thenearshore | 016 | The Good Old Days

Entry tags:

016 | The Good Old Days

Who: Everyone!
What: Ageswapping
When: July 15-17
Where: Everywhere
Summary: A breach in the space-time continuum is messing things up.

Edit: OVERFLOW is here!

The Far Shore has been dealing with a lot of space-time pulsating through the past week or so and everything is culminating on the night of the 15th, even though the Heavens are preparing for an all-out Obon bash. They had planned to have the celebration on the 15th itself, but Amaterasu asked to postpone a day due to the horrible feeling that is permeating the Far Shore.

And it turns out she was right to postpone everything. In fact, it will have to be postponed another whole month at this rate...

Before

Late in the day on July 15th, the new batch of shinki will arrive to a Far Shore with a thick, tense atmosphere. All night on the 15th it feels like something is about to happen - and it's difficult to tell whether that something will be good or bad. Any attempts to contact the management of the Far Shore have fallen on deaf, slightly harried ears and so everyone is left to their own devices to try and figure out why things are so tense.

July 16

Just after midnight, an explosive shock wave rips through the Far Shore, bringing on the age changes with it. Even the spirits of the Far Shore seem to be affected - for example, the library goblins are either toddling around on wobbly legs or are dragging themselves from place to place and looking decrepit. There are a few gods and shinki that seem to have been exceptions from the change, though it is not clear why.

July 17

Another wave of energy comes in the early morning of the 17th. Fewer people are affected this time and it seems to alter those people's ages a second time. There is no rhyme or reason to who is being affected further. Several of the library goblins have just dropped dead from severe old age. Oops.

Aftermath

Late on the 17th brings about one final burst from the energy that has been plaguing the Far Shore. For a short moment, every new temple glows with a soft light, seeming to beckon to their owners. But the light is gone quickly and everyone will find themselves back to normal with complete memories of everything that happened during their age adventures. The goblins that died, though, are still very dead. Looks like the library will need to get some new help soon.

In Summary:

Meet the newbies
Get aged or de-aged
Deal with other too young/too old people
Try to handle the consequences
Have fun~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A: July 16th]

[Maria managed to make it through the first time wave unscathed, though as soon as she leaves her temple for the morning, she notices the sudden abundance of children. Either there's a lot of young newcomers this time, or - wait, no, she recognises some of these faces...

Once she figures out what's going on, if she sees any young ones looking particularly lost, scared or confused, she'll approach them carefully with a friendly smile.]

Do you need help? I know it's easy to be overwhelmed by a place this big.

--

[B: July 17th]

[On the second day, Maria is less lucky. She wakes with the same mind as ever, but as soon as she tries to drag herself out of bed, she realises she's gotten significantly shorter. Her shock over the matter lasts a lot shorter time than it would if she hadn't had the previous day to adjust to what was going on, and though it takes a little bit of convincing Uta, reluctant to allow her goddess out in such a vulnerable state, Maria eventually comes to the agreement of leaving under supervision of the soulless shinki.

So now, a much smaller, fluffy-haired mid-teen Maria is wandering the Far Shore, trying to pick out people she recognises to see if anything else has changed about them. A respectful distance behind her is a young woman with black hair in a neat bun and wearing a decorative yukata, keeping a close eye on her goddess as they move through the Heavens.

Since at this point, she mostly wants information, the younger Maria will be waving down anyone she spots, looking a little concerned.]

Excuse me, but did anyone you know change a second time today? I only became like this today, but I saw plenty of people running around as children already yesterday.

--

[C: Wildcard]

[[Feel free to plot with me at

reviseleviathan!]]

[However Natsuru had managed to slip out unnoticed earlier, she's so relieved when someone finally helps her find her way home before it gets late. She'd been holding together pretty well once she got help, but when she steps inside and sees Maria for the first time, tears start to form in her eyes.]

Maria-neesama!!!

[Maria will barely get the chance to register how unusually tiny her shinki is, before Natsuru practically tackles her - or at least her legs - with a hug. She's so glad to see her and be home again, and she really doesn't want to let go anytime soon.]

[It's definitely been a very worrying experience to have had Natsuru slip out and then not having been able to find her throughout the day, especially given the amount of kids wandering the Far Shore today. Maria had just been planning to head back out herself to find her waylaid shinki when Natsuru rushes in and leaps into her legs.

It's probably a good thing she'd just stood up from the lounge, because she sits down again rather sharply, and after the initial moment of surprise, pats Natsuru's head reassuringly.]

Did you get lost? I'm sorry I couldn't find you, there were so many lost kids around the Heavens today.

[She snuggles against Maria while she sobs softly, like any small girl attaching herself to a maternal figure. She has to catch her breath between sniffles, but she nods her head to answer as best she can while clinging so tightly to her god.]

I... I just wanted to look around...

Everything was just so big, and... and I didn't know the way home...

[She's convinced she's always been like this, yet everything still seems slightly off from how she remembers it. Of course she got herself lost.]

