belatedly

[malnosso]

[and then the button is pressed]

Ah- testing, testing. Okay, it looks like we're good to go.

Yes? I think? Yes. Right.

Attention, residents of Luceti! There was... a bit of a mix-up. Sorry. You've probably all been wondering what's going on out there, aren't you? I mean, aside from what you've figured out yourselves. Well, The World of Their Future Organization is here to help!

...That's what we're called. I mean. For those who don't remember or haven't heard. It's a thing. You know, I never really understood that name until now? Because it never existed except that it's been around for hundreds of years? Time travel is so weird.

Anyway, this was supposed to be conveyed to you, like, forever ago, but then things got crazy busy and a couple of things were... overlooked? By someone. I mean. It's a big world, things happen.

But this is from Romaeus! For real! Aaaaand... go! What button is-- oh.

----

Greetings, residents of Luceti. I'll warn you ahead of time that the following message is pre-recorded, as I am currently on an expedition of sorts. It could be months before I return to the village [edit: it's been three so far!] and rather than leaving you all in the dark, I'd prefer to be able to convey some information immediately. [edit: or not! sorry!!]

As you've likely already deduced, the mission was a success. The cultists have been all but eliminated, General Theo saved, and the organization known as Malnosso never formed. I'm not generally one for dispensing praise, but in this instance it is deserved. Well done, you saved the world.

The main benefit of this turn of events is that it gained us several hundred years worth of resources and time not spent on fighting murderous cultists, as well as the vast majority of manpower we lost to the army or through sacrifices. With the information you brought to my past self, the progress made at this point before your venture was nothing compared to where we are now.

I will be blunt: we are going home. We're not there yet, and it's not likely to be easy, but we will succeed this time. This eternal cycle will end.

For the sake of protecting this project from outside interference, I can't share all the details yet. What I can say is that there isn't much time. A few months, perhaps. [edit: it's been three!] We're so close.

What weaknesses you have now, physical, emotional, mental- anything you struggle with. Develop them. Surpass them. They will be targeted. This could be the difference between life and an endless death for you all. Or, perhaps more importantly, the difference between remaining here forever or going home.

I can't give you an exact answer for when this will occur, but be prepared. And whatever business you wish to conclude in this place, do it soon. There may be no coming back.


----

Okay, here's a more up-to-date message. I'm sure Mr. Romaeus didn't know that we'd get such a big influx of newcomers, but wow, did we ever! It's been happening all over the world, in every enclosure we've got. Stragglers still appearing out in the world have been in danger of Natural Shifts, so Shift experimentation has been pretty much halted since it all started. All our manpower has been funneled to search and rescue, supply distribution, and trying to figure out just what the heck is going on. It's been a very busy couple of months!

The running theory right now is that whatever Mr. Romaeus is doing has triggered something within the planet that reversed all the Shifts we created to send people home in the first place. They used to reverse themselves at random before, because we hadn't found a permanent solution yet, but it's normally scattered and a lot slower. This was like - bam! - suddenly everybody's back. Nobody saw it coming. We're taking it as a good sign, since I don't think it would've happened if we weren't making progress, but... yeah. Downside being we're totally overloaded, now. Hundreds of years worth of sendbacks and they're all here again...

Anyway, we're a lot better off now! Which is why we're trying to get back on track with you guys. Like Mr. Romaeus said up there, you guys must have questions and he's set up a bunch of pre-recorded answers via ANI. I'll handle whatever he didn't anticipate and get a proper answer to anything we don't have immediate information for as soon as possible. Sound fair?

Comments

voice.

[notabluesbro]

Fair enough.

Why does he sound like something bigger's coming around the corner?

What is this outside interference? I thought we were smooth sailing.

[Wolfwood's got a kid here; he's not about to risk anything on cryptic shit.]

[malnosso]

I'm pretty sure nothing in this place has ever been smooth sailing.

Outside interference means, um. The world, basically. Or the spirits. We're not entirely sure what it is just yet. We won't know until the expedition is done. At least, that's what the expedition is for, last I heard.

