Lunar Interlude 5

[balancemod]

looks like i'm in charge now NAVIGATION Click here for the RNG thread! 1. FROM THERE TO HERE AND THERE IS GONE A. YOUR ARRIVAL For those of you who were just casually (or not so casually) pulled between the universes, depending on how you viewed your home world, your day just got a whole lot worse. You can't really remember what happened, but the grass beneath you is plush and comfortable, and out in the well manicured field of trees you're sitting in are ... well, a fairly sizeable crowd of people. The Director has pulled in new Reclaimers so often by this point that it's become something of an event. And quite frankly, according to the murmurs of other members of the Bureau, she's become pretty adept at picking some real weirdos. The Director, standing before you dressed in regal robes, clears her throat and begins to speak. She doesn't appear to be wearing any mics, but her voice is somehow amplified so that it booms through the Quad, and onto the Bracers of those who aren't in the Quad. When she's done, there's silence. In the distance, trains. No, really, you most definitely heard the sound of a train just now. That's probably normal. In any case, you have a few minutes to gather your bearings before you're taken to your initiation. You can talk with other newbies who are sitting there with you, or if you happen to spot somebody you know among the crowd watching, now's your chance to reunite with them. And maybe one of those people out there will be able to relay a fact to you, even if you can't remember exactly how: Your world, and the people who were there and are not here, are now gone. B. THE VOIDFISH Once you have your bearings, you are divided into small groups of three or four 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. Standing by the tank is a bard, who happens to be reciting the lyrics to a song. Considering what he's about to do with the sheets of paper in his hands, the lyrics might be apt enough. When he's finished, he takes the sheets 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 sang 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 are immediately divided into pairs and brought to the Arena, a large building that is capable of running several simulations for combat training, events, or, in this case, your Test of Initiation. When you and your partner walk into the Arena, the simulators switch to Initiation Mode, the scenery shifts, and your test begins. The experience is wildly different for each group — that's because the test will be drawing from both of your experiences back home. Initiation Mode replicates an amalgam of thoughts, metaphors, and ideas between the two people who signed up in order to make an obstacle course suited to appropriately test their ability to stay focused. This is a good opportunity to introduce new CR to some of the thoughts and feelings that your character has going on through their mind, their preferences, or give away a piece of information about themselves that might not be on the surface level. For example, let's say that your character was born on a ship, and spent their entire childhood growing up at sea. Your partner's life involves a lifetime of academic research (setting aside our dearth of smart archetypes for a sec here). An amalgamation suited for the Test of Initiation may involve navigating a ship through choppy seas with flying book monsters that breathe fire. Be as creative as you want! The design is 100% left up to you. All tests will eventually lead toward a room with a relic locked within it. What that looks like is up also up to you! If you need a few ideas, though, it could be: A bright red pair of gloves that can manipulate matter, or a ball of yarn that can roll up pretty much anything. Regardless of what the relic looks like, all you have to do to pass is retrieve the relic without using it. 3. AROUND THE MOON BASE The Director's sudden absence isn't particularly anything new, given she spent the majority of her time on Lyrabar, leaving the Moon Base to manage itself. It is the first time Lucas has been left entirely in charge of it though. Controlled chaos becomes something of a much less controlled chaos. The sound of trains in the distance, though nobody can seem to pinpoint where they're coming from, isn't helping. Though, that isn't necessarily Lucas' fault It's largely the fault of a technomancer supposedly stuck on a different plane and infecting the Moon Base's tech. She's figured out where the Director went, and she's going to be using the next two weeks to her advantage. It's hard to say what her motives are here. But then, Miss Zarves has always been a little bit inexplicable. C. WHAT A CRUMMY WEEKEND THIS HAS BEEN Oh man, Miss Zarves has been wanting to try this thing she wrote for ages, and for a few weeks at least, she's figured out how to override the Director's simulation settings. Did you know the Moon Base has an arcade? You're about to find out if not: If you happen to wander into the Arena, you'll find yourself inexplicably trapped in a simulation based off of an arcade game — and no, you're not going to get out until you win. As a note, you can't die in these simulations, but you can be busted up a bit. You can repeatedly get game overs until you win. You can run with any game on the conveniently copyright infringement free list linked above however you like, but here are a few settings to get you started: ○ Mesozoic Park: The Lost Chult. You and a friend find yourselves in a lush jungle, with no clear path to the escape helicopter. Using your wits and path actions, you are going to need to clear one for yourselves. And thanks to not wanting to be sued by Michael Crichton's estate, the T-Rex that's chasing you down in this game is actually in the correct era. Once both you and your friend are safely strapped into the helicopter, the simulation will end. (As a side note, Lucretia would actually approve of this one — there are many very powerful monsters out there in Faerun, and learning to outrun/outwit/defeat them is a vital ability.) ○ Immortal Wombat: Actually becoming a wombat is optional. You and a friend will be situated in the middle of the arena, with a very loud and very rowdy simulated crowd surrounding you. As the name of the game implies, this simulation will not end until one of you is KO'd. Again, these are just a few examples! Feel free to use any of the games listed as you see fit. E. THERE'S NO ESCAPE The town, though it might not rely as heavily on Moon Base tech as the rest of the Bureau does, isn't exactly escaping unscathed either. It's more like, Miss Zarves find you Reclaimers a lot more entertaining than a bunch of shopkeepers who have had to put up with a deals warlock's shenanigans long enough that it's hard to surprise them. That said, if shopping or the occasional dining is on your agenda in town, then you'll find that you'll be able to do so largely unhindered. Shopping at Fantasy Costco is normal, too, if Garfield being himself falls under your usual definition of normal. There is one exception, though: It's a small alleyway that leads to the back entrance of Madame Frione's Tea Kettle. Step into it, and weirdly, you'll find that something unseen is blocking your exit. And then, a message appears on your bracer. From: Zarves♥Scarves hello!!!! since madam in charge is off tryin to fix something i thought id help out a bit you know like a team building exercise so you can do the bureau thing better sounds fun right??? anyway what would u say is your least favorite thing about yourself go on dont be shy You won't get a response from Miss Zarves, but you will find that you won't be able to leave until you respond to her text with something. And you'll also find that whatever you answer? It's automatically sent to the entire network. FYI: If you lie in your response, whatever's blocking you in will suddenly give way — you'll be able to move about three feet before there's suddenly another one blocking your escape. Unfortunately, it looks like if you want to escape this, you're going to have to be honest with yourself. And the network, as it were! E. LET'S JUST ESCAPE There is a very easy way to avoid anything a technomancer tries to do to mess with you, of course: Avoid the tech she's using to mess with you. And after the sort of messed up mission that Lyrabar was, and after the sort of screwed up ordeal that is being initiated into the Bureau to begin with, some of you will probably want to just chill out for a bit, too. Here are a few suggestions! ○ Another small art studio with a supply of magic paintbrushes has been set up in the Academy. Previously, the paintbrushes had painted in a color that represented the energy you're giving off. Nowadays, it's a bit more versatile: You can now change the color you're painting with by simply thinking about it. ○ Speaking of the Academy, there are a few new classes available: "Logic and Puzzles for the Easily Puzzled," led by a rather intelligent chemist who tends to speak in riddles herself; "Charmed, I'm Sure," led by a warlock who seems to have an uncanny sort of charisma, and knitting. What? You guys don't want to knit? Additionally, if you are interested in reading up on some of the advanced paths unlocked so far, the materials unlocked have been made available in the Artificer's Office. If there's an advanced path your character wants to reach someday, now's a good time as any for them to start studying it. ○ Before leaving, the Director set up a comfortable pile of large pillows and blankets out by the Whomping Willow in the Quad. Feel free to have as many sleepovers as you want. The Whomping Willow will also offer advice if you ask it, though it's particularly good at dispensing love advice. ○ WILDCARD: This is, of course, your time to rest as you see fit. Please feel free to use the setting however you wish!

