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Midgar
Aug 15, 2006 5:49:00 GMT -5
Post by Cluge of the Grey on Aug 15, 2006 5:49:00 GMT -5
Brieze thought a moment.
"I'm not just your average joe. Or the average SOLDIER. Other SOLDIERs have Jenova cells implanted in them, making them stronger, faster and smarter. I was cloned from Jenova cells, making me better than the rest. The Elite class was designed for handling other SOLDIERs, preferably, the Ex-SOLDIERs. Rufus sees me as a valuable asset, but not one that should go into the wrong hands. He'd rather see me dead, and he almost did it."
Brieze took another sip of his soda.
"Though, I wonder, what's it like to be normal? Be a face that blends in, that never gets a second thought from the higher class, Instead of being hunted all your life. Riaan, do you ever--"
Brieze winced, the stigma was flaring again, but it didn't subside, it increased, he could feel it spreading. He saw a liquid trickle its way out of his sleeve and recognized it. Human cells in degenerative form. Brieze's arm continued to holler in pain, and he lost his balance and fell out of the stoolchair. e sa the floor rush up out of the corner of hisi eye, then nothing.
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Midgar
Aug 15, 2006 6:00:41 GMT -5
Post by sithhunter on Aug 15, 2006 6:00:41 GMT -5
Raptor watched as breeze fell to the floor and siped his ale and said "Well looks like he can't hold his...umm pepsi?"
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Midgar
Aug 15, 2006 19:47:43 GMT -5
Post by Dûncariel is Dead. on Aug 15, 2006 19:47:43 GMT -5
(('Kay, so that totally made me laugh.... ))
Riaan found himself staring with his mouth open at the floor for a moment, dumbfounded. Nope. Definitely not normal. Normal people don't just pitch over in their chairs in the middle of a sentence.
He snapped out of it long enough to shoot Raptor a practiced contemptuous look (one that had gotten him into trouble more than once, but it seemed logical at the moment), and then scooted his chair back enough that he had room to get out. Riaan really knew nothing about medical... well, he knew nothing about anything worth anything at that particular moment. "Hm."
His eyes swept the bar, connected with the few people sitting around with their mouths open. He let out an exasperated sigh, and said to the general public, "Anybody here human enough to get off their backsides and lend a hand?"
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Midgar
Aug 16, 2006 5:28:22 GMT -5
Post by Cluge of the Grey on Aug 16, 2006 5:28:22 GMT -5
Bright. Hard. Warm. Brieze opened his eyes, and all he saw was white. Everywhere. He stood, and looked around.
"I'm sorry." A female's voice sounded from behind him. Brieze turned to face Marene. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner,you know now, but that's no excuse. Raptor was right, I am a Creta, and he was my guardian. I had to take that bullet, it would've been better to end my lfe, than to live without you, Brieze."
Brieze stared in shock. She was crying she never cried. He walked over to her,and she threw her arms around his neck. They stood there for a minute, Marene in Brieze's shoulder while he stroked her hair. Then Marene lifted her head, tears threatining to escape from her eyes.
"You shouldn't have been chosen for this. Your future is lined with pain and sorrow."
Brieze stared into the pools of jade that were her eyes. "I will be alright, I was always blaming myself for what happened, not you."
The tears were swelling. "But I was to blame. I caused your pain, and I deserve punishment."
Brieze put a finger to her soft lips, quieting her. "There is nothing to forgive, Marene. Never was."
Marene smiled and hugged him tighter. "Brieze, this is going to be alot for you, but you need to let go, move on. You have little control of your emotions, yes, but you must acknowledge the fact that I've died, and I'm happy in the next life. I've moved on, and so must you."
Brieze held her closer. "I-- I will try, Marene."
Marene put a hand on his cheek. "Never lose your love for life, that is what makes you different from him, and that is what she'll love. I see a great romance in your future, Brieze, if it ends happy or sad, I do not know. Make your decisions carefully, Brieze. I love you." Then she dissolved into the air, leaving Brieze with his arms wrapped around a silhoette.
95-XE must be the He she was talking about, but who is the she?
