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[darkeststars]

archeval

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username: darth imperius

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stairs of sighs canyon, night of 3 july | username: absterge

[downswing]

Once, I rescued your flesh.

[darth imperius] posted:

[darkeststars]

Much to my chagrin, I probably would've been a nice warm flesh blanket for the creatures if you hadn't intervened, yes. I don't deny it and I remain grateful for the assist.

Why bring it up now?

[downswing]

I beg boon. My son, captured.

[darkeststars]

Wait, what? You have a s

[ there's a couple second's delay ]

Nevermind, later -- how do you mean captured? Those harpies?
Is someone hurt? Give me the full report

[downswing]

Captured by canyon, within stone. He lives.

[darkeststars]

-Within- stone??? So he's messaged you over comms?

Are you just being your usual obtuse self and he's been caved in somewhere or do you mean he literally got gobbled up into a solid rock wall somehow

Got my saber and threw clothes on I'm coming

I assume you're outside the wagons somewhere yes

voice; [un: sprite bulb]

[bearshermark]

[Shortly after this post, Eleven's voice comes through hesitant, apologetic, and fairly nervous]

I'm sorry to bother you, but I think you're the only one I know that could probably find me without physically looking. I don't want to start any trouble, so if you could just.. keep an eye on my location for now, that would be helpful.

[darth imperius] voice posted:

[darkeststars]

[ he's only just finished listening to that transmission with a deep, deep frown on his face when this private message pops up-- Eleven can just about hear the gritting of his teeth in his near-instant reply ]

What exactly is going on, why are you being so coy, and it had better be a very thorough and innocent explanation if you don't want me to start trouble.

[ you better believe he is already mentally searching for your location, indeed ]

[bearshermark]

No- don't! ..At least, not yet. I'm okay, for now.

It's just that, ah.. I spoke with Arha. I thought I could- that if I talked to him, maybe I could help put his army to rest. But er, well, he didn't take it well, so I'm under guard at the moment. I just didn't want Hendrik to try and ah, use force to free me.

[darkeststars]

They took you prisoner!? And you were just going to, what, sit there? What are they planning to do with you? They wouldn't keep you captive for no reason-- So help me, Eleven, if your entire plan is to just wait around and hope that stubborn ass of a ghost will just happen to find some mercy in him--

[bearshermark]

[There are four phantoms guarding the tented caravan he's held in]

I-I don't know what they're planning. I'm worried, but I don't want to start a conflict. So I was hoping you could just.. keep an eye on it, for now.

[darkeststars]

[ his voice has suddenly gotten very calm again ]

Let me see if I understand the facts of this.

You decided to go try telling the ghosts that they are ghosts. If Hendrik wasn't in the loop, then I assume you decided to go do this without informing anyone in advance. So without making any advance warning or any plans for if it went poorly, you went to speak to the Lord Arha himself.

Do I have that right?

[ he does not sound impressed. ]

[un: sprite bulb] voice; s o m e t i m e before poisoning fiasco

[bearshermark]

[The words come with the sort of heaviness and jumbled, rambling earnesty of a person that might have had a bit much to drink]

'M really glad you're being my friend not because I'm the Luminary. Not that.. you'd care about that, but people just want things from people like that and here too, but you don't care and it's nice. Really- really appreciate that about you. Thanks.

[darth imperius] voice posted:

[darkeststars]

[ in his current state, Eleven might make to end the call when all he receives in return at first is a long second or three of silence, but then at the last moment -- it's a very dry voice that issues from the other end of the line. ]

So you've been finding yourself some entertainment, hm?

You're right, I don't care about things like that. Sucking up and currying favor is a tedious affair -- I try to save it for only beings actively in a position to kill me. Certainly makes it grating, being stuck in a situation like this.

Has someone been trying to treat you that way? Sucking up to use you?

[ drunk!Eleven, just so you're aware, that's the dark-lord-doesn't-like-people-messing-with-his-subjects voice.

The word 'friend', however, goes un-remarked-upon. ]

[bearshermark]

[Gosh Arche, you care so much :'>]

Mmn, some idiots trying to make money. Pretty sure they're saying shit soon as I turn around, but I am 'of the people' an' the longer I spend around them, the less I care.

[Woops he did a swear; he's usually good about that sober]

I get what you mean about wanting to strangle people though. Yggdrasil grant them low-class reincarnations.

[darkeststars]

[ he just sounds amused ]

Hm, you're even more drunk than I thought you were.

