genessia | Long intro is long (Video + Action)

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Long intro is long (Video + Action)

[A young man appears on the screen, wearing a long dark blue coat, long black hair pulled into a ponytail, his pendant a yellow-green gradient favoring the green. His appearance somehow evokes both "boy next door" and "tall, dark, and handsome" archetypes at once (he's actually a little on the short side, but it's not like you can tell at the angle he's holding the camera), though he doesn't really seem otherwise impressive or special at first glance.]

So I've been brought to another world again, huh? But from what I've heard, this place is a sort of nexus that populates itself with people from all sorts of worlds? Have I got that right?

[Ah, that's why he's so calm; this isn't his first time worldhopping.]

Now that's really interesting. I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Roland, Chief Consul of the Kingdom of Evermore, and...

[He hesitates, the ghost of a painful memory flickering across his dark eyes, before he takes a breath, regains his calm, cheerful smile, and continues.]

...and former President of the United States. [Or maybe that should be "President of the former United States", considering, y'know, nukes. Either way, he does NOT look old enough for the job; he looks like he should be serving you coffee and studying for finals, not signing bills into law.]

If either of those titles mean anything to anyone, drop me a line. I'd like to talk to anyone from either of those worlds, even if we haven't met before. [Maybe his world isn't in as bad a shape as he thinks! Maybe his home ISN'T an uninhabitable radioactive ruin!]

[Roland opens his mouth to say something else, but is interrupted by a sudden "Higgledy PIG!" in a tiny, high pitched voice coming from somwehere below the screen. He covers the camera with his hand, and addresses the owner of the voice in a hushed tone that is nevertheless picked up by the communicator.]

I'm on the phone!

"Hig-piggle!"

We can talk when I'm done, I promise. Can you wait that long?

"Pig...."

[Roland returns to his normal voice, removing his hand from the camera.]

Sorry, my higgledies are a bit spooked. I'm guessing it's because they haven't traveled between worlds before. I should wrap this up, so I'll end with just a couple more questions:

First, is there anything that hasn't been mentioned yet that I should know? What about current events?

Second.... [With a good-natured grin:] Anything I can help with? [In other words... SIDEQUEST? SIDEQUEST? ANYBODY GOT A SIDEQUEST?]

---

[Soon after, Roland can be found sitting on a bench near the bay, comforting his higgledies. Of course, there's the minor problem that only the "pure of heart" can see higgledies, so anyone who doesn't fall under that description will see some crazy dude making soothing noises to himself. Or perhaps that should be some weird ventriloquist making soothing noises to himself, considering the high-pitched "Higgle! Piggle!" occasionally coming from his lap.]

---

[Once the higgledies are all calmed down, Roland can finally start exploring, his kodama-like companions following him like ducklings. Occasionally he might accidentally kick one as they get caught underfoot, but it doesn't seem to really hurt them; with a sharp "Hig!" they go flying, tumbling end over end, about a foot or so... only to pick themselves up and run after Roland like nothing happened.

Meanwhile, being the boy scout that he is, Roland has probably found himself roped into helping someone as he roams the city. Carrying groceries, helping little old ladies across the street, that kind of thing.]

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[Excited to hear that he isn't the only newcomer to this place, Sabo attentively listens to Roland, ready to respond when given the chance. He doesn't expect the other voice, though, and has a very confused look on his face when it's finally time to talk.]

Eh...uh...

Hello. My name's Sabo, and I've just arrived here as well. I haven't heard of Evermore or the United States, but it sounds like you're of an important position back home, huh? I kind of am, too, but I don't know how to leave this place. I can't imagine what's going on without me.

[He realizes he's about to talk too much, so he changes subject.]

What is a Higgledie? Did it eat a Devil Fruit? Why can it talk?

From what I've read, traveling between worlds is a pretty advanced magic.

[As for his question....]

I'm not the expert, but from what I've read and been told... higgledies are spirits of various natural things. Sun, rain, wind, things like that. When those spirits grow a body and will of their own, they become a higgledy.

As for talking, I mostly only hear them say "higgledy piggledy" and permutations thereof. Though some people can understand them, apparently. Mostly children.

May I ask what a Devil Fruit is?

Spirits. Interesting.

[Some of this is going over his head a bit, but he's trying to understand.]

