yourfononsarewhack | 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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yeah, okay, the fact that he was left off of the people of his world until the last moment stung, quite a bit in fact, but the command makes him narrow his eyes at the journal. What...]

Wait, who is this?

[He almost missed this. Even though at the same time, he's not entirely ready to trust this - not when it was so soon again that he left Luke to disappear. Jade still replies under the anonymous cover.]

I see you're grasping the point of an anonymous message about as well as expected. You're free to try to put the pieces together by yourself. Otherwise, the simplest solution would be to come and meet with me. I promise that I do not bite.

How should I know? Why're you even bothering being all anonymous, anyway? It's not like we bite.

[... Except maybe Asch, especially with using his mother's name like that. Oh dear.]

Are you from Malkuth? And how come

[Oh. Oooh. Ooooh.]

Jade? [The words some slowly, as if unsure if the guess is right or if he's about to embarrass himself to someone who obviously knows him.]

A remarkable guess. You may just be right, Luke. Of course, I'd rather not confirm just yet. Still, this is proving to be a useful test of one's basic deductive skills.

... Yeah, yeah.

[Still, he can't deny the little bud of hope and happiness, even amidst all he's feeling now. Jade. Maybe. It's been a long time, and the last time he saw him, Luke was...

Mm. He shakes his head to clear himself out of that.]

Why do I have to get your clothes?

You seem like the most natural for carrying on the duties normally designated for Gailardia. Or would you rather an old man catch his death of cold out there?

Right.

[Yeah, he doesn't believe that for a second. But that definitely tells him that it's Jade he's talking to, and the corner of his lips tugs up because of it.]

Okay, I'll be there soon. Second floor, huh...

Yes. It is the only office which currently has its lights on. I know it may be a bit much to expect punctuality from you, but I hope to see you soon.

[He has to see for sure if it's the Luke he remembers - if he could still be alive. But... yeah. When Luke arrives, Jade will be sitting in a desk, still in just his New Feather pants as he sorts through the paperwork he's already been compiling alongside his journal.]

[It takes Luke a bit of time, what with having to find Jade's clothes and feeling a wave of insecurity that he'd only been feeling for the past month or so. What if he can't find them, or Jade? What if he doesn't really want to see him - his name was dead last, after all, and seemed to be added on as an afterthought. Is he really just a bother?

He knows it's dumb to think these things, knows it, but it's hard to just brush them aside. Rather, it's harder, these days. But he knows he can't back out on Jade's request; not only is that a rude thing to do to a friend, but denying a demand from Jade may have consequences that Luke doesn't particularly want to think about.

So, after some time, there's a knock on the door, and Luke hesitantly opens it and sticks his head and shoulder in the room, uniform just barely seen draped over his arm.]

Jade?

[He looks up towards Luke as he enters and quickly takes in any difference in his appearance from the last time he saw him back home. He did prepare himself for the possibility, so that there is a minimal amount of surprise involved in seeing him again, alive as ever. Jade keeps his expression stoic and waves his hand at the air in a vaguely inviting manner.]

Yes. Please come in. Am I correct in assuming you are Luke fon Fabre?

[Luke may look just slightly older, just slightly taller, but other than that, he's the same as Jade has always seen him. It's why Luke looks so confused when he walks the rest of the way through the door, a frown on his face with one eyebrow raised a bit.]

... Yeah, who else would I be? [Unless this is about him being a replica, but this is... weird.]

[This is possibly after Jade has spoken to Ion and gotten a more informed view of the situation, and the few physical changes all seem excusable. But perhaps the most telling sign that this would be the "real" Luke is how easily Jade feels himself slipping into their normal routine. He gives a cheery smile and answers in a familiarly airy tone.]

There are a number of possibilities, not all of which have been ruled out yet. However, we have established that you know yourself as Luke and at the minimum you know or remember enough about me to identify me. [He rises from the chair.] But, please - hand me my clothes, why don't you, and we can get this started.

First Field of Fonons [Written/Action]

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