merry merry christmas, and I want you to know

[mansionstaff]

Who: YOU
What: KISSLETOES
When: December 14th - January 1st
Where: Everywhere
Warnings: Sloppy makeouts.

SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING...



The entire school has become covered in mistletoe overnight. It grows out of the walls! The ceilings! Everywhere you least expect it? HOW CAN THIS BE??

It's probably best not to think about it. Attempts to uproot the plants or burn them away only makes the plants grow back faster. For the time being, it seems the school must live with it.

[OOC INSTRUCTIONS:
+ Post dudes, get kisses!
+ Some (NOT ALL) plants are cursed. If you manage to step under a cursed plant, you will exchange a memory when or if you exchange a kiss. The memories will be first-person and very vivid, and characters will feel like they are experiencing the memory in real time, though in reality the transfer is instantaneous. Memories can be as short, long, happy, sad, or traumatic as you like.
+ If you'd like to participate, we highly suggest making a list of a few memories (with accompanying links/descriptions) that are up for grabs, and linking or posting the list in your top-level comment. Memory exchange is COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. When in doubt, OOC communication!
+ PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAG YOUR CHARACTERS
+ That's it, we love you.]

Comments

[blueburnshotter]

A potential threat was in charge of school security. Well, that seemed to be par for the course for what Hayato was picking up on about this place. Still, it wasn't a lost cause. Any shred of hope and determination was all he needed to have faith that things would turn out. He just had to make sure it was there.

"If you feel that filling those holes can help prevent that in any way... Well. Just say the word."

Zero wouldn't be the only person benefiting from, you know, not killing anyone.

[awakeningwill]

Zero cocked his head, shooting Hayato a questioning, incredulous look. Considering what the cheerleader had just been exposed to, asking for potentially more of the same seemed like an utterly demented plan on his part. Or was his desire to help really that strong, that he would endure the turmoil of others?

The reploid put his hands on his hips and debated the offer with a small scowl. More kissing. But he couldn't completely deny that he didn't want to know more about his past.

The air about Zero was more serious than usual as he ventured, "And what if you don't like what you see?"

[blueburnshotter]

It wouldn't be the first time he'd experienced someone else's more painful emotions for the sake of doing them some good. He didn't regret it then, and as far as Hayato was concerned, this would be just as rewarding in the end, even if actually reliving Zero's memories was going to be far more intense than simply cheering him through a trying time.

At least now he knew what to expect. So he thought.

To counter Zero's seriousness, Hayato tossed his hair back and smirked, as though it was the simplest of challenges. "I've got no problem witnessing a dark past for the sake of a brighter future."

[awakeningwill]

Phfft. Zero rolled his eyes at the corny display of confidence - though not entirely in disapproval. It was just Hayato being Hayato. Maybe it was a personality trait that the reploid could never share or necessarily understand, but he could accept it as a quirk inherent to another person.

"You're quite good at posturing," he pointed out casually. Though it was just the tiniest bit refreshing to see someone acting cocky on his behalf, rather than boasting on and on about how they were going to reduce him to scrap.

[blueburnshotter]

If Zero were to blink he would have missed Hayato's split-second transformation from arrogant to indignant. Now he really did feel as though he'd been challenged, and he wasn't going to back down without proving him wrong. Posturing. Pfhah!

"And you're quite good at dragging this out. But enough games. Shall we?"

Sorry Zero, but here comes some workplace harassment hot blond lovin'. In the form of Hayato stepping forward and bringing a hand up to the back of his neck to be even more forward than before.

[awakeningwill]

Just embrace that part of yourself, Hayato. Accept it. Though it barely showed on Zero's face, it did amuse him in the smallest way.

But this time, Hayato was not going to be doing any more of this grabbing business. Reflexively and not-all-too-gently, the reploid pushed his arm away with a stern look. It really wasn't a good idea to make such sudden grabs around a robot built for combat, even if he was smaller than you.

Zero raised a brow at this second bold display, and as dry as ever, he remarked, "Don't rush me. It's not polite."

Was that actually robot sass.

