Protomateria [Vincent]

[Auric]

The Protomateria
... and The Seeker

In many ways, Midgar's native realm was similar to the one I've always known. Our land, however... didn't have a collective consciousness to it... but what I'm referring to was Materia. In my native realm, magic could only naturally be used by monsters or l'Cie. For the regular humans, though? We had to use Manadrives -- an AMP-based device that required charging and was very limited in its actual ability to produce results in battle. "Magic" was just something we called it because the science behind it was too complicated for the common man. In Midgar's native realm? Well, their "magic" was much the same.... materia enabled them to manipulate the elements and could actually be broken down into a science. The difference was that materia could be made from the lifestream itself. And those naturally created by the planet? They were particularly powerful...

---

It had taken him some time to go through all the records he'd obtained from his visit to ShinRa headquarters. Keeping an ear to the ground, he'd found out that they were still none-the-wiser as to who had actually raided their head quarters -- only that they might have been a super-soldier which naturally brought them to investigate their SOLDIER ranks and still turn up empty. There were many files he'd taken an interest in... most were dead-end leads or scrapped projects. Training regimens of SOLDIERs, the requirements to produce them and the manufacturing of their equipment... it was safe to say that of all the non-native people of Midgar he was the most well-informed about their affairs.

What caught his eye were the black-listed and shadow files... actual files which had been deleted or heavily encrypted and had their content omitted. References to physical documentation that ShinRa no doubt kept elsewhere.... but fragments had already been imported and he could fill out the rest. Other files -- such as project S or G were scrapped because ShinRa, being what it is, no doubt wanted to keep a lid on problems they'd probably caused. But what lead him to come all the way out to Nibelheim was one which referred to on of the three "original" Materia. To quite a few, the Black and White materia were the most well-known... one to cause catastrophe and the other to save them from it. But the third was what caught his eye -- the Protomateria.

From there? The files became useless. Research notes, formulas and speculations... and yet none of it answered the single most overriding question of them all. How did it work? It was very clear as to its purpose... but the means was the black box which even ShinRa's brightest minds failed to properly grasp. But at the end of the day... he'd sort it out. Here, in Nibelheim... it was quite a walk for those who lacked an airship. Auric had come on foot -- the landscape proved no match for his physique, where many would be tired from the long walk, his idea of a comfortable stroll would be akin to power walking among city-folk. Perhaps even those who lived in the country-side, but that aside, he'd left his partner in Rabanastre (again) to pursue her own bounties; he'd insisted she try building her reputation rather than mooching off his own which... ended with him challenging her to go do as many as possible by the time he came back.

Thank goodness for their rivalry.

He had just arrived at ShinRa mansion; the Hero for Hire was looking a book over... some random rich-guy's autobiography which was in summary a very bland read. The structure itself was in a state of disrepair... a modest one in comparison to the many others he'd seen in the past. He placed the book on a surface as he walked to the higher level. Knowing it would be the last place he'd care to look for it was unlikely to hold any information that might have been considered valuable... but he was one for being thorough. Naturally, he was right. He took a moment as he re-entered the main hall... from atop the staircase he observed the rest of the house. His attire? The usual, with a beige cloak that had a hood which kept his face largely obscured.

Hm. Figures everyone keeps their secrets in the basement...

[Vincent Valentine]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 440px; background: url(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs18/f/2007/150/0/a/background_by_cottencandydioxide.jpg); border: 1px dashed #FF0000, b Table] I need some peace of mind no fear of what's behind You think you've won this fight you've only lost your mind

