1953/CatP - The Garden

CatP - The Garden
Date of Scene:	04 April 2015
Location:	A Quiet World
Synopsis:	Consequences are rendered visible. The story draws to a close.
Cast of Characters:	Kotone Yamakawa, Arthur Lowell, Staren, Priscilla, 152, 183, 253, Riva Banari, Ayako Hasekawa
Tinyplot:	A Chime at the Precipice

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Mizuki (183) has posed:
    As Riva steps away from the documents, the Quill crumbles to dust in her hands. Dense black bars overwrite the words written on the paper to render them completely illegible. Books begin to fall off of the shelves lining the sides of the massive, cylindrical chamber, and rigid, polygonal streaks of white begin to creep into the room. Just as it seems one of those lines is about to snake across Priscilla's foot, though, just as Arthur may begin to think they've lost, just as Psyber might be preparing to beat a fist against the wall in anguish, and just as Faruja might fall to his knees in prayer, they stop. Everything stops. The books currently falling pause in midair.

    The pressure Arthur felt as space began to crumble eases. The overload Psyber might have experienced as his eyes flooded with paranormal phenomena does likewise. Priscilla would begin to feel the same, mystical stillness that she felt that night she watched the celestial fireworks explode over the sea of Leviathan. Faruja would feel a warmth in his breast, as though Feram had touched his soul. And Riva would know that those streaks of white on this painter's canvas are not long for this world or any other.

    Before they can celebrate, however, their visuals would be obscured by a brilliant light -- the same mythological beam people are fabled to see upon the moment of their death. It envelops them, holds them, and most of them would likely fall unconscious. Those who do not would see very little that they could discern, and even less that matters; they see eons upon eons of time pass in Mizuki's world from the sky. They see cities built and destroyed. They see the ever-changing face of the clock as the years whip by in instants. But while they're on their sojourn through space, time, and something beyond even that, changes begin:

    The black line covering Arthur's passage recedes. Its words are revealed anew, and its edict begins to take effect. A new clause adds itself on to the end of the document at his command -- one that recognizes the positive changes made to Mizuki's character through interaction with the denizens of the Multiverse. The black lines of the commands written by Shiori begin to burn away, their embers scattering unto the mists of unreality. His words ensure that the current may be seen as a success, and that Mizuki's mind - as well as what remains of her current home - may be preserved.

    In that moment, she is saved.

    Then the ink obscuring Priscilla's writ peels back as well. Her words explode into gold once they are fully revealed, becoming a veritable heavenly storm that pours out through the Clock's Face.

    They seep into the ground of the Historical District, and the tan stones of its streets return to life. Miss Nightingale awakes, her head rested upon the judge's pedestal, her eyes fervently gazing around the room in surprise. Laurel is there to take her hand.

    They rise into the skies above Leviathan, forming a new sun that sheds its light upon its azure seas. Flecks of color begin to dance upon the waves as a certain group of coral-dwellers gaze skyward in appreciation of the joyous warmth.

    Gold waves wash over the fields that were once beneath Echo. The Demon Queen awakes in her palace. The Inverse Express chugs along against a mysterious, twilight sky, and of course...

    ... and a certain rabbit awakes in a pink place. He gingerly rubs his head and looks up just in time for a certain young girl to scoop him up into a hug. He's too shocked to do anything beyond gingerly patting her on the head.

    In that moment, the world is renewed.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Faruja's words are next to glimmer. As it was with Priscilla's verse, the letters on the page soon melt into gold and twist into the sky, weaving their way to an unoccupied patch of land somewhere between the Township of Black Lace -- the home of a certain skeletal devotee -- and organizing themselves into a grand, towering steeple, its walls wrought of cobblestone bricks, its roof decorated by fine cyan tiles. A gust of wind blows over the lake that appears around it, teasing the rye grass before its entrance, and stirring a particular figure out of his slumber. Boris would pinch the visor of an armor helm he seems to have accrued, opening it so that he can admire again his charge. Sword and shield in hand, he would rise, clapping his legs together and standing at attention.

    In that moment, she was preserved.

    Then, Psyber's. Rather than glimmering gold, they would dye themselves the specific silver of Apathy's own hair. They would rush through the world at speeds beyond possibility. A rain of that same, pure hue falls over Mizuki, Homura, Ayako, Staren, Kimiko, and Kotone. Each drop heals their wounds, but in time the impromptu shower finds a new focus on Apathy. They seep into her, healing her garish skeletal appendages. For the first time since her birth, she may view the world fully with two, beautiful, cerulean spheres. She would slowly leave her embrace of Mizuki to study her hands carefully, and in that moment she realizes:

    Her mouth has opened in surprise.

    Her new, human fingers feel the contours of emotion on her face. A smile begins to form. She falls to the ground out of sheer happiness. Sheep would carry Telephone over to her, and the trio would share a long, lasting moment of relief.

    In that moment, even the shadow was given life.

    ... and elsewhere, of course, there would appear a Go-Kart. Square in front of the Clock Tower, an insignia of two black wings and dueling swords emblazoned on its hood. The initial 'P' decorates both the doors.

    Then, of course, comes Riva's time. There is no flash or cermony as these words are written, but suddenly, the parchment upon which tbe Prognostics had been written -- the paper of the document that serves as the very law and logic of Mizuki's world -- would begin to curl up and burn away. Embers like those before would rise up and out of the Clock's Face, transforming once they've escaped to the open wind into majestic lights wearing tones of indigo, violet, yellow, cherry, and many others. They would rise to a certain point before they combust, allowing their light to spread about the world like so many tiny nebulas. Figures and figments from all across Mizuki's condensed reality would look to the sky as something previously invisible, something like glass, begins to crack. It chinks and buckles and ripples until, finally, a shattering sound resounds across the entire realm. The glass evaporates into nothingness over the myriad, beautiful cities of Mizuki's home.

    And in that moment, she was made free.

    As their voices all called for together, the story has ended. A new one has begun. But before they are allowed to see the fruits of their effort firsthand, there must be one more journey. And as the page turns, everyone present would find themselves transported to a garden of pure gold.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Apathy is there, lying in the grass next to Telephone and Sheep. Boris is here, too, albeit disoriented, holding a flattened palm over his eyes to see over to the group. When he notices Faruja, he waves emphatically. The painter is a bit further from them, seated on a stool, busying herself with something on her canvas. Should Riva or Ayako glimpse her, she would return with a nod, and a smile. Priscilla would feel a tug at her sleeve as the rabbit soldier gives her a two-finger salute in greeting and Melody, not far behind, lifts him up so that he can see at level with her.

    There are many, many others, too: The Arch-Curate, Miss Nightingale; the Priestess of Echo; Fenestra. The lattermost appears quite different, though -- she isn't wearing her glasses as she usually would be, and in lieu of her usual skirt and jacket she seems to have donned a long, flowing, plain white sundress. She looks phenomenally nostalgic, somehow.

    Then, of course, there's Mizuki. She's seated against the decaying wood of a small, lonely cabin far removed from the rest of them. She doesn't appear to be conscious.

