Second Encryption | Ten Years Later Kick-off
[There’s a sudden buzz on the network, almost a vibration, and anyone in some sort of call or conversation will find that their feed has changed. The image isn’t the best; the sound is obscured by static, while the footage sometimes cuts in and out. The camera angle is up high, angled so that the very edge of the doorway and the center of the room can be seen. Right at the edge of the camera’s view is what appears to be some sort of furniture made out of wood, but it’s hard to tell what, exactly.
The doors open, and the rulers of Promenade enter into full view. Though they look no different from usual, there is something about them that seems to hint at a nervousness. The doors shut behind them, and they pause for a moment, each of them bowing their head toward whatever is off screen in acknowledgement.]
Many of our people, especially those who have awoken within the past six months, are unhappy.
Their memories have yet to return, as well.
There must be something that can be done -- perhaps they awoke too early, or--
[Valrune is cut-off by a third voice, one that has not yet been heard on the network. It sounds someone who has seen this sort of thing before and is sick and tired of hearing the question when the answer is always the same. At the same time, it sounds young, impulsive. There is none of the measured grace or class that the rulers have, none of the intellect that the scientists have, and none of the strict formality that many of the guards have. It sounds... rather normal, really.]
They wake up when they’re meant to wake up! Their memories will come back, they always do. I selected Heda specifically for his skill, after all.
[Just barely visible beneath the edge of her mask, Valrune bites her lip. For his part, Tivorno nods, lightly placing a hand on his wife’s back in a show of support.]
We would still like them to be happy.
[A groan here, and the normal voice sounds irritated.]
But they are happy! I’ve given them everything they want here, there’s no reason they should want to go back.
I understand, but they do not feel at home here when they should, as this is where they belong.
There is more than just comfort here, however. They feel they cannot trust the city. Surely there must be a way to make them understand?
[The mysterious voice is silent for a moment before there’s another sound, an “ah-ha!” and a gleeful clapping of hands.]
I know! I know just the thing! I’ll change the city so than ten years have passed, and that way they can see how great their lives will be!
[There is silence for a moment, the two rulers staring at the unseen figure before they both begin to speak at once.]
Surely you cannot mean--
We must have misunderstood--
[Once again, they are cut off, and this time the voice sounds more angry and, though it still remains childlike, impulsive, there is clear power in it.]
I meant it! They will be happy! So happy they want to stay! I don’t care what they think now, that’ll change, you’ll see! Everything will be perfect, ten years later, starting right now!
[The rulers steel themselves as the room around them seems to shake and rumble. The feed cuts out, but the rumbling sound continues.
When it ends, ten years have passed. There are memories of ten years, of relationships that have bloomed, of friends who have left or died. Some residents may still remember their home worlds, and others may not. They will not remember this broadcast until the world returns to the way it was (in other words, until the event has ended), when they find themselves in the exact place they were when the broadcast occurred, and even then, some of them may be too busy remembering everything they thought they had experienced and wondering: was it just a dream? Were those memories false? Did just some of that occur, or did all of that actually happen? For those who remember, or those who are able to work past these things, there are other questions: who was that mysterious voice, and why do the rulers of the city seem to respect them so much? Did they really put the entire city and everyone in it ten years into the future? And, last but not least, who made sure to broadcast the exchange?]
((ooc: Normal text = Queen Valrune, italics = King Tivorno, bold = ~mystery person~.
It’s Ten Years Later time! Please remember to look over the posts here and here. If you have any questions, please contact one of the mods!))
The doors open, and the rulers of Promenade enter into full view. Though they look no different from usual, there is something about them that seems to hint at a nervousness. The doors shut behind them, and they pause for a moment, each of them bowing their head toward whatever is off screen in acknowledgement.]
Many of our people, especially those who have awoken within the past six months, are unhappy.
Their memories have yet to return, as well.
There must be something that can be done -- perhaps they awoke too early, or--
[Valrune is cut-off by a third voice, one that has not yet been heard on the network. It sounds someone who has seen this sort of thing before and is sick and tired of hearing the question when the answer is always the same. At the same time, it sounds young, impulsive. There is none of the measured grace or class that the rulers have, none of the intellect that the scientists have, and none of the strict formality that many of the guards have. It sounds... rather normal, really.]
They wake up when they’re meant to wake up! Their memories will come back, they always do. I selected Heda specifically for his skill, after all.
[Just barely visible beneath the edge of her mask, Valrune bites her lip. For his part, Tivorno nods, lightly placing a hand on his wife’s back in a show of support.]
We would still like them to be happy.
[A groan here, and the normal voice sounds irritated.]
But they are happy! I’ve given them everything they want here, there’s no reason they should want to go back.
I understand, but they do not feel at home here when they should, as this is where they belong.
There is more than just comfort here, however. They feel they cannot trust the city. Surely there must be a way to make them understand?
[The mysterious voice is silent for a moment before there’s another sound, an “ah-ha!” and a gleeful clapping of hands.]
I know! I know just the thing! I’ll change the city so than ten years have passed, and that way they can see how great their lives will be!
[There is silence for a moment, the two rulers staring at the unseen figure before they both begin to speak at once.]
Surely you cannot mean--
We must have misunderstood--
[Once again, they are cut off, and this time the voice sounds more angry and, though it still remains childlike, impulsive, there is clear power in it.]
I meant it! They will be happy! So happy they want to stay! I don’t care what they think now, that’ll change, you’ll see! Everything will be perfect, ten years later, starting right now!
[The rulers steel themselves as the room around them seems to shake and rumble. The feed cuts out, but the rumbling sound continues.
When it ends, ten years have passed. There are memories of ten years, of relationships that have bloomed, of friends who have left or died. Some residents may still remember their home worlds, and others may not. They will not remember this broadcast until the world returns to the way it was (in other words, until the event has ended), when they find themselves in the exact place they were when the broadcast occurred, and even then, some of them may be too busy remembering everything they thought they had experienced and wondering: was it just a dream? Were those memories false? Did just some of that occur, or did all of that actually happen? For those who remember, or those who are able to work past these things, there are other questions: who was that mysterious voice, and why do the rulers of the city seem to respect them so much? Did they really put the entire city and everyone in it ten years into the future? And, last but not least, who made sure to broadcast the exchange?]
((ooc: Normal text = Queen Valrune, italics = King Tivorno, bold = ~mystery person~.
It’s Ten Years Later time! Please remember to look over the posts here and here. If you have any questions, please contact one of the mods!))