[Permavoice - Screened from all known baddies/The Organization/Paixao natives]

[shout_geronimo]

[his voice is quiet, his tone still, but despite this, the anger is quite obvious by the way his words tremble slightly. He takes a deep, slightly shuddering breath before he speaks]

I assume that most of you have seen the new information that's come to light. I'm not sure when this started, or exactly why this started, but one thing is inescapably clear: this all needs to stop. All of this. The experiments, the disappearances, the arrests. All of it. And we need to stop it ourselves. I'm sure some of you already know what I'm going to suggest, and some of you might already be ready to suggest it yourselves. Maybe some of you did, before I got here.

We need to stand together. We need to be strong enough and brave enough to weather the storm that's ahead of us. The longer we stand idle, the longer this goes on, and the more people get hurt - and I, for one, am not willing to let this slide. We have to gather together, and I think you all know exactly what I'm talking about.

Oh, I'm angry. I've never done that before, not as this me. I honestly have no idea what I'm going to do now, or what's going to happen. [a shaky laugh emerges]

Anyway, who's with me? We can have meetings and get into group hugs and everything. [despite the lightness of his words, it's clear he's deadly serious about gathering an army, even though he - barely - refrains from saying it]

Comments

[shout_geronimo]

[completely enthusiastic] Isn't it? I love that.

That's a good idea! I'm not a fighter, me. Good at chess and making pies and helping people, though. But regardless of whether they hate us or not, they're innocent people in danger and they need help. They need care and protection, just like anyone else.

I can talk! Never shut up, me. I can gab on for hours. I won a gossiping competition once, but that was mostly luck, and they had some weird tea.

[halfdarkened]

We got it then. You're the face of the operation. I'll be a fist.

[He does pause, though.] They... Seem to be. Everyone I've met in the Castle before was just an illusion or a Nobody, with only a couple exceptions. ...This is a lot of exceptions.

[Paaaaaaaaaaaause.] ...Point made.

My idea is to make a public announcement. We'll have this in a park or something, and record it with a journal to post to the board. We need to get the attention of as many Paixaoans as possible. And we'll tell them our plan to try to keep them safe. [A smile can be heard in his voice.] It lets us do two things. One, the mayor will get a nice surprise. Two, it means we can assemble and organize without anyone getting scared.

[shout_geronimo]

Ooh, a face! Never been a face before. Knew a face once, Boe. Nice guy, the Face of Boe. Knew him for ages, I think.

They do seem a bit... copied. Something's definitely off, but they still deserve to be safe.

Oh, have I made a point? Good! [pause] What is it?

Good! Only the Mayor might not be so keen on the idea. He really wants to keep his people safe, but he also seems to sort of hate us. Best to be careful.

[halfdarkened]

...What?

[Thoughful] I hope so.

[ |: | ] ...You're insane, aren't you?

[Another thoughtful pause.] ...What if it's the mayor's idea?

[shout_geronimo]

The Face of Boe! Plugged himself into a city to save its inhabitants.

Of course they do, Riku. Everyone does.

Yep! [ :D :D :D ]

What, exactly, are you referring to?

[halfdarkened]

...The more you talk, the less sense you make. You know that?

I'm just hoping they aren't more illusions.

[Siiiiiiiigh]

As a way for him to take credit for the idea. If there's a way to convince him that the people would like this, then maybe he'd be game. After all, his solution to the snow problem was to shovel himself. Not a good solution, but hey, it showed he'd work. With this, he doesn't have to fight. He stays safe. His people will be safeer.

[shout_geronimo]

Yep! [ :D :D :D ]

I hope so, too. But what makes you think they are? You sound experienced with this sort of thing.

Yes, and he's not a bad chap, once you get to know him. He and his people have all been pushed into a corner. They've been tortured and murdered by some of us outsiders. All he wants is to keep them safe, and us too, to an extent. He's just desperate, and all of us let it get to that point. We need to fix it.

[halfdarkened]

What am I getting myself into...

