THE END

[mayfield_mods]

You've walked for what feels like ages down the highway as a group- all those who chose uncertain freedom over certain death. Within an hour, Mayfield became a distant speck on the horizon before ultimately fading into the hills and trees. The only sign of the place you've escaped is the sky, which remains an eerie brown even after night falls and you've put Mayfield hours behind you.

Try as you might, it's impossible not to imagine that you've been led into a trap. What if this is all part of some new sick game of Johnson's- or even Zemekis'? It certainly wouldn't be the first time. What if the events of the past few months- saving Annie, Gray's "ghost", Zemekis' apparent death -what if it's all been nothing but the latest in a long tradition of Mayfield's-

These thoughts fade when you see the first sunbeam.

This road isn't like the ones before: the roads that looped endlessly into themselves, inevitably leading back to where they began. This road has an end.

Keep walking forward and you'll find yourself in a new town, both similar to Mayfield and utterly unlike it. The buildings here are crude and unfinished- the streets little better than paved paths of dirt. There are no drones here, no hazmats, no one in sight other than you and your companions. But all of these things are nothing more than trivial details, when compared to what you feel the moment you enter its boundaries.

There's power here- you can feel it in your fingertips. Each and every one of you can, from the most godlike seraph to the most ordinary human: power, faint but unmistakable. The power to build a world, and to destroy it. The same power that's been lorded over you for four years... but now, it's yours to command.

You can create a new life here. It isn't the home you remember- the home you remember, after all, was never yours to begin with. For some of you, that's a blessing. For others, it's a hard truth you'll have to live with. But even though you can't go home, with the power you've been given, it might just be possible to bring home to you. Bits and pieces of it- locations you remember, small creatures from your world- no people, though. That's one power Annie decided not to give you.

The place you've found isn't perfect- there will be work, hard work, and pain. The place you've found is your own: there are no overseers here, no Zemekis, no Johnson. The place you've found may not be paradise- but it's the nearest thing you're going to get.

You've found, at last, a better place to live.

Comments

[aachaa]

[Archer walks through.

Looks around at everything.

AND NONCHALANTLY SHRUGS.]

I feel I missed something of great importance. ...Well, at least I got some time off for once. That doesn't normally happen.

[And he'll just scan around to see if he can find anyone he knows.]

[ooc: since there were a bunch of archer players after mine I'll throw out that I was fatesjanitor back on lj)

[expiatrice]

[SIGH

Guess who you failure of a janitor]

Had a good vacation?

[aachaa]

[He turns to see Ciel.

Oh hai Ciel.]

Yes. I'd actually like to have more to be frank. Working as a Counter Guardian is a very burdensome occupation.

[expiatrice]

Did you even took the trouble to find somewhere with a good amount of sun? It's hard to look for tans with skin like yours...

[LEANS OVER AND SCRUTINIZES YOU]

[aachaa]

As if you wouldn't be able to find me on my prana levels alone. You sound very fussy...did something good happen?

[expiatrice]

You're not stripped, so they're harder to tell. [hand going for her temple...

...before she realizes she's not wearing her glasses right now


oops

calmly puts hand back down...]

What do you think? Read the mana of the air for yourself. I know you're no Caster, but you should be able to tell that much on your own.

[aachaa]

[LIGHT SNORT at that gesture. Ciel you loser.]

Something is certainly different. This area...this isn't Mayfield. Or at the least, not exactly Mayfield. It is very different. But that much alone cannot clue me in. It would be best to not be so vague. Don't you like long-winded explanations? I could use one.

[expiatrice]

[Loser yourself, Mr. Oops-I-An-Hero'd]

Mayfield is finished, the original model and all its admins went down. The last sane one was a good person, so she left us in charge with the system to continue building a world of our own. The system dragged you back in the process, I see.

[a beat, and she finally looks back up with her usual soft smile.]

Was that short and concise enough, to cover all that you may have needed to know?

[gandere]

Geez, what a dump...

