[ The light here is different - not the yellow, searing light of the sun, but a dull, greenish glow from everywhere. You can’t tell which way is up. Or down. You get the feeling the ground on which you’re currently laying is solid only because you believe it should be solid. As you open your eyes, the landscape is strange and alien, down to the textures of the dirt and the smell in the air. Ozone and petrichor and something from your childhood that you can’t quite place. Statues and bits of building jut at random from the earth - both familiar and not. Twisted figures of pain, churches with axolotls in the windows, the edges of a flowering garden, a castle made entirely of candy.
Or maybe that’s just how you’re imagining it?
The only consistent thing in this place is a Black City hanging in the sky (the sky?) - a point of compass that stays fixed no matter where you move or wander. Everything else seems to shift the moment you move or look away from it, creating new and twisting pathways deeper into the place. Still, you don’t get the sense that moving forward will ensure you are lost. You are already lost. You have to concentrate, to keep your feet below you, or find yourself suddenly upside down and walking along a pathway a hundred steps from where you last remember being.
It’s impossible to remember how you got here, and it’s difficult to recall details of everything else. You remember who you are, but it’s all so distant, hazy, far-away. Faded. Like a dream after you’ve woken up. But you think— well. That’s hard to remember too. What do you think?
It isn’t perfectly still here. You can hear things in the distance. Rocks shifting, echoing sounds, whispers as if a conversation is taking place just out of the range of your hearing. But nothing is moving as far as you can tell.
You get the sense of being stalked, like a prey animal through the grass. ]
As you look around, the landscape shifts again - maybe more or less familiar. Where were you last?
Sand crunches beneath your feet without you noticing how you arrived exactly here. It isn't long before you realize you're stepping onto a beach. The sound of the ocean is soothing and consistent but interrupted slightly by music distantly. And maybe ... digging? ]
[ this is all so disorienting she isn't sure what to make of it. she looks up, and down, and suddenly, everything is upsidedown. it isn't until she feels the sand crunching underneath her hooves that she finally centers herself. looks around. ]
... Hello?
[ she's looking for both the source of the digging and the source of the music ]
[ there's no reply at first, but the sound of digging stops. the music continues to play, softly, but it's a strange sensation - a familiar tune. maybe her own voice? or is that just the echo of her hello.
as she moves along the beach, the scene comes into view quickly enough. A face she recognizes, next to a hole in the sand. he's leaning against the speaker, as if he's taking a rest from whatever task he's occupied himself with. ]
Oh. Charlie. You're here as well? I thought I was alone. Do you know where this is?
[ she smiles, though something immediately feels off. she didn't witness her own trial so she has no idea what jing yuan did with her body, but there's something nagging at her ]
[ it seems rude no one filled her in. like jing yuan. but it doesn't particulary matter, because he's coming over to charlie anyway, putting a hand on her shoulder. ]
Waiting to see who else would show up. So I'm quite glad it was you.
[ beginning to push, back and away from the beach. he does not answer the question. ]
As you look around, the landscape shifts again - maybe more or less familiar. Where were you last?
You're outside. There's sun. You think? It's hard to tell. Something is glittering off the water of a small pond nearby. It is warm, at least. You can hear cicadas beginning to buzz as you push through tall grass.
[He doesn't mind the shapeless world. It feels comforting, like floating in a pool of warm water. The orientation doesn't matter, just the sensation.
When the world around him forms, he raises a hand to shield his face from sun only to drop it when he's not sure if a light source even exists. Still, he takes a moment to feel the warmth. He pushes through the grass, feeling the tickling arms as he moves through, towards the sound.]
[ it is almost comforting, isn't it? like returning somewhere familiar after being away from it for so very long.
but then form takes shape again and congeals and the sun is hot. Almost too hot. Sweat starts to pool on his face, but that's what summer is. Oppressive heat.
The laughing fades and the grass gets taller. Tall enough he can't see through it, at least until he's almost directly walking into someone who was standing there, seemingly as lost as he is. ]
[Ah. That's right. He was born in a world of endless summer. Though he never understood the oppressive until his scant few days in Tokyo-III. He walks forward-]
Chrono!
[He brightens immediately at the sight of his friend and heads over.]
