A dead man's wish

[warriorscribe]

Characters: Everyone.
Setting: Everywhere, July 11th
Format: Whatever you want - it's a mingle log, after all.
Summary: While Naoya gets the reveal started on the network, Enoch takes care of physical copies.
Warnings: Reveal. Info. Nothing else, inherently.

*There's something different about the tower today. Not in a big way, not like the power or glamours are out. For one thing, everyone with a mailbox will get this note, unsigned:

Souls in our world are defined as the self. Even those without anything that can be considered a soul in their own worlds would manifest one here. Souls are extremely resilient - they can be torn out of their body and survive provided they are removed in the right manner. But they shouldn't be of course - the side effects might be disastrous in ways we can't quite understand. It's happened here before. Souls can be torn out of this world the same as in any other. Here though they can split - that's extremely important. They can split and merge if you have the right skillset. Never lose your soul in the Tower of Animus. None of yours are yet lost - but never lose it! They won't come back whole if you let her swallow them up. The power must have gone by now - she'll want to restore the tower. Everyone who ended up trapped on their own worlds is now in grave danger! She can't take souls as Zo can, but she can siphon them and she can squeeze all the energy out of them.

As soon as this message is decoded put it in as many places as possible! Put it on the network make copies and plaster them on the walls. Do everything you can so that as many people read this message as possible. There isn't enough energy to erase everyone's memories!

Remember - souls born here can be split and reabsorbed here. A soul born elsewhere can be split there, but there's no way to put it back together unless you can put it back where it's supposed to be.

Not everything is as fake as it seems. Your souls are here and you have all been drugged to keep certain aspects of yourselves contained but every part of you is here. You can use that against them if you can figure out how to unchain yourselves. I'm afraid you'll have Jason as your first opponent as he's the one with the keys you need. Be careful! There is information everywhere though much of it has been nearly permanently sealed. I can make it possible for you to access it, although you will all have to unlock it.

If that wasn't strange enough, you've probably seen it already. The same message is posted throughout the tower - on bathroom stalls, on walls, on tables. There are easily over a hundred pieces of paper.

And hey... Isn't that the same note "the Observer" put up on the network yesterday evening?*

((ooc: Mingle log for reactions off the network! Have fun!))

Comments

[puppy_lancer]

Sure looks like it. How'd your worms start acting up again?

[He reaches over to try to support Kariya.]

[vermicompost]

[Kariya doesn't move as Lancer reaches out for him, just remains doubled over, bleeding in a not particularly appealing fashion.]

Because I'm upset. My emotions--

[puppy_lancer]

So what pissed you off? Was it a person? I'll go kick their ass!

[vermicompost]

No, no, it's all right, Lancer.

[He manages to calm himself slightly, enough to speak coherently.]

It's the administrators. Sakura's in danger...

[puppy_lancer]

You saw that message, didn't you? Yeah, they're doing worse than I thought they would ever do.

[vermicompost]

[He nods.]

It's terrible...

I don't want her to die! She'll really be gone! And there's nothing I can do about it--!

[The forcefulness of his speech causes him to start coughing again, regrettably, blood spraying from his mouth.]

[puppy_lancer]

She doesn't have to! You can save her! We can save her!

[He wraps his arms around Kariya, trying to calm the man down.]

And my Master too! Both version of them!

[The last two sentences are said out loud more for his own sake than for Kariya's.]

[vermicompost]

What am I supposed to do, Lancer? Look at me.

[He gazes down at the blood covering his clothes and just the whole state of himself and his body.]

I want to help people, but how? I'm useless!

[Blood pours down over his chin. He may not be thinking rationally at the moment.]

I--I wanted to save her, that's all. I didn't care what happened to me!

[puppy_lancer]

I...you help us live through each day! You saved Shinji from a monster!

[He's trying to think of something convincing, but he can't come up with anything. In his mind, Kariya really is weak when it comes to physical things.]

Goddammit! I care! Claudia cares! Lancelot cares!

[vermicompost]

I didn't save Shinji. Lancelot did.

[He'd only gotten in the way. Although--he had saved Claudia before.]

How do I help you? You can't even--think of something.

I--I don't know why people care. [His voice softens.] I mean--I do know. I care about you, too. I don't want to die... But I don't want Sakura to die, either.

[puppy_lancer]

You're my friend! You're like Diarmuid. Why do you think I can still be myself?

[Why do you think he's always grinning?]

She won't die! I can swear on my name as the Hound of Culann! She won't die!

[vermicompost]

Really? I am? You think of me that way?

[Kariya is silent, thinking, and his eyes widen at Lancer's promise.]

I--You mean that, Lancer?

[He wants to believe that's true, so desperate for any hope at this moment. Lancer seems so emphatic and sincere.]

[puppy_lancer]

Yes, I mean it! For both things! Heroes don't make promises lightly!

[vermicompost]

[He falls silent again, some of the tension leaving his body.]

Thank you.

You're a good friend. A good hero.

[He coughs once more, weakly, a few drops of blood splattering across his face.]

I can't bear the thought of losing her. It hurts so much.

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer also sighs in relief.]

Yeah, I know. It hurts. So let's work hard to get her back.