People you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley

[+Sorana she/her]

16 minutes ago, 18th Shard said:

Poor Xanas. First interesting tests he could run in 1300 years, and he's gotta save someone's sanity instead. It's almost as rough a day as Mike has been going through. That's the life of a vaguely ethical Hemalurgist, I suppose.

Quote

I would have been fine with him destroying Mike completely

But I have to admit, I like this version a lot more.

"Burn the gold. You'll have to tap the other metalmind to be able to. Concentrate on what you see."

Snake nodded, eager to go on to get rid of the voices in her head. She knew that she was stronger than before, that she had never been as much in control as she was now. She reached out for the other medallion and quickly tapped it, the process easy now, that she knew what she was supposed to do. Feeling into herself she looked for a change, her mouth opening in surprise at the reserve that had appeared in her chest. It was beautiful and she smiled, unconciously tasting the air again, before reaching for the power resting inside of her. It responded, as eager as she was to get this over with, to finish this progress, to finally be herself. Images sprang up in the air in front of her and she flinched back, as if hit by a strong slap.

Mike was staring at her, his eyes dark and sad. He was wearing simple dark cloths, but his body was obviously weaker than the one she used, and he held himself in a harmless, soft way that repulsed her. Her eyes moved to his arm and she frowned in surprise when she saw the the tattoo was missing and now that she was looking closely. He appeared to be a child. There was nothing hard, nothing strong in the way he glanced around, nothing but weakness and innocence. This boy never had harmed anybody.

With a disgusted noise she turned away, only to find another Mike staring at her. This Mike had the tattoo and he looked like the one she knew. But his gaze was strong and self confident, and he carried himself with a natural calm and peace that she had never seen in the Mike she used. At least not, when he was in charge. He was always grovveling around, trying to make everybody happy, trying to help the weak ones. With disdain she looked at the two faces, and then stopped. There was no point to go on.

Mike stared at himself, at the choices he'd done or not done. Join the Ghostbloods or leave them alone. Try to revenge his friend or leave it alone. He stared and stared, at the calmness both versions of him emanated at the strange peace they all felt. Versions of himself that he could have been, if he had considered his actions for once, instead of rushing into everything without thinking twice.

His eyes rested on the Mike that had been wise enough to not attack Ark, at the way he held himself, how he self strong and self confident. It hurt to see himself like that, so strong so calm, like a person that had earned the promotion he had declined. Suddenly the images were gone again and he paused, realized that he wanted to see them again. He reached for the reserve and the pictures appeared again, allowed him to see who he could have been, if he had been a wiser person. Who he could have been. Not who he was. He felt his body flinch, jerk in confusion when the images appeared again shortly after they had vanished, but he ignored it. Instead he reached out for the other medallion, tapped what had been stored inside. It felt strange, to do something, without having control over his body, but at the same time it worked, easily and quickly, as if he had done nothing else for years.

Something changed around him, the darkness vanishing, and Mike turned around his own axis, as he saw them all.

Snake, her tongue tasting the air, her scales a beautiful green that shone in the gently light around them.

Fox, his fur not bloddy anymore, his eyes intelligent and strong, sitting there, his tail moving slightly now and then.

Squirrel, sitting attentively on her hindlegs, her ears and face towards him.

Salmon, as usual quiet and calm, but a part of the others just the same.

Mike's eyes widened in surprise as he continued to turn as he saw the others waiting for him here.

Wolf, licking his paws, his ear twitching every now and then.

And squid, floating in the air as if it was water, radiating the quiet friendliness he had come to love.

He paused when he saw the empty spot where Pocupine would have waited for him, a pang of sadness making his eyes water. He had lost her. The moment he had ripped the spike out he had lost her.

Mike found himself smiling at them, despite the months of warring against each other, of fighting, of running away and hiding. There were here, they belonged to him, just as he belonged to them. Together they formed a larger picture, a whole image, on their own they were incomplete. He closed his eyes and then took a step forward.

Mike opened his eyes. They were dark, their pupils round like a humans. He was still tapping identity could feel something change as he more and more resumed control over his body, over who he was. He opened his fingers, let go of Xanas wrist and touched the spikes hidden beneath his shirt. As usual they were cool to the touch, but for the first time he felt as if they were a part of him. He hadn't chosen them, hadn't chosen this path. But he had made the choice leading to it and while he could fight, could berate himself for years and years to come, he could also accept it, and just go on.

"Thank you." He said quietly, not quite meeting Xanas eyes, lingering fear making him weary.

[18th Shard he/him]

20 hours ago, Sorana said:

...Mike found himself smiling at them, despite the months of warring against each other, of fighting, of running away and hiding. There were here, they belonged to him, just as he belonged to them. Together they formed a larger picture, a whole image, on their own they were incomplete. He closed his eyes and then took a step forward.

Mike opened his eyes. They were dark, their pupils round like a humans. He was still tapping identity could feel something change as he more and more resumed control over his body, over who he was. He opened his fingers, let go of Xanas wrist and touched the spikes hidden beneath his shirt. As usual they were cool to the touch, but for the first time he felt as if they were a part of him. He hadn't chosen them, hadn't chosen this path. But he had made the choice leading to it and while he could fight, could berate himself for years and years to come, he could also accept it, and just go on.

"Thank you." He said quietly, not quite meeting Xanas eyes, lingering fear making him weary.

Xanas watched the scales recede, and Mike straightened, just slightly. His eyes took on a more determined look, and you could tell just by looking at him that some measure of confidence had grown within. Most people clambered for an opportunity to get Feruchemical gold, but in Xanas' opinion, sometimes, the Allomantic variety could heal far more potently.

"You are very welcome, Mike," Xanas replied, "but, please, don't give me all the credit. There are many men who would do what you just did, and swear they would never again burn gold. They would despise the shadows they saw, hate the person they might have been. There are others who would wallow in self-pity for the rest of their lives, sneaking glimpses of a life they won't ever commit to living, mourning a present that will never be. Most men would dismiss what they saw. It takes true strength to learn from those shadows, to study who you might have been, and make a change in yourself."

Xanas's eyes gazed into the darkness around them. "Most people are mere slaves to the circumstances. They drift along as ash on the wind, like spren drawn to someone else's flame. They claim to have free will, of course, but they never seem to act out of what is entirely expected. They live and they die, and history buries them as it does any other forgotten detritus. It's those of us who are unusual who really choose to be something. They are the ones who control their own fate.

