There's always a lighthouse

[wheremst]

And just like that, you wake up in the basement of a lighthouse in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There's a circle of 25 pods in the middle of the room, and two more in a room off to the side, and you can imagine who is in which.

An elevator to the side of the room leads up to the ground floor (or to the first sub-basement, if you want to check out the machine that brought you here), where you can for the first time in weeks look out a window and see the sky. Its a beautiful sunny day, with a strong breeze on the grassy ground of the island where the lighthouse stands. Have you ever been this happy to hear seagulls?

You're free. Whatever comes next, you're free and you won. Take some time to relish your victory, won't you? Reunite with friends you thought you had lost, go forth and just... well, enjoy this.

Comments

[nothingcanstop]

[ Fresh air and sunlight. After a few beautiful, sweet moments of climbing out of the pod and absolutely eating shit, Della makes a beeline for- well, outside of the people they’ve been missing, the outdoors. Sure, there’s ocean around them still. But looking up and seeing the sky, feeling sand beneath her, it’s enough to almost make her cry.

She’ll go and look at the machine that brought them here, eventually. She’ll examine things with a critical eye. But for now, there’s people to talk to, and air to breathe, and that’s more than enough for her. ]

Outdoors

[ladygeryon]

[Nira's managed to gather her team again, and now all of them are spending some time basking in the sun and feeling solid earth beneath their feet.]

I'm never taking sunlight for granted again.

[nothingcanstop]

Ha. Yeah. Yeah, something like this'll do that to you.

[ladygeryon]

Hopefully we don't have to go through something like this again. [Nira sighs.]

You know, I'm kind of disappointed some of those things turned out to be just virtual. I was planning on bringing Glow a whole bunch of those stuffed animals when I got back.

[nothingcanstop]

If you track down the vending machine, maybe it'll pop some of them out, if you ask nicely. Since apparently that thing wasn't virtual.

[ There's a lot to unpack about the vending machine!!! ]

[ladygeryon]

Heh. Think I'll head home first. Maybe take that trip to Alola Jake's always been talking about.

outdoors

[emberserker]

They really care about you, don't they?

[Well... Anna doesn't look happy, but at least it's not that manic smile and laughter from before.]

[nothingcanstop]

[ You know, anything's an improvement from that! Della on the other hand can't stop her soft, shy smile from crossing her face. ]

Huh? ...And just what they are you talking about, Anna?

[emberserker]

What do you mean, what they? You were there. Everyone in that room listened to you, and they clearly cared what you thought. The Professor trying to undermine your faith in them and in Angel clearly wasn't happenstance.

[nothingcanstop]

Well, I didn't want to assume! ...We all just worked together. [ Er- ] We mostly worked together.

[emberserker]

Mostly, right. At least you were more together than the rest of us by the end of it. If I have to listen to any more bickering about how we're all going to die, I swear.

machine

[pimpplan]

Looking for something in particular?

[ He's honestly not even sure why he's here. He's definitely the more technologically-aware of the rpg crew, but that doesn't mean he could reasonably help with any of this. But... hey, if it does what they're saying it can do, then it's worth looking at, right? ]

[nothingcanstop]

[ holy shit zelos what ARE you doing here-- ]

No, just...looking. [ Turns a bit. ] Hey, you. I could ask the same.

[pimpplan]

Just looking.

[ He chuckles. ]

I didn't actually think anybody would be down here, actually. I figured you'd be still up with the others.

[nothingcanstop]

I don't plan on being away for long. But, this thing got us here and...is supposed to get us home, too. Might as well get a look at it.

...Even if I understand absolutely nothing about quantum physics.

[pimpplan]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. My knowledge of this kind of inter-dimensional stuff starts and stops with a purple glowing sword, so I can't say I'd be able to say anything smart, for once.

[philoxenia]

[ Hey there, Della. Mira joins her after a while, and she seems-- well, tired. But happy. ]

It's... been a long day, hasn't it?

[nothingcanstop]

[ That's a whole big mood, though. ]

It's been a long month.

[philoxenia]

It really has.

[ She lets out a sigh, but she smiles all the same. ]

... I'm really happy. Exhausted, but... relieved.

[ And also excited... nervous... She's never felt so many different emotions at once. Her emotions, anyway. Going with Della--it's really going to happen, isn't it? ]

[nothingcanstop]

[ It sure as heck is! ]

Me too. [ But, speaking of emotions... ] How are you feeling right now, with...being able to feel everything?

[philoxenia]

It's...

[ Kind of hellish, but she thinks about how to word this better. ]

Overwhelming. For the most part, I'm able to sort of... dampen what I feel. It's something I had to learn when it first manifested, so it's not as intense as it could be...

But there are moments when I let my guard down too much and everything sort of hits me. I'll be okay, though. Being around those who help me feel calmer and more at ease helps. Like you.

outdoors

[archboxer]

[...Is that a dragon on the lighthouse? It's a dragon a lighthouse. How did it get there??

It's sure climbing down at a fast pace. Oh no. Wait, it's stopping--and there's the Rhea we know. It's all good. Probably. She's clearing her throat.]

Ah... Della. I... do understand if you wish for me to leave but, I ah. I wish to talk to you.

[plz adopt me]

[nothingcanstop]

[ A dragon on the lighthouse is probably more in-line with what Della's used to, honestly. When that dragon becomes Rhea... Della raises an eyebrow as she approaches. ]

What's up, Rhea? ...Is it about Mira?

[archboxer]

[She had fun basking but she... needed to talk to Della, woman on woman.]

Yes, actually. Well, yes and no. I... [She clears her throat again. Nervous.] Mira seems to have adopted me. As such, I wish to remain with her and go with you both. If you will... allow me, that is. Outside of such stressful situations, I can behave quite well. I do not even have to stay in the city.

[nothingcanstop]

She's adopted you? ...Wait, wait no...that pretty much tracks. [ Oh, boy. Oh, Mira. Della's clearly...a bit conflicted about all this. ] Duckburg's got it's share of stressful situations... I don't want to go against something Mira wants, but- but you understand... I can't put my family in danger. If you can really ensure, it'll be safe...