abraxaslogs | [closed]

[Kell smiles, both for the mention of his favorite place in the whole of Oleuni Market, and the memory from the Fey ball.]

There is indeed.

[Fortunately, it's really close. The Ivory Bloom Lounge officially still belongs to the market, and yet it's as much on the outskirts of it as its humanly possible. The entrance hidden close to an unassuming staircase. Without as much as a sign over the narrow door, you might not even realize there's something there other than someone's private lodgings.

Kell leads them there, gets them seated, sparing only a nod to the werewolf behind the counter. Forever grateful for a place where they can have some peace and quiet away from all the noise and ruckus of the rest of the market. He doesn't pull out what he brought just yet. First, he wants to hear from Viktor.]

So what were you working on lately?

[Viktor is content to walk in silence until they're situated at their table, where he settles comfortably. He places an order for his own tea, then gestures for Kell to get whatever he likes--only after the waiter leaves does he continue their conversation.]

A few things.

[As always, it's never just one project. There's the Summoning ritual, which of course they've spoken about, but he's got his automaton research making progress as well.]

Right now, synthesizing my data from the rifts.

[Kell orders his own, waits for Viktor to respond, before fishing out a stack of loose papers, and a book, from his bag.]

See, that's where I come.

[He puts the papers aside. They're not important. The books is. Kell opens the covers revealing it's actually a box disguised as a book. He starts taking out small, fat squares, unfolding them in to regular size pages and smoothing the surface.]

I was initially planning to give them to you in Horizon, but realized it would be easier to reference if you had physical copies.

[Once he's done them all, Kell moves the whole stack towards Viktor.]

All of mine. I described all that I have encountered, in as much detail as I was able. Added what learned from the fishermen, and what I heard in the city. Obviously, I only can vouch for what I've seen myself. I asked Bay to make drawings. I hope that adds some value to your research.

[Smuggling knowledge out of Thorne is apparently his hobby now. And he's getting better at it.]

[Viktor watches with interest, eyebrows creeping up his forehead as Kell reveals every additional layer of his smuggling. Surely such security is excessive, but he’s not about to question it, not when he’s the one outside of Thorne. And it’s appreciated, regardless. As soon as the papers are available, Viktor starts paging through them.]

Thank you. I hate to think you’re putting yourself in danger for me.

[But he reminds himself that Kell is invested in puzzling out the ritual too.]

I’ll review and compare with my own findings. If I make any headway, you’ll be the first to know.

[It is excessive, the security. It is as much Kell being dramatic and liking it, than it is the existence of any real need for it.]

I'm not. After that one incident with the books, nobody has ever searched or even asked me again. I just like knowing that if I need to move something out of Thorne, I can.

[Ideally, he'd like to know he can move out someone, but that proved a whole lot trickier. Which goes right back to the topic of rifts and his own world-traversing magic that is suspiciously not working here.]

Thank you. I'm not much of a researcher [That would be Istredd, on Thorne's side. Only he is more interested in Singularity itself and not only the Summoning ritual in particular like Kell.] but from what I understood, the beast were able to move through the rifts around the whole continent unhindered by any barriers or wards. Which is something I should be able to do, but I don't. So I thought, maybe I can't figure out where's the difference, but you might.

It's certainly appreciated.

[Kell's book on enchantments still serves Viktor well--with the braerium alloy he uses, he's been able to invent and market all kinds of gear and tools, giving him a one-up on many of the inventors here.

Viktor pauses, briefly, to deposit a spoonful of sugar in his tea and consider the question.]

They weren't making their own portals, is the difference. The Singularity was doing it for them, so it makes sense that it could bypass--or overpower--whatever it liked. As far as I could tell, the locations of the rifts were random.

[Kell nods through the explanation. Nothing here can stop Singularity from doing what it wants. There's one thing here that doesn't fit though. Rhy's visions.]

It would explain everything if Singularity was doing it. What if it isn't? You've heard about the visions. Rhy had one.

[Kell hesitates for a brief moment. He's not sure if he should share this with anyone, but this is Viktor, Viktor is a friend, and this particular piece of information is too important to leave out.]

He has a connection to Singularity. He can feel what it feels. That day, when he woke up from his vision, he told me he felt that Singularity was upset. That it was afraid. That this all wasn't supposed to be happening. What if something else is interfering?

If it isn’t doing this, then…I don’t know. I’m not sure I like the idea of something just as powerful opening rifts between worlds.

[A third party, outside of the Singularity and the factions trying to master the summoning ritual. With all that information, seemingly, freely available to steal, however, Viktor assumes the correct solution is probably the simplest one.

The Singularity is the entity that has this power. Whether or not it wants to be doing this doesn’t mean it’s not doing this.]

Why do you think Rhy has this connection? Do you think it has something to do with the bond you shared?

I don't like this idea either, but it is a possibility. Unless we assume Singularity might be doing somethings unintentionally. In which case, I don't know what's worse.

[Kell shudders. It's still painful to talk about it. Like clawing at a wound that never healed properly.]

