Into the tunnels

[lucetimods]

Who: Anyone who saw this.
What: A new section in the tunnels
When: The morning of the 10th onward
Where: Beneath Luceti
Summary: After revealing a new section of the tunnels, the people of Luceti have the freedom to slip in and see what secrets await them.

This is an open log for anyone who would like to thread out checking the tunnels out, observe the wall of memoirs, or just generally poke around at things.

Comments

[all7seas]

[Someone is poking around; someone who was interested -- very interested -- in the formerly deceased-but-not-anymore Miss Neumann's announcement.

There are highly personal things at stake, you see. Important things. Life or death things. Life things.]

Now what in blazes does this button do I wonder?

[herotypical]

Someone -- somewhere -- had mentioned that they'd seen Sparrow make for the tunnels. And why wouldn't he? Buffy had heard the same lengthy announcement. She'd pondered going there, herself. But not while all the crowds were milling and gawking and poking and prodding. So it was later in the day when she ventured anywhere near the tunnels.

Like Jack, she was tempted to explore the bunker in a very tactile way -- touching the rusted, defunct dials. When she finally came across the pirate, she stepped up to his side with her arms folded loosely over her chest.

"The more things change--" she started, stalled, and jumped ship on that platitude. Sighing. "I wonder if things worked out for C and D..."

[corrinesbell]

[Someone else is "poking" around, doing less poking but more quiet, unnerved observing. Sheena feels particularly drawn to the writings on the wall, stopping just shy of touching them several times. What if more was lost if she tried - particularly the things written in the chalky stuff?

It was all she could do not to rush down there when Precis brought it up. Now that she's here, anyone nearby will hear her reading pieces of the messages aloud to herself, or commenting on them under her breath.

The one about Tyr strikes a particularly sad note.]

So does all of this mean...

[markofthewise]

... it's a circle. One big, stupid circle.

[Sokka had approached the wall at some point and it was the conclusion he had drawn. All of it was... so familiar. These names could be their own for all the difference it would make.

Three years for him. Five for her. And they hadn't gotten anywhere the Malnosso didn't want them to be.]

[herotypical]

[ the initiative. the whole place reminds her of those cold concrete walls and utilitarian corners. soulless and institutional -- that is, until she comes across the scribbled messages and then it gets harder and harder to breath.

reading those words was like reading the watchers' diaries, describing their hopes and dreams for now-long-dead slayers. it cuts her to the quick. it unhinges so many of her carefully shored up delusions.

there's no satisfying way out, is there? none that allows for memories and happiness and the kind of power over her own destiny that she craves. to cope with this realization, buffy tries to take stock of the little details left in the rooms. for the most part, she ignores the graffiti.

however, she's quite interested in the old radio room. find her there for a chilly chat. ]

[alloys]

[Radios, Buffy? Tony is checking out the whole scope and scale of the place himself. He notices the somber mood of everyone else--but he's rather upbeat himself.]

Thinking about tuning in? I wonder how the reception is down here.

[chikaidestroyer]

[His eyes flit over the collage of messages, at first barely processing them as he takes in all of the text. It's only after a third rereading that he allows himself to react. At first it's a simple shake of the head. Then it's silent laughter that shakes his shoulders.

Ah. So here we are, facing our beginning again.

His expression darkens briefly, and he leaves the mainframe room to walk the control room again for awhile. But he is soon drawn back to the wall, where he stands and ponders for some time.]

[herotypical]

...Care to share what's going on in that big brain of yours, Albert?

[ quiet. subdued. she catches his elbow as he passes her -- just outside the mainframe room. ]

[markofthewise]

[Sokka doesn't waste much time going into the tunnels. But he regrets it when he does. Each message is like a punch in the gut. Everything he's been doing. Everything he's suffered through is just. Pointless. Like he's some piece on a big Pai Sho board played by the Malnosso. He ends up punching the nearest thing he can after reading the last one. He leaves a dent in the metal frame of the mainframe. If he damaged it, he doesn't care. It's not like anything down here will change their lot.

When he's done reading the messages, he tries to distract himself in other ways, trying to clean out the gauges and meters to try and make sense of them. Unfortunately whatever purpose they had eludes him.]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert catches sight of--and hears--Sokka denting the metal frame. He snorts at the young man's frustration.]

Adding your own mark to history?

[screw_fate]

[Neji's standing by the wall of memoirs, not touching it, but his fingers ghosting along a half-centimeter from the words. There's so much here, so many implications and possibilities. So many hints at what was known.

Electricity? A child's wings? What is the meaning of it all?]

I wonder...

[weaponry]

[ Tenten's right next to him, writing down the statements on a standard piece of notebook paper. Thank god for her scrolls. She takes a particular notice to the last one. ]

Neji, the last one!

