cancry | Superbia Intro Log

[ He looks back at the boy, meeting his eyes. ]

I am in agreement with you - I also feel they deserve to know, but the unfortunate truth is we can’t. Or rather, we can try but it won’t work. You can try for yourself later if you’d like. But you’ll find it just goes over their head and they either act like you grew a second head or don’t even acknowledge that you said anything.

The fact of the matter is they’ve not pieced back together enough of their self conscious and will power to realize or remember themselves yet. They might some day, but it’s not something we can have any effect on - they have to do it on their own, at their own pace.

Edited 2021-07-15 00:00 (UTC)

[...]

I didn't know at first. I woke up confused, not really knowing much about myself...so I just went along with what I assumed I was supposed to be doing, here. I figured I just forgot, or something...

[But how do you just forget your whole life? The answer: you don't. Not under normal circumstances.]

After I got hit, I remembered. I got this...really strong feeling, I guess, that I'd died. But I don't know how, or when...or why.

[...]

I honestly don't even know if my name is right.

[ …

He sets the now empty wrapper for his snack aside and moves off the desk in order to stand. Soon enough he’s kneeling at Amber’s side. ]

It likely isn’t. The names seem to take longer than other memories so we just go with what first comes to mind - I could only remember “Beast” at first myself, and even the name I go by now is one I chose for myself, not remembered.

But…

[ At that he reaches out to put a hand on one of Amber’s… if he’ll allow it. ]

I can promise you these things come back with time. And being with others in a similar position, talking to them, fighting with them, living with them— it helps. It helps stabilize your sense of self and keeps you from forgetting again, and in time you remember more.

But most importantly - it also means you’re not going through this alone.

[It's clear that Amber is still very unsure, but even with the horns and tail...Achilles gives off a kind and gentle air. Like he's somebody who can be trusted.

Why does he get the sense, though...that he should still be wary?

He's quiet, even when he goes to put a hand over his. His fingers tense, but...he doesn't pull away.]

This is...a lot.

[Which Achilles probably understands more than most.]

Are you saying I'm not...supposed to be here? At this school?

[ He averts his eyes for a moment. ]

That’s… somewhat complicated.

[ He lets go of Amber’s hand and stands again, digging into the bag from Rei. This time though it’s not to offer snacks but to use them to illustrate a point. ]

So this… after life is called Purgatory, and Purgatory is made up of layers.

[ He starts piling different snacks on top of each other, trying to represent the different layers. ]

The ultimate goal for every soul here is to make it to the bottom, here. [ He points to a box of pocky. ] Down here is where the cogs of renewal await which, hypothetically when reached will allow a soul to reincarnate into the next life. Right now however they are clogged and not working, so no souls are actually passing on.

[ He moves up to the top of his pile. ] Here is where you actually start: Limbo. It’s where I was when I awoke and met Rei for the first time. You likely first arrived there too, however if I recall correctly new specters actually appear in a different form before they regain their own appearance, so it’s possible that you made your way down here before you even regained a more physical form.

Here, by the way, is… [ He goes down the pile, passing over two more layers ] this spot. Before it were two more layers called Invidia and Avaritia. My group just arrived here the other day after going through them.

Does that make sense so far?

[The visual aids do help, so Achilles is doing a good job there. And the good news? Unlike Second, Varian is viciously smart. He seems to be following along well, even if it's a bit overwhelming.]

Yeah. Yeah, I think so.

So you're saying that I've been in these other layers- [He points for emphasis.] -but I wasn't aware of it, when I was there. I didn't have a physical form, so I sort of just existed...but not enough to be able to think.

Yes, essentially - that would be my own understanding of it anyway. Rei would be able to tell you more if she were here, but if I remember what she said before right, the initial form is more like a butterfly.

Anyway, at some point these layers began to close off and passing on to the next one became harder. We managed to make our way through and up till this point have been able to go back and forth between the first three. However…

[ He removes the first three snacks, then takes the Superbia snack off the pile completely, sitting it down on the desk by itself. ]

When we arrived in this one… the stairs to the previous layers just vanished. Effectively making us stuck. And so for now we have to play by this school’s rules and go along with the roles assigned to us until we can find the way through again.

Edited 2021-07-15 02:20 (UTC)

[...]

So we gotta lay low. Play nice.

[WHICH HE, UH. HASN'T BEEN...DOING, OOPS.]

I'll be lucky if they even let me stay here after what happened today.

