Expiation Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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expiationlogs2025-05-13 12:07 pm
expiationmods) wrote in expiationlogs2025-05-13 12:07 pm
[... he's clearly slipping, if he's speaking freely enough to the point someone would guess at that sort of thing. Thankfully(?), he's distracted by the renewed sharp ringing in his ears as his headache intensifies, and he screws his eyes shut against it, hand pressed against his face even though it will do nothing. He resists the urge to try his magic again.]
Maybe it impaired my common sense, [he offers as a weakly humorous response, strained just above a whisper.]
Maybe it impaired my common sense, [he offers as a weakly humorous response, strained just above a whisper.]
[ This man seems... unserious. Earned confidence or buffoonery? On one hand, he may be a risk to travel with. On the other, he may make fantastic cannon fodder for whatever might greet them beyond the doors. If he ends up being competent, then color Arlecchino delighted. ]
That was my intention, yes. Shall we go together? I only hope you won't expect too much of me.
That was my intention, yes. Shall we go together? I only hope you won't expect too much of me.
[ In some fairness, Emet-Selch has more clues than the average person. His inability to see Altius' soul means he either does not have one, or that something is blocking his abilities. The latter seems much more plausible. The man hasn't the bearings of a construct. ]
There is no "maybe" about it.
[ SIGH! ]
Were you able to find out aught of note ere you took a nap in the dirt?
There is no "maybe" about it.
[ SIGH! ]
Were you able to find out aught of note ere you took a nap in the dirt?
[Maybe one of these days Zekarion will actually learn he looks like nothing to people with Special Eyes like Emet-Selch.
He tries to remember; it's definitely a struggle, given how it all became a blur, both to his physical senses and his mind. The idea of coming out of this with absolutely nothing is far more humiliating than having to be dragged out of it in the first place.
It takes him a minute.]
... I heard yelling. [It's not a lot, admittedly. But it's all he has.]
He tries to remember; it's definitely a struggle, given how it all became a blur, both to his physical senses and his mind. The idea of coming out of this with absolutely nothing is far more humiliating than having to be dragged out of it in the first place.
It takes him a minute.]
... I heard yelling. [It's not a lot, admittedly. But it's all he has.]
The Blaze
[ On the outskirts of Aldrip lie the training grounds. Except for the snakes that now whisper through the grass, the grounds appear the same as ever: a modest but proud symbol of collective Chosen effort. As dawn breaks, a warm orange glow suffuses the tops of the structures huddled there.
It may not seem like much at first. Perhaps even normal. A thin trail of smoke might be the first indicator that something could be amiss. To anyone optimistic enough to think it might just be a stray campfire or training quirk from an early morning participant, the second fire may be more telling.
Tents are on fire, soon to be ablaze. The damage can be minimzed if Chosen are quick enough to respond; fortunately, the fires don't seem to start where they might have spread most voraciously. But there's always a risk that a stiff errant wind might bear sparks to new fuel...
The culprit? Nowhere to be seen, though forensic investigation may find traces of a scheme. Glass lanterns shattered, old wood as good as tinder strewn about. Considerations to be had later, once the danger has passed. ]
[On one hand, Scott was fully expecting for one of his asshole friends to get in trouble with all this. Whether it's because they decided to commit a crime or something else, he knew that this was not the time to be slacking off. It really wasn't a question for the mutant to be out here with his visor across his face, because being prepared is half the battle around here sometimes.
However, even with all that, he still was not expecting Altius to be the one on the ground. Unconscious. Possibly hurt??
Worry shoots up in his chest, the teen hurrying over to the prone man on the ground. He can still see his chest moving, which alleviates some of that worry, but not by much. What the hell happened to him? He looks sweaty, ill, and very much not like the man he normally sees. Kneeling down by him, Scott reaches over to feel for a pulse, and just like that, all that worry returns because it's weak.
There's also a lot of dead snakes around. But. Focusing on Altius first.]
Altius! Can you hear me? I'm going to get you help.
However, even with all that, he still was not expecting Altius to be the one on the ground. Unconscious. Possibly hurt??
