genessia | [ BACKDATED from 2/22 - Video // Locked from known bad-guy types ]

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[ BACKDATED from 2/22 - Video // Locked from known bad-guy types ]

[ The video as it turns on, shows Lucy sitting outside the Fairy Tail Guild, looking a little battered and weary, but not too badly injured. Mostly tired. Natsu is standing off to one side, glaring at a trio of men who were tied up with ropes. ]

For all those concerned, you may want to avoid the ruins that were uncovered. At least for a little while. While Natsu and I were searching the ruins, we came across some members of the Hands of Decay. I'm not entirely sure what they were looking for in those ruins - but whatever it was, they found it. [ She drummed her fingers against a strange looking book in her lap thoughtfully. ]

As some of you already know, mages in Fayren are not safe by any stretch of the imagination, especially when they don't take shelter where they can be protected, even temporarily. Those ruins... we found several mages who were kidnapped from their homes, left down in the lower floor of the ruins. The scum known as the Hands of Decay intended to leave 'bait' by them, and lure monsters to deal witht them when they were incapable of defending themselves. At the same time, they had also hired bandits - possibly as a distraction - that Natsu made short work of and...who the City Guard will be collecting shortly, but while we were down there, we accidentally woke an Earth Dragon. It's been dealt with but I don't know if there is anything else down there.

We -were- able to recover several mages - ten in total - from the lower level of the ruins, and transported them safely to our guild, Fairy Tail. They weren't too badly injured, thankfully, but they were--are-- very shaken up. Apparently they were all kidnapped, but I wasn't able to clarify if it was while they were in their homes, at work, or simply in the general area of Fayren. Unfortuantely, I was unable to identify the faces of the members of the Hands of Decay. [ If she hears them, on the other hand... ] But I delivered some of the information to the City Guard.

[ mainly because she didn't trust authoritarian figures, that was pretty much the extent of her interaction with them. Though if they'd wanted to ask questions, she'd cooperate enough to answer them - to an extent. ]

I want to reiterate, not to frighten but to inform. The Hands of Decay claim they only want to eliminate mages - or get rid of them. We don't know how they define "magic". At this point, they are targeting -anyone- who has any kind of 'ability', gift, or power. However you define it - if you can do something others can't, it's highly likely they'll lump you in with 'mages' as well. And though they are currently limiting their attack area to Fayren, there's really nothing that'd stop them from broadening their reach if they consider this a successful attack; and in addition to that, it could be mages today, their allies tomorrow. Anyone currently residing in Fayren, please be extremely careful and aware of your surroundings at all times. We don't fully know what these people are capable of yet. [ And there was something very, VERY suspicious about the way they were working. ]

Everyone; mage, non mage, whatever you classify yourself - Be careful out there and be safe.

[ She lets the feed end, but remained on standby if anyone had questions, naturally. Although after a few moments of careful thought, she adds another filtered lock to the post ]

Levy, I hope you can see this. I was wondering if you could check something in your bookstore, or the library for me?

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I know all that. I also believe I've told you before, that even saying that is blatantly obvious. Members of Fairy Tail aren't going to disregard their own guildmembers safety, let alone the First. I'll thank you not to insult us.

[ She gets him being worried about a FRIEND, even though it was still weird to her. But either way she's going to pretend that slight pause didn't happen. It's gross thinking of Zeref and Mavis as anything more than friends. ]

You're not setting foot in Fairy Tail.

[ No question there. That would be beyond stupid, considering A) Natsu was there and B) there were a lot of innocent people there and she wasn't going to put them at risk because he was overprotective. ]

You may not have any confidence in her, but I do. Mavis is an independent woman [ Even if she doesn't look like one. ]

So I'm not going to say what she can and cannot do or where she can and can't go. I'm also not going to insult and disgrace the First by practically babysitting her.

[ Honestly what do you think she's gonna do, follow Mavis around like a shadow all the time? She has work to do. Heck, if Natsu ever tried to shadow Lucy or never let her out of his sight, she'd have chewed him out. ]

If you're so worried and don't want to let her out of your sight, then do it on your own time. But not here. [ Mavis was always visiting him anyway~! Two birds with one stone? ]

It's not that I don't have confidence in her, Lucy. I know better than most exactly what she is capable of. What I fear is what would happen if she, in particular, came into contact with that poison. I can't elaborate on my reasoning without revealing things that your guild has kept secret for over a century, and for good reason. If you did know, you'd know that the Hands wouldn't go anywhere near her if they valued their lives.

{ ... Did he just basically say that she doesn't need protection, which would contradict what he said earlier? If he did, he doesn't notice. }

Regardless of what may be happening in our own world, the last thing I want to see is any harm coming to her. And don't worry... Natsu can keep those bandages on his arm. There would be no point in me going near Fairy Haven.

