SEPTEMBER 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.

However, for those who have attended such events in the past, they'll note a marked difference—Only newly arrived Shard-Bearers and members of the faction are welcome. If you're a member of the opposite faction, you'll be questioned and ultimately turned away. If you want to join the party, you'll have to be a little sneakier, it seems.

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.

The welcoming party is in the Seat of the Tribune, with tables draped in white-and-gold-trimmed fabrics fare filled with fare typical to Springstar's slowly fading winter -- fruits and wines, savory smoked meats and roasted vegetables, and large bowls of soups like youvarlakia and fasoalda have been lain out to encourage forum participants to snack as they speak. There are plenty of grains and other dishes that elude to an abundant harvest from Alenroux. The atmosphere is ambient with informality and friendliness, though topics will inevitably stray towards philosophic or political, Springstar's meeting grounds are decorated with handsome chaise lounges and slouching klismos chairs in small, intimate groupings. This is a forum in the classical sense, where people are encouraged to speak freely, no matter the topic. Though excitement charges the air, the gathering at the Seat is much more muted than what transpires outside the center of the city.

The mood in Springstar as a whole is jubilant, with not just a party at the seat of the tribune, but elsewhere, including the Psychagogía district. Parties line the streets, establishments that overflow with bodies, drink, and libations of all sorts. There is a sense of excitement in capturing the latest oracle, and the people seem to treat the shard-bearers of Meridian somewhat reverently, and new ones, they will pull aside and explain with excitement about how the Shard-Bearers captured the oracle (with varying degrees of accuracy) and how it is because of them that they will be seen to victory. Cyrus’s name, however, still comes with notes of disdain. It’s clear that the Tribune has not bought much good favor by their victory, and instead, if any ask, or follow the threads, they will hear the names Desmond Ó Ruadháin and Agapitos Voreen as likely successors to the Tribune. However if one asks how that happens… details become a bit more muddy. Apparently, the role of the Tribune is for life. And apparently, the denizens of Springstar trust the Shard-Bearers to see the oracles through, and still see Cyrus as a weak link in their chain.

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. Soft tunes filter over the courtyard, and if the sounds of them sound familiar – perhaps remind one of home? That’s because they are! Yima’s musicians seem to be able to pilfer strings and strands of music, and weave it all together expertly, to give both new arrivals and old friends reminders of their home.

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. Yet, as you look, you’ll see that the selection is also quite interesting. The foods and drinks on offer are from a multitude of worlds, and so you may find a new favorite! Or something not suited to your palate at all. It’s at least a chance to be adventurous. If you try something and don’t like it, might not want to say that out loud, lest you insult someone who’s from that world.

The city itself is more muted than usual. The last dregs of Highstorm’s chill summer are coming to an end, and the cold is an opportunity for Highstorm’s denizens to batter in more frequently, and the chill may have something to do with the lost oracle. Though, if asked, they’ll say nothing of the sort, of course! In opposition to Springstar’s mixed jubilation and doubt, Highstorm’s denizens seem determined that lady Yima will see them through, and that one loss is no reason to fall into despair. Though they are still disappointed, and will say so. Though blame does not seem to have a target, mere disappointment filters through the city, as they start preparing for winter. The prices seem higher, whether one is looking for potions, supplies, or even small trinkets from the The Antiques & Baubles Market. Things seem… leaner in a sense. There’s nobody starving on the streets in Highstorm, but the control of Alenroux continues to lead to tense relations, even though a compromise seems to have been recently reached between the two factions.

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 AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Since the Blight’s conclusion, both cities have undergone a fair bit of effort to reconstruct the districts and buildings that were destroyed in the Blight, though Springstar seems a touch further along than Highstorm, due to Shard-bearer efforts. The unusual weather pockets present previously have very nearly all disappeared, though there are some patches still present, lingering in the areas still somewhat ravaged by the Blight. The pockets seem to be losing their effects now, and if one finds themself within, will experience a mild slowing down or speeding up of time. Visions still appear within the small bubbles, reflections of dear ones or important events, though they seem to be only memory, though anyone within the bubble can bear witness.

