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

[oomfies]

[ He keeps his pace and all she does is just.. Watch the back of his head as he plows ahead, takes note of just how muddied that poor suit of his is. It probably looked nice, once upon a time. Pretty and pristine — and then the dumber part of her brain wonders if you always have to look nice to try and seek audience with an Egyptian god? Any god, really. She keeps her gait the same way it was, because she's the only one who really knows the path to get out of here, into the open.

He looks back to her, all in one decision deciding to wait since somewhere he realized that, too — and she returns his smile. It's something small and light, vaguely tired. He didn't have to add that, she wasn't going to ask him to explain upon that 'yes' (she can read a room, sometimes), but he does and it's kind of funny. She almost laughs, at that, but is stopped short when he asks her the same question.

The surprise shows on her face — and Lottie doesn't think to school it. There's no reason for her to. She looks a little puzzled in the moments following, brows pinching together. When was the last time anyone asked her that? When was the last time she even talked about what she was doing before all this? About her life?

(The answer is: no one has, no one does. Everyone is so in the now the past is something that's never thought about, and that's normal, right?) ]

I just got back from my friend's bachelorette party. [ Even saying 'just got back' is strange. Makes her wonder how things would've turned out if nothing got destroyed. ] ..It was a shit show.

[ 'Shit show' is said semi-fondly, now, because it was terrible for everybody involved, but at least it was normal. A situation that would become the least of her problems. She gives a little shrug, follows it up with: ]

..That was like, a year ago, though.

[vestments]

( later, when marc's alone and had time to reflect on the journey his day (his life) has taken, he'll also take some time to look at the suit and be momentarily disheartened over the state of his suit. the point of it, of course, is that it's white, but when he'd said he wanted to be seen, when he said that he wanted to be visible, what he'd always had in mind was for it to be a deterrent, a symbol of moon knight and his capabilities; and a warning, because there was little else that allowed blood to stand out so starkly.

what he hadn't imagined was looking like a man who enjoyed dust baths. it's hard to be intimidating that way.

her surprise elicits surprise from him — judging from the mention of snacks, the fortuitous timing and the dog-wolf, this isn't the first time lottie's done this and yet it's apparently the first time in a long while that anyone's turned the question round and asked her.

lottie's answer is remarkably, incredibly mundane but that's not the part that sticks with him, it's the— )

—You've been here a year?

[oomfies]

[ He's a little more believable, talking about faith and gods and what he knows to do with them, when he looks like this. A little decrepit, and in dire need of rest. And while he isn't in his preferred state of dress — a warning, a symbol — he's intimidating in his own way (the single minded way as he lugged his body up, out of his own grave and into this world, is an example still fresh in her mind).

Yet, he isn't intimidating at this very moment, but his words seem to be, unintentionally so, judging by her reaction. He says 'year' and Lottie's brows furrow, begins to wonder if she should've just kept the truth to herself.. But she didn't want to lie!! ]

Collectively..?

[ It isn't meant to be a question, she really doesn't mean for it to be, but it comes out like one. And then she ruffles at the hair that frames her face, scratches at her scalp as she pieces together an answer. Predictably, it sits just as foreign on her tongue as her last reply, because she's never had to outwardly acknowledge this either. Never had to consciously confront how weird and unbelievable this all sounds and it's making her completely unaware of her rambling. ]

I've, umm, been here six months in this world, and then four someplace else. It's all timey-wimey world or.. Dimension hopping stuff, whatever you wanna call it? I don't know?? I just haven't seen a TV or a phone in forever or internet in forever is why I even bother to keep track anymore.. And my birthday, I guess.

