[ There's a few minutes of silence between these two sets of messages; mostly because Lucina's a horrifically slow typer. It's especially noticeable when she starts typing longer messages, like so: ]
I met a man named Adrian just the other week in the space where the resort used to be. The resort turned into an overgrown forest just as we arrived! I had been warned it could happen, but it was another thing to experience it first hand. [ The definition of "arrived" being used very loosely, here; Adrian was stuck waist-down in the dirt because the pool had turned into solid ground. Lucina was just walking in. But embarrassing a man that's not even here is probably very rude, so. ]
[ She doesn't really know how to describe it, especially over text message. She isn't going to even bother trying, unlike Lucina, who is doing her best.
What Lucina relates to her next, though, sounds awfully familiar. She doesn't think this is an instance of someone else sharing a name with Adrian, even though they did in fact encounter that back in Barovia. ]
I think it is the same Adrian He told me a version of that story
[ It's her time to take forever typing. This would be easier over a call, but she assumes there's a reason that Lucina texted instead. She might be in the middle of something and unable to talk. ]
We met somewhat by chance Due to some unfortunate luck we have been traveling together for over a month now This is not our first time finding ourselves trapped in an unknown world
[ The reason is — she just thinks texting is neat. Also she's trying to practice getting faster at typing. Perfectly valid reasons for her, but no where near as dire as Fern is making it out to be. ]
Do you mean to say there are other realms where people can just ... appear? Without rhyme or reason? [ Truly, she's realizing that the world was shockingly simpler when time travel was the most unbelievable thing that could happen. ]
So it seems The barrier between Faerun where I am from and Barovia is apparently quite thin under certain circumstances Not that we knew that then Returning was also not a simple task
[ It's a long story, but if Lucina is truly that curious Fern can try to explain more when they're face-to-face.
This sure is giving her typing practice, though. Not the worst thing, even if she might grumble about how inefficient it is. ]
Were you able to? Intentionally? [ She's heard the stories of people here disappearing just as quickly as they appeared. That sounds just as unpleasant as being brought here in the first place; but if it had been deliberate... ]
Not yet no It was something we were working toward But we would have to defeat a very powerful vampire first Which we were going to try and do before we arrived here
I've never known of a being who could control who such a thing. [ Grima destroyed everything she held dear — but he couldn't keep her from leaving or entering Ylisse. Even Naga could only transport her to a different point in time. ] You must be quite the fighter to be willing to stand against him.
[ That's quite the pointed question, though it's something that Fern has wondered about herself. Not that she expects it would be a simple choice, but she'll humor the inquiry. ]
I have thought about this I would want to return to Barovia We still have companions there possibly And I would like to finish what we started
Perhaps. But there are just as many who seem to have disappeared without a trace; there's a chance they were able to return to the world they hail from.
But there is also no knowing if they returned home when they vanished Something worse may have happened to them
[ Isn't it just as possible that they were simply lost somewhere between planes, their bodies disintegrated by some cosmic force, their essence pulled apart by the fact that they are not where they should be? ]
That argument could be made both ways, could it not? If something worse is possible, it's just as likely that they may have found a better version of their home. [ She's projecting. ]
[ There's a long(er) stretch of silence before the reply shows up. ] I'm afraid it's a bit of a long story. Perhaps the next time we meet, I can explain it to you. If you wish.
[ That does speak to something complicated, perhaps something difficult. Or maybe Lucina is simply tired of typing out these messages. Either way, Fern doesn't begrudge her. ]
Yes thats fine Until next time then
[ Whenever that is. She will admit she's curious as to what Lucina is getting at, if there truly is something to this idea of a "better version" of a world, or if it's only a dream. ]
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[ There's a few minutes of silence between these two sets of messages; mostly because Lucina's a horrifically slow typer. It's especially noticeable when she starts typing longer messages, like so: ]
I met a man named Adrian just the other week in the space where the resort used to be. The resort turned into an overgrown forest just as we arrived! I had been warned it could happen, but it was another thing to experience it first hand. [ The definition of "arrived" being used very loosely, here; Adrian was stuck waist-down in the dirt because the pool had turned into solid ground. Lucina was just walking in. But embarrassing a man that's not even here is probably very rude, so. ]
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There was a deadly creature there
[ She doesn't really know how to describe it, especially over text message. She isn't going to even bother trying, unlike Lucina, who is doing her best.
What Lucina relates to her next, though, sounds awfully familiar. She doesn't think this is an instance of someone else sharing a name with Adrian, even though they did in fact encounter that back in Barovia. ]
I think it is the same Adrian
He told me a version of that story
[ Sans the embarrassing part... ]
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We met somewhat by chance
Due to some unfortunate luck we have been traveling together for over a month now
This is not our first time finding ourselves trapped in an unknown world
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Do you mean to say there are other realms where people can just ... appear? Without rhyme or reason? [ Truly, she's realizing that the world was shockingly simpler when time travel was the most unbelievable thing that could happen. ]
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The barrier between Faerun where I am from and Barovia is apparently quite thin under certain circumstances
Not that we knew that then
Returning was also not a simple task
[ It's a long story, but if Lucina is truly that curious Fern can try to explain more when they're face-to-face.
This sure is giving her typing practice, though. Not the worst thing, even if she might grumble about how inefficient it is. ]
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Were you able to? Intentionally? [ She's heard the stories of people here disappearing just as quickly as they appeared. That sounds just as unpleasant as being brought here in the first place; but if it had been deliberate... ]
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It was something we were working toward
But we would have to defeat a very powerful vampire first
Which we were going to try and do before we arrived here
[ Womp womp. ]
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He decides who enters and who leaves
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[ They quite literally stumbled into it, and now they've been stuck for well over a month. It's... almost laughable that it's now happened again. ]
We have yet to truly face him
And we spent some time gathering artifacts and weapons to use against him first
He is no small foe
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If you could leave here: would you want to return to your home? Or to Barovia?
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I have thought about this
I would want to return to Barovia
We still have companions there possibly
And I would like to finish what we started
[ AKA kill that vampire dead. ]
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Your companions at home are very lucky to have the both of you. I hope you can defeat him.
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To be honest I do not know if we will ever be able to return there
There are fluxdrifts who have been here for decades
[ Why hope for something so unlikely? ]
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Something worse may have happened to them
[ Isn't it just as possible that they were simply lost somewhere between planes, their bodies disintegrated by some cosmic force, their essence pulled apart by the fact that they are not where they should be? ]
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A better version
What do you mean
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Yes thats fine
Until next time then
[ Whenever that is. She will admit she's curious as to what Lucina is getting at, if there truly is something to this idea of a "better version" of a world, or if it's only a dream. ]