theairlock | and we'll raise a glass to ass in a final goodbye

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!anniversary

and we'll raise a glass to ass in a final goodbye

On behalf of the Empress Kristen of New Earth, you and a guest are cordially invited to attend a party in your honor.
The party will be held on the Thirteenth day in Fourthmonth, 6975, at New Earth's Sexbang Park.
It will be our esteemed privilege to see you again.

The invitations arrived through space and time. Some arrived months ahead, some only weeks. But the victims of Airlocked all receive an invitation marked with the royal seal of New Earth.

The same section of the park has been set aside to provide privacy. There's with every kind of food imaginable, including a food truck that purports to serve Authentic Vegetarian Flavortown Cuisine. The man running it certainly looks like he wouldn't be out of place among the colorful population of Flavortown.

The statue is still there, standing tall and proud over the fountain. The forests have grown even more lush and the gardens even more verdant in the year since you last found yourselves hosted here.

Prince Daniel, now nearly five, is eager to do his princely duty and to greet every newcomer as they arrive. His mother, beautiful as always, follows behind to supervise her son and to make sure that her guests feel at home.

Welcome back to New Earth, Champions. Enjoy your stay.

((Welcome to the one year anniversary log! Here is the OOC post with the rules, but to sum up, this log is for former players of Airlocked to dust off their beloved characters and reunite with old CR. While each character's invitation includes a +1, you're free to NPC this person or to not choose one, if the character you would choose was played by a non-Airlocked player during the endgame log.

In your toplevel, feel free to include as much or as little as you'd like about what your character has been doing over the past year! We ask that you leave all CRAUs from other games at the door, even though we are blown away by just how many of you loved your character development enough to take them with you into other games.))

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(ooc: so hey in light of actual canon let's just pretend ardyn's brother's name was always somnus WORK WITH ME HERE.)

['The fate bestowed upon a man cannot be changed.']

[So had been divine edict, issued and accepted in a time temporarily forgotten. There was no escaping the ending that had been foretold, not even from the very beginning two millennia ago. An entire planet and all who lived upon it made pieces on a chessboard, blood against blood and brother against brother all at the will of a god who couldn't settle his own war.]

[It felt like an eternity ago, even to one who understood 'eternity' better than most. 'I'd be more surprised if you hadn't lost all concept of time', Verstael had said--and madman or not, he'd been right about that. A year or so since the mansion, another since everything had ended, and yet Insomnia seemed so much longer ago. And it all felt...impossible. Lately he almost feared that he'd blink and it would all be gone, another hallucinated delusion amidst hundreds. That his fate truly was inescapable, and all of it for nothing.]

[But it didn't, of course. Every ~~morning~~ early afternoon in the past year he woke up to the same life, the same reality. Ardyn was nothing more remarkable than an intergalactic actor hopping between roles on varying soap operas. Which was more than a bit surreal if he thought about it like that, but what could one do? Ardyn loved the popularity, and more than that his true motivation was to be sure that this time, people remembered his existence. Modern technology certainly did make erasing all records of a person much trickier, after all.]

[Today wasn't the sort of day for such dismal thoughts. In fact Ardyn looked bright and cheerful for the most part, dramatics and charisma out in full force as he greeted just about anyone enthusiastically. (Or avoided them unless they chose to talk to him, in certain well-deserved cases. And also possibly ducking Noctis, because reasons.) Luscinia held her usual perch on his shoulder, but now he was also trailed by a massive black-feathered chocobo who occasionally tried nibbling at his hair.]

[As the day wore on, eventually he'd take up some space off to the side, sitting out in the sunlight with his back to Philomela and writing in a small notebook--occasionally, he might have even been heard humming to himself as he often did.]

['Adagium' faded as the legend and fearful hushed whispers it had been, and someone else had taken its place entirely. No longer the fallen king, prisoner of fate--no longer imprisoned whether by chains or his own rage. He was just a mortal with a family, one that would never dare turn on him even if the very gods deemed it necessary.]

['Ardyn Tenmyouji-Church' was very much alive, liberated from destiny and solitude alike, and he was very much going to stay that way.]

