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15strangers2020-03-01 01:58 pm
strangerpeople) wrote in 15strangers2020-03-01 01:58 pm
Entry tags:
Isn't this where.....
[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.]
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[ He had some food he just grabbed, barely looking at what it was for being kind of admittedly all for real grub. But he's eating between discussion just like Eric was. ]
Never had cheesesteak, though. But, think I'll go ahead and grab some after I'm done here.
It's been too long since we've got the chance to something that tastes like it should.
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[he is ashamed he thought the gray food was good after having this. But anyway, he sees McBurn's drink so he'll raise his beer mug.]
Here's to freedom.
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...Though McBurn sure made sure to stay away from the gray food after trying something and being mildly offended it tasted like sand than actual something.
That being said, he'll raise his own glass to meet Eric's with something that definitely was a satisfying clink. ]
To freedom, why not. Kinda hard to believe we made it out here with everyone else just fine, to be honest.
[ Then he'll gulp down and wow, he's halfway there. ]
...What's going on with those spaghetti trees, anyway? That didn't seem like the type of thing you'd suggest to your friend. Unless, I guess, you did.
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[that was a big gulp!! He wonders if McBurn has high tolerance.]
Well at first there were a lot of us making things at the same time, all the survivors. Those trees are Papyrus's. He's a talking skeleton, a really goofy one... don't know why he was obsessed with spaghetti, but now we're dealing with these. They grow like nuts, too.
[it's annoying!!! but he deals with it. Papyrus is good in the end.]
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[ That he did. This is him going party hard as far as he's concerned even if it's probably mild in comparison to some people. ]
...A talking skeleton. [ Beat. ] Well, not like that's the strangest thing to happen. Still, not a bad set up here. Wonder if it's going to be used for things like this again.
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[Clearly it thought he was incorruptible!! cool sparkles ok he's a little proud of that. Even if he just imagined it.]
He'll probably show up here eventually. Paps is one of the few who still come back to Mundus from time to time. [At that second thing, though, Eric thinks about it, his eyes settling on the doors.]
I doubt they'd have been given such a structure if they weren't meant to be used again and again. I'm not a big party person, but it's possible. Like if some busybody decides to throw a reunion every couple years... I hope we don't have to use this for any other reason.
[if he has a third feast after being in another murdergame they will officially lose their charm.]
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[ ...McBurn actually had no clue why it didn't attack Eric, because he actually was partly listening into his trouble with feelings over there despite chairgate, and King's dealio, but he's ultimately grateful.
...Like, it's possible Eric could've been susceptible to it's brutal attacks since it seemed to know what weak points to hit ( for most people, since IT just made McBurn even more irritated ) ...and honestly, he didn't want to deal with such an outcome at all. He couldn't even help King properly.
So he'll chalk that up to some weird luck, and it helped everything worked out. ]
If someone actually bothered to go through the trouble of making some reunions from time to time, I guess it wouldn't be too much of a pain to visit depending on when it's happening. Not really big on parties either, but as long as it doesn't mean something annoying like another one of these games have happened...then it could be a little fun.
[ Seconding in a way that there better not be another murdergame they're forced into. At that point, he'll find a way to burn it all down. Literally. With or without his powers. ]
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[That's probably not why it hated to be hit with light, but it could have kept it out of his head at least a little, right. Link and Hiyori helped him focus, but physical contact did seem to work more when it came to the cats. You could think of it like holding hands, in the strictly purest sense.]
You must've figured out I was there. I caught you smiling! [The twinkle in his eye there is reflected in the space around him with cheerful sparks.]
I'd go if you're going. But who knows if it'll happen anyway. People will also try to move on with their lives if they can... but I made some real friends in the City, and they're all gonna be stuck with me now. I'm really clingy if I want to be.
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[ McBurn hadn't even thought of it that way. To think that he could surprisingly be such a huge deterrent in a way like that. It was amusing and satisfying for sure.
...And omg, Eric. He kind of felt like he was being called out a little, but there really was nothing wrong with enjoying fighting a battle with someone else, and feeling like they were doing it as one, was there? It was a great moment and feeling altogether.
Honestly, despite the hell they went through, it really was refreshing beating the shit out of whatever caused the murdergames instead of talking to it. ]
You're not wrong in that I figured you were there. Pretty sure it was because of the way I got the sword, since it kind of felt like we were connected.
Not really about to say this made me embrace the magic of friendship with everyone here or whatever, but I know you and a few others I met would be worth my time. Enough that going to something like this once in awhile wouldn't be a pain if any of you were there.
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They're at least in agreement when it comes to future parties, although he can't help but be curious about McBurn's chosen few. There is one thing that stands out. McBurn never actually mentioned the person he kept comparing Eric to in his head.]
Well speaking of others... who was that girl you were making out with? You never even told me you have a sweetheart too!
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And between the both of them, there was some kind of intense bond that had been created from it. Or at least, that's exactly how McBurn felt, though he wasn't about to be making any moves because he confessed to the first person he fell for, and Eric was spoken for. Things might've been different if the last of those were not what they were.
That being said...he supposed he should've expected the question, but he really hadn't for a second. ]
We weren't dating before. Well, I guess until now.
Still, I should've told you about her. She happens to be from Zemuria, and her name's Towa—she's a real hard worker and can't be bothered to take a break unless someone forces her to. But, she's one of those people who looks out for everyone and even if it's inconvenient for her, she'd go far to make sure they're alright. Or something.
We went through two of those annoying 'games' together. Both of you'd probably get along.
[ And boy, he's kind of surprised she put up with him for so long. Because on the Eventide, he sure was like how he was usually but worse (because no character development.) Also he killed somebody and got away with it, but because time got screwy, it was hard to tell how much someone remembered.
But honestly, she's done so much for him, and she's kind of really cute too to make it simple here. ]
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You'd better look out for her too with a personality like that. Partnerships are about sharing burdens, and it sounds like she's got a lot.
[He's gotta be happy for McBurn, though. It's nice that neither of them will be alone after this... and she sounds kind enough he doesn't doubt they'd probably get along given the chance.
Then something else catches his attention and he flits to it right away.]
Wait, two together? S-So, you were also in three death games?
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[ It's certainly going to be an interesting time of things, that's...for sure. But, he's basically committed himself here, so he had an idea of what he was getting into.
...Kind of.
He's going to play it by ear, but at the very least the person he's going to be dating would be rather understanding. ]
Yeah, I was, as much as a pain as that was. But, I guess we've got something in common, even if it's something unpleasant. Never recalled you mentioning you'd been in another one besides the obvious two, though.
[ Since he did talk a bit about his time in the Depths, and then there was ostensibly the City, so. ]
light ZTD spoilers
[that sucks for him but doesn't really help anyone.]
... Well, most of it was pretty anticlimactic anyway. The mastermind, Zero II, kept trying to pit us against each other but none of us took the bait, not even once. There was still some bullshit we were trapped into at the end, but - I think the worst of it was being told everything that happened in the other timelines where we didn't cooperate. There are a bunch of people in my world who have abilities that are kinda like Arthur's, but different.
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...Even if I can't say I'm any familiar dealing with alternate timelines.
[ He didn't ask what Eric and friends experienced in those other, unsuccessful timelines. It's easy to guess, and begins with the letter d.
He doubted it'd interest him and it spared Eric the trouble, so two birds one stone here. ]
Think you did mention something about it before, though.
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[Even Q Team does important things from time to time... whether people like it or not!! Anyway, he's been infodumping a lot, hasn't he? Must be the beer. He's not slowing down, either, but he seems fine regardless.]
I did mention it, talking about the other you. Wonder what he'd think if he knew we got along so well...