The Final Key

[princessofheart]

Who: CLOSED. Nano, Kairi, and a special guest monster
Where: Castle Oblivion
Summary: Nano has a quest leading her deep within Kairi's home, and the redhead is happy to offer her a hand getting there.
Warnings: PG-13 by default


[It would be lying to say she wasn't surprised and perhaps a bit worried to get a call from Nano requesting to travel deep within the castle during the 13th hour, but Kairi was willing to hear her friend out on the matter. And, well, hearing it was a special request from the Velvet Room? She definitely couldn't turn her away from something like that, even if it did get dangerous in there; it'd at least be less so with Kairi around, now that she had inherited the castle. All in all, she had agreed to be her escort.

So, Kairi was waiting on the steps in front of the castle, laying back with fingers entwined behind her head, a small habit she had picked up from extended contact with her best friend. The stars were quite pretty and vibrant tonight, though she couldn't help but feel a twinge of homesickness staring up at them like this, even though that home wasn't technically even hers to speak of. Either way and despite the small bit of negativity, stars still had an overwhelming sense of hope to her, and she quite enjoyed looking up at them when she had an opportunity. So many other people in so many other worlds were looking up at the same sky and stars as she was, with all their own lives and dreams... and maybe, for all Kairi knew, the other her was looking up at them right now too. And maybe, just maybe, orbiting among all those stars way up there was the station, where her loved ones still lived and endured week after week of Val's whims. As long as they carried on... well, there was still hope they could end up here.

Glancing at her watch, a few minutes ticked before midnight would hit; Nano should be here any minute, so long as she hadn't gotten caught up in something. Hopefully she'd get here soon, wouldn't want to miss the rather interesting transformation...]

Comments

[all_wound_up]

Wh... who...?

[It's all she can get out before she extends her hand, almost by reflex.]

[therooms]

From the sea of your soul I rise. I am Geppetto, who shall protect you on your own quest. I am thou... Thou art I... may we carve your destiny together."

SCREAMING INTO THE SUN - ALSO VORPAL BLADE (PHYSICAL)

[all_wound_up]

[Nano nods rapidly, her vision finally coming into focus as her hand tightly grasps that of the kindly old puppeteer.]

M... mm! Geppetto-san!

[And now that she's rejuvenated from absorbing that Light attack, Nano's ready to deliver her final attack. Geppetto pulls out a carving knife - the same one he used to carve his son - and unleashes his strongest barrage on William and Lucifer. After that earlier Endure, he should be close enough to the brink that this final blow will end it all.]

[djvelvetinblack]

[Technically, that should not have worked. But something in Nano's resolution changes the attack so that it passes over the physical barrier William should have. As the Persona moves towards its target, the Velvet Attendant lets off a scoff as he attempts to block the swipe with both his hands, grabbing the blade just as it's about to hit his chest. For a few seconds, there's a struggle between both of them in completely silence, as he fights the Persona and tries to push him away, his muscles tensing before losing the battle and the dagger hitting him.

He's pushed backwards as Lucifer disappears in a blast of light above him.

While he's not down for the count, William is definitely much weaker than before.

He stands up again, hand on his forehead...]

[djvelvetinblack]

[..And begins to laugh. It's a strange sound to hear from someone who's usually so silent, but the hand slides from his forehead down into a small bow at her, as he grins.

The screen behind him reappears, as do the floor and the tiles when they began their battle.

I have now seen humanity's resolution in you. Thank you.

[all_wound_up]

[And thank goodness for that, because even though Nano is fully healed, she's certainly exhausted energy-wise. Her legs wobble as she staggers forward, resting her hands on her knees as she catches her breath. The labored breathing soon gives way to relieved laughter, though, as she rights herself and looks back at William, one hand clasped over her chest.]

I couldn't have done it without my friends.

[djvelvetinblack]

True, walking with a friend in the darkness is better than walking alone in the light. Congratulations.

[He takes a few steps forward until they are much closer to each other, before giving her a card with Geppetto's image on it.]

