january 2020. welcome to the void.

[modblob]

Who: Everyone in Anchor.
What: Seventh Introductory Mingle
When: The Month of January 2020
Where: Around and outside the city.
Warnings: Please add any warnings in the subject lines.

Redshift: Welcome to the v͖͕̺̲̘̱̜͎o̴̦̣̠̦̘̹͞i̯̖d̛̪̬͈̱̦̝͍̕.

Click here to read what characters will experience when arriving in Anchor.

a. champagne supernova.

Normally, the changes in the sky are subtle, happening between glances or over the course of days.

That's not the case now, when the bright sky with its three suns is wiped away in an explosion of blue light, right at sunrise on the morning of January 1st. The light pulses across the sky in uneven blazes, sending out lattices of what might be lightning or something worse. There's no moon. No brightness. Just this lightning-storm brilliance in space, shedding little light on the world below.

And the suns don't come back on. As the day wears on, the supernova brightness in the sky starts to fade out and no new light appears. The sky is static and black, with no stars, no moons, no suns. The mild rolling blackouts that started with the opening of the relaxation room intensify with the sudden loss of solar power, as the backup systems try to compensate for the increased use of power.

For a moment, power goes out in Anchor entirely, leaving the place plunged into darkness.

The darkness doesn't last. Thanks to those generators everyone worked so hard to sort out, the backup systems struggle back to life, keeping the lights on and the bar, kitchen, and agricultural supports open, but there are some things that the limited power just can't cover.

b. tower of babelfish.

The first, and perhaps the most noticeable system to start failing, are the auto-translation programs. While not affecting every area in Anchor equally, communication between those who speak different languages is going to be a lot more difficult. The effects are spotty, coming and going, sometimes completely failing, leaving only people's naturally-spoken languages available. Sometimes it just struggles, making conversations sound a lot more like babelfish translations than recognizable speech. People themselves seem to be affected differently by the translation struggles, depending on who and where they are. There's no rhyme or reason to when and how it fails. But the problem persists through most of the month.

c. the hidden passage.

The second system failure is harder to spot.

At the end of what seemed to be a maintenance hallway, a set of doors have appeared from behind what used to be a shielded hologram of a dead end. The doors stick out from their surroundings: thick metal, barred heavily from the outside. A clear attempt to keep something locked away inside, not to keep people from entering.

For those adventurous enough, or foolish enough, to wrestle the locks open, a problem will reveal itself. A short flight of stairs, leading down into an area flooded by murky water. It's hard to see more than branching halls down below.

Those who choose to brave the water will find a hallway lined with bulkheads and sealed doorways, all guarding rooms that could be accessed with the right combination of smarts and brute force. It's the question of what would be ruined by the water if the doors are opened that might give people pause. What kind of secrets could be wiped out or destroyed if the doors are forced and the water passes through the bulkheads? Can the water be drained? How?

But there is one room open, or mostly open, where the bulkhead doors didn't quite manage to seal when the area flooded. It'll be a squeeze, for bigger characters, but the flooded room beyond contains artifacts preserved behind glass - strange medallions, strings of glowing beads, broken sceptres, arrows fletched with feathers from creatures no one has ever seen before.

Only one object isn't sealed away. It's a handful of small orbs, with shifting colors, held in place by a shield array that still seems to function, for the most part. They can be touched, can even be removed from the stand with the right know-how or a willingness to smash stuff.

But once an orb is touched, the colors start to spin more rapidly. The more it's handled, the brighter and faster the colors shift. Whether it takes hold immediately or not is up to you, but those who handled the orb will find the bright colors start to glow under the surface of their skin, in the shape of veins, glowing bright for a few minutes before fading. And those people bring a different kind of contagion back with them to the surface. Memory loss, communicated from one person to the next via contact. It can be partial or complete, or not happen to your character at all - they can be an unwitting "carrier" of the effects, passing it on without experiencing the losses themselves. The loss can last from hours to weeks, with carriers being "infected" for the duration of that time.

It also leaves behind magical traces, ones that don't fade after memories return. The cleverest might start to wonder if it wasn't a kind of inoculation, though against what, it remains to be seen.

Navigation.

Comments

[braidmage]

[ Reynir has never seen Onni like this, before. It's such a funny thing, because on the outside, nothing at all has changed about him. His face is the same face that Reynir had seen yesterday, and the day before. But there is something different, in his eyes. In the way he moves, speaks, reacts. Reynir sees it clear as day.

