Post-Event Blues

[lucetimods]

Who: Everybody, everybody!
What: The battle is won. Now what?
When: The eleventh, twelfth, and onward
Where: Luceti
Summary: With Zompano dead and the cultists routed, Luceti is restored. Kind of.
Rating: F for Feels

On the eleventh, things were slowly breaking down. Memories of their true lives were breaking through. The village, scarred by the battle with the cultists, began to rebuild itself. Community buildings that had vanished were returned to their rightful places. The battle dome was uncovered from the earth that had covered it. Hundreds and hundreds of fake homes slowly faded away. Paved roads gave way to trees and grass. It was an incredible sight for anyone who was willing to sit aroun and watch it happen.

Things wouldn't be easy for the villagers, though. The memories perpetuated by the last ten days would not be easily removed. The feelings and hatreds it had created would take time to conquer and remove. Perhaps, in a way, that was Zompano's nastiest trick of all. The village itself may heal from his invasion, but it would take far more than a few Shifts to fix the people left behind.

Towards the end of the day, their wings returned. Much like some of the buildings, they seemed to just reappear, as if they had never been gone. Their barcodes became visible again as a singular reminder that they were, ultimately, just the property of another entity who as a whole were not much better than Count Zompano.

By the twelfth, the village looked as though nothing had ever happened. Sure, the contents of buildings might have been messed up or destroyed during the battles, but things were otherwise as they were supposed to be. The night before, people would have had to find their old beds to go sleep in, as they no longer possessed the old ones granted to them in another life.

The village was peaceful.

Modly Note: That wraps up the event. As noted in the prose above, you have the option to play up the after effects of the event more than in other ones. While it won't have the same impact universally, the Shift was constructed in such a way that people may have difficulty shaking off the emotions they developed during the event. In effect, it was a cruel send off to Luceti so they would have to deal with the loathing and hatred that came with the less desirable parts of it. Of course, that means the feelings of familial bonds will also persist for awhile as well. It's up to you, as players, to decide how much or little to play with it!

Comments

[therewerefifty]

[Picnics. The relevant conversation is faded and vague, and Makie doesn't make comment to it.

Normally, she tends to avoid Vash-- she's still trying to work out if she can tolerate him. But regardless of how real their lives were, she can't just stand here silently and wait for him to go away.]

Thank you for helping me.

[So there's that.]

[goldenglasses]

Don't worry about it. Pretty girl in need? I don't think anyone in their right mind would look the other way. [His eyes sweep over the charred ruins once more. What a mess.] By the way- [He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a brown bottle.] -I found this and was going to give it to you. [He tosses the bottle over to her, it's a little charred and covered in ash, but it's a prescription bottle. Cleaned up a little bit more and someone should find Makie's name on it.]

I wasn't sure you still need it now or not.

[therewerefifty]

[Makie has never been a pretty girl in need and is never likely to be. The attitude grates, but she reminds herself Vash is just...that sort of man. He means no harm. And she was different.

She glances down at the medication uncomprehending for a moment, then gives Vash a faint smile.]

I don't. But I do thank you for retrieving it for me.

[goldenglasses]

[He lets out the breath he didn't realize he was holding as she says that.] That's good! I know you weren't feeling very well before this whole mess got started.

[therewerefifty]

[She's not inclined to mislead him.]

No... I am sick. Pulmonary tuberculosis. [She turns the bottle over delicately in her soot-stained fingers.] But this is not the medication I need.

It's not going to kill me. I'll just be sick for a while, until the treatment runs its course.

[goldenglasses]

IT IS TUBERCULOSIS!? [To be honest, Vash didn't really know exactly what that really entailed. Most of Earth sicknesses weren't such a worry for the SEEDs ship, but he remembered how bad it was during the last week so he goes on from that.]

Ah, I mean, I'm glad it's not going to kill you. You've been to the doctors here I'm guessing? I know some of them can cure with magic sometimes.

[therewerefifty]

[Wince. Vash, you are the most obnoxious... :|]

I've been to a doctor. That's why I know I'll be fine. I need to stay on medication for six months, that's all. After a few weeks, Dr Mizuno says I'll likely no longer have symptoms or be infectious.

[Happy now?]

[goldenglasses]

Man, six months is a long time, but better than no cure I suppose. [Only she didn't say "cure" now did she?] You know, the Malnosso might be able to get rid of it too if you asked them and had enough points.

I don't have many points saved up yet. [And all of those were suppose to be for trying to buy visits to see Noah.] But if you need them, you can use some of the ones I have.

[therewerefifty]

I thank you for the consideration. But I see no reason to waste such valuable points on something so trivial.

[It really is a nice gesture. But in a place so ephemeral as Luceti, the idea of wasting points on the health of a woman who could leave at any time and, even if she doesn't, will be healthy again eventually, seems valueless. She will not take on such a debt.]

[goldenglasses]

Good health isn't really that trivial in my mind. [But he can't exactly force her to take them either. He doesn't have enough to just go and ask the Malnosso to do it for her behind her back. Not that he'd do that anyway.] Although, if you do change your mind all you have to do is ask.

[therewerefifty]

I do appreciate that. [It's kind of nice that that carries over, at least. The idea that not so long ago, they were the best of friends... it's rather strange. She misses it a little.]

[goldenglasses]

Hey, what are friends and co-workers for? I'm sure you'd do the same for me if I was sick.

[Only he knows full well that he doesn't know if she would. It just felt like the right thing to say. He sighs before she could have the chance to possibly correct him.]

Man, what a mess! I'm just glad no one was hurt. Well, no one from Luceti at least, in this fire.

[therewerefifty]

The lives of the others mean nothing to you?

[It's not accusatory. She doesn't even seem all that interested in the answer.]

[goldenglasses]

I wouldn't say they mean nothing. I've never really enjoyed seeing people die or fighting, but when they are trying to kill me? I'm not going to worry about it as much. If those cops, or Third Party, or figments of my mind, or whatever they were got out of here without getting caught up in the fire I'll be glad for it, but I'm not going to lose sleep if they didn't.

[A year ago Makie would have heard something much different from his mouth.]

[therewerefifty]

[A soft hum of assent.]

It seems that even as our ordinary selves, there are some things we see eye to eye on.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash just grins at that.] I'm sure we actually see a lot in common! Just because these past weeks were fake doesn't mean we can't get to know each other better again!

[therewerefifty]

If we had a lot in common, Mr Vash, your attitude and opinions would be far different.

[goldenglasses]

Hey! You don't know that many of my opinions! I say hold judgement on that until you get to know me a bit better.

And, my attitude? [He laughs, feeling a little self conscious and rubs at the back of his head.] We seemed to have a fair bit in common just a week ago and I didn't think I was that different then, did you?

[As he's not sure if she saying his attitude would be different as a good or bad thing.]

[therewerefifty]

You weren't.

I was.

[goldenglasses]

Well, I'll just have to get to know you all over again is all! I'm alright with that!

In fact, I think we should get started right away! You know, once things get settled a little bit more again.

[therewerefifty]

[Makie has no idea what to say to that, so she returns to watching the house flake away into ash.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash doesn't mind the silence and watches the ruined house with her for a moment.] So, are you going to be alright?

[therewerefifty]

Of course. [She always is.] This experience... is merely that. Another way to look at the world. Things are back to normal now.

[If she feels a little melancholy over her sudden loss of family, well. That too will fade.]

[goldenglasses]

I suppose that's true. Another way to look at the world. Good chance to learn a little bit about yourself. Think you'll pick up any new traits now that it's all over?

[therewerefifty]

No.