♥ October (Lasohm) Fourth Wall Log

[hugtopiamods]

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.
  

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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.

Comments

Ardbert | FFXIV | Shadowbringers Spoilers | Already in Hugs

[firstbump]

A. Walking around

What is usually a trickle of new residents starts early and quickly becomes a flood. It's a welcome change from the strangeness of the rest of the month. Ardbert's glad he's the outgoing sort, so he makes himself available and looks for new faces in the crowd.

"New here?" Ardbert smiles at a new face, holding out his hand. "Hello, I'm Ardbert."


B. Walking around with a friend

Sometimes, there's an addition to that spiel. "And this is my friend, Seto. Don't worry, he's friendly, just big."

His hand rests on the side of the large creature's neck. Seto does his best to appear a little smaller (helped by the fact he's made slightly smaller because of this place) and sits down.


C. Walking around with a friend and meeting friends (Established CR)

Ardbert catches sight of someone he knows and waves at them to catch their attention. Seto, at his side, turns his head and neck to find the person Ardbert's waving to. When Ardbert starts walking to them, he follows a few steps behind.

"Is it just me, or do we have a few new people around?" Ardbert asks, eyes twinkling with mirth; it's more than just a few.

a

[lightsmith]

"Oh, I--"

Record scratch. She blinked green eyes at him in shock once she turned to process who had spoken to her, clearly having all kinds of bluescreen problems. Her tail bristled in surprise, ears swiveling forward.

"...Ardbert? Th' hell'd you--?"

[firstbump]

Ardbert wrinkles his brow in confusion, realizing the woman recognizes his name. "... have we met?"

5.3 spoilers

[lightsmith]

...One of several things were happening here. One, she was about to break Ardbert-Elidibus' spine over her knee. That one seemed very unlikely all things currently considered. Two, some wild timeline discrepancy between realms was at work. Again. Three, and she was leaning towards this option, something far less probable and more crazy was at work.

There was always time for things to get drastically stranger.

"...Aye, or maybe we haven't? I've met you, but it's sounding as if the reverse ain't holdin' true right now."

Thoughtfully, she reached out with one hand and poked him in the shoulder. Definitely solid and tangible, at least. Her ears pinned back in some mix of distress and confusion, Limsan accent creeping into her words.

"Unless-...where's Urianger when I bloody need 'im--odd question for you, mate, but can y'tell me if you've been hauntin' anyone in the past little while?"

Spoilers forever yes

[firstbump]

Ardbert accepts the poke without a complaint, amused and bemused. He's really glad that many Mystels telegraph their emotions so readily. ... Or perhaps this woman is a Miqo'te instead.

She says she's met him, but he doesn't remember her—and when she asks him if he's haunted someone, his eyes widen with realization. "Hold on a moment, how did you...?"

On a hunch, and knowing how much the gesture meant to Era, he holds out his fist to her.

[lightsmith]

Scintilla let out a breath she wasn't fully aware she'd been holding--Elidibus hadn't recognized the same gesture when she'd offered it. So she could rule out an impossible (improbable, maybe) revival on that front.

Regardless, there was only one way to answer that; she curled a gloved hand into a fist and tapped it against his own.

"Okay, this is weird. And I mean that as someone who keeps needing to redefine 'weird'."

Once upon a time, the strangest thing she had to deal with was politics or voidsent or Lahabrea. Things had escalated sharply and consistently since then, she couldn't help but notice.

[firstbump]

Ha, he knew it. Gods, she looks already more relaxed.

Ardbert chuckles warmly, keeping the gesture for a long moment before dropping his fist. "Aye, I'll say. Timelines are weird. Seto got pulled here from before he could talk. And somehow, I got my body back, despite being dead for over a hundred years. I've had it for about seven months."

His eyes soften. "... But I'm sorry. I'm not your Ardbert."

[lightsmith]

She made a wordlessly frustrated sound, dropping her hand as the other came up to scratch the back of her head. Her earrings swung slightly as her ears tilted back to something more neutral

"Well, that sounds a right headache." Definitely something Urianger or Y'shtola would understand in much more detail than she did. But the basics were clear, and that was enough to get the idea. "Could be worse, almost thought I'd have to start a fight up all over again. Goin' a whole day without one's almost a record at this point."

That much, at least, was a small relief.

"...Scintilla, while I'm at it. Scintilla Caminus."

[firstbump]

Scintilla. He quietly commits the name to memory.

"I heard about Elidibus using my body," Ardbert crosses his arms, partially to comfort himself, breaking eye contact for a moment to look down. "Ugh. I don't even want to think about it. Talk about violating."

[lightsmith]

“Was screwed up, is what it was.” A glaring understatement. “But it’s fine now, s’all been taken care of and whatnot.”

