“Bloody hell, I knew the city would be big, but can it really be so hard to track down one troll?! You’d think it’d be harder for no one to have seen her with so many people always nearby, and yet we’ve not found a sole who’s seen her...”
Aerven paces angrily in the hotel room he’s been sharing with Krisof and Danaus, the other two watching with varying levels of amusement.
“Keep pacing, sweet swan,” Danaus replies, “Maybe she’s hiding in the trench you’re wearing into the floor.”
As Aerven shoots an affection-laden glare at his compatible, Krisof stifles a giggle, but winces, his hand moving towards his broken horn. Aerven and Danaus both look at him with concern.
“Are you alright, Krisof?”
“Ah, fine, fine!” he says, holding up a reassuring hand. “Horn’s been acting up a bit today, is all. I suppose it hasn’t been all that long since I broke it, so perhaps it’s not too surprising it still twinges now and then.”
“Really?” Danaus says. “I’d assumed it was an old wound, but -”
Aerven interrupts with an angry snort. “Oh, it was recent enough, thanks to that blasted little forest -”
“Aerven,” Krisof says sternly, “We’ve talked about this. I bear her no ill will, and that fight left her far worse off than I. It was more my fault than hers, anyway.”
Aerven snorts again, but doesn’t respond this time. For a moment, there’s a tense silence, and then Danaus speaks up.
“...What fight? What...what happened?”
Krisof and Aerven look at each other, and then Aerven sighs and runs a hand through his hair, taking a seat on one of the beds.
“Well, as you know, Danaus, I’d been investigating the Spectral Singer long before the book that began our current adventure came into my possession. I’d discovered other resources that connected four symbols to her, symbols which the book confirms belonged at one point to the Four who served as something similar to bodyguards. After some digging around online, I managed to discover that, including myself, there were three guaranteed living trolls bearing the same symbol, and, hoping to learn something new, I managed to arrange a meeting between the three of us. It took a bit of work to get in contact with Krisof, but eventually, Krisof, Cabryn Caensi (who I believe you’ve met, yes?), and yours truly met up at our chosen location…”
Cut the silent game and talk already, I know you're there!
> Forgive me, child, I had thought it best to stay silent. We did part on rather...tense terms, when last we spoke.
Fuck right off with that coy bullshit. The fuck you want this time? And don't give me more of that worryin' about me shit, I don't wanna hear it.
> It was only the truth, child.
The truth can kiss my ass.
> Pity, then...I'm sorry if my words rang false, child.
> Tis not only for your sake that I am now concerned, however.
How about you worry about your own life and stay out of mine.
> My life is not the one in danger, here.
W-Wait. There's no way, I'm- I'm leaving as soon as I'm better! I mean, I'm halfway there, I already got the cast off my leg, he can't -
> You already know full and well that things have turned for the worse, though, don't you?
I don't know what the fuck you're -
...My lusus. He was...I've never seen him that mad. Is that what you...?
> He sensed the danger that approaches.
NO!
N-no, that's not- I couldn't have! I killed them! It- it shouldn't be a thing! I don't have any other enemies, they're all fuckin dead, there's no way -
> And yet, the danger is here.
I...It'll all be okay, though, right? If I - if I leave? Soon as I can?
> I cannot say. The future is clouded for the both of us.
W-what am I supposed to do, then?! How am I supposed to keep him safe from something I didn't even know I was...?!
> ...Perhaps you should stay to your initial plan, for the time being. However, should that fail, I could offer you...an alternative, of sorts. A form of insurance, mayhaps?
What are you saying?
> I might know a way to guarantee his safety, should your leaving fail to save him. 'Twould be difficult, and demand much of you, but the option remains.
Y-yeah? Well, what is it?
> ...Not now, I fear. It appears that my time with you is up.
What? No!
> I am sorry, child. We shall speak again soon, I promise.
"Mmmm? It better be, I was having the dream with the-"
"Get up. We need to wake up the others and get out of here."
"...Bill, you can NOT be serious."
"Look, I've been saying for weeks now that the damn spirits are getting too active-"
"Spirits? This is about the damned ghosts? For fuck's SAKE, Bill."
