synopsychic | [video]

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[Armin tries to look professional, but this liminal has been trying, in a number of ways. He keeps his face neutral, but he looks tired - and there's a tension to his expression, just a hint of sadness.]

I have the list of those Travelers who are no longer with us. To be clear, I am only including Travelers who have been here for at least a jaunt. There are too many who both arrived and vanished in the last couple weeks for me to include them all, since I never met most of them. If anyone wants to know whether somebody who showed up during the last couple weeks is still here, however, I can find out.

Nicholas. Istas. Elliot. Byerly. Zatanna. Mikleo. Doujima. Robin. Neeshka. Hal. Sorey.

[He goes quiet for a long moment, before continuing on a different vein.] Most of you will probably have noticed, but this liminal space seems to be messing with our heads - making people more cynical and paranoid.

Eldritch defenses work against this influence.

I'm not sure exactly what this means, but we should be on guard. However, I have searched thoroughly and I can find no trace of the King in Yellow's sign.

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...Signs like what?

Signs like the cast of light and the weight of air against your skin and the sense that the angles spied out the corner of your eye are not and never have been a possible thing.

[Armin suppresses a shiver, but he doesn't protest, nodding seriously - acceding to her point, if not exactly agreeing with her.]

Those weren't always present when the sigil was. You're sure they would be if something eldritch was causing the paranoia?

They were examples. It's poetry, not alchemy - I can't just give you a list of formulas to test for lurking horrors. At least, not one that would expand on the education you already have.

I know - but part of what was so insidious about the sigil is that there usually weren't many other signs of its presence. That it could seem so innocuous, if you didn't know what it is.

Still, that's as disturbing as it is comforting - if it's not the King, what is the source? What threat does it pose, and what can we do about it? [The questions are obviously rhetorical - or rather, they're questions he feels they need to answer, but ones not directed at her specifically.]

It may be a warning. The shape of the space has spoken of the Jaunt to follow in the past - perhaps it's a sign that we should expect eldritch influences in the world we next visit.

...If that's the case, perhaps we should take inventory of those who have knowledge of eldritch defenses, and see if there isn't anyone else who would be interested in learning.

As far as I know, there are only four or five of us left - not enough to gamble on, to assume there will be enough of us that aren't infiltrating or on walkabout. And though I hate the thought of bringing more people into this fight, if there are eldritch influences in the next jaunt, they're going to be brought in whether they're ready for it or not.

Better to be ready.

Four or five left who know how to defend against eldritch horrors, and less than half of our full number who know just how grave such a situation can be...ready might be overly optimisitic. Still, you're right. Better armed than not.

[He grimaces.] I said it's better to be ready. Whether or not that's even possible is an open question. But we can only try.

[It's a while before she replies to this.]

We should speak in person. Tonight, or whatever passes for it, should be soon enough.

...All right. I'll find you in a few hours, then?

I'll see you then.

[Although possibly one of the least strictly necessary skills he's learned, psychic detection is possibly one of the most useful in terms of convenience - among other things, it saves him lots of time playing psychic tag trying to find people.

When he sets out to find Sabetha that night, he's able to head straight to her room, even though he's not sure he's ever been there before. The dark wood and eclipsed moons are distinctive, however, and definitely her style. He knocks solidly on the door, and hopes that she asked to meet him in person because she plans to share what she knows about all things eldritch.]

Sabetha? It's me.

[She pulls the door open and gestures him inside, the movements quick and sharp, telegraphing her tension. The lights she'd shifted out for Thorne's visit are back in place and burning brightly, leaving few shadows in the visible portion of the small room. Perhaps the screened-off space at the back - likely holding the bed - is dimmer.

The room is lightly furnished, with shelves holding a handful of books built into the walls, and a small counter and heavy trunk set in one corner serving as a kitchen. The space is dominated by a large table made of the same dark wood as the door, with two places set with large mugs of coffee, and a carafe between them.]

You're prompt. Have a seat.

[He moves inside swiftly, picking up on her tension but not immediately questioning it. Thinking about the King in Yellow, he's not entirely relaxed himself.

He looks curiously around the room when he gets in, eyes lingering on the books, but sits when invited - savoring the smell of the coffee, though he doesn't reach for it right away.]

Thank you. [Now that he's actually in her company - and they're alone, safely isolated in her created room - he switches to speaking aloud.] I take it you don't want this to be overheard.

If there is an Eldritch influence on the next Jaunt, inciting panic will only serve its interests. Better to have a plan in place before we takt that risk.

[She takes a seat as well, leaning forward to rest her folded arms on the table.]

I assume, since suggested training replacements for our lost defenders, that there are those you would hate recruiting less than other options.

[He grimaces once more.] At any rate, there are those I would trust more with it - both to have the information in the first place, and to keep calm and use it properly in a crisis.

Alcuin, Daneel, Mikasa, Cassandra. Joscelin. Maybe Phedre. A couple others - depending on who wants to learn, anyway.

[Sabetha considers the list for a long moment, eyes narrowed in thought, before shaking her head.]

Interesting choices. All friends, I presume?

[Armin shrugs.] No, actually. I'm not close with Daneel, and I don't think Joscelin likes me. But I trust them with this, and the welfare of the Travelers.

Daneel, I'd agree on, and Joscelin, over-pious ass though he may be. Alcuin...possibly. If the wounds inflicted on him in Harrogate have healed, he knows the threat better than most.

[She drums her fingers against her arm, slight frown deepening.]

Which Cassandra do you speak of?

[He considers for half a second before letting out a small snort.] Both, actually, now that you mention it.

I don't know the dark-haired girl, but the swordswoman... She fights well, from all I've heard, but she reacts poorly to unfamiliar situations, and she's not swift to adapt. I had her on my ship a while, in Nova Venezia...

[She pauses, and shakes her head.]

She's too uncertain. Faced with something that can prey on the mind, there's too much risk she'd freeze. Even if she were willing, teaching her would be feeding her to the sharks.

All right. I don't know her as well - and I've seen her skills, but I haven't seen her in action very much. I trust your judgement.

Cassandra Cain, however - I have no doubts she could handle it. Physically, at least, she's the best fighter I've ever seen. She has no problem keeping her calm, and she has experience facing unusual and, as I understand it, even superpowered threats.

[One corner of Sabetha's mouth turns up slightly, though it's barely a smile.]

So do most of those who've been here for more than a handful of Jaunts, but I take your meaning. Very well.

[Armin simply blinks, abruptly considering that he also could be said to have experience remaining calm while facing supernatural threats.] I suppose that's true.

And Mikasa and Phedre? [Since Sabetha has stated opinions on all the rest of the names Armin had brought up.] Do you have any names to add to the list?

[He pauses, a little unsure about bringing up the next point, given what it reveals. But considering the stakes...] ...I was also wondering if you might be willing to teach me more about all this than just the basic defenses. [If they get into a combat situation with these things, the basic signs and sigils won't be enough - and in battle, uninformed decisions can get people killed. Or worse.]

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amadine - 2016-07-27 20:26 (UTC) - Expand

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