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Entry tags:
- !event,
- *npc: cyrus,
- arcane: silco,
- arcane: vander,
- black butler: sebastian michaelis,
- ennead: set,
- expanse (the): amos burton,
- final fantasy xiv: cid garlond,
- final fantasy xiv: emet-selch,
- final fantasy xiv: hythlodaeus,
- genshin impact: kaeya alberich,
- granblue fantasy: eustace,
- mortal kombat 11: shang tsung,
- oc: liem talbott,
- orv: sooyoung han,
- persona 5 strikers: sophia,
- tiger & bunny: barnaby brooks jr.,
- until death do us part: mamoru hijikata
TDM + GAME OPENING 🎉
Who: Shard-Bearers, new and old
What: Seeds take root
Where: The Tree of Life, Highstorm, Springstar
When: October 14th and onwards
Warnings: Potential for (mild) body horror, death, dismemberment
Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all players are required to fill out an application, which are now open. This does include characters/players from Aion Teleos, so please don’t forget to fill one out! Any character/player that does not submit an application will be swept from the communities and the Discord after applications close.
Activity Check is optional this month, but is highly recommend so Christy can check her fancy program so that you can earn Activity Reward Tokens! Activity will be able to be submitted shortly after applications close. You can find more about how we do AC here.
This log is Game Canon. Any characters who are not apped to the game will disappear. If Cyrus or Yima are asked, they’ll explain that this happens sometimes, since not every soul has a strong tether to Kenos and sometimes return to the Timestream. They’re fine and may even return to Kenos one day, but for now weren’t able to make the full journey.
As a reminder, your character has a Shard somewhere on their body that encompasses their soul, so keep note of where you're sticking it on their person for reference! Additionally, they have a tattoo of their Aspect somewhere on their body. Please be mindful this Aspect will be assigned to you upon approval and whatever you choose for the TDM may be temporary (for new characters)!
For the Highstorm and Springstar prompts, both cities will be fully open and accessible to all characters once they are saved from their rather harrowing ordeal at the Tree of Life. For prompt ideas and any general information about the cities and what you can find there, please see the Navigation page and check out the locations!
New players are welcome to join our Discord Server if you haven't already!
When they emerge from their cocoon/the ground, characters may be wearing their normal clothes, or they might be nude. Up to you!
At some point in the days after leaving the Tree of Life, new Shard-Bearers will have a dream, even if they're usually not capable of sleeping. All new players should read this post, since this details how they'll learn about both factions and their goals and should help them make a decision in which Faction they'd be drawn to.
New characters will not have access to any canon abilities on the TDM.
Your character will be offered temporary housing either at the Heliopolis district or Yima's manor for the first few weeks after their arrival. They will also be given a stipend for basic supplies like clothing and personal effects, and food is served in the cantina (Heliopolis) and at regular meal times in the Dining Room (Yima's manor). Once they Harmonize, they will get personal permanent chambers and a fancy retainer in their Faction's city. Wow! 🌈
Characters may be Harmonized to their Faction (if that makes sense for the character, of course!) by the time of this log. This is more for IC reference, and just wait until application acceptance to do the OOC paperwork!
General reminder that your character won't have access to their powers until they have Harmonized.
CODING
What: Seeds take root
Where: The Tree of Life, Highstorm, Springstar
When: October 14th and onwards
Warnings: Potential for (mild) body horror, death, dismemberment
I. BEARING FRUIT (new characters only)
It starts out as a pleasant dream. You’re in your favorite place, with your favorite people. It’s a moment of idyllic comfort.
And then, it goes wrong.
The sky turns dark above, and as you look up, you see the black expanse of space spotted with faraway pinprick lights of stars. Yet, they’re not stars. You’re certain. They’re watching you. A billion eyes all looking down, and they spill forth as if sky itself was a dam holding back those dark waters. You reach back to the people you’re with, but they’re frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.