Comments

[gotyourbach]

[Nope. Who would do such a thing?! Not any one of their friends, for sure.

Her lips curve into the smallest smile as he takes her hand, but she shakes her head.]

N-No... I do. During... during that trial, I was so worried about catching the mastermind, a-and then making sure everyone else could be convinced that it really was me, I didn't... think about what you had to be going through. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I...

[She takes a deep breath and forces herself to look up from their joined hands to try to meet his eyes again.]

I forced you to confront a horrible truth, I pushed everything I wanted onto you, and then... you had to keep going through that bear's awful game. I made everyone suffer a lot, but especially you. I...

[A moment, then she puffs out her cheeks.] Aaaah, jeez! I told you I'm not really good at speaking! I've had all this time to practice, and I still can't figure out the right thing to say! I just... really needed you to know.

[diffidentive]

[As much as he wants to look away, Shuichi holds her gaze all through the apology. The apology that he never expected and never even knew he wanted until just now. Because...it's true. He'd thought at the time that it was cruel, what she did during the trial. But...it was necessary. And he couldn't hold it against her. He still doesn't hold it against her but...some part of him is soothed by hearing this.]

[By hearing her admit that what she did was wrong, that she had, in retrospect, thought about how it had felt for him...]

...Thank you, Akamatsu-san.

[The whisper is quavery and barely audible, and only then can Shuichi finally break their gaze. He stares down at their joined hands instead, trying to will the tears threatening to well up in his eyes to go away. This isn't something to cry over, what the hell. Stop that. He inhales and wipes at his eyes with his sleeve.]

