❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[garbagepilot]

[Rey does wish, and she falls in step with Nott easily, like she's more than used to walking beside someone smaller than her, with perhaps a shorter stride.

Or, you know, a little droid who rolls everywhere. Maybe that too.

There's also something vaguely protective in the way she keeps her eyes forward, on the people passing by who may look too closely or too long at Nott, and every now and then she lengthens her own stride, falls back a step or two, or just fusses with her cloak to make it spread out and then settle again.

She'd noticed that Nott hadn't seemed to be too fond of people paying close attention to her, that's all. It's not a big stretch for Rey to deflect it where she can.]

Booze? [The offer seems to catch her off guard, but the surprise is quickly replaced by a wry grin as she reaches for the flask.] Not often, honestly. The planet I'm from is somewhere you had to trade for your food and water and there wasn't much of either, so I never bothered with anything else. This is lovely, by the way.

[The etchings, delicate curls of flowers in the metal, and she looks at them closer as she unstoppers the top and then takes a quick, somewhat small sip out of a sense of solidarity and not wanting to turn down a clear gift.

Only then she makes a face, stops abruptly to put her hand over her mouth to muffle her coughing fit as she passes the flask back.]

Stars, what is in there?

the march

[lednikovyy]

[ The cold is biting, but Bucky can handle it better than most people. Still, he's layered up with a parka and mittens and a scarf over the lower half of his face. It's the wind that bites more than the cold, anyway.

Really, what makes Bucky pause is the suddenness of the cold. Going from the station to this is a shock and he can't imagine how some of the others are getting hit with that.

In fact, the words almost startle him back into focus. ]

Ready.

[ He takes her hand with his right, careful even with the mittens on to touch people with the flesh hand. Over the parka, he's got a big pack and his M249 SAW slung over his left shoulder. ]

Let's do this.

[shikomizue]

[Wires that hopefully aren't live - but he doesn't bother to caution her against any potential for shock. She's wrenched some sort of panel from the contraption already, it's probably not dangerous.]

If any are loose, grab them too.

No telling what they'll need. [Pack away as much as they can carry. Takasugi intends to turn his over to Magda, but no matter who the woman's recipient is, better to take resources they don't need than leave something important behind.]

[insist]

'Designed' ...? [ He did have an odd feeling from their last encounter. Mainly, how heavy she seemed, despite looking as thin as a regular-sized girl. While this may not look like the appropriate time for a chit-chat, asking questions and satisfying his curiosity actually helps Rohan take his mind off the situation. ]

I did have a feeling there was more to you. Tell me what you are.

[shikomizue]

[Takasugi doubts all of that posing is required to summon, and maintain, a hoard of demons. Still, he doesn't mind a flare for the dramatic.]

Sounds interesting. [He doesn't sound that interested, though. Likely, he just sounds dull in comparison with a spirited teen girl.]

Does everyone have the potential to become one of your little demons?

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Once they reach civilization, Claire will set her down, giving her another gentle shake to wake her so she can perhaps find her own feet.]

Krile? Krile, we're here.

[Her back is thankful for it.]

[flips]

[ what does safe mean. leo has the feeling it doesn't mean the same thing in the stranger's head as it does in his.

well thankfully the drink is no longer in his face. he can breathe? maybe? does it have toxic fumes? ]

I can help you find someone to taste test instead. Drunk people tend to be rather easygoing, so why don't we find someone who's had a few drinks?

iv

[sheriffing]

[ if there's one thing Emma's learned, it's that any kind of flash directed at her isn't typically a good thing. not only does she spin away from the streak of brightness, she closes her eyes and reaches for her sword - only to realize, a few seconds later, that the only threat here is a surprise paper cut.]

What the hell?

[ she's not sure what to make of the image she finds at her feet, one of a little diner with outside seating and a large, carefully painted STORYBROOKE sign. it's home, no question about it, but the thought of it still manages to sting in a place where she feels so far away.

she holds the picture tightly, watching a girl not too far off who's clearly handling this a lot better than she is.]

Is your photograph of home, too?

[ she's not asking to see it, she's just... comparing notes.]

