yourfononsarewhack | Second Field of Fonons [Action/Video]

[Jade spends some of the day holed up in "his" workshop. Formerly Dist's, but since remodeled to match its new owner, as Jade does his best to ignore whatever positive influence Dist's previous presence in this world was implied to have. Instead, he finds himself spending the better part of his afternoon researching previous journal entries to collect as much information as possible. It's better than trying to deal with the fact that Anise has apparently been kidnapped the other day.

But he's stuck on two particular entries, that were made around the same time - just a few days over a year ago. The moment he found the first entry, he made sure that the door was locked; having ensured that a lock was installed on the door to the workshop if there was not one already. And he tried to play the entries quietly, to study them.

"Earlier, I discovered that Regal Bryant and Gelda Nebilim have each been sent back to their respective worlds."

"What do you believe happens...when you die?"

He considers all the different Nebilims that he knows of. The replica he made, that hollow and destructive shell that he had to put down with the friends hed somehow made. The ghost whom he knew to roam Luceti before he could remember being here, who apparently gave him the forgiveness that he always sought, but now could not remember. The disguise worn by that parasite of a Dream Shifter, who was a Nebilim whom had lived into Jade's adulthood and tried teaching him secrets of the Seventh Fonon - an ideal that was too good to be true, who came to be as dead as the other Nebilims. Just like the original, the one they were all rooted in. The professor who was able to teach Jade - whom he realized too late whom he could not replace. But Luceti brought all these other complicating factors into the equation, which made him ponder Nephry's very question for himself. Relying on death as a permanent absolute was no longer reliable. What is he supposed to make of it now, and of his responsibility towards others' lives and deaths?

Jade eventually resurfaces from the workshop and may stop to talk with any of the house-mates who are around on his way out of the house. Donning an umbrella, he makes a few more stops around town for the remainder of the day. He goes to the Battle Dome, where he does some training in simulations of environments similar to the icy Mt. Roneal, and he unleashes some of his most devastating fonic artes in this practice. Perhaps more venting than training.

And sometime that evening, he makes his way to the memory garden, as discreetly as he can manage. He's only there for the sake of curiosity. He wonders if anyone arranged anything for the Gelda who was here. If he does not find anything, he will instead find an empty space to stand still in contemplation for some minutes, before turning to take the dark trek home.]

[Video]

[When he chooses to address the journals, he's back at the workshop, his fingers steepled before him as he looks into the video feed. He goes in a voice that has some cheeriness mixed with sarcasm, and occasionally bitterness.]

I suppose I might as well make an address over these journals at this point. As loath as I am to actually use this unwieldy device, it's been far too boring around here. [He won't bring up his actual first entry, since he was all anon for it.] Some of you here may know me, and please keep in mind regarding anything you think you may have learned about me during one of my previous "stays" here, that I am a notorious liar. My name is Colonel Jade Curtiss, and it's been several months since my arrival here. Certainly long enough to get an idea of the Malnosso's capabilities. But please note that no matter what oddness their experiments would have you believe, I actually have no children. [And considering that he apparently looked oddly unlike himself during that week, he thinks it should be easy to pretend that was not he himself doing those odd things - being part of some family. The more distance he could create from those fake memories, the better.

Jade reaches up to adjust his glasses.]

Mm, am I missing something? Ah, yes. I believe that to truly complete an entry in this journal, I'm required to ask some manner of pointless question. Very well, I suppose I might as well go all the way while I'm making this message. So tell me, random citizens of Luceti. What is the most outlandish dream that you've ever had?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Annnd here we go. Was he still on that? :|]

You still think I did that for glory, do you? Or are you simply upset you didn't make yourself useful at the time?

I'm certain you only had everyone's wellbeing in your actions. But I doubt you'd turn away any glory that came of it. And you'll find that I'm actually not upset in the least. At the least, I was able to route and destroy quite a number of those monsters that were advancing upon the village.

[Well it's not so much for glory, but to use that victory to his advantage. So yes, Jade was onto something there, but not quite.]

My days of seeking glory are long gone. I am merely upholding my duties as a knight.

[If he was more familiar with Alexei, it would be easier to guess his true motivations. In the meantime, he's content to prod at more shallow accusations.]