I believe this is yours. I cannot add it to my book.

[all_wound_up]

Thank you, William-san!

[Nano looks down at the card in her hand, her smile growing ever wider as she nods at William.]

Does this mean you'll come back home?

[djvelvetinblack]

Not yet.

[It's not that he doesn't like the Velvet Room. It's that the everything else was much more interesting, as far as he was concerned.]

I'm afraid my sister might have tricked you into coming here to fight me. Regardless, it was quite a powerful display of your inner strength.

[all_wound_up]

Tricked...?

[Why yes, that did only occur to her just now.]

You mean you didn't run away from home and decide to become a bad guy?

[djvelvetinblack]

[He shakes his head, looking a little panicked for a second.]

And make Master Igor angry? Perish the thought.

[Oh, so William WAS afraid of something...or rather, someone.]

[all_wound_up]

I'll let them know you're all right, then. You should really visit your sister more often, though. She worries about you, and family is important.

[CAN HE EVEN WITHSTAND A LECTURE THIS MOE]

[djvelvetinblack]

Are you patronizing me?

[HE'S ALREADY GETTING SPEECHES LIKE THIS FROM HER HE DOESN'T NEED PERSONA USERS DOING THAT TOO...at least her heart is pure and she means well.]

You should be concentrating on healing yourself. It's not like the creatures of the castle have disappeared now that we're done here.

[all_wound_up]

N-no, I didn't mean it like that...!

[But as for the healing - already taken care of! Geppetto drops a helpful Life Wave and Aura Wave on Nano as he disappears into the card she got from William, and already she's looking hale and hearty once again.]

You're right, though. I should find Kairi-san and get out of here.

[djvelvetinblack]

She gave this to you, correct?

[He's pointing to the Wayfinder.]

[all_wound_up]

Oh... yes! I need to make sure to return it to her.

[Nano clasps it in her free hand, opposite the one she's holding her replica keyblade in.]

[djvelvetinblack]

She's a good friend.

[Friendships are important, as far as he's concerned.]

Did she help you make the weapon you're holding too?

[all_wound_up]

[Nano shakes her head, gazing down fondly at the sword.]

No... this was given to me by Namine-san. She's another important friend, and the one whose power I was using earlier. And Xion-san taught me how to fight with it. That's why even though I was fighting you alone, I had their strength with me.

[djvelvetinblack]

The gift of friendship is unmeasurable in its worth. You have powerful friends...and in turn, that makes you stronger.

[They are both near the door now, so if she wants to see what he's "saying" she might have to squint at the board a bit.]

One last question. If I had continued to attack, would you have killed me?

[all_wound_up]

No! Of course not!

[The answer comes with no hesitation whatsoever. Nano doesn't want to kill people.]

[djvelvetinblack]

A dangerous gamble that you play. Make sure no one removes that resolution out of you, as it will no doubt be tested over and over.

[He presents her the door! It's just a short while away, and William stops walking, letting her go on by herself.

But when she's just two steps from opening it, the sign appears about her. Wasn't it far away?]

Ahh yes. One last thing...

[all_wound_up]

I know. But I've found my strength... I can do it.

[Nano nods to William and eagerly heads for the door, exhausted and happy to finally make her way out of the tower and get some well-earned rest. As the sign reappears, though, she opens her eyes wide, stopping short of pushing the door open.]

...Hm? What is it?

[therooms]

[The minute she turns over to look at him, William appears to be gone.]

[all_wound_up]

William-san...? Where did you go?

[Nano looks back and forth, trying to peer back through the room before glancing back to the sign that had been displaying his speech.]

[djvelvetinblack]

[How odd. He doesn't seem to be anywhere, but as she blinks again, suddenly, he's looming over her, a strange smile on his face. The light shielding his eyes from her masks his expression but he raises one hand into the air.]

Hold still.

[He spoke. William spoke and his voice sounded frighting, commanding yet musical. Deep, dark, seductive. Nano had no choice but to stand there as he violently plunged that hand right into her stomach.]