the knight (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
focusedvoid) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
boxfullofzeroes2022-10-31 05:57 am
focusedvoid) wrote in boxfullofzeroes2022-10-31 05:57 am
voicetest the voiceless
They're not dead.
Less dead than they'd felt, at least. Their shell doesn't normally take so long to reform.
Then again. Their shell doesn't usually break of their own violation as they ascended in a boiling rage, ate at least one realm, a god, and all the Godseekers.
(That last point is debatable, actually. There's some odd sense, deep under their...shell? Void? Wherever they once stored things like Isma's Tear, much deeper now...that the sea-mind is still there, sluggish and held in a stasis. They're already adjusting enough, and they don't seem to be dying or trying to kill them, so that problem is neatly sorted as 'for later'.)
They push their body to stand. Their horn clangs uncomfortably loudly against the grate they've apparently woken up beneath. They're somewhere in the Royal Waterways. A quick check of the map--or, not so quick, as it takes time to locate where it had been--shows they've risen about halfway through, closer to the City of Tears than the White Palace. They'll go to the Stag Station in the City Storerooms next.
So they think. Complications arise on the way.
The Infection is gone, leaving dead Flukes, Pilflips, and Hwurmps in piles enough it takes time to force their way past. Their body seems too small. No, their body is fine--there's something wrong with perception itself. That will take time to adjust to.
Then, they discover the Monarch Wings now stretch and warp when used, twisting around the nearest pipes after landing before the Knight forcibly calls them back. Shade Wings, they decide to call these.
Once they're high enough to hear the rain above, they realize a noise they'd ascribed to water running in the distance is, in fact, something swirling behind their mask. Many somethings. All the fragments of Siblings with enough self left, staring out from their eyes. It's disconcerting.
By the time they actually get out of the Waterways, they're using their Shade Wings to grip ledges and drag themselves up, with those holding onto things better than their own arms are with the Mantis Claw.
The Knight faceplants awkwardly onto the floor of the building Lemm's shop is in. If the City is the same as below, there's little left to try killing them in the area.
They'll just take a moment here, thanks.
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"I see." A light shake of the head. "That's humiliating for a warrior type, isn't it? I've read enough to see that much."
He does not know this Tiso person, but he knows the Knight. It occurs to him, rather jarringly, that it just as well might have happened to them, if fate had happened to tip it that way. Then where would he be.
"Yes. Vile business, this Coliseum. May it fall to disrepair and collapse into the acid."
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In the meantime, though, their thoughts strayed to a certain other at Kingdom's Edge.
There's another Nailmaster there, Oro, as far from the Coliseum as one can be in the area. I don't expect you to visit him, though perhaps you'd enjoy trading barbs and geo. He's not cheap. Unsure if he knows much of the Great Knights in the first place.
There's one more Nailmaster, Mato, at King's Pass on the other side of the kingdom. They vaguely gesture westward. See, they're remembering to give more facts than he's specifically asked already! Not easy to get to with all the winds and climbing, but quite friendly. Still not sure of his knowledge. They're brothers, and all look extremely similar.
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Lemm has noticed the sudden freedom of information, too, and it'd be a shame not to take the opportunity to encourage that.
"These're good connections you're making for me. I've a fair few trips to make, it seems. Though I'll prioritise our - joint project, first." This does highlight the other thing he's been treading carefully around for a little while. Lemm takes a sip of his water and casually tries: "If I do find the whim strikes, shall I wait to take you along?"
He has never really bent to anyone else's restrictions before, but as far as he knows their entire precarious relationship hinges on it - and he's committed already. The image of the Knight's ink dragged away from their note still sits uncomfortably heavy in his mind's eye. His excitement over the Great Knights still does not take precedence over that private guilt.
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Likewise, I'll remind you I don't expect you to follow up with every name I give. They're simply options to take or leave.
Also, if there are any I believe you should avoid, I'll be sure to specify. (Ex, Divine of the Grimm Troupe.)
The Knight is focused on their current subject, and so they assume he's referring to the Nailmasters in particular. They take a few moments to think them over.
Likely, yes. Oro lives past acid and Great Hoppers I doubt have all died out, as much a blessing as it'd be. Sheo and the Nailsmith are past a very irritating tunnel of thorny vines(unknown how they met). You may be able to make it to Mato with your rope but the cliffs are rather sheer.
