meeting-you-in-the-multiverse

[meeting-you-in-the-multiverse]

what is lost, what is gained

a representation of sitynur

[meeting-you-in-the-multiverse]

Lflz hsdhfz vwlu.

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Your smile is brighter than the most relentless sun!

lyrics from false disposition by ferry

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LUMIYE

[muttered] Stop fiddling with it, Ros.

ROSALIN

I’m trying to make sure it stays in the right place! If you’re so worried, wear it yourself.

LUMIYE

You know I can’t—

EZRAH

[teasing] ‘Cuz you wear the same clothes every day. Don’t they get dirty?

LUMIYE

I am a being of pure energy—

ROSALIN

Shut up, they’re coming! [Louder] Hi, Noka!

NOKA

Hi, Rosalin, Lumiye, Ezrah. What’s up?

[pause, shifting fabric, then:]

EZRAH

We know you’re up to something.

NOKA

I’m sorry?

LUMIYE

Don’t put it that way, Ezrah! [lowers voice] Iifu spoke to Lotus about you not settling in, or something.

ROSALIN

I know you haven’t been around here long, Noka, but I can tell you that isn’t good.

LUMIYE

So either you really just need some help—

ROSALIN

Or you’re scheming.

EZRAH

And we love a good scheme!

LUMIYE

So. What’s going on?

NOKA

…I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood. I’m not planning anything—what exactly did Iifu say?

ROSALIN

Well… We couldn’t really hear. But we thought you might need help.

NOKA

I don’t have any ill will towards Iifu.

EZRAH

We do!

NOKA

…What?

ROSALIN

Ezrah! The plan—

EZRAH

What can he do to us now?

NOKA

What are you three talking about?

[Pause]

LUMIYE

Ros, turn off the mic.

[RECORDING ENDS]

[meeting-you-in-the-multiverse]

“Fvb rpsslk h nvk mvy oly, iba jhu fvb yltltily oly mhjl?”

[meeting-you-in-the-multiverse]

A Plea for Lost Worlds, spoken by Crow Qetkyn on Day 150k001

Hello, everyone. I hope you have all had a lovely day so far.

Today I want to speak about a topic that, I've noticed, is often ignored in these spaces of multiversal research. Have any of you heard of Lost Worlds, or Shattered Worlds, or anything among those lines?

I see a few of you have. I am from World 408, often nicknamed Among the Clouds. Some of you have heard of it, right? Well, I am of two survivors from that world, and I have the registry to prove it. But I am not here to defend myself or my position; I want to speak broader. I want to discuss how often we dismiss lost worlds as something pitiful, but not worth researching. Why is it, in my two years of traveling through these research groups, I have only met seven other researchers specializing in lost worlds? Why does everyone seem to ignore them?

Some people here may not have any idea what I am talking about. Let me explain. Lost Worlds are rare cases of dimensions collapsing in on themselves, often disappearing altogether, but occasionally leaving shattered, painful pieces behind. World 408 is the only one to have done so in the past 20k days, and therefore the only one in recent memory. It collapsed in a way that left nothing behind.

Well, except for me and my cousin, Pereg, but that's another story.

We are the only things left from our world. With a crowd of people so invested in researching and cataloging worlds, cultures, and societies, why do we get left behind? Why are our stories put on shelves? Why do we say, 'What a shame, that world, too bad nothing interesting came from it'? Where is the curiosity?

Many argue we should only concern ourselves with living, breathing worlds. But we have all of time to do that; the sand is falling for shattered worlds.

Why are we worth less to you?

Why do you not care when worlds are lost?

Is it because it's rare enough that you can be certain that it won't happen to your own?

Spare a thought for the few of the lost worlds. Spare a thought, even, to investigating them. Even further, join the study on why worlds collapse. I hope one day we can find the cause; I hope we can stop it.

Thank you.

[meeting-you-in-the-multiverse]

[Video begins. A girl with green hair and pink skin, a person made of green flames, and a boy with a poofy dark afro covering his eyes peer down at the tiny camera. The video is grainy and the sound crackles.]

Afro?

[incomprehensible] ready?

Flames?

Mm…yes.

Pink?

Come on, let's test it!

Flames?

It's already on.

[Afro leaves the frame, and then comes back. Both of the others look towards him. His face is split with a grin.]

Afro?

I know where we can set it.

[Both Flames and Pink look past Afro and out of frame. The trio exchange looks, and then the camera is moved to the floor. It starts to slowly move forward across carpet, then carefully up a wall. It stops and focuses on a woman with dark hair pinned in a bun sitting at a table with paperwork in front of her, and a tall, dark blond man looking down at her.]

Unknown Woman

Hello, Iifu.

IIFU

Dear Lotus.

LOTUS

Do you need something?

IIFU

Do you know Noka Zyre?

[At this, Lotus moves some papers. Then she looks up at Iifu.]

LOTUS

Yes.

