video; @unchained

[hedonistic]

[There video opens to a beautiful scene of a sunset at the Fishing District, sky painted in magnificent pinks and oranges that reflect against the pristine ice. A few moments later, a young man's voice accompanies it, tinged with the telltale slurring of someone who's rather drunk.]

Hey, question.

[A pause hangs in the air for a minute, almost long enough that one might wonder if he's gotten distracted or forgotten.]

Did you like your life, before the Storm? [. . .] If the Natha gave you a chance to go back, would any of you stay here?

[Kagari doesn't miss Japan. He doesn't feel homesick. He misses his friends, sure, but he's had more in the past nine months than he did in the twenty-one years before it. But he's starting to feel like the only one.]

Comments

Audio; UN: trafalgar

[kikoku]

[Now, this is a feelings question, which is normally the sort Law avoids like the plague. But it’s something he’s been thinking about lately in the face of his new situation, and this is a drunk stranger. Maybe this can be as anonymous as possible.]

That depends on what the Natha are able to actually accomplish. I’ve done what I needed to do at home. If they can return my crew and my ship to me... it doesn’t matter where I am.
[As a natural pessimist, he’s tried to dismiss the idea of “going back” since it sounded impossible with The Storn, and so says this with the dull conviction of someone speaking to convince themselves. Things like seeing Roger’s treasure on Raftel, the crowning of the new pirate king... he doesn’t need any of that. As long as he can sail somewhere, it’s fine.]

Of course I don’t have proof at the moment that they can fulfill their deal.

[hedonistic]

Your crew, huh?

[Kagari can relate, in a way. The only thing that's missing from El Nysa is the fellow members of his division, and he doesn't mind waiting for them, as long as it takes.]

Would it matter to them?

[This is of course clearly hypothetical. Obviously. That's why he's on the network drunk, of course.]

text - un: linneus.

[inaurare]

[he can't exactly be anonymous with his username, but Linneus is used to it]

My life was comfortable enough. But I wouldn't go back to it, I don't think.

If nothing else, I think I have... more meaningful connections here.

[hedonistic]

rly/?
i woudve thogut someun like u wud hav had tons of frends

[ah. drunktyping.]

text - un: maxwell

[braidedwonder]

I was starting to build something up in the peace and all...

Wouldn't mind going back to that and actually figuring out what it's like to live in some kind of peace.

[hedonistic]

that depedns on who u r
tho i guess itd b prety good for u if ur the one bilding the new sytsem

[Japan lived in peace while wars raged on outside, after all. That stability was built on the backs of people like him. The expendable trash.]

voice; UN: SKULL

[sakabroto]

There was some shit going down back home, but given the chance? Yeah, I'd go back to finish it. There's somethin' really important to me an' my friends that we gotta do.

Why? Wouldn't you?

[hedonistic]

No.

[There's the sound of sloshing liquid as Kagari takes another swig of his drink.]

I wouldn't be alive right now if the Storm hadn't come.

video; un: mai

[maipokerface]

I don't really miss the place as much as the people.

[hedonistic]

Yeah, I feel that.

[There's a beat of silence, followed by the sound of liquid swishing about. The poster taking another drink.]

You think they feel the same about you?

Audio; dancer

[dancerefresher]

Yes? I-i mean, my friends are there, and we just got things going well! I want to be there to help with the clean up!

But,,,maybe..I could have my dream cpme true here. It's silly but...it's something.

[hedonistic]

What's your dream?

[Kagari doesn't comment on the friends or whatever clean up situation she's talking about. He's not really interested in hearing the details about people's happy lives, with this.]

text, anon

[thedarkbond]

If I was given the chance to go home, I wouldn't hesitate. This world is nice, but it isn't home.

[Even if it may have the people he loves, it makes no difference if none of them are awake and he has no idea if they ever will be. He doesn't want to admit it with a name attached just yet, though, even if it's nice to be able to actually say it.]

What about you?

[hedonistic]

no
nevr had a home tbh

text | un: BishopRunout

[poolhall_killer]

I wouldn't go back, even if given the chance.

There was nothing left for me.

[The only one who would make him think about it would be to see Lord Zato alive again, and perhaps Robo-Ky, but that's it.]

[hedonistic]

same
fuckin cheers, iguesss

video | un: a2

[atwo]

I would stay here. I've got nothing back home and here ... I feel as if I have something at the very least, even if it isn't big here which is an honest improvement. [ It's better than fighting all the time and being caught in a manhunt, that's for sure. ]

Yourself?

[hedonistic]

Yeah. At least I'm free, here.

[It's kind of nice to know that there's at least a couple people who can relate, in some way.]

text; un: ammy

[illuminating]

i liked it then, and i like it now.
do you have water?


[ please be patient with her, her replies are excruciatingly slow. it takes a lot for her to type. there's no indicator who this is, either. only the name, no picture to go along with it. ]

[hedonistic]

do u liek there or here betr
no

[what do you expect him to be rESPONSIBLE about his self-destructive behavior, ammy.]

video @revolution

[idealisme]

[Feeling the cold, Enjolras is bundled up with scarves and multiple coats.]

There wouldn't be a point, for me. I'll take this place over a grave.

[hedonistic]

Oh hey, I remember you.

[He sounds oddly pleasant about it, in the way of someone who's hit that level of drunkenness where they can't be bothered to be annoyed about things that annoyed them in the past.]

Not being in a grave is pretty great, gotta say.

[Not that he would've had one, apparently, considering the pains Kasei went to to cover up his murder.]

Cheers, yeah?

audio; un: juno

[stuns]

Yeah. I would.

[ not a strain of doubt there. ]

I've got a job to do back there. And just because it's a pit doesn't mean it's not worth saving.

