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

[solvethepuzzle]

... Damn.

Near is, at the heart of it, a selfish, risk-averse person. He gives as little of himself as possible in order to achieve a result. Even to gain knowledge, sacrificing his very sense of self and essential functions is something that he cannot do. Especially after an overlay that had foolishly done something similar, something he still regards as a mistake.

He terminates the connection, pulling back his hand. His arm drops limply, his head bows, the strain of maintaining an Interface taking a toll on his body.

[powersthatare]

Slowly, energy will flow back into him, a sense of physical and psychic wholeness perceptibly flowing across his body from a single spot - the place where, even now, a Mark is glowing into being on his skin.

[solvethepuzzle]

It doesn't feel unnatural at first, just something to be expected from taking a moment to rest. But as his head clears, it becomes apparent that the effect is flowing from an odd place -- his left foot. So he rolls down his sock briefly to check, and is frankly unsurprised to find the mark.

And so he rolls the sock back up. He'd wanted to avoid being marked for as long as possible, or at least until he'd understood more about what the marks could do. Considering the situation, he's probably achieved the former, even if the latter would be preferable. He will need to review what he knows.

"Hardly unexpected." He may be marked, but that does not necessarily mean he will follow through with the Hermit's agenda. That remains to be seen -- and will be his own choice if he can help it. "Has our current business concluded, then?"

He doesn't expect a verbal answer, of course. But there are other ways.

[powersthatare]

The wolf looks at him consideringly, then bows its head, and Conversation Space vanishes, leaving Near back in Liminal Space once more.

[solvethepuzzle]

Finished, then. Alright.

The space around him shifts back to the garden, where he'd been before being pulled into the conversation space. Without missing a beat, he pulls a deck of cards out of his satchel, and carefully begins to build as is his habit. And all the while, his mind is working. He has much to think about.