jail breaaaak [closed]

[princeofruin]

Who: Dion, Jack, and later Istredd and Kyle
When: The night of the castle bombing
Where: Thorne Castle's dungeon
What: An attempted prisoner breakout
Warnings: None for now!

[There may be a part of the (once) crown prince of Sanbreque who will find shame in his actions. In the moment, his head was clear, and his heart was focused: he had already raised hackles to see Istredd and Kyle pulled away after they were released from the warded room, but over time they only rose more to find they were not seen again after.

Dion knows well what the Emperor would have done to his own dissenters, if they were threat to him. He would not have hesitated, Dion now knows. Mere stones as distraction on a very long road.

It is that fear -- that he should stand still and do nothing only to wake to find two bodies gone -- that drives him towards finding them.

He clenches his hand as he stalks through the halls, ready for a lance there but merely holding himself back. He makes his way down the hall, steps quiet, lifting a hand to the torches and extinguishing the light from them. Not the magic, but the light.

This, at least, he can do. It is only once he steps onto cold stone he feels something twisting his aether. No. Blocking it? He reaches for the next light in the hall but... nothing. He stills as he hears footsteps, pressing to the wall as he readies himself --

The man who steps into the hall is long and lanky and very far from a royal guard. Dion waits, hesitating, as if the castle may shake around them again, but... no. He's seen this man before. The ward room. Another Summoned? Coming here, on the night of the attack? There's pause between attacks long enough to take advantage, and the dungeon is close.]

Quiet. [He does not question his presence, nor offer explanation for his own. The castle is besieged, and there's a reason they are here. It cannot be out of mere wandering, nor coincidence.] There remains one guard still.

Comments

[stations]

( Good news, Dion, it's largely option number two — he is a pretty textbook example of insane. Ask his psychiatrist, or any of those people he hallucinates. Utter fool is more a side-effect of that, something possibly made more clear at his immediate, defensive frustration. )

Yeah, obviously I've noticed, dude. My friends are down there. I'm not leaving until I know they're okay.

( Which, in his mind, has not actually evolved into the concept of a full-blown jailbreak yet, but... realistically, it's only like two steps removed. He is, in other words, the perfect person to rope into being an accomplice on the spot. )

[princeofruin]

[If only Valisthea had any sort of school of education known as psychiatry.

Dion considers the answer in silence, for a moment that stretches too long with the rise of calls from further above them. It is a risk, but he knows the man is another Summoned. One, apparently, who is close to Istredd or Kyle. Or both. He's here, which means he's already gathered Dion is here as well at this surprisingly inopportune time (for the guards, not for himself). He is already taking a risk being here. Being here for the reason he's come.

But he has made the decision, and he shall not waver.

He can be used. Even if he has a certain... a certain persona comes to mind, looking at him.]

If this attack continues, they will not be safe. If you wish to lend your aid, distract the guard while I release them.

[It is that simple to him. There are other concerns for the guards rather than the safety of prisoners. Surely.] If that is, indeed, your aim.

[As it is mine.]

[stations]

( If this attack continues, they will not be safe; that's exactly what Jack's afraid of. The falling bombs, the crackling electricity. Broken glass, shifting stone. He can see it in his mind's eye, the horrible nightmare that could be sections of the castle collapsing. The stonework crumbling and falling through, and crushing the people unfortunate enough to be trapped underneath it. Their bodies. The line of blood streaking from a headwound, just like-

The dungeons have warding. They stop magic. Kyle might not be able to teleport out, Istredd might not be able to break through it. He doesn't know, but he isn't willing to sit on the sidelines and take that chance.

He'd come down here just- to check, to tell them, to maybe try and rationalize with the guards using his absolutely nonexistent charisma to convince them to unlock the doors. Something; anything. It's much less of a concrete plan than Dion apparently has. )

Oh, shit, is this- ( He stops himself; lowers his voice into a harsh, incredulous whisper. ) Is this a prison break? Are you sure that's the best idea? Maybe we could try talking to them first-

( Before Dion can answer, a rumble shakes the foundations of the stonework. It's subtle, everything holds solid and fast, but they can feel the deep, bassy warning of it beneath their feet. )

Fuck-, okay never mind. Are you confident you can get the cell doors open?

[princeofruin]

[Dion stares him down. He's put one and one together.] Yes.

