Isn't this where.....

[strangerpeople]

REUNITED AT LAST

[Living and dead have reunited. That is all well and good. However, all these trains and cars and starships mean nothing by themselves - many of you may be wondering precisely where they are headed, and the answer presents itself soon in the form of a yawning portal in the middle of space. Yawning, calm, so as not to be mistaken with the writhing and twitching of the wefts - it seems to belong, or at least to be accepted as a cosmic inevitability. And this is what all of the dubious spacecrafts sail into for now - it is just barely large enough for all of them to go in one at a time, and to come out on the other side of the wormhole.

That appears to be some kind of airspace. Those curious about the place they're going may want to open the stained glass windows of the trains to get a much better view of the scenery they're descending on. The landscapes are mostly gorgeous, looking from a distance as though they were painted with watercolors, although some may think it also looks a bit, well, haphazardly patched together. For the trains, there is a floating dock above the land that looks brand new, and an elevator to take down to the ground. All other ships can find an easy landing space in the meadow, like the weird UFOs they are. Nevertheless, there is a path to follow from there, leading to a castle in the distance. It is a path lined with wonderful flowers and trees... and also a chaotic smattering of other trees that don't look like they quite belong. Sheets of dry lasagna make up the bark of the spaghetti trees, their inexplicably cooked pasta hanging like a weeping willow as marinara drips from their meatball fruit. The smell is overpowering, but don't let that ruin the trip. "In fact, it would be better if you let it work up an appetite", the cheerful voice of 707 suggests as he leads the pack up the trail like a hyperactive boy scout leader.

Finally, the doors of the castle open up. The halls are full of doors, each glowing from within - some of you may recognize the names of your homes, and others may not. But going past them, there is an enormous arch that is named The Hall of the Beginning as indicated by the carvings on it. Inside is a table that will be familiar to one of the strangers. It is the table that the original 15 Titled met at the beginning of Nirn, and it's overflowing with a feast even more grandiose than the last time. All of the drinks and cuisine you've been missing for so long is here - from sugar-spiced coffee and bubble tea, delicious scones as good as an aunt's, ridiculously spicy takeout wok, popcorn, philly cheesesteaks and the most perfect star shaped peanut-butter-jelly sandwiches known to man, a big toblerone on a long silver platter, three types of ramen, beer, so many grapes, melon bread, something labeled "dead chicken" that is obviously just a regular roast chicken.... it definitely seems like there were too many cooks here, but cooks with their heart in the right place. Some other favorites of the strangers will also be among the chaos if they look hard enough, but certainly, somewhere, it was deemed that they should have a celebration feast.

But then, you are not strangers any more, are you? Everyone here is a familiar face now, and there are even more familiar faces waiting around the table. The ones who wrote the letter, 707, Halley, Maka, Alexis, and Cardia are already there coming and going, but occasionally many others will stumble through one of the many doors. People from the games who had not fallen to IT. People from home, people you love. What we have here is a nexus and a party all in one. Here, there will be as much time for goodbyes as you like - or, as the hall suggests, new beginnings.]

Comments

[katzenpfote]

[So they're here. They're at last in a place where they can somewhat rest. It's a little overwhelming after what's happened, so Caleb finds a relatively quieter corner to eat and take out a pen and scribble into his journal for a moment... before closing it.]

[He'll have time.]

[He eats relatively lightly, trying to work an appetite back up after a diet of sandy food, but he's here. He's here for people to talk to, people to meet, and also just to sit quietly if they need a moment.]

[... Gods, is he becoming like Caduceus?]

[overworker]

[Caleb, off in his own little corner is a familiar sight. And as before, Towa is happy to join him in his little corner-- but this time he's not escaping without a hug.]

Welcome back Caleb. Sorry I wasn't with you guys-- but it looks like you guys had it covered by yourselves.

[katzenpfote]

[He can't help a small smile as he looks up at Towa, though the hug gets a slightly surprised noise. He pats her on the back.]

It's all right. It... was probably better that you weren't there. But we made it.

[overworker]

I suppose you had all the help you needed.

[She can't say she knows how much help she would have been. But with things ending well, she supposes she doesn't really have to worry about that.]

Are you doing okay? I mean... as okay as you can be after all this.

[katzenpfote]

... I'm alive. And everyone else is, now. That's a start.

I... it got rough, I am not going to lie. I think maybe some rest might help, which I am not going to get knowing my life. But at the very least, being with the Nein again will help. Whatever mess has popped up, we'll handle it together.

