08 - epilogue

[afflictionmods]

EPILOGUE

So.

Juniper is dead. Lorelei and Florence are alive. And the rest of you, thankfully, are also alive and kicking.

The building is kind of a mess right now, and a lot of the citizens are in kind of disarray, confused and uncertain of what exactly is going on in the Camellia tower. Things are a bit of a mess right now, but what matters is that you’ve stopped things. The cycle of these experiments, suppression – it’s over.

Your markings are still here, however. You are free to try and figure that out, too (though the answer is, indeed, quite simple with the "B" toggle, and may be hand waved). Other than that, though, everything seems to be...stabilized. As good as they can be, anyway. Lorelei and Florence are around, for any last conversations. When you emerge, the sun is out, perhaps brighter than usual – though whether that’s because of joy from the citizens or confusion is anyone’s guess – and some of you are covered in blood, but you are here.

And you are ready to finally, finally return home.

---

(OOC: For anyone who's willing, Lorelei will be able to configure tablets to synch up with the portal here at Estelline. From there, they will be able to world hop to someone else's world; so the Estelline portal is now a hub, of sorts. It's not a direct world hop and it's a bit inconvenient, but it is a way for you guys to see each other again.

She will also ensure that those who are currently sleeping will be sent home in one piece.

All of this can be handwaved, or threaded out in the Lorelei thread.

Happy Good Ending, everyone!)

FULL NAV

(CODE)

Comments

[instructus]

[ That was...a whole thing. She still can't quite fathom any of it, but everything is finally over. Lorelei can be found outside of the building, finicking around on what appears to be a smartphone. She won't turn anyone away, though, should they have questions. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien showered and everything so he's no longer bloody, so he waves over to Lorelei. ]

Yo, Miss Instructor. Glad to see you wearing those, by the way.

[catarou]

[ Well, don't mind him if he approaches. ]

Here we meet in the flesh. Hello, Lorelei.

[undertakings]

[He doesn't really have any business with her in a personal sense, but if she has information... well, that's different.]

What do you intend to do with the data gathered from the experiment?

[catarou]

[ After two months of looking at the mark on his hand, seeing it gone is just plain bizarre. He isn't complaining, of course, but it makes everything just a little more real. Gentaro isn't sad to see this place go, but it's bittersweet.

Luckily, they have a way to see each other, and after everything that's happened, it's more than enough. Most importantly, he won't have to say goodbye permanently to someone in particular.

He is tired, though, but like hell he's gonna squander the chance to make the most of everyone being together, maybe for the last time. He may approach you with a bit of food and a bottle of water, or he'll be in a quieter area, trying to gather himself before the next step. The urge to linger as long as he can is powerful, but now that they can leave...

The situation at home is a dire one, and he needs to return as soon as he can. He just hopes too much time hasn't passed. For now, though, he can stay.

Just for a little while. ]

[selfconcept]

Hey.

[ He will gladly take the food. He's still hungry? Yeah. ]

Lost in your thoughts?

[cheerfuldays]

( shizuku is going to quietly set a cup of tea down beside him. )

... It was a strange two months, wasn't it?

[partymagician]

[ And like that, it's all over.

Fai honestly can't believe it, but he's glad that everyone can finally go home—and that they'll now be able to visit one another. It had been something he worried over, but now he no longer has to.

Still, he'll be hanging around campus or near the portal to say goodbye. ]

I hope you have a safe trip back home, or wherever you end up going. I'll be sure to visit.

[selfconcept]

[ Hello. He is here after a shower and in fresh clothes and totally no longer smelling like blood. ]

Hey, darling.

[ He says in the flattest voice ever. ]

Looks like nobody has to stay behind. Though, I feel like an even easier solution was to migrate everyone from this world to another so that they wouldn't have so much problems with the environment.

[catarou]

Please do.