[What use is there wasting time in pretending that is not, exactly, what he is here for? The longer time moves on, the more seconds pass, the closer they come to another attack upon the castle.]

These men aided in the Admiral murdering his niece, and you think they can be reasoned with?

[It is never so simple. He keeps his balance with a hand on the wall as the castle shakes.]

There is nothing in those bars that can keep me from tearing through them.

[If he must, he will call upon Bahamut's strength. This... this feels worth the risk.]

short transition thing if that works!

[ushiri]

[ Down in the cells themselves, the prisoners are aware of something happening above their heads. Kahlil can be heard, almost calmly, speaking to someone else - presumably a guard. ]

You could go upstairs and check - there won't be much to guard us from if the stone ceiling falls from our heads...

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ Istredd already did the unhelpful thing of standing and attempting to put a shield over their heads, but he has no access to magic so it was a useless gesture. He stares, frustrated, at his hands and then to Kyle. ]

We aren't going anywhere. [ This to the guard as well. ] You must find out if the castle is in danger!

[ His tone is both ordering and begging, instantly concerned for the others that they can do nothing about in here. The guard looks uncertain but that he's considering it. At the moment, without his powers or reach, Istredd has no idea anyone is even wondering about them.]

[princeofruin]

[For all his blustering and curved spine, Jack does manage to get himself going, drawing the last guard away until Dion can finally draw himself up, leading down to the darkest depths of the dungeons. It does not surprise him to find that the prisoners have been left alone -- only surprising that the guards stayed so long in the first place.

His fingers curl into fists, but he settles the throttling creature inside of him before Bahamut can burst forth.

When he sees both Istredd and Kyle -- regardless of how enraged the sight of bars between them can make him -- there is a sense of relief.]

You are both unharmed? There's been an attack on the castle. [To confirm their fears. He does not mince words; it's clear why Dion is here, he should hope.] I've come to release you, but I would suggest standing back.

[ushiri]

[ He doesn't know what to expect when someone comes barreling down, and it's not Dion on his mind. But there the man is all the same, and Kahlil shoots a glance at the guards who have also noticed and prepared for the arrival, perhaps still rattled from the recent coup they seem surprised to find that the intruder is a Summoned, and it makes them hesitate. Briefly. ]

There, do you hear him? [ He shouts this to the guards, but he doesn't back away from the bars and quickly shoots to Dion: ] Wait! Your powers -

[ Whatever they are (besides leaping impressively high) won't work here - ]

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ Istredd isn't certain at all what to expect when Dion comes into view and his surprise is genuine, eyebrows furrowing. The attack going on is top of his list of concerns at the moment so for a moment his heart lurches, wondering if Dion is about to tell them something terrible happened to the others. It never occurs to him for a moment that he's here for them, until he speaks.

If this was a different situation Istredd would have any number of ways to react to this with his magic, and he has absolutely none of them at hand. He glances nervously to the side and then to Dion. ]

So good of you to come inform us of this danger!

[ Istredd says loudly, and probably very, very obviously fake depending on who is listening.]

Especially as supernatural abilities do not work down here and it makes us vulnerable to attack.

[princeofruin]

[He puts distance between himself and the cells; as eager as he wishes to let Bahamut run rampant, it is a dark impulse that makes such a thought so desirable. He cannot afford to show his power, and not on a night like this, for certain. But if he semi-primes... that will be plenty for human-made metal bars, and with only minimal progression of the curse.

But as he expects aether to curl around him, for his wings to burst forth, his skin to scale, his eyes to sharpen as the third eye opens --

There is nothing. Bahamut thrashes, as if scraping on the inside of his skin will provide release, but there is nothing.

It has been since his flight to Ultima's lair that he felt true fear, true panic. But this -- having his Eikon denied him, a feat that should be as impossible as him forcing his lungs to not crave another breath -- brings a lightning-bright flash of that fear. While he could summon his lance on the level above, here... even that does nto come to him.]

Fuck.

[The curse is rough, and sharp, and unfamiliar on his tongue, but the situation calls for no less.] I cannot leave you here. [But attempting to pull on the bars with his too-human strength will be a humiliating idea.] I will find a guard who can open them.

