kenoscomm | locked to zenith

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locked to zenith

[ 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?

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[ There's the sensation of Amos blinking in surprise as that metaphorical rock bounces off of his window, at the sound of Matt's voice. Especially when he would have expected emotional wariness, only to not really find it.

Or at least, he thinks it isn't there. Hard thing for him to tell sometimes. Plain words are easier, so that's what he chooses to focus on, because it's not like Matt would be saying something he doesn't mean. ]

Sure. [ The acceptance comes easily enough, but there's a sense of befuddlement behind it, like he doesn't really understand where this is coming from, or why. But still — acceptance. ] What kind of something?

[ Now Matt feels a little awkward. Which he supposes was inevitable--how was their next conversation after "I have to leave your home due to my discomfort over the assassination you did" going to go, realistically?

Still, he has a purpose here. And the bandaid had to come off eventually. He soldiers on, grateful for the solidity of the question. ]

Anything that's in regular contact with your skin. I usually go for jewelry, necklaces and bracelets and things, just because they're small and easy to customize. I've also done patches on clothes with pretty good results.

I can do another form factor. I'd just want to test it first.

[ Matt's awkwardness makes Amos feel awkward in turn. He gets that he did something wrong the last time, but he hasn't done anything since then except try to help out the people of Highstorm. So he's pretty sure he hasn't done anything wrong since they last spoke, and yet...

But Matt's the one who reached out to him. The one who is offering him something. So he tries to shrug off that awkwardness, because surely there can't actually be any wrong. Why feel weird about things in that case?

He thinks it over, and at the mention of a necklace, brings a hand up to the familiar pendant around his neck that Quetzalcoatl gave him. ]

I could probably do a bracelet, as long as it isn't one of those ones that slides up and down your wrist. Since I work with my hands and all. [ And his wrists are free. ]

What do you mean by form factor?

Oh yeah, of course. [ Matt warms to the practical consideration. A sense of approval comes through the Communion, along with a slight easing. As if Matt's let out a breath and released some tension from his shoulders. ] Something more like a brace, maybe. Or a belt ...?

I guess I just mean form factor to be ... literally the shape it takes. [ A touch sheepish. ] There's a lot of assumptions about how enchantments and amulets are gonna look, at least where I come from, but in my experience, you can enchant almost anything if you have the right attitude. And it's more effective if it's something that's meaningful to you, that you have some connection to. Even if it's as simple as "I wear necklaces sometimes."

[ ... Does this mean they're good again? It feels like maybe they're good again... Amos hopes that they're good again.

Though there's the sound of him hissing through his teeth as he considers what's meaningful to him, because when it comes to objects... ]

I'm not exactly the sentimental type. I mean... I like my home, but if it disappeared one day then short of needing to find a new place to live, I wouldn't mind all that much.

... Maybe if it's from you, that'd be enough. [ fucking exalt-ass mfer ] I could do a tight bracelet or a small brace, yeah. If it's from you.

[ --Oh.

Yet again, Matt's surprised, touched, by how easily Amos' devotion comes. How simple and total it is. His emotions warm over Communion, not wholly free of muddle: there's some guilt, some uncertainty, some lingering resentment (though its object isn't clear). But mostly, what he feels is happiness. ]

I can design it a few ways, [ he offers, after a moment. ] And then whichever one works best with your day-to-day, I can enchant for you.

Do you have any ideas about what effect you might find useful? I haven't established strict limits on the things I can do, but it could take time to learn how to cast a spell that's totally new to me.

[ He doesn't know guilt; expects uncertainty; accepts resentment.

Enjoys the warmth of happiness, though. He feels easier among it. More relaxed. ]

Bracelet's alright. I dunno if you need to measure my wrist or anything, but you can do that.

[ A beat, thinking things over. ]

I got kinds of protection and invisibility already. Not sure how good luck would work exactly, but if that's the kind of thing you know how to do... figure I wouldn't say no to it.

[ re: I trust you. A simple equation: If Matt figures it would help, then it probably will. ]

Oh, cool, [ Matt enthuses. He's relieved that Amos has had some additional protections in place all this time. But given how things are escalating, he doesn't think it's a bad thing to add more--as long as they don't interfere with the spells already in place. ] Yeah, the way my luck spells have worked in the past is they're pretty gentle? Just a tilt in the odds, or like ... when I used one last, I was trying to find someone in Springstar in a part of town I didn't know. And I found her. So it's that kind of thing, where when you need something to break your way, it often will.