[ Chrono looks relieved at the sight of someone else - and specifically Kaworu too. Jogging over, pushing through the grass, and reaching to take him by the elbow. Giving a comforting squeeze. ]
I don't know either. But I've got a bad feeling, I think. There's something not right about this place.
[ a pause, as he looks back into the grass where he'd pushed through. ]
We should keep moving. There's something out there.
[Kaworu smiles sweetly at him and where Chrono's hands wrap around his elbow. But if Chrono is serious, he'll also be serious and follow the other boy's graze back to the grass. The hair on the back of his neck rises and he gets the sense of being watched.
As you look around, the landscape shifts again - maybe more or less familiar. Where were you last?
You step onto the balcony of a hotel. It's a cool night. You can hear sirens, but they fade away again into the distance. There's a door. Room 217. You can hear music playing faintly through the door, the sound of someone inside. ]
[that dream-like haze of being suddenly somewhere else should be familiar by now, but it's too hard to even hold onto that thought. she tries walking through this environment for a little while, her thoughts, to the extent she can hold them, pausing on a similar landscape, a similar impossible and otherworldly environment with no clear direction, no ups and downs. the last place she saw, before she died.
with that thought clawing at the back of her mind, the shift to a hotel comes as a relief. everything about this set up should be making her wary. the sirens, the halls, even the identity of the person who might be on the other side of that door.
but she's also drawn to it anyway, as she always is. it might be different this time. it never is. and yet, it really might be different this time.
[ as she walks and considered other landscapes, the place begins to morph to somehow match that feeling. less green, more shadows, stretching further and further - almost as if she keeps moving, she will stumble upon a-- No.
Back at the door. The music stops abruptly and the sounds of someone moving stop. It's quiet now, the sirens long gone, only the distance thrum of cars on a highway. Somewhere very far away. There's a long moment, and a creaking of floorboards - as if whoever is on the other side is holding very, very still and quiet while trying to determine who waiting for them. As if they think you might be quite dangerous.
But then a sound of surprise, and the door is opened- catching on the safety chain with a loud kerchunk and a curse from whoever is opening it.]
Shit--
[ It closes, and then opens again fully this time. As she looks into the room, it's in order. The one-armed man holding the door looks relieved to see her. ]
Shadowheart, you're here! If you know where here is, because I sure as hell don't.
[the feeling of dread as there's a long, slow delay while the person inside decides whether to answer the door. and then relief, when he does, and the version of him who opens it is the one she knows, the one who recognizes her, and he doesn't call her by any name other than her own.
she smiles at him brightly and takes his arm in hers.]
I don't either, but I'm sure between the two of us, we can figure it out. Are you alright?
[whatever she may or may not be confident in, this place is not a safe place for him, she's sure of that much.]
[ he's giving her a smile, doing his best to be encouraging, project an air of confidence. he does immediately feel better, upon seeing her and being taken by the arm. ]
I'm certain we can, Shady Lady.
[ he frowns, looking over his shoulder. There's blood on the carpet, in the room behind him. but it seems easy enough to walk away from it, down the stairs and off into the distance, leaving it behind. ]
Agreed, though. Let's get out of here. I've been here for a minute and I think-- I've got a bad feeling.
As you look around, the landscape shifts again - maybe more or less familiar. Where were you last?
You feel your hand suddenly on a wooden door, and then against a smooth wooden bar. There's the sounds of dishes clattering lightly, someone moving around nearby. The smell of cooking. ]
[ he thinks this is... disorienting. a little terrifying, though he isn't quite sure why. it's not like he's unused to feeling like he's being followed, it's just. never in a place like this. wherever this is.
and as for where he was last - aeons, who even knows. he can barely see what anything looks like anymore, so does it matter? does it even matter where he's at? he's memorized all of his surroundings as best he can in... in wherever he was before this. surely it follows. he just needs to keep his feet under him and move forward.
he looks over towards the clattering, the smell of cooking. his ears perk up and forward, listening hard. how close is that moving? should he be able to see them? ]
[ It smells sweet, like a dessert. Powdered sugar in the air.
