(no subject)

[scribes]

Characters: Signless, Disciple, Psiioniic, Sollux, Feferi, and Aranea? SORRY IF I MISSED SOMEONE
Location: The Ancestor Den
Rating: PG? Maybe a bit of language.
Time: April 25th-30th? IDK However long people want to stay, just use this a catch all log xD;
Description: With the arrival of a certain catfish, there are a lot of discussions to be had.

[It was strange that it had never occurred to her that any of their "enemies" might appear here in Death City. BREW certainly worked in mysterious ways if it thought someone like the Condesce would easily lend her hand to the war effort. She supposed she should at least be grateful that it had stripped her of so many of the things that would make her a dangerous foe, but considering what the Empress' mere presence could do to some of those she held dear to her, Di wasn't feeling especially thankful.

Given that their home was away from any of the free shelters where most newcomers resided it seemed the obvious choice to open up their doors to all those trolls who would be in immediate danger of the Condesce. She scrambled around making preparations for the large host of people they would be getting--thankfully she still had all the furs she had on her person upon her first arrival and they would serve as good temporary beds until they managed to get something better.

The couch had been covered in blankets and pillows, all the furs laid out before it to make a secondary bed. Drinks were pulled out in preparation and when the first knock came she quickly marched over, peeking through the glass in the center of the door before opening it up.]

Comments

[00110010_00110011]

[Large number of replies to "Betty Crocker" that were obviously switched to encrypted conversations, not to mention text color, caught Psii's attention, as obviously also had for large number of other trolls here. Could have hacked them, but didn't want to believe what feared could be true. (Part of him knew it was true, mostly by particular quality of fear.)

Confirmation, while not unexpected, makes it worse when it comes, and gives him several very bad minutes, fighting off irrational certainty that she will discover is here, find location and knock any moment. Only remembering SS telling him wasn't helpless, and that she didn't have powers here either, shakes him out of paralysis.

Once moving, moves quickly, afraid stopping to think will overwhelm and halt in tracks. He packs the few belongings has acquired so far: human clothes, laptop. Isn't much, really, but can almost hear SS telling him is proof of life has made for self here, and that helps a lot.

He hurries to hivestem where SS and others live, paranoia of being seen a prickle on back of neck the whole way, wishing anger would take over as did with Meenah, and thaw with its heat ice that seems to be running through internal blood conduits. Worry for friends is very present, much worse and more real than when madness affected city, but all he seems capable of processing is hardware's reaction, that ice and a feeling like growing crackle of powers about to wrench free of control over them, except that doesn't have anywhere to go now.

He's so relieved when he reaches door safely that knocks far too loud and fast.]

[scribes]

[Despite how calm and collected she appeared on the outside, Di was worried. She was very, very worried. Out of all the people at this moment, she was worried the most for Psiioniic. Signless was here with her, and while Feferi was currently the one most in danger being the youngest and 'competition' for the Condesce, she knew how this would effect her friend both emotionally and mentally. Especially after the conversation she, Psiioniic, and Signless had had regarding Mituna, and especially after their resonation yesterday.

Out of all of them Mituna had suffered the worst fate, and he had come so far since his arrival in Death City. Even if the Empress couldn't do to him here what she had before, Disciple knew that there were still many ways you could hurt a person and Mituna was the most vulnerable to it.

So when she opened the door and saw him she was hard pressed not to hug him. She did lay a hand on his arm and gave him what she hoped was a comforting smile.]

Come in.

[Later, after Aranea arrives o/]

[consider8]

[It's within minutes of getting settled that Aranea seeks out Psiioniic. Mostly for the same reason as his family had -- to show that she cared. Knowing also that this would be a very stressful time for him, she decides to mark her presence audibly, to let him know that she's there before getting too close.]

Hello, Psiioniic.

A little later

[seadweller]

[Once they are a little more settled in the hive, Feferi seeks out her other favorite gold-hued troll!]

Psii. Hi!

[consider8]

[Everything about this sucked.

On one hand, there is the Condesce... the embodiment of the decision they made to continue the story of the troll race and the new universe they had hoped would allow for the continuation of their culture, their people, and then encapsulated all of their hopes into one person that had caused the death and destruction of many more cultures and people. She herself was a monster, a demon, and yet for all of her faults she knew that she was also in just as many ways shaping the future that they had so hopefully wished for. While she tried to separate her conscience from the consequences of resetting the scratch, a twinge of fear and dread welled up inside of Aranea.

