It was strange, talking to someone she barely knew over the phone. The Archivist was incredibly isolated and so Chamyle Raydeo was too. Having contact with anyone, let alone a method of contact anyone could access. At least Jumin wasn't calling about anything serious; she could only assume he just wanted more information on her.
"Indeed; though people tend do tend be focused more on their stresses. They'll forget to take in world around them." As she speaks, she finally stops pacing, stopping at the window. She can't help falling quiet for a moment when asked about Silversoft. "He's my own feline companion, correct; I adopted him about seven years ago. I'll have to show you all a picture sometime, once I'm able to acquire a more recent one than the ones I have on-hand."
Another small pause. "He's at home, right now- with a caretaker and my daughter- so I can't quite obtain one on my own."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but Seven seems like the sort of guy who is quite a storyteller. He seems rather capable of weaving a tale with just enough info revealed to inspire intrigue, because he wants you intrigued." Chamyle leans back against the wall behind her, speaking through an earpiece while reading through the paperwork for her own non-RFA work that she had. She still had a duty as The Archivist, after all... "Keyword being intrigue, here. You've almost seemed to be obsessing over it since he started bringing her up."
Background noise is paid attention to as she speaks; clearly he was out and about at the moment.
Then there's the self-centered flirting again, something that elicits a slight chuff from the young woman. She was no stranger to it, though nowadays she saw the wordplay as more a game, since feeling didn't come too easily for her anymore. Thankfully for her it was a game two could easily play that.
"Hm-hm~ Me? Jealous? Not at all." Her own voice comes out smooth and clear as ice. "After all, who doesn't love a good mystery? It's just a surprise that the one right in front of you doesn't hold the allure needed to keep your focus~ You wondered for but a day before the next mystery arrived and stole you away. Locked you in its jaws. It's almost a shame really; I was looking forward to seeing if a curious guy like you had what it took to uncover more~"
Oh, she's playing. She is absolutely playing.
Tandor was somewhere Cam was finding herself more and more. Radiation abound meant deaths and deaths meant spirits and ghost-types that needed to be put in check. It also meant she was walking into places she shouldn’t have been, if she hadn’t had clearance. Thankfully the Oblivion provided some sort of protection to radiation, despite also being able to feel it.
The energy hits her mask, prompting a small flinch. This place was now ruins but was still rumored to have activity going down in it. This prompted the calling of The Archivist for the potential paranormal activity.
Unfortunately that wasn’t going to be what she found.
“Alright, lets make this easier on the lot of us.” Her voice is gentle and coaxing, in case she really was dealing with the dead. “You’ve been causing a clamor outside and it needs to be resolved so folks stop worrying. Why not come tell me what’s got you so active.”
The door to Hope’s room is closed quietly, Cam giving a small sigh after checking on the two seemingly sleeping aether beings. Both of them were recovering from the damage that witch had caused them and she was hanging around to take care of that, and the glowing soul that she now had in a makeshift harness that looked like one of those front-facing baby carriers. It was the only way to keep the shattered thing together, if she wanted her hands free at this point.
Cue a knock at the door just as the human was checking a pot of soup cooking on the stove. She glances up from the food with a raised eyebrow and walks over to answer it, opening the door only a crack to be met with a face she didn’t recognize. He did look like the ‘Hanekoma’ that Hope was always talking about, however, so the door is opened a little more and she stepped slightly to the side. “I take it you’re her new father? She’s in her room asleep, as is her brother, if you wish to check on her.”
The near-soulless woman can’t help a small squint as she speaks, as if trying to get a read on the man in front of her. And she very well did. You didn’t have a profession like Chamyle Raydeo’s and not know how to see right down to the core of who someone was.
When she’s satisfied, she steps aside fully, inviting Hanekoma in nonverbally as well. Let him prioritize his daughter, then she could try and figure out what his whole deal was.
@strawberry-barista asked: Cam receives a text from an unknown number:
This number correctly links to Chamyle, is that correct? This is Sanae Hanekoma, specifically the one connected to Hope Raymond who you had a talk with some months ago concerning her soul. I am sending this message in hopes you can give me some information regarding the current situation. I am located in another universe at the moment, attempting to protect an iteration of Joshua which has not seen the UG yet. His iteration of myself also has no ability to protect him from the supernatural, so I am standing in at the moment. If there is anything I can do from my current location, however, please let me know. I simply want to be as informed as possible on where we are and what we know. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Now Your Name Belongs To Me! || Arc Finale
She’d been in The Archives for ages now, the only real way of having a sense of time being the messages and chatrooms from her friends. The same ringtones, beeps and dings, all with different timestamps. At least until her usual text tone sounded out instead.
The number is one with the same area code Hope’s usually displayed nowadays... Someone from Shibuya?
Reading through the message prompts her to quickly save the contact as “Hope’s Newest Father” and respond via speech-to-text afterwards.
[ Chamyle ] Ah, yes, I remember you.
