1369

[animusmods]

Characters: Anyone coming to Zo's carnival
Setting: Cafeteria; please specify the date and location in the carnival in your subject header!
Format: Anything
Summary: Zo has set up a carnival for the residents, but it's not meant to last. Anyone wandering after the bombs go off might see things they never wanted to see...
Warnings: Psychological and body horror
Note: Characters entering the carnival from the 27th to the 30th will experience visions! Please refer to the info post for details and reply to this thread if your character enters the carnival during these days.

[The carnival has taken up the entirety of the cafeteria. A large roller coaster and ferris wheel tower over the residents, while a child-sized roller coaster, a merry-go-round, and spinning teacups project much less daunting silhouettes. Stands are set up with standard carnival foods available, from ice cream to cotton candy. These stands do not ask for anything as payment.

On the twenty-seventh, the carnival appearance changes. The machinery all appears rusted and broken down, as if weathered with decades of rain and snow. Plants grow up and around the rides, ruining them, and all the food is rotten.]

Comments

[Nov 25th, the food stands]

[midgarhorizon]

[Even though it's Zo's month for Tower control, Reno is wandering around with a distinctly distrustful look on his face before he decides to just head over to the food and get something to eat.

Who could tell if those rides went bad at the worst time and toss them violently against the walls? He didn't think Zo is the type to do that... but too many things could go wrong. 'Sides, he got more than enough of a thrill fighting the monsters they need to for Xion's leather and cloth project.

Still, the cotton candy is pretty good.]

[terreifying]

Heee~ey.

[Rei skips up to Reno, holding a stick of cotton candy.]

Having fun here?

[11/25, ferris wheel]

[keywrite]

[Things "Riku" expected to find in the cafeteria mid-morning: Food, other people, tables and such. Things he found: an entire carnival. Which was weird even for the Tower, and he doesn't trust it one bit.

Well, not the food, anyway. He bypasses the food stands and can be found at the bottom of the ferris wheel, debating how safe it is and whether he should risk getting on it to see.]

[keybearer]

And here I thought you'd shoot for one of the coasters.

[Don't look now, but there's a certain "Fake" marching up from behind with a smirk plastered to his face.]

11/25 || Food Stands on the way to Ferris Wheel

[falseidentity]

[Kachessa is very much interested in the looming wheel. It's interesting, and while she doesn't know how it works, it'll give her a good vantage point. Well, she'd be there right now if the food stands weren't distracting her. Carnival food doesn't exist in Elphegort, after all. Not like this, at least. So she's distracted, roaming from stand to stand as if curious. She's not sure where to start...]

food stands

[puppy_lancer]

[Meanwhile, Lancer is also strolling around the same place, chowing down on cotton candy.]

Can't make up your mind, little lady? I recommend the ice cream.

11/25, everywhere

[monstrueux]

[Everything here is absolutely novel to Gilles. He's never seen anything like this carnival before. The rides, the food... it's fascinating! So colorful and bright. This is a Tower of wonders as well as horrors. (And he hasn't found the horrors that horrible yet.) He has to try it all.

He wanders among the rides, a cotton candy in one hand and an ice cream cone in the other. He doesn't have to eat, but he's tried some food in the Tower, and this new cuisine is too interesting to pass up.

When Gilles is encountered, either he's doing a terrible job of paying attention, staring up at all the rides, and walks right into the unfortunate passerby, or else he turns to them and gestures with his cotton candy.]

You!

[[ooc: Gilles' permission post is here. He's currently trying to redeem himself, so he's on his best behavior but unpleasant topics may nonetheless arise.]]

[puppy_lancer]

Yeah? What?

[Lancer turns to face Gilles. He thinks the other Servant looks rather silly, gesturing with his cotton candy.]

[25th Nov, Near to the roller coaster]

[neverbeamemory]

[Out of all of them, Zo still remains intriguing to Sephiroth as opposed to utterly deserving of his defiance. The smallest admin had been the only one ever to have spoken to him directly as well, even if he had been feigning understanding for the most part.

The One Winged Angel cares not for surprises, much less surprises 'gifted' to them by any of the Administration of the Tower but the towering silhouettes that meet him as he steps off the elevator cannot be ignored. It's much warmer on this floor as well, and by that token alone, it certainly seems that Zo has tried to make this as welcoming as possible to those that would be drawn here by the loudspeaker broadcast.