[bibliophile_annex]

[Her curiosity has gotten the better of her. Hermione is situated in one of the tunnels, peering at the walls, the tip of her wand lit.]

Hm... [She uses her sleeve to wipe something away. Whether it's dust or dirt is immaterial. What's underneath is far more interesting.]

...a rune? [And one she hasn't seen before at that!] How strange... [Fumbling for a notepad, she uncaps a pen with her teeth and copies the rune onto a blank page.]

[fortuneprince]

[Naoto doesn't hesitate in making her way over to the tunnels as fast as she can. It's disappointing to go without Roxas but she isn't going to wait to head down there and investigate. She doesn't mind going on her own anyways.

Once there, she'll be wandering about all over the tunnels, taking detailed notes in a fresh notebook on each room and even poking around at some of the machinery, taking a look at wires, buttons, gauges and things of the like.

When she gets around to the memoirs... it hurts to read some of them. It even shows on her face as she takes a look at each one. But she can't look away. She has to keep observing.]

[de_bel_survivor]

[Kouki's down at the tunnels as well, examining everything he can see, read and touch.

He stop beside Naoto, reading the memoirs with a controlled, stoic expression. But behind his mask, he's calm but grim. These memoirs...]

They're interesting.

[trueknight]

[After that extensive message went up, Yuri was quick to make his way down to the tunnel system to check out the next part of it - specifically, the messages found down there. Really, that's the only thing he cares about when it comes to the new things this part of the tunnel brings. He doesn't have any technology background, and he definitely doesn't know (or care too much) what those machines do. He'll leave the messing around and such of those things to people who know what they're doing.

When he does get to where all those messages are, though, he stays quiet. Some things were interesting, some things seemed a little weird, but others ... Others kind of hurt. Especially when he started to realize the implications of why "don't have kids" was written in that little survival guide. Larger wings, huh ...? If that was supposed to be related to the Third Party, then ... well, it's no wonder that Jonah got taken away. Yuri had to wonder if his son really was moved to a different enclosure, like Bil had told him years ago.

For now, though, he just stays by those messages, keeping quiet as he reads them over.]

[chikaidestroyer]

[When he reenters the mainframe room to see Yuri there, Albert pauses in the doorway. While it's no surprise to see that even he was drawn down there, he knows there's implications on the wall that would mean something a little more to him.]

It's a lot to take in.

[savedtheworld]

[This was not the type of secret tunnel Aang would want to sing about. Even though he knew that within the tunnels, it would be as if that Amon guy had gotten to him, he thought it was important that he had to see this for himself. If he was ever going to make a difference in this place, he had to.

So he trudged on, bitterly recalling his first encounter with a shifter and wondering if his breathing had always felt so shallow. Once in the area, he did his best to check around for anything. Even without his bending, he could still be found rubbing feeling along the walls to try to determine whether or not they would be bendable simply through guesswork. Or he could be found reading the wall of memoirs with an escalating sense of escalation, until he finds himself sinking to his knees in a mix of despair and frustration.

Or he could be found at some point later on, examining the sealed door.]

Maybe the answer's easier than any of us thought.

[He steps up to the door and... tries to knock on it.]

Anybody there?

[markofthebrave]

No luck, huh?

[alloys]

[Well, gee. Isn't this place just full of happy feelings, sunshine and rainbows?

Tony, for his part, is intrigued. Cryptic messages aside, even the useless, wiped junk is fascinating. It's writing the past. He's no historian, but there were secrets here than someone didn't want them to find. To him, that's the very reason why they don't have to end up like whoever these people were before them. And typically, the things the Malnosso didn't want them to find were things that involved them finding a way home.

Which he's already got in the bag anyway, but you know. More can't hurt.

He'll be poking around the entire area, especially interested in the sealed door. You know what he thinks might be fun? Blowing it open.]

[noexit]

[Being in here is a little like prying up a floorboard and finding all the maggots latched onto the underside. Except way less disgusting. Misato is always intrigued by secrets and the trail they leave. When she heard about the new discovery, she knew what was on the top of her to-do list.

She pauses to scrutinize some of the antiquated machinery, wondering what it could have once been used for.]

[endgames]

[You know, Shikamaru didn't actually have paper on hand at the time of the discovery besides his journal - obviously a no-go there. So early on the tenth, he can be found in the tunnels with a notebook, transcribing everything off the memoir wall.

He memorized it already, but it's worn by time. There needs to be some solid record. Later on he'll find something better than a cheap notebook. Regardless though, he looks excited.

He has to ditch out pretty early, on the count of one of his best friends having a birthday party, but he'll be back late at night. Investigating elsewhere, now that he has the time.]

[corrinesbell]

[Someone else is in the shadows late at night, too. Hiding in them, as a matter of fact, until the approaching person is revealed or comes close enough to figure out.]

