apocalypsehowcomm | Event - The 25,000 Light Year View

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Event - The 25,000 Light Year View

The 25,000 Light Year View

The atmosphere in the lower level gym at ADI headquarters is… tense, to say the least. Nia, Neil, and Rae are present with the rest of those remaining at the organization (or willing to come when called by Neil and Rae for a final statement) seated in benches and chairs that have been dragged in. It's not the usual, orderly meetings that some might have gotten used to for mission briefings.

Neil speaks first. "Thank you, everyone, for coming in. Lot's been happening, but we've come to… an understanding about where we need to go. The artifacts that were in the Vault have all been accounted for or noted as destroyed in some manner with a few exceptions. We're still chasing- ADI is still chasing those down with help from anyone who might want to give it. Won't pretend this is going to be a kumbaya moment, so let's get down to brass tacks. There's an apocalypse on. Whatever this organizations stands for now, its original mission was to uncover and stop those. That's still my mission."

"Mine, too," Rae chimes in.

"It's one we all share," Nia adds.

Neil nods before continuing. "So, we stop this, and we go our separate ways. I'll be leaving ADI and starting my own organization. We've seen a large number of threats in the Appalachian region and a lot of folks heavily impacted by decisions ADI's made. I'll be taking my organization there. Already been in touch with our- with ADI's field agents in the region. Some will be joining me. Along with a certain newsperson who keeps sniffing around. We'll do what we can to do right by the people who've been hurt most. That's going to be our focus. Support and security. We're not feeding the Hunt anymore by running down threats."

Rae steps up next. "And I'll be going where I need to. Lot of threats out west. If you're looking to do some good that won't be working for the Hunt… maybe think about heading that way."

Nia is the last to speak. "And I'll be staying here in Gloucester. ADI will be staying. And I will be its final Warden. We're stopping Zyrian, then we're figuring out what the hell is going on with Dogtown to get all of you people from other worlds home. Or at least stop anyone else coming in. After that? I'm out. What happens after that is still in the works. But Neil's agreed to stay in touch to help with everything… once I'm gone." There's a flicker of emotion across Neil's stoic expression. Regret, frustration… grief. "But right now, we look to Wolf Trap. I-"

There's a pause, and Neil and Rae look to Nia in concern as she puts a hand to her temple. She recovers, though. "Huh… We look to Wolf Trap, Virginia. We'll have buses to get everyone down there. We'll be arriving just as Copernicus' launch of the New Horizon's project is underway. That's where Zyrian Steel's going to do his ritual. We need to find the server rooms at the event. Those are important."

Rae squints at Nia, "You sure?"

Nia nods. "Yeah. I'm real sure about that. It'll be dangerous, though, and that's not the- it's not the only threat that's gonna be there."

Neil's looking wary. "Nia?"

"There's something else. The Web? It's not just the Vast that's involved in this, I don't think. It would make sense, right?" She shakes her head. "We'll be facing multiple Entity threats down there, not just the Vast. And I'm sure Zyrian's gonna kick the ritual off on the last day, once he's had time for-for something… not sure what. But he's a dramatic bastard, if nothing else. And timing's everything."

Neil and Rae exchange uncertain looks before Neil speaks up again. "Coming is voluntary, like always, but we'll want boots on the ground to cover as much ground as possible. They'll be holding the biggest events and productions at the Filene Center stage. But we're expecting tech booths scattered all throughout the park. Be on your guard."

"And bring a gun," Rae advises.

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Hunter shakes his head, curling a little tighter into the ball he's becoming, just his eyes peeking over his folded arms. "Bad is bad." He never really considered what everyone else was going through in the Coven, and he's not sure what he would have - or could have - done if he had. Hell, he didn't even realize that so much of what he knew and grew up with was wrong until he got out.

He sees Raine cover their sigil and makes sure his own is turned inward and hidden. He sits quietly for a moment, taking in what Raine has said and trying to find comfort in the words. It's...a struggle.

Eventually, he sighs, tired, and asks, "What did you do before you joined the Coven?"

A change of subject. Perhaps deviating from the original topic will help.

Raine watched Hunter curl up tighter, and they wished they could do something to make him feel less.. awful.

"I uh.." Raine was caught off guard by Hunter's question- quite visibly so as well. Their fist covered their mouth as they had to think about their answer, but they lowered their hand back to their side as they began to speak.

"I.. did what I wanted. As much as a witch at that age could do, at least. That's not to say I didn't do a lot of things as a bard. I had been on the bard track since my parents put me at Saint Epiderm, and Eda had always been encouraging of it once we met and I moved to Hexside."

