It's a busy day in Centropolis
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Posting to help you continue
ooo, want to know more about this blind guy
[Item=Pink Bellflowers]
I think this is part of this plot? x'D Sorry I'm a bit frazzled and not sure if it goes with this or continues from the other one.
While you're at Shadowglen, you decide to pay the Zombie Den a visit. It's a good thing he opened it up to everyone (despite the disgruntled opposition of some groups of unliving.)
You see two familiar faces browsing through what Skitters has to offer for this year.
1A) Get Bella's attention
You tap Bella's shoulder lightly. She seems much more cheerful today, than the last time you saw her.
She seems surprised to see you there, frantically signing something. She cups her cheeks, now flushed, with her hands, probably realising that you might need someone to interpret some of her less intuitive gestures for you.
[[Proceed to 1B.]]
1B) Get Wilhelm's attention
You call Wilhelm and Bella by name and wave at both of them.
"Hey, didn't expect to see you here! What brings you to Shadowglen?"
[[Choose 2A (Just looking around,) 2B (Looking for love,) 2C (Tell him about the flyers in the Survivor Memorial.)]]
2A
You tell Wilhelm that you're just looking around. Collecting food, trinkets, and clothes is something you look forward to each time there's a huge festivity.
"Is there anything in particular that you want from here?" Wilhelm takes a good look at you and smiles, not giving you any room to refuse. "I insist."
He reaches for something from one of the top shelves and gives it to you.
"You know, it's amazing how you Subetans make known what you desire so transparently. It's not something I'm used to."
[[Choose between 3A (Thank him,) 3B (Question Wilhelm's choice of words.)]]
2B
You tell Wilhelm that you're looking for love. What? It's the season for kisses, hugs, and bites! Nothing strange about leveraging Survival for that purpose.
"Well, we can help you with that. Once we find Grace and finish our first mission, our next mission is to bring love to this beautiful planet of yours!"
[[Choose between 3B (Question Wilhelm's choice of words,) 3C (Ask him how.)]]
2C
You tell them about the flyers around the Survivor Memorial. In particular, a poster designed like a wedding invitation addressed Bella and Wilhelm directly, calling for them to head to Shadowglen ASAP.
"Oh, that's why we went here. It was all over the city, and the flowers left in the memorial even had some terrible puns." Bella nods in agreement. "Of course, R2D2 seems to be some Earthen 'pop culture' thing, is that what they call it? The way whoever was behind the flyers tried to get our attention, it seems like something Grace would do."
[[Choose between 3B (Question Wilhelm's choice of words,) 3D (Raise concern that it might be a trap.)]]
continued in my next post since it exceeds the character limit
he/him / 31 / EST |  | My best friend is |
Oooh this is getting more and more intriguing!
Proud Gamer | My best friend is
continued from previous post
3A
You thank Wilhelm for the kind gesture.
You wonder how he could have procured what he gave you just now, when it's not something Skitters is selling. You decide not to question it… for now.
Bella taps Wilhelm's shoulder, and she shows both of you a sticker she fancied. She then signs something to you.
"Surely there was something else that brought you here?" Wilhelm raises an eyebrow as he relays Bella's message to you.
[[Return to 2B (Looking for love,) 2C (I saw flyers.)]]
3B
There's something strange about the way Wilhelm speaks. It sounds like he isn't privy to cultural norms. More than a generation gap, it makes him seem like he isn't from this world.
Bella hits her forehead squarely with her palm.
"Oh, I am considerably aged, so it's not surprising."
You tell him that's not what you meant. There is tension in the air, and you can tell Wilhelm is being defensive.
"Okay, you caught us. We're… from another world."
You're not sure what you were expecting. They certainly don't fit alien stereotypes, looking completely human to you.
"It will be too long a story to tell in a place like this, but if you're willing to stay with us here in Shadowglen, maybe I can tell you tomorrow. We're renting a place close to the Underground."
Wilhelm and Bella head to the check-out counter, paying for the item they gave you, as well as a pack of stickers Bella got for herself. You part ways for the time being -- as they leave the Den, you linger and look at the shelves for something you can use for your pets or for yourself.
[[Proceed to 5.]]
3C
You ask Wilhelm how they can possibly help you find the love of your life. Of course, it's just a hypothetical question. Bella is indisputably telling Wilhelm to keep quiet, resting her index finger against her pursed lips.