So these aren't animals who've eaten a Devil Fruit. That makes as much sense as the magic that has brought us here, I guess.

[Oh! Yeah, he just casually mentioned Devil Fruits twice without explaining, oops.]

Devil Fruits are fruit that have mystical powers. Eating one gives you an ability, ranging from a whole lot of different strengths and tiers. Only one Devil Fruit of a certain type exists at any one time, so two people or animals can have the exact same ability.

[He thinks for a moment as to whether he should show his ability off or not, and ends up deciding not to.]

I've eaten one, myself, but I try to only use the ability when I need to.

I see. It sounds like Devil Fruits are your world's equivalent of magic... unless you have magic too?

Magic? No, just Devil Fruits as far as I know.

Can you practice magic?

I wouldn't call myself a mage or anything, but yes, a little bit.

Really? What can you do?

[He creates a small flame in his hand and holds it up to the phone.]

Anything like that?

I need a higgledy's help to do that, but yes.

((This is where the magic in Ni no Kuni 2 gets a bit confusing. Non-combat spells, like the one Roland's talking about, are "taught" to Evan in the story, but in terms of gameplay, anyone can cast them. So I figure the simple ones, at least, can be cast by anyone as long as they have the right kind of higgledies to do it.))

[Someone else having flame powers, even with the help of something else, really interests him!]

That's awesome! Maybe I can train with you sometime, once we're both settled in here -- what do you think?

It's not a combat spell or anything like that, it's just for starting fires.

[Color Ted impressed]

Really! Ahaha, well it's nice to meet you, Commander in Chief! I'm an American myself, though I'm sad to say your face isn't familiar. What year do you hail from? Must be a strange one, for the Kingdom of Evermore isn't familiar either. At least the name fits, eh?

Dare I ask why you append "former" to the office?

Edited 2018-08-11 23:09 (UTC)

[Hoo boy. He didn't reveal his former title as way to brag, but rather in the interest of disclosure... now he has to reveal how badly he failed his country.]

No need for any formal titles, just "Roland" is fine.

"Former" because... well, I'm not sure if my country even exists anymore.

[Ted always gets tragic backstories one way or another, even if it's not his explicit intent. It's his country, after all. He'd like to know what happened, whatever timeline nonsense applies.]

"Roland" it is. You look well for one past thirty-five. [aka the minimum age for the position.]

Heh, how's that? Seems like you'd be the first to know definitely.

The last thing I saw was the bomb going off. Then I woke up in a much younger body in a completely different world.

[Which explains why he looks so good for a 48-year-old man, especially when you take Presidential Aging into account.]

A world different from...Earth, you mean? And to what does "the bomb" allude?

[Wouldn't be the first time he's met someone experienced in the whole globe-trotting thing. Now he just has to know what happened to that very significant, American portion of it.]

I saw a missile. Almost like a firework, but going the wrong direction. Then there was a massive wave of heat and light and I was thrown from my car. I don't know any more than that.

Oh, I see...

[That seems like a nuclear blast, something he's gotten uncomfortably familiar with over the past few weeks. How frustrating that the mystery could go unsolved. Ah well, wasn't the first time he's heard of some disaster or apocalypse befalling Earth.]

Well, glad you're out of...all that, eh?

[Subject change!]

So, ah, what were those things called that you've got with you? "Higgledies"?

[Roland doesn't see fit to mention that before showing up here, he was about to go back to "all that". But he does see that the stranger is trying to change the subject to something more comfortable, and appreciates it.]

Mm-hmm. When the spirit of some kind of natural phenomenon gains a body and will of its own, it becomes a higgledy.

Edited 2018-08-13 00:05 (UTC)

And, hah, they say "piggle" incessantly like that?

[That's funny, which is great because he'd hate to be the bearer of bad news and explain how Genessia works when multiples come in at a time.]

What can they do?

Edited 2018-08-13 00:12 (UTC)

That's how they communicate, I think.

They help me fight. [Brave little things.] They can do magic as well. For example, I've got one with healing magic, it's tremendously useful.

Goodness, don't presidents have secret service for that? Or did those come to you during your time with Evermore?

[The thought of a magic-wielding president makes him feel funny, and not in a "ha-ha" way.]

