Vigil

Herein lies the various threads in which our characters live out their lives
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Re: Vigil

Post by bc56 »

Courtyard: D&D
"She is! Mostly to study diplomacy, good governance, and, uh, other things she'll need to take the throne someday," Along with a healthy load of general education classes and some magic. Sekhmet never got a proper education and in a way, she's living out that desire through Mary.
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Re: Vigil

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Morty wrote: Apr 24, 2023 11:17 pm [Courtyard - Swordsmen]

"Hmm. Yes, I've seen power go to people's heads with depressing frequency here," Wenomir agrees. "The intersection of those who gain power and those who are ready for it is smaller than I'd like. When I was given power, it was without my consent. So I can understand this perspective. It's ironic. I broke laws to become a warrior, but then I was made stronger against my own will..." He shakes his head. "I might be getting philosophical again."
"It happens", Hoshiki says, resisting the urge to give Wenomir a brotherly pat on the back. "Out of curiosity, what law did you break?"
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Re: Vigil

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Zefir wrote: Apr 24, 2023 6:44 am [Courtyard]

"Nice to meet you Witch Awen." she says with a friendly smile offering a hand to shake.
"I am Vutha, Vutha Isk. I'm the accompaniment of master Arkant." He's over there. She points at a tall man in a grey suit who seems to be intressed in Sekhmet and Ambrosia . "He funds Vigil. "
She makes a short pause as if expectin questions, but from her actions so far Awen might be to nervouse to come up with something so she continiues.
"May I ask what you do here? In Vigil I mean not at this festival."

[Courtyard]

Awen bites her lip, looks down at the offered hand, and then shakes it.

She looks over in the direction Vultha points at, at Arkant. She nods, and doesn't really have any questions. She does relax, a little, even! Knowing that Vultha isn't one of the rich famous people but instead just is accompanying one makes her feel more comfortable.

"Oh, I'm a combat specialist," Awen says. Judging by her appearance and the fact that she's a witch, it's pretty obvious that she's a magic combat person. The witch shakes her head: "I'm obviously not the best or the strongest, but I can fly, which has been really helpful, and I'm fairly decent at countering other magic-users and dream maladies, and doing crowd control, and mind con..."
Awen suddenly cuts herself off, before she can finish saying 'mind control'.
She bites her lip even harder.
Awen had been sticking to herself for long enough that she had nearly forgotten how much other people hate mind control. In fact, she glances around, remembering how certain people at Vigil told her how unquestionably evil mind control is.
...
...
Whew, they don't seem to be here.

The witch shakes her head, and abruptly changes the subject. "So what sort of things does your master Arkant do?"
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Re: Vigil

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[Courtyard - Swordsmen]

Wenomir's mouth curls in a stiff not-quite-smile. There's years-long resentment behind it, that never quite wears off with the passage of time.

"The law that states no one of my birth is allowed to bear weapons or train in the arts of war. I had my sights on breaking it since I was quite young. I succeeded, obviously."
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Re: Vigil

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[In Search of Distraction]

Wenomir crosses the distance between him and Stasia slower than he could, since otherwise he could worsen her panic. He puts a calloused hand on her shoulder.

"Anastasia. Breathe. Whatever happened, you're safe here."
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Re: Vigil

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Arkhosia wrote: Apr 25, 2023 12:19 am [In Search of Distraction]

At the very mention of trauma, Stasia's eyes go wide like saucers, her next breath strangling in her chest. "No! Please - l-let me do drills, give me exercises, I - I just -" Anything to keep her from thinking about everything that happened last night. The very thought of having it ripped away from her stirs nearly as much of a rigid panic as the event itself, tail bristling like she's ready to bolt.

The sudden and panicked flare from Stasia is enough for Ana to jolt in alarm. She drops her sword and springs to her mirror's side. "Stasia - it's okay - you're okay, you're doing alright." One hand moves to rub little circles on the girl's back in an attempt to help pull her out of the terror. She doesn't seem very confident, though - and clearly has her own concerns if a subtle glance back is any indication. The last thing either of them want right now is to make Eliseo worry even more.
Morty wrote: Apr 25, 2023 6:08 pm [In Search of Distraction]

Wenomir crosses the distance between him and Stasia slower than he could, since otherwise he could worsen her panic. He puts a calloused hand on her shoulder.

