resoundingstrings

[resoundingstrings]

Hello all! This goodbye post comes very belatedly. It’s hard to write because I kept thinking that I’ll find time for Echo and Noise and come back again, but I just have not had the time to keep them active in Isola and keep idling out. So sad as it is, I think it’s time to let them go. I’m really sorry to the muns whose threads I dropped. It’s been an incredible 3.5 year run and I want to thank you all for the fun threads over the years!! I can’t express just how much I loved playing in this group.

Echo and Noise have come a long way from the girls they used to be. While their story in canon is over, I’m so so happy that I was able to continue developing them in Isola, and there are lots of special people I’d like to give a shoutout to for being part of their journey.

@lordlessronin / @thechaoticmastermind​  /@biblicaswordsaint - Henry! You know how much Oishi means to both Echo and Noise. I think back to all the times that Noise gave Oishi grief (to put it mildly), but Oishi still extended a hand to her. Because of him, Noise was able to open her heart and that led to friendships that I never knew she could develop. Truly, it has been one of the best surprises of my time here, and there’s never a dull moment in our threads from Oishi to Arata to the chaotic Eris! I will always remember our interactions!

@gentlelxllaby​ / @rxsurgcnt​  - Our threads always make me smile! Mariko is so precious and Echo and Noise love her so much! Corvus and Mariko were some of the first friends that they made, and it has been so fun to thread with you as they tackle the latest dangerous event or the simple everyday life of running a cafe! I’ve loved their friendship and I entrust the cafe to you (if you wish to still run it). Mariko means the world to both of them!

@blazinginvokearc / @knightofkindness​ - I’ve enjoyed interacting with you on both Emil and Riku! Echo found a lot of her own confidence from working with Emil, so thank you for allowing her that opportunity (and thank you for giving Noise permission to burn your tavern down that one time...! orz). And Riku...they started off on an awkward note due to Oishi, but I love the turn they took when they realized “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”, haha. It’s been an interesting ride!

And lastly, a shoutout to all the people whose threads I’ve enjoyed and whose muses have left an impact on Echo and Noise, big or small. <3

@levitersora / @tragedysorchestrator @derflugeldesengels @asernolonger​ @demiosed​ @edibledragons​ @hydenseeked​ @fulminatingdarkness​​ @composxtor​ @odiodise​ @ersatazsun

This list doesn’t capture everyone I’ve had the joy of interacting with at Isola, and I’m sorry if I’ve forgotten someone while writing this up near midnight. I truly appreciate all of you! If you’d like to connect with me ooc, my discord is Mae#9171 and my twitter is @clairoscuro. 

I am out of Isola for now, but I will most likely return in the future. I already have characters in mind that I would like to try playing in this setting. So, goodbye for now. Happy holidays and perhaps I’ll see you sometime in the future~

[resoundingstrings]

gentlelxllaby‌

Nothing. Mariko takes note of the hesitation. It gets her own eyes to squint. She wants to ask, question her, but instead, Mariko nods. Decides not to push it. Usually, Mariko found out anyway at the end. “Okay” She replies in a soft tone. Noise and Echo, they’ll tell her whenever they want to. The suspicious look is replaced with a big smile, “I have to agree! BUT the weather is getting a lot cooler, with Autumn being just around the corner. Hey, are you hungry?”

There was another reason Noise didn’t want Mariko involved. Eris was as dangerous as Mariko was sweet, and if that madwoman ever made her friend a target...the thought made Noise scowl with anger. Her face only untwisted itself when Mariko spoke up and brought her attention back to the present.

“Yeah...yeah, I am. Let’s go somewhere. Tell me what you want to eat.”

[resoundingstrings]

derflugeldesengels‌

“You won’t fall at all. Just settle down and watch the birds.” He leaned back against the tree, then pulled out his keyboard with his free hand and began to play a simple tune. “The shade is nice, we’re out of the heat and away from people. Just close your eyes and listen to my music.”

