MARCH TDM + SETTING UPDATES

[beleos]

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.

TWO CITIES, ALIKE IN DIGNITY

With the new Shard-Bearers present or en route, it is Kathova and Cetina that approach the established ones, requesting that they form mentorships with the new souls to assist them with the integration process. To this end, they have both provided a centralized zone in both Highstorm and Springstar for a small, casual meet-and-greet to be held before the new Shard-Bearers are unleashed upon Kenos as a whole.

Additionally, as Springstar and Highstorm are holding their events on different days, it is possible for the knowledge-hungry to participate in both informational sessions -- the tones and opinions held by both cities are doubtless to differ, and some Shard-Bearers who have chosen to harmonize with either faction may even find their way to the opposing faction's session as well.

SPRINGSTAR, αιώνιος ήλιος

In Springstar, the seat of the Tribune becomes available for such a forum. While a section of the building itself has been reserved for the meeting between fresh faces and experienced Shard-Bearers alike, the hustle and bustle of Heliopolis continues around them -- acolytes still gather their robes and tomes, hurrying from their quarters to lessons. A score of young militants march in step across the yard to the training grounds.

Tables draped in white-and-gold-trimmed fabrics fare filled with fare typical to Springstar's warmer climate -- fruits and wines, savory smoked meats and roasted vegetables, a series of meze platters and souvlaki skewers have been lain out to encourage forum participants to snack as they speak. The atmosphere is light, ambient with informality and friendliness, though topics will inevitably stray towards philosophic, Springstar's meeting grounds are decorated with handsome chaise lounges and slouching klismos chairs in small, intimate groupings.

However, those who have attended the forum in the past or simply have a sharp eye may notice: food doesn’t flow as freely in a feast-like setting as before. It’s more subdued in presentation and portion because as you may hear, the Blight (see below) is an affliction that’s been affecting the food stores of Springstar and Highstorm both. The Meri are nervous about this and blame it on the Zenites since they had won the Oracle on the Scorching Isles (January's event) and with it, punished the Meridian, even if unintentionally. As such, those who are notable Zenites or who wear their allegiance openly may not be treated as kindly. The military also seems to be more present at the forum. These two things are related, as it turns out, because only a few days after the new Shard-Bearers arrive, an invasion will begin.

HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы

Eternally in opposition, Highstorm provides the Manor's courtyard as the setting for their informational meeting. Formality is of utmost importance here, with attending Zenith loyalists and residents dressed in beautiful, albeit austere attire -- they are, after all, standing before Lady Yima's home. A buffet-style luncheon is spread alongside one of the largest reflecting pools, wherein you may gaze and find your memories revealed in retrospect upon the water's surface.

There are few places to be seated in the Manor's courtyard, resulting in a milling of bodies as they flow and ebb between smaller gatherings, clustering in small-to-large groups with small platters and shimmering flutes of drink held in their hands.

The mood of Highstorm is subdued as always, but still seems to be pleasant and joyous thanks to claiming the Oracle in the Scorching Isles. The Blight may be affecting the city and causing plants and the like to die, but there’s admittedly not much of it to be seen with Highstorm’s harsh winters. Maybe they’re not hit as badly as Springstar, or maybe they just haven’t noticed yet. Only time will tell. But regardless, notable Meri or those that wear their allegiance more openly will be treated politely, but perhaps with a little condescension. Highstorm is one step closer to winning than Springstar, after all.

para bellum (the occupation of alenroux)

A few days after new Shard-Bearers arrive, the word spreads quickly as the campaign begins: Meridian is invading Alenroux.