Arthur Lowell has posed:
    Arthur is here. He seems to have collapsed; the wound took its toll but he'll be OK if you just give him a moment to lie down and such. "Okay." He says, simply. "I think we got snapped back on that last temporal burst. Which means the timeline didn't completely tear apart, and we're not dead, maybe. I think it overshot us a bit though. Looks like... About 72 centuries." He pauses, for a moment, then taps his head, as if adjusting something.

    "No, wait. 72 hours."

    He'll speak to the natives of the Quiet World shortly, after speaking to the others.

Staren has posed:
    Staren mentally grasps at straws. Is there really nothing he can do, yet again?

    At least, if they fail, his backup won't remember this.

    His thoughts are interrupted by the pitter-pat of silver rain on his helmet. He looks up. "What... does that mean they did it?" He lets out a sigh of relief and smiles as he watches the trio, and pats Mizuki on the back.

    And then the world ends, and a new one begins.

    Staren reaches up and takes off his helmet as he looks around. "Hey, good job everybody! Looks like we did it." Nearby allies are offered handshakes, but he specifically seeks our Arthur. "Good job, man. I'd ask what you did, but I imagine an explanation is forthcoming anyway." He looks over toward the sleeping form of Mizuki. "She figured it out at the last moment. I... was pretty worried for a bit there. It looked like we failed, from our side. If she doesn't remember... is she allowed to know now, or do we still need to keep it a secret?"

Arthur Lowell has posed:
    Arthur then groans with his exhaustion and pain, rubbing his head and holding it for a moment. Then he looks, at last, around, and at the people present now. Especially the ones dead before. "Jeeze." He says. "Pris, you really amped up the good end here. What's remembered, lives, huh? Hey guys. Welcome back. No hard feelings about the... Stuff that happened, or I guess now that didn't happen?" And then another groan. "Sophia. You sticking around, or are you here to give us some closure words before you disappear into a bunch of rose petals and blow away on the breeze?" He's trying to joke, but...

    He's honestly really broken up after all this. His body and his mind have sustained so much stress in this marathon of exertion that he feels like passing out himself. Staren gets a sighing smile. "Yeah, we can explain everything now. I'll help get you kids up to speed. If any of you think I did wrong... Well, I kinda did, so you can take it out on me in a bit, I guess. Let's take a bit though."

    "We gotta explain a few things." He says, then makes another exhausted noise and stops trying to look around, just sort of laying there, staring up.

Riva Banari has posed:
It was all she could do. Everything else was set down. Preserving the past was important... But what would it have meant without a future? This didn't keep Riva from shaking in the cataclysmic aftermath, the pressures overwhelming as she watches timespace begin to unravel around them. As the white begins creep through the area, heralding a final nothingness, Riva watches it, her shaking ceasing as she tilts her head and observes, looking into a light of a million sunrises before she is overwhelmed, falling unconscious.

Riva wakes up in a land of gold. Riva's eyes open up, and she straightens, looking around at everyone present. When The Painter nods to her, Riva nods back... But the first thing she says is, perhaps the most predictable one.

"Is this Heaven?" Riva asks, confusion on her face.

Psyber (253) has posed:
    Psyber is a dutiful father, if not one that fully understands affection or outward displays of approval. Thus, when Arthur collapses, Psyber opts to walk over and pick Arthur up by the back of his robes. This is an efficient action because it allows Arthur to continue relaxing by laying down, but Psyber can also transport him around easily, not unlike a Space-Powered Briefcase.

    He doesn't move too much, letting Arthur have his reactions. He'll remain outwardly stoic and strong in the face of things. Arthur needs to be able to relax and decompress for the time being, so Psyber will fulfill a minimal function to allow that: Psyber will remain hyper-vigilant for the moment, as if to see if some un-accounted for sub-plan would execute in this moment.

    "It would appear that we reached an optimal conclusion thanks to your plan, Arthur," He notes in a cool tone. He's having a hard time believing it might have all resolved okay this time.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Fenestra puts a hand to her mouth at Riva's remark, giggling. "No, no, no, silly! This isn't heaven! Or... well, not heaven anymore than Mizuki's normal world is, y'know?" Her hands refold at her waist. "This is the Garden of Creation! This is the place where Mizuki appears at the beginning of every cycle to plan the new world. It was segregated from the majority of Mizuki's world before thanks to the Prognostics, but thanks to what you guys did we can get in and out of it again! I think we might be inside the clock's face, or maybe a painting, or something." She waves a hand. "But none of that matters! Just relax for a bit. You're totally not dead!"

    ... since when is she so talkative?

Faruja (152) has posed:
"Too much pain, not enough booze, angels, espers, or rain to be Heaven, Templar Banari" Groans out Faruja as he very, very slowly picks himself up. He has a migraine that has him nearly slumping over again as he tries to remember what happened over the past few minutes.

All he can remember is a lot of pain, despair, and a bright light easing it all away before arriving in the field of gold. He pinches himself again.

"Definitely not Heaven."

Then he's glancing around. "Everyone alive and not missing anything? Moreso than usual?" There's Arthur, but Psyber has him. Mizuki's out like a light, and there's many a person here that he thought dead.

Thankfully Fenestra waves off the 'you all screwed the pooch'.

He'll mentally try to 'imagine' up a pillow and blanket for the unconscious Mizuki's benefit.

But his eyes lock on Arthur.

"A bit of demystification wouldst be brilliant, Ser Lowell. Cliche as it may sound, 'all's well that ends well', given how rightly Godforsaken we seemed not a few minutes ago seems appropriate here. I /am/ curious. What the bloody abyss happened, and how didst ye find out about everything?"

Faruja (152) has posed:
Then he blinks. Boris!?

"Acolyte...excuse me, /TEMPLAR/ Boris! Hail, Ser! Oh thank /God/ the single non-heathen actually lived through this bloody debacle!" The rat might be a little unreasonably overjoyed, as he slowly gets up, walks over, and slaps his favorite skele-knight on the back heartily!

Ayako Hasekawa has posed:
    Ayako flies back down to the ground on her broomstick. She glances up and around... Come on Arthur! Come on back with the others! There's just so little time left! I don't know what your plan is, but whatever it is, do something quick!

    A silver rain begins. Although Ayako can tell this isn't mere water. "Eh?" Ayako blinks her eyes slowly as she watches what happens. "Sophia, you're... umm... whole." She then looks back up and around. So is this the results of Arthur's plan? If so, she has no complaints! "Ah. The sky!" She points upwards at the sky as she notes as something invisible starts to crack and shatter.

    And then they are in the golden garden. Ayako smiles softly at Sophia, Telephone, and Sheep lying in the grass. She walks slowly... and then waves hello cheerfully to the painter.

    Oh! Arthur's here! Being picked up by Psyber even. Ayako runs over to him quickly and winces at the wounds. Purple water quickly pools in her cupped hands as she works on healing him. "Arthur!" And then he starts to talk. She sighs with a soft smile. "Looks like your plan worked, Arthur." After a few more looks around, checking everyone's to see if they're hurt, she spots Mizuki. She runs over to her unconscious form quickly-the work of a healer is never really done, after all. "Mizuki!"