“What’s there to see?” Nevertheless, Noise did as he suggested and sat back against the tree. It was true that they were away from people now. She never felt like she belonged, here and back home. So spending the afternoon, just the two of them, with Licht’s melody to listen to...wasn’t so bad. 

[resoundingstrings]

derflugeldesengels‌

“You asked for shade.” Besides, the view was amazing. He loved climbing trees, even as a kid. He felt closer to the sky when he was up high. He doesn’t let go of her quite yet even though she does, since she seems unnerved by the sudden change of scenery. “You won’t fall.”

“This isn’t what I asked for!” Though she’ll admit, it was cooler here. The view of the town below was also nice, but people watching was Echo’s thing, not hers. A part of Noise wanted to snap at him, the other part was astonished that he had even tried to grant her wish at all. Even if this wasn’t exactly what she wished for.

“I’ll drag you down with me if I do.”

[resoundingstrings]

“He’s gone. I knew it... I knew it...he was a fraud! An illusion! Another trick of this place! My Vincent would never say things like that! Never...”

[resoundingstrings]

tragedysorchestrator‌

Leo couldn’t help but let a thin frown out, unable to hide the realization of how different the two would now be with one another. Just because he was the current Glen shouldn’t change anything. They should still speak with one another as they use to.

… Funny, that’s something Elliot had always wanted.

“I would be grateful if you were to show me around. Though it’s a surprise to hear that this isn’t your first time here. Though that might be a good thing.” Leo pause for a moment before we could continue, to try and make Echo feel a bit comfortable around him.“…You don’t have to address me so formally. I don’t want you to treat me like some Master you have to obey. the fact that you’re doing this because you want to is fine with me. It’s what I would prefer. I’m still not use to being address so formal.”

Echo nodded at his words. “I see. If that’s what you wish, then I will try to speak more casually. It...will just feel strange at first,” she admitted, unsure that she was doing a good job of being less formal. 

Despite the awkwardness of their meeting, Echo was glad to see someone from her world. It gave her hope that she would see Oz someday. Though it was probably selfish of her to wish for him to appear here, she wanted to thank him properly for helping her become the person she is now.

“Is there anywhere you wish to see?” In the end, a little formality couldn’t be helped. Echo was polite even with her friends.

[resoundingstrings]

derflugeldesengels‌

“Shade, huh?” He set his ice cream down, abandoned and scooped her up. “Alright.”

He carried her outside, then looked for the best tree, before taking a small running start and jumping into its branches. Another jump or two and he felt they were in an ideal spot. “Shade.”

The leaves covered them almost completely, and they could see the city beneath them. Licht leaned back against the tree with a relaxed expression. 

“What are you--” Before she could comprehend what he was doing, Noise had been picked up. A string of protests left her mouth as he took off with her, stopping only when he made the running jump not because she no longer objected but because she was clinging to him for fear of falling. 

“This...wasn’t what I meant,” she said breathlessly though she hadn’t been the one to exert herself. Realizing she was still holding on to him, Noise let go abruptly. But didn’t scoot away. They were quite high up as she could see the city below them.

[resoundingstrings]

derflugeldesengels‌

No one had ever really asked for a wish or miracle from him before. “Ask away.” He wasn’t a genie but he would fulfill it if his angelic powers were along the scale of what she wanted. 

Was he serious? She didn’t even have a wish in mind, so now that he’d put her on the spot she said the first thing that came to mind on this hot summer day.

“Grow some shade for me.”

[resoundingstrings]

asernolonger‌

“It’s no trouble. If anything, I should be thanking you for being willing to hire me. I can’t think of many people who would be willing to hire a former dragoon as a chef, and yet, you did.” 

She wasn’t sure what had convinced Echo to give her a chance, but she was eternally grateful for it. She could at least have a steady source of income while she was here. After all, she needed to eat at least three times what a normal woman her age needed to eat to survive. But at least the crisis was over… for now.

