sixth entry ⊗ permanent residency

[flamekthunder]

Sender: Eustace
To: Everyone
Subject: A Method to Stay in This World

As everyone should know, the version of ourselves in this world is wholly separate from our originals that remain awake in our home worlds. What we do here has no effect there, and vice versa. Most won't care whether they are here for a temporary stay, however there are those like me and Tifa who have formed relationships that would be impossible if not for this world.

And I am determined to make it last.

When the Halloween Carnival arrived last October, we had the opportunity to speak to the tapirs and inquire about the nature of our existence here. In short, we are tethered to our home world which allows us to return, currently at random. However, the fae, creatures, and every other being that is not a dreamer like ourselves do not have such tethers. They either traversed into this world or were directly taken through other means.

This leads to the conclusion that if we want to stay in this world, we need to somehow break the connection, either by completely severing it or changing the tether to connect to this world instead. Perhaps we need to completely change the nature of our current "dream self." As the risk of being sent back is high if the tether is cut, I aim to focus on other means.

However, there is of course no known knowledge or means to do this, and the tapirs do not know, either. Thus I am sending this inquiry to:

1) ask if there are any others who would be interested either to help or in the results;

2) if there is anyone who is familiar with dimensional travel or strong magic that could give some clue as to what to look for.

Currently I am looking through the Tree of Stories to find any text or story that could be of use. My current suspicion is dreamotion will be the main component, however manipulating it for such a use will be difficult.

If you are interested, you can respond here or contact me privately.

— Eustace

[ooc: AND THUS MARKS THE BEGINNINGS OF A VERY LONG QUEST but yeah Eustace is trying to find a way to stay permanently in this world and is looking for anyone who wants to help, wants to benefit, or has ideas that they can look into and be possibly incorporated in the actual method. An additional sign-up post has gone up for an official head count. Those who sign-up will be able to play a significant role in finding a clue and/or piece that will lead to the final result. More details there!]

Comments

sender: lyria

[azuresong]

[ that's... a lot of words, but they're coming from Eustace, right!?

She may be in the other room, but she's going to attempt to reply here- ]

i want to help!! what do you want me to do?????

[flamekthunder]

[..........precious girl

He can't help but smile at seeing her message.]

I don't have anything to offer yet, but when I do I'll let you know.

[azuresong]

(i am throwing my arms in the air right now)

okay!! i know how much tifa means to you and i want you to be happy

this is the happiest ive seen you in so long!!

[flamekthunder]

[...Lyria...]

Thank you, Lyria. To be honest I wasn't sure what you'd think about this.

[azuresong]

[ There is a long pause before another message is received ]

you have done so much to help me and i want to do the same for you too

[flamekthunder]

[Okay that long pause is a little worrying—]

You'll still see me back at home, at least. Just a little different, perhaps.

[Or maybe not so much, who knows. Certainly his current situation and development is a far cry from what he'd expect to have right now in their world, but maybe one day... For all they know, this could just be a glimpse of a potential future there still.]

[azuresong]

i know you are smiling at home, but i also know there is a lot of pain there too. here i know you can be happy

[ it's... a conflicting scenario, especially for someone who only just arrived here. But she'll do anything for her friends, even if that meant- ]

you said that in order to stay here we may have to break the tether that connects us to the other world... does that mean it will affect everyone or just you?

[flamekthunder]

I don't know. But I would rather there be no effect as I do not want to disturb the life my original self is having.

It's part of why this is a very complicated matter as there are many unknowns that will need to be dealt with. I can only hope there is information out there from either someone else or some other accounts of similar situations.

[azuresong]

if you need someone to look for and read books for you, i can do that

maybe there is some kind of secret library here??

[flamekthunder]

There is, actually, though it's not so secret. The Tree of Stories houses countless books, and it's likely there is something there that could be of use.

[Small pause as a thought occurs to him...but he'll save it for when he sees her in person.]

I can show you.

[azuresong]

could you??? waaaah i would love to see it!

[ when it comes to researching she’s done her fair share of deep book diving. And while it may not be the most entertaining of duties, it was still a very useful one. One that she knew she could contribute to. ]

I want to get started right away!

[flamekthunder]

[He can practically hear her... ...Is she downstairs squealing—]

We can go in a little while. Have some lunch first as I field other responses I receive.

[azuresong]

[ She 100% is and if that wasn’t enough indication the dogs might be barking to match her enthusiastic response. Oops. ]

(i am smiling!) yes sir!! can i come see you when im finished? i promise ill be quiet while you work

[ on second thought— ]

have you eaten yet??

[flamekthunder]

Not yet, but Tifa is preparing to make it soon.

