[singularitei]

[singularitei]

[fonzeworth]

@singularitei said: The biting cold of the snow feels refreshing, for once, relief only sinking in once they can feel it crunch beneath their boots and they can allow themself the luxury of dropping down into it, perhaps the most undignified, exasperated way they've ever chosen to take a seat, not a single care left after a day that feels like it stretched on forever. Their shoulders slump, and Kairos takes a deep breath, fingertips rubbing at tired eyes as they can finally put down the burden they hadn't even picked for themself to begin with. They made it out, out of the immediate danger, out of the meager hiding corner in that barn, out of that gods forsaken lake, out of that accursed city. Even with the long road still ahead of them, they made it out, through all the obstacles that kept being put on their path and trying to drag them under. They made it out, even after so many close calls and having the weight of someone else's freedom placed into their hands. ( even after they were bracing themself, mouth dry and sweat at the back of their neck, tail stiff and body frozen in place and weapon at their side suddenly much heavier than it's ever been, nearly ready to watch their own freedom be ripped from them once again as their mind rushed with thoughts and they desperately tried to find a way to hold onto it a little longer. it was too close. it was too damn close. not again. ) Kairos doesn't believe in miracles, and yet this feels as close to one as it gets. They can hardly bring themself to pay any sort of attention to whatever else the wayward party is doing, headache loud and clear now that they can allow their thoughts to wander, a sliver of a grimace showing on their face as they press the palm of their hand against their temple, a vain effort to find some relief. The exhaustion is making itself known, now. Sleep sounds almost better than a meal at a moment like this. Almost. ( what a week… and a full one hasn't even passed yet, has it? it feels like an eternity already… ) / session ten baybeeee.

What a chaotic few hours, nearly having blown their newfound freedom, but, alas.. it shouldn't come as surprise that Elias would get himself in trouble if it meant someone else could have a lighter sentence. He had several quick thinkers to appreciate for the haphazard plan that somehow, miraculously, delayed the inevitable long enough for the Genesis of all things to answer.

After the rush of outsiders exiting the walls of the city, the party put just a little more distance between themselves and the guards on the lookout before finally settling down. It was hardly much of a real rest stop, closer to simply a community-driven path that widened more than the rest of the trail eastward. Either way, it was easier to blend in among the faces and caravans and wagons. As Elias scans across his comrades, it's hardly a surprise when his eyes land on Kairos looking far more exhausted than he's seen so far. Even their tail has no life to it, the only other difference is the grimace of actual pain.

( they're not going anywhere... they'll need a bite to eat before they sleep this off... )

A moment of deliberation later, and Elias takes a ration of food brought by Voyma in one hand, and in the other, a familiar sight that gently fogs in the slightly warmer tundra, the chill of his own magic no longer masked by the constantly freezing temperatures. His voice is soft as to not agitate their headache further, soon kneeling down to offer the ice, this time a little more molded to fit the hand and hold against one's head. "Here, old faithful," he hums, "and some dinner. You'll feel worse if you sleep on an empty stomach."

[singularitei]

Quite frankly, if it wasn't for the bustling chaos that comes with travelers and confused people trying to find their way in the aftermath of their escape, Kairos would simply snap their fingers, conjure up blanket and pillows, and unceremoniously drop down to hide from the world for a few hours and get some desperately needed sleep. Is it the smartest idea? Most likely not, especially so close to the city, even when the local forces have their hands full with whatever monstrosity is coming out of the neighboring area and danger still abounds, and even with the temporary reprieve they have been afforded they still need to go over new supplies, ensure there is enough for the rest of the journey, keep an eye out for anything else that might happen... but Kairos is tired. Kairos is far too tired to be thinking about all the variables, and the thought alone of how much more there is left to do makes their head pound just a little more.