[mollymocked]

I don't think I'm going to get a thing past you, am I? [His own praise, lilting into the thicker edge of his accent, has a touch of insincerity, but his eyes (pupil-less red pools as they are) seem excited at the prospect at someone who isn't just an easy mark staring in wonder. Some people it feels good to con, some people it feels good to give them anything and know they'll respond kindly... The best are the skeptics, the ones calling your shit without being an asshole about it, but still leave satisfied, feeling they learned something either about you or themselves.]

I'll spare you the theatrics then, and get right down to brass tacks. [he does one last shuffle of the cards and then places three face down, as customary. He looks up briefly, allowing himself a moment to read her body language and interest and then turns over the first card.

The Queen of Wands (Reversed).] You are a stubborn, strong-willing person. The sort that will take problems into her hands and solve them, who won't be tied down, and won't take no for an answer when her mind set to something. It's a good way to burn yourself out, but you'll deal with that when you get here. [And here, he meets her gaze, grinning.] You're a good friend to have and a powerful enemy to make.

[He turns over the next card- the Ten of Wands.] Now these cards are associated with fire, most of all, and fire is a pretty destructive element. It helps you right up until it doesn't. This tells me that there's some burdens on your shoulder, ones that may burn you down. You may be wasting your energy on something you don't need to or there's a task you're just not going to be able to complete. Walk away from it. That which will break you is not worth pursuing, and sometimes you have to do what you don't want to do to get a chance to do what you want to do.

[He turns over the last card- Justice.] And here's your balance. Whatever happens, people get precisely what they deserve- that includes you and the people you encounter. If you're wasting your energy on shitty people, fuck 'em. They'll get what's coming to them whether you're there to fix their problems or not. And if you choose to be a good person, do right by people and the world, then you'll get yours, too. Mind your actions. You may have to be accountable for them one day.

[shikomizue]

[Subversion sounds better than supremacy to Takasugi. He's more comfortable in a rebel army than serving the Heavens - Magda's no friend, but he's a better potential ally than the Natha.

He chuckles, the indignation in her eyes makes her look almost aglow.]

He trusted someone he shouldn't have. [Takasugi's counting on him making that mistake again.] But if you think he wanted to unleash that dragon, you're misdirecting your anger.

Though, I don't mind it. Ysverai forced the Natha's hand. Without it, we wouldn't be in this position.

[A position he regards as an advantageous one, compared to where they had been.]

[america]

"And you're still a jerk."

It's said fondly, and very barely muffled when Steve returns the hug with just as much affection. He claps his friend's back for good measure, reassured by the realness of the other man. No matter how many years its been, how strong or not strong Steve is, he'll always be grateful for Bucky's presence; somehow, the world just isn't complete without him around.

When they draw back, Steve tips his head, gesturing towards the direction of the main city. "Where you heading to now?"

[insist]

[ Rohan's really met his match when it comes to stubbornness. He isn't going to relent either, however. Even in pettiness (And perhaps, more so in pettiness), he never falters when it comes to getting what he wants. Nothing's more important than winning to this very childish man.

He did think he had actually won when Ammy jumps onto the floor, but that victory turned out to be a farce. Now she's shaking his pillow about vigorously, like it's some new chewtoy. ]

Now you want to tear up my pillow too? Did you come here to ruin everything?! [ CLEARLY, SHE'S HERE TO RUIN HIS LIFE. Rohan grabs hold of the pillow and starts playing a futile tug of war with the wolf. He's not actually very strong, so he won't be very successful. ]

[ukase]

Once the formalities of hand shaking were completed, he rose to stand again and pull off his long-sleeved shirt to fold it and drop it down. Even in the anemic light, the burn scars could be seen rippling across his arms, shoulders and part of his chest. He rolled his shoulders and removed his fatigues, folding them as well. His newly folded clothing was put neatly aside.

"Don't worry. I speak just enough French to get me into trouble," he replied with a grin and then pulled back the covers so that he could crawl under them in nothing more than his boxers.

"I haven't been following much of the Coalition lately thanks to a stint back in the freezer, but you carry on with it? Or what have you been doing to keep out of trouble?"

