galdorleod: ([raven] look back 2)
Howl ([personal profile] galdorleod) wrote in [community profile] aionchat2022-07-29 11:05 pm

audio / Soviseri 29 / all Kenoma

[ Howl's psychic voice is familiar in the way it sounds, but not in the way it feels. There is no mirth, no haughty playfulness, no usual thread of flippancy to his words. He is exhausted, on edge, and anxious, and it leaks into his message. Although "leaks" is not even the right word — he is making no real attempt at hiding his misery right now. ]

Aions have arrived in this world twice so far. The second batch appeared in the Shrines about three months after the first.

Tomorrow... marks another three months.

[ it's much too early to say there is any kind of pattern to it all, but... ]

Those of you whole enough to travel to the Shrines and check for new Aions must do so. We cannot afford to let the Pleroma strengthen their numbers.

[ And for now, he leaves it at that. No indication of what he is planning to do with his weekend, and definitely, conspicuously no mention of the mission failures, the traitors, or the prisoners. ]
lachtara: (Help)

[personal profile] lachtara 2022-08-05 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ The way by which this is 'blurted out' makes Emet-Selch pay particular attention. They had not broached that topic and were not discussing Godsblood at all. It meant these words are significant to him, even if the tone seems somewhat tempered. Shock, maybe?

His voice turns quieter to match.]

I had heard as much.

[ Howl had been enlisted in an army. Learned magic for the sake of war. If this was commonplace for him then he would not even pay attention to it. It makes him wonder... is this the first time he's 'killed' someone? Or something more. ]

What are your thoughts on the matter, Howl?
semicharmed: (coat)

[personal profile] semicharmed 2022-08-05 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
I'm gonna go to the shrines, [ Matt assures him, since that seems like Howl's biggest priority right now. A note of amusement enters his mental voice. ] And this time I actually have spare clothes on hand, so it can only go better than last time.

[ He hesitates. Just a flicker, the nerves maybe tangible to Howl through the communion, maybe not. ]

But it'd be nice to see you before then, maybe. Have a drink or something.

[personal profile] expiera 2022-08-05 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
[It's easily to lose oneself through the merciless beats of their work. Frankly, Ciel herself deserves no respite, and she knows this. But she is not by herself, she is not working alone. They are a team, dysfunctional as many may be, and they have to ride this out together regardless of what they must endure, and how the chips fall in the end.

So she persists, and repeats the motions she already knows. The rhythm of everyday living: not meandering through the days because one is alive, but soaking up what it offers and going along with the dance for the purpose of something that necessitates moving forward. This little afternoon tea session is part of that, for what it's worth; it's doing things and taking part in social interactions, for what it's worth.]


That's good to hear. They do work hard in our best interest, but some among our ranks are unfortunately negligent enough to skip meals or eat irregularly despite their retainers' best efforts. [Wonder who she's talking about... She doesn't dwell though, taking a sip of her tea as she motors on. It's chamomile, the color a warm honey-hued glow.

And he gets straight to business. He's... changed, hasn't he. What parts had he lost, before anyone else he's met here could even come to identify the pieces that made him whole?]


It's the talk of Achamoth, yes.

[So much for keeping work and personal life separate.]
lachtara: (Souls)

[personal profile] lachtara 2022-08-05 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Yet you don't.

[ It is the obvious conclusion that could be made from his statements and tone. Not to mention the tangle of thoughts and feelings that don't articulate themselves in words. It reeks of inner conflict. ]

Extinguishing the flame of another - though it may perpetuate our victory - is ...a shame. Feeling thusly about your victory only proves that you are still capable of recognizing it.

[ Not that the little 'flames' in this world are actually alive, but still. A shame. ]
semicharmed: (129)

communion > action!

[personal profile] semicharmed 2022-08-07 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ Matt is having similar thoughts, as it happens. He doesn't blame people for remarking on his hand--its absence is hard to miss--but he doesn't particularly enjoy the conversations that follow, so he's been trying not to have them. He hopes Howl will understand why he did what he did, but he can't count on it, and the uncertainty roils in his gut. Still. He can't (and doesn't want to) avoid the wizard forever.

Matt names a tavern that, in his experience, is upscale and fairly quiet. It's actually attached to one of the spas outside the Citadel. If they're going to have awkward conversations, they may as well do it where the atmosphere is pleasant and they won't have to yell. ]


Tonight? Maybe ten?

[ When ten rolls around, Matt's tucked into a corner booth with a drink already in hand. His alcohol and drug consumption is higher in Horos than it was back home, and since losing his hand, that figure has only grown. He wore his moth-wing mask to get here, and his omnipresent purple scarf to hide his shard, but now both are lying on the seat beside him.

He pauses to initiate communion again, just to send Howl an image of where he's sitting. ]

[personal profile] expiera 2022-08-07 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yes, Ciel has a feeling that his physical changes don't have anything to do with some form of fashion statement. It's nowhere near as bad as when she had to stabilize him from the brink of dissipation, but that was also the only other point of reference she could draw upon, why he's suddenly exhibiting signs of his demonic bird form when they're in any active combat situation.

