The Knights Next Door

[I think I am here. he/him]

A knock on the door.

Rob got up and switched his phone off, putting in his pocket. He had only half-finished his Cheerios but it would be polite to open the door to whoever was there. Hopefully not the police looking for answers, he hoped. He had no idea it actually was someone looking back for answers. Just not the police.

“Oh, hello,” Rob said, opening the door to see Ashlyn. A pleasant surprise, but he didn’t show it. “I don’t know if many people are up, it’s pretty early.”

[+Sorana she/her]

Shana heard steps, but finished her training before she headed over to the door. This was her time, and her time alone.

"Good morning, Ashlyn."

She greeted her and smiled friendly, her mat under arm.

"Care for some breakfast?"

She asked and stepped inside.

@Blessing of Potency

@I think I am here.

[Eluvianii he/him]

Edwin looked out the window and saw light outside. Great, he had spent the night playing. And thinking. He wasn't that worried before the others had voiced their concerns about the world, and how it would see them if they found out about Investiture. Now he was worried.

His life here was good. He could spend his time talking with his friends, playing videogames, reading, training, walking around the city, he was free. And he wasn't willing to give up that freedom.

His mind was going numb. Too much time awake and he was getting hungry too. Maybe it would be better to think about that when he was in his five senses.

He got up and changed. Twinkle was on top of the dresser.

"You didn't have to stay here all night, you know." he said to her. "No, but I thought you needed the company." she said. He didn't answer, but he was grateful.

He walked downstairs and noted that several people were already up, even though the sun had barely risen. Didn't someone mention pancakes last night? He decided to go to the kitchen and get started. By the time they realized he was awake, breakfast would be half done.

[Lunar Blessing she/her]

“No thanks. I’ve actually come to talk about... about yesterday.” Ashlyn says, struggling to get the words out. 

@Sorana @I think I am here.

[+Sorana she/her]

4 minutes ago, Blessing of Potency said:

“No thanks. I’ve actually come to talk about... about yesterday.” Ashlyn says, struggling to get the words out. 

@Sorana @I think I am here.

"Sure."

Shana turned so that Rob couldn't see her face and quietly asked. With him alone?

She would answer all questions, but she'd noticed the two talking, how Rob behaved and didn't want to disturb.

[overlord stick]

Flid jerked awake, sweating. The nightmares had come again. He sighed. Why won't they go away? We beat them. Am I really that weak? 

You aren't weak, we are strong. No, Flid thought back, You're strong. Strong enough to come here, and bond to me, but I'm not.

Why are you so pessimistic? They are gone. Enough of this, you need to take better care of yourself. Fine, I'll get some cereal or something. 

He got off the couch, and walked into past the door, where Rob and.. Ashley? No, Ashlyn were talking, and into the kitchen. He sat down, and poured himself a bowl of cheerios.

Edited September 3, 2019 by Lord Furret

[Lunar Blessing she/her]

1 hour ago, Sorana said:

"Sure."

Shana turned so that Rob couldn't see her face and quietly asked. With him alone?

She would answer all questions, but she'd noticed the two talking, how Rob behaved and didn't want to disturb.

Quote

Whoop. Thought you typed him to her and where asking Rob

Ashlyn nods. She didn’t really know anyone else in this group, so talking to him alone felt like a good idea.

@I think I am here.

[+Sorana she/her]

9 minutes ago, Blessing of Potency said:

Ashlyn nods. She didn’t really know anyone else in this group, so talking to him alone felt like a good idea.

@I think I am here.

"If you need anything, just tell me. I'll help with the breakfast."

Shana winked at Ashlyn, turned showed a secret encouraging thumbs up to Rob and headed to the kitchen. Flid and Edwin were there and she waved at them, set her mat down.

"Pancakes?"

@Eluvianii

@Lord Furret

@I think I am here.

[overlord stick]

Flid smiled at Shana as she sat down. "Oh right! Thanks for reminding me!" See, this is why you don't put milk in cereal. But it's not right!  

"So, how do we make pancakes?"

[+Sorana she/her]

"One egg for two tablespoons of flour. Add milk until it has a good consistency, and a little bit of salt."

Shana laughed and fetched a bowl.

"Here, you can mix, while we add the incredients."

She handed the eggs to Edwin and grabbed the flour and some milk.