"You'll see when we work our magic. Good things come to those who wait."
Magic? Maybe he doesn't mean that literally.
[[Return to 2C.]]
3D
You tell them that the flyers might be part of an elaborate trap. It would have been better to err on the side of caution and ignore the flyers at the memorial, but on the other hand, it's a bit too late for that. The most you can do is prevent the situation from getting worse, if there is real danger lurking in the shadows.
"Look, even a vague lead to Grace would comfort Bella more than anything right now. She regained her will to live, holding out on the hope that he might be completely fine. It's worth the shot in the dark."
Wilhelm and Bella head to the check-out counter, paying for the item they gave you, as well as a pack of stickers Bella got for herself. You part ways for the time being -- as they leave the Den, you linger and look at the shelves for something you can use for your pets or for yourself.
[[Proceed to 5.]]
5
You're suddenly jolted by the sensation of something hard hitting your ankle. You yell and look behind you to see a man with a white cane.
"Oh my goodness! Huhu, I'm sorry. I can't see very well."
As soon as you notice that there's something up with his eyes, he asks, "It might be strange to ask this all of a sudden, but were you talking to Wilhelm just now?"
I had a little bit of a different experience since I "accidentally" saw him somewhere else. :)
To the Anon sender
I chose answers where I gave Bella the note from Grace. I will help him again.he/him / 31 / EST | | My best friend is |
Woohoo, more already! What fun. c: Thank you so much for the sticker and adorable Balu! It's such a gorgeous minion aah and I swore I wouldn't collect minions so there'd be one thing I don't collect... oops
I chose 1A, 1B, 2C, 3B, 5 and then went back to read the rest and mentally added in 2A, 2B and 3A. x)
Aliens, love and magic... could anyone ask for more? I can't wait to hear the rest of Wilhelm's story! Also I feel like I should be carrying a notepad and pen around at all times for easier communication with Bella. x)
🔭🐢
Plot twists abound! I'm so excited to find out where Willhelm and Bella are from! And who is the mysterious blind stranger??? Ahhhh. The suspense.
I chose answers 1A, 1B, 2C, 3B, then 5.
And also, thank you again for the wishlist item, anon. <3 You're so sweet to include that as a part of your plot. It makes it feel very personal.
What does this blind man know about Wilhelm and Bella, or what does he have to do with them?
1A) Confirm that you were speaking to Wilhelm
You tell the man that you were, indeed, conversing with Wilhelm earlier.
"I can recognise that voice even from a mile away. He's very vivacious for his age." He looks to his sides and behind him, before he continues. "We've already met, if you were observant enough."
[[Choose between 2A (Give him the side-eye) or 2C (Ask him why he needed to know.)]]
1B) Ask the man who he is
"Who are you?" You never know if this person is a stalker, or someone who can harm Wilhelm.
The man lets out a nervous chuckle. "Had you said yes immediately, the opportunities of asking for my name afterwards would have gone slim. My name is of no consequence to you."
[[Choose between 2A (Give him the side-eye) or 2B (Let it slide.)]]
2A
You give the man a look of disapproval. Considering that his eyesight is rather poor, you doubt he'll see it, but he'll at least feel your energy.
"Okay, okay, I'm Grace Vaya. Wilhelm and Bella have probably told you about me, and they seem rather worried. But I have reasons why I can't meet them yet."
[[Choose between 3A (Ask him why he can't meet them yet,) 3B (Convince him that Wilhelm and Bella are worried about him,) 3C (Question the authenticity of his statements.)]]
2B
You let it slide. A name is a name, and although it gives you something to call him, you doubt that you'll need it otherwise.
"You'll eventually find out who I am. In fact, you might already know!"
[[Return to 2A.]]
2C
You ask him why he needs to know who you were speaking to. Gosh, this guy seems more like a creep than anything else.
"That was definitely Wilhelm. I could recognise his voice even from another room. I just wanted to see if you know who you're talking to." He lets out a faint chuckle. "If you're a friend of theirs, then you're a friend of mine, too."
[[Return to 2A (Give him the side-eye) or choose 3C (Question the authenticity of his statements.)]]
3A
You ask Grace why he can't meet Bella and Wilhelm yet. It does seem a lot like he was behind the flyers on the Survivor Memorial. Shouldn't he hurry?
"There are… preparations I must make before I meet them again. I'll ask for the assistance of some other people, as I have. Of course, you're free to tell Wilhelm and Bella that you saw me and that I'm fine."
