oo1 ϟ video ☾been down an unkind road☽

[strikes_x_twice]

[ The video feed flickers across a warm light, then pink hair comes into view before a face follows soon after. The movement is Lightning stepping away from where she had set up the device for record. She sits down in front of the camera feed on a predetermined placed chair and holds her hands to her knees. ]

I'm Lightning. I have been here for nearly a month, or as far as I understand. The brief experience in worlds of my own, and in others, may have inflicted with the timeline. [ She shrugs. She can't be sure of anything. ] Part of me still expects to wake up, or this is some sort of manifestation of yet another false reality.

I'm assured it's not. That this is the reality we all face together.

In any case. [ She lifts her head, her eyes narrow and her tone becomes dryer. ] My purpose here may be at the hands of these divine entities; but my destiny is my own.

I encourage others to live for themselves. First. It's all we can control. It's all we can do.

I ask for those who are willing, to introduce themselves to me and share with me their experiences, thus far.

Thank you.

[ Lightning stands up and moves to the device and the video feed quickly switches off. ]

Comments

audio;

[circumitus]

Anyonw could easily claim that what we're experiencing is real because it's real enough for them -- but that's exactly the sort of thing you'd expect from an illusion.

[Rey would like to think that she could tell the difference, but even she has had her mind played with on several occasions, both here and home.]

And "experiences" is a rather broad request. Are you asking what we've put up with from the gods, each other, or in general? Have been here for over two years, so it's all a pretty fucking long list.

audio;

[strikes_x_twice]

Two years is a start. This latest intrusion of our minds.. is that common? To be so immersed in the illusion?

audio;

[circumitus]

More or less, yeah. They've gotten us sharing each others' dreams at least twice now, had us remember almost whole different lives, created mirages of this place looking like a beach city resort... Shit like that happens more often than it has any right to be.

[strikes_x_twice]

Any ides, or theories, on why they would bother with the change of scenery, play the mind games, if they're just going to bring us back to this?

[circumitus]

Simple: Sustenance. You have heard that they feed off emotions, right?

[strikes_x_twice]

Yes. [ Yet there's a question there in her small response. Emotions can derive from any situation, why continue to change the scenarios and mess with their minds if just being here alone can evoke fear, hate, anger, love.. and so forth. It seemed strange to her. ]

[circumitus]

Sometimes they need more for one reason or another, like when Fear has to move the city.

Pretty sure it also sometimes happens because the assholes just get plain bored, though.

[strikes_x_twice]

[ Ah. That makes more sense. Or at least she thinks it does. ]

If Fear needs us to be afraid, then our environment will change to illicit fear? Same for ... Joy, or sorrow?

[circumitus]

It can. Not always our environment that changes, though. Sometimes they influence people to act in ways they normally wouldn't... [She practically grits her teeth when saying this:] There was a time Rage was trying to make a bunch of us to kill each other by getting us pissed at some random person. Not just anyone -- just a specific person.

[Not that that makes it any better.]

audio;

[smoketendrils]

Well said. I don't know that it needed to be said, but I've only been here a month, myself.

Percival Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III of Whitestone. And my experiences are... Minimal, as of now. I'm still getting my head around it.

[strikes_x_twice]

[ She lost his name after the fifth or seventh one given. Whitestone stuck with her. ] Same.

So, what have you learned in your month here?

[strikes_x_twice]

[ Dangerous. Yet, if they killed one of them, then that's one less person feeding them the emotions they wanted. ]

Has anyone been able to stop from becoming influenced?

[circumitus]

Have been able to do it before. Stopped myself from killing a kid back when Rage was pulling that shit, so that's something.

[More than something, as far as Rey is concerned.]

Some people think it's excusable to just let their actions be manipulated by something else. Always thought it was just a convenient justification to run amok, personally.

[strikes_x_twice]

I take it ... people don't like being held accountable for succumbing to what's easier. What you've done.. sounds incredible. Sounds strong.

[circumitus]

Just don't like being used to hurt people by anyone else. Some of them want it, but it's not right, and it's not always inevitable, so there's no reason for it...

[If she's going to kill somebody, it'll be her own shitty decision, not someone else pulling her strings. Can't let herself be manipulated like that again.]

[strikes_x_twice]

What do you mean some of them want it? To be killed? Or to kill? [ The latter she believes than the former. ]

[circumitus]

Both, in a way. But there are enough here who already don't mind killing.

[strikes_x_twice]

So, how's the order here? Any? Who keeps people in line?

[circumitus]

There're no cops or law enforcement, if that's what you're looking for.

The Guard is the closest thing... but they don't exactly enforce the rules, since there aren't any.

[strikes_x_twice]

So, on top of the .. chaos set in motion by these.. divinities, we're left to our own devices?

(Video)

[stonebird]

(From her hair to her name, Lightning is an incredibly interesting new arrival. Sansa pauses in the midst of some housework, her vibrant hair pulled back from her face.)

I'm not sure where to begin. This is the third world I have called home and it has been a strange journey. (But she smiles nonetheless, wanting to put the other woman at ease.) I am Sansa Stark and I hail from a land called Westeros.

(Video)

[strikes_x_twice]

Third world? [ The confusion was evident to her face, though she is open for further explanation if Sansa would provide it. ]

A strange journey, I would believe... if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to hear it? As much as you are willing to share.

(Video)

[stonebird]

Yes. The first being the home of Westeros and Winterfell; the second being an island called Ruby City and now, this, the third called Hadriel. (She has been back and forth as if changing worlds wasn't confusing enough!)

I first arrived in Ruby City when I was younger. I thought it an exile at first, but it turned out to be a blessing. I was reunited with family members I had lost and I made a new family composed of residents of another world called Arda. When Ruby City came to an end, I was certain I would return home. I did, for a time, but then I was brought here. We resided in a deep cavern at the time and there were many monsters that plagued us.

(Video)

[strikes_x_twice]

[ Lightning does her best to keep up, but the concept seems a bit strange. Although, at the mention of city she can't help but think the girl meant different continents, cities, regions, whatever, on one planet. Hell, she knew a thing about detaching from the great-wide-world, but not all together packing it up and leaving to another .. world.

In any case, she would try to retain as much as the story as she can and thanks Sansa for the offer of her tale. ]

You're kind to share this with me. I heard you mention family, I wonder.. did they too follow you on your journey?

(Video)

[stonebird]

(Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. She knows she has seen different worlds because she witnessed Ruby City end. Now it might be possible that she was - is - visiting other continents on her original world, but she has never heard of Elves residing on any of them. Or Hobbits for that matter.)

Partially. I have seen my father, a younger brother, a sister and an older brother. The latter is all that remains of them presently.