2018-12-27: Leaving Mother Behind

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<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Mother was slain.

The Photosphere had collapsed.

The world was, ostensibly, safe - at least for the time being.

By all logic Jacqueline should be proud of their victory, but right now, she only felt tired. It had only been a day, or perhaps two, but it felt like that day had stretched on for weeks. That time had been filled with an intense fight for survival, so it was understandable that she'd be exhausted. She needed to rest up - she really didn't want to pilot the Carakin through the sea back to Ignas until she was sure she wouldn't drift off in the middle of it the trip...figuratively and literally.

Of course, for Jacqueline, resting often involved finding something to busy herself with. And so, she'd found a nice place to park the Carakin and set up some tables and chairs, letting anyone come by to grab some refreshments, take a load off, and just...enjoy the fact that they were still alive, or to remember those who weren't. To have a chance to talk in a place where they no longer had to worry about a looming threat of invasion.

...Not that that fear had completely vanished. It likely never would.

After everything they'd all been through, though, it was nice to get a chance to relax. Jacqueline sure thought so, anyway. 

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

The world was safe but given how many Fed ships had ben lost in this system? Tess is certain this is just short respite and she's going to enjoy it. Still one invading force turned around, that was good news the Falgaians had did what the Federation could not, get the Metal Deamons to stand the hell down. She wondered if her people had. Tess had been working for a while but moved to set down on one of the chairs and sinks into it.

 "Still with us Jay?" 

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

There are a lot of mixed emotions for Catenna right now.

But there are also a lot of empty tummies. It's why her usual cooking cauldron is bubbling happily away above a fire, filling the air with smells of savoury dishes to come. With a good meal hard to come by out here, Catenna's provided a medium-heat mutton curry, rich and orange in colour, with a big pot of rice to complement it. Back in her Zortroan-styled dress now that there's no battle to come, she slowly stirs her dish, testing it once.

Catenna's been subdued since the battle in the Photosphere. Celesdue had entrusted her with a Silver Medium, and she'd put it to use: She'd disabled Mother and opened her up for so many others to defeat her. By all rights, she should be full of triumph - and in a way, she is. A menace to Filgaia is gone.

But there's fallout. There's the fate of the Hyadeans to consider - the revelation that they were simply pawns to Mother, no more loved than any game player loves the pawns on a chessboard.

And then there's where Catenna herself goes from here.

She stirs the pot with silent gravity. Her mind's elsewhere; the food's as good as ever, but she's more muted. From her shoulder, the Owlet watches her with visible worry. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    The escape is harrowing. The truth is, nonetheless, one of great relief - Mother has been dealt with, and Filgaia will not be turned into a hollow lifeless husk drained of what energy it has left. Here in the year 500 PC, a major chapter has turned for all of Filgaia and its much greener natural satellite.
     Ethius doesn't relax. Aside from seeing to the basic necessities of the human body, he continues up to his old tricks. This probably includes the continued dodging of some very key, pointed questions in his direction. He's been doing headcounts (why he seems compelled to do so beyond seeing to the CaraKin members also goes unexplained), occasional scouting across the frozen wastes, and... one can't say 'enjoy' the remaining stores of Gooey Stuff he prepared for the trip, but he does something that involves putting Gooey Stuff in his mouth that struggles to find an applicable piece of vocabulary to describe it because 'eat' feels like an insult to the word itself.
     This should, by and large, be a time to celebrate even with some of the logistics in play concerning the Photosphere's fallout. The man appears no more joyous or anything of the sort. 

<Pose Tracker> Elvis has posed.

His face is still rather swollen.

Elvis finally woke up after the vicious beating at the hands of Weltall, left with quite a few questions. Who made that Gear, was the primary one. Crushing such weapons was childsplay to him. But that one was something quite unique. The Photosphere had fallen into nearby seas. He found no one else still there when he got up.

His body was healing quickly due to a medicine reserve and a little bit of water magic, but his jaw still ached something fierce. Though in his fading consciousness he swore he felt a familiar magic somewhere nearby. It was faint, but he swore he sensed... No, that would be silly. His mind must be playing tricks on him.

Sentinel Elvis trudged through the wilderness, holding his communicator. It was busted during the clash with Weltall. Calling a traansport wouldn't be possible. He will have to foot it somewhere where he can fix it. His dense body mass, normally a boon in combat, makes him feel like he is made of lead right now. He is tiiiired.

GOod endurance training, putting up with this.

"Hm?" The Professor mutters, looking up and spying a settlement in the distance, a small wisp of smoke indicates open flame. May as well stop there for a bit to find his bearings. Elvis turns and begins to approach it, his imposing figure obvious in the distance, though he definitely walks like someone spent. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    Ida found Kalve drifting in the surf last night, exhausted and half-starved. He'd used his ARM to jury-rig some sort of escape pod, and while it ensured his survival, it had done little to keep him safe, warm, and fed in the interim. Now that Ida knows that he's alive and well--now that she knows he's safe, and nearby--it feels as though a great weight has been lifted from her shoulders. Time to see how the others are enduring.

    Ida walks up to the Carakin's current parking spot, and takes a moment to look the one-of-a-kind motor-coach over. It never ceases to amaze her, and it's a moment before she should go over and check in with the others. Ida's boots crunch through the snow. The dark cloak she's taken to wearing out here swirls around her. She moves naturally, fluidly, with no trace of whatever injury took her right arm out of action. "Miss Barber," Ida says, as she approaches the campsite. The smell is lovely. "Miss Catenna?" She pauses, faint worry flickering across her face as she realizes she's forgotten Tesni's name. "Ma'am. Mr. Hesiod."

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin is...stretching. It's a thing. She's dressed *shockingly* lightly considering the cold. Just like she always is, really, since her scarring. Icehand, after all. She was not present for Mother's demise, but was busy engaged in battle all the same, and while she has her share of injuries, she seems to have done quite well for herself.

She is also absolutely coincidentally close to the food... 

<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.

Truthfully... this is the happiest Matilda's felt in a while. It's -- difficult to show it, though, with everyone else so visibly exhausted. She herself is only a *little* exhausted; she responds fairly well to adrenaline highs *and* has a follow-up plan fo them most of the time, so the biggest thing is the absolute agony in her shoulders after her extremely dubious escape maneuver.

