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[pellegri]

[Pellegri has been alive for almost exactly three hours, and she still isn't sure how she feels about it. She knows she died at some point. There was an instant of pain, and then peace. In the UMN, there was just the feeling of being whole, and nothing. But her consciousness was ripped away, and now once again, she lives.

Earlier, she had made her way to the harbor, as it had been some time since she had been near the ocean like this. Not since she was a very different person. But watching the water is still calming in a way, even though the memories attached to it are bittersweet. As she watches the sky above the sea fade from oranges and pinks to black, she dwells on why it is that she's alive again. And what her purpose might be.

That's not all though! Anyone looking closely will notice that in her hand is the rather primitive phone she had found earlier. She was surprised to find a couple names she recognized, and now it is Margulis's name that appears on the screen, since she still hasn't settled on whether or not to contact him.]

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[misplacedxsheath]

*Margulis had seen Pellegri's name appear on the list. He probably should have called, but figuring out what to say was...difficult. He knew she had died, knew Uzuki had had to kill her to get to where he had been. He'd never cared who knew he was dead before, but how would she take it? Would she feel betrayed? Let down? Disappointed? Even after all of their arguments within Ormus, Pellegri was still his friend. Still someone he didn't want to see hurt.

But his time to think was cut short when he came across her at the edge of the island. He can't see what's on the screen in her hand, but he has his suspicions.*

Pellegri.

*There's a slightly far off tone to his voice, still half lost in thought and, rarely for him, nostalgia. When he'd seen Jin on Michtam, he'd resigned himself to the fact that Pellegri was gone. When he'd come here, he'd realized that death didn't mean anything here. But he still hadn't thought about the possibility of seeing her again...or maybe he'd been reluctant to hope.*

[pellegri]

Margulis...

[She doesn't turn around immediately. She doesn't need to.]

It really is you.

[misplacedxsheath]

And you really are trapped here as well.

*He finds himself wondering. Unless she's from the past, does she consider this a second chance? Or is she like him, considering it a rude removal from her final rest?*

[pellegri]

These past few hours I've spent trying to make sense of how I came to be here.

[And maybe struggling already, trying to find some sense of purpose.]

But we are imprisoned in this place?

[misplacedxsheath]

We're in a universe separate from our own and far in the past. Even travel beyond this planet is impossible with the technology available here.

[pellegri]

Why..?

[misplacedxsheath]

That's something we're still trying to discover. So far, however, it seems like deliberate action.

[pellegri]

I see.

[She slips her phone away, and finally turns to face him.]

Are there others here who do not belong?

[misplacedxsheath]

*He nods, though he isn't quite looking straight at her.*

Every contact listed on that phone is an arrival from outside of this universe.

[pellegri]

[She expected as much, for some reason. That at least makes being alive again slightly less desolate.]

I do not know why I was returned to this life. If it is for atonement, or some purpose. I suppose I will find that reason here.

[misplacedxsheath]

*And that confirms her time point. It's been months since Michtam, but the mention of her death hurts almost as much as the initial discovery, even if he doesn't allow it to show on his face.*

Atonement, punishment, or even mere coincidence. I've considered multiple possibilities, but all that certain at this point is that a second chance has been forced upon us here, regardless of whether or not we have any desire to make use of it or even a purpose to pursue in this world.

[pellegri]

So... You as well?

[For a brief moment, she wonders about Jin's fate... But she's not sure she actually wants to know.]

[misplacedxsheath]

*He nods, closing his eyes.*

It was a fate I accepted for myself. I've no regrets.

[pellegri]

It was the path I chose as well, but... It seems that is not what the fates had in mind.

[WELL, that's enough moping probably...]

How long have you been in this place?

[misplacedxsheath]

*Does that mean she...? No, he doesn't want to think about it. While it's a relief that she accepts what happened, he doesn't like the idea that she might have broken every bit as badly as he did. So the change of subject is welcome.*

Several months. More than long enough to grow accustomed to the workings of this world.

[pellegri]

[Months? Lovely. So it wouldn't be over soon.]

I suppose it's time to figure out what I will do then.

[misplacedxsheath]

For now, you should find your room at the hotel. And be cautious at midnight, don't go out unarmed. Time freezes for the natives at that hour and hostile creatures appear in the city.

[pellegri]

[.....]

[Funny, how casual he is about that.]

What kind of creatures?

[misplacedxsheath]

*He's gotten a bit used to it.*

We call them Shadows. I'm unsure of their exact nature, but they vary in appearance and ability. Some of them are immune to damage from ordinary weapons as well.

[pellegri]

[She'll trust that if he'a warning her, they are formidable enough to truly warrant caution.]

I will have to purchase a new weapon in that case.

[Since hers didn't come with her, which is hugely disappointing.]

[misplacedxsheath]

*He knows that feeling, his didn't come with him either. Though that was kind of his own fault, since he would have had it with him if he hadn't left it for Jin when he died...*

You'll find that the currency from our world is useless here. I am in contact with a blacksmith outside of the city, but given the time of month, you may wish to settle for a mass produced weapon for the time being. The full moon regularly brings an increase in the number of Shadows. And while your Ethers may or may not be functional at the moment, they won't be reliably under your control. Nor are they likely to last beyond the full moon.

[pellegri]

[Yeah, it's not a great feeling. She really loved the Bisento.]

Ethers may or may not be functional? How is that possible?

[WELL, it's not like she has money from then anyway! She'll just have to hide out until she finds a job or something. This isn't how she had envisioned the afterlife, really.]

[misplacedxsheath]

*And he was rather fond of his own blade.*

How is anything that exists here possible?

Whatever brought us here also has a great deal of control over us. Something unusual occurs every month, lasting the two weeks before the full moon. This month it seems to be a return of the bulk of our abilities, only for them to go out of our control during the second week.

[pellegri]

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by anything else. The fact that we are here is shocking by itself.

[She smiles a little, and it's only slightly bitter this time!]

[misplacedxsheath]

*Well, it's something.*

There's one more thing that seems like it should be impossible as well.

[pellegri]

Oh?

[misplacedxsheath]

Our normal abilities have been replaced by something called a Persona. It takes a surge of emotion to summon them for the first time, but after that we can use them freely during that extra hour. They have skills that are similar in some ways to Ethers.

[pellegri]

....

[She's at a loss for a moment, but then she remembers the whole thing is strange.]

So it is a person? An entity?

[misplacedxsheath]

On the first summoning, they claim to be an extension of ourselves. They move and act freely according to our will while summoned, but show distinct personalities within their owner's mind.

*Like his regularly showing disappointment in him for his continued bickering with Kukai.*

[pellegri]

Interesting...

[Interesting is one way to put it. She's not totally sure she wants something like this, as she prefers to do her own fighting but... What can you do?]

[misplacedxsheath]

*He prefers fighting for himself too, not to mention not having a voice in his head, but it's the only way he can use elemental attacks...normally.*

One thing to note about them is that they're useless during the normal day. It is possible to summon them, but it takes far more effort and their ability to interact with the world is severely limited. The natives of this world are unable to perceive them, as well.

[pellegri]

Such strange stipulations...