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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?

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rotomphone: (pic#13813702)

[personal profile] rotomphone 2020-10-17 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
No kidding! I bet it would have been a blast.

[ though he's still only concerned with beating Leon, it would have been fun to flex his battling muscles against other Trainers for an off-season tournament. it really is a shame... maybe if the tournament comes back, they can try and vouch for a more convenient time.

hey, there wasn't a good time to bring it up! and it's not like he was hiding it on purpose, which is why his brow furrows at the jab back. he's confused for a moment, but the pieces quickly fit together - he doesn't look Blue in the eye right away, but does his best to brush it off. ]


Yeah, well... I didn't know how to deal with losing back then. It took a lot of growing up to get where I'm at now! [ it wasn't just against Leon - he didn't lose often against other people, but it wasn't pretty when he did. as he recalls it, he chuckles. ] He didn't actually. To him, it was just a great battle.

[ they'd had an argument about it not long after Leon took the title. Leon honestly hadn't put the pieces together about why Raihan felt the way he did until he told him about it. it was frustrating in itself, but they gained a new understanding of each other and themselves from that point on. ]
halloflamer: (Blah blah love for your Pokémon somethin)

[personal profile] halloflamer 2020-10-17 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[Blue frowns to himself, staring up at some point near the ceiling of the bathhouse as he muses on it- on his childhood frustrations, the nature of competition, the reality of being unable to defeat that One Person. By now, even by then, he had been... over it, already, but that didn't mean that he had forgotten what it had felt like.]

[Raihan is tall enough that he's still in Blue's peripheral vision even glancing upward, and he sort of watches him sit still looking away as he ponders it. Old bitterness rose back up easily. He was okay, losing to Red, now. but he couldn't say everything had been resolved, on their part.]


Guys who have all that stuff come easily to them will never notice on their own....

[It feels like another conversation he had, recently. Certainly, it seemed this sort of feeling wasn't uncommon. That, at least, sort of made Blue feel... better. Vindicated, childishly, that it wasn't just him, that this sort of unfairness really did exist in a broad sense.]

That doesn't bother you?
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (102)

[personal profile] activatingcombatmode 2020-10-18 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
[His smile is still in place although it does get a bit more wolfish the moment Blue offers himself for any pointers. If he's close enough Zack is going to flex one arm muscle or two just for show. Yeah, keep looking. He works hard for a reason.]

So they're called Pokémon, huh? I think I saw the flying fish things down at the beach too.

[He eyes Blue.]

Are any of these beasts ever hard to handle? Any of them ever get the better of you or top you?

[This is a real tag.]

Got any pointers for that...?
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (13413823)

[personal profile] activatingcombatmode 2020-10-18 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
[Sephiroth always says just the right things to stab right into his chest, doesn't he.]

So you're really good with how things turned out?

[He can't help but growl out,]

If you could go back it'd be all the same shit? Why?
bachagain: (pic#10583613)

[personal profile] bachagain 2020-10-18 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ is the door closed

but ah, what the heck. that's one way to derail leo's train of thought, as his response gets drowned out by sena's sudden weight. it gives him a very sudden acute awareness of their positions, something which was previously drowned out by their situation.

...

well. his own face sure is reddening, questions mixed in with his quickening heartbeat. he can laugh about this one, right. will that help. except this one's awkward too, oops-- ]


Hmmm? What's up? Did thinking about the past make you age fifty years?

[ stooooop. "don't ask", izumi says, and leo proceeds to ask. it's in a playful manner, but leo does mean to ask genuinely. he's just terrible at remaining terribly serious for too long.

here's a couple light pats on izumi's back...... ]
halloflamer: (cock demon)

[personal profile] halloflamer 2020-10-18 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
[He is 👀 looking]

[Blue grins wider, not hiding his glance whatsoever as he listens, then slides his eyes back to meet Zack's. This is going well, right??]


Oh? You mean the Magikarp? Back home, they're pretty docile lil' things, but you had better watch yourself around them here. They're pretty... nippy.

[He can't help but lift a brow at that ...........phrasing, but he chuckles softly, fingertips dancing across the bartop to flick away the unruly piece of bangs from Zack's face.]

No 'beast' ever gets the better of me. I can be pretty nippy, too.

[If that's what you like, Zack.....]
obsessiveness: (Default)

[personal profile] obsessiveness 2020-10-18 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
No, it's just -- I asked someone for my memories earlier and I greatly underestimated him so he kinda fuckin'. Threw me on the ground? Ugh...

[ he sure learned his lesson about that, but this is why shrimpy underclassmen deserve to be straightened out first before you let them go wild in society like that! damn fucking brat...

well, he's sore all over, so he just can't get himself to move no matter how Much he wants to. and he really, Really wants to? because he's even more aware of the positions they now find themselves in, and he's only thankful that the door is closed -- maybe. that and they're not in japan right now, since this'll cause quite a scandal that'll throw knights off the loop again.

sigh. ]


...But when you put it like that, yeah. It did make me age fifty years. I don't want to go back to those days, do you?