[blueburnshotter]

In hindsight, he should have expected a bit of resistance. But he was so dead set on getting things going the way he envisioned them that having his arm pushed so roughly away truly did surprise him. It was clear that if anyone was hesitant about the possibility of seeing something so unpleasant, it was Zero. But Hayato wasn't going to just give up now that he knew there was a looming possibility of danger otherwise. What a burden...

He didn't know Zero well enough yet to know what the best motivation was, but sass called for banter, and Hayato couldn't help but issue a challenge of his own. He turned his head slightly, watching Zero from the corner of his eye.

"Not to be rude, but I'm a busy man. I can only make the time to help those who actually have the courage to follow things through." Or are you going to stall until the past catches up to you instead?

[awakeningwill]

"Last I checked, I was only here because you needed help," Zero pointed out. Technically, that rather put Hayato in his debt, didn't it.

Besides, there wasn't even a chance that the memory would be anything new. It was a gamble that would subject the human to potential agony - more than anything, that was Zero's greatest hesitation. To step into someone else's mind was no trifling experience. Already, two people had grown to mistrust him from what they'd seen of his memories. It was true that he didn't want to run from the past, but being condemned for it wasn't something he relished either.

[blueburnshotter]

"And I do so hate being in debt." He was someone who hated so much as needing help in the first place. There was already one person Hayato owed so much to, and he didn't care to see that list grow any longer. He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer, though at least he didn't take another shot at a kiss just yet.

"Just what are you so afraid of, that it's worth putting others at risk?"

[awakeningwill]

What was he afraid of...? Zero already knew he was created with the intent to be a monster. And perhaps he truly had been, for a while. That was a burden he had to face up to. Maybe the worst part of it actually was the possibility that he could never be redeemed for simply existing. No matter what he did, no matter how hard he fought against fate, he was destined to hurt people.

But that was something that would simply remain unsaid. Rather than speak, Zero answered Hayato with a kiss on the cheek. Depending on what he saw, maybe it'd help him understand.

Or maybe it'd give him only pain.

Ragnarok is still falling. The explosion had only managed to tear apart its walls, but the great bulk of the space satellite is still intact, and plummets towards earth. At this size, it would easily wipe out Area 0 upon collision, and destroy the last trace of natural life on this ruined earth. The human colony, Neige, Ciel and the rest of the Resistance - there was no way they'd survive the impact.

Ciel's voice manages to reach his communicator, but the sound of static grows as he nears atmospheric re-entry. She's frantic with worry. "Zero! Reaching critical speed! If it goes any faster, I won't be able to get you back! Hurry!"

But before he can reply, another voice echos out from the metal husk of Ragnarok. Ancient, maniacal evil that would not rest. "No... This isn't over yet!"

Weil! Half destroyed, the scientist's cyborg body rises from the depths, no doubt already beginning to repair itself. How much did it take to bring this man down? The madman laughs, fire of revenge blazing in him - revenge upon all humans and reploids, upon the entire world - fearing nothing and desiring only total destruction. "I told you... I can't die! Nobody can stop Ragnarok now!"

"Z-Zero! There's no time! Get back here!" No, he can't. The mission's not over. If he teleported out now, the human race was as good as doomed. This had to end here. Both of them.

No, there is a way. The answer's clear. As they fall, chunks of Ragnarok begin to burn away, but Zero was strangely calm. If I destroy Weil's core, the explosion will take Ragnarok out with it... If Ragnarok is blown apart, it no longer poses a threat.

A hitch in Ciel's voice. She sounds on the verge of tears. "But what about you?"

Weil interrupts again, cackling. "Bwahahaha! Are you even capable of it!? The Reploid hero... Protecting justice and humanity! I am one of those humans you were sworn to protect! Do you have it in you to defeat me!?" A massive cable plunges into his back, pumping his cursed body with power. Then another. More and more, stabbing into him with great force until his form began to mutate almost beyond recognition. Massive, grotesque, merged with the remains of the satellite itself.

A fitting look, for such a monstrous man. For all his gloating, for all the power he claimed to have over Zero, he still doesn't understand. His baiting means nothing to Zero, and it never has.

I never cared about justice, and I don't recall ever calling myself a hero...