[vor]

[Gregor spends some time trying to get the computers to work, but eventually gives up on the severely outdated tech. He spends much more time at the wall, reading and rereading and wishing for Illyan. If this was found because of a gift from the Malnosso, doesn't that mean they were meant to find this place?

But this is much more than a series of clues. This is a collage of souls. Sensitive fingertips trace the empty spaces between words as if he can touch history, reach out to the people leaving messages for those who are here now.

He eventually has to let it slide from his shoulders. I'll never figure it out on my own.

He's only there for about an hour and a half before he slips away.]

[complicatedliar]

[This is the sort of thing housemates do together, right? Totally not weird at all.]

[not_a_troll]

[Well after such a message Loki gathers his things quickly and leaves his room to visit these newfound tunnels.

Mystrious tunnels were there to be discovered after all, and Loki is quite fond of unraveling things of a mysterious kind. This time he has told Thori to stay put, after all, it would be very unfortunate if something would happen to his dog.

And instead of investigating the abandoned offices he is focuses on a wall full of writings.

And while he hears others exploring this new area Loki is just standing there with a flashlight while writing things down in a small notebook...]

[curiositykills]

[This place has been really busy ever since that girl's announcement went up. It's not surprising, but Robin's not really a fan. He's already taken his chance to look around, so he's about to leave when he catches sight of Loki over by the wall, and even though he doesn't know him, he can't resist the urge to speak up.

Robins have always been a pretty chatty bunch, anyway, and this place could totally afford to lighten up.]

Taking notes? That's awfully studious of you.

[theogre]

[Sakura can't even come close to understanding the despair that everyone is feeling. She's only been in Luceti for a month, she really doesn't understand most of what is right in front of her. The fighter moves from the radios to the wall of memos and to the old computers, not really understanding what any of it means to her but hoping she'll find out anyways.

Once she's had a look at everything, she'll stand against the wall near the unbreakable door, trying to piece together everything she's read prior to coming down into the tunnels and everything she's just seen with her own two eyes. Part of her feels like she has no right to be down here, investigating, but part of that is just because she knows she won't be of much help...

...unless she tries to break the door down. If brute strength is enough, then maybe...]

[everyonesconfidant]

[It took Hiro some time to get to the tunnels and to find the room, but once he's there he begins to investigate with everyone else. His attention is fixed on the wall with the writing on it. He can't help but be impressed by the apparent determination of the people who wrote on the wall. Whether they succeeded or failed in their mysterious mission, they certainly had strong wills.

Hiro particularly finds himself wondering about contacting the spirits. He'd planned to do that eventually to gain some power of his own, but this revelation adds a new dimension to it. Perhaps, if he could, he could ask the spirits some questions?]

[shenevermisses]

[Clove waited about four hours after hearing about this place before going to investigate.

Most of it reminds her of the Capitol, of the rooms where she was groomed for the parade, inspected for the interviews, and prepared for the entry into the Arena.

She doesn't like thinking about the Capitol.

But. The wall.

That draws her attention.

The list, though. It's like the guide in the Journal, sort of. At first, she's ready to laugh. But it gets worse. Seventh.

Not the first message here about children.

She takes a step back, looking at the wall as a whole. Don't have children. She can hear a little girl's laughter in her head. She wishes she'd told Cato about coming here. Brought him with her.

To distract herself and to put attention elswhere (everyone is always watching you), she traces over dried ink that reads somewhere between insane rambliings and a poem.

That's when she realizes -- This has survived.

Whatever happened to these people, they left a trace.

She moves out of the way, blocking nothing but a bare section of wall. Then, she takes out one of the knives from her belt and makes a mark. Faint. It could probably be rubbed away. So she goes over it. Again. Again. A little deeper. Then she makes more marks. She'll be at this for a long time if she actually plans to get anything done, but she doesn't care.

The first letter is done.

M.

Onto the second.]

[castbytheglyph]

[While all the tech down here might be outdated, Pascal is still nosing around and having a look at everything. She has to admit a lot of it won't even be worth repairing by now, what's the point when it's already this old? Even so, this sort of technology was never present in Ephinea, so this can be an educational trip of sorts! She ends up poking around on the consoles with red levers, only to give up when the levers won't budge and a key is needed.

Later, Pascal is tapping on the mainframe in the southeast room and the door to the elevator with her shotstaff. Maybe she could bust the door with her artes? For now she settles for smacking and kicking it. Yup, this is definitely a door. Good to know.]

[fallenambitions]

[There's another individual examine some of the old machine that was laying around with a little curiosity. A real shame they're mostly unusable now.

He'll hear someone smacking and banging nearby and will go over to investigate]

I don't think you're going to be opening the door that way.

[wise_maiden]

[There's a lot to study down here.

Raine examines everything, many times. The machinery, in all of it's outdatedness, taking what notes she can. This is history, a history long thought lost and even no longer looked for in the enclosure.

