Darin Altway (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
forgeabettertomorrow) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
shellphones2026-01-19 03:24 pm
forgeabettertomorrow) wrote in shellphones2026-01-19 03:24 pm
Seeking Interested Parties | VIDEO
Type: Video
Sender ID: forgeabettertomorrow | (Darin Altway)
To: Public
Subject: Darin and Zelda have an IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT to make
Warnings: N/A
[As the video blips on, Darin walks onto screen from the left. He looks…anxious? Excited? Definitely more energized than usual. He leans forward, the top of the frame cutting off his head so you have a close-up of his torso and not much else.]
Did I do this thing right, Sunshine? I kinda wanna frame this up right.
[ The video feed wobbles a little, the camera going out of focus. Zelda's voice is audible from somewhere off screen. ]
Almost! Don't forget to activate this setting here.
[ The video feed wobbles again, the camera coming back into focus. ]
Alright. Alright, let’s do this.
…Oh holy crap, we’re already recording.
[Darin immediately stiffens as he realizes that he is, in fact, broadcasting.]
Damn piece of— whatever, just go. Okay! Hey everyone! So, I wanted to put this out there publicly because…Zelda and I have some exciting news.
[Darin takes a step back and reaches towards Zelda to take her hand with a wide, excited grin on his face.]
So…I’ve been working on a…on a project. An experiment, really. About the rifts that brought us all here.
[If you were waiting with bated breath for a certain matrimonial announcement, sorry, this isn’t gonna be that. It’s gonna be BETTER. It’s gonna be about SCIENCE.]
I…I’ve made no real secret of the fact that I want to figure the rifts out for…obvious, personal reasons. So, over the last couple of months, I designed something.
[Darin reaches off screen and returns holding what looks like a wireframe cube with a spherical chamber suspended in the center by eight converging rods anchored to the cube’s points.]
This. I call it the Beacon Box. I figured that the Rifts were too…potentially volatile to be controlled but hey, like any other force of nature, you don’t try and tame it, right? You learn to navigate it. I won’t…bore you with the science of it but the short version is I imbued it with an essence of me and my world with the help of the Leviathans and had it cast into the rift. I wasn’t expecting much but…
[Darin excitedly looks at Zelda.]
But we got some data. Zelda got some readings that we’re still parsing but…well, I’ll let her tell you.
[ Zelda, grinning just as excitedly as Darin, gives a little wave to the camera with one hand. In the other, she's holding the Purah Pad. ]
It took a little bit of doing, but I was able to program the Purah Pad to receive periodic transmissions from the Beacon Box while it traversed the Rifts. I believe a number of us have conducted research on the Rifts before, myself included, and a prevailing theory I came across was that the Rifts are related to the Leviathans-- possibly even created by them. So I expected that the energy signature of the Rifts would resemble that of the Leviathans.
[ And here, her grin gets wider. She looks like she's almost vibrating as she clutches the Purah Pad with both hands. ]
But that is not the case at all! Now, these remain preliminary readings, but the energy signature detected from the Rifts differs significantly from that of the Leviathans. Nor do they match any other signatures I've recorded in this world. The Rifts are far, far more powerful.
But that's not all! We recorded a few sudden influxes of energy-- "spikes," if you will-- the timing of which seem to align with the arrival of a few new riftfarers. I believe these spikes are indicative of people-- or even objects-- passing through the rifts. I posit that the same spikes occur with departures as well, although these are rather more difficult to verify.
Now, I've been examining the data produced by these spikes to see if I can't find any patterns or measurable specificity-- things which might help us determine when a passage through the Rifts will occur, or if any of these readings might indicate the world to which they are connecting-- a "world signature." As of now, I've not found any, but employing additional Beacon Boxes will expand the data pool significantly and allow for a much more thorough study of it.
[Darin chimes in now, tossing the Beacon Box back and forth in his hands like a kid waiting his turn to give a presentation.]
