locked to zenith

[bakedapple]

[ Link's mental space feels like being outside, so depending on where you are, you might not realize that someone has started Communion with you. Since joining the Zenith, the landscape of Link's mind has gone from idyllic, sunny forests to icy, overcast mountains. A frigid wind blows against your face, carrying the scent of firewood and meat roasting over an open flame. The diminutive Hylian is not sitting by the fire, but standing at the edge of a rocky ledge, his back turned. ]

There's going to be another Oracle soon. I can feel it. The rest of you can feel it too, right? That... pulling feeling.

[ He sighs. ]

If we lose this one, it's over. The Meridian isn't going to go easy on us. I know them... I know how badly they want to win. To them, the stakes couldn't be higher.

So let's talk. About what we're going to be up against, and... well, planning ahead isn't really something we can do, but at least we can warn each other of the dangers that individual Meri pose.

And I... I want to say something, too.

[ He sits down where he stands, his feet hanging off the cliff. There's a sense that he knows this isn't going to go over well, but it's important enough to him to say it anyway. ]

Killing the other guy before they kill you is what war is. That's normal. But Kenos is different. Death doesn't work the way it should here. We don't die permanently. You can neutralize someone threatening you by just dissipating them. There's nothing to gain by destroying their soul after you're no longer in danger.

So, I don't think any of us should shatter anyone ever again.

If you claim someone's Shard, you should protect it. If you feel that you can't do that, give it to someone else.

...I'm not stupid. I know a lot of you aren't gonna agree to this. And the Meris probably won't either. I'm sure they want revenge for what happened to Quetzalcoatl, and those of you who lost the Shards Yima gave you probably aren't feeling very merciful right now either...

But if we don't come to some kinda agreement now, that's going to become normal. Things are gonna get really bad. I don't want that. So... can we talk about it, at least?

Comments

[bakedapple]

Then maybe you'll be the one doing the protecting.

[ As he says this, he smiles slightly. Still tired and numb, but acknowledging that maybe he doesn't need to worry about Matt that much after all. ]

If you ever want to learn how to use a sword, I can show you. There's probably not enough time to teach you anything useful for this Oracle, but maybe for the next one. Until then, choose your actions defensively, alright?

[settingup]

[ Atsumu certainly doesn't have room to criticize a little rough play as someone who indirectly, but knowingly, helped with an assassination. ]

Well yeah, I ain't sayin' we roll over for them either. Just that was play smarter in ways that won't make them wanna off us when they already have bigger numbers.

[settingup]

Yeah, like what kinda power comes outta it.

[settingup]

[ At this this is how Atsumu would finally earn his keep. And damn it does feel nice to get that intense appreciation feedback after all of this. ]

Gimme a look at what I need to find, and I'll see what I can wrangle up.

[settingup]

Uh-huh.

[ Look he's kind of full of himself too, man. But there's a smidgen more self-awareness. ]

[settingup]

[ Rin no! This is them turning on Gen together! Don't try to redirect! ]

Sure, why not?

[settingup]

[ Thanks, dad... 😔 ]

[erbe]

[But Atsumu is such an easy target!]

I wouldn't go that far myself. Tolerating Gen isn't some monumental accomplishment.

[diegeticmusic]

[Yeah, that little vexing problem.]

Right... Well, if we're going to create a new world, we'd have to sort this all out eventually, anyway.

[As daunting a task as that is.]

I... kinda, sorta have some experience with this. Though... the group of people I was working with were... more aligned in their goals.

[To put it mildly.]

[diegeticmusic]

Yeah, he's definitely pretty prickly... Never mind that he seems intent on making himself our collective arch-nemesis.

[She doesn't sound like she actually thinks of him that way, but mostly because she just finds him kind of sad. If also dangerous. You can be both at once!]

I guess anything we can find is worth keeping in mind... Just wish it was less, uh... weird.

[erbe]

I'm always ready to add to my collection. Come by whenever your ready. The closed sign will be out, but the door is unlocked.

[Good. She's glad he caught on.]

[erbe]

Hm? I thought that was the whole deal with gods. That humans and the divine have trouble connecting because of that weirdness.

[Then again she's an atheist and the only gods she really met were Set and Quetzalcoatl.]

[diegeticmusic]

[That actually makes Grace laugh, and the amusement rolls through her Communion.]

Aww, come on. We're not all that weird, right?

[Add one more to your tally, Rin.]

[erbe]

["WE"???????]

Ah. You too? And what are you a god of?

[diegeticmusic]

The arts. Music, poetry, sculpting… at this point, all of it falls under my domain, I guess.

[Grace herself is more attuned to music, though.]

[baltimores]

You got it.

