Of course. I'll explain everything to you now. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting so long.
[The hologram doesn't change, but the screens on the other walls do. Images on those screens show various shots of the lodge, as though taken with hidden cameras.]
I've been keeping an eye on you since you've arrived. But I haven't been able to come meet you. I am nothing more than a computer, and I cannot leave this room. I can do nothing more than watch.
[The image on the screens on either side of Professor Klauseron flicker again now. The images now show computer renderings of several planets, represented in pink. Mini renderings of shapes meant to indicate humans appear on the planets. You can watch as they each, in turn, blink away and appear outside the rendering of a a house shaped like the lodge.]
Allow me to explain the circumstances of your arrivals here. Perhaps once you understand, I will be able to give you the tools you'll need to return.
[ the way this room changes so much across the screens leaves xichen feeling off kilter - he's never seen anything like this before and it's really rattling his mind. the fact that apparently they're being monitored is only like, the third weirdest thing here.
but since the professor is being incredibly long winded, he will take the chance to put his sword back in it's sheath and hope it warms up. ] Please explain the circumstances then.
[ Those cameras are definitely intrusive, and Belial watches intently, hoping to see something about the locked room or the mysterious sack. But the screens flicker away too fast.
Might as well focus on the current mystery then. ]
And all of that outside? Was it a test? [ He nods beach toward the door before winking. ] Did you enjoy the show?
[ He also gently smacks Mugen to stop his squirming. ]
I don't experience regret or enjoyment. I am a computer. I cannot leave this place.
[The images flash again - now you can see what looks like a computer rendering of two sides of a smooth flat cliff, and then in the valley between them, a rendering of the lodge.]
This place you have come to is a pocket dimension, wedged between a convergence of dozens of universes. The things you are seeing and experiencing here are merely filtered through your perception.
Sentient beings are not intended to exist in spaces like this for long. It will be necessary soon to return you to your homes. Unfortunately, I cannot help you do that yet.
[The images on the screen changes again. It shows pictures that are recognizable to all four of them as being from their homes. First, the images appear normal, but shortly after, the image changes - everything is covered in ice.]
[ Filtered through their perception? What does that mean? Are they in the Matrix? Belial frowns, finally dropping Mugen before moving around to explore the room again, peering at the images on the screens and at the computer. ]
And I assume if we don't leave soon we'll - [ he sighs dramatically ] - die.
[She furrows her brow when he talks about pocket dimensions and reality filtered through their perception, but it's what he says last that she latches onto. Something she can work towards, at least.]
If you can't help us, then tell us what we'll have to do ourselves.
belial drops him, and mugen just hits the floor and lays there for a second, staring at the hologram upside down on the ground. a lot of that goes over his head, but he - really doesn't like the images of nagasaki just covered in ice. after a moment, he pulls himself up and brushes himself off. ]
Get to the point, you old bag. [ he says, vaguely annoyed. ] Sick of being jerked around, here.
The point, then. Of course. Let me explain everything, and then all your questions will be answered.
[The hologram of the old man closes his eyes for a moment, pensive, and then reopens them again. On the computer display is a computer rendering of what looks to be a solar system - two planets with a wide orbit around the sun. Both planets are ringed by ice, and appear to be covered in ice themselves. One is dark blue with white frost, and the other is covered with great green oceans and red storms.]
This story begins on my home system, where I was born many millions of years ago. Two planets, orbiting the N0-L system. For ease of our story, I'll call them N0-L-001 and N0-L-002. I was born on the first N0-L planet. A beautiful and prosperous place, where we shared merry tidings each and every day. But our enemies of N0-L 2, an icey planet, hated our joy and sought to declare war on us. The ice beings - they had their own name, but in our language, we called them "humbugs" - were ruthless. Quickly, they overwhelmed us, and turned our planet into a habitat only they could survive in.
[The red and green planet in the simulation becomes covered with ice. The hologram bows his head.]
Before our destruction, we had only just begun to harness a weapon capable of defeating them. You see, the humbugs have one weakness. The beings of our planet emitted a peculiar wavelength that countered the humbugs abilities. This wavelength is known as Yule Energy. However, without refining, the Yule Energy was only capable of staving off the humbugs in short bursts. I had finally begun to devise weapons capable of destroying them before my beloved N0-L 1 succumbed to the ice. Before my death, I uploaded my brain to this computer, and used it to emit the remaining Yule Energy of my fellow N0-Lians throughout the multiverse. Dimensional rifts allowed the Yule Particles, which are sentient beings that emit Yule Energy, into different worlds, where they lay dormant.