[ Gentaro had been worrying over it, too, but now that it's all figured out... well. He'd feel a bit silly, but the bonds he'd forged here are irreplaceable. ]

I'll show you Shibuya and all of its cafes. And I do hope you'll watch the division battle when it happens.

[ As much as he hates what Chuohku's done, it's not as if he can do anything about that. So, if he can't beat them, then he'll invite the people who've had an impact on him these past months. ]

[iubar]

Still haven't decided that part.

[ it's a talk he's going to need to have, now that everything is all said and done here. but he grins a little bit. ]

Hope everything goes well for you.

[selfconcept]

I'll be coming for your worlds to see how you're doing. Don't think I won't.

[ points at his eyes, points at you

Anyway, he took a shower so he's no longer a bloody mess. ]

[ignihidden]

Please visit any time, M'lord Static!

[while the cutesy invitation is one thing, Idia does hesitate for a moment because, well, it's one thing to visit but... everything else...]

I'll be trying. I'm... ... I'm Ortho's hero, after all.

[exofractured]

[Phantom is grateful the blood is off Hien, at least?? But that gets a little smile.]

Is that what the two of you will be doing? Just passing through all of them?

[iubar]

Good luck finding me.

[ he's mostly joking. hopefully. but he's not even sure where he'll be going after this. ]

[undertakings]

[Shin was not with camera team so he probably doesn't know about Hien being all bloody (or the vore, for that matter), but even if it wasn't as messy as it ended up, a shower after a fight is completely valid. In any case, Shin isn't intending to make any particular fanfare about his departure, so besides going back to the dorms to exchange the stuff he doesn't need for a worn toolbox, there's not much room for detours with him.

Not that it'll stop him from running into Hien anyway. With that said, that declaration will elicit a bit of a stare combined with a lightly furrowed brow, although his expression smooths out quickly enough.]

Well, it isn't as if I can stop you anyway... although you'd be better off visiting the others instead.

[cheerfuldays]

( they did it? they did it! that's- wow!! ... they could... probably go whenever, now, but. well. there's a lot left to do. especially after lorelei confirms that she can make estelline a hub so to speak- there's so many plans to make!

shizuku can be found a few places.

laying on her back in the park because that was... something!! a lot of something. and she's exhausted but if she goes to her room right now she WILL take a nap.

getting some food one last time, hopefully with others...? (madara's probably there right beside her, let's be real.)

or, with the door open, in her and madara's room, quietly storing what she can into something carriable. yes she stole a large backpack from the school store. it's fine. thankfully, it doesn't seem like she grabbed a whole lot during everything- clothes, her prizes, books that wound up being returned once she was done... oh, wait. the camera.

once she's gotten her things packed, shizuku is going around with the polaroid camera and getting pictures of people, preferably in groups! )

[selfconcept]

[ Oh, it's Shizuku with a camera. Hien blinks and gives off a small wave, hoping to not seem so... violent. ]

Yo. Taking pics before you go?

[partymagician]

[ Fai does a little pose, giving her a peace sign as she takes the picture. ]

Shizuku! I'm glad I got to see you before you left.

[ignihidden]

[Idia will allow his picture to be taken, which is a Big Win, but then he is going to reach out and take Shizuku's hands in the Devoted Fan way.]

I- I know I probably will stand out in a normie world but- I promise I'll come see a MMJ! live!

... although Ortho would probably stand out more than me... should I make an alternate chassis? Or maybe make him look like a cosplayer...

[exofractured]

[Well, after everything, this has worked out... better than Phantom anticipated? He's not notable for his optimism. But with the portal finally available for them to go back to their various worlds - or other worlds, in some of their cases - Phantom doesn't have time to rest. He might not be in a hurry to return home but he does have things he wants to finish before other people depart.

He holes up in his room briefly to finish a few last minute projects. Then he's out and about all over the area, his bag in tow as he hunts for some people in particular. He looks like he probably needs a few cups of coffee, but if he sees anyone, he'll give them a nod.]

Are you heading back soon?