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    "OY! FARUJA! Howsyadoin', father?" Boris returns that slap on the back by embracing him outright. This should be much more uncomfortable than it actually is considering the metallic costume he's in, but imagination rules, and it actually feels quite comfortable! "Oh, man, I'm so glad to seeya! It's been way too long! After you's guys left the Township everything got real dark, an'..." She knocks on the side of his helm. "I'unno, to tell ya true! Everythin' went dark there for a while, and it was'like I was sleepin' for a long, long, long time. But then I woke up in fronna this big, stone place, and then afore I even got my wits, I was 'ere!" He makes a shrugging gesture. "But, hey! Iffin I get to see you, then allll that trouble's worth it!"

Arthur Lowell has posed:
    Arthur is picked up by Psyber! He lets that happen, just sorta hanging there loosely. "Ehhheh. I dunno if I'd call it 'optimal'." He says, sheepishly. "I mean, optimal in a way, kinda. But... Well, maybe not the 'best end' if we were looking for that." Aside, "This sure wouldn't be heaven if I was here, Rivs, considering what I just did." He's still wounded, and not using imagination power to clean that up. Must be an emotional thing. Ayako's healing, on the other hand, is accepted, gratefully. "Thanks, Aya. Faruja... yeah, maybe it's better if we kinda start this off from square one. Fenestra, you wanting to handle the deets, or you want me to? A piece of the Mizuki-Mind would probably give it all the due drama, y'know, I was just kinda there. You look like you're in a better mood..."

    He looks like he would explain it, though, if they'd rather. He's looking with some concern at Mizuki's sleeping form. "She's gonna wake up soon, right? No... Eternal slumber issues?" He makes a soft sort of distressed noise. "I can explain, but we ought'a wait until Mizuki's awake. She deserves to hear the story too."

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone is waiting at this point she knows whatever would happen now? There's nothing more she can do. She then pauses as something happens everything seems to change. She takes a moment to watch the changing in colour she wonders about this and then the drops start to restore her ravaged arm and other injuries the prosthetic body.

It's strange to watch everything knit it self back up she takers a moment to flex her restored hand and wonders. She watches for a moment as Apathy is now changing or healing? She looks at her for a moment as she takes shape.

She can only smile a bit as sees Sheep and the other are being restored it seems. She looks to Staren and slumps a bit.

"This seems to be over, it looks like we got the other team enough time to act."

She slumps a bit at Staren and looks to him.

"I have no idea what you know, so I'm of no use on this."

She looks to the other teams, from every single one to them. She ponders for a moment.

"So just what did you people do and what the heck has been going on with things you couldn't talk about? Also we succeeded so this entire.

"Heaven hmm I'm not sure on that but is anyone in need of help here?"

She doubts it's so but wants to ask, she's just coming off from the stress of the combat and the thought things were going to implode with her being caught in it.

Faruja (152) has posed:
And Faruja is hugged! He can't help it, Boris' mood is infectious, and he finds himself hugging right back as he laughs joyously.

"Bloody right 'tis been! Worried out of mine skull...err, pardon...big stone place?" His heart swells. Did...it actually /work/?

"Just...just think of it as a holiday nap, hmm? Leave the how's and why's to the Lord, and just be greatful for a reunion! Come, come, Boris, ye must be as exhausted as the rest of us."

Then the rat's summoning up a table, chairs, tea, and scones with enough for all involved. He looks to Boris.

"...I don't mean to be rude, but do you consume anything at all?" He asks of the man.

Then he's back to Arthur. "Right, right...allow me to get the remedy for /that/." Then he's tossing some smelling salts over to Ayako 'helpfully'.

"Wake up Lady Mizuki. Ye shan't like the alternative!"

Ayako Hasekawa has posed:
    Ayako freezes visibly (although not literally) when she's called 'Aya'. When was the last time someone called her that? She knows. She definitely knows. But... no. Arthur called her that. It's fine. Right? Right.

    But anyway! Ayako resumes tending to Mizuki. And then blinks when Faruja hands her smelling salts. "That's... kind of rude, Faruja. You might as well put me in a bucket and dump me on her." She giggles softly.

Staren has posed:
    Staren nods to Arthur, though he looks confused at the bits about what Arthur did being bad. They saved Mizuki...

    At Kotone's comment, he turns his head to her and whispers something.

Riva Banari has posed:
Fenestra fills Riva in on the situation, and she wobbles to her feet, looking around once more. She claps. "You guys did it!" She yells, grinning. "We all did it!" She immediately scurries over to Fenestra and gives her a big hug. "It's so good to see you again! And hear you! Thank you so much!" She then begins bouncing around the people present hugging people in turn.

Faruja is next, and she comments, "We all have our own heavens, Faruja. I hope you get to see a lot of them." She smiles, and then gives Boris a snug since he's right there, then moves on to Ayako, picking her up and spinning her as she gives the water spirit a big hug. "God, I was worried I wouldn't see you again! It was really close. You guys all did great!"

And then Staren, too, gets a snug. "You did everything you needed to do, Staren. All's well that ends, well, right, smartypants?" She giggles, and makes a point of mussing Staren's hair since he was so conveniently taking his helmet off. She laughs, and then skips off in a paroxysm of celebration. Does she never run out of energy?

Kotone gets hugged next, and Riva laughs. "God, if it wasn't for you guys, I think we'd never have made it. We almost got erased from existence or something, it was pretty crazy. Short, but crazy."

The hug parade will continue in a moment.

Priscilla has posed:
    What happens in those moments between the final strokes of the Quill against the Prognostics and the cessation of its existence entirely is too much for Priscilla to grasp all at once. Immersed in a steam of thousands of years of history, she can only pick up bits and pieces, gaining only tiny glimpses into the past. What comes after however, she will remember every last detail of in their entirely, and remember them for the rest of her life. When she finds herself in the rolling, tawny fields, she pauses in a heart-stopping moment of anxiety, not yet certain of whether her choice had saved or doomed everyone she had met. When she sees those familiar faces, and feels the tug at her sleeve, she breaks into a sigh of relief, and the most visibly sincere attempt at a smile she has made in over a millenia. It's almost surreal to see.

    She pats the brave little martyr on the head, casting a warm gaze to the gathered Sentinels, and to even Apathy herself, before turning to Arthur with a momentary expression of shock, followed by a faint, relieved laugh as he revises his statement. "Beginneth not to thinketh so highly of me. Such flashes of insight art rare. I am gladdened beyond words that I was blessed with such wisdom today. As for thine own, thou hast mine never ending thanks. There shalt likely be nothing I can do to repay thee for a hundred years." She nods affirmative to Faruja, then looking to Psyber as she realizes this is her second time awakening after a complete world-end-rewrite, and possibly more for him. Finally, she does look to Mizuki, almost reluctant to allow anyone to wake her up. She seems like she deserves the rest, but she does deserve to hear Arthur explain.

Staren has posed:
    Staren is hugged. He smiles slightly and pats Riva on the back, then runs his hand through his hair a couple of times to unmuss it slightly.

Psyber (253) has posed:
    Psyber slowly seems to be relaxing, though he keeps his grip on Arthur as he holds him out towards Ayako for the healing. While slowly letting his guard down about the situation, he doesn't seem fully relaxed. He sets Arthur down so that Ayako can give more comprehensive healing.

    He'll step back from Arthur and the others, hands going to his pockets as he waits for full explanations and expositions.

