[action / voice] backdated to the 16th

[selfhelp]

[Billy wakes up for the first time since the portal drama feeling nauseous, exhausted, and heartsick: sort of like waking from a long nightmare, only he can't recall dreaming at all. Instead of being at home in his own world and his own bed, he's still in Luceti, and what's worse is that he's alone. His magic doesn't seem to be working, either. Panic sets in, and... well...

After a bit of trouble-at-home, and a resolution that leaves him feeling even more weary, the reality of his (or rather, their) situation really sinks in: the portal didn't work. And while none of the people involved in the execution of said plan are in any great state of being today, he seems to be the only one who's up and talking and available to explain the situation to the general public (at least, to those who didn't witness what a spectacular disaster it was), and that leaves announcing it up to him.

Unfortunately.

He delays it as much as he feels that he can, perusing the journal in the desperate hope that someone else has done it for him, then wondering if it would be better to wait for someone more in-the-know to do it, until finally he steps up to the plate. Now or never.]

...Hey everyone. I'm sure a lot of you already heard, but for those that haven't, Tony and Jane's big escape portal didn't work. It kind of backfired yesterday, and...

[His voice trails off in the beginnings of a more distraught tone, so he pauses to compose himself.]

Nobody died? I mean, we've got that going for us. For what it's worth. But no one went home, either. The whole thing was a bust. No point in even keeping it a secret anymore.

One last thank you to everybody who gave up their mission points to get parts for it, though. I don't think it was a waste or anything - I mean, trying's better than sitting around and doing nothing, and something definitely happened, so we at least pushed a few of their buttons - but...

[Ugh, why did he think this was a good idea?]

...sorry it wasn't what we thought it would be. That's all.

[After that he really just wants to curl up in bed and pretend to be unconscious for the next several days, but that's not particularly responsible, so he'll have to settle for making it a few hours instead. It's the little things in life.]

Comments

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy was not the type to wake up early unless he really made himself do it, and this was one of those times. With Billy feeling so exhausted and down over the events that happened yesterday, Teddy thought he might surprise him with a grand breakfast in bed. He'd actually gotten up before his boyfriend, slipped as carefully as he could out of bed, and headed to the kitchen, where he begins to make omelettes and bacon. It's a nice treat for himself, too, having also felt the weight of yesterday on his shoulders. He's glad no one died, but still...

Little does he know that this breakfast-in-bed thing probably wasn't the best idea after all.]

[Voice]

[rather_be_surfing]

Sorry to hear that.

If any of you need anything, let me know and I'll see what I can do to help.

[voiced; filtered]

[frost_jewel]

Thank you, Billy. ...I agree. Trying is better.

[She is tired - possibly sleepless, and the filter is subpar as a result - and worn and disheartened, too. But to take on the burden of telling everyone, that warrants real thanks.]

Voice

[heartisabattleground]

[Oh no...Sora can't help but feel his heart sink upon hearing that. Their way to get home broken and smashed and the people who did this were probably really hurt. Billy doesn't sound like he's doing well either.

Sora pauses for a few moments before he responds.]

Hey, no need to be sorry, okay? You guys tried your best and that's all that matters. We'll just think of a new way to get home, that's all!

[voice, filtered]

[handing]

[Pepper can't quite decide how she feels about Billy taking on the task of announcing the portal's failure. On the one hand, while he had an important role he hadn't been one of the three creators, and he shouldn't bear the responsibility of it. Yet he is the only one of the four who actually ran the test in a position to let those in Luceti know, and for better or worse that is a burden off of Tony's shoulders when he wakes up.

And with that in mind, she locks her reply to Billy only despite knowing there's no point to it; word travels fast in any contained group of people, and too many villagers had a vested interest in this project. Still, Pepper puts forth the effort, in case someone looks at this who hasn't heard. She doesn't want to broadcast this, even if she wants Billy to know.]

Tony's still unconscious. [It speaks to how tired Pepper is that she blurts that out first, before she thinks to ask about Billy himself.] How are you doing?

[Voice]

[magicalesbian]

[Guess science wasn't his friend, after all.]

[But that's hardly appropriate to say. And awkward Valentine's Day shenanigans from last month aside, Billy seemed upset, and she shouldn't take her frustration out on him.]

...hardly seems fair to make you guys apologize for trying. [...] How are you holding up, Witch Boy?

[Voice]

[rashness]

[Man.]

At least no one died, right?

voice

[bionically]

[Shit.

In light of recent events he was hoping for a change of pace, for some uplifting news to take in and distract himself with. But it is what it is, and he can tell from the sound of the guy's voice that making this bust known is no easy task.]

Thanks for the update. [His tone's even.] It was worth a shot.

[And it always is.]

[Voice]

[goldenglasses]

Sorry to hear that it didn't work.

You said no one died, but how is everyone doing? Do you need any extra hands around?

[He never expected the portal to work, but he still had a secret hope for others that maybe he'd be proven wrong. Now he just wants to do anything he can to help people. It doesn't sound like the project went off without a few problems.]

video;

[maplemimicry]

Oh.

[It's a soft sound, almost involuntarily made. Her dad had mentioned the portal project to her earlier, though he hadn't gone into any detail about who'd been involved. Kaede recognizes the voice of one of the people who'd spoken to her when she first arrived, and...her heart goes out to him.

Sure, part of her is disappointed at the opportunity for a speedy exit falling through, but she feels worse for everyone else. People had been here for years, hadn't they? And her dad had talked so eagerly about having pitched in, about how hard everyone had been working to set this project up...

Kaede might be only a child, but she's not so young that she can't see the big picture here.]

I'm glad no one died.

[Because when someone says no one died, it doesn't mean "everyone's okay", so she doesn't say it. Hesitantly:]

Dad told me about the portal project and how hard everyone worked to make it happen. It was worth trying, right? Maybe next time it'll work.

[Voice]

[meanoldnut]

[Well isn't that a shame. Oak was hoping he and the rest of the Pokedex Holders would return to their world and not have to deal with Luceti any longer than they need to. But it seems like they're forced to stay a little while longer. At least they tried and he's thankful for their efforts, if anything else. It's better than anyone doing nothing at all]

While it didn't go as planned, your efforts were not in vain, so I want to thank you and those involved for at least giving me hope.

[He still has that hope, which won't be taken away so easily, since there are still other possibilities and chances where they can find a way back home. Cause like the saying goes, if at first you don't succeed, try try again. They won't give up because of what happened, right?]

[fourthgenerationprincess]

You were trying to get out? [ Twilight's been cooped up in the library almost since she arrived, so she hasn't paid a lot of attention to any high-profile escape attempts. ] What did you do?

[Voice; filtered]

[thisismylife]

[There was an escape attempt? This is news to Artemis, but that information didn't seem as important at the moment with how different Billy sounds from the last time she'd seen him. She debates whether to reply or not before finally sitting down with her journal.]

Hey, witch-boy. Sounds like you had a rough day.

[voice]

[not_a_troll]

Do not do the beating yourself up over it-thing. You did well. I beg of you, Billy of New York, do cheer up.

[A small pause. But they did not...?]

Have you been punished by the Malnosso?

[He should offer to come over and be the most brotherly bro that has ever bro'd in the Nine Realms but he figures Billy probably just wants to be alone. They probably hurt him, like they hurt everyone else.

Quite aggravating and tiring.]

[Voice]

[ledbythewind]

[Quietly:]

What about you? Are you all right?

[Because you really, really don't sound like you are, bro.]