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
shhh it's probably fine (a red sniper dot appears on both their foreheads)
Jinx is now a girl on a mission, and that mission apparently means dragging Ciel toward this Cute Shop filled with Cute Things so they can Cute Overdose, as one does-- ]
Disgustingly cute, makes me wanna barf! I love it.
We SO need these.
shoos them away?? it would at LEAST be uhhhhhhhhh, 10% friendly fire? maybe,
--The packaging, or the sweets?
[Wh, what's our priority here,
Though before she knows it, they find themselves in front of the barfingly (???) cute sweets shop. There IS a line at the cash, but there seems to enough space inside to browse comfortably. It's all the clearer once they're inside: there's also plenty of animal plush toys wearing ribbon accessories people can pick up as a gift to go along with the cookies/pastries/candies sold. A store evidently popular with children and ladies, the few men here seem to be in company of a child or a woman for one reason or another.]
Oh, it's bigger than it looks from the outside...!
-10% friendly fire you mean???? 🔪
but this is like... a lot of cute?? a LOT of cute condensed into one singular place and Jinx imagines that this is the kind of shop the topsiders enjoy on the regular - it feels like it would be, full of excess and bereft the sense of squalor, of rust, of Zaun.
it's sickly sweet after all.
but aside from momentarily taking it all in for no more than a beat or two, Jinx is catching sight of the first order of business and is right on her way to dragging Ciel toward the plushies. CUTE, ]
No way, these are SO cute I'm going to lose it. --Oh, I know!
[ whipping around real fast, she barely gives Ciel a second to like. stop or cease her momentum, ]
Pick one out for me I'll pick one out for you, got it? Got it!
[ pick out something she likes, okay? you know what that is, right? perfect glad they're on the same page haha wonderful don't mess it up, ]
1/2 i was going for 90% hostile fire but u know what sure, 110% hostile fire it is, :2iq:
Ah-- Eh? I...
[--Oh, they're in front of the plushies now,]
O-okay, I'll do my best...!
[😵]
2/2
As tempting as the unicorn is, she ultimately picks up a reversible axolotl plush. The pink happy side was out on display initially, and Ciel looks like she might be scrutinizing some relic at a museum rather than mull over the suitability of a plush for someone she just met. Regardless, after flipping it to the >:( blue side once and then back to the ouo pink one again, she's relatively settled: being reversible is the sort of whimsy that seems to suit the excitable girl, plus pink and blue were the ideal color scheme she was already set on from the start. An axolotl is a far cry from the usual cute favorites like cats and dogs, but its novelty feels somewhat fitting too, for reasons she can't quite explain better than just having a Feeling for it.
This may or may not have taken several minutes, but once she's done, she will be looking for Jinz. Now where's her plush trade buddy...?]
no subject
it's why Jinx is frozen where she had been jutting out the (three) plushes in her arms -- there's a Shark that stirs up an echo of some Strange, Familiar Tune in the back of Ciel's head for unknown reasons, a fuzzy blue monster, and pokemon -- once she and Ciel nearly
run into each other againcollide where she had been turning the corner to find her,before she finishes what she started, jutting the trio out expectantly, eyes fixed on the axolotl. ]
Is that-- mine...?
[ Tentative............... Wary, ]
no subject
--Ah. But as colorful and varied (my, she's certainly one for quantity over quality, or is this judging prematurely?--) as the other girl's selection is, isn't that a bit much? (The canine-like animal plush is cute though, what a peculiar design!) Seeing her frozen and looking at her like she's grown a second head is a tad unnerving, admittedly, but she did deliberate quite a bit over her choice, so no backing away now! Taking a deep breath, she steps up and beams at Jinx with a warm and energetic smile.]
I'm done choosing, yes, and I've settled on this one! Look, it's reversible, so you can flip it in an out like this whenever you like. It could match your mood! [And she proceeds with a live demo, puffing the plush out to the >:| side before going back to the ◕‿◕ one again.]
Here, miss. What do you think?
[Holds out the offering... (The price tag is a bit high in her honest opinion, but nothing she can't afford with the work she's been picking up...!) Not too bad at least, hopefully?]
no subject
but inevitably, she shoves the plushies she's collected into Ciel's arms, not really caring if the other woman actively tries to grasp them or not before she's plucking the axolotl up for herself. Jinx examines both sides, back and forth, before holding the ◕‿◕ up to her face, ]
So? How do we look? Could call us sisters, don't you think?