FURTHER DETAILS

OOCly, characters can still stumble into small bubbles of time, though they are fewer and far between than they were 3 months ago! These time bubbles still have some time-warping energy, and will continue to allow characters to either speed up or slow down, depending on player preference! In addition, the time bubbles are no longer bringing back remnants of Kenosians past, but there is still the chance of some memory reflections to briefly manifest in the bubble. They will come from player characters as a whole, and are purely up to whatever is fun for you! Think of it as brief flickers of memory sharing, they can be as brief or as distorted as you like! Think of this as the last gasp of the Blight, as it withers away thanks to the concentrated efforts of all shard bearers!

CHECKS AND BALANCES

Alenroux continues to improve, and with the new balance between both Springstar and Highstorm, the separate island is safer than ever! The tensions between both factions seem to have reduced over the island, thanks to the efforts of several shard bearers, and the populace seems to be warming to both factions once again.

FURTHER DETAILS

After the resolution of the first Kenos Ambassador agreement, the balance of power in Alenroux is already starting to shift. The island already has a much more evenly-matched number of military forces from both Springstar and Highstorm, the number of troops in the area has reduced significantly. The number of monsters does not seem to have increased at this time, which bodes well for the area. The uptick of Highstorm locals has certainly led to more food flowing into Highstorm than had before, and the people seem pleased with the arrangement – for the moment! The small murmurs of discontent and unrest seem to have alleviated at this time. Though some still seem uncomfortable with the amount of troops, they seem less willing to say that out loud. Though nights in Alenroux will possibly never be wholly safe, the threats seem more manageable, though nobody will ever turn down Shard-Bearer assistance in a pinch!

TO INFINITY – AND BEYOND

Rumbling about temples being erected in the Beyond, which lies outside of Highstorm’s city limits, close to another that had been erected previously. Not one shrine out there, but two it seems. It shines like the sun when the moonlight catches it just right, and it’s visible over the line of trees that marks the edge of the Beyond. The more brave and curious of Highstorm’s denizens have started making more treks into the Beyond for both shrines, and the fact that most come back unharmed seems to encourage others to follow. And for those that may not be able to make the trek safely, there's an opportunity to make a bit of money by leading the way to the shrines and offering the curious pilgrims protection from the Beyond's dangers. There’s rumbling amongst them – Quetzalcoatl – Set – the names of gods of worlds long past, and though there are not many that will stray from Highstorm’s resident deified figure – Lady Yima – there are enough that it’s easy to catch pilgrimages out to the temple, and to visit them yourselves, as well!

FURTHER DETAILS

Quetzalcoatl erected a bright and gigantic temple right next to Set's in the Beyond! Right next to Highstorm! I'm sure that's fine and will not have any diplomatic consequences in the future! Both gods have been drawing in new curious individuals – some who may be worshippers with time – and it's drawn the curiosity of many.

SMALLER CHANGES

GRAND LARCENY

An uptick in crime between both Springstar and Highstorm has both the Legion and Yima’s own private guard scrambling as they struggle to find rhyme or reason behind the latest crime spree taken up in both cities. Though there doesn’t seem to be a specific source, local chatter suggests that it might be coming from a mysterious underground, though most can’t say where... there’s vague gestures, and remarks about Below, without any concrete details. Those who are familiar with – or find out about – Kowloon, may find plenty of stolen items within Kowloon’s markets, though if asked, the keeper will simply shrug and say they retrieved it from a reputable source. Who? Well, they don’t know, they don’t remember their face. I’m sure this is fine and won’t lead to trouble later down the line!

Completely unrelated, those who are known to be or obviously affiliated with Springstar continue to encounter difficulty in Kowloon. It’s become a touch more brazen – more pickpocketing, even higher prices, or even some outright derisiveness from some businesses, although they seem to be centered more around Draumahol, and the further one gets from the business in the underground city (or as far as one can get) the more willing businesses seem to engage with those from Springstar, and the more… apologetic they are about higher prices, though they do still seem to be across the board.

FAE MISCHEIF

It’s not just the underground that seems to be reeling from a spike of theft, though this one seems more obvious – and innocuous! Faeries from the Greenwood Yard seem to still be reeling from recent Shard-Bearer intrusions, so bearers new and old may find small items of varying importance are missing. They’ll generally come with a calling card; a small note that is part threat and part invitation for a game, to come find them within the Greenwood Yards. After hearing about the issue, a certain potion shop owner sets up a small stall by the yards, and will offer to help the shard bearer with their predicament – for a price, of course! Better have a few gold coins on you!