And then there was the other hand. The terrible, horrible fact that the Condesce was an extension of her closest friend. The one girl that she had fought the closest and trusted the most. The batterwitch's presence meant that for all of her pomp and pride, she may one day choose to become a part of the Condesce's machinations. Oh, she had no doubt that Meenah would grow tired of the subservient role and attempt to usurp the Condesce herself -- they were like two beta fishes swirling in the same bowl, after all. But Aranea was worried that this was one situation in which her friend would not come out unscathed... or even the same person, were the fates deemed her more worthy of life than fallen Empress.

And then still there's what the Condesce meant. From her use of Betty Crocker, she was clearly subservient to her master. Was the chain that still held her in place present? Did that mean that this world was deemed significant enough to face his ire. Aranea didn't know whether or not BREW would be so powerful as to strip away HIS powers, and worried still that even if that was the case he would NOT be in a compromised position for very long. There was a very real possibility that events were now in place which made his appearance here an inevitability, and that the loss of her powers as a Sylph or the fact that her time beyond the furthest ring had not prepared her for this little twist in the story. In other words, for all the dangers that approached, she had no foreknowledge of the events that were about to transpire to know how to handle the situation. For all of her knowledge and optimism, she was completely in the dark now.

She reflected on all these things as she neared the door. Each thought returning back to the one thought that continued to stick in her head: everything about this sucked.]

[scribes]

[Soul Empathy or no, when Di opened the door for Aranea she could tell that her mind was swirling with many a thought, concerns, and confusion. She was of course not privy to these thoughts so she assumed it had only to do with the Condesce herself, but Di felt even that was enough to cause any troll to hold such a wearied disposition. She smiled at the cerulean troll, opening the door up wider for her.]

It has been a while, Aranea. [And this was the first time they were meeting in person too]

Come one in, make yourself at home.

[seadweller]

[It took her a little longer than planned to get organized, mostly due to the struggle of transferring fish over to a small bowl so she could carry them (they couldn't stay in the hiveblock alone and starve after all!) as well as packing a bag of various clothes, movies and several other miscellaneous items, but Feferi finally managed to make her way over to the ancestor's hive. Honestly she had definitely over-packed for the situation, carrying enough items to last a fortnight rather than the day or two she had assumed.

She wasn't too worried, though she certainly hurried more than usual when she walked the city streets, keeping an eye out on the passing crowds for a set of horns or that tell-tale tyrian tint. The route was safe though, she hadn't been spotted, so here she was knocking at the door of the hive, swirling fishbowl in hand.]

[sermonize]

[ and it's Signless there to open the door. to help usher the child in. the place is going to be quite full for some time, but that's a sacrifice made for the safety and well being of those that the tyrian tyrant would otherwise attempt to disembowel or something of the like.

if it comes down to it, this adult troll would find a place for the kids close by. he could certainly afford it. ]

Where you seen at all?

[ well. Karkat had to get his paranoia from somewhere, right? ]

laterrrrr

[scribes]

[Di had been so relieved when she heard that Feferi had arrived. She had been nearing the point where she was going to go a pick up the young heiress herself. Fortunately it hadnt come to that, and once she was done helping some of the others settle down and with dinner preparations she greeted Feferi with a biiiiiig hug. She had become incredibly fond of the sea dweller throughout all the times they watched movies together.]

You had us all worried.

[silicomb]

[ This was ridiculous. This was stupid. Sollux had been telling himself just that for the past couple of hours and it still hasn't changed anything, but it never hurts to keep up a healthy mantra, now does it?

He's in his customary spot, his laden desk in his messy respiteblock, hunched over his keyboard like some particularly angular collection of bones, a skeletal bird in rumpled jeans and an even more wrinkled shirt. He can hear the rising levels of activity in the rest of the hiveblock, its occupants roused like the ants of a kicked hill, preparing and welcoming their visitors like the refugees of some maniacal tyrant.

This is ridiculous. This is stupid. What was there to fear? Just some old, glittery troll who used to be their Empress. What could she do here? Smile them into commission? Bend their wills by sheer force of her age and bling? Stupid. Preposterous. Utterly fucking laughable.

The fact that his hands haven't stopped shaking is irrelevant. Obviously. What's there to be afraid of?

Her Imperial Condescension couldn't do shit against any of them here.

