Tower of Ghenjei: An ICanon subplot

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

Just now, Ookla the Inverted said:

He felt a warmth in his chest at the words, and his face reddened. Again. "Thanks. I... What do you think of him? Ashlie said she was hoping you might be able to, uh, get along at first." He emphasized those words, thinking of what she had really said.

---

"They probably could be, in an emergency. I haven't tried."

She shrugged and looked down. "He's okay. Nice, I guess. I'm not going to let it get to an actual marriage. Ashli will think of something."

---

"Thank you for your time," the man said, looking around, unimpressed. "Anything else we ought to know about this place? Dirty secrets and whatnot?"

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

3 minutes ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

She shrugged and looked down. "He's okay. Nice, I guess. I'm not going to let it get to an actual marriage. Ashli will think of something."

---

"Thank you for your time," the man said, looking around, unimpressed. "Anything else we ought to know about this place? Dirty secrets and whatnot?"

"She seems pretty lost. She also says I'm a problem, and based on her reasoning I'm more of one than she thinks."

---

Death was humourless. "I imagine if I had any, I wouldn't tell the likes of you."

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

4 minutes ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

"She seems pretty lost. She also says I'm a problem, and based on her reasoning I'm more of one than she thinks."

---

Death was humourless. "I imagine if I had any, I wouldn't tell the likes of you."

She shook her head vigorously. "No, no, there has to be some other option. Something I overlooked. Something. You're not a problem." She suppressed a yawn. 

---

"Exactly. That poses a problem."

Edited December 30, 2022 by The Halcyon Girl
Stupid thing

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

3 minutes ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

She shook her head vigorously. "No, no, there has to be some other option. Something I overlooked. Something. You're not a problem." She suppressed a yawn. 

---

"Exactly. That poses a problem."

"Maybe I am. I've never really done anything for you, and now I'm a distraction. I should have just stayed..." Dead. He didn't finish his sentence, but the unspoken word hung in the air as his shame mounted.

---

"Hardly. I have no dirty secrets. Do you think I have time for that?"

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

Just now, Ookla the Inverted said:

"Maybe I am. I've never really done anything for you, and now I'm a distraction. I should have just stayed..." Dead. He didn't finish his sentence, but the unspoken word hung in the air as his shame mounted.

---

"Hardly. I have no dirty secrets. Do you think I have time for that?"

"No. No, TAAron, that's not true." She took his hand in both of hers. "You make everything better just by being there. I need you right now. Please, don't talk like that. Trust me when I say it's not true."

---

"And the spirits." He turned and addressed them. "You are happy? Not screaming?"

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, The Halcyon Girl said:

"No. No, TAAron, that's not true." She took his hand in both of hers. "You make everything better just by being there. I need you right now. Please, don't talk like that. Trust me when I say it's not true."

---

"And the spirits." He turned and addressed them. "You are happy? Not screaming?"

"Someone died for me, Haly. That's what I was trying to avoid. But..." He took a shaky breath. "I won't abandon you. I can't. What can I do to help you?"

---

The souls remained mostly silent, except for some indistinct whispering between them.

"Screaming? Where did you get that idea?"

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

4 minutes ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

"Someone died for me, Haly. That's what I was trying to avoid. But..." He took a shaky breath. "I won't abandon you. I can't. What can I do to help you?"

---

The souls remained mostly silent, except for some indistinct whispering between them.

"Screaming? Where did you get that idea?"

That alone made her feel wam inside. "I could use a hug," she admitted quietly.

---

"An overheard snippet of conversation."He examined the silent souls, dissatisfied. "I've seen enough. You'll receive a missive in a couple days to inform you of the desicion resulting from the details of your inspection. In other words, start praying." He turned and began preparing his method of travel (gotta ask Ranryu later).

Edited December 30, 2022 by The Halcyon Girl

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, The Halcyon Girl said:

That alone made her feel wam inside. "I could use a hug," she admitted quietly."

