star_kingdom_logs | [mass log] The Meeting

Entry tags:

[mass log] The Meeting

WHO: Anyone and everyone! All of

star_kingdom!
LOCATION: Destiny Islands, the beach
TIME: Saturday, late morning onwards
WHAT: A group discussion on the threat of the darkness, and brainstorming a plan of action to save the worlds.
NOTES: The meeting will be done in the designated thread, with no tagging order. Action tags rather than prose to make things move more quickly, please! Zuko (and Tidus?) will try to steer the discussion and make sure it stays on topic, but aside from that, go nuts.

Zuko had spent the morning preparing for the meeting. It's pretty informal, all things considered; the chairs are set out in a loose circle, and nearby there's food and refreshments. It could actually pass for some kind of bizarre beach party, if it weren't for the seriousness of the subject matter.

Zuko's not all that nervous. His only concern is whether people will listen to him or even want to show up at all. He's not Fire Lord here, and it'll take more than a crown and a throne to make people take a sixteen-year-old seriously. Still, he's determined to prove himself. Moreso, he's determined to do whatever he can for his world, and all the other worlds, as well. If enough people come together to share their ideas, they're bound to come up with something.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It could be something like a signature or maybe even a an ancestral crest of some kind. What is clear enough, only those heartless that registered as ‘artificial’ on my scans have that particular marking. It was obviously placed on those heartless to distinguish them from the natural heartless.

Has anyone in their travels seen that symbol before? I mean other than on a heartless. Maybe you managed to see this symbol on a building, a slip of paper, something that at the time seemed insignificant?

[Eagle glanced around at the assembled group before settling back on Tidus. Data sets? Were those data sets different then the ones he himself had gone out and made with his scanning technology from home? There really was only one way to find out. ]

Is there more information about the heartless than just the data I went and collected myself? I would very much like to see it if there is.

[The Commander’s tone took on a bit of a authoritative edge. This was a very serious conversation after all. ]

Saying we should protect these worlds while trying to find our way back to our own is all well and good but I suggest that if anyone has any information about any topic pertaining to the heartless or how to defeat them it should be shared. It is the philosophy I adopted when I decided to study the heartless. We need more information on them so that we might discover a way to defeat them.
Now isn’t the time to be keeping secrets.

[Eagle of course had no way of knowing that anyone was actually keeping secrets. He just assumed since so many had been here much longer than he had that they must have learned something from their experiences with the heartless and since very little of that information had so far been shared at this meeting… maybe they were keeping it to themselves? It was a guess, nothing else. ]

I also can provide copies of the data I collected if anyone would like a closer look at it.

Isn't the way to defeat them obvious? At least with the created ones, all we have to do is find out who's creating them, and how, and put a stop to it. We'd take them down at the source, then destroy whatever Heartless were left.

[It seems that straightforward, but even as Zuko says it, he's not sure. Things are never that easy.]

Another way of getting information is from people who know how to control the Heartless. There's some guy called Hades who knows how to do it, right? And Joluk said that in the Land of Dragons, there are people there who can do it too. We need to get information from whoever we can -- and put a stop to them, if they're allies with the darkness.

[ He waits for an opportunity to speak, though he's not even sure if he has anything useful to share.]

Yeah, I don't know which Huns have that power but the Heartless mostly come from their side. Someone has to at least be doing something to keep them from attacking their allies. Has anyone been to the Hun part of the Land of Dragons?

and uh...anyone have an idea of others who can erm...direct the Heartless?

That won't work. [Her voice is quiet and unobtrusive as always, but as Mercury she's ready to speak up from her experience. She has a perspective, at least she'd like to think, that's worth hearing.]

Hades is not only able to control them, but to pass that ability to others if they're willing to make that type of deal with him. That means the numbers could be large. Aside from that, with people arriving and leaving so irregularly, any record of the ability would require literally constant maintenance we don't have the resources for.

