Communion | OTA.

[dreamflowers]

[Is it cold in here all of a sudden? No, that's just Jade's first attempt at opening a line of Communion to the people of Springstar. Instead, it ends up going out to whoever is willing to listen as she's still trying to get a handle on this method of communication.

[Her presence is like freezing saltwaters, with the scent of sea and earth.]

Blazes. It still blows my mind that you people use Psionics to talk to each other here.

[As someone who's pretty adept in Psionics herself, it should be normal, but not like this.]

Anyways, in light of the absolute shit timing of my arrival... I need an outlet. By now I think I've learned the streets of this city well enough to navigate my way around. Buuut I'm looking for some obscure, holes-in-the-wall kinda places or favorite establishments to get a drink at and relax.

Don't think I need to explain why.

Also any tips on how to procure a home would be nice. Think I'm starting to get on the nerves of some of the folks living in the barracks... thing.

[Hi Meridian. Sorry you're stuck with this natural disaster of a woman.]

Comments

[hauntedking]

Well, as for a home... you can get one the usual way or you might be awarded one for services rendered.

[ He's a little weary, but trying to be friendly. ]

I don't do much drinking, so I can't help you there... but I know a cafe with tea and baked goods, if that might help? Or offer my own. I do have a house and I'm willing to play host.

[dreamflowers]

I see. What kinda "services" are we talking about here? I did mercenary work in my world, but I'm guessing they probably expect more than just daylabor.

[It sounds preferable to simply purchasing a deed from condescending bank pricks, at least.

[His offer surprises her, though.]

You'd open your home up to a stranger like that? [She can't help that she's a cagy person by nature. Has good reason to be.]

[hauntedking]

Participation in the Oracles, work for the city... that sort of thing.

[ A bit more than day labor, yes. There's a pause and then a sort of mental shrug. ]

We are all in this together, are we not? And you are a person, in need of help.

[dreamflowers]

Got it. Makes sense.

[Yuri helped get her foot in the door with lending aid to the orphanages, but she wasn't exactly looking for esteem when she started that, and she still isn't. Mostly because it was less about being magnanimous and more about her guilt for being such a damned coward when she knew people were dying around her, and hid anyway.

[She sighs.]

Yes, well. In my experience, people who seem like they're all working towards the same goal aren't always worthy of trust.

[hauntedking]

...I suppose that's true. But I like to think the best of people until proven otherwise.

[ There's the impression of a wry smile. ]

Maybe that doesn't work out for the best at all times. But it works for me, I think.

[kaientai]

Hello!

[ Ryouma appreciates these vibes. He arrives in Communion like a sharp gust of wind off another sea from another world, curious about this stranger who also resonates with salt and earth. There is something else with him, too, a secondary presence coiling around the edges. It's difficult to determine what it is, but it gives the impression of scales. ]

I showed up at a weird time, so there wasn't much to do but go around and explore. I can think of a few good places you might be interested in.

[ If nothing else, he can be counted on to know where in the city to get drunk. ]

I'm not sure I'd be much help on the home front, though. I got pretty lucky and ended up with a ship, so that's where I live.

[dreamflowers]

[Odd. If she wasn't predisposed to similar magic already, adjusting to these sensations might be more jarring. Granted it's never been so... vivid, so it's taking some getting used to.]

Pff. Weirder than being tossed in the middle of assassinations and civilian massacres? [It shouldn't sound like a joke; she's just trying to keep the conversation light.] But color me interested.

[Also interesting is what he says next. Jade arches a brow.]

You live in a ship? How the heck did you manage that?

[kaientai]

[ Ryouma accepts things as they are because he has no choice, but he wishes this Communion business involved less undesirable sharing of feelings. ]

Honestly? Yeah. I came up in a time that saw plenty of both, so, unfortunately, much of this is more familiar than I'd like.

I got here a little after the last Oracle wrapped up, so that's all anyone was talking about. The entire trial had been broadcast, so everyone had an opinion. Then, the winter holidays happened a little after that, so there wasn't much to do, but I guess I lucked out since I was the only Shardbearer whose face nobody recognised for a while.

[ Having explained that much, Ryouma can't contain his excitement at being asked about his ship; it's his great pride and joy, after all. ]

As for my ship, it was Santa, naturally.

[ Which he says in complete seriousness. Someone would always become Santa around the holidays in Chaldea, so it came as no surprise to Ryouma that it also happened in other worlds. ]

Gifts are handed out around the holidays, so I ended up in possession of the paperwork. [ nothing weird about that. ] If you ever want a look at her, just swing by the docks in Springstar. She sort of stands out compared to the locals.

[ Compared to Springstar's triremes, Ryouma's ship looks like a miniaturised version of something out of the mid-19th Century, so it definitely sticks out. ]

[dreamflowers]

[Some of that is just nonsense to someone like Jade. Winter holidays? Santa? The fuck? But she just accepts that there are going to be some barriers of understanding between herself and these people from other Eventualities -- worlds so far removed from her own that of course there's going to be a learning curve or things she just doesn't get at all.

[The good news is that she's pretty keen on context clues, so she gets the gist of what he's saying.]

Huh. I've heard about these trials, but admittedly don't know too much about them.

[At least she'd asked about the Oracles themselves since, well. Being the "Prophetess" of her world, it would be hard not to draw some correlation. Which is there is none, from what she's gathered, but she's still been pretty mum on the specifics of her role.

[Former role. She doubts she can claim to be some Prophet in this world as well, not that she went around announcing it on the regular.]

That's... interesting. So, what? D'you have a crew manning the whole thing or something? Is it seafaring?

[kaientai]

Yeah, me neither.

[ He doesn't even have an excuse since he's been here almost four months. ]

I've heard that the Oracles have a will of their own, so it's not simply a matter of winning a prize. We have to curry their favour somehow, but no one knows exactly what criteria they're judging.

