[MU] - DECEMBER STORYTELLING / MEMORY SHARE

[lifeaftr_mods]

Something is wrong.

This may not very well be obvious, at first. The Storyteller is not present to put forth yet another diatribe, informative or apologetic, and the backdrop of guttering flame and sandy campfire is as present as ever...albeit briefly.



Those who tell their stories will start to notice something...odd taking place. Indeed, no matter how they intend to begin their tale, the land of Mu will immediately start to warp to accommodate it, or something utterly unlike it, until storytellers and listeners alike may find themselves in an exact recreation of a seemingly random memory, in the most stark and painstaking of detail. There is no altering the memory, nor is there any preventing it once it's begun to play - you will simply have to witness memories that are not your own this go around.

Furthermore, stories that take place in worlds other than LifeAftr will be, frankly, inevitable. Those memories, too, will be recreated, to be relived by the teller and lived by the listener.

---

It is time, once more, for you to tell a story...with a slight twist! This is, in fact, our first player plot, as provided by Dragon! The initial setting will be familiar for oldcomers, and newcomers will recognize it from the introduction they received in their dreams.

Yet for this Storytelling only, people can imagine whatever stories they wish, from both their homes and their time on LifeAftr, as long as they don't mind the fact that others will be reliving those stories in the form of an impromptu memory share.

Even those who prefer not to voice their stories aloud are not safe this time around. If the memory is recalled in essence, Mu will shift to accommodate it in full.

There is, however, a benefit to this: those who venture memories to be relived will receive both a befuddled apology from the Storyteller, who will assert that this was most definitely not meant to happen (they're the Storyteller, not the Rememberer!), as well as a tired promise that the relived memories will be worth two offerings each, as if in compensation.

Not that it counts for much, probably.

Comments

[bloodyashes]

[Asch squeezes again before letting Ardyn's hand drop. There's something fiercer in his expression, now, no longer gentle.

He knows what that comparison is to, and it makes him see red, briefly, before he can entirely get his temper contained. But to Ardyn, who genuinely doesn't believe that anyone would want to help him... Of course it would seem to be the same.

So he holds back the snap.

Instead, eventually, it's black humor that comes out of his mouth - ]

What, doesn't Lucis have some system for medical proxies for those who aren't in their right minds?

[He can't keep up the joke for long, but - ]

There's no one in the world with the power to fix this.

[He waves a hand at the memory that's finally starting to fade around them.]

But you're free of the world that only lets you down. Let this one be different.

[scourgingstars]

You've seen my true face now, and surely you must know that darkness remains darkness wherever one may go.

[Ardyn had determinedly not looked up as the scene had shifted to Angelgard, to the lone prisoner in the darkened cell. Sane as he temporarily was, part of him screamed never again, I'm not going, don't send me back on repeat and he adamantly refused to even acknowledge the stone walls around them. To have it finally, finally fade back to the dreamlike island that passed for reality was a relief that likely showed no matter how Ardyn tried to hide it.]

I've yet to see reason to believe people are truly different no matter the world from which they hail. Humans fear the dark by nature alone, and by the same nature do they destroy that which they fear so.

[bloodyashes]

[And that - that gets a laugh.]

I'm trained for infiltration, you complete idiot. I'm one of the things in the dark that people are supposed to be scared of. I lost my light a long time ago -

[Ashes, charred remains of the sacred flame, not the warm, comforting glow - ]

- the darkness is like coming home.

[scourgingstars]

...

[Ardyn laughed softly, a tired and broken sound.]

Then I suppose I'm out of arguments to dissuade you for now. We'll simply have to see what happens one way or the other, but please don't say I failed to warn you when this goes poorly.

[bloodyashes]

Don't worry, you've made your point.

[He just, with all the stubborn will in his body, refuses to hear it.]

I'd still rather be here in the dark anyway.

[scourgingstars]

I find it hard to picture someone leaving themselves in the dark willingly.

[bloodyashes]

The light's got a hell of a lot of expectations for people like us.

[Royalty. Saviours. Take your pick.

...Elder brothers, even, if he could bring himself to acknowledge Luke that way.]

It might be more dangerous in the dark, but it's also free.

[scourgingstars]

Et nocte perpetua, in desperatione.

[Ardyn recited the ancient words under his breath with a low and hollow chuckle, pushing once-red hair out of formerly-hazel eyes.]

You should take care you're not in darkness so long that the light itself ends up burning you.

[bloodyashes]

[That gets a small chuckle in return.]

It can try. Everything that can burn off already has. All that remains is charred beyond recognition.

[What did you think it meant, Ardyn?]

[scourgingstars]

...What is it that attracts saviors failed and otherwise to ironic names? I find myself suspecting there must be a trend.

[bloodyashes]

Don't look at me, I didn't pick this one. I just kept it.

[Not quite for the reasons Ardyn kept "Izunia," but near enough in some ways. The people who changed them don't disappear by being dead and harmless.]

[scourgingstars]

['luke' is still just as ironic, asch honey]

The point still stands, you must admit. The sky's most ardent light, fated to be smothered and burn out.

...hm. I suppose fire motifs are more common than I imagined, come to think of it.

[bloodyashes]

Or to set and disappear from the world, and so herald the fall of night.

[Look see he can give as good as he gets.]

...Given how infinitely many centuries humanity spent huddling around fires, you can't be surprised.

[scourgingstars]

Carpe noctem.

[He flashed a brief smirk at that, the sort that betrayed a joke only Ardyn really understood the punchline to.]

Perhaps it isn't that surprising. An amusing coincidence, then.

[bloodyashes]

[It gets a flash of a smile in return anyway.

This is by far the best panic attack recovery Asch has ever had.]

Just as universal as the fear of the dark, I guess.