I know…it doesn’t sound like much. But it’s a start and this is where I want some help. Creating a Beacon Box requires…well…it requires you to give up something of deep, personal value. Something that can tether you to your world and can, in turn, call out to it. But…if I’m right?
If I’m right, people we’ve lost might be able to find their way back. And the people who want to go home? They might be able to do just that. But like Zelda said, we need more data. If you want to be a part of the project, please reach out to me or Zelda. I’ll be offering the construction of these boxes for free for anyone interested and if there’s anyone out there with even a passing interest in…dimensional space and time rifts? I’d love to work with you.
[At this point, Darin turns to Zelda, grinning from ear to ear. Unable to contain his excitement anymore, he sweeps her up into a giant bear hug, twirling her off screen to cries of “I did it!”]
(OOC NOTE: This is the start of the EXTREMELY LONG RUNNING BEACON BOX PLOT. ALL ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE. I'll draft up an OOC write-up later but the short version is that Darin is looking for ways to navigate the rifts. If you have any questions, please feel free to DM me here, hit me up at Bitterbearface n Discord, or ping me on plurk at![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
bitterbearface For the purposes of this post, please place in the subject line if you'd like to speak with DARIN or ZELDA specifically. If you have no preference, leave it blank!)
Sender ID: forgeabettertomorrow | (Darin Altway)
To: Public
Subject: Darin and Zelda have an IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT to make
Warnings: N/A
[As the video blips on, Darin walks onto screen from the left. He looks…anxious? Excited? Definitely more energized than usual. He leans forward, the top of the frame cutting off his head so you have a close-up of his torso and not much else.]
Did I do this thing right, Sunshine? I kinda wanna frame this up right.
[ The video feed wobbles a little, the camera going out of focus. Zelda's voice is audible from somewhere off screen. ]
Almost! Don't forget to activate this setting here.
[ The video feed wobbles again, the camera coming back into focus. ]
Alright. Alright, let’s do this.
…Oh holy crap, we’re already recording.
[Darin immediately stiffens as he realizes that he is, in fact, broadcasting.]
Damn piece of— whatever, just go. Okay! Hey everyone! So, I wanted to put this out there publicly because…Zelda and I have some exciting news.
[Darin takes a step back and reaches towards Zelda to take her hand with a wide, excited grin on his face.]
So…I’ve been working on a…on a project. An experiment, really. About the rifts that brought us all here.
[If you were waiting with bated breath for a certain matrimonial announcement, sorry, this isn’t gonna be that. It’s gonna be BETTER. It’s gonna be about SCIENCE.]
I…I’ve made no real secret of the fact that I want to figure the rifts out for…obvious, personal reasons. So, over the last couple of months, I designed something.
[Darin reaches off screen and returns holding what looks like a wireframe cube with a spherical chamber suspended in the center by eight converging rods anchored to the cube’s points.]
This. I call it the Beacon Box. I figured that the Rifts were too…potentially volatile to be controlled but hey, like any other force of nature, you don’t try and tame it, right? You learn to navigate it. I won’t…bore you with the science of it but the short version is I imbued it with an essence of me and my world with the help of the Leviathans and had it cast into the rift. I wasn’t expecting much but…
[Darin excitedly looks at Zelda.]
But we got some data. Zelda got some readings that we’re still parsing but…well, I’ll let her tell you.
[ Zelda, grinning just as excitedly as Darin, gives a little wave to the camera with one hand. In the other, she's holding the Purah Pad. ]
It took a little bit of doing, but I was able to program the Purah Pad to receive periodic transmissions from the Beacon Box while it traversed the Rifts. I believe a number of us have conducted research on the Rifts before, myself included, and a prevailing theory I came across was that the Rifts are related to the Leviathans-- possibly even created by them. So I expected that the energy signature of the Rifts would resemble that of the Leviathans.
[ And here, her grin gets wider. She looks like she's almost vibrating as she clutches the Purah Pad with both hands. ]
But that is not the case at all! Now, these remain preliminary readings, but the energy signature detected from the Rifts differs significantly from that of the Leviathans. Nor do they match any other signatures I've recorded in this world. The Rifts are far, far more powerful.