That's interesting, nonetheless. Forgive the prying, but what else can they do? Magic is such a broad topic.

Ha, no, I think I was pulled from my world alone. [And now he feels kind of bad, knowing the fate that awaits his escorts -- the fate he was spared.]

Various elemental magic, based on whatever natural thing they came from, summoning things, spells to make me stronger or the enemy weaker, healing I've already mentioned. Just combat magic and a few utility spells, nothing too fancy.

Edited (html) 2018-08-13 00:27 (UTC)

[The aforementioned "utility spells" are what draw him; there's always some mystery or another that magic can conveniently solve. But if it's simply another means for violence...that, sadly, he has supply well in excess of demand. Or so he hopes. Still, one to keep in mind. Better than the thought of fighting on the side of a teenage girl, which happens to him with distressing frequency.]

Hah, Genessia must feel like Deja Vu. Well, those higgledy's certainly sound useful.

Oh! And you wanted to know more about Genessia, correct? Anything you'd like in particular?

[He's chary of sharing anything too sensitive, but his guards are lowered somewhat for a fellow American.]

Just anything you think a newcomer should know.

Any recent major events would be good, too. [Yes, he can go scouring newspapers and such for that, if such a thing exists here, but sometimes it's better to hear it from a live source.]

There's much to cover; I'd hate to bore you...

[If only the important things weren't always the dolorous ones. He swallows.]

Is it all right if such things might be very sad?

That's alright. I can take sad.

[He's sure he's handled worse things as a president.]

[He exhales a small sigh, then flips the switch for Private.]

Philosophy, as far as I know, maintains that those with souls alone have the gift of free will. Or wills at all, to simplify. So those, er, higgeldy's of yours aren't really themselves. Or any kind of self whatsoever. It's just the world's approximate recreation of them.

Edited 2018-08-13 00:56 (UTC)

I believe souls are more of a theological thing than a philosophical one. Some can't even agree what a soul is or what its properties are.

Still, if you say my higgledies are copies, I assume you have some kind of evidence for a claim like this?

There's, heh, quite a bit of overlap between those two disciplines.

Nothing demonstrable. There are others here who have the capacity to sense souls, like a sixth sense. And whenever they turn their numinous gaze on any that don't have...well, these.

[He tugs on the necklace that, despite some variations in colors, would match Roland's own.]

They can't find anything. Such has been the case whenever more than one originate in The Bay. That's what the material meant when it said that most people here "aren't real".

Perhaps their souls are simply different enough that they either can't sense it or don't know what they're looking at. We can't see most light with our eyes, but it's still there.

But now that I think of it... even if such a thing is true, it doesn't really matter to me. I'll treat them the same way regardless. [So he'll do his best to forget what he just said. He's never liked the implications of philosophical zombies.]

Perhaps...[He says more as a polite concession than as any entertainment of the idea. He can understand acceptance, hard though it is. Denial also makes sense to him, from a personal perspective. It's a hard sooth to swallow, and Lord knows he didn't take it well when it finally dawned on him.

But indifference, the "doesn't matter" is what disturbs. That he simply can't square. He'd say zombies would be an improvement; at least those used to be alive. The fakes never were.

So that's a no-go zone. A pity. The dilemma between fake and real was what all of Genessia hinged on, or perhaps that was only so to his fevered mind. Beyond that, what else was there?

...the necessities of daily life were all that sprang to mind.]

Given any thought to housing or employment? I might be of use in pointing to a path.

I'll look around a little more before I decide on anything permanent, but thanks.

All right. Well, let me know if aught should trouble you; I'll strive to do likewise. Good to have another American here, for what that's worth. Go under the Omnipotence.

[ Assuh, guy, assuh? Sora is looking at the guy sitting on the bench, near the bay, where a bunch of little weird looking things are frolicking about and making all these adorable little noises. Sora couldn’t help but b-line right toward the man and his following of odd looking creatures. That’s when Sora realized, he hadn’t been physically alone in such a long time he was starting to miss having someone along with him. Maybe he should get a pet.

Maybe that was what these things were. Sora stopped a foot away from the other on the bench. ]

Hiya! What’re those?

[Roland turns to face the boy, a friendly smile on his face.]

You can see them?

[Some of the higgledies come over and excitedly hop up and down around Sora.]

