ic inbox (kenos)

[gravings]

I will definitely put something here this time

Comments

[redsoil]

[ gray SHOULD be offended!! get mad, girl ]

I am doing all that I can to ensure it. Destruction takes more forms than physical, after all. My aunt taught me that.

[ Sekhmet was a HUGE fan of shattering people's minds, after all. She'd utterly eviscerated Set long, long ago. Since she was gone for now, it was up to him to embody her will and domain to the fullest. A weapon of war that doubled as a psychological statement was, to him, the best way to combine the two of them into one blow.

As to the last question... ] I suppose, because everyone likes you. You embody Meridian's will without compromising your kindness. I want to see what you will do, next.

[gravings]

[ It's a bit funny to hear him refer to his "aunt," which inspires the mental image of a homely little lady in Gray's mind. She's sure the reality is anything but. She might have to see if the libraries have any books on Egyptian mythology after this...

As for Set's answer, Gray is taken aback, and it manifests in a little reel of surprise through their connection. It feels like a bit of an overstatement to say that everyone likes her... and she finds the Shard-Bearers of Meridian quite kind on average, so it isn't like she's anything special in that regard. (Such is her self-esteem.) ]

I'm afraid kindness won't have much to do with anything soon. Kindness won't win us the Oracles, and it won't protect the people I care about.

[ What he calls kindness, she thinks of as softness, is something she struggles with often when it comes to fighting other Shard-Bearers. A weakness, not something to be interested in. ]

Communion → Pre March 2024 Oracle

[erbe]

[While Rin's communion is usually calm and manufactured, she reaches out to Gray in a state of dark and stormy Discord. It would feel similar to the time she was at the beach and needed to cover up as much as possible to avoid the sun.]

Prepare yourself. I know you are capable, but I'm sure things will be much different after what has happened.

[gravings]

[ Things being different is a given, but Gray is a bit more concerned about Rin's palpable state of not-okayness. ]

I will, but... um, Rin, your Discord...

[erbe]

Stop it. You shouldn't worry about me.

[Anger. Frustration. It's easy to feel when she has less of a hold on herself.]

[gravings]

[ A beat as Gray tries to rein in her worry. Rin's denial isn't unexpected. Still... You've come here worrying about me first. She manages to keep that from leaking over their connection. ]

Is there something specific I should be prepared for?

[erbe]

Perhaps. I will not share more. I hear Meridian still has another Servant and now a mage on their side. You should be fine as long as you utilize the support you have.

[She cannot be too generous anymore. Gray cannot continue to think of her as a friend.]

[gravings]

... I understand.

[ In the same vein, Gray had known about Set's weapon but chose not to warn any of her Zenite friends about its existence. Even if betraying her own faction isn't an option, it's something she can't help feeling guilty over. She wouldn't blame Rin for feeling a certain sense of betrayal in turn; Gray didn't even do her the courtesy of a vague heads-up like Rin is giving her now. ]

But please take care of yourself as well. The people of Springstar are angry. With Cyrus gone... they'll probably want to elect someone much less friendly than he was.

[erbe]

Is that right? Think Springstar will elect another doppelganger?

[She remembers what D had told her. That Cyrus did not have a soul to recall. That all that was left was...

A promise. A threat.]

[gravings]

[ Doppelganger? Gray pauses at the thought. She hadn't considered the possibility that his lack of a soul meant that much, but it would be as good an explanation as any. They as Shard-Bearers have even encountered doppelgangers of their own, albeit on a more temporary basis.

Most of all, it's curious that Rin has already caught wind of the strangeness of Cyrus's soul situation. Maybe D mentioned it to her... ]

I don't know. Whatever he was, Mr. Cyrus was at least level-headed on the surface... but I also think that's why he was unpopular. I wouldn't be surprised if the next Tribune wanted all-out war.

[erbe]

I won't be surprised if that's what Oblivion is hoping for. If we're all too caught up in our bid for the Oracles then they can play around in the shadows without consequence. Yet it is not as if we can simply ignore the Oracles and displease the multitude of shardless people we share this world with. Things will get worse. I am prepared for it.

[Like any well taught mage should be. Prepared for any eventuality. Though that's easier said than done, and her own humanity plays a part in her falling short of that too.]

[gravings]

[ Gray can't imagine how one would prepare for something like soul-eating shadow entities(?), but Rin has a better mind than hers. ]

If there's anything I can do to help... Like you said, it's something that could affect all of us. Even if one of our sides "wins," it might not mean anything if there's another side waiting to take advantage of the results.

[erbe]

Just open a dialogue with D about it. He's the one who spoke with Oblivion directly, it seems. He's a better to contact about it than I am.

[gravings]

[ D has brought it up with Meridian as a whole, but Gray is more concerned about Rin specifically. She's the type of intrepid investigator to take risks; she and Gray met in just that way, after all.

But Gray knows Rin won't accept her help in the current climate, not unless there are extenuating circumstances. So Gray sighs to herself and buttons down her concern. ]

Okay. Is there anything else?

communion!!!!!!!!11

[escardos]

[ the way that flat eases into a connection with gray is an empty feeling. not quite like freefalling, but more along the lines of an uncanny, empty room in the middle of the night. it contrasts greatly with flat's cheer.

even with the situation as it is, and how much seems to have changed, it seems that he will not. ]

Gray! It's been forever!

[ almost literally. ]

[gravings]

[ Hello what's the haps... Gray fumbles a startled reply mingled with relief, anxiety loosening lightly at Flat's usual carefree tone. She figured the other Shard-Bearers would be waking up around the same time, but there was also a nonzero chance that some of them would remain sleeping beauties for a while yet. ]

Flat! Thank goodness... Are you alright?

[escardos]

Right as rain! Like I took the greatest and most disorienting nap in the world.

[ which is… not a lie. perhaps a bit of an understatement, but not a lie in the least. waking up a hundred something years later is as confusing as taking a 30 minute nap at 6 pm and waking up at 2 am. ]

Turns out someone’s family was taking care of me, but hasn’t cut my hair for a while. So I asked for some scissors and tried to cut it myself, but it was actually a lot harder than I thought! And then I thought— maybe Gray still remembers how to take care of the Professor’s hair.

[ and with absolutely no shame: ]

So can you help me?

[gravings]

[ As if waking up in this brave new world wasn't jarring enough, here's Flat asking Gray to be a barber. A sunburst of surprise on her end, some distress at (feeling like) she can't aid him in his time of need. If only she could recommend the hairdresser who helped her once upon a time... but they have to be long dead by now. ]

Ah... I did take care of his hair, but he never needed me to cut it. He was always using it for storage.

[ Of magical energy, of course. ]

If you really want me to try, I suppose I could, but...

[ Please make better life choices than that. She is begging you. ]

[escardos]

[ what is flat escardos if not a guide on behavior that is so stupid it might as well be almost self-destructive? sorry, gray, no can do.

however, he does seem to push back against her doubts with his own energy. yes, he never did see their professor with shorter hair, but he figured that he would at least get the ends cut or something of the sort! how different can this be? ]

Come on, Gray, you're my only hope! Or, well, I guess you really aren't, but isn't this kind of like a possible bonding moment? If you were able to keep the Professor's hair all shiny, then I'm sure that you could cut my hair and it'll turn out just fine. I even have regular hair clippers now.

[ because he spooked the guy taking care of him by using kitchen scissors to try and cut a huge chunk of his hair. ]