The wall, and all of it's strangeness, almost drawn to it time and again. Not all the messages are clear, but the implications. Those are clear enough for anyone.

She'll be down here a lot longer than she intends. First waiting for the crowds to disperse. Of course the room would be here for a long time, and all the more reason to study it with a fresh eye, but.

She will be wandering, a notepad and sketchbook in hand, and... shaking her head. They even called them cycle years. Really. Really. And so close to the next one.]

[corrinesbell]

[But there's something just plain keeping her there, right?

Sheena knows the feeling.]

So how's it going?

[complicatedliar]

[Loki has already made it his business to familiarize himself with the known parts of the tunnels (what else are you going to do when you can't sleep?) and heads straight for the new thing that's been mentioned by text. It's something different! And he's pretty much the smartest person around, so he may well spot something that has been missed.

Worth a shot, anyway.]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke had explored the tunnels as well, and had a few more odd encounters down there besides. The announcement had definitely piqued his interest, so down he'd headed, bumping into Loki along the way. With a nod, he fell into step beside the Asgardian]

Morning.

[de_bel_survivor]

[Kouki is exploring the tunnels as well, glancing around at the control room as he enters. Idly, he thought Atsuro would like to examine these things. The young demon king lightly touches some of the panels, not quite pressing them down. What are they for?

The memoirs, however, got most of his attention later on. The information aren't very clear, but he can read the implications.

o7. Don’t have kids. If only we’d known why before.

He looks back at the other line, about a child's wings with a small frown. Kouki cross his arms, thinking over what he just read.]

[tolivefortoday]

[Should children be down here? Oh well! If all these other people are visiting the tunnels, Yun's going to take the opportunity to go, too. It's a place she hasn't been before, so, adventure! In actuality, she's on her second trip down, it's just that the first time she didn't think to bring a marker, so she had to go back and get one, and then come back again.

Yun can be found spending her time down by the wall of memoirs, going between reading them solemnly and searching for an empty spot on it. She's tapping the end of her marker against her chin as she searches and thinks, trying to settle on something that she can add...

Occasionally she'll stop and reach out towards the wall, not quite touching it, but then she'll frown at it and go right back to her search.]

[seethrul]

[Yunoha's invisibility had failed her just when she'd entered the tunnels but what she lacked in power she made up for...being plainly unremarkable (if you overlook her hair). She'd kept quiet and moved about the people who had taken the trip down to get a closer look at the place and oddly enough, that had been enough to have fewer people speak to her. Success, of sorts.

Still, when she goes to get a closer look at the wall, it's Yun's marker that she notes. Hmm...]

...are you going to write something?

[i_am_not_cute]

[Pao-Lin's not really sure what to make of this new discovery. On the one hand, it feels like progress, having made such a discovery in their own backyard (so to speak). But the messages left are an unsettling mix of optimism and nihilism and cynicism, some strange emotional colloid of those who came before. She can't help but think of how her life here might turn out given enough time, a future life so different from anything she could have imagined back in her world.

She makes a tour of the available areas, but with her powers nullified, she can't do anything to try reviving the machines (which might be beyond hope anyway). So she spends most of her time reading the wall of messages, taking them in and pondering.]

[stilldontgotit]

[Riku's been skimming the wall, jotting down notes on things that specifically catch his eye. As he scribbles away, his Komory Bat chitters and circles around his head. Whenever he gets too close to the writing, however, Riku gently nudges him away.]

Monsters... hah. Wonder if they meant it in a literal or figurative sense.

[The bat squeaks, sways from side to side, and perches on Riku's shoulder. Chuckling, he scritches the bat behind the ear.]

And electricity...

[Hm. So did this place have electricity once before? These messages have to be pretty old, even if the village didn't even have electricity three years ago...

Mind boggling, truly. He'll be here for a while.]

[ofwesternwinds]

[In the five months he'd been here so far, Rudy still hadn't known too much about this world itself. Until now, he'd had never really thought to explore the tunnels. But after seeing that message from earlier, it might be a good idea to see what's actually down there...

As expected, ARMs don't work down here. No powers worked within the tunnels--that much Rudy understood already. But despite that, it felt strange exploring this new, unfamiliar place without at least something on hand.

When he finally reaches the control room, he'll take the time to look around. Anyone nearby might see him taking note of the radio, workstation, and other remnant pieces technology left down here. None of them were operational--he'd made sure to check for that. Even so, it's a little bit eerie how this place looked in comparision to the rest of Luceti. After a while of looking around and examining the place Rudy can be found by the wall, quietly reading the messages left behind.]

[not_a_troll]

[Loki looks up when someone appears next to him while he is still busy making notes in front of the wall. All the devices are very interesting, but for some reason he trusts words way more.

At least as far as a god of lies can trust.]

My advice is not to read too much of these texts. They are rather depressing.