lunaecalamitas | i promise we'll walk across the moon someday soon

i promise we'll walk across the moon someday soon

FULL MOON CODA

The moon wanes, and retreats into the sky.

After a quick chat and a vote, the otherworldly wizards, their mentor, and their sage decide to hand Victor over to the Central government—to the young wizard who appeared later in the ordeal. As both a sage's wizard and Crown Prince to the Central throne, Prince Arthur is the ideal person to understand both the discriminatory behavior driving Victor against wizards and the political ramifications of his actions, both past and planned. He pledges to you to make sure that, even if you aren't around to see it, Victor pays for what he's done and then some, while respecting Tatara's wishes to avoid bloodshed. He'll manage his case, while making sure his uncle, Vincent, does not have too much sway, due to his relationship with the West. Ultimately, he'll be locked up for life, put to hard labor, and made sure his intelligence is not misused.

When the sun rises, everyone gets to work repairing the manor. The damage is pretty bad but not unsalvageable, and it's made a lot easier with the help of some of the other original wizards who trickle in as the day begins. So long as it hasn't been burnt into absolutely nothing, it's salvageable—hopefully your figurines are safe!

For the first time since you arrived in this world, things feel stable. The brittleness in the air is no longer there, and there's a serenity to the breeze and the sky. It's comfortable. As the previous sage and sage's wizards begin to go about their business as usual, they mention anomalies and other odd incidents they must take care of around the world, but it is nothing like what you initially remember. This is no longer a world a hair's breadth away from falling apart, and you fixed it.

Whether you noticed it in the chaos of the final fight, or you hear it from someone else, or you notice on your own in the days that follow, you will realize that your sage crest is gone. With the other wizards in place again, your job here is done. Quite literally. You are no longer obligated to Tatara or to this world. All that's left is to go home.

A day and time is chosen for the ritual, and you have a few days after the final battle before the ritual is ready. This would be a good time to wrap up loose ends before you go, perhaps for good.

And when the ritual is ready, you'll know.

OOC NOTES

🌙 This is the end of Lunae Calamitas! Thank you so much for playing! We hope you had fun ♥
🌙 This post will remain open, so feel free to play out what loose ends you'd like to resolve ICly.
🌙 If you have the time and energy, be sure to check out the love meme and the TL;CR meme!
🌙 Enjoy the journey home, and rest well. You earned it.

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[ You've seen them in passing in the past few days, fleeting glimpses of them here and there as they filter back into the manor of their own accord (the old sage did say they'd come back, after all) and reunite with people from whom they'd suddenly been torn. And perhaps you've interacted with a select few in the lead up to this day, as they helped you come up with hexes and binds and charms so that you may keep in contact with the friends you've made here. So they are not unfamiliar faces at this point, by any means.

But today, all twenty one of the original wizards and their sage have gathered here to watch you off. They're here in the courtyard, looking at you curiously, but also with an eagerness.

They're willing to chat and mingle for a bit, and give their thanks before you go. ]

[ Whenever you're ready, there's a large magical circle drawn in the courtyard for your trip home. All the materials you gathered several weeks ago comprise the ink that makes the circle, and the whole area brims with unusual power. There is one who stands at the ready nearby—Oz, the most powerful wizard in the world, has added his blood to the mixture to power the ritual for several uses, and he'll be the one to cast the ritual itself. He's the only one in this world who can cast such a powerful spell multiple times in one day, after all.

Anything you wear or carry with you will be with you when you arrive home, so be sure to pack your bags well. And once you're ready, step into the circle...

By default, the ritual can be used on one person at a time. The circle connects with the subject's home world, and, in a brilliant display of light, sends them back to the very moment from which they were taken, to the physical state they were in when they arrived. All their wizard powers will be lost and they will return to normal.

For those that wish to take others with them to their world, they will need some sort of physical bond, imbued with either their blood or strands of their hair, to keep them and their visitor(s) together in transit. For example...what about that red string you received, several moons ago? That would do the trick (and for those who did not get one, never fear—there are smart and powerful wizards willing to help devise something similar). The subject and visitors will arrive at the very moment from which the subject was taken, and the subject will be in the exact physical state they were at that moment. Their visitors will be unaffected.

Anyone who retains any sort of connection to this world, be it by keeping a visitor, or leaving a piece of themselves here (by way of soul, or memories—the messy room you left behind does not count), will remain a wizard, in addition to whatever being they were originally. Enjoy your new (or different!) skillset.

Oz will make it clear that the spell is one way—it will send people home, or to a designated world, and that is it. It cannot enable world hopping, but if the universes to which you return have that sort of magic or technology, then perhaps it's worth looking into to see your new friends in person again. It ostensibly cannot bring people back to this world, but...we all know how strange the full moon can make things...

For those who have chosen to remain in this world, we hope you've come by to see your old friends off.

