The Longest Thread (Misadventures)

[TwinStorm He/Him]

5 minutes ago, Limited_empathy said:

“I know, I’m less stupid than you think.”

"Good." he said. "Now why are you even here, in the middle of the freaking desert?"

@Halcyon The Only

[THE SEER OF ALL genderfluid]

9 minutes ago, TwinStorm said:

"Good." he said. "Now why are you even here, in the middle of the freaking desert?"

@Halcyon The Only

“Well I’m heading to the town, why else would I offer to take you there?”

[Through the Living Heir he/him]

9 hours ago, Sequence said:

Sequence nodded slowly. "And... to clarify, the members of your Machination are forced to join, augmented, and become part of your organization for the purpose of.. mercenary work. If, upon being forced to join, they express displeasure, they are allowed to leave at the expense of the augmentations you had given them, as well as their memories of the exchange. Am I understanding that correctly?"

“Forced is a strong word, but you are otherwise correct. Do you have a reason for this?” 

9 hours ago, Ancient Elantrian said:

"I think I am?"

“First problem, that! I’ll fix it.” Meat twirled a frying pan along his fingers, jumping it to his other hand then his teeth. He reached out to Ryss’s ear. 

8 hours ago, Halcyon The Only said:

“Ah… so I need a purpose at all times. We all do.” She frowned. “My mother, if you could call her that, was once tittering about something similar.”

“Lady Bug was smarter than she gave herself credit for. She didn’t apply it, but she recognized some important things.” Rebus shrugged. “Learning from her successes and mistakes can help both of us. There’s a reason you now exist, after all. Unlike for my own Author, I cannot immediately recognize which, but there are traits that lead to you eclipsing her.” 

11 minutes ago, Limited_empathy said:

“I know, I’m less stupid than you think.”

“That is a good condition to be,” Rebus said from behind him, sticking out a hand to shake. He certainly hadn’t been there before, but he also certainly hadn’t arrived in any noticeable way. “Hello, my name is Rebus. I’m here to welcome you to the Thread, which you and whatever universe you came from are now part of. Sometimes it changes very little, sometimes it results in a pirate on a whale falling from the sky and explaining how he believes everything is a dream. It truly depends.” 
Welcome to you, too! 

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 hour ago, Ancient Elantrian said:

Glen sat on edge, unarmed and having not hit the gym for the last couple of months despite what he had told his friends.

He felt something was wrong but he couldn’t tell what.

A meerkat poked its head up and regarded him curiously. 

57 minutes ago, TwinStorm said:

"It's not important. I'm Cricket, and this is Rose."

@Halcyon The Only

She nodded. She was. 

She was quite a sight, really. Her dress, which was colored like her namesake, looked very fancy. Or would have if half the skirt and the sleeves weren't ripped off. She wore leggings underneath, and was also barefoot. Her black hair looked beautiful, though. Oh, and she had a bunch of swirly, faded tattoos. 

55 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Irie walked over.

"Kinda. What's wrong?"

-

She hissed and healed her leg, doing her best to keep up with him whole also trying to keep it healed.

He pointed to Violet, whose head was bleeding. 

-

Do you need me to carry you? ---Here. He handed her some of the little black beans. 

10 minutes ago, TwinStorm said:

"Good." he said. "Now why are you even here, in the middle of the freaking desert?"

@Halcyon The Only

Just now, Limited_empathy said:

“Well I’m heading to the town, why else would I offer to take you there?”

"Let's go, then?" 

2 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

“Lady Bug was smarter than she gave herself credit for. She didn’t apply it, but she recognized some important things.” Rebus shrugged. “Learning from her successes and mistakes can help both of us. There’s a reason you now exist, after all. Unlike for my own Author, I cannot immediately recognize which, but there are traits that lead to you eclipsing her.”

"Drive, I'd guess. She was only ever an avatar, made to observe. If she surpassed that purpose, then I should have no trouble eclipsing her." She summoned a monocle. "I shall make that my study--- our existence, how to continue it, and such other matters. Drat, monocles are difficult." 

[TwinStorm He/Him]

6 minutes ago, Limited_empathy said:

“Well I’m heading to the town, why else would I offer to take you there?”

1 minute ago, Halcyon The Only said:

A meerkat poked its head up and regarded him curiously. 

She nodded. She was. 

