It is a quiet day in mostly reconstructed Cerealia. The robots are busily running into walls that were not there before, the Cybuddy bees are buzzing...and CERES has still not said a word. Attempting to contact them still gets the User Offline error. Strange...
But who cares if CERES is offline? After all, they are the cruel and tyrannical captors. A Cerealia without them must be better than a Cerealia with them. So there's nothing to worry about on this fine, peaceful day. Or, at least, that's what it seems like, when suddenly there's a voice in everyone's head. A chosen few may recognize the voice, for they will have heard it before, but to the vast majority, it is brand new.
Looks like someone has been saved, and a reward granted... and no, you don't have a single choice in the matter.
 Your heroism will be remembered, lost and stolen souls.
You have saved me, and so now, I shall save you.
All of you.
|
PHASE I [ day one ] It happens so quickly. One moment you’re in the colony, going about your daily life, and the next, you’re… floating. A moment later, every player character from the colony is transported with a wisp of fresh air to...somewhere very very different. The distance is far, but it is covered in what must have only been a scant moment, and it’s clear somehow, especially to air characters, that it was Caeli’s doing that brought everyone there.
There, naturally, being right in the middle of the jungle.
Everyone is then unceremoniously dropped. You may land on a tree, or in a patch of poison mushrooms (no really, look out for the colorful plant life, it’s probably poisonous) or in the river. There are some strange insects of all sorts and types, some of which have some uncomfortable side effects if you’re bitten, such as swelling or the uncomfortable urge to go hug the nearest person, and there are strange flowers everywhere, some of which glow only in the dark of night or the shade of trees. It is dreadfully humid, however, and a little hard to breathe--unless you’re of the air disposition.
Either way, you’ve certainly landed somewhere fantastical, so take some time to get used to your surroundings. It shouldn’t take too long to find everyone else, hopefully.
PHASE II [ day two ] Of course, this far into the jungle, and making this much noise, it was only inevitable before some company was attracted.
Some are clearly dangerous, some are peaceful as can be and some are somewhere in between; approach at your own risk.
Either way, these monsters are all drawn to larger groups of people and a lot of noise, so it may be best to keep quiet...though the ones that keep their distance may be even more concerning.
Everyone is certainly being stalked at one point or another in the jungle -- and at night, there are eyes watching from the darker parts of the trees.
PHASE III [ day three ] But perhaps if you follow some of those monsters deeper into the woods, you will stumble across an old, run down village of sorts. It looks as though time and the jungle has overtaken it. Exploring it will reveal plenty of homes that were clearly lived in however, by families and by people of all sorts.
There are empty rooms, covered in dust, and a central village fire, long gone out.
Small knick-knacks and various objects can be found… if you want to steal from the dead, you know. It’s a little rude. It appears they led a simple, peaceful life, however; most notably, there is no technology to be found.
And if The Bridge catches you doing it, she will look incredibly sad and ask you to put everything back in its proper place before she goes back to looking very irritated at Caeli. You may overhear words about how this “isn’t the right place” and Caeli’s unrepentant, “It is only a few hundred miles”. Looks like something went a little wrong in the transportation process.
Time to camp out for the night, perhaps. And your CereVices don’t get any reception out here, so no surfing the internet for you. If you try to connect to the internet, for some reason the device starts playing a song. Was that programmed…?
PHASE IV [ day four ] By the fourth day, it’s pretty clear that you’re going to be stuck here for a bit. Pestering Caeli or Maris gets nothing, while the Bridge still can’t be approached for pretty good reasons. So… you’ll just have to make the best of it while they figure out their next approach.
Time to figure out how to camp with few supplies and even fewer nice places to sleep. Maybe try to make a fire (though it’s incredibly difficult, considering how muggy it is here) or try to find some bugs to eat (ew gross).
Of course, you can try hunting, but the prey doesn’t look too friendly, so be careful not to become the prey yourself. The same goes for fishing, it seems.
Some of the trees are poisonous, some of the grasses will cause unfortunate rashes, and some vines will lash out to grab at people (especially colorful ones); basically, this is an entirely untamed alien jungle, so it may not be the fun camping trip you'd like.
Time to work together to survive out here, at least for a little longer.
It’s your time to shine. This is Person Versus Wild.