[Maria listens with all the patience of a parent, leaning down a bit more to give the tiny Natsuru as much of a hug as she can when she's so tightly attached to her legs.]

That's okay, I'm just glad you weren't hurt. Uta was worried too, I think, but even with both of us looking, you must have slipped through.

[Her tone is apologetic, because with how panicked Natsuru seems about it, she can't help but feel she should have tried harder to find her and ensure she'd been in a state to take care of herself.]

[Maria's hug is reassuring, and she should be able to feel the small girl relaxing a little bit. It's finally sinking in that she's home and safe and Maria's here to keep her that way. Still, like any small child, there's one other thing she's worried about.]

... Am I in trouble?

[Despite her memories confusing her on this, she realizes now that she should have probably checked with the grownups before leaving the temple all on her own.]

[On one hand, if she were actually a child, it would probably be a good time to scold her about leaving on her own. On the other, Maria doesn't really have the heart to do it right now, so she just gives her a few reassuring pats.]

No, but please make sure one of us is with you next time you go out of the temple. That way we won't worry, and you won't get lost.

[So it's good for both parties, really. It seems like a fine compromise to Maria.]

I will! I promise!

[Going out alone was fun at first, but getting lost was terrible. She never wants to do that again.

While she clings to Maria, relieved to both be home and not in trouble, her stomach decides to make its presence known as well with a loud rumble. Ah... that's right, she hasn't eaten since she spent all her pocket money on lunch and snacks for herself and Oona.]

E-... Excuse me...

[Her cheeks turn pink again. In the moment, she's more concerned with being polite than telling Maria she really is hungry.]

[Apparently, that's good enough for Maria, because she nods in acceptance of the promise and says no more about it. She's about ready to ask Natsuru whether there's anything she'd like to do now she's home, but then her stomach rumbles like that.

Maria pauses for a moment before laughing softly.]

It's fine, I was about to make dinner anyway. [She stands up carefully from her seat.] Is there anything you'd like?

[Natsuru normally isn't very particular about meals. After all the snacks and fried foods she had for 'lunch', though, she's craving something particularly common and traditional.]

Can we have curry rice?

[That is rather common, which thankfully means Maria knows how to make it. She does have a reasonable base of cooking knowledge, given her history, but a more complex request might have gone astray.

As it is, though, she nods in agreement and starts leading Natsuru towards the kitchen.]

I think I should have everything we'd need for that.

...Huh? Change how?

[Barry's definitely changed himself, but he's not terribly observant. He's also younger, slimmer, and sporting hair down to his shoulders and a heavy metal t-shirt.]

[Barry's apparent lack of recognition of her tells Maria all she needs to know about the nature of his change, though it's definitely an...interesting one. She gives him a smile halfway between genuine and amused.]

There seems to be something changing people's ages. I should be twenty-one, for example.

[Heavy metal is a lifestyle.]

Huh. No kiddin'.

[Glancing down at himself, he pokes at random places on his body as if he's expecting something to happen.]

Wonder if it happened to me too.

It did. [There's nothing warning Maria away from telling him what he should already know here, so she figures it's safe - usually the uneasiness of revealing information to shinki emerges in force at even the thought of discussing someone's past with them.]

As I usually know you, you're a few years older. We jointly run a talent agency made up of other performers in the Heavens.

A talent agency, huh? Guess I peaked and quit the band.

[He seems a little disappointed about that, but mostly just thoughtful.]

I imagine so. You're quite a dedicated talent agent, though, I've been impressed with your work.

[It might sound a little odd getting a summation that serious from someone who looks all of maybe fourteen right now, but Maria can't really help that.]

Well, that's good to hear, anyway.

[If a bit awkward. He rubs at the back of his neck, not entirely sure what to think.]

[Maria looks a little sympathetic at the motion - honestly, she can relate there. Especially with Uta standing sentry and supervisor a few feet behind her.]

Don't worry, I think we're all a little confused by this situation. I hope it doesn't last too long, or we're going to have even more of a mess on our hands. And just after the new arrivals, as well...

So, uh... what're we supposed to do while we wait?

Well, most of the young ones seem to be exploring, but I imagine you could just do whatever it is you normally enjoy. You do remember where your god's temple is, right?

[Some people seemed to have not quite realised that was the place they'd woken up, so it's best to make sure, she feels.]

Oh yeah, I can get back there no problem.

[He thinks for a moment, shrugging.]

Guess I'll just practice my guitar for a while.

That's certainly an option, yes. [Maria laughs a little.] I suppose I could still practice singing in this form, but dancing might be a little harder.

[Given her body is completely differently proportioned to what she's used to.]

Good way to kill the time, anyway. Thanks for lettin' me know.

It's quite alright. Is there anything else I can help you with? I'd like to offer as much information as you need.

[And as much information as she has herself, because she doesn't exactly know a great deal about what caused all this.]

016 | The Good Old Days

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C - early evening of the 16th?

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July 17th

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