If only for the sake of his curiosity, Sephiroth sweeps through the carnival to give the surprise it's deserved once-over, becoming quickly disappointed at the fact that this is clearly just another distraction set up. Sephiroth understands the appeal, if he were human and around Zo's -apparent- age, that is, but he's not and he will never be. Nor does he have any desire to want to be. He spends a few minutes following the tracks of the roller coaster with his eyes-

Anything for that rush, to make them feel their own mortality.
Humanity yearns for an end, even in it's recreation.

-before turning and heading back through the various stalls in the direction of the stairwell. There are a million other things he could be doing.]

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[Here's a person that Sephiroth probably recognizes. A girl, dresses from head to toe in black, with a large cloak on. She was browsing the carnival like him, also having doubts about the whole carnival as a true gift or a mear distraction. Unfortunately, that doubt was fighting for control, and losing, to a young mind that had never really been to a carnival before.

So there she was, standing in front of the roller coaster, watching it as the cars flew by, and wondering if she should go on herself.

She hasn't noticed Sephiroth yet.]

25th, Food Stand then Teacups

[seventhsong]

There were carnivals on Auldrant. Lorelei simply has never been to one.

So it's really no surprise that he's turned up to this one. It would hopefully be there a while, so he's in no rush at all to explore the place in favor of at first finding out what carnival food is. And what it tastes like.

This is far more focused a sampling than most people would bother with. For Lorelei it's a new field of tastes to come to terms with, though most of them seem sweet. He wasn't excessively fond of sweets, but it was a worthwhile flavor to try. The variety of Everything On A Stick is going to take a while to get through, but he's determined!!

But eventually there's only so much even he can eat, and then it's off to investigate the rides, starting with the teacups. If he sees a familiar face, of course he's going to have to say hello. And then try to lure them with him onto these various rides..

Re: 25th, Food Stand then Teacups

[bloodyashes]

Well, it doesn't get much more familiar than this face. Asch is wandering between the rides looking faintly confused; not only does this look like something Dist might have come up with in a fever dream, with the lights and the spinning, but the normal features of the cafeteria are gone.

He hasn't exactly been to a carnival either, although a few things he passes remind him of Noir's circus.

Asch does eventually find his way over to the food stands, where Lorelei's red hair sticks out obviously. Of course; he should have figured that the sentience and his passion for all things human would wind up here quickly.

Bracing for hug in three, two...

[November 25th, the food stand then the roller coaster]

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[Like many of the newer residents of the tower, Veronica hadn't experienced as much trouble from the admins as others. But she already knew to be distrustful of this Zo kid. After all, sometimes kids were more than they appeared.

But... a carnival was something she hadn't expected in the slightest. At the very least, it wasn't cold down here like the rest of the tower, but she was still suspicious. Then again, it was a carnival... It wouldn't be right if she didn't investigate.

So firstly, she investigated the food stands, ordering one of just about everything to... test it of course. Eventually Veronica found herself in front of the entrance to the roller coaster, looking up at the winding monstrosity and the moving cars. Half-eaten cotton candy in hand, she stared at the ride in wonder and... something else. Would she go on? Was she.... afraid to go on? Was someone going to ask her to step out of the way eventually because she's holding up the line?]

roller coaster

[bashfulshifter]

...Th--Thinking a-about it?

[Rick comes up beside her, quiet but fairly casual. He has a bag of popcorn tucked under his arm and is snacking on it in small handfuls, which he immediately offers to his young companion if and when she notices him.]

Nov 25, everywhere

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer had only poked his head into this carnival with the intention of investigating. However, within minutes, he gets sucked into the festive mood.]

[He can be found gobbling down down ice cream and cotton candy and funnel cakes. Or spinning around on the merry-go-around. Or zipping down the roller coaster. Or, if none of those, looking up at the Ferris wheel and calling people (mostly women) over to be his partner on the ride.]

Hey, wanna take a spin up there with me?

Ferris Wheel

[ladyliberty]

[Hello, have a girl with wings. It doesn't seem like the ferris wheel would be much of a thrill, but she is still looking eagerly up at it.]

Oh, you bet I do!

November 25, entrance

[sageprincess]

What in Nayru's name...

[Guess who has two thumbs and is from a medieval world that doesn't have anything like this?

Of course Zelda went to investigate after Zo's announcement, but now she finds herself struck dumb by what the cafeteria has been transformed into. Who would have thought after nearly two years to grow accustomed to the Tower's impossibilities that there would still be something left that could leave the Princess speechless.]

