Lunar Interlude 4 — corporate retreat

[balancemod]

I have a feeling that you'll find the next few weeks a little... in-tents. NAVIGATION 1. NEW RECLAIMERS A. WELCOME WAGON For those 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. You're not alone, either. Along with the newest members of the Bureau, in a fashion probably not unlike this, there are people waiting here for you. People who wanted to see the heroes the Director has managed to bring in this time. People who are excited to see what you're capable of. You have a few minutes to talk with each other — or maybe lob a few questions at the impromptu welcoming committee, or any of the older Reclaimers who may happen to be nearby. But before long, you're whisked away to a different area of the Moon Base. B. THE VOIDFISH You are quickly divided into four 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 a melody, someone playing the violin. It's a bard, on his fourth round of introducing Reclaimers to the Voidfish. When he's finished, he pulls out a few pieces of paper — sheet music — opens a drawer at the bottom of the tank, drops the papers in, and shuts it. And swiftly, you feel as if there's something you can't just shake off about the melody you just heard. If you seem alarmed, the bard takes notice of it. "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." You sort of get the sense that he's said this speech once or twice in the past. It's well rehearsed, much like the stories you'd expect a bard to be able to recite. "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 song this bard played a few moments ago and the melody, the meter, every octave, 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. TEST OF INITIATION You're given approximately 48 hours to sign up for the test of initiation. Outside the Arena is a command console where you can push your biometric signature up against the device, pick a time, and get prepare to take your entrance exam. This one is a little different than the ones before it; the Director has posed a group challenge among her hopeful Reclaimers. One slot contains blank names for four people altogether. Two of them are backlit in a blue background, two in red. It looks like you're going to be competing against other Reclaimers. At the appointed time, you'll enter the arena's chambers and fill out into one of two rooms. You and your teammate will be allowed to dress and prepare accordingly. From the window, you can see a single, solitary mountain that rises so high you can barely make odds or ends of the peak. An array of items stands before you, four in total. You can only choose two, as the second both of you claim one item, the other two become translucent and untouchable. Placing either of your items back on their pedestals makes them corporeal again. All in all, you have: ○ Booster boots - aids you in climbing and scaling the mountain, quadrupling your jump speed ○ Spiked boots - when landing on a surface of the mountain, it magically locks into place and prevents you from falling or being otherwise deterred in moving upward ○ An enchanted cloth - you're not sure what this is capable of, but if you try it out a little bit, you'll realize it resists the push of air. Essentially, a portable hang glider ○ Grappling hook - standard issue, its reach is about 50 feet. When it locks onto a surface, it's impossible to remove unless a button is pressed on the device to loosen it Both of your teams must make it to the top. What awaits you there is a wand, standing on an intricately carved, raised dais. The base is made out of stone, but written in very clear, etched letters around the bottom are the words: THE GRAND RELIC, WAND OF PLANAR DISPLACEMENT. Does it sound too good to be true? Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. You need to get that relic back down to the entrance room. The caveat here is if you happen to be tempted, and let's face it, the easy way out is always rather appealing, you can try to use it. It'll take you back down, easily enough, but the wand will not come with you. Looks like you're going to have to trek your way back up there. Either way, the first team to make it down wins the contest. What's the prize, you ask? Gloating rights, mostly. 3. THE REAL CAMPY FUN BEGINS As The Director mentioned, you will be spending this month on a corporate retreat! And she wasn't kidding when she said she said this retreat will be an exercise in working together. Shortly after the newest Reclaimers are all good and initiated, and shortly after the rest of you have packed what you can, you're all whisked away to Gwynneth — a beautifully lush forest on the Moonshae Isles. Blanketed in a canopy of lush greens and soft, comfortable grass that seems to grow even in the farthest corners where the light can't reach, the forest looks and feels like something out of a storybook. A peculiar, but not unpleasant, scent that is a blend of sweet olives and cherry blossoms wafts throughout the forest no matter where you turn. That is to say, for those of you who have been in the Bureau for the while, and are used to roughing it with your BIAS: Welcome! This should be roughly old hat for some of you. Not far from the clearing where you all land are two perfectly lined rows of cabins that are in particularly bad shape. On the door frame of each will contain some information... and you might have guessed it. "BARBARIANS," "FIGHTERS," "PALADINS," "DANCERS," "MONKS," "RANGERS & ROGUES," "BARDS," "SORCERERS," "WARLOCKS," "DRUIDS," "CLERICS," and "SMART PEOPLE." - you get the idea. Each cabin will have just the essentials (creaky bunk beds, chests at the foot of each, and a few spare desks per room). Rest assured, the Director's enchanted the cabins to reject entry to anyone who doesn't fit the proper description that's labeled above each door. You will... most likely have to clean the place up prior to habitation. Showering, toilets, and mirrors are communal, but divided into stalls in the administrative cabin, adjunct to the Bureau's cabin. And for those of you who don't fit into any of the above (hi Lucas), uh, well. There's an old shack close to where you were dropped off, but you probably don't want to stay inside for too long. It smells like something died in there — and maybe something did. And boy, does this whole trip have "campy corporate retreat" written all over it. When you arrive, you're informed that your "mission" here, so to speak, is to safely make it through the month's activities, including the penultimate task: Braving what staff is only referring to as the Tomb of Horrors. But we'll get to that later. Right now, you've got