ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʟᴀᴍᴇ ᴀʟᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛ. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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acatalepsy_rpg2019-04-06 06:23 pm
insubordination) wrote in acatalepsy_rpg2019-04-06 06:23 pm
ᴏᴏ3 ( ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ ) | ʙᴏʏ, ɪɴᴛᴇʀʀᴜᴘᴛᴇᴅ.
[ roy is seated in a secluded area of the temple that many may recognize as maes and barabas’ office. he has a notebook in front of him that a great deal of stuff seems to be written in, but roy himself doesn’t have a pen in hand. those paying careful attention may recognize that the writing in the notebook is, indeed, roy’s handwriting, but it’s certainly not legible.
anyway. roy looks a bit tired, but in relatively good spirits, despite what he suffered on the horologium. he’s been relatively quiet, since coming back to the temple -- focused on recovering, catching up with his closer circle of friends and family, and preparing himself for what he had to do next, which is, incidentally, address the circle.
And so, roy clears his throat. ]
We have a handful of new arrivals . . . welcome to the Circle. To those who don’t know me, my name is Brigadier General Roy Mustang. Roy is sufficient.
[ some people like using the titles, and some people don’t. It doesn’t really make a difference to him -- but that being said, roy certainly does speak in an authoritative tone, for as tired as he looks. some things don’t change. ]
I wanted to bring your attention to what we’ve experienced as a group in the past. A world jump is likely coming soon, and the more prepared we are, the higher likelihood we have to avoid another Akvos, or another version of the Horologium. To that extent --
[There’s not really a noise to announce Maes’s arrival. Just one minute there is empty space behind Roy and the next it’s being occupied by a man in glasses.]
Roy! There you are, I --
[He notices that Roy is speaking to the watch or The Circle and leans in over his friend’s shoulder. Personal space and Maes apparently aren’t acquainted, at least where Roy is concerned.]
Oh, hey, you’re talking to everyone else. Perfect. Let me borrow this for a second.
[Maes plucks up the watch. Roy is no longer visible, but you can definitely hear a “hey, give me that!” protest from the side. ]
Hi everyone. Technically I’m a Brigadier General, but feel free to just refer to me as Maes Hughes. I’m sure Roy already started in on the welcoming address, but I have some important information too -- concerning everyone really. I managed to get some details out of Astoria about our next world. After the past few times, well, one of the biggest issues we’ve had is not knowing a lot about where we’re going and how to prepare. Now I know there are mixed feelings about her, but the last time I asked her for information about a world it did prove to be accurate...so I think we can at least trust this much.
[As he speaks on trusting Astoria, he does glance in the direction Roy was. It’s pretty clear Maes has his own skepticism about the woman that has grown substantially from his months of being here. Now isn’t the time to dwell on that though. He clears his throat.]]
I didn’t get a name, but she called it a city, with taverns and everything. It’s populated by various types of people...different species and magic will be present. It sounded like we’d be going to a place with a lot of avenues to pursue. Astoria seems to want us to help the people there...though she couldn’t really give me specifics as to how. It sounds like it won’t be just fighting though, not this time.
[Maes pauses. Is he done? He knows that wasn’t very helpful and, especially for the new folks, it might not mean a lot. He looks like he’s about to give the watch back to Roy, but quickly pulls it back. Oh, right, the other things.]
If that doesn’t mean much to you, don’t worry. This room that Roy and I are in happens to be a library of sorts that Barb and I have been working on to keep all of the information from different people and worlds. We made it with the idea that those of you who are new might want to come read up on previous places. We’d appreciate any information you may have to add in the future.
All that I ask if that you please don’t touch the picture I’ve pinned to the wall of my precious daughter Elysia!
[The picture in question seems to magically appear in Maes’s hand, though it’s hard to tell if that was slight of hand or his teleporting again. The picture shows a girl, no older than three with twin pigtails sticking on top of her head. She sits proudly on a small tricycle, beaming at the camera. His voice changes from serious to a more gushing tone. Has he...has he forgotten the point of this?]