"It's like the old story of the Survivor of Hathsin, a man who would not be caged. A thief condemned to die, he fought his way to freedom. Where others feared to draw the ire of the Steel Inquisitors, he taunted and slew them. While others fought the tyranny of their God in whispers, he shouted. And where other men died to slay a koloss, he, dying, birthed revolution. And even in death, he refused to bow. He forged the irons that became the Scadrial of today, and scarce are those who do not know the name of Kelsier, Survivor of Death.

"All men are surrounded by death. All men are weak, someway. All men come to the same ends. And when all is done, death and weakness and those ends consume them. You can fight and kick and scream, but they will come. But for those who choose their own path, well, they are the ones who find life amidst all the deaths, who uncover strength from within their weaknesses, who reach their destination and start on a new journey. That is what these Alleys, this world represent. They are a monument to sheer stubbornness, a refusal to bow to the paths which even nature itself has laid out for us. What is that old rhyme again? 'I saw two paths in a yellow wood' and all that. The only path worth walking is the path you forge yourself. But you can't walk a new path if you don't know the one you're on." Xanas looked back at Mike. "And sometimes, seeing that path takes a little help. So, Mike, indulge an old man's curiosity for just a minute. What pathways did you see in those shadows? What journey do you choose to be on?"

Xanas smiled. I haven't told a story like that in a very long time. Not since I was a young Rosharan worldsinger, I think.

@Sorana

[+Sorana she/her]

What journey did he choose to be on. Mike sighed and got up, removed the little instruments from his skin and placed them on a table. He moved slowly, as if in a dream, wondered what he was supposed to reply. His path, his journey. A hand moved through his hair, when he tried to come up with something good, something worth the praise.

"I chose nothing." He said bitterly, shook his head, recalling the images he had seen. "I have a hard time following orders, I am eaten up alive by the wish for revenge." Turning around he stared into Xanas' eyes for the first time. "I am not worthy to be compared to Kelsier or some other hero, because I'm not a hero. I'm unable to support those I love, I allow those dear to me die."

Taking a step forward his voice started to shake from anger, anger at himself, anger at everything. "Only because for once I know what I'm doing -" a laugh escaped his lips, "that won't be like that for long. My life will go on and I will fall back into who I was, I will loose control again. They are a part of myself, but they are still here, and I doubt they will vanish. I still have no idea what to do, how to do it and nothing I do can change that."

His eyes burnt with frustration. "I didn't choose a bright, heroic path to embarc upon, I'm just a leaf drifting around, propelled by  dark thoughts and desires, by nothing but revenge and fury keeping me flying." He fell silent and frowned, finally sorting through everything that had happened. He had disobeyed direct orders. He had abandoned an official task. He hadn't followed Wes.

"I saw myself. Happy, living a peaceful life with my friends and family, without a guild to burden me." He finally started. "And I saw myself, a member of a guild, but a respected one, someone who belongs." His voice was quiet at these last words. "There is no way for me to any of these two versions of myself. I thorougly burnt those bridges already."

@18th Shard

[Zennix he/him]

I'm very happy to see that The Dark Alley is still going strong. 

It's been a long time.

[18th Shard he/him]

On 2/5/2020 at 0:11 AM, Sorana said:

What journey did he choose to be on. Mike sighed and got up, removed the little instruments from his skin and placed them on a table. He moved slowly, as if in a dream, wondered what he was supposed to reply. His path, his journey. A hand moved through his hair, when he tried to come up with something good, something worth the praise.

"I chose nothing." He said bitterly, shook his head, recalling the images he had seen. "I have a hard time following orders, I am eaten up alive by the wish for revenge." Turning around he stared into Xanas' eyes for the first time. "I am not worthy to be compared to Kelsier or some other hero, because I'm not a hero. I'm unable to support those I love, I allow those dear to me die."

Taking a step forward his voice started to shake from anger, anger at himself, anger at everything. "Only because for once I know what I'm doing -" a laugh escaped his lips, "that won't be like that for long. My life will go on and I will fall back into who I was, I will loose control again. They are a part of myself, but they are still here, and I doubt they will vanish. I still have no idea what to do, how to do it and nothing I do can change that."

His eyes burnt with frustration. "I didn't choose a bright, heroic path to embarc upon, I'm just a leaf drifting around, propelled by  dark thoughts and desires, by nothing but revenge and fury keeping me flying." He fell silent and frowned, finally sorting through everything that had happened. He had disobeyed direct orders. He had abandoned an official task. He hadn't followed Wes.

"I saw myself. Happy, living a peaceful life with my friends and family, without a guild to burden me." He finally started. "And I saw myself, a member of a guild, but a respected one, someone who belongs." His voice was quiet at these last words. "There is no way for me to any of these two versions of myself. I thorougly burnt those bridges already."

@18th Shard

Xanas watched as Mike vented. He waited patiently until Mike stopped talking, then said, "Do you know Kelsier's last words? 'I am the one thing you can never kill, Lord Tyrant. I am hope.'"

Xanas paused for a moment before continuing. "You saw two shadows of presents that can never be. That's normal. No one ever sees a possible path they can become. That's not what I mean by choosing a path. I don't mean choosing to be a hero. Look at me, for goodness' sake. Do you know what I saw when I burned gold the last time? I saw dozens of me. I saw a young man, still weaving stories in a small town, content but naive. I saw the conqueror, a man with a few spikes who decided to return home and take power. I saw the surgeon and the scholar. I saw the assassin and the hero. I saw the god who ruled with benevolent tyranny. And I saw the monster I always knew I could become, the one who killed for enjoyment, vicious and biting and cold. I am not any of those men. But in a way, they are all me. I'm no hero, Mike. I don't even know if I can count as a good man. But at least I try to make to the world a better place, a more knowledgeable place. That is what I want to be, and that is what I have become. And here in these Alleys, I have found the power to make that wanting real.

"So, Mike, what do you want to be? You're back in these Alleys, the ones that in many ways changed you from the men you saw into the man you are. These Alleys have the power to take you from who you are today to who you want to be tomorrow. You want to be naive again? We can do that. We can remove those spikes, wipe your mind, and send you back to live a quiet, small life, until you die. You want to be in a guild, to be an agent of someone else's will? We know people who would take you. You wish to rule? I know cities who would bow before someone with your power. You desire to be a warrior? We can train you. You desire knowledge? You have come to the right place. Whatever you desire to become, we can make you into it, but it has to be your choice, to make it mean anything. What do you want to be?

"You have arrived at a crossroads today, Mike. Any path you take will leave another gold shadow in your past. What path do you want to see by burning gold, and which one do you want to see in the mirror?"

