[Kenoma] Discussion

[lachtara]

( 🟣 - Emet, 🔵 - Ciel )

Good Evening.

There are some within our ranks who we have not had the pleasure of meeting. I am Emet-Selch. Ciel and I serve as tacticians and teachers to the Kenoma.

I function as acting counsel for devising strategies. Additionally, some of you may find yourself in possession of new magical abilities that you did not have before. I am available to assist you with honing your newfound magical skills. To those of you who find yourself injured, I can provide my magic to heal your wounds so that you may be hale and whole once more.

[ He sighs. My, is this a mouthful. ]

My name is Ciel. I am versed in martial arts and am proficient with most types of weaponry. There are various means of developing melee combat prowess across Achamoth, but if you would like personalized instructions at any level, please contact me and we’ll arrange for a schedule. I can also perform magical healing along with Father Paul.

Unfortunately, We do not have much time for pleasantries. The Pleroma will soon be at our doorstep. Their goal is to retrieve their allies who remain captive inside our walls, and our goal is to lure them deep within the Citadel where we may enact our own plans. You will be provided assignments once it is closer to the promised hour. Prepare in your own way meanwhile; The Citadel is host to all manners of weaponry and the army's training grounds.

[ It’s kept a little vague and unspecific. Though they do intend to give adequate information, there is also no question that they have had traitors in their midst as of late. Everything will be doled out with due caution. Although, there will be a silent message sent to each person asking them to respond with some information of their abilities. ]

We are at war, bloodshed is inevitable. We will be attacked soon, and we must defend our keep. Consider this communion address a formal hub for discussion and organization of the battle to come. We will begin with information sharing of the Pleroma: knowing their names, appearances, and capabilities will better prepare us in dealing with them in combat. Aions may develop new abilities at any time, however; intel from the mission in Venera and Godsblood may very well be outdated by now, so do not assume anything we go over in this address as the extent of what they can do. Anything you may have witnessed at the shrines can be helpful, including other newcomers you may have met that did not return to Achamoth..

To the third wave of newly awoken Aions, it is regrettable that we cannot welcome you better, you’ve unfortunately arrived at a tumultuous time on Horos. If this is all too much for any reason, that’s fine. Contact me privately, and we can at least arrange for you to be somewhere safe during this. To those used to wielding great power, please get some practice in and verify your new limits. Becoming an Aion may have weakened you, do not let that catch you off-guard on the battlefield.

To those who are new, introduce yourselves and ask any questions you have. We will answer your questions as best we can, and I encourage our fellow Kenoma to chime in where they may. Do try to keep your questions interesting enough to be worth reading.

Comments

[cutlery]

[ See, the resentment he's used to! And in a way, has to be like "fair" to. But competitive? That gets him to reach back out, albeit clumsily, since communion is still more than a little odd. ]

Oh, pardon me... Is it possible that you were in a similar line of work yourself?

[devilmancrybaby]

[ UGH... EMBARRASSING ]

... I suppose you could say that, although I did not consider it a 'job'.

[ A slightly surly pause. ]

No doubt it must have been... satisfying, to be entrusted with so many essential tasks.

[cutlery]

[ The response is absolutely unfittingly bright. There is the mildest, repressed sense of resentment with it, since Sebastian is certainly still learning how to best conceal things here... ]

Oh, I would have preferred to have not been the sole point of competence within the manor I served, but such was my master's whims. He was quite lucky that I do not require rest, as I would not have been able to do all of this otherwise.

[ ...So even without the empathy, the resentment isn't exactly unclear with his words. ]

Though, if I may, if it was not a job, what would you have called it, in that case?

[devilmancrybaby]

[ This makes Binghe feel a bit better, frankly. If this guy didn't really want to do all that stuff... ]

Merely the responsibilities I was glad to take on in gratitude for my master's kindness.

[cutlery]

Ah, then somewhat different!

[ ...He was never glad to take them on, exactly. It was forced upon him, and Ciel was just exceptionally lucky that Sebastian had ended up taking enjoyment from them. But. ]

But the manner of speaking is certainly similar, so... If you would indulge my curiosity, as it is something I am still thinking on myself. How do you find it here, not having a master?

