[Voice]

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

[The voice post begins with Cecil sounding quite...uncertain, even frightened] H-Hello? Night Vale? I certainly hope you can hear me.

I hope...someone, anyone, can hear me.

I seem to have fallen through some kind of interdimensional portal into a strange underwater city. I'm currently wet, which is quite irritating since my captors don't appear to have brought along my emergency disaster suitcase, or even a single change of clothing. But... I don't appear to be in any pain, or any obvious danger, actually. [His voice is slowly becoming stronger, and actually sounds quite normal at this point, sonorous, and calm]

I have arrived in a plaza at what I surmise to be the approximate centre of town. According to the literature the natives have provided to me, the coral at the centre of the plaza is named Lamufo, and is the dark god of this strange place.

The natives all appear to be extremely pleasant. At this point, I can only assume that this is meant to lull me into a false sense of security, before they devour me or sacrifice me to their deity. I certainly hope that I can find a way home before they do so.

If this message reaches you, Night Vale, please accept my apology. It seems that you may be deprived of my show for some time. Perhaps even...forever.

Comments

Yes?

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

[He meant it fully and sincerely. Honestly, this man is pretty attractive. Nice eye candy on his government-issued starfish iPhone thingy. He's not going to complain.]

Ahh, now that makes sense. How do they do it? The usual sort of invocations? Mind-leaches? Or do people simply disappear and are never seen again?

Precious nerd

[croceamors]

No one knows the details, although I've heard a man named Darkleer is fairly knowledgeable about this place as much as we can be. It seems to be connected with the coral somehow.

You're going to need to touch it regularly, or else lose energy.

Indeed

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

Darkleer, all right. I'll have to get him for an interview at some point. Can you tell me more about this knowledgeable man?

So the coral lures us close with this energy drain phenomenon, and when we touch it, it...does what, exactly? Drains our emotions instead?

Indeed

[croceamors]

I only met him once to follow up on some information. He's a troll, and well built.

[And will probably enter this post when the mun stops feeling lazy.]

No, just energy. It's all very vague. It does restore your energy, however, or at least makes it seem that way. Whatever it takes goes into upholding the barrier, amongst other things possibly.

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

Ah, one of the charming genocidal aliens! I spoke with Mr. Karkat Vantas as well. What a nice guy he is. I'll look this Darkleer fellow up, too, then.

[Or Cecil could just look him up and request an interview later hehe]

That's fascinating. You're saying all of us are literally batteries, powering the ephemeral barrier that keeps tonnes of ocean water and presumably sea life, from crashing down on our heads and giving us a - hopefully quick - death? I sure hope they keep bringing in enough people, then! Though I miss my home terribly, I'm certainly glad to help out.

[croceamors]

They regularly seem to rotate the roster. While many are returned to where they came from, those who are brought in seem to follow a schedule. This time every month, from what I understand.

You're taking this better than others.

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

I have to admit, despite my recently-conceived commitment to do my part to prevent a watery apocalypse, it's nice to know that there's some hope of going home one day.

Am I? I wonder why. It's nothing to get uptight about. Falling through a portal into an alien world or alternate universe is just one of those things that happens to nearly everyone sooner or later, after all.

[croceamors]

Some might disagree. Apparently traveling to different Worlds is an unusual occurrence for some places.

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

How odd. [He's so very bemused] I know it can be somewhat rare for people outside of Night Vale - or so I'm told anyway, by those in the know - but I thought it might be different in other worlds.

I'm sure someone like you took it well, though. No shrieking or gibbering for you, I assume?

[croceamors]

No. I wouldn't be much of a Nobody if I was that easily startled.

[Also he was a little too busy being half dead at the time to really care much, so, y'know.]

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

You're a...Nobody? Are we talking some kind of official designation, race, or just low self-esteem?

By the way, I'm Cecil. What's your name?

[croceamors]

Designation. I'm apparently not supposed to exist.

[If only some of the others had low self esteem...]

I'm called Saix.

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

But who among us can't say that? It's a pleasure Saix.

[croceamors]

[That... actually earns a brief smirk and something that could almost be classified as a chuckle.]

You'd be surprised. Did the brochure tell you about the free items you are entitled to here?

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

[Oh, what a nice laugh he has. Cecil is enjoying this conversation very much.]

Well, obviously some people are predestined in prophesy, but as for the rest of us, it's just a matter of incredible coincidence that we even exist.

It might say something... but I'd like you to tell me, anyway. If you don't mind.

[croceamors]

Hm. I used to think I'd know more about that considering my title, but prophecies are still outside my skillset.

[Fortunately Cecil has put Saix into a decent mood, so he decides to comply.]

Money is of no particular value here, and you can 'buy' what you need from most of the stores here without having to actually pay anything. The only exception is the Nostalgia Nook, which takes in items from our worlds and sells them.

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

Your title?

[He ponders this for a bit] Well, heck, that's convenient. I came here without so much as a change of underwear, and I definitely need to get out of these wet clothes. And pay a visit to this Nostalgia Nook, too, once I've gotten myself a job. Do you know if they're a licensed purveyor of bloodstone?

[croceamors]

My former... employer had a tendency to give those under his command titles that matched their aspect in some way. Mine was 'the Lunar Diviner'.

[Goddamn flowery boss.]

I wouldn't doubt if they were.

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

Oh, how nice. I'm just a radio announcer with Night Vale Community Radio. I honestly have no idea what my employer calls me, since I'm uncertain they are capable of spoken language. [Chuckles, then he stops as something occurs to him] You know about the moon?

[croceamors]

Yes. It is something of a specialty of mine.

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

Oh... [There's a pause, of a few minutes, and then his voice comes through again, in a whisper]

What's it for?

[croceamors]

It depends on the world. For- Night Vale, I would have to visit and get a feel for it myself.

[Saix isn't stupid enough to say that all moons are the same. What kind of idiot believes that? Moons are just as different as the worlds they watch over, with their own energies and effects and hearts.]

I haven't been able to get a good understanding of Vatheon's moon because of the barrier's affect on us, but it seems for now to be restricted to helping affect the tides.

The moon in the World That Never Was, where I spent most of my time, was artificially made from the hearts- spiritual and emotional, not physical- of slain creatures of Darkness called Heartless, and was capable of immense power if it were ever to be finished.

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

[He listens avidly. At least Saix doesn't seem to feel there's a need for secrecy, so when he speaks again, it's at a normal volume again]

I'd love for you to see Night Vale's moon. It's wonderful... and so mysterious. I've always wondered about it, but it's dangerous to discuss out loud. The Sheriff's Secret Police took exception the last time I did.

Your moon sounds so interesting, though. I can't even imagine what that would look like!

[croceamors]

Why would they?

Hm. It's very bright. There wasn't a moon before it started to form, so far into the shape of a giant heart.

[goodnightsweetlisteners]

Oh, I'm sure they had a good reason! That's one of government's most important duties - to inform us all of what subjects aren't to be thought about.

A heart-shaped moon. How...romantic!