[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

Mira | OTA

[encircling]

[encircling]

All the ashes in my wake

[ There is a village.

It's small. It's quiet, and all around, people mill around. What's obvious is that these people are hardworking, if a little poor, but everyone seems content. In the distance, a song whistles out, and someone follows it with a hum or an answering whistle. The farmlands here are rich and well-maintained, and the animals are taken care of by adult and child alike.

Above the soft hum of voices, one in particular rings out. It's confident to the point of arrogance—or perhaps that's just the influence of the memory-sharer. And, indeed, once the voice is heard, it seems like the edges of the memory waver, and anxiety pushes at them. The air turns colder, despite the sun high in the sky and the fact that it's very obviously summer. That's when Mira turns, and she's smiling.

The anxiety turns to anger. Bitter self-hatred. Whoever's addressed her is approaching, and there's something about him that feels terribly off. He strides over to her, hands in his pockets, looking the picture of smugness. His golden eyes glint with self-satisfaction, and Mira continues to smile, wholly unaware of what's about to happen. ]

How was your hunting trip today? [ she asks, hands folded behind her back. As far as she's concerned, he's her friend. Nothing to worry about. ]

Enlightening, [ he tells her, and he tilts his head slightly to her. It doesn't take someone terribly perceptive to note the confusion on her face. ] For you, that is. And everyone here.

[ And it's then that he flicks his hand—a signal. Mira bristles and whirls around, and hooves pound the ground in a scattered rhythm. All around them, people are yelling, and Mira starts to go to help, to get to her parents—

He grabs her by the back of her tunic and holds her there. Forces her to watch, and refuses to allow her to act.

The memory fades. ]

[encircling]

And I found love where it wasn't supposed to be

[ She's wearing the same clothes, in the second memory. Mira is considerably dirtier, though, by the time the women catch up with her. She's breathing hard, and there's a wild look in her eyes. She's trapped, and there's a distinct feeling of that in the memory itself. Panic, too. Mira's quite literally backed into a corner; the forest is too dense where she's standing.

The memory ripples, and when it clears, she's waiting in a tent. Her wrists are bound, and she looks much cleaner. Mira's dressed in fresh clothes, and when she looks up, there's a young woman there. She's not much older than Mira. The memory seems to lighten a bit, and there's hints of affection weaved throughout. They speak for a little while, and the conversation is a little strained.

And then... ]

Why don't you join us? I've heard what you can do, and I'd like to have someone capable at my side. Of course... we'll need to monitor you. You understand, don't you? But afterward, if you earn it, you'll have our trust.

[ Mira watches her for a good long moment... and then she nods. ]

Good. My name is Mae. [ Mae smiles, and Mira blushes a little. ] Welcome aboard.

[attheclocktower]

[There's a feeling laced throughout the memory, removed enough for Xion to get the feeling it's not necessarily immediately a part of it, yet fits in well enough with the context that Xion can tell it's still connected. Memories are something she'd like to think she understands pretty well, being made of them and all.

In any case, by the end Xion can't help but smile a bit. There's something sort of familiar about it too.]

She's someone important, isn't she?

[encircling]

[ She jumps a little, because she certainly isn't expecting anyone to be watching. Mira turns to Xion with a sheepish smile as she pushes a bit of hair out of her face. ]

She is. [ She feels fifteen years old, a teenager with a crush. ] She's the person I trust more than anyone.

[attheclocktower]

[Smiles like that are contagious in their own way.]

It's really wonderful to have someone like that. Especially when you're in trouble.

[She realizes that she's kind of guessing about that being in trouble part, and ducks her head.]

Um... S-sorry. That's just... what it felt like, from the first part.

[encircling]

Oh-- no, no, you don't have to apologize.

[ Because Xion had hit the mark. Mae'd shown up--or her comrades had--when Mira'd needed it most. ]

But you're right. Mae's been... wonderful. I can't imagine my life without her, and I doubt I'd have gotten nearly as far as I have without her.

[encircling]

If there's a time when the feeling's gone, I wanna feel it

[ It's two years later, which is only apparent if someone's met Mira before and after she returned home. It should also be familiar, in a sense, where she and Mae are: It's a cave. It's much darker, and Mira lights it up with a handful of fire. Mae murmurs her thanks, and they begin to walk. The memory fades for a moment, then clears.

They're standing in front of an ornate door. By any means, it should not exist here. For one, it looks untouched by time and anything else. Mira looks nervous, and she glances up at Mae. Mae's gray eyes are stony, and she crosses her arms. Her pose is defensive, and she's turned toward Mira. If it seems protective, that's because it is.

After all, the dread in the air is practically palpable. ]

I don't like it.

