Culmination: CLS Launch '16

Good evening, Darlings!

Well, here we are. January's come to a close, and with that, the Coalesce Launch is coming to its end as well. :) I really all of you have enjoyed what I've presented this month, and got to know a bit more (at least) about the story and the characters!

"We'll be here for a long time."

Anyway, this post will pretty much be me explaining Coalesce more. I'll be talking about the Launch, the story plot, and perhaps the characters themselves. Additionally, I'll be talking about what I have planned out for this project blog-wise. :D

If you're interested, click the read more link down there!

Lysette: A Coalesce Fanmix

Meta: A Coalesce Short

Headquarters

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

July 2017

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Face to face in Aether’s office. The shorter girl tried to absorb and understand the look on Lysette’s face, which showed nothing but pure amazement and a slight hint of admiration. Aether couldn’t help but shift in her chair, finding herself unable to look straight back at the other female in her office at that moment. 

“Because,” Lysette Cross began, “I haven’t seen you in such a long time, Aether. Aren’t I allowed to be happy because I finally saw my best friend for the first time in forever?” the other Englishwoman saw the dark-haired lady roll her eyes at that, but the smile on her face was all that had mattered. She couldn’t help but grin herself, “You’ve…changed.”

“Have I? It seems like you’re the one who changed. And in a better way,” Aether added as an afterthought. It was true, she confirmed to herself. Lysette had definitely improved since they had last seen each other. Instead of wearing a simple tee and shorts until two inches above her knees, her strawberry-blonde friend donned on something more professional. Lysette gave the collar of her button down a tug and shot another smile. “You look more serious, now.”

“Says the one who came into the building looking like she wanted to rip her hair out,” the other teased. “You changed too, Aether…you look older. Even though we’er nearly the same age.” Lysette’s eyes ran over the other’s features, the other’s clothes, how Aether held herself and studied the vibes she gave off. Lysette whistled, “I’m not surprised that you had someone there with flowers—”

“He has nothing to do with the interview,” Aether interrupted, flustered. Lysette grinned. “And speaking of…”

“Okay, that wasn’t a ruse. I really am here to interview you.” she dug into the bag she had brought and pulled out a rolled-up magazine, handing it to Aether. On the cover was an international figure who had recently became known. On top was the name; a single word typed in thick, sans-serif font. “It’s for Meta,” she admitted. “I came here to interview you for the magazine.”

Ground Zero: A Coalesce Graphic

She went to Atlanta just so she could interview her friend.
Now, she's in the middle of a criminal investigation.

Mack: A Coalesce Fanmix

Search: A Coalesce Short

The Cage

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

February 2017

Mack blinked. Aether had nudged his side. 

“Are you okay? You’ve been out of it since the car.” Mack gave a short nod and drank from the beer bottle, saying nothing more. Aether opened her mouth to ask again, but Peters caught her eye from across the table and shook his head. The dark-haired lady promptly closed her mouth, but still kept an eye on the hazel-eyed male next to her. 

“Mack needs a drink because of what he saw today,” Peters said calmly. Mack looked startled for a moment but then nodded in agreement. Aether still looked dubious but chose to accept it, sighing quietly and taking a sip from her glass. “I think we all do. You know, crisp flesh doesn’t do good for someone’s system—”

“Duly noted,” Aether groaned. “I don’t need to remember what he saw.” Tadashi gave a wry smile; he and Mack listened to the two other members bicker. From the corner of his eye, however, he made sure to watch Mack. Aether’s comment made a feeling of concern rise up in him. 

He noticed that the curly-haired male’s eyes tended to swivel over to the bar, where a brunette lady was serving up drinks and occasionally chatting with customers. Instead of a look on interest, though, he noticed something that seemed like disappointment in Mack’s hazel eyes. 

Apathy: A Coalesce Graphic

Mack's quite the odd guy, come to think of it.

He's always been apathetic regarding his own ambitions.

Jian: A Coalesce Fanmix

Hollow: A Coalesce Short

The Cage

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

January 2017

Mack noticed that Jian looked terribly empty. He didn’t know how that happened; usually the Asian was full of life and cheer and teasing. So he tried to bring it back. 

“Business looks like it’s starting to suck,” he commented. Jian rolled his eyes as he polished the inside of a glass, later looking up to see the curly-haired man glancing at him. The smirk appeared once Mack recognized that empty Jian was still present. “I’m surprised people are still coming out and drinking when shit’s been happening lately, you know?”

“You make it sound like there’s someone out there to murder everyone,” the bartender replied dryly, doing his best to ignore the sudden uncomfortable feeling in his stomach. Fingers twitched.

“There might be.” Mack shrugged and took another drink from the beer bottle, “I’m not surprised anymore. You get shit like this happening left and right. You sort of get used to it the more you immerse yourself into investigating it.” he said all of this while holding the bottle gently, keeping up the inviting tone in his voice. Trying to get the same old Jian out. 

