abraxaslogs | [closed] january quest times

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[closed] january quest times

Who: Aloy, Michael
When: questy times
Where: Solvunn, Secondary Settlement
What: ...questy times
Warnings: this big shark that has its mouth open all the time

[Some (but not all) of the reason why Aloy has decided to take up residence outside of the settlements is a not-so-subtle excuse to avoid farm chores. She’s a hunter and survivalist, not a gardener, and she’d much rather spend her time defending civilians from monsters or otherwise exploring the surrounding wilderness. That said, she’s a curious person by nature, and when she hears about the shark, she knows she has to go see it for herself. The only creatures she’s ever seen of this size are particularly deadly machines, and those aren’t really creatures at all.

So the shark is impressive, yes. Getting roped into chores while she’s trying to get a look at the thing, not so much. Still, she’s as incorrigibly helpful as she is curious. If there’s a task to be done, and she can expedite it in any way, Aloy will do it.

Even if it’s greasing up vines (???). Even if it’s gathering up unfortunate sea creatures and tossing them back into the water. She figures the latter is more suited to her talents (lifting heavy things). It does not, however, leave her arms free for much else.]

Hey! [Aloy doesn’t particularly care whose attention she gets—the nearest person to her will do. There’s a pile of detritus currently impeding her path, but she quite literally has her hands full with some kind of spiny-looking fish that seems much to large for someone of her size to be carrying comfortably.] You want to get that out of the way for me?

[She’s a little busy with this fish, thanks.]

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You don’t have to be diplomatic with me.

[She says, having just pulled her punches with regards to what she really thinks of all this. Still, there’s a part of her compelled to help, so she’ll continue this without (much) complaint until the giant creature has returned from whence it came.

Which she hopes will be sooner, rather than later.

Hauling heavy things is sort of mindless, once she’s made sure to steer her grip clear of any spines. Once Michael’s got a hold of one end, she lifts the other, nudging her head in the direction of where they need to go.]

It’s Aloy. I, uh. I’m not in the settlements very often. I live out in the woods.

[Normal!]

I'll keep that in mind.

[Truth be told, he's a little dubious about doing work to endear himself to the locals in the first place. He never asked to be brought here. That's a whole other conversation, though, and hardly an original sentiment. He hasn't met many Summoned who appreciate having been dragged out of their own world.

Michael takes the hint and heads for the water, sand and beach gravel crunching underfoot. The animal's plenty heavy, but he's relying more on grace to lift it than the muscles of his physical form. Aloy seems just as able to handle her end of it, so long as it doesn't start thrashing around.

He shoots her a quick glance, intrigued. He's spent more time in Hell than on Earth so he's not the right person to judge whether or not her living arrangements are normal. He's heard stories about what's roaming the woods, however.]

Really? I was warned to stay out of the forests when I first arrived. Are they as haunted as rumored, or are people merely mistaking reclusive Summoned for something worse?

Most people don't know what they're doing.

[That is, they're not survivalists, or don't know how to hunt or secure shelter, or even find potable water. She considers herself an exception to the rule, as Michael can probably guess from the way she talks about it.

But she doesn't seem to have an ego, if the all-business way she trudges along with the fish is any indication.]

I don't really believe in ghosts, but some of the monsters out there are tough, even for me.

[Michael gives a nod of acknowledgement. The majority of humanity is a bit far removed from hunting and gathering, at least by his timeline.]

Most Summoned are accustomed to a more modern lifestyle.

[Not a judgement, just a statement of fact. Aloy's the exception.

A willingness to work and a massive ego are not necessarily mutually exclusive; Michael himself is a prime example of that. It's true that Aloy doesn't strike him as conceited, though. From what he's seen of her so far, she seems grounded and task-oriented. They're positive traits, in his own over-valued opinion.

He continues dragging the fish towards the sea with her, feet splashing along as they reach the water. It's a lousy, chilly time of year to be wading out into the shallows but throwing it in is out of the question for an animal this large.]

'Even for you'. Were you a hunter before this?

What about you?

