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[aquaveiled]

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Forward-dated: Post-Mingle, Communion-space

[fightforthejoyofit]

It is approximately thirty seconds after Communion is first explained that Zenos leaps to the obvious conclusion about its potential, and an agonisingly long time after that before he is alone and able to experiment, but it should come as no surprise where exactly his thoughts turn. The prudent, cautious thing to do would be to test it first – perhaps with Meteion (though she will no doubt take that as encouragement to continue pursuing a friendship with him) or to irritate Emet-Selch (which is... honestly incredibly tempting) – but where his Best Friend Across Multiple Universes is concerned, he has never been given to prudence or caution.

And so, shard in hand and summoning every last ounce of mental fortitude, he reaches out to ask “Well, Beast, did you survive the fall?”

[aquaveiled]

All things considered, the missions were successful. Spending a few days in Godsblood to attend to Dokja's injuries has been an excuse to get out and about. Exploring new places has always been her goal and having one so close to the sea has been a comfort in equal measure. Salt and brine bring a peace of mind that she thinks will stay with her forever.

She knows that she must needs return to the forest soon, at the very least to check on Estinien even if he is in the skilled care of Alphinaud, but she thinks she can allow herself just a little longer...another moment of selfishness.

Which does not seem to pay off. Himeka feels the (what is becoming) familiar swell of another push to the shard embedded in her chest, the sensation of someone else reaching out. But it's different than it had been the first time with Ernesto or even in her subsequent conversations with other Aions. She would know this presence anywhere and her stomach drops.

Himeka pulls to the shadows underneath the docks, trying to stay out of sight of the locals as she reaches to her breast and pulls out the shimmering stone.

"..."

She knows she shouldn't answer.

"...As well as you did."

[fightforthejoyofit]

Relief floods the shared connection like a tidal wave, with a delighted laugh that's almost felt more than heard, a warmth that swells up from somewhere close to the heart. He knew – of course he knew, how could he survive and she be dead? - but the Kenoma sickness had fed those darker, less hopeful thoughts, and it is good to have confirmation (both that she lives, and that this works, and thirdly that she answered) none the less.

And just as quick it recedes (though it continues to lap at the very edges of the metaphorical shoreline) as he tries to focus on what she's broadcasting back. "No doubt your allies rejoice that their Champion returned safe home?”

Yes, he's absolutely fishing; he's had a chance – albeit a brief one as of yet – to take the Kenoma's measure, but the Pleroma remain a mostly unknown quantity

[aquaveiled]

It hits her like a storm. She shouldn't be surprised, should she? Zenos has never been one to hold back when it comes to his thoughts or feelings on things. But for some reason genuine relief that feels just so akin to what she may feel herself shocks her. She knows, she knows that he's also a person with thoughts and feelings, but sometimes he seems so removed from the world around him that it's easy to forget.

It's the sort of feeling one would expect when speaking to a comrade, not someone bent on fighting to the death. She knows, she knows this by now. That the way he sees these things is...different. Off. Contrary to what it should be.

But she's never felt it before.

Himeka has never had the best poker face, despite her moments of long silence with enemies and friends alike, but hiding her emotions in a way like this is entirely new. She hadn't tried at all with the other Aions, sharing their joys and concerns freely. But now? This is dangerous, not just because it's Zenos. (Though certainly partly due to it.)

Her own feelings are not as clear, a little erratic if confused as she tries to remain guarded. Keeping a lid on that leads her to spend less time thinking on her words.

"No one else knows."

Well, not entirely true. She told Estinien when she'd awaken that she had fought Zenos in that 'before' dream. But when she hadn't seen him at any of the Shrines, she thought that maybe...

"...--Where were you?"

During "The Cost of Innocence"

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien will have been gone for the better part of a day, during the time that infections are truly beginning to show themselves among Aions. Eventually, Himeka will feel the tickle of his presence in her shard.]

Himeka...

[Though all he projects is her name, the emotions accompanying it are twisted and off-kilter. It doesn't feel much like his usual self, even though it's clearly his presence.]

[aquaveiled]

[ Himeka still feels much like herself and the wave of concern that flows back towards him is palpable. She pulls out her shard unworried about proprietaries in a city half-inhabited by the lost. ]

Estinien?

[ It's probably obvious, but... ]

Is everything okay?

[coerthantorment]

I can't find you...

[Having said that seems nonsensical a moment later, but it's true, isn't it? Why is making sense of what's happening to him so difficult? His confusion bleeds through the connection, his mind straying even as he tries to communicate with her.

What is he talking about, again? She'll feel him question himself immediately. He needs help, another part answers. He's lost and can't find anyone to help him.]

Something is happening to me... the illness?

[These thoughts barely come across as words, but it's enough to understand.]