I know she’s just too cute~ But you’re free to look all you want I know she cheers ---
All right, enough, give me that --
[ and the watch is soon wrested out of maes’ hands, to show a very exasperated roy, frustrated (but clearly not enough to be actually upset, given he allowed maes to prattle on for that long). ]
The point of this is to offer ourselves as resources to the newer members, and to continue supporting one another to the best of our ability. Sharing with one another puts us on an even-playing field, and I intend to continue asking that of you, regardless of what happens on other worlds. Many of us have survived good worlds, and bad. Successes, and failures. This is our opportunity to attempt to plan for what comes next, because we likely have little time before our next jump.
[ and, after roy says that, he turns to maes, exasperated: ]
Do you always need to be the center of attention, or do you have an actual medical condition that forces you to --
[ and then the feed ends. ]
(OOC: If you are interested in looking at what we have in the office and want to read or, even better, contribute. Check it out here! Also, feel free to threadjack in this post! )
anyway. roy looks a bit tired, but in relatively good spirits, despite what he suffered on the horologium. he’s been relatively quiet, since coming back to the temple -- focused on recovering, catching up with his closer circle of friends and family, and preparing himself for what he had to do next, which is, incidentally, address the circle.
And so, roy clears his throat. ]
We have a handful of new arrivals . . . welcome to the Circle. To those who don’t know me, my name is Brigadier General Roy Mustang. Roy is sufficient.
[ some people like using the titles, and some people don’t. It doesn’t really make a difference to him -- but that being said, roy certainly does speak in an authoritative tone, for as tired as he looks. some things don’t change. ]
I wanted to bring your attention to what we’ve experienced as a group in the past. A world jump is likely coming soon, and the more prepared we are, the higher likelihood we have to avoid another Akvos, or another version of the Horologium. To that extent --
[There’s not really a noise to announce Maes’s arrival. Just one minute there is empty space behind Roy and the next it’s being occupied by a man in glasses.]
Roy! There you are, I --
[He notices that Roy is speaking to the watch or The Circle and leans in over his friend’s shoulder. Personal space and Maes apparently aren’t acquainted, at least where Roy is concerned.]
Oh, hey, you’re talking to everyone else. Perfect. Let me borrow this for a second.
[Maes plucks up the watch. Roy is no longer visible, but you can definitely hear a “hey, give me that!” protest from the side. ]
Hi everyone. Technically I’m a Brigadier General, but feel free to just refer to me as Maes Hughes. I’m sure Roy already started in on the welcoming address, but I have some important information too -- concerning everyone really. I managed to get some details out of Astoria about our next world. After the past few times, well, one of the biggest issues we’ve had is not knowing a lot about where we’re going and how to prepare. Now I know there are mixed feelings about her, but the last time I asked her for information about a world it did prove to be accurate...so I think we can at least trust this much.
[As he speaks on trusting Astoria, he does glance in the direction Roy was. It’s pretty clear Maes has his own skepticism about the woman that has grown substantially from his months of being here. Now isn’t the time to dwell on that though. He clears his throat.]]
I didn’t get a name, but she called it a city, with taverns and everything. It’s populated by various types of people...different species and magic will be present. It sounded like we’d be going to a place with a lot of avenues to pursue. Astoria seems to want us to help the people there...though she couldn’t really give me specifics as to how. It sounds like it won’t be just fighting though, not this time.
[Maes pauses. Is he done? He knows that wasn’t very helpful and, especially for the new folks, it might not mean a lot. He looks like he’s about to give the watch back to Roy, but quickly pulls it back. Oh, right, the other things.]
If that doesn’t mean much to you, don’t worry. This room that Roy and I are in happens to be a library of sorts that Barb and I have been working on to keep all of the information from different people and worlds. We made it with the idea that those of you who are new might want to come read up on previous places. We’d appreciate any information you may have to add in the future.
All that I ask if that you please don’t touch the picture I’ve pinned to the wall of my precious daughter Elysia!
[The picture in question seems to magically appear in Maes’s hand, though it’s hard to tell if that was slight of hand or his teleporting again. The picture shows a girl, no older than three with twin pigtails sticking on top of her head. She sits proudly on a small tricycle, beaming at the camera. His voice changes from serious to a more gushing tone. Has he...has he forgotten the point of this?]
