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THE ADVOCATE ORACLE - A RIP VAN WINKLE IN TIME

Sweet dreams are made of Bliss

As the twilight falls, and bearers begin to tuck in for their evenings on the night of the 15th of March (OOC time) and whether they tuck themselves into bed fully, or simply drift away in the middle of their dinner, work, indulgences, or what have you; bearers will fall into a deep, deep sleep. Perhaps you slump in your chair, or you wrap your arms around a teddy bear, or partner, or cup a precious shard in your sleep, it doesn’t matter, because as you drift away, into a sleep that seems to tug you under like the undertow itself, a question will echo in bearer’s minds: “If given the choice, would you show compassion in the face of adversity?”

It sticks with you, even as you fall into a dreamless sleep. As if it rotates in your mind, over and over, letting you worm over that. You know for certain what it is, that it is the calming, soothing voice of the Oracle, reaching out to you across the ether, telling you – promise you – that if you accept its promise, you will find that the Oracle could be in your hands. That thought leads you to dream of something else – of home, or your loved ones – of what you are fighting this war for. Even as you dream, you feel a presence next to you, and unlike the Harbinger’s winding, rough digging, this is more akin to a friend, who is asking you soft, coaxing questions. Things like: what was your childhood like? What were your friends like? What did you do? You cannot help but think of them, think of your home and your loved ones. Of where you came from, and how it made you what you are.

The advocate seeks to understand you, and where you come from. You can feel it, that overwhelming Acceptance and love from it, even as you reminisce, compelled to answer the multitude of questions, you can feel something building behind you, around you. “Don’t you want them all to understand this?” the impression is given through communion, and you cannot help but answer: yes.

Click your Heels together, Dorothy!

As you awake for the first time, it’s alien, the world that meets you. New smells fill your nostrils, new sights, the gravity is perhaps different than you’ve gotten used to on Kenos, even those slight shifts enough to make the world feel wholly different. You remember the advocate’s words, and it wants you to feel what it feels. Understanding. Compassion, and perhaps there is a sense that doing so would hurt yourself in turn, if you understood too much. That is the advocate’s way, after all, isn’t it?

You feel an inexorable, slight tug in your chest. Something subtle and gentle, the slightest of sensations, that gives you a direction. You know it, your mind only just now comprehending the advocate’s confusing impressions via communion, that there is something of this world’s… Soul/center/heart or whatever word you want to use for it. Something about this world that will help you along your path, and help you with the results you so desire. You know it will not guarantee a victory, but surely it will help. Especially as your numbers dwindle from world to world. You are left with an impression from the Advocate -- if you die, they cannot bring you back. There is apology in this, but alone, one oracle is limited. Only united, can they truly change your fate.

The lingering presence of the advocate starts to fade. You know this is a bearer’s world, if not your own. You look around, to see perhaps a familiar face nearby? Or perhaps you are alone. Does it matter? You know that this place belongs to a bearer, but whether they are a friend or an enemy, one has to begin to determine that. You’ll need your wits, you’ll need your strength and resolve to make it to the end of this, won’t you?

After all, as bearers were recently reminded: this is War. This is not simply the fate of this world, but perhaps all, as it will require you to find the answer to this question. So you start to move, you start to look around, explore, and search. For the soul of each world, for the bearers that lie dreaming within, and your foes that will seek you out. Stay steadfast, for the way out will come, if you make it to the end. The longer you spend in each world, however, the more the shadows look darker, and deeper. Hungrier. The more the spaces seem smaller or compressed. As if there is something gnawing away at the sides, making their way to the heart.

Around the world in ~~60 seconds~~ 12 hours

When you find yourself at the end, when you close your eyes – only a blink, but it hangs, as if the momentary motion is enough to suspend you into a suspended space before. You can see the two options stretched out before you – metaphysically – the impression of it. A long, long shadow cast over one. As if there is a presence hovering over and above, like waiting jaws, ready to strike. In the other, there remains…nothing. It is not pleasant, it is not comforting, it simply… is. A sense that there is now a lack of anything, almost like it had never existed before.

Does this world have value? You can feel the Advocate ask. Do you want to give them a chance to live? Or does should this world cease, is there nothing here to save?