So you run, even though you know you won’t escape it. You glance back and see it not overtaking, but consuming. The landscape around you is being devoured, and you can see it cracking apart. The world itself is breaking, and it cracks under your feet. You fall, and the billion eyes chase after you until the darkness swallows you whole. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then—
You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently.
I’m sorry it couldn’t be saved. But, come, it’s time to wake.
You wake with a start, cradled by soft, velvety plants, and sticky with a sap that smells faintly of honey and iron. You can see the veins of the leaves that hold you, lit warmly and gently by what looks like a crystal embedded above you. Yet, it’s odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, it’s warm. Familiar. Important. You don’t know why, but you know you must hold onto this, because now it feels wrong for it to be suspended in these leaves. So, you pull it out.
The light starts to fade, but only in time to see as the leaves cradling you immediately start to soften and crumble, and with it comes a torrent of dirt. Soft, loamy soil starts to fill the space around you in the dark as you’re buried. Or, rather, you already were. You reach out through the dirt desperately, and your hands finds a root, so you pull while you clutch that precious crystal so close that it almost feels like it sinks into you (in your panic, you don’t notice that it does). You reach out again, and this time, your hand hits open air and plenty of sturdy roots around to grab.
From a seed you’re born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.
And once you’ve clawed your way out of the soft earth and the roots, nearby, you see the soil shift. Another hand comes up to grasp desperately for something, anything, just as you had been.
And then, it goes wrong.
The sky turns dark above, and as you look up, you see the black expanse of space spotted with faraway pinprick lights of stars. Yet, they’re not stars. You’re certain. They’re watching you. A billion eyes all looking down, and they spill forth as if sky itself was a dam holding back those dark waters. You reach back to the people you’re with, but they’re frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.
So you run, even though you know you won’t escape it. You glance back and see it not overtaking, but consuming. The landscape around you is being devoured, and you can see it cracking apart. The world itself is breaking, and it cracks under your feet. You fall, and the billion eyes chase after you until the darkness swallows you whole. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then—
You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently.
I’m sorry it couldn’t be saved. But, come, it’s time to wake.
You wake with a start, cradled by soft, velvety plants, and sticky with a sap that smells faintly of honey and iron. You can see the veins of the leaves that hold you, lit warmly and gently by what looks like a crystal embedded above you. Yet, it’s odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, it’s warm. Familiar. Important. You don’t know why, but you know you must hold onto this, because now it feels wrong for it to be suspended in these leaves. So, you pull it out.
The light starts to fade, but only in time to see as the leaves cradling you immediately start to soften and crumble, and with it comes a torrent of dirt. Soft, loamy soil starts to fill the space around you in the dark as you’re buried. Or, rather, you already were. You reach out through the dirt desperately, and your hands finds a root, so you pull while you clutch that precious crystal so close that it almost feels like it sinks into you (in your panic, you don’t notice that it does). You reach out again, and this time, your hand hits open air and plenty of sturdy roots around to grab.
From a seed you’re born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.
And once you’ve clawed your way out of the soft earth and the roots, nearby, you see the soil shift. Another hand comes up to grasp desperately for something, anything, just as you had been.
II. MORAL HAZARD
There are new Shard-Bearers at the Tree of Life, and Yima has asked that the earlier arrivals go to greet them and help them. These aren’t people from Horos, after all, so they’ll have many, many questions. As Yima explains, the roots of the tree rise up to create caverns underneath, and it’s there you’ll find the new Shard-Bearers. And indeed, with careful steps to not slip on the mossy roots, down you go. Perhaps Communion will help you find the new Shard-Bearers, but it might be a confusing process for them.
The roots all start to look the same, to the point that you’re sure that you’ve already been through this passage. You turn around, and most of the people you had come here with are gone, if not all of them. It’s confusing and unsettling, and strangest of all.. You’re starting to feel ill, even if that wasn’t something normally possible for you. But continuing forward, you do eventually find an unfamiliar face of a new Shard-Bearer. They look no better than you feel.
