I don't think I'd have been as chatty if I were in shock. Still, glad you didn't assume. Appreciate it.
I can't see a weird, glowing hole in the wall and not test my luck. Seriously, though, it's just a mirrored version of this world. I documented a lot of it if you want to see the videos sometime. Were you working in the library?
Our bodies are different here in Trench. It's why shock was so unlikely, but I didn't have any other explanation for your lack of cold when your skin felt like it was freezing. [ He should have thought of Coldbloods, but the environment seemed so dangerous for a child. ]
And, I had the extra rice soup.
I'd like that. I've heard stories but nothing that thorough. I could use the time to also explain why it would be a bad idea to investigate glowing holes, but something tells me you won't listen.
[ She's a friendly enough girl and seems to have grown a bit more comfortable in her skin. ]
I was doing research in hopes of finding information about the new town and what's going on here. The Pthumerians were already acting strangely when I came here, but I've learned enough to know it is strange instead of their normal behaviour.
Oh yeah, the soup. I'd like that recipe if you have one.
I'll have you know I did take precautions. Shot a few messages out to my mentor, gave him the location and the details, and made sure I had my weapons at the ready. Even had a buddy with me. I recognized the possibility of danger and acted accordingly. [ She might have been a little reckless but she wasn't going to admit that to Light. ]
Did you learn anything? I know Riteior had something to do with the new town, probably why it was empty, too. I encountered him briefly but he didn't stick around for a chat.
A gun with Coldblood bullets, an enchanted knife, a spear, and the ability to absolutely fuck up a beast with fire. Anything really works, though. I hope you carry a weapon on your person here. Never know when you might need it.
I do, in addition to my own blood magic. I was well prepared by someone I met when I first came here.
[ She had so many knives... ]
I'll trust that you were prepared. I guess they really do grow up so fast.
[ Light doesn't actually know Sharon's age, but she's obviously not a complete fool. The preparations seem... dangerous for whatever she encountered. ]
Then, I'd be happy to meet for lunch. If you'd prefer some place public, I'll treat.
[ That's a relief. Light had given her the impression that he was capable when she was little but she couldn't be certain how much of that was influenced by the fact she was a child. ]
I know a nice, quiet little place in Willful Machine that sells the best mushroom hand pies, though they have other things if mushroom isn't your thing. Lots of little desserts and teas.
[ Sharon will shoot him the directions to the bakery. They're detailed with clear instructions and descriptions of landmarks or shops that may help one find their way in such a busy district. It's a fair distance from the lantern, right on the edge of the district, closer to Gaze than it was Sleepy Town, and sits in a secluded alley away from the hustle and bustle of the main street. It's the kind of spot that can be easily missed, the only sign of its existence the scent of pastry that occasionally blows down the alley.
Sharon waits at the corner of said alley, leaning into one of the dark, looming buildings that make up chunks of Willful Machine. She's got her eyes peeled for him, well-aware that she's more likely to recognize him than vice versa, but she told him where she'd wait and that she's now much more blonde than her child-self. She's notably not wearing a coat but is in clean hunting leathers. There are weapons on her hips, a gun and a knife, next to an assortment of bottles and pouches. She's at ease while being aware of her surroundings. ]
[ Light's dressed in roughly the same manner as before: professional without looking stiff. There are men who wear suits and men who are worn by him, and Light manages to be the former by looking at home in such clothing.
She stands alone, she's blond, and he recognizes some vague facial similarities. It makes him feel comfortable with approaching. ]
Likewise. [ She pushes off from the wall as he approaches, her grin bold and easy-going. ]
It's like you haven't aged a day. [ She jokes as she leads him down the alley. The buildings on either side loom overhead but the deeper into the alley they go, the thicker the savory scent in the air becomes. It's not long before they're in front of a tiny, cozy little shop sandwiched between a pair of larger buildings. A handcarved sign hangs above the entrance: Crumbs & All. ]
My mom showed this place to me when I first arrived. I visit damn near weekly. [ She used to hate mushrooms before she tried this place out. ]
[ That's a bit of a surprise. Obviously, as a child, she wouldn't have had the same knowledge that she possesses as an adult, but she'd felt so alone. ]
I'm not sure if that's a relief or a burden. It sounds like you're close, but I'm thankful that none of my family came with me.