To those who have Harmonized with Meridian, they’ll be contacted by Cyrus through Communion 48 hours before the invasion begins. As he explains, Springstar is a city that depends on Alenroux far more than Highstorm (because of its much larger population), and with Alenroux currently under Zenite control, it’s imperative that they make sure that Zenith isn’t able to cut off access and cause a famine for Springstar. Zenith won’t be denied access to Alenroux or its bounty either, he makes that clear. This is just a matter of being proactive in their defense to protect their people. For the Meridian, their goals in supporting this effort are clear:

• Create secure outposts. Well-built, defensible outposts are needed, so anyone who can assist with building efforts, and quickly are appreciated.
• Defend the outposts and the Meri soldiers at large. Alenroux is still dangerous because of the monsters, and soldiers will be staying overnight. Fighting off monsters is something that will also eventually make Alenroux inhabitable.
• Prevent Zenith interference. Highstorm surely won’t be happy about this, so make sure that the soldiers and the outposts are protected from Zenites just as much as from the monsters that roam the lands.

And indeed, the invasion and occupation does come as a surprise to Highstorm. While they had noted the increased training of Springstar’s military, it was assumed to be in preparation for the intensified tensions of losing the first Oracle, not something as bold as an open act of war like this.

It takes some time for Yima to learn more about the events herself, but Zenith will also be contacted through Communion. With the air of a disappointed mother, she’ll explain that Meridian’s choice is regrettable since she thought they would be better than this. Yima explains that there’s no need to turn Alenroux into an open warzone and cut off both cities from their breadbasket. Instead, she lays out the following direction to gently break Meridian’s spirit first before turning to open hostilities:

• Collect information. Where are the outposts, how many soldiers are assigned to them, and what are their general movements. Scouting and spying will be valuable. Learning more about the Meri Shard-Bearers’ capabilities while they’re fighting creatures rather than Zenites is also useful.
• Create dissent. The people that work and visit Alenroux regularly have mixed feelings about the occupation unless they’re Meridian loyalists. Making the campaign unpopular with the people can push Meridian back without needing to raise a finger.
• Sabotage. But don’t get caught doing it, at least for now. Whether breaking defenses or leading more powerful monsters to the encampments, it’s best to break morale before needing to fight back openly.

If you’re unharmonized when all of this begins, then you’ll be finding out about it with the general populace. However, it’s a good opportunity to learn what a faction is about in a more hands-on way. Though you may not be privy to their private, factional discussions, both sides will still welcome the help of those still yet to decide.

SETTING UPDATES

In both locations, information passes between all in a forum, spread and disseminated among the masses - it's a good opportunity for city residents, faction loyalists and interested new parties to share and share alike. Once the meet-and-greet has concluded, twin missives from both faction leads are read out -- invitations for all present to explore the cities to their heart's content, and warnings about stumbling ill-prepared ( or at all ) into the Below, or worse yet, the Beyond. As Shard-Bearers new and old take in their cities, they'll all see it change throughout the month...

OOC, these are all updates to the setting at large that players both new and old are free to interact with as little or as much as they wish! Feel free to use them as prompts on this post, in your characters on-going lives and arcs, or just let them go "that's none of my business" and ignore it. The world of Kenos is shaped by our playerbase, and these are some of the wider reaching effects of various player plots and actions.

THE BLIGHT

During the events of the Scorching Isles, Shard-Bearers encountered an affliction upon the island and unintentionally brought it back to Highstorm and Springstar with them. Known simply as “the Blight,” this condition steals time from the things it infects. It most frequently infects inanimate objects and will cause them to rot or degrade rapidly (such as a piece of metal rusting within hours) but is able to infect living things as well. Most notably, the Blight is infecting plants and animals in the two cities. Plants both decorative and necessary will wither and die, and small animals grow sick and die seemingly of old age. This has been seen in small amounts throughout the past month OOC but is greatly increased in frequency in March and beyond.

FURTHER DETAILS

• Within the NPC populace, there’s a low-grade fear of the Blight intensifying and being able to infect larger animals/the people. There’s no evidence of this yet, but Shard-Bearers that were on the Scorching Isles will know this is possible.
• Some characters will be aware that the rare, blue flowers that grow in the barren portions of World’s End (February’s event location) seem to reduce the effects of the detrimental effects of the Oracle and the Blight. Because of some drops of characters that knew this information, you can assume that characters are able to learn this information if they’re interested enough to dig into it.
• Dr. Julia Melnik of Springstar is openly researching cures for the Blight and will recruit anyone interested to be research assistants to test formulations of cures on afflicted plants/creatures. You can handwave these interactions and use them for prompt(s), if you’d like!
• Finally, if curing the Blight is something your character would specifically be interested in, please note it in your Character Survey so that the Loremasters will be able to help you pursue this organically.

