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Tabula Rasa Mods ([personal profile] tabularasa_mods) wrote in [community profile] tabularasa_rp2020-09-15 10:58 pm

003 - Memories of a False History

Memories of a False History State of the World Locations Bestiary
OOC Comments
Please refer to the original Event Announcement for more information or to ask any questions you might have! For the disaster prompt, players are not restricted to the versions given, but they are intended to be the most common. Feel free to borrow ideas from the disaster suggestions thread as well!

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The Sound of All Things Bad
The sound comes without warning. What the sound is cannot quite be made out - it is at once artificial and natural, bestial and mechanical, rumbling and roaring and crunching, shattering and crashing and screaming. Everything about it feels like a threat, warning of danger. The cacophony of noise reaches throughout the entire Void, loud and inescapable, the mangling and clashing of different sounds leaving each individual with a different idea of what it could possibly have been. It sounds different to everyone, each person able to pick out a part of the sound that ties to their own fears.

What if...?

How long the sound lasts would depend on how the individual perceives time. It might last for seconds, or it might last for minutes, but once it stops it does not repeat. Where it came from or what it is does not become the slightest bit clearer, and people are left to only speculate.

Disaster
No one can quite be sure what has prompted them to remember that day. It might have been that noise of approaching doom, or perhaps it is seeing the crumbling ruins of Hammerlocke itself. Once a stray memory surfaces, it is easy enough to look into the details and recall in full the vivid memory of Hammerlocke’s destruction - the ‘truth’ of what caused the mountainside city to crumble into ruins, as so many have wondered since their first appearance. Though the memory is clear and detailed, vivid enough to have been witnessed in person, it is out of place and does not belong, and anyone who can recall the events knows it.

Attempting to discuss the matter will soon reveal that while others recall the event with similar clarity, the details vary from person to person. Over time, their own memory changes and adapts, occasionally changing to something new entirely, yet the original is never completely forgotten. Memory is a strange and fickle thing, so easy to influence and manipulate, that the truth is difficult to find.

While memories differ from person to person, there are three particular tales that recur:

From the Sky

Though the sky above did not change from its paper-like blank white, the land grew darker and darker as though cast in shadow. The source of the shadow was clear: above, slowly descending towards the wings of the castle, was... something. Something immense, yet shrouded in crackling storm clouds.

As it continued to grow closer and closer, something in the clouds began to swell. It grew larger and larger, an electric hum of energy in the air, until with a resounding crack it burst and a great shadowy beast fell to the ground, landing with such force that the resulting shockwave shook the earth and tore through the stone buildings, causing so much of the city to tumble in an instant. It moves, and it screeches, raising its head up as the great storm above continues to swell and crackle.

This would not be the only beast.

(Based upon: Meteor, the Lunar Cry, and the Darkest Day)
The Battlefield

It was never clear why the fighting eventually made its way to this defenseless city, but it came without warning. The chaos was heralded only by explosions as the city walls were blasted through by tanks that had somehow made their way along the treacherous and narrow mountain path that simply was not meant for such heavy machines. The thundering explosions and the collapse of buildings could surely be heard for miles, and people and animals alike were quick to flee.

Though they reached Hammerlocke first, the tanks seemed like nothing compared to the enemy. The enormous shadowy monstrosity that swooped in from the sky seemed to be made from far more advanced technology. Even just the one towering machine, as large as the castle falling to ruins beneath its feet as it lands, proves deadly as it fires upon the approaching tanks, blasting them all to pieces within an instant before turning fire on whichever buildings remain standing.

(Based upon: Tanks, and Reapers)
The Mysterious Storm

There had been no way to predict the change in the weather, never mind how destructive it would prove. One moment, everything had been still and quiet, and the next the city was assailed by howling, violent winds and freezing, glittering snow and ice. Though the city was built of stone and had stood the test of time for centuries, it could not stand against these combined forces. The only shelter was underground, for the furious storm was so powerful it could rip through earth, lift up and fling any object in its path with devastating force, shattering windows and toppling buildings.

