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apocalypsehowcomm2023-06-16 07:57 am
Event - 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.
(click the map for a larger version)
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They followed close behind Eda, held her hand somewhat firmly to stay close. Raine couldn't help looking around, though. They'd never experienced being in an actual mindscape before- they'd toyed with the idea of doing it to Belos with Darius and Eber, but it hadn't ever come to fruition because they'd disappeared.
"If you do have an inner self here, we need to be careful. It might get angry if we've done something it doesn't like," Raine kept their voice low when they spoke to Eda.
"But, I don't know if there would be one in here.. this is part of Zyrian's machine even though you made it. All of the memories I've been through, I couldn't touch or interact with the people past how I remember the memory going.."
Raine lingered on a memory that had caught their eye as they finished talking, and they'd slowed walking to get a better view of it. They don't say anything about it yet, however.
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She nodded, not sure exactly what they'd be likely to do that would make her inner self angry, but to be honest, she could definitely see it happening. Especially with her already on edge about all of this.
"That's... mostly how it's been for me too. But I haven't really tried to change anything, either." It didn't seem like the best idea.
It took Eda a moment to notice that Raine's attention had been caught by a specific memory. She looked over when they slowed, though, and suddenly smiled faintly.
The portrait in question featured a slightly older version of Eda and Raine than the last, though still quite young. Eda sat next to Raine, her chin leaned on their shoulder as they held a block of wood that was beginning to take on the vague shape of a fox.
She had a hand on theirs, and from what she recalled she'd been correcting them slightly on how to hold the small carving knife. Raine was the expert when it came to musical instruments, but she was the expert when it came to this.
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Never telling Eda they'd gone to her father without her knowledge m made their guilt, and sorrows only stronger.
"I still have him." Raine replied, after a long, long silence. Their hand tightened around Eda's, though they don't make eye contact. They just stare, straight ahead, a tension in their shoulders still as they watched Eda's hand guide theirs.
They'd never quite grasped carving as much as they'd liked to, but they were always so fascinated at how easy it was for Eda.
"I can show you. If you'd like me to...he's been with me the whole time."
Raine finally glanced at Eda, in all of their guilt and discomfort.
"I wanted to protect him so I hid him away."
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Which meant that she blinked in surprise when Raine said they still had the fox. Her expression lifted instantly, but then she saw theirs. Her brow furrowed in worry, and there was a slight pause before she answered.
"Of course I want to see the little guy," she began. She'd missed him, and Owlbert probably had, too. "Is he... alright?"
Raine hiding their palisman made sense, but they were making it seem like there was something more to it. Not to mention she was surprised if he was here specifically. Surprised, and confused that it hadn't come up earlier.
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But rather, the guilt extended past just having to hide Crash away. It extended deep into their feelings towards Eda and how much had changed, how much went unspoken, how at the end so many things had to go under her radar for Raine and their Palisman to be safe.
Showing Eda would put so much out on display just by the questions it would bring up. But, there wasn't much sense in stalling.
Raine drew a spell circle, and summoned their violin. They looked down at it, and very timidly held the neck of the violin out to Eda.
"Um. He's here."
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She was mildly surprised when they summoned their violin, and it took her a few seconds to realise exactly what they meant.
"Oh... Oh." Eda took the violin and turned it over in her hands once or twice, before gently running her thumb over the snout of the stylised fox head.
"Hey, Crash. It's been a while," she said, softly. Though she wasn't sure how aware he actually was. When palismen were in staff form they could hear, but this was something more than that.
"That's... that's really clever," she said, though she couldn't help feeling bad for fox, too. But it was better than the alternative.
"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Eda asked, glancing back up at Raine. It made sense to keep him this way back home, but here he'd be--well, maybe not safe, but no more in danger than the rest of them.
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"Because, um. I just.. I couldn't think of a good time to do it."
Raine tried hard not to let it seem like they were stressed about it, but it was hard to hide that from Eda. They knew it was.
"He's been like that for so long and I.. wasn't exactly sure if it could be undone. Because if it can't, and he breaks I..know you can fix him, but.."
There was something else they wouldn't say- it was apparent by the way they'd tensed up, and the way they fidgeted with their hands.
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"I ought to be able to undo it," Eda said, though it would take looking at how it had been done a lot more than this cursory glance told her.
"And I ought to be able to fix him if anything happens," she added. She didn't want to make promises she wasn't certain of, but she wanted to try to be reassuring.
"I fixed Flapjack here, even without my stuff from home."
There was a small pause, before she shifted the violin to one hand and put the other on their arm lightly.
"But... I can tell when you're not telling me something, Rainstorm." She seemed more concerned than annoyed, but, well, she wanted to know.
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But Raine had already opened the can of worms. They weren't sure they could close it again, even if they really didn't want to talk about it at that moment.
"I wasn't sure what to do with him when I joined the Bard Coven, but I knew I had to hide him. If I didn't, Belos might have used him for leverage. That's why he let Lilith keep her palisman."
The air felt, heavy, and strange again, like when their environment had collapsed around them the first time. Distant memories of worry and fright, of having to watch as their palisman was changed, tucked away, in a way they couldn't hear him or even talk to him anymore.
Del was always so nice to them. A part of Raine wondered if they'd deserved such a kindness.
"You weren't around. And obviously Lilith wasn't approachable. I felt if I had not been careful she would've tried to make me convince you to join her. So I.. Asked Del. He did it for me. Right before we broke up."
There was in Raine's tone, and though they don't shrug Eda's hand off, they turned to the side. Their arms crossed tightly over their chest and they shut their eyes.
"I'm sorry. I don't- I wasn't sure how but I wanted to tell you. Not like this, though. When things were safer."