yourfononsarewhack | First Field of Fonons [Written/Action]

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First Field of Fonons [Written/Action]

[Written, Anonymous]

[The following anonymous message appears around noon on Sunday. It could be familiar to anyone who's seen it before.]

Excuse me, people of Luceti. I am new here, and I would simply like to make a few requests in order to better ascertain this situaion. First of all, I'd like to request that the following people report to the local schoolhouse's second floor office immediately for questioning:

-Fon Master Ion
-Nephry Osborne (née Balfour)
-Anise Tatlin
-Mystearica Aura Fende
-Florian
-Asch, son of Susanne
-Arietta the Wild

-Also, Luke fon Fabre.

[He intentionally uses a personal touch in some names for several reasons. One is to hint at what he knows about them, which gives incentive for them to come meet with him without knowing for sure who he is. Anger is also a useful incentive, which is why at least one name is written a certain way - not to mention how anger can make someone slip up. And of course, Jade has to see if these people truly answer to such names - if they really have the memories of those he knew back in Auldrant.]

If there is anyone else here hailing from Auldrant whose name is not on that list, I invite them to be questioned as well. Secondly, any authors of this so-called Guide whom still reside within the enclosure are also to come talk to me. I would be glad to speak with anyone who has any other unique information at all.

Finally, I believe there that one of the clothing shop should currently have in its stock a standard grade uniform of the Malkuth imperial forces. If he is currently within Luceti, Gailardia Galan Gardios is to retrieve it and then report in for questioning. Otherwise, this duty shall fall to Luke fon Fabre.

That will be all.

[Action]

[It's been several hours since Jade woke up in this seemingly unoccupied office, which possibly contained some samples of pottery which had a disturbing familiarity to them. Jade had no problem working alone and in this state of undress to figure it out where he was - occasionally examining the hallway and nearby rooms to confirm that he was in some kind of schoolhouse. Even his glasses were gone, but Jade felt no major concern for the time being. He realized after reading the Guide that it could be effect of the supposed power cap reducing his need for the glasses. It just helps him feel more confident on his decision of spending the rest of the day in that room, awaiting those who come to see him, while making some paperwork already from loose sheets of paper.

During these hours before making the anonymous message, he had studying the contents of the journal, reading back through the last few months to gather as much information as possible - and studying the Guide as well. He liked to think that he was taking it calmly and rationally. But he has to confirm things firsthand. The images he saw in that book included those whom he was sure were dead. Until he talks to them himself, he can't dismiss the possibility of being suddenly trapped in a replica world, no matter how final Van's defeat seemed to be. So Jade sat at a desk with his fingers steepled, awaiting the first interviewee, his red eyes more glaringly standing out with his lack of glasses.

One could also catch him that evening in full uniform, browsing the item shop for those glasses once all his interrogations are said and done.]

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[He closes his eyes for a moment, breathes and pulls himself back down into the chair. He reaches to adjust his glasses, almost reflexively, but he quickly withdraws his hand once he remembers that his glasses are not there.]

There's no need for concern. I suppose even one such as myself has trouble processing shocking information from time to time. It's better to get it all over with up front than to drag it out unnecessarily, wouldn't you say? [He tries to smile, to make it seem like something he could laugh off, but he still finds himself continuing in a more stern voice.] You are telling me that I met the Professor again in this world. And that if what the Guide says regarding the memories of returning inhabitants is indeed true, than I will never be able to recollect this.

[When Jade Curtiss gets angry in front of somebody? There's need for concern.]

It is highly unlikely, yes. ['Never' is too irreversible of a word, around here.]

[He's simmering now, trying to keep it contained. Trying to resist the urge to throw a petulant fit against the universe over what he's been denied - and against all the impossible phenomena that seem to have bent over backwards to allow it to be possible. He steeples his hands together on the desk to try to maintain some sense of at least an image of composure.]

I see. [And his eyes grow distant, as he states as formally as he can.] May I ask how she regarded me during her time in this enclosure?

To the best of my recollection, fondly. As a former student and potential friend - one that had learned from his mistakes. I think you spoke about that day more than once, but I don't know what the two of you might have said.

[Fondly. Potential friend. learned from his mistakes. He inwardly curses - this very subject is making him feel vulnerable, and that's the last thing he wants to be. Especially in front of his sister.]

And now, no one will. I can't say that I can accept this account with any amount of ease. Even considering the professor's character, the thought of her... no, no, I do not have all the facts. [He talks on as if to himself.] She could have very easily just accepted my existence without forgiving me. That seems relatively more credible.

She did forgive you. [Not wanting to cut in on his mental dance with himself, Nephry keeps her words soft.] I think she understood.

[Suddenly, he wished he had his glasses with him. They always seemed to conceal his eyes when he needed it the most. He had stayed here confident that, if anything, he could wind up targeting his friends' emotions to get what he wanted. Instead, he was finding himself compromised as well; this subject, everything about Nebilim and his guilt, was striking at the one portion of his being that he mildly suspected to be emotion. It was definitely some kind of pain. And thinking that he was forgiven? It made that pain ring again, causing a shimmer of something like concern in his eyes.

He does lower his head, but he still addressed Nephry in a quieter tone.]

