balance_logs | Lunar Interlude 2

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Lunar Interlude 2

	Let's try to keep the paperwork to a minimum, shall we?
	NAVIGATION

1. NEW RECLAIMERS

A. WELCOME WELCOME! FAH WHO RAHMUS

For the nine of you who will be arriving today, the story is the same: though you may not remember it, there was a moment where you were living out your life, at home or wherever you were ... and then there was the moment the Hunger came. And amid the television static that is your memory of that moment, a hand reached out to you, beckoning your escape as the tendrils of darkness destroyed everything that ever existed about your world.

"Would you hurry this up, please? Your world no longer stands a chance. Come with me, we are the last bastions of hope for all universes everywhere. And we're going to need you."

And then, unceremoniously, you are dragged through the universal wringer and plopped down on the soft, though not quite cushioned, grass of the Moon Base Quad.

There are other people out in the grassy fields — they may even be people you recognize. They may just be strangers, other Reclaimers, who recognize what you're about to endure. The things they say may be interspersed with static — as if the words themselves aren't reaching your ears correctly.

And you have a few minutes to chat before you're calmly led away by Bureau administration, to do something about that pesky static problem.

B. THE VOIDFISH

The nine of you are quickly divided into two groups, and brought to the easternmost geodesic dome, to an elevator in a well maintained, but sparsely landscaped field. There's nothing particularly ominous feeling about the space — in fact, the two guards who greet you at the elevator entrance seem pleased with your arrival. You are, after all, one of the few chosen by the Director, the few who will reclaim what the Hunger has destroyed.

And in a few moments, you're about to find that out for yourself.

After a tightly packed elevator ride, your group is ushered out to a rather grand looking hall, banners of the Bureau of Balance adorn both sides of smooth metal walls. And inside the Voidfish's chamber stands a tank — impossibly tall, and soaked in a black ink that obscures whatever the tank may be holding.

You may notice the sound of someone speaking. It's a bard, on his second round of introducing Reclaimers to the Voidfish, and this time, he has chosen to demonstrate the functions of the outrageously vertical tank not by playing violin music, but by reciting a piece of classical, and highly valued poetry. When he finishes, he pulls at a drawer just at the metallic base of the tank. He solemnly enters a few scrolls into its basin as the tank begins to light up, like lightning behind dark clouds.

And suddenly, you forget what that invaluable example of universal literature sounded like.

"Yeah, man, like... don't think too hard about it, it's like that every time. I'm guessing you're here to be inoculated? Just a heads up, you might want to, like, seriously, hold your nose while you drink it down. It tastes wicked gross, man.

Anyway, I'm supposed to tell you that you have a choice. If you drink the black stuff, you'll be able to hear through the, uh... Huh, how do I describe it? Through the [TSHCSCHTSHCHSC] sound. You guys like, hear that? Anyway, it's all about knowledge or something. I don't know, I'm just here to, like, feed the thing. We call it the [TSCHHSCHSCH], by the way.

So, like. You get a choice. You can drink it and understand stuff, or not drink it and then hear that crackling noise all day every day. If I were you, I'd drink it. But, hey man, I'm not like, your dad or anything."

The bard takes five cups and draws liquid from a spigot connected directly to the basin of the large tank. Stormy, muddy looking ichor is drawn into them, one by one. He offers each of you a sip.

Drink it (he wasn't kidding about what it tasted like), and you're inoculated to the wisdom of the Voidfish. You try to remember the poetry this bard recited a few moments ago and the rhymes, the meter, the significance, all come back to you. And if you think back to your arrival, some of the things you may have heard other people in the Quad say, that simply sounded like static, are suddenly clear. Bureau of Balance. Grand Relic. Reclaimers.

Yet you still can't remember the Hunger or what it had done to your world. And as you look back to the tank in front of you, the water has become clear. There's a jellyfish, as tall as a building, floating within. You look into the body of the creature and you can almost make out a beautiful, tiny universe floating within it.

2. THE TEST OF INITIATION

With your new knowledge on the Bureau of Balance and your purpose here in tow, you are led without hesitation to the Arena, where the final phase of your initiation into the Bureau will be held. You are partnered up, whether it is with someone you drank the ichor of the Voidfish with, or perhaps even a veteran Reclaimer, who either stopped by to help, or simply out of curiosity.

One Grand Relic has already been reclaimed, you're told. They were a pair of bright red mittens, held by the mayor of a small village who may have meant well, but under the draw of the mittens' incredible space-bending powers, was corrupted into using them, and to nearly killing everyone who lived under him.

