boxfullofzeroes | voicetest the voiceless

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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The Knight slowly shakes their head. They're...somewhat confused by this.

I wouldn't have asked if it were a problem. I thought we both might like to bring at least one out. They run a claw under the 'us' from the previous line. If possible without destroying them, which it might not be.

Edited 2022-12-20 22:25 (UTC)

There is a fine line between looting and... whatever this is. Looting still, perhaps. But he wants the damn sconce, and Ze'mer is gone. And if they're clarifying they're not judging-?

Lemm sticks his hands on his sides, summoning enough confidence in his career to say yes, of course he'd like to take a historically-relevant light holder that he can remember a Great Knight by. (And have her remembered by, if he happens to record anything about those flowers.)

"Then it isn't a problem. Yes, I'd take one. I'll clean up both, if you'd like."

Positions made clear, the Knight nods decisively. Two to pry from the wall, if possible.

They trot past Lemm to lead the way, briefly patting his wrist first. Hand-holding through the house wouldn't be practical.

Even more than the sconces, the picture of their sibling by the stairs hasn't been forgotten. When they make it there, they stop and pull it from its place without letting themselves think too much.

Their eyes still catch the unseeing set staring up, almost, not quite meeting theirs.

The emotions that swirl compared to the image's discovery are duller, but still there. They'll...they suppose they will put this on the wall of their house. If they don't keep it tucked away with the rest of their items. They have yet to decide.

(It wouldn't be practical, no. He catches at his own arm afterward, unrelatedly.)

He's quick and confident when he follows, but their pause has him step back a pace or two to allow them some space. If they hadn't taken the picture, he'd considered sneaking it out. It should be rescued from here, he'd thought at the time.

It doesn't matter now; they should be the one to have it, and one way or another he thinks he'd have made sure. Lemm watches the way they linger over it. And he clears his throat, and settles a hand firmly on their shoulder.

"Stash it upright," he advises. "Nowhere too damp nor too dry. Light above ground'll fade it, if it's too direct."

Lemm does not have a better language to say this is important.

They jump slightly. It's too easy to be lost in the hardly-distant past.

Sharp nod. The sentiment is understood enough. He cares for them and their emotions, or for the history of this picture, or some concept of the little one in this image. The advice is good no matter the case or cases. They'll do their absolute best to follow it.

It disappears under their wings, and they refocus on the task at hand.

The melancholy is shaken off well before they're staring back up at the sconces.

Now, how to remove them without significant destruction...they reach up to tap the tip of their blade where the metal meets the wall, testing how flimsy it is.

He nods curtly at their decision and follows like a shadow, like he's getting used to doing when they - the they, plural are moving with intent, together.

...On the wall-fittings, too, he has some experience to share. Never mind how he learned it.

He draws close to the sconce they're examining and, unbothered by their Nail, taps a finger at the corner of the fitting and instructs accordingly.

"Metal pins, I'd think, with this design. Pry the edges one by one. Careful."

They nod their thanks. And pry with their Nail, naturally. The tip is fine to a degree that actually works, and their control enough to keep from simply slipping or ripping the whole thing down.

The lumafly that still survives within causes slight distraction. The Knight doesn't do any damage from it, but must briefly stop to admire how the light catches the edges of the Nail's patterns sticking from behind the flower's shape.

He would demand speed, if this were a team someone else organised, if it were a circumstance where someone else had any hold on how things went. It's not. Lemm feels a bit like the overseer. Mostly, not.

He just hangs back, content with however they opt to proceed. It's a bit endearing that they'd pause to look at the way it gleams.

They have time. Lemm has absolutely no intent to rush them.

(Some might describe the way he watches as affectionate. Lemm would likely start an argument over this.)

It takes some time, being careful.

Not as much as it could. They're fully confident in their use of Nail, even in such a strange manner.

By the time the sconce pops off the wall, they think fast enough to flutter up to catch it, only to find that it has more heft than they were expecting. They land rather heavily and stumble backwards, onto their rump--allowing it, really, in a unthreatening place with a friend--staring at the shape in their hands accusingly as dust swirls freshly around.

Lemm immediately comes forward to try and be helpful, like he did when they were sprayed with water in the greenhouse. Like then he's a little too late to catch them before they topple back, and instead it just gets a mild snicker out of him.

