voicetest the voiceless

[focusedvoid]

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.

Comments

[focusedvoid]

If it was only them, they might allow it all to stew a while. But even being hidden in the dark isn't settling Greenhorn properly, and the Knight is still burning with an urge to do something drastic. Normally, they'd go fly across a tunnel at full blast with the Crystal Heart, but this isn't an option.

They have less solid consideration of responsibility of someone new in this case. But allowing bad air to fester before another trip and another ride would be the height of idiocy.

I need a few moments, and would like to scout to the west first. to take a walk alone. Is this acceptable?
+ Greenhorn would like reassurance you don't hate them for "breaking it".

The first part ends with a question. The second intentionally does not.

[capitalcurator]

Lemm stills to read, and looks sheepish.

"Oh. Yes. Go ahead, I- we'll wait for you." A pause for the cogs to turn.

...Ah, that.

The twinge of distress that runs through him at the reminder is just barely visible in the way he tenses. He'd been trying not to think about the lens. Trying very hard in fact.

What is the responsible thing to say? If this was anyone else he'd run them off with the rounded side of a journal.

"...I've no hate for the little one over an accident. I'll talk to them about it while you're gone." He'd love to not, but. Commitments. "Be careful with yourself, Knight. Today isn't the day to find out if the Lord of Shades is invincible."

[focusedvoid]

The Knight dips their head graciously. There's nothing in this kingdom that could keep them down for long before they were Lord, or King, or any title, but there's no need to point that out here.

They go. It isn't an intentional move, leaving them alone together, but any particular true danger distress would be enough to call them back. It's necessary to calm. Their presence would not help.

In the meantime, Greenhorn is still a mess of black around his lower arm. They heard that. They still feel terrible. They've never, ever--done any of this before. Travelled around outside. Got an interesting thing to hold onto. And this first time they broke it.

They're just...it's awful. It's almost like scared, but not. It's not being scared about dying or getting hurt again.

(A first experience of anything difficult is, naturally, the worst experience of that thing someone has dealt with to that point. In their fragments of existence, Greenhorn has never had reason to feel genuine guilt before.)

[capitalcurator]

Lemm is not an idiot, and he's not going to have this... probably rather lopsided conversation around a series of conspicuous tunnelled holes right after seeing what came out of one. He turns the opposite way and trudges slowly to where the cavern narrows, and he stops by a wall. The ground's less churned up here. Hopefully that's a good sign, because he's also not stupid enough to wander all the way out of sight with someone else's family on his arm.

Lemm takes a deep breath, steels himself for the terrible job he's sure he's about to do, and lets his free hand come to rest lightly over Greenhorn in what he hopes is reassurance.

"Is that what you're fussing about, then." His tone is gentle, though not so much more than usual. Maybe the best he can do is try to convince them it's a non-issue. "A frightening thing like that happens and you're lingering on the small things. Pah! I'm not upset about a lens." He is. But the next part is true: "I'd be upset if that thing took a bite out of you, but it didn't and we're here to say so. Thanks to your Knight, no less."

[focusedvoid]

It doesn't feel like a small thing. They knew it was dangerous. They expected the dangerous! This was a whole different...threat. A threat they made? They didn't mean to. They weren't trying to be dangerous to the thing Lemm let them hold.

But there was something worse. It would've made him feel worse if they got hurt.

...Maybe they're still scared about the dangerous, too. They're scared and guilty in a very unpleasant mix they don't know what to do with. But what he's saying is...lots of what he says is smart. They like learning from him, even some stuff they already know a little about. This is more learning.

Str--the Knight did help. They kept both of them from getting broken. Bitten. They stopped it from being worse. It's quiet now, just Lemm's voice humming.

They ripple around his arm and press tentatively up, almost a three-horned shape against his fingers.

[capitalcurator]

Lemm's hand almost lifts away in surprise when the shadow shifts, but this seems like a positive enough development. Which means his talk is... working? It's working. Relief blossoms in his chest. Could have gone so badly. He is used to it going badly.

Maybe it's this that prods him to dig a little deeper.

"I can replace a glass like that. Or fix it, maybe." Not easily, but also not the point. "Saved up Geo for an age to get my first proper relic, or it felt that long. Then I found a seam on the thing and realised I'd been had by a fake. You can imagine. The point is, stuff comes and goes. Don't get bogged down in it."

He thinks he can feel (numbly) horns under his hand, though he isn't about to shrug off the cloak to double-check. Very gingerly, his thumb strokes back and forth against what he estimates is probably their forehead. He's not sure of himself, and it occurs to him that in this state he doesn't know what might hurt them. The motion stops as soon as it starts.