[goldenglasses]

Kids born in Luceti; what about them? Will they be able to leave? [Forever single minded about Noah.]

[malnosso]

I'm sorry, that's something we don't have any research for at this time. We've never been able to send children born here to other worlds before- Shifting works differently for them, and they're not drawn anywhere else because this is their source planet. It's possible that a Shift can be applied to kids with two parents from the same world that might link them to that world, but it's just a theory right now. No one's ever done it because we didn't have a way to go home permanently before.

Technically we still don't, but there won't be a precedent for trying with the children until this particular theory is proven. Plus, um, none of us really want to experiment on kids, I mean, come on...

[deathsdoctor]

[... home. Funny how that word feels now. It brings him no relief as he thought it would.]

I have some questions, please.

... when you say home... will all those whose time in their own worlds have ended will be returned to their death... or is there a possibility they can find new homes on other worlds. I understand you have been making provisions for the ones born here.

[He remembers all that. Being sent to Itachi's world. And he's immediately the first thing that Law thinks of.]

Also... will we remember things as they occurred here if we are returned by this process, or will they be wiped away as usual.

[malnosso]

Everyone who goes back to their world should return in the exact same time from which they came, just like usual. I'm sorry, but we can't bring people back to life... that's a power that exists only in this place.

I'm not sure about sending people to other worlds, though. We could try the Shift theory we're developing for the kids, maybe? We just can't really promise anything right now. It isn't a priority to send people to other places... most people just want to go home.

Memories are an iffy thing, but since the method of going back will be different than usual, I believe there's a good chance that we won't be forgetting this world. Which is kinda good and bad, I guess! And like the rest of it, it's mostly just a theory. But it's nice to think about isn't it?

[tailasoldastime]

[While Beast has been spending the last couple of months catching up with old friends and remaining in the dark for the most part, the changes that have happened in Luceti have been on his mind all throughout. It has taken a lot of adjusting to the idea that the Malnosso - sorry, "the World of Their Future" whatever that means - are no longer a group to bitterly accept and follow... and hearing them now in the flesh really takes it home.

The message leaves Beast both excited and fearful; and with that, a couple of questions.]

What does he mean by "weaknesses"? What could we have that would... prevent us from going back?

And, if we do go back... will we... ever see anyone... w-we met here, again?

[malnosso]

Let's see... I think there's one... ah, here we go.

I'm sure you have questions regarding my warning about your various "weaknesses". Such issues are difficult to define, obviously- many people are ignorant of their own shortcomings, or simply refuse to acknowledge them entirely. Whether you are too weak or too proud or too foolish... the list is quite endless, actually. So many weaknesses. And these failings can and will be turned against you at your moment of greatest need. If you fall victim to these attacks, you will be turned against those around you, friend or foe. It won't be the first time this world has made us enemies of one another.

If you are uncertain of what your weaknesses may be, consult your allies- friends, family, those who know you, those who despise you. I'm sure many of them could give each and every one of you a list.

Does that help? And... well. Passage between this world and yours might end up getting severed entirely- I mean, that's the whole idea, right? Going home, never being dragged back here? So you might have to say goodbye. It's something we've all been prepared for, isn't it? That's the downside of living on different worlds. We don't really belong together, in the long run.

[feistytrader]

[Silver looks at his journal and stares at it in disbelief. He considers all the information, listens to a few responses, and stares again.

No, it really isn't registering to him. Home. Home is really something that's going to be possible.]

Are you serious?

[malnosso]

I... no?

[Genuinely shocked, here. Why would anyone think that!?]

I mean, if this was a joke, it would be a really elaborate one. This project has been in the works for centuries.

[goldenfirefly]

[Yeah, Stella sees the answer Law got there. So if she went back, then she'd just be dead again. Part of her thinks that it'd be such a relief, because she's getting so tired of being yanked over the line of life and death over and over again.

