hugtopia_logs | ♥ October (Lasohm) Fourth Wall Log

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♥ October (Lasohm) Fourth Wall Log

kool aid man crashing through a wall then nervously stepping out again

October (Lasohm) Fourth Wall Log

❥ Speaking of Wall Breaking...

The ghosts in town sure are weird, huh? But they're settling down, as the month draws to a close. They're becoming less anxious and random, their behaviour growing sort of… focused. As time passes some of them begin to develop features. They can interact with the world more consistently. You can… hear their voice.

And then suddenly they are people, real and physical and just as confused to be here as you are. They could be anyone, from your world, someone else's world, a place you've never heard of… some of them could even be you, from a different universe, a different timeline, an unknown reality. What does all this mean?

IT'S FOURTH WALL, Y'ALL. Tell your friends, people interested in apping or just playing around in the setting, anybody! Time to break the wall down and have some fun.

This post serves as a replacement for the usual Test Drive Meme, in order to consolidate the chaos a bit. Though it is being posted now, timeline-wise, this shift will occur ONLY during the weekend prior to applications opening: October 30th to November 2nd, after which point characters will either disappear or become permanent residents via the application process. This also means that the rest of the event effects will have worn off, and characters will be their normal selves through the duration of this prompt.

Some ground rules for the 4th Wall event:

For characters/accounts not in-game:

a character does not have to meet application qualifications to post to the 4th Wall Event, except in cases where there is an intent to apply when applications open. Duplicates, CRAU, AU, etc. are permitted for the event.
we do ask that crack shenanigans are reasonably limited, game rules are followed, and that the event involve characters only, not players or real people.
anyone can toplevel! It'll be a free for all. Go wild, have fun.
characters will be given a temporary, low-tech communicator for the duration of the event with limited network access, due to limited availability of the real deal.
you will not arrive with any items/companions beyond the clothes that you wear
check out the Setting or FAQ pages for location details! Also, have a look at the October event log, to see what else is going on these days.

For characters/accounts currently in-game:

players can decide for themselves at the event's conclusion whether or not memories of certain visitors remain, and to what extent; memories could become fuzzy, faces or communication obscured, they could disappear entirely, or they can remain fully intact whether the person apps into the game or not.
network communications with 4th Wall visitors that don't (or can't) app in will be wiped, with the locals citing a data error related to the older communicators being used. Technology can be unpredictable, huh!
any communication exchanges that you WANT to keep can remain with some discretion; for example, if a spouse visits and you happen to take a selfie with them, and they do not (or cannot) app but having that photo of them would give you comfort, feel free to keep it.
Similar to the TDM, 4th wall threads cannot be used for AC or AC Reward purposes unless it is between characters already in-game.

Click the above prompt to expand for details. Timeline-wise, this occurs October 30th to November 2nd. For players currently in-game, if you have any questions, please direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread on the original plotting post.

On this post, we've created both another Questions Thread and a Toplevel thread (see below) for visiting players, the latter so that anyone can track and see who's posted! When you've made a toplevel, feel free to comment HERE to let everyone know.

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I would say it's a testament to your Taako's culinary skills and persistence rather than irony. [ Though the amused quirk of her lips says she definitely can see the irony of it. ]

I had encountered Hades in passing during our time at the Lycaeum, but never properly met him until we interned together at the Bureau of the Architect, and befriended him a few years later. We shared a mutual friend in Hythlodaeus, who was quite put out that it took us so long to become a trio.

Hythlodaeus tutored me in my later years at the Principium, so that was how he and I first became acquainted. We've always gotten along quite well! He's more mischievous than rebellious, but together we've stirred up no small amount of trouble. He always finds a way to make even my most outrageous of plans successful, and usually has been able to help me get lesser punishments for my episodes of insubordinance.

Perhaps a little more than that.

[ That had only been the start, as well as other occurrences, that wound things toward where they are. The surface level of it all is amusing enough, at least. ]

It seems your bonds had much time to form, and all has served to have made every endeavor meaningful for you. All different, but balancing another in some way.

[ Were she more aware of her own school days, she might find similarity in some aspects, but such things are beyond her recall. ]

Hopefully, he won't get so big that he can't fly. A rolling crow would be sad and much easier to catch and keep from eating more fries.

[ Would still be cute though. Round animals really are too adorable. ]

Well.......[His face falls. The guy has a point. There has never been a sword like Sephiroth's.

And....well, even if a lot of 1sts have unique weapons, it's got to be his. He had it in Nibelheim. He remembers that. So maybe.]

M-maybe not. But a few 1sts are sure to have similar looking ones, right? Not the same exactly, but... [The nervous tone in his voice shows that he's not sure himself. As if he is pleading for Zack to confirm that for him, to give him that reassurance.]

"Each decade that passes I am always so grateful you both still value my companionship," she admits quietly, words dampened by the warm curve of his neck.

Hemera gives him one last squeeze, exhaling softly against his neck as she finally pulls away, lips quirked in a wry smile. "You and he have always seen what value I hold beneath my worth."