Raine hesitated for a moment. They wanted to talk about the things outside being a bard. They were so much more than just a bard. But everything past that was.. complicated.

"But I spent a lot of time with my friends and spent a lot of time alone with Eda. You wouldn't believe it, but Darius and Alador were friends with Eda and I when we were at Hexside. So was her sister, Lilith. We'd all play Grudgby together, and occasionally do.. very unfortunate theatre productions. We'd do things normal kids did. Until.."

They trailed off. Raine didn't know how much they should talk about the curse and breaking up with Eda. About the pressures to join the Bard Coven. About Lilith leaving to be apart of the Emperor's Coven and cutting everybody off. Of the nasty falling out between Darius and Alador. Of.. well. Everything about Odalia.

Hunter sits quietly and listens. Gradually, the tension starts to bleed out of him. Though it makes him a little sad - even angry sometimes - he likes to hear about life outside the castle. Going to school instead of privately tutored. Playing games with friends instead of training and missions. Going home to families instead of...well.

Still, it's difficult to picture Raine or Eda or Lilith as kids, or Darius and Alador getting along. Or all of them being friends and hanging out like kids do.

"You're right. I don't believe it." He uncurls some with a slight smile. "You played Grudgby?"

"I did. I wasn't on the Hexside Grudgby team or anything special, but I knew my way around the court if they wanted to play.. I bet I could still hold my own too."

Raine couldn't help their own grin, Hunter's smile being quite infectious.

"Eda and Lilith were actually on Hexside's team together. Eda was their star player.. despite? Or partly because of her cheating, though she'll deny it. But, Lilith was team captain. I'm surprised Eda never really got in trouble, but... I guess that's what happens when you're too good at not getting caught."

Raine chuckled, and paused to stretch their legs out, with minimal complaint from their knees. They leaned back against the tree more, and sighed. It was fun to reminisce.

"I'd go to every game almost, and Eda and everybody would come to my performances. We'd support Perry and Darius with their theatre projects. Alador loved to go to the brawls. Eda and I were inseparable, though. We did almost everything together. We actually went to Grom together, and got kicked out for our shenanigans together."

Raine's eyes lit up as they recalled some other things they'd almost forgotten about, and though there's nobody around that would care about their secrets, but they leaned a little closer.

"Eda actually had these secret doors we could run in and out of at school. I don't think Bump or the other principal ever figured it out, but... It was our secret."

Their grin grew a bit softer, a bit more nostalgic.

"Things were... different when we were close to graduating, and when Eda and I started dating," They looked off, into the distance, searching for what to say. And maybe searching a little for Eda.

"But.. we had a lot of fun. I could be more of myself around Eda and our friends."

Edited 2023-07-13 23:21 (UTC)

It tracks that Lilith was the team captain, though he can't picture her as anything other than uptight and stressed out. Eda had told him she played Grudgby when they had teamed up for Campball. He'd wondered if she was just exaggerating about being the star player, but apparently not.

"It sounds like you were all really good friends."

He likes to think it's the kind of friendship he has with the others - or could have if he ever gets back to them. What Raine says about being able to be themself around their friends resonates with him. Hunter is still struggling to figure out just who he is outside the Coven, but he knows his friends accept him regardless.

"But why did you need secret doors at the school? Didn't you want to be there?" asks the kid who has never set foot in a classroom.

Raine was quiet, one hand idly playing with their earring for a moment as they reminisced, before adding:

"Yeah.. We were."

Their attention is drawn back to Hunter, though, and the smile that had faltered returns just enough to let Hunter know that that was a good question.

"Did we want to be there..?" They thought a moment.

"I mean, Saint Epiderm was more similar to a Slitherbeast lair than a school. so I definitely wanted to be there. Plus, that's when Eda and I became really good friends."

That was perhaps an understatement- or, an overstatement. But after the events of HECK Raine had become much more aware of the attitudes of the other kids. Not that they hadn't been before, but nothing said unfriendly competition like their own classmates hunting them in a maze. Nothing said lasting bond like the scrappy girl they'd just met saving them, and refusing to fight them either.

"But, Eda would actually use them to get away with mischief, and we'd hide in there whenever we wanted to. Or needed to, if we wanted fo avoid getting put in the detention pit." Raine hummed, an almost playful lilt in their voice.

"But we'd also use them to watch the other track's classes. Eda was never satisfied with being just potions. I definitely picked up a thing or two from being able to watch in as well."