[ Chamyle ] Thanks for reaching out. I can relay what I have so far, though the messages may be a bit sporadic. I’m not in a location with the best reception at the moment, for security reasons.
Chamyle keeps sifting through her files and records, waiting for the messages to send before she continues. A waving of her hand moves a shadowy ribbon to follow her with the phone in it’s grip.
[ Chamyle ] I’ve gone through every possibility and came to the conclusion that Hope, Teal and I’s mother is indeed responsible for this incident. My theory is that since she couldn’t get access to what she views as hers in a gentle manner, that she’s getting more and more aggressive with her attempts to bring them back to Meyth- Comalia in specific.
[ Chamyle ] Based on the fact that there is a shadow ‘doppelganger’ of “Hope” running around in the same universes she is currently in, at that time, and she’s not quite acting like herself? It sounds a lot like some fae-esque magic from a place in the Craftiverse called Rogueport; only it’s been altered to suit whatever need Maria has.
[ Chamyle ] I’m trying to find the file I have on a particular entity who uses this sort of magic, but it’s taking some time since the name changes every time he takes a new identity...
[ Chamyle ] If she used that as a base for what she’s pulling off then the way to break that magic should be the same as well.
[ Chamyle ] And if I remember right... then we’re going to have to locate Maria’s True Name. I don’t have records going that far in her life... or many records at all frankly. I may have to try and break into some more-than-mortal realms for that information.
[ Chamyle ] Unless I can find some contacts who have access to knowledge that ancient that I can look at...
[ Chamyle ] I’d check to see if anyone’s made contact with the True Hope- that shadow- as well. But I can only take care of so many tasks myself. I do know one thing; wherever “Hope” is, the Real One will be as well. That’s typical for cognitive shadows to stick in the same vicinity as the rest of their identity.
[ Chamyle ] We’ll get her back. I know we will.
A Masked Stranger Called Out:
Notes echo out from another world... ^ < < ^ A >
@pureposer Called Out: Shout it he will - even deciding to use his Normal Vocals. After all, that's like two people Talking at once! (At least, it sounds like it). Though he shall not say it, rather, he'll Scream it! Scream it as Loud as Possible - "LILLIUM!!" - as he stood a top the Government Building. Blowing his Voice out is a Small Price to pay for having a Hand in Saving STM's Greatest Doctor, after all. He even decided to roll out the -um part, hoping that'd help somehow. He hopes it does.
@fallenphxtxgrapher Called Out: “ ^ < < ^ A > “ Joel....may be passed out on the couch right now but Lee...well the noise managed to get to the reaper's guitar and pluck out the right melody.
don't ask why he knows how to do that
@strawberry-barista / @falseapostle / @enchantedbrew Called Out:
Espresso: ^ < < ^ A >
Nitro: "Lillium!"
Decaf: ^ < < ^ A > . . . "Lillium."
Haruto: "Lillium."
∎∎∎∎∎: ^ < < ^ A >
A Masked Stranger Called Out: ^ < < ^ A >
@abstractreign Called Out: From within his own corner of the cosmos, a worn-down Composer hisses out, "Lillium."
@fairymint Called Out: ^ < < ^ A >
@kingsmedley Called Out: ^ < < ^ A > Leeky is playing his piccolo!
@kingsmedley Called Out: Every single instrument in Highness's Shibuya comes to life at once, all blaring the same tune, over and over again.
^ < < ^ A >
@lollipopsandgunshots Called Out:
There's yelling from a certain Reaper couple.
"Give up, Lilliyum! Hope's got a lot of friends that love her, and we're not backing down!" - Kariya
"This is for Hope and for all you've done to her, so leave her alone, Lilliyum!" - Uzuki
@the-rat-house Called Out: Lillium!!!
389 Other Masked Voices From Across Space and Time in Unison:
Lillium
THRESHOLD SHATTERED | RESULT: S++
MARIA’S HOLD: -400%
“What-”
One by one, the voices flood through the the air of Meyth; the aether name and the spoken one. No one had come to the group’s aid before, only checked in- she’d been watching. “How!? No one was responding before! I made sure of it!”
“It seems they were just waiting for the right moment.” A hand is thrust forward, a void tendril piercing the the space directly between the eyes of Hope’s body. Naturally there’s an attempt to fight back, but against the bonds and the flood of music and voices, there’s no way for Maria to keep controlling the body properly. Though Teal does rush in to further restrict the aether as well, as to make sure Cam isn’t harmed during the procedure.
“I believe it’s about time you gave the good doctor back her form, Mother.”
Chamyle yanks at the string of shadow and void, pulling the purebred out and flinging her down the beach. The creation being tumbles and roll, sliding to a halt at the feet of a shadow, who looks from Maria, to her now-slumped and hollow identity, then to her best friend. The one smiling right at her.
“I’ve dealt my judgement as Archivist, as has the entire multiverse you’ve saved before you. Now it’s time to deal yours.”
