KENOMA // voice+memory

[devilmancrybaby]

[ This takes place the evening after the first event described in the Event Wrap Up post, the entity having withdrawn its influence from Venera.

Binghe is in a bit of a bad mood, having had to haul Makoto's unconscious body out of the street when he would have preferred to drop him in the ocean, and as things are currently he can't really be bothered to pretend that he's not. There's some attempt to be polite, but mostly he sounds kind of tired and cranky. ]

My apologies for the interruption. I am Luo Binghe. No doubt many of you have heard at least a little of what has happened lately in Venera. I was there for the event at the heart of it, so I thought perhaps it would be of some use to share a few of the details.

I am sure it will not come as any great shock to learn it seems to have been the fault of that dog Estinien Wyrmblood. The spirit that seems to have been responsible for what has been happening was so angered by his death that it appeared to smite anyone who tried to keep it from... I don't know, I think it wanted his shard. I don't know what it would have done with it. Kept him as a pet, perhaps, in one of its illusions.

If I am honest, whatever this thing was it seemed rather simple, like the ghost of a child, but it clearly possessed immense power. The Aions of Pleroma who were there, their unconvincing promises about—taking care of him in its stead, that kind of thing. That was enough to convince it to retreat.

I think it did something to them, though. I'll show you.

[ He shares his memory of this moment, when the mass of wings demanded that those gathered keep their promise, grasping onto those closest to it with its ethereal hands.

The image fades and Binghe's voice resumes: ]

So the problem has been solved, but only temporarily. The spirit was not destroyed, and it seems if these Aions fail to fulfil its whims it may return with something worse. It might not be so easy to persuade next time.

Comments

[subsist]

Maybe not. I imagine some would be downright unreasonable, [ like firebrands or something ] but I have no way of proving that right now.

Of course, there's no guarantee we'll encounter the other Legacies like this one either.

[gravings]

If it happened once, I can only imagine it will happen again... In which case, I hope you'll be sure to run far away if you see one.

[ Please!! ]

Which Legacy is yours, Mr. Kaeya?

[subsist]

Oh, don't worry. I'll run once I know I won't survive its attacks.

[ he did say he has an appropriate amount, not an abundance, of self-preservation. ]

As for my Legacy, I was told it's the one called Lover.

[hundredpower]

Yes. Powers like mine should be able to answer definitively whether we can defeat it with brute force. If that fails, we'll have to think more creatively.

[hundredpower]

I see... Thank you for the insight.

I'm used to underhanded opponents, so even if he did lie and backstab, I'm prepared to deal with it. But having an idea of what to predict should be useful.

[fightforthejoyofit]

[He's not jealous.

He's very jealous.

He's also not crass enough to just say yeah, you're fucked mate, but that's very much the feeling bleeding through the communion, an almost-chuckle in his tone.]

If not before, then certainly now.

[lachtara]

[ "Above" this. Oh, that is rich indeed. He can't help but quirk a small smirk at the very notion. ]

Very well. Your memories are your own.

It seems you came across the Dragoon while he was already injured and suffering from the affliction. Do you have any inclinations on what happened prior?

[lachtara]

I see.

[ Hm. This is a lot to consider. It will take some puzzling over it to think of where to go with it next. In the meantime, there's he gives a light sigh and his voice changes from the previous business-like tone to something lighter. ]

Where are my manners. I've asked you several questions without the courtesy of a formal introduction. Would you do me the pleasure of providing a name?

[ While he knows the girl's name distantly, it is always preferable to get introductions from the person themselves if they have not met. ]

[affal]

( then by all means, zenos, fight her instead? makoto would prefer not. getting struck by lightning was no fun.

those emotions seem to run into a brick wall. the mental version of the recipient saying, "i'm not interested." )

Yes, I'm well aware. ( there is a brief, brittle pause. ) It's not as though I didn't expect any consequences to arise from this.

( he had just hoped to remove one of the biggest ones by claiming estinien's shard, but we're all well past that. )

[affal]

Not at all.

I knew it was him, and I suspected he was injured because of the timbre of his roar. It felt similar to what I felt from him when he was fighting off the Kenoma in the Throne Room. I don't know how he ended up in that state, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from taking advantage of an opportunity.

[lachtara]

I have no doubt that they would return that sentiment in kind. [ Especially now, given what he has seen of their reception to the incident. ]

That is all the questions I have for now. My thanks for your answering them.

[subsist]

You know what. You're right— it can't hurt to try.

The only problem is we have no way of drawing the entity back out, but I suppose that's what we'll have to look into for now.

[gravings]

[ And here she realizes she forgot step one, which was to identify herself to begin with... She flusters as she responds with embarrassment. ]

Oh... yes! My name is Gray. And, um... I recognize your voice, Mr. Emet. It's nice to meet you.