Raine decided to stretch their legs out- their knees weren't what they used to be- before they added;

"I think we all wanted to be there, partly because we all had each other and genuinely wanted to learn magic. The coven system just made it... difficult for Witches who weren't satisfied with only one track."

It may be hard to tell, hidden behind his arms and knees as he is, but Hunter is hanging on Raine's every word. Before Luz and the others, he never even considered going to an actual school. Now he lives vicariously through stories like these, imagining what it would be like just to be...normal.

"It looked like some of the students at Hexside were studying multiple tracks, when I was, um...hiding there." Those secret doors really would have come in handy if he'd known about them then. It might have been an improvement over camping out in a construction zone.

"The coven system seemed to be losing popularity. And after that stunt Belos pulled with the draining spell...well, pretty sure it's done for." It's a shame so many were already branded with sigils. He didn't know of any way to reverse them.

Raine looked over at Hunter with genuine surprise.

"Really? Bump's allowing kids to multitrack?" Raine's eyes lit up a little, and couldn't help the mischievous smirk as they tapped their chin- though the fact that Hunter was hiding at Hexside wasn't lost on them.

"I guess Eda was causing some commotion in Hexside. I'd heard rumours, but..."

They'll loop back to that- Hunter had kept talking about the Draining Spell.

"I hope so. It'll be.. Admittedly hard to replace that system with something better. Not because I think most people will be resistant. But, first we actually have to make sure Belos is... Gone..."

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to talk about murdering Hunter's 'uncle.' Even if the murder was justified.

"And I wouldn't hesitate to say Darius, Eber and I have our work cut out for us dealing with the other Coven Heads and the entirety of the Scouts. If either of them even agree to helping us rebuild. Maybe I could even get Eda and her sister involved..."

Raine quieted down, not able to help imagining how it would be like to be free of the coven system. To build something new. Maybe they could move in with Eda back home. Be free of having to be a coven head. Enjoy life again.

But, reality beckoned.

"I hope we can go home soon. I want to try and see everything through. But, I've also enjoyed spending time with you and Eda."

Edited 2023-07-28 03:02 (UTC)

Hunter nods with a soft hum. "Bump helped the students drive the coven out of the school when it came to force sigils on everyone. It was very...anti-Empire." Which is a good thing.

Rebuilding is going to be hard - and that doesn't even factor in whatever damage the Collector has done. Fortunately, there's a whole generation of people who aren't falling for the system Belos had created, as evidenced by the students of Hexside. There was hope.

But as long as the Emperor lived, it was fragile. Even stripped of his humanity, he could still do a lot of damage. Is it worth worrying about rebuilding if they aren't even sure there will be anything to rebuild?

The anger that festered inside Hunter after he had been possessed, drowned, and lost Flapjack resurfaces. "We can't stop Belos if we're stuck here."

"That's good. He wasn't always like that," Raine hummed, and feeling a bit more peaceful they lean their head back on the tree and close their eyes. They're quick to open their eyes again when Hunter sounds angry. Their

"I know. Rebuilding will be something that we all have to do, together. It's going to be hard... But. I'm not sure I'd have reconnected with Eda in the way I have unless I'd been taken here. I don't think you and I would've either," They sympathetically, and very gently touch his arm, a little below the shoulder.

"I want to get home as well, but I also don't want to worry over it too much and take away from what I've learned and experienced here. Not.. All of it is good. But. I'll miss my friends when we go back. If we ever do."

They pulled their hand back and thought again, a bit more obviously. They tapped their chin, and gave Hunter a smirk.

"And I hope I remember what we've done here because I'd hate to forget the great Witch I met here. I don't know if you know who I'm talking about."

He can't say whether Bump was or wasn't "like that", but, "That means people can change. That's good."

They'll need more of that if they hope to rebuild the Isles. No doubt, after Belos's attempt to destroy everyone with the Draining Spell, he believes even the most dedicated adherents to the Coven system will have to reevaluate their beliefs. (Though he knows others will see the Emperor's fall as an opportunity to seize power.)

The touch on his arm draws him out of his thoughts. He unconsciously leans into it. "I...am glad that you and Eda are here." He hasn't considered what his future on the Isle might look like, but he hadn't pictured Eda or Raine being a significant part of it.

He shakes his head. "I haven't met any other witches aside from you and Eda."

Raine was quiet for a moment. They didn't want to tease Hunter but... it was a little fun to play with the fact that he didn't pick up on the fact that they were talking about him.