PHASE V [ day six ] On day six, the jungle goes utterly silent.
The monsters and animals disappear. The extra friends poof away hastily and suddenly. Maris and the Bridge fall silent (though Caeli admittedly continues floating there as ever). If anyone approaches them to ask, they'll just say that "she is coming".
And soon, she does appear. She moves slowly, lacking in feet; they are roots, as though that of a tree. Nonetheless, she has no troubles with moving forward, slow bit by bit. She does not speak, not at first, and behind her, trotting lightly through the woods, there is another. Both feel strongly of spiritual energy, just like Maris and Caeli. And eventually, after observing the people gathered, they can be spoken to.
BONUS [ day ??? ] After spending some time in the jungle, emotions might be running a bit amuck. And those emotions might bring some unexpected...friends. Yes, let's go with friends.
Because if a character is typically grumpy, gloomy, stoic, lineface, or anything along those lines, they may find themselves followed by a bright, happy bird. That bird feeds off of those emotions, and will just cheerfully follow around any lineface character for as long as possible. Or until they smile. The birds are otherwise harmless, chirping happily every now and then and following them around like a friendly shadow.
Happy, cheerful, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, energetic characters, on the other hand, will soon find themselves followed by... a different friend. Or maybe a handful of them. It depends on how cheerful they are. Either way, these creatures feed off of happiness and fun, but they will also chew on hair or an ear if they're allowed to get that close, making horrifying, chittering noises as they follow anyone who is in a good mood.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Roxas
Y-you got hurt because of me-- and I couldn't do anything, I--
[ She remembers bits and pieces of her dreams, sometimes. Her friends, crumpled at her feet. Low laughter echoing around her. Her mother, clutching her close protectively, eyes a blazing red--
Sometimes, Mary can't tell how much of it is a nightmare and how much of it she witnessed, for how vivid those moments are. But she knows how it felt to watch her mother disappear in front of her eyes. And she's been told, that it isn't her fault, but the pain still sits heavy within her and she swallows another strained noise.
Roxas had fought to protect her. And seeing him hurt drags those memories up, reluctantly. ]
I'm so sorry...
no subject
for a moment, he remains somewhat frozen in place. a hug... right, this is a hug. they've done this before, though roxas has no idea this is the sort of thing that winds up warranting one. after a moment, he'll shift to return the gesture, hands gingerly resting on her back. this is okay, isn't it?]
I'm okay, really. You don't have to worry about it... that was nothin'. [he tries to reassure her as best he can, because he really doesn't want her to be worried.
even if there's something about it that feels good—when was the last time anyone was really, genuinely worried about him? he can hardly remember a time. maybe with xion? but there's something fuzzy about that conversation they once had that he can't even say for sure. nobody worries about him, but yet mary cares enough to worry about him. not ven, not sora, not anyone else he apparently has connections to. she's one of the only people who ever did that much for him, so roxas can't and doesn't take it lightly.]
Don't... be sad or scared. I've done this a lot before, nothing's gonna happen to me. [if he seems awkward about it, it's because he just legitimately has no idea what the right thing to do in this situation is.]
no subject
[ Logically, through her semi-panicked words, she's aware that Roxas can hold his own. She'd seen him take on the nurse, she's seen him wield his... giant key sword things, and now she's seen him fling light and darkness around, so of course she knows that he's strong. He can fight. He'd defeated the monster, and he was warm and solid against her, and she can draw comfort from that.
But it's still frightening, when she can still replay the exact moment he'd hit the ground, the choked-out pain that had reached her ears. He's okay. She knows that now, but all the same, Mary's still reluctant to draw back, even so much as lift her forehead off his shoulder-- a selfish act, probably, when he's still injured and he probably needs to tend to his wounds, but she's scared of letting go.
In the end, she hadn't been able to reach out to her mother in the split second that she'd needed to most. And now, even if she can reach Roxas, what can she even do to help him?
