momquest: a quest for moms

[farfromgrace]

[ It's another day in Tokyo-D, and the relentless cycle of content generation for the masses goes on; how long have you been filming this drama, exactly? And it's not that it's a bad show, per se, but the fact that it's really dedicated to showing the gritty realities of combat and using practical effects for it is... kind of a lot.

Also it can't decide if it wants to be a show about frenemies or about enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies. Cowards.

And besides, it's not home, is it?

It occurs to you on break at the really honestly lackluster buffet table set up for the actors and any surviving extras that... there's really not that much security on this show, all things considered, unless there's something you're not seeing... ]

Comments

assuming this is still on the general "@LiliS children" radio channel

[worthathousand]

[ Why would it be a ghost?

a pause, and then she feels Ayumu.

...You can hear me? There's a kind of emotional background radiation, too: the kind of awe that is a mix of wonder and alarm. ]

Re: assuming this is still on the general "@LiliS children" radio channel

[farfromgrace]

[ in ayumu's voice: ]

Seems like it.

Re: assuming this is still on the general "@LiliS children" radio channel

[farfromgrace]

Re: assuming this is still on the general "@LiliS children" radio channel

[farfromgrace]

[ also, in Tenn's sort of soft way, coupled with a sort of concern about the possibility of Hell Bullshit: ]

...How can we help?

@LiliS telepathic groupchat

[worthathousand]

[ a kneejerk reaction, not deliberately broadcast ] (Good girl, Cypress.)

[ anyway, good news/bad news: turns out it's Heaven Bullshit ]

(...Do I need help?)
I'm... not certain. I think I'm in Yu-Shan (furi: heaven).

[heavenlyvisitor]

[ haha uh oh this is going to be an issue ]

Re: @LiliS telepathic groupchat

[vitainmorte]

[ oh, that. makes her feel A Way. only pausing but not stopping her gun care routine even as they "talk".

but, actually--

-- are you trapped? ]

Re: @LiliS telepathic groupchat

[enlightenedatheist]

[ Are you in danger? How are you talking to us? ]

Re: @LiliS telepathic groupchat

[worthathousand]

I don't think I'm in any danger—not in the immediate sense, anyway.

"Trapped" is... a bit more complicated. There is a gate nearby, and I am sure it leaves this place, but I have no idea where it leads. The connection to Liar Hell can't have been permanent or they'd be here too, I'm certain—and this place is floating, besides.

And I have no idea how it is we can hear each other. Probably it is connected to how this watchtower functions, but beyond that is a Celestial mystery.

Re: @LiliS telepathic groupchat

[vitainmorte]

[ it was a yes or no question.

she considers a long moment, but.

Is this your only way out? ]

Re: @LiliS telepathic groupchat

[enlightenedatheist]

[ +1ing cypress mentally tbh ]

[heavenlyvisitor]

[ Salts His Pancakes And Dissociates Because He Has A Bit Of A Problem Here But He'll Burn That Bridge When He Gets There. ]

[enlightenedatheist]

[ dude what ]

[worthathousand]

[ is "dissociating" an emotion? wow having bad mental health feels bad; you kids live like this?? ]

(local mother will never admit to being in over her head)
It is the only one I have yet found, but I haven't yet traveled beyond this courtyard and watchtower.

[heavenlyvisitor]

[ i would argue its the absence of an emotion

but it sure does feel bad

...Why are you there? ]

[worthathousand]

I... prayed. (a lingering sense of wonder and suddenly reinforced faith)

—It's a long story, I should say, but... that's the part which actually made it happen: praying to my homeland's god.

[farfromgrace]

[ but that is a question, isn't it? what is your way out of here? how do you connect yourself back to Tokyo-F?

What bonds you to life in that Hell city, really? And if belief can take you here, what can build you a bridge back to there? ]

[vitainmorte]

[ well, that tracks. (also side-eyeing tenn, what,)

but also frustrates her a little bit-- faith is all well and good and necessary, but--

So what do we do? ]

[enlightenedatheist]

[ Can you pray to get back? ]

/2

[worthathousand]

(faintly bemused) Well, probably not to the River God.

(But...) If prayer really is the bridge, though, maybe something akin to it would work. Calling out to Tokyo-F, more or less.

(there is a part of her that still rebels against the notion: returning to a cage like a pet. but if the alternative is to be away from her family forever—)

throwing emotional spaghetti at a wall

[worthathousand]

[ so..... she tries. there's no song for this, but she... casts out with her emotions, and with the belief that they'll find purchase somewhere.

I love—
I am close to—
I can reach for—

it's a jumble, honestly—LiliS, her sons, but then specific names: Cardinal; CardinalShrikeKohime; Coriander; the other exalts; (avante)... ]

Re: throwing emotional spaghetti at a wall

[farfromgrace]

[ well you start to get a chorus of more voices/emotions in return—some confused or concerned, one decisively alert, and also one which is like. half asleep. cats, you know. ]

Re: throwing emotional spaghetti at a wall

[worthathousand]

[ is this actually progress or did she simply start a new groupchat? unclear. ]

Cardinal—?
How many of you can hear me?

Re: throwing emotional spaghetti at a wall

[farfromgrace]

[ well

now there's a lot of avantes on this voice call.

Nero: ]

Uhh, I can go get Cardinal?

[ Of course there's Cardinal themselves speaking up: ]

Three including me that I can see. What do we need to do?

[ and then Shrike: ]

Amaranth—? I think Nero and I... but how is this—happening.

[ Kohime is now wide awake and scrambling off a cabinet, and Nem is also expressing her own confusion. ]

Re: throwing emotional spaghetti at a wall

[enlightenedatheist]

[ oh i am tired already

closes his eyes with a frown, lets all that just happen without comment ]