Before introductions, however, roots around you shift suddenly until you’re enclosed in a room together. From the roots, a face forms in the wall. It speaks in a creaking, uneven tone, as if it weren’t used to speaking at all.
Give to take. A sacrifice. To live.
Characters can pick one of the following options, but the decision must be made unanimously. If one character takes a drastic action (such as murdering another), it’s counted as a failure for the group.
This can be done in groups of 2 to 4 players, and Loremasters recommend three if you can swing it! It’s more fun when you get in philosophical debates, right? Regardless, when your group comes to a decision, please record it here. These don’t have to be fully threaded out to be recorded, so the conclusion can be discussed OOC if you prefer. Actions can be submitted until October 21st, after which groups will be informed of what comes of their choice…
When a group receives the antidote, they'll be released from the tree's thrall... But will have a hard time waking up. It feels like something has grabbed onto their spine.
The roots all start to look the same, to the point that you’re sure that you’ve already been through this passage. You turn around, and most of the people you had come here with are gone, if not all of them. It’s confusing and unsettling, and strangest of all.. You’re starting to feel ill, even if that wasn’t something normally possible for you. But continuing forward, you do eventually find an unfamiliar face of a new Shard-Bearer. They look no better than you feel.
Before introductions, however, roots around you shift suddenly until you’re enclosed in a room together. From the roots, a face forms in the wall. It speaks in a creaking, uneven tone, as if it weren’t used to speaking at all.
Give to take. A sacrifice. To live.
LET'S PLAY A GAME...
As the Dryad will explain, characters are now trapped in a room and have been poisoned by the spores that the lichens underfoot release. An antidote lays beyond the roots the dryad has curled around you, but to access it, you must make a sacrifice.Characters can pick one of the following options, but the decision must be made unanimously. If one character takes a drastic action (such as murdering another), it’s counted as a failure for the group.
- Each of you must offer up a personal/treasured memory. The memory will be shared in Communion with all characters assembled, and then will be destroyed. No character will retain the memory or memory of its Communion.
- Each of you must offer up something physical. A finger, a toe, an ear, it’s your choice. The dryad will offer a knife if this is chosen that will sever the body part of choice cleanly and immediately stop any bleeding.
- Offer up another. Kill one person in the room.
- Refusing is also a valid option. Characters will get more ill as they debate until they start to find it difficult to breathe, and they’ll die quickly after.
This can be done in groups of 2 to 4 players, and Loremasters recommend three if you can swing it! It’s more fun when you get in philosophical debates, right? Regardless, when your group comes to a decision, please record it here. These don’t have to be fully threaded out to be recorded, so the conclusion can be discussed OOC if you prefer. Actions can be submitted until October 21st, after which groups will be informed of what comes of their choice…
When a group receives the antidote, they'll be released from the tree's thrall... But will have a hard time waking up. It feels like something has grabbed onto their spine.
III. DREAMING OF HOME
You may wake with a start from your deliberations (or arguments) with a jolt of pain from the base of your spine as something is pulled away rapidly. A dark-haired man who looks to be in his thirties or so holds you carefully, but as soon as you start to regain your senses, he sets you back and holds up his hands.
Woah— Woah there, it’s fine! The tree was, uh, trying to take you back is all. You’re fine now.
As long as you’re not going to attack him, he offers a friendly smile and a hand to shake.
Name’s Cyrus. Sorry about the rude awakening. Let’s get your friend here unhooked too.
And indeed, glancing over, you can see the person you met in that room laying nearby, and it looks like a vine has snaked underneath them to exactly where something had just been pulled from you… Best not to think about it, maybe. Or if you've been unlucky enough to be one of the last people rescued, you might find vines and roots starting to grow into your skin. It's fine!