[The image changes again, showing particles that look like red and green stars appearing on various planets. Where they appear, people smile and give gifts to one another, decorate trees with red and green baubles, and sing carols.]
Although the Yule Particles are dormant, many cultures adapted to them, even formed celebrations around them. Why, even my memory was absorbed by some cultures as a part of these traditions.
[The image shows people smiling and looking at an image of Professor Klauseron wearing a red and white hat with a white ball at the end.]
Each of you must synchronize with your dormant Yule Particles in order to harness the refined and concentrated Yule Energy, which is known as the Yule Tide. Once you have harnessed the Yule Tide, you will be able to master the weapons I will give you, which will allow you to defeat the humbugs and return home.
Lan Xichen. . . Belial. . . Endorsi Jahad . . . Mugen. . . the fate of all universes is in your hands. Close your eyes and think merry thoughts!
[The image on the screen shows computer renderings of all four of them, smiling and holding their hands, while over their hearts renderings of a pointed tree, a red and green bell, a toy drum, and a shining white star appear. Each of the computer renderings smile and begin emitting a red and green wavelength.]
lan xichen looks at the other three with the sort of expression a man only has on his face when he's making sure he's not absolutely lost his mind and has hallucinated something insane.
the yule energy, he can sort of understand - it's sort of sounds like a variation of qi. humbugs seem like a type of demonic monster. but space travel? planets?? a holiday and cultures he's never heard of??? not to mention that final image of them all holding hands and smiling. it's all. it's a lot. it is very hard to think any sort of thoughts besides is this really happening. ]
[ were the potatoes from the cold box bad. is he high. what the fuck was that explanation. the humbugs are evil and... have guns? or swords? i mean, i guess beating up humming bugs with swords is a merry thought...
also: ]
Nah. Not gonna happen. Don't touch me or you're losing a hand. [ specifically to belial. ]
You don't have much time. . . synchronize your Yule Energy.
[The four screens turn once again to the image of four people holding hands, but it also appears now that there's a door underneath all of them. The outline of the doors (like cabinets that slide out beneath the screens) glow bright red, as though lit from within. On one door, the outline of a drum appears. On another, a star. On another, a tree. And on another, a bell. But the doors do not open, no matter what they may try.
The sound of plinks of ice begins again. There's plinking all around them, like something is closing in. And then there's a loud banging sound at the door that closed behind them. The door doesn't budge, but it begins to frost over with a layer of ice.]
There's no more time. Synchronize, and you'll be able to access the Yule Tide Weapons I have stored for each of you. I have to leave you now. . . my power. . . has run out.
Goodbye. . .
[The Professor's hologram bows his head, and flickers out. Rest in peace. You're alone, as the hammering at the door and the chill in the room grows stronger.]
[ alright, well. if their options are "do not hold hands and die" or "hold hands, get weapons, and survive", then there aren't many other options. xichen lets out a long breath, steps forward, and grabs belial's and mugen's hands. ]
We do not have other options at the moment, unless any of you are particularly interested in dying.
[ tries to think merry thoughts and not worrying about surviving thoughts i guess?! ]
[ Belial should probably make this easier for them all considering their impending deaths, but instead he continues to be gross. At least he doesn't use the sudden darkness as an excuse to grab anyone's ass.
Instead, he very pointedly grabs Endorsi's hand before taking hold of Xichen's in his other. ]
If you'd prefer death, then I can think of plenty of other fun activities to spend our last moments on.
[ he makes a spluttering sort of noise at his hand being taken, but like. he doesn't pull away or anything because he's not interested in dying. it's the door being covered in ice that convinces him. he closes his eyes.
sorry xichen, his hand's pretty grimy. also, burnt to shit.
he doesn't say anything, just thinks of... merry thoughts? which for him is like, big boobed girls serving him food, i'm sorry. ]
[ it's okay mugen, xichen's hand is also burnt to shit. they can suffer together.
but more merry thoughts, huh? he tries to remember back to when he was a kid spending time with his mom and little brother then, when things were much less complicated ]
[She shoots Belial a glare before she remembers she's supposed to be merry. Awful. Anyways, she sighs and tries to ignore him, thinking about her foster parents instead.]