“Fine by me. I’ll gladly stay in the kitchen if it means I get to keep on doing something I enjoy!” She accepted, knowing the business would pick up, now that the citizens’ lives weren’t in immediate danger. Not to mention that word had been getting around about her unique creations.

“I try new things every so often, but as you can imagine, not everything sticks. One thing that has stuck around that honestly surprised me is what I call cheesy mole loaf. It’s based off of an old adventurer’s favorite, and people love it. It’s far from the only thing I’ve added, but it’s arguably the most popular. I just finished baking some a few minutes ago-would you like to try some?” 

@resoundingstrings​

“I don’t think it was a strange decision to hire you,” Echo said, smiling as she recalled the day she met Selenie. “Not all of us can continue working the jobs we had in the past. That doesn’t mean we cannot adapt.” She herself had switched from working as a servant to working as a waitress before she felt confident enough to try opening this cafe. In her opinion a person’s background didn’t matter so much in this place. She looked for people with a good work ethic and a good heart, and Selenie had those qualities in spades. 

Echo’s head tilted as the cook described her invention. “Yes, I would love to sample it. Did the inspiration for this dish come from your dragoon days?” Echo couldn’t say that she’d been on many adventures in the past, and naturally that made her curious about the dish.

Dragon Pepper

[resoundingstrings]

kosaju‌

“Aaah.” She gave Echo a sympathetic smile, at the same time scooting her desk chair over to the snacks brought in. “I understand completely, even if it doesn’t really erase the problem for either of us. I have a very nice position at fashion company GANG☆STAR as a designer, and I just disappeared on them even though we have new collections all throughout the year. When I showed up here again, I panicked and wondered if they took me off the payroll.”

Karen picked up a baby carrot, wiggling it between her fingers. She watched it for a second and then looked down at Vanilla. Would his little eyes open if he caught the celery scent? It was a mystery. “So now, I’m working on what I can offer for the next collection despite poofing. Even if I finish in time, I don’t know if I’ll like any old rush job~.” They clearly wouldn’t crash and burn without her, but she had her pride to fight for as well. She wanted her work to be shown.

“How about you? Were your friends and job still around okay?” Munch.

Echo waited patiently for Vanilla to accept the treat. She even moved slowly as she took a seat so as to not startle the rabbit. Echo understood what Miss Karen meant. She must not have wanted to disappear, but there was no helping it.

“We cannot get our time back, but we can work hard with the time we have. And Miss Karen is working hard. ” She was sure her design would be wonderful. Echo sometimes drew in her journal, but they were more like doodles. 

“Yes...my good friend Mariko is here. And Miss Selenie kept the cafe running even through difficult times. I feel fortunate to have them.”

[resoundingstrings]

gentlelxllaby‌

To have someone feel the way Noise did about the place and hear her say it was better with her around means a lot. Words couldn’t describe just how happy that made her feel, and it definitely shows. She giggles and sniffs once more, “You and Echo both mean the WHOLE world to me. I feel the same way. You guys make it so much better here and things wouldn’t be the same if you were missing.” It had been hard being here without her friends, but now they were reunited. She can only hope it’ll stay this way. 

“What have you been up to? Since you’ve been here, I mean? I wish I would’ve noticed sooner that you’ve came back!”

“...Nothing.” She hesitated long enough to be suspicious. It wasn’t nothing. There was someone she had been looking for since she returned, but Noise was hesitant to tell Mariko that she was hell-bent on seeking revenge. Mariko would just try and stop her. Noise didn’t want her friend involved, someone innocent like Mariko wouldn’t understand. What if Mariko started feeling differently about her? She wouldn’t be able to bear it. So, she settled on a different topic of conversation.

“I had ice cream. It’s too hot.”

[resoundingstrings]

derflugeldesengels‌

“I play piano, usually. But sometimes I write poems in my spare time.” He missed it. :I had gotten tangled up in a demon war just before coming here. My demon and I had gotten kidnapped and the leader was going to hurt my shitty demon, but then we woke up here.”

It had been a long time since they had come to the island. “But before we got dragged into that, I played piano.” 