[maipokerface]

At the cost of more than a few lives.

[She's not even getting into Ysverai's pain. She scoffs after that though, waving her hand dismissively.]

He might not have wanted to but he gave Raysc all the tools to do so. He gave him the cover to do so too.

[ukase]

[Like Ava, Rumlow was highly competitive and enjoyed coming out in the top spot, reward or no. He was perfectly comfortable with little more than bragging rights. In this case, he doubted that either he or Ava had enough alcohol know-how to succeed in this venture. In the end though, she was enjoying herself and that's what mattered the most.]

Who is the competitor to beat, and do I need to knee-cap him or her?

[Yeah that was... just not to his taste. Maybe someone else - even a judge - would enjoy it, but it was not his cup of tea.]

If it doesn't, you can always dump it and try again with something else. Seems like experimentation is the key here.

[He reached out to pick up a few of the bottles in order to sniff at their contents. Some of them were fruity, some of them were spicy and some just made his toes curl in his boots in disgust.]

And what the heck are you going to do with free drinks for an entire evening? Do I have to carry you home if you get black-out drunk?

[notwagging]

You smell like... yeah, the farm. Mikazuki's farm.

[ and the thought of it now, where the dragon's influence probably hit it hard, makes him avert his gaze. just thinking about Mikazuki's hard work being destroyed by the weird undead monstrosity makes him want to tear up, hide somewhere with his tail curled in between his legs, and bury his face somewhere small so no one could see him pout.

instead? a frown. small and remorseful. ]

It's probably all messed up, isn't it? I rolled around all over the place, there was probably not a speck of dirt that I didn't know personally, and now it's...

[ sniffle. ]

( warm welcome )

[fabrications]

[ Makoto isn't the only nerd one trying to do research around here, and it can be hard to find a terminal or reading table that doesn't have another occupant, or at least a neighbor. Or, in this case, a stack of unattended reading materials. Maybe people here are sloppy.

That would probably be preferable to the actual circumstances, in all honesty. When Akechi returns to his original seat with more research materials and finds that he's gained a neighbor in the form of Makoto he's not exactly sure what the best course of action is. So, after a moment... ]

Niijima-san.

[ He may as well go with 'greet her like nothing at all has changed'. ]

[breadmuffs]

[Good, yes. What's a field trip.

Caleb nods again, starting to move down the corridor. The lights maintain the perimeter he sets, starting to bob along with him. He steps carefully for a few moments, and then realizes maybe he's not the best scout, and stops to let Peter catch up.

...Maybe he really should have brought Nott. What if there are traps?]

My name is Caleb, by the way. Caleb Widogast.

[ukase]

"You hardly seem like you would tolerate being made a paper-pusher, so I imagine you had to at least have seen one or two interesting things," he replied before glancing over to the table that she had indicated. So soon? Here he thought that he would be waiting awhile. "Here I thought you were holding classified secrets that you had to clear with a commanding officer or something." A commanding officer that wasn't yet awake, really.

He set his hand flat on the table, wiggling his fingers next. Still nothing. It didn't even feel different from when he had banged his hand on the table either. Everything felt as it should have been. This was going to need to be written down so he could track how often it was happening.

He smirked at her little flushed state all the same. "No? What kinda girl are you then?" He leaned forward expectantly. Ignore the potential for flirting; he could be shameless.

[baguablade]

Not all that different, except that it's made of metal...

[ He tilts his head, trying not to laugh as he watches the android poking the robot. There's something utterly charming about the scene, a metal girl with a metal rabbit, fascinated by it, making faces at it. A2 looks more human in this instant than he's ever seen her.

But it does bring up a point of interest to him. ]

Huh. You haven't seen a rabbit before?

[mollymocked]

Oh no, no, no... [He reaches over and very gently pats Ren's hand.] You just sit right there and leave everything to me, because this? This is the interesting part.

[He pulls back and places a hand on the first card, turning it over to reveal Judgment (Reversed).] Well, that's the start. Something that's happened- a change, a shift. Maybe it's something you're ignoring. Maybe it's a mistake you made that you're beating yourself up over. You may have been disillusioned with something. When this card appears, it generally means that you've faced something so you can wipe the slate clean and start fresh, but you might have had to lose a little to gain a lot.