Cyrus will gladly introduce himself to everyone, and will further explain his position in Meridian and Springstar (see the NPC Page) and the goals of Meridian itself (see the Faction Page, save for the italicized section). But most importantly, he’ll explain that he knows it sounds like something overly optimistic. It’s fair to be skeptical. He’ll produce a small glass bead from a bag he’s carrying. It looks like the necklace he wears, though not lit up. He’ll explain that the force of Meridian is a gift and can be a tether to your home, if you let it. As his fingertips light up, the energy is infused into the bead, which he’ll hand to you.
Taking the bead into your hands, you’ll take a bird’s eye view of your home world as if your consciousness is split, since you’ll still perceive standing in front of Cyrus at the tree. Rather than a vision, the view of your world is absolutely real, you’re certain. It’s a glimpse at the world that you thought destroyed, and if you focus on a particular place or a particular person, you’ll find the view shifting rapidly to it. No one you watch is aware of your presence, but simply continues about their daily life, whatever that is. But after about a minute, the view will fade as the light in the bead also fades.
That’s an iliachtida, a sunbeam, and when infused with Meridian’s light, allows someone Harmonized to it to check in on their world, he explains. It also acts as an anchor that tethers their soul to their world in the Timestream. With it, their world can’t entirely disappear, so eventually, they can go home. It’s a gift he’ll allow anyone that wants it to keep it, but indeed, they’ll be unable to use it again without first Harmonizing to Meridian.
To help manage threadload for the Loremasters playing Cyrus, we ask that you only tag him with the character you are most likely to app. Similarly, new tag-ins will not be accepted after Monday, October 17th.
Woah— Woah there, it’s fine! The tree was, uh, trying to take you back is all. You’re fine now.
As long as you’re not going to attack him, he offers a friendly smile and a hand to shake.
Name’s Cyrus. Sorry about the rude awakening. Let’s get your friend here unhooked too.
And indeed, glancing over, you can see the person you met in that room laying nearby, and it looks like a vine has snaked underneath them to exactly where something had just been pulled from you… Best not to think about it, maybe. Or if you've been unlucky enough to be one of the last people rescued, you might find vines and roots starting to grow into your skin. It's fine!
CYRUS, THE TRIBUNE
Cyrus is the NPC heading up the Meridian Faction, and is available to thread with under this header. Cyrus has come to the Tree of Life to help rescue the Shard-Bearer’s from the Tree, so he’s not going to be inclined to explain too much right away, since he’s on a mission, but he’ll stick around once everyone is successfully freed from Prompt 2 to speak with anyone that wants to. The following is just an OOC summary of information in case you do not need to thread with Cyrus:Cyrus will gladly introduce himself to everyone, and will further explain his position in Meridian and Springstar (see the NPC Page) and the goals of Meridian itself (see the Faction Page, save for the italicized section). But most importantly, he’ll explain that he knows it sounds like something overly optimistic. It’s fair to be skeptical. He’ll produce a small glass bead from a bag he’s carrying. It looks like the necklace he wears, though not lit up. He’ll explain that the force of Meridian is a gift and can be a tether to your home, if you let it. As his fingertips light up, the energy is infused into the bead, which he’ll hand to you.
Taking the bead into your hands, you’ll take a bird’s eye view of your home world as if your consciousness is split, since you’ll still perceive standing in front of Cyrus at the tree. Rather than a vision, the view of your world is absolutely real, you’re certain. It’s a glimpse at the world that you thought destroyed, and if you focus on a particular place or a particular person, you’ll find the view shifting rapidly to it. No one you watch is aware of your presence, but simply continues about their daily life, whatever that is. But after about a minute, the view will fade as the light in the bead also fades.
That’s an iliachtida, a sunbeam, and when infused with Meridian’s light, allows someone Harmonized to it to check in on their world, he explains. It also acts as an anchor that tethers their soul to their world in the Timestream. With it, their world can’t entirely disappear, so eventually, they can go home. It’s a gift he’ll allow anyone that wants it to keep it, but indeed, they’ll be unable to use it again without first Harmonizing to Meridian.
