logsinthenight | Round 3 [closed]

Cao Pi and Daylight, at the start of the 'meeting', tell the others of the following information

● The current year of the world is 2054 and the darkness started in 1979, meaning it would have been 75 years since it all began. Despite being born in 1927, Dr. Solis is well and 'alive' at the 'age' of 127. source.

● As earlier finds and discoveries have uncovered, Dr. Solis mistakenly opened a portal into a dead world, one that was being consumed by the World Eaters at the time. Due to the World Eaters following into her world, years later, she believes they had spotted her.

Well before their arrival, her world begins to fall into rapid decline staring 1971 or 1972, shortly after Dr. Solis had been noticed by the World Eaters. They only began to piece the pieces together around 1974 when birthrates began to decline. Mass extinction soon followed and the light began to fade.

By the time World Eaters descended on Beacon in 1978, Dr. Solis assumes she and the few others in Beacon were the only ones left as the sole inhabitants of the planet. A World Eater then made its way to them in 1979, actively hunting them down. source.

● THE TOWN GOT DESPERATE ENOUGH TO USE ATOMIC WEAPONRY!!! Atomic weaponry, for those who don't know its destructiveness, is very bad. If one bomb were to detonate where Beacon stands, the entire town would be reduced to ash in an instant.

Honestly, Daylight flails a lot at this point, clearly distressed by this part, so Cao Pi often steps in to help inform the others of the following: A total of five nuclear-grade bombs were used. One was launched by itself and not only did it have little effect on the World Eater but it gave away the town's location, hence them being hunted down in 1979.

They decided to launch the remaining four missiles all at once in an attempt to overwhelm it. The survivors sought refuge in the mine, hiding there for a week before leaving their shelter to see what had happened. When they came out, the World Eater was... gone. There was no trace of it and Dr. Solis isn't certain of what came of it. source. | source.

● (An aside, since Day feels like the others should know about this: Dr. Solis had made an observation about the weird lantern effects that they had been struck with. The strange changes were here to stay but, at the very least, come and go instead of permanently affecting them. For now, there's no way to predict them.) source.

ooc notes;; - cao pi's player - gemini - is busy due to other affairs at the moment so cao pi's presence is handwaved! but he is there, present and helping out with the discussions.

- please do not reply to this top-level! i'll continue to edit this top-level with more information as the log goes on, and you're free to assume it was mentioned at the start or brought up by either daylight or cao pi during the threads. or will be brought up during threads naturally as it can. time is dead in roleplay land. ours now.

Edited 2020-02-08 03:11 (UTC)

[ Mysterious! Riku would have probably been a lot more suspicious if this kind of letter reached him months ago, but having recently achieved a certain level of nihilism-adjacent attitude, he might as well see what this is about. This can't possibly be as bad as some of the other stuff that happens here, those things never have the courtesy of sending a sealed envelope ahead of time.

Besides the fact that it's pretty concerning for very obvious reasons why a small town like Beacon would have access to devastating weaponry, he can't exactly fault them for being desperate. ]

You guys learned a lot...

How is the town here if they used all those bombs?

[There really is a lot to take in. He can imagine such a bomb, though - maybe not all the finer points of it, but he knows entire civilizations in his world have been bombarded and reduced to ruin. Something of that power, the sort of thing that could wipe out an island, wasn't able to take down a World Eater? What the hell are they?]

It must not have been right here when they bombed it. Something that size could probably cover a lot of ground quickly. It could have been days away by the time they were able to aim at it.

[But were there people over there who bombed it? Were there other nations, other governments, involved? Something so destructive, both bomb and monster, would surely be noticed by more than just this one town.]

[ at rosinante's comments, daylight makes an affirmative sound. ]

Dr. Solis explained the first bomb gave away their position and it took a while for the World Eater to reach them. It probably means they saw it approaching them and tried to get it before it reached them.

[ which did not work. leading to- ] When they used all four... I guess they had done it from somewhere safe, like before they retreated to the mines, wherever that is. Some bombs and missiles can be controlled through remote access or even put it on a countdown. Giving them time to escape.

[ That explanation works for Riku. ]

Was she able to explain about the bonfire? Why is it here?

[ Vanitas is much more defensive than anyone here. He's self serving, and while the information is good, he's the last person to want to willingly spread what he knows unless he believes it will be better for him. Maybe this secretive nature was adopted from Xehanort, who dished out details like scraps from a table. Maybe, Vanitas thinks everyone else is doing the same thing.