This is a much younger Onni. One who had not yet been through so many hardships, who hadn't had to grow up so quickly, become the head of his family. One who hadn't been through the loss of his home and everything he knew.

Reynir really does believe that this amnesia will not last, and yet he finds himself feeling... extremely protective, of this Onni, who had had no one there to protect him the first time around. Reynir wants to keep him safe, keep him happy, for as long as he is around. ]

In the dreamspace. I had only just realized I was a mage, and I didn't know yet it was sort of rude to just waltz through somebody's barrier and into their area. So I just wandered in, and you thought maybe I was a spirit trying to attack you, 'til I recognized you from a picture that Tuuri had.

[ The kettle comes to a boil and Reynir goes through the process of making their tea, fixing up Onni's in just the way that he likes it. He even gets out a little packet of some baked treats that Onni had made a few days back. Will he recognize his own baking? Reynir isn't really sure when he had started doing that. Either way, he offers them to Onni, settling himself in. ]

[scowlish]

[Reynir seems perfectly willing to explain everything to him - how they'd met in his dreamspace, how he hadn't known it was rude to come barging in on someone into their area, and that Onni had thought he was a spirit attacking at first until he recognized him from a picture that Tuuri had. Onni blinks, his eyes a little wide, and he shakes his head.]

Wait, you can just go through people's barriers?

[Even at his current age and without all the training he'll have in the future, he's strong enough to maintain very solid barriers, and the idea of someone crossing them without any trouble is...well, it makes him nervous. Biting at his lower lip, he watches as Reynir makes the tea and then puts it down in front of him. Reaching out, he takes it between his hands and slides it across the table.]

Is that an Icelandic mage thing? And how did you meet Tuuri and see a picture of me? Were you in Finland? Did you come to Saimaa? Wow, that's a long trip from Iceland.

[A pause, and he sips at the tea, then blinks, looking down at it. It's a bit sweet and there's only a tiny bit of milk. Biting his lip again, he glances up at Reynir.]

Can..can I have a bit more honey and milk in this?

[Well. Apparently Onni has worked on making his tea-drinking tastes more grown-up since he was 15, because Reynir did make it perfectly to adult Onni's tastes.]

[braidmage]

[ It is just so strange, seeing Onni, his face and voice the same as ever, but knowing from what he's saying, and something about how he holds himself, that this is a much younger, much different version of the man he knows. Reynir smiles, softly, not even trying to disguise the fondness in his face as he looks at Onni, resting his chin on his hand. ]

I can, but it's not because I'm special or anything. You're right, and it's an Icelandic mage thing. I'm actually not a really great mage at this point. I didn't even know I was one before a few months ago, when I met Lalli and Tuuri on an expedition into the Silent World. It's sort of a long story how I got there, but I don't think it's all that important right now.

[ When Onni asks for more honey and milk, Reynir blinks a moment, confused, but then smiles, bright and broad, and it lights up his whole face. Maybe a tiny bit of him is thinking about when Onni is back to his normal self and he can tease him gently about this. Part of him is also just so charmed by this sweeter version of Onni, who hadn't yet decided that he shouldn't be allowed the little pleasures. ]

Of course! Just say when.

[ And he doctors the tea to Onni's preferences, and then hands it back to him, offering the further information that: ]

I have gone to Finland, though. I followed you there, after the expedition, to Saimaa. That's where I was when the gods brought us- brought me here.

[scowlish]

[For a moment, Onni is completely distracted from the conversation and all his questions by the way Reynir is looking at him, with his chin in his hand and smiling like that, looking all warm, like he likes Onni a lot. With all his red hair and green eyes and freckles and being so tall, Onni can't help but feel a little flattered, and he looks away as his cheeks go a bit pink.

Then, abruptly, he realizes what Reynir has said about Lalli and Tuuri and where they met.]

What?! On an expedition into the Silent World? Tuuri went on an expedition into the Silent World? Why?! There's no way mom and dad would've let her, she's going to get herself killed, she has no idea how dangerous it is out there! What do you mean it's not important right now, that's really important! She's my little sister!

[He stops only because he's out of breath, and then he watches as Reynir puts more honey and milk into his tea and pushes it back. Onni stirs it awkwardly and frowns down at the surface of it. Reynir is telling him he's gone into Saimaa, following Onni, and that's where he was before he came here.

After a moment, he glances up again.]

You were following me? Why?

[braidmage]

[ Reynir's smile dims, when he sees that wave of anxiety come over Onni. Evidently, worrying and imagining catastrophe was something he had done even before his village was lost. Reynir hadn't known that, before. He wonders if there was ever a time when Onni just felt easy. But perhaps it was naive to think there would have been. Onni is still Onni. The place he grew up was still dangerous, in its own way, compared to Iceland.

