ritual 25 end

[thelastfirstborn]

WHO: friends :)
WHERE: the beach
WHEN: Day 74, long into the night

[ the cavern walls begin to recede—it seems they were, all this time, the spindly roots of that deep-sea creature—and you can see the starlit sky. ... though, perhaps some of you are busy remembering both sessions and reconciling the strange feeling of the timelines merging. ]


[ the uh . . . creatures . . . they're still around . . . but the baby jellyfish return to their kin as the tide rises to reclaim them. ]

Thank you.
[ with the ritual over, no longer do the words of We Many hurt to listen to—this language is certainly the common language in Sheep—but it's still perhaps a little bit unsettling to hear, for the words of We Many do not come in just one voice. instead, they echo from all the . . . the creatures, some of which seem to have shapeshifted right in front of your very eyes to manifest.

mouths?

. . . some look like human mouths. some look like fish mouths.

and their voices . . . sound like the voices of those who participated in this ritual. just . . . dozens of Angie and Azdaja and Odin and etc voices whispering their thanks . . . ]

Take this, Our gratitude.
[ they leave behind gifts for every flock and participating weed, , ,,, , . . . yayyyy. . .

the creatures of We Many recede back into the waters, leaving the jellyfish behind to glow in the shallows like stars.

Agonies will disappear upon eating the Special Questionable Fish Meat. However, even if you don't eat those, any injuries accrued will heal like normal, and status effects/things that don't just heal on their own will go away anywhere from half an IC day to 3 IC days later. ]

MAIN GAME POST | SCORING | REWARDS?

Comments

[spinebuddyandme]

None of the shepherds do.

[abandon_hope]

...........

What's wrong with Tart then!?

[spinebuddyandme]

I think he's just a cat.

[abandon_hope]

He's a lion though.

[ the tangent is helping him relax, thankfully. ]

[spinebuddyandme]

Yeah, and lions love sleeping even more than pet cats.

[abandon_hope]

Oh.

[ he realizes that he really doesn't know anything about lions either, aside from their Mythomagic stats.

anyway, he ducks his head. ]

I ... I would feel a lot better not being alone like this. If they're okay with it.

[spinebuddyandme]

I know they will be.

[ Mostly. He may be making an educated guess about Cepheus. ]

[abandon_hope]

[ cepheus absolutely will, he knows what Kevin's up against.

anyway, he slumps. nods. rubs at his eyes for a different reason. ]

Sorry. I - I just can't. I can't take being alone like this.

[spinebuddyandme]

Hey, don't apologize. It's not the first time one've us has wanted company after a bad penalty.

[abandon_hope]

[ sniffles ]

Y-yeah? Really?

[spinebuddyandme]

[ squeezes him reassuringly ]

Really. I'm pretty sure I'm, like, 60% of the reason Charon gives hugs at all. Being close to the rest of the flock always makes me feel better when it's been, uh, rough.

[abandon_hope]

[ his shoulders slump with relief and he clings back. ]

So - maybe the other need support too?

[spinebuddyandme]

I don't think there's any maybe about it. Lethe's trying to downplay his effect, and you saw Charon... It'll be good for them to have someone familiar close by.

[abandon_hope]

Yeah... yeah.

[ it makes him feel worlds better to think he's helping. ]

Then - I'd be grateful. And glad to help.

[ softly: ]

I just don't want to be alone right now.

[spinebuddyandme]

Thanks, Kevin. I really appreciate it.

[ He's happy to play this game, especially because it's not even a lie ]

I could suggest a sleepover to make sure of it. I can just say something about not wanting to be alone with Scarab, and then

[abandon_hope]

[ poor Scarab. Kevin feels a bit guilty at that, but. ]

A sleepover would be nice too. If I can hear and feel everyone nearby, that's just as good.

[spinebuddyandme]

Then I'll make it happen. We can drag some of the war room pillows into the common room for it.

[abandon_hope]

[ in a small voice: ]

Thank you. It - it means a lot to me. More than you realize.

[spinebuddyandme]

[ he has some guesses and he does not like any of them!!! ]

Any time, ese. I want you to feel safe here.

[abandon_hope]

As safe as I can feel anywhere. Yeah.

[spinebuddyandme]

[ another firm, protective squeeze, keeping his tone light and fond ]

We'll aim for a little better than that.

[abandon_hope]

[ Kevin leans into that. ]

I - I know you will. It's just ...

[ how does he describe this without being insulting? he decides not to. ]

This is the best I've felt in a long time. In general, not ...

[ gestures at his eyes!! ]

[spinebuddyandme]

I...think I get it. It's all still a lot, right?

[abandon_hope]

It's so much.

[spinebuddyandme]

In a good way or a bad way?