[ he mumbles, face still hidden. ]

It's going to be a heavy burden, though. Carrying something like that with me.
sefirot: (214)

[personal profile] sefirot 2020-10-18 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
[That's what he does. Go straight for the heart.]

Because without those moments I would not be who I am now. I would not have those memories that make up everything.

Without those moments, Cloud would not be nearly as important. And I'd loathe to lose that most of all.

[And that exactly is what it all goes back to.]
psychokinesia: (I-0163)

[personal profile] psychokinesia 2020-10-18 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
[He's not trying to hurt Leo seriously, so the suplexing will have to wait until another time... probably... but for now, he is content with letting Leo squirm. It makes him feel marginally better about all the embarrassment earlier. Who's the pathetic one now, huh?????

power trips aside, he still needs to give this dumb memory back. Add continues to scowl, unswayed by poetic words. In fact—]
Fuck your feelings, and fuck the universal language of music. Figure that part out for yourself!

[And with that, he takes another deep breath to prepare himself... then, staring Leo dead in the eyes, he begins]

What are we fighting for. Think about it. We already know the reason. The feeling's in our mind. Our persistent resolution goes to those who cry out. Our resounding voice. We'll go running, embracing our unfading pride.

[... to recite the lyrics in a cold, soulless monotone.

this is fucking stupid]
bachagain: (pic#10570536)

[personal profile] bachagain 2020-10-18 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ .......... hahaha, what. look at sena, throwing in a line like that and then following it up with a line like that. leo's the one who feels like he's getting thrown around at this point, unsure about what he's supposed to focus on here...

not to mention izumi's still on him. the patting stops, as he catches up with all of this. ]


Nah. But it's because of that time that I can say it's fine? Splitting something between two people is always gonna make it lighter, so why choose to cradle it on your shoulders aaaalll by yourself? Dump whatever you want on my lap, Atlas! I'll carry it properly this time!

[ or... something like that.

there's a small pause. then, of course, he has to ruin his dramatic speech with a footnote: ]


... Anywho, didya really get knocked on your butt?

[ sorry he just

he can't let that go ]
pinwheels: (054)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-10-18 08:55 am (UTC)(link)
[ She laughs in response to that. From the way the oni acted in the memory, Parsee's words don't surprise her at all. Yeah, Yuugi definitely seems like the type to just do what she wants to, Rinoa thinks. Especially if it'll make someone else smile.

With a grin of her own, she raises her cup. ]


Then, to Yuugi, and friends who help us through the worst of times.

[ She pauses before drinking, just in case Parsee wants to add anything to the toast. ]
obsessiveness: (cranky 'cause you're hungry aren't you)

[personal profile] obsessiveness 2020-10-18 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ just because he doesn't wanna go back to those days, it doesn't mean that he should let leo deal with even half the baggage he's got? but also, this is kind of a payback for throwing izumi around numerous times in the past. how does it feel to be on the confused side, huh???

but no, leo's right. it's only fair that leo would still continue to stay by his side -- izumi did promise to himself that he won't let himself die until he rightfully pays him back, after all. ]


...I'd do the same, you know. Carrying your shit. But that means we'd be carrying almost the same amount of baggage? Is that how it works?

[ idk man. their shared braincell has yet to manifest in this world apparently, so they're gonna have to deal without it for the meantime.

but leo just had to say that. so much for letting go. izumi's gonna have to force himself to roll off him for that, wincing in pain as he turns his back on his friend. hmph! ]


And I told you I don't wanna talk about that! So annoying!
Edited 2020-10-18 14:15 (UTC)
obsessiveness: (Default)

[personal profile] obsessiveness 2020-10-18 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Izumi can only stare blankly. SMH.

"You need a hobby. Like, a better one. Or at least a better stage name? Because I doubt that's your real name, Magi Mari-san."

Even when he's being a total whiner, he still has to stay polite...
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (9)

[personal profile] activatingcombatmode 2020-10-18 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Hah, maybe so. She is tough, though.

[Zack is just getting to know Tifa after many years but he can agree with these points.]

What about you, though? Do you get to pray for stuff too?

[How does that work?]
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (45)

[personal profile] activatingcombatmode 2020-10-18 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[That makes him snort, letting out a short breath of laughter as he nods and paces on his feet.]

Tseng easing up and relaxing enough to get along? I'd pay good gil to see that.

[He looks back her, waving one hand.]

But enough of that, if I saw all that with you did you see anything about my memories?
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (13112710)

[personal profile] activatingcombatmode 2020-10-18 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[stabbed through the heart and you're to blame darling, you give love a bad name]

It all comes back down to Cloud for you, doesn't it.

[Weirdo. Zack gives him an uneasy look.]

The point he attacked you and threw you down that reactor, that's when everything really changed.

[The changes were already starting but that moment of time had pushed it to the brink.]