Propelled by such force, the ice and hail proved destructive in its own right. As the storm froze everything in its path, the hailstones became like bullets and great chunks of ice became missiles. By the time the winds began to grow calm, there was little left standing.

Something about the storm seemed somehow unnatural, but where it came from was anyone’s guess. Some, however, may have spied a vague figure through the tempest, of unclear appearance but its presence somehow threatening.

(Based upon: Weather, El shortage, and Diamond Dust)

Misplaced Memories
Worries about whatever disaster must have befallen the ruined city of Hammerlocke aside, people quickly become aware that memories of the disaster are not the only invasive, foreign memories. How the other memories come to them seems, on the surface, to be very similar: a connected thought occurs, and upon realizing the memory is not theirs, people are compelled to think more about it until the memory is uncovered in full detail. Unlike the memory of the disaster, however, this one quite clearly belongs to someone else. Someone who is here.

On puzzling this out, some might find they have more than one stray memory sitting in their minds. More importantly, however, is the feeling that something from their own memory is missing, and whatever memory is missing feels like it is something important. It could just be their own phone number, or it could be their name, or the face of whoever is most important to them. It could be something small, it could be something big, but all people know is that it’s something important and it’s gone.

There is no clear, immediate answer as to what people can do about their lost memories. With regards to their new memories, however, the path might seem a tiny bit clearer, for surely it seems a bit unfair that they can see into someone’s past in such a manner without their knowing. Perhaps it’s best to talk to them about it?

Although the lost memory is not always the same as the ones borrowed, taking the memory back to its source and prompting them to discuss and think about it proves a great help - as they talk, the invasive memory leaves, a lost memory is restored, and those who succeed are able to tell others the solution.

While the invasive memory is gone, people can still recall having it, and can still recall the details, but they will no longer remember it from the other’s point of view. Perhaps it might change how they see each other from now on?

back to top
anciently: (but i won't rot)

[personal profile] anciently 2020-10-06 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
No worries! It's like...a bike, if you know about those. If not, think of it like a vehicle with a wheel in front, and one in back, and a seat in the middle. It runs on its own power source and everything.

[ Aerith nods, though, in understanding of the description of the train. ]

I'm sure it doesn't mean it personally. [ The flower girl points out, still smiling lightly. ] Unless it's a joke on all of us! I guess that could be true...
bachagain: (pic#10478558)

[personal profile] bachagain 2020-10-06 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh! You’re getting right into it!

[ which is fine, even if there is some anxiety at being told that the memory isn’t… entirely positive. they are his, so… there’s no running from that, right? no choice but to stand prim and pretty and listen as something like recognition shines in his eyes, as if some void is slowly being filled in with tuna -- er, no, tano’s -- words.

and then he just kinda laughs, because-- ]


Wahaha! That must not have ended well, huh? [ considering his stature. he’s agile enough, sure, but that’s not so useful when you’re shielding someone else, is it? ] Though, you kinda spoiled it, so I guess I don’t needa ask! Ah, why’d my first impression have to be something like that…!
bachagain: (pic#13366660)

[personal profile] bachagain 2020-10-06 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
… That all?

[ ah, wait, did that sound flippant? because leo doesn’t mean it that way. the expression on his face is playful, something like understanding in his eyes. the reasoning behind his blunt comment isn’t complicated -- he thought there was something more that turing was hiding, something more serious, but a little jealousy was a relatively simple thing. leo can’t fault turing for emotions that he himself has felt, after all.

maybe he shouldn’t say it quite like that, though. ]


Feel what you feel and don’t worry about me! My memory’s not so weak that it’s gonna get affected by that stuff! [ with a hum: ] Anyway, why talk about that like it’s something weird, something foreign? Isn’t feeling lonely when you’re somewhere new, away from everything you know just normal for most people? Like breathing, and eating, and sleeping. Though I’m not the best person to talk about normal... And I guess some of that’s not really normal here, either… or even normal for you? Ah, crap, I messed the analogy up!

