Post by Cap'n Ryu! on Feb 13, 2011 11:50:54 GMT -5
username
Cap'n Ryu!
current canons
Cid, Mickey.
auditioning for
Leon.
[ Please see the notes at the bottom of this audition. ]
Cap'n Ryu!
current canons
Cid, Mickey.
auditioning for
Leon.
[ Please see the notes at the bottom of this audition. ]
A peaceful day - something of a rarity, these days. Sitting atop the castle that served as the focal point of Radiant Garden, Squall Leonhart appeared to be far more brooding and calculating than he had been in quite some time - cerulean eyes had lost all ferocity that they were rather known for possessing, instead downcast to the landscape below, brown hair swaying in the slight breeze as he reflected. One hand propping his head up on a loosely clenched fist, Squall was caught up in his thoughts, a rather common activity of his since the Anomaly had attacked. The entire situation had been dealt with, yes, the collective efforts of the Garden's residents managing to oust the intruders quickly and effectively, but the thought that it had been he, so battle-hardened and confident, who had frozen up on the battlefield, was tearing him apart. He was thankful that Draconas had been there to do what he had not been capable of, yes, but it was the fact in itself that he had frozen up under pressure that had kept him away from his friends and allies ever since the threat had been dealt with. For the most part, Radiant Garden was once more the way it always had been, the efforts of the citizens being more than enough to do what repairs were required, but Squall Leonhart was a changed man - he had failed his home, his friends, and most of all, himself - something that he was most assuredly not used to, that was for sure. Here in the Garden, however, he was known for acting as a leader of sorts - the reason for his self-imposed exile. They weren't asking what had happened to him, and he wasn't going to go out of his way to - he could accept staying here if he had to, knowing that the place was probably better off without a failure like him.
Still, he was inexplicably bound to his home. Many nights had passed, finding him sitting here atop the castle, the idea that he could just sit up here and not be found by a soul far too appealing. He knew that he would ultimately have to face his demons, but he wasn't ready for that - he wasn't ready to truly acknowledge the fact that he had failed. Not yet. He had seen the horrible scenarios, the way in which these Anomaly had attacked with no regard whatsoever to whether or not they were accosting an adult or a child, a combat-ready individual or someone that was utterly helpless, and he just wasn't ready to have to relive them, as facing the Garden's fellow defenders would ensure. He sighed, eyes drifting to a close, feeling the breeze all around him that reminded him that he was still amongst the living, and that he was capable of being volatile and unpredictable. Pushing off the ground below, a glimmer of hope appeared in his mind - perhaps there was a way that he could look upon this situation in a positive manner. He had failed, yes - there was no denying that. But perhaps this was time for a new beginning. Time for him to start again. Arms folded over his chest, he thought about what a fresh start would entail. A new name, that was a must - the name Squall Leonhart had been tarnished by failure, tossed in the mud when he had frozen in the face of adversity. No, he would no longer let his emotions control him - a new start meant giving way to a cold heart, focusing entirely on defending those people that he cared about, as opposed to letting fear control him. By this time tomorrow, he would be a new man - he would show his friends that his failure wouldn't stop him from doing what he needed for the sake of the Garden.
