( introlog #5 ) strangerer things

[natha]

You have spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Perhaps you've made some friends (or maybe an enemy or two). Either way, you aren't expected to spend all of your time on the Station. El Nysa needs you, after all, and you promised you'd help the planet thrive. Are you ready? Submit an AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 OLYMPIA REP POINTS OR 2 WYVER REP POINTS, respectively, HERE or HERE. THESA STATION     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar where a large-scale teleporter has been set up; everyone will be sent to the planet together. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait. Before they depart, all new refugees will be given a starter kit! You may have heard about earlier technical difficulties, but don't worry. I promise everything is in perfect working order this time. I'd say I tested it myself, but since that's not exactly possible, you'll just have to trust me! (Please.) The older refugees will also be there to guide you to ensure no one is left confused... or behind. Make sure you wait for them — I've been detecting something odd so I'll be having them meet you at the landing site. Good luck, refugees! Not that you'll be needing it or anything... The arrays begin to hum and glow, quickly building into a brilliant wash of light. It creates a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa. With the night sky as a canvas, the beam can be seen all the way from Olympia and Wyver — a view that has the natives whispering of blessings. As a sudden but beautiful aurora splays across the sky, the refugees down on the planet receive a message asking them to travel to the landing site — and warning them to prepare for what may come of the strange readings Zasere's gotten from the teleport itself. ON A BEAM OF LIGHT     Traveling through the light leaves the impression of blinding starlight, a strange sense of weightlessness, and a disorienting moment of total sensory deprivation. The radiance of your teleport hangs bright in the sky above you, a shimmering aurora that reflects off the calm waters below, visible for miles all around. You've landed on a peninsula to the east of the South Outpost. There's little here — scattered trees on spring-barren plains, with a few overgrown, dilapidated structures poking out of the brush. All is quiet save for the keening of animals and the gentle lapping of waves against the shore. This lonely desolation is hardly the bustling cities and vibrant cultures you were promised back on the station... BY CAMPFIRE'S GLOW. But waiting for you is a group of your predecessors, and with them, a veritable tent city, with portable stoves, coolers of food and drink, comfortable bedrolls, and cheerful rings of bonfires — all that you need to make merry of the night, courtesy of Overseer Voss, who has, thanks to his interest in blessed meteorological phenomena and refugees, decided to make a holy expedition of the affair. Settle in, meet new comrades, and enjoy yourself, for you've safely completed your journey. But don't wander too far from the fires — the dark is closing in, and there's a strange, electric feeling in the air, the scent of ozone drifting on the breeze. And what were those odd readings Zasere mentioned? A SHEPHERD OVER THE FLOCK. The spring sun dawns on a grey morning, already burning away the fog rolling in off the sea. It quickly becomes apparent that Voss and his entourage of acolytes have been up for hours, hard at work. They've set up a brightly-draped stage and a travel pulpit, magically enchanted to amplify his voice, and as the sun breaks over the horizon, Voss is all set to do what he does best: proselytize. As our Goddess has sent Her blessing once before to herald the coming of those touched by Her light, so She has done once again! Here you see them, those surrounded by the light of our Goddess, each of them bearing the mark upon their skin of Her holiest of hands! Do you not see? Do none among you bear witness to the righteousness of Her message? Perhaps this is why our people have shamed themselves in front of our Goddess— [ He continues for another 15 minutes... ] Nevertheless. See you them before us now! See them as they are, coming to our gates with Her reminder, that these people must be treated with the utmost respect and care. Thesa's divinity is not to be treated with such flagrant disregard! Those who She chooses are not ours to use as mindless fodder, to hurt, to torture — shame upon those who allowed such deeds to shame us under Her watchful gaze! To those of you who have just arrived here on our doorstep, be not afraid! The Temples of Thesa welcome you to our home with hearts and minds open! Should you ever find yourself in need of solace, seek out the Temples, as there are no greater allies to you than those of us within the Temple walls. You are welcome all to Olympia! As he steps away from the enchanted podium, he can be heard saying aside to an acolyte, "How was that? Heavy on the shame, but I think it went well!" While he will not leave the area immediately, his acolytes will politely turn away attempts to speak with him and remind anyone interested that they can leave a message at the Temples. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS     Despite going off without hitch, the new refugees' arrival isn't entirely without incident. It seems that the "blessed" beam of light that brought the refugees down to El Nysa brought something else along with it — a sliver of the Storm. At least the beam was short enough that only a small fraction managed to squeeze through. But it's enough to wreak a little havoc around the landing site and along the road back toward Olympia and Wyver — and even, for a few days, in the cities themselves. THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE. The Storm is an undeniably destructive force, and that's proven with this small sliver's effect as it ripples across the continent. While there's no visible sign of its presence, strange phenomena soon begin to appear, corresponding with Zasere's odd readings. They're innocuous little things at first. A sudden silence, animals going quiet, insects stilling. All technology, no matter how advanced, ceases working. You discover when you check with a friend, the clock on your phone is twelve minutes slow even though you'd swear only a minute had passed — time missing. Walking through the woods takes longer than it should when brushing past one bush leads to brushing past that same bush again — and again, and again, the area looping on itself. It keeps you trapped, going in circles for minutes, even hours, before finally releasing you in a random direction. Or perhaps you'll feel a sense of deja vu, like you've walked down this road, taken this turn, seen that bird fly from this branch before. This is the second time that cat has crossed your path. The person you're meeting, you already know their name; you're certain you've already met. WE GOT COWS. The Storm sliver also ushers in sudden, localized weather anomalies — heavy storms, blizzards, strong winds, and more. Affected areas range from just a few feet wide to nearly half a mile. One minute, the sky may be sunny and clear, but the next dark storm clouds roll in, unleashing torrential rain. Small tornadoes surge along the road, kicking up winds strong enough to knock people over and carry objects away. Hail hurtles down from the sky, but only in a ten foot radius. Temperatures fluctuate wildly between one extreme and the next, from heat waves to cold snaps. Soupy fog blankets the area, thick enough that you can barely see your hand in front of your face. Good luck finding your way! FORGETTING IS SO LONG. The visions come on suddenly and with very little warning. One second, you're carrying on as normal — but the next, you blink and find yourself (and anyone near you) somewhere else completely. You may recognize this place as a moment from the past, one that you lived through. It's a memory, your memory, and it now replays around you in exceptional detail, unnervingly lifelike. Or you may not recognize it at all. It might belong to the person next to you, or to someone else entirely — a memory that the Storm has swallowed up. Either way, the scene plays out just as it once did, and there's nothing you can do to stop it — or escape it. The memory surrounds you to no end: every door you open leads nowhere, every hallway you turn down continues on forever, every horizon you flee toward hangs just out of reach. And linger too long or turn the wrong corner, and you may find yourself abruptly stuck in a completely different memory. It's almost tempting, then, to give up, to let the past sweep you away... But this isn't the full might of the Storm. Look closely, and you can see that in the walls of this trap, there are minute, hairline cracks, a facade of fractured glass. Imperfections in the memory where the real world is breaking through. It seems the only way to escape these memories is to find those cracks and break through them — by force, by will, or by some other method entirely. DECISIONS, DECISIONS...     The time is coming to make a choice — perhaps not a permanent choice, but unless you want to spend the rest of your nights out under the stars, you'll need to pick which city you will initially spend your time in. On the horizon, you will see that people have arrived to help you make that decision... A FORK IN THE ROAD. Refugees and the hyper-religious wishing to hear Voss speak are not the only ones out and about under the light of the aurora. Citizens of both Olympia and Wyver have flocked to a point on the road midway between the cities and where the refugees have appeared, and they all have the same goal in mind: convincing the newcomers who have just descended in the blessed light of Thesa to come to their city and not the other. They've come with bribes — that is, examples of what their cities have to offer. If you spent much time at the exhibition up on Thesa Station, you might recognize some of what's being shown off, though the offerings here are markedly more tangible, and shown off by hawkers wearing substantially