[azuresong]

okaaay!! i still have some food left over from our trip to the store so ill come up when im finished!!

[ she might be a little too eager see Eustace again as she places down the device, scurrying off to eat her lunch as fast as she can (and while trying to avoid the eager eyes of the dogs that accompanied her downstairs. okay maybe she did share her food a little bit shh

It will take her some time to arrive, mostly because she wanted to be mindful of Eustace and Tifa’s time, and she knew the conversation he was having with other people was probably very important…

Cue her softly knocking on the upstairs door when she finally makes it, and poking her head in the opening. ]

Excuse me…

[flamekthunder]

[Although Eustace had been shifting between helping Tifa and minding the journal as people respond, he does occasional wonder when Lyria will come up. In some ways it reminds him of having a little sister again... Only they're both much older.

With that wistful thought, he continues on until he first hears her footsteps just before she knocks and peeks. From his place on the small dining table, he looks over with a light smile.]

Come in. ...Before the dogs push you through first.

[Guess who followed her up. YEP ALL OF THEM.]

[azuresong]

[ ...Annnd almost on cue as he mentioned the dogs, the herd of them will come barreling in behind Lyria, causing the girl spin around in a circle as they race past her to go greet Eustace. She giggles as she was nearly swept up off the floor but will quickly recover with a small plant of her foot.

Good luck trying to concentrate on your work now oops ]

Good afternoon, Eustace! [ Lyria chimes as she enters the room fully at this point... and behold! She is wearing a brand new outfit, complete with a large brown satchel strapped across her chest and yes she is wearing shoes. She had only been living with him for a few days now but everything was slowly becoming more and more familiar to her. This is a place she could call home, and somewhere that Eustace wanted to call home forever.

She took a moment then to glance around the room; the simple decorations, plates he and Tifa had likely bought together, and even the extension he added to the house. Small but noticeable additions the two worked on to really make this place their own. Their home.

It was obvious to her why he wanted to stay. ]

Did you have a good lunch?

[flamekthunder]

Yeah. Sure you don't want any? We have a portion for you regardless.

[Even if Lyria had to stay in the bottom half of the house since there weren't any proper guestrooms on the upper floor, he would always let her use this part of the house whenever she needed, even give her some space to sleep if she felt lonely. He knows it's a big adjustment compared to having Gran and Vyrn with her all the time, as well as the rest of the Grandcypher crew.

But he is also pleased to see her starting to settle in.]

[azuresong]

Huh? Ah, but you didn't have to—! [ She was genuinely a little shocked to hear, but considering she didn't eat all of her food downstairs, there was certainly some room left for some more. This time she'll make sure the dogs don't get all of it!! ] But thank you, I'd love some!

[ To make such accommodations for her...

It was only when she was seated at the table across from him did the small redness of her cheeks become apparent from this distance. Behind a freshly washed face the subtle puffiness of her eyes remained. ]

Have you been to this library that we are going to before?

[flamekthunder]

[He just smiles when she accepts, standing so that he can fetch a bowl of the soup Tifa had made for her. It won't take him too long to reheat it, especially when he has his dreamotion to help power the device, and soon he has it set in front of her with a spoon. He's about to get her a drink when he notices that redness and bit of puffiness...

...]

Did something happen?

[azuresong]

[ Oh. Ah. ]

... Something? What do you mean?

[ She's... going to look down at her food and smile at it!! It looks so delicious wow wow! ]

[flamekthunder]

...

[He pulls up a chair to sit next to her.]

Lyria.

[azuresong]

[ She immediately tenses as he is seated beside her as her head lowers deeper to her chest. Hands that would have been around the spoon and meal are now clinging to the sides of her dress, giving them a small squeeze. ]

It... it's nothing, really!

[ No, she's holding it in. This wasn't suppose to happen, she was suppose to put on a brave face- ]

[flamekthunder]

...Lyria.

[His voice is quieter now, a bit more coaxing. And then after a moment of hesitation, he slowly reaches out to cover her small hand with his larger one.]

You can talk to me.

[azuresong]

I...

[ She didn't mean to do this, she didn't mean to bring down the mood.

Lyria had hoped that if she left enough time in between them meeting that maybe he wouldn't notice. She had washed her face, and washed it again... and again...

The hand against her own only briefly snapped her out of roaming thoughts. It was so warm, so comforting, and for a moment Lyria felt a wave of despair rush through her body. ]

I can't.

[ She ducks her head even further now, completely concealing her face as her long hair falls down in front of it. But slowly, silently, small tear drops fall on the back of Eustace's hand. ]

I-I promised myself that... that I would be strong. For you, for—