I know, [ Mira replies heavily. It's obvious she doesn't like it, either. The Ancients are intimidating, as they commune with the gods... or so they say. No one really knows for sure; no one has really lived long enough to speak of them.

They say those who speak with the Ancients become cursed. ]

If they lay a hand on you, I'll kill them myself, [ Mae says, and Mira manages to let out a nervous, almost desperate, laugh. ] I'll wait here for you.

Thank you, [ Mira replies, and she boldly reaches out to squeeze Mae's hand lightly. Mae squeezes back, and her expression practically screams that she doesn't want to let go. But she does, and watches helplessly as Mira pushes through the door.

It's bright here. The room is made of white and blue crystal, and it would be beautiful if it weren't so damned blinding. Mira resists the urge to shield her eyes; would that be rude...? She has to wonder why she cares. They had called her here, after all, refused to show or give them a way out until she heard what they've got to say. It's irritating, and Mira crosses her arms over her chest as she makes her way across the room. Her boots click and echo on the floor, and she not only feels but looks unnerved.

The Ancient stares at her, unblinking. Mira shivers. ]

Wᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴏɴᴇ. Wᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴀᴅᴠᴇʀsɪᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʏ ʜᴇʀᴇ. Yᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ sᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀʏ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴀɢᴇ. Yᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴀɴɪsʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇss.

Wɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ɪs ᴅᴏᴏᴍᴇᴅ. Aɴᴅ ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ᴀʟʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. Yᴏᴜ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅ, ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴏᴛ? Hᴇ sɪᴛs ᴜᴘᴏɴ ᴀ ᴛʜʀᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ɢʟᴀss sᴘᴜɴ ᴏꜰ ʜɪs ʟɪᴇs. Isᴋᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴇɪᴢᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ʜɪs, ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʟᴇss ʟɪᴠᴇs. Wɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ǫᴜᴇʟʟ ʜɪs ᴛʜɪʀsᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ, ʜᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ʀɪsᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʙʀɪɴɢ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ.

Yᴏᴜ ᴍᴜsᴛ sᴛᴏᴘ ʜɪᴍ, ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇ ʙʀɪɴɢs ꜰᴏʀᴛʜ ᴀɴʏ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴘᴀɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ sᴜꜰꜰᴇʀɪɴɢ.

[ Mira listens, her expression carved from ice. It's vague and frustrating, and she hates that she's the one with this burden thrust upon her. ]

Why me?

[ They look at her, and their expression twists into something that seems… unfamiliar, to them. ]

Tʜᴇ ɢᴏᴅs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴏʀᴅᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ɪᴛ.

That's ridiculous.

[ They begin to speak, but their words are distorted. They blur together, unintelligible, as Mira walks away. ]

[shatteredlenses]

[Tʜᴇ ɢᴏᴅs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴏʀᴅᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ɪᴛ.

Even those who are known for being level-headed and cool under pressure have things that set them off. Ignis' list is fairly short with 'threats to Noctis' being at the top.

Divinely ordained fate? Yeah, that's a very strong second at this point.

His hands clench so hard that his nails bite into the palms of his hands even though his gloves and his arms shake. He has to take several deep breaths before he manages to finally speak.]

Oh Mira, my darling. Not you too. Tell me you found a different way.

[encircling]

[ If there's one thing she hadn't wanted anyone to see, it's definitely this. She's pale, a little shaky as she watches her own memory play out. Part of her wants it to be false. Part of her refuses to believe it. That's why she'd gone and mucked up the raid. She'd been too in her own head, too focused on running from the truth to look it in the face.

She hates this. Hates that Ignis knows it, too. Mira crosses her arms over her chest, averting her eyes. ]

I... I don't know. I haven't gotten that far, yet. [ ... ] Ah, maybe that's why--

[ ... maybe that's why the raid had failed. To show whoever's up there pulling the strings--if they are, she's still not convinced--that she's not the one to do it. ]

--nevermind. Ignis, I... I'm sorry you had to find out.

[shatteredlenses]

My dear, why are you sorry? You have nothing to be sorry for.

[He slowly opens his hand as he fights back his anger, then holds it out, beckoning her to come closer.]

As long as there is still time to change things, then there is no reason to give up hope. I'm certain you figure out a way. Fate only wins if we allow it to.

[Astrals know, Ignis isn't about to let fate win on his side. He won't let them take Noctis. He won't.]

Now, what were you about to say before you cut yourself off? You know you can talk to me about anything, right?

[encircling]

[ She doesn't even hesitate; she comes closer to him, but her hands are folded behind her back. ]

... I know you can, [ she replies, quietly. He's always been there, steady and willing to listen. It reminds her of her dad, almost. ] Back home, I... proposed a mission. It failed. I have to wonder if it failed because... I wanted it to, on some level. To prove I wasn't the one to do what they wanted me to do.

