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

[notyourutopian]

[The teens nods.] Yes.

I...I wasn't expecting to run into anyone else out here. Are you...alright?

[funnygirl]

I'm perfectly fine. Thank you for asking.

I...was merely seeking some time to myself. You as well?

[notyourutopian]

Yes. [She sighs.]

After the last few days I'm not even sure which way is up, let alone what I should think around people. Getting away seemed...easier.

[funnygirl]

I understand. It was a...very taxing Shift we had to endure. I don't believe anyone is feeling much like themselves.

...If you would like, I could go. I've had enough time to myself.

[notyourutopian]

[After a moment, Eleanor shakes her head.]

It's fine. You aren't one of...well.

There aren't any fake memories of you.

[funnygirl]

[Belle relaxes a bit. She's not quite ready to go home yet.]

Yes, that does make things easier.

If...you feel that speaking about it might help...I would be willing to listen.

[notyourutopian]

[Eleanor hesitates for a moment before she moves past Belle, further into the clearing of the trees. She starts to say something, then hesitates, a faint frown tugging at her lips as she turns her attention towards the sky. She watches it for a moment or two before she looks at Belle and sighs.]

Well, apparently having a bunch of memories shoved into my head cured me of my agoraphobia.

[She laughs bitterly.]

[funnygirl]

[Belle watches her silently, curious to see if she would respond or keep on walking. She wouldn't blame her if she didn't wish to speak of the Shift. She's not sure she would feel comfortable speaking of it either.]

That is a good thing...right? The...silver lining of the situation.

[notyourutopian]

I suppose. I was adjusting to it anyway, I think. Somewhat. Mostly.

[She looks a bit sheepish, and then shrugs,]

What was it like? For you, I mean,

[funnygirl]

[Her gaze falls to the grass. It was to be expected really. Why would Eleanor give so much away without expecting the same?]

It...wasn't too terrible. I was lower class but I was happy. I enjoyed my work. And I had many good friends...[She shakes her head.]

Sometimes I think it's a shame none of it was real. [And then she feels guilty about it.]

[notyourutopian]

[Eleanor just doesn't have much of a governor when she is venting.]

A shame. [She pauses in her small wandering.] I never had a life like that. A family, a nice, happy place to live. A boyfriend? Sort of a boyfriend, maybe. I don't know.

[She trails off.]

People warned me this place would be terrible but I never imagined...

[funnygirl]

I didn't used to believe it was so bad here. We're all far away from home, but the good seemed to out number the bad. Everyone is so kind here and the village is lovely.

But...lately I'm not so sure. Sometimes I think I've been tricked. Or that maybe I've just been ignoring all of the bad things so it wouldn't diminish the good.

[notyourutopian]

Maybe. The human mind is capable of ignoring remarkable things for the sake of trying to stay happy. Believe me.

You know what the really awful thing is? [She smiles bitterly.]

Despite all of this, it's still not as terrible here as it was in Rapture. So I suppose I shouldn't complain too much.

[At least she's managed to not cry anymore.]

[funnygirl]

[Pieces of their last conversation come back to her, particularly the things she'd learned about Eleanor's home.]

That is awful. I don't know how you could stand it. I makes me feel silly for spending so much time feeling sorry for myself when things could be so much worse for someone else.

[notyourutopian]

[The younger girl shakes her head at that.]

Don't. I wish I could be like that. And even if your life before wasn't terrible, that doesn't mean you can't miss it.

[funnygirl]

No. I suppose it doesn't.

Is there anything you miss about your home? Anything at all?

[notyourutopian]

[Eleanor looks thoughtful for a moment.]

I miss my father and my sisters.

[funnygirl]

I see. I miss my father as well.

...What is he like? Your father, I mean.

[notyourutopian]

[There's a pause at that question where Eleanor looks as white as a sheet, as if her mind is trying to process something, and then she frowns and shrugs.]

He's...a father. He's very strong, and very brave, and no one can come between us when I'm in danger.

[funnygirl]

[Belle notices her paleness and frowns.]

I'm sorry. If I'm prying too much you can tell me.

[notyourutopian]

It isn't as though we're rolling in other things to discuss, now are we? [There's more of an edge in her voice than she meant, and she frowns, shaking her head.]

Sorry! Sorry. I am...simply not having very much luck when it comes to talking today, I think.

[funnygirl]

That's alright. You don't have to speak if you don't want to. Sometimes it's easier to appreciate the beauty of the forest when you're silent.

[notyourutopian]

Mm.

[Eleanor turns away, and is silent for perhaps thirty seconds, examining the forest, before she lets out a little breath and frowns.]

I've never been very good at sitting still. Or sitting quietly. It used to drive my mother mad.

[funnygirl]

[Belle chuckles.]

That's alright. Do whatever is most comfortable for you.

[notyourutopian]

[Another little pause.]

...If you don't mind me asking...what was it like? For you.