hugtopia | Audio: Ainir 3

Entry tags:

Audio: Ainir 3

[Early in the morning a familiar voice comes over the network. It's stupidly early and he doesn't expect anyone to answer, not for a bit at least. He's walking across the city and the soft sounds of the street can be heard in the background.]

Good morning, Havenwell. My apologies for the absence over the last weeks. I took ill, it seems, and now Hi- [A pause, a hesitation. Of course he can't keep calling Regis by his title to the public and not expect confusion.] Regis seems to have caught the same from me. Perhaps the priests' insistence on quarantine should be observed. Not that any of us are willing to accept that.

If you have need of myself, Noctis, or Ardyn we're all liable to be at Ainea's temple for the forseeable future. I know that might not be ideal, considering I've already been in one of these temples for days now but...

I will not leave my King.

[Locked for Lup and Honerva]
I'm sorry my darlings. I do wish to see you, of course, and I know I must have worried you. Ainea's temple is large and cozy, I'm not comfortable leaving him but I am more than capable leaving Noctis and Ardyn at his side long enough to step away.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[They just used a pair of birds to teleport from one temple to another with an unconscious man not 48 hours ago. Her timing is hardly even going to register. Not that he's tracking time too accurately at all, too worried, too many things racing around his mind.

It takes him far longer than it should to even see her, distracted until she's only just a few feet from him. The attempted smile is weak and dull, once again too serious. Not that he's not grateful to see her but it's hard to smile when things are still as tense as they are. ]

It is good to see you. [A hesitant touch to her wrist, he's not sure how much contact she would really be comfortable with but he needs to touch her, reassure himself that she is here and real and not going anywhere whatever his paranoia is screaming at him.] I'm sorry I've worried you.

[ Honerva hardly knows what to anticipate from him either, as she appraises him visually as she approaches until he finally sees her. He's had a lot to deal with after waking, and she was far enough removed to not have been there for him, especially with his having to immediately attend to the state of his king's situation, with or without that close unit around to stay together for it.

He is tense, and he need not pretend otherwise with her, unless pretending is what he needs to get by, but to that end, she would not know. It is difficult, to know what to do, when words were little comfort. If contact is what he needs, then she will not pull away, and carefully draws closer, at his touch.

From the state she had witnessed him in prior to waking, asleep, unreachable, fading, it's good for her too, to have such proof of his more solid state. Strain was written all over him and into him, even if he had those signs of age long erased. His usually clear blue eyes were so... clouded, weighted.

She is no replacement for the company he truly desires, but he had called her there, and so there she would be. ]

It was not your intent to cause concern. I am... grateful to see you well.

[ Even if he wasn't truly well, on the inside, but that was a different matter. ]

[She moves closer and Cor guides her to loop her arm through his, his other hand coming across to give hers a squeeze where it settles over his arm. He doesn't say anything about it, not really, just starts walking, moving, something to do idle and useless as he feels right now.

Really she doesn't give herself enough credit. No, she may not be his King but her presence is a calming one. Soothing in her wisdom and understanding, easing his anxieties just through the knowledge that she has no expectations of him. He is who he is and that is enough, no matter how much he struggles.]

The city, at least, seems to be no worse off.

[It's a sort of random comment, his mind scattered and really in no position to have a decent conversation. But just having her near is a comfort.]

[ She can tell he's fishing for some topic to latch onto, at least as a distraction. She did not know how helpful a conversation that lingered on the current state of the world's affairs would be, but perhaps it would be easier to give him something else to ponder that might be more productive than going over the same worries connected to Regis right now.

She'd personally had some recent experiences that were... less pleasant, but now was not the time to distract him with that. Even if it might be important information to recount later, when it was more appropriate to do so.

For now, she would remain at his side, as much as that was... familiar in another way she did not want to think of right now. ]

The past month had been... mostly quiet, aside from the expected disruption from the citizens' experiments. Although...

[ Perhaps there is something more pressing to inform him of, lest he experience it and react adversely to it without any context, knowing what she did of his nature. ]

... do not be alarmed if we experience a mild quake. They do not disturb much, but when the trembles cease, the gods send a message to those who are linked to hear it.

[There are many pressing matters that he will need to be caught up on but for now at least he is grateful for her omissions. Even if he does not know it.]

Quiet is more than I could have hoped for.

