animus_network | 003 → video

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003 → video

I remembered! I remembered everything!

The shrine, the forests, the mansion by the lake, everything! And it was all dead!

[Wriggle falls back from the terminal with a sigh, having pushed her face nearly right to the screen while yelling her epiphany. With her upper half in full view you can see that she's wearing the hat of a certain gatekeeper and a pink scarf is wrapped around her neck]

You know I never thought I'd be happy to be back here but... No, happy isn't the right word. What was it? Relieved? Content? No! Argh, I can't think of it this is so frustrating! I don't know how I feel. I don't like it here but I don't wanna spend any more time in a Gensokyo that isn't Gensokyo.

[She runs her hands through her hair and looks away from the screen. Absentmindedly she starts to pull and fidget with her collar as she thinks about what to say next. If she carries on like that all that's going to come out is incoherent yelling but when she speaks again her voice is a notch quieter]

Hey... Um, listen. I know that even when I was here before there was stuff happening that was really beyond me. There are some people that know a lot, right?

[Again she pauses, swallowing her fear before finally asking]

Is there any way to make everything go back to the way it was? I know that's a lot to ask. I mean, to fix so many buildings and revive so many people and plants and insects... Even if there's no way to turn everything back to normal is there at least a way to start things growing again? Even if everyone I knew is really dead for good, if we can start again, make new friends, I think that'll be enough...

[For such a little youkai she's had a lot on her mind but when she's finally said her piece she feels a little better. Resting her chin in her hands she regards the screen with a somewhat distant expression]

So what happened when I was away? Something must have, I'm not sure how long I was gone but it felt like a long time. Is there anyone I used to know still here?

Oh yeah, and whoever left that scarf in my mailbox thanks a lot. It's a lot colder than I remember it.

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You! I remember you! You were with Mr. Fancypants!

[But for the life of her she can't remember either of their names. The moment she hears anything about the restoration Wriggle pushes her face close to the screen again]

What is it? Tell me! I'll meet with you anywhere right now!

[Diarmuid laughs softly at her name for Edgeworth and then bows.]

I was. Diarmuid Ua Duibhne at your service. How about we meet on the Meadow Floor? It sounds like it would do you good to have some life around you while we talk.

Got it!

[She doesn't even wait. The moment she has a meeting place she's off like a flash and as agreed she can be found in the meadow floating in circles, somewhat dazed]

[Thanks to his own speed, Diarmuid arrives not long after her, smiling as he approaches.]

It's good to see you again. Thanks for meeting with me. Where would you like me to start? Is there a question you find more pressing than others? Otherwise, I can begin with the collar fluid. I did promise to keep you updated on it after all. Just make sure to keep your voice down. They are still watching us in most places unfortunately.

[Even if she was restless she does seem happy to see him and smiles as she floats nearer]

No, thanks for coming too.

I just want to know anything you can tell me about having our worlds restored. You said you knew something, right? Can we do it?

And what about the collar fluid? Wait, wasn't it that yellow stuff we found?

You are correct. The yellow fluid we found was collar fluid. Apparently, we weren't the only ones to run off with a container of it.

[Diarmuid crosses his arms over his chest loosely, so that he can still gesture with one hand.]

I am not sure the exact day that you were taken from here, so if I mention anything you already know, I apologize. After a massive infiltration down into the Administrative levels, we were able to get our hands on some real tools which were used to study the fluid. We studied it for months and finally, in December, a way to remove whatever is caging our true powers was found. Even now, there are people who are getting the new fluid at their collar check ups and having their powers come back. Just think of it. Real powers. Not glamoured up illusions.

[Even before Diarmuid had finished speaking any sparkle that had been lost from her eyes immediately returned. She pushed her face close to his with an expression of wonder]

Are you serious? Do you really mean it?

That's great! That's perfect! Does that mean that our powers would even work in the places that're supposed to stop them? I could fly anywhere I wanted!

[Now she's gotten way too over excited about this]

[He cannot help but smile at her excitement, but has to shake his head.]

Unfortunately, the places where our powers were nullified before still nullify them now, but don't let that discourage you. There is still work being done on the fluid and, hopefully, soon we will have full freedom to use our powers wherever we want to.

[Diarmuid raises one hand to tap at his collar.]

If you wish to start the process of getting your powers back, give a note to the unit changing your fluid at your next change. If you notice, the unit will have a chipped collar. They are...our friends so to speak.

I will warn you though, the first week after you change, you will be completely without powers. After that week, your real powers will slowly come back.

[She does seem to get a little disappointed hearing that it won't unlock her powers completely but the smile never fades from her face]

Then I want to start right away! The sooner I can get being powerless out of the way the better.

And, um...

[Suddenly she seems a little embarrassed about something]

If I have to give a note can you write it for me? I'm still learning, and I didn't read or write anything for ages so my handwriting's probably really bad...

[Diarmuid gives her a gentle smile.]

