(september catch-all) NOW WITH BIGGER, BETTER WAYS TO DIE

[vestigemods]

SEPTEMBER CATCH-ALL

► THIS SHITHOLE JUST GOT BETTER

The morning of the 10th feels just like any other. It arrives without fanfare, no itch at the back of your mind telling you something is different. If you're a homebody, you might very well go about much of your day without growing any the wiser... At least until you go outside.

The island is the first sign that something's amiss. Stepping out your front door and spotting the brand new tree-covered patch of land smack dab in the middle of your lake may not face some of you, but it's certainly not a thing that has happened before. Those who dealt with the hatch and the tunnel beyond in August might notice that the island very distinctly covers where that very hatch used to be, sealing off that tunnel system once and for all.

Those who live along the northern end of the lake will also hear the distinct sound of rushing water, a sharp contrast to the quiet atmosphere of the still lake you fell asleep to. Sure enough, a river now pours into the lake from the north, a whole ass river coming into existence overnight.

But the island and river aren't the only changes - they're just the most obvious. It may be today, tomorrow, or a week from now, but the next time someone makes their way to the north or east barriers in any shape or form, they'll find that the barrier no longer seems to exist. The trees are marked quite clearly, white spray paint on a trunk one per fifteen or so feet but you find that they're able to walk right through the area it's supposed to be. And walk, and walk, and walk. Is this a mishap with the barrier, or was it on purpose? Have the Technicians... set you free?

Maybe it's time to tell the others.

► LET'S SEE WHAT YOU'VE WON!

Those who make their way across the new and improved containment zone can encounter a fairly wide variety of things. Following the main road like a rational human being puts you on the direct route to town. Should you get curious along the way, you might detour off the asphalt to explore a stretch of farmland, with smooth rolling hills that may once have been idyllic before they fell into disrepair. If you're hungry, a grove of apple trees sit alongside the river, their branches heavy with fruits ripe for the picking. Consider sparing some for the horses fenced in the western field - they're too skittish to let you approach, but if you leave the apples inside their fence, they're certain to grab them as soon as you've backed away.

Conversely, heading due east from your cabin like the impulsive goblin you are will likely lead you smack dab into the swamp. It's dismal. It's disgusting. Use the damn road next time, and you won't be slopping your way through nearly knee-deep muck... And that's before you discover the alligators. (Are discovered by the alligators? Who discovers whom is just a matter of perspective, really.)

Whether you take the smart route or the soggy route, you'll (hopefully) end up in much the same place: the town. It's dirty and run-down and the alleys and back roads host a whole species roulette of strays, and you intermittently feel the distinct sensation of being watched or even followed, but it's not all bad. There's Foodland, which compared to the gas station pickings may as well be a five-star buffet. There's also a rec center with a functional bowling alley, if you know how to play - and across the street from that rec center sits an apartment complex, complete with nine mostly-clean apartments with fully-functional electricity and plumbing. I'm not saying the swamp-waders should hijack an apartment shower, buuuut that's definitely not not an option.

Finally, to the north, there's a bit of a mountain that I'm fairly sure that nobody is going to fuck with just yet, unless they happen to be some sort of overachiever who wants nothing more than to get a bird's-eye view of the landscape below. Mind the mountain goats. They like to shove.

► MOD NOTES

• This log is an introduction to the new expanded containment zone, but it also functions as the September catch-all log for all non-event starters.
  
• Refer to the Locations page for actual information on the various new areas and points of interest - the above flavortext is only meant to supplement the Locations page info.
  
• Also check out the September Infopost (most relevantly, the bottom two drop-downs) for more September-specific info to potentially include in your prompts.
  
• Because this is a catch-all for everywhere + all month, try to remember to label your top-levels with the date and location of each prompt (whether in the subject or in the prompt title within the comment)!
  
• Any questions (on the new setting or anything else) can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk. Additionally, if you catch any errors (incorrect links, etc) in the Locations post, please let Trace know!
  

