COGITO

affiliated with isola radiale.

[cogitovineyard]

carmen, library of ruina ->

incredibly normal. just a guy (genderfluid). i promise.

very very friendly! he loves people!

a scientist who had been researching a "cure" for the City. we don't have to talk about what that means rn it's totally normal and not weird

<- the voice of the distortion

she's cute. just look at her. how can you say no to that.

[ Application + Statistics + Ask ]

[raincandyxangel]

i didn't expect ame to be so popular... i've got a long week ahead of me due to my manager getting a minor surgery, so i apologize in advance for how long i might take to get to everything on ame, olivier, and carmen. i will get through everything by the time the week is over, i prommy!

[geidonteispostergirl]

"Oh it's nice to meet you Carmen. I'm Miyoi Okunoda!" The youkai said before taking their hand with a smile.

"But you can just call me Miyoi."

It was usually just the weird ones that gave the full name treatment to her. She was a bartender after all so having someone do that didn't really make much sense to begin with..."

"What kind of sweets do you enjoy to have to begin with? A favorite of any kind?"

[cogitovineyard]

he had no issues with referring to someone informally– it was what he prefers, in fact. he's always had difficulty treating people as anything other than a friend. he offers his hand for a handshake.

"hmm..." she tilts her head to the side, thinking hard. really, thinking as deeply as she was is entirely unnecessary. it was mostly for show, enjoying the dramatics of it. "i like chocolate a lot. i really just like everything, but i used to eat chocolate stuff a lot."

[sccdoflight]

And just like that, Ayin's heart stopped.

It was like a weight had been pulled from his bones and doubled twofold at the same time, crushing realizations spinning through his mind before making it stop altogether -- there was nothing else to fret about, was there? Up close, in his arms, his hair tickling his face, Ayin couldn't mistake Carmen for anyone else -- wouldn't dare to, even. He tried to breathe in -- a breath full of hope, fervent, Carmen's name clouding his brain -- and only succeeded in choking on something in his throat, a weak sniffle passing his lips.

Embarrassing.

When Carmen pulled back, tears pricked at his eyes, and he squeezed them shut, a weak defense against the well of emotion within him. How's and why's didn't matter -- his inquisitive nature was quelled, as if daring to question it would make it break apart before him.

He didn't care about seeming clingy, for once -- when Carmen settled beside him, still holding his arm, he leaned his head against her shoulder, forcing his eyes open to take her in. She was here. She was here, and she wanted to see him.

"Hello, Carmen," he said, a crack in his voice, a weak smile on his lips.

[cogitovineyard]

ayin was speaking to him. it'd been so long since he had spoken to anyone he had known prior, since they could see him and speak knowing they'd be heard, and be able to receive a reply. he had always found joy in being able to talk to people, but he hadn't realized how much happier one could be after not being heard for as long as it had been for him. without realizing, he had begun to tear up as well.

"it's so, so good to see you, ayin." her own voice wobbles, the only betrayal of her usual mask of confidence. it was a little funny, in a way-- after all, everyone who knew her prior had already seen that mask crack, crumbling pathetically in the end. she had pieced it back together, here, since she was on her own. it was necessary if she was going to navigate her way around this new city, and make her way back to her City.

but they couldn't let it crack again. ayin was here, and he was already allowing himself to be vulnerable, so carmen was the one that needed to be secure. they took a deep breath, and reinforced their smile. they blinked away the remnants of their tears, and rested their head atop ayin's.

[bibliothecaires]

@cogitovineyard

Despite the issue of being in an unknown world, Angela makes it her mission to discover everything Spirale has to offer in order to familiarize herself and satiate her own curiosity--and this is only a small area compared to everything that awaits outside this city. So to be able to see what sort of history and exhibits the Tempus Museum offers is a leap of progress for her.

She thinks of Netzach as she observes the art on display, the click of her heels softly reverberating atop the granite floor. Knowing him, he's definitely slacking off somewhere in the Floor of Art or even hanging around the other Libraians.

Angela comes to a halt in front of a stone sculpture as she thinks of her companions, wondering how they're fairing without her. It isn't as though they're incapable of running the Library without her, but... She can only hope that they're okay. Admittedly, it would be nice to run into one of them during her journey. It would make her pursuit less lonely.

After some time, she resumes her step, examining the remaining work until she realizes that she's somehow made her way back to the main lobby. Was she so distracted that she lost her way? Shaking her head, Angela ignores the suspicion as she continues, only to stop yet again when she spots a red hair tie a short distance from her. There stood the scientist she's based off of, the instigator of the Distortions back in their own world.

Angela remains silent before finally speaking up, "I didn't think I would see you again so soon." She does her best to keep her eyes on him, but cannot bring herself to look into his eyes just yet. They had diverged onto their own paths, never to come across each other again. Or so she thought. "I assume you're continuing your own plan despite the setbacks. Though, it appears this place isn't as miserable and sick our own."

