tabularasa_rp | 003 - Memories of a False History

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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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code bases by tricklet

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

the sound - merlaut apartments

[ Things have already been so chaotic lately, and then...this. The sound - whatever it is - seems to pierce her skull and reach the deepest recesses of her brain. From just outside her door at the apartments, Aerith suddenly doubles over, clutching her head and exclaiming in surprise. While the sound persists, she's unable to do much else: completely overwhelmed by its influence as she is. Eventually, though, when it subsides...she stands upright, wincing a bit and slowly, cautiously, removing her hands from her ears. ]

What...? [ It doesn't happen again, and so she glances around her to try and find someone else, to see if...it had somehow just been her, or if something new was developing in their strange new home. When she does spot someone - whether outside of their own residence, or down on the ground - she'll wave and call out to get their attention. ]

Are you okay? Did you hear that, too? [ Hopefully, she's not just going a little crazy...but, if she isn't, then there are other possible (dangerous?) implications... ]

disaster - on the way to the lemon cello church

[ After confirming that she hadn't been the only one to 'experience' the difficult-to-describe sound, she'd taken off for the church without a real purpose in mind. It'd always been a place of peace and security for her, and even in its altered form, it's definitely still her general base of operations. As such, Aerith is on the road in that direction when the vision hits her.

This is not her first unexplained vision, but it's also not like the ones she'd experienced in Midgar. It has nothing to do with the Planet, for one thing, and it's...longer. More solid, like a real memory she'd experienced, though she'd otherwise have said she'd never witnessed this event at all.

After it passes, she sways a bit in place, returning to herself. The flower girl presses her hand to her head for a moment, recovering for the second time in one day from something like this, but she soon shakes it off and collects herself, glancing around. ]

Oof. The hits just keep coming. [ There's a little smile, but anyone can see that she has no idea what's happening and is at least a little fazed by it all. ] That was...something, huh? I'm assuming you saw it, too? Like with that sound earlier... Seems like we're learning more and more about this world, but...all of a sudden.

memory swap - wherever you are!

Hey... [ Aerith - or, a brunette in a pink dress, if you've never met her - approaches with a hand raised in tentative greeting, her expression...uncertain. Once she's called out, she leans forward a little, hands behind her back as she seems to think about what to say next, choosing her words carefully. ]

Um, this is gonna sound...kinda crazy, but...can we talk? [ She straightens up again and crosses her arms, frowning slightly. ] I can't quite put my finger on it, but...I think I have something that belongs to you. Got a minute?

( ooc ; swapped memories based on signups here! )

"Oh jeez... Tifa... If you could see the look on your face..."

★☆★

"But those who crave my favour must first prove that they know how to move."
"You're a star!"

[The Honeybee Inn? Andrea Rhodea? And most importantly: Cloud Strife, taking to the stage, and shaking the hips his momma gave him!?

This is definitely something that Tifa would remember happening, and recently too, with him decked out in his SOLDIER uniform but for some reason, no matter how hard she tries, she can't seem to place when this occurred. While she was in Wall Market is her best guess, but... no, she spent the whole time locked up in Corneo's mansion, so when...? It doesn't help that she's been having a hard time remembering certain details about events, or things altogether...

It's a memory she wishes to remember—so badly—but then it all falls into place as more of it becomes less foggy in her head.]

"Cloud!? Is that you!? Oh my god, that makeup! And that dress!"
"Nailed it, I know. Thank you. Moving on."

Oh my god...

[She says it aloud to herself, mouth falling open in a gasp, when the realization dawns on her. The reason she can't place it is because this isn't her memory, but... there's no else's it could be but Aerith Gainborough's.

She's in her apartment when it happens, and just as she swings open the door to run to the neighbouring suite, she finds Aerith outside, asking if they can talk. Immediately, she takes her by the hands and drags her inside, only realizing then that she had appeared with a frown on her face.]

Yeah.

[She tilts her head, confused and concerned.]

Wanna have a seat?

Edited 2020-09-17 03:30 (UTC)

Yeah. [ "Confused and concerned" sums it up pretty nicely. She'll step inside, if Tifa indicates she'd prefer her own room, and stands, wringing her hands a little as she finds herself at quite a loss for words. ]

Um... Hmm. [ Aerith furrows her brows, still deeply puzzled over the memory that...she doesn't remember, which...doesn't belong to her. A new, bizarre experience in this new, bizarre place.

Finally, the flower girl sighs softly, looking up to meet the other's eyes. ]

I...think I saw something, or - I feel like I was there, but...it doesn't belong to me. [ Kinda like how they'd all seen flashes of the alternate future, back in Midgar, but...not quite. ] Cloud was there, and...Jessie. [ A young woman she'd never met, but whose death she'd witnessed. Somehow, it'd felt - invasive, for her to be there in that private, awful moment. ] She was...hurt pretty bad.

[Tifa waits, the smile that's sat across her expression now fading with every passing moment, while Aerith tries to find the right words to express what she saw. And then, she hears Jessie's name, and the pit of her stomach drops.]

Oh... [is all she says at first, finding her knees suddenly weakened under her weight, and she drops down on the bed, gaze turned down to her hands clasping together.] You saw that, huh?

[Not exactly what she was expecting, especially when she had seen Cloud on stage through Aerith's eyes, but... it's probably better that she holds off on that for now.

She remembers every last word of that moment, while Jessie lay in Cloud's arms. Her whole world had turned blurry through tears, and the sounds of gunshots and explosions turning to nothing but muffled background noise in her head. "Tifa's crying," she'd pointed out, and when she tried to speak, she could only sob. She can easily recall the distraught look on her face at that, thinking that she'd done something wrong. She had. She did. She was reckless.]

Jessie is... [A friend. Family.] We lost her that night.

[Her head finally lifts to look up at Aerith.]

After I left you and Wedge, Cloud and I found her buried underneath pieces of the tower. I don't know how it happened, but by the time we got to her, it was too late.

[ ... ]

I'm sorry you had to see that, Aerith.

aerith | ota

rolls up in here for memswap

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memory swap

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memswappin'

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memswap

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Disaster

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memswappin'!

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memswap

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The Sound

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