She's put the energy to good use, though; Matilda's been cooking extensively. She has a very different style from Catenna's, of course -- where Catenna favors hot, savory food, Matilda... well... it's easy to tell she lived on a farm. Breads, cheese dishes, baked goods -- and things that keep for a nice, long time. She's set up a small table with the fruits of her labor, which today include fruit pies and hunter's sausage. She's got some of the latter for herself, at the moment, but no pie; she wants the curry and doesn't want to totally spoil her appetite.

"... It's good to see all of us safe," Matilda says, with a faint smile. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Yes, I'm okay!" Jacqueline says, looking toward Tesni. It was hard not to stay awake, really, with the delicious scents emanating from Catenna cauldron. That smell could entice even the dead to awaken and ask for a bowl.

All of her Kinship had made it out, at least, in one way or another. That was something Jacqueline was thankful for. Ethius was here, keeping an eye on them all, as was his wont, and keeping himself fed. Kourin was stretching, keeping an eye on things...and the curry pot. Jacqueline, frankly, doesn't blame her.

Matilda manages to echo her sentiment about everyone's safety without her voicing it, and Jacqueline offers her a smile.

"Yes, it is...honestly, I'm relieved. There were a few scares here and there, but..." She says. "...Well, I think things went as well as they could have, all things considered..."

And nearby, approaching them, she could see...was that Ida? Jacqueline waves as she approaches them, a light smile on her face.

"Ah, Miss Ida! It's good to see you here!" She greets, genuinely. Jacqueline had not yet caught up with everyone who had been involved in the fight, so any familiar face was welcome at this point.

Something in the distance, then, catches her attention...Jacqueline peers out, shielding her eyes as she looks toward the large silhouette in the distance. Who was that? But then again, there were only a few people who could match that sheer size... 

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Catenna can't say she's ever seen Ethius relax. It doesn't seem to be in his DNA.

"I am glad we all lived," Catenna finally says. It comes with a quiet nod towards Jacqueline, and a little smile.

When Elvis comes trudging up, Catenna opens her mouth a little, then closes it, pressing her lips together in a tight line. She's only seen him in passing, but she's not sure what to make of him - but in the end, a guest is a guest, and she adds another wooden bowl to the queue.

But someone else is approaching. With a tilt of her head, Catenna nods towards Ida - the woman's arm was noticed during the fray, but Catenna felt it rude to ask. "Hello, Ida," she says quietly, picking up one of the bowls and beginning to serve up the food - the rice on one side of it, the curry on the other.

The Moon Shaman steps around the pot, offering the bowl up to Ida first and foremost. "I am glad you escaped the Photosphere in good health. Thank you for doing all you could to help Filgaia survive a little longer."

The Owlet on Catenna's shoulder bobs her head too - and then, there's a quiet female voice, more felt than heard.

<Please. Eat,> the Owlet urges simply. 

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin's suddenly seated and waiting for food. Spirit is right there next to her, seated, tail wagging. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Ethius' eyes track across the surrounding wilderness to a large physique that is fast approaching. He is no less tense. He probably cannot be any more tense. He is tense. Maybe that is his actual name. Tense Hesiod. It would explain many things--
     Ida's voice has a slightly strange quality to it as she addresses him, and the drop of his name sees him turn his gaze back to one of the visitors. There was a detail during that whole episode with the World Eater that stuck out to him, but had no mental bandwidth to spare attention to when she saluted him.
     One of many.
     He blinks once. Maybe that's 'hello' in the world of Tense Hesiod. Notably, he seems to have either found that yellow cloth he likes to wrap around the lower half of his face, or he found another one. That continues to be a strange thing - why the man seemed to want to hide the lower half of his face. That he might go down in legend as a strange man who kept a hand over his face through a not small portion of the entire Photosphere assault.
     Even now, something about this man seems so distant, even going through something like this - maybe even moreso - that he seems positioned in a way where none of the colors of life, or the scents of celebratory food, do not reach him.
     His eyes start to track back towards from where Elvis approaches. 

<Pose Tracker> Elvis has posed.

Each step feels quite heavy. It would be nice to stop walking for a while. He has been going for what feels like hours. Slowly he trundles his way into the CaraKin camp. He doesn't address anyone immediately on arrival, just standing there. Perhaps he is taking in the radiating heat from the cooking fires.

He recognizes everyone here to some passing degree, though rather head for food, he heads toward the nearest seat that looks like it can support his dense weight, and slumps down. A few deep breaths come and go, before he looks up at everyone.

His face looks like what he could do to someone else's face on the right side. "Ah... guess we lived, huh?" he finally says. I'm... not sure what to think right now."

He eyes Ida from afar the most out of the group. Though why he doesn't say. It is an analytical glare, and lacks tension or threat. The look as well passes toward Ethius, who seems rather ready for more fighting, though the odds of such happening is quite low.

"Is everyone in your group accounted for? I didn't see anyone else on my trek."

The man has a hard time finding words currently. He instead turns to one of the times in a satchel that wasn't abliterated in all the fighting, and begins writing something down, taking his time to do so. "Hum. Wonder where the survivors will go..." he muses aloud. In the middle of his scribing, he looks up. "What do you all plan to do now?"

A furrowed brow is his current facial denotation as he looks at the group, though the more astute can tell he is looking through them, rather than at them with such a look. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    "I wanted to pay a visit," Ida says, "see how you were holding up. I'm glad to see things are..." She trails off. Not 'back to normal', precisely, but there's nothing demanding immediate, decisive action. Nothing is on fire. Nothing is threatening Filgaia or Lunar with imminent destruction. Still, that doesn't mean everything's gotten better. Fei, for example...

    "I'm glad." Ida seems to settle on that response. It's an answer to Catenna, really. She takes the bowl of curry with both hands, nodding gratefully to the woman who presented it. "Thank you," she says. And then, the voice. Ida blinks. She glances around, as if searching for the source of the voice, and then eats a spoonful of curry. It keeps her mind off of Ethius lacting like a caged animal. "This is lovely," she says, to Catenna.

    And then, Elvis. Ida smiles as he approaches, greeting him with a polite "Professor." She shakes her head. "There are bands of survivors scattered throughout the area. Zed's been trying to keep tabs on them, or find them, or... something. I've been trying to assist."

<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.

