[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

[the_word_is]

She doesn’t recognize them, but ERASE isn’t to blame. The ERASURE didn’t cut Maka’s hair short or scar her face or change her preferred outfit to cut-off jean shorts and a ragged hoodie with the sleeves torn off. The lack of recognition isn’t from Frisk and Chara’s actions, it’s just that she’s an entirely different Maka.

She smiles when they approach, because it's not Kittu's fault that she doesn't know them, it's not Kidwun's fault that they didn't tell her, it's nobody's fault that she's never met this person she once knew well enough to Resonate with.

Hi, it's nice to meet you. She signs, hands moving smoothly but slowly (she has to talk like this, but she's still learning.

I hope we can be friends this time too.

[souldeterminant]

They don't think much of the changes, at first. Both they and Chara have changed, too: they wear their hair up, and Chara's has been cut short, and they've traded away their sweaters for similarly striped but much thinner shirts. It's a mark of difference in a place where they haven't been free to displace themselves from time over and over.

As for Maka -- the castle had been in a war. It's not so difficult to think that people would go on changing without them.

What does uproot Frisk is when she lifts her hands and begins to sign. Their own fingers freeze over their ear, eyes widening to show some color as they read the movements. They... they didn't know she could do that. Did she learn? Maybe... Sans taught her, after they left. That would make sense.

They hesitate, still slightly taken aback. But then... how would she know that they know sign language?

Their unease slows their response time, but doesn't negate it. A soft, sheepish smile moves across Frisk's mouth, and they respond in kind.

I think we can.

And then, simply because they can't think of anyone better to believe in good faith than the one who taught them Soul Resonance: Frisk rests a hand over their chest, summoning a softly glowing, heart-shaped SOUL to float between them.

[the_word_is]

Maka’s own soul flares, bright and strong. It doesn’t hover in front of her, just glows as an orb in her chest, wings snapping open. Normally, something like that is a threat, but she holds it steady as she smiles. Her soul is a powerful, dangerous, weaponized thing, but right now it’s just a friendly glow, echoing back the SOUL shown to her.

I’m glad.

[souldeterminant]

It's close to how they remember it. Maybe not exactly the same, because things shape people, shape their SOULs, and Frisk can't possibly know what Maka's been through in the time they haven't known her. And they can't know how much their SOUL has changed; not for all of its ever-determined glow. The temptation to reach out with it and try to reattach that Resonance, fill in every gap and slash, is -- it's tempting. Terrifyingly so.

But they don't dare ask for it.

Instead, they study the funny little shape of her soul: still so different from the ones in their world, but capable of amazing things. It's still very pretty, they think. Frisk smiles up at her shyly.

Did I describe it okay?

Resonance.

[the_word_is]

Maka nods. It's... yeah, that's close enough, that's what Resonance is like.

Do you want to try it?

Again, apparently. She's been able to Resonate with this person before, so she probably can again (she has to, her soul is still the same, isn't it?). Maka reaches out her hand with a smile.

[souldeterminant]

Surprise forms their mouth into a tiny, soundless o-shape. Then they bite their lip, suddenly feeling nervous and a little bit silly. It's not that they don't... like the idea. They've had powerful Resonances, ones that cut with knives and hurt them down to every digit of LV, but with Maka -- it was always different. Frisk is a child with a rudimentary grasp on something very deep and complicated, and it was never more obvious than whenever they resonated with Maka, who seemed to untangle and play the strings like an instrument, guiding the connection gently like a boat down a river.

She'd be the first person Frisk resonated with other than Chara, since they got here. They don't dislike the idea at all...

But they're a little worried.

Are you sure? You don't know me.

[the_word_is]

You don't have to know someone yet. [Maka signs, with a little smile.]

It's a good way to get to know a new friend.