OPENING LOG ~

[seafronted]

Who: EVERYONE EVER IN PROMENADE
What: IT'S THE OPENING GUYS, GET READY.
Where: Throughout the city!
When: Now!
Warnings: None, other than language and possible violence. HAVE AT IT.

Comments

THE ROAD

[seafronted]

[If you choose to venture outside, you'll be prompted to place on your mask before going (at least during the day). Those who break this law will find themselves in severe trouble if they don't hastily take back their actions. Before you lies a road, one that seems almost impossible in its length, and along it are the homes of many of the other residents. People are outside, and some may even greet you with a nod of the head, or a bright smile and a handshake. There might even be some who know your name, and say you've always been here

NIGHT ; Hope Estheim: FFXIII

[escapedpandora]

Hope was sure that he had just closed his eyes for a moment-- just a moment to rest in between all the fighting and battles everywhere, before he opened them again and realized that he wasn't where he was supposed to be.

It wasn't so much the fact that it was all of a sudden dark and a different place, but the screaming had stopped and the smell of fires and burning flesh wasn't itching his nose anymore.

He scrambled up immediately, standing to attention and opening his mouth to call out for his friends, but-- it took a moment for him to realize that no sound would come out. He raised a hand to his throat, now trying to screaming out the names with no effect.

What-- what was going on? Where was he? As calm as this place was in comparison to where he was before, it was unnerving to suddenly end up here, and-- his voice.

What happened?

[tearawaydestiny]

By nightfall, Fang had gotten used to being in this place.

Well. As about as used to one can be when they're suddenly torn out of their own world and placed here.

She'd been studying the areas and mostly kept to herself, slipping along where she could, seeing if there was a familiar face about. Which was kind of hard to do, especially with the masks on everyone's face and the odd stares from before.

But wandering along now, somehow seeing that familiar orange top jacket made her smirk ever so slightly. So she approaches him, and while she can't talk (oh how she found that one out fast- she tried snarking at some stupid idiot to go flirt with someone else, only to find it wasn't exactly working.), she'll gently place a hand on his shoulder as to... well, try not to scare him. But who knows how that will turn out in a place like this.

[escapedpandora]

He twisted around the moment he felt a hand on his shoulder, tensing up for a moment and feeling the swell of magic respond to his panic, before seeing--

Fang!

It was an almost immediately relief to see someone he recognized, and he opened his mouth to ask countless questions about where they were, what had happened, and more importantly (despite it being ridiculously redundant) if she knew what had happened to his voice.

But in the end, he couldn't even make the strangled noise to show his irritation at being muted, and instead tugged on her wrist and attempted to make extravagant gestures, hoping she'd understand what he was asking..

[tearawaydestiny]

There's a tilt to her head, a wry grin, and then, Hope might hear a familiar sound. Not from her mouth, but in his head all the same.

I'm thinkin' it's time we get outta here, kid. Whatta ya say? I don't like the looks o' this.

She hadn't planned on it happening, it just... came. Like a second thought after thinking she wanted to let him know it, know how she felt, that everything was going to be okay.

This wasn't Pulse, it wasn't Eden- but wherever it was, they were going to leave, and leave now.

[escapedpandora]

But I just-- I don't know where we are, and how we'll even get back, and--

He blinked. He hadn't said that aloud. And he was pretty sure she hadn't said anything earlier, either. It felt almost like an echo of their voices in his head. Was this some kind of fal'Cie trick as well? A different place, and then taking away their voices?

If it was, he wasn't going to let that phase him for long. He shook his head, and then looked up determinedly.

If we're here, maybe the others are, too. We'd have to find them before we leave.

[halfcharm]

Her voice disappeared. Yuuko worriedly placed her hands on her throat. She tries to talk -- fails -- tries to whisper a spell -- it doesn't work.

And it's not just her, it seems. A boy was there, panicking as well, evidently at the loss of voice and further, disorientation. Curious that the world can bring so little and take away so much.

She moves towards him, and places a gentle hand over his shoulder, with her kindest smile.

[escapedpandora]

He looked up worriedly, still attempting to speak as he sees her, getting more and more agitated until he was trying to express his words with his hands as well, waving meaninglessly.

Did she know what was going on? He resisted the urge to stomp his feet as he realized that he couldn't seem to communicate anything at all; not his questions, and not even his own name.

[halfcharm]

No, she doesn't know what's happening. Neither does she know where they are. But agitation won't help any one of them find an answer. She takes his hands, holds them both, with endless gentleness. Calm down.

[escapedpandora]

Hope startled for a moment-- did she just say something? He was sure that he hadn't seen her say anything, but had heard something, anyway. He blinks up at her, not entirely sure of himself even as he tried to calm down like she said.

I don't know how I got here, the thought was out even before he could think to reign it in. I don't know where here is. I need to get back.

Back to the burning streets of Eden where the Pulsian invasion was happening, and finally, finally do something that might help make a difference. Show people that they weren't monsters, and that they were just as human as everywhere else-- there to help. He couldn't afford to be here, wherever here was, right now.

[halfcharm]

She holds his hands firmly. I understand, but the situation is a lot more dire than it looks. We cannot leave. Neither do we know where is 'here'.

[escapedpandora]

Wait, but-- how did we get here, then? I wasn't here before! He shook his head. I was with my friends. I didn't even walk away from them, and we were in the middle of a big road.

He shuffled his feet, not sure what to do. It-- did you just end up here, too?

[halfcharm]

I did. I can't tell whether I was summoned, but I am here, by forces beyond me. I assume the case will be similar to you, and to those who come here as well.

She watches him calmly, and slips a hand inside her pockets, withdrawing her pipe. She takes a minute to light it, and another minute to breath the smoke in, and out; letting it curl around her figure. An odd night to be spending in another world, but a meeting is a meeting, nevertheless. Fate moves so strangely even in different Times.

[escapedpandora]

Another world? This was altogether too similar, but at the same time, entirely strange. He looked around him, taking in the lights and the peaceful settling, soothing if not for his distrust of the place. It didn't look anything like Gran Pulse, but nothing like Cocoon, either. It could easily be another world, but... he only knew the two. Are we in another world?

But she said it was a meeting, and a night. Maybe it was just that, then. Just a dream that he would wake up from come morning. If that was it, then this place wasn't so bad for a dream. But... when had he fallen asleep?

It seems more like just a dream.

[halfcharm]

All life is a dream. This is another. Space is an infinite 'maybe'; this is but one definition of a world. She smiles, letting the smoke trail behind her as she moved. The only problem is to wake up in the one who will let you live through.

[escapedpandora]

Live through a dream? He can't help but ask questions, even as he bites his lip uselessly to try and prevent the stream of curiosity. It didn't sound like an ordinary dream. Didn't feel like one, either.

He covered his l'Cie brand with his right hand, feeling the heat of the curse and the contours of the mark on his skin even through his gloves. Did l'Cie dream when they ran out of time? Failed or completed their Focus? Was being crystal or being a monster just endless dreaming? But no-- he still had time, right?

Then the dreams can be dangerous.