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

[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?

[exofractured]

[Ah. Just one of the people Phantom was hoping to find. If not a question he was actually prepared to answer yet.]

I have a few things left to see to here first. There's something I was hoping to do for Florence. [...] ...And I suppose I need to speak to Marcus first.

[The evident worry in his voice isn't quite like the usual grumbling he does on that particular topic.]

[partymagician]

[ His smile turns a little bit weary. The worry in Phantom's voice is a definite cause for concern. ]

What do you need to speak with him about?

[exofractured]

Ah, it's...

[He didn't mean to worry Fai about it, oops. That sort of corners him into telling the terrible, stupid truth.]

About whether I have a reason to return there or not. It's unimportant.

[It is very important!]

There's no shortage of other worlds. And I think I might like to see some regardless.

[partymagician]

That doesn't sound unimportant to me.

[ Just saying. ]

Are you going to ask him if he wants you there?

[exofractured]

[It sounds roughly ten times as embarrassing when Fai puts it bluntly like that!]

It's somewhat more complicated than that. After everything I've done in that world, it may be safer for it as well if I don't go back. And I don't have a death wish, either.

[partymagician]

I won't ask about what you've done, however... what would be your reason for going back?

[ He must have something, if it isn't Marcus. ]

[exofractured]

When I arrived here, I thought I had none. The person who created me severed our connection to each other. And Marcus would have cut the link between the two of us himself if he could. Before this place did it for him.

[Yeah, it's still half Marcus. And one other person.]

But being here, I've had time to consider. There may still be things my magic can address back in that world, if I'm able to remain myself when I return. ...I would trust Marcus to make sure of that.

[Even in condensed form, this is a bit of a mess to explain. Phantom lets out a little sigh that's half self-directed exasperation.]

I think I preferred it when I could only count on him to stab me in the back. It would have made the decision much simpler.

[partymagician]

Things don't tend to work out that way, do they?

[ But he thinks he has sort of an idea on what Phantom is saying without Fai asking for all the nitty gritty details. ]

So long as Marcus is willing to ensure you don't change for the worse, then you'll go back to your world and fix things before traveling. Is that right?

[exofractured]

In my limited experience, they tended to.

[Not that he's saying he didn't deserve some backstabbing, but... it was a thing. But he nods. It's a relief that Fai understands so quickly.]

More or less. Truthfully, I don't know what I want yet. It was a relief to think about leaving it behind me. Perhaps I'm just using Marcus to push the responsibility for the decision onto someone else.

[partymagician]

If you are, at least you recognize that.

[ He laughs softly. ]

Still, if it's possible for you to do that, I think you should. That way, you could travel with no regrets.

[exofractured]

It's like you to say something like that. But you may be right. And what about you? There's nothing left for you to settle, is there? Your curse?

[It didn't seem to have returned with their powers, at least, so Phantom's been assuming he has more time to deal with that.]

[partymagician]

I'm not sure what will happen with my curse, to tell you the truth.

[ It's gone here, but who's to say what will happen in another world? ]

As for other things... I'm not sure what I can do. All I can do is hope I'll come across my companions again someday.

[exofractured]

If the effect was in the chip itself, then possibly...

[There's too many unknowns there. He shakes his head a little.]

You're not certain you can find them?

[partymagician]

I don't know how much time has passed. I could go back and die, or they would have moved on without me. It's hard to know.

[ He frowns. ]

I'll just have to hope that our paths cross again.

[cheerfuldays]

I'm not quite sure... I want to speak to Madara about some things first, and maybe making some plans with the others? We can all see each other again, after all.

But... I want to see my family again soon. So...

( maybe an hour or two before she runs home and clings to her dad and mom and cries. )

[exofractured]

[It is really embarrassing to think that Shizuku actually managed to make him jumpy on day one, so Phantom will just selectively fling that memory right into the void.]

Being able to travel freely does simplify the farewells considerably. There's no real reason to drag them out.

[cheerfuldays]

( he can try but they both know. thankfully shizuku actually thinks nothing of it. )

Mhm. But also, it feels... strange, just. Getting up and going. Just thinkign about it has me feeling... I'm not sure.

( nervous? like... waking up? she's not sure. )

[exofractured]

[Shizuku's spaciness saves lives, bless her.

Phantom gives the sentiment a little nod, though.]

After so many weeks, there's a certain familiarity to this place. And it isn't necessarily easy to adjust to the idea that we can leave at all.

[cheerfuldays]

( shizuku saved so much this game and she has no idea. )

It's like a dream but you know that you're dreaming. Does that make sense?

[exofractured]

As much sense as anything about this. Perhaps our original worlds will seem like the dream now. Are you going back with your partner?

[cheerfuldays]

Ah... he's going home first, and then he's thinking about coming to mine, actually. Though. I wouldn't mind seeing his home sometime...

( that's all she'll say though- anything else is madara's, but it'd be good to know where to find him, if phantom somehow ever needed him. )

[exofractured]

[Oh, right. There are multiple different earths, because why wouldn't there be? Phantom raises an eyebrow just a little, but it's not like the absurdity of it is Shizuku's fault.]

As inconvenient as it is to have to go back through Estelline, that shouldn't be too difficult.

[cheerfuldays]

Yes, it does seem really convenient- and I get to visit everyone else, too! Oh, but I won't drop by anyone without warning, of course.

( that'd be rude. ... also, like, so many of yall are from places of violence? and she is just an idol. )