[shatteredlenses]

[When she doesn't take his hand or touch his arm as she so often does, Ignis reaches blindly out trying to find her shoulder or arm.]

Why fail to prove anything to them? You shouldn't belittle yourself just to escape a fate you didn't choose. Instead, do things on your own terms and in your own way. Succeed if only to show them whose way is the right one.

[encircling]

[ And at his touch, she looks up at him. Gently, she covers his hand with her own. ]

... I've been a bit foolish, haven't I? [ Because he's right. ] I think... I may be a bit scared.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis gives her an understanding smile then, comforted when she finally accepts his touch.]

I can hardly blame you for being afraid. I would be more concerned were you not, because it would mean you weren't truly acknowledging how serious the situation was.

[maku]

[ Karin doesn't understand.

Oh, she understands the substance of it -- she understands that Mira is like her. Chosen for something better by the gods, picked out from the crowds because there was something special about her. It makes her feel grimly satisfied somehow to realize it. That she and Mira are, in that sense, the same.

But what she doesn't understand is Mira's reaction. The way she rebuffed them, seemed frustrated somehow with what she'd been given. But this was a gift, wasn't it? ]

... I don't get it. They chose you, right? What's so bad about that?

[encircling]

[ It takes her a while to figure out what to say.

Mira breathes out a quiet sigh. Why is she so angry at them? She's never even spoken to anyone about this; not even Mae knows. Surely, Mae would have gonna back down to those caverns and insisted they give Mira real answers.

But. ]

... Because I don't understand why they picked me, of all people, when there are others so much more capable and with far more qualms with the king than I. I don't... [ She pauses, frustrated. ] I don't think there's anything special enough about me that I should be the one to do this.

[maku]

Yeah, well. Gods don't always make a whole lot of sense.

[ She's thinking about the Hero Club. They were foot soldiers, yes. Advance troops -- but they'd still been chosen by the Shinju-sama. A bunch of idiot middle schoolers granted the same gift Karin had, Karin who'd poured her blood, sweat and tears into serving the Taisha. It doesn't make sense, but that was the choice the Shinju-sama had made and Karin probably shouldn't question it.

Not that she's not going to question it, though. Obviously. ]

Even if it's not obvious, there's gotta be something about you that means you can pull off whatever they want you to do better than anyone else. You don't think they picked out the right person for the job?

[encircling]

No, I don't.

[ It's such an automatic response that Mira finds herself wincing slightly. She takes a breath and shakes her head. It's.... complicated, her feelings toward this and herself. Or maybe she's overcomplicating it herself. ]

It's... only that there's nothing special about me, Karin. I'm no prodigy when it comes to magic--the only thing I can do well is heal. My family has no important status. There are so many more people who could possibly be more special than I. So why...?

[maku]

[ Maybe a less total trainwreck of a person would be able to actually voice what Karin's immediate thought is -- that she thinks Mira's pretty special. She's kind and brave and doesn't think twice about extending a hand to people who need it. Maybe that's what the gods saw and decided they needed.

But saying all that... it's kind of embarrassing and Karin can't really bring herself to say it. So she shrugs. ]

You don't have to be any kind of prodigy or genius to do good things. You know the stuff I can do? With my swords and my terminal and... well, you know.

[ The whole magical girl thing. ]

A couple girls back home could do it too. Nothing special about them but they still gave it their all and did their jobs.

[encircling]

[ She's quiet for some time. Karin's right; rationally, logically, she knows that. But it's so hard to reconcile that with how she feels about... well, herself. ]

Even so, I... I'm still not certain I'm the right person for the job. [ It's not the killing part that's got her really messed up, even though she's still not sure about that even after all the lives she's taken. ] I don't know if I would be doing it out of spite, or because the gods ordained it, or...

[ She pauses. She wants the choice, in the end, to be hers. ]

[greatcleavage]

Gods are just trouble.

[Mira's memory reinforces what he'd learned here and back home, and it leaves him shaking his head.]

I'm guessing it all proved ridiculous in some horrible way, in the long-term?

[encircling]

Most of them are, yes.

[ She still has faith in the Storyteller, after all. They've been open with her. ]

Well... I am not sure how that chapter in my life ends. I was brought back here before I could make a decision or act on it.

[greatcleavage]

Oh. I should have known. [Roy frowns, mostly because in this moment he actually feels a shred of sympathy for the Storyteller. How many stories just got interrupted by people showing up here?]

What were you planning to do about it all?

[encircling]

[ She's quiet for a moment. ]

I was planning on blasting through the capital to show the gods they had chosen wrong. But now, I... [ She thinks back on what Ignis said. ] I think now, I have a different plan in mind.