[devilmancrybaby]

[ A pause. There is a yawning chasm of angst behind it, like an elephant trying to hide behind a tree. ]

...Even before I came here, it has been some time.

[cutlery]

[ It's a sensation that's a surprise to him, since you like your master? What a concept. But Sebastian's mood stays easy and light. ]

Ah, how loyal... Though you have my apologies, naturally. It must be especially difficult here if so.

[devilmancrybaby]

It is no more difficult than what I experienced before.

[ Maybe a LITTLE bit but he's not just going to ACCEPT someone's CONDOLENCES. ]

And yourself? Is it a relief, to be free of that burden?

[cutlery]

Oh, very much so. My previous master was an extremely disagreeable little brat, and though I lament his passing in a way... I shall not miss his unreasonable requests.

[devilmancrybaby]

I see...

[ Binghe does not find this position sympathetic, but it is reassuring. It doesn't matter if Sebastian would make a better housewife than him practically speaking if his heart wasn't in it the same way! This guy definitely wouldn't appreciate his Shizun.

Still, though... ]

I wonder, would you be willing to share some of your expertise?

[cutlery]

Oh— [ Well, as compared to being flippant and dismissive, the prospect of teaching his skill certainly brightens him up considerably. ]

Why, of course. I quite enjoy teaching, as a matter of fact, but I am a strict teacher! [ he means sadistic ] What areas in particular were you interested in?

[devilmancrybaby]

Ah, I'd really like to learn from your expertise in household finances, especially, but if you'd be willing to share some of your culinary knowledge, I'd be very grateful to expand my repertoire.

Oh, and assassination, too. I wanted to ask about that... Did you usually carry it out with your master's knowledge, or was there any need to keep it from him?

[cutlery]

Hm. Well, household finances are quite complicated, and my expertise in that area may be a bit specialized? But some of the basics, certainly... It is little more than basic accounting at its core. [ He says, as if that's simple? ] Cooking though, that I can certainly share my knowledge on quite easily. If you approach it as an objective task of combining flavor and texture, it truly opens up the possibilities for what you are able to create at a moment's notice, in my experience.

[ And without missing a beat at all, he switches to the topic of assassinations like it's just as inane as accounting and cooking... ]

The young master essentially knew, but I was not to wake him if they were intruding at night... Though I do not think that is keeping it from him, exactly. He did not exactly care beyond knowing who sent any would be assassins, so I did not tell him of most of them as a result. It was a common enough occurrence.

[devilmancrybaby]

I see... I was thinking more of the matter of dealing with people who need to be dealt with outside of the home. You mentioned... assassination of notable figures? It's only that, in my experience, sometimes, someone is better off for not knowing what needs to be done for his safety...

Ah, but as for the rest of it, I'd be grateful to hear anything you can share. I have some experience managing a household, but never had formal responsibility for the finances, and I'm sure I could learn from someone with your experience. And I've spent a bit of time since I've been here learning about the local cuisine and experimenting with new ingredients, but while of course some principles are universal, the perspective of a capable chef from a different world to my own is bound to be illuminating! Even in one town one will find many different techniques, after all.

[cutlery]

Oh, those assassinations. [ you know, when you have so many that you lose track! normal thing! ] Though the answer is still yes. The young master was involved in a line of work that necessitated such things, so he not only knew, but encouraged it. He killed some himself, but he preferred to leave it to me.

[ because he was, you know, thirteen... ]

But to the matter of cooking, I would be happy to share my knowledge. Perhaps I may learn a recipe or two from you as well! I had not considered it, but surely cuisine across worlds must have variations even more than from region to region...

[devilmancrybaby]

Certainly the cuisine here differs from what I learned in my own world. Have you ever cooked a spider, senior?

[cutlery]

I have not, no. I have heard of some places that do eat them, but that is not the sort of thing the young master would have eaten. [ though it would have been pretty funny to try and get him to. missed opportunity. ] Is that something commonly eaten here?

[devilmancrybaby]

Indeed! There are spiders here large enough to yield a good amount of meat and they're rather popular with the locals. Although... those breeds are not to be confused with the unusually large spiders they keep as pets.