[The mention of quakes, however, gets a raised brow.]

Messages from the gods? I'd felt some small measure of these quakes in the Temple but... this is the first I've heard of messages.

I imagine with everything going on in the temple, there's been little reason to mention it yet.

[ Her own experience thus far had been fairly limited, but for the information of others. ]

We noticed that during those quakes, the native citizens would rush to stand together in a certain way. By copying those motions, the messages are transmitted. Mostly they've seemed to be... a small variety, of gratitude and warning, but all vague. Thanking us for our help, implications that changes are on the rise, and... to stay away from the walls.

[There's a distant sort of curiosity in his expression, nothing pressing or particularly concerning about it. Not when his King lies unconscious and his Prince is suffering, Not when Will is miserable and terrified of being the cause of all this heartache.

And then she says that last bit and his step falters ever so slightly, those steely eyes that had been clouded with the weight of his uncertainty abruptly sharp and clear as his gaze cuts to her.]

Change but to stay away, hmm? Perhaps they don't like us looking into things on our own.

A similar conclusion that I had drawn. There is no indication as to what may occur... only for their intention for us to remain "safe" throughout it.

[ Her tone is as measured as ever, though there's the slightest hint of something else in it, the slight downturn of her ears, the burden of what she does not say. ]

They spoke of maintaining a balance as well... though if that is in regard to the energy they receive, that matter is a little more complex.

Safely uninformed.

[Perhaps he's a bit more cynical with everything going on but she's certainly successfully given him something to consider that is not his King. The dark comment has him looking to her quickly, an apology readying on his lips almost immediately. He's no business being so negative about it.

Except that there's clearly more to it, the slant of her ears, the weight in her voice. Cor's hand covers hers on his arm, thumb stroking encouragingly over her knuckles.]

More complex, perhaps... but you have more information on it than you've mentioned?

[ The movement of his hand gives her pause on how to proceed. While she wanted to provide him distraction, she didn't want to provide him worry... but perhaps there was yet something she could inform him of. ]

... Not information, exactly.

[ At least, it offers her an opportunity to divert further. ]

However, while we cannot be certain as to what the 'balance' in the message refers to, some of us plan to... further our study of the energy that sustains within the barrier. In part, we had noticed higher concentrations in some gods over others for some time now, so we want to discover if diverting that energy in some way before it can all unify would... balance those powers remotely, instead of disrupting the lives of individuals.

Now that is certainly a thought.

[For once worry is not the immediate thing to come to mind, instead he tilts his head, gaze flickering up to the temple as they circle gradually around it.]

Finding a way to regulate the energy output, possibly even to redirect some of it for our own uses...

Have you any thoughts on how to achieve such a thing?

I do have some thoughts, though given the limitations on resources, it will take some time before any theories can be put to any test.

[ How much, she does not know, but at least some of it has been put in motion already. She rarely likes to voice opinion without certainty. ]

What we do know currently, is that the energy that the gods receive does unify, and that much is represented in the makeup of the barrier. The individual components of it has been more difficult to track, but that is the first task.

Resources... of course everything is so scarce.

[This, at least, is a problem he can sink his teeth into, gnaw over and worry at like an old dog with a bone. Regis, his state, Cor's own health, the loss of Kiwi and Lunafreya... none of that is something he can do anything about. He's left to sit idly by while things happen around him. It's maddening.

Here, at least, he may be able to help.]

You were able to test the makeup of the barrier?

... Yes. At least in so far as to confirm the power that supports it.

[ Which is more or less complicated as it sounds, but at least pursuing truths in energy is something she is more experienced with. ]

The levels of energy that it receives is dependent on the flow which the gods receive from us. It is reflected in their statues, as well... and while their power is unified within the barrier, we have noticed that Rawna holds the greater share compared to the rest, and that has not yet shifted.

Do you think it is because more people are offering their support to Rawna specifically?

[He would've thought it would be Ainea. He knows so many of her supporters and they're all such affectionate people.]

... In a way. We are aware that energy is generated through closeness with others. However from the evidence, we can only guess that currently those who may find themselves within that alignment may have a tendency to have more closeness with others, whether it is intentional or... forced by situation.