[ And after a several moments' pause a decently-sized list of elements and materials, complete with visuals, enters Atsumu's mind, organized from most desirable to least. ]

Not like I'm expecting you to find all of these; just figure I'd give you a broad swath in case you can't find some things. If it's too much just focus on the stuff at the top. It's all good.

[ He's just happy Atsumu wants to help! ]

LET'S JUST DO IT HERE? or idk inbox just let me know

[bakedapple]

[ For Link's part, he's not quite sure whether he's understanding what she's getting on just yet, but... Delivering live reagents to her is as good a pretense as any, if he needs a pretense. So this works. ]

Give me a little time to get it all together. I'll be there in the next hour.

[ And almost like clockwork, an hour later, there's a sharp knock at the door to Edelstein, followed by a hesitant turn of its doorknob. From the slightly ajar door, Link peeks inside. Despite what she told him, it still feels strange to just walk in when the sign says the store is closed... ]

[semicharmed]

Oh. [ Matt's surprised, then touched; his emotions brighten, even as the rainbow sparks fade away. ] That's a really kind offer. Yes, totally, I'd love that. I don't know how good a pupil I'll be--

[ The memory of swinging Byleth's dagger returns, this time with a stronger undercurrent of flushing nerves. Is it adrenaline from the life-or-death situation, or embarrassment over looking stupid in front of a cute guy? Yes. ]

--but I can promise a positive attitude.

And uh. Defensive sounds good. I can do that.

[semicharmed]

Oh. [ Realization, for whenever. Sheepishly, Matt says, ] Well, I don't have that many structured demands on my time, so if you wanted to come over tomorrow, or like--now--either works.

[ He listens curiously as Amos talks about magic, about Zenith. How they've worked for him. It's not quite like Matt's own relationship with magic, though what is? Even among other practitioners back home, on the rare occasions Matt had gotten to spend serious time with them, his own lens has always seemed a bit left of center. But Amos' tone carries a respect that Matt appreciates. ]

That makes me feel good, [ he says pleasantly. ] About Zenith being compatible with most things, I mean. That's the sense I get from it. [ Don't mind him, just a little scholastic pride in a hypothesis being supported. ] So yeah, just let me know when you're on your way and I'll--

[ An important question occurs to him. ]

--Have you met Sveinn?

[baltimores]

[ There is the very clear impression of Amos smiling as Matt's essence grows pleasant. As he talks about the sense he gets from it. Because it's obvious that Matt is far more spiritual than he, but at the same time, Amos has embraced Zenith in full. The amicable warmth is always going to be tinged with a pleasant coolness to it now, like falling onto a cool pillow at the end of a hot summer's day. Something that feels nice, soothing when pressed up against you, and he's submerged in it.

The vibes are very good, right about now — only disrupted by a little shock of surprise as Matt brings up Sveinn. ]

Uh. I don't think so? I mean, I know about him — [ Amos has been over to Sebastian's before, entirely unsurprisingly. The fact that he isn't sure if he's met Sveinn means he probably actually has not — ] but I don't think he's been... out, any time I've been over. Which has been more than once, since Sebastian makes good food, and we've talked about space and nuclear physics and shit a number of times...

[ Was Sveinn shut in a different room? Was he just very quiet?? Amos does not know, and after that momentary blip of surprise, is thoroughly unbothered by the possibility. ]

How about I come over tomorrow afternoon?

[ He does work by his own schedule, but... that does mean he still has something of one. The structure's good, at least. ]

[eightfoldfiend]

[There is a sense of Yuber bristling, teeth bared as an unfamiliar force embraces him but he relaxes once he knows he's not about to be attacked.]

Can your tattoos protect someone from magic?

[He'll just get straight to the point.]

[tattooism]

My... I must admit, I will be quite pleased to lay my hands upon you.

[As an artist. Of course.]

My schedule will become quite busy from now, it seems... But I'll always make time for you~

[tattooism]

Indeed. It would be pointless to give a combatant a tattoo that did not match well with their style, after all.

So you can tell me all about that... and what you think you need the most~

[picketship]

[Matt's response earns a blithe eyebrow raise from Demeisen. In a way, he's unsurprised; after all, he'd suggested that it was pointless to try puzzling out this entire scenario before harmonizing. Here Matt is, following in his more-than-human footsteps.]

Sensible of you. I don't imagine those nasty shadows will wait for us to all sort things out.

[picketship]

[Demeisen lets the notion of creating a new world float past, unremarked upon. He has no interest in such a thing, carrying as he does the persona of a ship that doesn't even have space for a crew, much less a stable population. Leave that to the GSVs.]

Experience with world-making, or with warfare? Not ideal to be divided in either case, really.