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]

[ 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. ]

[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]

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. ]

[selfconcept]

Hey.

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

Lost in your thoughts?

[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! )

[catarou]

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

Here we meet in the flesh. Hello, Lorelei.

[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?

[catarou]

[ junk food'll do that to ya ]

Hmm. Is it that obvious?

[ He's joking, of course. ]

... Truthfully, it all feels incredibly surreal. After so much uncertainty, here we are, standing together and facing a way to return to our lives.

[selfconcept]

We all have to return to reality eventually.

[ A munch of potato chips. Thanks, Gentaro. ]

I'm hoping you can unwind a little before you head back. It sounds like you'll be stressed out.

[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.

[cheerfuldays]

Mmhm. We won these for the newspaper, so I thought this was the best time!

( she debates taking his picture outright... but then after a moment, hops up and in one swoop, grabs his shoulder and holds out the camera facing the two of them. click! the polaroid prints out shortly... )

... Hien? I'm glad I got to meet you.

[catarou]

Undeniably.

[ "Stressed out" is certainly an understatement... but he gives Hien a slight smile. ]

... But when the dust settles, I do hope you'll visit. My memory of Shibuya hardly compares to the real thing.

[ When, not if. The meaning of that one word doesn't escape Gentaro. It's not that he's the hopeless sort--things always have a chance of working out, after all.

He's never expressed a hope like this. It's strange and new, but it feels something close to right. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien is surprised about several things—namely the picture and what Shizuku says. ]

... Yeah? I can't doubt that when you say it with so much sincerity.

[ He peeks over at the Polaroid. Thankfully, Hien shows up in the shot, because he usually doesn't. ]

[partymagician]

[ Yay, he no longer smells! ]

Mm, I wonder if a more permanent solution could still be found.

[ He'd have to do research into it and then come back, though. ]

...I'm glad that no one here will be separated for good.

[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.

[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.

[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. ]

[selfconcept]

... Yeah.

[ He smiles a little. Hien doesn't feel that Idia made a brother replica robot, because that's just sometimes how you cope. It's really heartwarming to hear that from Idia though. ]

You are. You're very much Ortho's hero.

[ He even gives Idia a big hug. ]

[partymagician]

[ He smiles softly. ]

I'd like that a lot. It would be really nice to see your world and the places you like.

[ Fai pauses. ]

And I'd be happy to be there to support you for that.

[ While he isn't totally sure what a division battle would be, he knows it's likely important if he wants Fai there for it. ]

[selfconcept]

It's kinda weird with the hopes of being able to see them again.

[ Hien is used to ditching world for good after he's done with it, so this is definitely a change. ]

I should probably commission a special omniverse phone from my items dealer. They should make something that'll work for everyone.

[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...

[selfconcept]

Hm? Yeah, it better be in good visiting condition when I get there, Ichiro.

[ :3c ]

I want you to take me to all the good spots in Shibuya.

[partymagician]

That would be fun. I'd like one too.

[ Since Hien is all clean now, Fai reaches out to take his hand. ]

Are you glad that we won't all be separated?