sirenspull | April 17th, 2013

April 17th, 2013

[ Jesse is in his room. As usual, it looks very tidy, but there are a few bags in the corner. Jesse's beloved dog Wiggler, now nearly his fully adult size, lays down on the floor, snoozing. The looping end of the leash is underneath the snoozing dog. The hamster is not floating, but nibbling on some food in a blue, transparent cage clearly meant for travel. ]

Hi, everyone.

I guess school's over now. I said goodbye to my classmates - the ones whose parents would let me talk to them, anyway. Most of them are in MAN.

Or used to be in MAN. I guess MAN doesn't matter anymore.

[ They either fled from the island or stay behind to die. That's how it goes in this stupid island. ]

I'm leaving. The island, I mean. I can't go back home anyway. I'm going on a boat instead of teleporting, if I can. I don't want to leave alone this time. I'm taking my dog Wiggler and my hamster E.T with me.

[ The dog suddenly gets up and greets his master, nuzzling his cold nose against Jesse's elbow. Jesse pets Wiggler distractedly. ]

I can't say I'll miss this place. It gave me good things, but it mostly gave me a lot of grief. It gave me good people I would have never have met back home, and it took them away in the end.

[ Like Bruce. Like Christina. ]

It made a lot of people suffer when they shouldn't.

[ It made me suffer, is the obvious omission from Jesse. But he won't complain about himself. Not when the end is so close. ]

It gave me a different life, I think. I used to live as a normal boy, back home. Now I live as the Antichrist, and I think - I think it's no different, yeah?

I don't know what will happen when I get to the mainland. Maybe I'll help with fighting the Darkness with the CIA and stuff. Or maybe I'll live in California and be a surfer. I really don't know what to do after I leave the island.

[ Jesse sags in his seat, winded by that little speech. He's not one who talks a for a long time. He's not exactly a conversationalist. ]

Well, that's it, I guess. Sorry if that was preachy. I usually don't talk this much.

[ Jesse looks down, thoughtful.]

Well, I guess . . . this is good-bye.

[ He reaches down to Wiggler and drags the dog's upper body to his lap. He takes one of the dog's paws and waves it at the screen, making the dog to wave good-bye himself. ]

Say bye Wiggler! Bye-bye!

[ The dog just rolls his eyes toward Jesse, in a mournful expression of trepidation.

Jesse reaches over and turns off his NV, ending his final post to the Newcomer Network. ]

paysdelamour

[Francis appears on the NV looking rather tired. It's been only a week and a half since he was last on, but this one is obviously on purpose. He takes a deep sigh, before he continues, a little solemnly.]

Many of us are going home, back to our original worlds. I must unfortunately say I am one of them, mes amis. Some of you... may have seen a post I made last week, so you know my true identity... [Francis awkwardly smiles at that.]

... and for those of you who have not, you may be quite surprised when you go back to look at it. Simply know that what I say is true: I am the embodiment of France. I have lived for thousands of years, as long as the people of France have lived. And that is why I must go back. I have a duty to my people, my countrymen... though this does not mean that some of you will never get to see me again. You could always come with me.

[Francis shifts then, crossing his legs in a rather businesslike posture, threading his fingers together and placing his index fingers to his lips for a moment, before offering his proposition.]

For those of you who know me well, or will not cause trouble in my world... due to my... influence in the government of France, I can always pull some strings and find you a place to live, a job perhaps... in order to give you a better life on Earth. It does not have to be in Paris, it does not have to be in France. Japan, America, or dozens of others will likely be happy to help. I simply thought... some of you may prefer this option, because you cannot go home for one reason or another, but you do not want to stay here.

[He pauses once more, trying to figure out how to word this properly.]

I'm leaving tonight, with Liliane and whatever small things I cannot do without. Anyone who is interested, let me know. And anyone who I know well... if you are staying, or going to your own home world, may I visit you before I go? I simply want to say goodbye.

[The feed then ends.]

tryingitall

Hello. [Balthazar seems to be in an alley, seated on the edge of a chunk of fallen masonry. He looks otherwise utterly composed.]

Please understand, I'm not trying to be overdramatic here. I've considered my options and settled on the one that seems...

[There's a long pause as his gaze strays to the middle distance and his lips purse uncomfortably.]...simplest.

Really, I made my choice the moment I stepped out of Heaven. It's just been a longer and more tortuous path than I expected.

[Deep breath. He smiles vaguely and shrugs.]

So. I'll be staying here. I wish everyone the best. Go somewhere safe and have a glass of brandy for me. Or a piece of chocolate. Whichever suits you.

[The last words before he clicks off the feed are murmured softly, in Enochian:]

Go in peace and love, my brothers. Goodbye.

rapturescreed

[Guys, it's the last network post you will ever see of Raul Creed sitting behind the desk of his Newcomer Community Center office.]

This is a hard time for everyone, and I thank you for the time you all are making to watch this message. While it hasn't been made as public, due to the party's wishes, the Newcomer Community Center has been... [That just gets a wave of his hand.] Well, it's still standing, and anyone who might wish to seek refuge can still come here, for as long as they need to.

[He sighs, leaning forward just a little.] It's unfortunate that this city which many of us have called home is being torn apart like this. I know that I did not expect it to become like this. But, despite the drastic, and at times fatal changes, there are still many options available for everyone.

One of those is to leave the island. There are many boats and many people leaving the island as quickly as possible, and it is very easy to gain passage on one of them. And if anyone needs anything to help get them on a boat that is supposedly "full", then the Newcomer Fund will give you the necessary means to find a spot on it. [Times are serious, after all, and there's plenty of money in that fund.]

Another option, some of us believe, is to go home. Back to your home, wherever that may be. We're all from very different worlds and universes, as we all know, and many people will want to go home. I'm sure we all feel that we are being drawn to the Core in some way, and I will admit, going home is a best guess on my part. I say it will take us home, but I am not a scientist, so please be mindful of that. [You could go somewhere else, or die, or whatever by going to the Core; how the hell is he supposed to know?]

And the other option is to stay in Siren's Port. For some of us, this is home. This is where we've put down roots, so to speak. Where our families are, in whatever shape or form they are in. Perhaps the way the city is right now will die down, and things will go back to normal; or, maybe they won't. Just as much as all of the other options, this is not one that has a 100% guarantee rate of success.

[And now he leans back in his chair.] Which leads into the next part: all of these options are choices that you need to make. It is your choice, an individual choice that everyone must make. This is not a choice for families or groups of friends to make. Do not let anyone pressure you into making a choice. This is the biggest decision we've all had in awhile, and it is up to you to decide what you wish to do for yourself, not for anyone else. To be quite honest, I personally do not know what I will do. It's a stressful time, and I wish I could give an opinion of what is the best option, but my choice is not your choice.

But there is one thing I want everyone to agree on. Whatever you decide to do, wherever you decide to go: remember us. Remember the experiences you had here, both the good and the bad. Remember the friends you have made, the families you have created. Remember those who left us before we were ready to be left, and the relationships we had with them. Remember the trials and tribulations we, as Newcomers, had to face, and how we survived even in the face of adversity.

Remember us. That's all that I ask.