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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Mm. I see.

[He takes a moment to collect the account and gives a glance to the wheelchair. And there's something like a smile at Ion's last words]

Hardships are always a part of life, although I suppose it sounds as if those in effect here are of an entirely different variety than those normally encountered back home. At the same time... I have come to hope for a way to replicas to be able to live peaceful lives. I'm responsible for their creation after all. So, given that and your final world on the matter, I... appreciate that you have another chance at life in this world, Ion.

[He's not quite sure what to say to that at first, but eventually he settles on a smile.] ...thank you, Jade.

Actually, there's something you would have found out about eventually I'm sure, but... our world isn't the only one with replicas either. Not quite to the same extent as on Auldrant, but I have met a few of them here from at least two different worlds.

[And at least of them is someone Jade would be familiar with if he's stalked any of the journal entries so far, given she's dating Luke at all.]

[At the very idea - he looks towards Ion sharply. Other replicas? His first idea is disbelief, his second is reminding himself that being from other worlds, he would not be responsible for them. And his third is a seething jealously that there could be someone else on another world with an intellect to create the same thing he had.

He responds sharply.]

Tell me more.

[Perhaps he could have caught wind of her; but unless there's any indication in accessible entries, he cannot guess that she too is a replica.]

[Though Ion didn't exactly expect a positive reaction to that, the sharp reply makes him frown.] I'm afraid there isn't much I can tell you on a technical standpoint. So far, Auldrant is the only world I've heard of where fonons exist. But in at least one case, it's possible for them to share memories with their original... or memories of things that never happened at all.

But... they still suffer from many of the same problems as those from Auldrant. So I hope you'll understand why I'd rather not divulge too much information. It's not exactly something they would otherwise make public, and I'd rather not risk saying anything that might violate their privacy.

[i.e.: He'd rather not say something that would allow Jade to figure out who they are. It's not as though he doesn't trust Jade, but... well, it has been a long time since he's seen him, and the last Jade who was here did manage to shake that trust a bit.]

[Part of him was disappointed that the information didn't come so easily. Ion could sometimes be a useful source of easy information. But Jade was understanding of the boundaries provided by Ion's honesty.]

Mm. I understand. It would be foolish of them to pass any information so easily that could be used against them. [So they'd either keep it to themselves or only pass it on to one who would keep it a secret, as Ion seemed to. Jade admires the move as much as he is disappointed - but he also understands the importance of voicing it to build Ion's trust.] I must admit, this limited amount of information alone has caught me somewhat off guard. I had long ago given up on the possibility of replicas retaining an original's memories.

[It could have gone differently. So, so differently.]

...even if the memories were the same as the original's, they would still be memories of times that never passed for the replica. False memories would only be a painful reminder of what they can never be.

[It only occurs to Ion now that he's never really spoken to Jade about replicas like this. It's only in Luceti that he's come to be more open about just who and what he is -- and perhaps that's why his words might come off as notably more defensive than he would have been about the topic back home.]

[After all, had it been possible on Auldrant for replicas to retain their original's memories, that same process would have no doubt been used on Ion. And the only case he's aware of in Luceti is his best friend. How could a replica accept himself as a individual being separate from his original if they held the same memories?]

It's for the best that such things aren't possible on Auldrant.

[He doesn't like being told that while he is still processing the possibility itself, even by Ion.]

You don't know that would be an absolute fact. If the replica has full memories and no reason to question them, then...

[Then it wouldn't be so different than suddenly waking up in a place like this, wouldn't it? But Jade has enough courtesy to cut that part out. He bows his head slightly and pinches at the bridge of his noise briefly.]

My apologies. I understand your feelings on this matter, Ion. Rest assured, this does not reflect how my views on yourself or Luke. Merely, I cannot help but consider other individual cases in which this could have helped a replica to turn out for the better. [Primarily, he thought of Nebilim. But as much as he wanted to believe that it would help her, he knows that wouldn't solve the primary problem of the mental instability which was caused by his method of fomicry. No, nor would it solve the true primary problem of having killed her in the first place.]

[No, you don't understand. You can't.]

[This was hardly a good conversation for Jade's first day in Luceti. And though there's a part of Ion that feels he should try and make Jade see why that idea is so flawed -- to understand why that would bring no benefit to a replica and only make forming an individual identity that much more painful -- there's also a part of him that wonders if anyone other than another replica would really understand why. After all, without a sense of self and identity to call your own, what else could you ever be but a mere replacement? Living with the knowledge that no matter what happened to you, it didn't matter, because you could be so easily replaced by another...]

...it's fine. [Ion's an easy enough read for Jade to see that he clearly struck a nerve, though Ion's not about to give him time to dwell on it.]

Have you met with any of the others yet? I'm not sure how easily they might trust an anonymous message over the journal...

[And there's at least one person who Ion feels he should say something about if Jade is going to insist on seeing her as well.]

[He can see that and makes a quiet note of that. But Jade convinces himself that Ion would think differently if he knew more about Nebilim's replica. Instead, he addresses his question.]