"Oh -- Ida, hello," Matilda says, though without a lot of animation. Compared to her slightly jittery body language a lot of the time, this may itself be a bit of a surprise. She turns back to Jay, agreeing, "I can't imagine a world in which things went much better, at any rate. I suppose that's -- to be expected, though... everyone did their best."

She looks a little past Ida, now, to see the Veruni as he approaches. One eyebrow rises very slightly. There's a guardedness that enters into her posture -- it wasn't there the last time she saw Elvis, either. She takes a deep breath in through her nose, spends a second mentally putting her answer together, and...

... has a bit of a false start with it. She blinks once, shakes the cobwebs out of her head, and goes for it again without missing *too* much of a further beat. "I'm *hoping* to continue my research, but it's -- difficult, without an enthusiastic research partner," she answers. "So I suppose I'm a little bit at wits' end..." She looks like she's consideing saying something else -- but cuts herself off. 

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

Tesni Inoue says "I have to agree that food smells heavenly and we should be thankful all of the Caravan got out that's something to be good about." It had been a long time since Tess had seen Ida. She had not forgot the sharp-minded woman in all that time though. While she looks to Ida with a grin.

 "Tesni Inoue, good to see you Ida it's been far too long."

 Well she saw her in the fight against mother sure but that was no time to catch up.

 As always Tess had a wary eye on Ethius it was strange really, Tess almost seemed to expect something out of Ethius that has never come, yet. She seems something may still come, her glances turn away from Ethius.

 "It's a miracle though Mother's plan to get away failed. Thank God of the Seed Cities, Saint Sophia, the Goddess Altena, The Guardians I don't care someone was watching over us with that."

 She is eying the food but she's content to let people who seem to need it more get it first.

 She gives Elvis a look for a moment.

 "Professor? What do you study sir and the name's Tesni though anyone can call me Tess if they like." 

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

"It may have been more than one of those, Miss Tesni," Kourin says quietly. "Your words may have been flippant but I believe that you are more correct than you know." 

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Catenna's eyebrows arch a little as Elvis comes stomping up and talking to Ethius of all people as if they're the Silent One's group. "Yes, we are all accounted for. At least, from what I can tell," she answers politely, mentally calculating how much curry it'll take to feed a man that size.

I'm gonna need a bigger bowl, she realizes.

But there's Ida to consider. Catenna turns the delicious meal over to the naturalist-turned-pugilist, then clasps her hands and bows her head a little. "I am glad."

It takes her a second to realize what Ida's looking for. With a small smile, she lifts a hand to brush the Owlet's cheek. "I am sorry... that was Saarda-Shanta. My companion."

<Hello,> says the small white Owlet. She can be discerned clearly, but the voice is more telepathic than anything else.

Kourin gets food in due time. Catenna's got a lot of hungry friends here. And Ida's raised something troubling. "Hopefully something can be done by those who escaped," she says quietly as she fills another bowl, which she offers up to Elvis. "Enough people have been lost. If I can help you seek them, Ida, I will... I would not wish for any of them to wander Elru alone. The continent is quite dangerous beyond the walls of Elesius...." 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline returns Catenna's nod and smile with one of her own, but she turns her attention toward Elvis as he moves to take a seat. Fortunately, Jacqueline's chairs are made Drifter-quality - in other words, they're made so that they'll survive even if a fight breaks out and someone ends up using them as a makeshift bludgeoning weapon before it can be stopped.

"Yes, my Kinship all made it out, thankfully...they're all either resting now or doing their own thing." Jacqueline replies with a nod, then offers him a smile. "It's good to see you made it out, too. I was a little worried."

She remembers the conversation they and a few others had shared before the final battle with Mother - it had left a bit of an impact on her.

She looks toward Ida, then, and nods.

"...'Calming down'?" She offers. "But thank you, I appreciate it. It's good to see friendly faces again..."

Elvis offers a question - what do they plan to do now?

"...I'm not sure. For now, making sure everyone is fed and comfortable is our biggest priority. But after that...I guess we'll just get back on the road." She says. It felt a little feeble...but what else could they do? "I need to catch up with some things I left behind in favor of preparations...and shore up my stocks of potions again. Goodness, that'll take a while...I used everything up..."

Matilda offers her own plans, and Jacqueline sighs.

"...That reminds me that I've fallen behind on my own studies a bit...I'm still confident I'll pass my certification, but..." She says. It was only a natural thing to worry about, as mundane as it felt after...fighting off a world-consuming menace. She manages a smile, though. "Good luck to us both, though! I know how important your research is..."

With that she stands up.

"Would anyone like anything to drink? We have a fair few different beverages..." She offers. 

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin, shockingly, raises a hand. "I...I would like something to drink, please. Um...something alcoholic, I mean." This is the very first time she has ever said *that*! 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    "Matilda," Ida adds, after a moment, offering the compounder a sheepish grin. The change in Matilda's demeanor is... notable, and Ida's not sure if that's good or bad or both. She looks over the bread, clearly fresh-baked by someone who knows what she's doing. "If you don't mind, may I take some back to my ship? Kalve's recovering. He liked what I baked for him, so now I'm going to show him other varieties."

    Ida takes a seat, and looks at the Owlet, her expression studiously neutral. "Saarda-Shanta," Ida repeats. She doesn't quite get it right, but she tries. "I... is this a recent development?" Jay offers beverages. "Tea, please."

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

Tesni Inoue says "I'm not intending to be flippant I am thankful and I don't know to think." She gets quiet for a moment, "I intended no flippancy..." She wonder has God she worships turned their back on Mankind so long ago? Or is it something else Kourin has hit something perhaps without intending too. Tess will now move to get some food if she can. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Glare meets glare. The glare of an analytical mind, among the finest of his or any people - and then there's the glare of a man like Ethius who often seems to stare for the sake of staring. It's a stare that takes and doesn't give much back, unless his eye color were of great interest. One supposes that's always being spoken.
     Ethius starts taking a few steps in some vague direction that at least seems to be 'away' from Elvis as he starts asking about what everyone's plans are. His footsteps are light and measured, as though they were threatening the very snow to stay quiet. Or maybe the snow is all 'meh, Professor's footsteps were so much better, not feeling it.' Could be anything there, really.
     "...Water would be my preference, if available." Ethius remarks to Jay's invitation. That's normal for him, though. His footsteps start to circle around from where he is standing a fair distance away from the opposite side of the Professor, as though trying to see what he might be writing from an awkward vantage point.
     He offers no answers to what he's intending to do now.
     He seems to cast a glance over in Tesni's direction when she sneaks a look at him, but it doesn't linger.
     "...Which one was Zed?" Ethius asks, bringing a hand up to his forehead. How can anyone ever forget who or what a Zed is? 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    "Ah, none taken," Ida says. She noticed the lack of the name Granas, but... well. Her faith in the distant, legalistic paternal God she grew up with has waned, and so has her faith in His Most Perfect Servant. "A pleasure, Tesni."