[vestments]

( it doesn't, truthfully, occur to marc that he's intimidating like this. in a vague, general sense, marc knows he's not very approachable — marlene had inferred as much once, outright stated it twice or more, whilst calling him steven and asking him why he couldn't just be steven before he lost himself in the identities he'd chosen to assume, before marc or steven or jake, whichever of the three it had been, had finally, eventually, been something approaching honest with her about the three of them.

and marc's not particularly sure which came first: the lack of approachability or the dawning realisation that for as much as marc had hated marc, steven had to and marlene wasn't very much a fan of him either, and it was — had been — a lot easier and simpler to not exist, to not have a day-to-day life that had any purpose beyond being moon knight.

jean-paul had been the only one of them to seem to find friendship in marc specifically, but marc has always thought that frenchie would be able to make friends with near enough anyone or anything if he decided to put his mind to it. certainly, marc had never been looking for friendship, and yet frenchie had found him anyway.

lottie answers and it's in the same haltingly questioning way she'd answered before and it takes marc until she's fidgeting with her hair and choosing her words, the decision for each evident in her expression, that it's not just the question itself that's making her hesitant.

(fuck.)

he sighs, quiet and frustrated, and shifts his weight, gaze skirting along the edge of the path.

by nature, marc is not an innately questioning man — he's very good at following orders and any doubt that might seep into his consciousness or his conscience is easy to shove to one side, to compartmentalize until it shifts from a quiet knocking to yelling, a cacophony of sounds accompanied by steven and jake. so she's been here ten months? sure, fine, that's believable. (and he does believe her, even if the pull of his brows implies otherwise to anyone to that doesn't know him). )

I just meant I got the impression ( heh ) that it was more urgent than that.

( assuming he'd understood it all correctly, which—

is not always true. khonshu has always made that quite clear — marc is a man who does not always see the grander picture, doesn't always put the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together the right way. )

[oomfies]

[ She hears that sigh and it makes her want to sigh, the bubbling feeling that she somehow flubbed this all up sinking into her skin. She chances a glance (one that she hopes looks measured and completely put together and not at all waiting to see his reaction) back at him the moment following, finds herself.. Hm. Hardly soothed by the furrow of his brows and she doubles down on the idea he thinks she's a total weirdo.

Which is fair, because she is, but that can't be the weirdest thing here, right?

He's looking for his Egyptian god and Lottie has been trapped here without wifi or any signs of living family for ten months. Normal, right?

And the thing is, he did understand it correctly. Everyone is graced with that nightmare inducing, skin crawling, vision. Unfortunately, she's had it twice. It means she remembers it with a little more clarity than she'd like — than how she'd treat any other dream.

Again, she wishes she could just talk to him through communion, instill on him thoughts and feelings and memories to make the explanation easier. One less word she'd have to let slip from her mouth, one less acknowledgement, because she thinks that too. Has been aggravated and irritated (relieved?) at the colossally slow pace things are at.

But as much as she wants to let him know, she doesn't. Lottie reminds herself to respect his space. She doesn't think about the chance he's be able to see the way she feels though, see her thoughts spill so plainly across her face. Some of them settling on: yeah, Marc is intimidating, but he's also lost (she forces herself to remember this). Asking a question but without really asking, phrasing it in a way that she knows he isn't completely doubting her.

She's still of the same, flighty energy, she was before, only now she's less stiff, less worried about what he'll think and moreso how he'll take this. ]

Yeah, it is. [ 'To me, it is,' goes unsaid. ] But I don't know anymore.

[ It physically pains her to say this, makes her suck air through her teeth, but she isn't lying— ]

It's complicated. It's about more than us and our worlds.

[vestments]

( marc doesn't think she's weird. it doesn't even occur to him — despite the mundanity of her answers in the face of relative absurdity — to think that's something she's concerned about because marc is wholly, entirely used to objectively weird and strange situations and people.

it's complicated, and the utterance hangs between them, marc unsure and undecided on how he wants to take that. it's about more than us. marc's used to that, too, but—

but.

it's difficult to ignore the tight, cold coil of anxiety in the pit of his stomach that whispers names at him: marlene, jean-paul, gena. if his world's gone, are they gone too? or are they here, somewhere beneath the tree still or are they wherever lottie's taking him? they'd been there with him, in the hospital or in his mind, he's not sure which, but they'd been there and now he's here with lottie. )

Fine. ( abruptly, almost disinterestedly, as if he's made a decision that none of what lottie's said really matters right now. it's a tense, forced 'whatever' in all but phrasing.

he looks beyond her again, and then back over his shoulder at where they've come from making no indication as to whether he's looking for something or simply weighing things up in his mind, regardless of how much he wants to stand there and call out for khonshu, demand (beg) for his attention because he was supposed to tell marc what to do, for fuck's sake—. )

How long until we get to ( what had she called it? ) —Highstorm?

