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

[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.

[goldenglasses]

Hm? None? Well, that's alright! As long as you like yourself then there's no need to change.

Don't suppose there was anything in there you were hoping survived the fire. I'll help you look while I'm here.

[Also, he just thought a change of subject might be nice.]

[therewerefifty]

[How is it you always pick the wrong comments. :| What a ridiculous thing to say. But discussing philosophy about change and liking oneself is something she already knows to be a pointless subject with this man. Just, you know. A wild guess.

It does make her shake her head, though, turning away.] I have no use for anything in that house. It is a work of fiction.

[goldenglasses]

It might have been a work of fiction, but you can still like some of it and want a memento.

[therewerefifty]

I already have all the memento I need.

[There are photos in her back pocket.]

[goldenglasses]

That's good then. [Vash looks over the mess once more; shaking his head at the memory of how everything had escalated so quickly.] Well, I think I'm going to head to Seventh Heaven and see how things are going over there.

[therewerefifty]

All right.

[...she's a poor conversationalist. She knows it.]

...take care, Mr Vash.

[goldenglasses]

I will, so long as you just call me Vash. No need for the Mister part.

[Usually when he says that it's just so people know they don't have to be formal around him. Never caring too much if they continue it, but for some reason coming from her it really hurt right now.]

[therewerefifty]

Vash, then.

[For the second time. Until she reverts back out of sheer annoyance]

[goldenglasses]

Thanks.

Well, guess I'll see you around then. [He shoves his hands into his pockets. Moving towards the direction of Seventh Heaven.] And take care of yourself.

[therewerefifty]

...I will.

[She means it. For once.

Odd how light that feels to say.

Bye, Vash.]