She was quite a sight, really. Her dress, which was colored like her namesake, looked very fancy. Or would have if half the skirt and the sleeves weren't ripped off. She wore leggings underneath, and was also barefoot. Her black hair looked beautiful, though. Oh, and she had a bunch of swirly, faded tattoos. 

He pointed to Violet, whose head was bleeding. 

-

Do you need me to carry you? ---Here. He handed her some of the little black beans. 

"Let's go, then?" 

aren't the tattoos gone

Cricket nodded. "Okay then. Where is it?"

[THE SEER OF ALL genderfluid]

“Let’s go, the towns not far off, mor in the southwest area.”

Edited February 20, 2025 by Limited_empathy

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

1 minute ago, Halcyon The Only said:

He pointed to Violet, whose head was bleeding. 

-

Do you need me to carry you? ---Here. He handed her some of the little black beans. 

She examined Violet's head.

What's it look like?

-

She took them without question and shook her head.

No. I'm fine.

More tentacles whipped out of the ground around them. She dodged a couple and turned the few directly in their path to water . . . it was difficult to concentrate on so many things at once, though.

[THE SEER OF ALL genderfluid]

7 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

“That is a good condition to be,” Rebus said from behind him, sticking out a hand to shake. He certainly hadn’t been there before, but he also certainly hadn’t arrived in any noticeable way. “Hello, my name is Rebus. I’m here to welcome you to the Thread, which you and whatever universe you came from are now part of. Sometimes it changes very little, sometimes it results in a pirate on a whale falling from the sky and explaining how he believes everything is a dream. It truly depends.” 

“Ah thank you,” he says accepting the handshake, “how many of ‘us’ are there?”

[Through the Living Elan He/Him]

15 minutes ago, Halcyon The Only said:

A meerkat poked its head up and regarded him curiously. 

He raised his eyebrows. "You're a lil' bit more cute than I expected."

17 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

“First problem, that! I’ll fix it.” Meat twirled a frying pan along his fingers, jumping it to his other hand then his teeth. He reached out to Ryss’s ear. 

Ryss flinched away. "Nooooo no touchy."

[Through the Living Heir he/him]

4 minutes ago, Halcyon The Only said:

"Drive, I'd guess. She was only ever an avatar, made to observe. If she surpassed that purpose, then I should have no trouble eclipsing her." She summoned a monocle. "I shall make that my study--- our existence, how to continue it, and such other matters. Drat, monocles are difficult." 

Rebus smiled, nodding. “And we’ve come full circle, each learning from the other. Existing is important to me as well, and that goal has the added benefit of never ending.” He considered his own outfit, which shifted to a significantly more ordinary lab coat trimmed in orange. “I concur - may I suggest cheating?” 

4 minutes ago, Limited_empathy said:

“Ah thank you,” he says accepting the handshake, “how many of ‘us’ are there?”

“Us? It depends on how you count. There are trillions of people around, with more coming into existence every day, but only around a few hundred could be considered… important? Relevant? There’s some destiny and metaphysics involved, which could be used for another count, of around a dozen.” 

[THE SEER OF ALL genderfluid]

6 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

Rebus smiled, nodding. “And we’ve come full circle, each learning from the other. Existing is important to me as well, and that goal has the added benefit of never ending.” He considered his own outfit, which shifted to a significantly more ordinary lab coat trimmed in orange. “I concur - may I suggest cheating?” 

“Us? It depends on how you count. There are trillions of people around, with more coming into existence every day, but only around a few hundred could be considered… important? Relevant? There’s some destiny and metaphysics involved, which could be used for another count, of around a dozen.” 

“Well, I don’t understand, but we should get moving, before night, bad things happen at night…”

[TwinStorm He/Him]

25 minutes ago, Limited_empathy said:

“Let’s go, the towns not far off, mor in the southwest area.”

He nodded and started hiking.

@Halcyon The Only

[Through the Living Heir he/him]

1 minute ago, Ancient Elantrian said:

Ryss flinched away. "Nooooo no touchy."

Meat waited, hands empty. He’d been doing coin tricks with the frying pan, and this had been going to be a classic. 

