"But how do we do that?" Soleil's voice cut into the conversation, the girl herself taking a step away from Zane so she wasn't just huddled beside him for support. She was stronger than that, damnit.
"Assistance, I mean. It's probably a good idea, mais comment faisons-nous cela?" She frowned, letting slip a small sound of frustration at her own slip. "How do we do that? Remain here? For how long?" Which didn't seem ideal in the least. "Or propose we leave today to return again later. How do we convince them that we will return? How do they trust us with that, if trust is already broken?"
nuxaz
moonkitsune
everyone else
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 4:37 pm
"I don't see this place sustaining a person. Keeping anyone here might be impractical, but it might have a place to feed people if organic life did live here once and everyone from various cities came here to interact. No. We could bring materials and equipment that could help work on getting whatever main power this place ran off of originally. If we just offer help, Sophie could direct us what needs addressing and we can work from our own scope of abilities. The place has also been offline for centuries. It could also want information, but I'm not sure what it's interest are focused on. Kim was involved in the first mission since Atlantis was discovered, and I have had little opportunity to come here since Atlantis was angered. I - I don't have a lot of information as of yet."
I was hoping to get that by doing more research but now look what we're facing. Everything I'm guessing and working off of is based on very limited interactions with the robotic golem so it's more throwing darts in the dark here.
"Maybe offering help and letting it tell us what it needs could work. Show that we're here to help Atlantis and restore it instead of tearing it down and taking from it, but I don't know how we prove that and leave without them wanting something to show we're serious about that offer. If they want more than that."
Seren listened, back and forth, watching all of this. Her expression hadn't changed, though her thoughts had shifted to "I'm useless here, I can't fix this, and I have no way to help..." She felt like she was trapped in a loop of anger, frustration, and pointlessness. Her head was ready to explode, though at least, for the moment, the grief was shoved back.
She finally moved forwards, looking up at the giant statue, trying not to think in that thought loop. It was fascinating, but terrifying, given that it was able to talk, and that it had glowing eyes. She found herself gazing up into them, before she turned to face Melvin. "Have we even asked her/it/them what it is we would need to do to restore trust, or at least some measure of equilibrium? How can we possibly come up with a way, when we don't understand what it is they need? Shouldn't we try asking?"
She stepped back, towards Rhys, feeling stupid again after speaking up, and seeking the comfort of being near her friend.
MoonKitsune
_ p a o cx
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 7:11 pm
Rhys kept to himself as best he could, though Seren stepping back toward him wasn't unwelcome. It didn't help that he was being bombarded with everyone else's thoughts that he could barely concentrate, so most of his own thoughts were expletives and wanting everyone to stop thinking. As far as the current conversation was concerned, he doubted he had anything else to say that hadn't already been said, so he just listened to the back and forth until he eventually thought of something that hopefully didn't sound too stupid.
"Do we have anything that's maybe worth the same as the artifact? Maybe they'll take us seriously if we up the ante with another one of those things."
MoonKitsune
Aria Starstone
itspao_
Witty Punching Bag
Offline
lizbot Vice Captain
No Faun
Offline
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 8:27 pm
"A new energy source," the giant construct intoned in response, "would be a matter for full alliance. We would be in your debt. However, that is no small matter. The artifacts you refer to, and the return of what was taken, would suffice as a sign of peace if not trust and alliance."
The tone darkened and went on, "Though if you feel you have been wronged by this, you may choose trial by combat instead of reparation. Should you win, the waters will calm once more, though alliance will no longer be possible."
moonkitsune
steal
Kim begins to feel a chill, something that goes beyond simple cold. The city, dim before, darkens further. One by one the ghostly forms turn their heads toward her.
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 8:33 pm
They had options, but there was only one he wanted to take. He wanted alliance.
But...
He looked to those in his company and to the artifact in his hand. "I don't have my artifact anymore. I gave it to Creation to get this." He said, looking at them. "Do you guys.....have any?"
The only word that could come close to how she was feeling at the moment. The darkness and cold was falling around her like a blanket, bringing out a claustrophobic nightmare. She turned around slowly to seek the source of this fear, only to notice all eyes on her. When had all the other ghosts turned to look at her?
