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 Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 11:33 pm
Amsvartnir splayed out on a park bench, rummaging around in his subspace for the photo he'd taken of his Wonder on his first trip there not so long ago. He didn't really have anything to do other than stay out here, see if he sensed anything amiss for the night, so he wanted to finally get a look at the damn thing. To his utter shock, the photo was moving, like a gif file or something. On printed photo paper. Normal, glossy photo paper. The beauty of his wonder on a cold and rainy day was there, clear as anything, and the dust and craggy trees bent over and flowed as the huge gust of wind barrelled through. At the very bottom, he caught a glimpse of his wisp transforming into his wolf before Feilan came into full view. Just for a brief moment, but... He was there. Then it looped, and it was still for a moment before the wind blew again. How strange. So engrossed was he in this that he didn't notice another presence.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 12:06 am
Although Carterhaugh knew for certain that their choice was all but made, it was still nice to be able to stop and talk to other people on their own side. Or, their current side. Ah, it was....confusing, a bit, but they would simply have to navigate this dance while they figured out exactly what the logistics would be on them going over.
Still, a Squire was someone worth talking to--perhaps Carterhaugh could float for perspectives on Knighthood, and on the Negaverse, which was always a useful thing.
However, as they approached, they noticed that the Squire was focused on something int heir hands--a photo, perhaps? They moved so they could lean over the back of the bench and examine it, and hummed quietly.
"Fascinating. Is that a moving photograph? I don't think I've ever seen that outside of stories."
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 1:37 am
"Eep!" Amsvartnir squeaked in surprise, back arching in a silly attempt to get away from the Knight who'd approached him. Still, he knew they were a friendly, at least, so he didn't try to turn around and fight them, merely.... got a bit silly. "Ah, sorry. Uh, yeah, it is. I had this magic camera I'd forgotten about, and took a picture of my Wonder from its furthest point," he said, smiling. "Furthest I could walk to, I mean. It's so pretty, there. If the weather were a bit calmer... I'd wish to stay there forever. Providing I could live, of course."
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 1:57 am
Carterhaugh did sort of expect the reaction of surprise, so they let it pass, smiling in the amusedly detached way of someone that was used to being an irritating surprise.
"A magic camera? Where does one find something like that? I might be interested in capturing a picture or two of my Wonder." A few memories to carry--because it wasn't as if Carterhaugh had any grudge against the place. It was lovely, and they suspected it would be lovelier if it were at its full glory.
They'd have liked to show Aegirine their Wonder as it should be, but alas. It seemed unlikely that the opportunity would present itself.
"Ah, but where are my manners. I'm Carterhaugh." They extended a hand, still feeling rather pleased with themself.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 3:00 pm
"Amsvartnir," he replied, shaking Carterhaugh's hand and slipping the photo back into subspace with his free hand. "And, well. I got it from this mystery creepy guy back during the, uh, Starfest. Maybe during the next one, he'll have one?" He pulled the camera out and grinned. "I could take a picture or two for you, if you like," he offered. "I don't see why not, and as far as I know, the picture never fades or anything, so you could just keep the pictures. No sweat off my back, and it's not like I'm doing anything important right now."
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 4:26 pm
"A pleasure, Amsvartnir," Carterhaugh said. They tilted their head to the side, thoughtfully, as Amsvartnir explained where they had gotten the strange camera. A stranger during the Star Festival...perhaps they would indeed be back this year, and Carterhaugh would have to speak to them. Something to look forward to. The offer made them smile, if a little ruefully, though.
"Ah, I just went to my Wonder recently, and I don't know when I can go back--but I appreciate the offer."
And they doubted they would be Order long enough to go again. Aegirine might be patient, but they doubted her masters would be. Especially if they were discovered. So...there was simply not an option to wait.
Ugh, this was probably a very foolish decision. They probably should not have been rushing forward like this. But alas, they were committed, and there was little turning from the course. There had probably been no turning from the course as soon as they told Aegirine they would think about ti. As soon as they hadn't dismissed the ability out of hand.
"Perhaps another time," they said, though, to soothe any potential concerns. This Squire didn't need to know what they were planning to do, lest he decide to try and stop them. So many people on their own side had already decided--the Negaverse was irredeemable, and to join was to sell your soul.
Perhaps Carterhaugh ought to be more determined to stand on moral principle, but they were simply not the type. No, they were instead the type to risk their own soul in order to save someone else.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 4:52 pm
"It's about every three weeks for a youngster like you, isn't it?" he asked, head tilting. "That should give you your answer easy enough. You can ask me later, then; I'd be happy to help." He inhaled slowly, exhaling softly as he looked up at the sky. "Beautiful night, huh? It's crazy, looking up there and knowing that one of those spots in the sky is where you live. Or, used to." His eyes slid back over to Carterhaugh, suddenly suspecting, ever so slightly, that the "don't know when I can go back" comment hid something deeper beneath the surface. "When I was in the Negaverse," he said softly, looking back up, "I hated looking up at the night sky. Representative of all the things we were supposed to hate. Things beyond Earth. It's just so all consuming in its hate... I'm glad I was able to leave it behind. There's much less despair on this side. Feels like a breath of fresh air. My Wonder... I'd never give it up. For anything." He was no Kerberos, but he hoped it worked.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 5:16 pm
"Is it, then?" Carterhaugh hummed, and their eyes drifted up towards the skies. "I don't know if I ever lived off Earth, in the past--being an Earth Knight and all. But it is sort of mad that there's a whole universe out there that we know even less about than most people realize."
And more people out there than they could even guess, as Fang proved.
Ah, but it seemed Amsvartnir was ex-Negaverse, and Carterhaugh had been wise to elide their intentions. They doubted someone who had left would be sympathetic to someone who intended to go in.
"I'm glad you were able to get out," they said. They straightened, and gave a brief wave. "I'll look for you again, Amsvartnir. I might take you up on your offer someday."
It wasn't as if they intended to leave forever. They and Aegirine would be coming back soon enough, they were sure of that. It just....took a little risk to make it happen.
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