I think next steps would be ... measure your wrist, for sure. And maybe if I could get a look at the other magic you have going? I don't want to accidentally interfere with them.

[ Matt was trying to find someone in Springstar in a part of town he didn't know, and he found her. Matt pulled a kid from the rubble. Matt couldn't find the kid's parents.

The thought comes unbidden to his mind, leaping out at the forefront. And then it's gone, dissipated in a puff of smoke, carried away up into the ether. ]

Like a guiding hand? [ Because he doesn't fully get the luck thing, but he can understand a force directing you in a particular direction — a soft nudge, a point, something. Sure, he's thinking of a literal hand in this case, but, ] I'd like that.

[ Amos had fucked up. Matt is still willing to help him. He's appreciative of that too, so. ]

You want me to come over to where you're staying? [ He actually does not know where Matt is staying. Doesn't think he'd want to come back to his place, though. ] Protection spell's something Fluffy [ Kiritsubo ] gave me. Invisibility thing's from harmonizing with Zenith, though. Both should be fine, but yeah, I can show you. I've kinda... picked up a lot of things in my time here. They all seem to fit together, one way or another.

Yeah, [ Matt agrees. ] A hand on the scale, for sure. Like someone's looking out for you--

Which in this case, I mean, I am looking out for you. Just not in a direct way.

[ There's a slight pause, as Matt wonders if it's awkward to bring up where he's staying. Concludes that it is. Muscles forward anyway. ]

I ended up crashing at Sebastian's, so that's where I am right now. You're more than welcome to come over. [ He adds, both because it's relevant and to keep things moving: ] That's good to know about different magic layering well together. I'll be careful anyway, but that's promising.

I still consider myself to be, ah, getting acquainted with Zenith. So I appreciate the context.

[ The tidbit is reassuring on more levels than one, in fact. Matt may not trust most of the authority figures around here, but he doesn't think there's anything wrong with the Zenith or Meridian energies in and of themselves. ]

[ Like Matt's looking out for him — and hesitantly, almost subconsciously, the air around Amos in communion warms a fraction.

Followed by a curious blink. ] Sebastian's close by. I can be there whenever.

[ He isn't bothered by it, at least; no awkwardness on Amos' end. Really, he's just asking when do you want me to come?

Followed by the sense of him pondering, considering Matt's musing on being careful with magic. Not because of what had happened the last time he was in his place, but... ]

And I don't really... know shit about magic. Not in the way you talk about it. I know of it as a tool — [ and there's respect, in that word. He's a mechanic. There's the impression of you take care of your tools, your tools take care of you — ] that comes mostly naturally now, helps me along.

I figure Zenith's compatible with just about anything, though — [ it's a force of nature. The correct one, but that same measure of respect remains in his voice — ] so yeah. Doesn't take much to get acquainted.

[ Zenith'll take care of you, too. ]

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?

[ 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. ]

[ The vibes are great. Reaching out to Amos' mind is like dipping your toes into cool water on a hot day, his presence soothing as certainty. Matt feels like he runs hot in comparison--all kinetic energy, a firefly smacking into the sides of its jar. At least here he does, where he's been so frantic. Running around looking for answers, struggling against a conflict that yawns so much bigger than he is.

For the moment, though, he's pleased to have his olive branch accepted. And pleased, too, that Amos and Sebastian seem to have a friendly relationship that involves sharing interesting conversations. Matt always likes to know that the people he likes are having a good time. ]

That sounds great, [ he confirms. A smile. ] I'll make sure to give Sveinn some extra brushing tonight so he won't feel too neglected.

[ From Matt's tone, he doesn't think this is a serious emotional concern. More a chance to dote. He may have started off torn between terror and fascination where Sveinn was concerned, but he's become genuinely fond of the hellbeast. ]

Cool. [ Amos maintains a pleasantly friendly vibe, like he doesn't really mind if Sveinn gets any extra attention tonight or not — it sounds like a good idea, it just doesn't really affect him. Not like he minds animals or pets, but he has a hard enough time caring about people he doesn't know, so...

So Matt's a good person, that he cares that much about Sveinn. About any and all living creatures, probably.

A little attempt at a matching smile of his own. Somewhat lacking, but the effort is sincere. ] I'll see you tomorrow.

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