synopsychic | [ liminal space ] text since jack has zero LS skills [ open ]

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[ liminal space ] text since jack has zero LS skills [ open ]

I wouldn't recommend drowning; it's really quite unsettling.

[ Yes, Jack drowned in the sea after being cast away from the Coelestis Maria and ended up washed back into the train station thanks to the Thalassia route. And now, water logged and half coughing up sea water, he's staring in bemusement at the center of the train platform. Because, unlike his previous experience with portals, this one just seems to be waiting for something. Which means... ]

Do all portals stay open once we move to a new place? I was under the impression they disappeared as soon as one was used.

[ which means, of course, that someone needs dungeon rescuing. Volunteers? ]

((ooc: In particular, Glen Baskerville needs rescuing and I thought this would be an interesting way to help the mun out (all volunteers welcomed)! However, I do know some others have idled out/need rescuing so if you want to jump on this as well and get them out too, I say let's roll with it. If you want Jack to help with that or form your own group, just let me know. ))

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Some of them do.

[Varric's voice - and it's a voice in truth, not merely the intrusion of another's thoughts - sounds curious, and a little wary.]

Let me borrow your eyes for a second.

[ if only confusion could come across in plain text, but writ across Varric's mind is just plain words. ]

My eyes? But how would one do that?

[ and if Jack can learn to do that to another, then how? What possibilities that might open! ]

One of the tricks of the trade. Some of us can see what you see, or show you what we see. Don't worry, you don't have to do anything except not resist.

[ the words pop in bright and immediate ]

Ah, that's handy. Can you hear things too or is it just sight?

[ and while a normal man might be afraid of some other guy reading his mind, Jack worries not a bit because if his soul truly is like still water as others have described, not even a reflection will be seen. If Varric tries, he'll find zero resistance against the invasion. Just Jack, waiting. ]

I can hear, too, but if there's a way to hear the difference between the types of portal, I haven't found it yet.

[Some of the oldest Travelers may be able to read thoughts; it's something Varric has considered before, and discarded save for the occasional habit of running through particularly catchy drinking songs to himself on the off chance that someone else might start singing them and prove a theory.

It's only sensory impression he can read, and he reaches out for that, grimacing a little on a distant ship's deck at the ever-present strangeness of another's vision overlaying his own.

Which means, of course:]

Ah. That's a dungeon portal. You don't want to go through that one alone.

[ he files every tidbit of information away and ponders quietly to himself, except... ]

Oh!

[ well that wasn't what he was expecting to hear ]

Why not? Is it dangerous?

[ it was certainly starting to sound like it could be. ]

It's dangerous, and no one's ever made it back out of one alone. If you don't have at least one partner, you might be stuck on the other side for good.

Then why go into the dungeon at all if it's that dangerous? That seems rather strange.

[ that is what he means, right? There's some kind of terrible monster lurking on the inside waiting to catch poor Jack? ]

Because those things only open when there's someone trapped inside. Once you've been here a while, you'll realize people occasionally go missing without warning. Most of the time, that's where they are.

[ now that gives him cause for pause ]

Is there any means to tell who might be inside?

[ because while he'd willingly go in to rescue one person, there's another of his acquaintance he'd gladly let rot inside. ]

[There's a brief pause before he replies.]

There's usually some sign, but what it is isn't consistent from dungeon to dungeon. If you know the person who's trapped inside, you should be able to figure it out.

Oh, how fascinating, but... [ he gave a mental shrug ] It just looks to be another portal to me although perhaps there is a bit more doom and gloom in there then I'm used to seeing in this world.

[ Sorry Glen. He's sure the sunlight and birds are hanging out there somewhere for you. Isn't that why you've been content to just hang out there forever? ]

Perhaps I should investigate.

[ and learn what else this world has to offer. Especially if it might lead him to Lacie once more. ]

And here I thought you weren't inclined to walk headlong into danger.

[He sounds...amused, almost.]

At least wait for backup. No one's going to be happy if we have to mount an expedition to pull you out of there, too.

[ he wasn't, but isn't that supposed to be the usual response? }

I don't think you'd need to. I'm not exactly well liked you know.

[ not if the rest of the people from his world have their say anyway. They'd welcome his loss. ]

I think you're underestimating the heedless heroism of your fellow Travelers. There's a long list of people who would dive down one of those holes for a complete stranger.

In that case, I'll wait. I would hate to cause undue stress for a stranger.

((ooc: Seiko got distracted by the jaunt and still hasn't put up a thread to go rescue Glen, but I will punt her into getting it done soon and pm you if you're still willing to help us out!))

Good. You're one of the clever ones.

((ooc: I'm definitely still willing to help out with a dungeon rescue!))

Are you all right? Are you hurt?

[He's alive, though. That's what matters. Neria's voice is cautious when he speaks of portals and she tries her damnedest not to sound hopeful.]

If a portal is open...it could lead back into Liminal Space, made by one of us. Or it could mean that there's a dungeon that's opened up. One of our own could need rescuing.

My chest aches a little, but I'm sure that with time it will heal.

[ and moving on to the more interesting topic at hand, another thought flows across the divide to Neria. ]

What you mean rescuing? Are you suggesting someone got lost when we were pulled into the sea?

What's this one look like?

Hmm... I suppose you could say the portal is half as tall as a man and hovering a few feet above the floor. I've been staring at it for nearly ten minutes and not a soul has come in or out of it since.

Is that strange?

Sounds pretty normal, actually.

You don't want to go in there alone.

Why not? Won't it just lead me back to the ship?

Sounds like a dungeon portal, and those won't let you back out unless you've got someone with you. Better to bring someone who's done this song and dance before with you.