[ AMAZING. regardless leo’ll continue on, his hands running along the whites of the piano keys to play a tiny, tiny, ascending glissando. that sure it just like him, clumsily ascending upwards in this conversation-- ]

Words are hard! Here, mmm, how about this? This isn’t the secret I was gonna tell you, Turi, but I’ll give ya a special two-for-one deal. [ … ] Thinking about that memory is warm, but it’s not like I don’t get a little pang of something else now that it’s back where it belongs… you know? If we’re both here on our own, isn’t that just one way we’re both together?

[ he perks up a little, sticking his tongue out with a laugh. ]

Wahaha, wow! I said something reaaaaally cheesy there!
bachagain: (pic#13984388)

[personal profile] bachagain 2020-10-06 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ wow, no brain-no mouth filter twins.

excuse leo as he adjusts, attempting to meet add’s eyes. half because it’s fun, half because it feels weird talking to someone who’s not even looking at you. not that that concept is particularly foreign to leo, given just how Much he is on a daily basis.

he leans back when he’s accused, raising a brow. ]


Huh? Don’t just blame people randomly! [ that’s his job ] Even if I could stuff things in your head, I’d-- no, actually, putting music there is exactly what I’d do, so maybe it does make sense that you’re blaming me!

[ this is the sound of leo’s shovel digging his own grave

dig dig dig, as he continues on: ]


Anyway, it wasn’t me! It’s Kyo being Kyo, so keep telling me what you have! If it’s a memory about a Knights performance, those are really, really important. I want it back…!

[ well, ideally he’d want all of them back, but. especially that. ]
bachagain: (pic#10531196)

[personal profile] bachagain 2020-10-06 09:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ leo tsukinaga: truly good at talking about himself, but also terrible at it too. this is another question he expects -- bad as he is at staying in line with the flow of conversations and ideas of others at times -- so he isn’t too thrown off by it.

as painful as thinking back to a time where he almost lost sena is. even if he hadn’t.

it’s why he can almost feel what cole may have gone through, losing rhys. ]


Almost! We were in a crashing sea, clinging tightly enough to each other that we drew blood… I had to let go before I ended up drowning him too, you know?

[ extra.

but, that’s truly what it was. leo’s hesitant to drop sena by name -- if only because cole is questioning enough, curious enough that it might bother him. it doesn’t particularly bother leo, personally, but he can’t quite say it might be the same for his old friend…

look, he can be a little thoughtful Sometimes. ]


What about you and Rhys, Ko? You wanna answer what happened to you guys, or would you rather keep it on the ocean floor, buried and gone?

[ or not! ]
bachagain: (pic#13366665)

[personal profile] bachagain 2020-10-06 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry’s a banned word in this conversation coming from you! It’s fine! I pushed you to talk, but at the end of the day -- what you wanna say and what you wanna tell me is up to you. Knowing what I know now… Well, I can get why you’d wanna keep it quiet.

[ leo doesn’t really need apologies for that. it’s ren’s tale to tell, as much and as morbidly as leo poked him to share… and, yes, after these memories, he can’t blame him. the thought that these scars are particularly fresh is another little thing to add to the list of stuff that makes this ordeal a little more painful, beyond just the echoes of bruises and beatings, physical and emotional, that leo barely wants to remember.

oh, ren.

leo’s not even done making him recall these things that no one should have to go through. excuse him while he shifts to reach for ren’s pillow, squishing it between his hands just to give himself something to fidget with.

he doesn’t even know how to get into that third one, still. ]


… Sorry, Ren.

[ that, at least, is easier to say. and it’s genuine, too. ]
forethinking: (manga 5)

[personal profile] forethinking 2020-10-06 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable if word got out.

(Being labelled? He's gotten to a point he's used to it. He's got his support system back home and weirdly, here too.