The moving isn't close enough to see yet, but it's beginning to be - a tall shape, towering almost and then a knock on one of the tables, familiar, meant to alert to a known presence. ]
Jiaoqiu! You're here! It's-- Shite, it's me, do you know where we are?
[ oh - relief. there's such relief, when he hears that voice.
he moves - past the bar, past tables, past whatever might be in his way. basilio has seen him hit tables before, so he doesn't really care if he sees him stumble. ]
I am here. [ he reaches, immediately trying to take his hand. ] And I've no idea, but we'll figure it out. Are you alright?
[ of course, he immediately takes his hand and squeezes - comforting. ]
Aye, I'm fine. But we should get moving. There's somethin' fishy about this place.
[ he'll stand up straighter, looking over his shoulder and into the kitchen. But Jiaoqiu probably can't see that far to know what he's looking at, can he? ]
[ very comforting, honestly. he sticks close, holding tightly. ]
I'm not even sure why we're here... [ he trails off, one ear pinned back. he can't see too far, no, he just has a blurry idea of what's ahead. maybe some tables, the bar, basilio, and the idea that there is a kitchen. ]
Do you feel it too? [ being followed. a beat. ] Don't run into trouble, at least not without a weapon.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
holyspirits) wrote2025-03-23 03:14 pm
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Or maybe that’s just how you’re imagining it?
The only consistent thing in this place is a Black City hanging in the sky (the sky?) - a point of compass that stays fixed no matter where you move or wander. Everything else seems to shift the moment you move or look away from it, creating new and twisting pathways deeper into the place. Still, you don’t get the sense that moving forward will ensure you are lost. You are already lost. You have to concentrate, to keep your feet below you, or find yourself suddenly upside down and walking along a pathway a hundred steps from where you last remember being.
It’s impossible to remember how you got here, and it’s difficult to recall details of everything else. You remember who you are, but it’s all so distant, hazy, far-away. Faded. Like a dream after you’ve woken up. But you think— well. That’s hard to remember too. What do you think?
It isn’t perfectly still here. You can hear things in the distance. Rocks shifting, echoing sounds, whispers as if a conversation is taking place just out of the range of your hearing. But nothing is moving as far as you can tell.
You get the sense of being stalked, like a prey animal through the grass. ]
CHARLIE
As you look around, the landscape shifts again - maybe more or less familiar. Where were you last?
Sand crunches beneath your feet without you noticing how you arrived exactly here. It isn't long before you realize you're stepping onto a beach. The sound of the ocean is soothing and consistent but interrupted slightly by music distantly. And maybe ... digging? ]
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... Hello?
[ she's looking for both the source of the digging and the source of the music ]
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as she moves along the beach, the scene comes into view quickly enough. A face she recognizes, next to a hole in the sand. he's leaning against the speaker, as if he's taking a rest from whatever task he's occupied himself with. ]
Oh. Charlie. You're here as well? I thought I was alone. Do you know where this is?
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[ she smiles, though something immediately feels off. she didn't witness her own trial so she has no idea what jing yuan did with her body, but there's something nagging at her ]
No, I have no idea... some kind of beach, maybe?
Can I ask what you were doing, Jing Yuan?
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Waiting to see who else would show up. So I'm quite glad it was you.
[ beginning to push, back and away from the beach. he does not answer the question. ]
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[ she lets him push a little, but stands her ground, the smile slipping ]
Jing Yuan, what are you doing?
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KAWORU
As you look around, the landscape shifts again - maybe more or less familiar. Where were you last?
You're outside. There's sun. You think? It's hard to tell. Something is glittering off the water of a small pond nearby. It is warm, at least. You can hear cicadas beginning to buzz as you push through tall grass.
In the distance, laughing. ]
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When the world around him forms, he raises a hand to shield his face from sun only to drop it when he's not sure if a light source even exists. Still, he takes a moment to feel the warmth. He pushes through the grass, feeling the tickling arms as he moves through, towards the sound.]
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but then form takes shape again and congeals and the sun is hot. Almost too hot. Sweat starts to pool on his face, but that's what summer is. Oppressive heat.
The laughing fades and the grass gets taller. Tall enough he can't see through it, at least until he's almost directly walking into someone who was standing there, seemingly as lost as he is. ]
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Chrono!
