to: Heroes of Light; also Cid, Biggs, Wedge

[charming_jerk]

WHAT HAPPENED?

Why are they dead? Why did they just fucking fall over and die? Why did they just suddenly turn to crystal and disappear? Why did it only happen to people who just got here? Why didn't they just turn into crystal like the people in the hospital? Why does anything happen on this god awful stupid planet?!

Twice now I've seen someone I know show up here, only to have them disappear. Both were people really important to me, both were people who I had been looking for but lost, both are now just gone from existence. Last year, Lukas showed up here crystallized and disappeared like an hour later. This week, Blaine crystallized in front of me and disappeared in moments. It apparently happened to other people. Some had it a lot worse and they just fell over and died. Others are missing and we don't even know what happened to them.

No one's going to have answers because this place is completely fucked. I've been asking all over town what people saw and it's all the same stories of death or crystallization and then disappearance. Just when I think this place might be worth living it, it pulls another stunt like this. This planet can burn for all I care.

[This letter isn't signed, since it's mostly an act of outrage than a facilitation of thoughtful discussion. Instead, there's a note on the bottom from Johnny's moogle helper, Mogrius, about how this is from Johnny and how he does not encourage writing back. He's not going to answer, and unless you can bring his friend back, he likely won't care what you have to say. He does encourage for anyone who might care to stop a certain pub, where Johnny is sitting in a corner drinking himself into a stupor at this very moment, which is clearly the best response to this. You know, if you care. Which Mogrius does not. But he figures it's possible someone out there might.

If you go to see him there, he is indeed right where Mogrius said he'd be, head laying on top of his arm, folded on the table. There are many empty glasses surrounding him already, and the night is young.]

Comments

[bloodynine]

[ Logen looks in on his friend and says. ]

Well, you look like shit. Want someone to help you while you're being shit?

[charming_jerk]

[He barely peeks out at Logen before answering.]

Help at what, continuin' to be shit?

[bloodynine]

Sounds like a decent plan to me. But I was thinking more drinking until we don't remember anything. You're hurting, aren't you, friend?

[charming_jerk]

[When Logen asks that, Johnny hunches in a bit. It's obvious he is, but he's too embarrassed and too tough to admit something like that. So instead he just drink his feelings away.]

I hate this fuckin' place. I take back any nice shit I ever said about it.

[bloodynine]

It's just another place. After a while you realize everywhere is a different kind of shitty.

[zodiac_brave]

[Ramza stops by the bar after his shift at work ends. He slides the little badge that identifies him as an law officer into his pocket. He isn't here to keep the peace...just to check up on a friend.

He asks the bartender for two glasses of water. One he places on the table by Johnny's little shot-glass graveyard, the other stays by him.]

I thought you might need this.

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny peeks an eye out at Ramza, and the water. Before he got to Crystallis, his alcohol tolerance was beastly. Here, not so much. He's going to need that water. But for now, he goes back to hiding his face in his arm and gives Ramza a flat "Thanks."]

[zodiac_brave]

[Ramza is a much better listener than a talker in these situations, but Johnny does not seem inclined to talk. Ramza approaches the matter as he would if Johnny's role was being filled by a sulking chocobo. Whenever Johnny next emerges, he will find a basket of bar fries and wings. They're no gysahl greens, but they will have to do. Even if Johnny does not wish to talk, Ramza thinks that having some food in his stomach will not hurt matters.]

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny finally picks his head up when Ramza drops off food. He'd be amused by Ramza's offerings if he was in a better mood, but he gives him a tired look instead.]

Ya don't have to go through all this trouble, y'know.

[zodiac_brave]

[Ramza shrugs and pushes the basket closer to Johnny.]

It is no trouble. Please, eat something. Making yourself sick will not do any good.

[He sits. He wants to stay until he's sure Johnny will be alright.]

[not_most_days]

[Mary knows the pub listed in Mogrius' note well. It's not one of her regular ones but she still knows how to find it. It's not long after the letter goes out that the pirate walks into the bar and orders a rather pricey bottle.

There is a dull thud as it thunks down on the bar next to Johnny's arm, along with the clinking of two shot glasses as Mary holds them twixt her fingers in offering. She's not even bothering to hide her gender as usual. Nothing less than naked honesty is worthy of being here right now.]

Drink your fill. I'm paying. And I'll make sure you get home.