Hands reached out, Gunblade manifesting itself with a blinding flash of light in his grasp, fingers closing around the cool metal of the hilt as his eyes closed once more. This was a new beginning - he would train himself, hone his mind, and become the hero that Radiant Garden needed - no longer hindered by his emotions, he would focus entirely on being a defender, empathy and hesitation pushed to the back of his mind. And as his weapon sliced through the air at a speed that was truly astonishing, his teeth gritted as he imagined one for after another falling beneath his blade - this was his home, and he would do whatever it took to protect it. "I'll do what I need to. No hesitation. No regrets." He spoke under his breath, taking a deep breath before launching into the motions once again, each emotion, each bit of hesitation he could recall, falling just as quickly as the creatures that he was slaying in his mind's eye. They had been devastated when the Anomaly attacked the first time, and should they attempt to do so again, he would be ready. In a way, they had managed to achieve one casualty in their attack of the Garden - the man who he had once been. Nodding resolutely, he spared but one glance at the lightening night sky above before once more going on the offensive. He couldn't help but accept that this was the best, even if his friends wouldn't like the 'new' him.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
He wasn't afraid that there would be any lack of opportunity for him to aid the city with his self-appointed role of their protector. Radiant Garden was a large place, with plenty to do, and during the day there was yet more tasks to be performed, the rowdy children often rousing the grown residents to complain. Alas, he had not yet found anyone that sought a task to be completed that actually required the aid that he could provide - he was there to defend them physically from any foe that they needed slain, and it was those people, the ones that were being accosted by creatures that didn't belong, that was seeking. It was the last step, in his mind, to push the memories of the Anomaly's attack aside entirely - they were still too vivid, too lucid to be forgotten, but he couldn't help but believe that going face to face with a creature from beyond would strengthen his resolve. As he walked along the street, passing silently by those people that only cast a curious glance at him, perhaps wondering why he had o suddenly disappeared, a shriek reached his ears, the swordsman turning on his heel to notice that the sound had floated outwards from a nearby alleyway, still in complete shadow despite the fact that it was the middle of the day. "Everyone stay back. I'll handle this." He stated, halting those that had been approaching with interest, wanting to know why someone would be offering up such a bloodcurdling scream in the middle of an otherwise peaceful day.
Booted feet carried him towards the alley at a running pace, his mind vaguely noting that he was a lone. He had nearly died last time he had come face to face with an opponent, and would have if not for the timely interference of another - this was his chance to show his fellow residents that he was a changed man, a prime candidate for the person who would always be there to defend them. Making his way along the wall of the building, the screams suddenly halted, meaning that its origin was likely on the verge of fleeing. And sure enough, as he looked more closely at the ground below him, he could see at least a dozen sets of yellow eyes mysteriously, inexplicably, moving along the ground itself. At the sight of another victim, however, they took a physical form once again, all jerky movements and primal instinct, determined to steal the oddly fierce heart of the individual before them. Weapon appearing in a flash, he braced himself, unfamiliar with the creatures that stood before him - they were clearly not from here, but were nothing like the Anomaly, either - they would be the first ones to face a man that no longer held any fear when it came to their kind. He was pleased to note that the woman they had been attacking simply appeared to have fainted, and wasn't dead, as he had feared, and he breathed a quiet sigh of relief before turning his attention back to the creatures that were seemingly sizing him up, wondering whether or not assaulting him would be the best course of action.
"You monsters think you can just walk in here and attack helpless citizens? Pathetic." He stated, scoffing, well aware that they likely didn't comprehend what it was that he was saying. Nonetheless, his words had seemingly spurred them into action, and they all attacked at once, dancing about him and attempting to gouge at him with their little claws, clearly not very powerful but seemingly hoping to overwhelm him with their sheer numbers. A swipe of his blade and a few pulls of its trigger and they had fallen, prey falling victim to the proverbial lion that stood with his weapon in one hand, legs carrying him towards the form of the fallen woman. Two steps, however, and a fist had collided with the back of his head, sending him toppling forwards, head throbbing and anger on his visage. As he turned to see which foe had descended upon him now, a claw lashed out at him, leaving a scarlet gash across his face, vision mildly obscured by the blood that now flowed freely from the wound. He looked up, and literally snarled, boot lashing out to plant firmly in the beast's face, getting to his feet the next moment and slaying the thing with a few well placed slashes. It was symbolic, in a way - this gash on his face was a sign that those he no longer had any fear for had no fear of him, either. It was a battle scar, perhaps meant to signify his transition into a fearless individual.
"... Squall..." Came a small voice from nearby, and he realized, after wiping what blood he could out of his eyes, that it was the woman, stirring. He offered her a small smile, sending his Gunblade back into the ether as he did so. Moving closer, he checked her few wounds before speaking up, tone showing that he was correcting her.
"Leon."
[ This is a bit strange, yes, but allow me to explain. My justification for why Squall was no longer active in the invasion of the Garden is that he froze up under pressure, something that I believe would have bothered him quite a bit. As a result, this is his reaction to that, which may be why it seems a bit odd. XD. So yes. Enjoy. ]
