#also this is eden jordan not otherside

[technicolorxsn]

I did not, in fact, post my art of Jordan

[synthy-sizer]

??? YEARS AGO

………

The harsh light fades away and you're left with a small, cramped office. It's old and well-used, showing its age and character. Wooden shelves in varying sizes and grains line every wall. They're crammed with floppy disks. Against the back wall is an old, wooden desk. It's covered in messy stacks of paper, computer parts and more floppies. And there's a yellowing CRT with a keyboard and mouse. The office chair similarly looks like it's been in use for at least a decade.

“Hey, Jordan.” You turn around to see an assuming, shrew man standing in the doorframe, a white void cascading out. “If you don't mind, I need to get to my computer.” You stand aside and watch him walk over. You ask no questions, something that confuses you, but somehow you don't feel you need to ask. He sits down and swivels the chair to face you, then extends his hand. “Allow me to formally introduce myself. I'm God. Lovely to meet you.” You awkwardly shake his hand. “Now. You've done very well getting here. I know it's been difficult, and for that I apologize. And unfortunately, I also have to preemptively apologize, because your mission isn't done yet.” You finally feel the energy in you to speak. “I'm so tired…” He nods sympathetically. “I know you are. You've been a faithful agent. But you just need to get a little further now. If it's any consolation, I'll finally provide you with the answers you seek.” He gestures. “Sit down. It's ok.” You find a spot that's relatively clear of assorted papers and disks and sit on the wooden floor.

“When you return, 500 years will have passed. There will be people who are struggling to reclaim the world after the apocalypse. You need to guide them, so they can come to me. Their names are Violence and Lust. And you will be christened, ‘Heresy’. Do you understand?” You glance over at the bookshelves. There's a few books on them, on a small nook dedicated to literature rather than floppy disks. Your eyes land on one in particular; the first of the 3 books in Dante's Divine Comedy; Inferno. You look back at God and nod. “These people are important. You need to convince them of their path. There's also a girl named Sofia. Find her and bring her to you.” Your vision starts to go fuzzy. The words enter your mind but you barely register. Testaments, burned into your mind, unconscious directives for you to follow. “Now you can return to the world of the living. Go on.” You slowly rise and walk towards the void of white. “Oh, and Jordan…” You turn back to look at him one last time. “I know you grow your hair out and wear oversized hoodies. When you get back, do yourself a favor and bring those behaviors to their logical conclusions.”

…….

Well, here we are. Yet another novella complete. When I started Eden, it was something that I made up as I went along. I had recently watched Lost, Lain, and read Homestuck, and tried to mash elements from things I was passionate about into a project I would be forced to finish because it was being put out online. As the story progressed, it took shape, and I realized that if I wanted to keep actually making things out of my ideas I would have to keep writing. And so the overarching story began.

When I started Otherside, it looked different than it came out. I had an idea based loosely on a horror game, where someone was on a moon base, convinced the world was dead, and then a signal would convince them to escape and go to Earth. There they would find the escape to the moon was very justified. But I think Otherside marked the end of how different the premises of these stories start in my head and the actual end results are. I've had the ending to act 2 in my head since last year, when I was writing act 1. I hope the ending I have in mind for this series is as cool and exciting as I think it is.

As usual, I would like to thank @ice-fairy-chiruno for being the artist for the series. She brings to life things impossible to find online, and I both cannot thank her enough or apologize enough for my executive dysfunction leading to some rushed deadlines.

@technicolorxsn has been and remains my biggest fan, and honestly half the reason I write this stuff is for their reactions. It's so cool seeing your reactions to everything I write, and I honestly can't thank you enough for sticking with me and being excited for the stuff I make.

I also have to thank my friend @telltaletypist for offering writing advice and re-aligning me when I got too lost in the trap of chasing perfection. I feel much more refreshed and reinvigorated thanks to her.

See you next year!

-Synthy

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[synthy-sizer]

There's absolutely no doubting that the discoveries made on Prosperina have led to incredible scientific breakthroughs and achievements. If we continue our research we will surely be able to move humanity light-years ahead technologically and evolutionary. Everything we have discovered so far is only scratching the surface of what we believe is possible.

It's unfortunate that Earth will fall as a result of the anti-universe cascade failure. However, we believe the merging of the two states of being, the soul and the body, is a necessity to continue our work.

You and your families will be spared. Rockets to Luna will be ferried daily until 1/1/2000 at midnight, at which point we have estimated it will be far too dangerous to attempt any more travel and communication.

If you wish to move to habitation on Luna be sure to reserve a home and occupation. Pack your belongings quickly, but make sure that you leave nothing you would miss behind, as you will not have a chance to return. If you choose to remain on Earth or are unable to leave, safe zones and bunkers have been designated and provided to you.

Project ARK no longer has remaining slots. Those wishing to find salvation on Prosperina will be required to join the waiting list in case one of the privileged few is unable or unwilling to attend.

Good luck, and godspeed.

OTHERSIDE: ACT I

END

Thank you to everyone who stuck around through all of Otherside, and especially those who have been around since last year when I wrote Eden! When I conceptualized Eden initially it was a true game of improvisation, where I wrote whatever felt cool or interesting on a near-daily basis. Even midway through the story and deciding on the path it would take, I knew I could take the plot further and develop it into an entire universe. This last year has been a long process of conceptualizing, changing and refining Otherside into what you see today, as a stepping stone into the larger plot and universe. I personally am very proud of how much better this story has been than Eden, even when I had to crunch near the end anyway.

I want to thank Dawn, @ice-fairy-chiruno once again for creating incredible artwork for this story. It truly would lack its charm and DNA without what she provided.

I would also once again like to thank @technicolorxsn for being one of my biggest fans and supporters, and someone who figured out very early that Heresy was intended to be a trans Jordan.

These stories have truly given me a renewed purpose. I'm personally very proud of what I've come up with and I'm excited to put it all on paper and let the ending I've developed come into being. I hope you'll all stick with it to see what it is, too.

See you next year!

-Synthy

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