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

[musubi]

That's why I lied. I mean, I could have been losing my mind, but I was pretty sure I wasn't. Everything was too clear.

We don't get to choose who's affected and who's not, though.

[ledbythewind]

I apologize for treating you like my servant, even if the me of that other life thought it was true. You know I would never ask anything like that of you in my right mind, not even back in Ephinea as the king. I don't see you as being beneath me in any way.

As far as I am concerned, you and I will always be equals.

[musubi]

If it's any consolation, at least you meant well.

[He smiles.] If I had to be a servant for any idiot I'd prefer it to be you.

[ledbythewind]

Be careful what you wish for-- you never know what the next experiment might bring. After all, we did end up married that one time.

[musubi]

...And if I had to be married to anyone here that wasn't female, I suppose I could do worse than you.

[As if they aren't actually married as is.]

[ledbythewind]

[That throws him for a bit of a loop, because that isn't the response Richard was expecting. DAMMIT, ISAMU, you ruined his trolling!]

I suppose I'll take that as a compliment.

[They totally are.]

[musubi]

You should. It's not like I go around saying things like that to just anyone.

Now eat your food.

[ledbythewind]

How very demanding.

[But he obediently takes a few bites anyway-- it's good, of course, because Isamu's food is always good. The normalcy is appreciated after the events of the past week, despite Richard's lack of appetite.

After a few more bites, he nudges the plate towards Isamu, indicating that he should eat too.]

[musubi]

You know how I am.

[Isamu has already been eating, at least before he got all chatty. He grabs a bit between his chopsticks before nudging the plate back with another smirk.]

[ledbythewind]

I do, and I'm glad for it.

[Richard will relent and grab another bite, popping it into his mouth and chewing thoughtfully.

... and he keeps chewing, while he tries to force himself to swallow. Looks like things are bothering him a lot more than he's trying to let on.]

[musubi]

[He gets a few moments before Isamu will speak up again.]

So, you gonna tell me what's up or do I have to pry it out of you with my utensils?

[He clacks the ends of his chopsticks together.]

[ledbythewind]

[Surprised by that, Richard looks up briefly, then lowers his eyes back down to the plate.]

Would you believe me if I told you I wasn't even sure myself? I just...

[He hesitates, groping for the words he needs to express what he's feeling.]

I feel so empty somehow. Like I don't know who I am anymore.

[musubi]

Experiments like that, or whatever that was, can do that to people. You have to try not to let it get to you.

[It's easy for him to say that, he knows, given that he wasn't affected, but he still has to get this point across to his friend. He taps the side of his head with one finger.]

Up here? You were still you. Even if they warped your brain around and made you act like someone else for a week you would still be you when it was over. Everything they do is just a really strong illusion. That's the way I'm trying to look at it.

[ledbythewind]

Was I? I thought you were my servant and treated you accordingly. That part at least wasn't me at all.

The real me would never look down on people who were of lower status than myself.

[At least, that's what he wants to believe. But what if the him who existed during that whole thing was his true self-- what if that WAS how he really feels? He honestly can't tell anymore.]

[musubi]

Did you not have servants as a king, though. And did you really look down on me? Because it didn't feel like you did.

[He shakes his head.]

Your core values were still in place.

[ledbythewind]

That was different-- those servants are my employees, not my friends. They willingly choose to work in exchange for pay, and should they ever become unhappy with their job, they are allowed to quit without any repercussions.

I could never ask you to be my servant, not even for the highest salary I could offer.

[musubi]

You thought you were giving me a better life though, right? And you were, the way you treated me. I mean, that was much better than living on the streets would have been. So in the end you still thought you were doing the right thing.

[ledbythewind]

Just thinking you're doing the right thing doesn't make it so.

[As he knows all too well. He thought that he and Lambda were doing the right thing by destroying the human race, and... well. There was nothing right about that in the slightest.]

[musubi]

Maybe not. At least it means you have a good heart, though.

[He stands up in order to better lean over, poking a finger at Richard's chest.]

Your heart. Because that's who you are.

[ledbythewind]

How can you be so sure that's who I really am?

[How can Isamu be so sure when he isn't even sure himself? Lambda, Twila, and now these cultists have all been able to manipulate his sense of self. What other reason could there be for it?]

You didn't see what I nearly did to my own world. I doubt you'd be saying the same thing if that were the case.

[musubi]

I don't give a shit about any of that. You didn't see how I treated Naoki back in my world either.

But I've seen you here. And I've seen the sort of person you are and the sort of person you want to be and I believe that no matter how the Malnosso mess with you that you can still remain yourself deep down.

I have to believe that. Because I have to believe that what I've become here is rooted in my core being too.

[ledbythewind]

[For a moment, Richard just stares up at Isamu, eyes wide, unsure how to respond to this. A part of him wants to tell Isamu that he shouldn't feel that way, that he shouldn't believe so strongly in Richard when he can't even believe in himself... yet the words don't come out.]

Isamu...

[He should say something more than that. He knows he should say something more than that. But somehow, he can't find the words he's looking for to express himself... a rarity for the usually so eloquent king.]

[musubi]

Stop doubting yourself.

[Isamu sits back down in his seat, face still set in a frown.]

How many times do I have to tell you this? You've affected people, and those people care for you. Do you think the Malnosso had any say in that? Fuck them.

[ledbythewind]

[He remains quiet for a short while, just processing this. Logically, he knows it's true: Isamu has always believed in him and always cared for him. So have Asbel and Sophie. Whether he thinks he deserves it or not, that much at least is the truth.]

I really don't deserve you.

[And that much, to him, is also the truth.]

... I know it's a selfish request, but... when we return to my world, could I ask you to live with me in the castle? Not as my servant, but the same way we do here.

[musubi]

What, like in the same bed and all?

[Isamu raises an eyebrow, wanting to argue against Richard's first statement but also wanting to keep the tone light.]

Are you sure that would go over well with everyone?