    And for the record on Priscilla's unspoken inquiry: Counting Madoka-verse Resets, this would be his fifth or sixth time.

Ayako Hasekawa has posed:
    Ayako eeps when she's suddenly picked up. As Riva would know, Ayako is a lot lighter than she looks. It's one of the ways Riva found out how to tell if Ayako is in the aquarium in her apartment or not-if the aquarium is lighter than usual, Ayako is in it!

    The water spirit 'eeeee's softly as she's spun around. And she returns the big hug Riva gives her. "Eh heh..." Although after, she resumes sitting on the grass in a proper lady-like position to watch Mizuki.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Apathy stirs from her place on the ground and sits upright to face Ayako. She greets the girl with a neutral expression, at first, but once she remembers that she's capable of it, she would allow herself to smile. "... yes. Yes I am." Should would look to Psyber in particular for a moment before rising from her place on the ground, walking over to him, folding her hands together, and bowing as deeply as is humanly possible. "... thank you, guardian angel. Thank you so much." Sheep would get up next, and gives her usual, distant, coy smile in Sophia's direction. She would admire the visual a moment before shaking Telephone awake. The latter sits up, too, rubbing her eyes. She might ask the other girl 'what time it is', but if she does it's just quiet enough to be missed by any others.

    Both of them have full color in their hair, their clothes, their flesh -- they look human again.

    Back with Faruja, Boris -bellows- a laugh. "Ahahahaha! Oy, Faru, ye crack me up. More an' I am already!" He beats the chest of his plating. "'Course I kin eat! Nuffin' will stay there too long, but that's okay! I kin still taste it just fine." And, actually? He shakes his head! "S'the funniest thing in the world, really, but I don't think I've ever had this much energy in my whole life before! I feel amazin'! Don't need no rest at all!"

    Then, perhaps in response to all the people converging around her, Mizuki stirs. She gives a long, perfectly dignified yawn before her eyelids crack open. Slowly, she scans the crowd. She contemplates closing her eyes and pretending that she never woke up, but... ah, no. They've probably already seen her moving. A smile creeps on to her face, and her eyes open more fully. She would reach gingerly to tap Faruja on the nose if he's in range before quietly, gingerly assuring Ayako, "I've no need for healing. I'm perfectly well now." She nods her head once. "Thanks to you."

    She stands up, perhaps with a hand or two in help, and dusts off her dress just as she had so many times before. Then she would brush aside her bangs, fold her hands at her waist, and bow to them just as Apathy had to Psyber. She does so wordlessly, and does not budge for several long moments hence. When she finally does, though:

    "... I never thought, not in all my lives, that anyone like all of you would find me once I stepped out of my cloistered sleep and into the story of your Multiverse. I can say nothing to express my thanks." To each and all, she gives a lingering glance. Then she bows again and echoes, "Thank you."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    After seeing Mizuki rise, Fenestra would flash a pleasant smile in Arthur's direction. "Sure, I can explain! Looks like she's up now, and I think you're probably exhaaaCounterclockwise (talk)uussted, so I'll handle it." She winks and gives a thumbs-up. Ah~heh~heh~hem...

Ayako Hasekawa has posed:
    Ayako giggles softly at the yawn Mizuki gives as she wakes up. When Mizuki assures her she doesn't need healing, she nods her head once and slowly gets to her feet. Also happening to mirror Mizuki's dusting off of her dress.

    A bright smile follows as Mizuki thanks them all. "You're welcome, Mizuki. I would do it again without hesitation. And... I'm more glad you're still you." Ayako then turns towards Fenestra and inclines her head to the side gently to listen.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    "Okay, so let's start with the easy stuff. The parts that you guys probably already know. Okay?" She bobs her head 'yes' in answer to her own question. "Alright! We'll start from there." There's a brief pause before she begins in earnest:

    "Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a girl named Shiori Mizuki. She lived in a world filled with magic and amazing machines that married science and spells. The school that she attended was one of the foremost in her entire world, and they had finally succeeded in creating a time machine. But it was very unstable! And the professors always told the students: 'Stay away, stay away!'. Now, Shiori was very well liked by a certain teacher in her school. And that teacher had access to all the secret documents that explained how the time machine worked! Shiori asked to study them, and he trusted her enough to hand them over. So for many months, she looked things over, and..." She sticks out her tongue. "Well, I think you know the rest. But if you don't --"

    "-- she eventually learned something ~amazing~ about the time machine. She learned that, if you tried to send something backwards and forwards in time at once, then the time machine would blow up! Boooom~! But you've gotta know: magic in this world involved /literally/, /directly/ impressing one's will on the world around them. Passion could turn into flames! Sadness or despair could turn into ice! So when a large amount of magical energy was released like that at once by the machine, and space was already made unstable by it, Shiori used the opportunity to spread her wish throughout the -entire world-. Then that world ended, and hers began."

    "After building things up and making them pretty, she lived a long, loooong time like the Mizuki you know now. She met each one of the Apostles, had good times with them, visited a whole ton of worlds to watch people in action while guiding lost souls to rest in her world. She sorta became like a wandering Grim Reaper! But over time, she ran out of things to do. Because she never learned how to understand other peoples' feelings when she was human, she could never connect with her Apostles or anyone else like she wanted to. She knew she was selfish, and she beat herself up over it a lot. She could never find inner peace, not even in heaven, so she hatched a plan."

    She winks. "Now -this- you know. She made a plan to challenge herself. She created an enemy for herself -- Apathy, named after the thing she feared most -- to continually destroy her if she failed to improve herself. The problem was, she never really understood her problems well enough to correct them! She thought she got bored with things and was fickle because she was human! But the thing is, all those things could actually have been resolved if she's just tried harder to get close to the Apostles! ... but~. Ahem. Their battle went on and on for a looooong many years. The Apostles continued to watch as things ended and reset over and over again. Eventually, Apathy 'grew' a heart and stopped being the villain, and even -she- tried to help Mizuki break out!"

    "And that's where you guys come in. You're the ones who finally, finally got her to snap out of it. You fixed things, whipped her little emotional problems, and ended the cycle! I mean, okay, she's not -perfect- now or anything, but she's -a lot better-. Or at least I think so!"

    In the end, she folds her arms and gives a resolute, firm nod. "And that's about it! Mizuki's whole history in SUPER brief! Arthur can add on if I missed anything, but that's basically it. Just without all the little details!"

Riva Banari has posed:
Priscilla is next, her reserved nature and the fact that she's significantly taller than Riva doesn't stop her from giving her a hug as well. "Thank you for being there, Lady Priscilla. Your wisdom helped us a lot." She says, smiling, before she moves on.

The Painter is up next, Riva giving the tormented artist a hug, "Whole new vistas and works await! Everything is going to be different from now on. Hope you enjoy it in your own way~" She says, winking to her.

Kimiko gets hugged next, and smiles, "Thank you. Your insight helped us a lot through all that." She says, nodding.

Next up is Psyber, who gets a hug from behind. "Hey Boss." Riva says. "Thanks for doing the heavy lifting." She says, chuckling. "Don't worry, I'll always have your back."

