AUDIENCE FOR: Emet-Selch

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[ktiseos]

I am aware. But should my inaction truly end up costing him...

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[ ...

they look down, now, quiet for a long moment. ]

... I think he would've been more worried that you were hurt over anything else.

[ktiseos]

Of course he would. That is the sort of individual he is.

But that is precisely why it would be up to me. Even so, it was...

[he exhales a huff of a breath.]

Given everyone else's circumstances, it was too much of a risk to take sooner. There are too many people who are protected where I am not, and who will search for anyone else but one of theirs.

[and when that's the case for more than one group, and you're not part of any-- it's a lot riskier.]

...there were too few who would pursue my death compared to theirs, too, I suppose.

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People do tend to pick off the ones who are alone. Always how it goes. 's why... y'know. Gotta make lots of friends.

[ aquila says this quietly, rumbly voice a little saddened. they fuss at the edge of their glove, now, pulling their hands out of their pockets just to have something to do, and listening to emet talk. ]

All that, and, it was three different victims. You guys only get nine hours - 's bullshit. [ not a lot of time to process a lot of evidence. they sigh. ] ...So. What're you gonna do, now?

[ktiseos]

I have been. Or-- attempting to. Ultimately, I do not think most were as willing.

[sometimes you vibe with people who already have their circle.]

... I do not know, yet.

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[ mmm... ]

...'m not sure about that. I mean, maybe, but... iunno. Maybe you were in your head about it more than you thought about some of 'em, at least.

[ there's a little softness to that - it's not quite a joke, but a faint humor of recognition. go make some friends, you big dummy, even if it's hard. ]

...but, at least overthinking'd help you make a plan for that, right? Take steps.

[ktiseos]

A work in progress, I suppose.

This is-- not death as it should be, or as I have ever known it to be. It is strange to acclimate to this.

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Yeah, I know. 's weird for people who're normal with death, too.

[ that's a little bit of a joke again, this time a little lighter. ] So, don't feel too bad about that.

[ktiseos]

I certainly didn't expect to arrive to find we can apparently still be injured after our deaths.

[it's weird as hell!]

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Yeah. Promise you, that's not really normal.

[ they would know! ]

[ktiseos]

I should certainly hope not.

[why are bodies]

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[ who knows ]

...anyway. Beyond that, are you settling in okay? Your room's - it's you sized, right?

[ktiseos]

It is, yes. I've found it-- serviceable; there is little I require in a room.

[but. after a pause he adds:]

... I suppose I shall miss the previous one, however.

[the view of amaurot, the stars, the feeling that it was more like home.]

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...yeah. The mansion's not exactly as personalized, huh? I haven't been there.

[ they're frowning a little at that, actually, glancing around at the blank dream space. ]

[ktiseos]

Is Virgo the only one who is able to reach it?

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[ they nod. ]

Even this [ a gesture at the dream space ] didn't happen right away.

[ktiseos]

It is -- a bit of a strange way to meet, but preferable to having only messages, I suppose.

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Well... it's a sweet dream, right?

[ there's a little smile in their voice. ] And it's got its charms. Dreams can be anything you want 'em to be.

[ktiseos]

Can they, now. It may be altered?

[he glances around the space, considering.]

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Give it a shot and find out.

[ they gesture out at the blank space. ]

[ktiseos]

[well. the experience he has from the simulations room makes it easy to focus on an image, a place, his eyes closed. home, with all its tall, glittering buildings and spiraling spires.]

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[ and there it is! when emet opens his eyes, he'll see his dream has shaped itself exactly into his home, exactly as he's imagined it.

aquila's still there, hands folded behind his back, looking around. ]

[ktiseos]

...simple enough.

[a little more focus, a little more life into the scene-- tall, elegant trees here and there along the street, artfully shaped.

after another moment, he steps forward, wandering a little further down that path; there are birds in the trees, large ones with black feathers.]

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[ frowns

aquila makes a little noise as the dream space creates itself, evolving and molding. this sort of sight doesn't ever really get old; as emet-selch walks along, aquila moves to follow, looking up at the birds.

... they make him chuckle, a little. ] Ravens, huh?

[ktiseos]

Yes.

[his voice is a little quieter, there.]

I suppose I have some fondness for them, despite the trouble they are.