THE TOWN SQUARE.

[atrueheroine]

[Page silently watches the church burn for a little while, once she's emerged safely from it, before turning away and heading to the town square to meet up with everyone else. It makes sense to rest here, as they did last week, after another town with another tragic story to tell.

At least that time, however, they'd all survived it unscathed.

Once she's made it over to the group, she drops her pack onto the ground and collapses next to it, staring at her feet. It's going to take a bit to...process all of that, and while she'd love to get up in front of everyone and make some kind of rousing speech, she just doesn't have it in her at the moment.

Instead, she'll look up from the stone of the square, eventually, casting her eye over everyone and saying (almost to herself)-]

...I hope everyone is all right.

[That is likely far from true, but...well. They're all alive, Wesker is dead, and that's something. She's trying her best not to look at that little tree-sculpture with the key around its neck.


OOC: Second verse, same as the first! Here's our post-event mingle post, to talk about what the hell just happened in there, lick our wounds, and beg forgiveness from...from Flower Girl. Top-level away; Page will have her own up, if you'd like to talk to her.]

Comments

[abysstery]

[Heinwald is around, but doesn't seek anyone out for a while. He sits quietly on the edge of the town square, watching the church burn and reflecting on what happened today.

Occasionally, he glances down at the notebook that he came in with. Its origin is no longer a mystery, but the truth that came out of it was a harsh one. Not only that, but with one mystery solved, another has revealed itself.

What made him decide to leave with a part of the Shimmer? And was it the right choice?]

[selfsacrificial]

[Considering everything that came out back there, he can't blame Heinwald for wanting some space and quiet. So Rean gives him some time before he comes to check on him.

He sits a small ways away when he does join him.]

Hey.

[abysstery]

[Heinwald takes his eyes off of the fire and glances over at Rean when he is addressed.]

Hello.

[...]

I take it you must have questions for me.

[selfsacrificial]

You don't owe us answers. I imagine this is just as difficult for you, if not more.

[Rean is nothing if not sympathetic to that.]

But if you want someone to talk to, I'd be more than happy to listen.

[It's the teacher in him-- he can't help but fuss over others.]

[abysstery]

I see.

[He’s pretty thankful for that, because he doesn’t even know where he’d begin to answer for any of this.

After a pause, he speaks up again.]

...I accepted this mission because I wanted to uncover the mysteries hidden within the Shimmer. I certainly did not expect one of those mysteries to end up being about my own previous involvement.

[selfsacrificial]

[Rean hums thoughtfully with a small nod.]

Maybe there’s a reason you’re here now. After all... you’re a valuable part of this team.

Regardless of whatever happened before, what’s most important is what you want to do now. If you still want those answers— we’ll be here to help you find them.

[scythegun]

Heinwald.

[Hi, Heinwald. Yeager greets him as usual with a wave before joining him, taking a seat nearby. He's wearing a flower crown?? He absolutely ditched this whole confrontation fairly early on, but that's probably fine.]

I take it you learned some interesting things today?

[It's light, as it always is with Yeager, but he does sound genuinely interested.]

[abysstery]

[God he wishes that were him.

Yeager’s lightness about the situation is jarring, but it’s hard to blame him when he has no idea of the bombshell that was dropped in there. But it does make this conversation awkward from the get-go.]

Oh, it was interesting and more. I learned that Yusei and I have been here before. We were part of the group that made it out.

[He’ll start with that for now]

[scythegun]

Really? Well, that's unexpected.

[That's a huge revelation, and not one he can buy Heinwald making up. Not that he has any reason to doubt anything Heinwald says, but still.]

But that was a... different version of you, I suppose? My, how confusing.

[abysstery]

Apparently, yes. I certainly have no memory of it, and Wesker informed me that the Shimmer is not as involved with my body as the Heinwald that he previously encountered.

[Which...brings him to the next concerning bit of info.]

He also saw fit to inform us that the previous group brought a part of the Shimmer out with them. Another iteration of me must have been part of that decision, and I want to know why.

[scythegun]

That's a very good question. Assuming the other version of you is very similar to how you are now, I have a hard time imagining why you would want to do something like that.

[To study it, sure, but that seems... really dangerous??? Is Heinwald that much of a mad scientist... Actually he probably is.]

Well, if he couldn't answer it, then perhaps the Shimmer itself can? Assuming we can find a way to communicate with it that doesn't involve becoming a walking corpse.