I am. This is my second time in Castle Oblivion. But this time the rules have changed. Everyplace in Castle Oblivion is a place from memory. It's rooms shift to become those places. As a result, everyone, at least on the upper floors, is from someone's memory. The Islands upstairs are my home. They could be my memories or Sora's or Kairi's... Everyone you meet is as real as those places. But we can't figure out who's memories are Paixao. And remember, the Castle is under the Organization's control. ...That's why I'm a lot more likely to trust an outsider than a Paixaoan.



Then let's be that outlet, then. We can tell him that. We'll offer our time and our safety to ensure theirs. Some of us may be bad news. But not all of us are.

I want to come to tell him. But I'm not sure if that'd be smart.

[shout_geronimo]

Trouble. Brilliant trouble.

So we're all walking through memories in this place? They've done a good job of it. I've never seen a place of memories that's been done so realistically before, and I've seen a lot in my time. ANd really, if this place is full of memories, than this city had to have come from somewhere. But maybe the people here are prisoners, just as we are. Actually, as prisons go, torture and experimentation aside, it's a pretty nice prison.

He might listen to me. We spoke on civil terms. I'll see if I can get an appointment.

[halfdarkened]

I guess that's nothing new.

It's realistic all right. As real as you remember. Sora met so many friends. ...I encountered people I once allied myself with. As brief as those exchanges were, they acted right.

...Prisons are what you make of them. I've never been a fan of being trapped anywhere.

Sounds good. Tell me when it is. I'll wait outside, just in case the mayor wants to see someone else who will help. And I want to know as soon as I can how it went.

[shout_geronimo]

Maybe it is. I think we could all use something new, don't you?

And I've met myself. That's not unheard of, but I don't remember being here before. That's weird.

I like the way you think, Riku.

I will. I'll just have to ask him when we can speak. He didn't seem very happy about us doing nothing to help; this might get some of us on his good side.

[halfdarkened]

A way out would sure be nice.

"You" as in a general "you." Though I doublt you'll meet yourself unless the Organization makes Replicas. The only "me" I met was something independent from the castle's little tricks. I went through worlds in Sora's memories last time I was here, but I never saw myself except for that Replica.

Big as it is, I still don't like being trapped in this castle, either. Not being allowed to leave the city helps.

Or at least take steps in the right direction.

[shout_geronimo]

I'm all over it.

Oh, no, my younger self's running about here. He's been longer than I have. Tall, skinny, sticky-up brown hair, not too fond of fezzes, sadly. Oh, well. Can't win 'em all.

Oh, definitely. I'm not fond of being trapped, and this place, nice as it looks at first glance, isn't helping.

Hopefully. Hope's always good.

Gooood, was waiting for Riku to wonder about the Doctors.

[halfdarkened]

Me too.

Younger self? ...Hold on, him? So you both really did mean THE Doctor, not A Doctor. How can he be a younger you? He doesn't even look like you.

Second glance and third don't help either.

... [He doesn't even reply verbally to that one.]

[shout_geronimo]

Yep! Spoken to him, have you? Sorry, I'm a bit rude. And not ginger. Always wanted to be ginger!

You're right, they don't. But those glances are still helping.

[halfdarkened]

...Ginger?

[Riku just groans here.]

[shout_geronimo]

Yeah! Always wanted to be ginger. I was blond a few times, though.

What's the matter? Are you sick?

[halfdarkened]

...Hair. Right.

No, just... Nevermind.

[shout_geronimo]

Oi! Different regeneration, different hair. Pay attention.

[halfdarkened]

Regeneration? You didn't explain that one yet.

[shout_geronimo]

Haven't I?

[halfdarkened]

No. Explain please. [The "please" is said firmly rather than politely.]

[shout_geronimo]

Maybe later. [nnnnnot the best idea to talk about that on one of these posts, after all]

[halfdarkened]

It's later. [Not that Riku knows.]

I'm going to hold you to that sometime.

[shout_geronimo]

Later than this.

Oh, are you? Good! I love hugs.