THE FRACTURED WORLD: ARRIVAL

[modormenace]

 

A

rrival for some goes all but unnoticed. It's a sudden shiver, the sensation of being watched... and then nothing at all. Life continues serenely as it always has. The only indication of any change comes with sleep, wrapped in dreams: vague and distant echo imagery of another life, melting away in the morning.

 

F

or others, arrival is a sharp jolt. In the space of a single blink, they find themselves in an unfamiliar world, surrounded by the trappings of a life they have not lived. They are replacements, spirits taking possession of bodies belonging to people very much like themselves...

 

A

nd for the rest, arrival is a procedure. Routine. Those ported in to the Fractured World wake hazily in the comfortably dim light of the Porter room, laid out on an exam table. Their wounds, if they remember having any, have been healed— and even those who remember their own deaths find themselves miraculously restored. As they regain consciousness, an automatic audio-visual presentation is triggered. Regardless of their backgrounds or physiology, all imPorts 'see' and 'hear' this message as if in their own language:

"Greetings, imPort."

The voice is calm and gently authoritative, almost certainly selected by committee.

"On behalf of the Synod and all imPorts it represents, we welcome you to the planet Earth."

A decidedly non-humanoid robotic arm holds out a palm-sized device and rather insistently demands the new arrival take it. This is the imPort's comm, used for accessing the Porter's database of information, as well as the communications Network— though it won't receive communications from outside the Porter building until carried through one of the many Gates set up in a long, crescent-shaped array on the far side of the room.

As each Gate is approached, information about the faction it leads to flashes up on the comm device's screen. Which will you choose?

THE WHITE TOWER SANCTUM AURORAE KRAKOA HOUSE OF M EMPIRE OF LIGHT EQUALITY BEFORE LAW THE TWIN CITIES OLIN VALE EDEN SEEKERS OF THE NEW DAWN NORTHWESTERN IMPERIUM GREEN PIECE MAD BURNISH LUMINARY

Comments

[hot_handed]

[Katsuki's eyes open for a moment. Did he hear something, or was he already that close to falling asleep? At least the voice was pleasant, and not weird like Bessie or whatever. Shrugging, he moves to bury his face in her fur, getting as close to her warmth as possible. This world is more terrifying than he lets on, but at least she...she seems safe.]

[mamaterasu]

[She will still need a name, eventually, considering Ammy doesn't seem keen to leave Katsuki's side any time soon. It's not really like she has anywhere else to be, really, so why not stay here? It feels nice, the people are fun to be around, and the sense of calm and nostalgic memories is like a soothing balm to her confusion about just how and why she got here, and where "here" even is.

The wolf's fur is certainly very dense, and while she doesn't smell bad, necessarily, she does have a very musky, earthy scent...probably from how she was rolling in the grass fields before dinner was served. She grunts, nudging the boy's hair with her nose and making soft noises to get his attention, teeth lightly grazing his ears and the tufts of his dark hair. If he lifts his face, he'll see the wolf's head is pointed skyward.

Why? Well, past the lovely moon that shimmers in the night sky (which she may or may not have called forth...heheh), a shooting star zips across the sky, followed by another...then another...with each flick of the wolf's tail. Like diamond dust raining from the velvet of night, little stars streak like silver threads across the void of space. Ammy turns her gaze to her charge for just a moment, before it's back to the sky, and the final star shoots across the sky, brighter and with a longer trail than the others.

Go ahead, tiny one, make a wish. She'd very much like to hear it. You seem troubled, after all. It's not hard to sense.]

[hot_handed]

[He'll give her a name, probably when he's less tired, or at least more awake. Something impressive. Like her. It's an earthy smell, sure, but it reminds Katsuki of hiking out in the wilderness. Not...where he is now. He inhales it a bit, swatting at her face and grunting before finally looking up.]

...Yeah. It's a nice sky.

[By now he's realized she's intelligent enough to understand and communicate with him, even if her vocal chords don't work the same way. But why is she so insistent about him looking? The stars and moon shine brighter than fire against the inky black sky. It's strange, how the constellations look so much like home. But they aren't. He's not home.

There it is again, that emptiness that keeps expanding in his chest, as if it will swallow him whole. He blinks, his eyes glassy, and then stubbornly buries his face against her fur, mumbling. Who's she gonna blab to?]

Miss it. I miss my friends, home. Are they even alive-? [His voice cracks, so he stops talking. Ugh. Weak. He hates it.]