She lifts her hand, pulling off her mask and tucking it away in one smooth, practiced motion. She takes a deep breath then lets it out, relieving herself of any lingering tension.

"Mitron has begun to acknowledge my concerns after my myriad reports on the noted change in behaviour of deep sea creatures," Hemera informs him. It was news she hadn't had the chance to share with him yet, having only run into Mitron just prior to her current mission. "I've been less successful with the rest, as you well know. It wouldn't surprise me if I'm blamed as the source of it, interfering with things the way I do."

An irreverent roll of her eyes, though she can't deny she feels some minor concern that she may indeed be at least partly responsible. She knows well enough when leaving land to flood or burn is in nature's best interest, but a guiding hand to ease the severity or safeguard endangered life can hardly be wrong.

He didn't want this. But he wants her to make him immortal even less. She likely can't immediately, but he can't lead her along, either.

No matter what, she's getting hurt.

"Every one of my people is like this. Some places, people have more portions of a complete soul, but we're all like this. Instead of one long life, we lead many lives. We're born again, and again, and again in a never-ending cycle. Perhaps horrifying to you, but to us it's a comfort, knowing we'll meet our loved ones again and again. Death can't keep its hold on us for long."

"May I..."

Looking at him and seeing the subtle differences between the man standing before her and the man she last recalls, Era can't bring herself to ask. She averts her gaze, hunching her shoulders in a reflexive gesture that makes her appear smaller than she is.

"...Nevermind."

For all that the Hades before her is not the Hades she loved (loves. she never stopped, no matter how hard she tried), she is also not the warrior he remembers, either. Era has always been small, even for an auri woman, but it was a rare occasion indeed when she seemed it.

She has always been so larger than life; strength beyond measure, coupled with an indomitable will and an untamable spirit. Even now, for all that she curls in upon herself, there is an undeniable weight to her presence that can't all be credited to the soul she carries.

The fact Emet-Selch's being brought to think so deeply about his words means that he's taking Ardbert seriously, and for that, Ardbert's grateful.

"I know you well enough to know you wouldn't have. And you have nothing to make up for—both of us know it's not your fault you left. People don't leave here because they want to; we're brought here and taken away from here against our wills." Ardbert very clearly hates that fact. "The gods here are fickle and give no warning when we leave. We're at least more likely to show up every couple of months, this time aside."

Edited 2020-11-14 20:57 (UTC)

"It sounds too grandiose. Like I'm supposed to be perfect or something." His eyes twinkle mischievously at being bumped, and he bumps her right back with his own hip. "The gods know I'm not."

"But you are. You needn't be flawless to be perfect to me, Ardbert."

Her words are spoken matter-of-factly, in a manner strongly reminiscent of Era. Unlike Era, however, Hemera is briefly knocked off balance by the retaliatory bump. She huffs out a laugh.

"And you can't tell me you won't think the same of Astraea when you meet her one day."

What a fitting punishment for his crimes.... I wanna see it.

[Lunafreya gives him a rueful smile. Yes. She realized that all too well. It's yet to sink in, but the knowledge is certainly there, like a curio on a shelf in the recesses of her mind, set there to be examined at a later time and date.]

A year away from Eos.

[A year away from the turmoil and tragedy of their Star. His tears aside, there's something about him that feels stronger for it. Like the Light inside of him is shining more brightly than it did before. Compared to earlier today—

—by the Six, it'd been earlier today for her. The thought unsettles her. An inexplicable lump grows in her throat, and she sets her hand on top of his, squeezing gently to show affection as much as to give herself a moment to find her voice again.]

I am truly happy for you. It's done you well. As though you've shed some of the weight of your burdens.

[Lunafreya idly wonders why her skin is so chilled, as if it's still touched by icy Altissia waters— but decides to ignore it, keeping her expression light and amused to counter Ardyn's discomfort and her own heartbeat, tapping double-time at being so close to him.]

You mentioned earlier that they aren't normally so aggressive. Has something disturbed their god? [A small furrow forms over her brow.] I would offer my aid to her, if there is something I can do.

Oh, I've tried. [He sighed quietly, shaking his head.] I fear prayer doesn't do much, this world's quadratheon seems fueled solely by physical contact. I'm not quite sure what could be causing this particular unusual circumstance.

Oh?

[ Her tone is inviting, but not expectant or demanding. If the woman wishes to speak she will. Hemera just wants her to know she would gladly listen. ]

Yes, I've known Hyth since I was quite young. It's been just over a millennia now, in fact! He was quite rebellious in his primaries as well, though you'd never have guessed when we met. I think our teachers hoped he might be a good influence. [ She lets out an amused, mischievous giggle. ] I'd say his skill in hiding his impish nature is equivalent to my inability to do so.

Our dearest Hades was doomed to be a reluctant partner to our 'crimes' from the moment he let Hyth befriend him.