[ Light isn't familiar with the shop, but it's not difficult to find a sandwich that's edible. ]
I have a little sister. I hope she never knows a world where she has to be this armed.
Uh, she was here. She returned to the ocean back in... August, I think. [ Her world stopped for a time when she discovered Rose gone. It wasn't her first time losing her mother but it still hurt. She opens the door to the building and motions him through like the absolute gentleman she is. ]
How old's your sister? [ The little shop has a handwritten chalk sign that tells of the day's specials. Most of the items are hearty hand pies, great for getting warm during the cold winter. Sharon orders herself a mushroom pasty and the moment Light chooses his own order, she is quick to pay for them both, not even giving Light a second glance. ]
Oh? Did you? [ She mocks confusion ] It must have slipped my mind. [ She taps her temple with her index and middle finger, her grin childish & cheeky, as she leads him to a tiny, carved table in the back and slides into the seat opposite of him, placing their lunches in the center. ]
I do, though not quite as often as I used to back home. I have a lot less time on my hands here and I prefer to use my free time to paint. [ She takes a bite out of her pasty and then covers her mouth when she speaks next. ] It helps a lot with my corruption.
I'll keep the memory problem in mind for next time.
[ Just so that she knows he'll make sure to beat her to the counter next time. But he's smiling so as to show he isn't seriously bothered by the treat. Still, it's followed up with: ]
But for today, thanks.
[ Manners do still exist.
As Sharon talks, Light eats as well, but he waits until swallowing before giving his reply. ]
Mm. It's a shame. I was rooting for your reading passion, but I can understand why painting would help calm your mind against corruption. Did you paint any of the things you saw in the mirror world?
[ She waves off the gratitude with her free hand. ]
'fraid not but I did do a bunch of sketches of the buildings. [ She pulls a leather-bound book from the largest satchel on her hip and flips it open, sliding it across the table for him. both pages show off messy, unfinished works. ]
I don't study a lot of art, but if your sketches are this good, I'm curious to see your paintings.
[ The hand that hasn't been holding the sandwich reaches to pull the notebook a bit closer so he can study the work more closely. As he thinks over the page, he tries to find the mirror equivalent. ]
You said it was like our world? Did anything dangerous happen?
[ The compliment, observational or not, has her grin shyly. She prides herself on her art. It's one of the few things she feels she's good at and it's an outlet. She takes another bite but swallows before she speaks next. ]
I can show you sometime. [ It's not as if she didn't have an abundance of photos on her Omni. She gets rid of most of her paintings, usually through bartering but they make good gifts (the less horrifying ones, that is).
At the question, she shakes her head. ] I thought we'd find the source of the voices I kept hearing in the city. The cruel ones. [ Her face pinches at the memory. A ghost of a frown. She clears her throat. ] Or what made the gargoyles move. I dunno if you saw that, got videos of that shit, too. But we didn't encounter anything. No Riteior cultists. No beasts. Nothing.
But there was this feeling. Like even though we were alone, we weren't.
[ Light frowns, his expression naturally following the flow of conversation. ]
That doesn't make it untrue. I don't think what happened then was the last of it. As much as I'd like to think it was handled, I don't have anything to make me think it was.
[ So, any information moving forward really would be useful. ]
I would appreciate anything you're willing to share. Even if it's something I thought I experienced, it might have been different from your point of view. I'll be happy to share anything I find with you.