[ Some people were naturally affectionate, regardless of what the world was asking of them. Others had to be manipulated into such things. Here he was yet with his closeness to her, a gentle motion of his willingly offered affection. ]

However because we are yet ... people, and have yet some measure of freedom over our inclinations, such discrepancies are to be expected. To regulate ourselves based upon such alignments would be... damaging.

[The stilted way she conveys that last part actually makes him smile a little. He draws her hand up to press a kiss to her knuckles before settling back into their previous position arm in arm.]

Attempting to discourage people from contact to regulate the flow would be difficult, yes. Hurtful to relationships and very likely to anger the locals as well.

So there must be another way.

[ Those soft little moments he offers are quick to take her from her train of thought. Despite being wrapped up in her report, there's a moment where she smiles softly, before she speaks again. ]

What we need is a means to... not have the focus on us otherworlders to be on production, no matter which entity requires the most support.

[ Some might be more enthusiastic about touch than others, which would mean more pressure for those supposedly not doing enough, as though there were some quota they were unaware of. She could relate this aspect far too easily to any other energy she had studied even if the circumstances were vastly different in other ways. Mostly... it was the sense of wanting to appreciate what affection was offered without concern toward how it might be used. That was too familiar, and all too unsettling. ]

The question would be what would happen to the excess that does not balance... could it somehow be stored, until it is needed? But there is little we can do until we have more tests and materials.

Storing it would be ideal, I think. But also potentially finding a way to convert energy from one deity to another.

[It's a lot of theory, a lot of "find a way to" that he had absolutely no room to advise her on.]

Either way it is quite the task you've set yourself, Honerva. I do hope you have help?

[Don't make him recommend Verstael again, his heart can't take it. The idea of endangering her is downright nauseating.]

... Perhaps. There are many possibilities, but we must start at the beginning before deciding the application of it.

[ It was a lot of theory, but she wanted to focus on understanding what the energy truly was than anything else. It was easy enough to get ahead of themselves with their ideas and not the practicality of it all. She'd leave those ideas for others. Risk-taker that she often could be she did have priorities here and she well knew the downsides of certain endeavors. ]

As it is, it was a task another had approached me for assistance with, so it is not all my own work.

[ She may have the knowledge, and may perform quite enough of her share of it, but the face of this project will not be hers alone. ]

[He actually seems to relax a little more at that, offering her a gentle smile. Knowing that the idea was not hers first is reassuring. It means there is another that is just as dedicated to the project as she is. Theoretically that means they will balance one another so neither over taxes themselves.

Theoretically.]

Sharing the work is for the best, certainly. If there's anything I can do to assist you, you'll tell me?

[ There is a pause, a flicker of mild surprise, even if she should not be surprised that he would of course offer to assist in some way. ]

I do not yet know in what form that will take... but if it will not take your time away from other important matters, certainly I will let you know.

[ Right now the project was yet in theory stages and far more structure was needed, once she had the time to sit with it and consider. But Cor's time was precious and he had so many others, here; that must be respected. ]

[Maybe his time is precious but he hardly knows what to do with himself if he doesn't have half a dozen tasks in mind at any given time. He cannot bear idleness and now that he's found hobbies that he enjoys as well as the purpose they've found in the store. Cor is nearly back to his old habitual schedule, too much to do, not enough time to sleep. Though now it's Will stealing most of his sleeping hours.]

Doing my part to make sure the city remains safe for us is far more important than watering plants.

[ Safe, he says, and she can't help but think of what else she has not yet told him. 'For your own safety, how would it help you to know?', she'd asked of him once, and his response had been to securely make it known how he had felt, wine or not.

But here he was, far too stressed to appreciate what watering plants could do for him now, with Regis's current state. Perhaps something... would always be happening, even in a world which seemed so much calmer than what they knew. ]

Doing your part to remain stable is of value, you know.

[ Even if it wasn't fair, to rely on someone like that. ]

Still a project like this may require more hands than we know. We do not know how the citizens will take to it, in truth. I am wary of how to proceed... but that is why I would secure our knowledge first.

[He will forever be too stressed to appreciate what good any kind of relaxation does him. Just he dismisses her concern of stability, not bothering to comment on it to agree or disagree. Better, and easier, to simply not acknowledge it.]

Determining where the locals stand on most things is a difficult and risky process... to that end I might recommend enlisting Regis or Will, though. They are both very personable and clever with their words.

[A politician and a former con artist. This is fine.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject