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At least for Tidus, this area is more suited for his archer, though he does seem to have to keep telling Roland, 'hey, don't run off ahead' just to stop him from triggering all the bats around. Tidus is trying to take them out the sneaky and easy way, and...failing at it even without Roland, but hey. He doesn't go for sneaky usually, alright. Sometimes he forgets to look in the other direction. ]
Huh, what? [ Game? ] Uhh-- blitzball?
[ Was that the one? Considering blitzball isn't just a ''game'' to him...! ]
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[ Sorry to ruin your plans bro, but Roland's mage just straight up burned through a whole area covered in grass and ivy, and the clearing it reveals has the mother of all bats - a mini-boss that could have been avoided had he not wandered in 8) He swears in real life - just a short and sweet dammit! - and the fight evolves into a real struggle. Isn't this just pleasant? ] We're coming, princess! Sorry, my bad. Can we run away? [ Look at his mage try to jump out of a fight. He doesn't realize that to run away, he's going to have to just literally, run his character out of bounds until the meter on top of his head fills up. ]
Blitzball... [ He tests it out, words foreign on his tongue. ] How do you play?
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[ That's what you get for taking that this far, old man! An ugh that's deserved at this man thinking a cool young guy would be after him! Or would struggle to? Find out in all your Voidtrecker doujins of your favourite ships, there's no judgment here. ]
What did I tell you-- [ why doesn't this guy listen! Why is this now a babysitting job! ] Just keep running--I'm not telling you anything about any blitzball 'til we blitz out of this match!
[ Which with both of them they can, though after Tidus fires an arrow at it to try and keep it back before joining their avatars into continuously running on the spot until the game finally lets them leave the area. Tidus keeps having his character run, saying as he does so- ]
We go the other way, through the swamps! Let me take the lead, alright? You're gonna use all your magic up before we get to another fountain.
[ And running ahead is exactly what Tidus is going to do until they get to the fork in the path that Roland decided to choose for the pair. ]
Okay. [ Okay!! He's even turning around his avatar to regard Roland. ] We go down here, and frogs are gonna jump out from the swamps. You activate them, run, and I can hit them from afar. Okay?
[ Look, a plan. A plan that's sensible! Because that's exactly how he and Light played this last time. So absolutely nothing can go wrong this time, right? ]
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[ He's clicking quite frantically on his controller, trying to get his bearings. When Tidus stops to inform him of the plan, Roland just hums seriously and jumps his character up and down as confirmation. ] Roger!
[ His magician gets into position and the plan is a GO. Tidus begins his arrow barrage as intended, and Roland plays his part well....at first. He refrained from jumping during this part of the game because of how narrow the pathway was around the swamps, but the ground moves, and he failed to anticipate the shift from right to left. When he jumps to activate two frogs at a time, jumping in sync so that there was a moment where they could be hit at the same time when they lined up at the middle, he misses, and slips into the sticky green muck from whence the frogs came. He actually...shouts. ] Ngah! Hold on, let me get out - !
[ The game punishes him with a 10 second lag, as his magician moves to free himself from the mud. He can't jump, but you can hear his finger absolutely abuse the right joystick as it clicks violently against the plastic casing. ] So close!
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Too bad about him falling into the gooey green anyway. ] Just keep movin' to the platform that goes into the swamp. You can't jump out, no matter what you do. There was one back there.
[ 'Back there' being where they came from, but Tidus doesn't turn his avatar in direction. He wants to deal with some of these frogs by trying to activate them early by shooting into the sections where fat bubbles can be seen popping up onto the surface of the swamp, unfortunately to not effect. So he runs in and out, before the frogs can pincer or grab at him with their long tongues. ]
You see any cousins in here?
[ Because you know he gotta. ]
tidus should add frog pills to his list of things the train needs, fyi
Oh ha ha. Very funny. [ Aaaaand he's finally out! WATCH HIM SPAZZ TO GET BACK ON TRACK, ON THE PLATFORM. ] I was a really good looking frog, I'll have you know. I had hair!