But he grabs Riku by the wrist when he's unoccupied and everyone is talking to each other, drags him to the opposite side of the room, far enough away it turns their lanterns into a little island. He steps right into his personal space, his voice so low Riku will have to lean down to hear him. ]

That thing we found says 1979.

[ Vanitas catches him by the wrist and together they head to the other end of the room. The whole way, he carefully watches Vanitas as if he's trying to ascertain his thoughts by his expression alone, avid in his interest.

Riku are fair opposites on the sharing of information. He was as big a proponent and contributor to things like the newcomer's app and the log books because he believes that sharing information and continuity are key to their success. It hasn't been lost on him that many don't feel the same way and keep things to themselves, which is disappointing but not altogether unexpected. Blame it on his lived experience in the Darkness, he understands the shadows in people's hearts.

He noticed that particular year, too, but he hadn't wanted to give any indication he might be holding something back, when the real case is that Riku doesn't want to spout off about information he hasn't confirmed yet. He leans in, shoulder to shoulder, to answer into his ear. ]

Yeah. Without what we need to power that place, we can't find out what's on it. I don't want to spin them up over what might be nothing.

Tch.

[ He doesn't disguise his frustration, his eyes casting away from Riku to search the middle space in front of him. He's angry that their solution in the theatre didn't work, because for all intents and purposes, it should have. It even started to, before it gave up, but Vanitas has long since to expect that this world doesn't act in the way he thinks it should. But just after his arrival, he'd felt his powers dampened, and that hasn't really changed. ]

All this and we still don't know anything of use.

...

[ Riku pushes his palm up over Vanitas's shoulder, tightens his grip in a supportive squeeze, understanding his frustration, sharing in it, having no solution but enough room in his heart to encourage anyway. He doesn't insult him with empty platitudes. ]

That's what these meetings are for.

Even if our break never comes, we tried. We've gotten further than others have. [ He says, thinking about all those other resets. ] We can still do this.

Edited 2020-02-09 23:22 (UTC)

[ He shrugs Riku's hand off, like he's irritated by the comfort, but he doesn't pull away. Instead he turns toward him, tipping his head up to bring them almost face to face. There's something aggressive in the gesture, and from afar it might look like Vanitas was about to start a fight. ]

I don't care about the others.

It's impossible to defeat an enemy you know nothing about, and even Dr Solis doesn't know.

[ They face off with just inches to spare. After the subtle lift of his pale eyebrows, Riku appears to glare back, an expression that loses some of its menacing potential when the corner of his mouth quirks up into a smirk. ]

I know. But it's a good sign if we've made it further than others have before us.

[ If they aren't on the right track, they're at least doing enough right to survive longer than others who were reset sooner ]

Besides... if Dr. Solis had all the answers, this whole thing would've been solved already. We just have to keep looking.

[ Vanitas cocks his head, raises his chin so he's staring at Riku from under the angry low slash of his eyelashes, and doesn't back down. ]

You don't know that. How many people have come and gone? How many resets?

[ The numbers are there, revealing; how long the the doctor has been hidden, the fact the Lighthouse Keeper has changed before. That resets have happened not just because people lost their minds, but because the World Eaters came too close. If they had anything the others tried before to go off of, that might change things.

A heartbeat passes, a tension fed into the space between them that might be entirely flooded there because of Vanitas' tumultuous response to this whole situation.

Finally, he eases, putting a sliver of space back between them, his eyes cutting to the side. ]

They eat Light, not the world itself. That's the most important thing.

[ In Vanitas' understanding of things, at least. There are huge mysteries in this place, why they're here, who else might exist beyond those that live in the Night Market— but Vanitas isn't a diplomat. He's a weapon, and a weapon needs a direction. ]

Twenty five, thirty resets. Robin could only give a rough estimate.

[ He doesn't disagree. Their chances of failure and ruin are almost certain. There are many moments when Riku pauses in the middle of his work, or in the middle of writing something into the log books, and asks himself what's the point? What keeps him going isn't blind optimism.

It's so whenever the end comes, if he's there to see it, he can at least look into the eyes of his friends one more time and know that he did all he could. ]

All the more reason to work together and try to solve this. Can't leave you to laze about the planet all by yourself, Vanitas.

OTA

[ Vanitas turns up, maybe much to the surprise or chagrin of everyone at the meeting, with Riku. He doesn't say much in the beginning, but there's a sharpness in his eyes as he stares down Cao Pi and Daylight with almost unblinking focus. His gaze tends to linger threateningly on Daylight, like he's waiting for him to slip up and say something incriminating.

