eight entry ⊗ bauble trip home

[flamekthunder]

Sender: Eustace
To: Everyone
Subject: Successful Use of Baubles to Return Home

For those who may not have noticed, recently the baubles used for the Wishing can be used to return to our home worlds and still be able to return. It was a risk, but given the prospect of this for the ongoing research of staying in this world permanently, I tried it myself.

It works.

I departed on the first of the month and according to Tifa, returned after three days here. As before, the time passed in my world was several months and as expected, I still did not retain any memories of my time in Songerein while in my world.

I had the researchers at the Observatory study the dreamotion energy during this process to see if they can learn more about our connection between this world and our world. If there are any who wish to try or plan to return to their home world through the use of the baubles, I would like to request if they could study your trip as well.

It does appear that the more common "random connections" is still occurring. Regardless, I hope this message eases some concerns others might have in wanting to temporarily revisit their world on their own will.

Comments

sender : mei lee

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Wait, are you being for real for REAL right now??? REALLY REALLY REAL???

[ If she'd known it was possible, she wouldn't have gone Noctare! ... Maybe she still would've, but she'd like to think otherwise. ]

[flamekthunder]

[...hahahaha]

Yes. I can go with you to help if you'd like to try it yourself.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

I don't think I have enough baubles for that just yet, but this is so great! I wish I'd known you were doing this! Was this some kind of secret project or has my head been in the sand?

[flamekthunder]

It takes three. Depending on how many you have, I could spare you a couple as I have a surplus of them myself.

[More than enough if he needs them for other purposes, and they seem to get them regularly enough so he can always get more later. And since he very clearly knows how much Mei missed home, he has no qualms in helping her if he can.]

But the project I was referring to was the one to stay in this world permanently. This seemed it could be relevant and provide necessary data to further our endeavors.

Sender: Maedhros

[holdshisown]

That is... useful information. How would it effect someone who is dead in their own world, however?

[flamekthunder]

I've considered the possibility, but I can only imagine that unless the world has some kind of afterlife, it may not have much effect at all.

However I don't know the answer. Perhaps we'll only know for certain if someone tries.

[holdshisown]

I would volunteer myself for it, but I'm not entirely certain I'd be able to make it back if it actually worked and sent me back home.

[flamekthunder]

While I appreciate you volunteering, it's certainly not something to take lightly. You would also need three baubles that are gifted by the tapirs.

From what I understand, by using the Well as a "gate" to temporarily return home, our connection to both worlds remain. That connection is what allows us to enter, leave, and return to this world. Usually such a connection is sporadic and random, but the Well seems to serve as like an anchor to keep that connection stabilized when traversing between the two worlds.

[morsecodes]

I went home accidentally for a year but it didn't use any of my boobies?? I didn't even know that was a thing you could do!! I need to make Percy go catch up then, he's like two years behind me now

[flamekthunder]

[......................]

Baubles.

[YEAH. THAT'S ALL HE'S WRITING. UNDERLINED EVEN.]

[morsecodes]

agree to disagree, mi hermano

[flamekthunder]

There is no argument when there is only one proper term and usage for it.

7/03, the return Home

[starshower]

[This time would be different, Tifa reminded herself.

She trusts him... with all her heart. Trusts that he knows what he's doing. Trusts that if he promises he will return to her, he will... and it's that promise that keeps her going through the days without him. How long he would be gone, neither of them knew. It could be days like it was the first time he was sent back, it could be weeks... but the longer she thought about that, the longer that time seemed to grow, so she never did think much more about it than that.

Still, that never meant she wouldn't worry, and Tifa knew that Eustace knew that, too. She's seen him vanish from their shared worlds twice now, this marking the third, and though she tries not to let it show, the fear is nearly crippling on the inside. It's only after he's finally gone that she lets it all out, sobbing into her pillow as she can't help remembering the first time that it had happened... or the second. How lonely and empty it felt... and while this time there is hope that helps to keep that flame burning bright, it's still a terrifying thought that she might be without him for a long, long time.

Or that very small chance that he might not return at all.

During those days, she at least had Lyria and the dogs to keep her company, and the café to help take her mind off things. Still, every time the bell on the door at the Starflower would jingle, her heart would skip a beat, only for her to look up and see someone else entering. She would put on a smile to greet them, but it was never an easy one. Even the animals and Mirabelle could tell that her heart wasn't in it. The flowers, too, have already begun to wilt.

Before he'd left, Tifa promised him that she would be here waiting for him... and every day since, she has cooked all of his favourite meals, rotating through them at breakfast, lunch, and then dinner, leaving out glasses of his favourite whiskey or her special cocktails that she knows he likes. She would have him come home to a hearty, homecooked meal, just like if he were returning from a day of hunting or taking care of something in town.

Because things shouldn't be different.

