Ring In Those New Year Classes

[shadowslipping]

Who: Yuume...and You!
What: Yooms is settlin in-
When: Early January
Where: The Campus (+ 1 Bulletin Prompt!)
Warnings: None

[[NOTE: Yuume is a fandom based OC. If interactions with this sort of muse bring cause for concern, or you would like to see more info on the muse before tagging, please refer to her Opt In and Info here]]

[BULLETIN BOARD]

[Up on the bulletin board is a rather simple note, written almost stiffly, in the way most would see from people used to enforced meet and greets and the like. ...She may well be experienced in enforced meet and greets.]

Hello- I've recently arrived here to be placed in Gekronus Maius. I'll be looking forward to studying with all of you, particularly those in my house.

If anyone here shares an interest in archaeology, with that in mind, I would like to possibly share notes as one of the Sundered here- I'm interested in studying the differences in how various cultures here developed in the past.

- Yuume

[EXTREMELY used to enforced meet and greets.]

[GEKRONUS MAIUS COMMON ROOM]

Outside the matter of acting on campus formed habits, Yuume seems to be settling in about as well as can be expected. Which is to say, she seems to be doing well?

Mostly. New uniform on, she inspects herself yet again while passing a mirror in the common room, currently rather distracted. "I think I've put it all on properly..." She mutters, only to startle when she looks up to see someone there. "Oh-! Ah... ...I'm not in the way am I?"

[OPEN- SCHOOL GROUNDS]

"Don't chew that..." The warning is soft, and barely even scolding- and given to what looks like a small longhaired rat, currently perched on a young woman's gloved hand. The glove looks rather futuristic- but it's likely non functioning, fortunately for the familiar.

Still, they're hard to replace. So.

It could well be enough of a conversation starter for some- but others may in fact be drawn in by Yuume herself. The young college student approaches calmly, before asking- "Ah...Excuse me? You've been here for a bit, right? Could you perhaps help me with some directions? I'm still trying to sort out the campus layout..."

Comments

[shadowslipping]

Quite a lot...admittedly, we're beginning to have that advantage to a point where I came from. Shadows who first came into being from particular eras often have the answers that even records can't- it makes for very unique interviews.

[She's a bit wrapped up in the excitement to recall that most people don't just have 'shadows' palling around.]

[king_of_egypt]

Shadows?

[Atem's joke fell flat at the realization that in Yuume's world they were already speaking to beings from the past]

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with what that it referring to.

[shadowslipping]

Oh, of course.

That would be on me- it definitely doesn't seem to be a universal constant.

I think the closest thing to describe it could be creatures of myth? There are two sorts of shadows; those that reside in their realm, between the dimensions, and those bound to the souls of human beings. All of them tend to take the form of some sort of fantastical being- sometimes even 'gods', at least superficially- but for the most part if it's bound to a human soul that's because it's an extension of that soul. A reflection, you could say.

A lot of the ones between the dimensions once were human, or bound to a human at least, so they have a lot of knowledge from that time they spent in the human world.

[king_of_egypt]

[Atem read the message with interest since he did find learning about other worlds a fascinating subject]

That seems oddly similar in some respects to a phenomenon that occurs in my own world. [Save for the superficial part. At this point he thought it sounded different enough not to be confused for actually being from his dimension though] There's a concept about there being two parts of the soul, the ka and the ba. The ka can manifest itself as a monster but it siphons some of the energy of the ba to maintain itself. One doesn't generally converse with these monsters but.... I suppose on occasion it's possible.

like a pair of passing ships...

[shadowslipping]

Oh? [Suffice to say, Yuume is Also very Interested.]

Ka and Ba? Those sound rather like Egyptian terms for parts of the soul. It was quite an interesting break-down that they had, and depending on how one looks at it, you can see how at the root, they were relatively correct on the definitions (even for 'name'- it's strange, just how much we associate with a name ultimately).

Considering that we can definitely converse with shadows however, I suspect we aren't talking about the same things! [Though Yuume is Quite amused.] Particularly since they don't siphon energy from their counterparts...it would be more accurate to simply say they're tied to the other equally- one's hand doesn't notably take energy from the body, and it's the same for a shadow.