Of course I will. If it is any consolation to you, were it not for the item that summoned me back to life on my world, I would not know how to read or write myself. We didn't place a lot of value in writing back when I first lived. Everything was passed along from person to person by word of mouth.

(OOC: He will leave the note under the door of her room the next morning!)

Thanks a lot. I mean, I know it's important and all but I lived in a forest for most of my life and you just get told about anything that matters so... I'm learning though! There was someone that taught me and there's so much writing around the tower.

So, uh, about the other stuff. You mentioned knowing something about restoring our worlds?

It's nothing at all. There are a lot of cultures who do just fine without the written word. Unfortunately, it just makes things more difficult when you go into a culture that relies on it. But that is good that you are learning. Is your teacher still here?

[The look he gives her is a curious one before he becomes more serious and switches the topic.]

We sadly don't have any specifics on how we will do that yet, but most everyone is working toward the goal of fixing things and it is said that Dax was researching a way to do it before he was killed. Now that we have started to learn more about our status here and how they control us, surely it is only a matter of time before someone finds a way to fix what has been done.

[Of course, if they will have that time is the real question...]

[At the mention of a teacher she pauses. Wriggle could remember the face, but not the name and the more she thought about the face the more she realised it had been a long time since she'd seen him. Even before she found herself in her home world he had been strangely absent]

No, I don't think so...

So basically what you're saying is that we still have no idea how to fix anything yet.

That is too bad.

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

So many have been sent away in the last months and so few have returned. Still, we can't let that discourage us. Would you like me to help continue your reading lessons?

And I would not say we have nothing. We understand the chemicals and compounds that hold us here better now. Surely...

[He frowns and then shakes his head again.]

You are right. We have nothing solid, but now that we have more control over ourselves, I expect that will change very quickly.

[It has to. They don't have much time left.]

I think I can manage!

[Except it took her a good ten minutes to figure out how to turn the video on because apparently yelling obscenities at the terminal did not count as proper voice activation]

Actually... If it's important maybe I should...

So you're saying that if they were able to figure out the collars they can figure out how to fix everything back home? I really hope you're right.

How smart are the people here?

We can do it little bits at a time and if you want to work alone, you can. Just make sure you come to ask me questions when you have them. How is that?

[Diarmuid is perfectly willing to let her try working alone as long as she comes to him with problems instead of just getting frustrated and giving up. So no more swearing at computer terminals, okay?]

I believe the people working on this are very intelligent. They started out knowing nothing at all about the fluid or what was in it and in only a short amount of time managed to figure out how to sort out the things that were keeping us from using our real powers. Now that they know some about how all this works, I expect new discoveries will come even more quickly. They have broken the initial barrier of understanding and that is always the hardest.

It is fortunate that we have such intelligent people from so many different worlds. It means more views and more experiences are being put to use to try and figure things out.

I guess that sounds okay...

Sounds like they really might figure something out, I hope... I know I'm not that smart but I really want to help too! Is there anything I can do? I'm not that strong either but I'm fast! When I get my real powers back I can fly anywhere.

I know that people are still working on figuring out more about the fluid and that doesn't take strength. There are also people working on humanitarian efforts and your speed and ability to fly would come in handy there.

[His hand rises to touch a tarnish pin that is on his collar.]

Do either of those things sound interesting to you?

Yes! Anything!

I just really want to help people however I can. I can't just sit by and watch people die over and over again. I hate it! I hate it so much!

[She pulls at her hair and lets out a sound of distress. Staying in her ruined world has affected her a lot more than she'd like to admit and seeing all the people she used to know, lifeless with their entrails dragged along the ground really hit her hard]

I just want everyone to be safe, I'll do whatever it takes...

L-Lady Nightbug please calm yourself...

[Diarmuid reaches out to her helplessly. If he knew her a little better, he would be offering to hug her right now, but he isn't sure if she would appreciate it or not.

He still finds it hard to resist doing it considering how upset she is.]

Look for a red-headed man named Reno. He is the head of one of the organizations that is working to help the people in the Tower. While you were gone, we passed out a lot of real weapons, clothes, and food to people.

[Many of them had also fought Jason though that...had not gone so well.]

If you run into a blond woman named Elena you can talk to her too. Just tell them I sent you to them. I will talk to him about you wanting to help too. We will find a way to fix everything. I promise.

[She just grumbles and lets her arms fall to her sides]

I am calm...

So I just need to find one of them? Okay. Reno, Elena, Reno, Elena...

[She repeats those names a few times over to herself to try and commit them to memory as best she can]

Right! I'll go look for them!

[And she flies back to the stairs, but Diarmuid could still catch her if he has more to say]

[Diarmuid laughs softly, relieved to see her upset energy transfer into something more useful.]

Reno and Elena!

[He calls after as she goes, waving at her retreating figure and making no motion to stop her.]

And I am in room 4-16 if you end up needing to find me.

It's good you are back Lady Nightbug!

[She waves back with both hands as she backs towards the stairs]

I'll remember! Thank-you so much!

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