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

<Somewhat. I have traveled with Catenna for much of the year,> Saarda-Shanta answers Ida, tilting her head a full 90-degrees to the left and blinking huge yellow eyes at her. <But things changed recently. And I had grown. And the time had come for silver to be shown.>

Catenna folds her hands for a moment. "Her mother was blessed by Celesdue, but was warped by the Demon King's Malice," she explains. "Though she was... beyond helping, I was bound to at least care for the child."

There is something Catenna finds reassuring about hearing Jay speak of her as part of 'my Kinship.' She lowers her head at the word, the dark complexion of her cheeks deepened with a hint of pink.

But Jay's answer to Elvis's question proves to raise just the quandary Catenna wrestles with. As she serves up another bowl of mutton curry and rice, she brings her heels together with a gentle click. "I am not sure where I will truly go," she admits, her voice quiet. "Mother is defeated... and I am not a merchant by nature. But then, I cannot really go home."

The encounter with Riima had emphasized that much. 

<Pose Tracker> Elvis has posed.

At least they all seemed to not be in serious condition. The success rate calculated for such an event was absurdly low, but they succeeded. The odds got worse when Solaris decided to make an appearance, and then a sudden wildcard with a Gear flew into some sort of sorrowful rage.

"Miss," Elvis says with a nod back toward Ida. "I saw you out there. You are doing well." Not that tne Verun is any kind of teacher to Ida, but by the time the clash happened against Wetell, it seemed like she understood her unique situation. Or at least he hoped so. "Good to hear. Zed is that fellow with the scarf right? Acts a little odd, says strange things?"

He was doing well for himself in that fight too.

"Research, you say?" asks Elvis toward Matilda. "Hm, maybe we can talk if everything settles down for a little while. I know some folks that could be interested, possibly." If anything the man had a knack for finding others that loved science. Would be nice to get some kind of network going.

A gaze toward Tesni. "Quite a few subjects. From Golemcraft, to xenobiology, to medicine and enhancements. You name it, I have looked in to it!" he says rather proudly. He looks like he started to puff out his muscular chest but quickly withdrew, as something yelled in pain in his back, or somewheres on him.

"Well, that is good," is said toward Catenna, and the small avian she carries. "The largest threat by and far were the Metal Beasts on the drifts. I believe all were called back when the fighting ensued. They... should be okay? At least i n efending themselves." He seemed to know a great deal. Then again sustenance and shelter were more important.

"Hahhah..." the man laughs, holding his right side while laughing. "I took it from that unique Gear... rather severely. I woke up a few hours ago in a snowdrift. I should be just fine in a day or so."

Jacqueline offers drinks, and Elvis raises a hand! "I'll take a Human beverage! After that fight, I am feeling adventurous." It will probably go right through him, but if its something warm, the heat will do him much better. "K-Kalve?" Elvis stutters, hearing Ida. "He's... okay?" The man actually sounds a bit worried.

The Sentinel returns a look toward that little bird, and rests there for a time. He saw what happened in that fight. An interesting creature. Notes are scrawled in that giant tome. 

<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.

Matilda takes a few moments in silence -- though Jay gives her something to smile about. "I definitely think you've got the talent for it, and I'm rooting for you." She takes a breath in through her nose, crossing her legs in her seat -- and then realizing she can come get curry, and promptly uncrosses thm and goes to do *that* instead.

As she does, she answers Elvis. "I'm unsure how much else I can offer at the moment besides what we've already shared," Matilda admits, with a small shake of her head. There's a little of that tension in her body again -- but not much, and she manages to keep it to a dull roar.

She snags some of her bread as well, and experimentally tries getting some curry flavor on it. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Matilda's encouragement gets a smile out of Jacqueline.

"I'll do my best!" She says, looking just a little bit more energized. It meant a lot for her to say that.

"Alcohol?" Jacqueline repeats. She's a little surprised. Kourin had always shied away from alcohol due to her beliefs, but...

"Well, if you're sure... It can be a little difficult if you're not used to it!" She says, then looks toward Ida and nods. "And tea. Of course!"

She looks toward Ethius as he requests water - which is pretty much what she expects from him, of course. She'd be surprised if he requested differently.

She looks toward Catenna, then, as she explains where Saarda-Shanta came from...and blushes a little bit. Jacqueline smiles.

"There's still time to think about it, at least...you'll always be welcome with us, no matter what happens." She replies, and then slips into the Carakin for just a moment to retrieve the requested beverages. She pauses though, looking at Elvis for a brief moment as he requests...a human beverage??

One can almost see the question marks popping out of her head. But...she was a merchant! It was her task to figure out what someone wanted, even if they didn't know themselves.

"W-well...I think I can manage that!" She says.

She disappears into the Carakin, returning with a tray of glasses. One she hands over to Ida - it's a good quality tea, with subtle fruit flavorings. One goes to Ethius - it's...just water.

Just as he requested.

And the last two go toward Kourin and Elvis, both of which are a favorite of hers. It's a variety of alcohol, flavored with cherry and vanilla. It's very sweet, but good! ...If you like that sort of thing. 

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin takes it and seems to examine it for awhile, almost as if unsure what to do next. "I've...never tried this before," she admits needlessly. "Is there...do we have to say cheers, first, or something?" She seems a little hesitant. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    "Yes, that fellow," Ida says. "I've known him, and Kalve, for a long while." She glances at Ethius, her gaze studiously neutral. She remembers the fracas at Professor Bridges' lecture all those months ago, and knows Ethius was present for it, played a role in it. So did Zed. Somehow, his answer doesn't feel duplicitous, but Ida isn't sure why. Honest ignorance?