THE OCCUPATION OF ALENROUX

As mentioned above, Meridian has launched a surprise invasion and occupation of Alenroux. Because Meridian was able to successfully keep their efforts a secret throughout the months (!) they’ve been planning this, Zenith will not be able to repel their advances… Immediately, at least. After roughly a week OOC from this log’s posting, the Meridian outposts in Alenroux will be stable and will change the island in the following ways:

FURTHER DETAILS

• Outposts have been established in well-chosen, defensible locations throughout the island of Alenroux. They’re clustered more heavily closer to the Cornerstone and are non-existent in the more dangerous Northern portion of the island where little farming is done anyways.
• Meridian soldiers will be always staying in the camps and outposts. For now, they’re a more supervisory force that are protecting the farmlands of Alenroux. During the day cycle, the military will respond with hostility to anyone that threatens the farms. If your character would antagonize or outright fight Meridian military, please contact a Loremaster, since this will have repercussions! Otherwise, the soldiers will assist workers and visitors to Alenroux in a professional manner.
• During the night cycle, the military will defend their outposts from monsters and make occasional offensive excursions to reduce the threat of monsters. The secondary goal of the Meridian military is also to make Alenroux a place that people can live, though this is a longer term effort.
• Meridian Shard-Bearers will be strongly encouraged to assist with the effort. “Assist” is purposefully defined broadly so that characters can help in whatever way suits them. Scouting, building, monster killing, or just morale improving are all valid ways that will gain favor with their faction and may lead to further opportunity. For now, abstaining will not have consequences, but may in the future.
• Zenith Shard-Bearers will be treated with suspicion in Alenroux and are not allowed to approach any of the Meridian outposts, or at least not without triggering a fight. The military will not outright attack Zenites (unless provoked) and essentially encouraged to move along. However, they may wish to gather information about the outposts and Meridian forces to attempt to push back against the occupation.
• Unharmonized Shard-Bearers are not treated with hostility, but similar to Zeniths will not be allowed to enter any of the encampments.
• If your character has an interest in continuing or stopping the occupation, please note it in your Character Survey so that Loremasters will be able to help you pursue this organically.

If Zenith would like to repel these advances, this is a response that will be purely in player hands (but will be assisted by Zenite NPCs, of course!). If they want to reclaim Alenroux, they can, or they can simply let Meridian continue. It’s up to you! This is something that Zenite players should discuss both IC and OOC, and if this plot develops further, Loremasters will help facilitate the ongoing conflict as a part of our changing game environment.

SMALLER CHANGES

HIGHSTORM: GREENWOOD YARDS

Considering the affliction that threatens the well-being of flora and small fauna alike, the greenhouses are far more discerning with those who are permitted inside its gates, afraid of the contagion affecting the precious, invaluable greenery of long-dead worlds. After the occupation of Alenroux, Meridian will be outright turned away, and while Zenith possesses no formal military or police, the greenskeepers appear to be prepared to defend their property with physical force should it come to that. Unharmonized are still allowed inside. The rest of the Yard beyond the greenhouses are still open to all factions.

And though it may seem an odd place for such a gathering, the indoor bathhouse at the far end of the Yards appears to be gaining popularity for mysterious reasons; if asked, none of the locals will explain the abrupt uptick in visitation. But should you investigate yourself, the reason why becomes apparent through experience: the tea served by the attendants here has changed properties. Should you be a Zenite, you will be served a cup that decreases your body's natural need for food and drink for 24 hours - an effort to test a concoction to relieve the need to deplete resources and lessen the city's reliance on Alenroux. Should you be a Meridian, the tea you're served will increase your appetite a considerable degree even if you normally do not require sustenance, and you will find yourself unfulfilled even if you are unwise and eat yourself to the point of illness; this lasts for 24 hours. The Unharmonized will find the tea might make them vaguely woozy, and either cause mild increase or decrease in appetite.