( they may or may not be just a little upset at how quickly the near heavenly idea of a proper bed to sleep on and roof over their heads for once in however many days it has been vanished so quickly. just a little. it's not like they were looking forward to it or anything, really. )

When a certain someone is back into their field of vision and kneeling down with the clear intent of addressing them, the immediate reaction is clear annoyance, the furrowing of their brow only aggravating their current ache, lips beginning to part in an effort to shoo him away— but the words die in their throat, blinking, expression softening into a quiet, vague kind of surprise, taking in both his words and offering, only a brief glance to search his face before returning to the items in his hands and realize they are very much still there, still being offered to them. Kairos wants to blame the headache for how lost they must look at the small kindness seemingly coming out of nowhere.

It feels like far too long before they have actually processed the fact that yes, this is Elias offering them some kind of help completely unprompted, and finally, Kairos moves, legs awkwardly repositioning to be able to both accept and have somewhere to put down the improvised meal, the hand previously nursing their headache just a little stiff as it reaches for the piece of ice they now recognize, tip of their tail curling up a little before it comes to rest closer around them.

( they're not sure, honestly, why they simply accepted the help. maybe they're just that tired, after all that transpired. )

There is another glance, for only a moment, when Kairos doesn't really know what to do with themself, but still, nothing quite seems to indicate that anything is wrong, that there may be any further intentions hiding behind the gesture, or that they may have just accepted some kind of unspoken contract, a favor they will find themself forced to repay later. They don't know what to do with this.

"... Thanks." It's quiet, quieter than their already usually soft volume, like they don't quite know if that's how such a word is supposed to sound. All they have done, all they have been through in the last day alone, and that is what finally has them at a loss and grasping at straws in their own head, huh? ( what a sad thing you are. )

[singularitei]

[lyricalmusingstuff]

it won’t be long until they gеt us.

[demilypyro]

99% of repressors give up right before they successfully don't feel anything. Don't stop shoving it down. You can get through this unscathed

[rpxmusings]

I'M DAMNED IF I DO AND I'M DAMNED IF I DON'T

[rpdepartment]

                            don’t hide       your ＭＩＳＴＡＫＥＳ   cause they’ll ＦＩＮＤ you      ＢＵＲＮ you

[zinnea-castille]

Kairos' answer gives her pause. 'It was only an observation.' She studies them for a quiet moment, brow furrowing ever so slightly. Somehow… the words don't quite match their actions. Maybe they truly don't think they were worried. Maybe they simply don't want to admit it. Zinnea can't say which is true, and in the end, she decides not to press the matter. Whatever the reason, they had still looked out for her. That much she knew.

"I may be as cold as a corpse right now, but fortunately I remain quite alive." Her smile softens as her gaze wanders toward the rest of the party scattered across the deck. "…I would've been troubled if any of you had been the ones overboard." The admission slips out more easily than she expects. "I know we've only known each other for a handful of days. Maybe it is strange to care so quickly." She shrugs a shoulder at that and then can't help but look away to stare at the now calmer lake. "…I'm not entirely sure why I do."

A thoughtful silence follows before she lets out a quiet breath. "I suppose our feelings don't always make sense. At the very least… I've come to like all of you." At that, a faint smile creeps up. She looks back toward Kairos. "It's alright if that feeling isn't shared."

Kairos' warning settles heavily in her mind. 'People are selfish.' She can't dismiss the words outright. After everything that had happened… after Bastion… after everything she'd seen since… she knew better than to pretend people were incapable of terrible things. She'd seen cruelty. Betrayal. Fear. She'd even caught glimpses of those same things within herself. "…Maybe you're right. People are selfish. But… I also think people are capable of incredible kindness." Her gaze drifts toward the recovering lizardfolk sailor. "I think the same person can be capable of both."

Kairos' words stir up questions she'd spent weeks trying not to ask herself. Questions about vengeance. About necessity. About whether hurting someone for the sake of protecting another could ever truly be called justice. She still didn't know. Maybe there wasn't an answer.