He swallows, silent for a few moments as he weighs his choices. He isn't going to lie to Onni, but Reynir isn't going to go out of the way to inform him of the terrible things that had happened, between what he remembers and the present. So he merely says: ]

Onni... remember, a lot of time has passed, and a lot's changed, years and years have passed, and things are different to how you remember them. It seems shocking but that's just because you haven't got the context. Okay?

[ None of it untrue, but none of it answering the real questions. Not saying his mother and father hadn't objected because they'd died. Not saying that it was dangerous even in the place Onni had thought was safe. Not saying Tuuri had gotten herself killed, after all.

Reynir reaches out and sets a hand on Onni's wrist, a firm grip even as he rubs it softly with his thumb. ]

This has to be so scary and unfair, I get that. But... but imagine a version of you even younger than now. If... if you when you were only five years old showed up, and you told him about some of things that had happened and the ways you'd changed and the stuff you'd done since then. He would probably be scared too, right? And from where you are, you'd be able to see why he shouldn't be. So... try to imagine that in the opposite direction, but almost twice as much time.

[ And as for that last question, he can answer at least a little: ]

You left on your own to try to track down an enemy. Something... really scary that's been giving everybody a lot of grief. You did this whole: 'Oh, I'm Onni, I'm this big strong badass super-mage and I don't need anybody's help' move and ran off, but we didn't want you to face it all on your own. So we're trying to catch up with you. So we can help. So we can keep each other safe.

[scowlish]

[When Reynir starts explaining that a lot of time has passed and that years and years have gone by and things have changed, Onni goes quiet and feels that weird desperate scared feeling about not knowing anything about half his life. Biting his lower lip, he looks up at Reynir and nods.]

Okay...

[And when he continues on to explain to him that it must be scary and unfair and how he could compare it to a five-year-old version of himself showing up. He remembers being five, he'd almost gone wandering into the woods so many times, following voices that only he could hear. Is he really like that compared to his grown up self? His grown up self is twenty-eight, would his grown up self look at him like a dumb kid? Probably, if he was strong enough to go out into the Silent World on his own to track down a scary enemy.

For a moment, he's quiet, and then he looks up at Reynir again.]

Okay. I...I guess twenty-eight year old me probably knows a lot of stuff about magic and all that, things I don't know yet. That makes sense.

[For a moment, he looks at Reynir, his face full of vulnerability and admiration...and maybe a bit of hope.]

Thank you for wanting to keep me safe. We must be good friends, huh?

[braidmage]

Twenty-seven.

[ Reynir corrects Onni automatically, because he knows that Onni is 27 years old. Except that ages are funny like that: they change. But if Onni were 28 now, he would know. Wouldn't he? Suddenly doubting himself, he asks: ]

Wait, what day is your birthday, again?

[ But there is at least part of that statement that Reynir is sure of, and he is quick to add: ]

You are - you will be the most powerful mage I've ever met. Our magic is different but you still taught me so much. You're going to grow up to be so strong, and brave. And stubborn. But I expect you're already all of those things.

[ Reynir gives Onni another one of those smiles, the ones that light up his whole face. There's no doubting the affection in those bright green eyes, the fondness in his soft voice. ]

You're my closest friend in the whole world. Not just this world, either. I'm counting Earth, too. You - believe in me more than anybody ever did. And I like being around you more than I like being around anybody else -

[ Kisa chooses that moment to let out an affronted mrrp and Reynir laughs, amends: ]

Okay, okay, miss. More than I like being around any other human, are you happier with that? Hmm?

[scowlish]

Mm. Lalli said twenty-eight.

[When Reynir asks what day his birthday is, Onni blinks at him.]

Oh, November 19.

[A shrug, and then Reynir is talking about how he's a powerful mage, the strongest he's ever met, and feels himself flush a little, cheeks hot. Reynir describes him as strong and brave and stubborn, and says he's his best friend in the whole world, and the flush gets a bit brighter pink, warmer. Looking down at his cup of tea, he stares at it for a moment, then takes a sip of it, glancing up at Reynir over the rim. It's sweet and milky and good, and he gulps at it again, trying to distract himself. All the praise from Reynir is getting to him a little, his heart is beating a bit too fast, and he can't help but peek at him again, with his green eyes and his long pretty hair.]

I...think you're probably my best friend too. I haven't had a lot of friends...I...wonder if that changed...