To help manage threadload for the Loremasters playing Cyrus, we ask that you only tag him with the character you are most likely to app. Similarly, new tag-ins will not be accepted after Monday, October 17th.
III. SPRINGSTAR, αιώνιος ήλιος
After your ordeals at the Tree of Life, perhaps you’re drawn to Springstar, the city of eternal sun and the seat of Meridian.
It’s currently (and fittingly) Spring in Springstar, and the bustling city is coming back to life after finishing up winter. It’s not as if the winters are especially harsh here, but you’ll quickly get the sense that the people of Springstar are vivacious and happy to celebrate. You’ll find the Entertainment District to be the liveliest, whether it’s at a rowdy bar or a brothel, but no matter what, you’re welcome with open arms and without question.
Of course, if you’d just like to use the chance to explore the city alongside your fellow Shard-Bearers, that’s fine too. It’s easy to get lost in the crowds of Springstar and see all the city has to offer.
It’s currently (and fittingly) Spring in Springstar, and the bustling city is coming back to life after finishing up winter. It’s not as if the winters are especially harsh here, but you’ll quickly get the sense that the people of Springstar are vivacious and happy to celebrate. You’ll find the Entertainment District to be the liveliest, whether it’s at a rowdy bar or a brothel, but no matter what, you’re welcome with open arms and without question.
Of course, if you’d just like to use the chance to explore the city alongside your fellow Shard-Bearers, that’s fine too. It’s easy to get lost in the crowds of Springstar and see all the city has to offer.
IV. HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы
Or maybe Highstorm, the city of twin moons and the seat of Zenith is more to your liking. It’s certainly the quieter of the two cities and is a relaxing, meditative place if that’s what you prefer. The chill in the air is constant, since it’s Autumn in Highstorm and the eternal night doesn’t help keep things warm, exactly. Snow isn’t out of the question at this time of the year, but it’s beautiful in the moonlight.
Because of the cooler weather than Highstorm is prone to, you’ll find many of its delights inside rather than outside. Libraries and museums are popular in the more introspective city, though it’s easy enough to find something that might please you. For example, the indoor hot baths are popular at this time of the year too. You’ll find the people are kind, if cool-tempered, though if you mention the fact that you’re a Shard-Bearer or allied with Zenith, they’re more likely to warm up.
Though much like Springstar, it may just be more interesting to explore the city with a fellow Shard-Bearer. And as a resident may warn you, it’s best to stay in the city. Wandering out into the marshes and forests isn’t advised. Of course, if you do, just contact a Loremaster to find out why. ♥
Because of the cooler weather than Highstorm is prone to, you’ll find many of its delights inside rather than outside. Libraries and museums are popular in the more introspective city, though it’s easy enough to find something that might please you. For example, the indoor hot baths are popular at this time of the year too. You’ll find the people are kind, if cool-tempered, though if you mention the fact that you’re a Shard-Bearer or allied with Zenith, they’re more likely to warm up.
Though much like Springstar, it may just be more interesting to explore the city with a fellow Shard-Bearer. And as a resident may warn you, it’s best to stay in the city. Wandering out into the marshes and forests isn’t advised. Of course, if you do, just contact a Loremaster to find out why. ♥
NOTES
mordred | fate/ | iconoclast
NUDEAWAKENING[ For the second time in as many months, Mordred watches the world break apart around her.
This time, it's not a hatching that follows: it's an emerging. One more violent, more frantic, and far more nightmarish; suddenly feeling as if she's buried alive beneath the hundreds, thousands of bodies on that hill of death. Every tree root is a rotting limb, sap like blood seeping into the earth, theirs and hers. When she finally claws her way free, it's with a more panicked expression than she'd ever admit, and she kicks angrily at the dirt afterward as if she's personally offended by it.
Whether she helps yank you out of the ground, or you're just in the area, Mordred takes a moment to appraise you, with both hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. She's also completely naked, unless you'd rather not deal with that, in which case she's honestly not dressed a whole lot better. Sorry. Either way, she seems completely unbothered by both her own state of dress, and that of anyone else. ]
... Doesn't feel like you're my Master. What a pain in the ass...