"…Maybe helping someone once won't change anything. Maybe, when people are frightened enough, they'll choose themselves every time." She gives a small, almost helpless smile. "…I just don't want to become the kind of person who stops trying." Whether that made her naive or simply stubborn… She wasn't sure. "But, I also don't think it's a bad idea to prepare for the possibility that you're right."

Her attention inevitably drifts back toward the peculiar weapon still resting in Kairos' hand. With an amused look she says, "As for pulling your weight… I don't think anyone here doubts that." Her eyes travel over the dragon-like contours of the cannon with open fascination. "It certainly made quick work of that… ship-fish-thing Elias managed to hook." She tilts her head, curiosity gradually replacing the heavier thoughts. "I also can't help but notice a bit of a theme." Her voice lowers as she leans in ever so slightly. "The cannon. The illusory dragon. And now this has rather dragon-like features too." Her grin grows just a touch. "To be honest… I've always wanted to see a real dragon ever since I was little. To me they always sounded so magnificent, majestic, and epic."

[singularitei]

Well, she didn't take offense to their words, the best reaction Kairos could have hoped for as far as maintaining the balance between trust and distance. So long as it is clear enough to see where their intentions and actions lie, they truly do not care what anyone else decides to think or feel about them, it will no longer matter weeks from now, away from them all, when their greater concern will only be finding something that could ever be called a home, away from strife.

And Kairos will not mention it out loud, how it bothers them like an itch they can't get rid of— they just can't believe her, speaking so easily of caring so soon. That is not how people work, when much longer than that isn't enough. That is not what the world has taught them to think of as real. Softer lies like this are the crueler ones, aren't they?

( they will not bother with that tiny question at the back of their mind, wondering what reason would there even be to lie about this. they can find plenty, and they don't have enough time to list them all. )

Whatever, her willingness to listen and to save herself is none of their concern. Going out of their way like this to offer a warning is already far more than they should've done, knowing how self preservation hardly meshes with so called kind and selfless people. She will learn her lesson in due time or be dragged under the water once again, harsher next time, and who knows if there will be anyone around willing to prove her right then. Kairos knows what the price of survival is, willing to pay it over and over again if need be, and that is enough, when all they have is themself to lean on.

That is enough, they remind themself. It needs to be enough. ( they won't have anything left, if they can't believe that much. )

"You will find yourself disappointed, then." A quiet response, the only one they give to her musings, refusing to elaborate or discuss any further. If it's about Kairos themself, or people as a whole— that will be up to her to find out.

And perhaps their statement had given the wrong impression of some kind of self doubt, rather than the affirmation they found it to be. Kairos knows, after all, that the usefulness of a partnership like this is hardly single sided. If their companions are a means to an end, it is only logical to expect it to be true the other way around as well, is it not?

( they know how to be a weapon, and so they will be one. )

Ah, noticing a theme, now? Well, Kairos has not particularly made any kind of effort to hide it, have they? Their eyes find the weapon in their hand again, tracing sharp wings carved into polished steel, the concentration of magic serving as its core staring back. They won't even try to pretend there wasn't intention behind the design, the appearance they had chosen for this cannon— to twist the magic the Lavallites guarded so closely into the image they so despised, it's almost as if they are trying to be branded a heretic and hunted down, despite their clear intent to keep a lower profile and avoid unnecessary fighting. And whatever it is fueling this decision, this contradiction, Kairos is not willing to talk about, not here, not ever. Their resentment is for them alone to know.

"That, I cannot assist with." No matter the appearances, there is no dragon in there, only a lonely tiefling making themself appear greater than they are. Maybe some things would be easier, had they the prowess of a real dragon in their grasp. Or maybe they would've simply burnt the entire country to the ground in a fit of rage. ( maybe they wouldn't have had to fight in the first place. ) "All I have seen are their depictions in books. Quite the unflattering image." And yet here they are, still taking it as their pen to define their image and creations.

But this is hardly the time to reminisce about childhood tales.