@Sorana

Edited February 7, 2020 by 18th Shard
tag

[+Sorana she/her]

Falling silent, Mike stared at him. A crossroads. He had arrived at a crossroads? He waited for Xanas to go on, to say something else, maybe to strap him down and laugh into his face. When none of this happened he shifted his weight uncomfortably, considered Xanas' words again. A crossroads. And it was his decision to leave. His hands moved to the spikes in his chest again, touched them nearly gently when he wondered what he might do next.

He would lie if he said that it wasn't tempting. Power, ruling, to be a hero like the ones he had seen in the movies. There would be no need to bow before the likes of Ark anymore, because he could simply pick them up and set them aside. His feet shifted a little when he tried to comprehend the borders of this offer, when his mind jerked in fear again. It was a trap. It had to be a trap. He would choose something and he would end up with more spikes. He would be part of another experiment and when he left again, maybe he never left again.

And yet - if Xanas was right, then this was a crossroads, a chance. A possibility to do something else and Mike would be stupid if he discarded it so easily. And so he nodded leaned against a wall. A chance. This could be his chance to do something, to change something. But he wasn't entirely sure how. His throughts returned to the question Xanas had asked. Who did he want to see in the mirror. And who did he want to leave behind.

"I want to be able to protect my friends." he finally said, his words quiet, so quiet that they were hard to hear. "I want to be able to support them and to give them a chance to go on." He fell silent, felt into the darkness again. It was empty. Nothing was there, apart from himself. It was nearly, as if it has never existed before. Mike finally looked up at Xanas. He doubted, that this was, what the man had wanted to hear, had wanted for him to reply. He had somehow offered him a throne and Mike had declined. But if he was honest, if this was really about who he wanted to see in the mirror then there was only one possible path. He had to make up for what he had messed up, he had to become stronger to prevent something like this happening again. He would protect Wes, and he would protect all the others. And if he paid for it with his live, he didn't care.

The resolve felt strange and good, incredibly good. It had been over a year since he last felt that much in control, that complete confidence in his own thoughts an opinions. And yet - he was still at Xanas' mercy. Nothing of this mattered if Xanas wiped it away.

@18th Shard

[+Ark1002]

Quote

Every time I see Ark, I feel like you're getting angry at me

 

[18th Shard he/him]

On 2/7/2020 at 1:11 AM, Sorana said:

Falling silent, Mike stared at him. A crossroads. He had arrived at a crossroads? He waited for Xanas to go on, to say something else, maybe to strap him down and laugh into his face. When none of this happened he shifted his weight uncomfortably, considered Xanas' words again. A crossroads. And it was his decision to leave. His hands moved to the spikes in his chest again, touched them nearly gently when he wondered what he might do next.

He would lie if he said that it wasn't tempting. Power, ruling, to be a hero like the ones he had seen in the movies. There would be no need to bow before the likes of Ark anymore, because he could simply pick them up and set them aside. His feet shifted a little when he tried to comprehend the borders of this offer, when his mind jerked in fear again. It was a trap. It had to be a trap. He would choose something and he would end up with more spikes. He would be part of another experiment and when he left again, maybe he never left again.

And yet - if Xanas was right, then this was a crossroads, a chance. A possibility to do something else and Mike would be stupid if he discarded it so easily. And so he nodded leaned against a wall. A chance. This could be his chance to do something, to change something. But he wasn't entirely sure how. His throughts returned to the question Xanas had asked. Who did he want to see in the mirror. And who did he want to leave behind.

"I want to be able to protect my friends." he finally said, his words quiet, so quiet that they were hard to hear. "I want to be able to support them and to give them a chance to go on." He fell silent, felt into the darkness again. It was empty. Nothing was there, apart from himself. It was nearly, as if it has never existed before. Mike finally looked up at Xanas. He doubted, that this was, what the man had wanted to hear, had wanted for him to reply. He had somehow offered him a throne and Mike had declined. But if he was honest, if this was really about who he wanted to see in the mirror then there was only one possible path. He had to make up for what he had messed up, he had to become stronger to prevent something like this happening again. He would protect Wes, and he would protect all the others. And if he paid for it with his live, he didn't care.

The resolve felt strange and good, incredibly good. It had been over a year since he last felt that much in control, that complete confidence in his own thoughts an opinions. And yet - he was still at Xanas' mercy. Nothing of this mattered if Xanas wiped it away.

@18th Shard

Xanas nodded. He was a little disappointed - it was a bit short-sighted, considering friends can change and die, but then again, he was a teenager. Perhaps as he grew older, he would understand what was really important. 

"I can help with that. I suppose the first matter would be to find them. Wes, you said? Where would you want to meet him, and how would I tell him to meet you there?"

@Sorana

 

[Voidus]

Voidus gently removed the notebook from Vivica's grip as she held it out, feeling a strange sense of familiar calm as he took hold of it and Vivica's trembling hand let go. He nodded along as she spoke, letting her finish her explanations without interruption. She seemed to calm a little as she explained what she could, staring off into some scene that only she could currently see or understand.

"I am Vivica." She said quietly, not seeming aware that she was still speaking. "I am twenty-eight. I am in- Alley 681-T. Current count is 113 apparitions. Research and Development. It has been eleven years, six months and eighteen days since I last slept."

She seemed to come to again after speaking this mantra, or perhaps she was simply answering the questions posed by some other hallucinatory companion. Voidus briefly wondered whether he should simply pretend to see them as well, but discounted that course. He was being selfish enough in not disclosing who he was, making a mockery of her mind would not benefit either of them.

"The list is important." Vivica said, more firmly as Voidus removed the noepad from her grasp.

He gave another nod, holding her eyes and giving her another moment if she needed to continue. But as the silence stretched for a few more moments it seemed that she was waiting for something.

"They are indeed." He said gently, his own gaze drifting towards the distance for a moment. "Remember the list."

I am Voidus. And I promised to find my daughter again.

Shorter than Vivica's list, but perhaps there'd once been more on Voidus' list as well, things that he'd forgotten over an endless age floating in nothing. Unsure whether he found the thought reassuring or terrifying, Voidus shook his head to clear it, and without pausing to hesitate any longer he pulled the spike from a pocket and pierced his bindpoint with it once more.

Instantly the lingering scent of smoke filled his nostrils, not something that was always unusual in the Alleys nor anything that Voidus would generally be concerned about but suddenly it seemed terrifying. Some looming horror barely held at bay. Nox felt himself tense as he was slammed with a torrent of raw terror, even as it was subsiding it still felt ready to consume him. His eyes found Bennington floating reassuringly overhead, watching over both he and Vivica.