Indeed it is

[king_of_egypt]

There's a reason for that- since they are. I've always found their interpretation of the soul to be fairly accurate. [Smirking again to himself and displaying a personal bias]

Oh, I'm quite sure they must be different but I can appreciate the similarities. [What they didn't know] They both possess a dual connection to the parts that compose them but they react in a differing fashion. [If someone used too much of their life force in conjuring a monster or through repeated combat than would be it for them]

[shadowslipping]

You say that with an awful lot of confidence, 'Atem'...I don't suppose there's any reason for that? [She is absolutely writing that with a bit of humor. It's easy to treat things lightly when you're in a good mood.]

Indeed. Maybe one day I'll be able to share photos? I could use my glove, but unfortunately the power for it shorted on my arrival...at this point it's just an article of clothing.

[king_of_egypt]

[He could only drop so many hints before he got called out on them. Still he usually made no secret of his origins here so it was likely time to reveal it.]

Ha, you got me. I'm actually from a time period where hieroglyphics were still in use so I would be lying if I said I held no personal bias towards those beliefs.

[And Yuume lost him again]

You can store pictures.... in a glove?

[shadowslipping]

[please excuse her while she bursts into laughter in the common room, oh,]

I see! I'll have to ask for forgivness if I came across as ignorant then...or at the very least insulting.

The glove is...a form of technology. It draws on the power between dimensions to create solid holograms

Ah

I'm finding myself stuck on how to explain this properly...a hologram is

Hm.

Have you interacted with any technology here, Atem? I fear I'll need a better starting point...

[king_of_egypt]

[If only they shared the same common room so he could have heard it]

No, you were quite alright. You expressed a genuine interest in the subject that did not seem the least disrespectful. If you had it would have been my fault for not have been open with you earlier.

[Well this next portion might surprise Yuume as well]

I am actually familiar with holograms. [Maybe he should explain before Yuume can think that they had them back in his Egypt] It's a bit complicated but I did have the opportunity to spend some time in Modern Japan and holographic technology had seen some advancement there.

It was quite impressive actually. [Yuume is going to think he's crazy, isn't she? Or at least he assumed the new arrival would]

[shadowslipping]

Oh!

Oh that makes this far easier!

The glove is an extension of that technology! Or at least, our equivalent...

They used to be based around these bulky devices that would strap to your arm- a pair of projectors would launch out from them, to set a field of some sort. Back then they were powered with electricity of course, but either way they created holograms.

The glove draws its power from the realms between, but it only uses holograms for the secondary functions- the major ones are still the same, though in this case creating an entry point for shadows is the idea rather than a projection of what a shadow looks like. But for things like a calendar, the phone, so on, that would all be holographic, projected above the back of the hand.

...I do have to ask however, just how did you find yourself in Modern Japan of all places? For that matter, may I ask what you define as 'modern'? Suffice to say, it has a different definition for myself... (For me at least, hologram technology in Japan would be...the late 90s?)

[king_of_egypt]

I thought it might.

[Atem started to write more to his response but he had to pause at that next segment. The description was more than a little coincidental. It sounded a lot like.... well... a duel disk. He debated how best to proceed opting to answer the last question before addressing the middle.]

You might not believe this but.. I physically didn't go to Japan it was my soul that made the journey. It had been locked inside an ancient artifact... [And no. He couldn't finish the thought]

Excuse me, but what was the name of the company that manufactured this holographic technology?

[shadowslipping]

Locked in an artifact...

You almost sound like a shadow yourself.

Ah-

I'm pretty sure you won't have the same company! That would be fairly odd at least... It's called KaibaCorp if it eases any confusion though.

[king_of_egypt]

Well- I suppose that's not the worst comparison I've ever received.

[When the puzzle was first reassembled he was more of a shadow of Yugi's...]

Yes it would be, but please humor me. [Atem didn't have long to wait before he had his answer]

[There's another pointed pause between writings] I don't even know how to process what you just wrote. The company responsible for forwarding that technology in the Japan I mentioned was Kaiba Corp.

[shadowslipping]

[heh]

What? Are you serious about this?

oh, I wonder if I've studied you then...that's rather awkward...

[yuume what is that small writing down there...]

Ah, well...if we assume we mean the same sort of Kaiba Corp, this is a strange situation indeed. I suppose it would make sense not to have known about shadows all the same though? Beyond how they were treated and handled across various civilizations during their waking times, they tended to enter a period of dormancy when it came to interacting with the human realm...

[king_of_egypt]

I highly doubt that you have.