Sephiroth. You better leave him the hell alone, here.
begetblue: (💾 - 10)

[personal profile] begetblue 2020-10-18 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ nooooooo

For the time being, they could remain blissfully (?) unaware of the fact that their hopes were already dashed. That wasn't what helped the most, though. When Add got that piece of his own memory back, his reaction was the thing that stopped Turing's overt panic. It sounded very sincere. Especially now, it was nice to hear someone speak of another mechanical being as their equal instead of getting caught up on whether they needed to have a useful function to be worthy of existing. That got Turing to smile a bit--not a strained or shy one, but a genuine one that they felt no need to suppress.

Dynamo, huh? Hmmm. ]


Did they come here with you. by any chance? I would like to meet them, if I can.

[ They had...many questions to ask. 'How do you float like that' might have been one of them. ]
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (28)

[personal profile] activatingcombatmode 2020-10-18 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[It was stupid phrasing but he's stupid and muscular, what can he do!?

At least the hint is taken and Zack looks at ease under the reaction he gets.]


That so? I'd like to see that sometime.
bridge_princess: (Default)

[personal profile] bridge_princess 2020-10-18 08:22 pm (UTC)(link)
She's definitely that. [Someone had seen the memories a little bit.] Youkai don't really pray that much anymore, but we do it occasionally. We're the spirits, so we're the ones they pray to, or talk about.

I mean... does god pray?

You know, that's an interesting question. Never thought about it before.
bridge_princess: (011)

[personal profile] bridge_princess 2020-10-18 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well... Yuugi wasn't really 'that' nice. She'd do anything if it made herself smile. But if it made Parsee smile too, or someone she actually liked, it was an added bonus. Parsee clinked her glass and took a nice long gulp before exhaling softly.]

Ngh... kinda almost wish the idiot was here, but she'd be bored out of her damned mind, and a bored Oni's dangerous, heh.
halloflamer: (Just Surfed in from Cinnabar)

[personal profile] halloflamer 2020-10-18 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[He’s a dumb himbo and Blue is totally falling for it.]

[His eyes slide towards the remainder of Zack’s beer, then back towards him- he sweeps it up and tilts back, finishing it off with a few hearty gulps, gasping a sigh and dropping the mug into the sink behind the counter.]


You can see it now, buster. [He tilts his chin up with a jerk.] Wanna come upstairs?
begetblue: (💾 - 7)

[personal profile] begetblue 2020-10-18 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It didn't escape Turing's notice that Leo was concerned about them getting hurt, but not at all about themselves. They definitely didn't like that! Even if Leo didn't mind, Turing certainly did. Leo had done a lot for them already, and it wouldn't do to make extra trouble for him when they didn't have to.

The music helped soothe those immediate worries. Turing wondered what song it could be; they didn't recognize it, and the idea of their memory inspiring it didn't even begin to cross their mind. They almost asked, but that would mean interrupting the performance.

Painting for the first time. Trouble holding things. Purple trees. Slowly but surely all of those puzzle pieces began to fit together into a shape they could understand.

...Ah! ]


I did! I've been wanting to paint the trees here as well, but I don't have my paints and canvasses with me.

[ It had been so long since they painted last. Too long! Their preferred style had changed quite a bit since that memory, but painting a landscape every so often was nice too. ]

I haven't painted the ground as the sky and vice versa yet. ...If I made a painting like that, would you be interested in seeing it? I'd like to hear your thoughts.
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (12)

[personal profile] activatingcombatmode 2020-10-18 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, interesting concept.

[Zack is not quite sure how he'd answer a question like that.]

I guess not. I guess spirits wouldn't have a reason to? Huh. Unless you do? Have you ever wanted to pray for something?
bachagain: (pic#13949741)

[personal profile] bachagain 2020-10-18 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[ goodbye, sena. goodbye, braincells.

leo shifts to sit up a short time after izumi rolls over, staring at his back for a moment. those words are... god. they're a lot. if not a little overcomplicated. do the specifics of it really matter? is quantifying it like that necessary??? leo can't help but scrunch his nose a little at that, through the emotions he feels towards the content itself, though izumi can't see it.

they can have heartfelt talks about helping each other with the multitude of burdens they have, but they still have to be morons.

hence why leo's poking izumi gently near his shoulder. ]


Ahah. That's not fair, Sena! After saying that... You're really gonna turn away, even though you knoooow I latch onto that stuff? That makes the look of your back even worse!

[ who's to blame for that, leo? huh? huh?? ]

Would it help if I gave you a massage? Ruka-tan gives really good ones, and I learned a little from her! When I mean a little, though, I really do mean a little! Don't expect too much!

[ stop ]
begetblue: (💾 - 35)

[personal profile] begetblue 2020-10-19 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ The words they needed to say were there. All Turing needed to do was spit them out. That usually wasn't a problem for them, but this situation made it a problem. Okay. They could do this. They had to do this. ]

There are others with you. [ Turing's voice was quiet. ] If you do nothing, the others...won't make it. There is a gun nearby.

[ Their hands clenched at their sides. Just a little more. ]

Your aim is not very good. It takes time for the attackers to stop moving...