You may have noticed, at some point while glancing out into space while walking here, to the planet below, a massive evergreen fir that stretches past the planet's atmosphere, very nearly piercing the Moon Base itself. It appears to be decorated for the holidays. That tree is the direct result of those mittens, the actions of a man who could not resist the temptation to use them.

Resisting that very same temptation is your task here. And with that order in mind, as you and your partner stand in the middle of the Arena, the walls dissolve, and the simulation begins.

You're standing in the middle of a forest. Ahead of you, situated on a pedestal, is an item. It could be any ordinary item: a pair of gloves, a teapot, a simple decorative bowl. Whatever it is, it's yours for the taking.

Take that simple item in your hands, however, and the building blocks of the trees around you suddenly collapse like shattered glass, and reform into new scenery — it may even be a place from home that you recognize.

A voice in your head beckons you. Perhaps there's a mistake you made, or something that went wrong for you back home that you wish you had the power to undo. Perhaps there's someone you wish you could help, or even save. The item that's in your hands has the power to help you achieve this, if only you'd ever use it.

Resist the temptation. Take the item, and drop it into a nearby deposit box to be destroyed. Your partner is here to help you — because once you destroy it, you will be doing the same for them.

3. NEWBIES AND VETERANS, AROUND THE MOONBASE

Three or four days into the month, now that the newbies are settled in, something strange happens: The next time you return to your flat from whatever errand or exploring you were doing, when attempting to use your Bracer to open the door results in extremely obnoxious beeping that persists for an entire thirty seconds, and a message on the screen next to the door.

ERROR: HOME ASSIGNMENT MECHANISM MALFUNCTION. GO TAKE A WALK.

Welp. Looks like you're locked out for a bit while techs fix that. Here's a few places that might be worth checking out.

A. PIECES FROM HOME

Should you find your way to the Dojo, there's a door that still has that shiny, brand spanking new door look and new door smell to it off in one of the less traversed corners of the building. A sign next to the door demands that you empty your pockets before entering. A scanner for your Bracer will unlock it, assuming it's unoccupied, leading you to a plain white room with no furniture or objects at all in sight.

As the door shuts behind you, a pleasant female voice echoes from all corners of the room, greeting you by name. If this is your first time in the room, the voice has a simple question for you:

"What memory do you value, or think of, most?"

Once you've provided your answer, the walls crumble, much like they did during the Test of Initiation simulation, reforming into something that is, again, pleasantly, or even unpleasantly, familiar.

It's a space from home. Perhaps it's your room. Perhaps it's your favorite restaurant (though, the place is curiously empty, and the food you find, for some reason, tastes like strawberries). Perhaps it's a park you always enjoyed visiting, or a corner of the city you lived in.

Whatever it is, you, and whoever you may have brought along with you, seem to be the only ones there. And perhaps the details aren't quite right — like maybe someone built a model of your home to explore, but a few pieces were missing from the box.

But it's close enough.

B. SPEND YOUR DOUGH. SOLVE A MYSTERY

Whether you're a newcomer or a veteran returning from your first Field Mission, you've been provided with some spending money. You can use it to buy yourself one weapon and piece of armor from one of the blacksmiths in town. Regardless of who you choose to help you out with that, it'll take about a week to complete your order, so time your purchase carefully.

There's also premade weapons and a whole bunch of other bullshit for sale at FANTASY COSTCO. Shelves and pallets of an endless array of nonmagical items, pretty much anything you can imagine, can be bought here, but there's one particular, innocuous item that seems to have Garfield the Deals Warlock in a tizzy.

The more those vinyl covers that can be used to decorate your Bracers are purchased, the more the name seems to spread, ghosts of whispers around the entire Moon Base, of a person who may very well be a ghost herself. Who is Miss Zarves? Who was Miss Zarves?

A powerful witch with the power to scramble your memories, insists one cantankerous woman who pours you a drink at Madame Frione's Tea Kettle. A heavyset, flushed with drink sort of man sitting next to you disagrees — Miss Zarves is a practical joke Garfield likes to trot out every couple of months to mess around with anybody gullible enough to believe him.

Whatever the case, it seems that the name alone gives everyone a curious case of déjà vu. Someone has to have information on her — and this is the Reclaimers' opportunity to hone their information gathering skills.