[atrb=style, font-family: Tahoma; word-spacing: 1px; text-align: justify; background: #000000 ; border: 1px dashed #FF0000; color: 8E97A7; opacity: 0.9; padding: 10px;] Vincent being sick of all he had been doing for the WRO; had returned to Nibelheim and to the mansion where his life had destroyed by a mad scientist. He didn't know what drew him back to what had been basically his prison for thirty years. He entered the doors and instantly Chaos was going almost berserk trying to get out and acting like he did when there was something he would like to attack or investigate. Vincent then realised that there must be someone else in the mansion, but to confirm his suspicion he asked the agitated demon if there was anyone else in the mansion. ”What do you think Host? Of course there is or I would not want to attack them.” Chaos replied. Vincent let the demon to lead him to the other person in his home; Vincent soon came in contact with the person and wondered what they were doing in the mansion in the first place. Vincent used the Protomateria to hold Chaos back and so he could keep a clear head. “Who are you, and why are you here?” Vincent asked the man in the beige cloak that obscured his face. Vincent hoped the stranger wouldn’t notice the glow of the Protomateria in his chest near where his heart was. Vincent waited for the response, his face hidden by the high collar of the tattered red cloak Vincent wore.

[atrb=style, font-family: Garamond; word-spacing: 1px; text-align: justify; background: #000000 ; border: 1px groove #FF0000; color: 8E97A7; opacity: 0.9; padding: 10px;]WORD COUNT: 234 TAGGED: Auric MUSIC: Had Enough~Breaking Benjamin NOTES: CREDIT GOES TO: Hana of OTE AND BS + Jawn's tutorial

[Auric]

His face was only largely concealed. Anonymity wasn't his aim, but a mere coincidence... which was just fine by him. At his most present state he was taking a guess as to how deep the basement might have gone. The town itself was build on a mountain; excluding plumbing and other utilities, there was only so much space that the mansion could actually carve out of the ground before compromising the mountain itself.... and then there were the schematics of the Mako reactor which, before the world had merged was there and cut quite a large amount from the mountain as well. Even if it might not have been there anymore, the structure of the Mansion wouldn't have gotten larger so that meant it had a fixed size which was easy to guess. As to what it could contain? A lab, no doubt.

But as to the specifics itself he wouldn't be able to know without actually going down there -- still, the amount of information one could gleam just by knowing the environment wasn't something you could underestimate... and when one such as Auric was involved? It was easy to see why he was quite the professional. But it seems, going down there wasn't necessary... for the one thing he'd come here for had actually come up to him. The minute glow in Vincent's chest was easy to notice; the red of his cloak wasn't an ideal background for him to hide such a thing. He didn't flinch... but this most definitely made things easier. "I am here... as a Seeker. There is something I must obtain." he spoke back rather ambiguously.

He knew that it wasn't giving out much... but it was still the truth. No deception -- no lies of omission. Both his purpose and who he was. Who, after all, was the function of what -- and what he was, was someone who sought. The Seeker. "You are... the host. Implanted with the Protomateria." he stated, knowing this might not translate very well. He shook his head, going for peace... despite knowing that that eventuality was an outcome most rare. "I seek to borrow it. A single minute -- to learn what there is to be learned about it. I would rather you permitted me."

[Vincent Valentine]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 440px; background: url(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs18/f/2007/150/0/a/background_by_cottencandydioxide.jpg); border: 1px dashed #FF0000, b Table] I need some peace of mind no fear of what's behind You think you've won this fight you've only lost your mind

[atrb=style, font-family: Tahoma; word-spacing: 1px; text-align: justify; background: #000000 ; border: 1px dashed #FF0000; color: 8E97A7; opacity: 0.9; padding: 10px;] Vincent's crimson eyes flashed when he heard what the seeker was seeking, the Protomateria, the one thing giving him some control over Chaos. "Yes I am the host of the Protomateria and The Host of the demon Chaos. And in regards to you borrowing it, that’s not going to happen. Its purpose is keeping Chaos in check, which it is currently doing. I don't want Chaos getting control as much as I do like him." Vincent said. He knew that the seeker would probably try and take the materia even though Vincent referred to the purpose of the materia. Vincent knew exactly what would happen the moment the small orb left his chest, Chaos would take over and there would be nothing Vincent could do about it. That was something Vincent couldn't allow. Chaos was just too much of a danger to allow to get that sort of control. "Chaos taking over would be a disaster of catastrophic proportions. I don't want that to happen and if the Protomateria is removed from where it is there will be nothing I can do to stop it. Do you understand where I'm coming from?" Vincent said patiently.

