I trust that everyone managed to successfully pull through last week's event? I'm sure that you all have taken note of the room changes already, but I'd like to reiterate that I am now in Room 208 and not Room 308. I wouldn't wish for anyone to bother Miss Yomiko needlessly.

In addition, it would seem that some items may have been misplaced during the apartment shuffling. If anyone happens across a small yellow songbird, could you please inform me? I'd appreciate it.

If there is anyone who still requires assistance, do not hesitate to ask one of us. I have helped to start a number of controlled fires in the general vicinity. These should aid in generating warm air and providing areas for cooking food or boiling water. They may also serve to deter some of the wild animals. Please use standard fire precautions and keep a bucket of water nearby at all times just in case the flames should become too difficult to handle. If anyone sustains injury and there is not an island healer immediately on hand, you are welcome to come to me and I'll do what I can. That's all.

[Tear was up at the crack of dawn as per usual, walking off some lingering traces of sleep, getting a feel for whether or not anything was amiss out of doors, and proceeding to hike a little ways off the path to do her ritual morning training. It wasn't particularly necessary, but it was the norm for her, and something familiar. It made sense. And she certainly wasn't going to complain that she had remembered artes in the process. It was almost ridiculous how something so simple as running through her most basic artes could fill her with relief. She yanked one of her knives out of the trunk of a large cedar tree and checked along its edge for any nicks or scratches.]

Well, this might be a small improvement at the very least.

((OOC: I actually had a nice plotty entry written up, but we'll save it for another time. 1% on her base and arcane artes - Pow Hammer, Nocturnal Light, Severed Fate (hey, look, her username!), and Banishing Sorrow. She can also use FOFs, if FOFs are possible here. 17% used, 1% remaining.))

They say that married couples tend to start acting alike after they have been together for several years and can even finish one another's sentences. Therefore, what does it mean when two people are nearly perfectly matched prior to a formal wedding?

[Sigh.] I fear for the future of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear, I really do. They're just children, no matter how you approach the situation...

[Private; unhackable.]
I'm relieved that Luke's mother wasn't stricken with illness too badly as a result of her son's disappearance. Still, I feel somewhat responsible for causing her to worry needlessly. I should have been more careful, and must continue to be so.

Perhaps I was foolish for trying to explain things. I suppose anyone would feel the urge to speak up about what they've learned in a setting like this. The very process of remembering is vexing. Many times I lack context or any sense of chronological order; I can't be sure when these events occurred or if they even hold true at the present time. For now, I suppose I have no option but to wait. Raven was right - my current approach to returning to Auldrant certainly won't benefit anyone.
[/Private.]

In any case, I wonder if peace is truly an option between two countries that have been at war for so long.

((OOC: 1% on being arrested taken aboard the Tartarus and lots of dialogue thereafter; 1% on meeting Natalia... that whole lovely scene where Tear gets called a "servant girl" and suffers through a few other insults from various people. Let's just say it didn't go very well. But hey, at least Suzanne was nice. 16% total. 2% left from Halloween.))

I wonder if that's why I took to waitressing so easily. At the time, I didn't think much of it, but it seemed almost natural, as if I had held a similar job once before.

The customers would often watch me... Does a servant possess the air of a servant? I guess I am rather plain, now that I think of it.

[Private; moderately hackable except for strike-throughs.]
In any case, it would explain a few things. Why else would I remember the layout of Baticul Castle so well? The soaring ceilings of the throne room and entryway... There was a library with a large globe and a stairway leading to the upper shelves of a large bookcase; the walls were lined with family portraits. The princess's room had soft couches, and a silver tea service. There was a teddy bear, too. It was incredibly fancy and expensive-looking... I recall that there was an occasion where one of the maids lost the king's seal. I went looking for it, and a cute cat brought it to me in the library.

...There must be a reasonable explanation.
[/Private.]

Even taking all of that into account, I can't imagine why I... even after what happened...