fewer clothes. A herd of pegasi accompanies the Olympians, while a line of flying serpents is stabled at a tent bearing Wyver colors. Refugees are given the chance to experience solo flights and are told that if they prove their loyalty, they may have the privilege of owning such fine beasts one day themselves. The Olympians have also brought couture clothing, jewelry, and makeup to offer a taste of Olympian splendor, while the Wyver delegation has brought along fine weapons, sense-enhancing jungle plants, and small vials of diluted dragon’s blood (drinking confers a temporary boost in strength) to demonstrate their might. The Olympians speak proudly of the glory of the Temples of Thesa; the Wyverns speak of the Volkkran Pact and inform newcomers that they can make a pilgrimage to the summit of Namarak Mountain at the next full moon. This is as good a time as any to compare your plans with others around you and exchange contact information before going your separate ways with people who are going to the city you are not. When you’re ready to go, don’t worry about safe passage — the natives of each city will gladly escort you there in luxury. OF WHITE AND GOLD. The people of Olympia are ecstatic that you’ve come to join them... So much so that they’ve prepared a grand tour of the city for the new arrivals. You will be introduced to the major businesses in the city, including businesses that they are proud to point out were founded by refugees. Refugees who have been here for some time already are encouraged to pair up with newcomers to introduce them to the parts of the city they like best. To facilitate this, they’ve made arrangements with many of the business owners: new refugees who visit their shops (and older refugees who escort them) are given discounts! Just a few examples of many: the Wyvernest offers free desserts to first time visitors with the purchase of a drink, refugees who visit the Silk Wyrms can have one custom (though not exceedingly expensive) outfit made for them for free, and visitors to Shades Darker are offered a half-hour session with one of the prostitutes at half price… or access to a private room, if they seem to have taken a shine to one of their companions on the tour. Lastly, tour guides will point out that over the course of the next week, the train to Flona Cove will allow new refugees to board for free so that they can experience the seaside for themselves. With the weather finally starting to warm, this is as good a time as any for a visit to the beach, isn’t it? OF RED AND BLACK. Life in Wyver is typically a sink-or-swim sort of experience — but in light of the valor recently displayed by their predecessors, the natives are now more willing to assist in getting newcomers settled. The entire journey here they have been talking up the virtues of their city… and now is the time to show everything that's on offer. The well-known businesses in the city are prepared for the influx of newcomers. Some are giving out discounted samples of their products while others are offering a more hands-on experience: in exchange for working a few hours, they will give training in whatever task is being performed. At the Forged, newcomers can learn the basics of crafting simple weapons (and take one of their successes home), while visitors to spas near the lagoons are trained in the art of massage. Those who wander to Falmi’s Ring can learn the art of pugilism or how to keep (and fix) books if they're more inclined to the gambling that goes on. Newcomers interested in Wyver's dragons can get hands-on experience at the Fields of the Exalted's nursery. While they walk from place to place, a guide may point out a job posting from Highwind Hires, noting that refugees can make a name for themselves outside official channels. The last stop on the tour is the Undergrowth. The guides speak of the jungle in reverent tones and caution new refugees not to wander too far in. They warn never to explore alone, but also urge refugees to take time to familiarize themselves with it; after all, the jungle is an important part of life in Wyver, and those who are going to be living here should understand it as well as they do. You've chosen your path, refugee, but that doesn't necessarily make it a permanent one. Watch out for the strange effects of the Storm, which linger still in the two cities and everywhere in between for the next few days before dissipating just as mysteriously as they came, but otherwise enjoy the welcome and make yourself at home — after all, this is home now. FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 REP POINTS FOR EITHER OLYMPIA OR WYVER may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD FOR OLYMPIA OR WYVER HERE AND HERE RESPECTIVELY BY APRIL 29th 11:59 PM EST. We will no longer be providing overflow posts. In an event where the post hits CAPTCHA, players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals or create their own catch-all post. These threads remain eligible for AC, AC Rewards, and REP. 1 SILVER = 1 US DOLLAR. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