[atrb=style, font-family: Garamond; word-spacing: 1px; text-align: justify; background: #000000 ; border: 1px groove #FF0000; color: 8E97A7; opacity: 0.9; padding: 10px;]WORD COUNT: 194 TAGGED: Auric MUSIC: Had Enough~Breaking Benjamin NOTES: CREDIT GOES TO: Hana of OTE AND BS + Jawn's tutorial

[Auric]

Auric wasn't at all phased. Or surprised... people didn't make it a point to let go of such things willingly -- for whatever purpose. Still, the task remained... the Protomateria was an item of power -- an object which had been naturally created in the world that Vincent must have been from. A certain something about it couldn't be manufactured without first having been examined closely... and even with the mechanics known, the process to recreate it quite possibly wouldn't have been possibly by normal means. But Auric was hardly normal. There was a reason why he sought the Protomateria out... even to people searching for power the item in question was actually quite limited in its use. In fact, with his current introduction? The Hero for Hire was quite certain that Vincent was the only one who could even use the damn thing for anything other than a paperweight.

The Seeker wasn't about to walk away with a simple 'no'. The host's eyes flashed at the Seeker's words and quite simply told him that it wasn't going to happen. There were good reasons as to why Vincent couldn't exactly let it go. The files had mentioned Chaos and Omega... things which were quite simply a cut beyond the norm of power when it came to the world. Super beings of might; he knew it was Chaos that resided within the host's frame. "Demon..." he repeated, wondering if those were the right words to use. Chaos was no demon... but a manifestation of the darker side of all living beings from the energy to negative memories -- it was a stagnant form of the lifestream and a naturally occurring part within his realm's cycle of life.

"That's not accurate. Is it?" he mused, shaking his head as his hood still partially concealed his face. No, Chaos was an agent; a squire to Omega to bring about the end and gather all of the lifestream for Omega to continue the cycle of life. To the many of the world... it was their end. Strange, seeing as how he knew of something else that could destroy a planet. "But... I suppose it must seem that way to you... hmm... demon." he thought aloud, more to himself. Dark memories, dark powers... without the protomateria to enable him to control and make sense of it all it must have felt like a dark possession. 'Demon' made sense in that case. "I understand." he agreed, no doubt it would be something that Vincent would have been surprised to hear.

"... but I'm afraid that changes nothing." he resumed, knowing that this definitely wouldn't translate very well. "Even catastrophic is an acceptable price to pay, but... I am quite sure you can manage for a single minute." he insisted, taking a minute to walk to the top of the stairwell, descending by a single step... did Auric truly mean to use force? Perhaps the host would pre-empt his attempt... or nothing would come of it. Time tells all things; the question to be asked, however... was how Vincent would react.

[Vincent Valentine]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 440px; background: url(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs18/f/2007/150/0/a/background_by_cottencandydioxide.jpg); border: 1px dashed #FF0000, b Table] I need some peace of mind no fear of what's behind You think you've won this fight you've only lost your mind

[atrb=style, font-family: Tahoma; word-spacing: 1px; text-align: justify; background: #000000 ; border: 1px dashed #FF0000; color: 8E97A7; opacity: 0.9; padding: 10px;] "You are right I am not exactly accurate in my calling Chaos a demon but you don't have to listen to him criticize your every move or trying to mess with your head so I have every right to call him one." Vincent snapped being sick of his 'guest'. This at the moment was worse than the missions. "You've lost your mind." Vincent said hearing the other man say what he had said didn't change anything. "Why are you so desperate to get your hands on the protomateria anyway? I hope you realise you won't be able to use it seeing as the only reason I can use it is the Chaos Gene in my body." Vincent was on edge and wanted nothing more than to be in his coffin. Life was easier in there. Vincent deciding to prepare himself to fight as he didn't see the other backing down. He drew Cerberus and kept his claw at the ready as well. Vincent was well prepared to fight if need be. He then waited to see what the seeker did.