I know she’s just too cute~ But you’re free to look all you want I know she cheers ---
All right, enough, give me that --
[ and the watch is soon wrested out of maes’ hands, to show a very exasperated roy, frustrated (but clearly not enough to be actually upset, given he allowed maes to prattle on for that long). ]
The point of this is to offer ourselves as resources to the newer members, and to continue supporting one another to the best of our ability. Sharing with one another puts us on an even-playing field, and I intend to continue asking that of you, regardless of what happens on other worlds. Many of us have survived good worlds, and bad. Successes, and failures. This is our opportunity to attempt to plan for what comes next, because we likely have little time before our next jump.
[ and, after roy says that, he turns to maes, exasperated: ]
Do you always need to be the center of attention, or do you have an actual medical condition that forces you to --
[ and then the feed ends. ]
(OOC: If you are interested in looking at what we have in the office and want to read or, even better, contribute. Check it out here! Also, feel free to threadjack in this post! )
[video]
It looks like Steven is out by the lake somewhere.]
Hi, I'm Steven! This sounds like it'll be a tough job, but I'm here to help!
What is Akvos and the Horologium?
[video]
Horologium was the place we just returned from, right before you all arrived and the festival in fact. It was a very large space craft meant to transport people across the galaxy I suppose. They had sent out a distress beacon that Astoria somehow received and she sent us there to help. When we got there though the crew was already gone and the ship was a wreck. We spent most of our time there just trying to figure out what happened...
[He hesitates, not sure if he should elaborate from there. He doesn't want to scare Steven, but at the same time everyone involved in the Circle deserves to know what happened. Perhaps he'll wait to see if Steven asks for more.]
Before that was Akvos. It was a world completely underwater. Unfortunately on that world our large group was split upon arrival and it took us awhile to find each other. We had to figure out this plague that was infecting their crops, but also deal with some poor diplomatic relations between the former King and the current ruling Queen.
It was...very messy. I'm still not entirely sure what led to the destruction, but Akvos is...well it's no longer there.
[He adjusts his glasses, peering at the screen.] It looks like you're at the lake. You could try speaking with some of the Akvosians yourself. Some of them were brought back with us.
no subject
You mean it blew up?!
[He doesn't really get how crop problems and poor diplomacy lead to immediate destruction.]
no subject
That's...probably a pretty close approximation, yes.
[Perhaps this needs a little more clarification.]
There was this rip in reality...a Void that appeared when the King forced his way out of their magical prison. From what I've pieced together I believe that rip got bigger as we were trying to fix other problems and eventually it just kind of...tore everything apart.
[It doesn't really do it justice at all, but frankly Maes was doing his best to survive at the time and only tried to comprehend what had happened after.]
no subject
But... how were you supposed to stop something like that?
[He doesn't think anybody's powers involved repairing the spacetime continuum.]
Are some of them just... doomed?
no subject
[He imagines they could have sent fewer people through the Rift. It was unstable and Astoria had warned those who went through it. However, would that have changed things or was opening the Rift in the first place the problem? Or did it go beyond that.]
It's really beyond me Steven, sorry. Maybe Roy could give you a better answer, but I think a lot of us aren't quite sure what we could have done differently on Akvos. I don't think any of the worlds are 100% doomed, no. I think they all have a chance. It's just...some are going to be more difficult, have more challenges and situations, than we might be prepared for.
It's unwise to give up before we even start.
no subject
Then something occurs to him.]
Wait... you said some of the merpeople are living in this lake now?
[He face falls.]
...They must be really hurting right now.
no subject
[He realizes he hasn't had a chance to go chat since returning. There were a few he had helped back on Akvos, he should check on them.]
It's been especially hard for them, as it would be for anyone in that scenario. You actually reminded me that I should go catch up with what they were up to while we were on the Horologium.
[There's a pause, Maes has an idea.]
If you want to check on them I could always introduce you.
no subject
Oh! Really? Could you?