I believe the best solution for the time being... Is to go to the source. It isn't just the Heartless we should think about, but what would make someone so desperate that they'd make such a deal. We need to make sure the people feel safe, protected, and provided for, so that they won't listen to the manipulation of the Darkness.

Darkness exists in every heart, isn't that what the moogles have been saying? How do you intend to make people feel safe and protected...

[Chloe shakes his head sadly. ]

That isn't what causes darkness. Darkness doesn't only form because some one is lost or scared. Providing for them is no guarantee that they will listen to you.

[How many times in his own life had he seen friends, allies, fall into the darkness and give up everything they used to fight for and believe in? It had nothing at all to do with any of the things the lady had said. In the case of his former teammates it had been something as simple as greed. No amount of 'safe', 'protected', or 'provided for' could have prevented their fall into darkness. ]

Without something to hold onto, something more important than anything else, anyone could fall into darkness at any time.

There might be an easier method of keeping track of those that arrive here and any potential threats. [Oh and he hates to suggest this..] Instead of trying to cobble together a census of our own perhaps the moogles.. [He's no great fan of the short little beasties] could provide us with lists of new arrivals.

Then, considering how many of us there are.. it shouldn't be hard to get to know more about these newcomers and perhaps discern who might be more inclined to the darkness than others.

Those that seem the more distraught, the most out of place.. or even those that seemed inclined to do harm.. could be placed on a watch list. [Pauses a moment] I would recommend that whoever was in charge of such a list should be a seasoned individual who has been here for a long period of time with no black marks on their record. Someone that has already proven they are trustworthy.

[Then.. he goes a step farther and motions to himself]

I, Earl Ciel Phantomhive, would gladly volunteer for such a task. I've been residing here for nine months and with my business I have been providing a service to the community already. I wouldn't shirk in my duties.

[And Ven can't hold it in anymore. Keeping info never feels right to him, and with so many people demanding to know what's going on and what they can do, he can't keep not saying something. He'll try and skirt the issue, but he's pretty sure the source of his knowledge is going to come up at some point...]

[He glances quickly at Pluto and Mercury, then looks at Terra next to him. Mouthing a 'sorry,' Ven pushes himself to his feet.]

Guys, it's not a matter of beating the Darkness. Darkness and Light can't exist without each other. The problem is that the Darkness is too strong, and it's taking over places where it never got until just a few years ago. Darkness has always existed here, but it got stronger because some people tried to make it worse. Worlds went out and disappeared, and that's what's happening now. We've gotta restore the balance of it all, because Darkness shouldn't've gotten as far as it has. Watch lists and everything can help keep people safe, but getting everything back to normal is what the focus needs to be on.

[If people look close enough, they might see that the emblem Ven wears on his chest has a similar shape to the one found on the Heartless.]

[Mercury stands up and moves closer to Ventus, to support him more than anything else, though she speaks to what he's said. It's a lesson they learned at a high cost in their battles with the Dead Moon and Nehellenia in their world, and the final battles with Galaxia: Light and Darkness must always exist.]

However, it's true that if this continues, that sort of balance will only be further skewed. [She's trying so very hard not to notice the emblem, not to call attention to it, to ask him about it later perhaps but not here, where people are - rightfully - frustrated by lack of progress.]

If more people are falling to the darkness even here, then it will increase further and this will continue, with more worlds destroyed.

[To Ciel.]

And what, sir, would you consider to be "out of place" or "distraught"?

[At this, Pluto stands with a frown.]

Many people are distraught upon the loss of their world. Many people feel out of place in these worlds because these are not the worlds they grew up in or know. Would that mean, logically, they would immediately go on your list of people to 'watch'?

[A pause.]

It isn't to say that there aren't people who are dangerous. But you are suggesting something that could cause problems for many innocent people who have done nothing wrong other than express their emotions. That in itself is - as you would put it - a 'black mark' against this idea.

[Towards Ven's words.]