"It's good to see you again Bennington." Nox greeted, giving Bennington a nod of the head before looking towards Vivica and amending himself. "To see you both. It's fading now isn't it? It's safe to talk for now."

@ZincAboutIt

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Vivica nodded at Nox, pleased that he seemed to finally understand her earlier panic. 

"It's safe for now," she whispered, pointing to her notes again. There was something important in them, though she couldn't quite recall what it was. "But we should move on soon. It's out there, you know. The fire. It's always out there, somewhere."

Nox seemed more agitated, more nervous than before. Vivica looked at the place where he had placed his spike, and cocked her head a bit. She considered asking about it, but she didn't want to frighten Nox away. Sometimes her friends would disappear if she asked them too many questions. 

"Is there someplace safe you know about, somewhere we could go? We should keep moving. If we stay here, it will find us. We need to stay ahead of the smoke."

She held out a hand for him, and Bennington looped around them both, his color shifting toward a slightly-lighter indigo. That was a good sign, and Vivica allowed herself a small smile. "It's lucky we found you again - wouldn't do to have you burned to a crisp, now would it?"

@Voidus

[+Sorana she/her]

9 hours ago, 18th Shard said:

Xanas nodded. He was a little disappointed - it was a bit short-sighted, considering friends can change and die, but then again, he was a teenager. Perhaps as he grew older, he would understand what was really important. 

"I can help with that. I suppose the first matter would be to find them. Wes, you said? Where would you want to meet him, and how would I tell him to meet you there?"

@Sorana

 

Mike frowned, wondered why Xanas knew about Wes, and then just shook his head. He knew, Maybe Snake had spilled some details. He reached into his pocket and held up his device. "I could send him a message." He offered, unsure what to do now. He wasn't quite sure how meeting Wes would help him protect him, apart from the fact that being close to Wes was always a plus. But if Xanas wanted to meet Wes, it meant he wanted to have Mike leave and if Mike was allowed to leave - a slight smile spread on his face. He wasn't stuck here. He could leave whenever he wanted. The thought soothed him and he lowered the device again, suspected that it wouldn't work inside of the alleys anyway. Instead he studied Xanas for a while, tried to remember their conversation so far. It was blurred, his memories had holes when he had lost control completely and he wasn't sure if he remembered correctly. In the end - he owed Xanas, and while the thought left a salty taste in his mouth he forced himself to smile. Without him, he would be lost already.

"When you approached me," he finally started, "I wasn't on the height of things, but - do you need more information about this place as it is today? I could give your a tour or something."

@18th Shard

[Voidus]

Nox gave Vivica a tense smile, taking her outstretched hand as Bennington wrapped around them. He could still hear the flames, distant but approaching. Always approaching. He still remembered what he had known moments ago, that there was no fire. But at the same time he was also acutely aware that it was there now and had been there then. Being thrown into Vivica's perception of the world with little context was proving a little disorienting.

"A few safe places." Nox replied. "But the nearest..."

Holding onto Vivica's hand he began moving forwards, along the path she'd already laid out through the Alleys. They stepped together into one of R&D's Alleys, the walls stained with countless centuries of blood, the layered sanguine scents briefly dispelled the stench of smoke and each of the steel doors placed haphazardly along the path would lead to a different research area. But none of those were what he was looking for, he needed another Alley, not too far from here, just a little twist.

"What happened?" He asked. "You mentioned Grey, are they..."

He was briefly overwhelmed by a vision of the denizen being engulfed by roaring flames before he managed to rid himself of the thought.

"Did they get out?"
@ZincAboutIt

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Vivica was briefly comforted by the familiar walls and doors of one of the R&D Alleys, and she ran a few fingers along the patina of red and brown with a small smile. Why, just the other day, she'd found a visitor wandering through here; that had been fun. Maybe Vivica could invite Nox by when she found another visitor. The people who wandered in always had a special energy about them, a frantic, glorious staccato beat that some of the more standard experiment volunteers lacked. Vivica loved surprises. She especially loved being the surprise.

Her fond reminiscence was brutally stripped away when Nox mentioned Grey. Grey and Sierra... She had left them. Left them for the fire.

"I-I..." Vivica swallowed, hard, and gripped Nox's hand tighter. "I don't know. I told them - I told them! But they wouldn't listen, wouldn't listen to me. Just kept eating. And Sierra had just had such a lovely experiment too." She felt tears gather at the corners of her eyes.

"It's all there, in the notes," she gave a little hiccup and wiped at her eyes. "Maybe they got out. Grey's so clever, you know. But I had to leave. I couldn't let myself die there, I just couldn't! I just came up with a new recipe today, and I haven't even gotten a chance to test it. I had to go. I had to go."

She started down the Alley, still holding onto Nox's hand. The smell of smoke had managed to wend its way in here, too. Faint, but persistent. Her breath quickened. "The safe place, Nox," she said, fighting to keep herself from screaming. "Where is it?"

@Voidus

[18th Shard he/him]

On 2/10/2020 at 4:10 AM, Sorana said:

Mike frowned, wondered why Xanas knew about Wes, and then just shook his head. He knew, Maybe Snake had spilled some details. He reached into his pocket and held up his device. "I could send him a message." He offered, unsure what to do now. He wasn't quite sure how meeting Wes would help him protect him, apart from the fact that being close to Wes was always a plus. But if Xanas wanted to meet Wes, it meant he wanted to have Mike leave and if Mike was allowed to leave - a slight smile spread on his face. He wasn't stuck here. He could leave whenever he wanted. The thought soothed him and he lowered the device again, suspected that it wouldn't work inside of the alleys anyway. Instead he studied Xanas for a while, tried to remember their conversation so far. It was blurred, his memories had holes when he had lost control completely and he wasn't sure if he remembered correctly. In the end - he owed Xanas, and while the thought left a salty taste in his mouth he forced himself to smile. Without him, he would be lost already.

"When you approached me," he finally started, "I wasn't on the height of things, but - do you need more information about this place as it is today? I could give your a tour or something."

@18th Shard

"You won't get very good reception with one of those, we'll have to hook it to a cell booster. I'll show you where you can make a call. As for a tour, not today. Perhaps another time, one on which I am in a more pensive mood." 