[AonEne he/him]

4 hours ago, Eluvianii said:

Edwin 

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You know what, I've decided this character is underrated. Willshaper high-five? 

(I'm going to finish the NW scene in a minute, then skip to everyone else's time. Sorry for the delay, lunch is going to end soon for me.) 

 

[Eluvianii he/him]

1 hour ago, AonEne said:

 

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Thanks  proceeds to high-five fellow Willshaper

Edwin started breaking the eggs in a bowl, so they would be ready when they were needed.

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Do people do this? I'm suddenly curious about pancake customs in different parts of the world.

 

[Wyndlerunner he/him]

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Hey, 'Ene. So, about that NW post...

@AonEne

[Lunar Blessing she/her]

Ashlyn turns to Rob, “so do you want to talk here or is there somewhere we could sit down?”

@I think I am here.

[AonEne he/him]

On 9/1/2019 at 6:43 PM, Wyndlerunner said:

James sat down at his desk and gave the most enigmatic look he could muster "Any who seek shall find" he said, in a deep tone, hopefully befitting the interceding position he now held. "Nightwatcher?" He called out, "Could you show yourself to her?"

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Okay, super sorry, I got home from school and was ambushed by family. Only recently escaped. 

You know how she calls Dalinar Son of Honor? I was tempted to have her call Cass a Daughter of Eve or Daughter of God or something.  But I didn’t want to trigger anyone and it doesn’t really fit the scene anyway. I know you said the dialogue was okay - are the actions also? 

Also I know this was mentioned sometime, but do we know what Cohesion does at all? 

Cassie clasped her hands in front of her chest nervously, twisting her fingers, then cupped Joy in both hands when the lightspren wandered over. She had no idea what to expect...and yet somehow, the Nightwatcher was exactly as she had expected. 

At first all that could be seen was a smoky wisp of dark green mist, coalescing next to James. It spread slowly, but other tendrils were beginning to creep out from under his desk, seeping from his covers. Refusing to step back, even though she was a little bit spooked, Cass watched as the green fog wound around its Bondsmith’s legs. It joined seamlessly with the other mists roping through the bedroom; a light film of emerald sheathed the floor. It was cool where it touched her ankles and as indiscernible as a feather’s touch. 

Next to James, the mist stirred, several currents in it pushing one direction or the other. A whispering sound emanated from them. Their tempo increased, whipping faster, more gusts jerking up this way and that, though she couldn’t feel any wind on her skin. Then the green vapor began to rise, the layer on the bottom of the room somehow never lessening despite being drawn upward. The whispering got louder, but Cassie was unable to make out a single word. 

The tower of mist was changing incrementally by the second, rearranging to show a figure here, molding a focused eye there, until at last before them stood a woman Cassie knew could only be the Nightwatcher. 

What will you ask for, young Radiant? Her voice was like listening to a coin-leaf tree in the mountains, her expression a mask of unfaltering calm like stilled wind, her scent - when Cass dared to take a cautious breath - one of flowers that opened in the dusk. 

She had thought it over on the way here, and she knew exactly what she wanted to say. "I want to have the powers of a Willshaper at the Fifth Ideal. I'll take any bane, just give me the ability to help my frie - my family." 

The Nightwatcher looked at her for one moment. It was just a look, but Cassie felt like it was cutting her soul, stabbing right through. Child, you don't know what you're asking for. This will not be what you wish it to. Her misty form shifted almost imperceptibly, but Cassie couldn’t decide what the emotion in her solid green eyes was. 

“What do you mean?” She held Joy a little tighter and was reminded that spren had no physical form. 

Protecting them this way will hurt you worse than you can imagine. 

Cassie relaxed just a bit. This she had prepared for; this she knew. "I don't care if it hurts me. Just so long as I can defend them." 

Again, the powerful spren got an unfathomable look in her gaze as it pierced her. Was it amusement? Anger? Discomfort? You should care. 

“...What?” 

Never mind. The Nightwatcher drifted closer, halting in front of her. I will give you this, every power that a Willshaper who has reached the Fifth Ideal would have, and the consequences that will come with it. That look was sadness. But was it melancholy? A briefer sorrow? I will also give you a bane, in the hopes that you will not do more harm; all spren will be hidden from your eyes, kept from your ears, secreted from your mind. You will not sense them in any way. No...that was grief. This I grant to you, Cassandra. 