This is what we should focus more on. Not making black lists. Not destroying the darkness which is necessary. There must be a balance struck between the light and the darkness of these worlds if we are to have a chance to return to our own.

[Ciel looked to Ventus when he seemed to be making an impassioned speech... but he didn't really catch what was so different about what he was saying compared to others that had already spoken about. Of course there would always be darkness in the world.... but they had to do something. Then of course he had to address Pluto's rebuttal.]

I believe you are taking my words out of proportion. This is why the watch list would not be public knowledge but managed by one person. Also, if one managed to get on the list it certainly wouldn't mean they would remain on it. It's a precautionary measure not meant to further alienate or isolate individuals.

It remains a point of fact that those who have turned to the darkness tend to show signs of it beforehand.

I don't wish to remain idly by, doing nothing. Although you speak of restoring worlds and realigning the balance but you offer very little in terms of suggestions on how to achieve such goals.

I see no harm in keeping record of who arrives and who disappears.

I think Ciel has really brought this whole matter down to the basic issue. You say we should restore the balance between light and dark and yet no one has offered any opinions on how we could do that. It seems to many of us that the only way to restore the balance is to beat the darkness back down to its original level.

[That had been such a sudden and impassioned speech, Ventus had attracted at least one person's attention. ]

I am curious what it is you think we should do? If it isn't fighting the heartless how can we restore the balance?

[Eagle smiled. ]

Since you seem to know so much about what caused the problem with the darkness in the first place maybe you know the answer to that as well?

[To Ciel.]

I have offered very little because I have not said anything until now.

And I still do not believe such an idea would be productive, since instead of working on the problem, we would only be chasing after varying individuals - most who would have little to do with the Darkness or wielding it.

[Its the truth.]

As for what I can offer, I will say that an aid to solving our predicament may be in tracking the unique energy signature of the Heartless, since we must assume from what we know - for example, how controlling Heartless can corrupt a person's heart - that the Heartless for the most part is a more detrimental kind of darkness. If the rate of energy signatures of Heartless begins to increase in a world, it could be a sign of an invasion.

[A pause.]

I've been developing this theory, and with the King's permission, the tools necessary to create a worlds-spanning tracking system designed to trace and pick up only their energy signature since I have arrived. The system I'm using is still in its infancy, but I and my comrade Mercury have been developing and using it to monitor general Heartless activity using their trace energies.

By tracking that energy we might be able to stave off more serious incursions and - eventually, as the technology to do so becomes more sophisticated - perhaps even figure out all of the differences between Heartless. Perhaps, even discover the sources for where the Heartless are coming from in the Darkness itself.

[She listens to Eagle. It is up to Ventus to say anything, if he decides to. She simply sits down, crossing her legs.]

[Mercury takes a moment to address Ciel, though she nods and adds a few words of acknowledgment to Pluto; they've worked hard in those efforts.]

Mr. Phantomhive, if this watch list is kept by one person, who will have access to it? Or, if that person should disappear from here, what happens to something they've been keeping hidden from the start?

[He listened calmly as Pluto, Ami and Eagle all added to the conversation in turn. It was a touch of a relief that someone had backed him up on the real issue. Most of the conjecture had been based on feelings that we "should do something" but not on the basis of "what that something should be". Not only that but Eagle's following up Ventus's addition to the conversation forced the Earl to think perhaps the kid might know more. Without Eagle's having singled Ventus out he would have been comfortable letting Ven off the hook too.. but now he was curious. Unfortunately there was still the senshi to address. To Pluto.]

I was speaking of your organization as a whole.. [Motioning to Pluto and Mercury. The two were clearly from the same... whatever they were supposed to be in those needlessly short skirts and v-neck collars and seemed to share the same opinion on most things in previous transmissions and the like]

What you said makes my point for me. "You do not believe" it would help in any capacity not that we have anything based in fact to confirm it's allegedly inevitable failure.

