CAVERN.

[atrueheroine]

[Another encounter with the Shimmer, another round of confusion, frustration and exhaustion. It's probably going to be a fairly unanimous opinion, but Page much preferred the circle of peaceful corpses over the tree of suffering.

She emerged from the river just in time to hear what the Shimmer had to say, and it leaves a bad taste in her mouth. But regardless of feelings, it's probably wise that they don't move away from this cavern for the time being; the fire, remnants of that horrible tree, is providing light and warmth. They couldn't really ask for much more, especially after spending the past week in darkness.

So Page will swim back to the fire, placing herself in front of it and unwinding her headpiece, letting her locs fall free around her face. She's soaked, miserable and cold. As awful as the source of the heat is, she needs to dry off. The last thing she wants is to fall ill.

Not that it would mean much - sounds like a problem for her body. Wherever that is.

You're free to join her, or do what you will; time to rest, before the new week begins.]

Comments

[abysstery]

[That probably is the case, isn't it... Heinwald was pretty suspicious when Curran claimed to have inquisitorial duties that he couldn't put aside for another case. That's...fine, he supposes. Lathna would have been just fine in the care of Euden and the others, though.

He barely gets any time to puzzle it out though, because Felicia is right back on his tail with the parent thing. Uggghhh. His gaze darts down toward the water.]

Yes! I have never once considered what parenting might be like, nor do I have any inclination to find out! Lathna is a charming young girl with incredible power and I enjoy spending time with her, but...but I am far too busy with my work to be a father! Curran as well!

[He didn't ask for this!!!]

[blunders]

[Listen, it's fine, sometimes parenthood happens automatically and you have to deal with some shit and you gotta shove the baby in a deeprealm for a while--]

That doesn't mean you can't at least be a father-figure! I'm... [...Okay, in hindsight she's gonna lighten up on that just a tiny bit.] not sure what Lathna's relationship with her own parents is like, but you said it yourself that you enjoy spending time with her! Both of you sound like you do!

...Would it be better if you were uncles, instead? Or siblings?

[oh my god felicia]

[abysstery]

[Felicia no!!!]

The reason we ended up watching over her is because she lost her parents to Nyarlathotep. We made an attempt to get her settled into a new home, but after the nonsense with Akasha and her connection with Nyarlathotep causing more problems for her, we thought it best to have her stay at Prince Euden's Halidom.

[The poor girl...at least she's a lot happier in a place where everyone knows her deal and isn't trying to take advantage of her.

He heaves a sigh. He's...starting to come around to the father figure thing much to his chagrin, but-]

I have told you that the horrors of the Shimmer do not frighten me, but parenthood certainly does.

[blunders]

[But the others did it???

...Oh. At any rate, that's...]

Oh, Lathna... [Felicia's eyes soften with sympathy.] That poor girl has dealt with so much. I can understand why you would do that--and it sounds very much like they're treating her well, if you all have had the chance to watch over her as such. She must be so very happy.

[...As much as Felicia wants to giggle at "eldritch horrors are okay, but parenthood is where i draw the line", that's honestly valid???]

Well, it is a different sort of subject than any sort of horror! It's bound to be a little daunting for anyone unexperienced with it... [...] But you do care about her, right? And want what's best for her?

[abysstery]

Indeed she has...and I truly am impressed with how far she has come since we rescued her that day. But yes, I believe she is doing rather well in the Halidom. Prince Euden is a good young man with an unshakable kind heart. He agreed to house her—along with Curran and myself while we're not out on business—without a second thought.

[Sometimes he doesn't think he deserves Euden, but Lathna definitely does.

Anyway thanks for sparing him from the teasing, Felicia... He doesn't say anything at first, opting for another pensive pause.]

I do, absolutely. I suppose...what has me so confounded about the situation apart from my unfamiliarity with parenthood is that this also brings my relationship with Curran into question. I had...come to see him as my partner, but I thought that was purely in a business sense. And yet...business partners do not typically care for a child with one another, I would assume.

[Goddess, he's going to have to have a serious talk with that oaf when he gets back, isn't he?]

[crestological]

Indeed. To do otherwise would risk prolonging things, and I am sure they are glad it's over at this point.

[...]

There is a part of me that wonders if everyone ought to leave the whole thing alone, but... we cannot, can we?

[scythegun]

...No, we can't. We've seen far too much here, ja? Even if all of us agreed to turn around and walk out of the Shimmer, it would mean that Vitali would find others to send in instead.