Kim swallowed hard trembling where she had to fight to keep on her feet. "F-forgive me.."
Something deep inside told her forgiveness was not coming. She could only hope she hadn't doomed all of them.
Pride was pointless. She gave it up and dropped to her knees bowing her head. "I will take the punishment I deserve. Please spare the rest of them."
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 7:39 am
Zane felt like they were just stumbling around blind. The more Mevlin talked, the more he became aware of the fact that they'd only had 12% of a plan when coming down here. Plan making wasn't his strong suit, he was more of a fools-rush-headfirst-in kinda guy, evidenced by the sort of things that had slipped from his mouth throughout this fun (not) adventure.
His companion moved away from him and he remained in place, green eyes following the woman as she talked only to flick over to the what he considered mission lead when he spoke.
This is a mess, he thought, shoving hands back into wet pockets when he rocked from heel to toe.
"And if we don't have things to offer right now but we don't want to fight?" Zane would have been fine trying to fight but understood that wasn't the path they wanted to take. He just didn't have anything to offer up in exchange like Atlantis was offering. "Reparations we can do, right? Just gotta be shown what and how and bring supplies. I don't - I don't have anything to give up." Except himself and that didn't sound feasible.
Seren blinked as the Statue spoke again, almost like it had answered her question, given the timing. She gulped, and stepped just that much closer to Rhys, possibly a little into his personal space, scared about all of this. But she also refused to attempt to flee. She'd come into this on her own.
When Zane spoke up, though, she turned to listen to him. She didn't know him well, having met him only once, but... He had a good point. "Yes that's... a fair question. I know that I, personally, don't have any but... I am willing to try to find some to bring back here?" She gave Zane a shaky, but gratitude filled, smile.
She didn't make a promise, just said she was willing to try. She didn't have a clue, after all, how to find them, but if she did... She sighed, softly, her eyes on the Statue.
_ p a o cx
Nuxaz
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 3:45 pm
What can I give? What can I give? I don't have anything. I didn't bring anything. I should have did more artifact hunting. I should have brought something to barter with. I should have brought something valuable. Why didn't I think of that. Selfish. I know he has some and I know he won't give it to them because he already dealt with enough to hate em. I wanted the rain to stop and the golems to stop but I also want to be here. I want this. I want to be selfish too. I want to keep this place. I want to take it back. To learn and see and take it all in. I want to keep going here - I'm
He pulled out Saliva, staring at her, the Atlantis artifact in his other hand.
Mel...
"I'm the one that wants this alliance so badly. Deus just needs everyone to be safe. To keep the golems away. To stop the fighting and attacks.." If I'm being selfish..
"I'd do anything for an alliance....." Words are so cheap....
MoonKitsune
Romantic Exhibitionist
Offline
itspao_
Witty Punching Bag
Offline
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 5:40 pm
So the thing did want them to up the ante. Rhys sighed and scratched his head because unfortunately he didn't have anything to offer, but the alliance was probably more beneficial than risking another fight similar to that giant lobster. If anything, that fight would probably just lead to more injuries, or worse. They weren't on Deus island, just a walk away from the infirmary, after all.
"I don't, sorry," he said first to Melvin, then flickered his attention Zane, and then Seren, hoping they had more to offer than he did.
'Artifacts...what the ******** are these things anyway? The ******** makes them so valuable that we're basically being held hostage here until we give this thing what it ********' wants? And what in the hell was goin' through Kim's head when she took it? Oo, shiny? Stopped thinkin' for a second and just took it because it looked nice? Would make the shitty basement rooms prettier? And I mean I get it, we all make mistakes or whatever, but now look at this s**t, we're ********' screwed...'
Not that that thought process was helping any, so he shifted gears for a second to keep himself from getting buried in irritation. It helped to pull him out of his own head when he saw Melvin looking at his weapon.
He stepped up to stand beside him pretty quickly after that, clapping him incredibly hard on the back to hopefully snap him out of it. "Deus needs everyone to be safe," he whispered, "including you. Get your head outta your a** and think a little harder."
