ya gotta wanna be a battering ram

[headandhand]

WHO: The entire dang city.
WHAT: Dualis Days, a week-long summer celebration.
WHERE: Central Square Park and the rest of the city.
WHEN: June 17-23.
WARNINGS: Terrorist violence, likely some blood and injuries. Please warn in individual threads!

June 17; Central Square Park.

Every year for as far back as anyone can remember, the start of summer is heralded by the week-long festival known as Dualis Days. This celebration officially kicks off at midday in the middle of Central Square Park with a commencement speech by the current mayor. This year marks Marcelina Dubanowski's third term as mayor of Dualis; she is an average-sized, middle-aged human-presenting woman with blonde hair styled in a short bob and a plastic, toothy smile that never seems to turn entirely off.

"Welcome, one and all!" she begins, with the practiced cadence of someone who is quite comfortable with public speaking. She invites all citizens, new and old, to spend the next week indulging in festivities in all districts of the city and getting to know their neighbors a little better. This is a joyous time of celebration, and the crowd responds with enthusiastic applause as the mayor finishes her speech and introduces this year's parade marshall, Peshtigo Tengfei.

Tengfei blows a whistle six times to signal the start of the parade - and this is where the celebration goes sideways.

A loud explosion tears through the air, and it's followed by panicked screams and the sharp screech of microphone feedback. A bomb has gone off at the platform where the mayor was standing, collapsing the wood and tearing it to splinters and dust. Chaos erupts in the gathered crowd, and as the people shift in all directions to get clear of any possible additional bombs, a loud siren cuts through the cacophony, calling attention to the sudden crackle of video feed present on all television screens throughout the city, including those set up in the park to broadcast the mayor's speech for those standing far from the stage. The picture is plain, a black background and bold white block letters filling the screen:

WAKE UP
WAKE UP
DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES

The final image is an anatomical graphic of a human heart, displayed for about three seconds, and then the feed goes black again.

Confused murmurs sweep through the crowd as citizens resume tending to the injured and evacuating the area until official first responders arrive.

June 17-23; aftermath around the city.

Dualis Days continues as scheduled, though Mayor Dubanowski is unable to enjoy the festival, as she is spending the week in the hospital recovering from her injuries. A team of Iterations guard her door - no visitors allowed - but the news media frequently report updates on her condition. Nothing to worry about, folks! Return to your celebrations, and don't mind the increased visible presence of the Hand as Iterations are stationed every few blocks throughout the city. It's only for your protection, after all.

Comments

[aguidingkey]

Aqua appears to be one of the only people with actual magic available at this point. She remembers what it felt like to have been cut off from all of that, though, so her look is sympathetic, while also appearing curious.

"Of course," she says with a nod in answer. "I'm just glad I can help at all. I'm Aqua." The last part has her tilting her head slightly. "Your 'GFs?'"

[silentnarration]

"Squall," Squall tilts his head. Right. Different worlds. Different abilities. "GF is short for Guardian Force. They're powerful entities that can be summoned. I have to junction one to use spells."

So it's very annoying to have a stock of it and not be able to use any. Ugh.

[aguidingkey]

"Oh." That sounds like having the magic but not being able to use it because her keyblade is missing. Or something similar. She doesn't think she would like that much.

"That's a very different system than what I'm used to," she admits. "Anyone can use magic if they practice at it. Some spells can't be taught to everyone, but the ability to use magic exists. You just have to let your magic power and the spells or abilities themselves recharge after use."

Which can be its own frustration, but she's gotten used to it.

[silentnarration]

Squall nods. "Where I'm from, only soldiers used it. GF use is controversial... and we confirmed that it causes memory loss because of the way GFs take up space in our mind when junctioned."

So, you know, price for power?

"It's a replication of magic a scientist invented. Only sorceresses can use real magic."

[aguidingkey]

"I can see why people might not like it." Aqua doesn't know that she would want to use it if the price is her memories. She has a hard enough time with the passage of time and given Ven's trouble with memories, she really doesn't think she would like it.

"So I guess sorceresses are either really respected because of their power or highly feared."

[silentnarration]

"Feared. They've been responsible for starting wars because of their desire for power." The world's pretty bleak because of that. "My girlfriend's a sorceress too but she's not evil."

"As for GFs, it's Balamb Garden's specialty. I don't want to lose my memories but we need their power in a war." He turns to look in the direction of the stage. It would have been useful here too.