[He can't even disagree with her. It should be shameful, pathetic; a king, a man chosen to be a hero of the gods and all of his people, meant to save the world, and he's happier here, healthier here. No one bowing and using titles around him, no expectations or responsibilities beyond those he takes up by his own choice, no gods thundering their demands into his head until he complies with their prophecy. So many of his fears and anxieties have been given room to breathe away from Eos, away from Lucis itself. He's had time to process his fate, come to terms, at least in part, with where his path has led him and where his journey will end, and that he, too, is fated to die. And... to grieve, for those he's lost.

Waking up in this place had been wretched after meeting with Bahamut, but it was better here than alone and sleeping in the Crystal, waiting for it to release him and send him back to his home. Here... he's with his friends, both old and new. His father is nearby, they're getting to know one another better than the weight of the throne ever had allowed when he was growing up. He's found love, something he thought would be forever beyond his reach when Luna's life was unfairly stolen from her and any hope of finding out what she might have felt was gone. And against all odds, he's come to appreciate Ardyn's company, slowly learning what the man was like before he became a monster.

It's been a long road, and he knows he still has so far to go. But he is doing better, so... he just nods, his gaze shifting to the table between them.]

I hope it can do the same for you. You deserve some peace, after everything. I... you don't remember being here before, do you?

[That's the impression he'd gotten thus far, but he's only guessing.]

If only he was here... though if he was, I'd be stopping him from eating nothing but french fires in the first place.

...Nope.

[He feels kind of bad, giving a negative answer. But he's a lousy liar, too. He can at least throw a little bone-]

Unless someone made a replica, I guess. An... exact replica.

[Flaws and all.]

[ Within mere moments of her response, he appears to collect himself-- straightening his posture, disengaging their touch, giving her some space. Caught between his fumble and the weight of recent news he's heard of her death, he thinks he's putting up a good enough front. He hopes so, at least. ]

Hey, likewise.

[ Stiffly, he grasps his hands behind his back, even as her smile disarms him. ] Did you just get here?

That's a good catch-22! [ Is it? Is that how catch-22s work? Kyoko's not sure, but she moves on regardless. ] I wonder if we tell the gods your being here could cause a bird to go on a french fry crime spree, they'll do something.

You're the one who'd know these gods better than me. If you think they'll listen, I'm willing to give it a try.

[ And then the priests kick him out instantly upon seeing him because older Sasuke was trying to steal things from the temples to make the gods fight him before he ~~was kicked out for being a menace and a sad boy~~ returned home. ]

"You did offer to give him more years."

That, at least, is offered gently enough. He won't blame Ardbert for assuming that meant immortality, for all that he doubts that had been her intention. Besides, it's easier than answering the question about why she's dead and his soul very nearly aches at the question. That she would ask is no surprise. He can hardly hide his soul from her, no matter how he might try.

There's no way to make it easy, either. Regardless of what he says, it's going to hurt. Both him and her, he suspects. Not least of all because he can't lie to her, of all people. There is however, a sigh before he answers - he will answer, because she asked. But he knows full well the answer is not like to be comfortable.

"You died trying to save people. Trying to find answers that no one else would have."

And while she hadn't succeeded, it's fitting that at the very end she'd still been herself. Still been Azem.

"I've no doubt some of them do blame you."

The tone of his voice is enough explain what he thinks of that. Short-sighted fools, the lot of them, if they think that making attempt to save what can be saved is in anything but their best interests. And no doubt there is a point when it becomes better to simply let things die. But it's not as if she's been trying to sustain things past their natural point, either. Merely trying to help, where such help can be given.

"Although it's not impossible some of them might still be willing to see otherwise."

Of course, even that will be limited by how much any of the other care about things beyond the borders of Amaurot. But if Mitron can be swayed, then surely so too might those in similarly inclined seats. Especially when he offers his own weight to his arguments besides.

"However, for the time being it would seem that we have been granted a reprieve from that much, at least. Brief though it may be."

"I had noticed at least that first part. Given that I had very little warning prior to finding myself here."

Indeed, he had had none whatsoever. And that is something he still finds worrying. Not least of all for what it means about the distance that these so-called gods are capable of reaching. More so, if when they might leave is likewise out of their control.

(Which, in fairness, is likely not helped by the fact that he doesn't much care for feeling like he doesn't have some control over a given situation, but he's not about to spend any time addressing that even to himself.)

"A few millennia, to last more than a blink to his kin—not an eternity!"

What Ardbert explains is confusing in the worst of ways. It sounds as though he speaks of a different world entirely, but that's not possible.

And then Hades sighs and she waits with bated breath, knowing he will explain things for her as he always has.

He does, vague as ever, with the answer she seeks hidden somewhere beneath what words he offers. Hemera goes very still as she tries to piece together what little she truly knows, using Hades' explanation as a foundation.

"...How many?"

Her voice is deceptively calm and steady, in contrast to the turmoil she feels in her soul.

"How many did you save, Hades?"

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♥ October (Lasohm) Fourth Wall Log

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