But... there's Sophie. And while it may be possible for Sophie to return home, the fact that they'd need both parents... This has gone beyond just wishing Senel would show up; for a moment she desperately prays with all of her heart and soul that he'd be here, just for a little while, just enough for Sophie...

Yet she also needs to be prepared for the possibility that he can't, and that the research for sending children home might fall through. So...]

Would it... be possible for people to stay here if they wanted to? For those who can't return, or who feel that this place is more of a home than the world they came from. [Melfes will always be her home. But she can't go back, and that's something she's already accepted.]

[malnosso]

We won't be forcing anyone to leave if they'd rather stay here, so yes, I believe that's an option. I'll confirm it with Mr. Romaeus when he returns, but this has always been a voluntary mission.

We're just not really sure what'll happen to the world once we're finished. I mean, it could be fine? But it could also totally fall apart. So, uh. At your own risk, I guess?

( voice )

[ofwesternwinds]

[Well, this bears good news indeed. From what he's seeing so far, memories may or may not be an issue. But "Romaeus's" (he still wasn't used to that name, honestly) warning does leave room for concern in the boy.]

Um, I have a question. You say we might be going home soon, but what about, uh... the things we've gained here so far during our stay?

[Rudy pauses, hesitant in his speech. Even now, he really doesn't want to say more than he has to.]

Like memories, things we've learned, physical changes, or, um... other things along that line. Would we return as we were before we arrived, or would we just go back as-is?

[malnosso]

I... think you'd go back as-is? Obviously the wings would be gone, and any physical changes or aging... think of this place as a dream. You could become anything in a dream! But when you wake up, you're just the way you were when you fell asleep. It's kind of like that!

Memories, though- well, sometimes people remember their dreams. So it's possible that you could keep those, at least.

[biophilia]

How-- specific can you be about "targeted"?

[malnosso]

Think of it as a very specific Shift. Sometimes they change you physically, or emotionally, or whatever- but they're often pretty random, right? They're annoying but a lot of the time they're just kind of inconvenient.

This is different. This is like... knowingly hitting you where it hurts. So if you work on those targets you've got in you, try to develop yourself so it hurts less, you'll be a lot better off.

[ferels]

[Go home? But going home means no more Ion.

It also means going back to being, well, not alive.

There's a vague noise of disapproval that might or not sound like it came from Arietta, as she listens to the message.]

I don't want to go back.

[malnosso]

You don't have to! If you really like this place and would rather live here in an eternal cycle of crappy Shifts and death and rebirth then fine, whatever, we won't judge.

[musubi]

Not acceptable.

[malnosso]

I beg your pardon?

[stilldontgotit]

What about those of us who can travel to different worlds back home? Isn't there some way we could keep in contact? There's gotta be something...

[He doesn't want to lose Ino. He doesn't want to lose any of his friends, if he can help it.]

[malnosso]

Once you get back to your own world, you're free to do whatever you want. So if you're able to find the worlds of people you know, and you're able, there shouldn't be anything to stop you from doing it. Go nuts!

Not so sure about communication, though. If you want to come up with ways to do all that extra stuff, you'll have to do your own research. We've got a lot on our plate already.

[explaining]

There's got to be a way we can-

[Luke. What about Luke.]

I mean. Is there a way we could create a safe way to travel between here and our homes? Without putting anything at risk?

[malnosso]

Not really. I mean, there's literally no way to not put some things at risk.

What is it with you people and not wanting to leave? It's all anyone ever talks about. I thought people would be happy. This really is a thankless job, no wonder nobody ever volunteers.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure it's a one-way trip.

[cilantro]

[Cilan, for his part, is perhaps lucky that there isn't anything bad waiting for him back home (that he knows of), so he is certainly looking forward to going back home. The idea of never seeing some of the friends he made here is unappealing, but right now he's thinking about what's best for them, especially for Ash and Iris.

But, one can't help but be cautiously optimistic at this point, and he wants something clarified here.]