[cogitovineyard]

he startles as he hears a familiar voice. there were many people he never expected to see again, but angela was probably the top of the list after everything that happened. it wasn't an unwelcome meeting, but it wasn't exactly pleasant either. their parting had been a bit strained– not that their relationship had been all that good to start with. it was merely a relationship born of a mutual loneliness. angela had originally been the only one carmen had been capable of interacting with, and carmen had been the only one to be a constant in angela's life, though that changed after the lab collapsed.

it was more than shocking that angela had spoken to them, let alone spoken first. they would have imagined that angela would prefer to pretend to not have seen them, and moved on. they supposed it's not like they're on opposite paths here in spirale, though, so there was really no need to step on eggshells. despite the awkward tension of the meeting, carmen beamed at angela. they had never disliked her, after all, and had always been fascinated with her.

"angela." it was a soft voice, almost fond if it wasn't a bit strained. "i didn't expect to see you, either. certainly not in this strange place."

she turned away from angela to gaze at the other patrons for a moment. "i am, though there is quite a large setback in my abilities here, i still want to follow my principles. you're the same way, no? ...not to imply we're the same." she had never thought that way, even if angela had been created of her likeness. even from the beginning, it was obvious angela would never be her. there was always proof that she had her own will, even if she hadn't been able to express it freely for so long. carmen shouldn't have found comfort in this, not after everything angela had went through– but she was human, after all, with the ugly selfishness that reared its head, making her glad that it meant that no one could replace her.

"...in a way, i'm glad our paths crossed again. though i'm not sure whether or not you feel the same." why would she? the source of her anguish, standing in front of her, completely fine. her grudge may have been targeted at ayin, but it certainly couldn't mean she didn't hold carmen in some sort of disdain. "still, talking to you under more pleasant circumstances makes me happy."

[cogitovineyard]

not allowed to follow anyone else, sorry guys

[cogitovineyard]

hi i wanted to make a post apologizing for being so mia and reassuring everyone i will try to get to as many replies as possible tonight both on carmen & olivier 🙇‍♂️

[sccdoflight]

@cogitovineyard

IT was too much, really.

To have everything ripped away from him -- to be ripped away from Carmen's his work -- Ayin felt hollowed-out, displaced and alone, hyper-aware of the change in his situation and how powerless he was before it all. The powerlessness was a weight in his bones that reminded him of floating bodies and blood under fingernails and eyes closing for the last time, and he had nowhere to tuck himself away from it all, nothing besides investigation of his newfound circumstances to keep him from sitting in his own misery.

So investigate he did -- huddled into his lab coat, he lost himself on the streets rather quickly, unconcerned with where he headed. The changing architecture was enough to captivate him, at least for a moment -- and where did such a large city get its power, anyway? Everything felt a bit off to him -- the kind of man far too acquainted with the idea that some must suffer so others can thrive. A few places of note he recorded on some scratch paper he'd found in the housing provided for him -- things to keep in mind, to re-investigate, to distract himself.

The crowds became overbearing, and he was hardly renowned for his stamina. He retreated to sit on a bench, idly taking in the passerby, pencil sketching the arches of towering buildings, noting in angles and materials. What else could he do? The weight was sinking in again, someone stranded in the ocean without a ship, and he resisted the urge to curl in on himself -- he forced his head upwards, instead, glazed-over gaze skimming the pedestrians as if he were likely to see a familiar face to help him alleviate his grief.

(As if his isolation wasn't by design.)

A glimpse of red caught his eyes, then -- framed by brown hair, a white coat, a glimmer of something desperate and yearned for. He would like to have been able to say he jumped to his feet -- but he'd gotten far too used to his vision playing these cruel tricks, his pain manifest.

He didn't lower his gaze, still, stubborn to a fault -- their eyes met -- and he forgot how to breathe.

[cogitovineyard]

it was difficult, honestly. though he had spent so long alone, without a body to communicate, the deep loneliness had still become a constant. he was able to speak to some, but they were unable to respond– it was a call, not a conversation. he conversed with angela, briefly, but it wasn't the sort that could really be considered between companions. it was about their parting of ways, after all.

here, her body was restored. she could speak to others, respond to what they had to say. it was no longer a one-way line. but in a way, it wasn't any better. she couldn't quite put her hand on it. perhaps it was once again due to her lack of a physical form for such a long time. it had certainly been disorienting at first, getting used to sensations she had long forgotten. conversing with people was a part of that. a physical form in which people saw her, spoke to her, was odd to comprehend.

she enjoyed the company of those she found here, but she longed for something, anything to hold onto. a thread to grasp, a sense of normalcy that would reassure her that it was all real. anything would be fine, so long as she was able to feel tethered to the world. so that's why, when she felt the gaze of someone while she was on a walk, she turned. she couldn't imagine a stranger would be staring– maybe going around in her lab coat was odd, but there were much odder fashion choices in this city.

they were met with bright yellow that was more familiar to them than anything else. the contrast between those eyes and the dark black of his hair has always been comforting to them. the one that had always remained steadfastly by their side was sitting such a short distance away. though they had seen him quite often, watching over everyone, it felt different. their hand twitches, and they realized something: they could reach out to him. their impulse control has never been great, and in this case it was even worse.

it was a walk at first, but it turned into a sprint when their patience ran out. without a warning, their arms wrapped around his neck, and they held on tightly. he was real– he was real, and they could feel him. they beamed, his warmth immediately calming them. they didn't expect this outcome; they didn't expect the one they met to be their dearest friend.

he pulled back slightly, but didn't fully release his hold. instead, he sat down next to him, holding onto his arm instead. he tilted his head to watch his companion, his smile softening.