Xanas thought for a minute or two. Mike was certainly not ready for any investiture that came with Identity - his own was probably still too fragile. That rules out any spikes or any of the really fun experiments. Medallions would take too much time for far too little results without compounding, and that was basically the pedestrian way of being Invested. Aviar were far too picky eaters, and spren bonds were unusual without traveling to Roshar, which Xanas was unsure if he could he even do. He felt a pang of loss at the prospect of never again watching the dawn during a  Weeping - the light and the dark mixing in such a beautiful fashion, but stuffed the emotion back into the recesses of his mind. He'd missed far too many Weepings to start caring now. The Dor was finicky in the Alleyverse, but perhaps he could - of course!

"I've just thought of the right procedure for you, to help you and your friends. The Alleys have procured organic tissue samples which, when a current of the proper amperage is passed through them, simulate the capacities of the donor organism. They act in a similar manner to Invested fauna such as those of the Eelokin Islands, though they are uninvested in a technical sense. They do however, draw on an energy source not disimilar to a Shard, though manifestation of extranatural abilities is individually dependent on the genetics of the recipient. It's a non-invasive device, which should be more to your liking."

Xanas paused, realizing he was still talking to a teenage boy. "I believe the colloquial name for them are Epic motivators?"

@Sorana

Edited February 19, 2020 by 18th Shard
Spelling

[+Sorana she/her]

On 19.2.2020 at 5:17 AM, 18th Shard said:

Xanas paused, realizing he was still talking to a teenage boy. "I believe the colloquial name for them are Epic motivators?"

Mike nodded quickly when he finally understood a part of what Xanas was talking about. So many terms he had never heard or maybe never cared to learn about, there was no way to distinguish between them now. But in the end two messages were clear. If he wanted to reach out for Wes he needed Xanas help and the man was indeed offering him power. Mike tried to understand enough of the part inbetween to look for a catch for anything that might lure him into a trap and swallow him whole. But there was none. At least none he could see.

"So..." he started and then lifted his device again. "Let's start with that one." It was the harmless part, and it also diverted his thoughts from the other one. A motivator.

"But why?" he blurted out. "Why would you give me a motivator, why give me these?" his hand closed around the medallions. "I know you said, you want to help, but if you do, why me and why-" his fingers brushed over his spikes again. If he only wanted to help, why did he belong to these monsters that did nothing but ruin other people's lives.

@18th Shard

[18th Shard he/him]

On 2/23/2020 at 0:05 AM, Sorana said:

"So..." he started and then lifted his device again. "Let's start with that one." It was the harmless part, and it also diverted his thoughts from the other one. A motivator.

"But why?" he blurted out. "Why would you give me a motivator, why give me these?" his hand closed around the medallions. "I know you said, you want to help, but if you do, why me and why-" his fingers brushed over his spikes again. If he only wanted to help, why did he belong to these monsters that did nothing but ruin other people's lives.

@18th Shard

Xanas nodded, then warped the Alley into a small library-like room, the two of them standing on a dais. He gestured at the windows. "You should have reception near those." He stepped down off of the dais toward a computer in a niche in the room. "When you reach my age, that question is often answered 'why not?'." He entered a passcode on the computer terminal, opening a word processor. After a moment, he spoke again. 

"I suppose, if the question is why help, then the answer would be that I truly do want this world to be a better place, to use science, not merely know it. Knowledge unused is merely intellectual dross. As for why you," he looked up at Mike, "then I my answer is: I find you intriguing. I think you would do far better with power than many who have it - they desire it. You don't, and so perhaps deserve it far more. But deep down, I suppose it is also because I like you. You remind me of myself as a young man in many ways - a bit rash, with a little bit of power, and in far over your head. But enough of my rambling, go call your friend."

Xanas sat down at the computer. He began to type. Most of the Alleyverse would condemn him for what he was about to do. Even most Denizens would call it an unnecessary evil, but Xanas wasn't taking any chances that someone would destroy this experiment on a whim. His time as Head of the Department of Testing & Analysis had exposed him to things most sane people would avoid at all costs. Xanas wasn't sure if he had a soul left to be corrupted anymore, but he knew if anything had a chance of doing so, it was the being he was contacting now. He finished typing, reviewed his work, then selected the print option, printing three copies. The computer Soulcasted the pages onto the table in front of him. He folded them in half, slipping them into an envelope. It was always best to ensure these things were done in triplicate. He pricked a finger, dripping a few drops of ichor-alchohol onto the seal, then stamped the wax with a hot iron, sealing it shut.

He opened a small Alleyway and stepped through several Alleys before walking into a white room with motivational poster on the wall. THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE FAILURE IS TO NEVER TRY. IT IS HARD TO FALL, BUT MUCH HARDER TO HAVE NEVER TRIED. JOURNEY BEFORE DESTINATION: PLEASE ENSURE ALL POSTAGE STAMPS ARE THE CORRECT DENOMINATION.

The walls seemed to scream at him with slogans and catchphrases. He stopped in front of the largest office. Xanas stopped in front of the secretary's desk. The eldritch abomination lowered it's glasses and held up a tentacle, gesturing at the phone. Xanas glanced around the room. A large poster read: HUMAN RESOURCES: WE AREN'T DOING OUR JOB UNTIL WE PROVE YOU AREN'T DOING YOURS. The secretary set the phone down. "Yes, how may I help you?" 

Xanas held out the letter. "Could you deliver this to the department head? I have ensured it complies with all official memorandum regulations."

"Of course. Is there anything else you need today, sir?"

"That will be all. There are directions on how to contact me within the memorandum, as per usual, but I am afraid I have a sizeable backlog of work, so it may be some time before I am able to respond adequately." Xanas nodded his thanks, then strode back to the portion of the room he had entered from. HR was picky about where you opened Alleys. Most Denizens didn't bother learning where to stand to open them, but the Testing & Analysis Department often received warranty complaints from HR that required testing or demonstration before HR could devour the plaintiff's soul. Those interactions meant Xanas was slightly more comfortable around HR than most Denizens. He wasn't sure, but Xanas suspected Cam had spontaneously came into existence as a corresponding anti-entity to those who argued with the disclaimer in the early days of the Alleys - at least, Cam was one of the few who had the whole thing memorized naturally, without copper of any kind. How Cam had managed to create an entire department was still a mystery.

Xanas stepped back into the library, making sure to backtrack through several Alleys that were notoriously hard to traverse. No need to forget all caution. He though back on the contents of the letter.

To: Cam Nosnetsroht, Head, Department of Human Resources, Dark Alley; Highprince of Pedantry; Filer of Forms; Requirer of Requisites; etc.
Subject: Hemalurgic Experimentation Infractions

Earlier today, a former experimental subject, #A-139115, given name Mike, was contacted by a member of the Dark Alley. Upon contact, the following infractions of general Dark Alley Hemalurgic standard practice were observed to have been committed by the original experimentors:

1. Addition of multiple Hemalurgic grafts without prior study of individual components;
2. Use of a minor as a subject without suitably identifying potential effects of maturation on subject;
3. Lack of appropriate sedation or stability spikes immediately following an operation, continuing until subject's stability has been judged adequate or subject has deceased.