"Anastasia. Breathe. Whatever happened, you're safe here."
[In Search of Distraction]

Good luck with not making Eliseo worry. When Ana looks back he's already approaching. He stops a few steps away, hovering uncertainly. Two Ana's already messed with his instincts admittedly, but he also doesn't want to interrupt Wenomir. "I'm right here if you need me." He offers, feeling lame. Isn't there more he can do?
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Re: Vigil

Post by Arkhosia »

[In Search of Distraction]

There's a brief flinch at first when the touch comes, but the alarm in Stasia's eyes abates just as quickly when she snaps up to see Wenomir's face. Slowly but surely, her breathing slows, glancing from Ana to Wenomir with a shaky nod. "I-I... I-" A deep, shaky breath. "O-okay. I-I'm - I'm okay." She's not, at least not just yet. But the comforting obviously helps.

Gently, Ana reaches down to soothe Stasia's grip around the sword, easing it from her grasp. She looks back towards Eliseo with a touch of nervousness and does a sort of quiet nod from him to Stasia. A cue to come in and guide her away where she can better decompress, perhaps?
"Are we living a life that is safe from harm? Of course not, we never are. But that's not the right question. The question is: are we living a life that is worth the harm?"
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Re: Vigil

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[In Search of Distraction]

Geneva doesn't pry.

It would be unethical, intrusive, and not to mention rude. Most of the people she's around on a regular basis are D-Class manifesters at most. VIGIL did, in the past, have at least one other member with notable psychic acuity but that was a long time ago at this point. If Geneva wanted to pry, there would be very little to stop her.

But again.

She doesn't.

Because that would be rude.

But it doesn't take any prying to notice that.

Strong emotions are like signal fires.

Strong negative emotions, especially.

And given that she happened to be nearby at the time she felt... not compelled. Not quite. There's a certain intuition, there. A sixth sense, you might call it. An understanding that, perhaps, she might be able to help.

A human woman in her late twenties peeks into the training room, her notably pink hair standing out rather in stark contrast to her otherwise reserved appearance. She recognizes the commander right away. The twin fox-tailed girls and the boy she doesn't. Another one of Commander Wenomir's students? Likely. She can hardly keep track of all of them.

"Is everything alright, Commander?" VIGIL's resident teleportation expert inquires, empathy heavy in her tone. That sort of relived horror is something she's well acquainted with. An old 'friend' who won't ever go away.
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Re: Vigil

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Courtyard - Magtok & Co.

Jezebel, being polite as she is and not entirely self-serving, will move to pull the chairs out for both Magtok and his main squeeze before taking a seat of her own. The husky is given a polite salute of her glass as he departs, but she won't shoo him away if he somehow decides to eavesdrop in on the conversation regardless. Apart from the entire...demon image going on with her(and an entirely different one than before to boot), the pair are likely to notice a couple changes with her. The first is that she's seemingly far less on guard than she used to be. She's either mellowed, gotten even more confident in her abilities, or simply finds nothing around to be threatening. There's another possibility of course, but she wouldn't ever kiss and tell.

The second is a particularly ugly scar on her sternum, one she doesn't bother to hide even with her ability to shapeshift. The invasion of Riverside had left a horrid mark on her, but one she seemed to wear with pride. The fact that it was eye-catching was merely a bonus. There was a smaller one on her back, to the side of her spine, showing that she'd been impaled quite handily by something. She had the wealth and resources to get the scars taken care of if she chose, much less the presumed magic, but it wasn't something she was likely to do even before now. Let people stare.

"Older or not Caelynn, you do look perfectly wonderful, and the two of you certainly seem quite happy." She says, sincere with a smile. "A lot may have changed, but more things than ever seem to stay the same as well. Including public opinions on vampires the last I knew, so I would be careful about springing upright in a coffin, Magtok. You're liable to get someone near by jumpy with a stake and mallet ready to shove it into a heart. It would leave such a mess." She jokes with a feigned expression of disgust. "And that's if you don't cause a little old lady to keel over from a heart attack."

"Joking aside, we should meet up more like this. Preferably somewhere less socially formal."
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Re: Vigil

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Morty wrote: Apr 25, 2023 5:43 pm [Courtyard - Swordsmen]

Wenomir's mouth curls in a stiff not-quite-smile. There's years-long resentment behind it, that never quite wears off with the passage of time.

