[Open] Got Ourselves Another Lost One

[gwaynestanding]

WHO: Gwayne and everyone!
WHERE: Gwayne's Labyrinth and other places in Kaisou
WHEN: December 4th
WHAT: There's a new and lost arrival from Eorzea.
WARNINGS: May be Endwalker spoilers, but they'll be marked if they come up!

A: Rumor Has It

[Going from the bustling city of Radz-at-Han to somewhere else entirely makes for a highly jarring experience, especially when it's somewhere so empty. Gwayne looks around, immediately tense and wary of any hostile threats within the vicinity. After a few seconds, hand on the hilt of his sword, he determines there's nothing immediate and begins to walk. As he does, he takes a closer look at the place he's ended up, and feels his body grow ice cold in realization.

He's... home. But it's wrong. The small, desert town is completely empty of people, and it's twisted and warped itself into a maze. Certain buildings repeat and create dead ends where there shouldn't be. As Gwayne gets deeper into the maze, whispers from no discernable source hit his ears. Whispers that simultaneously make him feel hot with shame and cold with dread.

"No better than his father, that one." "The years truly haven't changed him, have they?"

"Poor Svetozar and Vairemont. They must be heartbroken over what their son has become."

"What did any of us expect? 'E came from bad stock, ain't nothin' can change that."

Gwayne tries his best to ignore them, no matter how hard of a slap to the face some of them are. Though, all thoughts leave his mind when he sees a very familiar house. His house. He can't help himself from running over to the door, hesitating before trying to open it.

Locked. Or, at the very least, it simply won't budge. He bites his lip as a myriad of emotions well up in his heart, and takes a few steadying breaths. Gwayne squares his shoulders, putting his worry and homesickness away for the time being. He needs to find a way out of this accursed place. Preferably before something else finds him.]

B: Out in the Cold

[After getting out of the Labyrinth and spending probably too much time figuring out this new technology the book calls a "phone," Gwayne gets to exploring. He's an adventurer for a reason, and his curiosity is insatiable. Even if he doesn't know where in the hell he is, that doesn't mean he can't go poking around a new city or world.

One place he finds is the Last Stand, which is extremely weird to suddenly find a piece of Sharlayan here. Gwayne is looking at it in abject bafflement, hilariously juxtaposed by how very out-of-place he looks in his outfit. At least it's warm for the weather. This city isn't anywhere near as cold as Ishgard, but it's still cold.

Gwayne can be found almost anywhere in Kaisou, poking his nose into anything interesting, but he'll avoid the sketchier areas for now. The last thing he needs right now is to get mugged or hurt someone.]

{OOC: I'll match prose or brackets!}

Comments

Rumor Has It!

[poisontippedcure]

[In a move that has surprised everyone but her, Rose has actually volunteered to start going into the labyrinths herself! There's something more familiar about this one, it feels like Eorzea, even if it lacks the distinctive architecture of a castrum or of Ultima Thule.]

[Thankfully, it doesn't take long for her to find the owner. The benefit to a deserted town is that the lone inhabitant tends to stick out.]

I wouldn't try to open that, if I were you. Whomever makes these labyrinths tends to have a sick sense of humor.

[gwaynestanding]

[Gwayne turns when he hears someone speak to him. He's a little surprised to see someone here at all. For a moment, he's at a loss for words, but he recovers soon enough.]

They seem to have taken inspiration from some manner of hell. [The Hyur shrugs lightly.] As it happens, I can't open it anyway.

[He looks around again, just to make sure there's nobody else.]

Where, exactly, is this labyrinth?

[poisontippedcure]

Don't worry, this isn't hell. They already took us there, and you were lucky enough to miss it.

[She's so deadpan, but it's surely a joke, right?]

There's nowhere else here. This labyrinth exists as a door to this star, called Kaisou. Each one is tailor-made to its resident upon arrival.

[gwaynestanding]

[He raises an eyebrow at that. As much as Gwayne wants to think it's a joke, experience tells him that anything is possible. He's just desperately hoping that a certain Highlander isn't here to make it more absurd.]

If I hope you're saying so in jest, what're the odds of said hope being dashed?

[The Hyur listens quietly to her explanation and sighs.]

'Tis very tasteless that this is what should be my entry to this Kaisou. I hope it's a better place than this.

[Gwayne crosses his arms as the whispers begin to pick up again, though he glances almost longingly at the mockery of his old house.]

T'would be for the best if we can continue this conversation elsewhere. All this twisted place has is ghosts.

[poisontippedcure]

Near certainty. I'm not one to joke, and even if I were, I couldn't even dream of creating this farce.

[She shakes her head. At least he's taking this in stride. She's seen people handle this much worse.]

You're correct. If we look around, there should be a tear somewhere that we can use to get out.

[gwaynestanding]

[Gwayne nods and starts walking, looking around as he does.]

What do tears look like? I fear the only tears in reality I've experienced are Voidgates, and they're quite... distinct.

Out in the Cold

[thaumewturge]

[Oh. Oh it is so obvious that hyur is from Eorzea that it almost hurts. Rhel can't help herself; she sees him outside the Last Stand and very quickly places an order for a coffee and a scone so she can go out and feed this boy.

Hm. Maybe her mother was right about her not being able to deny the mothering tendencies.]

Excuse me, ser?

[gwaynestanding]

[Oh, good, there's another Eorzean here. Gwayne can't help relaxing somewhat, and gives her a polite smile.]

Yes?

[thaumewturge]

You look hungry.

[And it was an excuse to approach him so here, have the coffee and scone.]

Just arrived from Eorzea, I presume?

[gwaynestanding]

[Oh. Gwayne looks surprised, but he takes the offered coffee and scone. He's not going to deny food and drink freely given in what seems like genuine kindness. Though, then again, he did think that once before at Falcon's Nest....]