These compounded to result in an emotional and spiritual instability that may have resulted in lawsuits or insurance claims, were it not quickly resolved.

The aforementioned situation has been remedied appropriately, but I am concerned that other similar situations will arise and will not be as quickly mitigated. I would like to request the HR department to identify any experiments undertaken by the same group of researchers and to monitor these experiments for additional infractions. If necessary, please interview those involved. Any questions or inquiries concerning the subject contacted today from persons beside myself should be forwarded to HR before answer is given.

Thank you for your anticipated quick response. 

Signed: Xanas Khaevarin, Head, Department of Testing & Analysis, Dark Alley; Inventor of the Disclaimer; First Denizens, Member, Dark Alley; Censor of Hawaiian Pizza; etc.

Postea Scripta: Due to my long absence from the Alleys, previous methods of contact will be ineffective. Please deposit any materials or responses for me in Alley 7i, which I will check as my schedule allows.

All communications enclosed herein are covered by the Dark Alley disclaimer, and may not be copied or transmitted in any form with prior written consent. Any trespassing of the above disclaimer will subject one to full liability for all future consequences. 

Xanas turned off the computer, then breathed a sigh of relief. He felt a shiver run down his spine a moment later. It was rumored that that particular feeling originated whenever HR spoke one's name, though Xanas wasn't superstitious enough to believe such a thing. It was preposterous. He gathered the aluminum robe tighter around himself, and stepped back toward the dais where he had left Mike.

@Sorana

Edited May 11, 2020 by 18th Shard

[+Sorana she/her]

27 minutes ago, 18th Shard said:

"I suppose, if the question is why help, then the answer would be that I truly do want this world to be a better place, to use science, not merely know it. Knowledge unused is merely intellectual dross. As for why you," he looked up at Mike, "then I my answer is: I find you intriguing. I think you would do far better with power than many who have it - they desire it. You don't, and so perhaps deserve it far more. But deep down, I suppose it is also because I like you. You remind me of myself as a young man in many ways - a bit rash, with a little bit of power, and in far over your head. But enough of my rambling, go call your friend."

Mike stared at Xanas, tried to follow the words he spoke, the way he referred to him, the he liked him. He opened his mouth as if to reply and then simply closed it again, unable to condense his thoughts into one sentence, or a row of sentences that made sense. He deserved power because he didn't want to have it? He reminded him of himself. His eyes remained on Xanas, but the man started to ignore him, sat down at his computer and Mike uneasy shifted his weight to another foot. Go and call your friend. He supposed he should do it.

When he checked his device he saw that Wes had already contacted him and he found his thumb hovering over the image of his name. Call him. Call him and tell him - Mike grit his teeth, remembered the way Wes had run off. Better not force a call on him now. If he appeared too pushy then Wes would run away again. Leave him. He read through the few words again and then looked up, only to find Xanas had gone left him behind.

Surprised Mike paused, hesitantly looked around to see if there were others approaching him, if this was the trap he had been lured into. But so far, it was silent and so he finally touched his finger to Wes name.

I'm in the alleys. He typed hastily. Met some strange people and Xanas took me here. That probably wasn't the best description of his situation, but it had to be enough. Would you like to meet later? Once he let me go? If he let him go that was. I am

He started another sentence when a soft, rustling sound made him look up, whirl around. Nothing, the air was empty behind him, only the room cast in shadows. Mike slowly put his device away and reached for his daggers, body alert. There. Something moved down below. A long strip of darkness, slithered over the floor, slowly nearing the wall, the shelves. Sweat covered his hands when he looked back at the computer, but still no Xanas. His eyes darted back to the shelf where he had last seen the darkness and he frowned, when the darkness was gone. With a grimace he lifted his daggers, in a defensive posture and then slowly moved until his back was to a wall. Heart beating quickly, his eyes darted around waited for whatever it was to appear again. Seconds seemed to strech into eternity until he finally lowered his daggers again. It was gone.

A movement in the corner of his eye made him whirl around and he jumped to the side, instinctively trying to avoid whatever it was. Whilring around he lifted his daggers again, face drawn in concentration only to see Xanas. Awkwardly he straightened and hastily put his weapons aside again, blushing deeply at his reaction. Jumping at shadows. Xanas had to think him a real coward. And yet the memory of that long piece of darkness slithering over the ground, Mike forced a smile on his face to hide the way he was still shaking slightly.

@I think I am here.

[18th Shard he/him]

27 minutes ago, Sorana said:

Whilring around he lifted his daggers again, face drawn in concentration only to see Xanas. Awkwardly he straightened and hastily put his weapons aside again, blushing deeply at his reaction. Jumping at shadows. Xanas had to think him a real coward. And yet the memory of that long piece of darkness slithering over the ground, Mike forced a smile on his face to hide the way he was still shaking slightly.

@I think I am here.

Xanas looked at the daggers angled toward him. Mike slid the weapons back away when he recognized Xanas. Seemed like he was a little jumpy still. 

Xanas turned on the dais to face a small set of dials, and adjusted them. The room was a library of sports, a repository of genetic samples grown in small quantities. Xanas turned the first dial to Earth-Post Calamity, then continued to adjust the minor dials until the sample he wanted was selected. A small trained cremling pulled the small disks off the shelf and placed on the work table in front of the dais. Xanas selected a contact lens and a pair of thin gloves. The lens had a small hole over the pupil, and the gloves had slots on the back of each hand. Xanas placed the tissue sample disks into the motivators, adjusted the amperage, and handed them to Mike. 

"These came from James Coransen, an Epic who titled himself Expel-your-armus. He unfortunately was one of those who felt the movies were all that one needed to see and neglected both to read and to spell properly. His sole personal ability was to summon the last weapon he touched to his hands. He felt it was 'poetic' to kill people with their own weapons. A rival gang leader put an explosive in his own sword and detonated it when James stole the sword, killing him. The more interesting ability James had was as a gifter. He was able to share his power with others by sight, simply focusing on them visually. I'm interested to see how you do with these particular tools."

Xanas set the adjusted motivators on the table closer to Mike. 

"Try them on."