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arjuna, fate/grand order

[arcane]

➵CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
FORGETTING IS SO LONG, PART 1: KARNA

[ this initial disorientation has long settled. regardless, what's left has been a series of perils. the weather fluctuates and while physically this doesn't bring up any particular conflict with them, it's the implications that become problematic. there's obviously something warped about all of this, and while he's attempting to make heads from tails, it's here that a vision suddenly floods to him. it's been only a single step, and yet it's an erroneous one.

the view is familiar. the background one he's known for far too long. the sudden buzz of familiarity of his homelands. the smell. even the feel of the atmosphere, what he doesn't expect is who is in it. there's a hint of white hair that flashes before his eyes, and then an all too familiar spear. it's like a figure in the distance, and arjuna can feel his fingers reflexively turn into fists. his nails digging into his palms from his gloves. he can hear the sounds of weapons clashing, and...

he feels something boil beneath the surface. his expression darkens slightly, and despite all he feels, he can't deny the weird sense of pleasure he feels, and he almost has to laugh. (or maybe he does and it's entirely maniacal.) but, as he releases an exhale, he seems to finally detect someone within reasonable distance of him.

his voice is low when he speaks: ] Did you see my face?

FORGETTING IS SO LONG, PART 2: SADISTIC

[ this time the landscape is one of a different battlefield.

one he doesn't actually know personally. but, call it morbid curiosity that arjuna ends up watching it play out as if it were some type of movie. he can't see the figures exactly, but it appears to be a counterfeit version of himself and another hero. whom he can tell now is arash, the persian legend. then another female who then asks "what is your relationship between you and your master?" to which his fake version responds, and arjuna repeats, albeit incredulously.: ]

"I am a very sadistic science major upperclass who gets lovey-dovey when it matters most." [ ah... who's memories are these exactly...?

he looks to whoever is beside him and gives a deep exhale. ] ... and yours?

FORGETTING IS SO LONG, PART 3: VALENTINE'S

[ this time, the memory is a lot more relaxed. it displays a rather technologically advanced area; hallways aligned all neatly and clean. it's here he can still smell a hint off something sweet in the air, and it's no surprise where there's a box of chocolates on the neighboring table with a card. one that reads something to do with "valentine's day." a fact that's peculiar enough that he finds himself tilting his head to...?

he wonders if this is another lifetime he's forgotten or something else entirely?

then, he spots a case and in it... an arrow. if he's correct, then this isn't fake. he places a gentle finger over it, before he turns to realize he has company in this vision. ] Excuse the sudden question, but what you would give someone for Valentine's? Certainly an arrow isn't that unorthodox?

➵DECISONS, DECISIONS...
A FORK IN THE ROAD

[ he supposed this is what all of the excitement of the station was preparing them for. everything presented are facts he's familiar with, and so he doesn't waste time in making a decision. still, it's not to say he's unsympathetic to the plights that others may be facing.

perhaps, you look like you're troubled, either way, arjuna bows slightly. ] It appears you're faced with a difficult decision. If you'd like ... [ he gestures to the nearest stall. whatever that is. perhaps, he's suggesting you to try on some clothes, or maybe he's ... roping you into dragon's blood or riding on a creepy looking creature. regardless, as polite as his request is, it seems he's not someone that's going to take rejection well. ]

➵WILDCARD

[ hit me up with anything, or i can always write you a starter. likely going with olympia, so he'll def. need a tour guide. he'd also down to explore, so if you'd like to leave a location (inc. flona cove), i'm happy to run with that and write us a prompt. ... or leave an emoji and i will figure something out. ]

valentine's

[pussywhips]

[ Meanwhile, Ann is still getting her bearings in this vision. She looks around the room, the neighboring hallways, but there's nothing about this place that she recognizes—and she has no idea how to get out. ]

Um...

[ He draws her attention first to him (she doesn't recognize him either), then to the arrow on the table, and she walks closer to inspect it. Wait, an... arrow... for Valentine's Day? ]

Huh? Well, kinda. You're supposed to get people chocolate for Valentine's Day.

[arcane]

[ ah.


so that would be the norm. still, something about the arrow doesn't strike him as being so out of place. if anything, if this arrow is as he thinks it is— ] Is that so? I believe there are gifts in this world that mean more than what they seem.

[ for example, he picks the arrow up. gently holding it out for her. ]

This could be a symbol of someone's everything? Of their regrets and their aspirations of the future.

[ suddenly deep... about this arrow.... i hate this. ]

[pussywhips]

Uh...

[ She blinks, letting the silence hang.

You know what? Yusuke has done weirder things, so fine. It sounds like this arrow means a lot to him... for some reason... so if he wants to give it to somebody as a Valentine's Day present then more power to him. Maybe the person that he's giving it to will appreciate it? Or at least, if they do, then that's probably a sign that they're The One.

Then again, it's not like Yusuke actually has any game, so maybe that's the wrong comparison to draw. ]

Yeah, sure.