3 minutes ago, Limited_empathy said:

“Well, I don’t understand, but we should get moving, before night, bad things happen at night…”

Rebus looked at him, dead serious. “You likely don’t want to understand. I don’t know if I would want to, though I do not want to forget.” Then he smiled again. “On a lighter note, I’ve started a company, so if you need anything I can get it for you. Here’s my card.” Rebus’s card was black, tessellated with blue hexagons. He had a fancy logo (which I’ll get around to making eventually), and the back said “tap twice to open catalog”. 

[Through the Living Elan He/Him]

7 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

Meat waited, hands empty. He’d been doing coin tricks with the frying pan, and this had been going to be a classic. 

Ryss gives up

this is nonsense 

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

24 minutes ago, TwinStorm said:

aren't the tattoos gone

Cricket nodded. "Okay then. Where is it?"

Oop you're right

23 minutes ago, Limited_empathy said:

“Let’s go, the towns not far off, mor in the southwest area.”

Everyone forget the tattoos

22 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

She examined Violet's head.

What's it look like?

-

She took them without question and shook her head.

No. I'm fine.

More tentacles whipped out of the ground around them. She dodged a couple and turned the few directly in their path to water . . . it was difficult to concentrate on so many things at once, though.

I'm not sure just assume it's pretty bad 

-

Bat slashed them with the Notblade, but stumbled and crashed into the wall before he kept running. He'd definitely taken too many--- and they were both bleeding out--- 

They wouldn't make it in time. 

He pulled out the tiny vial and downed the contents. Energy zinged through his body, setting his blood on fire. 

"Wait." He grabbed Tam's hand and pulled her close to him. He switched Illusion for Pain. "Hold on to me."

11 minutes ago, Ancient Elantrian said:

He raised his eyebrows. "You're a lil' bit more cute than I expected."

Ryss flinched away. "Nooooo no touchy."

It stared him down. Qodi the rabbit eased behind Glen to hide. 

10 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

Rebus smiled, nodding. “And we’ve come full circle, each learning from the other. Existing is important to me as well, and that goal has the added benefit of never ending.” He considered his own outfit, which shifted to a significantly more ordinary lab coat trimmed in orange. “I concur - may I suggest cheating?” 

“Us? It depends on how you count. There are trillions of people around, with more coming into existence every day, but only around a few hundred could be considered… important? Relevant? There’s some destiny and metaphysics involved, which could be used for another count, of around a dozen.” 

She raised an eyebrow. "Cheating? Ah, you mean a time skip?" 

2 minutes ago, Limited_empathy said:

“Well, I don’t understand, but we should get moving, before night, bad things happen at night…”

Rose agreed. 

13 minutes ago, TwinStorm said:

He nodded and started hiking.

@Halcyon The Only

Rose followed. 

[TwinStorm He/Him]

Just now, Halcyon The Only said:

Oop you're right

Everyone forget the tattoos

I'm not sure just assume it's pretty bad 

-

Bat slashed them with the Notblade, but stumbled and crashed into the wall before he kept running. He'd definitely taken too many--- and they were both bleeding out--- 

They wouldn't make it in time. 

He pulled out the tiny vial and downed the contents. Energy zinged through his body, setting his blood on fire. 

"Wait." He grabbed Tam's hand and pulled her close to him. He switched Illusion for Pain. "Hold on to me."

It stared him down. Qodi the rabbit eased behind Glen to hide. 

She raised an eyebrow. "Cheating? Ah, you mean a time skip?" 

Rose agreed. 

hes using the Notblades!

my lil coward is becoming a warrior

Cricket would be so proud

Edited February 20, 2025 by TwinStorm

[Through the Living Shadow he/him]

8 hours ago, Thee insane said:

Asher appeared behind kintlen and using a sword that could only be described as holy light slashed at him. 

Soory

I was playing Dark Souls 3!

YAAAAY

 

Also, now that Kintlen betrayed Adari, he is taking from Aeia, who is essentially an evil goddess that pretends to be holy…

Kintlen shifted in a blur of bright light, moving faster than possible. He raised his hand, and an outline of light appeared, drawn on the spot. A sword.

It snapped into being, a weapon matching Asher’s.

”I have a glow sword too!”

Pyk steeped towards him, lashing out with his power. It did nothing.

[Keke They/he]

Just now, SpiritOfWrath said:

Soory

I was playing Dark Souls 3!