She’d have been lying to say it hadn’t left her a little twisted up about the whole thing on several fronts, but what was done was done.

“Have to tell ya, wasn’t expecting to get launched into another realm again. Alisaie’s gonna kill me.”

[firstbump]

"Good."

Ardbert smirks a little. "If she shows up, I could distract her while you come up with a good reason for her to not kill you."

[lightsmith]

"Believe me, ain't no reason good enough. I'm as good as ver-roasted."

Alas. Died as she lived: getting into trouble.

[firstbump]

"True enough." Ardbert nods sagely, uncrosses his arms, and claps his hand on Scintilla's shoulder with a solemn expression. "Regardless, at least we had the chance to meet."

His expression cracks into a smile, unable to keep the farce up, and he drops his hand. "It's too bad it's not Alphinaud you have to worry about. He'd be far more concerned about me telling him that I followed you and the Scions around as a ghost."

Gods, he hopes he gets to meet the twins properly one day.

family bonding !!!

[ancestor]

It had been more than a day since her sudden arrival, which is time enough for Hemera to have regained her bearings to some extent. Her talk with Era had been both enlightening and painful, providing her with some (but not all) answers she had so sorely sought. It left her feeling oddly drained and raw, filled with a distant (future) grief that was hers and yet... not.

There was naught to be done for it now. Whatever happens in her future and their past is something she cannot prevent, even if she had the foreknowledge. And so, instead of dwelling upon the unknown, Hemera chooses to focus on what she can do in the here and now.

She pulses her aether gently, then teleports to Ardbert's side, linking their arms together in one smooth motion.

"Hello, my sweet child."

Re: family bonding !!!

[firstbump]

Ardbert's going to pretend he didn't just attempt to jump out of his skin. Which is easy, because Hemera's presence brings a quick smile to is face. His eyes are full of budding affection.

"Come to spend time with your son, have you?"

[ancestor]

She was already smiling, but it broadens at the sight of his. The affection in her eyes has been in full bloom since the moment she met him, yet somehow it has managed to intensify over the short period of time she's known him. She gives his arm a quick hug, unable to contain the emotion she feels.

"Yes," she affirms. "I've precious little time left, and I wish to spend it with you."

[firstbump]

Ardbert gives her a quick hug right back, half-expecting it. His elation is short-lived as those words hit. Immediately, his brows knit in confusion and worry.

"What do you mean?" He tries not to sound alarmed.

[ancestor]

"Such a sudden, large influx of newcomers is unsustainable. Not all of us who arrived will remain for long," Hemera explains, soft and soothing in tone, but matter-of-fact with her words. "I suspect a sennight at most, though likely less."

He is a warm weight by her side, soul singing so faintly but sweetly; light and gentle and strong despite all else it lacks. She has to listen closely to hear it, but every time she does she cannot imagine thinking of him as lesser than herself.

"My soul is not resonating with this world. I will be among those who disappear as I arrived, and return to my beautiful, dying home."

[firstbump]

Ardbert's expression falls. Part of him had wondered if everyone would remain with so many people suddenly arriving and the strangeness that came before it. Wondering and knowing is a different thing entirely.

Hemera's gentle voice helps him defeat the sharp rise of anger in his chest before it can burst out, and he just gives her a tired, defeated smile. "At least this time I'll know to expect to lose you, unlike all the others."

[ancestor]

"Oh, you'll never lose me, my precious child," she breathes, emphatic and wavering. "I will be with you always, in the song of your soul and the warmth in your heart."

Hemera pulls him close, drawing him into a proper hug. They're of near identical heights, leaving her able to speak her words softly against his ear.

"No matter how many years and lifetimes lay between us, or what form my feelings take, I will always be filled with love for you." A hum, warm and gentle. "I am the past. She is my future. To find me you need only look to her."

[firstbump]

Ardbert returns the hug, wrapping his arms tightly around her, and tries to commit everything to memory. He hangs on her every word. The only thing he's likely to have left is his memories of her if even those remain. Just like his friends who gave their lives alongside him to save the First.

"I'll still forever mourn your loss." Ardbert is comforted by her words... to a point.

[ancestor]

With utmost maturity befitting one of her age, Hemera blows a raspberry against his cheek.

"Don't waste your time with mourning," she scolds. "My life will end, and from it countless new lives will be birthed. I could ask for nothing better."

[firstbump]

Ardbert starts a bit at the raspberry on his cheek, having not expected that; it makes him laugh a bit. "I suppose that's one way to see it."

[ancestor]

"How could I see it any other way?" She beams at his laugh, delighted by the sound of it. "You are my masterwork, Ardbert! And one day you shall create a beautiful masterwork of your own with your cute wife."

[firstbump]

It's impossible to rub the back of your neck in embarrassment when embraced so closely. "Gods, you—don't have to quite say it like that...."