[sageguidance]

[ Their time in Venera has been... busy, to say the least, but today had certainly taken the cake. When the dust settles, so to speak, Alphinaud goes to seek out Himeka, wherever she may be. And once he finds her: ]

... Ah, there you are. Good.

[aquaveiled]

[ The plan has been set to go to the Shrine of the Firebrand in homes of resurrecting their friend. There is some confidence, at least, in the fact that as long as one's shard is intact they are not truly lost, but they won't know until they see it for themselves.

She won't be in Venera much longer, eager to begin the process. Standing near one of the city's overlooks, she holds Estinien's shard in her hand, still amazed that their friend could be brought down to such a little thing.

When she hears his voice, Himeka turns around, offering Alphinaud a smile. ]

How are the others faring?

[ Having Alphinaud around, an extremely experienced healer in his own right, is certainly a boon for the cause. ]

[sageguidance]

[ That would be the first thing of her to ask, wouldn't it. Alphinaud pauses briefly, mouth pursing into a thin line before he answers. ]

As well as one could be, I suppose. Ryunosuke, I believe his name was, is still unable to walk, but he has fortunately been carried to safety by another. Mayhap with time he shall be able to recover. As all others denied my request for aid– [ Not unexpectedly. ] –I cannot speak for them.

[goldendeceiver]

Any chance you could spare me a moment, Miss Himeka?

[ Can she feel the weariness rolling off of him through their connection right now? Because the last few days have been... eventful. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ She certainly can, which means he's instantly got her attention. ]

More than a moment. Is everything okay?

[goldendeceiver]

Haha... I wish I could say yes to that.

[ He sighs audibly. ]

Things have gotten messy at Godsblood. A couple of our Kenoma friends showed up, and even though it seems like they weren't trying to cause a scene... I can't say that holds true for all of the Pleroma here.

After the Regent's Address

[coerthantorment]

Estinien realizes that the Regent's nonconsensual Communion is finally over largely because he finds that he's no longer being bound and gagged. He awakes with a gasp from the place where he'd collapsed on the floor - thankfully, some of the hides they had on hand had softened his fall. Goodberries has been curled up on him while he was unconscious, apparently, and flitters away as he starts to shift.

He feels for the shard in his chest, reflexively checking that it hasn't been more damaged than it is already. Feelings its smooth surface beneath his hand, he begins looking around for his companions.

"Himeka...?" he murmurs.

"She's here! Right here!" Goodberries supplies helpfully, flying to Himeka's side and looking her over curiously.

[aquaveiled]

Himeka, likewise, had collapsed in place. She was luckily already sitting on the floor, surrounded by yalms of woven cord to repair some of the fishing baskets she'd made specifically to catch the eel-like creatures in the nearby river. One such net lays half-worked in her lap as she's awkwardly splayed to the side.

"Mrrt..."

She makes an odd noise, her tail slapping the floor once, then twice with gusto as she comes to.

"Is that--"

Ah, yes. Goodberries. The very eager one.

--Wait.

Her eyes snap open as she tries to turn around.

"Estinien?"

[coerthantorment]

"By the Fury," he grumbles, clutching his head as he pulls himself up into his knees. Did that really just happen? He had no idea the Regent could exert such power over them.

It's a relief for the probing presence to be gone, but it doesn't make the situation any less humiliating.

"Aye. I've..." He trails off, not knowing what to say. The Regent's words are still ringing in his ears. "We've returned. For now."

A Half Hour After the Innocence Happens

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien pings her shard, desperately reaching out to her through communion.]

Himeka... It's taken hold of me again...

Pray, hear me...

[coerthantorment]

[No response... he keeps trying, uncertain of what else to do.]

I felt it touch you... I felt its cries... Are you well?

[coerthantorment]

[For all he knows, she's in the middle of something critical, but he can't help but beat against the figurative glass. There are things only she can tell him.]

Forgive me... I can't remember... how did we arrive in this place?

Where are you?

late firaseri; voice

[semicharmed]

Hey!

[ The voice is familiar, if Himeka chooses to let it in. Its psychic slurring, liquor-soaked and pleasantly thoughtless, maybe slightly less so. ]

Himeka ... are you okay? You're alive?

[aquaveiled]

[ Now this is unexpected... Not all of her interactions with the Kenoma in Achamoth were unpleasant and Matt's would certainly fall in that category, but she still wouldn't have anticipated him reaching out. Let alone with such...excitement?

But oh, she knows that heady feeling, having been at the bottom of the bottle plenty of times herself. When she finally takes her shard out to receive the communion it becomes quite clear:

He's sloshed. ]

I'm alive, yes. [ "Okay", she's working on. ] You are...having a good time, hm?

[semicharmed]

I'm drinking, [ Matt answers pleasantly. Is that agreement or a correction? It's hard to tell. ] It's like medicine, except it actually feels good on the way down.