YAAAAY

 

Also, now that Kintlen betrayed Adari, he is taking from Aeia, who is essentially an evil goddess that pretends to be holy…

Kintlen shifted in a blur of bright light, moving faster than possible. He raised his hand, and an outline of light appeared, drawn on the spot. A sword.

It snapped into being, a weapon matching Asher’s.

”I have a glow sword too!”

Pyk steeped towards him, lashing out with his power. It did nothing.

Fight oh holy people

"ones made of truth the other of lies. Which is stronger?"

tee hee. Pov lightweavers be like. 

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

6 minutes ago, TwinStorm said:

hes using the Notblades!

my lil coward is becoming a warrior

Cricket would be so proud

Yeppp :DDD

@SpiritOfWrath be proud

[Through the Living Shadow he/him]

3 minutes ago, Thee insane said:

Fight oh holy people

"ones made of truth the other of lies. Which is stronger?"

tee hee. Pov lightweavers be like. 

Hey wait! Kintlen has a speech about the power of lies?

(well really, empty promises)

”Do you know the power of an empty promise?”

Kintlen grinned, and disappeared.

1 minute ago, Halcyon The Only said:

Yeppp :DDD

@SpiritOfWrath be proud

YAAAAAY

AHAHAHA

[THE SEER OF ALL genderfluid]

22 minutes ago, TwinStorm said:

He nodded and started hiking.

@Halcyon The Only

Chander Follows

17 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

Meat waited, hands empty. He’d been doing coin tricks with the frying pan, and this had been going to be a classic. 

Rebus looked at him, dead serious. “You likely don’t want to understand. I don’t know if I would want to, though I do not want to forget.” Then he smiled again. “On a lighter note, I’ve started a company, so if you need anything I can get it for you. Here’s my card.” Rebus’s card was black, tessellated with blue hexagons. He had a fancy logo (which I’ll get around to making eventually), and the back said “tap twice to open catalog”. 

“Thank you.”

9 minutes ago, Halcyon The Only said:

Oop you're right

Everyone forget the tattoos

I'm not sure just assume it's pretty bad 

-

Bat slashed them with the Notblade, but stumbled and crashed into the wall before he kept running. He'd definitely taken too many--- and they were both bleeding out--- 

They wouldn't make it in time. 

He pulled out the tiny vial and downed the contents. Energy zinged through his body, setting his blood on fire. 

"Wait." He grabbed Tam's hand and pulled her close to him. He switched Illusion for Pain. "Hold on to me."

It stared him down. Qodi the rabbit eased behind Glen to hide. 

She raised an eyebrow. "Cheating? Ah, you mean a time skip?" 

Rose agreed. 

Rose followed. 

 

[Keke They/he]

1 minute ago, SpiritOfWrath said:

Hey wait! Kintlen has a speech about the power of lies?

(well really, empty promises)

”Do you know the power of an empty promise?”

Kintlen grinned, and disappeared.

Cowikadik? I think NOT

Fr pyk and asher are soulmates

Asher fell into a proper stance. "Yeah. It hurts those close to you. But truth. That's more powerful. Truth can hurt or heal. Especially yourself. Lie to yourself. You'll drive yourself down. Admit it.... and... you" she trails off her sentence. She did have somethings she didn't wanna admit. 

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

11 minutes ago, Limited_empathy said:

Chander Follows

“Thank you.”

 

Shall I be the town? 

@TwinStorm should be the town I think  

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

21 minutes ago, Halcyon The Only said:

I'm not sure just assume it's pretty bad 

-

Bat slashed them with the Notblade, but stumbled and crashed into the wall before he kept running. He'd definitely taken too many--- and they were both bleeding out--- 

They wouldn't make it in time. 

He pulled out the tiny vial and downed the contents. Energy zinged through his body, setting his blood on fire. 

"Wait." He grabbed Tam's hand and pulled her close to him. He switched Illusion for Pain. "Hold on to me."

Irie looked the wound over.

"Goodness, what did you do?!"

-

She swatted at his hand, thinking he was one of the tentacles.

Then she realized who it was and hugged him, uncertain what exactly he was going to do.

[Through the Living Shadow he/him]

6 minutes ago, Thee insane said:

Cowikadik? I think NOT

Fr pyk and asher are soulmates

Asher fell into a proper stance. "Yeah. It hurts those close to you. But truth. That's more powerful. Truth can hurt or heal. Especially yourself. Lie to yourself. You'll drive yourself down. Admit it.... and... you" she trails off her sentence. She did have somethings she didn't wanna admit. 