Comments

[lethechained]

[ His lack of realization is no surprise to Naminé. The inhabitants of Twilight Town were never aware of her the way she was aware of them, and the Vivi she knows wouldn't recall her either. More distracting to her are the subtle differences between him and his other self; she doesn't remember his hat being quite so straight, but files that information away for later consideration. ]

Intrude?

[ Genuine confusion colors her expression, although that doesn't wrinkle away the kindness there. It doesn't occur to her that he might think this place is hers, but she elects to shake her head regardless, hoping to negate the idea of intrusion entirely. ]

No, not at all. I've only been here for a few minutes myself.

[ Walking a few small steps forward into the open area that separates them, she pauses when her eyes fall, catching some of the debris and discarded books that might well have occasioned his slip. ]

-- Ah. Maybe... I ought to have cleaned in front of the door first.

[ Her tone is thoroughly apologetic. ]

[toosmall]

[Poor Namine, even when she meets someone who seems familiar, it's still mostly a bust for her.]

Oh- so you're all alone here too? I was hoping maybe my friends might be here...

[Maybe not inside this exact building, but some where around this place. Just so many of the buildings were run down and looked abandoned. The inside of this library is no different. As for Vivi tripping on the debris, let's be real, he'd probably have tripped anyway. Sometimes a tiny mage boy just trips. Probably on his own feet.]

It's okay! There's a lot to clean up in here, you couldn't do it all by yourself.

[lethechained]

[ The unfortunate truth is, the majority of the people Naminé knows of either haven't met her or wouldn't remember doing so. And the majority of the ones who would recognize her have previously attempted to imprison her (or worse), so all in all, meeting a familiar face here would be - almost without exception - a far more bittersweet experience than it has any business being.

Which means she has a lot of conflicted feelings rolling around in her chest as she folds her hands together, fingers lacing. ]

Yes, [ she answers, voice more somber than she'd like - yet she seems to rethink it almost immediately, as though she's recalled something. ] At least - I came here alone. To the library, that is.

[ Wilting a little, the girl regards Vivi carefully after the mention of his friends. She'll have some things to explain to him, she expects, but figuring out how to say it keeps her quiet just long enough for the other subject to come up. ]

That's probably true. [ She concedes this without malice, although any easing of her guilt by it is hidden underneath the internal conflict about the other matter she needs to clarify. ] I think I could manage if I had enough time, but-- I only just found this place today. And I'm not certain if it's even a good idea to stay here long enough to put everything back in order.

[ Now that that's been said, she finally elects to end her stalling. After a careful beat's pause, ]

About your friends... [ she begins, voice sympathetic in that way that only ever seems to indicate bad news. ] I'm... not sure how many of them you'll find here.

[toosmall]

[Then it's definitely best she make new acquaintances and friends that won't hurt her. It's what she deserves.

Vivi considers what she's said, glowing yellow orbs peering at her from under his hat thoughtfully. He thinks that this girl seems nice, quiet, maybe a little like him. Nervous until he's gotten used to new people.]

With how run down the city looks you think it could be dangerous too, huh?

[Is what he takes from her saying sticking around for too long might not be a good idea. It's mostly quiet, beyond the skittering of what sounds like animals hiding in the dark corners and alleyways. Nothing that's tried to attack him yet!]

Huh-? [If she could see his mouth in the void if his face he's frowning in concern at what she tells him.] Did something bad happen to them? Wh-Whatever I have to do to help them I will!

[lethechained]

[ Naminé, for her part, doesn't have to wonder overmuch about Vivi's nature. Despite somewhat questionable taste in friends, the Vivi she knows always seemed well-meaning enough. And innocent, for that matter, which causes her no end of internal conflict; she can't leave him ignorant of the situation for his own safety, but she also can't help wishing she could shield him from the truth instead. ]

It's-- not that, exactly. There's more to it. [ Although she does have some concerns about the structural safety of these buildings as well. ] Have you noticed it? How in this place it always feels as though someone's watching you...?

[ His immediate volunteering has her pulling her hands back apart, her palms turning down and fingers splaying in an unconscious gesture to request that he hold his horses, please, there's no need for that...! Her own mouth works itself into a more visible frown as she shakes her head placatingly. ]

No, that's not what I mean...! Actually, they're probably much safer than either of us are.