You don't...have to say anything else. I understand, s-so...

[It's okay that you're not good at speaking, he isn't either. This was apparently enough, it was the right thing to say. He knows.]

[gotyourbach]

[Oh. Oh my God, she made him cry. She opens her mouth to apologize again, but shuts it again just as quickly. So she looks down, too, biting her lip at the surge of relief. She finally got to say it... She's been worried and anxious for so long, guilty over what she did to him. Now she can finally start making it up to him, little by little.]

...I'm glad.

[Her voice is a quiet murmur, little more than a whisper as she glances back up with a small smile.]

And... I'll stay by your side this time. No matter what.

[diffidentive]

[Ugh, only a little!! Nothing compared to what getting yourself executed did for him, tears-wise. And these aren't exactly sad tears (though they aren't quite happy either, he's not sure what they are), so that's...something.]

M-mm... [He nods, throat a little constricted with emotion again so he can't manage a verbal response. But thank you, for that. He gets the feeling he's going to need it, in this place. Though, god he kind of wishes he had his hat again, so he could hide his face better. Using his bangs and his sleeve isn't really as effective...]

[gotyourbach]

[Emotional tears! She has them all the time. But that doesn't make her feel any less embarrassed when she does cry.

But crying is the opposite of what she wanted!! So she takes his hand in both of hers and pumps it up and down a few times.]

It's okay, Saihara-kun!! Let's just think about a fun, happy song to whisk all your worries away. Like...

[There's a beat where her voice catches. She could finally play Clair de Lune for him. But... no. Not yet.]

Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu! It's a wistful, fairylike piece that totally suits the magical atmosphere around here!

[diffidentive]

[He wipes more vigorously at his eyes, finally looking up and giving a feeble chuckle and a small,apologetic smile.]

I'm afraid...I still don't know very much about music. [That particular aspect of him has not changed in the slightest, unfortunately. Sorry, Kaede.] I don't know that one...

[gotyourbach]

[She giggles softly in response to his chuckle. Feeble it might be, but it's an attempt nonetheless.]

Then I'll just have to play it for you, huh...? I have... a lot of songs I want to play for you, when you're ready to hear them.

[He's been through so, so much. Even Kaede won't drag him straight to the music room.]

[diffidentive]

[Thank you, Kaede. He really just wants to go rest now, but if you dragged him off to the music room he wouldn't even protest.]

Okay. Just...not Clair de Lune. I...I listened to it in your lab after... [Your execution.] W-well, I just...I won't be ready to hear that one for a while...

[gotyourbach]

Oh...

[Yeah, she can fill in the blanks there. For someone who doesn't know a lot about music, spending time in an empty music room listening to a CD had to be...]

I'm sorry... that sounds really lonely.

[She's had months to think about that song, while it's only been a few days for Shuichi. So she nods and gives him a smile.]

But... it's okay, I get it. I haven't even played it at all since then... But whenever you want to listen to it, I'll play it for you.

[diffidentive]

It...was a little lonely, yeah.

[He cried.]

But Momota-kun suggested I go there after the trial...since it would be full of things that you liked. And...I wanted to hear it at least once.

[Just in case he, y'know, died.]

[gotyourbach]

Momota-kun did...?

[Forgive her incredulity, it's just... Kaito never seemed the type to be that sensitive. Sure, he stuck up for her back when she was being so bullheaded about taking the Death Road of Despair, but...]

[diffidentive]

Mmm. He helped me a lot, after...you were gone. I guess you could say he took me under his wing? Though he called me his sidekick.

[Surprise?]

[gotyourbach]

[After she was gone. It's still so hard to think about it in terms like that -- that Shuichi had been in that academy for days after her death. Days, and with more murders, and more trials...

Kaede presses a hand to her heart, though, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She might not have been Kaito's biggest fan, but if he was there to support Shuichi when she wasn't? Well, she probably still wouldn't give him a hug, but she'd thank him if she could.]

I'm really glad you had someone like that... [And then she giggles, propping her chin in her hand while her other gently twirls the teacup in its saucer.] Want to know something funny? My friend Arisato-kun said the same thing to me, once. That I was his sidekick. I guess that makes the two of us just a couple of sidekicks, huh?

[diffidentive]

I guess so. [He smiles a little and pops the last bit of his sandwich into his mouth. Good bye sandwich...you were delicious.] Though...honestly, I have a hard time seeing you as anyone's sidekick.

[He, on the other hand, couldn't ever possibly be anything BUT a sidekick.]

[gotyourbach]

You think so?