[oomfies]

[ And there it is, the answer (the tone) she initially expected. The answer she initially dreaded, because as much as she can understand the nuance to his tone doesn't mean that she wants him to associate it with her. It settles strangely in her belly, a sensation that makes her feel weirdly lightheaded as if she were the one at fault.

(She isn't, she knows she isn't, but Marc's tone doesn't make it easier for her. ]

Just a sec.

[ And because of that, she, equally, doesn't give him anything more. Only the sound and sight of her footsteps leading the two of them out of the cavern that led them down to that tree. Lottie completely misses the way he tries to glance back at all he progress they've made, too worried about how disinterested he sounds to think of anything more.

She swipes at her forehead, sighing, ]

Once we go down this curve we'll hit the rock.. Then you'll be at Highstorm.

[vestments]

( marc has never been much of a conversationalist at the best of times, and so it doesn't occur to him that lottie's lack of response is anything to do with how he is or anything out of the ordinary. it doesn't occur to him — won't occur to him — that he's making this awkward or difficult for her in any shape or form. he'll assume, instead, that this is just what she does: go to the tree with snacks, lead people out and not be especially talkative.

the sigh, then, barely registers. marc glances at her simply because the noise catches his attention before she speaks, but he doesn't think anything else of it. assumes it's related to the journey, not him.

he hums a noise of acknowledgement and doesn't point out that she doesn't really answer his question — he'd hoped for time or distance as with one or the other he'd be able to estimate the other, but it's neither here nor there. it's not important. close enough, he guesses.

without warning, without indication, he replies to her answer with a question completely unrelated— ) If I wanted to find out if someone else is here, how would I do that? ( not a phonebook, clearly. )

[oomfies]

[ Distance is a concept she's never concerned herself with — now, or ever. She feels emboldened by that fact when you can simply teleport around using rocks (because, as she failed to mention in any capacity to her new friend, they're special — this is on top of being birthed from a magic tree). Why measure miles when you can just think of where to go?

And even if his question is entirely off topic, completely unrelated, it's welcome. It's a nice distraction from the weird amalgamation that is her mood shifting as frequently as the ground beneath her feet. There's that corner she mentioned, her pace finding some purpose at the sight of it, where the path curves. ]

..Communion.

[ She already knows how he feels about being touched that way, so she lets the idea linger. ]

It's the easiest way of getting a face [ Or idea, memories, impressions, something she figures Marc understands from her own communion with him, ] across, unless you wanna hire a painter to do it.

[vestments]

( it's the answer he thought she was going to give and it's the answer he'd been hoping she wasn't going to give because he hates it. in spite of her quote-unquote communion with him, he's still not — unsurprisingly — all that clear on how it works, but isn't enamored enough with the general idea to try.

he eyes her, expression pulling together in quick distaste and he shakes his head. no, he thinks, except—? maybe? ( no. ) he'll cross that bridge when he gets to it. marlene and frenchie and gena, none of them had particularly wanted anything more to do with him, broadcasting their faces to the public would be a stellar way to ensure that sentiment continued. there'd be easier ways. quieter, more subtle ways.

(or: marc would explore, building by building in the middle of the night, looking for any sign of any one he knows.) )

Easy doesn't mean it's the most effective, ( he grumbles, low and almost petulant.

and the suggestion of hiring a painter doesn't even warrant a response at all, so he ignores it, attention shifting to the corner, the curve of the path and he—

—doesn't understand anything of why they've come to a stop. )

[oomfies]

[ Wow!! She's just trying to be helpful?? Lottie will ignore the fact her practical suggestions are met with distaste. Visual and verbal distaste. What's the big deal? Easy doesn't mean it's he most effective, he says, like it's somehow her fault everyone has an entry ticket to his brain whenever they want.