But that's not all! We recorded a few sudden influxes of energy-- "spikes," if you will-- the timing of which seem to align with the arrival of a few new riftfarers. I believe these spikes are indicative of people-- or even objects-- passing through the rifts. I posit that the same spikes occur with departures as well, although these are rather more difficult to verify.
Now, I've been examining the data produced by these spikes to see if I can't find any patterns or measurable specificity-- things which might help us determine when a passage through the Rifts will occur, or if any of these readings might indicate the world to which they are connecting-- a "world signature." As of now, I've not found any, but employing additional Beacon Boxes will expand the data pool significantly and allow for a much more thorough study of it.
[Darin chimes in now, tossing the Beacon Box back and forth in his hands like a kid waiting his turn to give a presentation.]
I know…it doesn’t sound like much. But it’s a start and this is where I want some help. Creating a Beacon Box requires…well…it requires you to give up something of deep, personal value. Something that can tether you to your world and can, in turn, call out to it. But…if I’m right?
If I’m right, people we’ve lost might be able to find their way back. And the people who want to go home? They might be able to do just that. But like Zelda said, we need more data. If you want to be a part of the project, please reach out to me or Zelda. I’ll be offering the construction of these boxes for free for anyone interested and if there’s anyone out there with even a passing interest in…dimensional space and time rifts? I’d love to work with you.
[At this point, Darin turns to Zelda, grinning from ear to ear. Unable to contain his excitement anymore, he sweeps her up into a giant bear hug, twirling her off screen to cries of “I did it!”]
(OOC NOTE: This is the start of the EXTREMELY LONG RUNNING BEACON BOX PLOT. ALL ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE. I'll draft up an OOC write-up later but the short version is that Darin is looking for ways to navigate the rifts. If you have any questions, please feel free to DM me here, hit me up at Bitterbearface n Discord, or ping me on plurk at
no subject
Honestly, I'm...I'm in a similar boat. Maybe talking it through can help us figure some things out?
no subject
I'm sorry you've been through this too.
no subject
I'll be at the forge until pretty late. Do you want to come by?
-> action, before the property damage
[It'll be a bit before Miriam gets there; she had some other things to attend to, and by the time she warps to the roof of a nearby building to hop down the sun was beginning to sink under the city's skyline.
There's a scratching noise at a window beside the door, like a rather insistent cat was pawing at it. Along with a tired sigh from outside.]
Carabosse, cut that out.
[The scratching intensifies.]
no subject
You guys do know you can just come in at any time, right? You don't need manners with me.
[Said as he politely holds the door open for both Miriam and Carabosse.]
You need anything? Thirsty?
no subject
The Shardbinder stifled a laugh.]
It seemed polite.
[Carabosse remained frozen while Miriam stepped through the threshold--then a flash of white light appeared on the other side of the window, with the fairy nonchalantly flying in through that shortly afterwards.]
Some tea would be welcome. It's still quite cold out there.
no subject
[Maybe the cold wouldn't be an issue if he wore sleeves. Miriam, please coordinate with Zelda to get this man to wear some sleeves.]
[He hangs a kettle from a hook over the forge to start heating some water and gets Miriam a chair. From there, he grabs his own seat, spins it, and straddles it to cross his arms over the back.]
So...you mentioned complicated. Would you want to start at the beginning?
itt no one sits like a straight person
[Miriam isn't quite as animated with the chair, but she does sit down with a grateful sigh. She sits a bit sideways on it, with her right arm propped up on the back--something Carabosse was waiting for. The fairy promptly plops herself down on Miriam's supported shoulder.]
How far back? When I became a ward of the Guild?
straight people are boring. we have *style*
Depends on how much context you believe I need. But...honestly? It might not be a bad idea to give me the whole story.
no subject
[Miriam sifted through what she remembered; not all seemed relevant, and...even for herself, there were holes in her recollection.]