"The law that states no one of my birth is allowed to bear weapons or train in the arts of war. I had my sights on breaking it since I was quite young. I succeeded, obviously."
Hoshiki nods. He's not surprised by existence of such laws. "I see. I take it you were a commoner, then? In my country of origin as well, the feudal government saw fit to control who could possess what from time to time. I had no rights by birth either, but I was lucky enough to be accepted into military service."
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Re: Vigil

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[In Search of Distraction]

Wenomir steps away from Stasia, letting Eliseo take it from here. At least Anastasia has a supportive boyfriend in him, it seems. He's not sure what to do himself. Asking just what happened wouldn't help matters and besides, he doesn't know his student that well yet. He doesn't want to impose himself.

His ruminations are interrupted by Geneva. Who is currently in her human form.

"One of my students is... having some difficulties. And she's currently two people," he adds, since that would be a likely next question.

[Courtyard - Swordsmen]

"A serf in a long line of serfs, yes." Wenomir sounds actually proud of this. This is clearly a major facet of his worldview. "Those who have power will always try to keep it away from the hands of those who don't. It seems that your rulers took on a different approach. The upper castes of my homeland were reluctant to let serfs fight, unless the need was dire."
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Re: Vigil

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[In Search of Distraction]

Eliseo slips in with little hesitation. He puts an arm around Stasia's shoulders and pulls her into his body. "Hey, it's okay." He says in a low, soothing voice, barely audible to anyone else. His attention is slightly drawn by Geneva when she arrives, but he keeps his primary focus on Stasia right now.
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Re: Vigil

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Thursday Violist wrote: Apr 25, 2023 5:13 pm [Courtyard]

Awen bites her lip, looks down at the offered hand, and then shakes it.

She looks over in the direction Vultha points at, at Arkant. She nods, and doesn't really have any questions. She does relax, a little, even! Knowing that Vultha isn't one of the rich famous people but instead just is accompanying one makes her feel more comfortable.

"Oh, I'm a combat specialist," Awen says. Judging by her appearance and the fact that she's a witch, it's pretty obvious that she's a magic combat person. The witch shakes her head: "I'm obviously not the best or the strongest, but I can fly, which has been really helpful, and I'm fairly decent at countering other magic-users and dream maladies, and doing crowd control, and mind con..."
Awen suddenly cuts herself off, before she can finish saying 'mind control'.
She bites her lip even harder.
Awen had been sticking to herself for long enough that she had nearly forgotten how much other people hate mind control. In fact, she glances around, remembering how certain people at Vigil told her how unquestionably evil mind control is.
...
...
Whew, they don't seem to be here.

The witch shakes her head, and abruptly changes the subject. "So what sort of things does your master Arkant do?"
[Courtyard]

Poor Awen. She doesn't know how close she is to mind control. Vutha would be one of the few people around here not mad at that fact, which might at some point be extremly strange. A discussion about it should be fine but Vutha wouldn't say any criticism. Anyway, Vutha doesn't seem to react either. No shocked impression, no wary looks. Maybe she just didn't get it at all.

"He runs a company in Skyside were he let's freed slaves work to have a stady income. He also runs a cosmetic surgery, but the business with the Arkant Cooperation is consuming to much time so it became a side job he attends to once a week at best."
The dragon lady says .
"But shoiuldn't you be by the investors? You are one of the forces here so it's likly part of the funds are invested in you."
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Re: Vigil

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[Courtyard - Swordsman]

"Not all that different", Hoshiki admits, "just... appreciative of the fact that mere accident of birth or death was not enough to guarantee a person had necessary qualities to be a warrior. During my service, I saw opinions sway from side to side on that matter. Need certainly played a part in it. Sadly, often it was war that opened the gates, and peace that closed them."
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Re: Vigil

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Gullara wrote: Apr 28, 2023 3:50 am [In Search of Distraction]

Eliseo slips in with little hesitation. He puts an arm around Stasia's shoulders and pulls her into his body. "Hey, it's okay." He says in a low, soothing voice, barely audible to anyone else. His attention is slightly drawn by Geneva when she arrives, but he keeps his primary focus on Stasia right now.
[In Search of Distraction]

With Eliseo's arm around her Stasia is all too happy to slump against him, the whole rigidity of her frame bowing out in one single exhale. She turns to press her face into his chest and closes her eyes. Arms wrap around him in a tight hug and she stands there, taking in deep and shuddery breaths, as if focusing on him is all she needs to banish the jitters plaguing her nerves.