"Lana, Dune is up to something. I saw him with my own four eyes, he spoke to me. Something's happening down here and I don't like it one bit, and -"
"And what, Bill? What are a bunch of ghosts gonna do to us? Listen, I know you have your reasons for being paranoid when it comes to Dune, but he's dead, Bill. You were there when he died, you know that better than anyone here. Take a few minutes to think about the living, why don't you?"
"I am thinking about the living here! We could be in danger!"
"Dammit, Bill, Sandy can't handle that kind of stress right now, if we uproot the whole skulk you'll kill the kits before they're born. The spirits have been a little more active lately, I'll give you that, but we all know better than to follow them, and there's nothing they can do to us."
"I'm telling you, Lana, we need to at least have a plan!"
"Well, make one on your own time, I'm going back to sleep."
"FINE, then! GAH. Dammit all, why's that bastard gotta start fucking around again NOW of all times...?"
"...Bill? Are you alright?"
"........Hm.....Ronnie, can you wake up Rocky and meet me at the nearest tunnel bend in about five minutes? There's something I need you two to do."
"Huh? Of course, sir, but... why?"
"I'll explain when you've got Rocky. I'm sorry for all the mystery, but I promise, it's important."
--aggressivePatience [AP] began trolling cocoonedCaucophony [CC]--
AP: Danaus, are you +here?
CC: In t}{e sense that I'm available at my computer... yes.
CC: W}{at can I do for you my sweet swan?
AP: I+'s been a hell of a ride, bu+ I finally have a couple real leads on proving +ha+ 2pec+ral is real.
AP: 2he's go+ a descenden+.
AP: +rouble is, I can'+ find anyone who knows her +roll+ag, only people who knew her a+ one poin+, and 2he may be hard +o find.
CC: T}{at's awesome! Well... not t}{at you don't know }{er troll tag or anyt}{ing, but t}{at's better t}{an not }{aving anyt}{ing to go off of.
AP: I also know where 2he lives now, bu+ Cold Harbor's a big ci+y.
AP: I'm going +o +ry, +hough. I'm planning on going +here, and if I don'+ find her, I'm con+inuing on +o +he 2ilver 2ands +o 2ee if I don'+ ge+ lucky and find +he ac+ual wri+ings in +he +unnels.
AP: And...I'd very much like i+ if you were +o come with me.
CC: ...seriously? You really want me wit}{ you...?
AP: Absolu+ely.
AP: I'm cer+ainly no+ going alone, no+ on a journey wi+h +his much po+en+ial +o go 2our.
AP: I'm deba+ing invi+ing Krisof as well, 2ince he's used +o +ravelling moreso +han myself, bu+ I can +hink of no one I'd like +o have wi+h me for +his +han you.
CC: O}{ my }{andsome prince... I'd love to come wit}{ you! I can start packing up gear rig}{t now.
CC: And... do you mean Krisof Verzei? One }{orned cutie wit}{ a big ass bison lusus?
AP: Fan+as+ic! +hank you! +here's no hurry, +hough, I'm no+ packed ye+ myself, and I'm 2+ill making plans.
AP: Yes, him. We've me+ before, and I know he's go+ a lo+ of experience on +he road.
AP: Only if you're alrigh+ wi+h him coming, of course. I jus+ feel i+ would be wise +o bring along 2omeone who knows more abou+ long journeys.
CC: W}{ere will }{is lusus be t}{oug}{... t}{e last I }{eard, bison-papi }{ad some... issues wit}{ staying clear of anot}{er lusus.
AP: Wha+, +he one belonging +o +ha+ li++le fiend ou+ in +he fores+?
AP: Can'+ 2ay I par+icularly care wha+ happens +o +he +wo of +hem, bu+ if Krisof is concerned, +hen I don'+ 2ee why his lusus can'+ come wi+h us.
AP: Krisof 2wears +ha+ Bisondad is normally harmless, so i+ 2hould be fine, I would +hink.
CC: Alrig}{t, I was just a little concerned. But it s}{ould be a lot of fun for us all!
CC: Eeeeeee, I can't wait to go on a road trip wit}{ you!
CC: I'll }{ave to send out some notes to let some ot}{ers know I'll be gone, get Brutus to watc}{ t}{e orc}{ard.
AP: And we'll need +o be very prepared.