[ unfortunately, mugen finds the jingly balls song funny. he snortlaughs under his breath.
he continues to think of bahongas and booze but also... fuu, and jin, and the way a campfire feels when you put your hands up against it, listening to your companions chatter about stupid shit. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[The hologram doesn't change, but the screens on the other walls do. Images on those screens show various shots of the lodge, as though taken with hidden cameras.]
I've been keeping an eye on you since you've arrived. But I haven't been able to come meet you. I am nothing more than a computer, and I cannot leave this room. I can do nothing more than watch.
[The image on the screens on either side of Professor Klauseron flicker again now. The images now show computer renderings of several planets, represented in pink. Mini renderings of shapes meant to indicate humans appear on the planets. You can watch as they each, in turn, blink away and appear outside the rendering of a a house shaped like the lodge.]
Allow me to explain the circumstances of your arrivals here. Perhaps once you understand, I will be able to give you the tools you'll need to return.
no subject
but since the professor is being incredibly long winded, he will take the chance to put his sword back in it's sheath and hope it warms up. ] Please explain the circumstances then.
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Might as well focus on the current mystery then. ]
And all of that outside? Was it a test? [ He nods beach toward the door before winking. ] Did you enjoy the show?
[ He also gently smacks Mugen to stop his squirming. ]
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Yes, please explain. Will we be able to leave as soon as you do?
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[ he says, staring at the images on the wall. there is so much going on for his ancient brain.
and he doesn't stop squirming!! fuq u belial!! ]
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[The images flash again - now you can see what looks like a computer rendering of two sides of a smooth flat cliff, and then in the valley between them, a rendering of the lodge.]
This place you have come to is a pocket dimension, wedged between a convergence of dozens of universes. The things you are seeing and experiencing here are merely filtered through your perception.
Sentient beings are not intended to exist in spaces like this for long. It will be necessary soon to return you to your homes. Unfortunately, I cannot help you do that yet.
[The images on the screen changes again. It shows pictures that are recognizable to all four of them as being from their homes. First, the images appear normal, but shortly after, the image changes - everything is covered in ice.]
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especially with that flash of home. xichen feels panic rise up in his throat at seeing his home ruined yet again. ]
Then to get us home, what would need to happen first?
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And I assume if we don't leave soon we'll - [ he sighs dramatically ] - die.
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If you can't help us, then tell us what we'll have to do ourselves.
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belial drops him, and mugen just hits the floor and lays there for a second, staring at the hologram upside down on the ground. a lot of that goes over his head, but he - really doesn't like the images of nagasaki just covered in ice. after a moment, he pulls himself up and brushes himself off. ]
Get to the point, you old bag. [ he says, vaguely annoyed. ] Sick of being jerked around, here.
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[The hologram of the old man closes his eyes for a moment, pensive, and then reopens them again. On the computer display is a computer rendering of what looks to be a solar system - two planets with a wide orbit around the sun. Both planets are ringed by ice, and appear to be covered in ice themselves. One is dark blue with white frost, and the other is covered with great green oceans and red storms.]
This story begins on my home system, where I was born many millions of years ago. Two planets, orbiting the N0-L system. For ease of our story, I'll call them N0-L-001 and N0-L-002. I was born on the first N0-L planet. A beautiful and prosperous place, where we shared merry tidings each and every day. But our enemies of N0-L 2, an icey planet, hated our joy and sought to declare war on us. The ice beings - they had their own name, but in our language, we called them "humbugs" - were ruthless. Quickly, they overwhelmed us, and turned our planet into a habitat only they could survive in.
[The red and green planet in the simulation becomes covered with ice. The hologram bows his head.]
Before our destruction, we had only just begun to harness a weapon capable of defeating them. You see, the humbugs have one weakness. The beings of our planet emitted a peculiar wavelength that countered the humbugs abilities. This wavelength is known as Yule Energy. However, without refining, the Yule Energy was only capable of staving off the humbugs in short bursts. I had finally begun to devise weapons capable of destroying them before my beloved N0-L 1 succumbed to the ice. Before my death, I uploaded my brain to this computer, and used it to emit the remaining Yule Energy of my fellow N0-Lians throughout the multiverse. Dimensional rifts allowed the Yule Particles, which are sentient beings that emit Yule Energy, into different worlds, where they lay dormant.
