lucetilogs | Post-Event Blues

Entry tags:

Post-Event Blues

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!

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[If he will not, then she will, because both lives, both sets of memories push her toward holding him.]

When you do remember everything, you'll be just as sure.

...but then it will be too late. By the time I remember that much, I'll have forgotten everything. And I don't want to forget.

[He returns the hug weakly, fighting the urge to bury his face into her shoulder like a child would. Though his restraint isn't nearly as prominent in his voice.]

I... I was so happy being your son.

You can still be happy.

[How had they gone from distant arbiters in an impending war to practically mother and son as it was?]

We can be. I hope.

...I want to believe you. But I can't stop myself from thinking what if I wasn't? What if we weren't? What if things were so terrible that I'd never want myself to re--

[He stops. Why were his thoughts going in that direction? What was so terrible that he was so afraid to face? He thought he could be brave and face it -- if Nephry said it would be all right, she would know, wouldn't she? They weren't mother and son, but she still knew him well, didn't she?]

[But there were things about Ion that Nephry didn't know. Whether it was because she hadn't remembered yet or not, he didn't know. But in that moment, with those pained words, he remembered something he instantly wished he didn't. As much as he tried to suppress it, he couldn't just forget who he was so easily.]

[And he certainly couldn't forget what he was.]

[He pushes back from Nephry only just enough to look her in the eyes, his own eyes now wide and suddenly looking more lost and confused than he's been so far. When he speaks, his voice is a strained whisper.]

...what's a replica?

A replica?

[That word. It was important. Something in her childhood, or maybe her adulthood, centered on that word. She knows its basic definition, the one without feelings: a copy of something else. An exact copy?

That isn't what Ion wants. She's sure of it. Looking him in the eye only makes it harder, without anything to tell her why.]

I don't...know if I know.

...it's what I am. But why do I know that?

[He says it quickly and quietly, eyes wide as he stares down at the ground. He was a replica. He knew that. But what did it mean? To replicate meant to copy -- so he was a copy? A copy of what? A person? Of someone else who looked just like him?]

[Is this why he couldn't remember a childhood?]

Am I... am I not human? Am I even real?

You are real. [Every bit of Nephry is sure of that.] It doesn't matter how or where you were born. Your life is yours and it is real.

But how do you know for sure? I don't even have a real family... how could I?

[He looks down at his hands, tightening them into fists.]

My brothers... are they replicas too? Or did I just imagine them? I feel like I should remember, like I need to, but... I don't want to.

I think that whether you want to or not, you will remember eventually. [It's the best she can give him. Nothing, no perfect word of advice, comes to mind to help cushion the harder truth.]

Does it matter so much, how you began? I'm not...I wasn't your "real" family from birth even yesterday, but did that change how you loved us?

...no. It didn't. [Never once did he feel any less love for his parents than he would have had be been their real son. And he knew they loved him just the same.]

[Can he really think about this so simply?]

It's just... it feels so sad. I just can't understand why. I don't think-- I-I'm not sure if my life before was that sad, but somehow that's all that comes to mind.

Maybe it was. [Right now she doesn't know. She thinks so. She thinks an entire dark shadow over the things she should know about Ion's life.] Every life has sadness in it.

...I suppose it wouldn't be right if all we remembered were the good parts of our lives. Still, I feel like it would be easier at least if those memories came first.

[As trace memories still flicker in, slowly filling the empty gaps made by the loss of gradual loss of his Luceti Valley memories, he starts to calm down a little. Nephry was right. He was going to remember everything eventually. All he could do was try and accept it -- and hope no more ugly surprises were lurking in the back of his mind.]

[He sighs for a moment, before looking up at Nephry and just... staring for a few seconds.]

...this feels familiar. I feel like we've spoken like this before. [Frankly. Honestly. With Ion often the one seeking answers and wisdom from Nephry.]

I think we have, too. [An almost-smile.] At that time, I don't believe I had all the answers, either. No matter what you remember, we'll be here for you, Ion.

I think you had more answers than you gave yourself credit for.

[He feels so certain of it that is actually relaxes him a bit. These memories, while still more of a feeling than an actual specific moment in time, felt so warm and comforting. Perhaps their true relationship wasn't really all that different? Somehow, even now, Nephry still felt like a mother.]

[It gives him enough confidence to life his head and speak clearly, taking a deep breath.]

I... I want to be here for you, too. I'm still not even sure if can bear the weight of my own memories, but... even still.

Thank you, Ion. That means a great deal to me.

[No matter who she is to him. Who they are to each other. She is sure of that much.]

Why don't we go back to- to the house? The...real house.

I...

[His mind still imagines a stately house sitting on a calm lake. Or was it a river? Or rather, the forest...? He shakes his head, as though trying to dislodge the true memories.]

I don't know if I'm ready to go back just yet. I think... there's still someone I need to go find. While I still remember them.

Do you want any help? [She would hate for him to get lost, or wind up disoriented and scared somewhere. The more she looks at him, the more she thinks he ought to be escorted due to- to weakness?] Who are you looking for?

...Kohan.

[A name he still very strongly associates only with his fake memories -- which only made them that much more painful.]

I don't know if he'd want to see me, but... I need to talk to him. Even if it would only be for the last time before we forget each other.

He will know you. I'm sure of it. And he won't forget. It is a name that exists in both of my memories of you.

Really?

[Nephry probably has no idea just how much relief she just gave him, though the look on his face certainly says enough.]

I... thank goodness... but still. I need to find him. If what we're going through right now is anything to go by, he must be having a difficult time as well. [And even though she offered, there's a part of him that feels it important he go alone. As though there was something else he needed to talk to him about that he wouldn't want anyone to hear.]

...would it be all right if I met with you again back-- back at House one? [He almost said "home" but it doesn't quite feel right just yet.]

As long as you can find your way. [Of course she's worried. The need to not leave him alone, that he might get in trouble, it doesn't matter which life that comes from. It's important.

But she knows he is of an age where he ought to be doing things by himself.]

I'm... sure I'll remember it by then.

[Hopefully. He has a feeling it's north of here, but he can't be positive just yet.]

I could wait here for you instead. [Nephry remembers how to get home. Either home, any home.]

I don't want to ask that of you. I'm not sure how long I'll be...

[Or whether he'll want time to himself should he start remembering even more about his real life.]

But I know I'll find a way. I promise.

Get in touch with me through the journal if you have trouble.

[It's quick, careful like she's afraid she might break him, but she reaches over for another hug before turning to head for the house.]

11th

distressedude - 2013-09-21 12:19 (UTC) - Expand

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