[aguidingkey]

Something in his explanation finally tugs at Aqua's memory. Rinoa's boyfriend had only been there for a short time in the Iteration world and Aqua hadn't actually met him. Ironically, she'd become better friends with Seifer, though she liked Rinoa and Nida, too.

"Sounds like things Seifer and Rinoa told me," she says, unaware that Squall might know both of them. "I wonder if your world is similar to theirs. Even if it's not, it's good that your girlfriend has you to help her."

[silentnarration]

Squall turns to regard her with surprise in his eyes. Two names he doesn't expect someone from a different world to utter.

"You know them?" He takes half a step forward in his urgency, concern marring his features. "You were in that other world with Seifer? And Rinoa was there?!" Dammit, Seifer. Why didn't he tell him about that?

[aguidingkey]

The irony is probably that Aqua was actually slightly better friends with Seifer. But she and Rinoa hadn't had all that many chances to really get to know each other. Although, judging by Squall's reaction, Rinoa is the important person in his life and that makes a lot of little pieces fall into place for Aqua.

"Yes. I know them and Nida, too. I don't know if Rinoa is here. I haven't heard from her since we left the Iteration world."

Honestly, Aqua wishes she had better news for him. She knows how much Rinoa missed him when they were separated and if Squall is trying to help center Rinoa and be a good influence for her, then it must be even harder for them to be apart. "We... talked about some things once. Rinoa and I did. So I think you're right. She's a good person who's had a lot of darkness forced into her life. But she's strong. She can fight it."

[silentnarration]

He hadn't considered the possibility that Rinoa could have ended up here too, and now there's the nagging urge to search the city (or at least the dorms). Injury be damned. He calms down a little when Aqua continues to speak, frowning a little. Darkness? He supposes sorceress powers could be considered that. With how it can drive its wielders mad.

"Of course she can," he adds, sounding mildly defensive, protective, sulky, and embarrassed all at once. It's complicated. "She's... important to me, so I have to go back to her. Or find her if she's here."

[aguidingkey]

Squall's protectiveness over Rinoa brings a small smile to Aqua's face. She would have said the same thing about Terra if their roles were reversed.

"I don't think she's here," Aqua says apologetically. "I think she would have said something by now." Rinoa hadn't seemed to be the type of person to lie low. "I'll let you know if I see or hear from her." It's the least she can do.

[silentnarration]

Squall nods in agreement. Rinoa wouldn't be able to ignore an explosion or the injured.

"Thanks..." It helps to know someone else will look out for Rinoa too, even if he trusts himself to do it better. He can't say he doesn't want her to be here either, even if it's dangerous. The safest place for a sorceress is next to her knight.

He's making an increasingly complicated and troubled face as he thinks. His brows furrowing.

[aguidingkey]

"You're worried about her."

It's pretty obvious. Aqua knows she would be the same way if Terra were here. Really, she's already worried about him. He's not here, either, and after everything he's been through, after spending over a decade possessed and unable to control his own body, Aqua worries about him even more. It's little wonder that Squall worries about Rinoa.

"She looked good last I saw her. She missed you, but she was doing really well."

[silentnarration]

Squall looks surprised that Aqua is offering more reassurances. He nods dumbly in response. He believes her. A person he just met telling him random facts about Rinoa. He doesn't know why. He just does.

"It's my job to. I'm her knight." Nevermind that he already mentioned she's his girlfriend.

[aguidingkey]

The idea of knights makes Aqua wonder how life as a keyblade wielder would be different if they all worked in pairs or trios, if they kept each other in line and supported each other. Maybe things would have turned out the same, but maybe they would have been different. Maybe Master Eraqus could have stopped Xehanort's plans earlier. Or maybe Aqua wouldn't have failed her friends for so long.

Maybe she wouldn't have lost herself to darkness.

"Then, she's very lucky to have you," Aqua offers softly. But time's wasting and she should really get back to looking around for ways to help. "I shouldn't distract either of us any longer. But hopefully, we'll get a chance to see each other again."

[silentnarration]

Something seems to be bothering her but he doesn't feel like he should pry. Instead, he nods. Aqua's done more than enough for him.

"We probably will," he answers and he'll hold still until she leaves. Doesn't want to make any sudden movements that will prompt her to stay. He can carry on after. Find the dorms. Figure out what to do with this shrapnel in his side. Find out how to leave.

There's a lot to deal with really.