kenoma ➩ may 11th, late afternoon

[galdorleod]

[ The 'voice' that filters into the Kenoma Aions' minds will be instantly recognizable to anyone who has spoken to Howl in the past, but for the new Aions, this presence feels particularly... irreverent. Friendly and airy and carefree, in contrast to to the more callous apathetic mood that generally permeates Achamoth proper. In either case, yes, this is clearly Howl, and for someone who's been missing for a week, he sounds bizarrely normal. ]

Really? A party while I was gone?

Did you botch my invite by accident, or were you just having a laugh at me, ladies?

You've got to let people know about these things ahead of time. If ever you need a hand with all that in the future, come to me, alright?

[ His tone is only vaguely chiding, a sign that he's really not that bothered about missing out, even if he'd have preferred not to. With that out of the way, he switches gears. ]

To our new Aions: greetings! My name is Howl.

Please, forgive my absence at the Kenoma happening last week. Hopefully, it wasn't as miserable and humorless as the last one. Either way, you'll get used to this place, I promise.

If you've any questions that are yet unanswered, you ought to ask them, although I can't guarantee I'm the one to ask. But it's best not to get caught with your pants down, if you'll pardon the crude turn of phrase.

Comments

[hundredpower]

[The response from Barnaby is tentative, as though he finds something inherently unsettling about this form of communication, but he replies nonetheless.]

Someone was looking for you at the party, I think. [Or at least, he guesses it was Howl, though he never got a name.] Whatever you were up to, try not to worry her like that again.

[galdorleod]

[ There's a pause of hesitation following the message, as Howl tries to place the 'voice' and then realizes he doesn't recognize it at all. ]

Ah... You must be one of the new people! Welcome.

[ and... ] Someone was worried about me? I'm flattered. Who was it?

[hundredpower]

Xishen. She was looking for a missing person, and she didn't linger long after she realised they weren't there, so I suppose it must have been you.

[It's not really his business to speculate on why that was, but he figures he should at least know.]

I'm Barnaby.

not here

[lachtara]

He hears the message clearly but does not make a point to respond. Far be it from him to let Howl know that his absence was noticed. Why he wasn't present is a lingering question. Is he still recovering from the injuries...? He makes it a point to check in the near future.

[subsist]

[ one of these days, responding to a message like this will become much easier. communion means opening himself up to others, and quite frankly, that's asking for way too much from someone like him. at least he manages to freely, friendly and affable as always. ]

It's a terrible shame you had to miss the party. We made sure to have a lot of fun on your behalf.

[ this is mostly in jest. mostly. ]

[expiera]

[...Where to begin.

A deep breath is a good place, yes, time and space to gather her bearings before she dislodges her shard and answers Howl properly. The palpitation is undeniably there the moment it becomes clear the transmission is from him, and the nature of communion means that she must be extra guarded with her emotions. She's no stranger to playing stoic, but... It still takes some preparation.

Thus her reply is not immediate, which he probably wouldn't mind; with how his message ended up playing out (too cheerful and easygoing. "It'll be in his best interest if it works. If it doesn't need to happen again."), he's probably not eager to hear from her anyway.]

It was not intentional, you were sorely missed. [She's not kidding, even if the sentiment may feel ever-so-slightly reproachful.] More importantly, have you really recovered well enough, Howl?

[There's something else that's just as important, but one step at a time. Besides, the nagging is arguably a great cover, to hide the real reason why he needs to be checked upon ASAP.]

[galdorleod]

[ ...Really. Huh. Howl probably should have anticipated that, knowing Xishen. But Howl has to wonder what exactly this person means by her being "worried." Hopefully she didn't make a scene over his absence, even if in her own muted way. ]

I see. Thanks for letting me know, Barnaby. [ moving on. ]

Well, tell me about yourself! I've got to catch up! What is your Legacy? May as well start with that.

[galdorleod]

[ Howl will definitely be asking later why it took you so long to check on him, old man ]

[galdorleod]

[ Hm. Another new person. To Howl's credit, he senses the jest in the message — and it only makes sense anyway, since this guy wouldn't know who Howl is to have fun on his behalf. ]

Well, wouldn't that the next best thing, if I had to miss it? Far be it from me to want to spoil everyone's good time.

You're another new one. What's your name?

[zauneyete]

It's a shame you missed the festivities.

What sort of activities could be more fun than what was planned, to tear you away?

[ Silco asks, completely innocently. ]

[galdorleod]

[ Howl's attention turns to the foreign anxiety that seeps into his head. He recognizes it as belonging to a certain someone, who fretted over him so sincerely when he returned to the Lodestone on the verge of death, and is undoubtedly responsible for saving him from dissipating that day. He still hasn't had an opportunity to thank her, but considering how awkward that conversation would be, he isn't in a hurry.

When she finally speaks, something like a resigned sigh transfers from Howl's mind. Howl won't ignore her, he owes her that much. ]

Yes, I have. I feel better than ever, actually.

[ He just knows she wants to know where he was, but he'll wait for her to ask. ]

[galdorleod]

[ Unfortunately — or, fortunately? — for Silco, Howl has absolutely no idea how the Regent got word of what happened, much less that a specific person is responsible for ratting him out.

But even so, Howl would not care. Does not care. Not anymore. ]

Stars above, it's been a while since I heard your voice. [ He responds to Silco's message with his usual charm. ] I was enjoying myself in the Entertainment District, if you must know. With one very special and exclusive hostess.

[zauneyete]

You must have been deep in the throes of it, then, to miss us during our little tour in the Entertainment District.

[ Testing the waters to find you didn't get sold out? Lucky Silco. ]

It's a tragedy you missed it. They threw quite the party, and Who knows when we'll have the reason for another? It's always a shame when we end up double booked.