You tell anyone, and I'll kill you.

[mamaterasu]

[Ammy snorts at the boy, turning her head to one side with a low groan in her throat. Is he one of those types? That doesn't appreciate the beauty of nature, the world itself? Ah...no. No, no, not quite. There's something there, and Amy the wolf sits and listens, she begins to understand more and more. A big sky, an endless blackness with thousands of stars dotting it. It makes the world seems very small, and your presence in it seem quite the same, too. One person among all that? It's probably pretty lonely, too, if you don't have anyone to really share the beauty with. Mm, Ammy understands that, too.

She had to leave someone behind, and now...now they're farther away than she'd like, but...they are safe. They are all alive. Her ears flick, and turn, and she exhales slowly as her muscles relax, looking at Katsuki with a tilted head. He's talking to her less like she's a dog and more like he's aware...and she wonders just how much he can see. This boy is clever, and has a good heart, but she could never tell who could or couldn't perceive her true nature as a goddess until they made it known. Even so, that's not what she's concerned about.

When she notes the glassy loot to his eyes, Ammy turns her face away from him, to give him privacy if he decides to let those hidden tears fall, and curls her body more tightly around him, ears turned in his direction almost expectantly. Yes, she can talk, but she won't. Your secret confessions are safe with her, young man. Go ahead, tell her about them. Your worries, your fears...

But also, your friends, your home...your family. She'd like to hear about them, because they're alive in your heart, and in your memories, your stories told about them. That is how they live, and continue to do so. Amaterasu knows that better than anyone. And perhaps, she may have a gift for him by the time the sun rises, if he's descriptive enough.]

[hot_handed]

[Despite all of his efforts, Ammy will find that her fur is wet where Katsuki buried his face. He releases a small, shaky breath, curling his hands into her fur a little more tightly. Sorry.]

Aizawa-sensei's here and he's about the same, but I'm not the person he's used to. Same with Mic-sensei- he's the loud one. Haven't seen none of my classmates here- there's Ponytail, she's tall and condescending and has a long black ponytail, but she ain't an idiot like a lot of people here. Haven't seen All Might either. He's one of my teachers and he- [His voice cracks.] he was a hero. He's skinny and blonde and really fucking tall. And he's stupidly self-sacrificial.

[He doesn't know why he's telling her this. Maybe because he's not worried about her saying anything, and talking about them makes them feel like they still might exist. That there might be a chance.]

Round Face is this short girl with pink cheeks, short brown hair and bright brown eyes. She's got a stupid cute round mochi smile. Eyepatch-senpai's a nerd with soft black hair and big gray eyes. He might look weak and he's not from my world, but he could murder me and that's kinda...nice. If he wasn't such a baby about it. And then-

[His voice hitches again.]

Then there's Deku. Stupid, shitty broccoli-haired asshole, with his stupid freckles and stupid fucking smile and heroic bullshit. He'd know what to do.

[He pauses, more quietly.]

They'd all know what to do...

[mamaterasu]

[She doesn't have to feel the moisture on her fur to know he's crying, the sadness comes off of Katsuki in waves, and each one that rushes over Amaterasu hurts that much more. Her head turns to him, and Katsuki may find a wet tongue flick over his cheeks, kissing away any stray tears before Amaterasu listens intently to his descriptions. It's...not great, and may details are being left out, but then again...what does she expect when he's so distruaght? It's fine, this will simply have to be a first draft, then.

For once in her long life, Amaterasu commits those details to memory, focuses intently on every vague description, and she already has an image in her mind. Later, she'll get to work. For now, the little pup needs to have his mind put at ease a bit, and perhaps have him be put to bed as well. If only she could hear him laugh again - it was lovely...such a warm, bright sound, like a golden bell.

The wolf shifts suddenly, standing up, but only for a moment, just so she can properly curl herself around Katsuki like a soft, warm blanket...or a shield. Little one, you bear so much on your shoulders, and yet you still walk so tall...so proudly. So resolutely. But a worn and fractured blade is prone to breaking, and she desperately does not want that. So, for tonight, until the Sun rises, she will shoulder some of those burdens for you at well.

So much faith put in those beloved friends, but where is that same faith put in oneself? Precious child of mine, you are none of those people, but parts of them reside deep in you - each color creating a work of art. You are you despite everything, and you are brave, strong and spectacular.

But you are not alone.

And you never will be. Because you are loved.]

I'm with you.