Worry shoots up in his chest, the teen hurrying over to the prone man on the ground. He can still see his chest moving, which alleviates some of that worry, but not by much. What the hell happened to him? He looks sweaty, ill, and very much not like the man he normally sees. Kneeling down by him, Scott reaches over to feel for a pulse, and just like that, all that worry returns because it's weak.
There's also a lot of dead snakes around. But. Focusing on Altius first.]
Altius! Can you hear me? I'm going to get you help.
[ Why are there so many people that Gilgamesh met simply reeks of the Underworld? ]
Is it not common courtesy to introduce oneself before asking a King his name?
[ Yes and no. ]
Hmpf. Though I cannot expect mongrels from other worlds to know who I am. I am Gilgamesh.
[ In the end, he still introduced himself anyway. ]
Is it not common courtesy to introduce oneself before asking a King his name?
[ Yes and no. ]
Hmpf. Though I cannot expect mongrels from other worlds to know who I am. I am Gilgamesh.
[ In the end, he still introduced himself anyway. ]
[ That is, if Gilgamesh was willing to defend himself. ]
. . .
[ Gilgamesh scoffed at Arlecchino's words of not expecting too much from her. ]
Is that so? I was quite certain you were more than capable of holding off on your own. I must be misplaced.
[ But that in itself was entertaining. ]
Shall we be off then?
. . .
[ Gilgamesh scoffed at Arlecchino's words of not expecting too much from her. ]
Is that so? I was quite certain you were more than capable of holding off on your own. I must be misplaced.
[ But that in itself was entertaining. ]
Shall we be off then?
[Aloy was bound to actually find her way toward a cafe one of these days. Trouble with growing up an outcast is she's got the impression she should turn up when and where she wants. Including moments of contemplation.
He's got something there. At a glance it looks like the sort of thing she'd be taking to a trader of ancient trinkets.
So she intrudes without thinking twice about it.]
Find something unusual?
He's got something there. At a glance it looks like the sort of thing she'd be taking to a trader of ancient trinkets.
So she intrudes without thinking twice about it.]
Find something unusual?
[The man's hand twitches, first—then his shallow breaths stutter as he comes to something nearing consciousness, jaw clenched.
Where is he? What happened to him? Nothing can make it through the buzzing in his head and the hazy veil that's blurred his senses. The fact that something is wrong is the only thing that's clear.
Wait—no. There's someone here; he can hear a young man's voice, vaguely. And there's a glow—a light that comes through despite his eyes being closed, a familiar enough sensation for him to recognize. Despite his head practically screaming at him not to, he pries one eye open.]
Where is he? What happened to him? Nothing can make it through the buzzing in his head and the hazy veil that's blurred his senses. The fact that something is wrong is the only thing that's clear.
Wait—no. There's someone here; he can hear a young man's voice, vaguely. And there's a glow—a light that comes through despite his eyes being closed, a familiar enough sensation for him to recognize. Despite his head practically screaming at him not to, he pries one eye open.]
Why anyone would trust them...
[Anyone who might have landed themselves inside that place likely brought it on themselves—either through being foolish enough to accept what the snakes were saying or through taking it as an excuse for what they already wanted to do.
Still, he'd rather no one be trapped; he didn't need any external prompting to investigate again after he heard of people vanishing inside. Speaking of minds being manipulated...]
Something urged me to help.
[Anyone who might have landed themselves inside that place likely brought it on themselves—either through being foolish enough to accept what the snakes were saying or through taking it as an excuse for what they already wanted to do.
Still, he'd rather no one be trapped; he didn't need any external prompting to investigate again after he heard of people vanishing inside. Speaking of minds being manipulated...]
Something urged me to help.
[Altius doesn't find that he minds the intrusion, even if his expression doesn't change much when his focus shifts to her. The curious young woman isn't an unwelcome face.]
Something from home, [he answers. A breath leaves his nose.] A gift I gave someone in my care.
Something from home, [he answers. A breath leaves his nose.] A gift I gave someone in my care.
[Oh. There's a heavy pause. She knows Ellie got back something deeply personal, but it's something Ellie would want to hold close. Not something to give away.