Edited (last edit i swear) 2019-04-12 22:12 (UTC)

[Arianna's spent most of the past year putting off actually going "home" to Caledonia, instead going back and forth between an apartment next to Yuuri and Junpei's and continuing her adventures in High Lagaard, where she and her adventurer friends have in fact killed several dragons. (The icy-looking whip she's carried some of the time, conspicuously absent today, is an acquisition from one of these adventures.) Everyone here probably already knows all this already, because she's also been attempting to visit literally everyone.

Recently, though, she's finally gone back to face the proverbial music. So it's probably no surprise that most people haven't seen much of her for the last month or two--a princess can't disappear mysteriously for nearly a year, under circumstances where the optimistic conclusion is that she ran off with a peasant boy and the realistic conclusion is that she died horribly, without there being consequences.

It took a lot of convincing to get her parents to let her bring the consequences with her, but when Arianna arrives and curtsies politely to Prince Daniel, she carries in her arms the young Princess Phaedra Caledonia. She has her sister's eyes.]

[Asking when the Doctor's invitation arrived is actually a pretty tricky question, given his less than solid connection with a linear existence. But at some point, a little blue box at least some of the other Champions are familiar with wheezes itself into reality in a secluded corner of Sexbang Park.]

[When the Doctor emerges he- looks like he might've been busy? Or more likely he's spent some time -relatively, anyway- without consistent company and his sense of fashion has suffered even further. There's a straw hat, and a lei, and sunglasses- it's not a great look, even by his standards.]

Fountain's still the same, I see. You know, I almost actually missed it.

[He seems cheerful enough, but almost too aggressively so? It's probably fine.]

Edited 2019-04-12 23:01 (UTC)

[ For the majority of people who survived Airlocked, unless they went out of their way to visit him, they haven’t seen Choromatsu all year. His brothers were thoroughly done with space and he had stayed home this whole time with them out of duty and homesickness. But it was hard to resist an invitation from a queen and the chance to see everyone... even if he’s still convinced many of them are better off never seeing him again.

He looks the same way he did back when this whole mess started, like he’s gone completely back to normal. He hasn’t even aged, probably just the effect of his world’s “back to status quo” effects. He’a ditched his familiar green hoodie for the more formal blue suit he and his brothers always wear when they need to dress up. If not for the way he still occasionally holds his forearms or the more wary look in his eyes you wouldn’t be able to tell how NOT back to normal he is... not by looking anyway.

He’s also completely alone.

After indulging the little prince and explaining to the royals that his family couldn’t make it he takes a walk around the park, checking out the greenery and feeling about as awkward as a fish out of water. ]

Edited 2019-04-12 23:33 (UTC)

Salutations! I've missed you so much!

[That's probably the greeting your getting, if you've ever talked to Penny for any length of time. She- looks exactly the same, because what is aging, though she has dressed up this time around.]

[For those of you who shared a season with her, she's presenting a small gift - simple pendants of very small crystals in varying colors.]

Normally Dust crystals are very volatile, but they need to be in contact with Remnant's atmosphere to combust, so they should be safe? They're encased in glass for extra protection, but- um, maybe leave them behind when you visit, just to be on the safe side. But this way it's like you've got a little piece of Remnant with you even when you're at home, too!

[ It's already been a year.

And yet, somehow, it's only been a year. Yuuri still can't quite get her head around it.

There's some things that she's still getting used to – introducing herself to people as Tenmyouji instead of Wakasa, talking about college and not high school. Infrequently (but often enough to have become a bit of a running joke) she refers to Sangen-Jaya instead of Yongen-Jaya and earns herself an odd look or two.

Most of it, though, has come as naturally as breathing. Fussing over getting Ruu to and from school, making time to spend an evening with Kurumi, Yuki, Miki and the others so they can all be sure they're caught up with each other. Coming home to her family and knowing that she – and all of them – are safe and sound. That one was the hardest to make stick. But with a year of blessedly mundane and wonderfully average life at her back, she thinks she's finally managed it.

She's dressed up for the occasion, like she usually does, and still has her hair hanging long and loose, with that braid of hers tied with the usual red ribbon. She seems... different. There's not much of a physical change, save for an inch or two of length to her hair, but something about the way she holds herself is new. Much of that anxious, nervous energy that seemed to be always under the surface is gone and she just seems happy, really and fully relaxed in a way it was very unusual to see in her before. As a shock to no one, not being in mortal peril and having a stable and happy life does wonders for your mental and emotional health. Amazing!