[ Is he moving on without him? Gah. Roland takes an ether, one out of the three he's stacked, and starts casting fire spells. With Tidus' arrows from the front, they were actually making a good tag team, hitting their targets in succession from both ends. Roland even levels up his mage, unlocking his first AOE skill for the Wind element: Gust Spinner! ]
Hey, would you look at that! A little hard work is all it takes! [ Ignore corny old man, he's finally caught up to Tidus. Only now they're stuck at an area where only one player at a time can cross the final pathway of the swamp, which was being swarmed by frogs and bats from above. Someone had to stay behind to take on at least one of the threats so the player crossing can focus on the narrow path and attacking the remaining monster. He faces his character towards Tidus and changes his stance. ] Captain, I'll go. I need to make it up to you, for failing you! [ He voice acts this with an unnecessarily deep and dramatic voice. You've done it, Tidus. Are you happy? He's reverted into full President Geek. ]
tidus will never be rich bc he be spending it all
You ever thought about putting on a stage play? I got a friend I told who should try adapting some of her adventures into some. You should play a part in one.
[ Considering how dramatic he gets when playing a video game. Heck, if the guy is like this with a videogame, let's see how he is when he actually has to put on an act! Tidus might not be able to move, allowing Roland to go ahead after all with a, 'alright, we'll try you first--I'll see what I can hit' but he does do as he promises: firing off a few arrows towards the bats in the distance. He catches the closest few, but the way ahead is long, and anything else, Roland will have to deal with on his own.
But if that leaves Tidus free... ]
My 'game', Blitzball--you play it underwater. One ball, two teams, and you got to get it in the other team's goal. I played professionally, if I didn't tell you already--was even the star player back home, once.
[ He speaks about it fondly, but there is a wistful note--something not here, something missed. ]
he is rich in other things...........like love & friendship
[ Roland does surprisingly better at this part of the game because of the new skill he's unlocked, which takes less SP to cast, but is useful for blowing back the frogs jumping up at him with the wide reach of its cast. So it gives him a pattern to fall back on while he moves his mage carefully across, timing his moves against Tidus' archer, his ears perked up listening to his tale. ]
Underwater? That's mighty impressive. How do you breathe? [ Did Hydropolis have a similar game? ] I can't believe I'm playing with a hotshot athlete! [ The delivery is a prodding joke, but Roland's actually in shock that he was a star player. Wait, was? ] Oh no, don't tell me. Did you get beaten by the ace of another team? [ HE'S INVESTED IN THE STORY. ] What did you guys call yourselves?
[ By this time, Roland manages to get his mage across. Now it's time for him to return the favor while Tidus' archer makes his trip. ]
booo those SUCK
[ Let's not get crazy with ideas now! ]
The Zanarkand Abes, [ he starts first with Roland's questions, since best to go last to first. Maybe. There's pause between as he focuses on the games and for the fiends that respawn, the bats appearing from the fog that surround them and the frogs just hopping as they please onto his path. ]
And I can't be a star player if I'm all this way away from home, can I? And does no one else play sports in water? Everyone always asks me that.
[ Roland isn't the only one with tricks up his sleeves (or in his staff!), as Tidus shoots off arrows that explode as they make contact, catching more than one frogs in the way. Those are more trickier for him than the bats, which are made for an archer class to take down. Just as the slimes were a better match for Roland. ]
You never heard of training to hold your breath longer? It's not something everyone can do, but it's not impossible.
arent you an RPG protag....isn't that ur thing....
Hmm...