[ she leans in a little, invading Ciel's personal space with little care; if she gets the Vibe this isn't entirely friendly, she'd be on the mark. ]
Or do you think the other side fits me better? Hm?
no subject
Hm.
Well, sus vibes are nothing new to her, though it IS unsettling in how she's briefly reminded of a certain vampire princess for a split second for some reason. They don't seem anything alike? Worrisome...]
Well, what would you like more? A sister, or maybe a sidekick?
[The only shuffling Ciel does at having her personal space invaded is for plush toy juggling, gotta make sure the lot she's been entrusted with stays secure. She keeps her back straight and the smile on her face intact otherwise, doing a relatively good job of appearing unbothered.]
I think the flexibility of expression for this design is a strong point, so why limit yourself? We feel how we feel, being happy and upset are both natural.
no subject
she thinks Ciel did this on purpose. she thinks Ciel picked this because she knows about her pink-haired sister, Vi. she thinks-- ]
Oooh, real cute. Sister, is it? How'd I know you'd go for that one? Just a hunch, you know?
[ her voice is definitely carrying some type of uncomfortable malice, now, her smile more a sneer as she leans in to look Ciel in the eye, gaze flighty and intense, as if searching for something. ]
Are you with her? The Enforcer girl? Is that what this is about?
no subject
--Eh? I... What do you mean? You mentioned 'sister' already, just before! Miss, we just met...
[She trails off with a pleading tone and takes half a step back from Jinx's leaning in, both her arms still full with holding onto the assortment of plushies she got dumped with. Please, she doesn't even know her name! 'Enforcer' is also a common enough term that it doesn't immediately make her think of anyone in particular, the lack of association just makes all this more bewildering than it already is. Where's the closest display bin in case these guys need an emergency unloading... But they're also starting to make a bit of a scene, aren't they...?]
no subject
No, no, don't go playing dumb, now! You're not dumb, I'm not dumb, are we? Are you?
[ her eyes sharply drift to her left as if she's heard something--
before she's abruptly jerking the knife from her side and jamming it into the poor, innocent display endcap housing some beanbag plushies. yeah, they're... uh, definitely attracting some attention. the blade doesn't touch Ciel, though - just jams into the wood of the shelving behind her to the right of her head. ]
Who are you, sister?
no subject
That revelation earns... less of a surprise than the outburst. The look Jinx first gets is blank, and once the light returns to her eyes a second later, Ciel proceeds to shift her body sideways just enough to put the fluffy gang down. She maintains eye contact with her apparently very volatile new acquaintance throughout, hands also visible by the edge of the display bin after freeing her charges. This certainly escalated quickly...]
Goodness... I should be asking you, miss. I never told anyone here that I've been with the church before, and I haven't been so insistently called 'sister' since. How did you know?
[She seems quite composed otherwise, maybe this semblance of calm is also what's keeping increasingly more alarmed shoppers and staff members at bay. Definitely no need for immediate help.]
no subject
[ yeah, because clearly CIEL is the one not making sense here smh?? Jinx is perfectly coherent and her train of thought is completely transparent and easy to read like. obviously.
she leans in a little further until their noses are almost touching, ]
Listen, sweetcheeks. Are you with the Enforcer girl or not? Whatshername, Carrie... Catherine... --Caitlyn! Caitlyn, that's the one!
no subject
[That rings any bells? Ah well, she's tried, if nothing else. This has very much veered off into Highly Questionable territory, but they're still just ("just") talking so far, so it's probably okay...?
And at the namedrop, she blinks a few more times. She sure is being made to blink a lot today, Jinx really has a talent for inducing it!]
--Oh! [Enforcer Kiramman, that's who she's talking about. It finally clicks, though something tells Ciel it may not be the best idea to voice her recognition out loud--not exactly like that, at the very least.] Um, I do know someone by that name. We're acquaintances at best though, we've fought a few times before. [Which is actually true! Even if their relation is also on the mend since Kenos, but given this girl's attitude, Ciel's gonna keep that tidbit to herself.] But if you've just arrived recently and know her... Oh, would you happen to be from the same world? Maybe you'd know mister Silco too, miss?
[Mister Silco... Sorry ex-coworker, she needs to keep tight her act of innocent passerby in front of a newly made and not entirely stable plushy buddy...]