There was nothing to understand. I was wrong. And I created a monstrosity. It's as a simple as that. Regardless, this is no longer relevant. She's gone, is she not? She's back in the past now, where she belongs.

[Nephry has to admit, this is a striking reversal of what she expected to happen in their conversation.]

If you ever feel like asking again. Perhaps when you've been here for a little while, if that should happen.

['I'll answer.' She's never quite seen him so...exposed before.]

That's remarkably considerate of you, Nephry. [It almost sounds complimentary. Jade says it as if it were a passage in a textbook. Jade wants to forget this in a way - he doesn't know what to do of it. It's something he's hearing of second hand so it should not count. Seeking her forgiveness may have been his impossible dream, but it was only obtained in what might as well have been a second life. Maybe he does need time. She might be right about that, as loath as he is to admit it.

He presses his fingers against his forehead as he collects his thoughts.]

I'll let you know should such a time come. Is there anything else of an unsettling or unexpected nature that has occurred in this place that I should know about? We may as well cover all the bases now and get it over with.

Do you think me inconsiderate, generally? [With enough of a quirked eyebrow to edge them both back into more familiar waters. For now, she refrains from telling him that Gelda had also fallen in love and planned to marry.]

Many things that occur here are unsettling, and most of those can be unpleasant, too. To tell you everything would take several weeks.

I wouldn't say that. It would be more accurate to say that I rarely expect any level of consideration when discussing that particular subject matter. [Why those fools stuck around him even after he admitted the truth about Nebilim to them all, he'll never fathom. But he won't hold it against them.]

I see. It may suffice for me to see what else I can discover for myself through the journals. [He says as he absent-mindedly flips the pages. And of course he's thinking if there is anything near the level of Nebiliim, he would prefer to find out when there isn't another person looking at him.] However, if there are any key points you would like to focus on in the here and now, I may be inclined to listen.

There is something, actually. [Far be it for her to want anyone she cares about in Luceti, but she couldn't deny the Malnosso's impeccable timing.] We need your expertise. ...Ion needs your help.

What kind of help, precisely? [Assuming this is before Ion comes to see him, he doesn't have much of an idea of the fon master's condition.]

[It's her turn to take a long breath and steeple her fingers.]

I don't quite know. [It strikes her how odd it is to look at him without his glasses on.] Last summer, he suffered from a condition that Saphir discovered to be some sort of...extra strain on the fonons in his body, brought on by stress and not enough rest, among other things. Something similar appears to be affecting him now, but if it is the same...sickness, it is progressing much faster this time. [A detail brushes past her thoughts.]

I believe that in this instance it may be related to, or amplified by, whatever happened the last time he was...held captive by the Malnosso. We talked about it once; since then he has been reluctant to speak to any of us at all.

[The Big Thing, she saves for last. Fon Master Ion will be unable to comply with your request.] He can hardly walk anymore.

[Saphir. That's an exceptional mental note to take, but not one to pursue at the moment. Not with the news that accompanies it.]

I see... This is quite distressing. I'll have to submit him to an examination as soon as possible. [He says calmly, rationally. Perhaps a few ideas are forming in his mind - but he's sure he can find a way to help the fon master. Or maybe just wants to.

After all, Ion's death had been regrettable.]

In the past few years, he has found a stable life here, Jade - one with people who treat him as someone real, for lack of a better metaphor. He is very aware of what he would return to, should he leave this place.

[What she doesn't think she can convey to her dear brother is how much Ion doesn't want to die again.]

[He gets some sense of it, at least - it makes sense logically. Aside from that, it enforces the notion he's been getting hints of that Nephry has been taking care of Ion. A curious relationship to be sure.]

In a sense, I'm glad to know that a replica could carve such an existence here. Just [That had been his new goal - to make a better life for replicas. But it looks like part of his job was already being done for him through this world.] Just as you seem to have been getting to know your acquaintances better. But I know full well what you speak of. What happened to Ion back home...

[He pauses for a moment in thought.]

It's not something I'd allow to be witnessed a second time.

I feel the same about that. [She knows what happened to him. Most of how it happened, too.] In light of all of this, I hope you will not disagree to helping him.

You may find that I'm not disagreeable on this matter. Of course, my medical experience is severely limited. Still, I'll do all within my power to try to analyze the problem and help him. [Maybe even come up with some BS solution in the classic Curtiss manner.]

Jade, you're the expert on replicas. [More than Saphir. More than Van. There isn't anyone else.] Anything you find out will be better than what we can do now.

I very well can't deny that. [Please, continue with the flattery, dear sister.] There is of course the chance that his current problems are not replica-specific. But whichever it is, I am sure I can figure it out with enough examination.

Without terrifying him, please. [He might still be...put off bu Jade, after what happened with the tree.]

[He sighs.]

I am not going to try to terrify the fon master.

Given your tendency toward mischief, I would feel terrible if I was less than perfectly clear.

Did he answer your message?

That is understandable, but not applicable to this individual.

[He looks down to check the journal.]

Mm, yes. It seems that he is amicable towards meeting with me on the first floor. And as I am not some bogeyman out to terrify him, I shall acquiesce to this request. [He says as he scribbles.]

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