Video; A Diary, of Sorts [Open, dated Aug. 26]

[acapriciousreaper]

Kuja sighs. The camera is positioned on a table across from him, the humble accommodations of his apartment at the Curti Center visible, an expression of melancholy on his face as, idly, he strokes a blonde-furred cat. "Is it working, yet?"

Mojito's voice pipes up from behind the camera. "Yeah, boss. Go ahead."

The genome sits back in his chair, staring off into space for a moment. "It is... August the twenty-sixth, and my name is Kuja... Tribal. Some of you have met me. It's been suggested to me that venting my thoughts may be beneficial, so here I am. I don't know what to think of this. Things that were revealed to us at the banquet with the Empress have been weighing on my mind. I don't know what I'm supposed to do; I've only barely begun to acclimate to this world, and already it seems someone is threatening to pull it out from under me." His expression twists in a snarl, and one hand gestures wildly to the air. "It's not fair! I thought, perhaps, I'd stumbled across some luck when they told me I wasn't dying anymore and now the godsdamned world's about to-"

The video cuts. He's sitting again, calm. "At any rate. Positive things. I have located a place of employment with work I expect I will, at least, enjoy. I shall be planning for a move to Sparks Golsaucia in the near future, but of course I will need a reserve of Gil built up before I attempt such. My magic is coming along nicely, as well; faster than I might have expected. I've yet to manage a Fira, but the elements are returning to me, at least. White magic is enjoying similar progress, though I haven't put in nearly as much practice there."

He crosses his arms, leaning in to stare at the camera directly. "I have questions, as well, questions not easily answered by a brochure. I've received a message, recently, that something of mine has been uncovered in the Dream Width. Apparently I'm to go and retrieve it. What I want to know is... what should I expect, there? Should I be hiring people to come with me?" A pause, while he considers something. "The Dream Width contains memories of the people that have traveled there. If there are things I would rather keep private, should I attempt a retrieval alone? Apparently they don't know what the item is, but it's quite large..."

"That all you wanted to say, Boss?"

Kuja taps his finger on the table. "No, I've just thought of something else. Someone in the Empire was selling... these." He holds up a little doll, in his own likeness. Given that it's a plush toy intended for children, the features are almost sickeningly cute. "This world is so similar to the one I came from. It could be that people have viewed memories from Gaia, or perhaps that the stories themselves have passed to Vaikuntha, somehow, but if it isn't that, and someone from Gaia is behind this... I need to know. I fear I'm losing my mind, in this place; if someone, anyone, knows anybody with these names, I-" He sighs. "I doubt very much they'd want to speak with me, but just to know..." He trails off, searching for words for a moment. "Just to know that something of Gaia exists and I'm not merely a madman, having dreamt it all."

The video ends. Attached is a list of names.

Comments

[zanarkandian]

Tell me about it. Just when you think your luck's turned around and you can finally live, this happens? It's pretty scary to think about, but the first half's barely even begun. It's not over yet.

[Tidus sounds more confident than he really feels. But. While they're here.]

I'm sorry, none of the names look familiar. I think you might be right about the stories, but...maybe other people saw dolls they knew, and that could tell us something?

[Voice]

[spaceforged]

You can ask an airship at the center to take you out to it. If you want assistance you can ask for it. The readings only match the signal with your own signature energy...they can't determine the size of your belonging.

If you...remember anything you've ever owned, you could guess how large you might need to prepare for. It works like any other retrieval...they'll run through the procedures with you before you depart.

[wind_in_my_ears]

[Klonoa messages Kuja on the imog slate, now that Luta's actually shown him how to do so.]

'If you need someone to go with you into the Dream Width, count me in. I don't have a way to get up there, but I'll do everything you need me to do to help. I've been wanting to get up there for a long time now.'

[Video]

[mech_and_mutt]

[Well, here Red thought he was just doing some friendly ribbing to get under Kuja's skin when he was showing off the doll-- but that furrowed look of concern started to look like it hadn't left Kuja since he'd first passed off that goofy little doll to him.]

Sheesh, the doll hit ya that hard?

video

[poisonwish]

[Snow understands the frustration. Strange new world that's different and yet has so many elements that are similar -- and none of them what he wanted.]

Well. I wouldn't go into the Dream Width for just anyone.

[Snow White smirked and waved.]

But I wouldn't advise going alone. So I suppose I'll have to come.