[ She glances at the arrow, which he appears... to be holding out to her. ]

Is this for me?

[arcane]

[ if there's any sense of uncertainty to garner from ann's reaction, arjuna appears to be firm in ... purposely not seeing it. instead, he moves onto the more important fact of her agreement. he seems to also give a hum of confirmation. ] I see. [ then they're on the same page (except, are they truly??)

at her inquiry, he gives the smallest nod. if this is similar to any of the other peculiar occurrences, then he was likely meant to play some sort of role in this strange fragment of ... someone's recollections. since this appeared to be a gift— one from him no less, he supposed this was where he was meant to act.

... and he does. ] That is correct. However, before that... [ he looks at the valentine's chocolate on the table. then back at her. he closes his eyes briefly, as if debating how to tell her to give it to him. he supposes straightforward often is best. ] I believe that is yours.

[ to give... him. ]

[pussywhips]

[ Wait a second. She didn't actually think he was going to say yes to that?! If this is some sort of Valentine's Day thing, and if this arrow is supposed to represent his everything or whatever, then she can't actually accept this?! Well, okay, so she can, technically, but she doesn't even know him?

The whole point of Valentine's Day was to give presents to the people you love—or, barring that, to the people that you're obligated to. And this guy is... neither of those things to her.

Also, it isn't even Valentine's Day for real?! There's a lot going on here. ]

H-Hang on. [ She puts her palm up, not... taking the arrow. ] Are you sure you should be giving me stuff for Valentine's Day? I don't even know you.

[arcane]

I do not think it's mere coincidence that we found ourselves here.

[ he was a strong believer in predestination, after all. though considering how their speech is currently going, his words likely only muddle this already convoluted situation up even further. a fact that he doesn't seem to concern him. but, he does clarify on thing: ] Though if it puts you at ease, I thought if we exchanged these, an exit would show itself to us. [ had things not worked like this in the beginning?

regardless this is his first time tackling this. undeterred, he keeps holding out the arrow. ]

part 2: thnx for reminding me 2 get manuscripts

[larsenist]

[ Akira finds himself standing on an unfamiliar shoreline that's further obscured by sudden nightfall. The faces around him are completely foreign as well, several of the strangers brandishing impressive bows. (Akira doesn't belong here, that much is obvious, and he's perhaps a little concerned about getting potentially caught in unfriendly crossfire.)

...The young man who turns to him doesn't sound particularly hostile, stating his supposed purpose with neither hesitation nor enthusiasm in his cool tones. ]

...

[ ...Akira has no idea what the hell he's talking about. (But if his trips to Akihabara with Futaba have taught him anything... This definitely sounds like one of those visual novels.) Will he get shot if he answers incorrectly...? He takes all of one second of consideration, before responding, ]

The dark and mysterious transfer student. With a soft spot for cats.

i got you fam

[arcane]

[ ( da vinci voice ) dark and mysterious....?

( mashu voice ) transfer student?

it will never cease to amaze him how quickly people adapt to a given situation or circumstance. despite asking on a whim, he receives a response that's entirely in tune with the scenario. ... it's one that was even puzzling for arjuna himself. hence, he finds himself almost incredulous at this man's ability.

were these concepts common in other words, he wonders? or was this man just very attuned to this sort of talk. still, it seems from what he's gathered of the situation from these memories, they had sacrificed siegfried in order to make this time. he supposes it would be a disgrace to call attention to themselves (if that was possible). from what arjuna discerns, perhaps like in thesa station, the way out was to continue this farce.... (he's wrong.)

hence— ] I see. Then let us see what sort of dialogue you've prepared for our Master. [ he says this....

but, could he even create dialogue that fits his role? stay tuned. ]

[larsenist]

[ no need 2 be impressed arjuna that's just me being lazy 4th waller...

Akira, on the other hand, is relieved(?) his wild guess was actually on the mark(??). He'll scratch that up to trickster's luck. But... such luck can only go so far. He knows enough of the tropes on the surface, but having to generate more content than a simple introduction is... going to be a lot of work. (Acting skills aside, maybe Ann or Futaba could do it... They're both up to speed in video games and pop culture...)

Also who the heck is Master?? ]

...Can't we just leave?