He just didn't want to see the discomfort people have around him, the lack of trust that follows.)


It's fine. You just wanted to know.

(He sighs, heavily.)

That was after my probation.
Edited 2020-10-06 22:02 (UTC)
theforgottenboy: (I'm kinda done with hanging out)

[personal profile] theforgottenboy 2020-10-06 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[He's pretty sure that's a metaphor. At least, he has no reason thus far to think they might have been literally drowning at sea.]

[It's one he feels he can understand, at least.]

[What about him and Rhys. He already talked about this once today, or whatever measure of time it's been. He considers not answering... but regardless of his feelings, or more accurately because of them, it's not something he intends to keep buried. Not completely, at least.]


It wasn't long after what you remembered. I was trying to help him escape, but Seeker Lambert found us. I fought to protect Rhys, but Lambert proved I wasn't real. [His tone shifts to a cold sneer.] Poor, stupid spirit. Did you try so hard to pretend you were one of us, pretend you were real, that you forgot what you really were?

The last time Rhys saw me, he saw a monster.

[He hadn't learned to sense people the way he could later, but when Rhys looked at him like that, he didn't need to.]

It's all right now. He has Evangeline to help keep him safe. They won't see me again.
forethinking: (Default)

[personal profile] forethinking 2020-10-07 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
(He was about to say Kappa don't really ex-- no, wrong person.

He waves a hand, shrugging.)


That chapter is closed. It's other things that worry me back home.
abeautifulgame: (under weight from the long time)

[personal profile] abeautifulgame 2020-10-07 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
What did your mother do? [a beat] If you don't mind talking about her.

[if he does, well, like he told him once before, he can always tell him to fuck off. he won't mind. he's curious, sure, but -- well, he knows that Hornet and Akechi argued about the latter's mother, however briefly, in all that yelling. he won't press it, if Akechi doesn't want to talk about her anymore, today, as a courtesy]

[maybe he'll talk about his own mother, instead, if Akechi shuts him down. maybe he'll ask about those bullet scars, because yes, he recognizes them for what they are, and they don't make sense for the fact that they would have been fatal. either way. mostly, he's just trying to keep him engaged, to distract from him tending his wounds]
abeautifulgame: (Default)

[personal profile] abeautifulgame 2020-10-07 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
[funny, maybe, but Damien has always been a poetic sort. he'd absolutely call Aiden his foil, their story a story, even if it happened, even if they both lived it. he has no qualms about using literary terms to wax poetic about Ren and Akechi's relationship, either]

[though]
If you were both being used ... [and, presumably, that whoever or whatever was using them isn't in play here] ... would you try again, now? [would he try and kill Ren again, if the opportunity presented itself?]

[(did he mention he would absolutely push Aiden off a cliff, at his earliest convenience?)]
bachagain: (pic#10478558)

[personal profile] bachagain 2020-10-07 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ ... hahaha, this is a kind of nostalgic thing, isn't it? unlike some others, this memory isn't hard to figure out the source of. that friend of hers was nice enough to say the owner's name, after all, and even if leo's recollection of them is particularly poor... this one's been repeated to him enough times that he's kinda got the hang of it.

so hello, ann. wherever you are, whatever you're doing, there's that familiar orange gremlin from their cake and church adventures approaching with a wave. he's definitely, definitely trying extra hard to find her -- from personal experience, this one's an important memory that anyone would miss.

he would. ]


Heya, Ann! You missing something? I'm here to help...!
bridge_princess: (008)

[personal profile] bridge_princess 2020-10-07 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
Fine, fine. You managed to save the day eventually, because of course the hero did. Still, try to take the edge off a little. It's not going to get any better while we're here. So we just try to find you a way home so I can freak out when you're gone.

Nice and simple.