Looking up at the statue, he asked, "Would you give us some time to find something like that for you? I'm all for the alliance, too, but like they said," and he gestured to Zane and Seren, "we don't have anything to offer right now other than the artifact we planned on returning to you. But we'd be willing to find and bring another one if you'll allow it."
MoonKitsune
lizbot
Aria Starstone
Nuxaz
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 11:23 pm
The Judge was silent during their discussions, both spoken and the ones within their heads. Finally she offered, "An unfortunate thing. But there is still a way, if you choose. It would require a sacrifice, Melvin Wood. You will no longer be fully your own. You are, through words, thoughts, and deeds, who the Fallen City may still trust."
A pause, and then, "The rest of you have come here through great difficulty, and that will not be forgotten. You will find, now and in the future, that no creature will impede your progress, to and from this place. You will find, that the sea's anger toward Avalon has ceased with the return of what was stolen. You may go in peace. But Melvin Wood must stay with us awhile longer, if you would like the doors of the Fallen City to open to you ever again."
moxonkitsune
An offer for Melvin since he sacrificed his artifact and wishes for a full alliance.
stxeal
The faces turned away, silently, one by one. The chill grew stronger and the world darkened further. Further. Further.
And then there was light, the infirmary. Darkness. A pod room. Kim was near her own body once more. And there was still that sense, of something dark and chill and just out of sight, following her.
lizbot Vice Captain
No Faun
Offline
MoonKitsune
Romantic Exhibitionist
Offline
Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 4:45 am
The golems would stop. The water would stop. The rain would stop. No combat. No one else had to give themselves. No one had to be hurt as punishment for Kim's mistakes.
It would stop.
And he looked up at Sophie and was fine with the decision. They could have died coming here. Kim had already. What was staying a while longer in the grand scheme of things. It was what he wanted after all.
"Alright. I'm fine with this."
He turned to the rest of the party. "Thank you. For helping me. For helping Deus. For risking your safety and lives coming here to fix a mess that wasn't even yours to begin with. I'm ..not the best leader, but I am glad and appreciative for all you guys have done to make this possible, to fight for get us here, and to tax yourselves when it wasn't even a mission the Leads forced you into. That you choose to help. I don't know when I'm coming back up, but if you can relay my thanks to those in the infirmary, I would be thankful."
Quote:
Time to head home.
Beejoux
nessihime
kuropeco
Aria Starstone
_ p a o cx
iloveyouDIE
ghouliboo
and be blue
Huni Pi
Prolixity
Grey Dragon
Baneful
Nuxaz
Saliru
ANYONE ELSE I MISSED IN THIS RP
Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:28 am
Seren froze, hearing all of this, knowing that this meant they would be returning with two down, even if Melvin wasn't dying.
They were still losing him, for whoever knows how long. She didn't know him that well, but her experiences of him had, mostly, been positive and she liked him as a person. She'd lost one friend today, and was going to just... leave behind another potential friend.
She bit her lip, hard, trying to process all of this. For a moment, she just wanted to cry, just sit down right there and cry.
She refused to do that. Instead, she stalked over to Melvin, her eyes narrowed to try to control how much she showed. She stared straight into his eyes, and said, in a voice that could have been aggressive and anger, but was actually worry and fear, "Come back to us. We need you on the Island. I wanted to get to know you better, become friends. You're a good guy." She bit her lip, then stalked off, to a spot in the shadows, waiting for everyone to be ready to go. She wasn't stupid enough to try to leave on her own, but she couldn't control her emotions on her face right now, and she wanted the closest thing to privacy she could manage.
She just watched the people that she knew, that mattered to her.. Waiting to see how things went down.
“s**t… Melvin. But what if-” he didn't dare to finish that thought out loud but intrusive thoughts took over and reigned supreme here. -What if you got hurt? Won't the power die soon? What will you eat? How will you see? How will you keep your sanity? I feel so ******** useless right now. I don't even have a shitty artifact to offer in your place. I'm always ******** useless. How will I even explain this to - “Lawr?” He finally interrupted. “How exactly would I explain to Lawr you aren't coming back with us and I don't even know when you'll be back? Can I even guarantee your safe return to him?”