[ Eventually, Tidus's exploding arrows and Roland's wind and fire whittle down the horde of monsters. They're a little bit closer to the secret entrance of the tower now...Wherever it is. His avatar begins its jumping sequence again, the most energetic of all mages across the land! ]
So you're the star player of the Zanarkand Abes...a blitzball team, who plays the game underwater. [ He's kind of impressed actually. Tidus is probably the equivalent of a big time college athlete if he was on Earth. He's easygoing, happy-go-lucky, someone who'd get the attention of any professional team as soon as he graduated. Imagining a life Tidus could have lived in his own world made him smile, and he's glad his companion doesn't see it. He'll just call me corny again.
Instead of voicing out any of those thoughts and feelings, Roland goes the playful route again. His avatar waits for Tidus' archer at the end of the stage, ready to move on to the main dungeon. ]
Guess I shouldn't be daring you to a breath-holding contest any time soon, eh? What's your record? Five minutes? Seven? How long does a round last in blitzball, anyway?
spoilers he's the villain!!
A game lasts ten minutes, five minute rounds each. [ The screen darkens as their characters go into the tower by the back door. One might think that realistically it should lead into a kitchen or some sort, but fool, this is a dark scary tower in an RPG, and so it leads straight into a small lobby with two armoured 'statues' standing on each side of the door going further in. Tidus hurries over to one of the pots before Roland can get to it and breaks it with his bow. ...literally, that's the animation, him whacking a pot with a bow.
He gets a healing item for his efforts. ]
But I can hold it longer than that! Half an hour, a lil' more? I haven't swam in ages though, so I'm probably getting rusty. But blitzball is about taking a beating, so I'm no wimp at what I do.
[ Before they go into the next area, Tidus warns as an aside, 'We've got soldiers to deal with, ice magic's good for 'em', and it's what Tidus has been saving up most of his own magic arrows for. And indeed, when they move onto into the next area, similar statues stand as they did in the other room, motionless... until they come close, and then they draw their swords and flails! ]
SUCH LIES. tidus is on the cover of his game!!
[ Roland makes a sound of displeasure and dashes to get some potions. Too bad all of the remaining pots are empty. Grr. ]
...I know you're not a wimp, Tidus. [ Roland immediately starts up Freeze Ray, and as it turns out, he can combine spells at his level, turning the AOE wind attack into an ice AOE called Blizzard. He smirks and starts whacking statues that look like knights to get their attention, before jumping and flailing out of their way to cast his spells. It's not the most graceful movement, but the way he imagines it in his head, it's a full-on strategy.
He adds after a while - ] You've just got a lot of cheek on you, but I know you're more than capable when you apply yourself. I trust you. [ Roland's sass comes from a place of fondness. He already knows in a fight, Tidus has got his back. What more in a game, with a team, for a sport he loves? ]
[ The statues have a surprising amount of health. He's used up another ether trying to get them to stop their assault, and they hit hard even if they're dangerously slow. He tries to dovetail Tidus here, so they don't split up and awaken more statues than they can handle. HE LEARNED! ]
...Are you telling me you can literally hold your breath for a near full hour, right now? If I asked you to? [ IS HE GOING TO ASK YOU TO? ]
even protags can be villains :(
Don't overthink it! I know I'm good at what I do. I didn't get into the top leagues just by being okay. [ The continuing adventure of how you can't trust Roland!! But blitzball is one of those areas Tidus is happy to brag about, or sound like he's bragging--it wouldn't be fair on his teammates and how had any of them worked to do any less. Someone's gotta make sure the world...universe...whatever knows how great the Zanarkand Abes (were) are.
Like these dumb living tincans, for one. Once they reach a certain level of damage, pieces of their 'limbs' come off to reveal a dark shade that does nothing extra, but allows for more damage when hit. Which is good, since otherwise, Tidus is stuck using his magic arrows again than just going for the easier route, but the shades allow him--with some finicky aiming--to use his normal, unlimited arrows to strike them for better damage. ]
How 'bout asking me when you can see me do it? Chores, sparring, whatever you--want! [ And that comes out with a semi-grunt as Tidus dodges his character from the swing of a flail. Too close! ]
tidus is the villain of roland's life!!!!!!!!!