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He bites back an I'll manage! The Knight gets the final say. He has committed.
Only a little stiffly, he nods. More rattling around in the shop then. No, that's bitter - he likes his shop, no need to be dramatic.
"I'll follow your lead," he says simply, and sets his cup aside. "You've made a fine guide so far."
He does tilt his head slightly, eyeing the way they're sprawled. There is a heavily implied but unspoken Comfy? in that look.
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The Knight has a moment's pause, imagining Lemm in the Troupe's tents. With his faintly tinted shell, he might, barely, seem to fit. From a distance. And behind. With his mouth kept shut.
Thank you. Still, I need clean the rust of so long without travelling with a companion. I believe we should leave the Hoppers and acid for a little later.?
Yes, they'd prefer to be present, but in the end, Lemm is to pick the destination.
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"As have I." Rust. As if it's rust. Laughable! "I'm still well content with this mansion as a destination. If I'm sidetracked it's because I've plans to set for after."
He's looking forward to such a trip with them. He hoped very hard there'd be another, at least one more, and now they seem open to the idea of so many... Following his rule of taking the Knight's directions is much easier with this hope settling almost comfortably in his chest.
"We'll shake it off," he clunkily adds.
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We will. There's time. This addition is partly for their own benefit. The Knight has no desperate goal to rush to, only steady excursions and personal exploration for entertainment alone.
Hallownest is a large place. A surprising amount is still impressive. It does well to see it through eyes that aren't my own. This is intended to be a compliment.
And on the note of the Mansion: When would you like to go?
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It is taken as a compliment. A good Relic Seeker knows nothing is totally unbiased. It's the bias that makes history interesting to pick apart, because sometimes what it actually is is perspective. Lemm enjoys the Knight's perspective as much as they (and Greenhorn) seem to enjoy his. (It is changing him to learn this.)
There is time, it's all he has right now, that and relics - but suddenly he wants to cram everything in as fast as possible. There's still a part of him expecting this to be over as quickly as it's begun.
He lets that feeling sit until he's able to keep it out of his decisions. He is an adult bug with some kind of measured reaction to things, thank you very much.
"I'll go whenever you're ready," he says, after a pause that goes on slightly too long. "I don't feel like my horns are being torn off me any more, at least."
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...Still, it isn't a particularly threatening area to traverse, even with some sort of headache.
I have nowhere to be currently.
That's not completely the case. I gladly choose your company over Herrah's politicking. Light teasing while offering a truth.
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"That's who's been politicking you?" This comes easy. He remembers every word, after all. "The thought of her is daunting, I'll admit - but I'll face her for you if you need an excuse. I'll tell her you're busy." Please do not ask him to do this thing he just offered. He is hoping very hard it will not leave this room.
...
Oh!
The sudden little knock of now, do they mean now? has him rising from his seat eagerly.
"I can pack a bag, if haste's the word." He hopes so. He feels far younger than he is right now at the thought of it.
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Ah, he's excited. That's a better sign. The Knight shifts from their awkward lay into a crouch (still nearly as awkward). If you like. If you need rest first, I can wait. Perhaps mind the shop in your stead.
Don't agree with that, Lemm, they have no memory what the formula is outside Wanderer's Journals and King's Idols.
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"I'm rested, as I told you..." and oh no, no no. "I won't have you hanging around in here, no. This is my place of business and you'll have everyone thinking it's a community effort! No. Wait for me."
Lemm disappears into the back, but it won't take him long. He keeps his bag packed very carefully, and just tops it up with supplies now and then - though they can probably hear him hurriedly going through a few things just in case.
When he re-emerges with his bag grasped in one hand, he lifts it into the air a bit semi-triumphantly with a fabric-muffled clatter of tools. He does not make a move to sit back down. Yes, he is willing to go right now. Is that so strange.
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He'll find the Knight standing on the counter's edge, bemused. Even with the excitement, this amount of hurry wasn't expected.
It occurs that Lemm is, more likely than not, restless.
They can hardly blame him. This is a small shop in a dull city, no matter how fascinating its collection of minutiae. A good wandering is needed. They should...try to stop by more often, or at least try charting a way that could be long enough for camp for a later route.
If he wants. They're getting ahead of themselves. Practice, de-rust, Grey Mansion.
They dip their head and stow their quill, hopping down. Now, then.