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Midgar
Aug 17, 2006 19:29:16 GMT -5
Post by Dûncariel is Dead. on Aug 17, 2006 19:29:16 GMT -5
Silence.
Crap. Stupid people.
"All right then." He glaced around, his gaze finally settling on the half-filled glass of whatever it was Brieze had been drinking. Idea forming in his mind, he picked it up, looked at it a second, and then poured it over the SOLDIER's head. Hey, he was a fighter, not a lover. Let the heal-y people figure it out, once he was awake.
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Midgar
Aug 18, 2006 5:30:41 GMT -5
Post by Cluge of the Grey on Aug 18, 2006 5:30:41 GMT -5
The white room exploded into a river of soft drinks as Brieze woke up, gasping. He looked around and saw he was back in the bar, and Marene was gone. Riaan was standing over him with Brieze's empty cup. Had to use my drink, couldn't grab anyone elses.
Brieze stood, and wiped his shirt of in an attempt to dry himself off. His hand brushed over his left sleeve, and he winced considerably. He rollled up the sleeve to see the stigma. It had spread. instead of being just on his forearm, it was crawling past his elbow.
"What is that?"
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Midgar
Aug 18, 2006 21:24:59 GMT -5
Post by Dûncariel is Dead. on Aug 18, 2006 21:24:59 GMT -5
"Uhm, sorry, what?"
Riaan set the glass back on the table, and scratched his head, green eyes focusing on the dark stain across the other man's arm.
"You're just full of interesting issues today, aren't you?"
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Midgar
Aug 20, 2006 15:55:40 GMT -5
Post by Cluge of the Grey on Aug 20, 2006 15:55:40 GMT -5
Brieze scoffed at Riaan's comment.
"I'd rather not be."
He gingerly touched the skin, and he winced with the sharply immense pain.
"It's... I don't know what it is, but it hurts like a gunshot."
And he knew how those felt all too well.
Tifa got out of the bathroom and saw Brieze on the floor, inspecting a rash on his arm. But the rash seemed to click something in her mind.
She ran over to him and examined the arm. Just like Denzel's, Brieze had the Stigma.
"Can you stand?"
Brieze looked at Tifa, and tried to lift himself. His legs refused to work, and he fell back on his tush in the effort. Brieze shook his head at Tifa.
"You need to lie down. Here." She took one of the cushions from the stools, and set it under Brieze's head. After he was on the cushion, she turned to the man he called Riaan. She whispered very quietly, so even Brieze's super hearing couldn't hear her.
"He's got GeoStigma. It's an infection that's not contagious, but deadly to the host. There's no cure, and by the way, it's spreading on him, he won't last the week. All you can do is bring him home, and make him comfortable. I'm sorry."
Tifa walked over to the bar, refusing to let Brieze see the tears on her face.
Brieze heard nothing they said, but it couldn't be good. After Tifa left, he asked, "Riaan? What's going on? Is something wrong?"
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Midgar
Aug 21, 2006 19:17:17 GMT -5
Post by Dûncariel is Dead. on Aug 21, 2006 19:17:17 GMT -5
"Uh...."
Words, words... "You might want to... uh, nevermind. You've already sat down." Damn. Sympathy is not my thing... He pointed to the dark colored mark and grimaced. "That's... uh.... bad."
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Midgar
Aug 21, 2006 21:01:28 GMT -5
Post by Cluge of the Grey on Aug 21, 2006 21:01:28 GMT -5
Riaan, being a pessimist, is easily upset, but he seemed even more upset now.
"How bad is 'bad?'"
He tired to look around the corner to see Tifa, but she was out of sight. He looked into a mirror on the wall, and saw Tifa's face in it, crying.
"It's lethal isn't it?"
Brieze did not fear death, but he would be ashamed to be beaten by an opponet who was smalller than air.
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Midgar
Aug 23, 2006 14:53:14 GMT -5
Post by Padawan Yakhana Skie on Aug 23, 2006 14:53:14 GMT -5
After a long day of walking around Rayne finally found the Seventh Heaven. 'I could use a drink...' As she let herself in the chaos around her stopped her in her tracks. "You have the stigma don't you?" Rayne had delt with patients who had the stigma. "There is a cure. But I don't have it. She does. I mean, Aeris has it." She knelt down by Brieze. "Find Cloud, he can find her. Even if it's just ingredients. I can make the antidote. My mother... was a healer from where i'm from."