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer grins and waves at the princess.]

Hey, princess! Seems like Zo made us carnival! Though, it's a bit rowdier than the ones I've been to.

[A pause.]

So, you wanna get on a ride or something?

Nov 25th, everywhere

[technologic]

[April had seen carnivals before, but those ones were ruins and not exactly something people could go have fun in. So this? This was completely new to her, and she just had to go investigate.

The rides are all watched warily of course, especially the Ferris wheel, but you can bet she'll be at the food stands and munching away at whatever she got her hands on, though the cotton candy is stared at for a while as she decides if that is actually edible, and she certainly eats a lot for someone who is pretty short. But she may as well enjoy this before something goes wrong.]

[alephbet]

[Aleph approaches, holding up a stick of cotton candy.]

This really doesn't look like food. It looks like... not food.

[November 25] Food stands, Anywhere

[ladyliberty]

[Oh god, a carnival! A real, honest-to-god carnival! Amelia has died and gone to heaven.

She knows all about them, obviously, but aside from a few experiences of dinky portable rides set up at school, she'd never been able to go to one. She didn't even know what to hit first.]

[Okay, that wasn't true. She'd come down here to eat, in the first place, so naturally her first target was the food stands. Cotton candy, funnel cakes, popcorn, corn dogs, all part of a nutritious and balanced breakfast. She totally intends to stuff herself until she pukes on whatever ride she does first.]

food stands

[bashfulshifter]

[For shame, Amelia! Not having a proper breakfast--you'll make yourself sick!]

[...Unlike the man currently munching on a very greasy-looking cheeseburger across the crowd. At least that has a bit of dairy in it!]

[Catching sight of Amelia, Rick flashes a small, puffy-cheeked smile in her direction and waves.]

Nov 25th, Teacups...ish

[papillonmagique]

[While Zoe had only wanted to have a quick look around the carnival, she eventually decided it would be a waste if she didn't enjoy it for at least one day while it's here.

She isn't one for rides though, but watching how people react to the carnival is pretty funny. It's why she's comfortable sitting on top of the frame which encloses the spinning teacups ride, it's a mystery how she even got up there, happily munching at some cotton candy as she watches people wander around.]

Re: Nov 25th, Teacups...ish

[glassceiling]

[Meanwhile, Assassin is slinking around, glancing around the carnival with a look that is not exactly approving.]

[She has never liked to give herself over to idle, Earthly pleasures, but God (Glorified and Exalted be He) had created the Earth for men to use. If this was truly a day of celebration for these people, she is not one to judge.]

[Eventually, she comes to stand by Zoe as they both watch the crowd pass.]

...Do you know what holiday this festival is for?

November 26th, everywhere

[bashfulshifter]

[While Rick had taken a gander around the carnival the first day it was open, the whole atmosphere was a bit too crowded, slightly too stifling to spend time really observing what was going on around him. Hopefully coming here on the second day, after everyone has tired from the initial excitement, will offer him a less adrenaline-spurred look around the place. You know--get a calm, rational perspective on the matter.]

[...]

[But you know, he can do that just as well from atop the ferris wheel...and with a couple of funnel cakes to keep focused...okay and maybe a ride on the kiddie-coaster look this wasn't supposed to be a professional job don't judge him]

Re: November 26th, everywhere

[glassceiling]

[Meanwhile, Claudia is just staring at him. She is here mostly for Claudia's comfort. She has little interest in these idle luxuries.]

[Nevertheless, the rides do make her curious. She cannot see what pleasure people can derive from just sitting in the slots of a giant wheel.]

[So when Rick gets off the Ferris Wheel, she'll stop him and ask him a question.]

...Is it really so pleasurable?

25th, everywhere

[bydefacto]

[Oh, my god!!

Sealand has always loved funfairs, having the best time whenever he'd get a chance to go to one back home. And this carnival looks amazing! This the most exciting thing he's seen since he arrived here.

He wastes no time, running over to the food first and grabbing some cotton candy and a hotdog. Next stop: every single ride in this joint at least ten times each.]

[alephbet]

[Aleph catches him running towards a roller coaster and draws his attention.]

Uh, Sealand, do you know what this place is?

[Because he has no clue.]

Everywhere, November 26th and then roller coaster, 30th

[terreifying]

A

[Rei seems just at home bouncing from one ride to another, gobbling down snacks or fiddling with games when she's not riding on anything.]