The owner will offer bearers a round-trip to tiny town yet again, to retrieve whatever was stolen, though this time it comes with no visions, and generally the fairies will consider things to be even, if bearers come to retrieve it with politeness and a request for it to be returned. If a bearer threatens them… well. Let’s hope you brought a friend along to help with this fae threat, then!

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.

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

[wolfish]

[ He wouldn't wind up on the streets, Yuri means to say, but the conversation moves right along to something he naturally must respond to. There's time, he tells himself. ]

I don't know who I'd be then, either.

[ Shez isn't wrong, and Yuri knows it as he palms the back of his neck. Likely no one else knows just how dear his mother is to him. Maybe Byleth does, he supposes. At the time that he'd failed, he'd ill-understood the whole harmonization business. He wasn't told why it didn't work, it simply hadn't, leaving him to parse it out himself. Inside information would've benefited the others, it seemed the natural course to take, and yet...

The best he could come up with was that he didn't just want to go home — he needed to. A better world isn't worthwhile to him if his people aren't there to see it with him, and he doesn't accept that they've all suddenly resolved only to names to pen into his notebook. ]

I can't say I know exactly how it works. I've known people who are unsure what to believe in all this, and they harmonized just fine. Seems to come down to whether you believe anything strongly or not, almost like it can pick up on that.

[ It's one among many things Yuri finds he can't explain to his safisfaction. Still, where he'd gone in somewhat blind save for helpful tidbits from others, he can spare Shez some of that trial and error. He knows it's a lot to absorb, and there's far more, despite how many questions remain unanswered. ]

But there's the small matter of being able to talk with our minds, so...

[ Let Shez not be blindsided by a man yelling threats and demands in his head at wild hours like Yuri was. ]

[sheezit]

[ Okay so, whether they know exactly how it works or not, what Shez is getting from this is that they know for sure what doesn't: pretending. Not that he could pull it off for very long if he tried, but Yuri's entire breadwinning relied on subterfuge so if he couldn't do it... ]

Seems like the best way to figure it out would be to keep asking around. Guess I'll add it to my priorities.

[ Although the pragmatist in him is still more concerned with his own survivability, so housing and money claim the top of his list. Whether it's a strong belief or feelings, if it's true these energies can just pick up on it, then it'll just happen naturally for him at some point, right? No use beating himself up over something he has no control over.

But what Yuri says next is-- ]

Okay, hold it. Go back. What do you mean, talking with our minds?

[ Incidentally, that'd be the least odd part about any of this, considering Shez is no stranger to chit-chats with a voice in his head... ]

[wolfish]

[ Top reasons Yuri didn't stray from that thought: he knew Shez would want to know more about it. He would've wanted to know it himself, if only he'd been aware before Dark's communion about Rin. From there he'd more or less muddled through it, not that he's the most confident communicating with his mind alone.

It's a busy place. Harder to filter. ]

They call it communion around here.

[ Sounds weird, he knows. ]

You can contact a single person or the whole lot of those brought here remotely, which...convenient, yeah? But you have to be careful you don't convey something you didn't intend to share.

[ It shouldn't be so much of a problem for Shez, since he doesn't compartmentalize or obfuscate the way Yuri does. He envies that, in a way, since trying to think only what he means to at others can be a troublesome thing. Face-to-face is still far preferable so far as he's concerned. ]

[sheezit]

[ Does it sound weird? Sure. But then again, what part of this whole ordeal doesn't? ]

Communion... Okay, but how does it work, exactly? Say, if I just think to myself, 'damn, I could really go for a bite right now,' [ likely to happen ] or 'where in flames am I?' [ even more likely to happen ] then all those other Shard-bearers will pick up on it? Is there any way to turn it off?

[ He may be a no-thoughts-head-empty sort of guy but this sounds... excessive. ]

[wolfish]

To my understanding, you need to focus on having a target...or targets. Otherwise your thoughts should be your own.

[ He hopes to the Goddess that's right, anyway. So far no one's responded to thoughts that he hasn't intended to share with the class, so to speak, anyway. This place would truly be hell for him otherwise. ]

Want to give it a try?

[ Practical experience is better than theory, after all. ]

[sheezit]

[ Well. That's almost an improvement over having Arval pick up on his every thought and eventually turn that against him, but somehow it gives him even more mixed feelings. It's practical, he can't deny it, but... what if they, too, use it to their benefit?

What if they're already doing so? Ugh, so much to consider, so little brainpower... ]

Guess it's worth a shot. So, what do I need to focus on, exactly? A name or a face...?