Don't let anybody fool you; everyone is just making it up as we go along.

[ Back home, that would set off every red flag. Technically, it sets them off here, too, but Ryouma doesn't have a choice but to hope Kenos really is different from his word. ]

And to answer your question: no, I don't have a crew, but yes, it's seafaring. It'd be too much ship for one human to handle, but I have my ways around that problem.

[a_noble_flame]

I wouldn't say you're getting on the nerves of anyone but I do understand wishing for one's own space. It would feel more ... grounding here, I think?

[dreamflowers]

Maybe not for you, but I definitely wouldn't blame the other sods residing in that place.

[But thanks, Alice. You're a good egg.]

Still. It would certainly beat living on the streets again. I'd like to avoid sleeping under any more bridges if I have options.

[a_noble_flame]

[At that Alice winces a touch.]

I can't say I'm experienced that myself but I have seen much the same in my own world. ... Residing under bridges, that is.

[Tilting her head some she considers.]

... If you like perhaps we can collaborate on this? I don't wish to be a burden to the dorms anymore than is necessary myself. I will admit however I have never lived utterly alone before.

[It's mostly just a thought really. Alice has always lived with family -- the perks of nobility and being the youngest unmarried daughter. While she's not scared of being alone it seems a good way to support a fellow Shard-Bearer as well.]

[dreamflowers]

If you can avoid it, I would always recommend against it. Even if there are other vagrants around, you can't always be certain if even one of them will have your back.

[Spoken from actual experience during her life in her home country, and the earlier days when she first washed up on a new one where she had no friends, family, or connections. She was rather surprised at how willing Endraleans were to do business with her kind, that they'd even sell her a small house.

[Jade is quiet for a moment, thinking. She hadn't much considered the possibility of sharing a space with someone again.]

You'd be okay with that? Even with my "condition"?

[Well, at least Alice has an inkling of what she's signing up for.]

[a_noble_flame]

Now that I know about it, yes.

[Alice pauses a moment as well, considering how she ought to explain herself here.]

I have served in the military for several years now. My country went through a prolonged war with a neighboring country. The aftermath has led me to encounter many people with differing conditions as well.

[There's the slight feeling of flustering warmth through Alice's communion. She's blushing a bit it seems.]

I can certainly promise you I won't batter in anymore doors at the very least.

[tresemme]

[ the use of the word “psionics” gets his attention, since no one else he’s mentioned it to up to this point seems to have any familiarity with the term.

instead of being helpful, he butts into communion with a brash attitude. ]

Are you a Mu?

[dreamflowers]

[She hadn't heard any mention of Psionics or her version of magic, either. Which may or may not have been the reasoning behind dropping the word. She's not about to ask openly if anyone here is from Vyn.

[That isn't to say she understands the question, though.]

Say what now? Are you calling me a cow?

[That's Mu, not moo.]

[tresemme]

Mu!

[ he puts an annoyed emphasis on the ‘y’ sound, more defensive than he should be if only because this is the second time it’s happened. ]

I guess you’re not, if you’re going to say something stupid like that.

[dreamflowers]

Ooh, please forgive me for not divining the meaning of "Mu" when you asked!

[Well, maybe as the Prophetess, she should! If that's how it worked.

[But at least she makes an effort to try to pronounce it right this time, even with her accent.]

But no, I'm an Arcanist. Or "wild mage", or "Pathless urchin", or "godless, baby-eating Nehrimese heathen" if that fits your fancy.

[tresemme]

[ now she’s just talking crazy, and tony recoils from the communion like she’s slapped his hand. ]

Magic again?! I thought you were using psionics!

[tattooism]

An outlet...

[The sense in Communion is of smoke, wreathing about without form, seeping in and permeating... or, perhaps its just a woman smoking in the corner of the room. Definitely a woman Jade has never met before. That, surely, is certain.]

My recommendations would change depending on what sort of things you find relaxing... and how hard you like those drinks.

[dreamflowers]

[Oh, that is... interesting. Jade blinks as this particular sense of Communion slips though, before collecting herself again. Focus!]

That would depend on the company I'm in. I'd never turn down a nice, strong drink... or a fun night with someone not looking for any kinda commitment afterwards.

[Or "earthly pleasures", as Jespar would so eloquently call them.]

[tattooism]

[Aspects were strange things, at times. But Kiritsubo had never paid them much mind. She cared little for how dissimilar in morality or personality another person might be. What she's more interested in is,]

And does that company need to be... Meridian? Zenith? Any or? Tensions are so high these days, you see... Should I be recommending places in Springstar or Highstorm?

[dreamflowers]

[She considers the question for a good moment. Tension between the two factions do indeed seem pretty high since she got here, so her mingling with Zenith for long might not be the best idea. Then again, her arrangement with Tezcatlipoca could be considered a sort of betrayal, if he wasn't so... laid back about his commitment.]

Depends on your zealotry, I guess? I know not everyone seems as invested in the cause of the side they're on as others.

[And frankly, Jade isn't sure if she could get along with someone who truly believes in their hearts that the worlds are better off unmade.

[Still. She's not exactly interested in something long-term, just a small respite.]

But I've had business in Highstorm a couple times, and I'm no stranger to shady places. I spent a good amount of time making do in Ark's Undercity, which isn't that much unlike Kowloon, as I understand it.

[Jade is pretty sure she's too new to be very recognizable by the citizens there, but better safe than sorry if she ever travels that far downward.]

[tattooism]

Mmmm, no...

[The smoke drifting through communion almost seems to laugh- if smoke could laugh.]

It depends on yours.

That is why I am asking, after all. Shall I take that as an "anywhere is fine, I do not mind what they think of me"?