The Linear Thread

[Channelknight Fadran]

Could Ellis tell who's a clone and who isn't based on which one is wearing the real amulet?

[xinoehp512 he/him]

43 minutes ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

Could Ellis tell who's a clone and who isn't based on which one is wearing the real amulet?

Short answer: Ellis can tell the "real" Y because she's the only one not flickering in existence. (That's the one attacking Highness right now; Ellis has his knife in her back.)

Technically speaking, there is no "real/original" Y; each clone is just as "real" as the Y currently locked in combat with Highness. All of them have an amulet, and each one is as equally real as all of the others.

The reason that Y attacking Highness is more "real" than the other clones is because that is where the demon that is Y is focusing its attention. It can't split itself across clones very well, which is why Y doesn't typically use the ability. The only reason it's happening now is because her control has slipped. The clones are flickering in and out of existence because she doesn't want them to exist.

Because she's repressing them that way, the demon that is Y wouldn't be able to transfer its primary focus if the "main" Y were to be killed- i.e. killing her would get rid of all of them. Killing a clone would do nothing, as it would have popped out of existence anyways. The same applies for the amulet; take it off a clone, it will just disappear, but take it off the "real" Y and it will disappear. Which is probably how you expected it to work anyways.  

If you kill Y, her corpse will vanish as the demon that is Y shifts focus to a backup body and she will leave the amulet behind.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Oookay. I totally follow. Without a doubt.

So, if that was the case, Ellis probably would've chosen the Y that he perceived to be "real."

[Mystic Syn she/her]

So, lemme get this straight: Xino does not want people to have the amulet, and even if they have a literal god on their side, the meanie demon will still say “no”? I mean this in a joking way, don’t come after me

Edited August 16, 2021 by Mystic Syn

[xinoehp512 he/him]

14 minutes ago, Mystic Syn said:

So, lemme get this straight: Xino does not want people to have the amulet, and even if they have a literal god on their side, the meanie demon will still say “no”? I mean this in a joking way, don’t come after me

No, they're actually really close.  Highness antagonizing Y caused her control to slip and her guard to drop, a weakness that Ellis can exploit.

[Condensation she/her]

Melody snatched the amulet from around Y's neck and flickered back into view. She raised it victoriously, smiling.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Y felt the theft and turned, insanity twisting in her eyes, murder on her hands, when- thunk.

A clone stood in front of her, knife plunged deep. Y's demonic gaze widened a fraction as she vanished.

The clone turned, eyes distant and melancholy... and she was gone.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Ellis let out a breath. Then another.

He dropped his sword.

[Mystic Syn she/her]

“Well, that went on longer than expected,” Highness said, breaking the silence. He rose up and brushed himself off, wincing slightly to the wound that was taking forever to heal. “Well, you have your ‘Dream Crystal.’ Do your thing.”

[Channelknight Fadran]

Ellis swallowed and nodded, then turned to Melody and held out his hand. "Can I... see that?"

@Condensation

[Condensation she/her]

"Oh, yep!" Melody handed it to Ellis. "Now we'll bring them back!"

[Channelknight Fadran]

Ellis nodded. "Right.

He took the amulet, then grunted involuntarily as a surge of power washed over him. Ellis collapsed to his knees, suddenly shaking uncontrollably.

What... is...

"Melody." He said through gritted teeth. Nothing else escaped his mouth.

Yeah, I'm running out of stuff to wri--

"You'll be okay. Right?"

What?

"I..."

Oh, scu--

...

...

What in the...

What's...

I let out a breath. Then another. The pain is still there, but I don't comprehend it. All I can feel is the infinite power rushing through me. For a moment there, I felt like I'd been somewhere else... but now I'm here again.

Looking up at Melody, I wiped my brow. "This is... weird."

@Condensation @Mystic Syn

Edited August 18, 2021 by Channelknight Fadran

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Hey, whispers Gerald in Ellis mind, his tone surprised. You aren't Y.

[Channelknight Fadran]

What? Gerald? I look down at the amulet. Are you... in here?

Edited August 18, 2021 by Channelknight Fadran

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Yep. I'm as surprised as you are.

[Channelknight Fadran]

How I work this thing? How do I bring you back?

[xinoehp512 he/him]

I do not know. Dr. Who Octopus shot a weapon at me and suddenly I was... dreaming, I think? and then  I was in this cubical room. What does it look like from the outside?

[Channelknight Fadran]

Is it this amulet, maybe?

[xinoehp512 he/him]

What amulet? asked Gerald, puzzled. I can't see you. Only hear you.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Just... hang on. Give me a sec...

I take in a breath, then open my mouth to speak.

Q and Gerald appear, completely revived and healed, in front of me.

@Mystic Syn

[Mystic Syn she/her]

So, that happens, right? Asking for a friend, cos I–– *cough* I mean, they want to make sure that I am reading it right.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

That happens. It's how Narration works.

 

[Mystic Syn she/her]

Quote

K, kewl, Thanks. *cracks knuckles* Let’s get to writing again.

A cough came from the newly revived Q. She fell down to her hands and knees, the coughs quickly turning into gasping; not out of pain or sickness, but because of the tears. Q breathed heavily, then looked down at her hands. She quickly got to her feet, her twin blades flashing from their sheathes as Q fell into an unknown stance, the tears still streaming down her face, now contorted with anger. However, the anger melted when she saw them, fading into shock. Q lowered her knives as she took in her surroundings.

“Highness?” Q asked, turning towards the older man, taking note of the silver spot on his clothing.

Highness nodded, smiling, then gestured to the others. She followed his hand to…

“Ellis? Melody?” The knives fell from her grasp. “Don’t tell me you’ve died too.”

Edited August 18, 2021 by Mystic Syn

[Channelknight Fadran]

The amulet fell to the ground.

Oh, thank goodness.

Ellis ran over to Q and threw his arms around her, shamelessly kissing her right on the lips.

[Mystic Syn she/her]

Shock coursed through her. Q froze, unsure. Her eyes flickered from sapphire to pitch black, just as confused as she looked, before it settled on sapphire. It wasn’t long before she started to cry again, this time out of relief. Q returned the hug, melting into the kiss, letting her tears stream.

He came back.