    "...Ah," Ida says, as Saarda-Shanta explains. Her face falls, ever-so-slightly. "My condolences." It feels a little strange, but less so after interacting with Hanpan. "I... understand the feeling, Catenna. It's not yet time for me to return. There is still too much to be done." It's part of the truth, but nowhere near all of it. Ida doesn't know how she's going to handle returning home. She misses her family, but so much has changed. Will they accept her as the woman she's become?

    "He's all right," Ida says, to Elvis. "Exhausted, but resting. Mother's betrayal was a... great blow to him, as was the destruction of the Photosphere." Jay emerges. Ida accepts the tea with a grateful nod, and sips. "One day at a time."

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Catenna's still a bit unsure what to make of Elvis. He seems far too huge and boisterous to match her stereotype of a scientist. Tilting her head towards him, she arches her brows a little. "Yes... though if they wander far enough, they may encounter the Control Zone."

For her part, the Owlet straightens her head out and looks at Elvis. She does not blink. Catenna may not know what Elvis is, but the Owlet certainly seems to be reading the huge man like a book.

The welcoming words from Jay leave the Moon Shaman bowing her head a little. Ida, too, expresses her understanding, and the Moon Shaman smiles faintly, closing her eyes a moment. "...I would like to see so much more of the world. It is seemly for a Shaman to travel," she says quietly, before pausing. Am I truly thinking of myself with that word now... Shaman...? But then, the Silver Medium was entrusted to me.... ...Does that make me the High Priestess?

Catenna's mind reels a little.

"...I have been learning how to dance," she admits. "At least, moreso than I learned on Lunar." 

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin finally makes up her mind and--gingerly--takes a sip of the drink. "I think I would enjoy dancing...with...well..." She sighs, then takes another sip. "I suppose that I must say with someone I love the way you and Mr. Cyre, Miss Catenna." She shakes her head sadly.

"I haven't thought about that in...well, I can't remember. It's almost funny now, that Lord Leo believed that Sir Hiro and I..." She trails off. 

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

Tesni Inoue pauses as Elvis drops a word she didn't expect to hear. "Xenobiology? Lunar must have been a field day for you with that." She grins a bit. "I'm focused on archeology for the most part. Though I have some basic understanding of a number of sciences." Thank you for space high school, she muses. Some of what she learned in that likely could win a war on a planet like this, though she has been careful with that so far.

 "Your lucky to have made it though, one shot Gears tend to be pretty terrfying more often than not."

 She'll now head to Catenna.

 "I'll take whatever food your offering as it smells wonderful."

 Weslsh lady sure wants some good food today. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Someone like Zed should be memorable - the man sure acts like he wants to be noticed, remembered, and beholden like the coolest dude he is! ...Especially by someone who seems to stare at everyone and everything ever!! But here we are, anyway, as he takes the nondescript container of water in hand... ah. Scarf, 'acts a little odd,' 'strange things.' Someone like that would be easy to forget about, Ethius inwardly muses as Ida further clarifies.
     ...
     He watches Elvis' enthusiasm over the consumption of a 'human beverage' with no shortage of interest, turning his gaze over to Matilda momentarily as mention of information being shared passes out in the open.
     Quietly, in so far as 'quiet' can be done when Symbological spellcasting has a somantic element, a heat spell is cast upon the water to bring it up to a great heat. One of the reasons why he wears gloves almost all the time, probably.
     He is quiet about the matters of what one is to do after the fact - where Catenna voices uncertainty about what she can do or where she can go after the fact. A part of him recognizes that it's not the sort of thing he can weigh in on.
     If there is a move to say 'cheers,' as Kourin suggests in her confusion, Ethius participates roughly a second after anyone else, doing the same motion and saying the same thing. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Ah, only if you want..." Jacqueline replies. "If this were a party, then it would be customary...but since this is just a normal get-together, you don't need to worry."

Fortunately, Kourin seems to be okay with this, and takes a sip. Jacqueline keeps an eye on her, to determine her reaction and make sure it isn't too much for her.

"I wouldn't mind seeing the world, myself. And we still need to seek out the Guardian Lords, too. We'll probably have to leave Ignas for that, anyway..." Jacqueline says with a nod. Her attention drifts over toward Kourin and Jacqueline smiles slightly.

She had taken note of Kourin's interests, though she hadn't brought them up. She had to wonder if she still felt the same way, now.

"I'm sure you'll find someone like that, Kourin." Jacqueline says. "I'm afraid I wouldn't know how to begin helping you there, though..."

As a certain someone who shall not be named could probably attest to. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Ah, only if you want..." Jacqueline replies. "If this were a party, then it would be customary...but since this is just a normal get-together, you don't need to worry."

Fortunately, Kourin seems to be okay with this, and takes a sip. Jacqueline keeps an eye on her, to determine her reaction and make sure it isn't too much for her.

"I wouldn't mind seeing the world, myself. And we still need to seek out the Guardian Lords, too. We'll probably have to leave Ignas for that, anyway..." Jacqueline says with a nod toward Catenna. Her attention drifts over toward Kourin and Jacqueline smiles slightly.

She had taken note of Kourin's interests, though she hadn't brought them up. She had to wonder if she still felt the same way, now.

"I'm sure you'll find someone like that, Kourin." Jacqueline says. "I'm afraid I wouldn't know how to begin helping you there, though..."

As a certain someone who shall not be named could probably attest to. 

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin shrugs, shoulders hunching slightly. "I...have never thought myself worthy of...of love, as you know. Now I know that my mother...is...as she is...I feel for the Hydeaens. I, too, have a monster for a mother." She takes a slow sip, the fingers on her gloved left hand clenching and unclenching. 

<Pose Tracker> Elvis has posed.

"You madam, have done quite a lot, I assure you," Elvis says toward Matilda with a smile. It looks kinda strange with his swollen face. But at least it is earnest? "You don't need to worry about contributions. Mostly to find you some help with your own ends."

The man accepts that drink, smelling it. He definitely recognizes the vanilla. After a moment or two of trepidation, he tries it, as he has to mind his manners around young ladies! It is obvious by first reaction he isn't quite sure what he is tasting. As if trying to identify it. Veruni had by far and wide a different diet from Humans, curated from their exile.

They dont typically eat what Humans it, or drink for that matter, any more. Not to say they can't. Just...