No matter what your choice is, or what world you find yourself in, you will retain all of your memories of your time here.

And on quiet nights, and the moon is shining full in the sky above you,

we hope you look up

and feel a little flutter of excitement

like something a little out of the ordinary is just around the corner... ]

[ Tatara is here at the ritual, of course, and he's chosen to be the last one to leave. He wants to make sure all of his wizards get home safely, if they choose to go home, so he's right there, waving everyone off with a bright smile. It's hard to believe the time has passed so quickly—people who were stranger only a mere handful of months ago are now friends to whom he must bid farewell.

He's never the type to be sad, though. It's bittersweet, knowing he may never see them again, but it's nicer knowing his bag and his camera are both full of memories of them, that he'll carry with him into the tower. ]

Farewell, and thank you!

[ Each time he says this, he says it with the utmost sincerity. Fare well on your journey home and in the days and years to come. Thank you for all your help in getting everyone through this, for saving this foreign world, and getting us this far.

When everyone is finally gone, he'll turn to the present sage and hand over his own sage tome, the thick red book with the flame symbol painted in black on the cover. Once it's out of his hands, he takes a step back. ]

It's not a long story, but it's our story. It's a little unusual, a little funny, a little sad, and it's everything we did to bring you back. I hope you read back on it someday.

[ And with that, it's his turn. He'll step into the circle with Khun and he's all smiles as he faces a certain, brighter future. To think there may have been a time where he would have stepped into this circle alone, no one the wiser to the fate that would await him on the other side. That he would have said goodbye to everything and himself for good, and submitted himself to oblivion eternal.

But that didn't happen. Instead he's taken the hand of one who taught him to live, to truly live, and pulled him from the resignation to his death. He has started to look forward to things beyond the end, instead of counting down the hours to this day. Now he sees one chapter ending, and another beginning.

When he turns to smile and wave farewell to the remaining wizards, and those who will continue their fight against the moon, he does so with heartfelt gratitude. Because without this world, and the weird little mishap that brought him and all the others here, red and blue would have never met and he would not have a rest of his life to look forward to.

So thank you, world. Thank you, sage, thank you, wizards. And thank you, moon.

He will never forget you. ]

[Ah. So his request was impossible after all, and all he feels is... despair.

Ithaqua slips away from the crowd for a moment, giving Urianger a pat and a soft murmur that he'll be back. He ducks behind some cover and then crouches down, figure made smaller with the lack of stilts-- they were ruined in the collapse and while he found them, he decided not to get them fixed-- as he places his face into his knees, hands behind his head.

He is completely silent, but it should be obvious to anyone who found him or managed to come across him that he is mourning.]

--

[When he gets himself together and returns to the ritual grounds, he relies heavily on his mask to hide his expressions. Sure, his voice is raspier when he speaks, but his mask hides his face.

Perhaps he cuts a much less intimidating figure now, when he lacks his stilts and his axe, the only thing left being the lantern, not that he's feels all that bad about the lack. On the contrary, he stands straight, to his full height, which in itself is not inconsiderable. He'll be fine, he'll find another weapon in Urianger's home.]

So, here we are. [He opens his arms, as if to gesture to everything around them, but especially Oz with his ritual.]

We have reached the end, but I strain to think of words of parting. [He's never had to say goodbye, after all!] Here, I shall stand still for you one last time so you can speak your piece.

[Ithaqua approaches the wizards without fear in his gait, obvious for all to see even if his face is covered by his mask. He's confident! Even around the men who are still far more powerful than him and can just completely disregard him.]

I have a request. [Then he holds out the staff that used to be his axe, the top of it splintered off when the axe head was wrenched off of it with a strong but careless blow. The lantern that was once hanging from it is now on his belt.]

Before I inherited this staff, it was my mother's, a witch who lived her life alone and hated until she found me. I would like it to find its final resting place on manor grounds.

... Please. [He used the word! This is how important it is for him.]

(am down for whoever you think is appropriate for this!)

Edited (sry sry for all the edits and reposts) 2024-06-29 17:23 (UTC)

[Solomon sure is hanging out a lot over here, so any wizard will be great, but it's any of the Norths + Arthur and Oz he wants to talk to specifically.

(I will also take Figaro because lol lmao)]

[He's not the first to speak. But he is one of the most surprised, seeing Ithaqua choose to travel rather than to stay so close to his mother.

His expression is just as hard to read as always, smile just so. But Ithaqua gives the chance for parting words.]

...

Make her proud with your choices, dear Ithaqua.

[Child of the magical, never forget your roots, even if the loss will ache.]

[When Ithaqua asks for a moment alone, Urianger knows precisely the reason behind it. As such, after a short while, Ithaqua will find a shadow over him in his hiding place.]

Ithaqua...

[Urianger lowers himself to his knees so that he may wrap his arms around his beloved.