[atrb=style, font-family: Garamond; word-spacing: 1px; text-align: justify; background: #000000 ; border: 1px groove #FF0000; color: 8E97A7; opacity: 0.9; padding: 10px;]WORD COUNT: 180 TAGGED: auric MUSIC: Had Enough~Breaking Benjamin NOTES: CREDIT GOES TO: Hana of OTE AND BS + Jawn's tutorial

[Auric]

"Not... him, no." he admitted rather cryptically. To have one with his abilities... meant living a life with a different kind of headache. It's difficult to know how it all ends... to see your place in the world and know it's not enough to do what must be done. The frustration that comes in knowing how certain things couldn't be changed. Imagine knowing that death and destruction was certain -- that sacrifices would ultimately be necessary for any hope to survive for all that remained. That each sacrifice was merely forestalling the inevitable. No one truly knew how it was; his mind and features were forever guarded for he knew that the best hope lied in being the hero -- to bring out the best in others, to fill their inner strength so that they might fight on against fate.

Yes. Chaos may have been the collective dark emotions that plagued the mind and would have torn his psyche apart. But with every wind that blows, the smell of faint mist in the breeze, the knowledge of destruction of a town by brigands the crushing defeat of an army or the death of an entire nation that rested on the whims of a madman bent on fool ambitions and yet to feel it as some tiny thing drifting about in the oceans in the center of an otherwise violent storm. Take that, multiply it by infinity then take it to the depths of forever and you would barely have a glimpse of what Auric could feel. So to him? Chaos was a moat in a castle on sandy beach in Costa Del Besaid.

"Hnhn... 'You've lost your mind'? What an odd thing to say... host." he bit back, the venom in his tone oddly dry as his amusement carried itself within his words. He loved irony. "I suppose that's the only purpose you think it would serve." he replied back, noticing the increasing air of hostility between the two. This would not end well. But he spoke the truth... the protomateria itself could only access the powers of either Chaos or Omega; it was true. But beyond that? There was potential. Auric saw it as a conceptual construct something you could take and plant within something to better one's control. Like a conscious logical engine. Auric's powers increased exponentially with his understanding. Things that people spend their entire lives trying to wrap their heads around was done in mere moments because of the way his mind worked... and yet, there was even more to him that he was aware he couldn't control. Like the powers that manifested within him; untapped reserves, imprints which required awakening...

Then something clicked. He knew his enemy would draw -- as Auric's own weapon was pulled from its holster. Swift. He pointed Reverse Charity towards Vincent as he did what he could to pre-empt him.

---

Battle Report

[hp=150/150]

Actions:

Attack [Vincent] - Attack [Vincent]

Attack - Simple physical attack that does 5 HP damage.

Damage Output
Vincent -10 (5+5)

[Vincent Valentine]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 440px; background: url(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs18/f/2007/150/0/a/background_by_cottencandydioxide.jpg); border: 1px dashed #FF0000, b Table] I need some peace of mind no fear of what's behind You think you've won this fight you've only lost your mind

[atrb=style, font-family: Tahoma; word-spacing: 1px; text-align: justify; background: #000000 ; border: 1px dashed #FF0000; color: 8E97A7; opacity: 0.9; padding: 10px;] Vincent sighed, he was frustrated and would have much rather been left alone to contemplate his past. He grimaced being still very awkward about being around people. He wanted nothing more than to shoot the Seeker in the heart and get rid of him. But Vincent surprised the Turk instincts to just kill he wanted a real fight. "I lost my former mind years ago... which was needed." Vincent smiled darkly as he took the hit. He had wanted the seeker to make the first move. Letting his battle instincts come through Vincent cocked Cerberus in a swift flick of his wrist and pointed its three barrels at his opponent. He sent a few shots before jumping a little way away from him. He let the Protomateria's power fade away so he could use a particular Chaos fight in the battle if needed. He was going to wait until later in the fight though. BATTLE REPORT: [hp=100/110] ACTIONS: Attack [target] Attack - Simple physical attack that does 5 HP damage. DAMAGE OUTPUT: Auric: -5