The message said that there would be shifts targeting our "weaknesses", and that it was the difference between going home and staying here forever, correct? What does that mean, exactly? If you are unable to overcome them, then that means you will never be able to leave this place? [Is this a test? Fail, and you get stuck here forever?]

[malnosso]

I gave Mr. Romaeus's response to that up above, so to reiterate:

I'm sure you have questions regarding my warning about your various "weaknesses". Such issues are difficult to define, obviously- many people are ignorant of their own shortcomings, or simply refuse to acknowledge them entirely. Whether you are too weak or too proud or too foolish... the list is quite endless, actually. So many weaknesses. And these failings can and will be turned against you at your moment of greatest need. If you fall victim to these attacks, you will be turned against those around you, friend or foe. It won't be the first time this world has made us enemies of one another.

If you are uncertain of what your weaknesses may be, consult your allies- friends, family, those who know you, those who despise you. I'm sure many of them could give each and every one of you a list.

As for the rest, that is the theory, yes. That you won't be able to leave at all. I mean, that's like, best case scenario. Worst case would be equivalent to being sacrificed- you'll be devoured, gone forever. So you can see why this is important.

[swordprincess]

So, when we do go home...we'll be sent to the time of our most recent visit to this world?

[malnosso]

That's correct!

[theideaguy]

Why am I not surprised that things around here continue to get crappier? I thought going back in time to make the future happy and pretty was supposed to fix all our problems!?

What's the problem now!?

[malnosso]

It's not a problem! Or rather, it's not a new problem. It's what's been keeping everyone from going home all this time. It's just that we have more answers on how to reverse the effect it has on us, now.

And you did make the future happier, didn't you? I mean, from what I hear, it used to be so much worse than it is now...

[geniustheveil]

I'd like to offer any assistance I can in working to prepare to send everyone home.

[She's pretty good with technology. There must be something she can do, she figures.

... And it might keep her mind off that nagging drawback: She knows her own weaknesses, and she knows what it took to overcome them before.

So what about now?]

[malnosso]

Thank you for your cooperation! I hope your fellow residents are equally up to the task. For the moment, helping as many people as you can with following Mr. Romaeus's instructions is the most important job.

[rashness]

[ H...e did it?! He came though?! And now he sounds a lot nicer than he did before, so she's probably in a better mood on top of it all?! And, and there's going home-- ]

E-ey?! What can we do to help, just that weakness junk?!

[malnosso]

For the moment, unfortunately! We'll know more once the expedition is complete.

Though we will need supplies and equipment for the follow-up expedition... supplies might be running a little thin by then. If I give you a list, can you get a group together and start an emergency stock just in case it's needed later?

[Voices]

[niceguypose]

Ah... The time is coming already?! But... but we need to find a way to save those who- who can't return!

A-and about weaknesses... I'll train even harder! Don't worry, I won't leave any part of me vulnerable to those Shifts!

[malnosso]

Yes, absolutely! Train as much as you can. Just remember that you can't only build upon what you're already good at. Be sure to train yourself against even the slightest of weaknesses!

We've, um, definitely gotten a lot of requests to help those who have nowhere to go, though. As expected. So it's on the list.

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

[Give him a moment to catch his breath. As much as its been pondered, it's another thing to actually hear it officially. After nearly three long years, they might finally be going home soon.

And he feels all the mixed feelings that come with that. Getting to live his life back home at the cost of losing all of the friends and family he had made here. And he worries aboyt what will happen to children like Sophie.]

Thank you for telling us all of this. So it might have been Joh- er, Romaeus's work that accidentally started that influx. I... I really hope things end up okay.

...Hey! What if we all bring our journals back home! Then we can all talk whenever we want!

[malnosso]

Ah... that is a good idea, but unfortunately it won't work. The journals are a Shift-based network. They won't work anywhere else but here.

[Voice]

[magicalesbian]

So even with all that extra time we gave you, you still haven't found a way to send people who were born here to another world. Or people who've died.

[There's nothing accusative in her voice. If anything, she sounds disappointed.]