And then Riva slides around and throws herself at Arthur, giving him a big hug. "You lunatic!" She yells, laughing. "I can't believe you sometimes. But here we are. We did it, man. Hella adventures, saving our friends. It all happened just like you said it would."

She lets him go and flops down next to him in the grass of this wonderous garden. "I think I'm going to have to keep a close eye on you though." She teases, then looks to Mizuki, who has awakened. She looks between Mizuki and Apathy. She tilts her head a bit, and smiles, listening to the Great Recap.

Staren has posed:
    Staren listens. His ears twitch. At the end, he looks towards Mizuki. "She couldn't understand people? Man, how did I not notice... Maybe it's not as obvious from the outside..." He scratches his head. "Well...all's fine if it works out in the end, right?" He glances around. "I promise to learn from this example and not try to learn how to understand people by trapping myself in an infinite loop. Not that I was planning to, but it's good to know."

Priscilla has posed:
    Priscilla startles slightly as Riva throws her arms around her, her own hovering awkwardly until she lets go. "I . . . there is no need to thank me. I was here for entirely selfish reasons." She tries to smile regardless, before pulling out a chair from Faruja's summoned table and sitting down to listen. It's bizarre hearing Fenestra speak at all, and even the story itself is a little strange. She'd never really stopped to consider that Mizuki had an origin in a pre-existing world at all. She had always just kind of assumed that Mizuki had always been a prime deity of sorts. It certainly sounds like a mythological kind of creation story, but one that gives her a great deal of insight into the otherwise somewhat mysterious girl, assuming that Shiori's very core identity was present in her before the advent of the multiverse. Priscilla surreptitiously grabs a scone as the explanation continues, glancing to Mizuki here and there between phrases.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Mizuki listens intently. She's uncharacteristically calm as Fenestra divulges the 'all there is to know' about her own home, all those things she had been so desperate to know for so long. So calm, in fact, that she even thinks of a question to ask at the end: "Wait a moment. Does that mean the original... 'Apostles', as you call them, are still out there, watching us? How could they have hidden beyond my awareness for so long?" Fenestra sticks out her tongue. "Because they weren't -in- your world, silly! They've been hiding! But maybe it would be better if you just saw for yourself." She would spin on her heel and twist around, pointing at a far-off section of the sky. Floating there amid the clouds is a massive airborne city -- something like Echo, but quite different.

    "That's them there! And that's where the old you used to live before you started the ~Eternal Game~!" Fenestra balls her fists and rests them against her thighs. She gives a decidedly emphatic nod. "The Palace of White Lilies!"

    Mizuki is... awestruck. As she turns to Staren, her jaw is likely -still- hanging ajar. Eventually, though, she moves a hand to -push- it closed since her muscles are being so stubborn. Staren's words earn a smile, though, and a small nod. "... yes, it's always harder to see it from the outside looking in. But I am not that person, either. I believe I might have a better understanding than they did, if only slightly. Though if you learned anything from this, Staren, then I am very glad to hear of it."

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa gets whispered to by Staren, her eyes bug out for a moment as she finds out the truth of it all. She just freaking stares at everyone else. She's got this holy shit look on her face. Then Kotone is hugged by Riva, she makes an odd little squeak and then hugs her back.

"I knew that might happen I think we were insane for risking it but it paid of didn't it?"

She lets go after a moment as she looks back to Priscilla for a moment listening o what she's got to day. There's so much going on a this point her head is swimming a little bit. Until Apathy speaks up she takes note now listening. She also watches her response along with Sheep and everyone else. Also it seems Telephone is awake now as well."

She now turns her attention to Mizuki as she's thanked she looks a bit sheepish.

"Your welcome."

Then comes the story time and that Kotone pays full attention as the tale is laid out her expression before shocked, at one point horrified at the temporal explosion bit and just plain stunned for most of it. She had no idea she'd got involved in something that could be rightly considered Cosmic. She somehow she was able not get squished.

Arthur Lowell has posed:
    Arthur receives a hug from Riva! "Wauh!" He says, after being set down, but does sort of carefully hug her back, with a gradually increasing level of comfort. "Hahahaha, yeah, it was kinda... Crazy there, at the end there. Couldn't have done any of it without you guys though. Jeeze... Thanks Rivs. Don't worry, I'm not gonna do anything like that again, probably." And then he sighs. There's all kinds of mindblowingly impressive sights at the moment, but he doesn't have the energy to show off how impressed he is. "So, that's our basic outline. A lot of you guys, you probably knew a fair bit of that, so I'll explain a bit more of the... Weird shit, about me and Apathy acting all mysterious. You guys deserve it. Especially Mizuki, and Psyber."

    He rubs his forehead, and launches into his own explanation. "So, this stuff, this wasn't well-known at the start of things. The purpose of the cycle, what Apathy wanted, all that shit, nobody knew. And nobody /could/ know. You saw how the world started breaking as soon as Mizuki thought Apathy wasn't helping her out. Apathy needed someone on our side to help further her goals here. We had to cut through the world /cleanly/ to get it prepped for the Clocktower going off. That was gonna give us access to Apathy's... Real body, sort of. The Prognostics, the rules of the game. If we destroyed all those places properly, and then Mizuki was... Not knowing this stuff long enough, I could get us to go after the Prognostics, as they were written, in the little span of time while the chimes were going off. And that would have gotten us the... Best end to the story, I guess."

    "But I didn't do that. That wasn't my plan."

Psyber (253) has posed:
    It's not that Psyber doesn't care, it's that he's not accustomed to victories without losses of equal measure. So when Apathy bows to him, Psyber is still in his formal mode as he gives her a nod in return. Just a quick movement of the head.

    "I had told you when we met that I would save this world, and you in doing so. I was simply fulfilling that promise, as I endeavor to not be a liar in situations where it can be feasibly avoided under reasonable actions."

    Psyber does, in fact, consider fundamentally rewriting portions of a universe for someone to be a reasonable set of actions for himself. This is proven in numerous people such as Elliana or Priscilla. He doesn't get to say much more, though, because Riva is hugging him from behind.

    Hugging Psyber is always an awkward moment, because he (almost) never reciprocates and he looks awkward when it happened, "It was a trivial matter. I understand why Arthur brought me along. My skillset was suited to the situation at hand."

    He exhales a bit when he's let go, listening to the explanations as they start to come out. He takes out a cigarette and starts to smoke.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Back in Riva and Faruja's court, The Artist would kick the leg of her canvas to show the ratpriest and painter what she has been working on all this time. It's a portrait of Ajora Glabados, her sides decorated by beautiful, pure-white wings that unfurl proudly unto the clouds and beams of heaven in the background. She would fold her arms, assume the most prideful look she's capable of, and lean back faaar in her stool. "Mizuki gave me a reference picture," She succinctly explains.

    Yeah, it happened.

Arthur Lowell has posed:
    "See, Apathy and I talked a bit. It turned out Mizuki had been losing memories, lots of 'em. And it turned out that if I went for that, you know... Best ending, it was gonna be best for everyone but the Mizuki we knew. 'Cause either she was gonna lose her memories just one last time, and we'd lose her, or more likely, she was gonna..." He rubs his forehead. "She was gonna get them back, /all/ of 'em. All at once, every cycle, way more than I can count. She wouldn't be human after that, and she sure as hell wouldn't be the Mimi I made friends with."