Yes. He was Summoned earlier than me. Our connection was very special. He knew what I felt, and I knew what he felt at any given moment. When I got Summoned, Rhy didn't know until we met in person. I didn't know he's here either. The Singularity completely [Kell pauses for a split second to keep his voice from breaking. He never got over this. He probably never will.] replaced me.

Everything points to the Singularity. Whether or not it’s doing it on purpose…that’s another matter.

[He gets the sense, based on the visions some seem to be experiencing, that this is all involuntary. Viktor can sort it out later. What’s more of interest in the moment is Rhy’s apparent connection—how and why he can feel the Singularity’s distress.]

You think it’s because he arrived first? And you don’t share a similar connection with the Singularity itself?

[It’s puzzling, how this connection was apparently only replaced in one direction.]

That's my theory. Not going into too much detail, Rhy relied more on our bond than I did. So I'd say Singularity took over it when he got here to let him properly function in this world. I can't really be mad for this [He still is.] I wasn't here and something had to happen.

[There's a limit to how much he's willing to share. At least, without consulting with Rhy first. Kell trust Viktor fully, but this is too big a weakness to reveal right at the start. Besides, how does he even explain it to Viktor without going into the whole history of the incident that caused it?]

When I finally did, I found our connection severed, with nothing to replace it. So no, Singularity didn't bother with me. If anything, I have a vague feeling it dislikes me. As if it's jealous.

[It might be him projecting his feelings at the alien, magical entity...but he's seen how Rhy interacts with it, and how he doesn't.]

Not that I have much love for it.

[Viktor makes an affirmative noise to indicate that he understands. The bond itself doesn't seem like it was equal in both ways, so it makes sense that the Singularity would step in, for better or worse--especially if the bond was something Rhy needed. Perhaps the solution is to sever it entirely, though he doesn't know what that would do to Rhy. He supposes that's a matter for the two brothers to discuss.]

I'm starting to get the idea that it plays favorites, yes.

[Maybe the Thornean mages were right, in a different way, when the branded some Summoned as mistakes.]

I would caution against assigning human emotions to something like the Singularity. Or...perhaps don't take it personally.

I got a similar impression. It clearly differentiates between different people. On one hand, it's annoying, but on the other, it just shows that it is a sentient entity and not just a magical rock with no awareness or will of its own.

[Kell might not like his where he stands with the Singularity. The whole alien magical entity with unknown intentions reminds him of Osaron a bit too much. But he can't simply ignore it. Not when Rhy depends on it.]

Oh, I don't. I just don't know how else to describe its reaction, because there is one.

No, I'm aware of that much.

[That the Singularity calls out to some of them more than others. He imagines it might have something to do with magical ability, or perhaps just an affinity for magic. Perhaps if he put the time and effort in, he could foster some kind of connection with it, though that doesn't seem to be the same thing as those who entered this world as favored.]

If we do manage to restore the bond you have with Rhy...I can't imagine the Singularity will be very happy. So to speak.

Then we need a way to protect ourselves from its moods first.

[As much as hates having Rhy depend on this alien thing, he doesn't want it to retaliate. Like it almost did the last time Rhy tried to ask it. Ask might to be too much to call what he did. Communicate the intention rather. Even Kell, from his place several feet away, fighting a migraine of his life, could feel the displeasure. Or so he thinks now. His memory of the whole experience is a little blurry.]

I want it back, but I don't want to do anything that would put Rhy in danger. I just ... I don't want him to be tied to this things and its whims.

Ideally, we'll free ourselves from all of it.

[If the Singularity is what draws them here and keeps them here (or not), then it follows they need to sever their connection to it, in order to utilize the ritual for themselves and go where they please.

But he won't make that move until he's sure.]

What does Rhy think about it?

Rhy wants to go home.

[For that, he needs to be free of Singularity. For that, they need their bond back. What's worth is going back if he's dead?]

That I know. I know that while Singularity might keep him in one piece, it also hurts him. Every Dimming is a nightmare. its every whim, every displeasure, he feels all of it.

So do I.

[But he shrugs, because Kell knows that already. He can, at least, agree that being tied to a volatile magical entity is not in the best interests of anyone. With the Dimming coming up, he understands this might be more pressing than usual.]

I wonder if there's something we can do, to alleviate it in the meantime.

I still have Nadine's magic weed. We haven't tried it yet, but...

[Kell does his best not to sound defeated, but they tried many things. It's difficult to keep believing that there will be something that finally works.]

If Rhy will want to even try it.

Yes, this all depends on whether or not he wants to accept the help.

[He might insist that he doesn't need it, or doesn't want it. Maybe he will be too prideful. Viktor thinks he would be, in that situation. And there's no guarantee Nadine's tinctures would even work, but it might be worth trying for some measure of distraction or relief.]

You know your brother best.

Precisely.

[Whichever happens, Kell is going to try anyway. Like he always does.]

I do. [He smiles. There's fondness in his admission, but also a trace of resignation. Kell's painfully aware how stubborn they can both be.] That's why I worry.

[closed]

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I'll understand it this is too old but I'd still like them to have this conversation

You’re all good

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feel free to ignore it, if it's too old

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let's wrap here :)