Her own lips frown deep, having to physically keep her arms down so she doesn't cross them in her working irritation. ]

They'd be able to hear you if they are here, but whatever. Go off.

[ Be weird and stubborn, she thinks to herself, as he dutifully comes to a stop when she does. Really, the cornerstone itself isn't anything to gawk at. It's not even carved into any shape to make its presence entirely obvious. It is just a rock. A black, shimmering, magic infused rock that she gestures towards.

She takes off a glove — the one to her right hand, the only one with nails still on it. ]

I'm gonna take you to Highstorm and then I'm gonna come back here. You'll be on your own unless you wanna wait for me or something.. Any questions?

[vestments]

( eventually, it might occur to marc that he's spent their entire meeting being difficult and exceptionally unappreciative, but in the meantime the atmosphere between hangs awkward and tense; and the look he gives her when she says they'd be able to hear him is wary and slightly doubtful, not because he doesn't believe her but because he doesn't know what he'd be doing — yelling into a void? broadcasting to everyone? would they get his feelings, too? his and steven's and jake's? it's discomforting to consider, so he quashes it deep down to the bottom of his chest to worry about later.

marc has a lot of questions, but none of them are any he wants to ask someone that doesn't know him. he wants to wash his hands and clean his clothes, pull himself together a little bit more because none of this makes any sense, not really. lottie's given him answers, but they're ""answers"", things that he still needs to make heads and tails of alongside the rest of his life. he still needs to put everything together and work out how much he thinks is real and true, and how much could be anything in-between. )

No. ( questions, he means, but also the rest of it. it's a blanket answer and he almost leaves it just at that before—.

right. ) I'll be fine, thank you. ( he can be capable of manners and politeness, mostly when he takes the time to think about it. ) I need to shower.

[oomfies]

[ ..Right. Why did she expect more out of him? She withholds the sigh that desperately wants to come out so she can, instead, reach out her other hand to him (that's right, to hold). The exposed one — the one that shows him just how unmarred her skin is, how soft it looks, untouched from the struggles of this war and labor — places itself palm down at the top of the cornerstone. Her lips twist, the rock cold beneath her palm, and her nails titter (click click click) at the surface as she waits. ]

Find Yima's manor. You can't miss it.. You'll get set up there.

[ She means: you can definitely take a shower. And.. Her eyes flick at his clothes. He can definitely have someone give him something to wear, too. ]

Or head to the bathhouse. You have options.

[vestments]

( a flash of wariness, and he reaches his hand out to her. he still doesn't know what she's doing, not really, but he mirrors her actions all the same. where her hand is soft and smooth, his is dirty, physically and metaphorically, rough from years spent holding weapons, from years punching and fighting, small scars lining his fingers here and there, callouses evident where there are no scars.

you'll get set up there, she says, and marc nods, accepting in spite of the doubt, in spite of the cool, cold dread of unknowing that makes itself known. marc can't remember the last time he was in a living space with other people. she adds that he has options and, for some reason, the thought strikes him as funny, the barest glimmer of amusement flashing across his features. )

Do I? ( do any of them, really?

(is he talking about showers...?) ) That's cute. ( ...probably not. )

[oomfies]

[ The last time she held hands with someone, it was with Amos. Before that, Sunny. Sometimes Esther.

(Distantly, she thinks about how in that list, only one person out of those names is alive.)

Marc's hand is in the same ballpark as the first — his is just as gruff and calloused as Amos', maybe even more. It's dirty, and where the dirt isn't speckling his skin or caked beneath his nails, Lottie can see the beginnings of scars. She only takes a second more to look, just in time for him to say 'that's cute'. His hand is new, and different, and obviously she isn't exactly all sunshine and rainbows with his attitude, but it's warm (human?). And he's at least working with her enough to only gripe about the obvious, instead of why she needs his hand.

She gives one squeeze, uses it as an excuse to anchor her hand with him a tad more. ]

Yeah.. Super cute.