And though you are compelled, required to answer, you know this question for what it is. Short-sighted. Both, in the end, will lead to its destruction, but which will you choose? Will you allow the world to continue, even with that long shadow cast, like a hungry beast with snapping jaws; or will you erase it from existence and spare it that oncoming apocalypse?

Catch [???] Winks

The last world’s fate decided, bearers float in an endless sea of stars. You can see them all, spread before you. Intermittently, they wink out, swallowed into the darkness, consumed as the shadows, that inky-black nothingness grows ever-larger. It looks upon you, bearers. It is nothing, but you have its attention, and your blood runs cold, your limbs frozen. You cannot move, you cannot speak, you cannot breathe. You feel it, the power of being drawn into it, like it wants to consume you. Like it knows you.

T̸̢̼̯͓̬̘́̀̋̆͊h̷͔̣̱̝͍̬̣͕̄̂͗̆͒͌͜ͅẹ̶̱̩̅͒̿̇͠ ̵̭̹͇͖̔̀ṃ̸̢̧͙̟̼̜͌͆̍͝͝ͅo̴̟̞̓̆̇̐̆͊̽͆̂̀r̶͈̺̮̠͙̗͌ę̸̤̻̈́͐͂̓̊͐̂͆ ̵̡̛͎̩̳̤͔͚̱̼̆̒̓y̴̺̞̹̺̝̤͂ǫ̷̡̣̱̥͊̈́̓͑̕͘ű̵̼͜͜ ̶̨̨̝̟̘̱͇̲̻̪̊͂̽̈̒͊f̴̱̐͌̌̓̋̔́̀͝i̶͖̤͎̬̝̦͒̂g̸̳̰̟̀̓̽̈́̐h̸̼͍̮͎̊̅͗͊̈͋̽̀͘t̴͔͚́̓,̷̨̧̱̠̙̠̙̱̒̍̽̾ ̷̖̰̼̬̟͐̊̂t̶̖̄͂̅̃̍͐̊̑̅͜͝h̴̢̛͙̪̞̫̝̺̋̅̿͛̇̚͝͝ͅͅȩ̶͉̤͍̠́̈͑̏͋̚͘͝ ̸̢̨̧͚̖̤̪̬̪̀̉̐͗̂͆͑̚̕̚c̴̠̩̳͎̲̪͔̟̈́͂̉͑́l̶̡̲̻̣̘̏́ͅo̶̢̧͔͈̬̳̰͈̝̻͌̋̆̃͒͗̏͘ş̴̪̺̣̥̎̽̿͗̒́͛̕̚̚e̴̺͍̤͖͂̇͑͂̋͂̆̾r̴̨̩̈́͋͠ ̷̧͚̲̩̖̋͒̉́͗y̶̘̖̝̑̈͊ǒ̵͚̽u̵͎͍̇̀̏̊̕͝ŕ̷͎̜̘͙̀̋ ̶͇̲̝̞̖̝̣̘̝̬͋d̷͔͈͔̀̿õ̴̝̯͇̹̘̏͗͜ö̵͚͓͆m̵͉̦̫̥̦̞̫͐̆͐̿͊͒͌͋͜.̷̼͈̻̥̜̾̏͐̾̐͆͘͜

You gasp, as you startle awake, and open your eyes for the first time in a long time.

CODING

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[There's a brief moment when Jade hears a voice that clearly doesn't belong to one of the Silvergrove villagers she had gotten to know in which she feels the need to protect the Boy. Even when she sees that it's Alice, she can't help but shield him, placing herself between the other woman and the child behind her.]

Yes. He's my...

[Tēmī is what she had called him earlier, but that isn't entirely accurate. She used to say that because the Boy wouldn't have known what the word meant -- "little brother". Wouldn't have gotten his hopes up when she would inevitably have to leave him.

[But then he had started calling her "sister", and it just complicated things more and more, hitting her where it hurt. That's all Silvergrove ever did to Jade. It was both her own personal haven and little hell.]

His name's Rynéus. Though I don't know why folks aren't just saying that here. [Maybe further proof of the wrongness that Jade tries so hard to ignore. But the Boy looks and acts like Rynéus, and talks to her the way he did, so she just accepts it.]

[Alice seems to accept this no sweat. She gives Rynéus a friendly smile, the sort of one she often wore on war relief efforts when her own natural awkwardness kept her from giving real smiles. It's not bad but it's more forced than something natural might be.]