KOWLOON: DRAUMAHOL (cw: drugs)

Those that frequent Kowloon may have heard about the sudden disappearance of the former owner and operator of the drug den Draumahol, though it was only really noted because of the business being closed for a few days. Practically unheard of, since the desperate of Highstorm and Springstar come to Draumahol for their various fixes that are a little more taboo on the surface. But, never fear. After a brief closure, Draumahol reopens.

While it may not be obvious early in the month, it'll be increasingly so that Draumahol is under new management. Those that frequent the business enough will be able to figure out that the new owner is Silco (or, if you personally know him, it's fairly obvious). If you would like to plot anything regarding Draumahol, we encourage reaching out to Silco's player, Jill!

SPRINGSTAR: THE CHURCH

After the loss of the first Oracle, the Church of Heliopolis has been busy tending to its flock as the numbers coming to seek comfort swell. The gatherings aren't formal "services" so much as they're chances for people to come together and inspire each other with their homes and dreams of home. One formal process that does stick out though is that with each "service" one member will tap into the world shown in their sunbeam and open their minds to Communion. Anyone that wishes to can also experience this member's home, see their friends, loved ones, and the sights. It's a intimate bonding activity, but seems to be very cathartic for those that partake.

Additionally, those that come by the Church frequently enough to be known faces at the "services" may also be approached by priests and priestesses and invited to join in smaller ceremonies. Always taking place during Springstar's dawn or dusk, these ceremonies have a markedly different vibe and are lead by Hieropoios Natalia herself. Attending these ceremonies is an exclusive honor that will reduce attendees' Discord and has a subtly addictive quality that will encourage them to return. Hm!

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all new players need an invite to apply to the game, which are now open.

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 sometimes happens since not every soul has a strong tether to Kenos and sometimes return to the Timestream. They may return to Kenos one day, but for now, weren’t able to make the full journey.

As a note primarily for current players, closed toplevels/prompts are not allowed in this log. If you would like to interact with the setting changes in a way that isn't open to all characters (new and old), we ask that you instead make a log in kenoslogs.

As a general reminder, any new characters that choose Zenith will receive a bonus 2 AC token reward, which is a purely OOC incentive. Our factions are a bit imbalanced at the moment, so we'd appreciate more Zenites!

FOR NEW PLAYERS:

When characters emerge from their cocoon/the ground, they may be wearing their normal clothes or 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 about which Faction they'd be drawn to.

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 freed 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 characters will not have access to any canon abilities on the TDM until they Harmonize, AKA make a choice of which faction they choose to support. For some characters, this may be an easy decision, but it make take others time. We just ask you keep this in mind!

CODING

Comments

[vallt]

[jyn doesn't smile at the gesture, exactly; there isn't anything to smile at, especially when she's still not sure why she's being spoken to in the first place. but she accepts the gesture with a nod, one that could be much more impolite than it is, and doesn't feel the need to say any more as she serves herself another heaping portion of stew. maybe, she thinks, he'll go away if she doesn't say anything else.

turns out, no such luck. he's still talking.

it takes every ounce of control she has not to visibly grit her teeth or roll her eyes. insteady —]

Really? [a disinterested brow shoots up.] How lucky for us.

[she doesn't sound like she could think of any of this as less lucky.]

[baltimores]

[ Turns out, he kinda already likes her.

It's the no-bullshit attitude. Amos is already moving around her, reaching to grab a couple of rolls of bread — gotta soak up the stew with something, right? — when she answers him, and it brings him pause. ]

We are lucky.

[ The humour leaves his voice, giving her something more straightforward, more solemn, in return. He sighs softly, looks down like he's resetting himself, back up at her. It isn't that she wants to be left alone that he picks up on; more the distaste for her situation general. ]

So, look, I'm not good at this shit. Kinda getting the sense that even if I was it wouldn't help. I just... [ He awkwardly extends a hand, still holding a bread roll, to gesture out at the spread before them. What's available for others to still take; more than enough appropriate for a gathering like this. ] You're from somewhere this'd be stolen, right? I'm from somewhere this probably wouldn't exist at all. Or if it would, it'd just be repurposed soy and tofu. It'd keep you alive, but it wouldn't actually be good. So yeah, I think we're lucky we're somewhere with good food that people don't gotta kill each other over.