Then again, if they're in a simulation, is it just a copy?]
I'm guessing you weren't planning to get that one back, then.
Then again, if they're in a simulation, is it just a copy?]
I'm guessing you weren't planning to get that one back, then.
Not without the young man who wears it, no.
[There's a dark look that crosses his face briefly, fading after a moment into something more focused on the present. He should probably put the thing in his pocket, but he keeps his hand and the watch where it is for now.]
I can never tell if these things I'm getting are meant to be gifts or warnings.
[There's a dark look that crosses his face briefly, fading after a moment into something more focused on the present. He should probably put the thing in his pocket, but he keeps his hand and the watch where it is for now.]
I can never tell if these things I'm getting are meant to be gifts or warnings.
< That's the third time now. >
[They fold their arms as they look him over, and despite their lack of face, there's the clear impression that they're frowning at him.]
< You should sit down. This weird situation's probably still going to be going on tomorrow anyway. >
[They fold their arms as they look him over, and despite their lack of face, there's the clear impression that they're frowning at him.]
< You should sit down. This weird situation's probably still going to be going on tomorrow anyway. >
< It's tempting... but probably a bad idea. >
[Not to mention the fact that they're not too keen on the idea of doing anything to other Chosen with any of this.]
< Besides, since when do snakes talk? >
[Not to mention the fact that they're not too keen on the idea of doing anything to other Chosen with any of this.]
< Besides, since when do snakes talk? >
[Perhaps a frown isn't visible on Dante's face, nor can Altius properly hear the exact words that would imply one, but he's nevertheless able to detect it in the cadence of their ticking.
At least—he would if he wasn't currently distracted by the fact that the world spinning is only made worse when his turn towards Dante is met by an absolutely blazing sensation—like he's looking straight at the sun with no real way to look away from it, even as he covers his face with one arm.
He'd like to reassure them as he has before that this wave will pass like the others and he'll be fine—but he ends up, instead, dropping to a knee in his attempt to escape the sensation with a hiss through his teeth.]
At least—he would if he wasn't currently distracted by the fact that the world spinning is only made worse when his turn towards Dante is met by an absolutely blazing sensation—like he's looking straight at the sun with no real way to look away from it, even as he covers his face with one arm.
He'd like to reassure them as he has before that this wave will pass like the others and he'll be fine—but he ends up, instead, dropping to a knee in his attempt to escape the sensation with a hiss through his teeth.]
< Ah, h-hey... >
[If he's feeling that bad, maybe now's not the time to be stern.]
< Okay, yeah, you definitely need to find somewhere to lay down. Here, I'll help you out. >
[They kneel next to him and offer their shoulder.]
[If he's feeling that bad, maybe now's not the time to be stern.]
< Okay, yeah, you definitely need to find somewhere to lay down. Here, I'll help you out. >
[They kneel next to him and offer their shoulder.]
[The sensation gets closer, and his free hand moves out to keep it from getting any nearer.]
Bright, [he gasps.
But the cloth he touches reminds him that it's Dante that's closer. The thought keeps that hand from pushing the source of the "light" away, and he ends up gripping their shoulder in a way that's more likely to keep them in place than move them in any direction.
But the shock of it passes, and he comes back to himself enough to mentally reach for his healing. The recovery may not be immediate, but it should be enough to get him in working order again, surely... He'll only need a moment before the horrible whirl in his head stops screeching so intensely and his grip loosens.]
Bright, [he gasps.
But the cloth he touches reminds him that it's Dante that's closer. The thought keeps that hand from pushing the source of the "light" away, and he ends up gripping their shoulder in a way that's more likely to keep them in place than move them in any direction.
But the shock of it passes, and he comes back to himself enough to mentally reach for his healing. The recovery may not be immediate, but it should be enough to get him in working order again, surely... He'll only need a moment before the horrible whirl in his head stops screeching so intensely and his grip loosens.]
[Bright? Does he mean their flame? But... no one's ever called it bright before. Either he's that sick or...
No. No way. It has to be the sickness.]
< Altius? >
No. No way. It has to be the sickness.]
< Altius? >
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