[ Curling a hand against her mouth, Naminé hesitates. Informing him that she knows - or thinks she knows, anyway - who he might be looking for and that they almost certainly aren't present feels like it would be a bit too much of a shock. So instead, ]

There's a pretty good chance that they aren't here at all. Sometimes people do arrive from the same world, but-- not always.

[toosmall]

Oh... y-yeah, it's kind of spooky, but nothing has tried to attack me or anything.

[Yet. Let's not jinx it. And don't worry, Namine he's not about to run straight into danger with no caution looking for said friends. At least not until he sees or hears any indication his friends are around.]

Wait so this place is a whole other world? Golly... how did we end up here? Is this your home?

[Vivi still didn't know a lot about the world he was from, much less a whole new one!]

[lethechained]

[ 'Well,' she murmurs, about to put a voice to that yet, but that's another thing she soon thinks better of. Her expression is one of internal conflict as she advises, ]

Around here, it's best not to overlook a feeling like that.

[ Honestly, she's in town largely against her better judgement, herself. Her features ease slightly as he inquires about something at least slightly easier to answer. ]

That's right. As far as I know, you and I and most of the others seem to have come from different places entirely. I've only been here for a few months myself. But...

[ Herein lies the rub, the part that she's less eager to explain - but it's helpful to have a solid way to introduce the subject, rather than waffling about how to broach it herself. ]

As for how we got to this world... we were brought here. I'm not sure how, exactly, but the people who captured us are--… well...

[ To use the terms they did, ]

… Not our friends. They gave us some pamphlets about it in the beginning. One of those would probably explain it better than I can.

[toosmall]

[That's some good advice, he'll remember that. Nodding he listens to her explain some more, but is shocked to hear how long she's been here already.]

Wha?! A few months! Oh no!

[Panic builds in him at that. Months. He didn't have months to be stuck in a place like this! Not if what was happening with the other black mages back home happened to him...]

I-Is there anyway to talk to them?

[lethechained]

[ His concern is understandable, even though she doesn't yet realize what the implications are to Vivi; her worlds' version of him didn't provide her that kind of information. Yet softening the blow the best she can is what comes naturally to her regardless, so, ]

I know that sounds like a long time, but it actually goes by very quickly...!

[ ... is really the best she can say about that. (There aren't many positives to work with, here.) She begins to shake her head at his question only to falter. ]

Not exactly. Usually they tell us what they want to tell us without ever showing themselves. But-- I've always thought that they're probably watching the rest of the time, too.

[ Which is mostly an assumption from past experience, considering the Organization's close watch over Castle Oblivion, but she'd be very surprised to find out otherwise. ]

I'm not sure if they'd answer you, but you could try using the network. Even if they don't respond, you might still be able to find someone else who's stuck here like us that knows more.

so so so sorry for taking so long work has had me going crazy

[toosmall]

[For as much as Namine is doing her best to be comforting and helpful, being told that time goes by fast here just makes Vivi panic more. He doesn't even have that much time if what he knows is true-! Oh what does he do? What can he do?

Vivi grabs at the brim of his hat on either side and pulls on it, anxious, trying to stay calm.]

Oh, um, what's the network? I guess it wouldn't hurt to try...

[He'll then look up at Namine, realizing she's been so helpful explaining things to him.]

You've been really nice telling me all this stuff, what's your name? I'm Vivi.

[Look things suck and are terrible, but at least he's made a new friend?]

AAA no worries!! I know the feeling, trust me.

[lethechained]

[ Recognizing that gesture of anxiety, Naminé struggles against conflicting instincts to step closer and to give him space. In the end she winds up making only an uncertain half stride forward, hands hovering worriedly at about the level of her midsection. But at least he's still asking questions, and Naminé elects to take that as a good sign. ]

I'll show you, [ she promises, voice gentle. ] I don't make very many posts myself, but I can teach you how.