[ To Lottie, the actual process of using the stones is something she's far too used to. All that happens is: she imagines the one tucked away at the entrance of Highstorm, and they're there. She doesn't consider how jarring it might be to Marc — the instantaneous displacement of air and that ever strange, ever overbearing sensation of magic that always lingers a little too long on your skin after, makes you smell funny — outside of the obvious shock of wow we're somewhere different.

There's no more earthy tones in the air, no grass or mud. All of a sudden there is a plethora of sounds and smells, but more importantly? A distinct lack of sun. Highstorm is forever clad in night, forever dated in aesthetic, but it's home (sort of). Lottie looks at Marc (because she's never turned away from him, just darted her eyes somewhere to the side), lets her grip loosen on his hand— she's watching to see if he's alright, because the first time she did this she had to vomit. But she doesn't voice her concern, instead letting that silent 'You ok?' sit for him to read on her expression. ]

[vestments]

( it's a jolting, unpleasant experience and marc's been through more than a handful of those — his first flight in a helicopter, his first jump out of a helicopter. the first time he'd been knocked unconscious and he'd roused, slowly and painfully later, head splitting. hangovers where the mere concept of moving is enough for his stomach and mind to protest.

this is somewhere in between and he throws out his other hand for stability, involuntary and instinctive, same as the groan that escapes his lips. he pulls one hand away abruptly, then the other, the one lottie had clasped as his vision focusses and— god, that was awful.

he doesn't vomit though. he takes a breath, then a second, and runs a grubby hand through his hair, dirty fingers running through loose, equally dirty curls. his gaze is almost accusatory as he mutters a— ) You couldn't have warned me? ( and though there's no-one but lottie it could've been directed at, it's quiet enough, soft enough that it could just be a general remark, a comment to expel just how much he didn't enjoy that.

but then it seems to register, tangibly, that they're not where they were and marc looks up towards the sky and the moons. night — darkness — is a familiarity, the cool illumination of moonlight a constant companion. )

Highstorm? ( he asks, though he doesn't look back to her as he speaks. )

[oomfies]

[ Some part of her wants to say sorry and apologize, but how else would she have explained this? 'Hi Marc, I'm gonna teleport you through space and you're gonna have to deal with it?' She still manages to cringe in her silence as he stumbles, as his hand slips from her own. That groan is all too familiar and she awkwardly draws her hand back as she watches him. Her voice is wildly unsure, only mildly apologetic (in a 'sorta feel bad but not enough to say it' kind of way) as she remarks just as soft— ]

Like ripping a band-aid.. Y'know?

[ (That's what her retainer taught her, on how to deal with the pain, anyway.)

His gaze stays firm on the sky and she feels inclined to join him. Doesn't see much of anything new before looking back down towards him, lets her hands rest fully (no longer touching that cornerstone) by her sides. ]

Yeah, though. This is Highstorm.. The entrance of it, anyway.

[vestments]

( 'hi marc, I'm going to teleport you through space' would've been a perfectly adequate, fine warning and marc would've accepted it because he's experienced weirder (objectively); and because he's just died (again, and also probably) and crawled out of a hole in the ground. lottie's reply earns a flash of incredulity and— ) I normally know when I'm about to rip off a band-aid.

( or: that's a terrible reason.

it's grumbled but not uttered with any particular malice, more an unhappy explanation — where 'unhappy', of course, is marc's natural state of being after the day he's had (life, actually, but specifically his day has also been absolutely terrible). whilst marc knows that he can be challenging and that unless he wants a conversation, speaking with him can be like pulling teeth, he's not anywhere near wanting to pretend he's not-awful and not-terrible at communication.

instead, he sighs and closes his eyes as realisation slowly dawns: he's making this difficult and it's not lottie's fault, but—.

he hates this. if he was at home, he'd find at outlet for his frustrations, a very physical punching bag or two or three, but here? what—

a breath in, and a breath out. )

Thank you. ( somewhere in between gratitude and an apology, somewhere between brusque and gentle, like he means for it to be the latter but is naturally inclined towards the former. )

[oomfies]

[ Not if someone else does it for you, she desperately wants to counter, but swallows the reply down. As petulant as Lottie wants to be, he's right. So she takes his grumbling, his weary and faintly exhausted quip like a champ. Well.. For her standards, anyway — which means that she only gnaws at her lip as he gathers himself, goes through a whole spectrum of emotions that feels delayed, all considering she expected this after he crawled his way onto the surface and into the living.