[[Choose 3B (Convince him that Wilhelm and Bella are worried about him) or proceed to the non-spoiler text.]]
3B
"Bella and Wilhelm are very worried about you!" You hope that saying that would convince him to reconsider delaying his meet-up with the two. The longer he takes, the more they'll get disheartened in their search for him.
"I understand that you don't want them to feel bad, especially Bella… she must have been crying. It pains me to take my time, but I'm not yet ready."
3C
You question the authenticity of what he has to say. It's a good rule of thumb to note that cryptic messages belie a certain degree of deceit.
"I can't blame you for your distrust. My regards to Wilhelm and Bella." He shakes his head.
He takes a glance at his watch. "Oh dear, I have to leave. Catch you some other time!" The man slowly heads for the exit of the Den, manoeuvring his cane on the ground.
The next day, you set out to meet Wilhelm and Grace. They didn't tell you anything about the place they were renting, just that it was in close proximity to the Underground. You nearly trip over something along the way, and find that a Mage Amulet on the ground
Only the Crypts and Skitters' shop come to mind as far as landmarks close to the Underground are concerned. Not too far from the Crypts, you find a modest house, not unlike the Mage's domicile.
Through its windows, illuminated by a faint orange glow from the outside, you recognise Bella staring out into the expanse of ghastly forest behind you. You approach the window and wave to catch her attention. She smiles and waves back at you, before standing up.
The door opens, and she welcomes you inside. The interior has the bare minimum of what constitutes for a residence - a modest pantry, two single beds with a nightstand in between them, and a couch and table as a receiving area. Bella motions for you to take a seat on the couch, holding a notebook on one hand. She opens it and begins to write on one of the pages.
"Sorry we didn't tell you where to find us. Wilhelm went outside to buy some food. Would you like some tea?"
She stands up for a moment and takes a teapot and a box filled with tea from the pantry. Taking one of the tea bags, she places it inside the pot and allows it to steep. She sits beside you and begins to write.
"Let me tell you the story of my people."
I can't wait to read the story of her people 0.0
to the anon sender
wonders how the gang will find out about grace
and oh my goodness @ grace you should do it :O
does she feel the same way about you?
he/him / 31 / EST | | My best friend is |
Omg yaaaas. I knew Grace was alive! I can't wait until they all meet again. :^;
I chose: 1A, 2C, which brought me back to 2A, 3A, 3B
I can't wait to learn more!
Proud Gamer | My best friend is
Omg yes! So curious about Bella and her people! I'm glad Grace is alive, but why can't he reveal that yet? Bella is so worried. bounces excitedly
[item=Mechanical Pencil 0.3]
Bella takes out a sketch book and a mechanical pencil that she had inserted in the middle of the notebook. She makes a series of quick sketches, before writing captions on them:
"In a galaxy far away from yours was a planet named Seneria. Like Dibbala, it had two moons."
"We, who you may know as angels,"
"Lived in harmony with humans, Chiron (who are like your Unliving,) Konfi (who are a lot like Louis L'Amour,) and lys (who resemble elves.)"
"However, we never made our true presence manifest to them, for it would have devastating consequences for mortals to see our true forms."
"One day, an entity known as Ghysar destroyed our world."
"Ghysar was once one of us, until he was corrupted by his desire to exert dominance over mortals, in defiance of the order that we must treat them as equals."
"My sister, Agape, tried to save the core of our planet by assimilating herself with it. I tried to stop her from doing so, but she was adamant and incorrigible."
"A new planet was thus born: Nucrea. With the creation of the new planet, we were only able to save a fraction of the mortal population."
"We thought the planet would be stable enough to last millions of years, but in only fifteen years, Agape, still inside the core, started to weaken drastically. She was the only thing making Nucrea hospitable for life."
"We decided to save all living mortals and transport them to other habitable planets. Some of them live among you, and I am certain that some groups will be hostile to them once they are revealed to be 'alien' to your planet."
"By the time we evacuated Nucrea, the planet was close to its annihilation. Three of us, along with other mortals, ended up here in Subeta."
"Virtus, embodiment of courage and virtue, who you know as Wilhelm. My parents were high-ranking members of the Court, and they set out to stop Ghysar from corrupting other angels. That's why they entrusted Virtus with taking care of me."
