❧ Time is Running Out

[luministimods]

[while the music still plays, the two voices beyond the door finally stop arguing for a moment. if anyone is listening, they can hear this:]

[the first voice is obviously Resarci's--accented as always. his tone is firm] I think I've said all that I can.

[the other person sighs wearily. as he begins to speak, it becomes obvious that this is Mayor Caligin, though there is no trace of his usually-cheerful tone] I know, Ernesto, but I still cannot believe they... [he trails off] I never thought it would come to this.

[there is sympathy in Resarci's tone, but that firmness doesn't fade] Neither did I, but it doesn't change what's most important here. The project must be successful. As it is now, the subjects are too unwilling for our testing to proceed as planned.

[he pauses] Yes. Yes...you're right. [sighs again, and there is a beeping sound, followed by humming]

What is it you have done?

Only put up a barrier. They cannot reach you this way.

Ohhh! Brilliant, Constantine--as always. [his tone picks up with excitement] Now, shall we initiate the protocol? It will bring the project back on track. I guarantee!

[Caligin's tone, however, is subdued] Not quite yet.

[confused] But...why wait?

I want to speak to them first. After...everything, I owe them that much.

If you insist, Constantine, but remember--it is for the good of the project.

[a brief pause before Caligin says] Of course.

Then we shall talk again when it is done. I must prepare! [footsteps are heard against the floor, fading into the distance]

[suddenly, the doors fly open and happy, bright music practically bursts out, along with puffs of white confetti from two confetti guns. inside is a grand ballroom with expensive, vast crystal chandeliers hanging along the ceiling and around each one are swathes of white cloth tied off to give the whole room the feel of being in a giant tent. white and yellow rose bouquets in grand vases in the shape of lions bookend rows of chairs facing a flowered trellis, and beneath it is--Mayor Caligin himself.]

[only...while color floods the entire ballroom, Caligin is physically in grayscale, just like every broadcast of his has been. he extends his arms, grinning at the people in the room beyond and starts to speak.]

Welcome and hello to my most illustrious citizens! I hope you have enjoyed your stay in my humble abode. The joyous occasion you have been waiting for has finally arrived--!

--Is what I would love to say. [his smile fades as he steps down away from the trellis] However, there won't be any such ceremony today. What a shame, too. [he clicks a button on a small remote in his hand, and everything but the chairs shimmers and dissolves, the music stopping, revealing thousands of security screens set all around the room, each one watching a spot in town or inside the mayoral house itself. just in front of Caligin, however, a sheen like an oily spot can be seen stretching from wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling.]

I am--[he pauses for a moment]--disappointed it has come to this. We could have done so much good for so many people together... [he glances down at the remote in his hand] But I'm afraid it is time to say good-bye.


[ooc: You heard the Mayor--this is your one chance to speak to him. He is about to initiate a protocol recommended by Resarci. What he actually does comes down to all of you and your actions right now. This plot will run for one week real-time, during which characters can speak to the Mayor on this post. This is it, citizens! Can you convince the Mayor not to do what Resarci is planning? And as for what that is...well, hopefully, you won't have to see.]

Comments

[luministimods]

[he is silent for a moment before responding] Have you ever lost a loved one or someone you cared about? Perhaps you have or perhaps not; you are still so very young, after all.

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

There-- there was one person. I didn't know her well, but I cared for her. But even that one experience... [it hurt terribly.]

[luministimods]

[softly] Then wouldn't you try anything to bring that person back?

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

What... What does that have to do with anything? You can't... [Revitalization of the human body? Lost a loved one? But -- ] How was this supposed to...

[Xion's eyes instinctively cast around the room, her expression dark and panicked. Where's the Doctor? She lost track of him when everyone came in.]

[bit_impossible]

[he comes up from behind, resting a hand on her shoulder before he steps up beside her] The revitalisation of the body...a lost loved one... Xion, he's trying to play Frankenstein. Revive the dead--isn't that right, Caligin?

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

[She jumps a little, but relaxes.] But that... It isn't possible. [Her brow knits, chin ducking a little.] Right?

[luministimods]

[Caligin merely nods, a short, wry laugh escaping his lips] Correct, except unlike the good Dr. Frankenstein, I had no body I could stitch together and pump full of electricity.