[He brightens immediately at the sight of his friend and heads over.]
I wonder where we are...?
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[ Chrono looks relieved at the sight of someone else - and specifically Kaworu too. Jogging over, pushing through the grass, and reaching to take him by the elbow. Giving a comforting squeeze. ]
I don't know either. But I've got a bad feeling, I think. There's something not right about this place.
[ a pause, as he looks back into the grass where he'd pushed through. ]
We should keep moving. There's something out there.
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He nods.]
We should go.
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SHADOWHEART
As you look around, the landscape shifts again - maybe more or less familiar. Where were you last?
You step onto the balcony of a hotel. It's a cool night. You can hear sirens, but they fade away again into the distance. There's a door. Room 217. You can hear music playing faintly through the door, the sound of someone inside. ]
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with that thought clawing at the back of her mind, the shift to a hotel comes as a relief. everything about this set up should be making her wary. the sirens, the halls, even the identity of the person who might be on the other side of that door.
but she's also drawn to it anyway, as she always is. it might be different this time. it never is. and yet, it really might be different this time.
she knocks on the door.]
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Back at the door. The music stops abruptly and the sounds of someone moving stop. It's quiet now, the sirens long gone, only the distance thrum of cars on a highway. Somewhere very far away. There's a long moment, and a creaking of floorboards - as if whoever is on the other side is holding very, very still and quiet while trying to determine who waiting for them. As if they think you might be quite dangerous.
But then a sound of surprise, and the door is opened- catching on the safety chain with a loud kerchunk and a curse from whoever is opening it.]
Shit--
[ It closes, and then opens again fully this time. As she looks into the room, it's in order. The one-armed man holding the door looks relieved to see her. ]
Shadowheart, you're here! If you know where here is, because I sure as hell don't.
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she smiles at him brightly and takes his arm in hers.]
I don't either, but I'm sure between the two of us, we can figure it out. Are you alright?
[whatever she may or may not be confident in, this place is not a safe place for him, she's sure of that much.]
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I'm certain we can, Shady Lady.
[ he frowns, looking over his shoulder. There's blood on the carpet, in the room behind him. but it seems easy enough to walk away from it, down the stairs and off into the distance, leaving it behind. ]
Agreed, though. Let's get out of here. I've been here for a minute and I think-- I've got a bad feeling.
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Yes, please let's go. Anywhere but here.
[she has a bad feeling, too, but it eases as they walk away from it, leave it behind them.]
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JIAOQIU
As you look around, the landscape shifts again - maybe more or less familiar. Where were you last?
You feel your hand suddenly on a wooden door, and then against a smooth wooden bar. There's the sounds of dishes clattering lightly, someone moving around nearby. The smell of cooking. ]
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and as for where he was last - aeons, who even knows. he can barely see what anything looks like anymore, so does it matter? does it even matter where he's at? he's memorized all of his surroundings as best he can in... in wherever he was before this. surely it follows. he just needs to keep his feet under him and move forward.
he looks over towards the clattering, the smell of cooking. his ears perk up and forward, listening hard. how close is that moving? should he be able to see them? ]
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The moving isn't close enough to see yet, but it's beginning to be - a tall shape, towering almost and then a knock on one of the tables, familiar, meant to alert to a known presence. ]
Jiaoqiu! You're here! It's-- Shite, it's me, do you know where we are?
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he moves - past the bar, past tables, past whatever might be in his way. basilio has seen him hit tables before, so he doesn't really care if he sees him stumble. ]
I am here. [ he reaches, immediately trying to take his hand. ] And I've no idea, but we'll figure it out. Are you alright?
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Aye, I'm fine. But we should get moving. There's somethin' fishy about this place.
[ he'll stand up straighter, looking over his shoulder and into the kitchen. But Jiaoqiu probably can't see that far to know what he's looking at, can he? ]
I think there's something out there.
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I'm not even sure why we're here... [ he trails off, one ear pinned back. he can't see too far, no, he just has a blurry idea of what's ahead. maybe some tables, the bar, basilio, and the idea that there is a kitchen. ]
Do you feel it too? [ being followed. a beat. ] Don't run into trouble, at least not without a weapon.
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