kaisou | video; un: wisteria

Entry tags:

video; un: wisteria

WHO: Mikleo and you!
WHERE: The network
WHEN: The end of April
WHAT: Mikleo has some questions for the people who've lived here a while.
WARNINGS: None, will update as necessary.

[video;]

[Lo and behold, the spicy healer who was barking orders at people during the Zodiac heist has a face and sometimes he shows it on the network. He has a very serious demeanor about him, to the point where he even is wearing his custom blue and white labcoat. SCHOLAR MODE: ON.]

Hi again.

This is Mikleo, also known as Assistant Wisteria. I'm with POKEGO as an archaeologist with my focus being religious sites, especially those linked to the Spirit Realm. You've probably seen me around at this point, especially since something about Libra boosts everyone's ability to perceive me in the first place, but... I digress. (To prevent repeat questions: I'm a kind of nature spirit—not a ghost.)

Now that everything's settled down a bit, I wanted to go over some of the research I've compiled from various reports. Here are the facts that are relevant right now:

[He drags a whiteboard into view and starts summarizing bullet points as he speaks.]

• The boundary between the Spirit Realm and Kaisou is thin. We know this because there's a long history of supernatural folk living in the city, and of course the Spirit Vein in the sky.

• In 2021, people from other worlds began arriving in Kaisou ("isekais"), which was unprecedented at the time. About a year after that, people here in Kaisou began remembering their past lives. Zodiac released Libra so that these groups could connect. Ostensibly they also saw an opportunity to make money.

• In August of 2022, the boundary was damaged when some people made an attempt to return to their worlds.

• The Willow incident a few months later damaged the veil further.

• After that, there was a sudden spike in people waking up with animal features and the like.

• While interviewing the Seelie in March of this year, we got some leads. They confirmed that Spirit Energy was accumulating at a rate that should be impossible due to the damaged veil, and it's changing the residents. Normal people can't survive in the Spirit Realm for an extended period unless they are 'changed' themselves; this is why the fae transform people when they are taken to the fae realm. When pressed about what Kaisou's rapid accumulation of energy could be in preparation for, they brought up the disappearance of the Roanoke colony.

• To recap: the Roanoke colony disappearances are an enduring mystery from the founding of the United States. The most popular theory among historians is that they could have integrated into a nearby tribe, but there is very little hard evidence to rule anything out. The Fae seemed to imply that the residents could have been involved in the supernatural much like Kaisou, and the disappearance of the colony's people could be linked to the Spirit Realm as a result.

• There are visible signs of Spirit Realm contamination in the park where the Seelie were staying last month, indicating that the barrier has continued to deteriorate.

So what does all of this have in common?

The barrier or boundary-slash-whatever you want to call it is a major reason why we face the troubles that we do, and also why it hasn't been worse. [He circles the whole list of bullet points and writes "barrier" outside of it.] Every time the barrier has been thrown into chaos, we've seen disaster befall the city to the point where it was affecting people who can't see the paranormal. There are, of course, stories from ancient times of people crossing over into the Spirit Realm... but the implications we heard from the Seelie are on an entirely different scale.

I believe that if we look into the past we might be able to find out where all of this began, and it could help us understand what's happening to us right now.

So, if there's anyone who has lived here a long time... Do you remember anything out of the ordinary happening in 2021? Mysterious disappearances, for example. Or maybe you saw something you shouldn't have, and it's been buried until now? ... That seems unlikely, but maybe it could be related.

The reason I'm asking is because, from the history we have, we know that every recent uptick in Spirit Realm activity has been preceded by some kind of trigger. My theory is that something happened in early 2021 before the "isekais" arrived, and something else happened in late 2021 just before people began remembering their past lives in Kaisou. These two inciting incidents remain a mystery because people who are off the app perceive things differently.

Anyway, even if you can't remember anything, I hope that this illuminates the severity of the situation. Now that Zodiac is no longer actively causing us problems, we should be monitoring the state of our border with the Spirit Realm.

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[Sorey is honestly hesitant to bring this up, but he thinks it might be time. Mikleo's made a strong support net for himself, and the man's had some time to really start to process his grief. He just hopes that this isn't too soon. If nothing else, he can at least test the waters.]

I do have the answer to what caused the isekai phenomenon, unfortunately. It... turned up during our full investigation on Willow.

[It's an invitation to Mikleo. Does he really want to know more? Sorey doesn't mind breaking it to him gently and being there for him, but he also wants to give Mikleo a way to back out gracefully.]

what?

