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]

Greenhorn swirls past Lemm to get in the Shadelord's face, who does not twitch back, but blinks.

And then blinks again.

They can blink.

A hand scrubs across their face. More and more mysterious differences...

...perhaps they could make a mouth.

An uncomfortable thought.

Their other hands drum their claws across the ground, flicking droplets up at Lemm's legs. Yes, yes, both of you, all of you! They get it, alright.

[capitalcurator]

There is a definite undercurrent of flighty humour in the way he's looking at them. A combination of watching them bewilder themselves and also probably because he feels like he just made a point. Also possibly because his emotional state is all over the place, for several reasons.

It's been -

It's been a weird day.

"Splash me again and I'll have to have your little boss discipline you," he deadpans.

And because things are already weird, and he's already hopped worse hurdles today, Lemm strays forward and hooks a hand under their nearest claw, tugging to encourage them to lift it and rest it properly against his hand.

"You're good to go, are you?" he asks, a little more seriously. The worst of the bout of nerves seem to have left him.

[focusedvoid]

They exaggeratedly wince. It's quite a sight coming from such a huge figure.

DON'T
GIVE
IDEAS!

Maybe not completely exaggeratedly. They don't actually know what might happen if Greenhorn decides to try pushing them, literally or figuratively.

The Lord of Shades lifts their claw with Lemm and nods. They're fine if he's fine.

[capitalcurator]

He does snicker at that. They have that effect on him, apparently, where he stops thinking about his reactions before they're already done. It seems quite likely few others who've walked through the door of his shop here nor anywhere else might get to make such a claim.

Lemm hefts their claw under his arm, and gives it a pat with his other hand. He nods back, like they've just agreed to something.

Then he lets go and steps back, and goes to retrieve the hat rack. There's some element of reluctance there, even if that is something he's trying to keep to himself.

[focusedvoid]

Greenhorn is immediately batting at the tendrils on the Shadelord's head. The latter's claws slowly rise, carefully--before they remember that isn't quite necessary. They're both Void. They snatch Greenhorn from midair, much to their internal protest. Hey! They're making them go get their mask! They dramatically smack against the claws, as if they can't just phase through.

Yes, yes, they're going.

The Lord of Shades unwraps from the Fountain and dips their head once more.

Go, go, go!

Yes, alright!

Greenhorn sticks a tendril out to wave at Lemm's back as the whole of them rises, aiming back to the Fungal Wastes. They'll be returning soon.

(They hope.)