communion (ota)

[cyfaredd]

[ Howl's Communion opens in mid-afternoon, entering your brain like a blast of cold air scented with several heavily-applied perfumes. The sensation is so strong that you may actually smell it for real, like an olfactory hallucination, dominated by the scent of hyacinths but tinged with something smoky and earthy, reminiscent of a wood-burning fireplace.

The presence of the person himself is just as loud as the smell. He hasn't opened a connection with everyone so much as he's thrown the door open and allowed his own self-manufactured radiance to command everyone's attention. The mental voice that follows is youthful, confident and flows with a strong Welsh accent. ]

Good afternoon. My name is Howl. Wizard Howl.

I already know what some of you are thinking when you hear that, and no — whoever it was that was once in this world with the same name, I am not him returned. And I don't know anything about that man either, so please, don't hold anything he did against me.

Anyway, now that it's been a few weeks, I've an important matter that I wish to raise with you all. That being: how many of you actually believe what we've been told about how we got here and what we're meant to do with ourselves?

[ The question is punctuated by the impression of Howl leaning back in a plush armchair, crossing his legs and folding his hands together in his lap. ]

If you ask me, we're quite obviously being lied to. None of it adds up, and half of the "proof" is in the form of dreams, which are easily manipulated by someone with the right knowledge, skill and power. I could do it myself if I wanted.

But I already know what I think. I want to know how the rest of you are taking it.

[ He throws up one hand in a shrug. ]

And for the more indoctrinated among you... well, if there's something I'm missing, please! Inform me. I'm all ears.

Comments

[cyfaredd]

Even if the story we've been given is believed to be the truth, that knowledge had to come from somewhere. So when you ask for the source and don't receive it, the natural conclusion to reach is that it's being kept from you on purpose.

[ But if the intention is to mislead then, then surely, they'd have an answer prepared for when new arrivals ask those questions, right? It's all very strange. ]

I happened to be mixed up in a complicated situation before I arrived in this world, so as far as I'm concerned, I'm on vacation.

[tresemme]

[ tony was also in a complicated situation, but he wouldn’t call this new circumstance a “vacation” in any sense. what a bizarre thing to say. ]

So which side are you on?

[cyfaredd]

Do you mean, which of this world's "energies" have I aligned myself with?

[ Howl gives something like a sigh and a shrug, like he'd really prefer not to answer but will humor the question for the sake of conversation. ]

Zenith. I prefer the quieter streets of Highstorm, and I like the stars.

[tresemme]

[ huh, well… ]

…I like the stars too. [ it’s said begrudgingly, as if howl is the one who asked him for his opinion, but he’s playing nice. ] That Yima lady promised me my Grandpa back, too. This Oracle stuff is all secondary.

[cyfaredd]

[ Between the way he answered and the mention of a "grandpa," Howl is getting a sense for this person being... hmm. Immature? Is that the right word? ]

So you believe them after all, then? What we've been told of what the Shards are, and how we ended up here?

[tresemme]

[ tony hmms, but there’s still something a bit dismissive, like he’s afraid to commit to any idea. ]

I dunno… kind of. It seems like this place hasn’t really figured out space travel, so no one knows if our worlds or whatever aren’t actually just somewhere else instead of destroyed. Maybe these Shards are some kind of projection from somewhere far away.

[cyfaredd]

[ Space travel? Well, that's an interesting thing for someone to say. ]

Personally, I don't believe for a second that our worlds are gone. They're most assuredly still out there — just not here, where anyone can reach them.

That our own selves might simply be projections into this world... I hadn't thought of that, but it's definitely possible. No space travel needed.

[tresemme]

[ now that he’s said it, honestly? he thinks it feels very possible. he certainly feels real, but as far as it’s been explained to him, it’s his shard that’s “him” and not the rest of his body. ]

Yeah. [ he’s convinced himself and it’s evident in his tone now. ] Something is obviously still powering them in the first place, maybe whatever “Zenith” and “Meridian” are, but I know I didn’t have one of these before.