Locals trying to take the new money foreigner for a ride, is that it? Ugh, of all the times I can't just wander over myself to put the fear of Sith into them. It would be such fun too. [ hmph ]

You're sure you can't strangle them even a little bit? It's very cathartic. Promise. [ pause ] --No, don't actually do that, knowing you you'd get upset after you sober up. ...And I suppose there might be a diplomatic incident or something. [ does he actually care about that? He will attempt to pretend that he cares about that. ]

[bearshermark]

[He laughs, devolving into snickers]

I won't- I'm not that drunk, just.. a good amount. It's nice. Drink, good food 'nd a bed- all an 'uneducated country bumpkin' needs.

[He tapers off into a long, thoughtful hum]

'M sorry you have to do this even at home; you're right that I couldn't. But doing things because it's best and not because you want to- that's... hm, noble in the right way. You're a good person, I think- best as you can be in the dark. I like you.

[darkeststars]

[ there's a vague uncomfortable noise from the other end of the line ]

Ugh, if you're going to get maudlin on me I'm hanging up. Go drink some water.

[ He likes you too, El.

There's a moment of silence. ]

...Really is everybody else who makes it overly complicated, though, isn't it? [ long sigh ] Food, drink, a decent place to lay your head. I'd happily settle for that too. ...it's a little hilarious, if I'm honest. Sought out only that as a boy and somehow that spiralled into a seat on the ruling council of the Empire. Wouldn't exactly have called it.

We definitely need to send you home with a nice essay about how they shouldn't make you inherit, though, honestly it's horrendous. Hm-- Are you by yourself...? [ not that Eleven can't defend himself just fine if he's wandering around drunk at some party, but Arche absolutely doesn't trust the combination of overly nice beings and alcohol. ]

[un: sprite bulb] voice; after Bonnaccorso

[bearshermark]

[A breath, silence, then another. When his voice comes, it's strained- words heavy with an awkward quality as though they aren't quite what he wants to say]

..How are you?

[darth imperius] voice posted:

[darkeststars]

[ there's some delay before Eleven gets a reply. The familiar low voice on the other end is perhaps a little hoarse. ]

Hm? Hello to you too.

There's not much to tell. My mission continues. Hopefully these things are secure, but I suppose I won't speak of it much over transmission, just in case.

[ another pause, then -- he might be too far away to properly read El's emotions, but even someone with as questionable a grasp of social graces as Archeval can hear that note in the other's voice ]

What's the matter?

[bearshermark]

[Concern pierces the banked anger, splitting his focus. Still, irritation bleeds through, frustrated and trying to keep his temper]

I ah, just- just got out of my meeting with Bonaccorso. Out of everyone he could have asked, I'm among the least qualified. It was.. stressful. I really, really hate politics.

[darkeststars]

Bonaccorso himself wanted to see you? [ sigh ] I haven't been kept apprised, I'm afraid. And what was the old man after? [ the hoarse voice slips into his usual wry drawl ] Has he started asking some of those pesky questions we don't have good answers to? Or is he simply interested in the same drivel as his lower courtiers...?

[bearshermark]

[A sigh] It was drivel, at first. Talk about the city, his potential successors... I thought I handled that decently, but I wasn't prepared for his suspicions about... about the sudden wealth of political support they received.

[He pauses]

..I think we're okay. I think so. He called Macaluso's supporters enemies of mine, so that's.. something.

[darkeststars]

[ his voice is bone-dry ]

Oh, good, he's at least awake. Anything less would simply be sad.

If I had to wildly speculate, I'd posit he likely has his suspicions -- probably has done for a while now -- but doesn't want to disrupt the status quo by moving on them with no hard evidence of subterfuge. Even if he suspects that the two factions of warring supporters who've suddenly popped up in the city have their own strong ulterior motives, however...well, that part is practically a given anyway. [ drawling ] Who wades into the dung heap of politics with no hope of personal gain? I don't think the full truth is so easy to see the shape of if one is not expecting it.

And he must have called in the young farmer for a reason, hm? I can't imagine he was expecting you to be a perfectly calm picture of eloquence. Apparently you walked out of there without getting yourself arrested, so good enough.

[un: sprite bulb] text; in the wake of dragon tower shenanigans

[bearshermark]

Where to start.

The dragon was captured. I visited it once. It's surprisingly beautiful and there's a wisdom to it. Macaluso promised to release it, but I wonder if that will hold true.

There was a celebration held in the Bessis tower, the ice dragon held in the moat. Vannozza tasked a number of us with going through the waterways, certain there was something secret the Bessis were hiding and hoping to expose it. They were.

Attaryl undead and other people like us.

The dragon also started on a rampage and locked us in the tower with its ice magic for a few days. It hasn't been pleasant. The undead witches can float and have some kind of mind meddling ability. Fire magic is still effective at least.

I hope you're doing all right.