[For just a moment, he holds his breath, and then he blurts it out-]

I mean, you're really nice and kind and cute and stuff...

[braidmage]

[ Oh, no.

When Onni gives his birthdate, Reynir claps his hands to his cheeks in genuine horror, gasping: ]

You mean I missed it?!

[ It doesn't matter that there is no way he could have known there was anything special about that day. It's not as if Onni or Lalli had told him. It's not as if Lalli had done anything special for Onni, at least within Reynir's view. Maybe he'd given him a gift, sometime Reynir wasn't around? He struggles, trying to remember what had happened on that day.... but he has no distinctive memories of it whatsoever. ]

I can't believe I missed your birthday. I'm sorry, Onni.

[ In his head Reynir is already plotting - they can have a do-over, perhaps the 19th of the next month... he can't just let it go by unmarked. Even if that is what Onni is used to. Reynir knows that Onni was forced to grow up too fast, but that doesn't mean it's too late for him to recapture some of the sillier things he'd had to give up. And to Reynir, that means birthday celebrations.

When Onni starts talking about not having a lot of friends, Reynir considers his next answer carefully. He really wants to avoid talking about the tragedy that had changed Onni's life so completely, if he can. So he gives an answer that is hedged, but not a lie. ]

I don't really know! I haven't met any of the people you knew back in Finland really. I just know that... there have been a lot of times I needed you, and you were always there for me. And once we got here, well. We got a lot closer. I learned a lot more about you, and now it's hard to imagine a day going by without seeing you.

[ When Onni is heaping all that praise on him, it is Reynir's turn to flush a faint pink, though he beams as he does it, laughing softly and saying: ]

Wow, really? You think that?

[ Reynir is just... absolutely tickled. He doesn't say that this version of Onni is far more liberal with his praise, but it sort of shows, in his startled, flattered reaction. ]

[scowlish]

[Honestly, he's a little startled by how Reynir reacts to the news that he'd missed his birthday. Onni blinks at him and then shrugs, is about to comment when Reynir goes on to apologize for missing his birthday. Lifting a hand, he waves it, shaking his head again, a gesture that looks very much like one he would make as an adult.]

I probably didn't tell you. I think it stopped being a big deal after I turned...I dunno. Ten probably.

[Not that he'd object to a celebration or presents or anything. Usually his parents still gave him something, even if it was little, and he would share something sweet with Tuuri. He's more interested in what Reynir is saying about his friend status when he's grown up - it's a little disappointing Reynir hasn't met any of the people he knows in Finland, because he'd be interested in hearing about any other friends he might have as an adult. But then Reynir is explaining how the friendship between the two of them developed, and Onni smiles slightly, looking down at his tea again, feeling a little bashful. He'd been there for Reynir, Reynir had needed him and he'd helped. It feels kind of nice to think of.

What does surprise him is the way Reynir responds when he tells him what he thinks of him. Blinking, Onni glances up and sees the flush on his cheeks, the way he's smiling so bright and happy, laughing a little. He looks really happy about the compliments. Onni flushes a little and glances down again.]

Yes. I don't say things I don't mean.

[Well, that hasn't changed either.]

[braidmage]

[ Reynir can't help the fond smile that tugs at the corner of his mouth at how Onni was still so serious, even before he had so very many reasons to be. The thought of him at fifteen years old, so grave and dignified, like he was prematurely an old man, has Reynir's heart aching with affection for him. ]

Well, I still would've at least made at least a little deal about it, if I'd known. But I'll figure out a way to make it up to you.

[ There is confidence and humor in the way he proclaims that. It would almost sound flirtatious, if Reynir's expression weren't so completely, obliviously cheerful. ]

I know you don't, Onni. That's not the kind of person you are. I was just... surprised, I guess. I'm not really used to people saying such nice things about me!

[ Which makes it sound like the problem isn't just that the more grown-up version of Onni isn't free with his praise, but that perhaps Reynir isn't very accustomed to it from other people in his life, either. Of course, the friends he's made in this place have been very warm to him, in general. But that still takes Reynir by surprise at times. He's used to being liked well enough, or at least tolerated, but not exactly... appreciated. ]

I feel a little guilty, though. I know a lot about you, but to you I'm a complete stranger right now. Is there anything else I can tell you about me to... make you feel any more comfortable? Or - or what else can I do to help?

[ Reynir seems like the kind of person who very earnestly, very sincerely means it, when he offers to help. ]

When was the last time you had something to eat, are you hungry?