[ In which case, does it qualify as cheating since Yuri is right here? So many questions!! ]

[wolfish]

Usually I think about the person I want to talk to. Something like taking aim at your target.

[ It makes more sense in practice than it does describing it, really. Yuri had avoided it for a time, but he can't deny that there's a certain convenience to it, so long as one doesn't yield anything too intimate.

For topics one truly wants to enure there aren't eavesdroppers for, speaking in-person still strikes him as best. ]

Try thinking of something you'd want to tell me.

[sheezit]

Taking aim at a target... Okay, got it. I'll give it shot.

[ With a deep breath, he closes his eyes and tries to clear his head of all other thoughts-- which is usually an easy task, but today has been A Day and his mind space is considerably busier than usual.

Still, he can at least try to focus on this one familiar face right before him: first an amorphous image of white and lavender, outline and contours slowly taking shape until Yuri's visage is clearly distinct in the eye of his mind. Now, for something to tell him, and him specifically, well-- ]

Regulus...?

[ I'm sorry, was there something about not yielding anything too intimate? We didn't catch that! ]

[wolfish]

[ Shez closes his eyes and Yuri waits, only to be greeted with his real name. His shoulders jump, adopting a stiffness reserved only for those rare moments in which he's caught off-guard, only to huff out a sigh. If he'd doubted at all that this was the Shez he knows (he doesn't), there'd be no question now. ]

That's what you came up with?

[ His first Communion message and it's sniping him like this. The absolute savagery of it, Shez! But at least he knows how to make use of that now, which is a start. Sometimes it's their only option or can prove preferable to speaking aloud. ]

You can also convey what you're perceiving, for instance your surroundings.

[ Potentially very useful, no? ]

[sheezit]

[ Pew pew! ]

Sorry, sorry! I had to make sure you knew it was me!

[ The thought comes out so naturally, and perhaps that alone is enough evidence that Shez's intent was genuine. He knows this is a big deal to Yuri, but what if someone else tried to contact him just as Shez did? Is there a queue? An answering machine for mental calls? He wouldn't know!

Successful test drive (and Yuri targeting) out of the way though, he's free to let his eyes snap open again and resort to a more normal method of communication. He's spent so long entertaining a noggin ghost, he isn't sure he's ready to be the voice in people's heads now... ]

Okay, so, what-- I can just paint mental pictures and share them with people willy nilly? Can't deny it's convenient, but phew, how much weirder does it get...?

[ Don't answer that, he's not sure he wants to know. ]

[wolfish]

[ Of course Yuri knows that Shez means nothing by it. Shez is Shez, after all. With their initial foray into Communion a success, Yuri can be assured that Shez is capable of reaching out to him or Byleth should he have need of it. The way the guy manages to get lost, that much is vital.

Especially considering how large this place is. ]

Pretty damn weird, honestly. You can have a whole crowd of people responding to you and each other all at once. Takes some getting used to.

[ He still isn't, not really, with how much he's used to being able to compartmentalize and keep to himself. Letting something from his busy mind slip out without intention remains high on his list of concerns. ]

But let's say you vividly recall something, or you're looking right at it. If you concentrate, you can send that just as you do words.

[sheezit]

A whole crowd... And here I thought just the one voice in my head was enough to juggle.

[ He doesn't even mean it just now, trying out this communion thing with Yuri. But that's something they can get back to, at a later time. For now: ]

Would it work for anything I can vividly picture, then? Like a memory, or maybe a dream?

[ Not... that he has any idea as to what he would do with this information, but it's probably worth knowing the exact extent of this communion deal, if only for the sake of being mentally prepared. ]

[wolfish]

[ Knowing no better, Yuri assumes the initial comment has to do with Communion. Even one voice can be disorienting, so far as he's concerned. ]

Probably. I've managed to convey something I was looking at and something I remember well enough before.

[ Mental images can be every bit as vivid as those that come from present sight, it seems to him. As for dreams, well. Yuri hasn't actually thought to give that a try. Could it prove useful one day? Perhaps so.

In the moment, he surmises that Shez just wants a clear idea of what they can do. ]

[sheezit]

[ For now, yes, this is pretty much all he's trying to do. It's hard to get his bearings as it is, but as long as Yuri is willing to infodump on him, might as well make the most of it.