[ Or should it be Mr. Selch? ... It's a bit complicated navigating people's odd names. Either way, she remembers him speaking at length at the welcoming party. ]

+1 additional report

[hikikosaurus]

[There's just so much happening in this communion that Alphys has some real regrets about gripping her shard to listen in. Estinien died? It was all some angel-like legacy, threatening to take over if they don't prove themselves to it? It's a little overwhelming. But there's a sense of responsibility and guilt about the details, that urges her to speak up.]

Ummm... I also, that last day... I mean.

[Bracing herself. Like a public speech, except without any prepared notes, which really doesn't help much...]

Lover, here! Alphys. I w-was also hearing something whispering, the last couple days. After I got i-infected. About... how it wanted to protect us, from suffering. And offering to help. It felt... I mean, while I was infected, it felt, um. Nice.

[lachtara]

Emet-Selch.

[ Not annoyed, just a simple correction. ]

You were among the newer members of the Kenoma. How have you been settling in?

[hundredpower]

If what Mr Luo said is correct, I think the fastest way to lure it out would be using those Pleroma who made the agreement with it.

That's easier said than done without waiting for them to come to us, so we may simply have to bide our time for now.

[expiera]

["Louisoix Leveilleur"? That sounds... French.]

What is the grandson's name, for reference? [Because as neat as his grandpa's name is, they're not dealing with the lad's grandpa here.] Would you know more about what led to that betrayal, and were the... 'Crystal Braves' still an organization, last you heard? [More than it presenting a weakness, it sounds gossipy. Judging from Emet's tone alone, maybe he'd be inclined to talk more about it out of sheer dunking amusement?]

Would you say he excels at offense, support, or is skilled at both?

[subsist]

[ that gives kaeya an idea. an awful idea, but there it is nonetheless. ]

... Two of them would make for good targets if we're able to isolate them from the rest. As far as I'm aware, they don't have any means to fight back.

[ hm. ]

I'm sure an opportunity will arise sooner or later.

[lifespanned]

It spoke to you? Creepy...

[ The thing that caused all this, stalking around someone small and cute like Gray, not to mention actually talking to her? However, she also knows that sometimes, things that look horrifying at first can actually be nice entities, so she decides to give it the benefit of the doubt. ]

Were you scared of it? Or was it nice...?

[hundredpower]

[Barnaby can't stop his uncomfortable feelings of distaste leaking over at that suggestion -- he has an idea of which individuals Kaeya is alluding to -- but the rational part of him knows it's sound logic.]

Right. For now we'll just have to prepare for when that happens. If the Pleroma are always this eager to protect their own, even targeting one of them should be enough to force out the others.

[gravings]

[ There's a brief pause, her surprise at him bothering to ask poofing briefly across their connection. She considers how an answer like "it's been fine" would probably be both unbelievable and unsatisfactory. On the other hand, bleating about the excessive attention and worship would just be annoying. ]

... Everyone's been very gracious. Truthfully, I'm not used to having so much free time. I was probably closer to a retainer in my... former life.

[ If the Regent needs their shoes polished, she's free... ]

[gravings]

[ He gets another albeit smaller puff of satisfaction for his prudence. She probably can't expect someone with gods-given magic to be flee at the first sign of danger, but at least he sounds happy to flee when necessary. ]

That month just passed...

[ That seems to be all she was after because she continues with complete sincerity, ]

Then please continue to practice an appropriate amount of self-preservation.

[gravings]

Um... Yes to both.

[ It was nice and also Gray was terrified of it. She sees no contradiction here. ]

If I had to explain the feeling... it might have been like being a small child's pet. The child might be full of love, but it isn't fully capable of understanding the pet's needs.

[ In this case, Gray felt like a pet bug. ]

[lachtara]

[ A huff. ]

Must you assume that everyone from the same place is so intimately acquainted?

[ He'd only berated the boy in person once and give him a vague acknowledgement besides. The rest is second-hand knowledge from Garlemald, rumors, and observations. But suppose it's better than nothing. Now excuse him as he complains about being unfamiliar and proceeds to speak at extreme length.]

Alphinaud Leveilleur. Current member of the "Scions of the Seventh Dawn" - An organization to wit Estinien also claims membership. He has a twin sister; Alisaie Leveilleur. I imagine he would feel her absence most keenly.

The boy founded the Crystal Braves with the intention of Uniting Eorzea. However, his inexperience at the time did not afford him the wherewithal in judging loyalties. Most of his member's allegiance had been purchased by a political leader who used them for their own ends. It afforded them the perfect opportunity to make the Scions into a scapegoat for their ploys.

I gather he has become wiser during the interim. Why, he even attempted to serve as a representative with hostile nations in hopes of organizing some semblance of peace betwixt the two. How delightfully admirable!

[ It almost makes for a perfect target for their own brand of cross-faction discussins, doesn't it? ]

His skills are that of the "Academician". They primarily provide healing as well as shields to protect those in harm's way. Along with a few other elemental magics besides.

[subsist]

[ sorry, bunny. kaeya is just going to ignore your discomfort because he is used to playing dirty. ]

Target both and we'll have double the chances to test your theory out. We could try different things too.