genessia | Mad man lost his dang mind in the west [Video] [Backdated to noon]

[The shot opens to look at an ephemeral, swirling, scintillating portal that one could find scattered through Genessia City. Ted then moves his phone to pan across a tumbledown town, with architecture about a hundred years behind the times.]

If you're curious where these strange portals go to, well, here I am on the other side. Thankfully the portal back out hasn't disappeared; God willing it stays that way, eh?

It's not as much of a ghost town as it seems, a fact demonstrated the minute I ran across this.

[He then turns around to reveal something doubly odd. First, a seven-foot tall centipede monster. This one, however, is dead, evidenced by its sunken posture, closed eyes, and burst thorax.

The second surprising sight was that of a man, covered in slime, halfway out of the insect carcass, also with the appearance of deep slumber.]

Plenty more where they came from, and to a man they're as vicious and violent as they appear. The monsters, I mean. Lord knows what men and women are doing inside them, or why the aforementioned men and women are still alive, albeit in unbreakable stupor.

[How did that one die? Ted wouldn't want to be morbid. He stood surveying the area to see whether there'd be any more unpleasant company.]

Still, that's not the worst of it. If roving bands of overgrown centipedes don't dissuade you, this place has a deleterious effect on the intellect. The more I'm here the fainter and foggier I feel. Probably won't do to stay for too long; can't say I've found much of interest. Other than the aforementioned men inside the mandible'd monsters.

For an upshot, I recommend staying out, vain my attempt is at implored security. If you fall for these portals' numinous magnetism regardless, at least make sure you're adequately prepared for monstrous and mental malady alike. Having plenty of water helps too.

...How did they put it, again? "Genessia is the most successful 'of its kind'"? Haha, well, I'll have to thank the spirits for using pods instead of behemoth bugs.

[He pockets the phone, ending the feed chuckling. That was a joke, guys. Just a joke.]

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[That creature is something horrific, not for the size but because of the human inside of it. It's disgusting and surreal, and absolutely worth noting.] Can you let me know if your mind clears? I want to know if it's something isolated to the area, or if it stays with you after your time there.

Edited 2019-05-05 23:23 (UTC)

I'd be happy to, Rosinante. Or do you prefer Corazon?

[The latter was given to him from the text-happy gentlemen his first time in Genessia, and Kuzan had blabbed the second. Yes, Ted's just that thorough. The text is nice, because usually he's a lot quicker with memory. This place must be getting to him.]

Goodness, I hope it's the former. If I don't get back to you once I'm back myself, assume the worst.

[Everything comes crashing down, and he's so angry and confused for a moment that he doesn't know what to do. And the texts that were returned go unanswered while he composes himself and tries to figure out how something that shouldn't have followed him here.

Someone knows.

Then again, he's not aware that he's been here before.

He can't escape Corazon.]

How do you know that name?

[Another good thing about text is that Ted remains blissfully unaware of how he somehow manages to push all the wrong buttons. It's almost a talent.]

"Corazon" was given to me by yourself, and Kuzan referred to you by the other.

[Then again, it could just be a perfectly plain first + surname pair. But that would make too much sense.]

[Rosinante isn't pleased, but he's also not going to make a fuss at a stranger for it. He can't imagine chaining himself to the title, that was from a time in his life that was ended brutally. He's no longer Corazon.

But that was then, a time he can't even remember, and this is now.] I don't remember speaking to you before today. And I'd prefer to not be called Corazon.

A common condition for those who've come and gone. I could link you our last talk, if that's not too unnerving.

As you wish, Rosinante. Are you really named after that foolish knight?

[He's nothing but love for that marvelous work.]

Do you mind? It would help me understand.

What knight?

All right; seems both our heads will muddle.

[He posts the link]

One of literary, tragicomic acclaim. Do you like to read stories like that? Funny and sad at once?

[Rosinante doesn't respond for hours. Once he realizes that he can search the network for past logs and posts? He's locked in the network, reading and rereading everything he can find on Law. If it's not marked as private, he's on it, and he's obsessed. And his heart is beating faster and faster because it's proof of what Smoker said.

It's true. He finally got to see Law. What kind of a man, to some degree at least, that he grew up to be. And it's the ultimate proof to him that Law was not only alive, but that he made it here. And that makes his heart soar.] I don't know anything about that specific story. But I do like bittersweet things, humor that can be found in dark times.

[That is a very long time to be gone. Ted hopes he didn't break his brain or something. Once he's had his fun for the day, he's glad to see that Mr. Rose is well enough to reply.]

I hope that wasn't overwhelming. Per your request, I think the effect's localized. The attraction's still there, but otherwise my head's clearer. Don Quixote's muddled head, however, might interest you. That one's so famous I'll send you the link to that too. Then if your absence is so long, I can assume absorption in the tale, rather than darker anxieties.

[Rosinante is honestly shocked by the link. Can he actually read a book that way? He'd never considered such a thing to be possible. Then again, he never thought about life after death, being able to see videos of Law, or that he'd be slowly finding himself as a person without the Marines having a bit of say in it...

Genessia really is amazing.]

That's good to know. So as long as someone comes back, they're probably going to be fine.

Thank you for the book. And for the information you provided. I didn't know that old network videos stayed up. And because of you, I was able to see someone that was important to me in the past.

[Oh good, the meeting of the past, forgotten self was positive after all.]

You're welcome. There's more where that came from, should you ever need another recommendation. Let me know how you find the errant knight's adventures.

[Incredibly so. Ted doesn't have any way of realizing how much good he did for Rosinante by sending that link.]

I'm excited to start on this book! But if you have anything else you think I should read, let me know. I haven't had time to really sit and read in years, so I need to make up for lost time.

Mad man lost his dang mind in the west [Video] [Backdated to noon]

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