focusedvoid: (shade of you)
[personal profile] focusedvoid posting in [community profile] boxfullofzeroes








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.

Date: 2022-11-20 03:11 pm (UTC)
capitalcurator: (Default)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
He noticed the pause, but he won't say anything to that. He's not fond of expressing himself either. Still leaning on his folded arms, Lemm gives them a nod.

"Never mind that. The shock's probably what made my mind start working - I'd forgotten who I was talking to. Anyway, it's fair enough."

Lemm reaches out to lift the corner of the page and eyes their earlier proposal again. He thought he'd feel conflicted about it, but this is not the case. It's actually a relief.

"I was going to let you put some limits on me -" he taps his open map implicitly - "but I think I like your idea much better. You should know I'm not used to travelling with anyone else, though. It'll take some getting used to and I can't promise it'll be smooth."

Date: 2022-11-20 03:55 pm (UTC)
capitalcurator: (Default)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
There are probably those with masks that express more than he is expressing right now.

While he parses the words on the page he can feel them staring.

"...Yes," he says simply, and refuses to look up. Why are they looking at him. "I would hope so."

Lemm is quiet for a moment.

"'No Geo' isn't quite right. I'll lay no claim to anything that doesn't hold historic interest, I think, at least while we're working together. S'fair, isn't it?"

Date: 2022-11-20 04:26 pm (UTC)
capitalcurator: (this isn't a museum)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
"Hm."

Lemm twiddles his thumbs a bit. He doesn't have to think too hard about that one, either, though this time he's not sure he should let it seem like he was so quickly won over.

Ah, whatever. He should be a bit less closed around the Knight, now. Besides, they just had a heart-to-heart that... honestly knocked him off his feet a bit, and he's still feeling a bit fuzzy around the edges.

"Being given free rein to talk about all the things I know is not exactly my idea of a business expense. And they were well behaved for a little one. I think." He clears his throat. "You'll have to listen to it all, you know - unless you plan on playing the role of hired guard from a mile away. It sounds to me like you're the one paying the price here." There is a rather amused tone to him right now, though he's not showing it on his face yet.

Date: 2022-11-20 04:50 pm (UTC)
capitalcurator: (this isn't a museum)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
Lemm leans his face on his hands and continues chatting like he's as serious as ever.

"No, I like the sound of that after all. May we both find our way to the same room and see which one comes out still talking."

The amusement finishes creeping its way into his voice when he talks next. It is the vocal equivalent of a smirk.

"Answer many prayers, do you? I could do with another hundred Hallownest Seals."

Date: 2022-11-20 05:11 pm (UTC)
capitalcurator: (a full set of king's idols!)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
"Heh."

...He's quick to mask his affection before they can emerge from the fabric enough to see it. His face settles on vaguely good-humoured, instead.

"Ah, now that I've heard. In fact some historians believe the Lord of Shades to be capable of creating a Void snap that can muddle an entire room of organised relic collection in seconds flat." He nods sagely, eyes twinkling in a very un-Lemm-like way. "S'why I don't organise mine much, you see. It's a prevention measure."

Date: 2022-11-20 05:31 pm (UTC)
capitalcurator: (a full set of king's idols!)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
He laughs at that, no longer caring to put on the aloof pretense. It's funny. This is a funny conversation, suddenly. There was a worrisome little pang of fear that maybe he was pushing it, but their writing seems to imply they're taking this very well.

"Maybe we will get along, you and I." He sounds curious - and hopeful, that much is obvious.

Lemm is hesitant when he puts out a hand to softly ruffle the fabric on the top of their head, but there are such things as calculated risks. It only takes a second and then he returns his hand to his face.

"It's strange, but I don't find myself dreading the company. You really do give me too many chances."

Date: 2022-11-20 09:55 pm (UTC)
capitalcurator: (Default)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
Being bowed to by a stranger is one matter, and after a conversation or two that usually becomes a rare thing in itself. But being bowed to by the Lord of Shades -

- It's not like that, he thinks. The Knight doesn't speak, but there are things that must be conveyed regardless and sometimes only a gesture will do. No voice to cry suffering. Absolutely the first thing he's going to address in the record. Anything is a voice if you use it that way, as he's finding.