"You've done nothing wrong, and I'm... grateful... to the Knight for the... the protection." Oh, that was a struggle and a half. "Nothing's owed. Understand? Our safety for a little magnifier - s'a fair trade."

[focusedvoid]

Fix it! Of course he can fix it. They didn't think about that. Maybe they can try to fix it, if they're allowed to touch it again. Maybe they can help when he does, at least...?

The thing about a fake relic is absorbed. They don't...really understand most of it, and can't ask. They're a little confused about what a relic is. It's something from Hallownest to look at and learn from, as far as they understand. Lemm came from somewhere outside, though, and they guess someone pretended something was from here when it wasn't. But now he has lots of relics. That must make him feel better.

And Greenhorn's suddenly feeling better too. Safety for a magnifier, and a fake relic for getting more good relics later, and they didn't do anything so terrible as to not be allowed to do anything again with him being so mad. He's not.

They coalesce into proper Greenhorn-shape and stick their head out of the cloak, bringing his fingers with them. Hi, Lemm!



(In the meantime, the Knight is floating in an acid pool, having a sulk. Greenhorn's burst of cheer is almost insulting. They're careful not let that sentiment out enough to be noticed.)

[capitalcurator]

Lemm does not think he'd have been able to face the Knight if this had gone in the opposite direction. More than that - and this is a very unfamiliar feeling and it sits awkwardly in him like there isn't really space for it - he was worried about Greenhorn. Worried! He knows so little about Void (and so, so little about children) and in addition he finds he quite likes the little shade's company, and that's new, too, and it all compounded unpleasantly into a worry that maybe they weren't going to be okay.

But they're bouncing back, apparently. It is enough of a relief that Lemm forgets to put the walls back up.

"There you are! I don't really go in for wearing jewellery, but I was starting to think I'd have to make a permanent exception." He does not pull his fingers away, but he does waggle them slightly. "First things first you'll let the Knight know you're listening when they come back, won't you? They were worried you weren't."

[focusedvoid]

Oh, right. They were...being extra separate there. They don't need to wait! Greenhorn takes a moment to deliberately poke at their sibling, and they get a trickle of check on Lemm alongside the idea of their being wrapped around his arm in response.

Greenhorn's not too worried by their concern, but they make sure to reach up and pat where they were tangled around once or twice to check. For...wounds? There's definitely no cracks or melting, but the Knight doesn't elaborate from where they are, so they settle into contentment. They're both fine!

[capitalcurator]

Lemm isn't sure what they're doing at first, but when the understanding sets in he mildly tries to extricate his arm from their little inspection and snickers, going to pat them on the head instead.

"Ah, aren't you fussy. No, you'll find I'm a sturdy old thing... What about you, then? I hardly know where to look, or what to do about it if I found anything."

Lemm peers at the little shade and searches for signs, his hand lingering and sort of gently nudging them to turn this way and that. He really doesn't know what he's looking for. Maybe he should ask the Knight about that, but already he's doubting there will be a next time, so maybe there's no point.

[focusedvoid]

Greenhorn wiggles about in the ways Lemm nudges, offering their scraggly limbs for him to look over. There's not anything new to see now, but it'd nice to let him know he doesn't need to be concerned either. No bites or cracks or melting!

Finally, the Knight drags their body back up onto land. They're somewhat less irritable from the time spent to sort out their feelings, and heartily helped by Greenhorn's cheer seeping through despite themselves.

They write out a note in advance before they amble back and hand the paper over, completely ignorant how they reek from being directly atop acid for a while.

It looks like that way is a dead end without acid resistance, which I'll assume you're unequipped with. I could possibly dig through it in a larger form, but I'm not sure if that's worth the risk of destabilizing tunnels or luring other Goam.
-Goam weren't smart enough to ambush or give chase while Infected. It would make sense that survivors are. I was angry about the surprise and that I hadn't thought of it.

My apologies.

Greenhorn doesn't read it, but the Knight offers apology to them as well, which they accept without thinking on it too hard. They're enjoying poking the cloak's ruff now.

[capitalcurator]

Lemm is more attuned to the sound of the Knight's footsteps than he realises, because even as they faintly fade into earshot he's already patting Greenhorn on the cheek with finality and turning to wait for their approach. As they near, though, he is suddenly rather reluctant to be in the same personal bubble.

Eyes narrowed, he reaches out and plucks the paper from their grasp at arm's length. A quick scan and his demeanor softens again, but he still can't let exactly let it slide.