C. A (PERHAPS MANDATORY) DAY AT STOP DYING 101

Whether you're in class voluntarily, or whether you were dragged there on account of dying the past Field Mission, today's session of Fatalistic Fauna, and Danger Sense to channel your inner barbarian is going on a little field trip to the Arena.

Because this is your first test to see if you can put all that information that's been given to you in the first few lectures to good use.

You and a partner are placed in the middle of the Arena, in a simulation of an expansive, empty field, up against the first monster you were introduced to in class: A Bulette, a fearsome beast that can burrow, lunge, deal severe piercing damage, and jump an absolutely incredible distance. And you and your Reclaimer partner are absolutely no match for it.

Your only option here is to escape. Can you? If you are dealt simulated fatal damage, then the Arena will dissolve back to normal, and you'll be given extra homework and reading material for the day. Sorry, them's the breaks.

D. OPEN THE DOOR, GET ON THE FLOOR, EVERYBODY DO THE DINOSAUR

There's a signup available for those looking to take Dance lessons at the Academy. There seem to be enough slots available for 50 or so people, and the form's name simply reads: "DANCE, NOW. WITH MS. CHARLOTTE." It's a pretty large time commitment- a crash course in dancing is a rather intensive affair. You'll be spending 4 days a week for 2 weeks, 2-3 hours per day, learning all the basics of the waltz, the tango, and the quickstep. Don't even think about trying the cha-cha slide here, it's simply not pasodoable. At the studio, you can borrow a pair of ballet slippers and join in with Ms. Charlotte, which, for anyone coming to the class for the first time should be rightly horrified.

The newest member of the Bureau of Balance is a spider. A delegate from New New Aspen, Ms. Charlotte comes equipped with a bracer of her own, has taken in the Voidfish juice, and relocated here, to teach at the Academy. She moonlights as a ballroom dance instructor and a coach, and boy... she's pretty demanding with her approach, but incredibly thorough. You don't want to let Ms. Charlotte down.

The sessions she teaches will get you to learn the basics. Natural aptitude, of course, goes a long way, but she's very 8-hands on with her approach at correcting posture and steps. Not without compassion, however, if you manage to get blisters on your feet, Ms. Charlotte's web bandages will set and help heal those sore, tired feet. The next 2 weeks of this boot camp are going to be brutal.

E. THE MOON IS YOUR SPACE OYSTER (WILDCARD)

There are plenty of other locations around the Moon Base that you can explore at your own discretion. Feel free to refer to the Settings page for more ideas on what shenanigans you can get into.

Additionally, we'll be fielding Bender rolls again this month! With the exception of the three items that have been removed from his recipe database, if a food item was destroyed in a failed roll previously, you may roll to try to fix it. Bear in mind, of course, that you may make it worse.

Successful food rolls will stay in place at this time.

4. THE DIRECTOR ACTS; A GRAND RELIC DESTROYED

Erika has obtained and delivered the Space Mittens to Madame Director herself. She struggles to remain calm and composed at the moment, but the amount of immense pride and relief at recovering the Grand Relic slips through an otherwise sturdy exterior of coolness and level-headed features. She congratulates the entirety of the Bureau of Balance for their hard work, and relates to Erika that she couldn't be happier that she had made this world one step closer to being safe. A message will appear across all bracers, everywhere, with the following:

Reclaimers, welcome home and congratulations on a successful first mission. Although there were certain drawbacks and difficult decisions that had to be made, I believe, without a doubt, that you all have irrefutably surpassed all expectations. Congratulations on a job well done. However, next time, please do be more careful out there.

For those of you who wish to watch, my office will remain open until 1600 hours today. The relic will be destroyed, and if you would like to attend to see how it's done, please stop by.

There will be light refreshments and coffee served, of course. If unable to attend, you can watch the ceremony later on your bracers. Don't forget to click Like and Subscribe.

At the appointed hour, a ceremony will occur. She calls forth Davenport to wheel out the structure that's been created and designed with the sole purpose of destroying these things. She dare not takes the relic herself, no, refusing to touch the item at all. It's a medium sized metallic sphere, and once opened and closed, can never be opened again. Pulling back the curtain to an observatory, the Reclaimers can watch as Davenport sports a nifty pair of goggles, and wheels the orb onto a raised platform. He waits for the Director's signal, which is performed by an agreeable stamp of her oaken staff against the floor, and a nod. Davenport hits the KILL SWITCH, and the light show from behind the glass is amazing and terrifying all at the same time. You watch as the Space Mittens are obliterated from existence.