"S'heavy, is it? Here." He stoops to take the weight of the sconce (oh, that is solid, that's encouraging!) and sets it to one side for the time being. Lemm takes the Knight's paws and pulls them to their feet, briefly dusting at their wings with the back of his hand. "I'll hold the other one."

Admittedly, they didn't expect the lift so much, nor to be brushed off. A little of their wings must've felt bizarre under Lemm's hands as tendrils considered wrapping around his fingers.

Instead, they step away and let them rustle in for-show indignance, and go pry the other sconce off the wall a little more quickly. They let its weight carry itself down to them, catching it before it can fall straight onto their face. Mission successful.

Lemm hovers the whole time. Yes, he knows they can manage. It's more about being backup just in case. No one likes being clocked between the horns by a metal ornament.

When the sconce comes away from the wall, he even prepares himself to catch this time - they're fine, though.

Lemm nods approvingly and goes to retrieve the other one, tucking it into his bag. It's getting a little heavier, but he's lugged enough stone journals around not to be bothered and this is hardly that.

"D'you want me to hang onto that for you until we part ways? I've got the space for it." He pats his bag. "Looks cumbersome on you." No offense...

The Knight tips their head in appreciation, but not agreement.

It's not a small object, and once, they wouldn't have tried what they do next: tucking it under their wings, where it visibly sinks into them and the shell of their side. It would've been too difficult before, and later, they might've had concerns unsettling Lemm. After everything, they doubt he'll be overly bothered.

He's ruffled only for a moment until he remembers - ah, right. Unified Void, et cetera. This is normal.

Lemm watches it done, vaguely curious.

"Of course." It's not that he forgot, it's just... that was so visible and obvious as opposed to small things being made to mysteriously disappear beneath their wings. "I have to admit, Knight, I'm strangely jealous. I'd carry my whole shop with me if I could do that." He sounds quite amused. "Are you ready to go, then?"

It's convenient until I forget what I have. I suspect a lot of your shop would be lost for a while.
That said, if you want something kept hidden or held for a time, I'll gladly carry what you give.

The Knight nods agreeably. Onward and out, and they'll wait for Lemm to lead.

That tickles him somewhat. "If I'm to be completely honest with you, half of it is already." Lemm sounds more than amused by this. He'd never normally admit such a thing, but since they're sharing! "Everything I have is safest at home, as it stands. But, hrm - it's a thoughtful thing of you to say."

He won't exactly lead, rather just takes the cue to go ahead through doors too narrow for the two of them; the rest of the time, Lemm's more inclined to remain at the Knight's side.

He does stop and pause in the foyer, turning back to regard Great Knight Ze'mer's Nail with an unreadable stare. Then he slips outside. He keeps his eyes forward, but when the Knight is close enough he offers a few words.

"I learned a lot from this place, and thank you for showing it to me." There. Perfectly courteous. Like any normal person making conversation. Never mind that he's rehearsed it in his head a few times while they've been here.

Also, with far less certainty as the tunnels near: "...Hm. You'd have told me if we passed any spirits, of course...?"

With how the front of his shop appears, and how the back is even worse, this information doesn't shock them. It does answer something they've been idly wondering since their second or third visit to sell, whether or not Lemm knows exactly where everything is in only his own organization system. Seems he has to dig his own way through.

The Knight lingers behind for a moment, turning to the Nail, just behind where Ze'mer had stood, and bows. They don't think she's genuinely here, but if anything still remains, they offer respect on the way out.

His words get a nod and as far as a hop in response. They're glad of it, and enjoyed it as well. It's been a fruitful trip in a great many ways, their increased knowledge of each other fully unexpected and the most important.

I may, if you like, in the future. There were none on the way in. They're mostly above, just across where Seer lives. We need to quiet on the way out to avoid her and her guests(?).

Mostly he knows what he has! Just. Not with everything. Stuff he hasn't looked at in a while tends to make its way out of sight and out of mind. It happens.

Lemm dips a horn in response to their enthusiasm, trying not to look too pleased that they apparently feel that way. (Lemm will not change into an overly-forthcoming fountain of zeal overnight, and likely not ever. Exactly how thrilled he is about anything will remain something he keeps to himself for the most part.)