[ Sharon sets her pastry down on the butcher paper it came wrapped in and pulls out her Omni. It takes just a few moments before she finds the video she wants to show him. The moment she pulls it up and presses play, she passes the crystal to him.
It starts with a view of Riteior's church from that city but there's something wrong there. The sky is painted in shades of deep red and burgundy and though it's clearly the day, the sun is enshrouded in dark ominous clouds. It almost feels like the beginning of some found footage in a horror movie but, thankfully, the shakey cam is almost nonexistent.
In the video, Sharon walks around the church, zooming in on the impressive stained-glass paintings. There are images of Riteior. He looms tall, his rib cage jutting out, glowing from within with shards of bloodstone. She gets the facade of the building and then returns to the front to open the massive, double doors.
Inside, it's a mess. The pews are skewed and off-center and leaves crunch underfoot. She picks up a fallen book and flips it open, running a finger across a word she recognizes. "Pthumerian," she says aloud and then points to another, "Riteior." Because she's, at least, learned the translation of those two words from others.
And then the video focuses on the back of the church. On a door that seems to leak a pulsing, red light. She crosses the threshold and opens it. It's an old nursery. The cribs have long since fallen apart and parts of the ceiling have given way, the sky is visible, but it's the glowing hole in one of the walls that hold anyone's attention. Without much preamble, she steps over a few toys and crosses through the light.
It's disorienting because it seems as if she's crossed back into the same room but mirrored in every way. She jerks the camera up at the holes in the ceiling to reveal the soft, grey hues of a normal sky and then it comes to a very sudden end. ]
I'll send you the others. I got a couple hours of footage at least. I don't know if it'll reveal anything but I'm sure you might see things I didn't.
[ As the video plays, Light watches with the intensity of a detective studying a crime scene. The book scene is especially relevant, and he makes notes of it for later. ]
I spent a lot of time in the library. The other town was old, and we didn't have translations, but we made a little progress. We'll see if we can do the same with that book.
[ He has a feeling that there's a lot to uncover there. There's still so much mystery to solve.
Light doesn't hate it. ]
Thanks.
[ With a smile, he passes along the crystal. ]
But you should be careful. If you're always this helpful, I'll be tempted to hire you.
Yeah, a friend of mine was able to recognize one of the languages, and taught me a few words, but I can't fucking remember what it was called. Like... [ Her brows stitch together in a look of concentration, gaze distant for a moment as she tries to pull up the appropriate memory. ] Adamic, I think it was. [ Some old, dead language she knows nothing about.
At the gratitude, she shrugs and pockets the crystal, a silent sort of 'no biggie'. But that next bit has her raising her brows up. ]
Hire me? [ The words pitch upward, not unopposed. ] For what? What is it you do?
A detective agency? [ She squints him over and then nods. All right, yeah, she can see that for him. ] Well, if there's something you think I might be able to help you out with, I'd be happy to. I'm always looking for more ways to fill my time in this place, Light.
[ She fills her time up so she doesn't have to sit alone with her thoughts. ] Were you a police officer or something back home?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I can't see a weird, glowing hole in the wall and not test my luck. Seriously, though, it's just a mirrored version of this world. I documented a lot of it if you want to see the videos sometime. Were you working in the library?
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[ He should have thought of Coldbloods, but the environment seemed so dangerous for a child. ]
And, I had the extra rice soup.
I'd like that. I've heard stories but nothing that thorough. I could use the time to also explain why it would be a bad idea to investigate glowing holes, but something tells me you won't listen.
[ She's a friendly enough girl and seems to have grown a bit more comfortable in her skin. ]
I was doing research in hopes of finding information about the new town and what's going on here. The Pthumerians were already acting strangely when I came here, but I've learned enough to know it is strange instead of their normal behaviour.
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I'll have you know I did take precautions. Shot a few messages out to my mentor, gave him the location and the details, and made sure I had my weapons at the ready. Even had a buddy with me. I recognized the possibility of danger and acted accordingly. [ She might have been a little reckless but she wasn't going to admit that to Light. ]
Did you learn anything? I know Riteior had something to do with the new town, probably why it was empty, too. I encountered him briefly but he didn't stick around for a chat.