    "So, I had a choice between losing my friend or having my friend's mind get overwritten by a million random girls I never met coming back to life in a transcendent metamind for the greater good." By now Arthur's kinda looking down, a bit ashamed of this sort of issue right now. "Man, by the time I knew this stuff I'd already wiped out a handful of entire worlds. It was... It was really heavy shit." He scratches the back of his head sheepishly. "And, honestly, I stared down that greater good and blinked. So I went with a third option." He makes a plaintive gesture now, vaguely helpless in a sense.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Mizuki looks to Arthur and hesitates a moment, but eventually, slowly nods her head. "I see. So this 'me' forced us to follow a certain narrative pathway. That certainly seems like something 'I' would devise." She folds her arms and assumes a more stoic, businesslike stance somehow similar to Psyber's. "And you couldn't tell me anything because it would have made things come to a horrible, abrupt end." She closes her eyes, inclines her gaze, and sighs.

    "How disgustingly arbitrary."

    Didn't someone else say that already?

    When her eyes reopen, though, it's back to Arthur. "... thank you, again. I'm sure it couldn't have been easy, intentionally being dishonest as you were forced to be. And, Apathy?" She looks to her. They stare to one another for a long, long time in silence. "I am grateful to you as well. Truly."

    All the latter can do is nod.

Ayako Hasekawa has posed:
    Ayako smiles softly as she listens... and makes a note when Staren comments too. "Well... I can understand not understanding other peoples' feelings... Even now... I don't exactly understand them as well as I would like." She turns to pay attention to Arthur from listening to Fenestra... "Well, I think you made the right choice!" And then smiles brightly at Mizuki. "Because I'm glad you're still Mizuki!"

Faruja (152) has posed:
Riva hugs incoming! OOMPH! The rat hugs right back, grinning happily. "Bloody right we did! Good thinking, Dame Banari! Mmm? I wouldst chide ye, but I shan't ruin the moment." Then he lets go, clapping her on the back. The rat is in a great mood.

Then, to Ayako, he blushes. "Er...erm. Apologies, my Lady!" No, he's not used to water spirits yet. Just ask Leviathan.



NOsepoke! Faruja's nosepad wiggles, whiskers flick, and then he sneezes! Very nearly tumbles out of his chair!

Then the rat, in a completely dignified manner, sticks his tongue out at Mizuki. Only at such a time of immense relief could he ever stoop to such 'lows'.

Then he leans back, and sips imagination tea. As Mizuki's getting up? He winks to Boris, and motions. Time to act like a knight, skelebro!

Speaking up, the skeletal being is just a font of relaxation. He makes a mental note to drag the newly minted knight with him to tea with Mizuki. He'll be a good counterpoint to their shared dignity.

"Good! Ye shall need it, mine friend." Comes the rat, ominously, like a proper Inquisitor. Alas poor Boris, his Inquisitorial Hazing has just begun.

But then Fenestra has his gaze wholly.

Faruja rubs his temples.

"...As selfish as she seemed." Mutters the rat lowly. He /still/ has a few bones to pick with Mizuki's original incarnation. But he'll let it go in favor of the current Mizuki.

Arthur gets a glance. "Mmm...so this world needed to be destroyed in order for us to make the...'best'" Faruja actively spits at that.

"Mizuki." Scowl. Grumble. "I like /our/ Mizuki. Bollocks to any other."

Pardon him Arthur. The rat has fallen to his knees staring at the Artist's finished work.

"...Dear God in Heaven ye actually..." Faruja croaks out, not able to say any more. Shamelessly, he weeps as he clasps his cross, a religious rapture in his eye.

He doesn't even comment on the 'reference picture' bit. Yet.

By the time he can actually /think/ again, he watches the interaction between Arthur, Mizuki, and Apathy. Finally, Arthur is shot a slightly puffy-eyed smile.

"And thus ye didst what we all, I think, set out to do. Save our friend. Damn good job, Ser Lowell!"

A few worlds...ones they managed to revive...is a small price to pay.

The rat smirks. "After all, as hath been made distressingly clear, more than a few of our 'previous' iterations here were...less than tolerable. To see them trample on our quietly boisterous, well-mannered, mysterious friend wouldst be a bloody tragedy! I shall take Mizuki, and all of her triumphs and failures alike, before any half-wit hack of a would-be pretender to the Lord's throne!"

Staren has posed:
    A magic floating castle! Okay, that's pretty cool, but Mizuki's world kind of /is/ full of stuff like that.

    Staren turns to Mizuki. "As for thanks... friends don't let friends just die, or let them get screwed over by the rules of their universe." He smiles. He may consider 'reasonable actions' on a similar scale to Psyber, sometimes.

    Arthur explains the 'bad thing' he did. Staren looks thoughtful for a moment. "...I see. So, you doomed all those people to oblivion instead of transcendance..." he looks towards Mizuki. "To save our friend." He takes a deep breath, thinking, then shakes his head. "I can't judge the value of those other Mizukis, especially not if the only choices were 'death' and 'being a piece in a transcendant metamind'..." he looks back to Arthur. "It's not like you could've brought them all back as people. If they even all wanted to live. ...But I think I'm glad that I know you, as an aspiring immortal myself."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Apathy keeps her eyes fixed on Psyber. "... even so, I am extremely grateful to you. And more than that, I can finally express how glad I am fully. In fact, now that we can converse properly as sentient beings..." She draws a deep breath, still smiling radiantly, "... I would be honored of your company in the future as well. Should you ever wish to speak with me for any reason, please do not hesitate to ask. Ever."

Arthur Lowell has posed:
    Arthur stares down at Mizuki's feet instead of her eyes. "Yeah. It was... Tough. I'm sorry, Mimi. I just... You know. Fuck the greater good, honestly. My friends are the greatest good I've got. You were at risk. If my friends are at risk like that, I guess shit just works like that. It was tough but I kinda chose it, so not a lot of sympathy worth having, I think." He fidgets, nervously, as if expecting a more harsh judgement.

    "So, yeah. Instead of burning the Prognostics -- killing Sophia permanently -- I just... Decided I'd make a third option. Go back and rewrite them to keep Mizuki safe, make sure she kept her memories, keep her... Human, you know." He shrugs helplessly. "The best ending was gonna cost too much." He smiles a bit at Ayako's, Staren's, and Faruja's approval. "Thanks. If anyone here feels... I dunno, cheated 'cause I sabotaged you all getting to meet the Ubermizuki, I won't really begrudge it. But... Yeah. This greater good wasn't really great enough for me. So that's why I did what I did. The Clocktower went mad with temporal energies for a bit there, so I could amp up my timejumping gear enough to get us out to uh... Some number of years in the past that makes my head hurt."

    He rubs aforementioned head. It really does seem to make it hurt.

    "So, that's my explanation. Why I was acting like such a tool and then kidnapped you guys back to meet the mad girl and write a bunch of stuff. That's all the mysteries on my end, I guess." He steps back a bit, actually looking meek for a moment. "So, yeah."