some camping activities to do. C. GET IN LOSERS WE'RE GOING CAMPING If there's a camp activity that you can think of, we guarantee that there is space set aside for it, and that a Bureau member The Director brought along to assist the Reclaimers is helping to run it. Here are a few of the more prominent activities to get you started, however: ○ Fight Club/Struggle Tourney/Whatever you want to call it: For those of you who are in clear need of more training, or simply like getting yourself into a good strife, a small arena has been squared and roped off for your said strifing convenience. You can sign up in pairs or go mano a mano against one opponent, but there's a catch. This activity is about improvising, and learning your fellow Reclaimers' fighting styles — an absolute must for when you're out on the field in the thick of a battle. You will only be allowed to use fighting ring issued weapons. A magical barrier will knock your regular weapon right out of your hands if you try to enter the ring with it! And, I mean. Who wouldn't want to fight with these Fantasy Costco exclusives? (Note: If you want to join an actual Fight Club, the magic barrier is down for two hours starting at midnight. Use that information how you will.) ○ Arts and Crafts: Another camping given. Stretched out between two large evergreens is an equally large canvas, though short enough that every Reclaimer should be able to reach. You'll be given a paintbrush — magic, of course, according to the Bureau member helping out with this activity. It magically fills itself with paint, allowing you to add color to the canvas without the need for a palette. Because curiously, it seems you're capable of painting in only one color. And more curiously, it's a color that's very unique to you: no other Reclaimer is going to have the same hex value as what's flowing out of your paintbrush. If you ask her, the Bureau member will smile somewhat pensively, and explain: That paintbrush allows you to paint in the color of whatever energy you're giving off right now. Take this with a grain of salt, of course, but the basic hues can be interpreted as follows: Red can mean that you have a problem that you need to solve. Yellow means there's a secret that you're keeping from someone important to you. Green elicits a feeling of calmness, but there's something else that you're not allowing yourself to address. Blue means there's something you need to confess, whether it's the fact that you have a crush on someone, or the fact that you stole something or told a lie. White means, simply, an energy at peace. Of course, you may find yourself painting in any color out there — and they may represent something else, depending on you specifically. Use this prompt however you'd like! And, that's not to say that these are all things that we need to sit down around the campfire and hash out — though that's an activity later on if you want it! These energies aren't necessarily a bad thing either. It wouldn't be much of a painting, you wouldn't be the person you've grown into right now, if you're always painting in white. ○ Ghost stories: Speaking of campfires, every night, you'll be invited to have a seat at a large campfire and to try to tell your best ghost story. Not too far away from the campfire are four busts of wizardly looking men and women on pedestals. Yes, they are haunted by the very same wizardly looking men and women. And yes, they will be offering frank commentary on whatever story you decide to tell. I'm just gonna leave this here. ○ Field Day: What's a camping trip without the likes of potato sack races, music, tye-dye booths like you'd find at the typical spring fair, and friendly games of capture the flag? If you find this whole field day thing a little bit childish, then, well ... yeah, you're probably right! But even stuffy old people like Lucretia know that the people even stuffier than she is need a chance to cut loose once in a while. So go right ahead and get yourself a fried charisma oreo. There's a dunking booth, by the way. Yes, you can dunk the Director if you want. You might bump into Lucas while you're here. He is having pretty much the worst month right now: sunburned, blown up on histamines and more than ready to go back to the Moon Base where there's air conditioning and technology. ○ Man eff that: If the campy camp activities are a bit too campy for you, then The Director certainly isn't going to twist your arm into participating. Well, actually, she might. A little? In any case, if you're hellbent on boycotting, you might join Lucas in the aforementioned Smelly Shack, as he tinkers with the tech he managed to bring with him and is generally a pain in the ass about having to be out in the forest. Saru and his band of kitsune, if you remember them from Vista Virs, now full-fledged members of the Bureau, will take you on hunting trips if you're interested. If you need to actually learn how to hunt, then Carey and Killian are here to help. If you're still gonna be a stick in the corporate retreat mud, then the Director might ask you to clear as big of a path to the Tomb of Horrors as possible (Note: You will not be able to go inside, or find a way inside the Tomb of Horrors, no matter how hard you try. This isn't Breath of the Wild, sadly, you can't defeat Ganon right after falling off the Great Plateau). It's about five miles directly to the east, and behind the thickest and densest part of the forest. Who knows what else you'll find out there? Have fun! D. AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION One more thing. Something strange is happening overnight, while everyone is asleep, whether it's in their bedrolls, or holed up in the Smelly Shack. Something — or someone seems to be draping a blanket of magic over the entire camp, leaving those who were asleep rather susceptible to it. You may find yourself afflicted with any number of inconvenient status effects for the day, whether it's a burn on your arm you can't seem to heal, more, uh. Well. More sleep. You blink, and suddenly, 24 hours have passed. Maybe you enter a 2v2 in the fighting ring and suddenly realize you can't tell friend from foe — even though you'd agreed on the teams before entering. Maybe all the food suddenly loses its flavor, leaving you to marvel at how intense textures suddenly are. If you happened to be painting in blue, maybe you're suddenly compelled to blurt it out to the next unfortunate soul who passes. It's a smorgasbord of minor inconveniences. Almost like something's spotted the corporate retreat, and has decided to use its participants as their plaything. But what? blurb code by photosynthesis