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

5 minutes ago, 18th Shard said:

Expel-your-armus

Quote

*chef’s kiss* beautiful  

 

[kenod]

13 hours ago, 18th Shard said:

The aforementioned situation has been remedied appropriately, but I am concerned that other similar situations will arise and will not be as quickly mitigated. I would like to request the HR department to identify any experiments undertaken by the same group of researchers and to monitor these experiments for additional infractions. If necessary, please interview those involved. Any questions or inquiries concerning the subject contacted today from persons beside myself should be forwarded to HR before answer is given.

Quote

Given that said Denizen died years ago I doubt Xanas will get something productive from this.

 

[18th Shard he/him]

10 hours ago, kenod said:

Given that said Denizen died years ago I doubt Xanas will get something productive from this.

22 hours ago, ZincAboutIt said:

*chef’s kiss* beautiful  

Quote

@kenodYeah, it was less to get back at them and more to tie up anyone who tries to investigate in bureaucracy and red tape. Essentially, if anyone wants to get info on Mike or what Xanas is doing, they will now get referred to Cam. So effectively, no one will try all that hard to look into it, because HR. 

@ZincAboutIt Thank you!

I'm surprised no one said anything about Xanas's last title - I have nothing against pineapple personally, but on pizza? Some abominations just cannot be allowed.

 

 

[+Sorana she/her]

23 hours ago, 18th Shard said:

Xanas looked at the daggers angled toward him. Mike slid the weapons back away when he recognized Xanas. Seemed like he was a little jumpy still. 

Xanas turned on the dais to face a small set of dials, and adjusted them. The room was a library of sports, a repository of genetic samples grown in small quantities. Xanas turned the first dial to Earth-Post Calamity, then continued to adjust the minor dials until the sample he wanted was selected. A small trained cremling pulled the small disks off the shelf and placed on the work table in front of the dais. Xanas selected a contact lens and a pair of thin gloves. The lens had a small hole over the pupil, and the gloves had slots on the back of each hand. Xanas placed the tissue sample disks into the motivators, adjusted the amperage, and handed them to Mike. 

"These came from James Coransen, an Epic who titled himself Expel-your-armus. He unfortunately was one of those who felt the movies were all that one needed to see and neglected both to read and to spell properly. His sole personal ability was to summon the last weapon he touched to his hands. He felt it was 'poetic' to kill people with their own weapons. A rival gang leader put an explosive in his own sword and detonated it when James stole the sword, killing him. The more interesting ability James had was as a gifter. He was able to share his power with others by sight, simply focusing on them visually. I'm interested to see how you do with these particular tools."

Xanas set the adjusted motivators on the table closer to Mike. 

"Try them on."

Mike observed Xanas as he adjusted the dials, his back rigid as he looked back down towards the shelf now and then. Nothing, there was nothing there. He strained his eyes, left Xanas to his work for the moment and tried to see if he could see anything, make out some movement, but still, nothing changed. Frustration grew, followed by fear. He brushed his hand over his arm, no scales, no fur. Only his own skin, marred by a few scars. And yet, it had been there. He knew that it had, he had seen it. He had seen it with his own eyes.

He turned back to Xanas, careful to keep his back to a wall in case the thing returned and forced a smile on his face. It was no option to leave the motivators on the table, instead he reached out for them, took them in his hands. They were cool to his touch and he was about to pull them over his hands when something Xanas had said registered. "A gifter?" He asked quietly, his eyes flickering down to his chest. "Do you mean I can give them away? Be alone?" Fox, Snake, if it worked, if he really could gift them to someone else, then he was free. They wouldn't fight for control anymore, wouldn't try to claw their ways into his mind, wouldn't kill each other. He would be free and his life, his soul, they would finally be his own again.

Hope blossomed in his chest so strong that he could barely contain it, could barely hold himself back from slipping the motivators on and give them a try right here and now. But he couldn't. Who was he supposed to try them out with? Xanas? The slithering shadow? And yet - if it was true, really true, then he could go back. He could apologize to his superiours, see if they were willing to forgive him. He could maybe look for Bella, see if he could mend that rift and he could go drinking with Wes, spend some time with his friend. And all of that, because of Xanas. Mike found himself smiling at the man, a small shy smile that came naturally to his face while he waited for his reply. Maybe he was right. Maybe for once he had met someone who really only wanted to help him.

[18th Shard he/him]

20 hours ago, Sorana said:

Mike observed Xanas as he adjusted the dials, his back rigid as he looked back down towards the shelf now and then. Nothing, there was nothing there. He strained his eyes, left Xanas to his work for the moment and tried to see if he could see anything, make out some movement, but still, nothing changed. Frustration grew, followed by fear. He brushed his hand over his arm, no scales, no fur. Only his own skin, marred by a few scars. And yet, it had been there. He knew that it had, he had seen it. He had seen it with his own eyes.

He turned back to Xanas, careful to keep his back to a wall in case the thing returned and forced a smile on his face. It was no option to leave the motivators on the table, instead he reached out for them, took them in his hands. They were cool to his touch and he was about to pull them over his hands when something Xanas had said registered. "A gifter?" He asked quietly, his eyes flickering down to his chest. "Do you mean I can give them away? Be alone?" Fox, Snake, if it worked, if he really could gift them to someone else, then he was free. They wouldn't fight for control anymore, wouldn't try to claw their ways into his mind, wouldn't kill each other. He would be free and his life, his soul, they would finally be his own again.

Hope blossomed in his chest so strong that he could barely contain it, could barely hold himself back from slipping the motivators on and give them a try right here and now. But he couldn't. Who was he supposed to try them out with? Xanas? The slithering shadow? And yet - if it was true, really true, then he could go back. He could apologize to his superiours, see if they were willing to forgive him. He could maybe look for Bella, see if he could mend that rift and he could go drinking with Wes, spend some time with his friend. And all of that, because of Xanas. Mike found himself smiling at the man, a small shy smile that came naturally to his face while he waited for his reply. Maybe he was right. Maybe for once he had met someone who really only wanted to help him.

Xanas nodded. "I have honestly no idea how your gifting would work with those particular spikes, but previous experience has shown gifters to be able to gift other Hemalurgic abilities temporarily, so theoretically it should work. I wouldn't suggest trying to gift anything to me, however - in my current condition, I may destroy the ability gifted. I would certainly not receive the ability. To be entirely honest, that is why I suggested you contact your friend. Half of those motivators will be useless without someone to practice with."