Edited 2016-03-12 04:24 (UTC)

They threatened the entire community of mages - they obviously -don't- value their lives, or they don't believe their own propoganda. If all the mages of Fayren actually got together and hunted them down, it wouldn't be pretty.

[ In that sense it was GOOD most of them were frightened and hiding from the faceless group. She's also gotten used to his contradictions, ignoring the comment about Natsu with only a slight frown. ]

Anyway you can't expect me to believe much of your reasoning if you won't even elaborate on it. [ Because why - it's not like there's anyone here telling him not to tell her. ~~Except for mashima holding his cards close to his chest, sneaky bastard~~ ]

I would assume that the only reason that hasn't happened yet is because it is exactly what they want. And it wouldn't be wise to do so without an antidote to that poison.

{ Zeref sighs. She's right, of course. It's not really his place, and if it were anybody but Mavis, he wouldn't care. But he'd already lost her once. He doesn't want to do so again. }

If I tell you this, there's no going back. Natsu indicated to me in our world that he found out later on, but it is clear to me that you do not know, now. If you desire it, I will tell you. Perhaps it really is no coincidence that you, Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel all ended up in the same guild, the one founded by Mavis. Fate has such a strange sense of humor.

It would be what they want - it'd vindicate their accusations in saying that all mages are monsters. [ When only some are. ]

I'm not going to have any opportunity to go to the Dream Docks while this is going on, either tell me or don't, but I will find out eventually.

And don't try to put this on "Fate". [ It's an insult and a slap in the face if she ever finds out about her mother's involvement to boot. ]

{ Zeref slowly nods - not that Lucy can see it. There's a long pause, before he speaks again. }

All I can say, then, is that Mavis isn't dead. She never was, at least, not in the sense that all but the guilldmaster has been led to believe. There is a reason that somebody as physically young as her has such great power, great enough to convince all of you that she somehow found a way to construct such an intricate Thought Projection from beyond the grave.

{ Another pause. He elects not to reveal Fairy Heart; he can justify this to himself that it's for Mavis' protection, but that much is irrelevant. Plus it would beg the question how he knows that at all. }

She is immortal, Lucy. Just like I am. That is why she must not be allowed to come anywhere near that poison for any reason.

[ She's ... going to take his words with a grain of salt until she can confirm it for herself. Either way... ]

Let's say I believe that. [ He...didn't really have reason to lie to her, she THINKS, but still. ]

Those two concepts don't correlate. What does immortality have to do with poison?

[ Because they really don't have anything to do with each other~! ]

Their magic works by draining all of your magic, correct? From what I understand, it causes a lethal case of ethernano deficiency disease, as well as draining the mage's life force. { To translate it into how a Fairy Tail cast member would understand the stated symptoms, anyway. } I have told you before that I cannot possibly predict how poison of this nature would react with the Curse of Contradictions. Well...

{ Another pause. }

Perhaps, even more so than myself, Mavis, given that this is her physical body given new life, cannot touch that poison. Even by my standards, she is a unique case. But to tell anymore would reveal a secret your good has kept for a century, even greater than the one I revealed. Mavis will have to tell you, herself.

No, it's not magic, it's poison. And we don't know HOW it works, only what they claim. We've never encountered a victim of the poison - while they were still alive - so we don't know what it really does. [ Soooo kinda makes that whole case invalid. XD; Although the secrecy is annoying. She was going to have to go 'home' soon. ]

Even if it is likely a bluff, the chance that they are telling the truth is one we cannot afford to take.

It would help to have a sample of that poison, but in a very, very contained and controlled environment.

Yeah - at least then we'd be able to create an antidote for it. Or we could try anyway. It would help more to have one of the members of the Hands of Decay.

If you do manage to take one alive, I have a way of forcing them to create an antidote.

{ Or more specifically, Sayla does. }

If not... I am sure they at least know the ingredients. Somebody here has to be familiar with them enough to develop an antidote.

I'll let you know.

[ She knows someone who might be able to get them to do it also, though she'd have to ask them a little more about how their magic works first. ]

I would think so. If not here, then maybe someone in one of the other subarchways with a healing background.

There... wouldn't happen to be a subarchway to Earth-Land, would there?

{ Last time he checked, there wasn't. But it didn't hurt to ask. }

No.

[ She doesn't even try to keep the disgust out of her voice - though it isn't directed at Zeref. ]

And I hope there never will be. You -know- what the price for making a subarchway is, don't you?

{ He was a bit taken aback at the hostility in her voice, before she gives her next sentence. He sighs, his own tone rather sad just at the thought. }

I do. I don't think it would accept what I would offer, and what few pleasant memories I have I wouldn't dream of sacrificing.

{ His early childhood with Natsu, the few positive memories he has of Mildian or Alvarez, his time with Mavis (and to a lesser extent, Yuri, Warrod, and Precht)... no, he would never willingly part with those. He doesn't have many happy memories. He wants to keep them. }

I apologize for asking.