My world has an England in it, though it doesn't seem to be the same as others. It's not a place I've been able to explore freely.
If I had family before, I never knew them. I still don't. I was on familiar terms with most of the other orphans, but Gebel was the most like a brother to me. Alfred was a father to us both; the other Alchemists kept their distance from us, but he did not.
[There's a pause here, a long blink and a longer breath as Miriam fought the tightness in her chest. Her voice is quiet.]
I was missing from the world for some time, even before the Rifts; it had already moved on without me. Things I knew had changed. People I met, had...gone. The comrades I'd fought with after I awoke have, too. The world I knew is not what it once was. It never will be again.
...but there's a small promise there, still. A little one. Johannes may have found a way to undo my curse before it consumes me. And there are people I still need to protect.
no subject
...What do you mean you were "missing from the world?" Were you brought to a world like this? Or did something else happen?
no subject
[Miriam drew in a breath, closing her eyes. Carabosse's idle fidgeting on her shoulder slowed, then ceased.]
You're...familiar, with how people fall asleep here and don't wake for a month.
[There was a quiet pause here. Miriam still didn't meet Darin's gaze.]
The same happened to me, back...home. For ten years.
no subject
How?!
Why?!
no subject
So I could not be used as a sacrifice.
[As quickly as it materialized, it faded away. Her voice returned to the quiet, clear thing it had been.]
Alfred was the one who carved the spell into existence, but he vanished with most of the other Alchemists after the ritual and couldn't undo it. Johannes was unsuccessful in waking me until the spell reached the end of its lifespan, but kept me safe until then.
no subject
[Suspended in time for a decade? That's...that's both jarring and cruel...]
Sorry, I...didn't mean to interrupt. You were saying...?
no subject
[Another breath to settle her thoughts back into order, and Miriam continues.]
I have little of my own to return to. But I have a responsibility to those who can't defend themselves.
[Now she does open her eyes, but only to look at the back of her hand.]
Yet...here, I can experience all the things I could not, and many that I missed. My appearance doesn't invite suspicion. And my curse is for the most part contained.
[With a few...unpleasant exceptions.]
So if I could return home tomorrow, I'm...not as certain what my answer would be.
no subject
...Everything you're saying...they're all things I've thought. I've felt.
I've got...things I should go home to. Things I probably need to resolve...
That's part of why I'm doing this. So...maybe one day, we won't have to make that choice or have that choice made for us.
Would you stay here? Or travel to another world like I want to do?
no subject
[Miriam glances up at Darin now, brows briefly furrowing before shaking her head.]
I...don't have an answer for that at the moment, either. This world is a known thing. Others not so much.
[But there was a bit of curiosity amidst all her solemn thought now.]
Where would you go, Darin?
no subject
[Darin scratches at his cheek, a blush dusting his features.]
I...want to go to Hyrule. To be with Zelda. I don't really know what form that's going to take...but...
...I can't picture my life without her in it. As far as I'm concerned...any future I have needs to have her in it.
That's what started this whole project.
no subject
She smiled too, small but just as soft at the edges.]
I see. I'll help you, as far as I can.
no subject
I'm glad to hear it, but you still have more of your store to tell me, don't you.
no subject
She also didn't consciously realize they were married.
Miriam is not the most emotionally competent person.]
About...the Shards grafted to me?
[The distraction was a fleeting one. Miriam skirts around the subject, but can't avoid it entirely.]
I cannot remove them all. Not like the victims of that island. [Which Miriam was also--] But I think their power could still be of use.
no subject
[Darin arches an eyebrow at the suggestion.]
You’re not talking about Gremory are you?
[Darin still remembers that night that Miriam seemed to be in a fit. When he spoke to one of the Dukes of Hell and gave his name.]
no subject
[Miriam vehemently shakes her head. But what started as a steadfast gesture soon shifted; Miriam put a hand on the crystal cluster on her chest, as if about to promise something.
She stopped. Her breathing stopped for a moment, too.]
...Darin. I can't feel her presence. Gremory isn't here.
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