Hello there, Rynéus. I'm Alice.

[Normally she might lean down somewhat on the child's level but with Jade between her and him she thinks better of it. Clearly Jade is being protective so instead she straightens up and gives her a curious look.]

Perhaps they don't want outsiders to know his name unless he wants it known?

[That's what she had assumed. Even if the town felt strange Alice was fine talking the more logical conclusion until she figured out what was precisely going on.]

Edited 2024-03-22 16:47 (UTC)

[What Alice says... actually makes a good deal of sense. The villagers here behave in a way that Rynéus wills it, whether he wants them to or not. If the Stone -- Shard, whatever -- were trying to "protect" itself, would it not do so in a way that would draw less attention to it? Or at least coax people further away?

[As the realization sinks in, Jade glances down at Rynéus, who doesn't seem to regard Alice with the same fear or nervousness as he likely did with some of the other Shard-Bearers. In fact, he's cautious, because Jade had told him to be.]

It's okay. You can trust Alice. She wouldn't hurt you.

[They might not have known each other for very long, but Alice has never given Jade any reason to believe that she would harm a child, even if said child were carrying one of the Shards they're supposed to be looking for.

[As if jinxing that thought, the boy holds out his necklace tucked in his shirt collar -- the same one with a lingering sense of creeping shadows -- and looks up. "Alice... My sister told me there are people who are looking for this. Can you help me hide it?"

[Jade flinches.] Rynéus...

[He looks confused. "What?"

[Okay, maybe he's being a little too trusting for her liking.]

[Oh those creeping shadows. Alice had felt them in the other worlds too and they were much the same every time. She thought back often to Matt's words about creeping, devouring shadows taking over the bodies of others. Rynéus doesn't feel quite like that but that necklace of his definitely makes the hairs on the back of her neck stand up on end.

She glances up to Jade a moment then back down to Rynéus.]

I'll be glad to help the both of you hide it if you like.

[She'd seen Jade's wincing. She might not know the extent of what it meant but --]

It's important to both of you, yes?

[Seeing Alice's reaction, Jade relaxes a bit, though she's still tense now that Rynéus has shown her his Shard. She knew there were other Shard-Bearers who would come looking for it, and especially those that would intend to shatter it, as some would come to shatter the Shards of previous worlds and the worlds to come. It's not the fate she wants for Rynéus, inevitable that it might be.]

If it's what I think it is... then yes. Very important.

[Rynéus frowns as he tucks his necklace into his shirt again. "I think I know a perfect place, but I don't want to go there alone."

[Jade sighs and runs a hand through her bangs.]

Well, if people see all three of us enter someplace by ourselves, they'll definitely know where it is. [She pauses, thinking.] I could try to distract them.

I doubt they would expect a newcomer to go with him.

[She smiles a little Jade's way, expression confident.]

If you can distract them then I promise you I will defend him with my life.

[Despite the slight smile Alice is thoroughly serious. It's not the first time she's promised such to someone else after all.]

Exactly.

[It's a tactic Jade has had to resort to on more than one occasion, being someone who most wouldn't connect to a religious organization that she already so despised. Not her favorite way of doing things, but still. You do what you gotta do sometimes.

[With an appreciative glance towards Alice, Jade stoops down closer to Rynéus and does something she wishes she had the chance to before -- she hugs the boy. He seems surprised by the gesture at first, before returning it with his small arms around the taller woman.]

I'll see you soon, tēmī.

["Yes, of course you will." The child's voice shakes as Jade separates herself, but not without sparing one more final look towards Alice and the boy. Defend him with your life, it practically says.

[When Jade is gone for the time being, Rynéus takes Alice's hand. It's almost instinctive, as expected from a scared child reaching out for comfort when there are people probably looking for him.]

[Alice has never been around many children aside from those in the Capital or the ones during her war relief missions. Her younger brother Arren isn't someone she sees very often for a variety of reasons.

However Alice does know well enough to hold on to a scared child's hand when they reach for her. She directs a soft smile his way before she gives said hand a soft squeeze.]

Now then, why don't you show me just where you've got in mind to hide that necklace?

[If she keeps her hand close to the sword on her hip or her eyes alert and vigilant she tries not to let on to Rynéus.]