[ He smiles at that. ]

You’ll be fine, I’m sure you’re far from the last of scrapers this school’s seen. I’m pretty sure there’s at least one person here more likely to get kicked out than you.

[ And her name is Wolfsbane. ]

Besides, you’ve got some “faculty members” on your side now—

…Ah. I never properly introduced myself did I? I go by Achilles.

[Oh, well, at least SOMEBODY got a cool name.]

It's...Amber. Which apparently didn't go over well with the other students.

[It was a mix of that and the Alchemist thing, honestly.]

Which, by the way? The stuff they teach here is...kindof boring. Like I know it already. So...this'll be fun.

[ IDK MAN WAS BEAST ANY BETTER. JUST GIVE YOURSELF A COOLER NAME LATER LIKE ICARUS ok wait maybe not that one. ]

I’m sure it is. At the very least you don’t have to worry about doing well or anything now. And I’m sure we could find some ways to get you out of class.

…There’s one other thing I should probably tell you about, by the way.

[And yet I am looking respectfully]

Okay...what is it?

This is… not something you have to say yes to, for the record. However…

Specters who awaken are called eidolons. But our group… our group specifically are actually Executers.

It’s something only an eidolon can become, and further more only Rei has that capability to make you one, but we’re essentially protectors of Purgatory. It’s our job to fix things, but also make sure that…

…Nothing bad happens to the specters here.

[...

......

..........]

You know I'm 14, right?

[NOT THAT HE'S SAYING NO BUT

YOU SURE JUST OFFERED HIM THAT OPTION NO QUESTIONS ASKED]

[ ………

…………………………

…………………………………………… ]

…You know, I am very relieved to hear one of you children say that for once.

[ He always brings it up with STRONG EMPHASIS on the “you don’t have to do this to stay with us” part but like. Still. ]

It’s not necessarily an offer, it’s just something I felt you should know about.

Edited 2021-07-15 04:06 (UTC)

[Dooon't stay relieved for too long, Achilles...]

Well, I was going to add that just because I am 14 doesn't mean I'm not capable of helping out. And I'd rather be working on getting out of here if there's any chance of that at all.

[He's only been here for a day and he kindof hates it? Like, the science class was...fine, but equally as dull and mind-numbing. It's all way too easy.]

I remember two things. One, the name Amber. And two: I'm an Alchemist. With the right tools and elements at my disposal, I can come up with solutions you've probably never even heard of.

[ Ah… there we go. ]

An alchemist huh… [ This is where I have to make the hard call about whether alchemy exists in Rhearth or not UHHHHHHHH ] I’m sure you and Medic will get along swimmingly in that case.

But are you certain? You should know that… there’s fighting involved. With monsters.

Weell...I wouldn't exactly say my usual work involves fighting monsters, but...I think I'd rather do that than keep doing this school thing.

[He'll be a party buffer don't even worry about it.]

[ MMMMMMMMMMM he’s still kind of unsure about this but… ]

In that case, why don’t I call for Rei? She could give you a better explanation than I could anyway.

[ He pauses. ]

…and I think she’s due for a little bit of teasing from me after what happened earlier.

[ He’s the best dad, you see. ]

[He blinks. Wait.]

Rei is your daughter?

[The fuck she run away for then]

[ That gets a chuckle out of him as he heads towards the door. ]

Yes, though through adoption.

That’s the first time she’s called me “dad” since we made it an official thing, so I think she got a little embarrassed.

[ Which means TEASING TIME. ]

Oh, riiight, right.

[LMAO...OOPS....rip in rest, Rei.]

That kindof does make more sense with context, yeah.

[ He just keeps smiling and then opens the door. ]

Give me just one moment, please.

[ He leaves the office for a couple of minutes and soon after, there’s an announcement over the school intercom:

“Rei, your father would like to see you in his office.”

And then shortly after, Achilles returns. ]

There. She should be along shortly.

[ Despite the fact the she TOOK OFF RUNNING, Rei hasn't actually made it that far from the office when her name gets called over the PA system. Even so, it takes... probably longer than it should have done for her to return and poke her head around the door with a mildly distressed look on her face. ]

... I--is something wrong...?

[ logically she knows this can't be anything serious if it's not in the Executor GC and going by everything that's happened so far, this boy is probably a new Eidolon but the anxiety lizard that controls her brain has been banging the YOU'RE IN TROUBLE YOU'RE IN TROUBLE YOU'RE IN TROUBLE drum nonstop anyway ]

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I swear this isnt a gagtag

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not here