[ He doesn't move from his spot just yet (he isn't sure what sort of reaction that'll trigger from the colorful group around him—is it even possible to really interact with memories?), but he casts obvious glances at their surroundings, looking for any cracks to slip through. ]

1/2

[arcane]

...


[ ...





hm. ]

[arcane]

[ the words of this mysterious transfer student catches him off-guard at first.

from fitting in seamlessly into there world, he sees they've finally gotten stuck in a rut. it isn't that he doubts the simplicity of his words, but that ... he simply isn't sure. ] ... and risk the consequence? [ especially, as this isn't a memory that's familiar to him. hence he isn't sure what's to come. but he can say, even in a memory, their spiritual power is still palpable. which is ... curious, if anything. ]

Their powers may be a very real threat. [ ... ] Have you done battle?

[larsenist]

[ It's sad because he actually was a transfer student. He supposes, worse comes to worst he can simply remain silent to maintain the illusion of 'mystery'—a favorite pastime of his anyway. He fiddles with his hair for a moment, weighing the hypothetical risks and rewards.

...Doesn't come up with much. If he puts on an act and fails, he might get (hypothetically) slaughtered. If he tries to escape, same deal. (In the background, they continue to gossip about the late "Class Celebrity". RIP, Sumanai.) ]

...You sure you're not a real sadist?

[ (Fine... he'll go along with this farce. It's not like Akira doesn't having fighting experience, but the way his companion talks it sounds like it won't be enough.) He first nods his head over to their audience. ]

Which one is the 'Master'...

[ He should at least get that cleared up... At least, he assumes Arjuna is referring to someone in this odd collective. ]

[arcane]

[ if this is any way cruel or unusual, arjuna doesn't seem to display any evidence for acknowledging these facts. instead, he seems ... pretty dead set on concluding this on his own lofty, made-up terms. overlooking any sense of displeasure from akira's countenance, he replies smoothly. ]

I assure you I'm merely preparing for the role.

[ not true at all. he still doesn't know how to script out his words, but he supposes true warriors and heroes were men of action. but, that doesn't mean there wasn't the smallest hint of amusement on his features, before it adjusts accordingly.

judging by their line of conversation, their "real" master may not be here at all. rather it seems like one side attempting to discern who she is from the pair— himself and the other man of the bow. but, obviously that wouldn't do for this activity, and hence he points to ....


mashchan. ] She will do nicely. [ with that he words out of the word: "keep your wits, transfer student." whether it's a coincidence or not, it does seem like the audience is temporarily quiet. seeing as how this is his plan, he goes first by adding: ] "Her tears will be quite rewarding."

[ where is the dere in this... ]

karna

[ausuben]

I did.

[ Lancelot responds almost immediately, but that is a strange question to ask, isn't it?

Admittedly, he had been slightly more preoccupied with the surroundings to try and make sense of what he has gotten himself into, but the sounds of metal clashing and the distinct shock of white hair in the distance had inevitably caught his attention more. Probably very important what with the way the memory has manifested these details... but only to the individual it originates from.

So, yes, Lancelot had changed focus just in time for that expression (and the accompanying laughter) to be caught. Still... ]

Does it matter?

[ perhaps he's beginning to become desensitized to these types of personalities showing up in individuals who... don't look the type at all. It's not as if he already knows this individual enough to have formed a view of his general behavior... so it's fine, right. ]

1/2

[arcane]

[ initially, there's that desire to lash out. to do whatever he can to conceal this part of him.

there's even a darker thought that permeates his line of consideration that suggest him to seal this man's memories completely. in the only way he knows how. in the only way he truly comprehends and desires. yet, even he knows that isn't (and wasn't)... just. isn't "righteous" or "correct." nor is it befitting of all the titles he carries, and that divide weighs on him as heavily now as it had in that paramount moment.

yet, as much regret lingers beneath the surface, killing him is tempting, and it often is.

just the sight of this battlefield alone is enough to get his blood running hot. but, arjuna does his best to suppress it as much as he's capable of. it's undeniable that with all the debris flying and the destruction that comes in tow with the vision of the white-haired man.

but, instead, the other man speaks: "does it matter?" ... and arjuna can tell he's genuinely unfazed? ] I see.