[Almost like she was planning the freak out session in advance. Because she was.]
rotomphone: (pic#13705157)

[personal profile] rotomphone 2020-10-07 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ though Raihan had a lack of anyone to blame but himself for Hammerlocke's current state, he can understand the difficulty of having to walk through the ruins of a place you called home. thinking about it now, that must mean that the reciprocal has been true this whole time... Tifa knew what he was going through, too.

except for the fact that a ruined Seventh Heaven was her reality, anyhow. having it in one piece (more or less) here must hurt in its own way... it's no wonder she stopped coming around. he can also sympathize with the woes of a large, monopolizing corporation influencing people's lives, but he keeps that tidbit to himself. ]


That's mad... [ he grips his bottle a little tighter. dragging innocent people into a greedy show of power is low. ] I'm sorry.

[ he looks around the bar, immaculate and free of any of the destruction that he'd seen in the memory, then turns back to Tifa. he offers her a small smile, unsure of how to cheer her up but determined to do so anyway. ]

Do the good memories outweigh the bad, at least?
simulatio: (qIiqqgH)

[personal profile] simulatio 2020-10-07 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
She worked in a nightclub.

[Damien's coasted through enough social links to get that detail, anyway. He's too vulnerable, too emotionally raw to hide much right now, as much as he might normally like to.]

Suffice to say that once I was old enough, I spent more time out of the house than in. I mentioned my father gave her nothing? Life is very difficult for a single mother in Japan, and his absence was devastating for her. The least I could do was try not to be a burden for her. I'm afraid that wasn't enough.

[His fist clenches and unclenches, an emotional dam fractured by Hornet's nail earlier starting to break. He might not see himself as such, but in his core, he is still a kid. A kid who was forced to grow up far too quickly, and has gone through more than any child has any right to, but a kid nonetheless.]
Edited 2020-10-07 04:56 (UTC)
simulatio: (SlRSB1w)

[personal profile] simulatio 2020-10-07 06:03 am (UTC)(link)
No.

[Not even a breath of hesitation as Akechi shakes his head.]

Whatever my personal feelings, I won't dance like a marionette for anyone else's satisfaction. The last several years of my life, I was an unwitting puppet, and that's what brought Ren and I into conflict.

[He can't quite keep the bitterness from his voice at admitting it, but it's true nonetheless. The relationship he and Ren share isn't based on hatred, not really. Friendly rivalry fated to be drawn into open conflict, conflict that neither really won in the end.]

Ren and I have more important things to take care of than that right now. At the moment, we're allies, and however much I might resent him for his plethora of natural abilities, the assistance he received, the way the game was rigged against me, I owe him a great debt, one that I shan't ever be able to truly repay.
indigloaming: (Faceless)

[personal profile] indigloaming 2020-10-07 08:10 am (UTC)(link)
Indigo cocks her head at his apparent offense.

"Sure ya do, most folks do." But she didn't know it, so how was she supposed to address him?

She's never been able to take compliments, so she just scratches her head in embarrassment at his comment.

"I guess you could say that. I've had a few hobbies in my time." She goes to put her gloves back on, gesturing at the piano in the process. "Did ya wanna play somethin'?"
starshower: (036)

[personal profile] starshower 2020-10-07 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Perfect sense.

[It's true. It's been a weird little while with all of these memories running amok in their small world, and confusing and devastating as it has been to revisit a lot of them for her, Tifa's inclined to agree with Parsee's sentiments.]

I've learned a lot more about the people here through the memories than I have otherwise.

[It's too bad that it was against their will. It feels almost like cheating, but that's neither here nor there.]

If anything, I think it'll help bring us all a little bit closer. Understand where others are coming from...
begetblue: (💾 - 12)

[personal profile] begetblue 2020-10-07 04:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Add was indeed correct that their LIPS CPU was located inside their head, but they were going to pretend they didn't hear that. Yeah. Hopefully they weren't going to regret this later, but he did seem calmer now, so maybe it would be okay after all that...? The overly long handshake they let slide, though. Before arriving they had spent barely a week in the outside world, so even things like handshakes were still a novelty! Congratulations Add, you're one of the very first people to shake hands with Turing.