"Try not to get sick or die to hypothermia, now." The last thing they need is this entire party to get derailed so close to dangerous territory just to try and find some medicine or aid that is otherwise completely unnecessary. "I have other things to do." See if they can find out what to expect once docking, if this crew and their captain aren't about to turn on them over the ill timed attack or otherwise accidentally say more than they should and land them back in trouble, plan what to do once they do reach the docks... well, at least no one can say they aren't worrying about the party's safety, selfish intentions or not—

[singularitei]

[singularitei]

[monstersovka]

✷ 🐚 ➰

[singularitei]

@fonzeworth asked : Well, doesn't Kairos look a little vain for once—as the eldritch cannon takes up just a little more space than the gun they typically brandished, the curled lips don't escape his keen eye. Similar in shape to the diagrams he'd seen with half of the party, it's impressive even the details had been fleshed out. Ironically dragon-esque, Elias figures such details were intentionally meant to be deceptive, almost as if to invite the most foolish to consider them a dragon in all physical fronts.

More importantly, it turns out they do have in them to smile, even if it's not particularly a friendly one. Ah, well. It's something. Artificers have always been built with a screw or two loose.

When the mimic finally flops lifelessly, stuck to the side of the boat, and Kairos has finally returned from their rush below deck to check for holes below sea level, Elias takes a long look at the cannon, it's name currently unknown to him, but ultimately, he seems to be focusing more on the details more than anything. "Ah, so this is what you were cooking up in your journal." Now that the cat was launched out of the bag, there's little reason to pretend he wasn't invested in the product reviews they were doing. While not a stranger to guns and ammunition, he hasn't seen a multifunction piece like this before. "Compact like your usual weapon, but capable of emitting buffs on the fly.. what else does this do? Or, do I need to find another situation for you to use it?" he hums curiously, knowing full well his track record thus far is becoming quite the thorn in their side.

There is more relief than they'd like to admit when they finally can find a seat and breathe once again, the chaos of battle soon to fade into memory and the most immediate worries taken care of for the time being. Kairos finds a slightly more isolated spot on the deck and unceremoniously sits down on the floor, a heavy sigh and their new weapon kept close. Its magic still pulsates within summoned steel, strong and lively and ready to answer their command, and Kairos can feel it humming within the arcane construct, plenty to last what hopefully will be a smooth boat ride from now on. Hardly the ideal circumstances to test their schematics, but they can't deny the satisfaction that came with seeing their hard work paying off, can they?

Of course, Kairos is not the only one focused on the cannon.

"... Yes." There is no point in denying it when he's already taken a peek where he wasn't supposed to. And yet, despite that twinge of pride in seeing open curiosity over their own creations, Kairos can't help the sigh, more like a groan, a twitch of their tail and their free hand brought up to pinch the bridge of their nose. It's almost impressive just how a man they've barely known for a handful of days exasperates them so easily. A wonder that Kairos really, really wishes could stop already.

"If you find another situation I promise you will not enjoy discovering what else this cannon can do—" a not so subtle threat that Kairos doesn't really intend to ( hopefully? ) uphold, more muttered through grit teeth in an exasperated breath nearly begging for a respite than stated with any real bite behind it. The only time they avoided any sort of fight so far involved conjuring up a fake dragon to get around people, and they all saw how that went, successful execution or not! Can't they have one day without having to risk their necks???

( and they still need to figure out what to do about the docking and declarations to come, vague hope that the captain will both keep his word and not change his mind and rat them out hardly enough when they don't even know just what exactly is waiting on the other side... and that is only the first step, still more to think about afterwards. seven hells, maybe they should've gone off on their own sooner, if anything to avoid developing migraines— )

"I am not in the mood for a headache." And yet one is threateningly close, isn't it? Standing right by them, even— "If you have anything you want to say, keep it brief." They are, unfortunately, starting to learn the kind of compromise sometimes required to find the easiest road when it comes to a certain kind of people. If a couple more words than what they would like to share is what it takes, then ( reluctantly— ) so be it—

[zinnea-castille]

When Kairos emerges from under the decks, they let let out a sigh, some relief to be found in the damage to the ship being relatively minimal and easy to fix, only a brief moment of tiredness after so much mending to keep the thing together, but finally stabilized, unlikely to actually start sinking now. Their newfound weapon is still clutched tightly in one hand, a shred of reassurance in the safety firepower provides after such a battle and a vague hope that in this kind of aftermath no one will pay attention to the weapon— or care, for that matter. Their efforts have to count for something, right? The people that went overboard were rescued and are being cared for, the ship survived, their own ragtag party is still alive... and speaking of.