What really seems to catch his attention is the reference to 1979 and when talk of the World Eater picks up. He sharpens, and his gaze darts around, calculating. ]

So, they're on this world already. [ Then, because he apparently can't be anywhere without starting something, he adds antagonistically: ] All those weapons and they couldn't drive them off, so what exactly do they think we're supposed to do about it?

CLOSED TO DAYLIGHT

[ At some point, when everyone seems otherwise occupied in conversation, Vanitas corners Daylight with predatory intent. ]

You sure took your time. [ Again, it doesn't seem to matter that their heights are drastically different. Vanitas looks no edge. ] What happened? Tell me how she was.

[ This isn't about what they discussed— this question seems to be more personal in nature. ]

Edited 2020-02-08 05:45 (UTC)

[ daylight raises his arms yet again, trying to signal he isn't looking for a fight. never hurts to be too careful when vanitas is around. ]

I wanted to be sure we all could meet up safely. Given... you know... everything that happened a while back. [ the lanterns causing everyone to act weird. he didn't think it would be the wisest decision to force several compromised individuals into one area and drop alarming information on them. he didn't have the ability to put multiple people into timeout bubble shields now.

... the question of dr. solis' well-being has daylight's winglets relaxing into a more neutral, less wary stance. ]

She's holding on and trying to stay strong. From what I can tell, she's doing her best. Just... Really tired after having to do all of this for over seventy years.

She's stronger than any of you.

[ He snaps it back like Daylight has suggested otherwise. Its a fair conclusion, in his mind. She had to be strong to live this long, surviving this long. Nobody else has done what she's done. ]

I meant what I said. If something happens—

[ He shoots a nasty look at Cao Pi. ]

I'll know whose fault it was.

[ daylight looks surprised by that statement and for who it's directed at. ]

I know Sir Cao Pi won't do anything to her. That wouldn't benefit him or anyone else. [ why try to harm the one individual who could aid them? sir cao pi struck him as the sort to try and play the long game whenever possible. ]

Besides- From what I can tell, Dr. Solis' security is pretty good. [ he pauses for a second and then reaches out to rap his knuckles across the nearest wooden surface that's close to him and vanitas. just in case. ] She can lock the church doors from the inside and, from experience and observation, the hatch is pretty tough to break.

... That said, I have a feeling you won't like my later proposal then, huh?

[ Vanitas only knows what he's seen on the surface of this man, and what he's seen reminds him uncannily of the only other authority figure he's had in his life. He doesn't doubt Cao Pi would keep the strings of as many people wrapped around his fist as possible, but he also thinks this man is self serving at the expense of whomever will get in his way. Whether it's right or not doesn't matter, when this is the judgement Vanitas has already made. ]

It's only safe from the inside. We're not on the inside.

[ And this step, having tea, sharing information— it makes her vulnerable. Vanitas, coming from the dark side of things, refuses to accept how working together can often bring about a better end. From what he's seen, it's never worked out in his favor. ]

What proposal? That we all work together? I already know that's your aim, Daylight.

Edited (html) 2020-02-09 22:08 (UTC)

No- My proposal is that we tell the others about Dr. Solis' presence.

[ and he quickly goes on, while he has the chance, ] I only informed some of the others - the other people who also had the visions during the feast, because she asked - and you guys. Everyone else is in the dark so far.

And given everything that's happened and what we know, I think it's better that we explain the situation while we have the chance. Better that than have someone accidentally find out and do something reckless. [ because, to be honest, daylight is surprised no one is suspicious of all the spirits scurrying about, passing or leaving notes. or daylight running about beacon more than usual.

a good stroke of luck but he knows the luck is going to run out, sooner or later. they might as well get ahead of it. ]

[ Vanitas visibly sharpens at the suggestion. His eyes narrow and a covetous sort of anger rises up in him. Despite the fact the cluster of them with their lanterns creates enough light to throw everyone into relief, the shadows seem to flex around Vanitas in response. ]

Is that what you think? Do you realize how many idiots will be marching right into that church if you do that?

[ But Daylight is right, this is the exactly the sort of thing he'd expected would happen. She'd secreted herself away to stay safe. There is no evidence that they are any better than those what came before them.

Vanitas knows better than anyone what the darkness is, what it does to people. Nobody is immune to it's effects, not even Riku, who would be best equipped out of every person in Beacon, as far as Vanitas can tell. ]

Every person here has Darkness in their hearts, even you.

[ He points at the barrel of Daylight's chest, and the only reason he doesn't touch him is because he's too short to do so. ]

Just because you're naive enough to believe everyone has good intentions doesn't make it true. I don't care if you want to tell everyone what you know, but if you two tell that she's in there, I'll make sure you suffer for it.