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the church stuff goes out other. listen, no offense Sister (she's Sister now by the way), but she doesn't have any time for whatever all that's about, okay?? they have bigger fish to fry, like talking shit about Caitlyn, maybe! ...fought her a few times, she said? oh, some of the wariness is drifting to curiosity, and Jinx angles her head in the other direction. doesn't ease up on the knife, though, or give Ciel back her personal space.
guess this is just like, her life now, idk, ]
Silco.
[ oh... oh. she's slowly connecting the dots; this must mean she's been here with Silco and Enforcer girl. and if she knows Silco is from Runeterra-- ]
What's it to you?
[ ...but, of course, she doesn't make it easy. at least she isn't, like. trying to shank her new friend(??) or anything?? listen it's the small victories in life, ]
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tiddypeace in God's embrace. She Tried,The shift to curiosity is pointedly noted, even if she's still putting quite a bit of effort in sticking to her neutral passerby story. Which of course, means acting like one!]
Well, we just met, and you don't look like you've been here for very long either, miss. But then you immediately brought up that woman's name, so it's very likely that you were acquainted with each other back in your home world, right? I do know for a fact that miss Kiramman and mister Silco are from the same world, mister Silco warned me against her before and he had a lot to say over the matter. [Y'all are mean girls with grudges, s2g. Also Cait did the exact same thing about Silco, but Ciel is consciously choosing to omit that information.]
So I just thought that... If you're wary about her too, then maybe you would also know about mister Silco?
[Just basic 1+1! Ciel has no idea what this all means for herself tbqh but. But,]
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[ lol imagine being a churchie, couldn't be me,
Ciel uses a lot of words for this explanation, and Jinx had begun to check out about half-way through. she gets the main points, though--
and thankfully for Ciel, she's abruptly plucking the knife out from the end cap and returning it to its place at her belt at her hip, and then
......tossing her arms around Ciel in a hug, ]
No way! Small world, am I right?! Why didn't you say so from the start? I was totally going to cut an ear off or something for a second there, that would've been REALLY awkward.
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[God is no longer in this house,
and oh, the knife is gone as quickly as it had come out. Miss......... r u ok, yeah Ciel is definitely Concerned now despite still smiling and somewhat awkwardly accepting the hug, the toughest question of the day so far is whether or not she should do anything to reciprocate...]
Ahaha... I could have dealt with that [GETTING HER EAR CUT OFF], but this is a bad place for it, you know? We're still in public, and it would be a shame to have something as hard to clean as blood dirty these cute plush toys. [Jinx may not care, but gonna point that out anyway.] Mister Silco seems like someone who keeps his cards close to his chest, so I certainly wouldn't have been able to guess that you two know each other if you didn't bring up someone he really dislikes first. ["Dislikes".] So thank you for helping me clear up this misunderstanding, miss! [yes. this is totally what that was.]
...That is, would you like to get a snack and a plush here? I have enough money, so you don't have to worry about that. There's no line at the counter either right now too, we're in luck!
[Because 1. the courteous thing to do is at least buy something then GTFO and 2. they already scared the line away, oops. That said, she's also going to... tentatively, give a light pat on Jinx's shoulder? Nothing will explode from this, r-right,]
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they go over well, though! even if Jinx is jerking back to hold Ciel by her shoulders in the next moment, abrupt and dizzyingly moving on in the next second, ]
Jinx!
[ that's her name. not 'miss,' that's like... gross Piltie shit, no one calls her miss ]
You've heard all about me, silly! Right?
[ RIGHT, CIEL? Silco would not have NEGLECTED to tell anyone about his DAUGHTER, right????? ]
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That sounds more like a codename/nickname than a name, but who is she to judge?]
Jinx.
[She repeats back with the same smile, and ok ok, no more "miss". tbf she does NOT call Silco "mister" either, this is literally the first time ever, ahem.
...]
I'm afraid not, aha... [Apologetic... chuckling,] Like I was saying, I've always known Silco as a driven man who never spoke of himself. Enforcer Kiramman only came up when we were sharing intel about people we may have to fight, so it was a work conversation. ...Do you mind if I pay for these and get some cookies too, by the way?
[She sure got completely ignored asking it the first time... Anyway the question is accompanied by her holding out her hand gesturing towards the axolotl and the
Rioludog-like plush toy, while taking note of a shelf holding cookies and small cakes close to the front of the counter she can easily grab on her way there. W-what's happening now,]