I'm not even suggesting that it is the only thing we try. The Heartless have been claiming more worlds on multiple fronts.. if we're to combat them in any capacity we should also be facing them on multiple fronts. If more of us sink into the darkness quietly in the night our ability to face them on any sort of even footing continues to crumble away. That is why it is important to look after those that are already here.

[A pause...]

How do you intend to track this "energy signature"? What sort of energy waves does a heartless emit? Does anything emit similar "waves" that could be confused for heartless? Any plan will come with it's own drawbacks which is why the purpose of this meeting should not be to shut down any independent thought on the subject. We are all outside of our own worlds, our own elements, combating something we all know very little about. All suggestions should be given the same consideration.

[Another pause]

Which is all well and good.. if this invention works but we need something we can do now in the meantime. Also, this still leaves nothing for the general populace to do.

[It's just you and Mercury. Then he addresses Mercury's concerns.]

The person in charge of the list will have sole access to it unless the time comes when they also are swallowed up by the darkness. If a person seems to becoming more inclined toward the darkness and warrants more attention then it should be refereed to a council composed of those have exemplary records in terms of how much time they have devoted to restoring the worlds or aiding others during crisis.

I personally don't plan on disappearing any time soon, however the list could be kept in a written form which would make it infinitely easier to find on one's disappearance.

[And Ven sighs; he was pretty sure it would come to this, but that doesn't mean he completely likes it, or that on some level he's not apprehensive about what this will mean.]

I don't know everything - there's way too much I don't know for me to be able to give you any kind of definite answer. But the Heartless and the Darkness have always existed, as far back as we have any kind of knowledge of, even just legends. But the Heartless didn't come to the populated worlds a lot, or at all maybe. This world here and Disney Town have so much Light in their hearts that it holds back the Heartless, and all the other worlds used to be like that, too. I guess when the Heartless started being made instead of just born out of Darkness like they always were before that, that's when the Darkness started creeping over the worlds' hearts and letting the Heartless get in a lot easier. We need to find a way to eradicate that Darkness from their hearts so we can help the worlds that are still here - maybe if that works, we can find a way to bring back the ones that are lost.

[And he looks at Pluto for support. He very carefully does not look at Terra or Kairi, trying not to involve them if they don't want to be involved, and Pluto's the one who knows the most about this after Terra. Ven swallows a little and closes his eyes, holding his hand out in front of him - and his Keyblade materializes.]

This is it - this is the Keyblade, the weapon you were talking about. You can beat a Heartless and send it away, but this will destroy it for good and send it back to the Darkness where it belongs. But it's just a tool, not a way to magically make everything right again. Even with it you can't stop people from being hurt, or losing ones you care about.

[His voice trips just a bit on those last words, only noticeable if you're really paying attention to his tone and delivery. He's definitely telling the truth about that last bit.]

[ Terra looks surprised after this, watching everyone else cautiously once Ventus summons his keyblade. he remembers how Tidus acted before when he found out that he could wield a keyblade and tried to use him. if anyone were to jump Ventus for a chance to "defeat the Heartless" by trying to steal his Keyblade, they would have to take him on first ]

[Ignoring the shocked gasps from certain members of the crowd Eagle stands and makes his way over to Ventus. His intention wasn’t to rip the key blade out of the boy’s hand but to place a comforting hand on the younger boy’s shoulder and smile at him. They might never have met before but it was obvious this was a very difficult confession for the boy. ]

Thank you for telling us what you know. It can’t have been easy for you.

[The keyblade was a very benign looking weapon. It didn’t even seem sharp. Maybe a scan would be able to discern what about this weapon made the heartless so weak to it? ]

Do you know where weapons like these come from or maybe why this weapon is more effective against the heartless than any other weapon?

[At the introduction of the Keyblade, Pluto nods, and then rises. She does not, however, speak. Instead, very silently, she brings one foot in front of the other, and the grip on her own weapon tightens ever so slightly. Her stance became very subtly defensive, sending a nevertheless message and vibe out to anyone who might have thought to take that weapon.