Zinnea is... as good as she can be right now, perhaps the best outcome she could have hoped for with the course of action she had chosen. Some rest will take care of that, at least, and provided she doesn't fall sick, she's at least come out of this encounter unscathed.

"... That was reckless." They can't quite help the comment already on the tip of their tongue, can they? Did they not tell her to avoid this kind of recklessness just yesterday? It's not as if they disagree with her actions, per se— perhaps a far more selfish intention than hers, but it is in their best interest to see this crew making it to the end of this trip, any favor they can gain only a boon when the wrong kind of attention can easily turn weapons on them, but... Kairos sighs, not quite having it in them to look back and think about what could've been done differently. What's done is done, anyways, no amount of replaying the events in their mind could alter them.

( they should've seen this coming, huh? what a party they've been shoved into. ) / @singularitei

Shivering from the cold, Zinnea hugs Elias's cloak a little tighter around herself. Every article of clothing clings heavily to her. Still she was unable to escape the miserable feeling of being soaked through with frigid lake water. Chou climbs onto her shoulders, curling against her neck in a determined attempt to offer what little warmth he can.

Despite everything, her gaze drifts toward the recovering lizardfolk crewman, and a small smile finds its way onto her face. She did it. She actually saved someone. She hadn't frozen. Hadn't run. For once, when someone needed help, she'd been able to do something. The victory feels… bittersweet. Her jaw tightens. Just because she has magic doesn't mean she'll automatically know how to use it. Or how to make the most of it. Today had proven that more than ever. How could someone wield powers capable of incredible things and still feel so utterly powerless? Spell after spell had gone wide. Every eldritch blast she'd thrown during the battle had accomplished nothing. It frustrated her to no end.

Then her thoughts drift back to something the lizardfolk had mentioned earlier that afternoon. His daughter. How he hoped she would one day take over so he could retire peacefully along the eastern coast. What would've happened if he'd died here? Would his daughter have gotten the chance to say goodbye? Maybe they argued more than they got along. Maybe there were things left unsaid. Dreams they hadn't talked about. Questions she'd never have the chance to ask. What if she never truly knew what he thought of her? The thought settles heavily in her chest. She refuses to examine why. Instead, she buries it beneath a dozen other thoughts until Kairos' voice finally cuts through them.

She glances over, following their gaze before letting out a quiet sigh. "…You were worried." The realization softens some of the defensiveness that had started to rise. "Rather than recklessness, it might've been more selfishness." Her eyes lower to the damp deck beneath her boots. "Maybe I just wanted to feel… useful after not accomplishing much of anything during that fight." A weak laugh escapes her. "Maybe I wanted to be the hero for once." She pauses. "…And maybe I also wanted the captain and his crew to like us." She shrugs one shoulder. "If those soldiers or guards ever learn the truth about us, having people willing to stand beside us might matter." Her smile turns sheepish. "So… my reasons probably weren't as selfless as they looked."

She rubs absentmindedly at one of Chou's ears as he continues trying to warm her. "Am I freezing?" She gives a small, humorless laugh. "Very much so. Do I regret jumping into that water?" Her eyes flick once more toward the recovering crewman. "…No. I can't honestly say that I do. But you're right. It was reckless. I thought I'd accounted for everything. He wasn't very deep, so I figured I could misty step down, grab him, swim back up, and we'd both be out before anything else happened." She shakes her head with a faint smile. "Turns out pulling someone through freezing water is… considerably harder than I expected."