We, as in POKEGO, launched a full investigation into Willow after the incident last year. This was all to determine not only the full scope of his plans, but also to figure out just how many people had sided with him.

It's an ugly picture that it paints, but I can share the case file with you if you feel that you're ready to read it.

just give me the tldr first

I can do that.

Willow's first experiment with Giratina began January 2021 and resulted in failure. This caused a deep wound in the fabric of the spirit realm, which then brought in the first isekais.

The second experiment came about in January 2022. This also resulted in both failure and a deepening of the wound, causing all of the very visible and strange phenomena occurring here. After this, he changed his plan from traveling to other worlds to restoring his own world.

does it say why?

According to the psychological profile, he became obsessed with his past life, romanticizing it because he felt like he didn't belong. This then led to him wanting to travel to a world that would give him the sense of belonging he craved.

Others he recruited to his cause had similar feelings, as near as I can tell. Or they were compassionate for their fellows. Either way....

idiot

[But yeah, this is bugging Yuuki. What the hell, Willow?]

i'm sorry what now.

A full investigation was launched to dig into Willow's background to determine the scope of his plans, as well as to figure out just how many in POKEGO were on his side. There was an internal investigation as well as one spearheaded by The Black Order and Zodiac. I had thought that Zodiac would've shared their findings with you all, but it appears not.

[The Black Order, from what he's observed, doesn't give a fuck who knows and who doesn't, so he's not surprised by that. Sorey also won't be surprised if the Guardians here are unaware.]

The reason isekais are here is because of Willow's initial experiments with Giratina. His experiment failed, but it left a deep wound on the boundary between Kaisou and the spirit realm. The results of that first experiment's failure was the appearance of people from other worlds.

well that certainly proves my own assumptions shared by wisteria as to an inciting incident on that specific front, though the reasoning beyond past life memories continue to elude me. let's take it from the top, doctor:

-of course zodiac wouldn't tell us shit
-what the hell is a giratina
-is there any likelihood of fixing said damage to the boundary

Of course.

Giratina is a Pokemon known to cross dimensions. We've classified it as a legendary creature, a step below mythical.

We're still in the process of determining whether or not it can be. Normally, tears will heal on their own given enough time. However, the second experiment Willow conducted in January of 2022 made it a much bigger wound. This is all new territory we're going into.

As far as remembering our past lives are concerned... we're not sure what's going on with that. The phenomenon of remembering these lives we used to live was not only an exceptionally rare occurrence, but usually was triggered by something traumatic. It's impossible to predict who will remember and who won't, but that trigger is universal. Kaisou is strange because of the sheer amount of people who are remembering it, and all without any sort of trigger that we can tell. This might be related to Willow's experiments, but it also might not be. At this juncture, it's hard to say what's causing the memory recall.

[Zelretch as a dragon, exactly what the multiverse needs.]

so odds are it'll repair itself on its own given X amount of time, or it'll require direct intervention. either way, an unprecedented situation.

were i to venture my best guess, i might put forth that the elevated spiritual energy would have a hand in that. if the city is a point through which an above average amount of magic flows, then i assume it would have more effects than merely physical changes. the lack of the trigger you describe would be one such example; putting one in contact with the supernatural in the form of a constant ambient pressure could potentially act as a trigger in itself.

Edited (i can't spell) 2023-04-29 20:16 (UTC)

Indeed. Not just physical changes have been observed, either, but also mental ones. You can see that in the rise of more animalistic instincts as people begin experiencing these changes. Werewolves, for example, being completely unable to function without people they consider part of their pack. This isn't even scratching the surface of all the memories people are recalling of their past lives, of course. That adds its own unique layer to an already complicated situation.

I'm afraid it's going to get a lot worse before it can even begin to get better.

[Well, isn't this a great way to start this off.]

Damn it. I know what you're about to say.

[This deserves a swear word.]

It was in his file, wasn't it? I never looked. I don't think they would've let me, but I also never asked.

You can tell the others. I just... I need a moment.

... Sorry.

[Sorey just... looks sad, but his voice is gentle.]

Take all the time you need, love. But... yes. It's in his file. I have it if you want me to send it to you, but not until you're certain you're ready.

[He looks like an idiot considering the premise of his questions, but naturally he's not too concerned with that right now. It's everything else.

His partner hasn't even been dead six months.