I have always only fought for the people I believe in.

I won't hesitate...

If an enemy appears in front of me, I will destroy it!

The sound of sobbing belongs to Ciel. All she wanted was for him to come back alive, but it was a promise he wasn't going to keep. Helpless and... heartbroken, she can only plead, "Zero... Zero!"

Determination swells up in him for this final task. As long as weapons like him existed, the world would never be at peace. There would always be more conflict, and the fighting would go on, endless. No matter how much good he strove to do, it only contributed more pain. But if he died alongside humankind's greatest tormentor, perhaps...

He could be at peace as well.

The sky turns to fire all around him. For Ciel, and for X, he has to see this through and end everything, once and for all.

Ciel... Believe in me.

The last thing he hears is the sound of his name in screams as he rushes forward to plunge his sword into Weil's core. Everything goes hot and white. His armour cracks and breaks apart in the blast, his limbs are gone. Ragnarok shatters, disintegrating into bright red flame. Zero catches one last glimpse of earth - before every part of him burns, and is gone.

Mission... complete.

[blueburnshotter]

He should get serious about practicing, they keep telling him. That he should learn to synchronize with the squad. But what for? He's already good at it, he always points out, but they can practice all they want until they reach his level. He only backs down when that large, vaguely terrifying captain is around, but he's out doing who-knows-what today. Eating babies, probably.

Today's nagging is coming from... ah. It's been nearly a month and Hayato still can't be bothered to remember his name. Nor has he learned how to tell whether his eyes are open or not. He does, however, have the most gorgeous copper braid running just past his shoulders, and Hayato has decided he wants to grow his hair long, too. The whole squad is going to look fantastic but he, of course, plans to be the most dazzling of all. Not that he isn't already.

Come practice, the other young man says again, and Hayato just laughs and refills his teacup. Know who he'd love to be cheering with right now? Those boys across the river. Oh, he can't wait to finally meet them! Everyone had better hurry up and get in shape so they can go over there and impress them.

He can't see his teammate's eyes, but he gets the impression they're being rolled pretty hard. Rude.

An act of selflessness exchanged for a glimpse through the eyes of someone completely self-centered. Sorry for that, Zero.

Hayato flinched away from the reploid, his eyes squinting against a searing brightness that didn't exist in the present. By all means, Zero should have been dead, in that case. A robot body could probably be replaced, but there was no way things like his processors and memory or whatever he ran on would have survived such an explosion.

But what was important was everything else in the memory. Hayato may not have known who the distressed voice calling out to him was, or who his foe was, but Zero sacrificed everything just to protect life on earth. Here he was worried about becoming a potential threat, but if he was capable of making a decision like that... There wasn't anything to worry about after all, was there?

Hayato rubbed his chin, regarding Zero quietly for a moment.

"...Was it eye-opening for you too?"

[awakeningwill]

Eye-opening... to learn that Hayato adopted his current look out of hair-envy? Diverting, but not particularly enlightening.

Zero just shrugged, unimpressed. No long lost memories uncovered this time, making it a pretty pointless endeavour. Bluntly, he remarked, "Not really."

If nothing else, he could took the whole sacrificing yourself by blowing up while falling out of orbit thing in stride very well. You'd almost think he did it all the time, with how blasé he acted about it.

[blueburnshotter]

Hey, hey, Hayato had long outgrown petty things like hair envy.

Mostly.

Zero.

"Hmmph. At least one of us learned something. You're capable of doing something so noble and yet you still think there's the possibility of becoming a threat." Two could play the nonchalant game.

[awakeningwill]

Suck it. You could never match these locks.

Zero snorted. While it was nice of Hayato to see the good in him, they still had to be realistic. He turned away and crossed his arms as he explained to the cheerleader, "You're human. Your heart will always be yours. But... to those who see me as nothing more than a tool to be used, there are ways to overwrite who I am."

For once, the reploid who could cut enemies several times his size seemed... small. He may have been armoured and as stern as steel, but that body of his held vulnerabilities that no human's did.

"The possibility is always there. I already fell to it once." Zero's resolve was grim, but tired. "I have to fight so my heart stays my own."