---

"An overheard snippet of conversation."He examined the silent souls, dissatisfied. "I've seen enough. You'll receive a missive in a couple days to inform you of the desicion resulting from the details of your inspection. In other words, start praying." He turned and began preparing his method of travel (gotta ask Ranryu later).

TAAron smiled, and pulled her into an embrace. "I'm sorry this had to happen to you. I'll be here as long as you need me."

---

Death sighed, and went back to his ledgers.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

Just now, Ookla the Inverted said:

TAAron smiled, and pulled her into an embrace. "I'm sorry this had to happen to you. I'll be here as long as you need me."

---

Death sighed, and went back to his ledgers.

"Thank you," she mumbled into his shoulder. "That means so much to me." 

Somebody knocked.

---

The man left to discuss these things with the council. 

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

1 minute ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

"Thank you," she mumbled into his shoulder. "That means so much to me." 

Somebody knocked.

---

The man left to discuss these things with the council. 

TAAron quickly let go, and turned to the door. "What do I do?" he whispered to Haly.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

Just now, Ookla the Inverted said:

TAAron quickly let go, and turned to the door. "What do I do?" he whispered to Haly.

"Ummm... be a dignitary." She smoothed her hair and wiped the glistening tear trails off her cheeks. Then she opened the door to find Sykel, who stepped in, eyes on TAAron.

"What are you doing here?"

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

1 minute ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

"Ummm... be a dignitary." She smoothed her hair and wiped the glistening tear trails off her cheeks. Then she opened the door to find Sykel, who stepped in, eyes on TAAron.

"What are you doing here?"

TAAron relaxed slightly. "I was... revived. Lerac is dead. A girl gave me a Permissive to get here."

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

4 minutes ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

TAAron relaxed slightly. "I was... revived. Lerac is dead. A girl gave me a Permissive to get here."

She clenched her jaw and muttered in a different language. "You were dead, out of the picture. Haly was here. You were not. Everything was simple!"

"Sykel, not now," Haly insisted. 

"And now you're here to distract her and trip us all up and tangle everything around--"

"Shut up and get out." She clenched her fists and quivered, face reddening with rage. "Out."

Sykel shot him a glance. I'm not done with you. Then she did leave, closing the door softly behind her.

Quote

Gotta go for now. Later!

 

Edited December 30, 2022 by The Halcyon Girl

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, The Halcyon Girl said:

She clenched her jaw and muttered in a different language. "You were dead, out of the picture. Haly was here. You were not. Everything was simple!"

"Sykel, not now," Haly insisted. 

"And now you're here to distract her and trip us all up and tangle everything around--"

"Shut up and get out." She clenched her fists and quivered, face reddening with rage. "Out."

Sykel shot him a glance. I'm not done with you. Then she did leave, closing the door softly behind her.

"Well. That was something." He noticed her bearing. "Are you alright?"

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

22 minutes ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

"Well. That was something." He noticed her bearing. "Are you alright?"

"How dare she," Haly hissed. "I'm going to murder her myself."

It wasn't fire Rylla offered, or floods or steel or glass. Rylla offered Change. 

I can help you know. I can find the way. The outcome could be in your hands. See, I'll help you see. Let me help you see.

Not now. Later.

"Don't listen to her, okay? Please."

Quote

Gone for real now-- O&O

 

Edited December 30, 2022 by The Halcyon Girl

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

26 minutes ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

"How dare she," Haly hissed. "I'm going to murder her myself."

It wasn't fire Rylla offered, or floods or steel or glass. Rylla offered Change. 

I can help you know. I can find the way. The outcome could be in your hands. See, I'll help you see. Let me help you see.

Not now. Later.

"Don't listen to her, okay? Please."

"I won't," TAAron lied unconvincingly. The words rung in his ears. You were dead. Everything was simple. He felt a tear roll down his cheek, but he quickly wiped it away.