"Sounds too ordinary.” She half-believed him. The other half didn’t but in the end, it didn’t matter to her what or who he was. Maybe it was because he wasn’t normal that he got along with her.

“Don’t angels grant wishes?” She glanced up from her ice cream to give him a scrutinizing look. “Grant me a wish.” 

[resoundingstrings]

“Shut up! Shut up shut up! Do you ever stop talking or should I cut your tongue out first?!” 

Everything she said was infuriating. Eris’ words were like poison. Noise knew from their past meeting that the more Eris talked the more she got into your head, and her head was already full of voices that made her want to scream. 

Stopping in front of Eris she pressed the knife against her chest, knuckles white and shaking with anger. Although she’d like nothing more than to plunge it into her, she’ll give Riku the chance to make a life or death decision.

“I didn’t come here to negotiate! If you don’t want to die with us, then leave!” 

@blazinginvokearc​ @thechaoticmastermind​

blazinginvokearc‌:

God damn it, of course she would have a fucking dead man switch on her. She’s seen them enough times to know that calling a bluff could mean the end for her and everyone in this bar. She may have blood on her hands that will never go away even if she was to die a thousand times, but bringing other people who weren’t involved with her would throw away what little rationality she has left and make her no better than Zenon.

And she’d rather erase herself from existence then to become like that bastard.

“Noise, Echo. Stop.” Riku said both of their names, something she’s never done since knowing them. Seeing the broken sword in Eris’s possession brought back bad memories, and her eyes dulled slightly- a frown crossing her face.

“Fine, we’ll talk. I hate you more than anything else in the world, but I’m not giving into my Demonic side because of you. And I’m not letting the people in here die because they got tangled up with you.”

@resoundingstrings @thechaoticmastermind

Oh don’t get her wrong. Noise did surprise Eris a little. Making damn sure that Eris hold the switch no matter what while she come over there to gut Eris alive. This is a emotional woman who truly don’t care if she dies. Long as she can bring Eris down with her. Noise honestly don’t care.

But she still only surprise Eris a little. Because Eris counted on Riku response.

“Oh how very human of you Mercenary. Tell me Haruna san. Have you been enjoying yourself in dress for kill and completely wash your hand of your old wet work or do you still do it from time to time? Of course not notice by your dear boss of course. What do you do it for anyway Mrs. Haruna? The money or the idea your doing some good by punishing scum bags bigger then yourself? For Oishi it was the latter you know? But in the same time he also realize he also a murderous piece of shit that no better. That he don’t deserve to be happy after everything he done. THAT why he try to do SOMETHING good. Not turn EVERYTHING he touch into shit. He attracted to broken people like himself and try his best to not make them turn out screw up as he is. A self loathing mess that can’t self terminate.”

What her point? Eris just take a bottle of stelizer water that under the table out and unscrew it with one hand as her other hand still being held by the control bartender. Hey just because her hand being close don’t mean the bartender holding her in place and she unable to move.

“Now since i can’t fight due to my INTENSE injured that i am going to have to go to the hospital for later on since the city take away my healing factor. How about we just chat? Bunch of young woman who hate each other in a shady looking bar in the island. I even answer some of your most DESIRE questions about me. Like my three size. My favorite good or what kind of music i like.”

She pour three cups and drank the first cup and left the other two cup of stelizer water on the table almost as if asking them to drink it.

“Also do you mind order my servant to stop just holding the switch? The guy can make a killer drink you know? Be a damn sham to spend the next hour drinking nothing but stelizer water.”

Oh right. Kinda surprising and UNsurping in the same time that NO ONE TEMPT TO CALL ERIS OUT ON JUST HOLDING A BATTERY LESS CONTROLLER.

@resoundingstrings​ @blazinginvokearc​

[resoundingstrings]

demiosed‌

Cocking his head to the side, his bangs shifted. Frowning, he considered her words, but then, considered his own at the time too. The memories were blurred, but the sentiment remained - and his new master would want him to reject her anyway, no? If only for what she represented.