[The image changes again, showing particles that look like red and green stars appearing on various planets. Where they appear, people smile and give gifts to one another, decorate trees with red and green baubles, and sing carols.]
Although the Yule Particles are dormant, many cultures adapted to them, even formed celebrations around them. Why, even my memory was absorbed by some cultures as a part of these traditions.
[The image shows people smiling and looking at an image of Professor Klauseron wearing a red and white hat with a white ball at the end.]
Each of you must synchronize with your dormant Yule Particles in order to harness the refined and concentrated Yule Energy, which is known as the Yule Tide. Once you have harnessed the Yule Tide, you will be able to master the weapons I will give you, which will allow you to defeat the humbugs and return home.
Lan Xichen. . . Belial. . . Endorsi Jahad . . . Mugen. . . the fate of all universes is in your hands. Close your eyes and think merry thoughts!
[The image on the screen shows computer renderings of all four of them, smiling and holding their hands, while over their hearts renderings of a pointed tree, a red and green bell, a toy drum, and a shining white star appear. Each of the computer renderings smile and begin emitting a red and green wavelength.]
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[ no he doesn't.
lan xichen looks at the other three with the sort of expression a man only has on his face when he's making sure he's not absolutely lost his mind and has hallucinated something insane.
the yule energy, he can sort of understand - it's sort of sounds like a variation of qi. humbugs seem like a type of demonic monster. but space travel? planets?? a holiday and cultures he's never heard of??? not to mention that final image of them all holding hands and smiling. it's all. it's a lot. it is very hard to think any sort of thoughts besides is this really happening. ]
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. . .
[ For once Belial is so taken aback he's not even sure how to make this sexual. ]
... Shall we hold hands?
[ He's ready. ]
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So we have to... be merry and enjoy each other's company?
[She's going to die.]
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[ were the potatoes from the cold box bad. is he high. what the fuck was that explanation. the humbugs are evil and... have guns? or swords? i mean, i guess beating up humming bugs with swords is a merry thought...
also: ]
Nah. Not gonna happen. Don't touch me or you're losing a hand. [ specifically to belial. ]
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[The four screens turn once again to the image of four people holding hands, but it also appears now that there's a door underneath all of them. The outline of the doors (like cabinets that slide out beneath the screens) glow bright red, as though lit from within. On one door, the outline of a drum appears. On another, a star. On another, a tree. And on another, a bell. But the doors do not open, no matter what they may try.
The sound of plinks of ice begins again. There's plinking all around them, like something is closing in. And then there's a loud banging sound at the door that closed behind them. The door doesn't budge, but it begins to frost over with a layer of ice.]
There's no more time. Synchronize, and you'll be able to access the Yule Tide Weapons I have stored for each of you. I have to leave you now. . . my power. . . has run out.
Goodbye. . .
[The Professor's hologram bows his head, and flickers out. Rest in peace. You're alone, as the hammering at the door and the chill in the room grows stronger.]
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We do not have other options at the moment, unless any of you are particularly interested in dying.
[ tries to think merry thoughts and not worrying about surviving thoughts i guess?! ]
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[ Belial should probably make this easier for them all considering their impending deaths, but instead he continues to be gross. At least he doesn't use the sudden darkness as an excuse to grab anyone's ass.
Instead, he very pointedly grabs Endorsi's hand before taking hold of Xichen's in his other. ]
If you'd prefer death, then I can think of plenty of other fun activities to spend our last moments on.
[ wink ]
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Now we’re... supposed to think of things that make us happy?
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sorry xichen, his hand's pretty grimy. also, burnt to shit.
he doesn't say anything, just thinks of... merry thoughts? which for him is like, big boobed girls serving him food, i'm sorry. ]
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Merry Output at 50%!
[Get merrier!]
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but more merry thoughts, huh? he tries to remember back to when he was a kid spending time with his mom and little brother then, when things were much less complicated ]
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But also, he thinks of the movies that had been playing back at the lodge, the ones that resembled the images on the monitors. ]
You know, it's usually better for me when I can hear my partners' voices.
[ He starts off by humming, thinking of his dear Lucilius dressed up in red and white, dancing along to: ] Jingly balls, jingly balls...
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he continues to think of bahongas and booze but also... fuu, and jin, and the way a campfire feels when you put your hands up against it, listening to your companions chatter about stupid shit. ]
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