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny looks up, a little surprised to see her. He rubs his eyes like he's already trying to chase away the oncoming headache.]

Y'sure ya wanna do that? I'll end up drainin' your wallet.

[not_most_days]

[Mary catches that look and she's honestly happy to hear it. You can tell a lot about where someone's at by their reaction to the prospect of 'one more drink'.

Her fingertip goes to the bottle's rim, gently and carefully tilting it this way and that.]

Perhaps. Let's put a condition on it. I want to know what you plan to do tomorrow. Besides chase off the hangover of course.

[charming_jerk]

[He props up his chin on a hand now, thinking. Thinking hurts right now.]

Fuck if I know. What can I do. 'Sides watch this place get worse day by day. Why, what'm I supposed to do?

[not_most_days]

[Mary pushes the bottle aside, not quite out of reach but out of mind for the moment. Sighing, she takes a seat next to him and clasps her fingers with her chin resting on them.]

I'm afraid I don't know. And I don't disagree with you either. It seems like every time we make some progress we get kicked back down the ropes. At least we can take some happiness that not all of the newcomers were lost to us.

[She can't say whether or not those who wound up as crystal statues could be considered lucky though, given all else they had been told and observed as of late.]

[unalive_them]

[Aaaand, Deadpool's gonna go and put up a seat next to ya, Johnny. He didn't see the letter - he's just resisting the temptation of pantsing Cid and stealing the Enterprise, so he's gonna get plastered.]

Mind if I sit here? Great. Look, if it means all that much, wait three months so I can get my nanomachines before you beat me up for not stepping in line here, okay?

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny looks up at Deadpool with a frown.]

Dude. I don't even know what the hell you were thinkin'. Why bother rigging the mognet election? Just-- why?

[It seemed so unimportant to him, so he can't imagine why anyone would make that effort.]

[unalive_them]

Y'wanna know why? [He takes a chug] Because you guys won't. Because I thought he deserved the chance. [And another]

Back home, we have bad guys who routinely do bad things, but when you give them a chance to do good, they start liking it and changing! Look at the Thunderbolts - bad 90s name aside, most of those guys went legit! I'm trying to go legit! I'm an Avenger! Me! Deadpool! I'm almost everything wrong with 90s comics and I'm an Avenger! Even Wolverine was an Avenger!

[He takes another chug]

This world, these people... only two settings: you're good or you're evil. I feel like I'm in the Silver Age of the Distinguished Competition and there's no Superdickery involved.

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny rubs his already pounding forehead. If he were sober, he might try to make sense of this.]

Look, I don't buy into hero 'n villain bullshit. Even in this world. Things aren't so black and white, ever. Take it from a half demon. But this just seems completely stupid. Who did you try to rig it for? Ashelia's moogle was the one who won, right?

[unalive_them]

I tried to rig it for the Moogle you guys hate! The Black Mage one, whatshisname!

[unyieldingspirit]

[well, she can't say she disagrees with the sentiment.

She heads for the pub, with a quiet word of thanks regardless of what Mogrius feels about the matter. Once there, she makes for the seat next to Johnny.]

Mind company?

[charming_jerk]

[It's pretty obvious that Johnny and Morgrius don't get along, but Mogrius isn't heartless. He doesn't approve of Johnny's coping methods but he understands the anger. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left that note.

When K'pandolu sits down, Johnny peeks up at her for a moment, before dropping his head again.]

I guess not. But I ain't good company right now.

[unyieldingspirit]

[It's something.

She signals the server for drinks and folds her arms, leaning forward a little, head turned towards Johnny.]

I doubt many of us are. [she tilts her head] But the better to share it in company, I hear. [seeing as she's not been so good at sharing her own problems. In her way, she thinks it's something like brave to let it loose on MOgnet in general.]

[charming_jerk]

I dunno. Maybe.

[He turns his head to look at her now.]

Y'know, I used to say this was a decent place. I mean, before I got here, lived in a radiation-chocked hellscape, a cramped military base on the moon, and a snow-covered tundra respectively. Crystallis looked great comparatively. Guess I was wrong.

[unyieldingspirit]

Sweet on the surface, and sour underneath. I'd wonder why none of its own seemed to wish to become its saving, but that seems a good enough reason.

[she's playing it lightly, though that is a question she's wondered.

Her drink comes, and she rests her hands around it for the moment.]

If you could go anywhere- where would you go?