[ When she lacks anything else to say, the best anyone can get is a complaint from this twin-tailed girl. Yes, even though it's been months and she's an adult now, she still wears her hair up as a child does. Opening her mouth to issue another hint of her disgruntlement, she pauses in mid-thought when she sees him.

Honestly, she ought to rip into him for leaving her alone all this time. Inform him that he better show his appreciation that she somehow survived all of that or better yet, try to explain what Mayfield really was. Instead, there's only a hint of smile when she faces him. ]

Hey Archer, this kind of dump will keep us busy for a long time. You ready to get started or do you need a moment to catch your breath?

[aachaa]

[He turns his head to look at her. Rin...it felt like a long time and yet not at all. She was the same as ever, wasn't she? Getting into all sorts of trouble, while he had to watch over her silently. She could always handle herself when worse came to worse, but it was simply an attachment he had made. She was his Master after all. The one he was summoned by and the one he swore to protect.

He smirks back at her, crossing his arms.]

I've had a long enough time to rest. To be honest, the sound of your demanding voice is like a symphony to my weary ears. I don't know what I would do if you weren't yelling at me.

[He says in his typical snide tone. Things change and yet many things never change.]

[gandere]

It sounds as though you might have actually missed me. [ If his goal was to have her lash out in her usual fiery manner, he might find the task more difficult than before. Guess people really do mature over time. ] Keep talking in that manner and I'll have to tease you further.

[ Folding her own arms over her chest as she faces him, it's not hard at all to pick up on her more relaxed state. If there's anyone in the world that understood Rin Tohsaka best, it was him, so it was alright to be herself around the knight in red. ]

If you're fortunate, I'll let you even have your own place. We can be neighbors at least, can't we? It's improper for a man and woman of our ages to live together now, don't you know?

[aachaa]

...Oh?

What's this?

[Somehow his smirk is wider than usual.]

Is my Master from the 5th Holy Grail War, Tohsaka Rin of the Three Families, actually displaying a behavior unlike her own? Perhaps something among the line of...kindness? I fear that I might still be peacefully asleep. If so, then may I please never awaken from this happy dream.

[gandere]

You better let me punch you then to see if you'll wake up.

[ Straightening up, she'll stroll right for him with a balled up fist already. ] Come here, if you're dreaming it won't hurt at all.

[aachaa]

I don't know about that Rin. Even in my dreams you're very short. Can you reach up to my face to properly let me have it?

[gandere]

I suppose there's only one way to find out!

[ Heeeey, only took a few remarks to get her flipped back into berserk mode. Congratulations Archer, you still have the touch. ]

1/2

[riastrad_ridire]

...This is a feeling I'm unfamiliar with.

For once in my life I'm almost happy to see you.

[riastrad_ridire]

I should punch you in the face to fix that.

[aachaa]

[SHEESH Laner.]

With your luck you might fall on your face by even trying. I think we should skip any embarrassments on your part.

[answerer_sword]

Archer.

[She had not seen him around much after his third (?) arrival in Mayfield.]

This time you are not leaving.

[aachaa]

Oh? And who are you to tell me that exactly? You don't seem familiar at all.

[answerer_sword]

Bazett Fraga McRemitz. You are Tohsaka's Archer, are you not?

[aachaa]

...Tohsaka's Archer.

[Is that what he has been reduced to...]

Sure why not.

[Somehow a little piece of his new found freedom has been lost to the void.]

[answerer_sword]

[You should see her other name for him.]

Rest assured, I am her ally. As are other strong people. She is well-protected. Even if her original Servant is so delicate.

[aachaa]

[Delicate...he's gonna ignore that.]

I'm not worried for her safety. Really, I never understood everyone's inclination to protect her...she's capable of protecting herself more than not.

[Which makes him glad because it would be a pain to work with a Master who is not in any way a good Magus.]

[answerer_sword]

You should see the situations she gets into.

[The recent death threats come to mind.]

Genius magus she may be, sometimes, I really must wonder at her decisions.