[One ride she keeps on returning to, though, is the roller coaster. She has too much fun feeling her stomach turn as it heads down steep drops.]

Heeee~ey!

[She waves at a random passerby.]

You should come ride this with me!

B

[Rei can't help but feel a little sad as she walks by the carnival, now a skeleton of itself. The explosions really have trashed this place, more than she thought would be possible.]

[As she wanders, she manages to make her way back to her favorite ride. She runs her fingers along the vines of a roller coaster car.]

No more rides now, huh?

A

[undefines]

[Nue pauses when she hears Rei call out to her, her posture straightening some.]

Ah, ride on that thing? [She's at least more willing to consider the idea when it comes from Rei, but...] What for?

25th, rides & food stands

[sicharia]

I.
[Claudia doesn't appear to be here to enjoy herself. In fact, she seems to be regarding the rides with no small amount of wariness. It's not as though there would be much she could do about it even if there were something wrong with them, but... She winds up lingering around the larger, more daunting ones, nervously observing the roller coaster and the ferris wheel in case anything goes wrong.]

II.
[...The food, on the other hand, doesn't seem to provoke as much suspicion in her. Or maybe it's just that there's no other food to eat anymore? In any case, she seems to be examine the flavors of ice cream sold.]

I

[glassceiling]

[Assassin is similarly wary of the rides. For one thing, they are earthly pleasures and might detract from the way of God (Glorified and Exalted be He). For another thing, they might be dangerous. Certainly, none of these painted steel giants existed back in her time.]

Do the people of this age really use these things to seek pleasure, Claudia?

[She stays close to her partner, trusting that her presence will comfort Claudia the same way Claudia's presence comforts her.]

25th, teacups & free choice

[looselips]

I.
[Shinji doesn't respond to the sight of the ride the way you might expect a child his age to. Instead, he seems to be glaring at the teacups, as though they're an offense to him somehow.]

Hmph... This doesn't look like anything special.

[He says this to no one in particular, except maybe himself. It's... It's just a stupid, common carnival ride, so it's nothing to get excited over!]

II.
[...Alternately, someone could catch Shinji when he is looking like an eight-year-old boy who has never been to a fair before. He doesn't smile, exactly, but from time to time he will stop and stare at something, wide-eyed.]

[Whenever he catches himself doing this, he shakes his head and scowls.]

II

[puppy_lancer]

...What you want that prize, kid?

[Lancer, munching on a funnel cake, has just caught Shinji going wide-eyed at a giant duck doll.]

25th, anywhere

[undefines]

[Nue doesn't seem overly interested in the carnival or its rides. She is, however, curious about the change in scenery, so she finds herself drawn to the "fairgrounds" much the same as anyone else might be.]

[She doesn't seem to be aware of what might be considered appropriate behavior for this situation, or if she is, she's deliberately ignoring such. She spends most of her time flying and flitting, perching on top of places like the concession stands or the support beams of the roller coaster. Sometimes, she'll inhale deeply and follow some scent or another, bursting in behind the counter of a food stall or tipping over a trashcan. All in all, she behaves more like a roving animal than a person, traveling here and there as the whim strikes her.]

[p.s. please review this information before tagging]

[belzebul]

[On top of another concession stand munching on a few pieces of Fried Food On A Stick, Zett spots Nue and waves with a free arm.]

Hey.

25th, exploring; 26th, various; 27th, near elevator; 29th, wandering

[warriorscribe]

25th

Enoch has downed the pill Zo gave him with some water from the bathroom sink before coming down to see what it is he'd been working so hard on. He gazes in wonder at the carnival as he steps off the elevator, wandering around the warmed area, getting a bag of popcorn from a stand since it didn't smell sweet like the other things, and generally looking at things like he doesn't know what they are.

Later in the day, he can be found with cloak materials for three cloaks on a park bench or lounging with said unfinished cloaks on one of the merry go round's benches, taking in the sunny carnival as if seeing it for the first time.

26th

Enoch likes this place. The roller coaster and ferris wheel in particular. He tries a piece of cotton candy as he approaches the latter, swallowing it with the slightest of grimaces and looking at it. ...Well, it could be worse. He picks off another piece and looks a lot better about it now that he knows what to expect.

He can be found on most of the attractions today, or hogging a bench by laying down on it, arms folded behind his head. There are two unfinished cloaks draped over his stomach today. You may find him working on them. Or looking up, puzzled, at his new chipped-collar friend.