[ The bread roll is still in his hand. He takes a look back at it as if just remembering it, then casually puts it onto his plate. If he can nail any part, it's that.

His voice is still soft, but with an underlying purpose, like he's found something that means something to him. ]

I mean, you don't gotta like that you're here now, but you are. It's up to you to do something with that.

can't believe autocorrect made up a wholeass word in my last tag and i only just now caught it 😂

[vallt]

[this man, though he won't stop talking, isn't the worst of people she's encountered today, and his sales pitch (because that's what this is) isn't the worst, either; at least he's appealing to something that makes sense, rather than some ideological abstract she couldn't give less of a bantha's shit about, and that's what keeps her standing here, listening as she grabs a roll and takes a bite out of it, instead of walking away.

but, in the end, it still is what it is.

that's what everything's been for the majority of her life: people talking at her, wanting one thing or another. nothing's ever going to change, and she's exhausted.

too exhausted for anything but getting straight to the point.]

Doing something with that. [a person who cared more than her would've kept the derision out out of her tone, but she doesn't bother to hide it.] You mean swearing my allegiance based only on someone's word, in the hope that they actually have our best interests at heart. Is that it?

rip... it happens to the best of us

[baltimores]

[ Dancing around shit is frustrating. Annoying. Much more so than someone being open and honest with their feelings at him, so the fact that she isn't bothering to hide how she really feels — it's good. For him, it's good. Because at least he knows where she stands, and she'll know where he stands, and it's just better for the both of them instead of playing games and lying that won't actually go anywhere.

So in response to her derision, Amos gives her openness. He doesn't mind that she hates this. Doesn't mind that she's skeptical. Because it makes sense, and if it makes sense to him, then he can work with it. ]

Yes and no. Yima's got more than just her word, she has... [ He stops. He doesn't have the language to describe what she's given him; wouldn't be willing to say it out loud even if he did. That shit's way too personal... ] She's been able to rescue people's souls from oblivion. She's rescued the souls of people close to others here, and sometimes the actual person comes back. It's real. I've seen it.

[ He really has no reason to still be standing next to the buffet anymore; he's got his food, and he should probably go find somewhere to sit down. But Amos is pretty sure that the second he does that'll be the end of this conversation, and it feels a little more important than stuffing his face again, so standing here it is. ]

I get it if that's not enough. Wouldn't blame you for thinking it's bullshit. [ It should be bullshit, except for the part where he's been here long enough for it to just be normal for him. ] Thing is, you don't have to stay if you don't want to. Yima doesn't force anybody. She lets people make their own choices. Just that if you decide to stay, she'll look after you, same as she looks after everyone else here. That's all.

[vallt]

[in her life, she's had to pick up an entire odd assortment of skills along the way, but one, perhaps above all, has proven the most critical: an ability to discern the truth — or at least what someone believes to be the truth — from the complete bantha shit. so many lie and manipulate to coerce people into who knows what: empire, rebellion, and neither, all alike, and empty promises are easy to spot from a parsec away.

from what she's able to see and hear from him, though, the openness and earnestness contained within, this man is telling her what he believes to be the truth.

she can't be angry with him for that. no, she — feels sad for him, in some ways. this is a man who, for his faults, otherwise seems quite smart has found himself believing in something so stupid, so naive, this wholeheartedly. he'll only be hurt eventually.

but why does she care? it's his own stupid fault for falling for it, comes a thought, one that doesn't stand much of a chance against the other that keeps sticking (she's rescued the souls of people close to others here, and sometimes the actual person comes back.).

in the end, they all wash away.]

No one looks after you, [she says, quietly, the derision from before completely faded from her voice. instead, it's quiet, with some of its edges rounded off into something that might be regarded as soft, given time. the hand gripping her plate is tight.] Even when they say they will. Especially not someone who claims to have that much power.