Anyway. I apologize if there's anyone who misses me at Cafe Demois. I recently applied to be one of the town's patrolmen. If something's troubling you, or you witness anything suspicious, please inform one of us. We're here to help, after all.

((OOC: Tear remembers the Proud Maid sidequest and as a result has come to the conclusion that she was actually employed as one of the castle maids. Ouch. Sure the outfit's lovely, and she knows her way around Baticul Castle well enough, but... she didn't ask for this. Last 1% from Oktoberfest spent on the Proud Maid sidequest. If anyone can see game stats, it's her current title. 14% total, 3% remaining from Halloween.))

[Tear is summarizing what she has discovered via the library about this peculiar Earth holiday. It is likely that she researched Christmas while she was at it. I wiki'd all this.]

"All Hallows' Eve", more popularly known as "Halloween", is a holiday observed predominantly in the Western world on the planet called Earth. It was derived from the Old Irish festival at summer's end, "Samhain", which celebrated the close to the lighter half of the year and the beginning of the darker half.

The ancient Celts believed that on this day, the border between the "Otherworld" and the world of the living became incredibly thin, allowing both passive and violent spirits to travel back and forth between them. The wearing of costumes was said to disguise humans in an attempt to trick the evil spirits into leaving them unharmed. Family spirits were also honored by lighting candles.

The holiday is becoming increasingly secular and commercialized, even though it is believed to have religious origins. It is widely celebrated on October thirty-first, where children dress up in costumes and go from door-to-door uttering the words "Trick or Treat". Children are then either given candy, other food items, or currency, or they can be shooed away in which case they will perform a harmless prank on the home owners. Halloween traditions include burning bonfires, bobbing for apples, haunted houses, costume parties, divination, the telling of... ghost stories, and the aforementioned trick-or-treating. Popular foods include candied apples, candy corn, and a wide variety of manufactured sweets and chocolates.

Symbols such as the jack-o-lantern (a pumpkin or other vegetable with a face carved into it), witches, vampires, werewolves, black cats, scarecrows, and ghosts are common.

...the spirits of the departed is one matter, but...

... ...Ghosts?

I-It's a good thing the island isn't haunted...! There are no ghosts here, so there's no need for me to worry! Right. No ghosts. None. Absolutely not!

...W-well! That's the gist of it. There have been a large number of children hurrying about in costume recently. Perhaps I should try cooking something again, otherwise I have a feeling I'll run out of food to offer them. And besides, that the "island" left us with those bags, no matter how harmless the sweets appear, it still makes me the slightest bit suspicious.

((OOC: I advise you not to spook her. Just warning you.))

Wh-why do I keep getting forced into strange costumes? This is getting ridiculous...

[Tear takes a few steps down the pathway towards the library and no, her face isn't pink, before something rolls out from under her long denim skirt. She pauses to pick it up and inspect it, shedding a pair of glasses as she does so.]

...a plastic apple? I can see how the sweets might be used to accent Olette's pastries, but this...

[An awkward mish-mash of being both caring and stern, forgiving and unwavering; a costume possessing the normalcy of a teacher (we liked this art off pixiv; idk it looked teachery) seemed the logical choice (or babysitter, or big sister...). It's about 90% more modest than her usual attire, too. Feel free to assume it's a soft pink color as opposed to green, because pink is much cuter. Honestly, I had more flashy ideas, but something plain seemed to fit her personality better.]

So Misa-Misa was right in the end.

It would seem my family originally came from the Island of Hod. "Grants" is the last name belonging to Governor Teodoro who took us in. Van and I were are apparently the only surviving members of House Fende, which-- No. I feel certain they're known for something, but I can't pinpoint just what that something is.

And also...

[Tear starts doing some math in the margins of her journal, something to do with Ifritday, Lorelei-Decan 1, ND 2001*. It probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense, given Auldrant's unique calendar system, but once she's done, she's got a date circled that actually does - December 2nd**.]

