#030066

[passio]

It’s Dextera.

I hope everyone has recovered from the town’s most recent mystery. I had intended to make this post earlier, but I think all of us were distracted. It’s confusing, and I’m sorry if it’s hard to read as well.

My brother - Sinistra, #610B0B - and I went into the forest to try to recover the rest of the items I’d found with Guren. We were able to get the pocketwatch, but it’s broken. If anyone knows how to fix it, I would appreciate your instructions.

It does something as it is, though. It’s strange. When I hold it, it feels like nothing exists. It feels like none of us exist. It’s scary. I don’t know how else to describe it. The town feels like an illusion, and all of us even less than that. Those of you that have just arrived still feel “real,” but the people I’ve known for a long time are barely here. I'm barely here.

There are some other people who don’t feel as if they exist at all. We haven’t figured out that criteria yet. I don’t know why or how it’s like this. I’m sorry. I don’t know if the watch works for anyone but my brother and I, but I don’t want anyone else to touch it. I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m sorry, again, but my brother or I will answer any questions you have.

Comments

#00CCFF

[bittybat]

Dextera, someone will have to touch the watch to fix it.
Any other way is too inconvenient.

[passio]

One of us can learn. It doesn’t feel right to expose someone to this feeling. It’s strange…

[bittybat]

Time alteration perhaps. It is a watch, and it is broken. I would expect as much out of an item found in the forest. Especially if it targets the relationships between all of us.

I'm not a horologists, but I can't help you fix the watch if it convinces you I don't exist.

[1/2]

[shizun]

[ Are you mcfucking kidding me right now!? An item like that! An item like that is definitely going to cause more than one or two or three or four issues!! I can't fucking believe this shit! This shit right here is goddamn awful!

Excuse me!! Don't do that to people! The existential crisis of it all is too much for even my head to fully wrap around! Who the fuck thought that was okay?!

And also, Dextera and Sinistra!? Isn't that my disciple! It's my disciple!! Just when I thought my bad luck and bad karma couldn't affect anyone -- here it is, affecting my disciple by finding some dog-shit item that makes people feel nervous and strange and fuck you!! Who allowed that?! I can't believe this! If there's going to be an object like that, just fucking obliterate it on sight! Holy shit! ]

#EBF5FB

[shizun]

What an odd item. It sounds almost cursed. [ Right! Put that in their head and maybe they'll destroy it!! ]

I realize this is odd circumstances to meet, but it is a pleasure to meet you, Dextera. I am someone who is acquainted with your brother, Sinistra.

I am Shen Qingqiu. [ Should I say I'm his teacher? Ah, one thing at a fucking time. One thing at a fucking time!! ]

[passio]

[ it probably is cursed because this town sucks, but that’s less interesting than this little tidbit. another person who knows his brother before they know dextera… of course, the longer his brother is here, the more people like that there will be. ]

It’s nice to “meet” you. I’m sorry that this is such heavy information. We decided that I would be the one to relay it.

[bisection]

Shizun.

If it is cursed, it is probably best in our hands.

#27DEA9

[pyrafect]

This is very troubling to read. I doubt any of us would like to believe that we don't exist anymore.

[ Ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... At least, she wouldn't want others to vanish. ]

A month ago when the ghosts were walking among us in this town, one granted me a vision: it was this town as we know it, with all the physical changes that we made. But there was no color, and none of us were here. I didn't understand this dream at the time, but with what you're writing here, I can't help but wonder if it's somehow linked.

Is it Guren's watch originally? Did he receive it from a quest from Chroma?

--Pyra

[passio]

Really? I had a vision of my own, of the woods. It was full of color and life, and felt so welcoming. It wasn’t at all the way it is now.

The watch belongs to the old woman in the woods, I guess. It’s something native to this place. That’s all I know.

[pyrafect]

How bizarre, I wonder if anyone else has had similar visions or dreams. The ghosts were strange enough, but they might have been trying to tell us something.


I'm sorry, what old woman in the woods?

#D6EAF8

[holycurse]

[Oh hey, he recognizes this name...]

whatever this is, it sounds like something you would do best to avoid. are you feeling alright? does it affect you only when you touch it?

[passio]

I’m OK. As long as I’m not holding it, nothing changes. It’s just hard to forget.

I know we should be careful with it, but I think it could be useful, too.

[holycurse]

it's good to know the effects aren't permanent, at least.

what uses do you think it could have? it might be prudent to find someone with a better chance of understanding it, if only to minimize risk. i would volunteer myself, but admittedly i know nothing of pocket watches...

#D20000

[lacrimose]

are you okay?

[passio]

[ it’s such a nice, straightforward question… to be expected of akira. dextera appreciates it. ]

I’m fine. Thank you. We just need to take our time with it. Holding it for too long is what makes it so difficult.

[lacrimose]

okay. just don't push yourself.

for what it's worth, I think that feeling scared is proof you still exist

#FF8080

[queenofminiskirts]

you know shiho will want to take a look at it.

being the apprentice of a cursed pocketwatch specialist and all.

[Dex already knows she's a psychometer but this is public and all.]

you okay?

[passio]

[ despite everything, dextera can’t help but smile. yes, shiho’s many apprenticeships are useful for them all. ]

I’m all right. I don’t know if Shiho should look at this, though. I’ll ask her about it later.

[queenofminiskirts]

i'd like to see anyone try to stop her.

can i come over?

#136F92

[expulsions]

when you say it feels like people don't exist, do you mean like being a ghost or just a figment of someone's imagination?
being a part of someone else's story would be weirdly fitting for this place

[passio]

Like a ghost, but it’s not the first time I’ve heard the theory that we exist in someone else’s story.

Parts of the town itself don’t seem to exist either, though. There are degrees of it… the well feels real, for example.

[expulsions]

weird. you guys are okay right? no other weird side effects?
maybe those parts of the town are connected to the places we have ended up in over the last few months. like those castles and that island with the sirens
the island is still there, but has anyone tried to go back and find the castles yet?

#B91600

[heartsteals]

Dextera,

Please do not touch the Watch again for your own safety's sake, unless there is someone with you, or several someones, to supervise you.

[ with that out of the way... ]

You have observed something most curious. I admit that your Words make me nervous, or rather the implications of the Words, that the longer we stay here the lesser we become, particularly as the first year draws nearer to a close. To take an optimistic tack, perhaps we are being pulled back towards our homes and so our presence here wanes?

- Lupin

[passio]

[ it’s optimistic for some, but dextera has been entertaining fantasies of staying here with guren forever—disappearing or returning home are equally bad options. ]

I want to see what it feels like when new people come through the well. The instant they arrive, if I can. But I will be responsible.

Do you feel any different than when you first came here?

[heartsteals]

Then I insist you be careful.

I cannot say that I have noticed any differences in my being, save for perhaps not eating very well - I don't feel as if I will fade away, if that's what you mean. [ ... ] You said certain people feel like they don't exist at all. May I ask who?