EMERGENCY ZODIAC BROADCAST

[kaisoumods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Libra App
WHEN: August 8th, morning after the dinosaur attack
WHAT: Zodiac Network Post
WARNINGS: None!

[It's been a harrowing day with the tears appearing all over the city and dinosaurs appearing. By now, thanks to the combined efforts from Zodiac, the Black Order and app users - they've managed to trap most of the dinosaurs into barriered areas throughout the city. The damage done by all this is immense, and there's more than a few questions left unanswered.

The phone will ring its usual ringtone that it gives when there's a Zodiac broadcast. It will not stop until it is read.]

Hello Everyone.

As you're likely aware by now, there was an incident this morning that resulted in the attack on the city. This was caused by a manmade portal. While many of you may be aware that manmade portals are considered dangerous due to the inability to predict what realm they will open into, there is a lesser known reason why they are considered so dangerous. Unlike normal Spirit Gates who serve as doors into the Spirit Realm, a manmade portal is like punching a hole into the barrier that separates our world from the Spirit Realm. Doing so often results in a weakening of the surrounding barrier, causing the tears we saw today.

Varian has taken full responsibility for the portal incident today, with Fern as a bystander. He constructed a portal and used God's blood as fuel. During his attempt to open a portal, a T-rex appeared and damaged the gate, as well as took the god's blood.

Despite Varian's insistences that he acted alone, considering the scale of the project, we suspect he had accomplices assist him in the project. As a consequence for his attentions, Zodiac will be monitoring Varian more closely moving forward. In addition, him and anyone else who is found to be involved in this project will be expected to do community service as well as assist in resolving this situation.

Speaking of resolving the situation, while the Black Order has agreed to assist, we ask for your assistance as well. The barriers that were placed are a temporary stopgap measure. We need to seal the tears throughout the city, and travel into the realm itself to neutralize the God's Blood that was taken so it doesn't continue weakening the Spirit Realm barrier.

If you are able and willing to help, please come by the Zodiac offices for more information.

Our sensors have also picked up on several more Isekai who arrived around the same time as the portal incident. We're still investigating if they are related to the damage done. Anyone who has arrived are welcome to contact Zodiac for any housing arrangements.

Stay safe out there.

[Users will have the option to choose their own display names and userpics if they haven't already. If nothing is chosen, the app will use their real name and a quick photo taken of them from their camera's phone. Zodiac will not respond to this message, but anyone who confesses to invovlement will get contacted about community service at a later date. Going to the Zodiac Office is covered in the event log and is handwaved with the NPCs. This post is also visible to anyone who just arrived! ]

Comments

[fiddlestick]

[oh boy. He didn't want to be this harsh, but sometimes...it needs to be done]

Varian, I know you're upset. But if you want to fix your mistake, you need to consider reality.

If you went on your own- how would you stop a t-rex on your own? What happens if you get hurt in there? What if you reach an obstacle that you can't pass on your own? What if one of your worried friends go in after you and they get hurt? What if you die and that ruins our chances of closing the portal?

If you want this operation to succeed, you need other people to help you. We're all in this together, okay?

[droptheious]

[Harsh is definitely the way to go here. Varian needs no wriggle room AT ALL.]

I

[He stops in his response, the little ... flashing as he properly reads what Elliot has to say. He's immediately brought back to the airship in Corona. You don't have a shield of magic hair to protect you when this thing explodes.

Rapunzel is here. Rapunzel who will absolutely fucking not tolerate him risking his life like this. If she sees this she's going to be so mad at him.

Besides that, he really can't argue with Elliot's cold, hard logic. As much as he's willing to throw himself into danger to try and fix this, if he dies then he can't close the portal. He hates this. He hates that he screwed up in the first place and he hates he is going to have to rely on other people to help him fix it. ]

Okay.

I know you're right. I don't like it, but I know.

[fiddlestick]

[Thank God he got through to him. Honestly, that was a little more militaristic sounding than he usually likes being. It's the kind of lectures his dad or brother-in-law would give him. But sometimes it was necessary.]

I know you do. I'm pretty sure everyone on Earth would love the power to fix our mistakes completely by ourselves. But sometimes that's just not feasible.

I'm proud of you for wanting to take responsibility. That's a noble thing to do. But you should be focusing on the best way to solve this problem rather than the best way to punish yourself, okay?

And that means not pushing your friends away, or dismissing other people's feelings. Let us help with this, Varian. I know I'm willing to help in any way I can.

[droptheious]

[It's exactly what Varian needs right now. He works well on both hard, irrefutable logic and also being reminded of people who do actually care about him. It really gets in under his skin and makes him stop and think instead of just immediately acting.

Normally, having someone in a position like Elliot say they were proud of him would give him a real boost. Right now, it feels like a lead weight.]

Please don't be proud of me for this. I'm just...trying to fix a mess I made, this is the bare minimum I could be doing. I should have been smarter about this and I wasn't and now people are getting hurt.

[Again. Why does he keep getting people hurt? Even when he's trying to do good. A part of him does want to push his friends away. The familiar feelings of not deserving them are back, nipping at the back of his mind. But Elliot put it exactly right. Pushing them away would be dismissing their feelings, and he doesn't want to do that.]