[ It seemed like good knowledge to have, so she'd made sure to acquire it - regardless of how quiet she prefers to keep her presence here. His look up prompts her to relax slightly, hopeful that he's at least somewhat comforted after her efforts, but his sudden gratitude seems to startle her. ]

Huh? -- Oh. [ Her chin tucks subtly at the compliment; she's still quite unused to those. ] I'm... just trying to do the right thing, that's all.

[ And if she happens to feel an especial sense of responsibility because he comes from a supposedly similar world, then that's beside the point. Pulling together a smile in an attempt at both politeness and putting him more at ease, ]

It's nice to meet you, Vivi. [ In person, that is. Flattening a hand lightly to her own chest, ] My name is Naminé.

[toosmall]

[It would be so easy to just. Cry or shut down and let everything get to him, but that wouldn't help at all now would it? After all he's been through with his friends back home, if he gave up now because of all this new scary stuff going on wouldn't he just be letting them down?

Vivi didn't want to do that. If there was any chance he could get out of this and back to them... even if only to see Dagger become queen, then it would be worth it.]

Namine, that's a nice name.

[They both have so much inner turmoil going on that neither of them can even imagine. Yet there's something calming about Namine and what she says.]

You remind me of my friend. She's a princess- but she's going to be a queen soon! She always tries to do the right thing too.

[lethechained]

[ Concern still lurks behind her eyes even as she tries to put on a good face. Perhaps she's worried about precisely what Vivi's chosen not to do; she'd be lost if she were to have to try to comfort him while he wept. It's hard enough knowing what to say to someone who hasn't succumbed to their emotions, and she'd feel woefully unequipped to assist in such a situation.

And yet he offers her kind words instead, and surprise quickly softens her expression. She's not particularly well-versed in accepting comments of that type either, and so struggles momentarily with her response other than a faint, 'um...!' Bashful though she might feel, however, she doesn't miss the other unexpected development. ]

Your - friend? [ Now that's peculiar. Was Vivi more sociable than she realized? It doesn't fit with the quiet life most led in Twilight Town, but she's not at all inclined to believe he's making it up. Confused though she is, ] I'm flattered that you think so, then...! That must be a compliment if she's someone you care about.

[ The princess part is neither here nor there, even though Naminé does find her thoughts cast briefly toward Kairi. The blonde hovers in indecision only a moment longer before finally walking closer, up to a more reasonable distance for speaking with Vivi. She lingers next to a table and chairs meant for reading; they're in disrepair, but a few of them are usable enough. ]

Is she... a very good friend of yours?

[ The strangeness of this apparent relationship and how little it fits with what she knows of Vivi makes her ask; it doesn't suit her not to know the 'why's and 'how's. But aside from that, it seems also to be a more comfortable topic, a minor distraction from the gravity of his new situation. If she can give him at least a small reprieve, then what's the harm in investigating? ]

[toosmall]

[He's more than happy to talk about his friends. Even if things had been very hectic and crazy before he'd been brought to this place, it had started to calm down. Things were going to be okay now. At least for Dagger and Alexandria, she'd be queen and then it would all be about rebuilding and fixing what her mother had destroyed. If anyone could he knew she would!

Vivi nods at Namine's question, hat flopping about as he does.]

Mhm! We've been through a whole bunch of stuff together. Lots of scary dangerous stuff, but hopefully things will be okay back home now. I wish I could be there with everyone...

[lethechained]

[ His descriptions grow curiouser and curiouser - at least to Naminé, that is. Curling a hand against her mouth, she can't help the way her brow knits, puzzled as she is by this turn of events. ]

Scary, dangerous stuff...

[ Although she feels a pull of sympathy at his desire to be home, are there really any words she can offer that would ease that? She can't promise him anything, not in good conscience. Letting out a slow exhale of a sigh, she finally moves to pull out one of the chairs. She angles it toward where he's standing so as not to seem impersonal and sits carefully, hands folding on her lap once she's settled. ]

Was there someone - or something after you? Something that wanted to hurt all of you?

[ Has he had run-ins with the Heartless? Or Dusks in the real world, perhaps? It feels like she's grasping at straws, but that's an easier explanation to turn to than a lot of other ones. ]

[toosmall]

[It's interesting really, not that Vivi knows, but him and the heartless do look sort of alike. Moreso no doubt when he' not dressed up all human like.