[She twirls the teacup around again with a soft smile, fingertip pushing gently against it. For a long time, it's felt like she was here to support everyone else. She's a pianist, not a soldier or a spy or anything that felt remotely useful. She's been learning, it's true, but it's hard not to look at those around her and feel like she's trying to catch up.]

Well... when we see Momota-kun again, when this is all over, I'll have to thank him for looking after you for me.

[She glances up, then draws her hand away from fiddling with the teacup to smoosh that errant strand of hair down on his head.]

You know, I was gonna say we could go shopping for another hat for you, but... you look kind of cool without it!

[diffidentive]

Mmm.

[He nods. Yes, he does think so. Someone so charismatic and outgoing...people like that aren't meant to be sidekicks. People like that are heroes or protagonists or whatever else you want to call them. They're the stars of their own stories.]

[Wait hold on what's she doing where is her hand going-- oh. A faint dusting of pink appears on Shuichi's cheeks as she smooshes his hair (which promptly springs right back up once she removes her hand) and he hides the lower half of his face behind his teacup.]

A-ah, you think so?

[gotyourbach]

Mmhm, definitely!

[She sets her empty teacup and saucer on top of Shuichi's now-sandwichless plate so she stops fiddling with it, giving him another nod and a smile. Please... be more confident, she'd told him back then, when he was scared of looking toward the truth, unable to always look people in the eye. Without his hat, he doesn't have that barrier.

And so she's being completely genuine as she adds,] I can't wait for you to show me your confident side, Saihara-kun.

[diffidentive]

Uhm...I'll try to.

[He's...really not sure he HAS a confident side, to be honest. Sure, he's gotten a little more confident since the last time he saw her, but...a whole side? Nah.]

[So hopefully Kaede's expectations aren't terribly high.]

[gotyourbach]

I'll be looking forward to it.

[She takes a peek at his teacup. Is he done with it yet? She could walk him back to the dorms and--]

Oh! I just realized, but you haven't met your roommate yet, have you? I hope you're on my floor! One of my really good friends got called away on a mission really abruptly, so I know his room is free right now...

[They could be neighbors... gosh. The thought is making her blush.]

[diffidentive]

[He is done, yes! The tea is all gone, he just hasn't stacked the cup with the rest of their dishes yet.]

Um...no, I haven't. I didn't...even realize we had roommates. Are we assigned rooms then?

[Since she just "hopes" he's on her floor.]

[gotyourbach]

Mmhm. [She nods.] I'm on the fourth floor, room 402. I wanted to be on the 6th floor, 'cause that one's called "Musica!" But I'm on Vero instead, and a bunch of my friends are on that floor, so it's not really worth it to try to move.

Once we get there, they'll let you know where you'll be staying.

[She rests her chin in her hand, giving him a little bit of a fond, resigned smile.]

I don't know how it's been for you, but when I got here... all I wanted to do was go right to bed after all this. I was lucky to meet some nice people right from the beginning who helped me out, but... I know it's pretty hard to adjust. So... don't forget I'm gonna be with you the whole time, okay? I promise.

[diffidentive]

[Of course she wants to be on the "Musica" floor. You're hopeless, Kaede.]

Thank you, Akamatsu-san. [He really appreciates that promise. Because he gets the feeling he's going to need all the help he can get here. He's already so vastly out of his element. Or at least that's how it feels.] I think I'd like to go back to my room now though, yeah. I don't...know that I want to go to sleep yet, but I have enough to mull over already without...potentially adding more.

[gotyourbach]

[A floor called the Music Floor should be the coolest floor! It's in the name, duh.

She takes his cup and stacks it with her own. I don't actually even like, know what they do with leftover dishes? Whatever it is, she stands up to do that.]

Then... let's go! I have to try to find Oma-kun, too. [Wait, she just said she'd be staying with him--] Oh, but I could do that later if you want me to hang out with you in your dorm for a little while, too.

[diffidentive]

Mmm, it's okay. [He gets to his feet as well, picking Yacchi up from the table and tucking him under an arm.] If you can just tell me where the dorms are, I'm sure I can find them on my own. I think you should go and find Oma-kun...before he manages to find trouble.

[Honestly...it's probably an eventuality. Kokichi is good at things like finding trouble.]

Oh, and...if you have any pain killers, can you give him some?

[Shuichi has a feeling that Kokichi doesn't really want to see him right now. And he can kind of understand why, honestly. Given how things went before they wound up here. But Kaede died before all of that, so...maybe he'll be less likely to run from her.]

[gotyourbach]

Mmhm, I can do that, but... he's probably already gotten into trouble...

[She rolls her eyes a little with a kind of resigned fondness. She is happy to see everyone, truly she is, but Kokichi is, well... he's a handful.

She's brought back from her little interlude thinking about their friends to blink at Shuichi with visible concern.]

Pain killers...? Did something happen?