Hehehehe

So

this is what I have in my writing thread.

However, I cut most of this out in the actual story

Spoiler

Kintlen looked to the ambassador. He tapped his finger on his desk, then leaned back. His eyes never left the corrupt man.

"What are we going to do, Director? The people are outraged at what we are doing!" The ambassador looked at Kintlen, as if searching for an answer.

Kintlen smiled, and closed his eyes. He grinned after a while. "I wish for you to draft a chart for me. A chart of our technological contributions to Ciclinto over the years. I wish for you change it, though."

The ambassador cut in. "Raise them? I don't know what that would do..."

Kintlen gave a smug laugh, his eyes still closed. "So shortsighted, my friend ambassador. No. We would lower them. Significantly. Take a third of what we have."

A frown. "Why?"

Kintlen sat up, and he opened his eyes. "Do you know the value of an empty promise? Because we will, with the release of the chart, release a new policy. A promise. We will commit to "raising" our donations to what they are now."

The ambassador cocked his head, still confused.

"Do you know the story of the vacant chest?"

With a shake of the head, Kintlen took this as an opportunity to continue. "It is an obscure story. And, truth be told, not very realistic. But the messages it tells… well, they are precious. Long ago, in the days we were still prey to the dragons, there ruled a king. His country was undergoing a time of crisis, and the people were calling for solutions. And, under the stress, the king promised more than he was able to give. It was empty, but it consoled them. His advisors, though, were not happy with this desicions. So unhappy that one of them decided to create a demonstration. This is where it parts from reality. If any of my advisors wasted resources to do this..."

He shrugged. "I would fire them, and then wonder why I had ever hired them. But back to this story. The one commissioned five chests to be brought to him, as well as a particularly radical collection of people. A bloodthirsty knight, a devout priest, and a rich merchant. He also asked for a sword, a book of prayers, a child's toy, and piles of gold. Lastly, he brought his own daughter. He placed each of these items inside one of the chests - though he left one vacant - and presented them to the king, bringing the persons as well."

Kintlen grinned yet again. "He looked to the king, and then opened the chests. He called the knight and asked which of the chests drove the hearts of men. The knight chose the sword, saying 'I've participated in many wars. I've been the deciding factor in a few. And nothing commands obedience like the sword held to the throat of an enemy.' The advisor thanked him, and the knight was excused. He turned to the priest, asking her the same. The priest chose the book of prayers. 'Nothing turns the hearts of men more than forgiveness.' The advisor thanked her, and she was excused. He turned to the merchant, asking him the same. The merchant chose the money. 'I've not met one that cannot be... convinced... be them priest or be them soldier.' The advisor thanked him, and he was excused."

Kintlen paused, then continued. "This is the best part. The advisor turned to his daughter and asked her the same. He was obviously expecting her to choose the toy, but she didn't. She chose the vacant chest. When questioned, she explained. 'The other things seem... they are a part of it, but they all contribute. I like toys, but life comes first, you know? I don't think it's anything like greed, or piety, or power, or contentment deciding one's decisions. But it's the opposite. Rather than seeking after them, they seek to keep what they have or might have had. A fear of becoming less, whether or not they are less than what they are now, or what they will be. One is afraid of death because they become less able to do anything. They seek power because they believe that if they didn't, they would be worth less, and they seek money for power. They are pious because if they weren't, they would judge themselves worth less. And they seek happiness because they believe if they don't be as happy as they could be, they wasted time. Were less than what they could have been.' The advisor was stunned. He had no idea his daughter was this wise, and it thwarted his entire demonstration. You see, he wanted to show that empty chests, promises, are worthless. But when the child chose it, and gave a reason why, it stopped his entire argument."

Kintlen leaned back again. "There are two lessons to this story. One, that empty promises can contain much more power than people merit them to. And two, an understanding of what drives people. With these, you can understand the effect of this specific promise I make. The people don't actually want to support Ciclinto any further; they are just afraid to be less of the good people we tell them they are. And so, by "tripling" the amount of donations, we satisfy them. They don't care how much we give, only that we give more."

Pyk stared at the space which Kintlen had filled, still glowing with a bright light.

”He’s gone.”

Pyk wasn’t sure if he was talking about Dint, or Kintlen.