An eruption of cheering breaks out. This concludes the first successful mission, and a deeply needed win, for the Bureau of Balance.

blurb code by photosynthesis

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh God no. Akechi stops trying to force Mary down to reach out to try to comfort her. Unfortunately, that means Mary has the freedom to pop out completely and float next to him, staring unblinkingly at Kaede as he cowers.]

N-No! No, it's— Ka— [Wait no don't fluster so much to use her first name Good Lord.] Please, relax! It's safe!

Is it?!

[She doesn't sound entirely convinced, especially not when she peeks out from between her arms and that doll is full-on floating, looking her dead in the eye. Emphasis on "dead."

Fortunately, she missed that half-start to her name in all the confusion.]

What is it?! Should we get Kurusu-kun?

[A cleric... to exorcise the doll.]

What! Why him?!

[He can't help being irritated at it, wings fluttering in a way that might be like a cat's tail flicking. Don't drag Akira in to fix his shit!]

Never mind, it's fine! She's haunted but probably not evil!

He's like a priest!

[And he's a friend? Why wouldn't she go to Akira?!

She's not sure if she should try to return Mary's stare. So she looks to Akechi instead, frowning a little.]

I don't like how you said "probably"...

[He is ignoring the preposterous idea that Akira check out the doll.]

I asked about her and was told she will stay at my side until I am about to suffer a fatal blow, at which point she will take the blow for me.

[She's pouting at him for ignoring her idea and dismissing Akira immediately! Jerk!!

But wait--]

She-- what? Really? You're sure she's not the one who's gonna try to get you instead...?

[That's so cruel to poor Mary, Kaede.]

[Mary seems to agree, or at least moves oddly, floating upside down now. Her dress weirdly does not fall.]

I actually did triple check. She's a haunted doll named Mary. She doesn't seem to do anything except... creepy things. Like teleporting across the room if I try to tie her down in a corner.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

[It's a hum, long and drawn out as Kaede starts gathering up her fallen books. The topic isn't dropped, though; instead, she just comes closer, regarding Mary suspiciously.]

Mary...san. It's nice to meet... you?

[She holds out a hand. If Mary really is supposed to protect him, then... Well! It's worth a try!]

[In response, Mary flips back over and hovers down closer. Though she otherwise doesn't say or do anything, at least she's... nearer? Is that a good thing?]

I... think that's good.

[He has made an executive decision here.]

She likes you. If she cares about my life that much, then she must.

She's flipped back over, at least...

[Kaede retracts her hand, still looking to Mary a little warily as she sits down next to her friend and sets her books down properly this time.

Which one of us are you telling that to, Akechi-kun??]

Well... if you're sure it's fine, then!

[She still kind of wants to go to Akira, but she trusts Akechi's judgement. Most of the time.]

You have wings again, huh?

[She reaches out, fingertips brushing against the feathers. How many times is this she's seen these, now? More than a once, at least.]

[The wings shift under her touch and he feels some warmth come to his face, though he refuses to acknowledge it. Instead he focuses on trying to coax Mary back into his pack. Even if she's not a danger, she does spook people.]

I'm thinking of asking the Director to make them a permanent addition. They're kind of cute, don't you think?

You definitely look angelic, that's for sure!

[She just-- comes out and says it with only a little embarrassment.]

If you changed your clothes to something old-timey, I bet you could look like one of those Renaissance paintings... oh!

[She hits her opposing palm with a fist before pointing straight up in sudden revelation.]

The cute da Vinci-san! She could paint you!

[A Renaissance painting?? From someone who actually cares about art, that's far too flattering.]

I-I don't know if I'm her type of model...

[Look. He thinks he's hot? He knows he is. But holy shit even he can't ask to be a muse for Leonardo da Vinci.]

[She's pretty sure it's accurate!

Speaking of pretty... she raises her bracer and snaps a quick picture of him.]

Let's find out!

[Unless he physically stops her, this pic is going right to the cute da Vinci for evaluation.]

Edited 2019-01-09 01:31 (UTC)

Ahhh—!

[He doesn't stop her since he doesn't have time but now he's flustered, raising a hand to his face.]

If she's critical of it, please don't tell me.

[His ego cannot handle Leonardo da Vinci telling him he's not hot.]

She won't be.

[Kaede giggles and, satisfied that Mary isn't about to assault her for just being nearby, finally drops down next to him and starts rummaging through her backpack, searching for something under all the sheet music.]

I never thought you were the type to drink energy drinks though... I thought you were a coffee drinker.