Comments

[hxppythxughts]

[It would be awfully mean to leave at this point, even though she really doesn't want to reveal anything more. It would just follow her, anyway. And she wants to paint with Goro! As long as he's not fussing over it, maybe it's okay? She just doesn't want to burden him. And he's awfully brave to still be here trying to enjoy himself even with this curse--she should try to be brave like that too.]

Oh, no, it's not Akira! He's really handsome but I'm not in love with him. Actually, a lot of people I've met here are pretty cute--like you!

[The tone of her thoughtless words changes, becoming a bit more wistful.] But--it's a boy from home.

[It is, isn't it? She hasn't wanted to acknowledge it to herself--that's something you can't take back. But...does it really even matter, if he's gone?

Her smile fades as the motions of her brush slow.] I don't think my curse is confessions.

[grakraka]

[Being called cute brings his smile back to something happier for a moment. Though, the person she loves apparently is dead, so that takes care of that smile. His Akira might be dead but the Akira here is no different as far as he can tell and kind enough to care for him. Sayori doesn't even have that.]

I see. What do you think yours is? If you don't mind me asking, I mean. These aren't things I usually talk about... ever, really, but since they've come up and you feel similarly, I don't know. I simply don't mind hearing your thoughts on them, is what I mean. I won't judge you.

[Akechi paints a small, smiling person next to her flower.]

[hxppythxughts]

[The gesture is so kind it's impossible to swallow. It knots in her throat and her chest tightens, looking at the smiling figure next to the flower she painted. She speaks unwillingly.] That's too nice of you.

[And then, she squeezes her eyes shut, shaking her head.] I'm sorry. I think... I think mine might be that I have to say what I really feel. Ahaha... [There is absolutely no life in her laughter this time.] Normally I just write a poem if I feel like doing that.

[grakraka]

Poetry seems like a good outlet. [Not that he would know—it just sounds nice. But he notices how difficult this is for her, so he offers some more of his own feelings.] I've felt like this for a long time. It simply got worse the older I got. I found that... being honest about it just caused more trouble. I've gotten quite good at smiling through anything because of that.

[He laughs softly.] As for Akira, well, he saved my life and didn't reject my ugly self, so can you blame me? [Akechi smiles at her, rueful.] Not that I've told him, of course. Are you kidding me? I'd rather die.

[Wait. Okay, he laughs for real.] Sorry. It's not really funny, but...

[hxppythxughts]

[It's not funny at all, but she laughs too, though in the same sad way as a moment ago.] Yeah! Yeah, it's all the same for me, too. He probably didn't save my life the way Akira saved yours, but... He took care of me growing up. I never deserved it, but I don't know if I'd still be here without him.