[She doesn't expect a stranger to be very forthcoming, but the way he phrases that makes her think he might not be among those more used to more technologically advanced--and yes, comfortable--worlds. Certainly more comfortable than having to bodily haul fish down to the shoreline, though the feel of her boots hitting wet sand, and then water creeping up her calves indicates they've made it.

With another grunt, she heaves the fish back into the water, taking a few steps away to make sure it can swim back out--when satisfied, she turns and starts trudging back, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Michael is okay.]

Something like that.

[Michael files away the thought that Aloy is something between the monster hunters he knows and the regular kind. No hunter from his world would be caught saying they don't believe in ghosts, but she's apparently accustomed to dealing with worse than simple deer and rabbits. Maybe he'll have need of someone with that kind of knowledge sometime in the future.

He lets go of the fish as she does, avoiding a flick of its spiny tail as it splashes its way back out towards open ocean. When she looks back he meets her with a mild expression, considering his answer.

Though he doesn't go around announcing himself, neither is what he is precisely a secret—at least, not within Solvunn. Michael has no desire to pass himself off as his human host Adam and he doesn't think he could pull it off convincingly in the long run, either. He's not much of an actor. Might as well go with the truth, for whatever much that will mean to Aloy.]

I'm not used to spending this much time on Earth, though the one I'm familiar with had more advanced technology than Solvunn does.

[He follows after her towards the next group of beached fish, banishing the water from his shoes with a snap of his fingers.]

[He doesn’t ask a follow-up question, and that’s fine with her. She doesn’t have a problem explaining machines, per se, but even mentioning them does tend to prompt a lot of follow-up questions that quickly get very complicated. She’s content to leave it there if he is.

Besides, there’s no real lack of sea creatures to continue shepherding out into the sea. That’s a good distraction from her own thoughts, if anything.

And Michael makes it easy to turn the conversation back around on him. Knowing of Earth but not spending time there gets her attention.]

Where are you from?

[Michael assumes monsters rather than machines when he thinks of bigger prey. The robots of his Earth aren't much of a threat compared to the likes of vampires, demons, or leviathans. He'd have plenty of those complicated follow-up questions if he knew to ask.

Looking further up the beach, he picks out his next target: a miserable-looking lump of a jellyfish. Not all of the animals washed ashore require two people to carry.]

Heaven. [Then, because has no idea if that word means anything to her or if she'd picture the right place even if it does, he adds:] Think of the Horizon and you'll be closer to the home I remember than any of this.

[He motions towards the shore and the sea creatures, then towards the groups further off that are once again making a synchronized effort to drag the massive shark back to where it came from. Manual labour and corporeal matters in general are recent additions to his existence.]

Uh-huh.

[That gets her attention, mostly because she doesn't know if he's describing it literally or figuratively. Hopefully the latter, because Aloy isn't about to entertain the notion of someone more deity-like individuals. Since he's selected a smaller creature this time around, she nudges something similar with her boot, turning it over to make sure she won't be surprised by any spines before she lifts it and slings it over her shoulder.]

What do you mean? You could change it to be whatever you wanted?

[Aloy isn't exactly subtle about her dislike of the Horizon--there's some suspicion in her voice, at this.]

[Sorry, Aloy. Michael is as straightforward and literal as they come. Solvunn is crawling with deities and deity-adjacent entities, as befits its reputation.

He stoops to collect the jellyfish, cradling its bell between two hands and watching its tentacles drape beneath as he lifts it. They're longer than they appear, still trailing along the beach as he rises back to his full height. It wobbles like aspic that hasn't fully set as he makes his way towards the water once more.]

To an extent. I meant also that Heaven is a separate realm, distinct from the physical world.

You sound uneasy.

[It's a mild observation, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. He's not sure where her misgivings are coming from. Most people seem to enjoy the Horizon, for all the building they've done within.]

[She gives Michael’s new charge a cursory look, examining it for spines or stingers. The last thing she needs is to have to administer first aid. But it seems fine, and once they’re on their way she just looks back over their shoulders ever so often, watching the trip hazard that is the collection of tentacles.]

Right.

[She gets that much. It’s hard not to think of it all in the terms she knows, which are the Zeniths’ data channels, but that’s been good enough, when it comes to explaining her experience with a place like the Horizon, so she sees no reason why that would be different now.]