But... will they be? Another thought that she can't help thinking about. What if... the things that happened at home change him? What if he forgets her and finds someone, what if he returns and no longer loves her? What if he becomes a different man, unrecognizable to her?

All silly, stupid thoughts that she knows he would scold her for if he ever heard them...

No, she just has to keep moving, keep working, keep thinking about other things lest her mind wander further down the paths it shouldn't go.




So, when Eustace finally does return, he should know exactly where to find her: behind the counter at the Starflower.]

[flamekthunder]

[It would have been a lie to say Eustace had no hesitation whatsoever in trying this. However, the prospect of the baubles and the well's ability to connect to their worlds freely is too big of a possible avenue to ignore. If this works...there must be some way they can use it to study and figure out a way to not only stay here, but still allow those who do wish to visit their worlds to do so without fear of leaving this one completely. Thus, even if he knew of Tifa's feelings and that it was a huge risk, he believed it was a risk worth taking—and one he wanted to do himself.

A risk that ends up paying off when he eventually returns three days later. Well, he could have done without the glitter. But after the usual confusion and everything returning to him, he looks back at the Well with renewed appreciation—and opportunity. This had to be a key part of their plan. How is uncertain yet, but that is what the researchers are for.

...But first...





It would be around mid-morning when Tifa will hear the odd sound of the dogs barking in the open patio in the back, along with the sound of an unfamiliar bark. Whatever is there, it's gotten the dogs excited. But before Tifa can step out to check, the back door to the Starflower opens and Eustace appears. With the dogs preoccupied, there will be no further fanfare as he steps through, immediately looking towards her without much change to him—as if he had never been gone for the past three days.

Just the same soft, warm expression he always holds for her.]

[starshower]

[As she's in the middle of starting a new brew of coffee, the commotion near the back patio snags her attention immediately. It isn't territorial barking, nor is it play barking, but rather... the kind of excited ones that can surely mean one thing...

She isn't about to get her hopes up, but she drops the spoon of coffee grinds, not minding at all that they've spilled everywhere so that she can rush out from behind the counter just as he appears through the door. The moment itself is almost right out of those romance novels that she reads—her eyes meet his, and already they are filled with warmth, and she knows immediately what that means.

All of those things she feared while he was gone, how she worried how their reunion would be, whether he would even remember her... all of that is washed away by that love and devotion that he wears. That same love that he always has.

Tears erupt in Tifa's eyes, and as all of the starflowers flicker brighter, their colours changing from blue to a lovely shade of pink, she rushes across the room, past the tables and the few customers that are sitting at them, and leaps at Eustace to throw her arms around his shoulders, her lips crashing into his.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace catches her in his arms, tightening his hold as spins them around as he eagerly accepts her lips with his own.

...To think in his world he had completely forgotten about this. The reminder of that sends a chill down his spine, making him kiss her more fervently as he presses her up against the wall, every memory and emotion she conjures filling that void he didn't realize he had. His hands reach up to her face, touching and caressing as if for the first time, to remind himself once more of her image so he can see her clearly even behind closed eyelids. Even if his life had improved significantly back home... It's nothing compared to this.

Nothing.

Which is all the more reason why he has to make this plan to stay in this world with her work.

To never let those tears fall because of his absence ever again.]

Sender: Hans Westergaard

[sleightofhans]

[He remembers Eustace's attempts in finding a way to stay here permanently. Unfortunate that a solution is still in the works, but good to know that he's still trying.]

I just returned here after spending a year back home, so I'm not quite certain I'm ready to leave again, even if it will be temporary. Good to see that you made it back, however.

[flamekthunder]

[Well this is a bit of a surprise.]

Welcome back, Hans. I heard you had left not too long ago, so it's good to hear from you again.

How were things in your world?

[sleightofhans]

I'm certainly glad to be back. Despite the title I hold back home, I've always found myself more at home than here.

[And seeing that Eustace married Tifa, Hans is sure that he can relate.]

There's been a few big changes with some ups and downs, but I don't wish to get into all those details with you. Well, I'll mention that my family no longer wants to associate with me, but that's how it is.

Sender: Asura

[abyssbound]

That's good to know. Did you do anything particular to get it to work?

[flamekthunder]

Nothing different than how the Well usually functions. There are some instructions, but the gist is throwing all three at the same time with the wish to return to your home world in mind.

[abyssbound]

I haven't actually used any of them before, but I might have to give it a shot one of these days. [Seriously, there's a growing pile of the things un his cabin because he never saw fit to use any of them.]

Sender: Erichthonios

[beshackled]

I would like to attempt the same, once it is possible for me to do so. There is something I would check on for my own peace of mind.

[flamekthunder]

If so, I can try and answer any questions you may have about the experience.

[beshackled]

You have my thanks.

How did you feel upon waking? You stated that you were unable to remember this place. Were there any other effects you can recall?