As that goes on Ana is left to stand beside them awkwardly. She cradles the sheathed sword in her arms and bites her lip, her eyes flitting from Stasia and Eliseo to watch Geneva and Wenomir converse from afar. The way she regards the newcomer is something more guarded than she usually would, a bit of a nervous wariness - though if glanced at, she will offer a wan glimmer of a smile.

And a glance or two might just be what Geneva needs to better understand the situation between the two foxgirls. Beyond their features being every single bit identical, she'll be able to sense some vague empathic link between them... and maybe even the very nature of them being two parts of the same whole, pried apart and yet still tenuously bound.
"Are we living a life that is safe from harm? Of course not, we never are. But that's not the right question. The question is: are we living a life that is worth the harm?"
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Re: Vigil

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bc56 wrote: Apr 25, 2023 11:28 am Courtyard: D&D
"She is! Mostly to study diplomacy, good governance, and, uh, other things she'll need to take the throne someday," Along with a healthy load of general education classes and some magic. Sekhmet never got a proper education and in a way, she's living out that desire through Mary.
Courtyard: D&D

"Sounds about what I expect from upcoming royalty." Ambrosia observes with a nod. "Aren't you concerned about pressing her so hard at such an early age though? Since those can be some pretty mentally exhausting subjects. Diplomacy and governance are subjects I haven't even touched yet and I'm considered highly educated by my worlds standards."
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Re: Vigil

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[In Search of Distraction]

Eye contact, briefly.

A brief whisper of a smile.

There's wariness here. The sort of wariness born of being uncomfortable around people unknown. Geneva responds in kind. Not just with a smile, though. Everyone has some degree of psychic acuity. Alright, well, not everyone. The Nexus has an uncanny ability to buck expectations. But most people. And for most people that manifests as their presence in any sort of social interaction.

Some people just feel unpleasant, sometimes before they've even said anything. Some people feel like a vague shape in the background. Some people feel like the rightful center of attention. And some people just feel trustworthy.

Geneva has more control over the presence she shows to the world than most and that skill is oft helpful when making first impressions. The woman smiles back to Ana and just feels like a very safe person to be around. Nothing intrusive. Nothing insidious. Merely the vibe she shows to others.

The empathic link is difficult to miss. It isn't unusual for something like that to develop between twins, especially identical twins, but this feels less tenuous. Wenomir's comment confirms it. Split by some sort of magical mishap? A transporter accident? A wily trickster prank? All possible explanations, considering the whimsical trouble the Nexus seems bent on plunging people into.

Taking another step into the room, Geneva speaks again. "Ah. That must have been traumatic. I can see you've been through quite a bit of emotional turmoil recently."

She offers a nod. "I'm Geneva Richards. An engineer here at VIGIL and resident esper. I have... a bit of experience with the problems your dealing with, miss. If you're feeling up to it I can offer some techniques for dealing with panic."

Geneva squints slightly. "And... I think I might actually be able to help with the 'two people' problem. There's still a psychic tether binding both of you together; it isn't terribly dissimilar from a manifestation I'm familiar with that induces a similar state intentionally."
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Re: Vigil

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bc56 wrote: Apr 22, 2023 1:21 pm Courtyard: D&D
"I love my daughter. And my son, although he's, uh, just a baby, not anywhere near old enough to rule," she takes a deep breath, "I wouldn't want to pass this burden on to them before I have to. Being a queen of demons is not an enjoyable position." Maybe it would be for someone more corrupt. But not for Sekhmet. "I'd rather not talk about it." She mentioned her two kids though. That's probably a better conversation.