[ If the other person reacts in any way she doesn't like (read: blatantly looking at her, blatantly not looking at her, being overly embarrassed, scoffing, seeming amused at the situation... basically anything), or stays silent for too long (read: more than about ten seconds), she'll round on them with an annoyed, aggressive: ]
What?
II. (IM)MORAL DILEMMA
[ To Mordred's slight credit, she doesn't go straight for murder. No — her first reaction is to try and punch the face in the wall. Then kick at it. Then tear through the roots. When none of that works, only then does she turn to look at her partner(s), dripping with sweat from the exertion and offering a casual shrug. ]
Guess we're fighting to the death. [ She says this with a smirk, as if it's just a bad joke, but her tone betrays her — she's deadly serious. ] Your choice if you wanna die the easy way, or the hard way.
[ ooc: mordred is
mostlyall talk for this, don't worry about actual killing. unless that's what you want. ]III. LIBRARY VANDALISM
[ ooc: the setting for both of these is intentionally generic, so feel free to pick between highstorm or springstar for either! otherwise, i'll assume highstorm for the former, and springstar for the latter. ]
[ Reading in the library? Enjoying the peace and quiet? You just got smacked in the head by a scrunched up paper ball.
Ignore it, and it'll be followed by another. And another. And... you get the idea. It won't take much investigating to figure out the source: spoilers, it's the blonde teenager trying not to snicker as she scrunches up another piece of paper to throw, torn out of whatever book is in front of her. ]
IV. NEVER DRINK ALONE
[ Or maybe the tavern's more your speed. Well, Mordred's there, too, unfortunately. Despite her young age, she's clearly experienced with alcohol, and seems genuinely in a good mood; laughing uproariously as she slams back another drink. ]
Hell yeah, keep the booze comin'! Just put it all on their tab! [ It's you. She's pointing at you. ]
ii. little freak zone
An easy death would be to accept what is already happening. It will claim us soon enough, and I will certainly fall before you do.
[There are few visible traces of illness or pain on her expression, but sweat beads on her forehead despite her lack of exertion. The red flush staining her porcelain pale cheeks is not one of vigor. It ]
In fact, I would say I am a worthy opponent neither for you nor this poison. Were you to strike me where I stand, do you believe it would be a worthy sacrifice? It may very well be. Or is it simply that you wish to rampage against something and destroy me?
no subject
[ And if there's one thing Mordred hates, it's... well, no, she hates a whole lot of things, but one of them is waiting. Another is people who talk too much, which this weirdo is already proving to be one of. Between the poison, and Caren's words making her feel Seen, her expression changes from a smirk to a frown of distaste, and she folds her arms over her chest protectively. ]
... Obviously, you're not a worthy opponent for me. There aren't many who are. But that ugly face never said anything about worth. [ She looks at the wall again, then back to Caren, then huffs. ] Whatever. If you have a better idea, then go ahead and say it. But if it's stupid, I really will kill you.
no subject
[To say she isn't a worthy opponent is actually an understatement. She would break instantly, and yet Caren continues to show a lack of fear. There's no offense at being dismissed for her to show, either, or any particular urgency, even when she coughs weakly and it froths past her mouth, even when the Dryad rasps at them to Both. Choose.]
You'd rather fight to determine what's given, but I don't know if that outcome would work. It'd be a weird way to determine a sacrifice, at any rate.
If we need to pay our way out of here in blood...I can't say the real worth of mine. But there are plenty of things on my person I don't suppose I need.
