016 | The Good Old Days

[godsoffortune]

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~

Comments

[drops_acid]

Shaye?

[So much confusion. She's pretty sure this is Lavi though. But what happened to him? And... is there anything she can do? But she doesn't want to scare him. She'll play along.]

I- I'm sorry. You look very much like a friend of mine.

[A friend she already misses. A lot. She doesn't actually have a heart, so Cardia's not really sure what to make of the tight, almost painful feeling in her chest.

For now, she kneels down to put herself on his level.]

Are you alright?

[ripplesoflosttime]

I do?

[He looks briefly confused because who else would look like him?

Clearly, she did mistake him for someone else, but when she kneels down, there's that initial instinct to tense up and run.

Lavi doesn't answer right away, studying her.]

....Why do you care?

[drops_acid]

[She catches the tensing, so Cardia is careful not to make any sudden movements.]

Because I don't want anything bad to happen to you.

[A simple truth. Because she doesn't know what else to do except be honest.]

[ripplesoflosttime]

[...She's being honest?]

What are you? Who are you?

[Why do you randomly care about a kid?]

[drops_acid]

[She flinches slightly at the first question. Cardia can't see this ending well.]

My name is Cardia. And I....

[She stops as it catches in her throat. But no, whatever happens, she won't lie to him.]

I'm a monster...

[ripplesoflosttime]

[You would think as a child, Lavi would be afraid of that admittance.

As it is, he just blinks at her slowly, expression not once changing. In fact, he hardly looks bothered by it at all.]

How are you a monster?

[drops_acid]

[Cardia had been a little afraid he might run. But he only looks curious.]

If I show you... will you keep it a secret?

[ripplesoflosttime]

[That earns a look of wonder.

Is it that bad?

Curiosity gets the best of him as he nods.]

[drops_acid]

Alright... watch.

[Looking around, she spots a discarded soda can on the ground. She retrieves it, then returns to her place in front of Lavi Shaye. Very carefully she removes one glove and places the can on her palm. A hissing sound fills the air. And in a matter of seconds, the can dissolves away.]

[ripplesoflosttime]

[He watches it in mild fascination.

So, she can melt stuff with a touch? That's definitely interesting.

Actually, a look of wonder actually replaces the impassive expression he usually wears.]

That's amazing.

[drops_acid]

[Wonder instead of fear. Curiosity instead of condemnation. It's so very like the reaction he had the first time she showed this to him. A little less guarded perhaps, but she can definitely see shades of Lavi in him. The nostalgia is twisting in her chest and she swallows around sudden lump in her throat.]

I don't know if 'amazing' is the word for it.

[She puts the glove back on.]

But do you see? Because I'm a monster you can't ever touch my skin. It would burn you.

[ripplesoflosttime]

[As a child, it's easier to see just how excited he is about this.

He's unaware of how Cardia feels, missing Lavi when he's older, but this tiny redhead is definitely amazed.

Even after hearing that, Lavi looks up at her, almost smiling.]

But you're definitely amazing!

[drops_acid]

That's.... very kind of you to say. I don't think many people would agree...

[She certainly doesn't.

But arguing with him that he should fear and mistrust her is probably pointless. And she'd be crushed if she succeeded anyway.]

But promise you'll be careful around me, alright?

[That's really the important thing. That he knows to take care never to touch her skin.]

[ripplesoflosttime]

As long as you don't intentionally start a war, then you're not a monster like a lot of people.

[At those words, his tone is considerably colder, almost filled with hate that no child should have.

But it's quick to fade as he looks up at her.]

Alright.

[drops_acid]

Start a war...?

[Actually, Cardia knows a number of people who have tried to start various wars for various reasons. Her father, her brother, Queen Victoria...

And she knows people who have been hurt by those decisions. It always seems to be the young and innocent that suffer the most from those selfish actions. What had Lavi gone through to bring that hatred?]

No. I would never do such a thing.

[ripplesoflosttime]

Grown-ups, people, wage wars for no reason, always claiming it's for political purposes but it's never right. A lot of people die, a lot of people are forced to suffer--

[War is a big deal for the young redhead who doesn't remember the wars he's seen, but he doesn't like it.]

People are stupid; they only ever care about themselves as long as it suits their purposes.

[Lavi suddenly grows quiet, a bit startled by his own admission by confessing what he really thought of war. It's...almost as if he's expecting to be reprimanded by it, for revealing his true emotions on the topic, though he's not sure why.

So, he just kind of studies Cardia.]

Then you're not a monster like them.

[drops_acid]

[That seems far too cynical for someone so small. But she doesn't think he's wrong either. Except for the monster part. But it is interesting that this is the second time someone has offered a different view on what a 'monster' is. It gives her a lot to think about. But later. For now, she really just wants to say something to make him feel better.]

There are some good people...

[That's all she's got. Because there are terrible people out there. They harm others and feel no remorse. And there always will be people like that. But.... there are kind, generous, and gentle people as well.]

[ripplesoflosttime]

Are there?

[Please, tell him. He's met a few adults already and he doesn't sense anything good from them.

Their reason of good can be different than someone else's, after all.

So he's just looking at her expectantly.]

[drops_acid]

Yes.

[There's no doubt or uncertainty on that point. No matter how much awful there is in the world, there will always be some goodness too. And people willing to fight for it.]

There are people willing to risk everything they have to help others. And to stop wars from ever happening. It was people like that.... who saved me.

[ripplesoflosttime]

[For a long moment, the child says nothing.

People like that exist, so why is it the bad people always seem to show up more than the good?

But he gives a nod.]

...Then I'm glad there were people who saved you.

[drops_acid]

[The long silence worries her, so it's a releif when he finally responds. She smiles wistfully.]

So am I.

[Without them, she never would have known what it was like to be a person.

Although the boy's cynicism does make Cardia wonder whether anyone had been there for him when he needed it. She'll likely never know, since shinki cannot remember their past.

But she hopes there was someone.]

And that's how I know that there are good people around. And I'm sure you'll meet some of them soon.