[galdorleod]

[ Howl is not inclined to provide many in-depth details of his week with Dionys, especially not in public. Silco pretty much nailed it anyway, so he's happy to leave it at that. ]

How good could it have been without me there? [ from his tone, he means this as a joke. ] But if you found it to be such a blowout, I'm inclined to believe you. I know how much you enjoy the Entertainment District yourself.

Surely, we'll have another excuse for a party eventually. Not that one really needs an excuse, if you ask me, but still.

[zauneyete]

[ Silco is seen frequenting the Entertainment District, it's a logical assumption -- even if he doesn't indulge much. ]

Given the restrictions, it was rather successful. It could have only been improved, if you were there, I suppose.

Next time, perhaps, we'll all enjoy your presence. As it is, I'm sure our resident party planners would love to have someone to help.

[ Someone who isn't him, please. He hates playing along like this. ]

[expiera]

[It certainly doesn't FEEL like he's lying... He's not really the type anyway, she's interacted with Howl enough to know that if he was feeling the slightly bit off, he'd probably not hesitate in complaining to let the world know about his misery.

It's troubling that Ciel can't tell, whether the fact is relieving or concerning.

...

He may feel a twinge of reluctance, the time it takes for her to swallow the compulsion to ask him for further proof of his well-being.]

...Fine. With you announcing your return like that, surely it's only a matter of time before people start seeing you out and about in person anyway.

[Then they can confirm, and she wouldn't have to rain on his return parade by immediately (and literally) getting in his face. Being considerate isn't hard, yeah...!]

Then, where have you been? Misa and Lottie sent several Kenoma-wide communion broadcasts to inform everyone. It's a little difficult to believe you missed all of them without a very compelling reason, Howl.

[He sure called it... Now what?]

[lifespanned]

Howl! Hey, what gives? You're the one who ignored me...

[ That much is totally, completely honest and only (mildly) comically accusing. She was aware of his absence from the night's beginning to the end - which perhaps explains the overdramatized way she's lamenting and whining about his absence. She'd had so many plans! Cool tricks she could've begged him to do! The crocodile tears can practically be sensed over her Communion. ]

I thought you were really hurt, you dummy!! You made me get all worried.

[hundredpower]

Lover.

[Though he's trying not to make it obvious, the communion makes it possible to pick up the faintest traces of embarrassment. Why couldn't he have gotten something that fits his image, like Champion...]

What's yours?

[galdorleod]

Lovers... they're very special people, you know. You could have certainly done worse. Like Celebrant, for example. Apparently, it means I'm an unreliable louche. [ And Howl punctuates that matter-of-fact statement with a hearty laugh. He isn't embarrassed by this association at all.

But, he felt that twinge of self-consciousness. Howl might have just got out of an intense bout of brainwashing, but he's still the same person he's always been, and he can't help but feel sympathy for Barnaby as he feels his embarrassment. ]

[galdorleod]

You can see me out and about right now, if you're really that worried. [ Howl shrugs to himself in the flesh, and the accompanying feeling transfers over from his mind.

His reaction to her question is similar. Howl does not consider what happened to him to be negative. The emotions that propelled him into violating the Regent's trust feel so far away that they're on the verge of being forgotten entirely. Far more overpowering now are the subconscious sentiments that made him so vulnerable to the Kenoma to begin with — to the degree that his conscious allegiance to it, and the Regent, is far more concrete and established. For those who had a chance to glimpse the real Howl — mostly Pleroma — there will be something about his mind that feels distinctly wrong. To everyone else, he's barely changed. ]

Like I've mentioned to others already, I was in the Entertainment District. Enjoying myself. Dionys sought me out and brought her back to her quarters. She is the only other Celebrant we know of, we've become quite close by now, you know. [ As "close" as someone can realistically get to Dionys, possibly. And yes, he does intend that particular implication by the word "close." ]

[galdorleod]

And you and I will just have to share a drink together, when that time comes! Or... whatever else people have been indulging in lately.

[galdorleod]

Ah, my dearest Misa... [ of all the Regent's pets, Howl likes her the most. She's cute so easy for him to relate to, and that's especially true now, after a week of being brainwashed into loyalty. ]

To the extent that my absence was my own fault, I hope you forgive me. But you do have to admit that the invitations were sent a bit last minute, don't you? It's only because you sent me so many that I could still make out enough of their contents now, a week later, and piece it all together...

[hundredpower]

[There's a slight feeling of amusement sent in return. He's not so sure what's special about Lovers when it feels like carrying around an open weakness, at least in his own case, but he can appreciate Howl's self-deprecating humour.]

But it also means you're... fun? [Why does he sound so unsure of that word.] Sometimes people like you are important for lifting others' spirits.

[expiera]

[So... Dionys. Ciel's never met the other Aion in person before (and she's starting to get the impression that it's for the best), but it was difficult to not catch word of her from simply talking to the Achamites around the city. Xishen's word still echoes at the back of her mind, and the unabating concern she can't wholly shake is the chief factor in muting over what may otherwise be a flagrant sense of exasperation.

May or may not be rubbing her temple...]

...I see.

[The flattest I see Howl had ever heard on Horos, maybe.

There's no sense digging, is there. Things may be better off this way, Xishen had said as much herself.]

You sound to be in such high spirits. [A glaring contrast to the miserable mass of wizard manchild she can still see far too clearly, in her mind's eye.] Are you sure running into me now wouldn't spoil that?

[Ciel has THIS much self-awareness, at least...]

[zauneyete]

Mm, I know of quite a few of the more popular drugs, in these parts.

Perhaps I'll introduce you to some of them, if you decide to be a bit more experimental with your indulgences.

[ As if Silco has tried any of them. ]