[text] @riku; lost & found and other stuff [open]

[equinoctials]

Hey. Hope you're all staying safe. It's icy out there.

The Postmaster gave me a package. Couldn't tell you who sent it but I think there's been a mistake. This was inside.

[ There's a picture attached of a yarn snowman wearing a knit black cap and black and white knitted scarf with green buttons for eyes. It's pretty cute... ]

Does this belong to anyone?

One more thing.

The movie theater downtown has a stage and multiple film projectors. Big library of films too. The spirits working the concession counter seem okay too.

Only problem is it needs power. Take a look at this.

[ The attached picture shows five slots that look like they could fit a big square car battery or something like it. ]

Not exactly urgent. Still, a movie sometimes might not be too bad.

-Riku

Comments

[moderatelymaladjusted]

And almost blackmail.

What kind of trouble?

[Line of questioning diverted. Success.]

[equinoctials]

[ That's what you think, Q. Riku's just changing tactics and targets. He's gonna find Eliot. It's not that Riku is predisposed to meddle in other people's business... he just cares about his friends and is pretty intense about it. ]

Don't worry about it. We've got enough to deal with as is.
Besides. I wasn't even using it and we keep getting more people.

[ And losing some. He definitely noticed. ]

[moderatelymaladjusted]

The lanterns? Or finding power to run the theater?

That's very nice of you. It totally makes sense, and I think someone else even moved in next door? You know, because Elena and Jon both died. Right after Christmas. Which, really brings up questions. Of why so many people didn't come back. Have anyone even come back at all since then? Since Christmas?

[equinoctials]

The theater isn't a priority but it would probably help morale.
I mean issues like the world eaters and the dangers here.

[ He doesn't feel the need to beat a dead horse by talking about how Elena's death weighs on him. It was his suggestion that sent her to her death, and for what? Really, for what? Robin didn't seem concerned enough to ask for help, which leads him to feel like Riku had overreacted and that had cost someone their life. Had cost someone he felt friendly towards her life.

He can at least address the question. ]

When we connected the lighthouse to the network, before you came, we lost an incredible number of people.
Never saw them again.
It's never a guarantee that someone will come back. Seems like it might be related to the condition of their lantern.
Makes sense, since it houses our life force.

[moderatelymaladjusted]

I'm working on something. That might hep with the world eaters.

[Might also blow the portal wide open, or do nothing at all. There's no way to know until he tries.]

It might. It might have something to do with any number of things, but we don't know that because no one has actually taken the time to look in to it. Like, maybe if you know magic, the odds of you coming back are low. It could be related to the phases of the moon?

There's a lot of things not being looked in to, but that's fine.

[equinoctials]

[ Riku's intrigued by that, he's curious enough to ask.

But then the rest... he knows what this is, he knows why it's set him off, and he should stop himself from just firing off a reply like this but sometimes - sometimes, his temper just gets the better of him. ]

so... what?
kairi didnt come back because she was TOO magical?
the moon just happened to be gibbous so sora

[moderatelymaladjusted]

Maybe. Yeah, maybe they don't come back because the moon or some other circumstance isn't right or makes it harder.

[Or it's about the pieces like Vanitas said, but just thinking that makes Quentin feel more than a little sick and he's not about to try and put that in to words. Not even text.]

My point is-- we don't know. Eliot came back, but he came back on the ferry and he is not the only one. And he doesn't remember. He didn't come back the same as how he died.

[equinoctials]

eliot eleven and sora arent the same versions that disappeared.
thats why.
there are many worlds. even other versions. some of them sleep, so the people and places you find in them are a little different. or dont recognize you

[moderatelymaladjusted]

I know about timelines, thanks. So you're willing to go with it's all just a coincidence? Because just looking back at the bulletin, it seems that if you're not alone here when you die, you have a lower chance of coming back.

[equinoctials]

what do you mean by alone?

[moderatelymaladjusted]

Eleven has people here. She has people she's close to. I know Eliot did, and you told me that Sora was a friend. So, he had YOU.

The ones who come back. They're alone here?

I don't know how they come back AGAIN, but on the ferry. But maybe it's us? Maybe we're bringing them back?

[equinoctials]

[ He really hates that theory, Q. The evidence is circumstantial at best, he also doesn't need more reasons to blame himself for Kairi and Sora-- ]

so? is that gonna help us now?

[moderatelymaladjusted]

I don't know. Maybe it can't help us, but maybe it can help someone else. Someone who hasn't already lost. Someone.