Vivi decides sitting seems like a real good idea if they're gonna talk so much. So he joins her, the chair isn't in the best condition, but it'll hold a tiny black mage.]

It's kinda complicated, but Dagger's mom was queen and she kept doing lotsa bad stuff.

[His feet kick a little as he talks.]

Destroying places and killing people, but Dagger wanted to stop her. The queen even hurt her, she was going to kill Dagger-! All for power.

[Vivi still really hates the queen after everything, even if she was being used just like everyone else by that Kuja guy.]

She would send black mages after us and to destroy anyone who she thought would fight back. B-But maybe it will be better now that's she's gone. No more killing. Maybe everyone can live in peace again.

[He tries to sound hopeful, but he can only think of the black mage village and wonder if his friends will get their own peace now.]

[lethechained]

[ Naminé turns in her seat as he settles in, facing him in his new placement. The expression she regards him with is attentive, although it quickly grows increasingly concerned as he explains.

The story itself is troubling enough. Trying to check it against what she knows of Vivi is even more worrisome, especially because it seems recent. Either a lot has happened since she departed Twilight Town or something else is very amiss. ]

That sounds... terrible. It's amazing sometimes what people will do to have power over others.

[ And it also sounds very much like the sort of business Sora would have gotten involved with if he happened upon a world experiencing it, provided he had the opportunity to put a stop to it. ]

But what do you mean by 'black mages'? You're not talking about a type of Heartless, are you...?

[ Although they certainly seem to have names similar to that often enough. ]

[toosmall]

[Huh? Heartless? Vivi had never heard if them before. It honestly sounded like something people would call the black mages...]

A Heartless...?

[Vivi shakes his head.]

I don't know what a Heartless is, but I'm a black mage. They all look like me, but bigger.

[lethechained]

[ Naminé preoccupation becomes more obvious by the moment. Her hand curls against her mouth, expression almost perplexed in her contemplation. That part about black mages, at least, is enough outside of her purview for her to let it go; Vivi's the only person she's seen who looks like he does - since the Heartless are different entities entirely - but perhaps there are others like him that she simply never came across. After a beat, ]

I see. [ Hand falling back to her lap, she presently seems to realize that she probably owes some kind of explanation. ] The Heartless are... very dangerous creatures. I can tell you more about them, but you might not like to hear it.

[ Well. After giving it some additional thought, there is a way to settle some of this confusion, isn't there? Now that it's occurred to her, ]

If you don't mind my asking... what's the name of your friend's kingdom?

[ Because that, if nothing else, would be proof enough of whether or not Twilight Town's involved. ]

[toosmall]

[It seems they're both perplexed about things. Vivi feels a little bad as with every answer there just seems to be more questions.]

Alexandria. There's a huge castle and it's really pretty. I've even been inside a few times.

[Hm... does he want to know about these Heartless? He contemplates it for a moment before nodding.]

Mm, I think I'd like to know about them. U-Unless you don't want to talk about them?

[lethechained]

[ Naminé murmurs the name to herself, looking troubled. On the one hand, at least it suggests nothing bizarre has happened to Twilight Town in her absence, but on the other it leaves her even more baffled about what Vivi might have gotten up to. Soon enough, however, she begins to realize how this could seem to him, and raises her eyes back up toward her companion with an apologetic expression. ]

... Ah. I'm sorry, Vivi. I've been asking you a lot of questions, haven't I?

[ Best to put a pin in that whole issue now, she supposes, since she's got an answer of her own to give him. She takes a beat to exhale, attempting to force the bemusement from her expression and collect her thoughts. Then, ]

No, I don't mind. It's probably best that you know about them, even if they never show up here.

[ Which only leaves the question of where to start, really. Mouth settling into a grim line, ]

The Heartless are creatures born from the Darkness in people's hearts. Most of them don't think, or feel... all they know is their wish to steal the hearts of others, and for some time now, they've been spreading from one world to another, starting all kinds of trouble. In some cases, they've even caused those unlucky worlds to be destroyed.