"I, Storge, the guardian of younger angels, embodiment of affectionate and filial love. "My upbringing deprived me of the ability to relate with my peers, but I am grateful to Virtus that he did not allow me to be corrupted by the ways of the mortals."
"Orama, the Seer among the angels, who you know as Grace. He who Ghysar sought to corrupt and turn into one of his pawns. The one I hold dearest…"
Bella then continued the rest in writing.
"Due to the reckless act of an angel who pursued a romantic liaison with a mortal, and its fruition, romance was forbidden for us angels."
"An irony when you consider my nature. "
"We paid the consequences. Virtus -- for being an accomplice -- is cowardly as Wilhelm. Orama -- for going against his duty to report the possibilities leading to the greater good, just to ensure my safety -- is blind as Grace. And I -- for pursuing a romance against my nature with another one of my kind -- am stripped of my voice."
"My only regret is that Orama had to suffer out of my selfishness."
Just as Bella continues to sketch, you hear faint knocking. Bella abruptly closes the sketchbook and hands it over to you. She runs to the door and peeks through a hole. She then steps back and slowly opens the door, revealing Wilhelm. She helps him carry some of the tote bags he brought home, which you presume to contain food.
"Oh, good to see you again!" Wilhelm smiles as he diverts his attention to you. "I hope you don't mind that all Bella could serve you was some tea. I have enough food to last us a week in these! He seems glance at something in your lap, momentarily. "I see you've found a way to talk to Bella, too."
holy cow I am so blown away by all this!!! I love the effort that goes into this. this is amazing.
to the anon sender
Got message from Grace ;) Will meet him secretly
he/him / 31 / EST | | My best friend is |
Omggg I'm so into this story. ;^; The story about their home planet had me so upset! I wish they could've saved it. And all those sketches? Amazing! So much effort. Wow O:
I can't wait to meet up with Grace and see what he has to say!!
Aw Grace is such a romantic <3 and holy COW to dem gifts in the box, along with the continuing amazing story!
You put your phone away, and tell Wilhelm and Bella that you need to get going. Bella motions for you to take the notebook and sketch pad with you. Perhaps she doesn't want Wilhelm to see what she wrote and drew on them?
"Such a shame. I wish you could have stayed with us a little longer. Take care, wherever you're headed!" Wilhelm raises his hand over your head, and gives your scalp a gentle rub with his fingers.
You make your way back to the Underground, searching for that crevice close to the Zombie Den with an eerie, bluish glow. You come across an unmanned booth with a sign reading "Take one… or one of each." Strewn on the makeshift table are a lot of human and zombie masks.
As you head to the Springs, you pass by some makeshift dwellings -- humble abodes made of waterlogged cardboard, and scraps of rusting metal. It's natural for a bit of fear to set in. You ignore the flickering lights emitted by fireflies that beckon you to the Root Forest, and tread onward.
At the Underground Spring, all is quiet, save for the occasional splash. Looks like fishing isn't all that popular in Shadowglen during the Survival celebration. You survey the area more closely, and take notice of a small tent.
A strange figure emerges from the tent. You can't help but notice that their eyes are closed, and their facial expression unchanging.
"Greetings, friend."
You recognise their voice, but you're not quite sure.
"Thank you for making it all the way here. I hope I did not inconvenience you."
continued in next post
he/him / 31 / EST | | My best friend is |
Ooh man Grace you should totally take Bella to Ytiva! I guarantee she'll love it there! <3 (also posting so can post more wheee)
Thank you so so very much for the gifts as always anon, I love how they fit together with the story so well and the wl items are always wonderful!
Proud Gamer | My best friend is
continued from previous post
"What are you doing here?"
You ask Grace what he's doing all the way in the Underground Springs.
"This place is conducive for me to ask help from other people, while ensuring my safety. Without a doubt, the leader of that Subetan Anti-Alien Alliance is looking for me. I am positive that whoever he asks won't trust him, but I have to be prepared for any turncoats."
"Why are you wearing that?"
You ask Grace why he's wearing… whatever that is. The mask is rather creepy, but it's still strange that he'd be wearing a dress.
"I had a few guests earlier. One of them could have very narrowly been someone who could tell a certain Brandon Dorian that I am in Shadowglen. But you wouldn't do that, right?"
He invites you inside his tent. The space is just enough for two people, without necessarily being too cramped. There are two stools inside, and Grace invites you to take the one facing him.