Once he walked inside, Turing put their hand on the door to close it, but stopped halfway. Maybe they should leave it open for a little insurance? He did express a preference for speaking privately though, and they needed to respect that. Not only that, but if they wanted this conversation to go as smoothly as possible and also be a good host, it was better to acquiesce and close the door. R-right?

Click.

There. Turing backed away from the door and turned around, nearly bumping into Add as they did so (he wasn't going to sit down?) and climbed up using the chair to sit on the table. This was pretty much the only way they could maintain eye contact without needing to look up all the time. That got old really quick!

Also, it meant Turing could escape out the window if they felt threatened. Win-win. ]


Okay, but you're welcome to sit, if you like.
starshower: (037)

[personal profile] starshower 2020-10-07 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Leviathan too...

[This is just getting weirder and weirder. Someone has a Leviathan materia, but it's definitely not her.]

Were they being difficult? [Tifa rocks back and forth on her chair, humming in her nostalgia.] I remember fighting Leviathan in the VR room. It wasn't easy...
forwearemany: (lights+flaps)

[personal profile] forwearemany 2020-10-07 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
(Something seems off: has the memory exchange brought them harm? Turing had once mentioned that losing their memories might make them no longer themself.

Is this what is occurring?

It doesn't yet occur to them that their own memories might have caused this harm--the Geth perspective shouldn't be so harmful to another robot, should it?

They notice that a connection is available--has this world enabled networking for them as well as for native machines? They send a ping as they speed up a bit.)


You are showing signs of distress.

(Their lights flash briefly, and their headflaps flutter.)
blue_eyed_obsession: (♙You had it all under control)

[personal profile] blue_eyed_obsession 2020-10-07 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
It really wasn't meant for her, not really. What was exercising control over your emotions, after watching the Earth's destruction?

"..." To him the first part didn't warrant a response, though somewhat ironically he didn't recall having ever obtained her name either.

Music hadn't been a focus of his earlier training, as his adopted father likely thought it to be superfluous. The emphasis had been on business, language, and tactics. "Did you learn that before or after graduation...?" Tactlessly referring to the memory he'd acquired. This thing he'd seen- had to be hers right? Well, he wanted to be rid of it immediately quashing his earlier apprehension in referencing it.
anciently: (and i look up)

[personal profile] anciently 2020-10-07 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh! Wow...wonder why they picked that part to change out?

[ Aerith peers at it thoughtfully, tapping a finger to her chin. Well, no use trying to sort out the mysteries of this place now, right? Not when they still no so little about it. ]

Guess so. [ She agrees sagely, stepping back and linking her arms behind her back. ] And I'm definitely up for that! Are we going on a hunt for answers? [ It may be fruitless, but when has that ever stopped Aerith? ]
anciently: (but i won't rot)

[personal profile] anciently 2020-10-07 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmm... [ She smiles sideways at him, tilting her head, braid spilling over her shoulder. ] You did? How perceptive of you!

[ Does she want to get into it more than they already have? Not especially. Not if he doesn't press her. ]

Tseng wasn't...terrible. [ Aerith says lightly, glancing away as she thinks back to her memories of the man. ] But...he's still a Turk, you know? He was a part of...some other really not-great things.
starshower: (Default)

[personal profile] starshower 2020-10-07 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
You mean of the bar?

[Tifa takes a look around Heavenly Blanc too, pausing on all the small details that belong to the bar. Her bar. The jukebox, the dartboard, the stools at the counter, and even the bottles lining the shelves behind it. She tries to remember the good times, and it does bring a smile to her face.]

I think so.

[She does try to remember that there had been a lot of good memories in the bar, too. There had been fun, laughter, tears, anger, and everything in between...]

Anytime we were there, it really was like we were family. It might've just been a bar and an AVALANCHE hideout to some, but it was home for me, too. You know? I still remember every single regular, some more than others. A lot of them would bring flowers around once in a while...