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What kind of weapons does one take into a dangerous hole in the wall? I don't have a lot of experience.
I learned some things, but it doesn't seem to have managed much. I'll keep looking. Maybe your notes and my experience can connect some dots.
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Maybe. Fingers crossed, Light.
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[ She had so many knives... ]
I'll trust that you were prepared. I guess they really do grow up so fast.
[ Light doesn't actually know Sharon's age, but she's obviously not a complete fool. The preparations seem... dangerous for whatever she encountered. ]
Then, I'd be happy to meet for lunch. If you'd prefer some place public, I'll treat.
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I know a nice, quiet little place in Willful Machine that sells the best mushroom hand pies, though they have other things if mushroom isn't your thing. Lots of little desserts and teas.
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[ It's slight hyperbole, but not by a terrible amount. ]
Send me the address, and I can meet you there.
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Sharon waits at the corner of said alley, leaning into one of the dark, looming buildings that make up chunks of Willful Machine. She's got her eyes peeled for him, well-aware that she's more likely to recognize him than vice versa, but she told him where she'd wait and that she's now much more blonde than her child-self. She's notably not wearing a coat but is in clean hunting leathers. There are weapons on her hips, a gun and a knife, next to an assortment of bottles and pouches. She's at ease while being aware of her surroundings. ]
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She stands alone, she's blond, and he recognizes some vague facial similarities. It makes him feel comfortable with approaching. ]
Sharon? It's good to see you again.
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It's like you haven't aged a day. [ She jokes as she leads him down the alley. The buildings on either side loom overhead but the deeper into the alley they go, the thicker the savory scent in the air becomes. It's not long before they're in front of a tiny, cozy little shop sandwiched between a pair of larger buildings. A handcarved sign hangs above the entrance: Crumbs & All. ]
My mom showed this place to me when I first arrived. I visit damn near weekly. [ She used to hate mushrooms before she tried this place out. ]
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[ That's a bit of a surprise. Obviously, as a child, she wouldn't have had the same knowledge that she possesses as an adult, but she'd felt so alone. ]
I'm not sure if that's a relief or a burden. It sounds like you're close, but I'm thankful that none of my family came with me.
[ Light isn't familiar with the shop, but it's not difficult to find a sandwich that's edible. ]
I have a little sister. I hope she never knows a world where she has to be this armed.
no subject
How old's your sister? [ The little shop has a handwritten chalk sign that tells of the day's specials. Most of the items are hearty hand pies, great for getting warm during the cold winter. Sharon orders herself a mushroom pasty and the moment Light chooses his own order, she is quick to pay for them both, not even giving Light a second glance. ]
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I did offer to treat you so now, I'll have to take it back. My college-aged sister wouldn't turn down a free meal from her older brother.
[ Or any age she might be, really. Their parents are well off so it's not as if Sayu would struggle without being treated. ]
But I'm a few years old so I remember when she was that age. I'm not sure she knew books existed without pictures. Do you still read?
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I do, though not quite as often as I used to back home. I have a lot less time on my hands here and I prefer to use my free time to paint. [ She takes a bite out of her pasty and then covers her mouth when she speaks next. ] It helps a lot with my corruption.
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[ Just so that she knows he'll make sure to beat her to the counter next time. But he's smiling so as to show he isn't seriously bothered by the treat. Still, it's followed up with: ]
But for today, thanks.
[ Manners do still exist.
As Sharon talks, Light eats as well, but he waits until swallowing before giving his reply. ]
Mm. It's a shame. I was rooting for your reading passion, but I can understand why painting would help calm your mind against corruption. Did you paint any of the things you saw in the mirror world?