He needs to take some deep breaths by himself, so he sets his phone down in order to do that. He gets some water. And finally, a few minutes later, he picks up where they left off.]

... Okay. You can send the case notes.

[He breathes out and rubs his temples.]

Thank you for handling all of this. I didn't realize just how big my blind spot was.

[Sorey takes that time to start fielding questions. Mikleo deserves his space and his time, and he's ready when his lover comes back.]

I can't blame you. You were still processing your own emotions at the time, I expect. That's only natural. Besides, we're partners, so of course I'm here to help you.

[He compiles the case file he'd been sent by Professor Oak before encrypting the email to Mikleo.]

I've sent an encrypted email to you.

[It... feels good to have partners he can rely on, but there's something about the way Sorey specifically handles all the questions that Mikleo can't right now, that really speaks to his true compassionate nature as a mediator. He loves this man so thoroughly it's painful.

His old partner was never able to fill the Sorey-shaped hole in his heart, but Mikleo had come to trust him and care for him in his own way. The edges of the wound his death left are still jagged and painful. But he's... getting through it. One day at a time. One memory at a time.

He decides he'll go over the details later. Sorey has already summarized it for Waver, so he'll peek at that for now.]

He had really been working on it for that long... Then, when he—

[He breathes in through his nose and tilts his head back.]

... No. I don't want to know. It doesn't matter, so I'm better off not knowing.

[He closes his eyes for a moment to steady himself.]

I trusted him, you know. But I can see how he could have preyed on people to sway them to his plan. I was at my own funeral, Sorey. I didn't know what to do. I didn't have anywhere to go, and no one could take me in. But he saw me standing there, crying as my parents were crying, and he said... he said—

"It doesn't have to be like this. You can find a new home with us."

And I did. I found a purpose and I found a place, and I found a partner who I thought would be with me for a long time. ... And then Willow took all of that away practically overnight. My old partner tried to take me with him, so I severed the pact and ran. I don't remember if I told you that. I hid in Yuuki's dorm because if no one could see me, they couldn't tell him I was there. Eventually my ex-partner gave up and went to help Willow, and no one ever saw him again until they found his body.

He was hunted down and killed like an animal. How... how am I supposed to just forget about all of that?

If my entire reason for joining POKEGO was a lie, I don't think I could stand it. It's too awful.

[Sorey is certainly doing his best to help. It's the least he can do, at least that's what it feels like. He gives Mikleo his moment to regain his center in silence. The brunet stays silent as his partner starts speaking. He listens to all of it without judgment.

It's a lot of pain that Mikleo is carrying within him. He wishes he was with the seraph right now, but he's unfortunately at work. Sorey bites his lip in thought for a moment.]

It's not your fault, Mikleo. You did what you had to—no, what you needed to. But you don't have to forget all of that. I can only imagine how much pain it caused you... but it's not your fault and it's okay to remember. It's okay to think back on the good memories. It's also okay to be angry and sad.

However... I don't think it was a lie. You joining POKEGO, I mean. Even if Willow's intentions were sinister, you made something of that experience all on your own separate from him. That still means something, right?

[Just having someone tell him that it's okay to feel things is... really helpful. Mikleo tends to have a cooler, sharper kind of anger. It's not good to hold it in for a long time, but he's done just that, with his grief simmering just beneath the surface.

Maybe now he can finally start to let go.

He doesn't say anything for a minute, but he does sniff in a very telling way, like he's trying not to cry. He dabs at his eyes with his sleeves. Damn it. Damn it. He doesn't want to unravel while Sorey isn't here. He'll just feel worse.]

... You're right. The memories I have, the friends I made—those are mine to keep. [And they're his to carry.]

My whole department, the study of Spirit Gates, and everything involving the Spirit Realm... That research was tainted by him. I pursued that research because I really believed in his work. It'll take a long time for people to trust us again, if they ever do.

But... I'm going to say something crazy—

[He's found his resolve during this conversation. Sorey just dusted it off for him.]

I want to rebuild my division from the ground up. I know I don't have much seniority, but I want to make it into something better. I want us to accomplish something so improbable that people will hear Spirit Gates and POKEGO research in the same sentence and they won't think of Willow, they'll think of what we did instead.

[He breathes out, steadier this time.]

Let's fix the barrier.

[You know, the thing causing everyone's problems. Like it's that easy. Like they can just grab a needle and thread from the store and sew it back up. Thanks for playing, everyone can go home now—]

You understand, right? It's the only thing that makes sense.

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