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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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[It won't do anything, he knows it won't, but he still tries. And when it fails, he sighs. They're going to need to talk later.
So, later, after he's gotten to enjoy family and he can feel okay not being near them, he goes to try and find Zack. It might take some searching, but he's going to keep trying.]
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Zack will be curled up underneath. Hood pulled over his eyes, not in any mood to interact with other people. ]
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He won't speak until Zack is ready to speak. He won't rush him.]
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When he does speak up, he mumbles. Something about not wanting to kill King's family. ]
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But...he's able to steady himself again, even if it takes him a minute.]
Why...why would you want to?
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[ Yeah, he had a feeling he'd get a look. But at the same time, he kind of needs someone to talk to. ]
Ugh, how do I put this... I have this thing, okay? Whenever I see someone running around all smiley and shit, I get the urge to chase em down and kill em. And it didn't seem like that much of a problem way back when I took it out on random assholes on the street, like... Like hell, someone running one of those goddamn games...
But then I got stuck in one of those games, and while I had the threat of getting killed for killing over my head I wound up meeting people who actually treated me like a human being for once in my fucked up life. I don't wanna kill them... Or you. Or most of the people who got dragged into this shit. So I thought I was over it...
[ He falls silent for a second... ]
Yeah, sorry bout calling your kids mutts. It just... Came out, I guess.
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He tries not to think about it. Instead...how it would happen. He's gone through stuff too. Did bad things and acted badly because of trauma. And when his nearly ended with him killing someone...]
You...went through something bad, didn't you? You don't have to give specific answers, just...even if it wasn't as bad, I know what it's like.
[Not everyone gets a happy childhood.]
You're trying to get past it though, right? Working to fix it. It's going to be hard, but...if you keep working on it, I think you can do it.
And don't worry. Just a 'heat of the moment' thing. Everyone has them. I know you didn't mean it.
Plus...it's not the worst thing I've heard involving my pups. At least you didn't threaten them then and there.
CW: implied child neglect.
Yeah... It's a long story you probably don't wanna hear, but let's just say Eliza and Recette are more like family to me than my parents ever were.
[ He doesn't have to talk about why he wears those bandages, or how he ended up in the orphanage from Hell... And it's probably better that King doesn't know about Reverend Gray's basement full of killers. ]
Well, yeah, I have people I'd rather protect! Besides, I just remembered getting revived after dying in Magical Girl Hell. Recette managed to pull some strings with the girl who was running the show and... Well, I'm gonna get to live in her world after this. And she's from one of those magical places where they pay ya good money to go into dungeons, kill monsters and loot chests. Pretty sure that'll do me more good than taking it out on people I care about.
[ He smiles for a bit... But it does fade. At least King's not holding a grudge... ]
Right... They're your family, right? You know how far I'd go to save Eliza, so I don't blame yer wife for freaking out...
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[He understands that well enough himself.
And that bit of fire in Zack, to get better and be different-controlling his anger in a healthy way-It gets a smile on his muzzle again.]
That's good. Usually the answer isn't killing things, but if it's monsters that would kill people otherwise? It's a good thing to go for. At least it's probably going to be easier than going cold turkey on the whole thing.
I'll...I'll admit, I'm not an expert on these things, but Eliza and Recette...they're probably going to be big parts in making it easier. People that care about you and vice versa, they tend to make getting better easier, as long as you let them help.
I'm...probably just stating the obvious at this point, but it's important. If there weren't people that cared about me, I'm pretty sure I would've just been a bitter jerk that had gotten killed in the town from the first motive. And that's the better option.
I'll try to talk with Bailey, if you want. Help her understand. Sometimes...things just happen. And I won't hold them against you.
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It just makes his future with his sister seem so much brighter.]
Eh, I don't plan on stopping them. [He finally smiles with a vague sense of relief.] Yeah, that sure makes a difference, doesn't it?
. . . Thanks. I'll try to stay away from your folks for a while... I guess.
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He sighs. A bit more of a happy sigh.]
You...I shouldn’t say that. I think you have every idea how much it makes a difference.
Maybe...just a little bit. After I talk with Bailey and she cools down, you might be able to be near her without her giving you the evil eye. And I’ll try to keep the pups under control a bit more, if you want to see them.
[He’s not blaming you if you don’t, though.]
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Huh? What are you talking about? I meant I was going to let my siblings help if they wanna.
[ Miscommunication ho. ]
... I dunno about the pups, but thanks anyway.
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Ah, miscommunication. We meet again.]
Was...I being confusing? Sorry. I was going to say something along the lines of “You have no idea how helpful talking to and being with important people helps with something like this.” But then I realized you probably did after both of the incidents you went through, and didn’t want to sound like an idiot.
[Too bad he still feels like an idiot now...
He nods at that answer.]
That’s probably fair. Ace might be okay around you, but Olive and Rook are pretty...energetic.
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Eh, I ain't that smart either, so why the hell should I judge?
[ He's a bit too used to feeling like a dumbass, and lately it's been more frustrating than anything... But hey. He is what he is. He'll manage. ]
No shit... Ace is the one who doesn't talk, right?
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Hey, I'm sure you're smart. Even if you're not smart in certain areas, you're probably smart with other things.
[
like using a scythe to kill people!!Or maybe Zack isn't the smartest, but hey, he's not going to be the one to say that. He's not that big of a jerk.]
Yeah, she hasn't really tried talking yet, and she's a lot calmer than you'd expect for a pup her age. Plus, she seemed to like you, so I don't think she'd be upset near you.
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Really? You're serious? [ He's been told the opposite so many times he has to make sure King isn't making this up... But then again, King's pretty decent for a talking dog. ]
Yeah, I noticed... Not sure why she ain't scared of a sketchy looking guy covered in bandages and shit, but that ain't the first time someone didn't start freaking out when they saw me. [ Not counting when he first ran into Ray, he did remember that one girl who actually asked if he was injured... Mia, he called her? The girl from the shitty future? He ain't sure what to think of her now, but she's probably having fun with her bitchy friends somewhere. ]
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He nods.]
Yes. Even if you're not book-smart, you're probably smart in other ways. Street smarts are a thing. And even if that doesn't count, common sense is something most people need but also don't have, so you have people like that beat.
[So far, the only time he can think of Zack not having common sense were involving Eliza and her dying, and really, who wouldn't be like that with the death of a family member?]
I'd say...she might be able to tell that you're a good person. And yeah, sounds cheesy, but she's done it before, even if it was on a smaller scale. She just knows how to trust the right people, really.
[…now he feels a little more stupid, but...something for a later time.]
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[ Maybe he is right. If street smarts weren't a thing, Zack might not have even made it to adulthood... He isn't sure about the common sense thing, though...
And Eliza...? Yeah, he can trust her. ]
Yeah...
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[And that small smile is back.]
So, if we find a way to visit, just bringing Ace with me at the beginning sounds good?