[atrb=style, font-family: Garamond; word-spacing: 1px; text-align: justify; background: #000000 ; border: 1px groove #FF0000; color: 8E97A7; opacity: 0.9; padding: 10px;]WORD COUNT: 154 TAGGED: Auric MUSIC: Had Enough~Breaking Benjamin NOTES: Sorry it is short CREDIT GOES TO: Hana of OTE AND BS + Jawn's tutorial

[Auric]

It was only natural for Vincent to want to be left alone; he'd come to some dark, ruined mansion to escape others and from what he'd read in the files, it was all about the nostalgia. The events of the past -- to replay it over and over again like a sepia tone daguerreotype film. Memories that could play over itself, different perspectives rolling as the thought processed the same scene from the start. And within it all must have lied a deep regret. Dark memories. Emotions. It seemed that Vincent's life would be difficult to live with the cumulative conciousness of Chaos influencing even his waking moments. If only such a time when he'd be left alone with his memories when he slept. It was too bad, really... Auric wouldn't have wanted it to come to this.

But he certainly wouldn't have shied away from such a thing. As the shots were fired, Auric's mind went overdrive as the world turned to numbers around him. Thinking became an instinct. The instinct became a reflex. His body moved as he weaved around each shot, his cloak fluttering as Vincent's bullets form holes upon impact, some close but all short from actually hitting Auric's body. With a turn of his shoulder, Auric turned back to face Vincent and aimed for his chest; a solid squeeze of his finger and bullet left barrel. Spent brass ejected from the top-side port of his weapon, they were trading shots. And it all came down to who would last.

---

Battle Report

[hp=150/150]

Actions:

Intuition [ON] - Attack [Vincent]

Intuition [ON] - Works like guard. Completely evade regular attacks, lowers damage from physical attacks by 5 HP. Prohibits use of magic of user without cancelling.

Attack - Simple physical attack that does 5 HP damage.

Damage Output
Vincent -5

[Vincent Valentine]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 440px; background: url(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs18/f/2007/150/0/a/background_by_cottencandydioxide.jpg); border: 1px dashed #FF0000, b Table] I need some peace of mind no fear of what's behind You think you've won this fight you've only lost your mind

[atrb=style, font-family: Tahoma; word-spacing: 1px; text-align: justify; background: #000000 ; border: 1px dashed #FF0000; color: 8E97A7; opacity: 0.9; padding: 10px;] Vincent growled as he took the hit. Well it was more like Chaos and Galian wer growling, Vincent realised Cerberus didn't help him right now and his best choice would be to 'introduce' the seeker to one of the two. He decided to go with Galian Beast as it would be more beneficial to hold back Chaos til later in a fight. He called the purple beast to the surface. The fog surrounded his body as the transformations took hold. Galian had to be one of the most painful of all his monster transformations. The fog disappeared and standing where Vincent had been standing was a hairy purple beast with large horns and wearing Vincent's cloak as a kilt. Galian let out a growl before rushing the human. He struck the seeker with the berserk dance. He was ferocious as it had been a long time since Vincent let him out. Galian even felt bad for Chaos as Vincent was even more reluctant to let the other monster or whatever you want to call him. Galian was happy to rip and bite at the ‘intruder’ who was after the Protomateria. [hp=95/110] Techniques used: Galian Beast [auric] Vincent transforms into a wild purple beast. Defense increases by 20%, Dexterity by 50%, and HP by 50%. uses Physical attack called berserk dance for 1 1/2 times normal damage to a single target or Magical attack called Beast Flare for 3 3/4 times normal fire-elemental damage to all targets.. 6 post cooldown Damage Output: Auric: -8

[atrb=style, font-family: Garamond; word-spacing: 1px; text-align: justify; background: #000000 ; border: 1px groove #FF0000; color: 8E97A7; opacity: 0.9; padding: 10px;]WORD COUNT: 190 TAGGED: Auric MUSIC: Had Enough~Breaking Benjamin NOTES: CREDIT GOES TO: Hana of OTE AND BS + Jawn's tutorial