caughtinanetwork | [action/video] - Returning

Lunaday, Ifrit-Decan 13, ND 2018

[There were only three things that Guy really could remember from the last few moments of his life.

Pain. Rage. Fear.

All of them, all in a sudden burst; controlling his actions, forcing his body to act on what his mind had pressed back for years and years. It was the horrifying feeling of having no control and yet being completely aware of your actions, raising his sword above his head to give a blow he thought he'd never have to see with his own eyes. The curse slot was in control, and there was absolutely nothing he could do but watch.

There was a shaking of the ground, a shout. The twang of an arrow, the ruffle of leaves... and then the world went white. He wasn't in Auldrant anymore; not surrounded by a forest of thick trees and mockingly clear skies, but instead blue-stoned buildings, humid air, the bustle of people, the roar of water... the eerily familiar glow of a massive coral out of the corner of his eye. His clothes were also sopping wet.

Too bad that sense of de-ja-vu wasn't quite what was on his mind.

The moment Guy feels his feet against the cobblestone, sword still raised above his head, there is a mental snap; a severing of control and emotions so sudden and harsh, his entire body tenses, limbs locking and vision goes black. He falters, stumbling forward a step. The katana slips from his hand, clanging to the ground as the blonde crumples beside it.

What a disaster. What a nightmare. But at least he was separated from that monster. At least for now. Thank the Score... darkness would do him some good. Here's hoping someone familiar doesn't leave him out on the pavement.

...]

[It isn't until early afternoon that the network is finally accessed. Guy himself doesn't seem to be having any trouble figuring out the SFC - it's coming back to him like he'd only been here yesterday. In fact, he's back in a very familiar apartment, sitting heavily on a couch he remembers sharing for far too long, the balcony of the second floor of a Yutopil apartment just visible in the background.

He looks very tired. But hey, no need to let that stop a smile.]

Hey there, Vatheon. Seems I had a vanishing act for a little while there, hah. Sorry.

I hope you guys haven't had too much trouble lately.

[He pauses, lips pressing together in thought, before bluntly speaking again--]

And hey... whoever went and "borrowed" my energy gauge? I'd really like it back sometime. Please.

[[ooc: ACTION IS FOR LIMITED CR ONLY PLEASE - it has been plotted in advance. :Db Feel free to respond to the video otherwise.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

We've been managing, of course. I suspect you'll find out plenty from others, if you haven't already.

But for your vanishing act...did you go back to your world?

[Well hello there, stranger.]

It's been coming in bits and pieces, although no one's told me anything substantial yet. It doesn't look like too much has changed.

[He pauses at Ky's question, expression drifting a bit as he nods.]

...Yeah, I did. I wasn't home for very long, apparently.

But when you arrived -- you weren't damaged or otherwise harmed by the trip?

[Ky's been worrying about the subject ever since Johnny, from his world, had appeared here and then disappeared.]

Other than the usual soak? No. At least, not as far as I could tell.

[Was there damage? Yes. Was it from the bubble? No. But he wasn't about to talk about that any time soon.]

That's good.

[Ky can't help the relief that floods him at that, and it shows at least some.]

Had you lost any time, while you were here?

"Lost any time"?

I'm not sure I understand.

[Whether it meant the time that progressed at home or something else entirely wasn't something he could really clarify.]

I mean did you arrive finding that you'd...missed thing, and been missed?

Or is it true that it was like...you never left?

[For all that people have said it before, Ky hasn't been able to ask someone who has experience with it before.]

...No, there's a change.

When you do remember where you are, things just... well, they come flooding back into your head, for the most part. Not overwhelmingly so. But there's definitely a moment where you realize that those memories had been gone, or at least just blocked for a while.

Kind of like when you revisit a dream you had as a kid, or show up in a town you haven't been to in years. Things feel a little rusty, but not completely unrecognizable...

[Ahhh is he even making any proper sense? A hand idly moves to rub at the back of Guy's neck as he chuckles quietly, glancing off to the side.]

Sorry. It's a little difficult to describe.

[Ky nods attentively, drinking it all in. Guy's willingness to explain is something he very much appreciates.

And will take advantage of while he can.]

Did you remember immediately, or did it take a little while?

[He hesitates for a split second. The circumstances of his arrival were interesting at best, but--]

As far as recognizing my surroundings? It was pretty immediate. I knew where I was, and I recognized faces. Names were a little blurry at first, but it didn't last more than... I don't know, four, maybe five hours?

Ahh, I see.

[Ky can imagine that as being a little disconcerting, but he's really only guessing.]

When you were home, did anything significant happen?

[Had Guy been called back to his world because it needed him?]

Hmm? Well, in comparison to my last time here... yeah, of course. [Why was Ky asking him this, anyways?]

I guess it depends what you mean by "significant".

[He's asking because he cares, and because having this knowledge might matter. Or it might make him feel better, or worse, but either way it's necessary.]

Something you were needed for, an event that it was your duty to fulfill if you were there.

[Duty, huh?

...

If he counted journeying back to Aramis Spring among everything, else that had happened, then--]

In a way, yeah.

Nothing that was a matter of life or death, though. At least, nothing that was resting on my shoulders alone. [Natalia and Ion would have been rescued regardless of his presence - they were too important for that to be a determining factor.]

[It's weird to think of there being a duty that doesn't rest on one person's shoulders alone for Ky, but perhaps that's because he's so used to shouldering it and not thinking about who else might help.

When people trust him to take care of important things Ky does his absolute best to be worthy of that trust.]

It sounds like it worked out for the best, then?

As far as I know, yes. Although I wasn't exactly pulled away at the best of moments this time around. But there isn't any point in focusing on what I can't fix right now, you know?

[He already had to focus on it enough this morning. Other than pursuing things on his own free time to get help he wasn't sure was even available... he wasn't quite a fan of just wasting his energy on that front.]

Yes, I agree.

Besides which, there is plenty that can be done here.

[And that's a thing Ky plunges himself into fully, because it really is the only thing that helps. As far as he's concerned.]

Or at least plenty of things that we can attempt to do. Adapting to your environment is better than just doing nothing at all, though.

[He hesitates for a moment, running a hand across the back of his neck.]

...Ah, speaking of which: You're on the Defense Force, right? Are you guys still looking for help?

Some of it, at least, we can succeed in.

I am, and we always welcome more help.

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[video] Sorry, I definitely lost the notification for this

[video] Haha, don't worry about it, I'm cool with backtags

[video] Just really didn't want to have dropped it.

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