Ever eaten exotic food for the first time? Same usual reactions. "Huh," is the comment he gives in turn, as he continues to drink it. It'll do the actual opposite of warming him up, as alcohol cosntricts blood vessels... but he likes the vanilla.

"Thank you," he says after a few sips.

"Really?" he responds with to Ida. "Fascinating. Guess that answers why he was there helping tend to you." Learning who knows who is always helpful for Getting To Know People.

A nod toward Ida. "I know another Metal Demon-- err, Hydaean, that was affected greatly. Interestingly both are known for their scientific or intellectual paths. I am pontificating on arranging something with them..."

The little bird gets a look back. It is almost a staring contest at this point. The mention of a Veruni Control Zone causes him to look toward Catenna. "They won't bother drifters and survivors right now," he says dismissively, as though the Zone was a non-threat. Was it something he did?

"Oh that trip there? Yeah, it was something. Part of me wonders if our little ramshackle base is still holding up." Elvis looks to have a sour taste in his mouth at her second comment. "He caught us all off-guard! In a straight and fair fight I could have taken him..."

He actually is a little unsure if he could.

Elvis raises his head toward Jacqueline at the mention of Guardian Lords, something about that statement interesting him, but otherwise remains silent to let the young lady talk.

Ethius gets a quizzical look on occasion. Why does he remain quiet and on the edge of the group? Was something bothering the fellow? Dealing with his own inner demons after dealing with the material ones? 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    Elvis's reaction to the alcohol earns a slight, subtle smile from Ida. She sips her tea, looking at the others from behind the thin veil of steam rising from the surface. "I'm in much better shape, now," she says. "As you've likely gathered." Elvis insists he could've taken Id, and Ida shakes her head. "But yes, Kalve was an invaluable help, between the medication and the physical exercises. I've regained complete range of motion, and more besides."

    She sucks in a breath at Kourin's comment, withdrawing from the conversation briefly and subtly--she doesn't know the young woman, and doesn't know why the weighty admission. Commenting on it feels like intrusion. "The Guardian Lords, yes. Now that Mother is gone, we have a second chance at peace for all those who survived her."

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

And there's the other reason Catenna will stick with CaraKin - one Kourin brings up. She blushes a bit, cupping one hand to her cheek. "What I learned to do on Lunar was less a doubles affair, though Cyre does like to make it so. Really it was, ah, closer to what Jean does...."

As she speaks, she serves up a dish of curry and rice for Tesni. "But you are right," she agrees. "We must find the Guardian Lords. And there are still dangers to Filgaia out there, even with Mother out of the way."

Catenna is way too nice to fingerpoint at the Veruni in front of Elvis, despite not knowing he's a Veruni. Especally when he assumes the Control Zone won't be a danger to Drifters or Tainted alike. The Moon Shaman lifts an eyebrow, briefly quizzical, but then nods and apparently just decides to take him at face value. "I hope that is true. It is not always so...."

Ida just about sums it up. Catenna nods, bowing her head over her pot a little.

"...The world can be a more peaceful place now. Including for the Hyadeans Mother treated so callously. And whatever else is out there, Filgaia is safer for Mother's exit. For that, I am profoundly grateful." 

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

Tesni Inoue says "Hydaean? Right I'll need to start using that, given the state of affairs." Metal Demon would be an insult after all as the proof came out they'd been the pawns of Mother for so long. She takes a dbreath now or a moment. She looks to ida and pauses for a moment "Is Kalve alive? I'd worked with him and Zed a few times before the Hydaean's came into the forfront from how you talked in the fight it seemes he's dead or did I miss understand?" 

<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.

Catenna's not the only one who can't quite make heads or tails of Elvis -- though Matilda is at least a little more familiar with the type, even if she's never met one *quite* like Elvis. Her passing interest in linguistics exposed her to a couple of... interesting, professors. Nevertheless, he gets a smile and a respectful, "Thank you."

Matilda eats silently for several moments, and subtly scoots away from both Catenna *and* Elvis as the topic of the Veruni Control Zones comes up. Instead, her gaze turns, after a few moments, to Ida.

"I'm glad you're acclimating to it," she says, quietly. "I know it's -- hardly the same thing, but my first dog never *quite* got used to his little -- cart, after he lost a leg. I'm surprised you've managed so quickly." 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"It was a lovely dance, though." Jacqueline comments with a slight smile toward Catenna. From anyone else it might sound like teasing, but Jacqueline was speaking genuinely.

...Well, okay, there might be a little bit of teasing too it, but it's good-naturedly so. She means what she said.

Jacqueline keeps an eye on Elvis, too, as he tests out her drink. His reaction is, well...maybe it was just a bit too exotic. Maybe she should've started with something a bit more simple... Still, she smiles and nods when he thanks her, then listens as he speaks.

She finds herself drifting toward Kourin, though, moving over to offer a gentle hand on her shoulder, if she seems okay with that.

"...I know. And I'm sorry you went through that..." She murmurs.

She looks toward Ida, then, who had a good point - with Mother gone, things would be a little more peaceful. Of course, as Catenna said, there were still dangers...but things would be a little easier now, for all of them.

"I hope it'll be alright...they've lost everything now, including their homes. We'll have to do what we can to ensure they're taken care of..." Jacqueline comments, in regard to the Hyadeans. Fortunately, thanks to her work with Wayside she had become more familiar with the Hyadean diet.

She looks between Ida and Matilda for a brief moment, blinking.

"...Ah, did something happen...?" She asks, with a hint of concern. She had been a little distracted, so she hadn't learned about Ida's new limb yet. It'll be quite the surprise whenever she eventually does, that's for sure. 

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

"It was... a little outside of my usual routine," Catenna admits with a small blush and a dip of her head, smiling sheepishly back at Jacqueline. "But I enjoyed it. In a way."

Speaking of questions Catenna has been meaning to ask, there's Ida.

"I had meant to ask you about that," the Moon Shaman says.

She gestures gently at Ida, a quiet smile at her face. "That is... I had thought that your arm looked different. I hope everything is alright." If she's judging Ida for having a ^Wrong Shoulder^, she's not showing any real sign of it.