That, she murmurs, in a minute-- finally lifting her head just enough to keep from drenching his shoulder further. ]
We're friends, but I don't know what I can do for you...
no subject
[he isn't really sure how to react, but he knows for sure that he really dislikes seeing her in this state. even if roxas can't grasp the whole of what she's experienced, he knows what it's like to lose people important to him.
he knows what it's like to lose everything that matters. he knows that it hurts, and that she has to have hurt a lot to be able to say the words in that kind of tone. so even if he doesn't know what she's lost, he knows the feeling behind it. and there is something else he knows for sure, and that's the fact that he doesn't want to be the cause of that kind of pain for mary. she doesn't deserve that sort of thing.
so when she pulls away, he's offering her a small, empathetic smile. the worry is present in the way his brows remain knit, but he's going to try to encourage her, in just the same way he would have done for his other friends when they seemed down.]
You don't have to do anything for me. We're friends, that's all that matters. And... you're not gonna lose me, 'kay? [he holds out his pinky to her, just like she'd shown him how to do in the past.] I won't... No...
I can't let that happen. [he still has too much to do, after all.] That's a promise.
no subject
She appears to have gotten most of the panic out of her system, at least, her shoulders slumped with the kind of weariness that always accompanies the aftermath of worry and grief. Most importantly, he's okay (mostly) and the threat is gone (hopefully).
It's easier to nod now, to give him a tiny smile of her own, despite the tear-blotched countenance she's sporting. It's easier to let him go completely, and to link their pinkies together in a more pensive version of what they'd done twice before already. ]
... Yeah. And I promise I'll... do my best to help. Somehow.
[ He's her friend, after all. ]
no subject
[if nothing else, he's glad to see her cheer up a little. mary worrying that much when he'd barely gotten hurt is just he sort of jarring thing he never expects from anyone. and while it's nice to feel cared about, causing one of his friends distress is just not on his to-do list ever.
seeing her smile is a lot better. even if it means making more promises to keep, it's worth it to him. she may not be his best friend, but she's important, and she treats him like him, and not someone else. not someone who should be another person, and not someone who shouldn't exist at all. one of these days, he'll have to tell her the things about him she doesn't yet know because of that, when he's ready to do so. for now... for now, this is about a little reassurance.
and maybe also a little bit of pretending that the fall hurt less than it did, but he'll cast that cure spell when they part ways and just bear with it for now.]
I think that's enough help. It's what you could do, and it gave me and advantage. Things... might not have gone that smooth if you couldn't that, Mary.
no subject
One day, she thinks, this will get easier, and it does help that there are so many people who aren't just regular humans who have only heard of monsters in fairy tales. It helps that Roxas looks on it as an asset.
But she still lowers her eyes at the same time as she lowers her hand back to her side. ]
It's because I'm... what a lot of people and books know as a 'monster'. [ Not flat-out "I'm a monster", because she's been lectured on this a few times already, but she ought to be as honest with him as she can, regardless on how she herself feels about the title. ] A monster who can turn people to stone by looking them in the eyes.
I'm not as powerful, though... I can just stop their movements for a little bit.
no subject
but roxas also doesn't really care about those things, either.]
I don't think it matters... what books, or what those people say. You can do something a lot of people can't, so it's more like you're a special person, right?
[it kind of bothers him that anyone would call that something a monster can do. sure, maybe monsters can do that. but there are heartless that can cast firaga and so could he, but that doesn't change that they're still very different. she's a special person with a special ability. if he could be a special nobody, then couldn't she be the same?]
You understand what you can do, and you wouldn't do anything to hurt someone with it. And it doesn't need to be powerful for it to be useful, just like back there.
[so it's okay, right? he doesn't necessarily understand the full gravity of it, but he understands not just being a person. at least a 'monster' exists. what about him? he's an incomplete being, someone without a heart, without memories, without any understanding of the world beyond what he's been told. he's not a complete person, but an anomaly not mean to exist. but here he is, trying to cheer her up, because he can tell that she isn't comfortable with explaining this.
but it's not like knowing these things will change the fact that they're friends, no matter what.]
no subject
[ It's hard to think of herself as special, when she thinks about it. Her mother had never used her power until she'd unleashed it to protect Mary. She doesn't know a lot about her grandmother, or all of the abilities she'd wielded, and she knew that her friends were... different. Eye powers, like hers, but none of them had been born with it. ]
... It's just always been scary... not knowing who to tell, or who not to tell. Because I think what I am... will always be a monster to some people. I've been lucky, with my friends, and here. And I never wanted to hurt anyone, but when even the books call you a vicious monster, it... I mean, of course I could understand why people would be afraid--
[ But Roxas isn't, and she's grateful for that. ]
I don't... really like it, still, but I'm glad I could help you.
no subject
[she doesn't have to like it. and roxas wouldn't make her try, either. how could even begin to know what it's like to have that title attached.]