There was a part of him, too, that knew his rejection was a kindness. Or, at the very least, the right thing to do. But he did not care about that, at least not for the moment.

“I said I had no use for a dead girl.”

“Tell me then, what use would I have for two dead girls?”

“What do you mean? I’m right here, aren’t I?” 

He was acting strange. He was...treating her the same as Echo. This wasn’t Vincent. Her Vincent would soothe her fears, whisper reassuring words into her ears and hold her until she fell asleep in his arms. Back in their world, he eased her loneliness like no one else, and for him, she would do anything. She sought his embrace now, reaching out to grip his sleeve. It pained her to see him again not knowing how long it would last, but that was nothing compared to this pain.

“Tell me what I should do. Who you want to get rid of.  We can go back to the way things were before.” It was almost a plea.

[resoundingstrings]

asernolonger‌

“It’s no trouble. We adventurers are a tough sort, and know how to hold our own in even the worst circumstances!” The ex-dragoon assured, flashing a genuinely pleasant but still terrifying fanged smile. She looked around-the people really did love her creations. Even if they weren’t exactly…. normal for a place such as this.

“Odd is the nice way to put it. An absolute shitestorm would be a more accurate description, in my opinion. But we got through it.” She told Echo. Poor thing was rather anxious, though it was understandable… it was her business, after all. Her livelihood. And, by extent, Selenie’s, at the moment.

“As far as I can tell, everything is perfectly fine. Guess those bastards decided the cafe wasn’t worth their efforts. And honestly, it’s probably better that I tend to be mostly by myself in there. Too many culinarians in the kitchen can be a bad thing, y’know?” She answered, chuckling at her own little joke at the end.

“What matters is you’re back. I can tell you all about the dishes I took the liberty of adding-at least, the ones that people like. After all, there’s always the error part of trial and error…” She laughed awkwardly as she finished. It turns out, not everyone particularly enjoyed some of the foods Selenie loved… but that was the price of having the stomach of a dragon… somewhat literally.

@resoundingstrings

“It sounds like a lot has happened. I appreciate your hard work, Miss Selenie.” More than that, Echo appreciated her lively personality. The cafe never lacked energy with Miss Selenie in the kitchen. Echo knew the sort of ordeals the city could put them through, so to say it was a...bad storm, was no exaggeration. Once she had time to sort out the finances, she would make sure Selenie was compensated for her efforts.   

“Mariko has returned as well, and we’ll keep things running smoothly so that you can cook in peace. Leave the front of the cafe to us.” They may be short a few hands with the city at peace and business booming again. Echo didn’t mind picking up some extra shifts and waiting the tables herself to ease the burden. 

“Ah, I did smell the new dishes when coming in. What did you add to the menu?” 

Dragon Pepper

[resoundingstrings]

thechaoticmastermind‌:

blazinginvokearc‌:

Riku had the hood of her jacket up this time, not because she was ashamed or anything but because it would be easier if they got there without any other annoyances getting in the way. She wanted to be full of energy for this reunion after all. Besides, its easier to dodge when you’re aware in comparison to being tired as all hell. Lightning magic blitzed in the air around her she she glared down at Eris’s beaten and broken body.

“Had a bad run in with a Hero of Justice or something? You look like absolute shit Kihara.” She was just making a spiteful joke, not really knowing what happened in the first place. 

“You look like a real damn peace of work! I’d laugh too, but your poison oh so knocked out any humor I have of the situation. So does it hurt? Looks like it does. By the way-” Her eyes grew dark as the bell on her sealing collar ringed. “Where’s Sakamoto’s sword? I could give less of a shit about what happens to you, but that sword is an entirely different story.” 

@resoundingstrings​ @thechaoticmastermind​

Well shit. She in a tough spot isn’t she?

All her lackeys are currently stuck to their seat as it’s just a defenseless Eris and two well train killers who she both piss off royally.

But Noise made one mistake. She left Eris unchained.