[He flips the next card- the Ace of Wands.] But all of that is a good thing, you've suddenly got all this possibility before you. You've got a light to guide your way into whatever new future you've gotten yourself ready for. Go out and live life to your fullest. [He gestures grandly. This read kinda speaks to him on a spiritual level.

He turns the next card- the Two of Cups.] And that path you're on- those new experiences you're not afraid to try? Well, they might lead you to someone else. Someone important. Someone you might, dare I say it? Fall in love with and live happily ever after with. There's love in your future, my friend, and that is auspicious, indeed.

[So yay for you?]

[lancings]

A living dog, if you don't mind my asking?

[ And here she thought animals hadn't been brought along the journey with them. Her own pegasus was nowhere to be found, but she may have simply missed it. That does give her some hope of finding her companion again, knowing how irreplaceable she is. Even a miniature pegacorn couldn't occupy the void in her no matter how much it keeps staring up at her with those beady eyes.

Okay, maybe she's cracking just a little. ]

And a monkey seems like it might be troublesome to look after. They aren't the most cleanly of creatures and tend to pilfer all sorts of things you happen to leave out in the encampment. You wouldn't want to have your keys stolen, would you?

[ The dangers of owning creatures with opposable thumbs. But clearly they are both of different minds about monkey-rearing. She knows she couldn't handle it running amuck and climbing buildings. ]

[insist]

Two miles, if this map is to be believed. Of course, with no landmarks to go off on, there's no way of knowing if we're on the right track or not.

[ Just being honest. He's just a mangaka, not in any way a survival expert. ]

Also, I won't be able to carry you the whole way there if you falter again.

[lancings]

[ So it's possible to control it by stimulating its... she doesn't know what that is. What sort of creature would open and close its mouth from being touched? That doesn't seem plausible at all. This must be someone's creation even if it looks as though it's seen better days. At least, the two of them are in no immediate danger, but she's still not entirely at ease. These walls must carry the wallowings of those who passed away inside.

Her fingers move over the button, pressing it again to confirm the boy's theory before letting her shoulders sag slightly in relief. ]

My apologies. I must seem silly causing a commotion over this. Our world was nowhere near this advanced, though I feel if we had such things, war may have been more prevalent.

[ Imagine if Plegia had arrived at their borders with such things, and they could only defend themselves with swords and spears. Would Naga have heeded their cries then? It's a sobering thought as she realizes there is much she has to catch up on if she hopes to survive. ]

What were these contraptions used for? Do you know how else to control one?

[cassus]

We had instant photographs back where I'm from.

[ Polaroids have been around for decades, and with the newer smaller versions that have become popular with millennials, the trend seemed like it was gaining steam again. Before the Storm, at least.

So that part isn't what's gotten under Dazai's skin. It's the fact these things can apparently rifle through a person's past, through their own memories or perhaps even paging back through time itself. And then for whatever reason they've pried into things that are potentially painful or that have finally scarred over, those annoying snoops slap their target's private recollections onto paper.

Dazai has more than a few things he wants to either forget or keep locked away within his chest. So the notion that anything could invade the sanctity that's always been the steel trap of his mind isn't something he's going to let slide any time soon. But he'll try to temper his bristling, if only for Linn's sake. ]

A shame this place didn't opt for a less intrusive way to provide a physical copy.

[ Thoughts veer away from the bots and their meddling, heading straight back for Linn where they belong. ]

Otherwise... [ He winks a little, teasing until the subject returns to Linn's apparent new-found treasures. ] I'd take one of you.

[ Dazai won't say if he meant that this hypothetical picture was meant for Linneus to keep, or himself. But the way he smiles fondly suggests he's leaning towards the latter option.

A memento of someone else he's grown close to would be nice, since wanting to preserve the present moment is a habit from old times that Dazai apparently just can't shake. And he does have his device. But there's something about holding a real picture in your hand that feels more secure than a saved image that could be wiped, erased or even lost should any harm come to the device. ]