[And that's assuming that she isn't pissed at them for not doing their job.]

The Shimmer can't seem to grasp why its existence is hurting people and why that's a bad thing - but we've seen what it's done to the people here. If everyone were to leave it alone, it would likely keep expanding.

[blunders]

Aww...Prince Euden sounds like a wonderful young man! He sounds a lot like Lady Corrin, and I can only imagine just how kind of a person he is. But that Lathna's getting the chance to grow up in an environment so good for her...I'm so glad to hear it.

[That's so cute??? Like holy shit. Nobody will probably be able to find an outrealm into whatever world Heinwald comes from she's sure, but Felicia almost wants to meet the girl and just...lbr, dote.

Of course, the next part...Felicia listens pretty calmly, if nothing else. This sounds like a bit of a delicate subject, but Felicia's not exactly that well inversed in such matters herself, but...she'll at least try.]

Hmm...not usually, no, but there are definitely unique circumstances! Most people who become parents together usually really, really want to be together with one another forever, though.

Do you feel like that for Curran?

[...SHE'S NOT COMING OUT AND SAYING THE L WORD. SHE ALREADY TRIED THE F WORD AND THE P WORD AND THOSE LOOK LIKE THEY SHORT CIRCUITED THE POOR MAN SO. BABY STEPS.]

[instrumentalized]

Setting ourselves on fire? No, I certainly hope not. I assume we would have a lot more injuries to deal with though. She's also been helping fight the cougars, hasn't she?

Though she doesn't seem to realize just how helpful she's being.

[scythegun]

I'd hope we wouldn't be that incompetent, yes...

But that doesn't really surprise me. She's the sort to downplay her own accomplishments, ja? We'll just have to make sure she knows how much we appreciate all she's done for us!

[notjustawriter]

She's saved my ass more than once as a result.

[scythegun]

That doesn't surprise me at all.

[...]

So when did the two of you start dating?

[oh my god....... well at least this is a nice distraction???]

[notjustawriter]

[Wh...]

Er, I think you've got the wrong idea.

[But he did turn beet red. Good job, Yeager!]

We're work partners, that's all.

[scythegun]

[raises an eyebrow...]

Really? That's it? I thought you two were interested in each other! Not that here's really the best place to confront such feelings, but still, what a surprise...

[klematis]

[ Oh those cheeks get Hugh to smile, his eyes bright. ]

A preview is fine too. [ There may not be much leg to look at, but he's looking in that direction anyway. ]

I have no plans to. I've always found the air more relaxing than the sea.

[klematis]

[ Straightforward is honestly the way to go with him, because if you give him any amount of wiggle room he'll fly away. He speaks with a smile, slow and clear as a new spring day. ]

I am what others perceive me as. A simple traveler who journeys across worlds, to collect records, notes, memories.

Though I've heard there's complexity in simplicity.

[scythegun]

Well, you certainly aren't human. Not that I'm complaining, mind you, you're just very different from the rest of us.

[hugh is a weirdo among weirdoes..........]

[klematis]

[ He laughs at this for some reason. ]

I'm closer now than I was before.

[scythegun]

Oh? Because of changes you've experienced in the Shimmer, or...?

[abysstery]

[Okay so he was going to talk more about the comparisons between Euden and Corrin but his brain just does an immediate record scratch at that last bit.

It's very visible on his face, which goes from blank to scrunched up with disgust.]

Oh, perish the thought. I would never get a moment of peace ever again with that boisterous idiot constantly at my side!

[Though he complains, it's pretty easy to tell that it's still coming from a place of fondness. He would be...pretty lost without Curran, especially with Lathna to look after now.]

[notjustawriter]

[wow, he came out to have a good time and he's honestly feeling so attacked right now]

Nothin' like that, to be honest. Don't let Gracie hear you talking about us like that!

[scythegun]

[rip gabriel]

Very well, I'll be sure not to say anything of the sort around her! Though really, I am surprised... I'm usually not wrong about these sorts of things!

[pr159]

Well, good luck with it, then. I don't imagine you're past the point of no return, at least, if this is all relatively new.

[ Unless everything went into reverse while you were gone, in which case lmao RIP. ]

[skelkro]

Oh, Felicia.

[She manages a small smile upon seeing the other girl, before she then sighs.]

I've just been thinking about some things lately, I guess? Things I didn't think I'd be thinking about again in this place.

[skelkro]

[Yeah... yeah. Anyway, Emma is eager to change the subject for now.]

So then, enough about me... are you doing alright here?