“You’re very calm about all of this.” Jian set aside the glass where many others also sat in perfect lines, “It’s weird.” 

“I don’t generally give a shit unless my life’s at stake,” the other answered bluntly. This made a frown come to the Taiwanese man’s expression, a stony frown instead of an empty one, and Mack noticed. He blinked. “What’s wrong?” Did I do this wrong? 

“Nothing, nothing. You want another drink?” 

Mack was about to say something else when his eyes fell on the nearly consumed bottle. “Huh. Alright.”

Arson: A Coalesce Graphic

"It started with destroyed properties.

And now, the sick fuck is burning people, too."

Jin-kyong: A Coalece Fanmix

For Her: A Coalesce Short

Jin-kyong’s Apartment

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

November 2016

She had no one else to call but Eun-seok. 

A number of investigators had been sent over to her apartment to ask about that night; the memory she had been doing best to repress since she had learned about it. There were two of them; a tall male Korean with a consistent look of sympathy, and a shorter lady with her hair pulled back and doing her best to look neutral-faced. While initially wary of entertaining both of them, the lady explained that they had to ask just to make sure that nothing fishy had occurred when Kim Soo-yeon’s death had occurred.

That made her relent, and she let them into her apartment. The lady thanked her; the man promised that it wouldn’t take too long.

The process was a quick one; Jin-kyong had been asked if Soo-yeon had been drinking, if Soo-yeon had gotten into the car alone, if anyone else was in the car with her. After that came different questions; questions like if Soo-yeon had travelled her usual routine home, if Soo-yeon had any plans to meet anyone else. Those questions bore into her memory and she found herself digging deep into her subconscious just to remember.

She found herself tearing up. At that, the lady’s eyes softened and she dug around in her bag before retrieving a few tissues and extending it to her. At that, the man spoke. 

“We know that remembering can be painful,” he told her slowly, choosing his words carefully, “but believe me when I say that anything you can remember can greatly contribute to our investigation. The pain you feel right now is going to be very much worth it.” Jin-kyong thought that the male grasped at something but then thought that it was just part of her imagination.

Taking a shaky breath, Jin-kyong opened her mouth and proceeded to answer whatever questions they had for her. 

Postmortem: A Coalesce Graphic

"Kyong changed when her friend died.

The life in her eyes disappeared."

Aether: A Coalesce Fanmix

Chances: A Coalesce Short

Aether’s Apartment

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

April 2016

“Thanks for taking the three of us home again, Aether.” Tadashi smiled. Aether smiled despite herself; driving home two drunken men and one buzzed one drove the energy out of her, but it wasn’t all too bad. Especially with Mack and Peters bickering in the back about whether this band or that band was greater than the other. 

It was Squad A’s usual monthly drinking night. For April, Aether had lost the ‘competition’ and was designated to be the one to pay for their drinks, bring them to the bar, and bring them all home. Tadashi was the last to be dropped off, as he and Aether lived in the same apartment. “You sure you don’t want us to walk back together?” 

“I’ll be fine,” she waved him off, “I can park and walk back myself. You need to get some rest before you end up falling asleep. I know how you get when you’re drunk, T.” Tadashi’s cheeks turned a light red and he managed a small laugh, nodding. “Get some sleep, alright?” 

“Got it. Night, A.” Aether wished him goodnight and Tadashi stepped out of the car, proceeding to slowly walk towards the apartment. Aether’s smile slipped away, she sighing and driving to the parking lot of the apartment to park in her usual spot. 

As soon as the engine was off and the car was properly parked in the right spot, Aether got out with her bag and started walking back. 

Endurance: A Coalesce Graphic

The fire never burned her.

It made her whole.

Samuel: A Coalesce Fanmix

Reunion: A Coalesce Short

Hartfield-Jackson Airport

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

March 2015

“This can be considered our first major investigation,” Tadashi explained. Aether and Peters looked up at him, curious, “Seeing as we’re actually going to another state to help out with the NYPD.” 

“This is great,” Peters leans back and stretches. “I’ll be showing you two how to get around New York. I think you’ll like Bronx. It’s got a lot to explore,” he shared. Tadashi gave a smile and Aether merely listened as the American shared about his home state. “How long are we staying, Tad?”

“For as long as we need, but HQ wants us to be back in two weeks.” he replied. “We’ll be meeting the officer they sent once we arrive. He’ll be the one to bring us to the hotel, where we can rest for the night. Tomorrow, we begin.”

Aether glanced up from the folder in her hands. “Is there someone we should look out for once we get there?” 

Tadashi shook his head. “No definite officer, but we’ll know them when we see them.” At that moment, a voice on the speakers asked for the passengers to get ready, and the man stood up, swinging his carry-on over his shoulder. “That’s the call. Come on, you two. Let’s get ready.”

Individual: A Coalesce Graphic

He wants to be his own person, pretty much.

He wants to show the world that he isn't his father.

Mathieu: A Coalesce Fanmix