27th

Enoch arrives with a single pink cloak in hand, its hood not quite fashioned. On stepping out of the elevator, he stops and stares at the destroyed carnival before him.

"...What happened?"

Slinging the cloak over his shoulder, he steps out into the grounds to do a cursory check of the area from elevator to stairs, walking cautiously.

29th

But it's not until today that he sees anything out of the ordinary. After no input from Zo, he's begun looking for any sign of a cause here. Suddenly, he's in a bright, too-white hallway and he's rooted to the spot as two people pass by him. It isn't until one of them mentions "destructive testing" that he realizes who they are.

That number... Over a thousand children...

He tries to run after them, but can't.

"Won't be long until what!?" he calls out to empty space, bursting forward in a spurt of a run by the impulse of trying to the whole time.

25th

[glassceiling]

[Assassin stops by Enoch's bench, looking down at the unfinished cloaks.]

...You are a tailor?

25th and 26th, various

[keepscalm]

scenario A♛ 25th and 26th; wandering with America

[To no one's surprise, the main reason England will be found at the carnival is because of his excitable baby colony. Sometimes America rides on his shoulders, and sometimes he's almost dragged along by America's eagerness. Occasionally, he can even be seen chasing America and shouting his name, no doubt trying to keep an eye on him despite America's inability to contain his excitement.

How very undignified.]

scenario B♛ 25th; food stands

[The first time America escapes his clutches, England waits at the food stands. It's the logical place that America would eventually turn up!

He gives the available foods surreptitious glances every now and again. He's obviously considering the sweet foods, but he'd never live down eating any of them if someone like France were to see him do it.

England isn't likely to want to wander too far from the food stands, since he's hoping America will turn up, but he's open to conversation! Every now and then – but not every time – when someone stops at the stand next to him, he asks:] Have you seen a small blond-haired boy in a white gown running about?

scenario C♛ 26th; various

[After ensuring on the first day that the carnival wasn't too dangerous for America to explore on his own, England mostly wanders on the second day after America darts off to act on his independent streak. He doesn't get on any of the rides, just watches as they operate, meandering from one to another when he wants a change of pace.

However, he tends to linger most often at the ferris wheel. At one point, he muses with a very subtle hint of fondness:] It's no London Eye, but I suppose it's impressive enough.

[Whether he's making conversation or just thinking out loud to himself is unclear. Either way, it's certainly something of a conversation starter.]

B

[sunflowerfairy]

[Yotsuba had come here for some more food-a hot dog this time around-but when the blond man spoke to him, she shook her head. If she had met America, she didn't remember him very well.]

No, Yotsuba hasn't! But who are you?! Are you a good person?

[Everywhere on November 25th and 27th]

[sunflowerfairy]

[25]

Yotsuba had never been to a carnival of any sort, and while the voice had puzzled her and made her wary-since it could have been from a bad person-in the end, her curiosity won..and she was so glad it did. One could find her running around everywhere, grabbing ice cream cones to eat, riding around in the teacups, screaming happily as she rode the roller coaster, or sitting, mesmerized as the ferris wheel spun around.

And one could find her getting sick in a corner somewhere, a product of her eating too much and getting on one ride too many.

[27th]

Today, however, was much different. While she was excited to be visiting the new cafeteria again, that smile faded, and she looked puzzled and scared as she wandered about, looking to see what had happened.

"Did the bad people do this..?"

27th

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[Veronica was patroling through the park, on the look out for any kind of danger, or anyone in danger. Noticing the familiar, green hair, Veronica made her way over to Yotsuba.]

Yotsuba, y-you shouldn't b-be here. It isn't safe.

November 25, The food stands and then who knows where!

[gradosfinest]

[It seems entirely too good to be true. Little in this Tower is truly happy, and her first assumption is that basically every one of these contraptions is probably designed to horrifically kill whoever is foolish enough to step on it. Even if it's Zo, there must be some kind of catch, right?

... still, after about twenty minutes of observing the rides and nothing going catastrophically wrong she starts to get the feeling the rides at least aren't dangerous to be around, and her stomach is doing a fine job of reminding her what she hasn't done. Eat. She probably shouldn't get carried away, but a few bites to eat couldn't hurt.

And then a few bites turned into two cheeseburgers, the first swiftly demolished and the second half-eaten while the young soldier just sort of wanders around semi-aimlessly. She's still not inclined to actually get on any of the rides, but she's certainly enjoying the atmosphere more than when she first got here.]