He does not make a habit of bowing to Higher Beings, but he can make a habit of using the same voice as a friend.

Lemm pulls back and quite unceremoniously dips his head low in return.

Date: 2022-11-20 11:00 pm (UTC)
capitalcurator: (this isn't a museum)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
It - it's received well? He thinks? Or is it. Hard to tell. It feels like it might be a positive. He moves on, but he holds onto that.

"Ah. Hallownest." Onto the planning. He's never (successfully) done this with anyone else before, and Lemm studies the map with some trepidation. His hand fidgets into a drawer and comes up with the pins the Knight gave him.

There are a lot of places he's been, and he's reasonably confident on his own survival. But the Knight is not. That's what the whole terrible thing was about.

Lemm skims across the map and considers: a simple one first, maybe. Not too far. He's heard sometimes people will test the waters with a shorter trip before they're confident with each other enough for longer -

Ugh. Interpersonal rubbish. Lemm points vaguely at the Crossroads after considering said interpersonal rubbish.

"I've been there, but not everywhere. W- I'd have to visit a few places sooner or later. Might make for a practice run."

Date: 2022-11-20 11:33 pm (UTC)
capitalcurator: (Default)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
"I've been there recently," he interrupts, unthinking, just wanting to say so.

...Not what they were looking for - that's what some might call a shutdown. Sheepishly, Lemm elaborates after they finish their sentence.

"I've been to Greenpath and back." Smells less... Lemm shakes his head, suddenly, bristling. "Smells less," he concludes. There is a gravity to it. "It's gone now, so I'll study what's left. Anywhere you know that's new to me, you'll guide me there." He taps the map with a finger.

Date: 2022-11-21 11:27 am (UTC)
capitalcurator: (this isn't a museum)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
Once again Lemm is reminded the Stag Station is an option and he looks direly unenthusiastic about it.

It is literally the fastest and most convenient way and he knows it. Begrudgingly he starts his finger at the Crossroads Station and traces a few paths from there. Notably, all of them directly pass the Temple.

"If I - we take a circular route then... I'd like to take another look at the way into Fog Canyon, but -" quickly, with a meaningful glance at the Knight "- I won't be seeing Monomon just yet. I just want to be sure of the way to the Archives. It's important to be prepared."
Edited Date: 2022-11-21 11:55 am (UTC)

Date: 2022-11-21 03:42 pm (UTC)
capitalcurator: (Default)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
He onboards this information with a nod. "I thought that might be what that meant. Not a problem - better a hazard you know about in advance." He holds up a hand in a kind of on my honour gesture and adds: "You're the guide, though. If you decide somewhere is off limits, we won't go."

The sting of upsetting them is still raw in his mind, and he feels compelled to set that rule.

"Don't think I've forgotten you're always running off on your own mystery errands, either. If you'd find it convenient to make detours, make them. S'not like I'm on a schedule."

Date: 2022-11-21 04:45 pm (UTC)
capitalcurator: (this isn't a museum)
From: [personal profile] capitalcurator
"Hardly planned. This is a practice run, if you'll remember."

Lemm is still not convinced this is going to go very well for him, so it's a practice run, this time, but if by some miracle it goes okay then...

...He needs to stop thinking about this like it's a social event. He's been tasked by the Knight and by himself to get the full, ugly truth of Hallownest's history recorded. It is the work of a Relic Seeker's lifetime. It's work.

"Ready when you are. If you need to prepare or see to anything before we go, do that. It won't take me long to pack a bag." A pause. He squints suspiciously at the Knight. "Come to think of it: eating and sleeping. What's your... gauge." He is like ninety-nine per cent sure there has to be something weird going on with those things, considering the... non-euclidean-ness of the Knight's body. Might as well get the question out of the way.

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