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"I tell story now," Kothar responds and goes back to his tale. He's not sure what that diversion was about, but it didn't seem important.
[Lizard, Worm, Birdseye View]

Khafir simply nods and stares, occasionally checking her punch glass for signs that her companion wants to move on. The story neither fascinates nor bores her, so she doesn't really have any particular compulsion to see it to its end or walk away on her own.
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Re: Vigil

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[Lizard, Worm, Birdseye View]

Khafir ends up waiting for a long time - possibly, even long enough for Kothar to finish his tale! The reason is simple: though the entity lives in her brain, it does not have full idea of how her neural implants affect her reactions compared to human baseline. Khafir, then, is as much under study as Kothar and all the other people around her.

Eventually, the entity signals it's had enough. "Feel free to find someone else to talk to", it signs, then adding: "It would be convenient if I could exist outside your head and do so myself." An off-hand mention of desire. Almost innocent. Just a little nudge for her to do what she already wants to do out of her own volition...
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Re: Vigil

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Courtyard: D&D
"Maybe," Sekhmet concedes, "But she needs to be ready in case something happens to me." She smiles. "Besides, she's a, uh, really bright kid. She can handle it." Mary's curriculum currently doesn't include diplomacy, and only a couple limited governance courses. As she progresses, she will learn more.
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Re: Vigil

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Zefir wrote: Apr 28, 2023 7:14 am [Courtyard]

Poor Awen. She doesn't know how close she is to mind control. Vutha would be one of the few people around here not mad at that fact, which might at some point be extremly strange. A discussion about it should be fine but Vutha wouldn't say any criticism. Anyway, Vutha doesn't seem to react either. No shocked impression, no wary looks. Maybe she just didn't get it at all.

"He runs a company in Skyside were he let's freed slaves work to have a stady income. He also runs a cosmetic surgery, but the business with the Arkant Cooperation is consuming to much time so it became a side job he attends to once a week at best."
The dragon lady says .
"But shoiuldn't you be by the investors? You are one of the forces here so it's likly part of the funds are invested in you."
[Courtyard]

Awen nods: "Ah, that sounds pretty nice," she says. "I've never been to Skyside, but that does seem to be a problem. Glad he's doing something about it," she says.

She looks over at some of the investors.
"Well, I...I...I just got here, sort-of. I mean, I've been doing some behind the scenes things at this party, but I just barely came out."

The witch exhales. "Besides, I'm sure they'd much prefer to talk with the leaders or the other higher-ups."
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Re: Vigil

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bc56 wrote: Apr 28, 2023 10:22 pm Courtyard: D&D
"Maybe," Sekhmet concedes, "But she needs to be ready in case something happens to me." She smiles. "Besides, she's a, uh, really bright kid. She can handle it." Mary's curriculum currently doesn't include diplomacy, and only a couple limited governance courses. As she progresses, she will learn more.
Courtyard: D&D

"That I don't doubt. She looks like a brilliant kid." Ambrosia nods again. "Though its something that always concerned me while raising my own child. While I want to give him as much chance to succede in the future as possible I also want him to have to spend his teenage years just preparing to be an adult. It does look like she's getting into those years when parents just seem to be in their way for doing whatever they want to do. But perhaps Mary is an exception?"
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Re: Vigil

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[Courtyard - Swordsman]

"It does seem like our life experiences are remarkably similar. Funny how this can work." Wenomir smiles, the grim seriousness of his face breaking a little. "What do you mean by circumstances of death, though?"

[In Search of Distraction]

"Geneva is an expert in her field and knows a fair bit about the odder things that can happen around here," Wenomir supplies. "I do believe she can likely help you, if you're willing."
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Re: Vigil

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Courtyard: D&D
"For, uh, royalty, learning to govern is part of learning to be an adult." Sekhmet definitely doesn't seem too sure of that. She's still quite new to this royalty thing. "She, uh, is a little rebellious, but what kid isn't? At least she directs it constructively. Uh, most of the time."
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Re: Vigil

Post by Arkhosia »

► SHOW SPOILER
[Courtyard - Magtok and Co]

Caelynn shakes her head at Magtok's continued plotting, though the curve of her lips suggests she's anything but nominally disapproving. Chances are he'd still be devising these crazy machinations even when they're both old and grey, and who would she be to deny that? Especially when he always seems the most alive and passionate developing his hairbrained schemes. She'll just have to stay by his side and make sure no one gets hurt from a misplaced screw or poorly calibrated manipulator.