Just don’t like the idea of spending too much time in a place like that.

[Forgetting what it’s like, outside in the real world.]

[One of the jellyfish's tentacles snags the body of a minnow as it slides over top of it, dragging the tiny fish along. It's definitely not how they're meant to escort these creatures back to the water, but hey, two for one deal.

Michael ignores it. He gives a short hum, agreeing with Aloy's assessment.]

Sensible. Some individuals would find it easy to lose track of time.

[In fact, most did. That was kind of the point. Dead humans were supposed to remain distracted and happy, blissfully unaware of what was going on down on Earth. Time ran differently in Heaven than below, too, but it seems like a pointless and needlessly complex detail to add to their conversation.]

Do you not maintain a domain of your own, then?

No, I have one.

[Despite her reservations, she doesn’t want to put herself at a disadvantage by refusing access to, arguably, the best means they all have of communicating and interacting without being watched by the factions’ leaders. Given that, and the ability to interact with others across country lines, the advantages certainly outweigh any suspicion she has.]

But there’s nothing like the Singularity, where I’m from. [Even GAIA isn’t comparable.] No magic.

[Michael doesn't entirely believe there is such thing as worlds without magic so much as there are worlds whose inhabitants are largely unaware of it—his own had been one of them—but it's not a point worth arguing. If Aloy says she comes from a world without magic, then she comes from a world without magic.]

From your tone, I assume you prefer life that way.

[Another reason for her to be living out in the woods, perhaps? Not that there's anywhere in Abraxas that's totally free of magic, so far as he knows, but it must keep her away from most of the natives and their insistence on ritual and shrine offerings. That's about as free of the supernatural as it gets in Solvunn.

He arrives at the water's edge again, and pauses. Getting in the water with what might be a stinging jellyfish is probably a bad idea. Michael could heal himself with a snap of his fingers, but disentangling himself would be a whole other mess. Instead, he gently lobs the jellyfish a few feet ahead. It arcs through the air like a particularly wet mop head, tentacles trailing behind, and lands in the water with a soft plop.]

So what is the domain of someone who rejects magic like?

It's an adjustment.

[She won't confirm her preference either way, partly because she's managing, partly because it doesn't materially affect her ability to handle the situation. But, yes, things would be much easier if she had access to her usual arsenal of weaponry, or even machine parts. Doesn't mean she can't handle herself without that familiarity.

Aloy watches and waits as Michael makes a calculus, then trains her gaze on the arc of the jellyfish before releasing her own.]

Looks like home. You're welcome to come see it.

As expected when one is kidnapped to a new world, I suppose.

[He's used to magic and he has still faced plenty of adjustments in getting used to life in the commune. Living in the woods sets her apart, but Aloy is not that strange.

Michael looks up the beach. This section is looking cleaner, but with the yawning shark constantly calling more sea life will keep washing ashore until the leviathan is back beneath the waves. They probably have as much work as they care to handle. If they get bored of that, the groups dragging the shark can always use additional muscle.]

I'll take you up on that.

[Home. Despite it being something of a cut and paste job, he's done much the same with his own domain. It seems pretty common for Summoned to recreate places from their own worlds.]

[Aloy shrugs. She's spent most of her life adjusting, often to worse revelations than this. What stings the most is knowing how needed she is back home, separated from her friends and her duty. She can't even begin to guess how she might reverse the summoning ritual. For now, she'll do whatever she can to help here, and protect the settlement.

Even if it means a job like this. They could probably continue at it forever, if the shark keeps luring in sea creatures, but she does prefer this to whatever they're doing with the vines.]

Come on. Let's see what else they've got for us.

['Let's see,' she says, as if the scene further up the beach isn't going to be more odd-looking fish for them to throw back. Maybe she's an optimist.

Though he'd be able to sympathize with being cut off from one's duties, Michael has no home to return to, so far as he is aware. His presence here makes no difference to a dead universe. He may as well make himself of use in Solvunn, even if what they ask of him is inconsequential compared to the kind of responsibilities he's used to shouldering. He follows after Aloy without comment.]

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[closed] january quest times

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