[ That's what a guy adjusting to limb loss has to do in a world without NSAIDS. To say nothing of the moral dissonance that comes from meeting this place's demands. ]

letter, 28th of firaseri

[cutlery]

[ Eventually, Dextera will show up to give Himeka... a letter! Dextera is very kindly playing postman and middleman after a chance encounter in Achamoth. On the outside of the envelope, the return address is simply to a "Marthe" in Venera. If she's so inclined to check further out of a sense of paranoia (completely fair), it is indeed a very normal, unmagical letter. No conniving on that level here, thankfully.

The handwriting on the letter is very neat and calligraphy-like, clearly written with a sense of care for appearance behind it. ]

Dear Ms. Himeka,

I write to you today in greeting, for we do not know each other. I am one of the Aions that had recently arrived in Horos, though as you may guess, one of the Kenoma. As such, may I first say that I sincerely understand should you refuse this correspondence. I know little of what you and Mr. Nightroad had endured, but the conclusion-to-be that I witnessed said much. If this letter causes you undue pain or suffering, then I shall not begrudge it in the slightest should you wish to stop reading here.

Should you continue though, allow me to say that I would have very much liked to have come speak with you in person, had it been allowed. I cannot guess at why this was a difficulty with any certainty, but I suppose it matters little. The fact remains that I wish to understand the Pleroma. It is a strange thing to find yourself here in Horos in the first place, much less to be conscripted in a war whose stakes may be clear, but whose players are not. Clearly, much had transpired well before my arrival. And also clearly, these events have created a bitter hostility. It is something I cannot begrudge, for I do not know what suffering the people here have faced, but its intensity is a strange thing when you do not share it.

As you were rescued, I happened upon Mr. Dextera, and we spoke of these things, if briefly. (I must extend my thanks to him as well for delivering you this letter, as quite reasonably, there are concerns about reaching out to you otherwise.) It was something that gave me hope that perhaps reaching out may be worth the effort. I admit, I have my own reasons for having chosen the Kenoma’s path, but I also do not believe that it is one that must be pursued through bloodshed and hatred. If we were able to pause for a moment upon a battlefield to exchange words and the promise of exchanging letters, it is something that makes me think such differences are not irreconcilable, no matter how foolish that may be.

I hope this letter finds you recovering and amongst dear friends. If you would give me the kindness of consideration to write back, then please send your reply to Venera.

Sincerely,
Marthe

P.S.,
As I would completely understand if these letters were examined together, please do pardon me for this letter quite closely resembling Mr. Nightroad’s. As we are strangers, this is but a letter of acquaintance, and so I simply chose to write the same thing.

early sekiseri

[aquaveiled]

Dear Marthe,

Thank you for reaching out! Time post-hatching can be very difficult, confusing, and sticky, so it's nice of you to think of us. I won't pretend that Abel and I enjoyed our time much in Achamoth, but it did allow us some time to speak with other Aions. I think that's true for the both of us that we want to continue to do so.

I also want to understand the Kenoma so it seems like our goals are aligned. It will probably be a while before I'd like to meet in person though, if that's understandable. Maybe once we get to know each other a little more we can see where things go.

Do you mind telling me why you chose the Kenoma? And has your thoughts on it changed at all since you arrived?

Also, it would be nice to know what you look like. I've added a box below where you can draw a self-portrait. Nothing too fancy, just to give me an idea, you know? I can start to show you what I mean.



Looking forward to your reply,

水 緋芽華

P.S. I won't take it personally this time.

early sekiseri.

[subsist]

[ Kaeya doesn't know how long he's spent waffling over this. A few days have passed since the Pleroma raided Achamoth in order to rescue Himeka and Abel from the Kenoma's clutches, and while they were successful in doing so, it wasn't a victory that came for free. He's not even sure if there's anything he can share regarding Estinien's fate so if it comes up, he knows he has to dodge it, even if that option doesn't make him feel all that great either.

At least no one else has to witness the way he's pacing in his own room. Back and forth, back and forth, as if he really can't make up his mind whether or not this is a good idea. A part of him already knows he doesn't deserve to, but he can't help but want to know how Himeka is doing anyway. It's hard to say if she feels any differently towards him after their last encounter, and he'd made the effort to stay far away from the pyres during that fateful day too.

Here goes nothing, anyway. With his shard held loosely in his palm, he closes his eyes and reaches out to her — hesitant and melancholic. The wintery frost of his mindscape can't hide either of that. ]

Himeka. You don't have to reply, but — [ He pauses, considering his next words carefully. ] If you can at least give me a sign that you're safe, then that's good enough for me.

[ Safe, not alright, because he knows she might not be alright. Not while Estinien is here and not there with her. ]