[She did arrive in a state of undress, which suggests that she isn't talking about anything she carried here. The fact that their captor is all too happy to offer up the sharpest blade possible in the middle of this conversation may be both a sign that this is a direction that will free them...and a sinister reminder that the objective of the game is pain.]
no subject
[ She spits on the ground to emphasize her point, because she's uncouth like that. Her fingers are twitching almost uncontrollably from the poison and nervous energy, but without a proper outlet, she ends up just clenching them in and out of fists; utterly unable to sit still even when it would be to her own benefit. ]
I don't care if you think it's weird or not — killing someone without a fight would put me in a bad mood. That's all. [ Not because it's, you know, morally wrong or anything. She eyes the knife, but doesn't grab it — maybe she thinks she could overpower Caren easily enough, even without a weapon, or maybe she's already moved on from the idea. Talk about capricious. ] ... It said we both need to sacrifice something, but not how important it has to be. Right?
So in that case, we'll start small. A toe, maybe. Just nothing that gets in the way of holding a sword.
no subject
If it's really so inconsequential, then who's to say you gave up anything at all? I'm sure it would be enough if your body is the most important thing to you.
[Caren raises both hands slightly, palms out and wrists extended, as if posing her fingers over some invisible keyboard. It would be much harder, wouldn't it...? She bends her left ring finger toward her palm, its neighbors twitching as their connected skin and tissues stretch, too. What's music that will never be played for an audience again?
For the first time, and only briefly, she looks conflicted. Her teeth close together tightly in pain.]
I'm hesitating. ... So this must be on the right path.
no subject
[ Read: she's trying to cheat the system as much as she can. But with time and the poison effects ticking, they might only have time for one sacrifice, and it's better to be down a finger than her life. She watches Caren with growing impatience, and the moment the other woman mentions hesitating, she makes her decision. ]
... Whatever. If the honour student can fight with one arm, I can fight without a finger. [ She grabs the knife, then splays her hand out on the nearest root; wiggling the same finger as Caren did. ] This one, right? You're sure?
no subject
[As if there seems to be any future at all under these circumstances. No time to be so detailed, just as there's not much time for hesitation, either.
The other woman spreads her hand out, and Caren exhales with muted anticipation as she moves with the knife. She had expected to her first, the one with the less need and who would be first offered up. Caren's hand clenches involuntarily, likely the poison from the spores affecting her motor movement, and she kneels with her hand splayed.] What a rash action, but I see that you are decisive. That's the one.
ii
Alright.
[ They're supposed to fight now?? She doesn't understand, but she doesn't have the capacity to compute either. She widens her stance and dubiously readies for an attack, but she just looks drunk. ]
i'm here to make things worse, sorry you don't get a say in this cassie
Though truthfully, if he had his gun with him, he probably would pull a Mordred and kill her, just to put them all out of their misery. But he doesn't have his gun and also killing Mordred would probably make Gray upset, so they are going to have to find another way out of this mess. ]
Sit down. Both of you.
[ Wow, who died and put him in charge of this little get-together? ]
No one is dying. We'll find a different way out.
god dammit not you
Shut up, you traitorous mutt! I won't make your death easy, even if you beg! Instead of slitting your throat, I'll tear it out with my teeth!
[ She wheezes angrily, having inhaled a whole bunch of the spores; first during her previous exertion, and now all her shouting. You'd think being poisoned would shut her up, but no such luck. Instead, she stomps her way over to Gray (ignoring the guy she just threatened to violently kill), and grabs her by the shoulders to steady her... and also shake her a bit. Thanks Mordred. ]
And you, idiot mouse! What's with that easy agreement? There's no way you can fight in your condition, so sit down already. Jeez, you're a pain to deal with...
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No killing Mr. Eustace...
[ Hasn't this man died enough!! Either way, Mordred's got Gray riled up(?) enough now that she shows no signs of wanting to sit, making this a complete pair of rebellious children. ]
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What this man has had enough of, though, is children fighting amongst themselves. Why is he always surrounded by people arguing....why is this his fate..... Please free him. Maybe he should let Mordred kill him, just to get this all over with? (JK, that will never happen.)
He watches Mordred rattle Gray around. Watches Gray attempt to deliver the weakest punch known to mankind as the poison seeps slowly through her system. This is just sad. Time to intervene.