[ being tall has its benefits, it seems, though day does make it a point to scoot back to avoid any touching actually going down. let's keep possible fighting to a zero number during this secret hanging out, please.

daylight huffs and crosses his arms over his chassis, to both project confidence he doesn't feel and to protect himself he certainly feels he needs right now. size difference or not, he doesn't feel confident in taking vanitas on. ever. ]

Of course I'm not going to tell the others where she is. [ he could leave it at that but- ] But I am going to tell them that Dr. Solis is around and she wants to help us out.

They have a right to know that she's here. Some of them could have information that could help us and her, if they can pass it along. Some of them could help her in a way we can't. We can't keep hiding this forever.

Of course you can't, you're an open book.

[ Vanitas gestures at him as a whole, like he's disgusted by what he sees. Giant robot or not, he's still more honestly expressive than a lot of people Vanitas has spent his time around in his own world.

But he doesn't argue the point. Maridel asked Vanitas, too, to have the others write letters. He just never had the opportunity to figure out how to go about it, before Daylight came to him, before he was saying he would meet her.

It still fills him with vicious envy; because Vanitas wants to see her, be around her. The first person to soothe him through a pain he couldn't handle.

But he's not about to share that with any of these idiots. They'd never understand, and beyond that, why should they care? ]

Nobody here has a right to anything. She's the one in charge.

[ He shoots another cruel look across the room at Cao Pi. ]

People will do anything for information and power.

[ His eyes snap back to Daylight. ]

I know that better than any of you clowns.

Not everything responds to weaponry, there are other options than missiles. The fact that they survived tells us that they are resistant to the blast effects, which will be helpful in figuring out what they are susceptible to.

That also means this whole world is likely radioactive as well.

[So you know.. good thing they're already dead?]

That doesn't mean anything to me.

[ Radioactive? Who cares. It clearly isn't effecting any of them, and this world was already in the Darkness. It's mostly dead, the only life being them and the spirits.

Vanitas gestures at the man, the movement is somehow belittling and aggressive all ato nce. ]

Do you have some bright idea to get rid of them, then?

Then you're not paying attention.

[Try harder Vanitas.]

I have a few ideas, bombs use concussive blasts and heat. And now we know those are ineffective. We can narrow down what they might be vulnerable to before any sort of attack as we may only get one chance at this - making it count will be vital.

[ Vanitas cocks his head, his eyes going heavy with disdain. Instead of being offended by Kaui Liang's tone, Vanitas seems to find him funny. ]

You want to cut it down with a sword? Shoot it with an arrow, maybe?

Of course not. Why would that work?

[He scoffs. Don't be stupid.]

Do you honestly think no one would have tried that previously?

Yes.

[ He raises both eyebrows, arms loose at his sides. ]

Did it sound like anyone got close enough to attack them before, genius?

Feel free to try then. I look forward to hearing the results.

[He'll wait for you in the church.]

[ Vanitas smirks; the very idea that he'd put his life at risk for the benefit of this town is pretty hilarious to him. ]

As if.

I don't hear you offering up any solutions. Or do you just like to hear yourself talk?

And I've yet to hear a reason you should be included in such discussions.

Maybe you should've asked.

I should not have to.

Really?

[ There's a laugh in Vanitas' voice, something arch. He's not actually surprised. This guy bleeds arrogance all over the place, Vanitas can taste it on the edges of his teeth. ]

And why is that? Should we all just do what you want, Kuai Liang?

Of course not. You presume much.

[Reminds him of every teenager he's ever trained.]

We're all trying to help each other, to provide beneficial information that will keep us alive and defeat that which threatens us. Pointless posturing serves nothing.

[Or whatever it is that Vanitas is trying to prove.]

[ The joke is on Liang, since Vanitas isn't trying to prove anything, really. Unfortunately, everything he does looks and sounds like antagonism, but it also means he isn't put off at all by this man trying to put him in his place. ]

Then you shouldn't get so smart about trying to kick me out.

Someone has to be here to point out how useless some of your observations are.

[Chillax through and through he finds this amusing more than anything. It's like a smaller Kung Jin but with spikier hair. ]

I'm not trying to kick you out. I'm unsure what I would even be kicking you out of?

[He folds his arms with the barest hint of a smile.]

I see. Any other observations you wish to comment on?

Soldat is not comfortable in here. This is not as crowded as a regular Town Hall meeting, but it's still a bunch of people in an official space potentially making decisions, and they aren't really supposed to be part of those.

Good intel, though. They just kind of wish they could be listening to it from outside under the window, is all.