[ She sighs faintly herself. ]

No need to apologize. I just.. don't like seeing how people will willingly give up precious memories for a fake world. ... don't get me wrong, I miss Earthland too.

[ BOY does she miss it. ]

But I would NEVER sacrifice any of my memories, any more than I would sacrifice a skill or my magic.

[ She -thought- no Fairy Tail wizard would do something like that, but Levy did. It had driven a wedge between them, and the difference between their time points didn't help. Not to mention other things. ]

I had thought, perhaps, that I would give up a form of magic. { Let him finish, Lucy. } Of course, the fact that I want to be rid of it would likely disqualify it as something precious to me. I will not deny that, in some ways, it has been beneficial to me - { Like quite literally giving him all the time in the world to figure out how to resurrect Natsu anyway } - but I wouldn't wish this Curse on my worst enemy.

{ Especially not Mavis. He can't think of anybody who deserves it less than her. }

I was going to suggest taking it to Alakitasia. Some of the greatest scientific minds in Earth-Land are there, including... well, I suppose you can call him a friend. He can analyze anything, including a human being, just by looking at it.

Edited 2016-03-19 20:17 (UTC)

[ NO SHE WON'T LET HIM FINISH ok she will. Actually she'd totally back him giving up his death magic. Or his curse, rather. He wouldn't have to worry about being around Mavis, and neither would she. As much. Although she'd still be wary of him, especially with Natsu as a factor. ]

...wouldn't it be better for you if you did sacrifice your Curse? It's not like you'd be passing it to someone.

[ And if he absolutely had to have it back he probably could - she knew there was some way of reclaiming memories or abilities that were sacrificed. ]

If I could, I would. Without a second thought. I was told that something that I want to lose won't work; it has to be something truly precious to me. Otherwise, it can hardly be called a sacrifice, regardless of the uses I have managed to get out of it.

{ A short pause, before he continues. }

Before you suggest that I give up Living Magic instead... I did tell you how I received this Curse in the first place, didn't I?

[ She makes a faint noise of disappointment. That sucked. ]

I see...

[ There's an equally short pause, as she searches her memory. ]

Ah... sort of. You said you saw value in someone else's life?

Yes, and no. The Curse works based on how much I may or may not value the lives of others around me. If I do, I cannot control it, and they are at risk simply by being near me. If I do not, I can control it completely. Likewise, how powerful it is in a fight depends on whether or not I actually want to kill my opponent. That is why that Ultear woman was able to defeat me on Tenroujima, and why I was able to kill Hades in mere seconds.

{ ... and why Natsu was able to defeat him as well, but he won't say that out loud. He never had any intention of winning that fight, and really wasn't even trying beyond the bare minimum of at least looking like he was fighting back. }

The way I initially gained it is related, but not quite the same. I wanted to use magic to resurrect the dead, somebody I cared about. There is a reason it is so difficult, in our world: It is the greatest taboo in magic to subvert the natural order of life and death. Ankhseram, the God of Life and Death, wasn't pleased, and cursed me with the Curse of Contradictions when I was on the brink of success in a twisted way to try to teach me the value of the cycle of life.

Naturally, instead, I just exploited the immortality the Curse brings to have all the time in the world to figure it out, but not without cost. I succeeded in my goal, not with the R-System or the Eclipse Gate, but with Living Magic. I reanimated the deceased's body with demon particles, bringing him back as an Etherious.

Edited 2016-03-19 21:28 (UTC)

[ He certainly is feeling talkative about this sort of thing. Lucy actually considers switching to private, but - well, the beans are out there now if anyone was paying attention to this conversation. She was silent for a long moment, chewing ono this information and... while she -could- in theory judge him for using a taboo magic to bring back someone he cared about... she wasn't so sure she wouldn't be tempted to do the same. If Natsu died... heck, she - well, future her - risked her life to go back in time through the Gate for him, both to prevent him from dying and to prevent the disaster of her timeline from coming to pass. If she was willing to change the past for him, who's to say what she wouldn't be willing to give up for him? ]

...

Was the person you resurrected one of the Demons of Tartarous?

[ Well, she supposed it didn't matter if it was, but it was a simple curiosity. ]

{ Well, if she (and, presumably, Natsu) will be going to the Dream Docks, she's going to find out anyway. He told Natsu to his face, after all. Though, he definitely should have thought about switching this to Private. Too late now. }

You could say that.

{ It's... a bit more complicated than that, but if Natsu wanted to tell her, himself, he could. }

[ They may take turns if they need to know things sooner. First her, then him. Or if the Hands of Decay issue is taken care of, they might both go. ]

Mmh.

[ Well that was helpful. ]

Well, I think I'd better get back to it for now. I'll let you know if we find anything useful out.

[ Or if she needs him to send his ~~filthy~~ demon to force answers. ]

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deathsought - 2016-03-19 23:45 (UTC) - Expand

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