[puppy_lancer]

Yo.

[Lancer waves at the woman he had met in the baths.]

Man, this Zo kid really knows how to throw a party.

[justabignobody]

[Prompt A - 25th - At the food stands]

[Riku is by default very distrustful of anything that just suddenly appears in the tower - better safe than sorry after all, even when Zo is in charge. Food is generally safe though unless Riki is involved and so that's where he starts out, warily eying the ice cream before he moves on further.

...He may go for the cotton candy though.]


[Prompt B - 29th - At the Teacups]

[Riku keeps sitting in the unmoving teacup, even after his encounter there, arms resting on his knees as his eyes drift off and he thinks about what he's just been told.

He remembers the files from months and months back, and all the other hints that not all is as it appears in the Tower. Nothing is ever just black and white, can be cut down to just good and evil. (Furthermore he knows the feeling of things gone wrong and the guilt of it, and he had been lucky - the murders he had committed in selfishness and ignorance had been reversed, but that doesn't change the fact that he has committed them in first place - and he has a feeling that "she" will not be.)

After another moment he sighs and focuses, hands clenching. There is nothing he can do about this right now, except maybe share what he's seen with some other people. In a moment. For now he doesn't quite feel yet like moving from this spot.]

29th

[no_longer_a_king]

[Arturia has been exploring the ruins of the Carnival since the explosions, but has found nothing beyond the wreckage. She hasn't even had a vision of her own yet, but there has to be some clue as to what is going on: pieces of a bomb, a source of the blast, anything. It's driving her up the wall she can't find anything!

When she spots Riku sitting on the teacup, she approaches him, curious as to why he looks so upset.]

Are you all right?

[lethechained]

[November 25th - 26th, EVERYWHERE]

[Despite her reluctance to touch much of anything, be it food or ride, there's something a bit wistful about the way she watches the goings on, looks up at the rides or stands where the smell of food is strongest.]

[She could probably be encouraged to participate, with a little effort.]

[(It's not until it's been a while that she actually tries the merry-go-round of her own volition.)]


[November 27]

[Why not come back a third day?]

[That was what she'd thought, really, but it seems the third time is the (bad luck) charm. She slows to a stop not far from where she's entered the floor, the faint smile that was previously at the corners of her mouth falling away.]

A

[terreifying]

Hey, Namine!

[Rei waves at her friend. They haven't seen each other in a while.]

Are you checking out any of the rides? I'll ride with you!

[Nov 25th, ferris wheel and anywhere/Nov 27th, roller coaster]

[guardianlight]

A.
[Having arrived in less than a handful of months, she didn't know what to truly expect when she heard others say it's a "Zo month." From what she'd been told, and what she heard, this was apparently a good thing to most. So far, she felt inclined to agree. Even though she had made herself scarce for most of it.

Apparently making a daily trip down to the cafeteria was going to change that, with all the things she found here instead of the usual. Fake or not, this was almost a pleasant surprise.

...She hasn't seen a carnival or fair in what feels like an eternity. The ferris wheel almost reminds her of what they would set up for the annual fireworks festival in Bodhum. Of course, it was all a bit more advanced than these, but beggars can't be choosers.

Perhaps you'll catch her there, or maybe roller coaster or the food stands. Though she is a little wary of the cotton candy along with everything else. Some things just seem to good to be true even for illusions.]

B.
[Seeing how this place had changed since the last few days and the explosions... she had to remind herself that it wasn't real; not really. Still, this place where everyone had so much fun until now - perhaps she should be grateful that it lasted so long-

Yet when she looked over to the run-down roller coaster, something in her stopped. When had it become a monstrosity of computer monitors, wire, and metal aloids? More importantly, why was it shaped like...

'Why is this shaped like Cocoon?'

She moves to take a closer look, slowly raising a hand as if to touch it when she notices the empty seat inside it. It was all so surreal, as if this one place was in another time-

Just like that, it was gone, leaving Lightning as though she'd seen a ghost. Perhaps she didn't realize how her mouth was open slightly, or that her hand lingered there, just barely touching the corroded metal. What she was certain of was that time paradoxes were occurring here as well. That, or something similar.]

A

[withani]

[When she gets near the roller coaster, she'll see a perhaps familiar girl staring up at it with a mixture of excitement and awe. The girl turns just in time to see Lightning, and grins.]

You riding, too?