Which leads him to his next question: ]

What about forcing someone to see something they don't want to? Has anyone tried that?

[ Worse yet, can he be forced to see someone as something he doesn't want to? Because he was made to fight his friends as though enemies not too long ago, and he would rather not have a repeat of that experience anytime soon... ]

[wolfish]

You very likely could, but they can also sever their connection with you and potentially resist any further attempts.

[ Yuri suspects this is why there seems to be something of an understanding between the lot of them. So far there haven't been any unsolicited mental images flung his way, aside from Dark sharing Rin's appearance with everyone when she'd gone missing.

He'd say something like that is a worthy cause. ]

A while back, someone shared what someone else looked like with...so far as I know, everyone. But she was missing, and he was panicked. Seen nothing like that before or since.

[sheezit]

Well, yeah, that sounds like some kind of emergency. Makes sense that anyone willing to help would be open to it...

[ But that's not really what Shez means, and he doesn't think he can spare the energy to explain exactly what he has in mind -- and the reason for his fears -- right now. There's already so much to process, and the best he can do is to focus on whatever pragmatic side there is to all this mystical mind connection ordeal. ]

How do you go about severing that connection, then? It's not like we can just turn off our brain...

[ ... well. Come to think of it, that might be the easiest part for someone like him... ]

[wolfish]

Well, people can catch you by surprise. I'd compare it to someone standing in the middle of camp and hollering.

[ Dark caught the lot of them off-guard at an odd hour, so it wasn't all that much about being willing or not. ]

As for cutting someone off — that's more like shutting a door. If you decide you're done, you're done. It makes more sense in practice.

[ Shutting people out or cutting off communication was fairly intuitive, odd as it seemed at first. ]

[sheezit]

[ His brows actually arch at that first bit. Hollering in the middle of camp? Yikes, at least he can say Arval never did that in his headspace.

Regardless, what Yuri follows up with is what he's more interested in; the mental hollering might be an inconvenience, but being unable to shut down communication might feel closer to manipulation than he'd be comfortable with. ]

Like shutting a door, huh... Guess I won't really know until I give it a shot, but I'll try to keep it in mind.

[ That's... on top of all the other things to keep in mind, of course, so try truly is the keyword here. Give him a second to heave a sigh here. ]

At least you seem to be used to all of this. How long did it take you?

[wolfish]

[ Yuri's uncertain whether he's really accustomed to all of this, but he knows how to adapt. Shez does too, in his own way; few roll with the punches the way he does. ]

It's been a few months now, though it didn't take all that time to get used to remote contact.

[ He might've ignored it altogether if not for Dark blasting them all with Rin being missing, actually. It had helped, oddly enough, to be caught off-guard by something that immediately had his attention.

He'd much rather nothing had happened to Rin, but they couldn't change that. ]

I've no doubt you'll get the hang of it soon enough.

[sheezit]

Guess so. There's really no other way around it...

[ The words trail off as do his eyes, his gaze suddenly vacant and effectively not there. It might come off as simple distraction, or exhaustion after so much overwhelming information, but the truth is he is... waiting. Waiting for a sassy remark, perhaps, a word of caution, or even that simple measure of comfort that came with the knowledge he wouldn't be alone through his hardships...

But that's silly. He's never going to hear that voice again. ]

All right! [ With a vigorous shake of his head and two pats of each cheek, he forces himself back to attention. ] You said something about those guys throwing welcome parties, didn't you? If I have to digest this much information, better do it along with some actual food!

[wolfish]

[ Yuri's silent for a beat, suspecting that Shez is pushing himself to adapt to all this. It is all rather insane, difficult to reconcile with, and doubtless something that demands time regardless of force of will.

Even so, it's probably best to follow along with his momentum for now and keep an eye on him. After observing how much this place had taxed Byleth by the time of his arrival, Yuri'd sooner not see that same toll taken out on Shez too. ]

Indeed I did. I'd say it was pretty good, what's more.

[ Shez might even find a new favorite among all those dishes from far-flung realms. ]

I can show you to the one in Springstar, for starters.

[sheezit]

[ Is Shez guilty of pushing himself a bit? Sure. But it's better than standing idle and waiting for a magical fix that's never going to come; one way or another, fighting is always what suits him best.

He does genuinely think the food will help, though. An empty stomach has never done him any favors. ]

Springstar it is, then. Lead the way!

[ ... just, you know, maybe not too further ahead of him. ]