I'll do you one better. Do they typically record games of blitzball? Maybe it's something I can get at the shop. Then again, watching you hold your breath while you clean bathrooms sounds like a better time for everyone.
[ He flashes him a toothy grin, casting another Blizzard spell, hitting two at a time. One of them reveals a dark limb in their right arm, the other, the torso. It looks...kind of gross, which puts him on edge. ] You ever fought enemies like this where you're from? I've never been a fan of the wiggly and slimy monsters, myself. Makes me want to end the fight faster.
same back!!!!
I've fought bigger armoured guys. [ Does that count. He's glad these aren't the size of those, though their hitbox would be bigger (then again, so would be their weapons). As soon as Tidus hears the dunk of them losing a piece of armour, he turns his attentions on those ones, throwing out- ] You leave the ones with less health to me!
[ Teamwork, buddy! But as for the rest of fiends-- ]
There's all kinds back in Spira. Those things before, the jelly things--they looked like flan. I don't know though. There were a lot of different fiends. I don't like anything that won't go down!
[ Which actually isn't going to be these pesky suited enemies for much longer, but it's still taking too much time! But another hit of one of Roland's blizzard spells does the trick! ]
Ugh, finally!
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[ He affirms the instruction with a quiet 'Roger that' before he focuses on the bigger fish to fry, though he takes a quick detour first, trying to get more ethers. He keeps getting potions...! But he jumps back into the fray sooner rather than later, Blizzard and Freeze Ray on his move cycle, making sure his SP never falls below 50%. He reacts passionately to Tidus' own movements, cheering and grinning as they finally clear the floor. Now to get out of there before the next respawn...Up the ominous looking stairs, he assumes. ]
Ever fought a wind wyrm before? [ He drops two potions for Tidus, since his inventory was full. ] A dragon? [ He has to clarify - the Second World had strange creatures on their own. ] Those are tough. Way tougher than these walking tin cans.
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Uh, dragons? Talk to Inigo for dragons, I've never seen one. [ But still they know what they're doing, and they have the potions to spare, with more coming in. ] They fly, right? We have flying fiends. Big fiends, small fiends, elemental fiend--Spira's full of 'em. What about Evermore?
[ He's heard the place that Roland comes from--or the second place, the one he considers home now--a few times, wonders if he got the name right. But it was something like that, wasn't it? ]
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[ They continue to ascend the steps, and at some point, the stairs get weird. The perspective changes, and the VR game forces them to change into first-person, as if they were looking at the stairs themselves. The walls collapse and the stairs look like they're floating against nothing. One wrong move could have their avatars fall to their untimely dooms...Or so it should go. Roland is still jumping up steps, regardless of the perspective change. He mutters something about not being afraid of a challenge, but Tidus hey. If you fall because of his jumping, that's on you obviously. ]
Inigo's fought dragons? Inigo? [ The soft and gentle kid who's always smiling, who kept him company and CRIED for him? ] I'll...ask him about it. Sure. [ It's not that he thinks Inigo couldn't take a dragon, it's more of he feels protective of him already, having seen his vulnerability just a days before, post-mission. What kind of world did he live in that exposed him to that kind of danger; forced him to grow up the way that he did that he couldn't bear seeing his wounds? ] Yeah, the ones we fought can fly. It's fine if you've never fought one. I don't reckon that's a bad thing, with how strong they are. They've put us in bad positions more than once, I'm not looking to fight one again any time soon.
[ WOW HE ALMOST FALLS. BUT HE JUMPS TO THE LEFT AND MAKES A NICE LANDING. Got you punk!! ] Pretty much the same. We've got wyverns kidnapping people for revenge, brutally strong fae folk who can knock you out with one spell, and monsters that belong underwater, all tentacles, fins, and gills. You'll never run out of variety, I can tell you that much. [ The light at the top of the stairs glows brighter. They're close, but a horde of monsters are waiting for them. The knights in armor to be exact. He clicks his tongue against his teeth. THEY HAD TO FIGHT ON THE STAIRS??? ] There's a city in that world that I would have liked to take you to. It's called Hydropolis. You'd have fit in really well.