Eris sigh and seem to be fishing something from inside the sofa as she bought out a…..switch?

“Dead man switch. That term don’t mean anything to Noise over here. But you worked with Oishi before Riku. You know what happens if my thumbs stop pressing it right? It’s connected to my heart beat also. The minute my heart stop beating the place with go ka boomy. You made one of my grunts squeal. Congrats, but do you really don’t think i got a contingency plan?”

Despite beaten, outmatch and outnumber. There almost this confidence to Eris Kihara as she got up slouching on the sofa to meet Noise and Riku eye to eye.

“Sadism your problem Noise. Oishi can be a bit of a sadist also. But with a foe like me you should have know better then to take your chances. Even a second would be like a minute for me. And to answer your question Mrs.Haruna….”

Eris move unbutton her shirt with one hand to show the broken remain of the sword once belong to a mutual friend as Eris scoff.

“So you meet my dear hero huh? How is he? Also What his is mine. What mine is still mine. I never did took you as a sentimental person but i’m afraid i wouldn’t fork over my former employee possession to you yet. Now much as the three of us wanna engage in a blood bath. I’m afraid i’m to broken of a woman to properly fight you two and can only force a stale mate. So how about you unfreeze my bartender and we have a chat like civilize woman? We can just keep staring at each other.”

Oh btw? The “deadman trigger” that Eris is complete bs. She DOES have a LOT of explosive under the bar that can be detonate by saying a certain set of words. But the control Eris holding right now? ………..That just the frigging modify tv controller for the tv in her private quarters in the bar. The same controler she lost inside the sofa last night.  But here the thing. THEY DON’T KNOW THAT. Eris knows none of them can read minds. She a master liar. She have proven herself to them to be this DANGEROUS capable woman with ton of resource.

They don’t fucking know what standing between them and whuping Eris ass is just a odd looking controler that don’t even have fucking batteries in it.

@resoundingstrings​ @blazinginvokearc​

Annoying....she was annoying, the way she whipped out some explosive device to show she was already one step ahead of them, the way she gloated over them as if she weren’t the one at their mercy. 

“Don’t say his name!” Noise hissed, her entire body shaking with rage. Seeing Oishi’s broken sword was the last straw. It lit a fury inside of her that overtook all rational thought. 

She forced the bartender closest to Eris to move. Not to harm her, but to close his hand over hers and press down on the trigger so that Eris couldn’t let go of it.

“So your little switch won’t blow until your heart stops beating...good. Let’s see how long I can make you scream before your heart gives out! I’ll cherish the expression on your face as we all go up in flames! What do you say?!” 

With a mad laugh, Noise brandished a knife and marched towards Eris.

Yes, she’d underestimated Eris, but Eris also underestimated her. Noise IS crazy enough to suicide if it meant getting her revenge first.

@blazinginvokearc​ @thechaoticmastermind​

[resoundingstrings]

demiosed‌

They had spoken the last time, hadn’t they? No, not quite. He had spoken to Echo, hadn’t he? Perhaps. Still, he looked down at the girl, expression muddled. Even before, he had not wanted to see her, either of them, and that remained now. He was simply supposed to remain by Master Leo’s side, that was all.

“Noise.” She was easy to pick out - distinguishing the two was simpler than one could even expect. Eyes closed, mask plastered on his face, he considered where he stood. What he was supposed to do…

Echo and Noise were symbols of who he was trying not to be, and since Master Leo was here, he was supposed to be good.

“I thought I had said I last time I had no need for a servant? I am nobody’s master now, you know.” Eyes opened, his expression fell for a brief moment.

Noise looked at him in confusion. She remembered what he’d said in their last meeting, and what Echo had said to him, but what did that have to do with her?  

“...You said we don’t need Echo anymore. That means I can be with you all the time, can’t I?” 

She interpreted his words as a rejection of Echo. After all, Echo had been the one to serve him. She was different. Vincent treasured her, accepted her at a time when no one else would. He wouldn’t ever reject her.