Though I know Nott is going to give me an earful for at least two hours. ... It's because she cares.

[earietale]

Um...any idea why they have peanut butter sandwiches like I make them?

[Hi Caleb, there’s this confused teenage girl near the food table also, since usually this is where you can find people easiest? Not for you, but you also seem approachable, so...she’s overthinking things, she asking questions and thinks you’re alright.]

[katzenpfote]

Um.

[Hm. He's not sure. He shrugs.]

I suppose maybe someone from your group really liked them?

[earietale]

I mean...someone liked them, but she’s not exactly around to say as much anymore.

[Saying that word with a disgust. Bad memories...]

[otherworldlyking]

[ He'll come over here eventually, but just has a drink. He's already had something to eat, so he's good. ]

Didn't expect such a reception.

[katzenpfote]

Me either. It's a bit overwhelming... but I don't want to have one of my group show up and me not be here.

[otherworldlyking]

Would be awkward if you did just bail and left your friends hanging. Though, can't say I'm normally one for a setting like this either.

If it weren't attended by anyone we knew, I wouldn't stick around myself.

[ So, yeah.

But he's going to enjoy the festivities a little due to familiar faces all around and the food being actually food. ]

[illusionarymelody]

[Well, Vita is definitely going to find Caleb and give him a hug.]

I do want to say thanks for replying to my message. I'm so glad it worked.

[katzenpfote]

[He pats her back gently and smiles a bit.]

I am, as well. I'm not sure how you convinced that thing to do it, but I'm glad you did.

[illusionarymelody]

I gave it a few ear scritches and then asked nicely. It's amazing how simple things can be sometimes.

[higanbana]

Good~ evening.

[A familiar voice lilts from behind him, and if Caleb turns, he'll see an equally familiar face with her hands clasped cheerily behind her back.]

Lovely to see you still in one piece. You had us concerned, you know~.

[katzenpfote]

[He hides in corners because he doesn't want people sneaking up on him, Ris. But it's fine. He turns and smiles a bit.]

Well, I'm sure. Any moment now I expect to get cracked upside the head by one of my group. I'm sorry to have worried you.

[higanbana]

[It's what she was trained for, Caleb. Sorry, not sorry.]

Oh, don't bother with an apology. We know well it's hardly your fault. Unless you mean to tell me that you wanted to go through with all of that again?

[She smiles wider, teasingly.]

Because if that were the case, I may well just crack you upside the head ourselves.

[technicolourdifficulties]

I say, much more of this and I just might have to find you a rabbit's foot.

[Hi Caleb. He's unlikely to say it, but RGB was worried about you.]

[katzenpfote]

[He just holds up a fat round rock with a faint ring around it.]

This fell out of the vending, so I think I have my lucky charm back.

[technicolourdifficulties]

Ah. Well, then may it keep you from being pulled into any more of this particular brand of nonsense.

[He sits, companionably near, but not quite close enough that a stray gesture might bring them into physical contact.]

[telecosmetic]

[Eliza's still got a kind of annoyed expression on her face when she walks up to him, but at least she's not moving to punch him again.]

So, who was it that killed Jonathan and Vita anyways? I didn't get a chance to ask them properly. [There's a strong undercurrent of "was it you" hidden in her question, naturally.]

[katzenpfote]

[Ah. Of course.]

If it was me I would have accepted dying, you know.

... It was someone trying to do it to save their world, rather than for personal benefit or selfishly wanting to trade one life for the chance to kill another.

[Like him.]

[telecosmetic]

...saving their world? They actually went up to that level of threat? [It's not a level of threat she's seen before, admittedly.]

How'd you beat the execution anyways?

[necroyalty]

[ There's a girl peering into Caleb's journal as he tries to scribble a few things in, although Caleb's probably closed it long before she could find anything of interest. She looks a little bit like Ambro, if Ambro was several years younger, and also a half-elf, who was also a vampire, who was also a redhead.

If he tries to look back to investigate, she'll back away as quickly as she can, innocently popping gummies into her mouth. ]

[katzenpfote]

[Thankfully his journal is half Zemnian and half Avantika's code, since there's maybe four people who could crack the code and he's not sure that any of them speak Zemnian. Maybe Dairon.]

[But he chuckles slightly. He can see the resemblance easily.]

It's not a spellbook, if that's what you're wondering. Your mother has more spells at her disposal than I do.