[I mean his existence didn't seem to be that well known to anyone outside his immediate dueling circle..? Still he had to wonder whether that was true in actuality.]

That name is so specific.... I'm not sure how it could be anything else. [..but sure to clarify... since Kaiba corp had changed hands a few times:] Does the name Seto Kaiba mean anything to you? He is the ceo of the aforementioned company.

I suppose. I mean.. there have been lulls between the inclusion of duel monsters in society.

[shadowslipping]

[His existence also used to be locked under a magical name embargo.]

Ah...it certainly does, yes. He was the one who marked the change over into the technology, among other things...that was years before my time of course, but still.

[A cough.] Oh- Duel Monsters?

That would certainly be...a category of shadows I want to say? All duel monsters are a form of shadow; their cards their point of calling so to speak.

But not all shadows are duel monsters.

[king_of_egypt]

[It certainly did since it could have served at the key of their undoing]

Incredible. So you're from some time in the future.

[yet not so far into the future that Kaiba's name had been lost to the sands of time]

So- to an extent we have been talking about the same thing the entire time. [With some nuances apparently] The way the cards are connected to the genuine articles has always been some source of mystification and I don't doubt that there are other monsters that would not have yet been immortalized in print yet.

[shadowslipping]

The year 2137, to be precise.

But evidently we have, though now I'm especially curious about that matter of 'ba' versus 'ka'...I wonder...

Ah, well perhaps we could share notes on things sometime if you're up to it? It really is a very fascinating subject now that it's before me.

The number of monsters to cards is certainly unbalanced; I would say it goes...human-bound, to card, to unbound in regard to total number? At the very least for my own time as I said, a card is more of a...'calling card' so to speak. A signal to tell the associated shadow it's their time to fight.

I can't really speak for how it would have been when it was paper cards and solid vision though.

[king_of_egypt]

That certainly is beyond my time...

[Though- so were the 90s]

I would be willing to share the knowledge I've acquired on the subject. Some if it might further confuse the issue however.

In a way that would make sense. When invoking the aide of a particular God or Goddess a visual representation would often be created... monsters being connected on a spiritual level must also be drawn to their imitations.

It was always like there was more to them than the electronic projections. You could feel the presence of the actual spirits. [At least... well some of us could]

[shadowslipping]

That last bit certainly explains why shadows began to create issues with that...

But yes, quite like that! Actually it's rather funny that you mention deities- with the realms easier to access and visit, a fair number of more complicated summons came to follow. Well...not complicated in regard to the 'gameplay' I suppose, but just in the proclamations involved?

A great many are fairly particular about how they're summoned. There are even duels hosted based on who can summon first at all, rather than who can strike at the other's life points. Those are rather beautiful to watch actually.

[king_of_egypt]

There were issues?

[Complicated to summon? Like the Winged Dragon of Ra perhaps? It was the first example to pop to mind since it too needed to be summoned a certain way]

These shadows sound a bit more notionate than what I am accustomed to. [Debating internally the merits of having to watch two duelists struggle to produce one monster] Do you duel yourself?

[shadowslipping]

Mmnh. When shadows bound to humans began to appear, their presence near solid vision would cause it to intensify. Damage would become more real, making things dangerous. For a time, things moved to 'Augmented Reality', but it ultimately didn't really solve the issue until a way to patch into the shadow's realms came to play instead...

Ahaha! I would certainly say so- a handful, at least.

I do, yes. Unfortunately with my glove out of commission, I can't very well prove it.

[king_of_egypt]

Oh, well.. that phenomenon I suppose wasn't entirely unknown to me.

[The power of the Egyptian Gods was oftentimes too great for the systems. Atem apparently just hadn't considered it a problem before but more of an eventual reality. One couldn't suppress that much raw power so easily.]

Or.. I'm remembering it too fondly to be objective.

I do have a deck with me but I haven't played a match in some time.

[shadowslipping]

Oh?

I didn't expect to hear that... [this is what happens when a chunk of your history is rewritten thanks to SOMEONE resetting the universe twice!]

At any rate, I'm sorry I couldn't offer you a short game then. [well. not really actually- but she doesn't expect that explaining the roles of Doctors in her time is a grand idea here, and how else does one say 'I don't duel recreationally'??] If I can at least get the basic functions of the glove working again, perhaps I can show you the card gallery at least?