You guy aren't gonna just give up on them, right? I mean, I understand being frustrated after being stuck here for so long, but for all the shitty things they did, even those Malnossies seemed pretty dedicated to helping their kids find a way out of this place. So what's gonna happen when everyone who has a world goes home?

[malnosso]

Believe me, a lot of us are very troubled about it, too! And if there isn't a way to send them off this world, they certainly will not be alone. Quite a number of children have been born in this world since people started appearing here, and many of them are adults now. Plenty are part of the research division! So if we can't find a way, there will be more still looking for solutions after the majority of folks go home. And I know that those who don't have a life to return to may choose to stay behind, as well.

So assuming the world doesn't completely fall apart once we leave, it'll be just fine!

...That was meant to be reassuring. It wasn't reassuring at all, was it? Oh, bother.

[generalflirt]

[ ... They did it?

He's not sure what to feel. He'll feel something in a long moment. But for now, a lingering something is crawling in him. He did swear to see this through to the end, and to accept the end. But while he and his are prepared for this, he wants to at least brush on something else ]

The rules are different for people -- ah, beings -- without wings, right?

[malnosso]

Hmm... do you mean creatures brought in from off-world who are unaffected by Shifts? I... to be honest, no one really gives them much thought. Not that they don't matter - they certainly do, I have a flying ferret at home - they just haven't been a priority to the science teams.

I believe that as they are drawn in by the residents of the worlds they come from, once those people are no longer on this world, the creatures will go back, as well since there'll be nothing to keep them here. Does that help?

[written]

[blessingone]

[Fenimore's going to do the typical "cover the camera and print carefully in an attempt to be anonymous" she always takes in the rare case of talking to a member of the organization. It's partially because she doesn't really want to draw attention to herself for her question, but she would have done it anyway. They might no longer be the Malnosso in this timeline, but she still doesn't trust them.]

If someone who is not dead did not choose to return to their own world, do you know what would happen back in that world? Would they disappear from the time they left or would they eventually return at a later time?

[malnosso]

That's... oh my. I really don't know about that one. There are a number of options, I suppose! Like- they could disappear entirely and change the course of history, as far as their effects on it goes- or it could create a semi-duplicate timeline in which they don't exist in the world at all, or- or the entire space-time-universe could collapse around the fixed point in which that person exists...!

How... how terrifyingly exciting is that!? I'm going to ask Mr. Romaeus!

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

I'm not going anywhere. And you can't make me.

[Hey everyone, look who's back just in time to be obnoxious?]

[Yes, it's Barnaby Brooks Jr. -- no, not really. Same voice though, way more attitude.]

[malnosso]

You're correct! We have no intention of removing anyone's free will. Just be aware that we don't know what might happen to the world once this is all over.

voice.

[wildkotetsu]

[Well, Kotetsu's a Hero - he can't very well ignore the implication and all of the conversations about the deceased being royally screwed.]

Yeah, yeah, you guys said you don't have a way to send back the dead people here. But what have you learned about that kinda' thing? You've been looking into it and stuff, naa? Has it ever been tested at all, with any kinda person or animal or - I don't know, a plant?

[IS THERE ANY WAY TO TRANSFER 'LIFE' IN GENERAL TO WORLDS OTHER THAN THEIR OWN

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!]

[malnosso]

Well, that's- it's not entirely accurate to say that. We can definitely send back dead people. The problem is that they'll just go back to being dead once they get there. It's the world itself that is keeping people alive here, after all.

And we have tried plenty of experiments, but nothing quite like this has been attempted before. We've been working towards this for a very long time, and there isn't much hope, but... it isn't hopeless, okay? We've gotten enough backlash on the issue, both within the organization and in the enclosures, that it's becoming something of a priority.

[Voice]

[selphie_t]

Okay. Clearly I've missed something really important.

Somebody care to fill a gal in here? I mean... I thought that Luceti looked different but what's really happened?

[malnosso]

Oh, my apologies, are you a newcomer? This all must be very confusing!