They do have... something to bring up. Something that doesn't make clear sense. How to say something without suddenly becoming the center of attention, though. Fuck, why are they like this.

They wait for Cao Pi or Daylight to actually be looking at them, hold up the metal hand almost like a kid trying very shyly to get the teacher's attention, and wait to be asked. Then say (hesitantly), "Lots of worlds. Look the same." Especially given this one apparently uses the exact same calendar and some very similar technology to their own, and many other Beacon residents from alternate Earths. "How did the World Eaters find this one in particular? How did they affect it for years before they got here? Did something small or. Hard to notice. Come through first when the portal got opened the first time?" Something that led the big things here, maybe, and started killing people earlier.

And that was so many words. They literally can't make another one come out, at least not right away. That was really fuckin' hard.

Maes, having been furiously recording everything in his notes, pauses and looks over at Soldat. "True. And even the worlds that are different in detail have similar enough inhabitants." He looks at the room where, even with the giant figures of Rosinante and Daylight, they are all mostly human. Even when he'd be in service to Astoria's Circle the bulk of the people, while living vastly different lives, had mostly been from Earth or Earth-like worlds.

Soldat's questions are curious enough though. He flips through a few pages, thinking aloud as he hits on some of the important bits. "That's not a bad theory actually. We know from the information gathered in the dreams that the doctor knows something saw her and left the portal partially open. If it's something small enough then maybe you're right and something did get through that acted as a sort of...herald for all of this."

He taps his pen against his pages of notes, not really making eye contact, but still addressing Soldat, "Do we know how intelligent these creatures are anyway? Because that IS how most invasions work, you send in a scout party to set up networks and base camps and then bring in the rest of the army. These World Eaters are also apparently persistent. There's plenty of other worlds out there with probably way more light to consume...so why stick with this one in particular? It's dead here or mostly dead, so why not go on to better meals?"

Not that he wants to think about these things preying on more innocent worlds still alive, but it's a question that needs to be answered. Why are the world eaters coming back here? To finish a job undone? If they're just beasts that feed, that doesn't make sense. Coming back implies that they have more intelligence or something more to gain from completely wiping this place out. "Robin told me that the Lighthouse glows red because red is a light that is harder for them to see or track. Maybe there's something to that and what draws them?"

A logical extension of their own thought, that. If whatever brought them here to begin with is still here, it could be what's bringing them back when this is a very poor feeding ground. But even if it's true, if they're right, what could it be? Soldat shakes their head a little, working up to some words. At least Maes has a lot to say in the meantime, which helps. "If we could figure out that. What brought them. If it keeps bringing them back. Could use that."

The goal here is to stop them, right? Whatever brings them might be used to lure them into a trap, or keep them going back to a different dead world and not still-living ones.

They can't broach that yet, but they have to prove they're right or wrong first. "Portal is a machine. Might have logs. Recordings of things that went either way. Might be something there they missed." Because there are people here now who might look for different things. Smaller things. A virus or a small spirit-creature, or something technological.

"Dr. Solis believes they were either attracted to the portal or, by sheer bad luck, chose this world at random when finding other worlds to feed on."

Personally, Day learns towards the former than the latter. Entering her world only a mere year or so after the first encounter is a timing he can't help but feel suspicious of. "She described them as hunting her and others down when we were talking but, at the same time, she doesn't think they're capable of, um, 'strategic attack' or anything like that."

Which makes sense. Day wonders why Beacon wasn't the first to get hit when the World Eaters came here. And with how often the town was able to reset without the World Eaters wising up to the tricks, they strike him as more beasts of some intelligence than mere forces of natures. (He's not sure how to feel about that revelation, though.)

The conversation does make him remember something very important- "They have tried to send messages to the World Eaters in the past." He goes on, explaining this a bit further, "Every time there's a reset, they send a message out to the World Eaters in an attempt to communicate with them. They haven't gotten a response so far."

Daylight is slightly easier to talk to, even if there are other people looking at them while they do it. Soldat keeps their eyes down, on their hands in their lap, but they can still speak. "Right. They have a language. Robin said so. The reset instruction is in their language. Can't have language without intelligence." Sure, you can be stupid, but still intelligent in a way that means an understanding of the world around you and personal feelings. "Couldn't have been luck. Too many worlds. Couldn't have been an individual, or they'd still be hunting her. Portal. Maybe. But why would a portal attract them. And why didn't they destroy, or stay to use it, it if it is what attracted them."

There's still something here they don't know about. Something that explains this, that the group of them is missing. Soldat really kinda wants to see those records, now.

Round 3 [closed]

INFORMATION REVIEW.

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rip day. :'>

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