AP: As I unders+and, +he ci+y is no+ +he safes+ +o be found, and if we don'+ find +his descenden+, we'll have +o +ravel +hrough +he Badlands +o ge+ +o +he 2ilver 2ands, and +ha+'s +o 2ay no+hing of +he deser+ i+self.
CC: So we'll need somet}{ing to protect our skin, lots of water, rope, tarps, weapons, s}{arpening stones wouldn't }{urt....
AP: Probably 2+ock up on food and medical 2upplies when we ge+ +o Cold Harbor, as well. We could probably make do on +he way +here, 2ince i+ is mos+ly fores+ un+il +ha+ poin+...
CC: Do you }{ave a date that you'd like to be gone by?
AP: I +hink i+'ll be be++er if we wai+ +o leave un+il we're 2ure we're +o+ally prepared, bu+ i+ would be nice if we could ge+ moving wi+in +he nex+ couple of weeks.
CC: Do you want me to come and }{elp you pack? I know you get sort of... frazzled.
AP: ...+ha+ migh+ be wise. Worry abou+ yourself firs+, +hough, and I'll do wha+ I can.
AP: I'll check in wi+h Krisof +omorrow, regardless, and 2ee if he's in+eres+ed in joining us on +his.
AP: I can'+ +hank you enough for agreeing +o +his 2o 2uddenly, +hough, +hank you.
CC: Awww, I'm always gonna worry about you, my sweet swan.
CC: You need someone to look after you, after all.
AP: Hmph.
AP: I +hink we'd bes+ bo+h ge+ 2+arted on packing. Would you mind messaging me before you come over?
CC: Nope. Never. I'll just s}{ow up unannounced and you'll }{ave to deal wit}{ t}{ wonderfulness t}{at is me.
BC: Wow, gees, azzhole, maybe E'll juzt take the VETAL FUCKENG ENFORMATEON PERTAENENG TO YOUR CURRENT HUNT zomewhere et'll be appreceated.
AP: Well, wha+ do you expec+, me +o be happy abou+ ge++ing in+erup+ed on wha+ may be +he mos+ impor+an+ projec+ of my en+ire career?
BC: You don't have a career yet, you're ztill an unnoteced amateur like the rezt of us.
AP: Jus+ +ell me wha+ you found, will you?
BC: Alreght. Zit your azz down, because E am about to BLOW YOUR MEND.
AP: 2ure you are.
BC: Alreght. Zo. You know how menteoned before that one pozzeble angle meght be a descendant?
AP: Yes, bu+ I can'+ +hink of any good way to go abou+ looking for one. +he legend in ques+ion is fairly obscure ou+side of +he region i+'s 2aid +o affec+, af+er all.
BC: Well, E ded a lettle deggeng, and there's a zmall town pretty cloze to the Zelver Zandz. Lettle backwater place, eazy to overlook.
AP: Alrigh+...and?
BC: And zo E zent en a bunch of emaelz to anyone who had enternet en that town, azkeng ef they knew anytheng about the Zpectral, or ef they knew anytheng about the zegn you zhowed all of uz. The weerd curly one.
BC: And about ten menutez ago, I got a reply.
BC: Guy runz the local general ztore, and he says that he'z zeen that zymbol once a week for mozt of the pazt 8 zweepz or so.
BC: On the zhert of a gerl who leved reght fuckeng next to the Zelver Zandz.
AP: Bullshi+
BC: No, zereouzly! Guy zaed her name ez Dhakka Neffec
BC: And no, my quirk izn't fucking that one up, that'z her actual name.
BC: Apparently, zhe moved to the cety a few peregreez back, but but not before leveng in the dezert for eleven fuckeng zweepz.
AP: Aaaargh, 2he would be in a ci+y now, wouldn'+ she. Did +he man you 2poke +o happen +o know her +roll+ag, or her new address?
BC: Zorry, dude. Zeemz zhe left the dezert rather unexpectedly, he dedn't know why. And he barely underztands what Trollian iz, zo no luck there.
AP: ...You know wha+, +ha+'s alrigh+. Knowing +ha+ 2he exis+s is already a big 2+ep up from where I've been. I+'s a lead.
AP: God, +HANK you, +his is grea+!
BC: Eh, don't menteon et, you can juzt owe me later >:3
AP: Yeah, 2ure. I go++a go, gonna have +o make 2ome plans now.