The spirit stuff is considered at length. He's a bit torn - on the one hand, does he really want to know? He was admittedly more comfortable not giving the concept of ghosts and spirits much thought. Still, curiosity has driven his whole life.

"...Hrmm... Tell me if it's important. I'll leave that up to you." If he really thinks about the odds, he's probably walked through a few in the past. He must certainly have taken things rather left alone. Lemm makes a displeased noise and shakes his head. "I've always had a heap of questions for the dead, but I don't know that I like the idea of them answering back."

It's not that he's afraid, per se. It's just... something that puts a strange new spin on his whole line of work.

"Worry not. I'll be silent as the grave."

Alright. There are fewer than one might expect in a place like this. The Resting Grounds and all Hallownest. The ones they believe Lemm might've wanted to try communicating with are long gone with their battle and Dream Nail.

They choose not to mention Greenhorn, though the technicality itches to be mentioned. They're a spirit, and reminding Lemm as much would be painfully tactless. He likes them.

Moths seem in tune with graves. Be as quiet as I, instead.

With that, the Knight disappears into the tunnels.

Of course they'll be down there waiting for him, standard lumafly lantern held up in the dark.

(It's not the same with Greenhorn! - Well, no, alright, he wouldn't have a leg to stand on there. The point is he knows that one. Strangers' ghosts are a whole other issue.)

Lemm scoffs. Of course they'd give his joke a rebuttal.

As usual he is much faster descending than ascending, though he's far slower than the Knight nonetheless. At least with the tightness of the space he doesn't need rope. At the bottom he pulls out his own lamp and - a little bit wiser for last time - tucks his beard behind his bag, away from the floor and walls. ~~Not that it isn't still stained in the first place.~~

As before, he lapses into quiet down here. They're nowhere near the Seer yet, and he knows that, but... something still feels off about talking in the catacombs. He nods for the Knight to lead, since they know the way better. Any further querying about whether the tombs down here interest him will be dismissed with a wave. He's really not any more keen on stopping than he was on the way in.

The trip out goes quicker than the trip in. Lemm's disinterest in what's buried here is still mildly surprising, but they don't waste time questioning, or doing more than consulting their map to make absolutely certain they're not leading them the wrong way.

The way back up might need rope. They'll offer with a paw out to carry it back to the crypt's entrance if he wishes them to, and then creep back out. It's quieter up there than they like.

In all fairness, he probably would have lingered more if not for both trips being preceded by talk of spirits. Even if it was his own silly fault this time. He's really not bothered by the dead in most circumstances - and likely he'll get over this slight hurdle very quickly.

Lemm does let them secure the rope for him. That much is appreciated - it's not really the angle for throwing a grapple, nor is there much space for it.

He is a little clumsier than he intends, and ends up thudding an arm over the side of the broken tomb as a sudden precaution when his foot almost slips on the way out. There is no 'ow', since they're both playing the quiet game, but once Lemm is upright and standing on solid ground they might catch him rubbing his elbow with all the bitterness of someone who was trying quite hard to look professional the whole time.

They gingerly pat Lemm's arm nowhere near the elbow in silent sympathy before heading forward again.

They're not going to stop for the Dreamers' gravestone, memorial, what-have-you this time. They're not even going to look at it. Still, the drawn image of their tall sibling so small is something they're very, very conscious of having as they pass it by.

If anything he just looks even more perturbed that they acknowledged it. He stops fussing after that.

Whether consciously or not, he sticks close to the Knight as they make their way back. Their little expedition is not over until it's over, and despite the sense that it's largely been a success and the way back to the City of Tears feeling more than familiar, he hasn't forgotten to take the expedition stuff seriously. If mostly to prove he will.

The rest of the way is thankfully uneventful. Lemm has little to say about anything until they're almost back.

"...Knight." A long pause, during which he looks slightly conflicted, then: "I'm going to keep my key behind the sign, I think. When I go for a walk."

The Knight doesn't respond to that for a few more steps, conflicted as well.

It's a kind sentiment. Truthfully, a touching one. But they have some concerns, in particular after his recent mention of being robbed not too far in the past.

I'm grateful you have that level of trust in me. ~~Are~~
I'm incapable of expressing how much. But I don't know if I trust others who might pass through. Are you certain?

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