...]


I doubt it. The Regent prizes effort over results, loyalty over capability. Like when we were ordered to stop the Pleromas from leaving the cave of that ritual, our dispatch this time could have been another test, albeit with higher stakes.

[And they didn't fail it, at least not completely is the implication. She doesn't glance his way as she raises her cup to her lips and takes a sip after, calm and composed without a hint of how she may feel over the matter of prisoners in particular.

(What's he looking for? ...Maybe she should change the subject, soon.)]
lachtara: (Flecks of light)

[personal profile] lachtara 2022-08-08 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ He listens to the words quietly. They seem to come from no provocation, and in his experience, those are the moments that are truly spurred by the person's true inner thoughts.

Once the thought seems finished, his tone seems distantly reflective. ]

Cast off your humanity so that you may do what you must; When it is done, wonder if your humanity will return to you, or if you've truly become a beast in its absence.

[ It sounds like a conflict he has heard time and time again. Always caused by some spark of a meaningless war. ]

Is that what you think you've done? Become a beast?
semicharmed: (smiles!)

[personal profile] semicharmed 2022-08-09 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
Howl! [ Matt looks up, a broad smile overtaking his face. His heart can't help but lift as he catches sight of the other magic user; for a moment, the constant stress of the past months melts away. ] Hey, it's nice to see you.

[ He notices the feathers, and wonders briefly at what might be keeping Howl from undoing his spell the whole way--that's why the feathers stay, isn't it? Just the effort of the change? But the thoughts pass quickly, leaving his pleasure at seeing Howl undimmed.

His smile widens. ]


I gave it a shot, [ he admits--and sure enough, a server approaches with a gleaming orange cocktail that sparkles with ice. Slices of lemon float at the top. ] I went for decadent, but not outright dangerous. Buuut if you don't like it, I'll be happy to drink it.
lachtara: (Aback Then)

[personal profile] lachtara 2022-08-09 01:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Such is the unfortunate necessity of war.

[ My, does he feel tired from the seemingly endless procession of wars he has experienced over the years.

Though for this case, he can't help but feel something is amiss. That Howl is trying to reconcile with... something. Should he be 'honored' that the conversation happens to be with him? ]

Regardless of how the Pleroma tout their virtues, there are those who are not above killing Kenoma in a vainglorious and violent way. We must further our cause but it is equally important that you protect yourself.
lachtara: (Ally)

[personal profile] lachtara 2022-08-11 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Perhaps one day they would understand that he is under no obligation to listen, but does so of his own volition. ]

So it seems. [ There's something like a good-natured shrug in his voice. ] As though I'd have a choice but to listen, knowing you.
semicharmed: (098)

[personal profile] semicharmed 2022-08-12 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
A "Precious Blood"? It's got blood orange, gin, some sparkling wine ... those are the main notes.

[ Matt's only slightly distracted by Howl's you look well, which slipped by his immediate conscious acknowledgement but is now replaying itself on the walls of his skull. There's ... really not gonna be a good time to explain No, Actually. In the meantime, he smiles. ]

I'm glad you like it. This place in general has been a lifesaver. [ Matt's lips quirk. ] Sometimes you just need a massage. Or an aromatic bath. Normally I do them myself, but those are like, for spells or rituals mainly.
semicharmed: (and now some perspective)

[personal profile] semicharmed 2022-08-18 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ So ... here's the thing. Matt is technically smart. Smart on paper. He likes banter, he got into grad school, he's read reams of esoteric texts with big words and antiquated grammatical construction. But sometimes--a lot of the time--he manages to miss the not-technically-spoken drift of conversation, the kelp-sway of a person's deeper meaning. ]

Oh, no, [ he says hastily, on the verge of rattling off more treatments the spa provides. Maybe Howl has his heart set on a body peel? It's not until a moment later, when that canny smile fully penetrates and when all that *you* do manages to land, that Matt realizes: oh.

He looks to Howl with a sheepish laugh, taking refuge in a sip from his own wine-dark drink. ]


Ahh ...

I don't think anyone here knows all I do, actually.

[personal profile] expiera 2022-08-18 09:42 am (UTC)(link)
[There's about a million ways to take Vaeka out if she was truly a threat. She could have been assassinated. She could have been executed the day after the address, giving the Pleromas as little time to prepare as possible. But every time without fail, some roundabout and inefficient method had been chosen, decreed by the Regent themselves. It's what makes it difficult to take these orders at face value, to NOT see them as another test to overcome.

Ultimately, they scored passing marks, and that was what mattered.]


That may well apply to many of us. The Godsblood team did what it could. Do you not feel as if you've performed adequately, Howl?

[He defended their keep the best he could. More importantly, didn't he...?

It's not a pleasant topic though, so she leaves it vague on purpose as she takes another sip of her tea. He did his part in Godsblood, that alone should exonerate him of any punishment. Does he have any reason to feel otherwise...?]

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