[He's a weird mix of worried and excited right now.]
I've never met a mermaid before... We could see if they want company.
no subject
[He knows something of loss, especially one's family. He's trying to help and the merfolk certainly seem to enjoy him sharing news.]
I hadn't either before Akvos. I'm sure you'll do fine. Want me to meet you at the lake then, since it looks like you're there?
(ooc: Let me know if you want to switch to action, I honestly don't mind NPCing some mermaids.)
ACTION
[And sure enough, Steven will be found down at the lake, on the side closest to the Temple. He waves his arms enthusiastically as Maes arrives.
He has a ukelele slung over his shoulder.]
OVER HERE!
no subject
It’s pretty easy to spot the kid and Maes raises a hand in greeting in return.]
Hello there.
[As he approaches, Steven might notice the sizable rock he carries. It’s big enough that he can’t completely close his hand around it, but not so big as to need more than one hand to carry. It’s smooth, rock that’s been underwater for a long time tends to be, and has a piece of bright yellow string tied to it. It looks like something is written or painted on, but you can’t read it because Maes’s hand is blocking it.]
Oh, you have a musical instrument? That’ll be good, it’s probably been awhile since they’ve heard one. I don’t know of many in the Circle that play or have access to one if they do.
[He definitely recalls the mermaids from Akvos enjoying dancing and music...at least the ones at the palace.]
We’re going to have to walk along the shore a bit that way. [he points towards the northern end of the lake] They’ve taken up residence in the depths and that’s the side where it’s easier to contact them from.
[video]
Thank you for the offer, Steven.
[ he'll start with that! ]
What can you contribute? What do you do, in your world?
no subject
But I know how to fight and I also have some experience with interplanetary diplomacy.
no subject
You're a -- I'm sorry, did you say interplanetary diplomacy?
[ nevermind, that is definitely the werirdest thing he has ever heard. ]
no subject
See, my dad is a human and my mom was an alien called a gem... so I'm a bit of both! My mom first came to Earth as part of an invasion, because the gems wanted to harvest its resources - but my mom decided that wasn't fair, so she and a bunch of other gems decided to fight back against their Homeworld to defend the Earth and the lives they could live there.
So, way later, the gem Homeworld decided they just wanted to destroy Earth instead, because of all the bad memories. The Crystal Gems and I had to defend it, and I just got back from space, where I was trying to convince the gem leaders to leave Earth alone and to help heal the gems hurt during the war.
no subject
humans and "aliens" aren't so different after all.
he picks up on the past tense, with the mother, and present tense, with the father. so the mother is dead? or not in the picture. he almost asks, but steven appears to be fairly young, and asking that type of question is something better saved for a conversation that isn't the first . . . still, he pockets it away. ]
You are quite the accomplished young man.
[ genuinely! ]
Do you think you succeeded, in convincing them to see your point of view?
no subject
I think so. At least about a few things! The gems' problems are sort of complicated, but a lot of the Diamonds' issues seemed to come from believing they had to be perfect all the time. I tried to show them they weren't perfect, and that it was okay to be that way... I think, when they accept that, a lot of other things will change too.
[He scratches his cheek sheepishly.]
Of course, I kind of had an advantage. I'm part of the Diamonds' family, on my mom's side... so they were willing to listen without shattering me for longer than average!
[If it hadn't been for his connection to Pink Diamond, who knows if they'd have ever listened? He can't take credit for all of that.]
no subject
[ still . . . shattering sounds -- ominous?? and he pauses, before he decides to just ask for clarification. ]
When you say shatter, you don't -- what does longer than average mean? And by 'Diamond,' I assume you mean the actual gemstone of a diamond? The 'gems' are stones?
no subject
[He shrugs his shoulders uncomfortably.]
But yeah, Diamonds have diamond gems, and are the toughest and most powerful gems there are. So, they've always been the ones in charge.
no subject
ordinarily, roy would never ask such a thing of someone appearing to be a kid, but steven has proven himself to be quite the adult in their short conversation. and though roy knows at least seven answers to the question he's about to ask, he's curious to hear what steven has to say. ]
What could be worse than dying?