[hedonistic]

Even if it's a pit, it's your pit, huh?

[Kagari has to wonder what that feels like, really. He has no connection to any one place; even Wyver he's stayed in this long because of the dragons and the fact that he hadn't been super welcome in Olympia until tensions started cooling down a bit. And Japan was certainly not home.

No, his only home was in the little makeshift family of people who'd shared that office building in the MWPSB with him. All but one of them are asleep, and they all have reason to love Japan, or at least had, once. He's unwilling to admit it, but it hurts, knowing that. He can't ever mean as much to them as they do to him.]

Well, you never know. Maybe our alien overlords'll give you a chance someday.

[He sounds oddly bitter about the thought, like he doesn't want it to be possible so he doesn't have to face the idea of his friends ever picking Japan over El Nysa. But begrudging or not, the sentiment's genuine.]

Video; UN: kingofconquerors

[conqueredhearts]

[He scratches his chin for a moment or so as he hums in thought.]

That is a difficult decision actually. However, I think in the end I would go back so I can continue my quest. After all, I have yet to achieve my dream.

[hedonistic]

What kind of dream's that?

[Funny, someone suggested this place could realize their dreams, rather than home. He's curious, if nothing else.]

video; UN: onceandfuturescot

[givingback]

[ The question leaves Bree thinking, trying to decide. She misses her life, her friends, Roger. But she also missed her mother. ]

My life was okay before. Here, though, I have my mother and I don't at home. I think that kind of sways things in favor of staying. Even with how...intense it can be.

[hedonistic]

Yeah, that's pretty legit.

[Kagari's not great at offering condolence or empathy about Bree having apparently lost her mother where she's from, so instead, he simply acknowledges the sentiment and goes from there.]

Considerate of the Natha to resuscitate the poor dead fuckers from the wrecked universes they visit when sticking people in their space freezers, huh? Can definitely say I appreciated it.

text | anonymous

[shashka]

[ is he going to anonymously post cryptic stuff and mess with Kagari? he's going to anonymously post cryptic stuff and mess with Kagari. ]

Maybe. Maybe not. Life back home was just so interesting, but I've made my way here.

[hedonistic]

[THAT'S REAL HELPFUL, OCELOT. #rude tbh.]

so in other words yiu hav no fuxking clue
.......fair enuogh i guess

video; un: diva

[colorature]

I'd stay. I don't want to go back. I never had as much freedom back there as I do now.

[hedonistic]

You too, huh.

[what a shitty boat to be in together. but it is nice to know he isn't alone in it, all the same.]

audio

[morbide]

I liked my life just fine. There were all kinds of fun battles to join, bad guys to nail, hexes to cast... The war was super fun! [Given that it's all over, though... Henry gives a moment's pause before concluding.] Buuut I think I'm all right being here.

What about you? Thinking heavily on it, huh?

audio

[hedonistic]

[wELP this guy's weird. Kagari can't help but have the morbid sort of thought of wondering what this guy's crime coefficient would look like. Paralyzer range, or Eliminator? Kagari's not sure. After all, he'd found being an Enforcer pretty fun, despite his own circumstances.]

Not really. I never want to go back.

[but maybe one of his makeshift lil family isn't so sure, and we're here having a crisis over it, no big.]

text | un: U.F.

[almaredemptoris]

[He takes note of the young man's inebriated state, but he would perhaps address this later. He contemplates the question for a long moment. Here he supposes that, although he is never truly free of his past, its grip has loosened: France in her entirety is no more, and those who would know his crime are tentatively suspended in slumber. But here too are dangers of a different sort.]

I was content with my life. But were my daughter to awaken, I should find it difficult to say whether I would prefer to be there or here.

[hedonistic]

[Kagari's drunk enough that he doesn't immediately make the connection between the old man and his username from that time he helped him with the simulation room.]

why
yiur kid hateit there?

[Inebriation also comes with one's thoughts drifting wherever they will, rather than maintaining a tight lid on certain pandora's boxes, and he finds himself wondering what his parents' answer to the question would be if they woke up. Would they want to go back to their perfect, comfortable lives? Or would they try to build a life here and get to know the person they gave up all those years ago?

...

He hopes he never get an answer to that question.]

how old?
is she

text | un: troyard

[terrantrash]

_{[It's an easy answer, at least in Slaine's eyes.]}

My life was terrible so no, especially since the only person who matters to me from back home is here with me now. Things aren't anywhere near perfect living here but it's better than anything I've had leading up to it.

[hedonistic]

yoooo
wlecom to the shity boat
whats that western xpresion
high five?

text | un: nightray [1/2]

[yelliot]

I hate this stupid planet so yes, I'd leave. I did like my life before the Storm.

However, I'd only leave if I knew those I care about could come back home with me.

_{[And then, a sudden thought strikes him that makes him second guess everything he'd just typed...]}

text | un: nightray [2/2]

[yelliot]

Actually...I don't think I'd be able to go back, even if I wanted to.

_{[Since apparently he's dead, according to his brother. Hm, that definitely puts a damper on the what if scenario.]}

going right to action

[thefatherssins]

[Masaoka watches the video. Sighs. And puts on some more cold weather gear.

It takes a little while, wandering around the Fishing District.] Kagari-kun?

action \o/

[hedonistic]

[It does occur to Kagari that Masaoka's probably seen the result of this little bender over the network, but if there's one thing Enforcers are good at, it's avoiding their problems, so. He just raises his bottle in a sort of drunken greeting. You saw nothing, old man. Nothing's wrong and everything is fine.]

Yoooo pops. Didja know there are actual liquor stores around here? Blast from the past, huh.