[That is almost like volunteering, and Hijikata's quite aware as he says it. Someone's gotta do this shit, right?]

[ oh... how nice of you Mr. Hijikata-san. Perhaps he'd like to be a babysitter too? ]

Ah... I don't suppose you know someone who'd like to take a look at it, do you?

[ not that Jack minds getting lost. He's done it more often then he'd like to admit and he (usually) came out on top. Eventually. ]

[Sigh. Well, mid-jaunt means half the vets are out of commission, so if you want a thing done...]

Hang tight. I'll be there soon.

[Babysitting, after all, is Hijikata's specialty.]

[ poor vets, always getting screwed over by a jaunt. But Jack barely has a moment to say thank you before he's distracted by Hijikata's arrival because why wouldn't he be? Standing to his feet, Jack gave a friendly smile to the man who looks (too much) like his once dear friend, Oswald. ]

Ah, thank you for helping me out. I admit to be rather curious about this dungeon you spoke of. Do you think it's safe?

((ooc: Varric might tag along as well and Seiko needs to write up a dungeon starter to actually get rescued so you should help me sit on her until she does it!))

Knowing this place? I damned well doubt it.

[Hijikata's posture and expression look about like usual - confident, nothing particularly warm about it, but not so much an active coldness as just being terribly businesslike and ready to cut the crap.]

Four's usually the ideal number for this kind of thing, but it's not impossible to do it with less - you just want to be damned sure nobody splits up, in that case.

[ Jack's eyes widened ]

So many? But surely there's nothing, uh... dangerous in there. People just get lost, don't they?

[ or is Jack just being a damn fool and an optimist. Who knows? ]

There's usually a reason people can't make it back to the exit by themselves, let alone get through it.

[ there's a very unsettling moment he's having here and when he speaks, it's with measured calmness. ]

If you die in the dungeon, is it a permanent death?

[ considering... you know. Jack's happy circumstances of the moment it's a question worth asking. ]

Don't know. Never let it get that far, haven't exactly been eager to test and see.

And no one else has met that fate before? You did say you've been here for quite some time.

[ sorry, not sorry, he just wants to know all the facts. ]

Not that I can remember hearing. But it's possible it's happened before Moebius, and it's just that nobody can remember.

Ah...

That's right.

[ He glances over Hijikata, gaze a bit sharper then usual. ]

What exactly did happen at Moebius? I'm afraid I've not heard of that place before.

[ or so very little. Not too many veterans enjoy discussing it... ]

Nobody remembers what exactly happened.

[Or if they do, nobody's admitting it.]

Nobody remembers much of anything from before it, though.

... So you forgot everything before then?

Almost?

... What do you remember?

[ you can't stop there Glen—er, Hijikata, can you? That's just mean :( ]

Blood. People flipping their shit.

[...that being what he remembers of Moebius specifically, though he realizes that question could also be looking for anything from before that jaunt, as well. So he adds -]

Before Moebius, most of what I remember isn't so much distinct memories as I see something and it feels really fucking familiar sometimes.

[ sounds like a typical day in the life of a shinsengumi, do carry on... ]

So... déjà vu? That must be a bit disturbing if it happens quite often.

[ he paused a moment, looking exceedingly grave before he shrugged. ]

Ah well, I'll just hope that we, uh... don't end up with another Moebius then. Do you know what it was about the place that made everyone forget things?

[ ~~was it Jack when he tried to destroy the world?~~ ]

Not really. I know that when we first woke up there, we couldn't remember anything. Not sure if maybe it just...wasn't supposed to stick.

Or maybe it was.

[And if that's the case, then fuck you trumps he ain't got time for this shit.]

[ yes, let's fuck them all! It's a lucrative pasttime after all and the number of secrets that have been spilled across the bedsheets and into the pillows...

Ahem ]

Hmmm... that seems a bit peculiar. I wonder why you wouldn't remember a thing.

[ he paused ]

Unless someone's been rewinding time for you.

[ he's heard of such things happening before with only the man doing the asking remembering what it was like before. How strange, how strange... this place was sounding more and more like the Abyss by the minute. Perhaps this place was truly at the center of that once golden land. ]

I wouldn't put it past them.

[These are the trumps who dragged a ten year old girl into a group that routinely gets dropped into places where many of them get killed, after all. What's a little mindfuckery with all that?]

[ so he's familiar with the term ]

That seems a bit unfair of them isn't it?

[ even though Jack doesn't care much either way, so long as he continues to get what he wants. ]

Do you think they give a shit?

[Okay, so it's... probably because Gintoki's still a newbie 'round these parts, but...]

So... wait... is this a ghost...? [Because that's not okay with him... He'll get to that other stuff once this has been cleared up...] Why are you talking to me? If you're looking to possess me, you should know I'm not worth your time. Pick someone else, okay? Anybody else. You like magic abilities? We got a ton of people like that here. You'd get your pick of the litter!

[ who knows, who knows. Jack could certainly be dead ten times over by now, that's for sure, but... He answers in absolute seriousness but mostly because what are emotions when there are but words on a page? ]

I feel real enough, but I suppose I could be a ghost. I simply died and then was coughed up in the tunnel to Thalassia.

Or at least I think I died.

Why don't you tell me. Do I sound like a ghost?

[ Ah well, ah well. If Jack is a ghost, surely any old chap would do to pass the time. Right? ]

What I say depends on how you react to it. Like, if I were to hypothetically say you could do with more groaning and mentions of curses, would you take that badly enough to want to haunt my bloodline?

Totally hypothetical, okay?

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[ liminal space ] text since jack has zero LS skills [ open ]

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