If my calculations are correct, I should be around 16... Well, that's assuming my last memory was recent. I don't think it could have happened terribly long ago, but I can't be completely sure.

[Private; unhackable.]
Was it all revenge for Hod? Perhaps I never understood, and I certainly don't understand it now...
Van, why did you have to go to such extremes?

((OOC: 1% going to what Van has told her about their origins and Hod. Throwing her birthday in, too. 13% total. 1% remaining from Oktoberfest.))

Footnotes:
*I have also seen it listed as 2002. I'm not sure which is accurate, as there are a few errors in the calendar anyway. Suffice it to say Tear's calculated that she's somewhere around 16 years old based on what she has remembered, although her actual age is closer to 19 since she's taken from the end of the game.
**Based off this thread.

[For all technical purposes, Tear has made herself scarce. She is taking the rest of the week off from work and has informed no one about it save the manager. That doesn't mean she's impossible to find, however. Rather predictably she is sitting near her flower garden at the Hakurei Shrine, rolling an apple between her palms that she snagged from breakfast this morning and hasn't taken the first bite of. There's a lot for her to mull over, and she can't do that unless she has some time to herself. Auldrant has never seemed so far away, but she has no idea where to go from here, and she still has so very many unanswered questions.]

Van...

[OOC: Cherry's mean, but I need to get some of this heavy crap out of the way at some point. 1% on Absorption Gate, mainly concerned with dialogue; the battle itself; and Van, like all good Disney villains, falling to his "demise". AND THAT VAN SRSLY PLAYS HIS OWN BGM ON THE ORGAN. We'll worry about the other cast members and all the technical Sephiroth (not that Sephiroth) stuff at another time, so assume she doesn't know anything about lowering the land or where the heck all this drama is taking place. That makes 12% with 2% left. She'll go back to work next Monday.]

[Private; unhackable]
None of this makes any sense.

Perhaps the issue of hyperresonance can be explained, at least.
From what I remember, the Score is a very important aspect of our society. It's like a prophecy... as long as the Score is followed, you can expect the future written within the Score to be carried out. In fact, the Oracle Knights are the military branch of the Order of Lorelei. Our overall goal is in making sure that the Score is protected and followed, as well as maintaining peace. As for myself, I'm a subordinate to Grand Maestro Mohs, and a member of the Intelligence Division's first platoon. The reason I was sent to the Outer Lands was to locate the Seventh Fonstone on which is written a part of the Score that describes the future of Auldrant. For quite obvious reasons, this Fonstone and others like it are invaluable.

Of course, that wasn't my only reason for going to the Outer Lands... What I had really hoped to do was locate Van and stop him from carrying out his agenda.

In any case, I remembered reading a part of the Score contained on a fragment of the Sixth Fonstone. It mentioned a 'scion of Lorelei's power', and from the description, it sounded like it was talking about Luke. With an organization called the "Order of Lorelei", Lorelei must be very important, and likely related to the Score somehow. I'm not entirely sure what Lorelei is, but if Lorelei's power is related to the seventh fonon, then it might explain why Luke can perform a hyperresonance on his own. Some seventh fonists are Scorers, so the possibility exists... The Score itself seems something like a recording of the planet's history.

But that's not the problem. Why is Asch remembering the same name and background that Luke has? There can't possibly be two Lukes... and Ion even said that Asch the Bloody was a member of a group of individuals known as the God Generals.

I don't understand what's going on.
Apparently I traveled with Luke, but the person that I remember...
[/filter]

...does anyone play chess? I... was just thinking that we used to really enjoy Rika's games, but after she disappeared, everyone quit playing them.

[Tear had just recently discovered something she hated even more than ghosts: alcohol.
If the hangover didn't kill her now, the not remembering exactly what she had been doing during that too-long period of time would. She thought she remembered a few things, but none of it was incredibly comforting. Maybe no one else would remember either. She could certainly pretend that she didn't just fine. But as for the other parties in question...