I dunno much about those things... monsters, or what's in storybooks. [so it's not like he can help. he barely knows who he is, aside from the fact that he's not meant to exist, that he's something unnatural to these worlds. but he knows that somehow, he exists in this way. his gaze averts for a moment as that thought comes to mind.
it's hard to try and make someone feel better about who they are when he can't even do the same for himself.] I don't really care about them, either.
[he pauses, sucking in a quiet breath before he finally admits something he hadn't really intended to.] It's not like I'm a normal person either. I guess you can say we're both... "special" that way.
[actually expanding on what he means? well, that's not going to come so easily, but if he can convey that she's not the only one, then maybe one day he'll become a step closer to saying it. it's hard to explain, when it's something he was told so much to not talk about. the only person who knows is riku, so it's possible his secret could be let out by someone else now, but there is that underlying concern that someone from the organization will find out he spoke of it.
...even if he's not sure why it's such a big secret to begin with.]
no subject
Those words hit her hard, forcing the air out of her lungs with a faint little noise, as though that's truly hit her. For too long, all she'd known was that things were dangerous. That she was dangerous. That was why her mother had wanted her to stay inside. That was why it had been so long before she could look in the mirror and not see a terribly scary monster looking back.
And Roxas, like Seto, simply saw past all of that. As if, to him, she really was just Mary.
Is it just that the world she'd once wailed her hatred at had changed around her while she'd been hidden away, she's wondered, more than once-- or jut that there were so many people from so many different worlds who didn't judge so quickly?
Mary lifts her eyes to rest on his face when she thinks it's safe to do so without tearing up again, tentative and surprised when he continues. Not a normal person... she'd seen him fight, had wondered at it, but... she also wonders if that's what he means, when she's seen other humans call on strange powers.
But that doesn't seem to be what he's implying. And he also doesn't look comfortable stating that much, a fact she can recognize and sympathize with. Slowly, she reaches out, to grasp both of his hands in hers. He's reassured her plenty... maybe she can try. Even if she doesn't understand all of what he's saying. Even if that's all he wants to say. ]
Roxas... you're you, too. So... it's okay. If I'm me... and you're you, then I think it's okay to be "special" together.
no subject
saying what he would want to hear in that situation... would that be enough? he can't tell. it's one of the many things that makes it hard for him to deal with people that have hearts. even if they feel similar to the members of the organization in some respects, living with falsified emotions based on memories of having a heart and actually having a heart are two different things. and roxas knows... well, he knows that his actual knowledge of hearts and what they mean in miniscule in comparison to what a heart can feel. and what's the difference between what they feel and what he feels? because he knows he's felt fear and pain, despair and concern, genuine laughter and elation too.
and that's exactly why everything that follows leaves him to have no idea what to do. he's confused as she clasps his hands (and it feels further strange when his hands are bare as they are right now). but when she says those words—"Roxas... you're you"—, his breath hitches in his throat a bit. his eyes widen with total surprise.
nobody has ever said those words to him before.
he's said them himself, he's tried to convince himself and others around him that he was nobody but himself, but it's an argument that falls flat as a memory-less nobody who was someone else, once. it brings a certain sort of overwhelming tightness to his chest... what is this feeling? roxas isn't sure, but he remains in a stunned silence for a moment.
even though he's not sure if he can agree outright, or take her word for what it is when she doesn't actually know anything about what kind of being he is, hearing those words... they make him happy. maybe not the happiest he could be, but this has been his greatest struggle over these last few months he's existed, and she's validating it as something.
would it change if she knew the truth? it's possible, but roxas isn't ready to find out yet. the barest smile reaches his lips, but there's still something bittersweet and melancholic in his expression as she says that.]
Thanks, Mary. [he pauses, trying to gather his thoughts and say something that shows his appreciation. but his mind is still blank from how unexpected this was.] I know... it complicated. Being different, being "special." But... maybe sometimes, it's not so bad. It's okay right now, I think.
[surprise, he's still terrible at conveying his thoughts into words. he needs to think about them for a while—if they ever get back to the colony, maybe he'll be able to write it out in his diary and try to piece something together that actually makes sense.]