Xanas walked off the dais toward a tall, ornate set of doors inscribed with leafs. The doors opened into a large, forested room with a steel ceiling and fruit trees growing every few meters. A few armored statues stood guard, vines draping around their heads and wrapping around their arms. In their hands were sickles, hedge clippers, and other garden implements. Xanas gestured at the tools. "You could try practicing your other ability with these tools. The fruit near the top of the trees is particularly good." Xanas plucked a limafruit and a kathari from a bough in front of him and began eating. "Generally speaking, the more colorful ones are the most ripe." He bit into the kathari, sucking juice away from the incision before it dripped on his robes. White was suitably dramatic as a color, but one had to be quite careful if one wanted to keep it that way. 

@Sorana

[+Sorana she/her]

On 28.2.2020 at 5:46 AM, 18th Shard said:

Xanas nodded. "I have honestly no idea how your gifting would work with those particular spikes, but previous experience has shown gifters to be able to gift other Hemalurgic abilities temporarily, so theoretically it should work. I wouldn't suggest trying to gift anything to me, however - in my current condition, I may destroy the ability gifted. I would certainly not receive the ability. To be entirely honest, that is why I suggested you contact your friend. Half of those motivators will be useless without someone to practice with."

Xanas walked off the dais toward a tall, ornate set of doors inscribed with leafs. The doors opened into a large, forested room with a steel ceiling and fruit trees growing every few meters. A few armored statues stood guard, vines draping around their heads and wrapping around their arms. In their hands were sickles, hedge clippers, and other garden implements. Xanas gestured at the tools. "You could try practicing your other ability with these tools. The fruit near the top of the trees is particularly good." Xanas plucked a limafruit and a kathari from a bough in front of him and began eating. "Generally speaking, the more colorful ones are the most ripe." He bit into the kathari, sucking juice away from the incision before it dripped on his robes. White was suitably dramatic as a color, but one had to be quite careful if one wanted to keep it that way. 

@Sorana

Mike nodded and finally reached out for the gloves, put them on. They were cool to his touch, but they fit him well. He extended his fingers once, twice and finally took them off again and put them into his pocket. "Thank you." He said quietly and perked up when his device made a soft sound.

He wants me to practice with you. But I don't know. Only if you really want to. He typed back to Wes, afraid that Xanas would push his friend to do something he didn't want to. Where are you?

He put the device away again and followed Xanas over to the forested room. He was about to step inside, when he realized what he was seeing and stopped, mouth opening in awe. The trees were large, looked healthy despite everything he had expected in a place like this. "You want me to climb the trees?" He asked, unsure how a hedge clipper might help him to pluck some kind of fruit. Carefully he took a few steps inside, the strong scent of ripe fruit and a forest nearly overhelming. From library to forst in nothing but a few steps. Turning around he made sure that the door was still there, and while it was, it looked strange, as if missplaced, despite the ceiling arching overhead.

Following Xanas example he plucked a brown fruit from the same bough and took a bite. It was sweet, with a hard seed hidden inside. Grinning at its taste Mike found himself pluck a second one and shortly afterwards a third. He hadn't noticed that he was starving, had spent nearly a day running around, fighting, and running around some more. "This is fantastic." He admitted loudly, although he made sure to keep an eye on the guards. You never knew. And he wouldn't be too surprised if they started to walk around soon.

@18th Shard

@I think I am here.

[Voidus]

On 18/02/2020 at 10:12 AM, ZincAboutIt said:

Vivica was briefly comforted by the familiar walls and doors of one of the R&D Alleys, and she ran a few fingers along the patina of red and brown with a small smile. Why, just the other day, she'd found a visitor wandering through here; that had been fun. Maybe Vivica could invite Nox by when she found another visitor. The people who wandered in always had a special energy about them, a frantic, glorious staccato beat that some of the more standard experiment volunteers lacked. Vivica loved surprises. She especially loved being the surprise.

Her fond reminiscence was brutally stripped away when Nox mentioned Grey. Grey and Sierra... She had left them. Left them for the fire.

"I-I..." Vivica swallowed, hard, and gripped Nox's hand tighter. "I don't know. I told them - I told them! But they wouldn't listen, wouldn't listen to me. Just kept eating. And Sierra had just had such a lovely experiment too." She felt tears gather at the corners of her eyes.

"It's all there, in the notes," she gave a little hiccup and wiped at her eyes. "Maybe they got out. Grey's so clever, you know. But I had to leave. I couldn't let myself die there, I just couldn't! I just came up with a new recipe today, and I haven't even gotten a chance to test it. I had to go. I had to go."

She started down the Alley, still holding onto Nox's hand. The smell of smoke had managed to wend its way in here, too. Faint, but persistent. Her breath quickened. "The safe place, Nox," she said, fighting to keep herself from screaming. "Where is it?"

@Voidus

"Almost there" Nox replied.

They were striding along at a faster pace now as he and Vivica rushed forwards in an attempt to outrun what they both knew was behind.

"Just one more Alley."

The scenery changed about them once more, to a narrow alleyway enclosed by two featureless cobblestone walls with not a doorway or a side passage in sight. Just a plain stone floor, the walls covered by little pieces of vines and other greenery that attempted to climb them, and the sky, an endless roiling void above them.

Nox didn't slow his pace, moving forwards while holding Vivica by the arm, ready to pull her forwards if she stopped to look behind them. But she didn't, neither of them did. They didn't need to look to know what would be there, maybe close, maybe farther away, but it would be there, hunting them down as it devoured the stone of the alleys.

"Here." Nox said, pausing at last before an inconspicuous fern that was sprouting from a crack in the corner of the wall and ground.

He pulled the fern to one side to reveal a small hole in the wall, cracks spinning out from the centre to the edges of the area covered by the fern, with the shadows cast from the ambient light of the Alleys it could be hard to notice, but once you knew it was there it was difficult to miss.

"Come on." Nox said, panic creeping into his voice as he wondered how close the fire would be able to get while they waited here.

He darted forwards to the wall, seeming far too large to fit in the small gap that he'd uncovered, but as soon as one fought touched the darkness that lay there, his entire figure was sucked forwards and vanished, pulling Vivica along with him.

They reappeared together, Nox still holding onto Vivica's arm in a panicked grip, but as he saw that they'd arrived he began to relax. He still held on, in case they needed to move again with any speed, but they should be okay here for a time at least.

"Safe." Nox said, relieved.

The word seemed to vanish into the darkness around them, the empty void that extended in every direction without any break other than the two of them who were currently floating in the middle of it. A stabilised area in between the Alleys, as close as one could get to the true Void without being destroyed by it, it had always been somewhere that had relaxed Voidus.

Expelling a breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding, Nox slumped into the weightless embrace of the void. He idly held up the notebook that Vivica had handed him and began to flick through the pages.