Her gaze lingers thoughtfully on Kairos for a moment. "Thinking back… when that drowned first dragged me overboard… Puff cast Levitate without hesitation." Her fingers tighten slightly around Elias's borrowed cloak. "And after I went back into the water, Elias already had a rope ready before I even surfaced." Only then do her eyes settle on the strange cannon still clutched in Kairos' hand. "And when you summoned… whatever that is…" She gestures toward it. "I felt something. Like a shield settling over me." She smiles faintly. "I guess I'm not very used to relying on other people. Or other people relying on me. I'm still in a mindset of doing things on my own. So… maybe I should've trusted that we all could've come up with a solution together."

She scratches Chou beneath the chin. "I can't promise I won't do something reckless again. Actually… I should probably apologize in advance if I do." The joke is accompanied by another small, sheepish smile before her curiosity once again gets the better of her. "When you summoned that weapon, I felt this sort of protective magic wash over me." She tilts her head, studying it with open fascination. "Was that you?" Her brow furrows thoughtfully. "When we were looking through that journal, I vaguely remember seeing diagrams of something similar." She nods toward the cannon. "Is this what you've been working on all this time?"

[singularitei]

'… You were worried.'

Words that give Kairos pause, a moment to work through their own thoughts before their mouth moves faster than their mind. Were they worried? The immediate answer coming to mind is, quite frankly— no, they weren't. These are not friends, acquaintances at best, people Kairos does not know beyond the surface level, people they do not intend to know any better than that, this makeshift party only meant to be temporary, an alliance they are fully determined to part from the moment it's safe to journey further ahead by themself, away from the Lavallite gaze and its shade. There is no reason to care when there is no attachment, nor the intention to build one.

... But Kairos knows better than to simply voice that. Trust doesn't require care, and reluctantly, trust is what they need for the time being in order to survive. The answer they want to give to ensure the distance remains in place would only bring them trouble, wouldn't it? So, a compromise, for the time being.

"It was only an observation. Right now, your death would likely trouble some people." They've observed the way some of their companions talked between each other, sharing interests as much as they've shared burdens. At least some of them would not take kindly to an early demise already, even with how little time they've spent together. Keeping everyone alive and in good health is in Kairos' best interest for as long as they're here.

"... I do believe ensuring their survival is in our best interest to make them less likely to turn us in out of fear or anger." The less reason they have to be upset in any capacity, the better, after all. Other than that, though... Kairos sighs, that slight shake of their head more for their own thoughts than her. She's young, she still believes too much in the world around her, doesn't she? "However, you are expecting too much. Do not believe the average person will be willing to stand up for you only because you helped them once. If it comes down to you or them and their loved ones, they will not spare you a second thought." That is just the way the world works, isn't it? The people who cannot or will not stand up for themselves have to do what they can to survive, and whoever is holding the blade over their neck gets to decide what comes next. Everyone else can only do what is needed to avoid having that blade turned on them next.

There is no space for kindness here.

"People are selfish, remember that."

And hopefully for her, she will remember that before it's too late. Finding some kind of rare exception means nothing except more corpses to share the grave with.

( unfortunately, something tells them this is not the kind of lesson that sticks easily. with any luck, they won't have to be around for the aftermath by the time she will be forced to learn the hard way. )

... Of course. Their weapon. Kairos should've expected that to be where curiosity followed, once the danger passed. "Yes. Consider it my specialty." Not particularly in the mood for words, are they? Perhaps understandable, between the battle and the urgent repairs to ensure the ship would not sink under their feet— not the most work they've had to do so far, maybe even laughable compared to the stunt they pulled off so recently on an illusory dragon's back, but well. The precision and amount of casting required to seal all those cracks are felt, at least.

"I'll be pulling my weight with this." That is all anyone needs to concern themselves with, as far as Kairos is concerned.