"No, I'm not equipped to weather acid, so that's a write-off. But apparently you are," he says disapprovingly, "since you smell like a chemical test! Urgh, and it wouldn't be the first time! You'll be washing that off before you touch a thing in my shop, Knight, make no mistake."

...His fingers tighten against the paper and he whips it down to his side like he's done with it, but this is followed by a stiff, pointed stare off to one side and then Lemm forces himself to look the Knight in the face.

"If that's - what that was about. I know who I've had as my guard today, don't think I've forgotten. I doubt anyone else could chase off one of those things, so - don't go telling yourself off for a job well done. Ugh, let's just..." He gestures back the way they came.

[focusedvoid]

Blank stare, as is natural for them, while also somewhat intentionally to hide any hint of awkwardness. They don't care much about smelling off in general. Something about smelling strange while being complimented--or the compliment itself with reassurance right after they had a fit--leaves them feeling rather off balance.

They indicate agreement. There'll be plenty of places to rinse off or dip in through the City...although they should possibly look for an alternative on the way before they meet with the Old Stag again.

In fact--they pull out their map and indicate the lower path, where a Hot Spring pin gleams, and how it leads to the Stag Station at the end. Would this route be reasonable?

Greenhorn graduates from poking the ruff to becoming a half-scarf draped over it. The Knight's hardly going to object if Lemm doesn't care.

[capitalcurator]

He does not. In fact he absently reaches up to adjust the way the cloak sits on his shoulders, and if his hand strays to pat Greenhorn's horns en-route that's not through any conscious effort of his -- wait what is he doing. Lemm's hand snaps back to his side.

A terse nod. "I should think so! You need a good soak, anyway." A glance down at himself, and Lemm makes an unhappy noise and smooths down his beard. The ends are picking up road dust, and probably worse. He relents a bit. "Maybe you're not the only one. Alright. We'll stop off at the spring first, then..."

Lemm starts walking. It's easier not to have to look at the Knight sometimes.

"Then the Stag. And then you can be done with all of this. I'm sure you have places to be."

[focusedvoid]

The Knight feels an odd twisting sensation when he pats Greenhorn. It paradoxically gets worse when he stops.

Lemm begins walking, and they trail a little behind, out of presumable scenting distance. The Hot Springs aren't far. They just need to be careful about the spikes on the way.

He's not wrong. They do have a few places they're going to visit. Truthfully, though, they're somewhere around overwhelmed. Something they'll just need to get used to for future endeavors, if the whole Goam incident and the Stag rides aren't enough to put him off. They've travelled with others before, and they can remember how to do it again.

Once the party makes it to the Hot Springs room, Greenhorn abruptly peels off from where they'd literally soaked into the ruff. They're not going in there, even for Lemm maybe telling them things about it. It's too bright. They're going to hover here, outside, instead.

[capitalcurator]

Lemm is careful to keep his hands to himself en route to the spring. He'll talk, though. Greenhorn being remotely curious about anything is enough to make Lemm talk. At great length, apparently. (It is a welcome distraction from the day's events, and from several things Lemm does not want to confront right now.)

He barely registers Greenhorn lifting away until he's halfway through the entrance, but the realisation stops him short.

"Hm? No, come. Can't have you floating about out here by yourself..."

When it becomes clear coaxing is not going to work, Lemm - hesitantly, and with a curious glance at the Knight - thinks about improvising. He gestures to Greenhorn, then pats his bag.

"Knight. Do you think...?" It closes. If he takes out a few things first... or maybe it's a bit much. The Knight could simply take Greenhorn back, or however that works, he's sure - Lemm knows there are others and that must work just fine for them. And yet he's offering. Might as well.

[focusedvoid]

The Knight is only partly paying attention. They tilt their head in the two's direction a little before dashing through the hot air. They aren't worried about Greenhorn waiting just outside; they believe that Greenhorn can decide what Greenhorn wants to do, and they needn't push in any case. They have a smell they personally can't smell to try washing off in the meantime.

The little sibling sinks down low. They don't want to get near the glowing water. They know it's fine, with one of them splashing around in it right now--but they just...rather wouldn't! It's okay they're over here, Lemm, right?

[capitalcurator]

Lemm lacks the prior experience to know whether this is against some sort of safety thing. He doesn't like leaving Greenhorn here, but the Knight doesn't seem to mind, so maybe that's - maybe it's just him. Is he being overbearing? He didn't even think he had the capability! This is why he doesn't do people.

Lemm gives a resigned little hm - he'll defer to the Knight this time. Still, though...