[And force them to do it, if he must. Not only as a Summoned, but as the Warden of Light. Something about this sick magic that has taken his power from him... it only serves to seal his determination -- as another impact leaves the castle to shake.]

pretend I didn't misread and kyle hasn't been talking to invisible guards HOW EMBARRASSING....

[ushiri]

[ Dion's frustration resonates, and maybe he recognizes some fear in him as well. Kahlil has felt the same being trapped down here, cut off from the power that proves that he is worthy in the eyes of his god. Two years ago it might've driven him mad by now.

He quickly shakes his head at Dion, glancing back toward where he came. He can recognize Dion's commanding tone. This is another way the Summoned are powerless here compared to whatever life they might've come from - ]

Find Sergeant Ward. He might listen.

[ Or at least be sympathetic.

Though he'll feel guilty if Dion tries to throttle the man... ]

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ Istredd knew going down there what would happen with his magic but it doesn't make it easy or comfortable. The disconnect from Lucifer is the worst part for him. It feels like this emptiness on a few levels, but if Dion wasn't ready for it, it must be particularly intense to feel that nothingness at hand.

He sighs and shakes his head at Dion. He understands the impulse that brought him here and the need to protect others, but they are not the ones directly in the way of conflict. If anything they are probably safer down here than whatever is going on. ]

Dion, they'd just put us back here.

[ If they were let out, it would happen all over again, and possibly with scolding for going in the first place. ]

[princeofruin]

Ward?

[A name he has heard, and one Kyle appears to be familiar with. He... can do that, but where? A sergeant will not be randomly wandering the halls during a direct attack on the castle. But as he pulls at the bars, there is... nothing. It is not as if he has been cut off from aether -- he can feel it in himself, in these two men, in the world around them -- but as if it is nothing more powerful than water in the air.

He presses his head to a bar, cursing again.

This -- being powerless -- it has never happened to him. Not like this. His connection to Bahamut is unbreakable. It only gives credence to his wariness of Thorne in the first place. If they can cut him off from his eikon, what could they do with it?]

You would be safe. Even if you must... [Leave the castle. He steps back. He cannot make a decision so harrowing for them, but he can. Stay. To do what he can to protect them, should their interlopers come to the dungeons.] I can find this sergeant. I am... sorry. I could not do more.

[ushiri]

[ Just as Dion backs away, Kahlil reaches between the bars to grasp his hand, forearm, whatever is closest, giving it a light squeeze. Reassurance for the other man, despite his own fear over the situation, the prospect that they might be buried down here. ]

You're a good man, Dion.

[ A friend, he'd like to think, as long as they manage to escape whatever is happening above with their lives. His touch won't linger, allowing Dion to leave swiftly. ]

can probably wrap here or on yours hannah!

[magicalarchaeologist]

Your intentions are appreciated, Dion, truly.

[ No one else tried to rescue the two of them! Not that Istredd would want them to, but the effort is very well-meant and kind. Istredd will not forget these actions and what Dion wanted for them. ]

Speak with Ward, but if there is an attack happening, there are likely people in more need of help than us right now.

[ Istredd hates that he is stuck in here when he could be helping. Not that he can do much about an attack of this level, and they probably would not be allowed to, but in his stubborn mind he can stop it somehow. ]

🎀

[princeofruin]

[Good is only as useful as the action behind it. But he squeezes Kyle's hand back without pause or hesitation, his heart drumming like a trapped chocobo caught in a trap. He will return to check on them; and he will tear this castle apart as Bahamut if it should crumble. Thorne's magic cannot contain him everywhere. Nothing is so powerful.]

You are just as worthy of it. [And he sees no difference between Summoned when their powers are stolen from them. He releases Kyle's hand, stepping back from them with a bow. There is not much else he can do if this... this shield should keep his Eikon trapped inside him.] I will return.

[After time, he does. The guards catch him coming up from the dungeons, and he does not attempt to explain himself beyond the truth -- in the chaos of the attack on the castle, his intentions were to spring the trapped Summoned free. Several guards return, and Ward himself reassures Dion that the Summoned's safety is as important as the castle's citizens.

Action will prove whether that is true, but he is satisfied enough that he can return to check on them once the attacks have ceased. He is reassured that once the sentence is over, they will be sprung free; there is little more they can do but wait.

What is important is that the dungeons, and those within it, survived.]