But that didn't matter. She was hungover, and she had work today. Luckily, there were breaks, and as soon as she could, she sank down into a chair looking much like a wilting flower. The sun was too bright, customers all seemed to be shouting at her, and she felt exhausted and sick because she hadn't slept for more than a few hours. She had never been more grateful for a steaming cup of NORMAL tea. The idea of sitting like this for the rest of the day was far too tempting. Not that she would; the cafe was short-handed again; as soon as break time was over, she'd be back on her feet.]

Wait...

[Tear dug around in her apron and produced her journal and a pen and began writing down something as she remembered it. This bold part is about the equivalent of a public journal entry.]

ND2000. In Kimlasca shall be born the scion of Lorelei's power. He will be of royal blood with hair of red. He shall be called "The Light of the Sacred Flame" and he will lead Kimlasca-Lanvaldear to new prosperity.

ND2018. The young scion of Lorelei's power shall bring his people to the miner's city. There

[Stops writing. This is not helping her headache very much at all.]

...that's it?

[OOC: We now return to your regularly scheduled Tear. 1% on Tear's rank under Grand Maestro Mohs and her mission to find the Seventh Fonstone, 1% on her reading the Sixth Fonstone in Baticul. Essentially she now has some idea of what the Score is. 11% total used, 3% remaining from Oktoberfest.]

Lately I've taken to reading books about different cultures, since I noticed that not many people are even aware of what fonons are and don't seem to be able to sense them. I hadn't considered how diverse the various worlds are until just recently. In fact, it's surprising that we have anything in common, and yet there are numerous similarities between us.

I was wondering if there are any other holy days that are commonly celebrated on the island?
I recall there was "Easter" back during the blooming period with the father-and-son, egg painting, and rabbits.

Speaking of rabbits...

[OOC: Uh, yeah, it's about time Tear finally got a pet, in case anyone wanted to know. And it will be named "Fluffy" as per canon. Don't laugh, giving pet names isn't her forte!]

[It's around closing time at Cafe Demois and if any of the remaining customers were taking note, one of the waitresses was not being her usual polite and proper self. Actually, she was being especially quiet. Had she looked anyone in the eye recently or asked if they needed another cup of tea or a coffee? Well, probably not.

In fact, Tear had been scrubbing on the same table for precisely twelve minutes and eighteen seconds. There was the lingering issue of the recent disappearances of several friends to be sure, but there was also that... Well, at least with a little time, she could only assume the latter would simply go away.

She is obviously preoccupied with her thoughts. The table, on the other hand, is a gleaming piece of work. It probably hasn't been this clean in months, if ever. Interrupt? Yes / No]

[Private; you can hack this if you're really curious, but it's just a case of Tear logic.]

( In regards to the letter. (Cut for - you guessed it - length.) )

[Private.]

Some of the leaves are already starting to change. I suspect the weather will turn cold soon enough.

[Tear can be found on a low wall outside the Ari Apartments, a stack of books including her journal beside her. She is currently assorting marbles by color.]

...

To think that as many as four of us may come from the same world.
I wonder why that is...

[Filtered to Hayate; hackable]
[OOC: Pretend this occurs after her "date" with Hayate, assuming there actually was one before Nagi found out about it.]

Girls in love are a force to be reckoned with, it would seem, especially that "oujo-sama"...

Eh... thank you for that, Hayate. I had a nice time. Well, not particularly, but it was a unique experience no matter how you look at it. Still, I don't think I'd want to be him right now, not after that kind of misunderstanding...

And good luck with Nagi. She seems to be quite fond of you.
[Filter.]

((OOC: Get ready for some major filter abuse and tl;dr. The margins, additionally, are scattered with clusters of notes from her combat trainings and teachings with various people written in a small script which is nearly impossible to read without the aid of a magnifying glass.