...He picks the lumafly light out of his bag, tosses it aside, and then scoops out literally everything else - and hangs the open bag on the signpost. Greenhorn is given a curt bow of the head, and then he follows the Knight inside. The rest of his stuff is carried to the bench and shoved somewhat roughly underneath it with a rattle of metal implements and glass. He will not be explaining himself.

[focusedvoid]

...The Knight doesn't ask, though they certainly look over when he brings all his equipment. Without washing it.

Alright, they're busy with their own thing, including shoving their mask under the water. It's a difficult thing to do. They've already heard all the jokes, friendly and meanspirited both, about being empty-headed, thank you.

Greenhorn ends up in the bag. Not because that's what Lemm implied, though they got that on some level--they're trying to see if there's anything left on the bottom. Even a little bit of weird detritus would be fun to poke at. Or at least better than watching Lemm and the Knight in the uneasy glow.

[capitalcurator]

There's not really much in the bag but lint - just kidding. There is a small collection of every note the Knight has handed him directly on this trip and not taken back or kept hold of. These he did not bring out.

Lemm quells a pang of concern when he walks in to what looks like the Knight drowning themselves. He knows that's not what's happening!

He discards the coat on the bench, splashes in up to his knees, seats himself on the edge of the pool, and heaves a sigh. For a trip he expected (and hoped) to be as unremarkable as possible, it has felt long and kind of intimidating. And there are conscious, patternless dangers in Hallownest now, which will probably make everyone's lives harder. He wonders how much the bugs of Dirtmouth know about the changes down here. Probably something, at least, if the mapmaker's still about.

...Right, the point. He'll just be busy washing today's outing off his beard in the hot spring, as you do. And - maybe keeping half an eye on the Knight. And occasionally checking a glance over his shoulder to keep another half-eye out for Greenhorn.

heee

[focusedvoid]

Greenhorn studies these. Literally. They sort of know how to read already, but it's slow going, having to check each glyph one-by-one. They already have a good idea of what they say, so it's helpful!

The Hot Spring visit was a smart idea. The warm waters alone do wonders settling the Knight more than the time on their own. They truly need to do this more, they decide. Having deeper reserves doesn't mean they're required to avoid the Soul-rich waters.

After they're done with the wild head-dunking and light scuffing of their wings, they let their body pop back up and drift through the slightly deeper parts.

They peer at Lemm upside-down.

Hmm.

Slowly, they reach a paw behind their back. It's not possible to be stealthy proper with Lemm stealing glances their way. But hopefully, it's enough to obfuscate what they're about to do before they do it.

Splish!

It's not as much as they did with Quirrel, already in the water and face shielded by Monomon's mask. But there's definitely a bit hitting him that wouldn't have reached him through beard-washing.

CRIME!!!

[capitalcurator]

Given that he usually spends so much time thinking anyway, it's not long before Lemm finishes cleaning off, falls back into his own thoughts and... zones out. Which is why sometimes when he's habitually glancing up, he's not really looking-looking. Which is why -

- his reaction is comedically loud and over the top. Lemm gasps in shock loud enough to echo and shoots straight up into a stand like someone dumped ice on him. This is very swiftly followed by a wave of embarrassment and even more swiftly followed by righteous indignation.

"...Oh, you uncivilised little brute. You crude little -!"

Lemm splashes straight into the water and beelines for the Knight. He looks about as pissed off as an old sourpuss can get.

jail 4 ghost

[focusedvoid]

Greenhorn's head pops up from their bag-and-paper expedition.

The Knight's genuinely alarmed, shooting to stand straight up just as quickly as Lemm, until he actively leaps in the water. He's either too furious to be reasonable and jumping straight into more of the stuff that upset him, or exaggerating. (He doesn't have any tools for a serious murder attempt anyway.)

So they don't go as far as they really could when they dash diagonally away, slapping the surface with their wings.

[capitalcurator]

They don't have to go far, because after they change direction and he tries to alter course to match, something catches under Lemm's feet in the water. It is the end of his beard.

They get a split-second of Very Alarmed Relic Seeker Face before he faceplants with a loud splash.

...With markedly way less angry energy than before, he scrambles as fast as he can back into a stand with perhaps the most unimpressed expression ever to grace the poor guy. Bedraggled does not come close.

[focusedvoid]

Unfortunate! Lemm's fate of falling, that is. The fact they haven't a voice to cackle with is probably a very, very fortunate thing.

Not as though they're going to allow an attempt at dignity even without that. If he wants to try something for revenge, he'll get a pretty solid chance as they dash right back and flutter over his head in a wild arc.