Even the Owlet doesn't seem to be judging, though the tiny bird is looking at Ida with a certain curiosity. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Ethius' attention seems to drift vaguely between the discussions between Elvis and Ida. Further discussions, between scientific and intellectual minds. Discussions of further arrangements... his expression, what of one tends to exist, changes imperceptibly as open talks continue. It's all rather candid, as if a subject of comfort.
     He can't put a finger on it. The level of candor, alone, is very strange. The long measure of a span of time in which Mother took roost here, he acknowledged internally, was also very strange. Why?
     When Elvis so much looks Ethius' way, his left hand returns to the warmth of his nondescript cup of water which is presently super crazy hot and will need to take time to cool. It seems pointed that he put it back there, as though he might have been doing something with his left hand he didn't want Elvis to see.
     He might have been subconsciously preparing a less than friendly spell.
     As Jay mentions about how the Hyadeans have lost everything, including their homes, there is a new worry--
     "I will keep watch for them." ...For the Hyadeans? He doesn't clarify. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    Ida quirks a brow at Tesni. "He's alive, yes," she says. "And he's recovering. Do you have business with him?" She remembers that fight at New Arctica. Her tone has an edge of wariness to it. But then Matilda comments about the arm, and Jay just straight-up asks, and Catenna comments on how different it looked.

    Ida sets her half-full teacup down on the arm of her chair, and takes off her right glove. The hand beneath is perfectly normal-looking, perhaps dashing Matilda's prosthetic hypothesis. "Before the attack at New Arctica, I finally found the tomb of a distant ancestor who fought in the Metal Demon War. She had an edge to help her fight Mother's soldiers on even footing, and I... thought I needed it. It was this."

    Ida's gaze focuses on the hand. Paradoxically, it's so much harder to do when she's not in combat and hopped up on adrenaline. The change starts on the back of her hand, radiating out from the center--quicksilver-like Living Metal seeps out from the pores in her skin, forming lightweight, form-fitting armor over her flesh. The change spreads down to her fingertips, leaving Ida's right hand sheathed in blue and gold metal. The tips of her fingers lengthen, sharpen like razors. Ida flexes her hand, experimentally.

    "It turned out the moniker 'Demon Fist' was more literal than most of her contemporaries knew. She'd grafted a Hyadean arm to herself to replace the one she'd lost, and it's merged with mine."

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

Tesni Inoue has her food by this point and is eating it, she turns to watch Ethius again looking at him intendly for a moment his words sem to get a bit of a shiver out of Tess for a momene bfore she is distracted by Ida, she just stares for a moment. "You merged...with part of a Hyadean successfully?!" She just stares in shock and a bit of awe. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline chuckles slightly, and nods. She knows that sort of behavior was usually not very like Catenna...but that's what happened when one was around Cyre. Much like the wind, he had a tendency to do as he pleased.

Ethius gives her his assurance that he will 'watch for them', and...Jacqueline frowns, slightly.

"...That doesn't fill me with much confidence. Maybe it'd be better if you didn't..." She comments. There's a hint of an edge to it, but it doesn't get to linger for long before Ida distracts her.

She watches as Ida removes her glove, revealing...a perfectly normal hand? Or at least that was her initial thought, until Ida focuses on her hand until it shifts. Jacqueline gasps, but it's not fear - it's more like surprise. She hadn't expected this. She looks concerned for a brief moment, but, thinking about it... Before the attack on New Arctica...so Ida's arm had been like this for a month - and she had looked alright during the battle at the Photosphere. If nothing had happened so far, it was probably fine.

"I see...and you said it functions normally? Have you experienced any issues so far?" Jacqueline asks. She folds her arms in front of her, then, thinking back with a pensive look. "I suppose this supports the research you found before, though...Hyadean and human tissue really is compatible..."

She thinks on this for a moment.

"...Does Lydia know about this? I feel like you two would have a lot to talk about." She suggests. The situation wasn't quite the same, of course. 

<Pose Tracker> Elvis has posed.

"Indeed, it seems you may have accepted what hes become of you. You seem to be in peak condition." Itt would be lying to say that Elvis wasn't curious of what the end result of this symbiosis would be. "Guardians, huh?" The man seems to sit there and think for a small time. A nod is passed toward Catenna. They can be trouble for Non-Veruni, it is true. But since the events at the photosphere, they may have received a transmission to change their orders.

Albeit temporarily.

It takes the man a few minutes to put together why a Dog needed a cart that Matilda mentioned. He envision a smaller CaraKin being driven by a dog at first. He is pretty sure he has a concussion now.

"THere are a handful I know of," Elvis mentions toward Jacqueline. "Harken, Malfi and Kalve being some of them. Dunno what is in store yet."

Hm. every time Elvis casually glances Ethius' way, there is the ending of a hand motion that always returns to his cup suddenly. What exactly was he doing? the Veruni, being a curious sort, can help but look back from time to time. Its nothing immediately threatening, so no sense to call him out on it, Observation is an important element to research, after all. Silent observation.

THe man listens to Ida's tale. Turns out what they all were looking for was... not really a weapon he or Kalve could make use of. But a Human could. "I am confused as you are that it worked," he comments to Tesni. "It is either magicked or despite all their differences, the two races aren't as biolgically different as I had surmised. They share links..." A confused look goes about his face. "...Somewhere, I suppose."

The man finishes his drink, and takes a long look at the glass. There was a chemical taste in that in some form, but others were drinking it too. Maybe some kind of medicine?

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Finally spooning out some curry and rice for herself, Catenna pulls up a chair and seats herself. She crosses her ankles neatly, taking a little bite as she listens to the pugilist's explanation.

Her eyebrows come up when Ida explains what she found in the tomb of her ancestor. Curious eyes follow the change in the woman's hand, tracing down her limb to take note of the blue and gold metal colour and the razor-like shapes of the woman's fingers. "How remarkable," she murmurs, tilting her head to one side in perfect synchronicity with the Owlet's. "I had no idea it was even possible to do that. Your ancestor must have been a remarkable person, Ida."

<The road here is laid with the stories of many interesting people,> concedes Saarda-Shanta with a blink of large yellow eyes, though the Owlet's tone is neutral.

"Is it painful?" Catenna asks with a blink. 

<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.

Matilda blinks a few times. "... I -- see," she stammers out, after a few moments. She'd presumed it was a break, not... what she's been presented with. It takes her a few moments to figure out what, exactly, she wants to say about this. She scratches her cheek in a slightly-uncharacteristic moment of sincere bafflement.