For him, the nature of the ritual to return home is bittersweet, but his ultimate decision is not a difficult one. For Ithaqua, however...he knows it must be excruciating. That's why he will be there to support him as he processes it.]

[ Does he talk to them? Does he not? What if they don't like him? What if he's annoying? There's a lot of second-guessing himself, in true Bruno fashion, before he finally convinces himself to walk up to Snow and White. He is, of course, nervously twisting the edge of his ruana between his hands, but here he is, nerves or not. ]

Uh, hey, hello. I'm Bruno. I... was told you two can, y'know, see the future, too? At. At least, that's what I've been told.

[ Thanks to the wizards back on that Western island. They'd be kind enough to mention other known wizards with future sight, and these two had pretty much been it. ]

[It's not surprising news, to hear that this is the final step. But Solomon seems composed enough as takes his time to slip through the crowd and tap as many as he can. Do you have that fall-damage charm that Ginger and Solomon made for everyone? He will ask to see it, if so, with a lift of his finger to his lips.]

I wouldn't be in the position I'm in if I couldn't trace magical signatures to strange places. But I need a beacon to look for.

[As in: Yes, Solomon is offering to do some world-hopping research, but he needs something magical to either tie him to you, or tie you to him.

No promises, he says. But he will try.

He is also specifically looking for Akira. You have something he needs, before he leaves, kiddo.

--

Once he's spoken to everyone, and spent some time alone with those that request it, Solomon for once makes no show of it when it comes to his departure. It is the clothes on his back, the items in his pockets, those charms that have been gifted to him, and nothing else.

It doesn't stop the ache at turning back to settle on familiar faces, even if he's deceptively good at hiding it. But its moments like these he needs to cherish, while he still can. Let him ache for the loss of the momentary, the loss of connection and compainionship. Let him ache for how sudden this departure must be, unable to drift and let time slowly rip the bandage.

...]

Believe that our connections will transcend time. Don't lose your hopes now, mm? A checkpoint like this isn't the finish line for everything. And your powers, your worth, your sense of belonging... they do not start and end here, even if things must change.

[He chuckles lightly, head tilting slightly.]

I'll find you soon, little lambs. Just keep calling.

Okay?

[His hand lifts, a bare wave, before he swings his cape and steps out onto the magical circle with little more than a nod towards Oz.

It's as the light starts to flash that the sorcerer gives a sweeping bow, mere moments before he's swept off and away.

A fabulous performance, by one and by all.]

[He doesn't need Solomon to tell him that. But in truth... he already thinks he's making a mistake, following Urianger instead of returning to the forest to continue caring for her. Keep her alive, essentially.

The shell of her, that is.]

I know. But I believe I already know what she wants. [She kept much from him after all, he can extrapolate what she wants for him. Now, if he agrees with her... That's another topic.]

Edited 2024-06-29 19:37 (UTC)

[ Yamato is at the ritual, and he understands that this trip is one way. He hasn't offered up his world as an option, hasn't even officially asked Malice to go home with him yet, but somehow, the idea of them never seeing one another again hadn't occurred to him. After three months of seeing each other daily, from those he would just pass by in the hallway to the people he's grown to deeply cherish, it feels weird that he's going to go back to the life he once had. He's happy for it, but he will mourn what he had here.

When Yamato came here, he was angry, bitter and didn't believe in freely handing out his trust. While the latter is somewhat true, he's managed to connect with people here more than he has at home, and that must mean something.

He's also never been great at goodbyes, though, so he's sort of just standing off to the side while the ritual's being set up, not really knowing what to do with himself. All of this felt like a dream...and he's sure people at home will think it was if he told them, too. That's fine, though. This dream is unending, and he'll hold onto what he can of his wizard powers by leaving what's left of his room behind.

Pardon him, if he seems a little sad to be parting ways today. ]

...

[He hears Urianger coming before he looms, but he only uncurls from his position when Urianger embraces him. He wraps his arms around his lover's.]

I do not know if I made the right choice, but I know it's... too late now. [He knows he'd do something horrible and drastic if he returned to his world.]

[ Here's this guy approaching. ]

Ithaqua...

[ Though Ginger knows Ithaqua's wish, there's not much he can offer him... except... ]

This... [ He takes out a small cube, the size of a golf ball. It's plain and a pretty sky blue - the signature color of angelic power. The only distinctive mark is a tiny four-pointed star. ] This contains some of God's powers - and the power of an Angel of Humanity, a guardian angel if you will. We use it to supplement mankind's creativity, which sometimes means... boosting their memories, too. But that's - uh, that's not the important part.

[ He's already explained, he thinks, how humanity has to power to create countless stories, endless worlds, and infinite life. He doesn't want Ithaqua's story to end like this - in mourning, in despair. ]

Sorry, I'm getting all jumbled. The star - it's a tracker. And box itself is... malfunctioning, I think. But if you - or Urianger could fix it, I think you could do... something impossible with it. It can store... an entire world inside it.

[ He shifts on his feet, not uncertain. Antsy to help, maybe. Anxious to make things somewhat okay. ]

It may be cruel to give you hope, but - we met for a reason. I'll try to work on something on this end, too.

[Ithaqua looks up, then stands, taking a deep breath.

And stares, even if he has to control his knee-jerk response towards anything religious (which is to say, violence). Ginger is right-- the gesture is a cruel one, even if it comes from a place of good.

Eventually he raises a hand, rejecting the gift. It's rude to do so... but he really, really does not want it. He thinks the cruelty of false hope is too much to bear, and he does not want such a thing in Urianger's life, either.]

I know you're only thinking about me. [His voice is raspy.] But I believe that holding onto the past so heavily like that will only cause me to become too dependent on it. I cannot accept this help.

... But you could find another way to help, instead.

[ Yamato doesn't approach Ithaqua while he's mourning, if only because he thinks other people like Urianger know more and are able to provide more comfort than Yamato can. It's why he's glad he has one last opportunity to see Ithaqua before they leave – and this time, he's doing it with a smile, one that doesn't seem forced, either. ]

Sensei! [ Yo, teach. ] I've learned a lot from you.

[ What is this... Yamato no longer afraid of Ithaqua...??? (For now!!) ]

Thank you. I'm glad to have met you, Ithaqua.

Haha, leave it to Solo to know how to make his way back to everyone.

[ So he's assuming this isn't really a final goodbye...to Solomon, anyway. He holds up the fall damage charm; he's still got it! ]

I'll hang onto this, then. When you make your way to Japan, I'll show you around.

[ Before Yamato leaves, he can't leave without saying goodbye to his twin. One last conversation, for the road.

He walks up to Tatara. It's good to see him as chipper as ever. Yamato lifts his hand and puts it on Tatara's shoulder. ]

You did well. I hope this experience is something you'll be able to cherish.

[ in the days leading up to their departure robin can be found around the manor, either helping in fixing things up, or... not. his usual haunts, perhaps; reading in the library, jotting something down in that book of his, nursing a chess set in one of the lounges, even whittling away at ... certain potentially familiar, small figurines? actually, wait, some of these seem to have outfits different from the ones previously found in the manor...

at least once, perhaps, he heads to check on the city of ice (and maybe elsewhere, as well), but that's neither here nor there. he'll be available prior to the appointed time, is what we're saying.

---

of course he's going back. it was never written that he would stay. that said, when it's made clear that the trip is one way...

some of you might have something of his. he will not ask for them back, but do they burn a hole in your pocket? they might pulse with a bit of cold for just a moment in the crowd as he checks for his own signature— huh, that's one more than he was expecting, but halved ... ah, he sees what must have occurred— to see where they are now, but otherwise, they'll be as they last were. hopefully you haven't dumped them somewhere, he'll be cross if so.

perhaps surprisingly for him, he's not going to make any dramatic speeches or gestures this time around. tearful farewells and heartfelt displays of sentiment aren't things he's known for either, so that leaves him quiet and evaluating as he watches everyone else's.

he's in no hurry to leave, so for a while, he'll be hanging at the back of the crowd, available if anyone wants to accost him. ]

Edited 2024-06-29 19:19 (UTC)

I'll look forward to it.

[It's said in perfectly modern Japanese, with little more than a chuckle.]

It's been a while. What year is it, when you last remember?

...Whoa...amazing....

[ Solomon is fluent in Japanese? Goddamn. ]

2016, I believe. Does that ring a bell? I didn't know you've visited before.

Oh I've visited plenty. One can't be well-versed in the magical and spiritual without exploring every aspect of it in the world.

2016, though... that puts you close to what should be the present.

["Should be"? Weird choice of words.]

Three or four years back. That makes yours a little easier than the rest... it just depends on how separated our timelines are from one another.

Edited 2024-06-29 19:14 (UTC)

[Surprise, surprise, Ithaqua is approaching the sage as well. For once, he's not looming over Tatara, lacking his stilts.]

You needn't thank me, when you've done it so often over the months.

Are you, truly? [Now his voice goes lower, into a rumble. As if preparing for an intimidation tactic. But no, it's just a bluff.]

Save it. [He waves a hand.] There is nothing to thank me for.

[He's been making his own preparations - resigned himself, to certain possibilities, certain truths.

...

However... not all possibilities are bad ones.

Sometime, in public enough that other wizards can certainly overhear, Ahito will approach. His voice is not particularly quiet, either - there's no way that's not on purpose.]

What was that you said again? You can cross time and space with your power?

Edited 2024-06-29 19:27 (UTC)

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i promise we'll walk across the moon someday soon

OG WIZZY PARTY

GOING HOME...

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