And why can't I? I have the means and money to research something like this, so why not?

[bit_impossible]

[frowns severely] It shouldn't be possible. Everything has its time, and everything has to die eventually.

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

You -- When someone dies... [Her head drops for a moment, pressing her hand to her heart.]

They're not gone. Not really. There's always some part of them in your heart.

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Fuu spends a long moment silent, thankful for the others taking the Mayor's attention. No, she would not bring Emeraude back. Not even for Ferio's sake.]

[Fuu nods firmly.]

The Doctor and Xion are right! And, how is it honourable to Mister Charles Caligin's memory to have such a thing done to us?

[desertdaggers]

The Priest of Light said something like that, too. [both what the Doctor and Xion have said] People trust his advice, back home.

What good does this do?

[luministimods]

What--what good? [he looks aghast at all of them] All the good in the world! In the universe twice over! People can get to say their good-byes to those who were gone too soon, cut off in their prime or killed in some war far from home. What about for children whose parents died while they were young? They could meet them, spend time with them, and form memories they wouldn't have otherwise had!

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Fuu gapes back at him. Does he not realize how fundamentally wrong bringing the dead back to life is? How can they possibly convince him to stop? He's acting like- like... an unwitting child. A boy with a very deep regret, to risk everything to bring back his father like this.]

Mayor. Please explain to us how this all came about. How was Mister Charles Caligin so important to you that you have done this for his sake?

[desertdaggers]

[Hawk does flinch at the last part. He doesn't remember his parents, though he hasn't felt the loss often. The Guild did well enough.

He's still a little unsteady when he speaks.] You can't reach that far back. What does it do to the world? Nothing like that's free. [probably part of why there aren't any reviving spells in his world]

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

That... [Xion's head drops again. If Roxas... no. She takes a deep breath and shakes her head. Fuu asked a good question, one that she asked earlier -- Xion doesn't want to derail the Mayor and give him another chance to not answer it. She can wait and say what she wants to later.]

[desertdaggers]

[he's been listening, but the wall of screens has been very unnerving]

It's still very recent for me. And I was… [he looks away, then squares his shoulders and looks back] But I wasn't the only one. And my companions back home suffered their own losses.

…are you all right? You look a little… [motions up and down his own body]

[luministimods]

Wouldn't you want to try anything to bring them back? Cease their suffering?

[he deliberately ignores the query about his current state]

[desertdaggers]

…I think of what we could have done differently… but we didn't. It's done. And I don't believe that people suffer when they're dead.

[frowns] Mayor. With all this… are you looking after yourself?

[luministimods]

I am not about to get into semantics or belief systems about what happens to the soul--if you believe there is one--of a person after death.

[okay, he can't ignore that now. curiously:] Of course I am. I have always been in the peak of health.

[desertdaggers]

So what kind of suffering would the dead be rescued from? Shouldn't we worry about those who are alive?

Are you sure? It's just- you're looking a little out of sorts. Or out of place, perhaps. I'm sure those who care for you would worry when they saw you.

[luministimods]

I told you before, that doesn't matter. Everyone would be reunited and not have to wait until their own death see them again.

Ah, I see. You mean my current state in the realm of gray, yes? Do not be worried about that. I'm truly, perfectly fine--and they do know it, as well.

[desertdaggers]

I understand where you're coming from, but… I don't think there's anything wrong with patience.

Mayor, if I may ask- what caused it? I've never seen anything quite like it.

Have you spoken to them about it? Miss Osculia seemed rather bothered by something.

[luministimods]

[sorry, he's choosing to ignore some things; don't mind him~]

My state has been the resulting effect of something I wished to test. Another phase of the project, if you will. And of course I've spoken with my people. My dear Miss Osculia is distraught by something else, no doubt. Always did worry far too much...

[desertdaggers]

Something in a similar sort of vein as the tests on us? How has it lasted so long?

She seemed rather concerned by you, to tell the truth. The impression I had was that you were a person who cared greatly for people, but perhaps a little too focused on something other than people at the moment. When was it you spoke with them?

[luministimods]

Similar to, but never tested on you. I am...uncertain of how long it will last.

I spoke with them just before I released them from their rooms. We do have these handy communications devices.