My thanks.

[He gives her a wry smile.]

I get the impression I'm not in Eorzea anymore, but aye. A kind soul helped me navigate out to the city proper.

[thaumewturge]

Yes, you're in a place called Kaisou...and there is a lot of other geographic details there but that hardly matters right now. Rhel Fashonti, a pleasure.

[gwaynestanding]

Gwayne Bellveil. The pleasure's all mine, Rhel.

[He gives her a bow, but it's clearly meant to be gently teasing. Then, Gwayne looks back at The Last Stand with a small frown.]

So, then, how is The Last Stand here? As I recall, it's supposed to be a Sharlayan establishment.

out in the cold

[hoshikiri]

[Two short months ago, Takame was in the same situation as Gwayne. Finding himself in the Last Stand and being thrown at the familiar but no less drawn to it. Whether it was familiar to Gwayne, Takame did not know yet. But his garb felt similar enough to his world that he could draw that conclusion.

He'd come here for a warm drink, but he wouldn't leave the man to gawk alone. Good people, adventurers, heroes like he must be, always help people after all. Though he's careful in his approach in case his conclusion was incorrect and an Au Ra would be frightening.]

Are you lost?

[gwaynestanding]

[Gwayne turns to face the towering Au Ra. Just looking into his face, the Hyur gets the impression that he's more of a gentle giant.]

'Lost' is certainly the word for it, my friend.

[He sounds somewhat amused. Still, Gwayne isn't sure if this is another Shard that's ignorant to the reflections, so he plays it safe for now.]

I seem to have wandered here quite on accident.

[hoshikiri]

[Gentle is an air he didn't mind giving off. Some day he hoped to reach 'friendly', but indeed he was a patient man. There's a light tilt of his head and a glance at Gwayne's wardrobe before he continued.]

I see. Have you been here long? And are you, ah... [He drifted for a moment, choosing his words carefully and opting for intentional vagueness.] Aware of where this is?

[gwaynestanding]

[...The fact that they're both being vague does give Gwayne some cause for hope that he can be more open with him.]

This will be my first day here. I was told that this is an entirely different star. Kaisou, I think she called it?

[hoshikiri]

[Gwayne's word choice already aroused speculation if his wardrobe didn't already. Most say 'world' rather than 'star', Takame had observed. Still, it seemed as though some things have been ran through.]

Indeed, this realm is known as Kaisou. [There's another pause, not just for word choice but working up the nerve to ask.] Might I assume you have come from... Eorzea?

[Sticking with a common place rather than Etheirys as few know the name. It's a game of dancing around the subjects.]

[gwaynestanding]

[Ah, so 'Kaisou' is not the star's name, but a realm's name. Fair enough.]

Aye, specifically Thanalan is where I was born and raised. Though, I've since explored more than Eorzea since embarking on a journey as an adventurer.

[That's a fucking understatement.]

I'm Gwayne Bellveil. 'Tis a pleasure to meet you!

[crystallinememories]

[How much weirder is it when he sees a familiar Sharlayan walking out of it?

Raha stopped by for a snack and some coffee, the bright red of his hair and ears an easy marker even within the crowd, taking a sip of his coffee and noticing the hyur mid-sip. He startles a little, coughing and taking a moment to resettle before rushing over to the man. How does this keep happening??]

Gwayne!

[gwaynestanding]

[Praise the Twelve, there's a familiar face! It's more than a little strange to see what seems to be G'raha wearing this star's fashion, but a relief nonetheless.]

Aren't you a sight for sore eyes! I was starting to fear I wouldn't see a familiar face.

[crystallinememories]

[About that.....]

Alphinaud is here as well. [Though the both of them come with... complications that he'll get into.] I'm glad to see you, though sorry you've been dragged here. I assume you just got here?

[gwaynestanding]

[Gwayne waves off the apology with a smile.]

Please, it wouldn't be the first time, and it won't be the last, I expect. So there's naught to apologize for. But you're right, I did just arrive today.

[His smile wavers slightly. Obviously, it hadn't been the best arrival to a different star he's had. Still, he tries to brush it off.]

Are you both well?

[crystallinememories]

[He's yet to really see a labyrinth, but they sound... unpleasant. So he's definitely looking a bit worried, even as Gwayne moves on.]

Yes, as well as possible, I think. Ah, I should warn you that things tend to get... strange around here. [A pause, and he adds.] I'm aware that's normal for you, but it's in sort of a different way...?

[he's doing a terrible job.]

the cold c:

[arcanistic]

[See, the thing about The Last Stand is that when it brings back fond memories and feelings of home, one can find it hard to exactly stay away all the time.

So to see a new face come alongside it, and not only that, but feel the pang of familiarity-

Countdown in 3...2...1... ah, there's the name.]

...Gwayne?

[Yeah, he's been able to figure out names the more he sees Warriors of Light. Had this been his first time, he'd be weirded out, but this is sort of... common, now. He knows he's connected, that he means a lot to every one of them, so he's learned to get used to it.

Poor Gwayne may not be used to him, though, or at least his height. He's not exactly a small Elezen youth at the moment. Being human and then turning Elezen is definitely odd, to put it one way.]

It begins

[gwaynestanding]

[In a way, Alphinaud gets to experience somewhat what it's like to have the Echo!

There's a familiar voice, and he turns in curiosity to face the person calling out to him. Then, Gwayne stares. That's... That's definitely Alphinaud, but a lot taller and is he older??? Did Alphinaud have the fabled Elezen growth spurt Urianger mentioned? What in the seven hells is even happening???

At least the Hyur manages to compose himself rather quickly!]

Er, Alphinaud? Or are my senses deceiving me?