[ Because he likes underwater sports and they were basically...the most scenic beachy underwater-y city there ever was. He fights back the nostalgia. Not now! ]
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[ Enjoy the floating pair of fuzzy arm sleeves when he drops them out and he'll take those boots, thanks. Nothing actually changes about their characters, but the game is short enough where it doesn't really matter--and they spent plenty of time picking out their current outfits on the character select for it not to matter.
But a non-changing outfit isn't the thing that has Tidus getting huffy (IS IT THE WAY THAT ROLAND'S DECIDING TO GO ON AHEAD, YOU BET IT IS!!). ] I dunno if Inigo's fought a dragon--maybe? He has something about dragons. And he's got some special...connection with one? But that's for him to talk about. [ And not Tidus. Not after the last time he let it slip and Inigo got terrorised by another passenger on the train. Tidus doubts Roland would treat the subject the same, but still. Better safe than sorry. ] Enough about that! Don't you have a fire spell that glows? The last person I played with have one. It lit up the way!
[ Or made the invisible tiles shine under the light, which is the exact same thing. And now they had the fiends to deal with, but at least Roland was stopping to actually think here. ]
What, you picking places to take me to? What do you think you're gonna do? Whisk me for a week away from this place? [ Pfft. He selects his ice arrows, his character drawing them into his bow. ]
I'll freeze the big one solid and you blast him with magic, before he gets too close.
[ They might be able to get rid of the armoured foe before it reached them, but they'd have to be careful about all the other pests. ]
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[ They engage in the fight as soon as the lantern trick lit up more of the tiles under its dim light. It followed Roland's movements, so he made sure to stick close to his archer again, in case they fell through the floor by accident. The two knights activated, and the battle begins again. For all the shortness of its gameplay, they really made sure to engage the players in high stakes every single time... He charges up Freeze Ray and aims it near point-blank at the big guys after Tidus' arrows pierce through its defenses. It does the trick, leaving it vulnerable for a moment. ATTACK PLS. He will keep that in mind the next time he speaks to Inigo. It's either he's good at talking to dragons - which is not unusual for Roland given he's helped a kid who had a dragon for a pet once - or he's slain more than one, and both feats are fairly impressive. ]
[ As soon as they get a rhythm, joysticks clicking against plastic again, Roland finally address Tidus with a less intense energy. This was a crazy game, kid. ]
Hey, if it's an all-expenses paid trip to another kingdom, why would you say no? [ Roland grins. ] What, you haven't thought about where I'd like to go if I ever went to Spira? You're terrible.
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(no he didn't, that was Roland's own fault!) ]
What do I know you like? [ Said defensively! But still, as their character ascend the swirling stairs with skulls adorning the wall and clattering their teeth at them as they past- ] We don't have kingdoms! Maybe you'll liiike... Bevelle! I dunno, I wasn't there long.
[ The stairs for once finally show themselves, just before where two fountains sit on either side. Up ahead, just within sight, two large doors bear down on them ominously. They cleared the storm outside earlier, but there's sounds like a thunderstorm brewing behind the thick slabs that go up high before reaching the ceiling. Like an open mouth waiting to swallow them whole... ]
Here-- [ Tidus jumps into one of the fountains. ] Up ahead's the last boss! You got everything you want equipped?
