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[ This takes place the evening after the first event described in the Event Wrap Up post, the entity having withdrawn its influence from Venera.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

additional report

[gravings]

[ Gray's voice as it quietly pipes up is audibly pained as a result of the memory shared. On the upside, it distracts her from her normal terror of public speaking. ]

That spirit... was the manifestation of the Legacy of the Innocent. It said the disease that's befallen Venera is its "gift."

Actually, I've felt its presence since the beginning of the month. I didn't know what it was... until it spoke to us Innocents when we were together.

[lachtara]

You were able to "feel" its presence in what way?

[gravings]

Like someone standing behind me at all times. Sometimes it would whisper, but it was too difficult to make out the words.

[ A second, then she adds even more softly: ]

When I would feel scared, it would try to comfort me. It was... a very gentle presence.

[lachtara]

Do you still feel its presence?

[gravings]

No. This will sound silly... but I think we hurt its feelings.

[lachtara]

It's feelings. [ There's a bit of idle amusement. ] Given how many of the city natives crumbled to dust from its affliction, I would find it ironic if it were insulted by one single Aion meeting their end. Perhaps, instead, it reflects the sentiment given we refused its "gift".

[gravings]

Well... I think that's part of it. The other part is that we, the Aions of the Innocent Legacy, couldn't agree with its methods either. We tried to get it to understand that the disease is like death to the people... but that only made it upset that we weren't on its side. It seemed especially hurt that Meteion and I are Kenoma.

[ That's what "darkness" seemed to imply, anyway. ]

It seemed to place much more importance on Aions than the common people. It called us its sisters.

[lockedon]

What else did it say?

[gravings]

It said that it came to Venera because the people cried out for peace. That they were trying to escape through the arts... so in its mind, it was trying to help.

[ Which makes it all the more upsetting that this other encounter transpired the way it did. But she can't blame the other Aions for being scared any more than the manifestation for trying to help. ]

... It was also upset at the "darkness" in me and Meteion. It said that without the "light," we won't survive.

[lockedon]

[ Sorry for shooting your new friend, Gray............. But, hm. The intent is similar enough to what he'd heard himself, even if he has a hard time trusting big winged abominations smiting people down left and right. ]

Do you believe what it said?

[gravings]

... I don't know. I'm not sure if was referring to the Regent's goal, or something else.

[ It absconded before they could get more elaboration, so... ]

I knew the Kenoma didn't care for the Legacy of the Innocent, but I didn't expect the Innocent to return the sentiment. I guess the Legacies have their own feelings too.

[lockedon]

[ He doesn't reply right away, too busy mulling over her words. The legacies had always just been another classification system to him. It's strange to think about them now as having been spearheaded by some larger entity with its own feelings and wants, some of which might be at odds with the Regent and the Kenoma. The Regent had always seemed so eternal, everpresent since the dawn of time.

He says none of this. ]

Are you alright?

[ Hopefully suddenly meeting a giant cluster of wings wasn't too much of a shock for her. ]

[gravings]

I'm okay.

[ She says without hesitation. If only this were the most shocking thing she's seen. Besides, she really doesn't need to give him more reasons to worry about her. ]

I'm a little more worried about you. It sounds like... you were there for that fight?

[subsist]

[ seeing as others are busy asking proper questions... ]

It didn't try to hurt you, right?

[gravings]

Not at all. I was surprised to hear how it went with all of you...

[ y'all fucked up so bad......... ]

You didn't try to attack it too, did you?

[subsist]

[ interesting. maybe it really was a benevolent entity, but kaeya isn't ready to believe that completely just yet. ]

Unlike some of our comrades, I do have an appropriate amount of self-preservation, so no. I mostly observed to see what it's capable of.

[gravings]

[ Kaeya may be able to feel a small puff of satisfaction in response. Gray is glad at least some people are trying to play it safe. ]

What did you think?

[subsist]

It doesn't like it when people try to hurt it.

[ he is so helpful....... sorry, gray. ]

[gravings]

[ Mr. Kaeya........ ]

I see...

[ If the lesson is "do not attack," she guesses that's good enough for her..... ]

Though I'm a little worried that the other Legacies might not be as, um, negotiable as this one.

[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...?

[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. ]

[lifespanned]

Oh, so it was something like that.

[ Not being able to hold back love? Not understanding another's needs? And hurting people unintentionally due to it? She wouldn't know a thing about that. ]

Good thing it didn't cause too much trouble for you, right? Sounds to me like it's really easy to upset.

[gravings]

[ misa has never committed a misdeed in her life ]

It didn't intend us any harm, no... I was surprised to hear that it attacked other people. I wonder if it was especially fond of the Pleroma Aion who was killed.

[ ... ]

But, um, I think I'd be upset too if I saw a dog being attacked.

[ Even if it was an opposing Aion....... ]

[lifespanned]

But it barely showed up this one time, right? I wonder why it'd feel closer to some over others.

[ now this dog theory is beginning to make more sense... that side does have quite a few dogs. ]

Maybe it is an animal liker just like you. Or, just protective of everything...? Like the kind of person that hates even squishing a bug.

[gravings]

Animals are pretty innocent, aren't they? Cats and dogs especially...

[ The next thought she normally wouldn't voice aloud, but her inexperience with Communion regrettably sees her vague ponderings leaking over to Misa. ]

I wonder if Estinien was a very cute dog.

[ How sad if so... ]