At Jezebel's remark, Caelynn can't help but burst into laughter. "Yes, please don't give me a heart attack! I'd be very upset!" It's emphasized with a soft, playful elbow to Magtok's side and a matching look. "And thank you! I certainly can't complain about hearing that nowadays - and you look wonderful yourself! Pull off that dress far better than I could, at least." A bit of an understatement, honestly. She doubted she had the skintone for all that golden jewelry.

[The Battered Shield]

"...Er, right." There's a sense of hesitation. A couple thoughts she wasn't confident about broaching here. And she never really knew how to end these calls, honestly. Should she offer to meet up again sometime? "Well - thanks, I'll talk to you later then."
"Are we living a life that is safe from harm? Of course not, we never are. But that's not the right question. The question is: are we living a life that is worth the harm?"
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Re: Vigil

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[Courtyard - Swordsman]

Wenomir's question gives Hoshiki a pause. What did he mean by that? For a second, his mind flashes back to when he was but an apprentice. He remembers his teacher lecturing him: "These are the laws all Reapers must abide..." But the laws themselves elude his memory.

Then his mind flashes to the tense discussion he had in the tavern with the living cartoon and that no good thief. The new gives context back to the old and the answer comes back to him, whispered into his ears by voice of his long-gone teacher.

"... the skills of my kind were not meant to be taught to a human who was still alive", he answers Wenomir, "it wasn't always so and I don't know if it still is, but that is what the law was at a point."
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Re: Vigil

Post by Arkhosia »

[In Search of Distraction]

There’s a flicker of nervous alarm in Ana’s eyes when Geneva correctly recognizes that she’s gone through something recently. An anxiety of just how much Geneva knows at a glance, and just how much she might deduce. Even so, she nods. ”Um - I know a few techniques already, but I think we’d be down to have someone put us back together.”

In the background, Stasia looks up from the hug, swallowing and regarding Geneva over a shoulder. “Y-yeah,” she agrees, ”Being stuck like this has been, um - weird.” Not to mention complicated.
"Are we living a life that is safe from harm? Of course not, we never are. But that's not the right question. The question is: are we living a life that is worth the harm?"
~Welcome to Night Vale
SliiArhem wrote:Arkh I may be slightly delirious but I don't think that would make sense even if I was coherent.
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Gullara
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Re: Vigil

Post by Gullara »

[In Search of Distraction]

"Hey, that's great." Eliseo smiles at his duplicate girlfriend. "Not that I'm not looking for more Ana in my life, of course." He teases lightly, hoping to inject a little levity into the moment.
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Rebonack
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Re: Vigil

Post by Rebonack »

[In Search of Distraction]

Ah, there it is.

There's always some degree of anxiety when a person realizes what is is Geneva can do. Is she reading my mind right now? Does she know my dark secrets? Thankfully that's a reaction she also has quite a bit of experience assuaging.

"I would be happy to help," Geneva says pleasantly. "And to set your mind at ease, I don't go reading where I'm not invited. That would be a breach of privacy and trust I'm wholly unwilling to violate. I was able to feel your distress, and I can see how heavily it's weighing on you as anyone with eyes and a heart could. But I don't know any of the specifics of your trauma, nor will I. Unless you wanted to share that with me."

Setting firm boundaries is always an important place to start.

She comes closer now, approaching the 'twins'.

"Your mannerisms are a little different. This doesn't seem like it was a clean psychic break; if it where then you would be identical. Different aspects of your common personality weigh more heavily on one or the other," Geneva says, still operating purely off simple observation. "Would you allow me to examine the empathic link between you two in a little more detail? That should help me diagnose how simple or difficult this psychic chirurgery will be."

Geneva holds our her hands to the pair of teens, offering both to take one.
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Reinholdt
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Re: Vigil

Post by Reinholdt »

[The Battered Shield]

"Just keep an eye on him, that's all. No wait... don't. His rugged handsomeness might deceive you. Anyways, yeah. Talk to you later sweetie! Have a great day!" Reinholdt already said he loved her the last time he tried to end the call, it would feel really forced to weave it in a second time, right? Or wait, was Blanche specifically judging him on whether he meant it for real? Should he say it again just to-
Click.
Oh. Arrrgh! Why are phone calls so difficult to end?! Ah well, it went alright for the most part. Unless he failed the secret test...
► SHOW SPOILER
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