Right? ]

[scribes]

[There came a small knock at his door. Sollux was keeping to himself--hardly something unusual, but Di thought that it would be best to at least check up on him and see how he was doing. He had become part of her family as far as she was concerned, and while their conversations had been limited since she had only recently recovered her voice enough to talk, she was fond of him.]

Sollux? Are you doing alright?

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii needs quiet place to process everything, and knows ought to go back and read network interactions concerning her. Hacking is easy part; actual reading won't be, so much. Thinks Sollux's respiteblock would be good place to retreat for a little while.

He's worried for descendant, but not sure presence would be welcome, so is hesitant when he knocks.]

[consider8]

[The only thing to mark Aranea's appearance was a soft rap on the door into his room, and a very brief statement.]

Sollux? I had heard from Disciple that you were in here. Are you alright?

[sermonize]

[ SIGNLESS will wait until everything's settled down. when everyone has picked a place and conversations are over to visit Sollux. really... when does the kid have a normal sleeping schedule as is. while it's polite to knock, he really doesn't. he comes in silently. doesn't ask if Sollux is all right, if he needs to talk.

he just puts his hands on the kid's shoulders and rubs them a bit. completely affectionate. ]

I think it's time for even the best programmers to sleep.

[ though if Sollux needs to talk to someone, the offer is there. he just doesn't verbally say it. ]

[seadweller]

[Who cares what the Empress is up to, that doesn't matter right now. What matters the most is that they all get to hang out together for a few days, and it is going to interesting and fun!

And cue two hands slipping over his eyes. Guess who! 38)]

[sermonize]

[ AFTER everyone is settled in and sleeping, there is one troll who is restless enough that he can't. being as quiet as he can, the Signless makes some instant tea, grabs a blanket, and slips out onto the balcony.

maybe it's just to keep a look out. mostly it's just to soothe his own nerves about the situation. Signless has been angry before, oh yes. this, though? this is completely a new level that he's never had to deal with and he's not sure how to quell it. it's a slow burning kind of anger and it flares slightly every time someone is upset by her.

and thinking about the situation at large? well that just is like tossing a log onto the fire. he's probably making a nasty glare into the night, but he'd still rather just sit and watch the night without disturbing anyone inside. ]

[scribes]

[It didnt take long for Di to realize that Signless was gone. When she stirred into wakefulness, there was a moment of panic when she realized his absence---a scenario that had played out many times in her nightmares before. Thankfully she noticed his silhouette out on the balcony, and let out a sigh of relief, pressing a hand to her chest as if to soothe her pounding heart.

The olive troll drew a blanket around her, and futilely tried to push her bed head out of her face only to have it flop forward again. She made her way to the balcony, stopping at the door to call out to him so as not to startle him

Hon?

[She made her way to him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind in a hug. She pressed her face to his back, laying a kiss against his shoulder blades. It was strange how even without looking at him, she could feel the anger emanating off his person. It reminded her of his last moments when that anger had near consumed him, and.she worried.]

[consider8]

[Aranea hadn't slept, though she knew that was the expectation others had for her. There was a lot for her to think about and up until now she had been the one providing insight and guidance. While that was beneficial in most cases, her worries were beginning to mount. From the day that she had appeared here there had been ever mounting problems. Worse, the difficulties of this foreign world appeared to be getting mingled into the ones from their previous universe. When she was a Sylph, she would be able to deign some insight in the complex weaving of actions and beliefs that thread into the tapestry of fate. Yet with the loss of her memories of the time before her death, the lost of her empathic sense, and the loss of her abilities as a Sylph, it was becoming more for her to handle.

It was time to open up.

Only a few steps marked her presence. She had her quiet way of sneaking up on a person. Unnoticed and unneeded, until she made her presence known.]

I think it's time we've had a talk, you and I.

[Storytime with Aranea]

[consider8]

[After everybody had a chance to settle down and console each other, Aranea decides it is time to take the floor. She motions briskly, her usual smile spread on her face.]

So, today was quite the adventure? I'm sure that you all have had quite the shock -- I know I have -- and I hope that you've had the chance to consider the ramifications the presence Her Condescension has on everyone. So long as she is here she will be a serious threat. This is an immutable fact that is obvious to all of us, and I would challenge you to feel emboldened to take actions against her while being auspiciously honest to the threat that she makes. I have no doubt that many of you have your thoughts on the course of action we should all take, though for now I would state for the record that we should perhaps abstain from sharing them openly until we've had a night to rest over it. Desperate actions will get us nowhere.