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Midgar
Aug 23, 2006 17:08:39 GMT -5
Post by Cluge of the Grey on Aug 23, 2006 17:08:39 GMT -5
Brieze saw Rayne come in and he felt small relief.
"Apparently, yes. My cells seem to have counter-reacted to it very harshly, becasue it's spreading rapidly."
He listened to he intently. A cure? There's really a cure? real hope began to rise in his heart, then plummeted instantly. The woman's name she mentioned rung a bell. He had seen a wanted notice of her in his Corp. days, and the Name and Picture he took of her connected.
"She's dead. I saw here in the bottom of a lake in the Forgotten City. But her body's... still warm, as if it's barely alive. I can take you to it..."
He tried to stand, but the Stigma had crawled down his legs, and the pain was unbearable. He collapsed back onto the makeshift bed.
"Strike that. I would take you to it, if I could. How did you know her? If she was in your world and came here like you did, maybe there is a way for you to get back home."
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Midgar
Aug 23, 2006 17:13:18 GMT -5
Post by sithhunter on Aug 23, 2006 17:13:18 GMT -5
Raptor shot from his seat and looked at his arm "Damn this is not good...it wasent sposed to happen this fast." Raptor truned to rayne and said "Where can i find cloud?"
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Midgar
Aug 23, 2006 17:28:42 GMT -5
Post by Cluge of the Grey on Aug 23, 2006 17:28:42 GMT -5
Brieze grabbed Raptor's shoulder as another flow of pain came.
"He spends most of his time in the abandoned Chapel," Tifa said, wanting to help. "If he's not there go to the desert until you find a sword sticking out of the ground. He might be there."
((How come everybody but me has thier name starting with 'R'?))
Brieze nodded thanks to Tifa, who was coming with a glass of water. She gave it to him, and he sipped thankfully. A tear fell from her face, and Brieze brushed it off her cheek. "Don't cry. If I die, I'll be free from my demon, my pain and my remorse. I'll be more alive dead than I am now. You should be happy for me not sad."
Tifa put her hand on his and smiled weakly.
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95-XE sat down, beaming. It was going better than expected, Soon, Brieze would be dead, and he would be free. It was pure Genius, letting the Stigma react that way. It wouldn't have come for a long time without his help. Now, he had to make sure Brieze died before this Raptor got back.
"Bring on the Pain!"
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Brieze's body spasmed as another wave of pain flowed, stronger than the others, and not slowing. He wanted to scream, but nothing came out but a dry groan.
Sweet dreams, buddy.
95!
He tried to tell the others his demon was behind this but the pain increased, his body jerking, and his head shattering. He felt very small.
Tifa looked in shock. She ad seen Denzel when he got into a pain fit, but nothing like this. She ran to the counter, grabbed a half empty small bottle, ran back dumped the contents of the bottle into his water, which dissolved, and threw the cup of water into his face. The shuddering and spasms slowed, then stopped.
"He's asleep. For now. Go find Cloud, I'll watch him."
She sat next to Brieze and put his head in her lap. He seemed at peace whn he was asleep, and she couldn't help but cry. Why do the good die young?
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Midgar
Aug 23, 2006 17:47:24 GMT -5
Post by sithhunter on Aug 23, 2006 17:47:24 GMT -5
Raptor stood there for a moment and then attepted to put a barrier in breeze's mind That aughta get 95 mad Raptor then ran out of the building and took of into the sky and flew into the desert.
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Midgar
Aug 23, 2006 21:05:23 GMT -5
Post by Dûncariel is Dead. on Aug 23, 2006 21:05:23 GMT -5
With the influx of people, Riaan had faded quietly to the side, and stood leaning against the wall, eyes unfocusedly ((if that's a word...)) staring into the jumble of people around Brieze. I could just walk out, out of this building, out of their lives. If Brieze dies... He stumbled on that a moment, though he couldn't really pinpoint a reason why. If Brieze dies, then I'm free. A small nod. No more self imposed debt.