[partymagician]

[ Fai smiles softly at Phantom when he eventually runs across him. ]

I'm not sure. I think we'll head out whenever Hien is ready. Have you decided on what world you'll be going to?

[superstructure]

[ Well, it's good that things worked out, in the end. It's definitely a far cry from the mess everyone expected, but... that's not really a bad thing, is it? All's well that ends well.

...

Julius keeps to himself the rest of the time they're together, mostly in his room humming to himself while settling on what should and shouldn't come back with him (which admittedly probably isn't a whole lot). Once he's finished with that, he'll linger around a bit just to make his presence known, sticking to the back, before he starts to think about heading out. ]

[cheerfuldays]

Will you be going back soon?

( as in 'in a few minutes', given that... everyone wants to see their home- or new home- again as soon as possible. )

[vivens]

[ you know, the fact that everything went well and no one really got hurt, you know aside from dr. juniper who still lives rent free in my head as a plant with angry googly eyes, sabo's gonna be pleased with the outcome. especially that they fixed things for the people of estelline in conjunction with getting things done for themselves. it's a nice feeling.

he won't be by the portals just yet but will be sitting at one of the benches with his legs stretched out in front of him and looking up at the sky with a smile on his face. as soon as he senses someone coming over his way, he'll look away from the sky and smile at them. ]

Any big plans or are you just excited to go home? [ ... ] Or ""home"".

[ because he isn't going to assume everyone is going to go back to where they came. ]

[iubar]

You tell me.

[ this is a talk they need to figure out now, since there was no more dancing around the topic. the day has been saved and things turned out well.

but the question is now what should they do with this supposedly dead pirate?

he doesn't sit down by him right now, instead just putting one foot on the edge of the bench instead. ]

[festiverogue]

[Madara actually wants some peace and decompression time after all of that, but he figured he ought to go out the way he came in.

He doesn't intend to stay long, as long goodbyes aren't really his style, but he makes sure he's said something he at least considers meaningful to every other student and offers them each a parting handshake.]

Don't miss me too much, but if you're ever in my world and want to see some idols, I'll get you the best seats!

[Then he heads back to the dorms to pack up. He's only taking a couple of things with him, but they're important things, to him.]

I guess that's that. All's well that ends well.

[The last person he looks for is Shizuku, though. He approaches her when she's done making her rounds to talk to everyone, just before he leaves.]

[cheerfuldays]

( and he will find her, holding the penguin he gave her tight and feeling apprehensive- how strange that he can't feel that anymore, but... it's probably a relief, huh. as he approaches, she sits up from her little "hiding spot" under the tree properly and moves the penguin to the side a little. )

... Hey.

closed to Marcus

[exofractured]

[Part of Phantom's initial urgency was to make certain he finished what he needed before anyone else left for good, of course. But there's no denying that part of it was also avoidance. He needs time to think over what Marcus said earlier. Over everything else that's happened.

Being lonely isn't fun for anyone, I imagine.

Things had been very straightforward when that had seemed laughably unavoidable. If only Marcus hadn't complicated things. Phantom lingers in their room as he takes his time painstakingly packing, trying to brace himself for a conversation he can't put off any more, and no longer knows if he wants to.]

[mirrite]

[Marcus, meanwhile, has been doing his own part to keep his distance after all of that. Words had been said in the heat of the moment (on more than one occasion) that - while not at all untrue - were things he wasn't entirely sure he was ready to voice, or that Phantom was ready to hear. And yet he isn't sure he regrets them, either. He's not sure he regrets any of this-- things would be so much easier if he did.

It's his mistake thinking that Phantom would want to take his things and get out of here as soon as possible, really. He'd simply assumed that if he waited long enough to go back to their room, Phantom would already be long gone. He realizes said mistake the moment he walks through the door and finds the room already occupied; he freezes, unsure whether he can turn around to walk back out before Phantom realizes he's there.

But that would just be putting off the inevitable, wouldn't it?]