[You cannot convince him that Wesker was not a walking corpse. He was leaking moss. Definitely undead.]

[planetary_bonds]

Heinwald.

[Yusei sounds almost...afraid to raise his voice. The two of them have the same worry, after all.

And since they both are wondering about the same thing, Yusei simply sits next to him, not voicing the question they're both asking themselves.

They'll talk this out when Heinwald's ready. (Even if Yusei isn't sure if he himself is.)]

[abysstery]

[Heinwald is used to working alone, but honestly, in this case he’s thankful that there is someone else in the same position as him. He and Yusei have a connection, and they can discuss the situation in a way that no one else can.

So he’s attentive when Yusei approaches. He had planned to visit with him as well, but Yusei found him first. He shifts a bit so he’s properly facing Yusei.]

Ready to talk about it, then?

[planetary_bonds]

Better now than never.

[Okay. He'll start.]

Regarding the Shimmer itself...what do you think this means...? I can't help but feel like it could go a few ways.

[So. He's starting with a broader picture. It's easier to think like that, than to focus on his own role in all this.]

[abysstery]

Are you referring to its mechanisms or its aims...?

[planetary_bonds]

...Both, I suppose. Either it got itself into our heads, or...it's not as malicious as we think it is.

[His face crumples.]

I can't think of any other reason why I would agree to such a thing.

[aokisouhei]

Well, look who it is? I'd ask if you were enjoying the fireworks, but...I think I'd benefit asking something else instead:

What's with the long face?

[ The bad guy got torched, so what was so bad about that?! Okay, he knew it wasn't likely to be so easy as to figure that was why Heinwald was so pensive/etc., but hey. ]

[abysstery]

[Lancer’s words are met with a huff. Heinwald doesn’t bother to face him.]

Leave it to you to only see things at face value.

[That comes out harshly, more than he probably intended. But he’s a bit on edge after all of that.]

I am reflecting upon what we learned today. About the journey that another Heinwald made within the Shimmer, and his choices.

[aokisouhei]

Hey, give me a little credit here.

[ People got shot, he won't fault him for being on edge, so he'll just roll with the punches so to speak. At the very least he's not truly offended by the harshly worded sentence, intended or no. ]

And you're not proud of what he did, are you?

[abysstery]

[He at least backs off on the unnecessary hostility, falling silent for a moment before responding.]

...I am not certain just yet. More than anything, I want to know why he made the choices he did. What did he discover, and what made him decide to bring a piece of the Shimmer out with him?

[aokisouhei]

[ ... Well, he supposed that was only natural. ]

I won't fault you for being curious. I won't say it's impossible either; the harder you look for answers, eventually they'll find their way to you.

[ Whether or not someone is prepared to receive them. But, if any of them were here, it'll mean they've acknowledged that they would have to accept some hard truths. ]

Just don't go crazy trying to wrack your head with those questions before you find 'em.

[blunders]

[Felicia's making her rounds to check on people, and truthfully, she can barely imagine whatever's going through Heinwald's head right about now. Finding out about all of that...she can only imagine that it's a lot to think about.

Still, Felicia will go to see him, though she stops a small distance away. He might want space.]

Ah, Heinwald! Would you mind some company?

[abysstery]

[It absolutely is a lot to think about, and quite frankly, he's happy to take a break from it to speak with Felicia.

He turns his attention away from the church for the time being and shakes his head.]

Not at all. Please, have a seat.

[blunders]

Of course!

[Felicia will gladly plop down, then, at least managing somewhat of a smile. Today's been a bit...much, to say the least, but if anyone's probably having a rough go of it, it's Heinwald, she imagines.

...Still, Felicia is going to idly pick a couple of flowers and get started on yet another necklace or something while she talks, but--]

How are you feeling? I know today must have been...well, a lot, to say the least.

[abysstery]

[Heinwald shifts so he can properly face Felicia, idly watching her work on that necklace as he replies.]

This may be a bit of a disappointing answer, but I am still working out how I feel right now. Wesker has given me quite a lot to think about.

[He brings a hand to his chin.]

I would like to hear your thoughts, Felicia. What was your initial reaction upon learning of Yusei and I's previous involvement?

[Not that it was the Yusei and Heinwald of now, but Heinwald is under the working assumption that they would at least operate similarly.]