Beginning

[thecastle]

One moment you were elsewhere, surely speaking to your friends, fighting in a battle of your life, dying, or even in a state of non-existence in its entirety. It doesn't matter now, since when you open your eyes it’s become clear that not only is everything around you foreign and unfamiliar, so is everyone. And there seems to be a fair lot of you, at that.

It's easy to discern a few things upon a cursory glance, once you pick yourself up from the field of grass you're resting on. The place you've awoken in seems to be fairly tranquil, for the first few moments at least, and the view of a newly budded sakura tree is among the first that will greet you. In the distance, is a towering castle that manages to look all at once both imposing and welcoming at the same time. There's also an odd pendant around your neck, which you'll find won't come off despite your best attempts. In your pocket you'll find a room key, engraved with a number.

The weather is currently cool, with the sun brightly shining in the sky, though there are a few too many clouds to make it a completely clear day. While most of them appear rather normal, every so often you might spot one that looks just a bit off— like a storm cloud that's completely lost it's way. Lucky for you, it doesn't seem like you're going to have to worry about any inclement weather anytime soon, as they'll vanish from your vision as quickly as they came.

A large stone wall surrounds the entirety of the castle, though it's anyone guess why that is— maybe it's for your safety, maybe it's to keep you trapped, or maybe it's for another reason entirely. The only breach in the wall is a single gate that looks like it certainly led to the outside at one point, but that too has been cordoned off by solid stone.

Fortunately, there's nothing to stop you from entering the castle itself, where you'll find it's pretty grand all things considered. The lighting inside is provided not by electricity, but by magical flame that adjusts to the time of day or night. Actually, if you're looking for anything electronic anywhere, or even a simple power outlet, you'll be sorely out of luck.

For now, it might be best to explore and make some sense of where you are and why you're here— maybe one of your fellow travelers might know something? There are some plaques in the Great Hall that might catch your interest given their focus, in addition to one ridiculously large golden one that seems to bear rules.

Welcome, fellow warriors, to your very long stay.

Comments

[hoodini]

[ He jumps, startled by the unfamiliar voice that's asking him way more specific questions than he expected. He's not sure what he's hearing at first but it does eventually dawn on him. ]

... the last one. [ Admitting this makes him feel a little embarrassed and he blushes accordingly. ] And maybe the others too? Except it doesn't look like an illusion. [ He sounds unconvinced, but he looks over at the castle anyway. An illusion, huh. ]

[originallutece]

I don't think it is-- or if it is, it's a remarkable one, wouldn't you say?

[She sets her notebook down properly and adds:]

And a castle's validity isn't determined by age.

[hoodini]

Yes? I don't think I've ever had a hallucination like this before so I'm not sure. [ Fever dreams and memory dives don't count.

For the last part— ] —it doesn't?

[originallutece]

It does not. A castle is merely defined as a structure with certain key elements, one of which is that it's a fortified place in which nobility can live.

[hoodini]

Then this doesn't count, does it? I don't see any nobles anywhere.

[originallutece]

A person or people living is the key, not nobility. Given we're obviously intended to reside here, castle would still be appropriate.

[hoodini]

Huh. I think you did say "can," not "have to." But why bring them up at all if they're not necessary for determining what a castle is?

[originallutece]

Because I'm a scientist, not a professor, and you're lucky you're getting a history lesson at all.

[hoodini]

Wait, are you mad?

[originallutece]

[She's always a little mad at the world.]

I've been kidnapped, torn from my other half, placed into a universe where I and any number of people seem to be encouraged to kill one another, and now a young man is arguing semantics with me.

Yes. I am.

[hoodini]

But—!

[ O-okay... maybe she's right?! He has no defense for this. If she were his age or Yamada he would say "too bad," but she's an adult. ] Then... sorry? And th-thank you for the lesson.

[originallutece]

[Well . . . all right. She's still angry, but at least it isn't directed at him so much anymore.]

. . . you're welcome.

Your name?

[hoodini]

My name is Jin Kurosaki, it's nice to meet you. [ He bows. ] What's your name?

[originallutece]

Madam Lutece.

[A beat, and then, remembering Nishitani's confusion--]

Madam being a title, not my first name. Tell me, Mr. Kurosaki, what year are you from?

[SHE ASKS, LIKE THAT'S NORMAL.]

[hoodini]

[ Lutece-san, he thinks? That's. Odd.

By comparison, asking about the year isn't as peculiar. If the memory dive theory holds true that is. But, uh, yeah. Other people shouldn't be able to do those— ]

I'm from 2012, Lutece-san. ... Why?

[originallutece]

Because I recall it being 1912.

[hoodini]

That's further back than I've ever been—!! Is it even possible to travel that far through time?!

[originallutece]

[OH BUDDY she's suddenly 150% more interested in him.]

Of course it is. You've traveled through time? How?

[hoodini]

[ She's about to get really disappointed then. Tragic! ]

D-did I say that?! [ Shifty look!! ] I meant—

What's that over there! [ He's pointing off in the distance...!! ]

[originallutece]

Oh, for god's sake-- you already said it, you can't take it back. How?

[hoodini]

[ How is he supposed to run away if you don't look!! His flawless plan!! ]

Th-that's... [ ... Okay fine. He probably won't get in trouble...? Yamada tells people all the time. He looks around shiftily to make sure the coast is clear. ] It's not what it sounds like, it's not like I physically go through time.

It's more like I see the past through other people's memories. [ Suddenly confident! ] It's a Memory Dive!

[originallutece]

I see.

[Or, well, no she doesn't, but she can hazard a guess, at least.]

Was this an ability you were born with, or given?

[hoodini]

[ He can't tell if she's more interested or less, but that's sort of how everyone reacts when he goes from "time travel" to "not real time travel." ]

The second one, I think. 'cause I know I got it sometime this year.

[originallutece]

And how does it work, exactly?

[hoodini]

The memory dives? It's a little complicated to all the detail, but the basics are I experience and interact with someone's memories in real-time.