LUNAR INTERLUDE 4: VOICE

[journalkeeper]

[ Lucretia has been laying low for the past month, focusing on keeping a certain something safe - but now it was gone. And, after the usual couple of days waiting to see if it was a Porter blip, didn't look like it was going to return. That meant a couple of things. ]

I don't, uh, know how long you're supposed to wait before announcing these things but Magnus Burnsides has been ported out for a few days now.

[ She pauses. Being open and honest about something isn't really her strong suit. ]

I... owe you all an apology. After the incident in Maurtia Falls in January I tried to address the Network to break some terrible news and reassure you that the destruction wouldn't happen again, but I was unwilling to -- I didn't want to say everything. But now that Magnus is gone, so too is what he'd inadvertently brought into this world - the Philosopher's Stone.

I was afraid that broadcasting its existence on the Network would be little more than an advertisement for an extremely powerful magical object, um, and I believed the only way to keep it safe was to keep people from seeking it out at all - whether for altruistic or... less than altruistic reasons.

[ She likes to believe the best in people, but she doesn't trust half of you as far as she can throw you.]

Regardless, the Stone is no longer in this world and I can finally, finally reassure you that you will be safe from its power.

Comments

voice;

[subroutined]

[ Ash had seen the last announcement after he'd returned to form from being a tree. What he hadn't done is paid any attention to the comments, so he hadn't known what was behind the so-named "incident." ]

This "Philosopher's Stone" is what turned people into trees? ...I thought it was Archie who'd done it.

[journalkeeper]

It's what Archie used to turn people into trees. Though, uh, I suppose an equally valid way to say it is that it used him.

[subroutined]

So it's... a weapon? [ It can't have been a traditional weapon, or his powers would have nullified it. ] A tool?

text

[h2no]

[he feels guilty (when does he not, honestly) about not trying to contact magnus through february. that was one of his best friends going through hell and he basically ignored him, and now he might not get the chance to do anything about it.

it's selfish, but feels bad man.]

how are you guys doing?

text

[extremeteenbible]

[ Merle knows Archie is asking Lucretia, not him, but he figures he counts. ]

fair enough, I suppose. You could always come by and smoke a doobie in his honor

Re: text

[h2no]

[merle maTTERS THE MOST]

i'm down for that, but maybe it'd be best if i didn't come over for a while. i can send crobat over with more berries for you if you want, though.

permatext

[journalkeeper]

I cannot speak for anyone but myself but I am fine. How are you, Archie?

Re: permatext

[h2no]

sad he's gone but only time will tell how that'll end out
you know he could come back in a year and not remember being here at all, right?

[riddleman]

...what all could that stone do?

[Colour him intrigued.]

[journalkeeper]

Well, for starters, it could make you almost destroy a city.

[ She is... less than patient with his curiosity. ]

[riddleman]

Interesting.

But how does it work?

All I've ever heard about the Philosopher's Stone where I'm from, where it remains fictional so far, are qualities like turning other elements into gold and prolonging life.

voice;

[attainment]

Normally I'd offer my condolences, but...you should know that Mr. Burnsides could return. A good rule of thumb seems to be, wait 3 months before declaring someone gone for good. Even then, the Porter has been known to bring people back after half a year or more.

[Barnaby is living proof of that. Regardless, that's not the sole reason for his response.]

If I may ask, how can we be reassured that there aren't other powerful objects from your world here?

[journalkeeper]

...That's true. And I would be pleased to see him back, he's a good friend of mine. Though I admit, I hope that if he comes back he comes back empty handed.

[ Looks into the camera like on the office.

She sighs. ]

There's only a few of us, and none of the people still here brought one of the Relics. I can vouch for that.

[attainment]

That would be the best case scenario, yes. Our powers alone have already given this world plenty to be afraid of -- no need to make them fear our possessions too, if it can be helped.

[ That sigh makes Barnaby wonder whether he touched a nerve. Maybe she feels responsible? In any case, as someone who works as a hero for the public, Barnaby views fact-gathering as his own responsibility.]

How well do you know the people who've been brought from your world?

voice;

[shittywizard]

[ Taako doesn't exactly keep close tabs on his people, and with how Magnus has been since the whole thing with Archie and the Stone, it hasn't been all that strange to have him vanish for a few days. But to hear that he's ported out? Well... shit. ]

You're absolutely sure it went with him?

[ Concern over a vanishing powerful artifact is much easier to cop to than worrying about his missing best friend. ]

[journalkeeper]

I haven't exactly left it unattended, and there's no way it could have been taken without my knowledge with the precautions I took.

voice;

[cutthegoofs]

[have a moment of hesitance, like he isn't entirely sure how to go about this (spoilers, he's not,) before he speaks.]

Taako, I- [another moment, an awkward throat clear, and then sincerely] I understand you've had quite the month. I was wondering if you'd like some company, you know. Welcome distraction of conversation and the like.

[there is no accent, what a wonderful world.]

voice;

[cutthegoofs]

[hey, he's not bothering with a stupid accent. you're welcome]

Well, I think I can safely categorize the last month under 'off the wall bullshit crazy.'

For what it's worth I think you handled the fallout better than most could hope for. It's impressive, honestly.

[journalkeeper]

Tell me about it.

[ She's a bit taken aback by the compliment, and you can hear it in her voice. ]

I -- yes, thank you. I appreciate that.





...Didn't you used to have an accent?

Voice

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Sorry your friend left, Lucrieta. Not sorry at all about that... Stone, though.

Voice

[journalkeeper]

That basically sums up my feelings exactly.

[hellosirs]

He might still come back, Ma'am! We should give him a couple of weeks.

[ Angus is pointedly not thinking about Magnus being gone. ]

[journalkeeper]

That's true, Angus. After all, you returned.

voice.

[functusofficio]

Oh.

I'm very sorry. I hope he'll return, though perhaps without this dangerous artifact this time.

[journalkeeper]

That is what I'm hoping for, though it may be... unkind to wish for him to be dragged away from -- [ Well, most of the people he seems to like are here, actually, aside from Carey. ] -- what he knows.