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He's feeling it now, in his fingertips and under his skin. He might be gripping the controller just a little tighter now, eager to see the truth of this story...! He'll actually pause on that stuff for now because as soon as Tidus prompts him, Roland just starts going through everything in an almost neurotic fashion. He mumbles something like 'wait don't start!' and presses his Options menu, shifting equipment and adding more buffs. He counts his potions, ethers, checks his equipment...And after a bit of that back and forth, he's done, menu screen is down, and the jumping continues out of excitement. ] This is it. I'm ready to save the princess! [ CONVINCED ISN'T HE. He really hopes this is going to be as cool as it sounds! ]
[ The loading screen leading up to the final arc of the game's story is a bit longer than the rest, perhaps because of the animation. He drums his fingers against the controller. ]
...Okay, then what's your favorite place in Spira? If you had to take someone there for a quick vacation, where'd you reckon you'd go?
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Especially when he turns it around and aims it up at the ceiling. Nope nope he wasn't thinking about how annoying all that jumping is!! Don't know what you're talking about, don't ask. ]
I-- later, okay?
[ Psst, whispering!! Because there's something the game is loading once they enter into the next stage, and that happens to be a small quick animation that shows the entirety of the room from the doors and upwards to the domed roof adorned in framing that meets at the centre, crowning a hanging chandelier. A robed figure cloaked in shadows then steps within the 'frame', and the scene turns to show them standing in the middle of the room.
Two hands wrapped in bandages come out, and from their fingertips dark power escapes out an transforms into a large beast made of shadow, solidifying, great wings sprouting from its back and teeth being bared as it lets out a roar.
It's....a draaaaagooon!!!!!! No time for talking, except! ]
Quick--don't get caught in its flames!
[ Because there's a quick few warning spurts that come out as soon as the battle starts, the music currently going hard. The wizard is nowhere to be seen, now only the night-dark dragon threatening to make them its prey.
Get moving and doing, Roland! ]
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Thanks, I'd never have thought to evade! [ His sarcasm is accompanied by a frustration that he was down to the last 2 ethers so he had to make every Freeze Ray count. What about wind? He tries each spell individually first - the charged Freeze Ray, a regular Freeze Ray, and an AOE that perhaps wasted damage but delivered stuns by chance. The last combo ate up too much of his SP, so he cycles through the first three moves instead, instinctively drawing away from his fire spells. Because why. ] Alright, captain. What's the game plan, here? Besides not getting burnt to a crisp, that is.
[ He performs another Freeze Ray, but the dragon starts flapping its wings, the magic going through it like nothing. It's momentarily invincible, which means...it was getting ready for a big attack. WELP. Roland moves his character in circles around Tidus' archer. ] You've got to be kidding me. We need reinforcements!
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[ You want the game plan, that's Tidus's game plan for everything in life: Just Attack. He doesn't remember any particular helpful strategy for this, and he wasn't the mage on the last round but the swordfighter--and oh boy, was that something and a half going up against this fiend. Luckily the swordfighter was a bulky class that could take some damage, while the archer was all about speed and dodging, and not getting up in a dragon's face.
ALSO for NOT being CIRCLED-- ]
Don't try ringing around me! [ BECAUSE HEY LOOK HE'S TRYING TO RUN HERE. ] Keep away from its face! It's gonna flame us! Jump that!
[ And the flames come in a spewing line, being dragged from left to right, right to left. Tidus has his avatar leap over the fire from where he is, near the walls where the flames aren't angled impossibly high and more likely to damage him if he gets caught.
He still does anyway, his avatar flinching back in the fire damage once, a quick low 'shit!' coming out of his filthy mouth. The assault goes for about ten seconds before the dragon gives up, breathing heavily as it tries to regain its energy. ]
Attack it now! [ Tidus directs, firing off his own barrage--a high level attack that allowed him to shoot three explosive ice arrows at once. Eat an iceful, dumb boss!! ]
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roland: 👁️👄👁️
heh heh heh
this is a crime against roland's everywhere, apologize ree!!!!
bzzzzzzt no, kid also had hair like evan, deal with it
y-yeah well the old crusty adviser looked like ur face >:(
wow bro...dude...rude....
they see me roland, they hatin' 8) also don't mind this just closing it off~