[arcane]

I ... [ he's about to continue.


and while lancelot's response builds up a lot of questions on his end, if arjuna is correct in piercing together a timeline for this, then he didn't have the luxury to pick apart the other man's words. he would have to act quickly. a light begins to build in the distance, and—

despite all his reservations, arjuna reaches to pick lancelot up. they ascend into the air just in time to dodge ...

a laser beam?? yeah, i hate fate/ powers too. ]

that better have been a princess carry type of picking up

[ausuben]

[ Yeah, he's used to pretty faces having some ugly baggage attached to them, which means he also wouldn't have been much surprised if the other did lash out in response (for whatever reason).

To be honest, Lancelot is creeping into the realm of curiousity in the seemingly prolonged silence, waiting for... well, something to happen. Even moreso does his anticipation for something rise when the other finally begins to speak.

—he's pretty sure that something he was waiting for was maybe not this, though? Also, wow, this guy is really fast (and strong—he picked him up so easily)!? Lancelot thinks maybe this is actually the first memory he's been in that he could have gotten... toasted by generic laser beam shots fired, i guess, is a real way to describe it. ]

What was...! [ what do you even say when shit like this happens other than can we go home now??? ]

;)

[arcane]

[ it's true, in the limited time to act that he simply just picked him up in whatever manner was most comfortable. two arms. a mistake on his end, he thinks. it made it difficult to take any action. though being a man of the bow, it did make it less of a crucial error than it could have been, and it's one he moves to adjust quickly. from both arms, he drops one, holding onto lancelot by the waist with a single arm.

if this was meant to be startling in any way, arjuna doesn't seem to be ... acknowledging it. instead he turns his peripherals over to the man in his arm's hold. ] Please do your best not to bite your tongue. [ was this said in spite from before? or was it genuine concern, whichever it is, arjuna swiftly jumps from one part of a mountain to the next. deftly evading more blows that seem to be heading in their direction.

while this may very well all be a part of an elaborate vision, the mana he feels is real enough for him not to take any risks. he then turns to lancelot. ] Can you see anything strange in this place, swordsman? [ any cracks for them to slip through. anything out off place ...

or from el nysa itself? ]

decisions

[sparsity]

[ This isn't for him. Mikazuki probably looks... very vaguely concerned, because he knows dragon's blood and other assorted weird things that people will act like fools over, but he's content enough to be on his way before he's stopped. Discerning, Mikazuki's gaze rises and then quickly levels again. ]

Pass. This sort of thing is for you.

[arcane]

[ ah...

a familiar face. arjuna looks down at the items in his hands and he seems to give a brief flicker of an understanding smile. he places them back on the counter. ] I suppose you must be quite tired of seeing all of this, all things considered.

[ but, he doesn't think he's ever asked mikazuki about his initial decision. ] In the beginning...

What made you decide?

[sparsity]

[ For the space of a breath, he's surprised that actually worked, and watches the items as they're returned to the counter. Brows rising as his expression goes lax again, he answers without much deliberation. ]

There was only Olympia, in the beginning.

[ It seems like that might be that, but his pause is long. ]

But... it hunted my own. So I left.

[ To Wyver. ]

[arcane]

[ only olympia...?

as that option? he supposes in many ways it was strategic on the part of either the refugees or those in thesa station. they did state they were the most receptive of the two factions, after all. that checks out completely fine, but what startles him is the information that comes next. though, the station was full of reels or clips of the refugees and their various trials or tribulations, he never thought he'd meet someone so close to the heart of the problem.... ]

Hunted your own...? [ he breathes in. ] Is that common here? [ the underlying conflict was made obvious to them on day one, but hm ... intriguing. but probably beyond that, while arjuna took most people's words with a grain of salt, he ... believes mikazuki is true for all they've interacted thus far. ]

[sparsity]

It's common anywhere, I think.

[ At least for him. There's a sort of worn quality to his youth just then now that his hackles are smoothed over. ]

That's why I moved. [ And would move again — ] Being in Wyver is fine though.

[arcane]

[ "common anywhere."

it's not what he expects as a response, but it also isn't one he can deny. ] True enough. [ but, that just means they would simply have to be infinitely more on-guard. ] But, you realizing that is half the battle won.

Though, it does bring to question— is it not inconvenient to constantly move? Or are you simply accustomed to that as well?