[cogitovineyard]

[heavenlygiant]

cogitovineyard​:

sokoviaspeedster​:

she falters a bit. she assumed he hadn’t meant get out of the area they were in– not many people would be knocking on walls to go find the supermarket. he dons a bitter smile in the general direction of the stranger, having given up on following with his eyes approximately one second after first seeing him.

“i… am not really sure either. i’m stuck here too. i’m sorry that i can’t be of more help, but…” they waver, unsure if they should continue. “…i’m not sure this will help you at all. it’s only going to discourage you more. have you tried asking around at people who seem like they’ve been here for a while…?”

 “Why, they all look like they given up.” and that means whatever they did, failed. Sure he will, would repeat every failure, but thats only because he doesn’t have anything left to do. His footsteps were erratic, almost on a jogging level… 

He does not apologize and returns his attention to his previous actions. 

 “Apologies, waiting and sitting on my ass, has never been my strongsuit.”

[cogitovineyard]

"maybe they haven't given up, but are just in the middle of their plans?" they're grasping at straws, they know, but they're actually a bit worried about the man before them. "intelligence gathering isn't really sitting on your ass, is it? i'm also much more of an action person, but it's important to have a plan before acting!"

[heavenlygiant]

cogitovineyard​:

that was odd! even with everything they’ve seen, carmen hadn’t seen someone like this. his curiosity was instantly peaked, eyes shining. he approaches!

“is everything okay? are you looking for something?”

 “No.” the blur is in front of the man, briefly stilling before he goes back to knocking on the walls, in the vain hope that there might be some false wall that will lead outside. Even Sokovia wasn’t this confusing. 

 “Everything…is not alright. Unless you know how to get out.”

[cogitovineyard]

she falters a bit. she assumed he hadn't meant get out of the area they were in-- not many people would be knocking on walls to go find the supermarket. he dons a bitter smile in the general direction of the stranger, having given up on following with his eyes approximately one second after first seeing him.

"i... am not really sure either. i'm stuck here too. i'm sorry that i can't be of more help, but..." they waver, unsure if they should continue. "...i'm not sure this will help you at all. it's only going to discourage you more. have you tried asking around at people who seem like they've been here for a while...?"

[cogitovineyard]

does......... xkit's editable reblogs not work anymore......... or is it just broken for me........ oh good heavens i should've tested this beforehand

[geidonteispostergirl]

"Sweets? I haven't really found any myself just yet." Although she hoped she'd find one eventually. While many would argue liquor was a good way of calimg dpwn sometimes the most anxious of situations could be solved with a nice snack.

"We could look for one together if you want." Miyoi said before backing up to at least keep some distance between them.

"Especially since I don't really know where everything is yet."

[cogitovineyard]

carmen beams at her new associate, excited for both the prospect of sweets and a new friend. this place is weird, sure, but there's little else they can think of that beats a wild situation than sweets and company.

"it's settled, then! my name is carmen. it's nice to meet you!" they hold out their hand for a handshake.

[cogitovineyard]

she'd been wandering around aimlessly from the moment she'd arrived, disoriented for a multitude of reasons. eventually, they dropped and crouched, putting their face against their legs.

"...sweets..." hearing someone approach, he sprung to his feet. gathering the stranger's hands into his own, he looked at them, hoping to solve his largest issue at the moment. "do you know where a good bakery here is?!"

@geidonteispostergirl

[heavenlygiant]

 “No no…no!” 

there is a blur, zooming around the area, knocking on walls. Despite only having a portion of his speed, he’s still moving faster then any normal human can ever do. 

 approach?

@cogitovineyard

[cogitovineyard]

that was odd! even with everything they've seen, carmen hadn't seen someone like this. his curiosity was instantly peaked, eyes shining. he approaches!

"is everything okay? are you looking for something?"

[cogitovineyard]

okay okay here's a starter call from me! capped at 2, because i'm still getting back on my feet with tumblr rp. just like this, and i'll shoot you a short starter!

[isolaradiale]

hihi! without prior reservation, i'd like to apply as carmen from library of ruina! you can find the application at /app!

Welcome to beautiful Isola Radiale, Carmen!

You will be staying in CONDO 427.

Enjoy your stay!

– ⋆ capella!