Thinking about the real linchpin of the server, darling @viaalterego 's c!Via
Or at least the linchpin to every Díi plot and thus the linchpin to all of the plots that fracture off her. Via's the reason Díi stuck around long enough to meet Violet and Flicker for real. The reason she got attached to Origin in the first place.
Via's a traveller, a wanderer, always here and then gone and that was fine, that was fun, Díi would catch her when she returned and they'd hang out and gossip. Via found the abandoned Hubert and took him in. Via listened when Díi asked to return him, she helped set up the Changeling Challenge. Via met Díi where she was, suspicious and unmoored with violence caught under nails and they fought together and built together. Defended the settlement from pillagers. Built an apiary. Went looking for more pillagers to make sure Origin would be safe.
They spent weeks building the Hostage House and both ducking out to run their own little missions and investigations but always, always meeting back at the HH or at Origin. Díi never actually worried that Via wouldn't come back. She never needed to tie Via down because they were both constantly moving, and beyond that, Via would return because she had something to come back to.
It was Díi who took the blame for the Hostage House and she did it without blinking. Of course she did. "I did it," the first and last lie a faeline would ever tell.
And then Flicker talked about imprinting
and then Via came home sick
And then Via was in a coma
The first real issue Díi had with Cessation was putting Via in danger. Her pet pigmen dying was whatever. Their offer to show Flicker the afterlife was a problem but a solvable one. Golems in with Via was unacceptable. Even if the golems were supposed to be safe for anyone but Díi (she heard that), they were still brought to pollute a safe space she had for Via.
Honestly, it's a miracle Via wasn't moved immediately.
The first real thing Díi trusted Sohr with was Via's health. Díi doesn't and didn't have much experience with avians and she wasn't sure what was wrong but she was going to take care of Via until she figured it out and Via was well again. And once Via was well, Díi would offer her more worlds to wander in, and if she said no, then Díi would stay longer in Origin, or build more portals to drop in on Via's wanderings once Díi moved on.
There's a reason that Sohr helping Via run was so fracturing to their relationship. Díi consulted Sohr on nesting and diet and she let Sohr into the Warren, far enough to find the nests and check on Via herself. Díi trusted Sohr to point out anything she missed. And Sohr did, but she did it in such a way that gave the appearance of not trusting Díi to prioritize Via's health. Of wanting to make it a changeling challenge and "save" Via from Díi's presence.
In half the talks about Grafting and Homes that Violet and Díi had, Via is brought up. She's part of the group, she's worth consideration. Always.
Díi dug new tunnels and consulted with Sohr on nests with higher security when Flicker 1 threatened Via. It's the only part of the Warren that Flicker isn't allowed in.
The Pod went on a quest to find Via's family so that when she got back, they could give her answers alongside promises of home and hugs.
We're about at the end of the month of separation, and it's getting to time to reunite and figure out where to from here - and in the meantime, I just wanted to say thank you Real Via, for kicking off all the plots I had fun with and giving me an excuse to stick around and do shenanigans.
However we go from here, you're my favorite linchpin.