"Well -- I stand by what I said," Matilda eventually offers, with a faint smile. "I'm glad you seem to be getting comfortable with it -- you've got quite the tool, in that arm..." She thinks about it a little longer, trying to figure out what else there is to say.

She settles for nothing. She has curry, and is rapidly independently innovating curry bread. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Ethius knows Catenna's not wrong. There was something different about the arm during the fight against the World Eater. He sets his nondescript but rather hot cup of water which is very, very hot down, as Ida discusses matters of ancient history and weapons.
     When the Living Metal seeps out, Ethius' posture straightens out as he turns his gaze to watch its flow - the way it moves. There may not be much 'direction' to watch--
     "Lower your voice." He says to Tesni. He is not any louder when he speaks, but there's a certain air to the way he says it.
     He extends a finger from his left hand, as if tracing the air - as if watching for any further movement under the cloth surrounding the arm, as many make their exclamations and state their questions.
     He doesn't voice it aloud. The implications to him, whatever they might be, are doubtlessly alarming.
     "...The scope of time being as it is," he starts to speak aloud, but probably not intentionally for its low volume. 

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

Tesni Inoue huses up as a thought hits her if this gets out? Power crazy people might start hunting the Hyadeans without any mercy. For once there is a moment of aegreement with him on somehting but whats going on in his head? She's pay a lot of money to know. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    If Ida were a more roguish, outre sort, she'd use Tesni's exclamation as the perfect segueway for a comment that would scandalize all society ladies within a twenty-mile radius. Fortunately, this is not the case.

    Ida flexes her fingers again, and looks at Jay. "It took almost a month for me to regain control," she says. "But now..." The change reverses itself, leaving an ordinary-looking human hand. She gives Ethius a rather pointed glance, and puts the glove back on. There is no further motion from beneath the glove, or the sleeve. Ida shakes her head. "No," she says. "At least--none so far. There's more tissue there than just this. And yes, Lydia has been quite understanding. Very helpful. I was... wrong about her."

    "Not nearly as incompatible as many believe, no," Ida says. "Miss Barber and I found evidence that this was possible under controlled conditions, but... yes. Luisa Rey was a fascinating, driven woman. She entrusted me with this, centuries after her death."

    Ida shakes her head again. "Thank you, Matilda. I won't lie--it's terrifying. But at leas now it feels more... managable, if nothing else."

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Catenna holds her tongue because she doesn't follow Ida on Filgaiabook and didn't see her relationship status.

Nibbling down another mouthful of curry, Catenna listens in intent silence as Ida explains how she managed to regain control of her arm. "So you can hide it, as well," she murmurs, blinking a couple of times. "And yes, I can imagine Lydia would be helpful."

Catenna would be more horrified about all this, but at this point Rigdobrite's silver champion is basically as metal as any Hyadean and Odoryuk's Original Artificial Medium is in the hands of an actual Hyadean, so she's not sure she has any grounds to be shocked without seeming ridiculously out of the loop. Instead she just downs another bite of food.

"The fact that you have learned so much from your ancestor is enviable," she compliments with a quiet smile.

<As you have learned much about your own,> Saarda-Shanta points out levelly.

Catenna bows her head and lets out a low sigh. "Yes... I should talk to Riesenlied about that, actually. If we are both to understand the Fereshte, anyway...." 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Harken...I suppose she'd be their leader now, assuming they don't disband completely..." Jacqueline considers, with a glance toward Elvis. She hasn't really encountered her all that much, so she doesn't know what she's like...but she knows what she's done. It makes her a little concerned, but she has to hope things work out. "Still, I wish the best for them..."

Ida confirms that it's working fine, though it took a month to get it under control. Jacqueline watches as the hand returns to what it looked like before, and smiles as Ida mentions that Lydia has been helpful. "I'm glad to hear it. She's very reliable!"

She listens as Ida talks about her ancestor. Luisa Rey...

"I can only imagine..." Jacqueline says. She didn't know much about Ida's ancestor, but to go through a process like that, and then leave it for one of her descendants...that took determination.

"The only thing I owe to my ancestors is my keen mercantile instincts." Jacqueline comments with a chuckle. She's joking, really. She looks toward Catenna, as she mentions Riesenlied.

"...I hope she's alright. I can only imagine how hard things must be for her..." Jacqueline murmurs. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Somewhere in that pointed glance given his way, Ethius looks off in some other direction as her whole situation appears to be met with an acceptance, even encouragement, of the situation. The journeys they've all undergone with one another appears to have transformed them, in some way. Some physical, some emotional, some spiritual. How they've changed and come out the other end of the trials with Mother as they put a decisive end to over a thousand years of tragedy across worlds... there is much to say.
     He is largely presented with new questions and a sense of urgency he cannot put into words (because he can but shouldn't, or because he actually cannot? That is another one).
     All this talk of ancestors, and he can't remember anything past the last three years or so by now.
     A hand goes to his forehead.
 
     MEANWHILE, A WAYS AWAY, JUST PAST THE CUSP OF HEARING
 
     There is so much of it. It keeps coming. They've only been out here so many times, and each time it's been an experience just putting one's feet in it! Just feeling it. Feeling it so much it leaves one feeling numb. Almost like it'll be so numb it won't ever be anything but numb, ever again.
     It's kind of fun!
     "Is that all you got?!" Someone sneers, as they size up a great big pile of the stuff. Their breath fogged the air. They're winded, exhausted, even, but the sneer on their face never goes away, the lights of their eyes ever brighter. "How much do you even have up there?! It's a lot? It's a lot!!"
     A digitigrade leg kicks into this great big pile of something, and moisture sprays out everywhere under the puff of a blast of compressed air. This pile of something - snow - sprays about the landscape, coating it anew with more and more snow and ice atop itself.
     "Keep it coming...! Hyahaha--!!" Further strikes, seemingly fruitless, launch themselves into the endless white. The wind around him kicks up, blasting more of the tundra's bounty into him. He swings an arm to and fro against it, like he were striking against an invisible opponent.
     "Aru Solatu...!" They rasp. "Is that all? Is that all...!" They continue to cackle as they attack, pounce, and be grappled by an endless blanket of Elru snow like it were a pitched battle.

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