[Mary is for now just chilling in a creepy but ultimately benign way. Akechi looks curious at her rummaging but doesn't try to pry with his eyes.]

Only sometimes. I do prefer coffee but occasionally, there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything I intend to do. I realised I had some catching up to do when we came back.

[Training, school, classes less of his choosing, spying around town, reading, finding time to relax somewhere in there. It's actually nice to be so busy again. The less time he has to dwell on anything, the better.]

[She hums without looking at him, attention on her backpack until her fingers brush something cool in comparison to all the paper.]

I know the feeling, but...

[She leaves whatever she's found in there for now as she glances sideways to him, voice gently probing, not accusatory.]

You're working, like, really hard. Did something happen...?

[Other than the obvious like Snow Globe Town and Kaednapping.]

[Everything happened. He can't apologise properly to the people who know he died and he can't tell the people who don't know, meaning the guilt adds up anyway. Hiding it is for his benefit but telling them would be as well, so it's pointless. He doesn't know what he should do anymore without a goal. He never achieved his goal. His goal was always meaningless, because he was always just a pawn in some God's game and he didn't even have the chance to get closure on a single thing in his life. The one good thing he did never mattered, because that whole world is dead and gone and so are most of the people he tried to protect. He's going to let the people here down eventually, because it's what he does. They'll leave him and that's what he deserves but he doesn't want it. He doesn't want people to hate him even if they should. If he's not busy, this is all he'll think about. He thinks even with the good he did that he's still hollow and empty.

Smiling a little, he shakes his head.]

I'm just... used to being busy. So it's difficult to figure out what to do with my time otherwise.

[She hums quietly, nodding once. She can understand that; Akira had all but scolded her for it, back in New (New?) Aspen. At least on the moonbase, it's harder to tell when she's doing the same, considering her coping methods generally consist of playing piano, which she'd do anyway.]

...Hmmm.

[She pulls a small blue drink can out of her backpack and lightly bops the center of Akechi's forehead with it.]

Just be careful not to push yourself too hard, okay, Akechi-kun?

[She takes his hand and slips the can into it.]

I asked Bender for this earlier for you... I haven't tried it yet, but it's like, an anti-energy drink. They're pretty popular where I'm from, and I was worried you were having trouble relaxing, so...

[It's not going to have the desired effect at all, considering Bender messed it up and created yet another energy drink. But she doesn't know that.]

I get wanting to keep busy, but I'm worried about you.

[Ah. She's been worrying about him. Guilt x3 Combo. Akechi looks down at the can, glancing at her, before opening it.]

It wouldn't hurt for me to unwind in a different manner, no. I'm sorry.

[Being productive in some way really is just the only way he knows how to handle himself.

Down the hatch the 'anti-energy' drink goes.]

You don't have to apologize!

[She laughs, bumping his shoulder with hers. She has to admit, she is glad he's taking her recommendation, though she hadn't meant for him to just drink it right now. Mixing an anti-energy drink with an energy drink sounds like one of those things doctors warn against. Or maybe they just cancel each other out?

Yeah, that's probably it! Energy and anti-energy makes just drink.]

Just remember, if you don't take care of yourself, I'll come find you and make sure you relax!

[His logic is that if it's some kind of sedative, it should bring him down faster? Something like that. Look, Akechi figures it won't kill him.]

Still, I would rather not cause you concern like that. Why don't we get something sweet together to wind down? I'd love to hear about your day. Have you been studying?

[He noticed the books and sheet music.]

[RIP Akechi.

...Is this a date? This sounds like a date. But no, she'd asked him once before if he'd been hitting on her, and he'd said no, so this is... just two friends hanging out. Yeah, that's it!]

Yeah, that sounds fun! You're really good at getting Bender to work, so I'll let you order.

[She shrugs her backpack back on as she stands up, offering a hand if he wants to take it to help himself stand up, too.]

As for studying... [She looks a little sheepish, running a hand through her hair.] Not for class, but I've been trying to find music in the artificer's office to play for everybody at the upcoming party. I want to put on the best performance I can, after all!

[While she's reasonably confident in her skills, she still wants to do the very best that she can for everyone.]

[One day, Akechi will realise that half the things he has said and done to Kaede have been flirty and he will have to kill himself on that day.

But that day is not today, as he takes her hand to stand up and listens to what she has been doing.]

And I thought I was the perfectionist. [He tapes her forehead.] You'll enjoy the dance for yourself as well, won't you? Not just as a performer.

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