I guess I'm just scared of making things worse. What if someone dies out there trying to help me fix something I caused?

[fiddlestick]

Unfortunately, in a situation like this, that's a possibility that can't be ruled out.

[That someone might die. They were going into a highly dangerous situation after all. Elliot isn't about to sugarcoat it, Varian is too smart for that.]

But... We can try to minimize the risk of that happening by working together and effectively. We got a lot of people with skills and abilities that want to contribute. If we plan carefully, we can utilize that in our favor.

For instance, my magic specializes in healing. Where would my skills be the most useful?

[droptheious]

I'm aware, that's why I'm trying to stop anyone else going in there. But obviously, that's not gonna happen.

[But Elliot is making a lot of sense, as much as he hates to admit it.]

...

I guess you'd be more useful wherever people are most likely to get hurt so you can heal them.

[fiddlestick]

Yes, that's because the "lone hero" thing only really works in movies and books. Otherwise it's just a fast way to die.

[Which Varian is not allowed to do!!!]

Right, so within the gate. If only a small group is going in, it'd make sense for me to travel with them. But if multiple groups are heading in, it's better to set me up somewhere that everyone can find - a base camp of sorts.

But that begs the question, what's a good way to make sure people can reach me or escape the realm quickly, should something go wrong? You always need a good exit strategy. Any ideas?

[Walking through this step by step, much like his brother-in-law would do with him to pass the military tactics classes back in military school]

[droptheious]

[Varian feels he'd deserve it if that was the case, but he knows better than to voice it. People get...upset at that thought process, he's learned.]

Yeah, a base camp sounds like a good idea. Probably close to where the portal opens- easier for people to get back to and find. Also easy for you to escape and be warned if things go south.

[His guilt spiral is easing enough for him to think logically. Step by step is exactly what he needs.]

A trail going from you into...wherever they are is smart too. Like...breadcrumbs, only something more obvious. So people can get back to you quickly.

[fiddlestick]

[Smart move Varian. Elliot already has to deal with that kind of talk from Rean enough as it is.]

Mm, there you go! That's good thinking. A base camp near the portal would probably be our most efficient point.

[And yes good. It's better to think logically through these things than to just follow some guilt complex]

Yeah, like maybe spray paint. And don't forget there's some people with powers that might make traveling quicker too.

[droptheious]

[This is helping so much.]

I can mix up some fluorescent paint pretty quickly- that would glow in the dark, too- if this...takes that long to deal with.

And yeah, maybe if we make sure if we do split up to make sure there's someone who can travel quickly or...teleport with each group if possible. Just in case.

[fiddlestick]

Oh, that's good thinking! Glow in the dark paint would help a lot.

[Because yeah going to give kudos to the kid where he needs it]

Right, exactly. And since realms tend to be so big, we're gonna assume splitting up will happen in order to find our target. But what's a good way to divide up teams?

[droptheious]

You think so?

[He needs it SO BAD right now, this is such a colossal fuckup, he'd take the most meagre of encouragement that he's not the worst person alive right now. ]

We'd probably want a good balance. People who can fight, people who understand the dinosaurs here a little better. Maybe some good trackers and survivalists. A mix of powers, too, seen as we've got them. Try to make sure that each group is prepared as they can be.

[fiddlestick]

Yep, I do!

[He knows. Even if it's a crumb, he doesn't want this kid to fall into a hole where he thinks he's irredeemable and can't do anything right. Nothing good comes from that]

That sounds like a perfect idea combination. Having a wide variety of skills means that there's less chance something will get overlooked. [In other words, you answered good!!]

[droptheious]

[He's a little less enthused than he'd normally be with this real solid encouragement. Still, it does stop him from spiralling. ]

Okay, that's good. I think we can work with that. Guess all we can do now is see how many people want to help.

[Which looks to be an awful lot, something that surprises him more than it should. ]

...Thanks. For talking me through it.

[fiddlestick]

I'm sure we'll have no trouble finding people who want to help, based on everyone already offering.

[The people of this app had their quirks, but he's not surprised to see so many jump in to volunteer to help. They were a good lot.

But aw, that thank you.]

This isn't music class, but I'm still your teacher. So I'll help guide and support you as much as I can.

[droptheious]

Oh yeah, there's plenty of people who definitely aren't backing down from the idea of helping me.

[For better or worse.]

I really appreciate it. It helped a lot. I feel a little less panicked now.

[You did GOOD, Elliot. ]

[fiddlestick]

You have good friends.

[He's glad for it. Varian needs the support]

Good! You can always panic later, but for now let's do our best okay?

[droptheious]

I do. I'm really lucky. I don't know what I did to deserve them.

[He does. He hasn't been open with them about his past. But he plans to change that now.]

Okay. I can put a pin in the panicking for now. Until this is dealt with.

[fiddlestick]

It's because they like you. It doesn't need to be more complex than that.

[Because sometimes people just like other people ok Varian]

Good. And like I said, I'm here to support any way I can.

[droptheious]

Oh. I guess that's a good point.

[He's not convinced- you have to be USEFUL to them, wow!!!]

Thank you. I appreciate that a lot.

[fiddlestick]

[Varian please!!]

Anytime!