There's notes about adjusting her aim, strategies for dealing with enemies attacking from the air, approximations about how long it takes for fonons to gather in one area, and ideas for how to test the limits of hyperresonance. If anyone wants to arpee any of this stuff out, poke me, otherwise I'll just assume it's happened/been happening all along to avoid plot holes. Because they make driving dangerous.))

( [Private; unhackable; cut for your convenience.] )

[Private; hackable to friends.]
As for the ceremony or festival...? at the shrine, for Fay's sake I hope it goes well, but I can't help wondering just how wise it is to try to catch the island's attention. Enough strange things take place without trying to coax them out.

And why does everything seem to involve dancing?
Singing I could understand, but dancing... I'm not very good at it.
[/Private.]

Fay's planning an event of some kind at the Hakurei Shrine. It'd be nice if everyone could give him support, since he seems to have been working diligently to prepare for it.

...

[And the last sentence is completed scratched out. Feel free to imagine what it might have said. Or ask, not that you'd get a straight answer. Actually, guess right on the first try and I'll totally bake cookies for you.]

[It was the usual scene: Tear wandering around out of doors late in the evening. The melodist had been growing increasingly restless, and the easiest solution to quelling that uneasiness was to train her body to become stronger. Besides, she had requested sparring partners and Luke was expecting her to be able to teach him. If Tear didn't come to understand her own abilities better, she'd be hindering everyone else. Tear, as a soldier and as a person, did not want to slow anyone down.

Tear paused in an open area free of people, extending her staff so that it was parallel to the ground. She made sure her breath was even, shutting out everything around her in order to sense even the slightest of vibrations in the air. She focused, drawing those vibrations - particles of sound, towards herself.

To the average onlooker with any knack for magic, it probably looked like she was charging up magic in order to cast a spell. Rather than chanting a traditional incantation, however, Tear sang a short verse.]

♪ Croix Ryo Croix Nevu Tsuae Rei Croix Ryo Tsuae Rei Va ♪

Grand Cross!

[Some distance away, where empty, darkening air had been moments before, the space exploded into blooming light, forming the unmistakable shape of an ornamental cross.]

[Filtered to friends & acquaintances; locked from Luke & Asch]

I have an inquiry I would like to make:

I encountered a new arrival to the island a few days ago; he was a swordsman wearing a black uniform with long red hair, green eyes, and a grouchy disposition. Has anyone else crossed paths with this person? If so, I'd like to speak with you at a convenient time.

[/end filter]

I'm looking for a sparring partner. Would anyone be interested?
Weapons and fighting style don't matter. I use a staff and knives, and what some people would refer to as "magic". I'm not opposed to using a sword, either, but I haven't received proper training in handling one.

In any case, a person can improve only so much using stationary targets.

[Tear is standing in the middle of her room right after this thread, wearing an outfit that she would not normally be caught dead in, simply because her closet is overflowing with revealing garments which she most certainly did not buy herself, and she can't find her normal clothes, since she only has a few of those. She is almost visibly bristling, as if her hair has started to stand on end.]

Wh-- W-what is this?!

[Anybody nearby can probably hear.]

...wait... Wait a minute...

[Oh and it starts to click into place, but Tear's just getting even more agitated. Her tail starts lashing and her ears are twitching. Wait... wait a minute... this isn't quite right.]

((OOC: I'll explain, I'm stealing the catgirl antics from Tokyo Mew Mew. If Tear gets embarrassed/scared/flustered, her cat ears and tail will pop out. If you really freak her out, she'll turn completely into a cat. If you turn her into a cat, the only way she can return to normal is if she gets kissed (or licked, nosed, etc) by a human or another animal. This is totally how it works in shoujo manga, I didn't make it up. XD She'll also have a few cat-like tendencies... moodiness, "-nya"-ing, well, use your imagination. Have fun? *bricked*))