Phantasmal Rift Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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phantasmalrift2018-12-19 11:39 pm
phantasmods) wrote in phantasmalrift2018-12-19 11:39 pm
DUNGEON - BELLMARE ENCLAVE (BELLMARE MOUNTAINS, PT 2)
The shadows are starting to grow very long as you crest his particular ridge - it's not night yet, but it will be soon. In the shadows of the afternoon, with a tall mountain already blocking the sun, lies a snow-covered valley that is different from the ones you've come across thus far in your investigation.
This valley is home to a town, and unlike all the settlements you've seen so far - Incendia, the Telovia mining town, and the manor - it's very much active. There are actual people in the streets, visible from above, going through their days on snow-free streets, bundled up against the cold.
Those of you who asked were told of the handful of people who didn't go into the slumber of stasis as the Fissure conditions of the world grew worse and worse, instead isolating themselves and trying to continue living their lives as they could. Now, it seems, you've found exactly such a group.
Welcome to the Bellmare Enclave, and enjoy your stay.
[[OOC: Welcome to part 2 of the dungeon! For the most part, interaction with the town's NPCs can be handwaved as described on the main information post. Worth noting are the following major things: The Bellmare Enclave isn't expecting visitors, though the people are generally friendly to the new arrivals. They don't know about the time dilation effect of their Fissure - to them, it's only been about eighteen years since the Slumber Plan was put in place and they withdrew from the world. And finally, by a similar token, they have no idea how far the Fissures outside of their own have grown - while it's not uncommon for them to find odd objects from time to time, they'll assume that the characters are just arrivals from other places within their own world, rather than outsiders, until told otherwise.]]
This valley is home to a town, and unlike all the settlements you've seen so far - Incendia, the Telovia mining town, and the manor - it's very much active. There are actual people in the streets, visible from above, going through their days on snow-free streets, bundled up against the cold.
Those of you who asked were told of the handful of people who didn't go into the slumber of stasis as the Fissure conditions of the world grew worse and worse, instead isolating themselves and trying to continue living their lives as they could. Now, it seems, you've found exactly such a group.
Welcome to the Bellmare Enclave, and enjoy your stay.
[[OOC: Welcome to part 2 of the dungeon! For the most part, interaction with the town's NPCs can be handwaved as described on the main information post. Worth noting are the following major things: The Bellmare Enclave isn't expecting visitors, though the people are generally friendly to the new arrivals. They don't know about the time dilation effect of their Fissure - to them, it's only been about eighteen years since the Slumber Plan was put in place and they withdrew from the world. And finally, by a similar token, they have no idea how far the Fissures outside of their own have grown - while it's not uncommon for them to find odd objects from time to time, they'll assume that the characters are just arrivals from other places within their own world, rather than outsiders, until told otherwise.]]
no subject
[As far as mental shutdowns go, or death in general? ...Shido isn't sure he wants to know. His body gives a shudder, still feeling the stress and sickness from having watched that himself.]
... it's worse when it's someone you care for deeply.
[Shido sounds and looks... a bit haunted.]
no subject
The look on Akira's face is momentarily bitter, but he swallows thickly, trying not to remember the face of Haru's dad. Or her face. The way she'd looked. The way she'd sounded. He tries not to think the words, "Believe me, I kind of learned that lesson from my friend, already."
Seriously? Even now?
Or maybe it's because of what's going on now. Because of what they just saw. Maybe it's just being reminded so strongly of... back then. ]
We should get out of here. I have some tea that might help you.
no subject
It'd been terrible enough after my Change of Heart. I'd forced myself not to care before then, but afterward... it chilled me to the bone, thinking back on... [...]
... but now I understand, at least... a little more, how devastating it can truly be.
[There's... definitely immense guilt in his eyes... but he holds a blink for a second, before his hand reaches out to gently touch Akira's back, gaze softening.]
Are you truly alright, Akira?
Part I: To Stray (cw: death)
... It took Haru's chance of working things out with her father away. She'd just gotten through to her father's Shadow and was so hopeful. Seeing that hope crushed after watching that man die so painfully...
[ There's something bitter in his smirk as he lowers his head. ]
But, that isn't the worst thing that's ever gone through my head. I've imagined what it might have been like if I'd been in Goro's shoes. If things had happened where I was the one orphaned and Goro had been raised entirely by his mother...
[ Suddenly, there's the sound of- Akira? That sounds like him, anyway... It sounds like him crying, and then... screaming that's muffled.
If they look up at the wall this is playing out on, they'll be able to see him curled up on the floor of Leblanc's attic, a pillow pressed against his face. Morgana is there, doing his best to coax Akira into telling him what's wrong. All Akira will say is:
"They're gone..."
--
One moment, he'd been the violent criminal that nobody wanted anything to do with. Then, suddenly, he was the violent criminal that must have stressed his parents into what led to their deaths: not paying attention while driving.
Whenever someone from school whispers that, all Akira does is give a bitter kind of smile, seemingly ignoring Morgana's words of reassurance - they're just inconsiderate jerks, so Akira shouldn't listen!
--
Joker isn't paying attention during battles, as much. When he gives orders, now, it sometimes leads to one of his teammates getting hurt.
A girl in a red cat-burglar-style suit is looking pretty bad, and all Joker can do is stare at her, guilt written all over his face. As Mona hurriedly works to heal her, Joker doesn't seem to be hearing any of his teammates. He's just... quietly laughing in an unsteady way, hand painfully (from the looks of it) gripping his hair...
--
A prison cell. Akira's dressed in stereotypical prisoner's garb as he simply... lies on his back, staring up at the ceiling.
There's the voice of a young girl demanding he pay attention, but there's nothing more than a shifting of his expression into something... darker.
He smirks.
--
With all of the Phantom Thieves curled up on the ground, Joker stares down at them. He's the last one standing, it would seem.
Or... is that really the case? A boy in a skull mask is looking up at Joker as though he's surprised and confused. There's so much pain on his face, in his eyes.
"... Why...? I thought- ... we're a team..."
That's all that the boy gets out before he faints. Joker's expression falters, appearing ready to shatter, as though there's a momentary war, only...
Emptiness is what it settles on. ]
no subject
But it's what he deserves. Now, and forever.But, he's blinking, looking up as apparently another memory starts to play out...?
He stares, expression slightly horrified, as it goes on. More like— he can't look away...
It's as Shido's watching this that he unconsciously moves closer to the real Akira, his hand sliding up his back to settle on his shoulder. There's a slight tension there— it's almost as if Shido is ready to place himself in front of him at a moment's notice, even though there's no physical danger.
But he never takes his eyes off that vision. When it finishes, he lets out a terse breath he didn't realize he was holding...
And he moves, wordlessly, to steer Akira out of the cave, expression darkened...]