"Well, if you ever meet this witch, tell him what I said. I think his name was Hunter, actually."

Raine wore a mischievous curl to their smile.

"Not sure if you know who that Witch is."

Hunter wasn't always quick on the uptake, especially for things like this. His first reaction was disbelief that there was some other witch named Hunter here. Fortunately, he didn't say so and spared himself further embarrassment, because it clicked a moment later.

"O-oh." He ducks down behind his arms, ears dusting pink.

Except...Raine is wrong about one thing.

Eda already knows, even if she hasn't said so outright. He doesn't think she would have told Raine - not without his permission.

Hesitantly, Hunter sighs and says, "Raine...I'm not a witch."

Raine couldn't help but chuckle just a little at Hunter's bashfulness, but when his mood shifted at the sigh, they caught on. They had half a mind to tell Hunter that if his uncle told him that, it didn't mean he wasn't a witch, but they held their tongue.

"What do you mean?" They asked instead, their tone a little softer. "If it's because of your magic, Eda's still a witch. She can't cast magic. I can't really here either. Not without scaring people."

Weirdly enough, it was his uncle who convinced him that he didn't need magic, that he was just as capable as anyone else. Belos had given him the artificial staff that helped bridge the gap between his lack of magic and those who could naturally cast spells.

His lips twist. "Eda wasn't born without magic. It's not the same."

But this wasn't about that. It wasn't about magical ability at all.

"What I mean is..." He struggles a moment, unsure what to say (or if he even should). He settles on: "What do you know about grimwalkers?"

"Grimwalkers..." Raine scratched their chin momentarily as they thought about his question. "They're something between legends meant to scare young witches at night and real things we've lost knowledge if you believe in it. When Eda and I were kids we used to read books about them. But we read books on a lot of things, like Time Pools. We never found them."

Raine looked concerned. They didn't know exactly what Hunter was trying to say or imply but something about it made them feel uneasy. Not because of Hunter himself, but rather, the implications of what the emperor was doing. Hunter was his "nephew," after all.

"Why.. Are you asking?"

Edited 2023-08-18 02:06 (UTC)

He supposes "legends" is better than "monsters", even if they were used to scare little kids. He wonders if he read some of the same books they had. He'd scourged the school's library for every scrap of information, no matter how obscure. Very little of it had been helpful, but between the books, and the Emperor's memories, he'd cobbled together a loose idea. There are a few things he's certain of.

"They're clones. Belos learned how to create them...somehow." The Collector probably helped him, the way they'd helped him with the Draining Spell. "Every Golden Guard that has served him has been a grimwalker." He watches Raine carefully. "Including me."

For a moment, what Hunter said next felt unreal. Like it didn't quite process for them somehow.

"Belos was making Grimwalkers?"

Their hand lifted to their mouth, an. They tried to sort through the slew of emotions they felt- anger and frustration at Belos, at what it implied. The last Golden Guard had died of course under mysterious circumstances, and it hurt them, it made them feel sad to think of what that meant for Hunter.

Raine took their glasses off. They closed their eyes, took a breath, and then returned their attention to Hunter.

"Hunter, before I say anything else, I want you to know none of what he did is your fault. I'm not angry, or upset with you if it seems like I am. I'm glad you're you, and thank you for sharing something as.."

Raine paused, and tried to find the right word as they fidget with their glasses.

"..Personal as that is. You're still Hunter to me. As long as you feel like that's who you want to be. And if it's not, I want you to know that myself and Eda are here to support you."

Hunter's grip on his own arms is bordering on painful for how hard his fingers are digging in. He watches Raine like a hawk, noting every little shift in their expression.

What Raine says shouldn't be surprising anymore. They have been very kind, and reassuring, and careful with him since the start. But the words settle over him like a heavy blanket.

He sniffles. "So you understand then, I'm not..." Normal? Real? "...a witch. I think the...the original was human, but I'm not that either."

He doesn't know what he is - a grimwalker, yes, but what does that mean? A pile of components magically stitched together to resemble a dead man?

Raine again, had to stop and process what Hunter had said. They didn't take long, though.

"Hunter, I think that if you feel like you're a Witch, you are one. I wouldn't want to take that away from you because of who..."

They didn't want to assume anything about the nature of why Belos created Hunter. But if he, and all the previous Golden Guards were modelled after the same human, Raine could fill in the gaps. They were also going to have to talk to Eda about if she knew all of this.