[She blinks rapidly a few times. Tears have gathered in her eyes. She quickly wipes them on her sleeve and then looks over at Goro. Despite the pain in her chest, she manages a smile.] You don't seem that ugly to me.

[grakraka]

[At least Kaede has taught him the art of affection over the past few months. He shifts closer and wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer so that she can lean against him. A hug might be nice, he thinks, but he'll see how she accepts this first.]

I am inside. Less so these days, I suppose, but I could say something similar to you. I'm not sure how you couldn't deserve someone treating you well... [He continues softly.] But I understand that feeling. Even now when he is kind to me, I'm not sure why. If he decided to give up on me, I wouldn't blame him. Ah, that goes for anyone, though.

[hxppythxughts]

[This is, indeed, a good time for some hugs. She lowers the hand holding the brush and leans on him easily, sniffling again as she regards the little scene they've painted.] I'm just weak! And selfish. I would have died on Maru if smarter people hadn't been around to help me.

[Idly, she twirls her paintbrush between her fingers.] You helped me a lot, too. I wouldn't give up on someone who-- [she hesitates, knows in the space of a breath the horrible words she's about to say, but she can't stop it,] --wasted their time on a dummy like me.

[grakraka]

[They might be terrible words but he understands. The things he thinks about himself aren't pretty, either.]

Ah, well, for whatever it is worth, you are neither a dummy to me nor are you a waste of time, either. [Akechi knows how hard it is to logic these feelings away, though. He happens to know for a fact that he is talented. It has done very little to mitigate the negative feelings he has for himself. If anything, it has only made it worse.] You've made me smile. Sincerely, I mean. I know I smile all the time. But being with you has been fun. You didn't laugh at me over my stupid fear or when I've been awkward or silly. I know that presenting evidence doesn't make the feeling stop, of course, but I am compelled to nonetheless.

I can't counter the rest since I wasn't with you at the time. But you had no combat experience prior to this, right?

[hxppythxughts]

[It does feel nice to know that she's been able to bring Goro some joy. She knows how hard it is to come by when there's always a storm over the horizon of your mind. She's happy to help someone who has that same horrible storm inside of them, and it does bring a small smile to her face.] Thanks. I'm really glad I could do that for you.

I've never been in a fight before or anything. All I did was go to school and the Literature Club.

[grakraka]

[It makes him smile, too. Sayori really is a sweet person. A problem remains, though.]

Well... Do you want to learn to fight? Fighting and self-defense, I will note, are different here. You'll have to be able to defend yourself. That, unfortunately, can't be avoided. Fighting is offensive and acts first. Not everyone must fight and your path is supportive, at least, meaning you don't have to.

[hxppythxughts]

[She shakes her head.] I don't want to hurt stuff if I don't have to. [She doesn't want to have to, either, but like he said, that part is pretty non-negotiable.]

[grakraka]

Then try not to feel too badly over it. You can practice self-defense with me, all right? We'll work on it so that you don't have to worry as much next mission.

[He hesitates. It sounds like she had a bad first mission, so.] I did some... very reckless and stupid things here on my first mission and I'm used to fighting. I felt really stupid about it. And I haven't... well I've still messed up here and there but much less. You've never faced monsters before now. I think that you've been remarkably brave despite that.

[hxppythxughts]

[She didn't feel very brave when she and Mista found the stone dwarves. She didn't feel brave when Sans led her away from that direbear. When Wash asked her to heal him, or when Kaede needed a shoulder to cry on after Minato died... The only time she felt brave was when she faced the Willow, and that was mostly because of the oreo.

She nods.] Okay. Um, the gachapon machine gave me a pretty powerful bow, so...maybe I could learn how to use that. [It seems less horrible than using a close-quarters weapon and having to feel the way it makes contact with your enemies.

She puts the brush to the paper again and paints a little cape on Akechi's smiling person. She smiles, too, though it's rueful.] I dunno if it's brave. I just don't want anyone to worry about me.

[grakraka]

[He can't help smiling at the cape. In honour of Sayori, he idly paints a bow for the person.]

I understand. Mine is a little different. I don't want to be pitied or be a burden... but it's a similar feeling. I think a bow would suit you, though. Like Robin Hood.

[Ah, that's right. When they first met he told Sayori about his Personas. She wasn't familiar with Loki.] Loki, by the way, is the Norse God of Lies. The unwanted bastard child who simply brought ruin to those around him.

[hxppythxughts]

[Akechi's addition makes her smile too. The pink and the purple really do look nice together. It's hard to believe they belong to such sad people.