[She pauses, considering her words.] I also want everyone to consider the differences between her Condescension and our friend, Meenah. While they share many of similar traits, you must be made aware of the fact that they are distinct and separate people. Their origins are different. Their influences are different. Their actions are different. Although you may be tempted to attribute the same atrocities of one to the other, there is a fallacy in that reasoning. While I will not ask you to remove the beliefs and notions you may have had in your experiences with her, I want you to realize that Meenah is a different person and is deserving of a different opinion.

[She smiles again, returning to the point of her speech here.] But more to the point, the Condesce's presence may have more of a consequence that just her actions. The truth is that in the time that she is from, she has become less of her role and yet more of a threat. In the time that you have known her she has become an agent to a demon the likes of which this or many other universes can never hope to defeat. An abominable beast whose very birth required the death of two entire universes. One who's dominion is absolute dominance of time and who's power is sufficient to cause the absolute destruction of souls: the angel of double death. Her presence here may mark his ever-steady appearance in this universe. And considering the extent to his dominion, he may already be here.

[seadweller]

[Feferi is right there on the floor, legs tucked underneath her as she listens to Aranea's story.]

Whale for starter's it's pretty obvious they aren't the same person. I have to say that everything happening today has actually made me like Meenah a little bit more!

[scribes]

[Sweet, merciful heavens. Things were already a little too cosmic for Disciple before this. Now they were tossing in a demon that could destroy souls and whose birth had come at the expense of two universes? Not that Di doubted Aranea for a minute but it was still something that felt more like a story, something she still had trouble swallowing. Questions usually come easily for her but when she opens her mouth nothing comes out at first. She closes it, frowns and tries again.]

So...you think her presence might be indicative of...this demon arriving as well?

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii listens intently.

Reading all her interactions made him more anxious at first, especially for SS. But also made him quite proud of friends (half appalled at and half admiring of descendant, truthfully), and even gave him fleeting moment of sympathy for Meenah. Now feels better prepared to help handle situation, even if is also more aware of real danger.

But something about demon makes him frown thoughtfully. Has heard about him before from AA, and idea is undeniably frightening, but.]

But... if demon were capable of following her to this world of own volition, wouldn't he already be here? And if can't choose to come, wouldn't BREW remove his powers if it brought him?

[sermonize]

[ he listens as well, though he has heard some of it already. any opinions he has of Meenah? they are restricted to what he has experienced here; what he has heard of her actions in Death City and of interactions with his friends. it's not that hard for him to accept and think of her as a different person...

Signless continues his silence on the matter. he cannot pretend to understand anything concerning this demon. surely Aranea knows what she is speaking of... ]

April 26, closed to Psii

[scribes]

[Yesterday had been one hectic day. There was a lot of information that Di was still trying to swallow, and she had spent a lot of time writing down everything that had been said and asked from Aranea's lecture.

Yet life had to move on. There had been something on her mind for quite a while now and Di felt she was prepared to go through with it.

She just needed a little help.

Which is why she sought out Psii when the apartment was fairly quiet. When she found where he was she was grateful to see he was alone.]

Hello, Mituna.

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii felt much better after night that had been as uneventful as could have hoped for, irrational fear that she would discover hiveblock having eased somewhat. Seemed danger was present but not imminent, for now. He was looking at network, and set mirror aside when Dii spoke.]

Hello, Dii. Do you need something?

April 30th

[scribes]

[It has been a while since Disciple had visited Horrorspital. Once she had gotten far enough in her therapy that she could continue on her own, she had done so. Today her reason for visiting had been not for any physical need, but simply because she wanted to visit her friend Ammy. Communication would thankfully be easier between them now--at least a smidgen, and it has been far too long.

Not only that but Di wanted to introduced the deity to the rest of her family which is why she had invited her over. Why not now, when they had so many guests under their roof?]

I think you'll really like them, Ammy. They're great people.

[She pushed the door open to their hive, holding it so that the dog could enter at her leisure]

just di and ammy

[scribes]

[After introductions were finished Di was curled up on the couch alongside Ammy. She had nearly forgotten how comforting it was to be near her. A part of Di would always feel slightly more comfortable around animals than she would people.]

It's been a slightly hectic couple days, so if people seem a little off that's why.