I see. The loyal, dutiful knight who slayed the monster. But your monster has yet to return.

[...Huh, that actually made him think. It has been close to whole month now.]

...Yes, isn't that strange? [He has a suspicion of what Jade was implying here, but-] That makes two cases now.

Two? And what was the previous case? [He can hold off the trolling when he can get some exposition instead.]

[He gives Jade a glance.]

It happened in a draft, October of last year. Someone else had to be put down and they never returned.

Interesting. Are there any leading theories or evidence as to this phenomena? It seems to me they could have been sent to a different enclosure, or perhaps returned to their own worlds. Or... hm.

It could be any of the above or none of them. The only thing we know is that they died and never returned like usual after a week. Their names are certainly not registered here anymore.

[He walks ahead, spotting a patch in the garden not too far off from where Jade is. This patch belongs to Casey.] Brings a whole new factor to the game. What determines whether we return or not after we die?

That's the precise thought that was coming to me. [He takes a few steps towards Alexei, concentrating on this matter rather than the memorials or trolling at the moment.]

Everyone hear treats this cycle of death and return as gospel. With the only exception being these apparent "sacrifices". But what's to say that this word is so absolute? What if there are times in this world that death merely... acts as it should?

[He's noting Jade's interest, but continues to look at who he was actually here for.]

Well, this is the first year I've seen and heard of these "deaths". There are no other known cases like this for as long as I've been here. [...] Three years to be exact, so something has changed.

[Such a multi-tasker. But Jade's eyes start to drift to check the memorial.]

That's certainly remarkable. Have Ganondorf's lodgings been investigated?

Not that I'm aware of. I have the impression he wasn't the type to just inform anyone where he was staying.

[He places flowers before the memorial. For a moment, his expression softened, but it was for a mere few seconds before he straightened up and looked to Jade to talk business.]

It would be difficult for him to wander about unnoticed and without help.

[He looks down curiously at the action. And of course he takes in the softness of his actions, memorizing the name on the memorial. Taking in all he could tell about this man.]

You're right. Surely someone would have seen him. Especially with the nature of the journals around here, it seems highly improbably for someone to slip around the enclosure undetected.

What happened in the previous case?

As I said, his name is no longer on record in Luceti. Unless there is a journal malfunction as well, it is safe to assume he is no longer here if we cannot personally try to contact him ourselves.

[He rests a hand on his chin, trying to recall the details.]

The one who died and never returned was named Moro, a wolf god that used to roam the forest around the village. In that particular draft, there was an outbreak. Something was infecting living organisms and turning them into the living dead. I was not personally involved with what happened, but I believe she had been infected as well and had to be put down.

A wolf god. [He repeats quietly.]

It seems that there were unusual and dramatic circumstances in both cases. A wolf god, infected. And Ganondorf... well, he wasn't his ordinary self, was he?

...I have the impression that in Ganondorf's case, his actions weren't against his will. [Though he was just speculating. He didn't exactly knew the guy, but with just how things went down...]

But I can see where your line of thought is on this matter. Perhaps the Malnosso don't have a full grip on us, or a few of us who have gone too far astray.

It's possible. Even if Ganondorf acted like his ordinary self, something had to prompt his ill-fated attempt at a takeover. It seemed much too sloppy for him to have been planning it, at least from where I was standing, unless of course he is much less intelligent than I give him credit for.

I'm not entirely sure about a conclusion; but drawing out the similarities between the two events could potentially lead to something. They'll just all be theories without hard evidence - evidence that is impossible to find in this world.

I can give you one possible reason. I do recall he was taken into custody by the Malnosso before that. He may been targeting the Malnosso and used us as his pawns. [He seem the vengeful type.]

As soon as we find an answer, this place will throw us off the trail with something just as ridiculous.

I see. Even though my time here has been short, I feel like I can understand what you mean all too well.

[Suddenly, he motions towards Casey's memorial.]

Is that person dead?

[Are these two legitimately getting along?

A moment's pause as he decides how to go about explaining Casey.]

She is in my world. The most brilliant Imperial Knight I had ever worked with. By chance that I encountered her here once again, two years ago.

Second Field of Fonons [Action/Video]

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