Basically: don't even try it. And despite Eagle putting a hand on him, and not taking it, Pluto still turns to face him, her eyes narrowed just so to imply that the same applied to him.]

Pluto. [Mercury's voice is quiet, even gentle, as always; but there's a serious undercurrent.] We're here for the sake of working together. Please remember that.

[Little would be accomplished if they created factions and suspicion and unrest. It could only make the problems they'd come here to solve, grow. It went for Terra, too.

She addresses the rest of the gathering next.]

Even with one keyblade revealed, simple logistics dictate that this won't be enough for an organized campaign planned around its power. We should look to other methods still.

The gummi ships, for example, are said to run on 'happy thoughts' or more precisely, positive energy. If this could also be used in some way against the negative energy of the Heartless...

[Tidus glances at Ven almost empathetically.]

But you can't just go up and grab a Keyblade. The Keyblade chooses its wielder. If you take one, it'll just disappear.

And even if everyone here was equipped with a Keyblade, we still might have a problem.

What if we took apart the ships to make one giant happy thought weapon?

[Unsurprisingly, once a weapon was revealed that could destroy the heartless all attention veered away from his proposal. Ventus had cracked surprisingly easily, saving him the trouble of inquiring about it later. Had he not been exposed to supernatural and later magical items before he might have been more impressed. With Tidus's caveat one could learn two things. 1. There was more than likely multiple keyblades, and 2. no one else could wield them. He thought everyone was being needlessly defensive of Ventus. We were all civilized people, were we not? And no one would be foolish enough to attack him now even if they weren't. Ciel decided to add nothing further... he knew what he had been wanting to know and he could still always act independently from the group.]

Pluto, it's okay. [Ven hadn't been worried about someone taking his Keyblade - he knew that was impossible - but he'd been worried about people being angry that they'd been keeping it a secret. Indeed, when Eagle walked up, he had tensed up and readied himself to jump - but that turned out to be unnecessary. And now that he's got other support and no one seems to want to kill him, Ven sighs and lets go of the Keyblade, which flashes away again.]

They come from the Light. [No, he's not getting into the fact that there are Dark Keyblades as well, that's not going to help anything.] The power has to accept you or you can't even touch one. I think maybe that's why they work? If the Heartless are pure Darkness and the Keyblades are pure Light, that'd make some kind of sense, at least.

[Now if they could just find a way to harness that power over other worlds... And Ven actually gets an idea as he's talking.]

Radiant Garden has that defensive system set up to help with Heartless. That was made on a computer and with some magic. Maybe we can make a bunch of copies of that and put one on every world?

[Mercury shakes her head.] We're still missing something. There are people with powers that are pure light. Even those were unable to end the existence of a Heartless the way a keyblade can. If we understand just what it is that makes their quality different, we might be able to develop something from there.

However, I'm certainly willing to help with the defensive systems in the meantime.

[Kairi had just been carefully listen to this whole thing,taking in all the information.]

While we do know about the keyblade exsistance, we only know so much about them to begin with. Also adding to what Ventus said if the power doesn't accept you, then how can one actually learn anything about it except for the people who wield one?

[It seemsed like a logical question at the time, if one couldn't touch one, how was one to learn about it?]

So, I think until then, the defense system would seem to be the best bet, that's all we can honestly do to deal with the Heartless for the meantime

[Zuko wasn't angry Ventus had kept his Keyblade a secret -- he understood the need for secrecy. It was just the same as the Avatar, who had to hide his identity to stay safe from harm, even with the fate of the world resting on his shoulders. The Firebender did, however, have a hundred questions, and wasn't about to let the subject slide so easily. He stood, addressing Ven and Kairi.]

Hold up a second. If the power has to accept you before you can use one of those things, how do you get accepted? Do you have to go through some kind of test?

[mass log] The Meeting

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big bro has to jump in real quick

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