voice + text

[theferryman]

[You feel it before you hear it: an uncanny sensation like you aren't alone, like someone just out of sight has fixed their attention on you.

They're not hiding, though. The Ferryman is simply speaking, directly into all of your minds, as clear as if they were standing right beside you.]

It's starting.

Sorry. Was hoping you'd all have more time to rest before we got going. But when it's time, it's time.

We're going to Cross. Not now, but soon. You'll feel it when the moment gets here. And you need to be ready for what that means, when it does.

It's a dangerous journey. There's still a lot of yourself left to lose, even if it doesn't feel like it now. That's my role here. I can guide you through it. Keep you safe.

There's a cost. You'll have to give something up, a part of your life Before. A face. A feeling. A memory. That's your toll to Cross. You pay it to me, and you won't get it back.

You don't have to pay. But if you're not with me, I can't keep you safe. You'll have to make The Crossing on your own. And if you do, there's a chance you lose a whole lot more than what the toll is asking from you.

There's some time left still. You don't need to decide now. But you do need to decide. You'll find out soon what sort of toll The Crossing is asking for, this time around.

Come find me if you want to talk. I'll be where I always am.

[The connection is tenuous; message delivered, The Ferryman's voice fades from your mind. If you're quick, and you concentrate, you might be able to grab on long enough to ask a question or two more.

Otherwise, all that remains is the object that purports to connect you with the other souls, all tasked with making the same decision. Whether it's a page or a screen, there's a new message for you:]

A toll to be levied for safe passage
from the cavern to ǝɹǝɥʍǝsʅǝ

Hear a voice that causes you pain
words spoken with rage or grief or envy
fueled by hate or love or suffering

offer it to The Ferryman
and let go

---

[ ooc | And we're off! Remember: The Ferryman is (for now!) the only one who can communicate to everyone via voice; the rest of you are stuck with text! The only exception is if characters try to hijack the fading connection to talk with The Ferryman one-on-one; there's a header for those questions here.

Otherwise, consider this a mingle! Chat, threadhop, go nuts. ]

Comments

THE FERRYMAN

[theferryman]

[The closing connection has the sensation of The Ferryman turning away from you, to return to their vigil. If you have more questions, you could call out, and maybe be able to ask a handful of them.]

[blindluck]

[Nagito only calls out after he gets the message.] Excuse me, Ferryman-san. Do we select the memory we lose, or is the message the closest we get to a hint about what we won't remember?

[theferryman]

[A pause, returning. It's an important question.]

You'll choose. I won't take anything from you that you haven't already made your peace with.

[blindluck]

Oh! [Nagito's surprise is obvious--he was absolutely expecting the worse scenario, of not knowing at all.] Well, that does change things! Still, I'm not certain if I deserve to forget something that causes me pain... [Surely that's too much like abandoning his responsibilities.] But I'll consider my options with this new information in mind!

[theferryman]

Everyone deserves to find peace, Nagito.

[That's all they'll say on it for now, though. The rest is up to him.]

[reflashed]

Hah, so that's it? Bring us to a bridge and make us pay a toll.

[theferryman]

That's the journey. It's hard. But it's necessary.

[reflashed]

For what? Some peace of mind? I don't give a damn about that.

[theferryman]

What else were you hoping for?

He’s trying ^^; maybe it will work, maybe not

[solitarynote]

[‘I’ll be where I always am.’

Despite the fact that Sunny hadn’t actually talked to the Ferryman, he did remember the glow of the lantern. Maybe… that was a place to start?

Still, he didn’t feel comfortable talking out loud. He didn’t know the Ferryman yet and… what if his voice failed him? That would just inconvenience them.

So he turned to the device, typing out a message. Maybe it would work, maybe the Ferryman would respond… or not.]

What if… we don’t want to go?

[Sunny wasn’t sure he was up for another adventure. The past three days had (physically) been a lot for him, let alone the adventures he would go on in his mind.]

bless

[theferryman]

[The Ferryman won't reply via the device, but they can reply as before, a private voice just for Sunny.]

You can only go forward, kid.

So many thoughts, so little dialogue

[solitarynote]

[Oh. There’s that voice again, permeating his mind.

Sunny tries not to flinch. Fails. But at least that is one theory proven.

He types on his device, fingers shaky, having to delete and reword several times in his nervous state before a reply comes through.]

Staying isn’t an option…?

[Forward. He could only move forward. And yet, that was the one thing Sunny was, potentially, the worst at - aside from facing the consequences of his actions. He would rather stay stationary, reliving an imaginary happiness in never ending days with fake friends… than to face that.

And yet the Ferryman was surely giving an ultimatum. Like the paths he had trod so many times before, searching for the Truth.]

[witnessvelama]

[Oh, that's more painful than he'd expected. Celehar's heart clenches, and it's that dread - the instinctive fear of please not yet, that leads him to speak.]

But -

how long will it be like this, until the end? I thought it would be...

[Like closing their eyes and falling asleep. One last passage, once acceptance of the end found them.]

[theferryman]

I don't know yet. We'll Cross as many times as we need. It might be different for some of you than it is for others.

[Acknowledging:]

It's hard for you. That's why you're here.

[witnessvelama]

You mean that we are the reason we linger?

[Not a diplomatic way to put it, but Celehar isn't feeling diplomatic about this - more a touch raw, and uncomfortably seen.]

[hasapoint]

[That connection is close enough to Mindspeech that Need seizes on it before actually having a question, and then has to think fast.]

What do you do with that voice? That memory?

[Mindspeech and the manipulation of memories, she's done a lot of both. Being in this position makes her feel like she's slacking.]

[theferryman]

I use it to guide your Crossing. That's why it needs to be paid.

After that, it returns to The River.

[knockingatthedoor]

This is bullshit. Wait- can we pay the tool for others?

[He's already in protective mode, sorry.]

[theferryman]

[They're used to anger. It's understandable.]

You wouldn't be doing them a favor.

[knockingatthedoor]

That is a yes though, isn't it?

[Okay, he's getting down the important stuff, at least from his point of view. Does this 'stink'? Yes. Will he try to appear reasonable in public? Yes. But he also worries a lot about his friends and he wants to know all the options.]

Do memories have to be... linked to that little poem of yours? Or do we actually fully get to choose?

[urtitan]

[Frieda doesn't seek the Ferryman out immediately, but when she does, after thinking about her options for a long time, she has her question ready:]

Is there a limit to how much we may give up?

[She has so many painful memories, most of which she didn't even accumulate first-hand (much as it feels like she did). If she could pay them all as a lump sump for the entire journey... well, she might feel enticed.]

[theferryman]

The Crossing is a process. It's your journey. It would be just as detrimental for me to take too much as it would be to take too little.

[urtitan]

[Forthcoming as the Ferryman is, Frieda feels like she might be less confused if she hasn't gotten a response at all. She struggles with how to phrase her next question, but then she plainly admits:]

I don't understand. By 'crossing' repeatedly, we divest ourselves of what still ties us to our mortal lives, right? Isn't that the overall goal? Would it not be best if we gave up on our remaining attachments as soon as possible?

Re: THE FERRYMAN

[perfecttune]

U-umm... excuse me... [Mari hesitantly calls out to the Ferryman after getting the message.] Why do we have to leave? Can't we stay here for a while?

[She had other questions... but didn't want to swarm the person with them all at once. She might not get a clear answer if she did...]

[theferryman]

[The Ferryman's response is clear, if brief, their presence calm and still.]

We will. There's some time left still. But you gotta move forward eventually, kid.