But there would still be shame.
Worthless. I'm not doing any good standing here gaping like an idiot. Jade colored eyes wandered the room, resting on faces, finding little of comfort in any of them. You're not what they need. Take your bike and cut out while there's still time.
His attention, already teetering on the edge, wandered and drew his gaze out a window. It was grey outside. Echoing, Riaan thought disconsolately, the feeling of Midgar's general populace. A sigh escaped his lips as he focused back in on the room, dragging a chair over and sitting in it with his long legs stretched out in front of him.
He would wait. He couldn't do anything else.
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Midgar
Aug 24, 2006 11:29:05 GMT -5
Post by Padawan Yakhana Skie on Aug 24, 2006 11:29:05 GMT -5
Until Rayne aquired the ingredients Rayne sat down on one of the remaining stools next to the bar. "Tifa, give me something red and strong. Keep them coming until whoever went to find Cloud returns." 'It's like this all over again. Aeris, I know you're alive. Only in Clouds mind. We need your help. Just this once more.'
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Midgar
Aug 25, 2006 4:31:18 GMT -5
Post by Cluge of the Grey on Aug 25, 2006 4:31:18 GMT -5
Brieze drifted lzily around in dreams, devoid of pain, physical and emotional, and savored the numbness of the pointless stories in his head. Then he found his way over to a white room, and the door dissapeared behind him as it closed. But this didn't bother him, he was happy here. Farther in the infinite white, a Woman was standing there watching him. She had a pinkish-rose dress and brown braided hair greeen eyes and soft features.
"Hello Breize. Don't be afraid. Hold on, help's coming. You can't stay here, I'm afraid, but you must be strong. It won't be easy, but it will be easier than if he escapes."
With a wave of her hand, Brieze's dream began to dissolve, and he blinked. He was back in the bar. And the Stigma was moving again. He gritted his teeth, and fought against the endless pain.
Tifa Gently set Brieze's head off her lap, ran behind the bar, mixed some ingredients, and handed the glass of red liqour to Rayne. Then with a look over to the awakening Brieze, she went to go make another.
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Midgar
Aug 26, 2006 12:21:47 GMT -5
Post by Cluge of the Grey on Aug 26, 2006 12:21:47 GMT -5
Cloud sped through the streets of Midgar, and reached the Seventh Heaven. Tifa was mixing strong liquor, and a woman was accepting the cups. Cloud knelt over to Brieze, who just woke up. "Brieze. It's me. I know a way to end this. Do you know where i can find a green Materia?"
Brieze opened his eyes, squinting, and looked at Cloud. "In my travels as a Photographer, I find strange stuff. In my apartment is a small box of glowing balls. That might be waht you're talking about."
Cloud nodded and ran out of the bar, back on his bike, and to Brieze's apartment. It was suprisingly tidy, for a slum, and everyhting was placed perfectly. He found the box under the bed, opened and gaped. Several Materia were in it, as if he stumbled upon a mine's worth of it. He closed the box, and raced back to the bar.
Brieze convulsed again, and his strenght was slipping away. "Rayne..." Her face was growing dim, and the lights were getting fuzzy and darker. "Turn on the lights... I can't see... I'm losing the fight... Riaan? Where'd you go? Don't leave me... Dark... Growing dark..."
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Midgar
Aug 26, 2006 16:50:22 GMT -5
Post by Padawan Yakhana Skie on Aug 26, 2006 16:50:22 GMT -5
Rayne places her goblet back onto the bar before she knelt down before Brieze. "The lights are on dear. Close your eyes. Focus on something. One thing. Someone, something. Place your heart into that. Fight for it. Something that you really want. If you can't fight, then stop struggling. Sorry if I seem harsh. But the strong will always survive. Are you strong Brieze, or are you weak coward?"
Inside Rayne hoped that maybe these insults would spark something in him. Make him fight harder. So she started again. "There is no point in living if you're a bloody coward towars life. If you want death so much, here's your chance."
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