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'fraid not but I did do a bunch of sketches of the buildings. [ She pulls a leather-bound book from the largest satchel on her hip and flips it open, sliding it across the table for him. both pages show off messy, unfinished works. ]
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[ The hand that hasn't been holding the sandwich reaches to pull the notebook a bit closer so he can study the work more closely. As he thinks over the page, he tries to find the mirror equivalent. ]
You said it was like our world? Did anything dangerous happen?
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I can show you sometime. [ It's not as if she didn't have an abundance of photos on her Omni. She gets rid of most of her paintings, usually through bartering but they make good gifts (the less horrifying ones, that is).
At the question, she shakes her head. ] I thought we'd find the source of the voices I kept hearing in the city. The cruel ones. [ Her face pinches at the memory. A ghost of a frown. She clears her throat. ] Or what made the gargoyles move. I dunno if you saw that, got videos of that shit, too. But we didn't encounter anything. No Riteior cultists. No beasts. Nothing.
But there was this feeling. Like even though we were alone, we weren't.
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[ Light frowns, his expression naturally following the flow of conversation. ]
That doesn't make it untrue. I don't think what happened then was the last of it. As much as I'd like to think it was handled, I don't have anything to make me think it was.
[ So, any information moving forward really would be useful. ]
I would appreciate anything you're willing to share. Even if it's something I thought I experienced, it might have been different from your point of view. I'll be happy to share anything I find with you.
no subject
It starts with a view of Riteior's church from that city but there's something wrong there. The sky is painted in shades of deep red and burgundy and though it's clearly the day, the sun is enshrouded in dark ominous clouds. It almost feels like the beginning of some found footage in a horror movie but, thankfully, the shakey cam is almost nonexistent.
In the video, Sharon walks around the church, zooming in on the impressive stained-glass paintings. There are images of Riteior. He looms tall, his rib cage jutting out, glowing from within with shards of bloodstone. She gets the facade of the building and then returns to the front to open the massive, double doors.
Inside, it's a mess. The pews are skewed and off-center and leaves crunch underfoot. She picks up a fallen book and flips it open, running a finger across a word she recognizes. "Pthumerian," she says aloud and then points to another, "Riteior." Because she's, at least, learned the translation of those two words from others.
And then the video focuses on the back of the church. On a door that seems to leak a pulsing, red light. She crosses the threshold and opens it. It's an old nursery. The cribs have long since fallen apart and parts of the ceiling have given way, the sky is visible, but it's the glowing hole in one of the walls that hold anyone's attention. Without much preamble, she steps over a few toys and crosses through the light.
It's disorienting because it seems as if she's crossed back into the same room but mirrored in every way. She jerks the camera up at the holes in the ceiling to reveal the soft, grey hues of a normal sky and then it comes to a very sudden end. ]
I'll send you the others. I got a couple hours of footage at least. I don't know if it'll reveal anything but I'm sure you might see things I didn't.
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I spent a lot of time in the library. The other town was old, and we didn't have translations, but we made a little progress. We'll see if we can do the same with that book.
[ He has a feeling that there's a lot to uncover there. There's still so much mystery to solve.
Light doesn't hate it. ]
Thanks.
[ With a smile, he passes along the crystal. ]
But you should be careful. If you're always this helpful, I'll be tempted to hire you.
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At the gratitude, she shrugs and pockets the crystal, a silent sort of 'no biggie'. But that next bit has her raising her brows up. ]
Hire me? [ The words pitch upward, not unopposed. ] For what? What is it you do?
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[ Light couldn't leave the job behind even when coming to a new world. ]
Most of our jobs aren't as exciting, but even the natives have a lot of everyday questions.
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[ She fills her time up so she doesn't have to sit alone with her thoughts. ] Were you a police officer or something back home?
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just a warning that this topic is getting kind of heavy
lemme know if anything makes you uncomfortable!
very few things are; i just wanted to warn you <3
ah! appreciate it!