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

[teachingpeace]

[He studied her, then nodded, giving her a soft smile as he considered her words. She was right, and in an odd way, while he might be bound by some things... not all agreements were approached the same way by all parties, and that too would be a detail for him to sort out.]

Then it's simply a matter of making that small group grow, right Konan? This is something we can do, we've done it before.

[origami_ninja]

(ooc: IDK if we were supposed to handwave the treaty signing or what exactly we were doing with that, please let me know if I should edit my tag)



You're right. We do have that treaty to sign...this might be the best time to do it.

[After all, Kushina and Minato may be feeling more inclined to want to be on good terms with them. If she and Nagato are impacted by the memories of that fake reality, it stands to reason that Kushina and Minato were, too. They may be more forgiving with those feelings in mind. Perhaps it's a little opportunistic of her to want to time the treaty signing this way, but if everyone sincerely wants to get along, there's no real harm in it. It will also make Nagato happy, and if she's being honest with herself, it will make her happy as well.]

I think taking the formal approach now would be the best way to make amends and move toward friendlier discussions for the future.

[She has faith that they'll be able to at least get on civil terms with all of the Konoha residents in time, and friendly terms with some.]

[teachingpeace]

(OOC: I'm just as clueless as you, no worries x.x)

I... yes. Yes, this probably would be the best time to make that contact, if we can pin anyone down to do it. [It was a murmur, his reluctance to approach warring with his awareness that this needed to be handled while it was still opportune.

They really wouldn't get a better chance.]

[origami_ninja]

Minato--

[She hastily corrects herself from using such a familiar form of address.]

--ah, Namikaze-san suggested the treaty in the first place. I doubt he will object to us taking the initiative to draw up a rough draft and present it to him for review.

[Doing so also means having a little more say in the terms of the treaty. Just because they are atoning and trying to establish peaceful relations doesn't mean they shouldn't get some input in a formal agreement they will be signing. Konan has every intention of going over every last sentence in the document with a proverbial fine toothed comb.]

[teachingpeace]

[He inclined his head at once. Yes, Konan had always been good at fine details, and she would ensure that nothing outrageous crept into the papers that they would be drawing up for this political mess.]

That would be excellent, perhaps we can sit down and draw that up tonight, make sure that we present ourselves well and clearly?

[origami_ninja]

I think that would be best.

[They can balance one another out and proofread for things like tone and wording choice. A treaty needs to convey a willingness to co-operate and help while still setting limits and guidelines for how to proceed.]

Once we're happy with it, we can use your journal or mine to send a message to Namikaze-san to let him know we have a first draft of the treaty ready for his review.

[teachingpeace]

It would probably be better from mine. I have yet to use it since arriving here, and truthfully if I'm going to act as a leader, then at the very least having my name on it seems more... sincere?

[Not the word he was going for, but it's the only one that came to him.]

[origami_ninja]

It does show more initiative on your part, yes.

[There's far more history with her showing that she made no aggressive moves toward any of the Konoha shinobi, and was even helpful on occasion. It's important that this be seen as a step Nagato took himself rather than one she pushed him toward, too.]

[teachingpeace]

And that's what we need right now.

[Because he didn't have any history here, he only had the mindmess that was caused, and the history from before his death. Those were hardly enough.]

They might not be from our country, but they're from our world... and I don't want to risk losing touch with that.

[origami_ninja]

[Konan nods. She understands. Although she's been trying to keep her distance from anyone who hasn't initiated contact with her first, out of respect for their comfort levels, if they are to truly establish an alliance, they need to make those steps together. It will mean more coming from him, with far less history here, and as the one who'd served as their country's leader for far longer than she had.]

This would be the best time, too.

[If nothing else, the fake memories might make Minato have a few positive associations to their names rather than solely as the people responsible for Jiraiya's death and attacking Konoha.]

[teachingpeace]

[He smiled at her, understanding her thoughts, to a certain degree, and he nodded, looking resolved.]

Then it's decided.

[origami_ninja]

When do you want to begin working on the draft of the treaty?

[It was something they should do when they were alert, and preferably after they'd had a meal of some sort. It was important that they be thinking their sharpest, so they could ensure the treaty was phrased just right.

She doesn't want their treaty to unintentionally give offense by phrasing something badly, or to leave anything open to misinterpretation. Their intent and the terms of the treaty need to be crystal clear.]

[teachingpeace]

Tomorrow, or the day after. I know my mind is... not as focused as it should be for something like this today. [He shook his head, then sighed.]

Too much him is in my head still.

[origami_ninja]

Understandable.

[She's been able to mentally distance herself a little more from that false life, but the memories still remain. Including all of the emotions tied to those memories. It's vexing, even though most of those memories are positive.]

Do you want some time to yourself, or would you prefer company?

[teachingpeace]

[He reached over and took her hand, squeezing it for a moment before letting go.]

I think I'll be fine with a little time to myself, now. I'll come find you soon though.

[origami_ninja]

[She returns the squeeze lightly, inclining her head when he lets go.]

Very well. Let me know if you need me, Nagato.

[It's a given that she'll be there for him if she's needed. She turns and walks away. It was good to know that even in their altered memories, some things never changed.]

[teachingpeace]

[He didn't feel the need to say anything to that, watching her go with a small smile on his lips. She really was the best friend a man could ask for. Once she was out of view, he turned and padded into the trees, away from the place where the false home had been. He had a future to think about.]