Her nails take turns pressing half crescent moons into her palm, gradually feeling antsy the longer it takes Marc to say something, anything. Should she just go? Leave him? Lottie knows nothing about him other than the odd factoid he shared about himself, and the fact he's.. Well, short. Not exactly a talker. There's his breath in, then out, as she thinks about how he seems like he can handle himself.

Her brain then worryingly counters: the man is in a suit for crying out loud! How much handling can he do??

Lottie's reaction is, predictably delayed, too distracted with her own thoughts to give him her full attention immediately. She tugs at a stray piece of string fraying at the edge of her single, gloved, hand, surprised. No, maybe not surprised, but he makes her feel.. Good? It doesn't particularly matter how brusque he is, she takes his 'thank you' exactly how he wanted it to come out — because she, of all people, can at least understand the difficulty of speaking and saying things.

(She may not know Marc (tentatively: Egyptiandude? Or Godguy?) very well, but she gets that kind of vibe from him.) ]

Um, yeah!! You're welcome. No problem at all, really..

[ She clears her throat, tone somewhere in the ballpark of 'purposely nonchalant' and 'bashful'. ]

Phones don't exist here so, if you wanna reach me, hit me up I guess? I can always find you. [ A stark pause. ] That sounds weird — I just mean there's ways for me to not get into your brain but still.. Anyway, I'll see you around?

[vestments]

( marc makes a noise that sits somewhere between a huff and a scoff when lottie says that phones don't exist and clarifies that there are other, non-brain invading ways to get in touch with people. he almost points out that he existed before cell phones were a means of communication, but the shift in her tone catches him short and he doesn't. he takes the comment for what it's probably meant to be and he nods. )

Sure. ( he won't hit her up, he thinks — he's not that sort of guy, preferring ("preferring") isolation and solitude to company but for a very select number of individuals that, marc thinks, probably aren't here. that wouldn't want anything to do with him even if they were.

asking for — anything doesn't come easily to marc and he's more than aware of it. if something happens that he imagines he'll need a green (green!) haired woman's help for, he'll reach out, but until then and in the meantime, marc imagines he'll simply do what he does best: moon knight. ) I'll keep you in mind.

( eventually, it'll occur to marc that he doesn't know where or how to get clean clothes; or how he's supposed to earn his keep — indeed, it'll occur to marc that if he's expected to earn a living at all, it'll be challenging given he hasn't held a traditional job ever since getting kicked out of the marines.

(his resume is a sad, sad affair). ) —If I need someone with snacks.

[oomfies]

[ She's always going to be known as the snack lady, huh? She really did herself in with that one, she can already tell (it's not her fault she thought he'd be hungry?!). There's a sigh, good natured even if it's a tad exaggerated when he brings it up. But this is a better parting — 'farewell'? 'See you never'? — than she anticipated. Because it doesn't matter if he decides to reach her or not, what matters to her is that she gave him the option.

She nods after that, something wry dancing on her lips. ]

Yeah, sure! I know all the best places..

[ For snacks (obviously). She knows all the best spots for tea, for coffee, too. Quiet little hidey holes in public places when she wants to pretend like she can take a selfie and dip. A hand settles back on that cornerstone, her eyes flickering down to it. It's more or less her way of saying my stuff is still back there, the kinder thing she chooses to do rather than literally leave. She brings her other hand up to wave gingerly. ]

Seeya—

[ Will she? She assumes not. The city is big and who knows if he'll even stay in Highstorm. But 'seeya' is a lot friendlier than 'deuces' or 'gotta go', so she opts to say that as she just blips out of existence, presumably back to the cavern that birthed him. ]