Which in this case means he strides over, puts one hand on each of their shoulders, and tries to forcibly shove them apart. Will he earn a punch to the face/stomach for this? Probably, but sometimes sacrifices (of the nonhuman variety) have to be made. ]
Sit. Down. [ Why is the dog telling people to sit, is this how far they've fallen? ] No one is killing anyone.
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[ It shouldn't matter that she is, and that she asked Mordred not to kill him. It shouldn't matter... but it does, and she's furious about it. Just like with Gray, she can't even fully remember what Eustace did to earn her ire, only that she needs to get him back for some sort of humiliation, some sort of betrayal; one that probably made perfect sense to her at the time, but now it's as if she's mustering up the memory of hatred, instead of feeling it fresh. Embers of a raging fire, just barely cooled enough to walk over, and to move past.
For now.
Out of sheer stubbornness alone, she stays on her feet, even as she starts to sway unsteadily from the poison's effects. If this keeps up, she's liable to faceplant sooner rather than later, and they should probably just let her. ]
You're the mutt, not me. You sit — then we'll talk.
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She doesn't have the bandwidth anymore to deal with Mordred's contrariness, so Gray gently ignores it in favor of more important matters. ]
What should we do? It said we could also give up... body parts or memories...
[ Neither sound especially appealing to her, so she's inclined to leave it to the preferences of her companions. ]
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He winces as the knee connects with his groin, a cough of air escaping past his teeth as he tries not keel over. Good thing the poison's making them all weaker than usual. Also good thing he's still got one hand on Gray's shoulder to keep himself upright. Not good thing that Gray is slowly sinking to the ground, which means he's slowly sinking down after her.
Two down, one more to go.... (Sit down, Mordred.) ]
Do you really want to lose body parts?
[ Asked to Gray, but Mordred can answer the question too, why not. ]
It'd be easier to give up a memory.
[ Maybe not necessarily less painful, depending on how sentimental they are all, but if they won't even remember having that memory in the first place, then what will it matter? ]
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iii
Of course it's just a crumpled paper ball, so it can only do the damage of a crumpled paper ball, but it's the spirit and intentions that count, right? ]
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A second later, another paper ball comes his way... quickly followed by the entire (paperback) book. Heads up! ]
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You are going to get us both kicked out.
[ Says the man who is trying to distance himself from the problem, despite being a part of it. A dark aura rises... Creating a foreboding and ominous air in this side of the library. ]
III Highstorm Library
Beyond that, for the moment, he pays her no other heed, letting the first bit of crumpled paper fall to the ground, resuming his search of the shelves. What's he looking for? Is he even looking for anything at this point, or has this become a form of kombat?
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"Hey, old man." Is her polite greeting. She tilts her head up and stands on her tip-toes to try and follow his gaze, though she still falls well short of matching his height, and therefore can't make out what he's looking at. "What's so interesting about some dusty old tomes?"
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Now, he turns to face her. "Pardon me for saying, but this is a strange place to be, if the volumes here hold no interest."
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"Call me that again, and it won't be books getting torn apart. I'm a knight — got it?"
Assuming he won't make the same mistake again, she lets some of her tension drain away, though she still looks more annoyed than she did a moment ago.
"... I came here because I was bored. Guess I should've picked somewhere better than a library." She shrugs, perking back up a bit. "But now I've got you to entertain me, so it's fine."
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That can be made use of.
He's entertaining her, is he? "Is this how you normally amuse yourself?" He asks, an eyebrow arching. "Not the sort of recreation I expected of a knight."
iv
it’s not that he wouldn’t if he was directly asked, since he’s sort of the fragile type, the type that would bend over at the slightest brush of wind, but being pointed out of a crowd gets him to startle. ]
Uh… um…
[ he hurriedly looks for someone to make eye contact with and nervously shakes his head. he can’t really defend himself here, which could… quickly become a problem, since he’s drowned out by mordred’s drinking buddies. ]