IIFU

Would you be able [incomprehensible] them? They are having some issues settling in here.

LOTUS

Of course.

IIFU

Excellent. Thank you, dear Lotus.

[Iifu leaves. Lotus remains still for a moment, before getting up from her chair and looking directly at the camera. It moves backwards, towards the trio, but Lotus is faster; she picks it up.]

[Sounds of footsteps approaching.]

Afro?

Lotus-matan! I see—

Pink?

—you found our—

Flames?

—new invention!

LOTUS

Ezrah, Rosalin, Lumiye. What is this?

LUMIYE

I've been seeing how small I can make a self-mobilized—what's the Inter word for krafkk?

EZRAH

"Mechanism"!

LOTUS

[sigh] And what is it for?

ROSALIN

[unconvincingly] Nothing!

LOTUS

If this is something I need to report—

EZRAH

[quickly] No! It's just a doohicky Lumiye wanted to make!

LUMIYE

Can I have it back?

LOTUS

…Alright. Don't get into any trouble, you three.

ALL THREE

[overlapping] We will!

[Lotus laughs.]

[Recording ends.]

[meeting-you-in-the-multiverse]

[A blurry video begins. It shows a room full of mats, training dummies, and a single person. The person has blue skin, frills on her neck, and chopped short black hair. She's swinging at one of the training dummies, giving blows with more force than precision.]

[The door creaks open, and a brown-skinned person wearing all black clothes and a mask enters.]

NOKA

'Lo, I—

[Lo turns and swings instead at Noka, who ducks and kicks out at Lo's lower body. Both are evenly matched as they begin to spar, more of a game than an actual fight. That is, until Lo body-slams Noka to the ground and pins them.]

NOKA

Augh, damn. Listen,Lo, we gotta talk.

[Lo gets to her feet, holding a hand out to help Noka to their own.]

LO

If this is about—

NOKA

It's not. This is serious.

LO

[scoff] You can be serious?

NOKA

Yes. It's important, Lo—

LO

Weren't you on vacation?

NOKA

…Yeah. It's related.

LO

Right. Okay. [huff] Then—we can't talk here.

NOKA

Why not?

LO

Don't be an idiot.

[Lo looks directly at the camera, and Noka follows her gaze.]

NOKA

Ah. Right.

LO

Let's get out of here.

NOKA

[teasingly] Take me to dinner fir—

[Lo swings at Noka, who flinches back, arms up to defend their face and mask. Lo barks a laugh.]

LO

Relax. I'm not going to break your precious tech.

Come on, then.

[Video ends.]

[meeting-you-in-the-multiverse]

[Background has sounds of soft buzzing and footsteps]

???

[muttered] —good, that's running.

[Footsteps stop, a knock against heavy wood]

??? 2

[Distantly] Come in!

[Door is pushes open and footsteps soften on carpet]

Ah, Noka, you're back early.

NOKA

[Strangled noise, then: ] I cannot believe I trusted you, Iifu.

IIFU

Are you recording this?

NOKA

Yes, fuck. I need evidence if you lie to me. Again.

IIFU

[Calmly] What are you talking about?

NOKA

Don't play games with me.

IIFU

Did something happen with your family?

[Pause.]

NOKA

Five years, Iifu. Five fucking years have passed since I left.

IIFU

What? It's only been a mon— Ah.

NOKA

Why didn't you tell me?

IIFU

I didn't know it would happen.

NOKA

Don't bullshit me.

Explain.

IIFU

[Sighs] Really, I didn't know it would happen. Time… is more fluid, in the Interrealm. It’s very difficult to travel to a specific time. Usually, the Crystalline latches onto the time you came from; but occasionally it doesn’t. It could be twenty-five years in the past, or five forward. I did not tell you, because it’s a very rare occurrence.

NOKA

That's not true.

IIFU

I assure you, I—

NOKA

I asked around. Nine out of the twenty-seven worldwalkers I spoke to had a similar issue: their Crystalline brought them to the wrong time, and because their life at home was essentially destroyed, they had to stay here. Peculiar, isn't it?

IIFU

…I didn't know it was so prevalent.

NOKA

Yeah, right. You've been worldwalking for decades, or so you say.

IIFU

And when you know as many people as I do, exact statistics slip your mind. What could possibly motivate me to lie about a thing?

NOKA

[Falters, then: ] Our deal was that you would send my family money if I worked for you. They haven't received anything.

IIFU

Yes, well, it's only just the end of the month.

NOKA

I—

IIFU

Your trial here has finished. Are you planning to stay here, Noka?

NOKA

You— [breath] Iifu, I don't know what game you're playing at, but I will figure it out.

IIFU

Take the week off, Noka. You're clearly struggling with this, take the time off and relax. Now, I have some business to get to, so—

NOKA

Really?

IIFU

Always a pleasure to speak with you, Noka.

NOKA

Go fuck yourself.

[recording ends]