"I think Bella must have told you about what happened to our planet before you got here. The first thing I wanted to do as soon as we arrived in Subeta was to propose marriage to her. Doing so in our home planet would have been a large taboo, for each of us had partners, families, and duties designated to us. Stor… I mean, Bella had a role that required her to become a mother, but by some weird paradox, she would have not been allowed to have a spouse. The same is true for me."
Ask him why he cannot marry
You ask Grace why he cannot have a spouse.
"I was at a position where I had to dedicate my entire life to the safety of our planet and all who live in it. The Court had concerns that if I had a family, a lover, or a partner, I would prioritise their safety even if it meant some innocents would take collateral damage."
Grace glances wistfully at one corner of his tent.
"Which is exactly what I did, a few times."
Ask him how he knew that Bella told you about their planet
You wonder how Grace knew about your conversation with Bella. It's almost as if he could predict the future.
"I would not call it fortune telling. I may be nearly-blind in sight now, but I have retained sight of a limited amount of possibilities. In my home planet, I could see most timelines, but I never had the power to directly interfere with them. I am merely a Seer, not a Chronicler. It's what I was born to do."
Grace inches closer to the opening of his tent, and peeks through a slit.
"The Anti-Alien Alliance must have caught wind of my abilities, no matter how limited, from one of the mortals we brought to Subeta. No, no, that's impossible…" He thinks to himself for a while. "What if… there's another one of us here, apart from Bella, Wilhelm, and I?"
Grace moves closer to one corner of his tent, taking an object covered by black cloth. He lifts the cloth to reveal a jar, placing it on his lap. There is a cerulean, glistening liquid inside it, and a glowing object that resembles a crescent moon.
"It was cold, winter night in Tirikima when we started to evacuate Nucrea's inhabitants. It was strange, because that was the first time snow ever fell on that tropical region. It was a sign that the planet was close to the end of its life. I knew that as long as Bella and I had each other, we would weather through any trials and tribulations in our journey. I looked forward to a new world, where our romance would no longer remain secret."
He takes the jar into his arms and cuddles it.
"Bella… she has her way of letting me know that she loves me, even if she always tells people she doesn't know how to express it well. It's the little things. Going the extra mile even in small tasks. I worry that I never made her feel that it's mutual, that I would even do what we are forbidden to do -- harm mortals -- as long as it ensured her safety. I treasured every moment in my heart, waiting for the right time to tell her how much I love her -- hopefully before winter's end. Perhaps proposing is too drastic, yes?"
You hear a loud splash from outside. Grace quickly replaces his mask and investigates the noise. He immediately removes his mask once he reenters the tent, sighing from relief.
"I thought the Springs, with its seclusion, ethereal ambiance, and gentle lights would have been a good place to tell her everything. I thought I needed to make elaborate preparations, to surprise her, to give her something lavish, just like mortals do. But I asked the help of some people, and they made me realise that love… love is respect, love is wanting and working for the best of your beloved, love is built on trust, love is supporting, love is acceptance."
"Most of all, love is what you do. The place and time does not matter. But… I still wish to take her to a place with a lot of snow, even with winter ending in some parts of this planet. Bella loves the snow a lot, we have made a lot of memories in winter days and nights. Where do you think can I take her?" [edit] Woaa thank you for the gifts!! And Grace should take Bella to arctic frost, there's always snow there.
he/him / 31 / EST | | My best friend is |
So many gifts to catch up on! :D
Notepad message: Yay for finally communicating more thoroughly with Bella! Super pleased about the notepad usage. c: I love her drawings! Everything is suddenly getting very complicated though. 15 versus millions of years?! Hostility to refugees? (Ugh to Australia and everywhere else that does horrid things to refugees.) I'm glad Subeta seems to have been able to accommodate this apparently sudden influx of strangers. We're a friendly bunch, right? It's sad so few were able to be saved, but honestly impressive that any were.
Phone message: HELL YES meetups are good! I'll be there. :D
Meetup message: Grace is super sweet and the springs are gorgeous! c: The Arctic Frost would be about the only place for snow on Subeta, huh... I'd recommend the Ice Fields to get away from the heavy Luminaire focus the place has. x) Grace's outfit is cool. c:
Thank you so much for the lovely gifts! They're always so thoughtfully picked out and tie in with the story so well. C: The WL items are beyond amazing-you're much too kind. ^_^
🔭🐢