Psyber (253) has posed:
    Now it was Psyber's turn to explain some information: Things Arthur might not actually know. The half-angel takes a slow breath and begins speaking:

    "My meeting with Apathy was several months back. If you will recall, during our first trip to the sea of candy, the louder spectre of Arthur caused me to gain so much anger I concaved his chest," Psyber notes flatly, hands in his pockets, "Out of frustration. I was following Arthur's plan, but left in a position of non-productivity for it."

    He exhales a plume of smoke due to his cigarette, "By the time I was able to meet with Sophia in person, Arthur had already put his plan well into motion. This was slightly before the Heaven excursion. I was given the same pieces of information Arthur was given, but I had no desire to initiate a plan that may interfere with his own." Psyber says bluntly, flicking some ash from his cigarette.

    "Thus, instead of work towards the alternative conclusion goal Arthur was doing, I focused my efforts on more productive ends. Namely, I aimed to gain as much interaction and positive accord with component pieces of personality, as well as the base personality, in order to gain a greater understanding of the holistic entity comprised of this world. I had hoped it would come in useful, and even thought it had at one point. Sadly, in that moment, I was mistaken in my belief."

    "Ultimately, it happened to be that my individual understanding of components aligned well with Lowell's goals and did not impede him whatsoever."

Riva Banari has posed:
"You're not nearly as selfish as you say you are, I think." Riva comments. "I'm pretty sure we've seen what 'selfish' looks like." She points out to Priscilla.

Riva claps as she sees the Artist's work. "Oh my goodness! That's right, Faruja commissioned you. It's /beautiful/." She grins. "Inspiration springs eternal, right?"

The revelations from Fenestra cause Riva to nod, and she points out, "So they're still up there, watching us?" She asks.

She takes a moment to glance over to Psyber. "You can loosen the tie a bit if you want, you know. It's the victory party. Everything's cool." She says with an arched eyebrow.

Arthur, meanwhile, gets a light slug in the arm, "Don't make promises you can't keep, champ." She says, grinning. "You know we're going to be back in the breach eventually and you're going to be doing the same thing, fighting for what you think is important. Just take it as it comes." She pauses, then, nodding to Arthur. "I think we all have to decide which good is really 'greater' in this case."

Psyber then gets Riva to wave a hand. "You tried to make a compelling argument, but the only mistake you made was underestimating just how bad someone will continue to throw good money after bad. Gambler's Dilemma was super real there."

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa had come to save her friend Mizuki, far as she's concerned they got the best end, they saved their friend and managed to save many of the other natives of this world in the end. She takes a moment as she watches Riva's hugpage, yes like a rampage but with hugs.

"Not the best end? We saved Mizuki like we set out to do right? I'm just glad things pulled through as well as we did."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Okay, yes, it's her turn.

    After a deep, deep breath, Mizuki takes a few steps up to Arthur, pauses a moment, and hugs him. She does so with a sort of force that any woman so 'petite' and 'refined' should never logically be allowed to possess. And yet, somehow, she does. Likely the power of imagination at work.

    She doesn't say anything for a long, long while, nor does she ever think to let him go.

Ayako Hasekawa has posed:
    Ayako smiles softly at Faruja. "Relax, Faruja, relax!" At least he didn't call her 'Lady Hasekawa' or 'Lady Esper Hasekawa' even. She turns towards Priscilla and inclines her head to the side gently. "Hmmm? Nothing wrong with being selfish. It's just you have to be choosey about which things you want to do to be selfish about!"

    Ayako awkwardly pushes her pointer fingers together as she looks downwards. "Err... well... that's what I think anyway. I could be super, super wrong too." She smiles softly and giggles awkwardly.

    And then blinks her eyes when Mizuki suddenly hugs Arthur!

Arthur Lowell has posed:
    There's a distinct lack of judgement, now from Riva and Kotone, that eases Arthur's mind a little, though he still clearly seems more than a little shaken by this. Psyber's respect for his plan is given a grateful nod. "I, uh." He says, nervously. "I know this got a little close to some bad memories for you. I hope... You know. I hope it turned out better than some other times. Just, you did pretty great, so, I hope this was easier on you."

    Then Mizuki comes in for a hug. Arthur actually sort of trembles a little bit, and hugs Mizuki back very, very intensely. He'll hug her just as silently, still sort of trembling. It's clear that this has just dealt way too much strain to his heart and it's taking a lot of his coolkid determination to not just sort of break down a bit, after all that Greater Good Smiting he's done.

    He will continue to hug without letting go for honestly just about as long as Mizuki does.

Riva Banari has posed:
Riva sniffs, and wipes a tear from her eye. That's just too adorable.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Before Mizuki breaks out of the hug, Arthur sees a sight only one, perhaps two other people have seen in all the four-hundred some years she's been alive: she's crying. She's carefully controlling reality around herself to remove all visible hints, but the Godkid, at the very least, would feel the warmth from the tears on his shoulders as they fall.

    Needless to say, Arthur, never tell anyone.

    She backs out of the gesture after some thirty or fourty-five whole seconds have passed. She has to quickly dab away a droplet that she had missed before, but does so with such mindbending speed, ferocity, and completeness that it's unlikely anyone else would notice it. Hopefully!

Psyber (253) has posed:
    "I'm not wearing a tie," Psyber says to Riva in a very Nathan Hall tone, waving a hand towards her in return to her hand wave, "I don't regret the failure of my argument. I simply regret that I was forced to use violence where it was not necessary."

    Psyber drops his cigarette to the ground and snuffs it out under the toe of his shoe. Then he speaks to Arthur, "The incident which this parallels was similar, it's true," He says, keeping details vague on the matter. His hands fall into his pockets again, "This resolved in an ultimately beneficial manner. My personal feelings are unimportant. I am proud of you for producing such a solution, all other mitigations taken aside from this."

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja by now has relocated himself suspiciously close to that painting. Somehow, he stops himself from constantly staring. Barely.

Seeing Mizuki hug Arthur helps a /lot/. Eyes closed, he smiles, silently waiting until they pull apart. He rubs his head. Ayako gets a smile.

"Arthur. Methinks ye art well overdue for a vacation after all of this. Ye were the bloody fulcrum that this little lever of ours pulled through. And ye look /horrid/. Any vacation spots ye hath been meaning to see? Mine treat entirely. Least I can bloody do for a man whom just saved /her/!" Faruja's voice is a little stern here. Arthur Lowell, you're going to be rewarded here if it takes every last gil he has.

"I shall drag ye kicking and screaming if I must! We shall see that our 'Rocket Powered Jerk' is in proper boisterous form once more!" Seems the rat's quite serious for this. Or maybe he just wants to take Arthur out to a good time after everything.

Mizuki totally won't get roped into it. Totally.

Then, finally, a thought strikes him. "Wait. /REFERENCE PICTURE/!?" The Arthur is getting a /look/ now.

Priscilla has posed:
    Priscilla had fathomed something like this might have been Arthur's goal. She hadn't been entirely familiar with his depth of character until now, but nothing he had done had seemed like the resigned determination of someone working for the greater good to the detriment of all else. She chooses her words carefully. ". . . I cannot say what thou hast wrought is something of objective goodness. Perhaps not even heroic, brave and stoic as it may hath been. There art a great many people who wouldst judge thee and find thee wanting for this . . . but . . . I am not one of them. Narrow minded as it may be, I believeth that saving a such a precious soul in its entirety is far more valuable a pursuit than the construction of perfection."