[The boy smiles and pulls Alice away from the house, leading them across the bridge and between the sandy buildings.

[The townsfolk remain wandering, their empty expressions smiling, offering the occasional greeting that the boy does not seem to return. Not because he's being rude, but because he knows what they're going to say in return -- because they're made from his wishes.

["Sister already knows where it is, so she'll be able to find us later," he tells Alice as they head in the direction of the old temple surrounded by the waterfall.

[Once again, there's that word -- "sister". Seeing as he and Jade look nothing alike, it's clearly not a relations by blood.]

[Alice thinks nothing much of him calling her "sister" beyond the bond they must have. She doesn't want to pry exactly but she's always interested in people's connections to one another if for no other reason than to understand them.]

That's good then. Don't worry, I'll stick by you until she comes back.

[She gives his hand a little squeeze of reassurance before she adds:]

I have sisters too. Two of them -- and a little brother as well.

[The boy's green eyes seem to light up when Alice mentions her brother and sisters. "Do you really? I always wanted siblings myself, and I never thought I would ever have any -- until my sister came to Silvergrove looking for treasure."

[Said "treasure" being the stone in his necklace that the boy now wears. Though instead of the black pearl that Jade had been seeking at the time, it now bears the World Shard. He touches it in his other hand as Alice squeezes his other.

[And then his expression becomes crestfallen, as he reluctantly asks:

["What... What is your family like? Do they love you as well?"

[Ouch.]

Very much. Just like your sister loves you as well.

[Alice says that with so much confidence it's clear she believes what she says. Maybe Jade had looked at the boy with some sorrow and pity mixed in there but Alice has often found love went hand in hand with those emotions.]

So we have that in common, don't we.

[There's a sobering moment in which the boy's expression becomes somber -- just a flicker that there's something more to him than a mere carefree child from a simple village.

[But then he is quick to put the mask back on, as if not wanting to disappoint or trouble his new friend, and he nods in agreement.

[Soon, he's leading them past the watermill, towards an old ruin built inside of a picturesque waterfall.

["Okay. It'll be really splashy here, but this key will help open the door." As he speaks, he retrieves said key from his pocket and offers it to Alice with his free hand.

[They'll have to climb some watery stairs, and there's no way they'll be able to avoid getting a little drenched by the time they reach the entrance. But the cool water is refreshing in the jungle heat and humidity.]

Edited 2024-04-05 02:58 (UTC)

[At times Alice isn't the swiftest at picking up on deceit. Goodness knew she never recognized it in her own fiance but one could pin that on her rarely ever seeing the man himself. Still the mask is down and back so quick she barely notes the somber expression for long.

Alice herself doesn't mind getting drenched but she does give the boy a little look of concern.]

I assume you don't mind the water but would you prefer if I carry you on my back or anything like that?

[Probably not. That was probably a dumb offer but -- she looks down to the key in her hand a moment with flustered cheeks. This boy isn't her much younger brother's age after all.]

Mm, never mind. Let's try to be careful though.

[She'll lead him on, the humidity making her shirt stick to her skin. Once they reach the entrance though she's honestly grateful for the way her lower half is more or less drenched.

She just hopes the door really will open and not be stuck by humidity or some such.]

[Whatever deceit the boy is capable of, it doesn't seem to be malice. It never was. Even Jade had picked up on that, even when she had started to question the nature of Silvergrove the first time -- had asked about the headaches, the barred gate, the unending sunset. The fact that she was promised she could be "free to leave tomorrow" when tomorrow would never come after hours turned into days, then into weeks.

[And yet despite its unsettling existence, the Silvergrove as it appears now is like a gentle dream, free from the scathing remarks and the hateful looks that would otherwise see the child as nothing more than an evil monster.

[For a brief moment, when Alice mentions carrying him, the boy's eyes light up and his fingers tighten around hers. He had told Jade how his daddy would do something similar for him, even before he... changed, so there's a hint of disappointment when Alice backtracks and starts to lead him on their feet instead.

["It's okay if you don't want to. I wouldn't want to make things harder for you to get there or anything. I mean, it's not that far of a walk, anyway."

[When all else fails - use guilt trip. Once again, the intent seems to be less malicious and more childish manipulation to get something he wants.]

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THE ADVOCATE ORACLE - A RIP VAN WINKLE IN TIME

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