Conversation Space II.

[powersthatbe]

As Thorne shared with the network, Travelers who vanish find themselves alone in a small room. But it doesn’t look quite as described last time. Paper lanterns hang in the corners, and a lemniscate of live, spicily scented blue roses traces a figure eight on the floor. A little marble plinth sits beside the looping roses, with a champagne flute balanced on it, pink, fizzy liquid quietly effervescing within. In place of the throne that was there before, each half of the loop holds a brown leather sphere - a yoga meditation-ball chair. They’re a little tricky to balance on.


The walls, floors, and ceiling are tiled, a prismatic fade from one color to another, each tile unique, just slightly different in hue than those around it, each colored line giving a sense that it belongs to a bigger pattern, but never revealing enough to allow anyone certainty about what that pattern might be. It is only a glimpse of a larger world… in this small, quiet space.

Comments

[wolvering]

Pod isn't sure she likes this place. Kiga is far less sure, sniffing at everything and growling. After a few moments, Pod finally calls him to her side and hushes him, settling on the floor with her back to one of the balls, and pulling him into her lap for ear-scritches.

She sighs. "I guess this means we get to talk to the one that claimed me, huh, boy? I better not be expected to give offerings!"

Pod ends that with a little 'humf' of breath and eyes the champagne with interest for a moment.

[callmemeibe]

"Offerings are not needed," a polite voice says from the other meditation ball. Sitting upon it is an eight-armed woman, wielding a large spear in one of her right hands, loosely, more as an accouterment than a weapon at the moment. "You have questions, I'm sure. Ask them. I will try to answer."

[wolvering]

Kiga is instantly growling, although he doesn't move except to plant himself stubbornly in between Pod and the newcomer. He doesn't listen when Pod tries to urge him back and after a second try she gives up, expression going carefully shuttered.

"So you must be Strength." That's not exactly a question, and Pod puts her hand to where the Mark is under her clothes. "Why me? And what does your claim mean for Kerras's claim? I was his first."

[callmemeibe]

Strength does not seem to be at all upset by Kiga's growling. She does, however, look him square in the eyes, and patiently answer, "I mean her no harm. I merely wish to speak." It is said with a tone that only emphasizes her peaceful words and bearing.

"I am," she answers, nodding. "I answer also to Durga." She studies Pod's body language for a moment, keeping herself still and calm, her and her spear balanced perfectly on the meditation ball. "It's like I said when we first met. Our way of thinking, our beliefs… are similar. That is why you were Chosen. My claim means nothing for him or his. Our claims are… independent, orthogonal."

[wolvering]

Kiga gives Durga a look that implies he truss the Arcanum about as far as he can throw her. More than a little accusation in it too. But the growling does stop, after a moment more.

Pod's look also goes flat, but less accusing. She grumbles, half to herself. "I've never heard the word orthogonal before."

More loudly, she continues. "But what happens to my family, my guild, my friends while I'm here doing whatever you want me to do?"

[callmemeibe]

"Orthogonal. We are not at cross purposes. But we do not work together, either. Kerras has his way, and I have mine."

She slowly raises her spear which begins to glow with a gentle light, and draws three circles, allowing the middle circle to intersect the other two, but does not let the other two touch. The light drawings stay even after she is finished. "You are the middle circle. Kerras is one, I am the other. Does that make sense?"

When Pod continues, she dismisses the light drawing with a wave of her hand, returning her spear to her lap after a quick twirl and a flourish. "Nothing happens to them. Time is... different for us. And for you in Liminal Space."

[wolvering]

Pod nods at the demonstration, and she relaxes a tiny bit more. The answer to the question isn't as heartening. Pod chews on her lip while she thinks, scratching Kiga's ears when they twitch.

"So it's like I was never gone, for them? When I return home, what if I've changed? Grown? Won't they notice?"

[callmemeibe]

There is a thoughtful pause. "It depends on who wins. You would be... ungrown, unchanged. This is something you wish?" She frowns, contemplatively. "I do not see the advantage. To such a thing."

[wolvering]

"No, I don't want to be ungrown and lose what I've learned and earned here, but how will I explain when I go home? It's been a long time, for me, I think?"

Pod wants to go home, desperately, but she's made friends and learned things and she doesn't want to lose those when she does. It's a difficult situation to be in.

[callmemeibe]

"So ungrown bodily. Not ungrown mentally." Her fingers twirl her spear for a moment, before she nods. "It is theoretically possible, if complex." She shrugs all four sets of shoulders. "Or you could tell your friends the truth."

[wolvering]

“I don’t want to really be ungrown at all, but I don’t want them to miss me and…” Pod bites her lip. “I don’t think anyone would believe me if I told the truth?”

If Pod wasn’t living it, she doesn’t think she’d believe it, that’s for sure. And maybe she wouldn’t care, but going mad, or the appearance of it, might get her removed from being a Beast Healer. She couldn’t stand that.

[callmemeibe]

"If I'm victorious. We'll speak of your wishes again, my Chosen. I'll help determine the best course for you. And I will keep this promise. If not... then this is moot, anyway. But I have faith you'll represent me well. I trust in your spirit."

Strength gives a small smile, and her lowest right hand reaches out to Pod, as if offering a handshake.