[she looks him in the eye, then, chin tipped up.]

Might be helpful to remember that.

[baltimores]

[ They've gotten somewhere.

He doesn't know what changed, can only assume it had something to do with what he said. Amos knows he isn't winning anyone over with an inspiring speech or any of that bullshit; he isn't capable of it. He's good for laying out cold, hard facts and logic, and something in there chipped away at at least her outermost defences.

Amos' eyes flick down to her hand, her plate; back up at Jyn. ]

You're right. [ He's not going to argue that point; power absolutely corrupts the shit out of people. He's seen it enough; ignored it, mostly, because it wasn't like there was anything he could do about it anyway. ] In the end, all you really can rely on is yourself. Other people can try to help you, but either they hit their limit, they die, it turns out you maybe didn't know them as well as you thought you did...

[ His hand is too occupied to check off the bullet points, but the cadence in his voice is there. Just three ways in which shit can go wrong, except.

Amos doesn't break her gaze. Keeps his voice conversational enough, but doesn't bother to hide the affectionate undertone. Why would he? ]

Yima's the exception that proves the rule. I've followed some good fucking people in my life, but they haven't been able to stick around. [ Everyone's universes did die, so, you know. ] She's the real deal. I know you figure that's impossible, but this whole place should be impossible, too. I figure you go through life, you see enough shit, but you can still find someone who'll help you? It's worth at least taking a look at.

[ Sometimes you just skip ahead to the end because circumstances aligned to be forged in fire, is all. ]

[vallt]

[under the careful, trained eye of saw gerrera, jyn had become a fighter — and she hadn't stopped being one, even long after he'd abandoned her to fend for herself. no, that'd only reinforced the need to keep doing it, just to earn her right to exist. but it's exhausting after a while, after years, and eventually, all fires burn out. (if she's honest with herself, hers had been flickering on ashes even before the twenty-year sentence on wobani that would've killed her in around five.)

eventually, there comes a point when the fighting, no matter how intense, reaches its natural conclusion.

and here, now, there's hardly anything to fight in what's being said to her. there's no pushback, for one, no fuel for any last sputtering flames, but that's not what has her eyes falling away, her throat visibly going tight. because —

in her mind, she sees the faces of dozens, willing to stand and fight when the council would only consider surrender. hears her own words, echoing back to her: "i'm not used to people sticking around when things go bad." there's the smile of a ghost, leaning in close. there's —

("welcome home")

— a man broken and beaten and bloodied, but had still come back when no one else had.

(someone who'll help you.)

a long moment passes before she speaks again.]

And you're so sure Zima's the one who'll help you?

[there's doubt in her tone, more than a hint of it, but her attempt to sound derisive again is as hollow as she feels.]

[baltimores]

[ As far as he knows, they don't really have a whole lot in common. A penchant for practicality probably, a healthy cynicism maybe, but that might be about it. They don't share an aspect; even though she's here in Highstorm, she isn't a Zenite. Not now, at least.

But her hesitation makes him think maybe there's something else there. People don't really fight for no reason (unless they're psychos, which, he's not getting that vibe from her). They don't take time to seriously consider certain things, either.

So maybe there is an understanding here to be reached between the two of them. Something that'll help her along. That, or he could just be misreading things, or blow it up in another moment... but that's not what he's getting now.

So. ]

She reminds me of someone who did in the past. A lot, actually. [ There had been a woman who had raised him, been a mother to him in all but biology, and she'd given him the tools he'd needed in order to learn how to carve out a good life for himself. Yima is... not that, but not not that, either. ] But fact is, she trusts me. She's told me that more than once. I figure it's more of a she gives me what I need, I do what I can for her situation. It's not transactional or anything. Just feels right to do.

[ Where Jyn may be having the fight drained from her as time goes on and on and on, Amos is zen. Accepting. This is where he's ended up in life, and it's actually pretty good. Better than he could've ever expected, and now that he's got it he's not letting go. ]