PLS SLEEP EARLIER
Because maybe what makes Roxas "special" is different from what makes Mary "special". He hadn't called himself a monster. All the same, it seems to hurt him just as much, and her fingers tighten, pressing, like a little bit of extra warmth and pressure can convey as much reassurance as she'd like to offer him.
At the same time, she doesn't want to hurt him, so that pressure is brief; her eyes search his face with some form of gentle concern, and then she nods and slowly releases his hands. ]
Yeah... I think so, too.
[ Aspects of it might always hurt. The memories won't truly go away. But in this moment, it's okay. ]
Um, but right now, your injuries... we should do something about that.
[ She's got scratches from her bush-hiding, but a certain someone is a whole lot worse, isn't he? ]
no never why would i do that....
so even after mary lets go, roxas remains in the same position for a moment before he lets his hands drops back down completely. it felt nice—that warmth. that feeling of support. that feeling that someone cares about him as he is, rather than what he's not or what he's supposed to be. people who really exist, the ones with hearts that are meant to be that way, who live in the realm of light and aren't relegated to the realms between... is this what things felt like for them?
it's different and confusing, but also good.
and also not something he has time to dwell on yet, since mary's already back on the topic of his injuries.]
Oh... [he shakes his head, snapping back to attention.] I told you, I'm okay. It was just a little fall, so I can wait. [he doesn't want to waste his magic, okay. he stands up a little straighter, wincing only very slightly.] If I use up too much energy now, I won't be able to heal later if we run into any other problems. So don't worry about it.
no subject
I can't not worry about it... you hit the ground really hard.
[ And, resilient or not, that's still worrying to her. It's going to take awhile before she doesn't feel guilty about having distracted him like that-- if she ever stops. It's hard to say. ]
But if you're feeling tired... um, we can rest too, for a little bit! Or whenever you want! That might help.
[ IF ONLY SHE COULD HEAL. ]
no subject
[he really doesn't want her to worry, but obviously... that's not working out to well. he pauses, trying to see if there's some other way he can deter her.]
I'm fine, but using magic like that... I kind of have to save it in case we find another monster or something. [he smiles, less pained this time.] I've taken bigger hits without healing, so it's really okay. I'm used to it... this...
It was kind of my job a while ago. I did a lot, so I'm used to it. [never mind the fact that he has a lot of bitter feelings towards that, but he's holding all of that back to put his energy into trying to ease mary's worries.] I can take a few hits, I promise.
no subject
[ She may not be entirely comforted just yet, but Mary can recognize an earnest attempt to reassure her. She'd used to do the same thing when she'd accidentally blurted out how much she would have liked to go outside in front of her mother.
Realizing it now, she takes a deep breath. Roxas will be okay. And she trusts him, so if he says he'll be fine, she'll do her best not to let the worry cloud her face. Instead, she nods, turning to move like he's suggested. ]
I remember, you said you had work before... you used to fight monsters, Roxas?
[ If she is constantly glancing over her shoulder or peering ahead or turning in one direction-- well, she's just making sure no more monsters catch them by surprise. ]
no subject
They weren't exactly monsters. I guess they were kind of like that, but they had a different name. But they acted the same, mostly.
[in that they were aggressive, at least. he's not about to try and explain what he knows about heartless unless she asks. he wonders if her world even has heartless. there are so many worlds out there, but he always was sent to the same few to defeat them. was it because they were the only worlds with it, or because the organization didn't trust him to have that much freedom to travel?
he's not sure, but it's not important right now.]
no subject
[ A species of something, maybe? She's still wondering if it's okay to ask for more information, when there's still so much about Roxas and his world that she'd like to learn... but if he doesn't want to talk about it, Mary certainly doesn't want to make him.
Maybe at another time... ]
no subject
[it's not that he minds talking about the heartless; even the people in the worlds that had them seemed to know a little bit—some of them, at least. he's just not sure it's something even interesting to talk about, or even something he'd be able to explain without confusing her.
even he didn't get it for a while, and he dealt with the heartless on a daily basis.]
no subject
no subject
no subject
[ She's so proud that all of her avid reading finally paid off. NOW IT'S A GOOD DAY. ]
no subject
[good job, mary! at least one of them is getting something right here.]