This format has presented some interesting difficulties. [Which made it fun to navigate around.] But I have been able to convince a few to show up already. Nephry... Arietta...

You've already seen Arietta?

[Oh, now the look on his face is one of concern. Jade seemed all right, so clearly she didn't injure him in any way, but...]

Did anything happen?

Not much of interest. It seems my presence alone was enough to distress her. My attempts to calm her went unheeded, and she fled.

[He leaves out some of the emotionally damaging things he said - just to try to get some hint out of her as to the time she came from.]

All I was able to take from the meeting was that she's indeed alive and well, here. I was hoping you could shed some more light on the matter, in fact.

[...]

["Indeed alive and well". Why wouldn't she be? If the change in Ion's expression is any indication, he clearly doesn't know the answer to that question.]

[But he steels himself, hoping that... maybe he just misunderstood Jade's wording.]

...Arietta has been in the village for almost a year now. She's been living peacefully with Asch, and though I wouldn't exactly say she's made peace with the others, she tolerates them. She's made no move towards attacking us since being here, and I'd like to keep it that way.

[Not that he thinks Jade would make any attempt to provoke Arietta without reason, but given there is at least one person from Auldrant who makes a hobby of doing so, it needs to said.]

She's also... been told the truth about the original Ion. Though given her current understanding of replicas, she still has trouble distinguishing myself from her memories of him.

[He observes the change in Ion's expression carefully. It seems he could be caught unawares by this. Could he not know...?

But he absorbs all of Ion's information carefully. The volatile manner in which Arietta had reacted to Jade's very presence had made him question whether or not she had some kind of truce with the others there from their world, but according to Ion that seems to be so.

And another juicy peace of information: she does know about the original Ion. But of course she probably cannot process it properly. He was left to wonder what Ion she was shouting about when he blindsided her with that question earlier.]

I see. This is all useful information. However, there's one detail I've been wanting to focus on.

Ion. Do you have any idea what time she "arrived" here from?

Only that she comes from a time I wouldn't have any recollection of. If anyone other than her would know for certain, I imagine it would be Asch. And I'm sure you would have better luck asking him than trying to get Arietta to talk to you.

[Which is really saying something cause, you know, Asch.]

I understand. [He says quietly, understanding the implication. After your death. He had figured as much from the way she reacted to his mentioning of his death. However, he also considered it likely that she or someone else would have confided in Ion about her own death, especially if she had experienced it. However, he seems unaware of it. And he wonders what he should do about that.]

I suppose you're right on that count. Mm, but he does not exactly fit my ideal image of a cooperative individual either.

But more so than Arietta, right? [With a small smile.]

Asch has been here longer than any of us. If anyone would understand the importance of knowing just how much everyone remembers, it would most certainly be him.

Of course, and certainly more rational than Arietta. [And he gives a slight smile.] But we should count our blessings - both are infinitely more helpful by default than Dist.

The passage of time here has softened him, eh? I suppose that is not so unlikely. So he truly has been here the longest - at least out of those who still bear memories.

[How well is Jade watching Ion's reactions right now? Because that is most certainly a frown on his face at the mention of Dist's name.]

[But he won't say anything unless Jade brings it up again.]

Yes, that's right. Though I can't imagine it would be as helpful to try and figure out who's been here the longest including times they don't remember. Especially if there's no one left who remembers they were here.

[But as far as he knows, the village isn't all that old, so they could really only go so far back...]

[The frown is noted and cataloged, alright. It could mean any number of things.]

I see. Still, it could make for an interesting pet experiment. After all, it seems that in this village, one is left with much more free time than one is accustomed to. Have you picked up any interesting hobbies?

I don't know whether it would qualify as interesting, but I tend to spend much of my time reading. I did try cooking once before as well, but I wasn't allowed to try again until some time after that...

[There's a reason Ion never cooked for the party back home -- by all means, he's probably worse than even Natalia.]

[Jade gives a playful smile.]

I see. In any case, I'll assume your cooking is at least safer than the concoctions of certain mutual acquaintances. [Looking at you, Kimlasca royals.]

...I was banned from the kitchen for a week.

[That's a no -- at least Natalia didn't make things spontaneously explode.]

But Anise has been giving me lessons, so I'm not nearly as bad as I used to be.

I'm sure Anise is the perfect guide to bringing out your natural talent. Still - as loath as I am to dispensing lessons, you should feel free to observe me cook and observe what you may. [He remembered feeling surprisingly impressed when Luke declared himself as having "stolen" lessons from Jade. But Ion would have to be invited to do it.] I'll be content if you can cook something more edible than Luke is capable of.

Really? You wouldn't mind?

[See, now there's the happy and almost child-like smile that is far more suited for Ion's face than his previous frowns.] I would be honored to learn from you, Jade.

[He recalls that peculiar smile.

It's fitting.]

I'm glad that you see it that way, Ion. And as a bonus, you can learn the most discreet methods of poisoning the meals of your enemies.

[Action]

distressedude - 2013-05-01 05:00 (UTC) - Expand

[Action]

yourfononsarewhack - 2013-05-04 06:36 (UTC) - Expand

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