And speaking of sad, that smile is short-lived. She peeks up at Goro, her gaze earnest with confusion and concern.] Really? [She wonders if that's supposed to be literal.]

[grakraka]

[He gives a nod, to answer both her spoken and unspoken questions.]

I was always a bit amazed that it was so on the nose. Unlike Robin Hood, he isn't a hero, obviously. But all of those negative connotations still are me.

[hxppythxughts]

[No wonder he feels so terribly about himself. To have all those horrible thoughts legitimized by a physical form would be excruciating. She was right to be concerned about the concept of a Persona!

She's quiet with contemplation for a moment, looking at their little caped hero.] But that's only one part of you, right? The Robin Hood in you is real too.

[grakraka]

[Having a Persona is really cool if you aren't super self-loathing!

Still, she has an undeniable point. The Metaverse shapes itself around you, not the other way around. He had no control over the forms his Personas took, their connotations, their appearances, their history. But it does make it difficult to say it was ever purely altruistic, either.]

I... wanted to be someone's hero. Not just a hero but someone people relied on and needed in their lives. [He hasn't seen Robin Hood in months now but he would never forget how he looks.] I'm not saying I don't share those same beliefs and wants, so you aren't wrong, but... it wasn't a completely selfless wish, either.

[hxppythxughts]

[As far as moral character goes, Sayori hasn't really had a close encounter with anything like what Akechi describes. Again, she has to digest it. There's no judgment in the hush of her thoughtfulness, though that's difficult to intuit from a vulnerable place.]

I think that's okay. The nice stuff you've done is still nice, even if your reasons for doing it are complicated.

[She bites her lip, a slight furrow to her brow.] ...I was just trying to help him build a life where he could be happy without me. But it still hurt to think he wouldn't need me anymore.

I dunno if it's possible to make that feeling go away. [Wanting to be needed, wanting to belong--that's at least a small part of so many people. That's why people join groups like religions. Or like clubs. Right?] So if you use it to do something good, I think that's the best thing you can do with it.

[grakraka]

[Taking a moment to debate his actions, he reaches his arm over his face to pat her head, a gentle gesture. Like this, he's almost holding her, but he doesn't want to be overbearing. From Kaede, he has learned that sometimes just small things can help your heart.]

You know, I think you're right. At least, maybe doing good equals out the intentions. If I debate it too much, then I might hold back on doing good deeds.

[It is a moral dilemma but at the same time, isn't it fine to let it rest for now? Besides, he has some other thoughts.]

I think I understand why you look down on yourself... [Another moment of thought before he continues.] And taking yourself out of his life was partly to keep yourself safe, right? If he liked you, when you don't like yourself, it would hurt, right? But... if he didn't like you, that would hurt, too. Picking what feels 'safer'... I get that.

[hxppythxughts]

[Sayori takes the head pats as a cue to put her paintbrush down and nestle closer. She's a very affectionate person by nature, and the idea that someone here is comfortable enough with her to give her affection makes her feel a lot less lonely.

But with the topic at hand, it does also make her think that no one can replace him. No one else will button up her blazer or fix her hair like he did.

What an awful thought to have.

She nods.] I didn't want to ruin everything by changing our friendship... It was better for both of us if I just kept it to myself. He said he thought about me when he wrote one of his poems, and it--it made me so happy, but--it also really scared me. I felt like I was gonna be sick.

[And nearly blew her cover from her resulting nerves. After a quiet moment, she goes on, softly.] That's how you feel about Akira, isn't it?

[grakraka]

[Someday she must thank Kaede for teaching Akechi the art of affection. When she cuddles up to him, he goes ahead and puts his arms around her in a secure hug. She's free to take as much comfort from it as she wants. Maybe the differences in their lives are vast but the feelings here are remarkably similar.]

Yes. Whenever he says that he's happy I'm here, I'm happy, too, but... it really is scary, isn't it? [He gives a soft, rueful laugh.] I think even in the event that he asked me out, I don't know if I could believe it was happening. Or that he really... cared that way. As though maybe I tricked him or he felt sorry for me, seeing how lonely I am, or... I don't know. It's always a mess when I think about all of this. He's really the only one I've ever liked this way.

[Even saying it like that feels so high school and normal. But truthfully, despite the circumstances of their relationship, he feels like a pretty average teenage boy with him with a perfectly average crush.

No, not crush. He knows it's love. That is part of what makes it so terrifying.]