hugtopia | Audio: Ainir 3

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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.

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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.]

[ Don't think she didn't notice your dodge there, Cor. Still, she doesn't pursue it for now; she has neglected to say a lot, as it is. He might feel a slight shift, a gentle squeeze of his hand where he holds hers, but that is all. ]

Yes... such matters would be better left to those who may have more favor with them... or those more accustomed to cultivating such relationships. At least we would have to see if they are willing to lend resources that are more suitable for our tests.

Precisely.

[It's exactly why he suggested the others. He's miserable at this sort of thing. That obvious dodge is only proof of that.]

No reason for you to not water the plants, then. Until... we know more.

[ It's more direct than she likes, but it's meant to ... serve some manner of comfort. ]

[Really Honerva? That obvious? That heavy handed? He gives her a Look then huffs a small laugh, shaking his head in exasperation.]

Am I really that bad?

[ So rarely does she go the distance of calling someone out that directly, but he seems to take it well. At his confusion and tone he takes in response however, she wills herself to not apologize. ]

... I have known others who were... worse about such things. Besides there is much else keeping your concern.

[ And situations that he will have more difficult unwinding from, once his King recovers. ]

I suppose I should thank you for looking after my well-being.

[Do not apologize, Honerva. He's amused more than anything.]

I do hope you're taking your own advice.

I have other activities beyond this project, if that is what you intend.

[ She's... not entirely certain what he means. Or why he's thanking her, if his only intent is to throw her advice back at her. ]

Do those projects help you do your part to remain stable?

[He knows damned well that he can be a complete hypocrite sometimes. Refusing others' good intentions while fussing over them. He full expects the same from her.]

Edited 2020-04-13 00:07 (UTC)

[ Honerva is never quite prepared whenever Cor turns her own words around on her. It's not the first time, likely won't be the last, but it still takes her off guard, to be called out. ]

... They do.

[ Studying the world and all that comes with it might keep her busy, but that is the least of it. ]

The only reason I am able to impart such advice to you myself is because... I must also continue to practice such things. There are certain kinds of work that can be consuming and leave you blind to what is important. It is largely because of those I am with now that I even realize... that I must pull away. That I can do... other things. Even if I had not known to before, or had forgotten how.

Especially when others you care for rely on the work.

[So much of his own work has been for the good of the country, his King, now the entire world. How can one justify stepping away from tasks like that?]

I'm glad you let yourself have time away from the work, it's not good for your health to never step away.

[hypocrite]

... It was not.

[ Because he does not know. She has not told him. And certainly not now, at a time when he must watch his lord rest in such a state. Even as the heaviness of this clouds her, those fragments of lost memory that ever haunt still, she shakes her head, seeking a lighter tone. ]

... Besides, Lup and Taako would not allow such a thing.

[It never is... and this once he doesn't think there is anything deeper to it than that.]

Good. It's always good to keep people that remind you to care for yourself near.

[He should maybe find a couple of those that aren't also workaholics like Regis and Ignis]

Then... perhaps you should not be surprised when such a sentiment is suggested to you as well.

[ Finally, an opening to turn it back around on him, before he accidentally scrapes further against certain matters. He does not intend to and he is only being kind, but... ]

It is possible you may have few already... that you may not have considered.

[ Prompto, she thinks, or perhaps Will. ]

[Oh, definitely Will. But Prompto, like Noctis, looks up to him too much to criticize him. You don't correct the Marshal and all.]

I know, I know. Pot, kettle.

[He sighs, heavily, pausing in the idle meandering they've been doing for some time now, only just realizing how dark it's gotten. Then he uses the link of her hand to urge her a little closer so he can brush a light kiss to her cheek.]

And there's no reason we can't remind each other right?

Audio: Ainir 3

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