For the most part, when she's not keeping an eye on Ruu out of the corner of her eye, she's making sure to aggressively mingle and catch up with the people she hasn't managed to visit since the last time they all got together. She'd had a wonderful year and she's sure everyone else has too – and she wants to hear all about it. And if you happen to ask Yuuri about her year then – well, apologies, but you're going to have to put up with some gushing. Depending on who you ask about, you might get Twitterpated Wife Rii-san, Embarrassingly Doting ~~Mom~~ Big Sister Rii-san, or Extremely Proud Club President Rii-san and she has a million and one updates to give you. She just loves her family very much and wants everyone to know it!!

Once the day wears on a bit, she steps back a little from the crowds and finds herself a nice shady spot under one of the trees to sit. She's not wallflowering, she just wants to take a few steps back and take it all in – the bustle, the chatter and the general happiness in the air. It's a warm, spring day, all of them are alive and, she'd like to think, all happy.

It's a wonderful thing to be alive, isn't it? ]

My, I haven't seen you in...

[Sitting nearby with a snoozing chocobo and a notebook, Ardyn frowned in mock thoughtfulness and tapped the pen in his hand against his head.]

Ten minutes? Good heavens, practically forever. How did I get by?

[ardyn...]

Bit tired, princess?

[It's only been a year since all that, but it's already been like an entire week since Arianna saw Yuuri in person (it turns out formally abdicating is complicated when everyone thought you were dead already!), and that is unacceptably long. Especially when there's a new sister to introduce!]

Rii-san!

[Eee!, Phaedra adds.]

[What a birthday.

What a year.

It's not that it's been terribly exciting - though it has, in a way, been the liveliest and most beautiful span of time Jane has ever existed in so far, and she'd traveled, goodness had she traveled - but it was peaceful. It was hers, and her time was free to give and share. Free to experience.

Although she knows very well that the gathering is going to be at the park again, the one with the ridiculous fountain, she dresses very nicely anyway, feeling more at home in magenta than she had a year ago. She greets everyone with the brightest smile, the warmest hug, and yes, everyone gets a personal tin of cookies, the contents reflecting each person's particular tastes and dietary needs. Never doubt the tenacity of a Crocker. And - and there's just - so much to catch up on, even if it hasn't been that long since she's dropped by to see you. There are new Polaroids of her little herd of Chocobos and of all the shenanigans her funny, teeming adoptive family now get into. There's laughter, there's quips, and the possibility of a pie to the face - her sylladex is still quite functional, after all, don't put it past her to have filled it with tins of whipped cream - and while the underlying sadness and gloom is still there in her, would always be there, it seems...time has begun to fill in the cracks, somewhat. New memories sprout up from them like sunny dandelions and lush clovers in a sidewalk. There are still nightmares and long days, moments of tormented thoughts, but Jane is resilient. They all are. This she knows, and this she believes, and this is something she'll remind you of, should you seem to need it.

She's likely to stick by Xander and/or Lightning, but for the most part? Jane's just happy to see you.]

[WHO WANTS TO SEE FINN'S NEW METAL HAND no, he's still in one piece, by some miracle. He looks- tired, but happy to see everyone. His outfit is pretty simple, but at least manages to avoid looking like someone who's been running and fighting for most of the past year. The Resistance is outnumbered, underfunded, and outgunned, but they've been keeping up the good fight.]

[It's been a lot of guerilla, dark-ops kind of action, hitting and running, trying to wreck the First Order's supply lines, stealing what they can, taking care of the increasing number of kids and war orphans somehow ending up in the Resistance's care. Keeping them off the front lines as long as possible.]

[It's been a long year.]

[A lot of which he'll be trying to avoid, unless you really press him on it. This is a good day, he doesn't want to saddle everyone with the realities of galactic warfare.]

Ja~ane!

[uh-oh.]

[A large bird nudged gently at Jane's shoulder, a small bag tied with a magenta ribbon held delicately in her beak and held out in offering.]

Before you say anything, I have a gift for you, darling. I do hope you like it.

Wh - Ardyn!

[how large is this bird is this a chocobo or a pigeon]

You didn't have to get me anything - oh, fiddlesticks, you'll have me take this whether I like it or not, won't you? In that case, you'd better accept the cookies I made for you.

[~~surprise it's just a bunch of brown sugar in a tin~~ No, she wouldn't do that to him, that's rude. But the ingredients are listed carefully and accurately, and whatever his heart desires in cookies is likely incredibly sweet, and it's heckin in there.

But anyway. Uh. Open this tiny bag, what's the surprise?]

[lorge black chocobo. Luscinia was comfortably on his shoulder, but Philomela dutifully dropped the charming little bag into Jane's hands. Inside was surprisingly cookies as well--made in the shape of Lil' Sebastian's head complete with sunglasses.]

[Ardyn, meanwhile, opened the box with a small smile; maybe he was uncertain for half a second, but swiftly thought better of it. Jane of all people wouldn't hurt a fly, and even paranoia couldn't hold up to the idea that she might.]

Oh--this is delightful, Jane. You didn't need to go to any trouble either.

[Yurika shows up in a cute dress and runs up to anyone she knows, smiling and waving.]

Am I glad to see you! Not that I'm not happy with home, but getting married is stressful enough without trying to keep the war from restarting. I've missed you all so much!

Edited 2019-04-13 01:39 (UTC)

[Mai's brought a friend and a Bear-san, and she can be found stuffing her face, playing with any pets who are around, or awkwardly staring.]

...Hello.

...Hello. [bow] Are you okay.

[ HEYYYYY GURL IT'S UR BFTYKOBIF (best friend that you killed once but it's fine), dressed up... fancy also? I'll figure it out later. ]

Oh hell yeah! Gimme that potentially explodey rock, girl.

Ardyn!

[ Rhys zeroes in on him immediately, and honestly, they've both never looked better. The yellow and black arm is gone, as well as the blue of his ECHOeye implant. Instead, it's a silver arm, as well as an eye that actually matches closer.

He's also got a pair of angel wings, tattooed on the other side of his neck. But more importantly, he looks happy. He strides over and raises a hand, gently punching him in the arm. ]

Hey, you look great! Man, it's been, like, forever, right?

My, look at you. If I didn't know you, I'd say you looked well put together. [A playful shove to the shoulder.]

It's been too long, certainly. I trust you've been well?

[ Noctis, however, is not having that.

It's been a year, and Noctis has had a few visitors. More than a few (including, shockingly enough, a certain Food Network host that had nearly given Noctis a heart attack), but one in particular... hasn't really been around.

He can't really say he doesn't understand, because he does. Likely Ardyn thinks he doesn't have a right. But Noctis isn't about to let Ardyn keep thinking that, and they're here, so...

He approaches Ardyn, drink in hand, an easy smile on his lips. ]

If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were avoiding me.

Edited 2019-04-13 02:24 (UTC)

Excuse you, I always look well put together!

[ He grins and crosses his arms. ]

As if you expect any less? It's been... Man. It's been really great, the past year. [ Marrying Angel, living in a place where they're not fearing for their lives every second, running a company that's not built on murder and exploitation... ] How about you?

It's been...hm.

[He frowned thoughtfully, as if carefully evaluating the past year before answering. It would've been wrong to brush things off, much as there were things he just Didn't Want To Talk About.]

...It's been a bit rough here and there. But I don't mind so much, and I wouldn't trade it for a single thing.

Wh...who, me? Avoiding you?

[Ardyn smiled in his awkwardly crooked way, but didn't quite meet Noctis' eyes under the pretense of smoothing out Philomela's feathers. It wasn't Noctis' fault, of course--Ardyn wanted to at least check in on him a bit more often, but in recent months it had been...]

[...'Difficult' was a good term, if a bit vague.]

I wouldn't dream of it.

Would it be any of us if we didn't have some rough patches?

[ He says it with surprising genuine seriousness, but Rhys definitely understands rough times. There are still times when he wakes from nightmares.... not just from the show, but from before: Helios falling, Jack trying to murder him...

He grins a little, to lighten the mood. ]

But it's all been worth it, especially with the food they've brought here. Man, wish I could bring one of those trucks home with me.

Hmmm.

[ He has one of the dogs with him. A Shiba Inu, naturally, and she tilts her head curiously as she watches Ardyn. Noctis gives her a pat on the head. ]

Well, we're here now. How about we find a place to sit and catch up?

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and we'll raise a glass to ass in a final goodbye

episode ardyn spoilers

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