They're called "higgledies". I think they like you.

[For Mantis, she expected this day to be as ordinary as all the others. Go to work, listen to her patients and imbue them with good feelings, leave work and pretend she doesn't notice the Space Crack dealer hanging around outside the building, head to her second job to take care of (AND PET) puppies, and finally go home to the crappy little hotel room she loves.]

[But this day is different. This day causes her path to cross with Roland's, and by extent, the tiny creatures that trail after him. Mantis audibly gasps and thrusts her finger straight at the Higgledies.]

WHAT ARE THOSE!

[She's so excited she's almost shaking. They're so cute! What are they? WHAT ARE THEY?! She approaches with nervous glee, moving sideways with one step from her left foot, right foot dragging behind.]

They look like tiny rainbow babies!

[Well, that was certainly a surprise. Roland flinches a little at the sudden loud sound, but recovers when he realizes it's just someone interested in his higgledies. One of them, a green one, trots over and shyly touches her ankle, looking up at her. That gives Roland time to take in her appearance; she's certainly not human, but after all the grimalkin and mice and dogs and merfolk, that's less of a surprise.]

They're called higgledies.

[His voice is warm, and he smiles down at the one that approached her.]

Edited (html) 2018-08-12 00:50 (UTC)

[Usually when she smiles at people, the motion is strained as it conflicts with her nervousness. But she's delighted with the little creature that has approached her without fear or disgust, and she's beaming from ear to ear as she gently lowers herself to one knee to the Higgledie. It doesn't hurt that green is her favorite color either.]

Hello, Higgledies. I am Mantis. I am certainly very happy to meet you.

[She holds her hand out, long slim fingers extended not to touch, but to make the offer. Mantis lifts her head to grin at Roland.]

Are they your larva?

If you're asking if they're my children, then no. They're....

[What are higgledies to the humans they accompany? They are pretty child-like, and often need to be taken care of like young children, so Mantis actually isn't too far off, but....]

They're my friends.

[Roland squats down to sort of join Mantis and the higgledies. The higgledy that approached her holds out a tiny arm, happy to touch her hand.]

I like them very much!

[She doesn't activate her abilities, since it would be rude to do so without permission. But she does gently shake the Higgledy's hand with the tip of her finger. They're so cute she can barely stand it.]

[She lifts her head to look at Roland, and she demurely bows her head again.]

I was being rude, forgive me. What is your name?

I'm Roland.

[He returns to a standing position and holds out his hand, silently offering to help her up.]

And you said your name is Mantis, right?

["Like the bug?" he almost wants to add, but thinks better of it. That might be rude.]

[Mantis regards his hand curiously before awkwardly, almost shyly, putting her hand in his and glancing at his face to make certain she's doing this correctly. The gesture is unfamiliar, but not unwelcome. She also resists the urge to scoop up the green Higgledy and carry it with her.]

Yes. I am happy to meet you Roland, and I hope that we will like each other.

[Now that strained smile is coming into play. See? She's making the 'I like you' universal gesture.]

You are new to Genessia City? Perhaps I may help you.

[He can't help but return the awkward smile (see icon) before toning it down a little, trying to put her at ease. Meanwhile, the carefree higgledies joyfully dance around their feet.]

What did you have in mind?

[Give her a moment. She's distracted by the dancing rainbow babies.]

[.................]

[Better make it five moments.]

[Eventually it registers that he just spoke and her attention snaps back to him, brows and antennae lifting.]

Oh? Nothing. I had thought that you might express your needs, and I would attempt to fulfill them to the best of my knowledge and abilities. If you are feeling sad or confused, I can lift these emotions, at least temporarily.

[He chuckles to himself, watching her rapt attention to the higgledies.]

Oh. In that case, no, I'm fine. [He's got some lingering sadness, just from what's going on in his world and missing his loved ones, but it's in the back of his mind; nothing he can't handle.]

Thanks for the offer, though.

Then it is a good thing that I cannot serve you with a purpose.

[Meaning, she's glad she isn't needed for that means he's in good emotional health.]

Thank you for the meeting.

[And she's off, being very careful not to step on any of the Higgledys as she goes.]

[He cocks his head in mild befuddlement at that sentence, but nods politely as she goes.]

It was nice meeting you, Mantis.

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