Riva Banari has posed:
Riva aborts from her daaaawwwwww at Psyber's response and makes a mock-aggrieved gesture as she throws her hands up. You win THIS ROUND, Psyber.

Though she looks over to Faruja when he mentions a vacation for Arthur, and gets a contemplative look on her face.

Priscilla's assertion gets a handwave. "Nothing that exists without the capacity for empathy for other people can be considered 'perfect'. What would have resulted would have been profoundly inhuman on a level we probably wouldn't be able to understand."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Before he can get away, Mizuki might just catch Psyber in a hug too. She could give anyone here anything, in theory -- a banquet fit for royalty, for example, or whole mansions to call their own. But still, if she has learned nothing else, she has learned that this simple gesture is worth more than all the material things she could conjure into existence put together and then some. As it was with Arthur, she says little (if anything), allowing the sheer force she puts behind the gesture to communicate everything for her.

    But this is the last one. She promises.

Arthur Lowell has posed:
    Arthur lets go just a little after Mizuki does. He will not speak a word. Mizuki's feelings will be a secret he takes to the grave. He then sort of clears his throat and backs up a bit. "Don't worry, I won't bogart all the hugs. You guys go ahead and get 'em if you need 'em. Just don't ruffle her too much." Then he looks back up to Psyber and Priscilla. "Yeah... Well, I guess if you don't mind, that's... Yeah. Thanks. I just wanted to save her, but... Well. If you guys think it was right, you're some of the real authorities on it."

    Faruja gets a laugh. "I dunno, I've seen a lot of places, I'd like seeing one I don't know much about. But... Vacation would be good. Hell, honestly, let's all... Yeah, let's all just kinda take a day off, I think. Get our heads in gear, get realligned with the timeline a bit. I think I might take a bit longer." He makes an awkward kind of noise.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Emerging from that hug, Mizuki looks to Priscilla and smiles. And keeps smiling. They'll... they'll have time for their hugs later -- it would belabor the narrative if she shared that with too many people at once now. Suffice it to say, though, she will seek her own vacation in a visit with the crossbreed soon enough. There are few people in all the Multiverse who make her feel quite so at ease.

Psyber (253) has posed:
    Between both Riva and something that Mizuki says to him privately, Psyber looks very awkward in the moment of this hug. Because he's now been given two hugs in one day, which is infinitely more than he usually expects to be given. A hand comes up to rest on the back of her head, rubbing it a bit.

    After a few moments, he steps back and pulls away, looking down towards her. FINALLY, she gets him to break the serious expression for a bit, giving her a genuine smile, "Welcome home, Mizuki."

    The smile fades towards something more neutral than hard or expressionless and he shrugs to Arthur. There's any number of things to say, but the guy got this victory and he deserves it. So Psyber simply gives Arthur a thumbs up.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    When she sees Psyber smile, Mizuki has to immediately shut her eyes. N-No particular reason why...

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja slowly smiles.

"Quite. For now, tea, friends, and victory!" The rat's gaze slowly scans each and every one gathered here, nodding to them each. There's newfound respect for those who managed to pull this off.

"...Mayhaps 'tis cliche to say this /now/ of all times, but I shan't be forgetting what we all hath worked towards here. Cheers!"

Then he's raising his teacup to everyone.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    As Faruja raises his glass, Mizuki likewise summons her own cup into her hand. She raises it skyward, calling a long, fine, circular table into existence in the heart of the garden. "Cheers, my friend," She replies, before taking a long, long sip.

    If it wasn't already, Mizuki made sure that the tea Faruja is sipping is the absolute finest Darjeeling he has ever had.

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa will if she gets a chance is going to move in on Mizuki when she has a moment to give her a hug she just seems to think for a moment after if Mizuki even allows it.

"I think we need to just take some time to cool down and relax. We have all been through a lot, right?"

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    "Ooooh, um!" Fenestra raises her hand hiiigh into the air, but people are too busy hugging, fetching tea, and other myriad things to notice her! So she summons a megaphone into her hands, presses a button on its side, and says:

    "WAIT A MINUTE!"

    And then once she's -absolutely sure- that all eyes are on her, she throws the megaphone away. It explodes into confetti at her side as she dusts of her hands and says, "There's one more thing I want to tell you guys about before you sit down for tea and stuff! Mizuki, Sophia, c'mere for a second!" The twins look to eachother briefly. Both of them shrug but eventually comply, walking over to the librarian. "Now, pull out yours swords!" And they do. The broken blade Ortus - 'sunrise' - appears in Apathy's hand, and Aelinos - 'dirge' - appears in Mizuki's. Once they've both been drawn, Fenestra coaxes them skyward. They levitate toward one another, and...

    ... they twist! They swirl! They dance! The metal of both blades momentarily becomes elastic enough to allow them to both twist together, and from their union a new blade is formed: the perfect replica of the one The First had possessed. Fenestra takes it into her hand and offers it to Mizuki. "Here!"

    Mizuki nods and accepts it, but cants her head to the side. Quizzically, she asks, "What... precisely have you done to my blade, Fenestra?" The librarian replies, swift as you please, "I joined it with the other one! Didn't you ever think it was weird that you could only make one portal with it? It was incomplete! It got broken in half when Shiori first set the cycles in motion, so! I fixed 'em! Now it can do all the weird portal stuff that Apathy was doing, too!" She... blinks. She glances at her weapon of choice a moment, but elects to try out her new 'trick' another time. Now... now is a time for other things. So she allows it to vanish into thin air for the time being before nodding to her aide. "Thank you, Fenestra. I'm sure it will be useful in the future."

Arthur Lowell has posed:
    "Oh, hey! Portals." Arthur says, smiling more genuinely there. "I know all about that. That's really great to hear, Mimi. Maybe I'll get the chance to give you some tips on how to use that. It's a pretty classy sword, too. Looks like the one I got stabbed with." He chuckles a bit at that. "Not fun. Congratulations, anyway. A bit on the sword, a bit on..." He looks to Apathy. "A new friend, maybe."

    He'll take his seat soon. Relieved, exhausted, and generally run ragged by this whole experience, he's the type of person to cut loose and relax a little after something like that.

Ayako Hasekawa has posed:
    Ayako blinks her eyes quickly when Fenestra summons a megaphone and looks towards her even before she shouts into it. One amber eye closes when she talks into the megaphone. She does note how it turned into confetti, though.

    She inclines her head to the side gently as she watches. "Oohh..." Ayako claps her hands together happily as Mizuki gets a new sword! Or the oldest one for her. Well, either way!

    And then the water spirit falls backwards onto the grass. "Aaaahhh... when I get back, I'm going to rest so much!" She calls out loud. "Adventures are wonderful yet exhausting, as always!" And as she rests... she thinks... and recalls the fortune that she told to Mizuki a while ago... "Hmm..."

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja kicks back by now, smiling, and now sipping his tea. He watches the display in the sky, and as Mizuki receives her new sword. The rat chuckles.

"I'll look forward to seeing what ye art capable of with such a blade, Lady Mizuki."

After all, her tale isn't over by far now.