To this there’s a nod and Hope sprints for her body.
What follows is a blinding light that shoots into the air with a force that prompts Teal, Chamyle and Noir to all step back and shield their eyes from the scattering sands. In the sky it fades enough to catch the form of a half breed, powered up by the remnants of raw aether energy. She stays in the air for a moment, the elements of creation itself seeming to react to her presence as she relishes in being reunited with who she is. Then Hope sets her gaze on her mother, the woman who had caused her loved ones nothing but suffering and peace quickly turns to rage.
A beat. Then she charges directly into Maria; vanishing from sight for a moment.
Silence.
From the decrepit lab on the cliffs, where the weapon had been born and abandoned; raised by a monster- there’s a blinding light. Maria being dragged through equipment and thrown into the building’s old walls relentlessly. White blood coats the floors and countertops, stains tools as she tries to fight back against her daughter and successors unending assault, but she’s powerless to stop it. The moment there’s a pause, she tries to flee to the skies, only to find a barrier in place made by her own son; aiding his sister in ensuring the weakened aether purebred falls here and now.
The entire world is set into stasis and Hope, having gotten her anger out speaks.
“Lillium “Maria” Hugz. The multiverse has found you guilty of countless crimes against nature, the laws of space-time and of individual universes.” With every word she draws closer, taking out the world core of Meyth itself.
“When did you get that-”
“But I’m not going to sentence you for those, as much as I’d like to: As the Aether Being of multiple iterations of Shibuya, you’ve committed several wrongs against the people in those cities; as well as against me, personally.” The aether throws the core into the air, charging and taking hold of the the part of Maria’s tail that connected her body to her torso. A hand is held out for the core to return to her free hand and it’s held against her mother’s rune marking. Naturally there’s struggling, which is put a stop to by her own tail, not caring how much of her mothers blood stains her fur and body. “I learned my lesson of what your plans are if I kill you. Your remaining fragments will join the ones already scattered throughout space and time; among your alternates. So I’m not going to give you the satisfaction of a true death.”
“I sentence you to be sealed away with your creations, and for this core to be sealed away further still. You will never see the light of the moon or Aether Realms again. I’m sure the Composers and Producers I’m under won’t have an issue with this.”
The Barrier is released as Hope sends Chamyle, Teal and Noir out of the universe, as well as any of their belongings that remained in this universe. Then the core is pushed into Maria’s rune...
“...Goodbye Mother... I’m sorry it had to end like this...”
...And the elder aether is absorbed into it with a finally high pitched frequency.
The world around Hope starts following suit and crumbling around her as she touches the ground, tail returning to wings and the full aether status fading from her form. She looks out over the town she grew up in; a world she barely got to know... and she can’t help tearing up a little.
“Goodbye Meyth... Goodbye Comalia... I hope you find peace in your eternal rest.”
With that, the half breed vanishes from view, leaving the world to be sealed in the core she now held.
“Well-well, look who finally decided to show up! You look a little worse for wear; how goes your little quest?”
The group in front of her had been searching all night and Hope- no, Maria- knew by now that they knew who she was. That they had her true name and planned to bring Hope back. However, she wasn’t worried: Based on how little people had reached out, she was confident this wasn’t the end.
It’s Chamyle that steps forward first, book in hand, it’s pages now displaying lines and lines of code. “It’s been a long while, Mother. I can tell you’ve been avoiding me.”
A hand is raised and the shadows at everyone’s feet dart to Maria’s feet, binding to her back in the form of a rune to aid in severing her from Hope’s body. “Apparently visiting your original daughter was too much to ask of you...”
“Oh come now, dear; you know how busy I’ve been, making final preparations. I would visit if I had the time. If everything’s about to be reset here on Comalia’s shore, then-” If Maria felt the rune, she showed no indication of it.
{ “I recommend cutting the small talk, Lillium.” } It’s spoken in the aether language, Teal holding his own phone above his head, a broadcasting app clear on it’s screen. { “Because the entire multiverse can hear you.” }
It’s then Noir clears her throat, speaking up. “ATTENTION! LADS, LASSES AND NONBINARY ASSES! EVERYONE OF THE MULTIVERSE! THE CRIMINAL MENTIONED IN THE ARCHIVIST’S LAST ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN LOCATED; BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO STOP HER AND SAVE HER KIDNAPPED VICTIM!”
Nands are placed on her hip as she continues, yelling a little less this time. “All you need to do is shout the name ‘Lilliyum’ as loud as you can! Or broadcast the following tune ( ^ < < ^ A > ) on an instrument at max volume! Make it count! Say it with the intention of saving STM’s Greatest Doctor!”
That gets a giggle from the identity thieving purebred.
“I see how this is going to be. Well, go ahead; let’s see how much the multiverse cares about a single half breed.”
MARIA’S HOLD: 100%
Send in “ Lillium ” or “ ^ < < ^ A > “ to Weaken Maria’s Hold on Hope’s Body!
