwarting one of these devils in battle. Gaia needed them to be successful, failure is not an option for them.

"Now tell us! Where is Garland?"

[dewdrop_pebbles]

Lufene's smugness was wearing on Mjrn, as well. Her hand on Edward's shoulder slackened, to grip her spear. She didn't level it at Lufene yet, but had a feeling that was only a matter of time.

"Enough games. You know what we seek." Mjrn's statement was simple, calmly stated, but anyone glancing to those red eyes would know that such calm was wearing thin. There was a reason why she held back from speaking, but that became more difficult to do the more time they spent within Lufene's lair.