"Who Belos wanted you to be like," They turned their body more towards him, and rest their chin on their palm. "Besides, you've got a Palisman who chose you. That's pretty special, and pretty Witch-like. Palismen don't just choose anybody, and Flapjack looks old."

Hunter looks up, to where Flapjack has been watching from a branch overhead in silent support. He's not even sure the palisman can hear them, but the cardinal bobs his head as if in agreement with Raine.

"He is. And I'm lucky to have him." Though he's pretty certain Flap knows more than he lets on.

Back to the original point, what Raine said has been cycling through his head. It sounds easy when they say it - "if you feel like you're a Witch, you are one" - but it doesn't feel easy, not with so many unanswered questions.

"I don't know what he wanted. I thought I did, but..." He's got a sigil. When he received it, he was still loyal to his uncle, to the Coven, to his duties. But now it was a clear sign that nothing he did would ever have been enough. He was never meant to outlive the Day of Unity.

Hunter sighs, tired. "Thank you, Raine, for...being cool about this."

Raine's gaze followed Hunter's to Flapjack, unsurprised to see the little cardinal not too far away from Hunter. They smiled at Flapjack, but their attention was caught by Hunter thanking them. They were surprised, but their smile didn't falter.

"When I was younger than you, I found out there was something different about myself. That I didn't want to be a girl, but I also didn't really want to be a boy either. It was scary, at first, to tell my parents, and to tell other people when I was ready. Change is scary. Finding out things about yourself that are different from other people is scary. But-"

Raine stretched their legs out, before they shifted to face Hunter a bit more, legs tucked under their body.

"It's part of what makes me who I am now, and some of it was taking things into my own hands to make changes when I was ready. I know it's not exactly the same, and you don't have to tell people you don't want to tell."

They seemed to be finished talking, but thought for a minute before they added:

"I guess what I mean is you don't have to thank me. I don't think it would be right of me to react negatively to what you told me. We all have our own personal journeys. This is just part of yours."

Though he's still got his arms wrapped around his knees, Hunter's posture has eased considerably.

Raine is right. It is scary. It's scary not knowing how others will react, if they'll be as understanding. It's scary being different, but also not knowing just how he was different - the worst part being that the one person who could possibly answer his questions is the one person he never wants to see again.

"Luz knows. She found out when I did. She probably told Eda. I'm...90% sure of it." This had been scary too, but he's relieved and glad that Raine reacted the way they had. "You're the first person I've told myself."

Raine's admittedly surprised that they're the first person that Hunter told willingly. Their entire body and expression still clearly hold worry, but there's a softening of it, accompanied with a gentle smile.

"Luz seems like a nice person, and a good friend for you. I'm..."

What was the right way to say it? The right phrasing for approaching any of this? They were always fairly okay at giving impassioned speeches when they really needed, but navigating a kid in these circumstances- especially somebody like Hunter, who's were unique and well beyond what Raine had dealt with- wasn't fully something they knew how to handle.

"It means a lot to me that you felt I was somebody you could trust to tell."

Raine fell quiet, as they continued to struggle with their words.

"I know I'm not your parent or.. relative. But I was always serious that if you need anything. I'll try my best to help you."

They're quiet once more, both to let Hunter process and to process their own thoughts. They didn't want to come off too strong to Hunter, but they had developed a genuine fondness for him. They wanted to give him support, to give him what he'd been lacking at home. If he wanted it. It was a stark contrast to how they'd ever felt about him in the past; it's not to say they disliked him, but they'd never considered that they'd be taking care of the Golden Guard.

They also didn't expect to find out anything else they'd learned, however. It's a time for firsts, they supposed, and what better first to have than parenting.

"But, I care about you. And I just want to give you what's best for you as much as I can, and as much as you'd like me to. Eda does as well, even if she's... Well, herself about it sometimes. You deserve to be cared for."

Edited 2023-09-16 21:48 (UTC)

He nods. "She is. She's...a really good friend." You're family now echoes through his head. He will never admit to absolutely falling apart when she said that to him.

He feels a bit like that now, listening as Raine goes on. His references for parents (or the parent-adjacent) were Belos and Camila, and they couldn't be any more different. He doesn't want to be too bold and assume that's the direction Raine is pointing toward when they mention "parent". Though he feels...pleased with the idea. Overwhelmingly so.

By the time Raine finishes speaking, Hunter's vision is swimming. He presses the palm of his hand against one eye, scrubbing a wet trail over his cheek, and chokes out, "Oh."

Impulsively, he reaches out to snag the edge of Raine's sleeve.

Event - The 25,000 Light Year View

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