[singularitei]

[pillowgraveyard]

[zinnea-castille]

Zinnea stifles a laugh at the clear annoyance Kairos displays in response to the topic of recklessness. It makes her wonder if they are still frustrated with Elias over his interaction with the effigy. She nods along with Kairos's assessment of both the risk and, now, the added variable that is Grawk. "It is certainly quite difficult to predict anything Grawk may or may not do. At the very least, he does seem to be doing his best to help all of us." As for the topic of recklessness, a part of her can't help but tease Kairos just a little. A slow smirk spreads across her face and her eyes glint with mischief. "I will continue to keep your advice in mind, though. Perhaps you should also be careful, lest Elias's recklessness rub off on you even more."

For a moment, Zinnea simply blinks. Was that… a joke? The lack of annoyance in Kairos's voice and any noticeable shift in their body language suggests it might be. The disconnect between her observations of Kairos thus far and hearing them make a joke short-circuits her brain for a moment, leaving her unable to respond right away. "…Heh, well, when you put it like that, it sounds as though I expected you to sit there and watch me fall." The image of Kairos calmly waving goodbye as she plummets from Grawk is ridiculous enough to make her shake her head. "No, that's not what I meant." A small smile forms. "I was questioning myself, not you."

The words settle between them. There is no reassurance, encouragement, or insistence that she is already strong enough. Strangely, Zinnea finds herself appreciating that. After all, she has spent years hearing what she ought to be. Expectations that could not be met. Kairos doesn't tell her what she should be at all; they simply listen. For her, that is enough.

Based on the quick and detailed answers when it comes to her questions about coffee, it seems this topic is far more comfortable for Kairos than the previous subject matter. And considering how fervent Elias was about this coffee-producing device, she can't help but be curious. How good must this coffee be? Or are its effects truly that beneficial?

"Huh. Dark, bitter, and helps one stay awake? I am curious. If you do make this coffee device, would it be alright if I try some?" Her gaze narrows ever so slightly as something about Kairos's phrasing makes her suspicious. "The way you talk about it makes me think you've relied on its energy-boosting effects plenty of times before to stay awake." The smile that follows is unmistakably teasing. "Should I be concerned about what coffee is going to do to this party? The last late-night idea already involved an illusionary dragon." A beat passes. "If everyone starts staying awake later to plan, I fear Devania may not survive whatever comes next."

[singularitei]

And now they scoff instead, arms crossed, eyes closed. "Perhaps you are correct, I wouldn't want such impulsive, thoughtless behavior to influence my decisions in less than desirable ways." Even with their voice slightly raised, it's still quiet, and now very pointed at a certain someone sitting right there and comfortably within earshot. Okay, so maybe Kairos isn't entirely over their annoyance over the whole effigy situation just yet, now that they've been reminded of it. Just a little. They'll get over it soon enough, though, right? ( totally. hopefully. no one will be doing anything that could possibly outdo that entirely. )

... Well, at least the air is most certainly much lighter now around them? Maybe even enough to get their mind off the sight of hounds, least while the distractions abound. It is welcomed, however short lived these brief conversations they hardly knew how to participate in may be, some respite from the thoughts that keep haunting their own mind, lingering, watching and waiting. Is it too much, to hope for one night of rest?

( no, it's not the time to wander off in their own head. )

And in the face of her curiosity, Kairos only shrugs, truthfully not caring enough to even need the question to be posed in the first place. "It's only coffee, suit yourself. I have no need to keep this bottle to myself." ... And hopefully they will not come to regret this once the coffee makes its rounds. ( they already have a bad feeling about this. ) "I will neither confirm nor deny such statement." A very casual, very ready response in the face of such suspicion, not even glancing at Zinnea, idly studying the shapes taking form on the pages once again. And then they blink, a glance at the group gathered on this floor, a moment to actually think about the implications. "We will be fine." A beat. Another thought crossing their mind. Mh. "... So long as no one decides to pour a few shots into Grawk's beak." ... Perhaps they do need to keep track of that bottle, after all. Great, just what they needed—