"Uh, what now? Should I leave? More people are going to come, probably. Is there some way I can stay?" He felt slightly desperate, as though if he left, he wouldn't be able to make himself come back.

Edited December 30, 2022 by Ookla the Inverted

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

4 hours ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

"I won't," TAAron lied unconvincingly. The words rung in his ears. You were dead. Everything was simple. He felt a tear roll down his cheek, but he quickly wiped it away.

"Uh, what now? Should I leave? More people are going to come, probably. Is there some way I can stay?" He felt slightly desperate, as though if he left, he wouldn't be able to make himself come back.

“Hey.” She rested her hands on his shoulders. “Don’t look like that. She’s wrong. You know Sykel—she doesn’t care. But that’s how you get through life. You have to care. She’ll learn that, but for right now… please don’t let her get to you.”

“You’re probably right. People will come. You could hang around in the library, or the kitchen, or Cjehu’s room—it connects to mine through the closet. Whatever you prefer.”

Quote

Don’t have much time tonight. But I have some.

 

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

1 minute ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

“Hey.” She rested her hands on his shoulders. “Don’t look like that. She’s wrong. You know Sykel—she doesn’t care. But that’s how you get through life. You have to care. She’ll learn that, but for right now… please don’t let her get to you.”

“You’re probably right. People will come. You could hang around in the library, or the kitchen, or Cjehu’s room—it connects to mine through the closet. Whatever you prefer.”

He looked at her sadly. "Alright... I think I have my own room now, but you don't know where that is. I might go to Cjehu's room."

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

He looked at her sadly. "Alright... I think I have my own room now, but you don't know where that is. I might go to Cjehu's room."

She nodded, trying to puzzle through his expression. “Yeah, it’s… the closet.” Quickly traversing the distance, she kicked the back of the closet and it opened into another series of rooms. 

I need to say more, there’s more to say. “Thanks. Really, thank you so much for being here. Without you, this would be so lonely and sad…” suddenly not quite sure of the words, she looked down. Will it be enough?

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, The Halcyon Girl said:

She nodded, trying to puzzle through his expression. “Yeah, it’s… the closet.” Quickly traversing the distance, she kicked the back of the closet and it opened into another series of rooms. 

I need to say more, there’s more to say. “Thanks. Really, thank you so much for being here. Without you, this would be so lonely and sad…” suddenly not quite sure of the words, she looked down. Will it be enough?

"What is it? What's wrong?"

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

5 minutes ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

"What is it? What's wrong?"

“I… nothing’s wrong. I just don’t know how to say everything I want to say, and I feel like that’s not fair, because you have no idea how much I appreciate you.” Her cheeks tinted slightly. “That’s all.”

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

1 minute ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

“I… nothing’s wrong. I just don’t know how to say everything I want to say, and I feel like that’s not fair, because you have no idea how much I appreciate you.” Her cheeks tinted slightly. “That’s all.”

Quote

Is she hiding anything?

"Alright. I guess I'll go." His voice was wavery as he entered the hidden passage. "Good luck."

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

2 minutes ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

"Alright. I guess I'll go." His voice was wavery as he entered the hidden passage. "Good luck."

“Thanks. Come by tomorrow, please.” Not eager to close the passage, she licked her lips. “Good night.”

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

3 minutes ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

“Thanks. Come by tomorrow, please.” Not eager to close the passage, she licked her lips. “Good night.”

"Good night." He looked at her, dozens of thoughts running through his head. "I love you."

Quote

Do you want to fast forward, or is something going to happen?

 

Edited December 31, 2022 by Ookla the Inverted

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

Just now, Ookla the Inverted said:

"Good night." He looked at her, dozens of thoughts running through his head. "I love you."

 

Quote

Fast forward. Didn’t have any plans, except of course the ones I have for later with the guy (need a name so bad) and separately with Ashli.

“Yeah, me too. Exactly.” That’s what I should have said. Oh well, next time. With a smile, she closed the door.