[Voice/Action] Jay the Fourth-Walled

[unseenspy]

There are way too many people here. Didn't we already have a New Feather cycle this month?

[Jay will be in the plaza, trying to "spy" on as many of these newcomers as he can, by standing out in the open and just observing people as they go about their business.]

Comments

Voice

[deadlyjuliet]

Indeed you did.

Voice

[unseenspy]

Hmm. [Scoff.] And what do you want?

[Voice]

[frillneckedlizard]

What's a New Feather? I'm not a bird...!

[Voice]

[unseenspy]

A New Feather is the term we use to refer to people newly arrived in Luceti.

So I suppose you're new here?

[Voice]

[frillneckedlizard]

Do I get those awesome wings that everyone else has? Where do I get 'em?!

[Voice]

[unseenspy]

People usually arrive with wings already attached.

[A pause. What...?]

Are you sure you don't have the wings? Are they hidden under your clothes?

[nihilconcerto]

[Well, Jay. Does this black mist look familiar? Because it should look very familiar. Look deep enough into it, and something else should look familiar--or someone, at any rate.]

[unseenspy]

[The mist looks very familiar all right, and Jay instantly feels that chill up his spine as he spots it as well as the woman within. It just can't be. He'll slowly move towards it to get a closer look, hoping that he's just imagining things.]

[nihilconcerto]

[Move closer and the mist will come to meet you. But as it does, it shifts aside just enough for Jay to potentially catch a glimpse of the woman within it.]

[unseenspy]

[Jay stops as the mist comes out, not wanting to be engulfed in it like before. At least he remembers how to resist it now. That woman...what does she want? Jay watches her closely, waiting for her move.]

[nihilconcerto]

[Even though Jay has stopped moving, the mist continues forward to swirl and twist about his feet.

The woman observes him silently for a long moment before she speaks.]

Let me free you from your fears, child of man.

[unseenspy]

[That dark voice...he thought he would never have to hear it again. And now...it's just so unreal.]

Sh...Schwartz... How—

[Wait, scratch that. He knows how. This is Luceti. Anything can happen here. But damn, he sure wishes that this wasn't happening right now...]

[nihilconcerto]

[...Yes. This one belongs to Grune. He is one of her seeds of hope. To take him from her might be what she would need to save Melfes from its suffering.]

How I am here does not matter. Let me ease your sorrow and the pain of being forgotten.

[unseenspy]

Forgotten?

[The Oresoren would never forget about him...not after all this time. But still, the pain of being separated from them is starting to surface.]

No...I won't listen to you!

[nihilconcerto]

Do not close your ears to the truth, child.

[Around him, the mist spreads faster.]

You cannot deny what you know to be so.

[unseenspy]

[This can't be happening...not again...]

You...you don't know the truth! You don't know anything!

[nihilconcerto]

I know the darkness in your heart, child. Can you say that I am wrong?

[unseenspy]

I've already defeated my darkness! Surely you remember that!

[She does remember that, doesn't she?]

[nihilconcerto]

[And that is the first thing to give her pause in all of her time in Luceti. For a long moment, she is silent.

Then:] That has yet to pass.

[But when she goes on, it's as if Jay's words had no meaning.] A heart can change and return to its darkness. I know your hopelessness and fear, child. These cannot be concealed.

[unseenspy]

[She...doesn't remember, does she? She must be from the past, like Grune is. Well, whatever time she's from, Jay still knows the truth about himself.]

S-so what? I won't go back to darkness again! I'm not like that anymore!

[nihilconcerto]

You delude yourself, child of man. I can sense your dark feelings. They merely slumber; they have been quelled for only a time.

[There is no change to her tone when she adds:] I can free you from them forever. Give yourself to me and I shall release you from the emptiness within yourself.

[unseenspy]

No!

[He's sounding desperate now.]

I want to be with my friends, not you!

[nihilconcerto]

[She senses that desperation, and is stronger for it.]

Your friends will only wound you and then forget you, causing you great pain. I offer you peace.

[unseenspy]

They would never do that! You don't know my friends like I do!

[nihilconcerto]

You flee from the truth, child. Your emotions cloud your reason.

[unseenspy]

Stop it...just stop it! You're the one wounding me! Go away!

[He's really hurting now, but he can't let himself give in. He just can't. So he does the only thing he can think of – he turns around and starts to run.]