Those deep, grieving eyes held her paralyzed as the Nightwatcher’s hand shot out, palm lighting on the top of Cass’s head - mist dripped from it, clinging to her face, creeping up her nose - her mouth dropped involuntarily and it flooded in - she couldn’t breathe - all she could see was jade and moss and snakeskin, green, green - 

something 

broke 

...and a white-hot pulse wracked her, new and awful and entirely unlike anything she had ever felt before. Cassie nearly threw up, it was so bad, but she held it in instead, grasping for somewhere else for the burning to go. She thrust it to her hands with some long-buried instinct, and felt something hard settle there. 

All at once the pain and pulsing heat fell away like rain, as did the Nightwatcher’s vapor. The spren was nowhere to be seen, though Stormlight filled a couple scattered jewels; loose gemstones in Cassie’s jeans glowed through the denim. And in her hands was a long, straight Shardblade, patterned with perfectly round dots that shone with Light. She stared at it, realizing with a jolt that this must be hers. This was Joy.  

“Wow,” she whispered at the Blade. Surprisingly, no answering flicker of emotion came from Joy, and Cassie blinked - then it came to her. You will not sense them in any way. Spren were invisible and mute to her now; she wasn’t even able to communicate with her own. That did hurt, just like the Nightwatcher had said it would. Though maybe not as much. Cutting off the exchange of emotions wasn’t quite as bad as she had feared. It wasn’t like the two of them had had any heartfelt conversations anyway. 

Sucking in a shaky breath, Cassie brought her head up to look at James. “Thank you,” she said quietly. I can help them now. I should be able to summon Plate too...and use Transportation. “Thank you, too, Nightwatcher,” she added, knowing the spren must still be there - Cassie just couldn’t tell now. 

Edited September 4, 2019 by AonEne
One typo. That was literally it, in this whole thing.

[I think I am here. he/him]

57 minutes ago, Blessing of Potency said:

Ashlyn turns to Rob, “so do you want to talk here or is there somewhere we could sit down?“

Shana left, gave him a thumbs up and Rob wasn’t sure to do. She left to make pancakes, and Rob just sort of stood there awkwardly, not sure what to say. She wanted answers. Rob knew she probably wouldn’t just ‘forget’ this little incident. So the only solution was to tell her the rest, right?

“Uh, we could go to my room,” he said. He looked to the living room. “Or we can just talk on the couch. Either one is fine.”

[Lunamor she/her]

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WHY JOY WHYYYYYYY

ENE YOU HAVE MADE ME SAD NO MORE SPREN BOBBING IN FIRES AHHHHHALJEJDJQBBDKCKGOHO

 

[AonEne he/him]

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*smiles at Luna*  

 

[old man moomba he/him]

Doc stomped upstairs, looking tired. He didn't feel tired, but perhaps that was because he'd spent most of the night messing with his Shardplate. Plate was wonderful stuff, it lent him awesome stregth, (he'd crushed a few chunks of concrete with his hands) and protected his from basically every weapon he could try out on himself. 

He poured himself a cup of coffee, smiling slightly at the mere throught of showing the others.

[+Sorana she/her]

8 hours ago, Eluvianii said:

Do people do this? I'm suddenly curious about pancake customs in different parts of the world.

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Well, Shana's recipe is mine, so if it seems familiar to you, there have to be some parallels

Shana added two tablespoons of flour for each egg and then poured some milk into the mixing bowl, until it looked good. A little bit of salt.

"You can mix it."

She told Flid and stepped back.

"It needs to be thin, we can easily add more milk. but mix it a bit first, so that we can have a look at its consistency."

@Lord Furret

===========

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Is Joy still there, and you only can't see her, or is she gone completely?

@AonEne

[old man moomba he/him]

Doc watched Shana direct the pancake making proceedings. "How long do you think it'll take to make those?" he asked, "Because I have something I want to try when you guys are done."

[+Sorana she/her]

27 minutes ago, Dr. Dapper said:

Doc watched Shana direct the pancake making proceedings. "How long do you think it'll take to make those?" he asked, "Because I have something I want to try when you guys are done."

"Not long. Half an hour maybe."

Shana avoided his glance.

"I mean, we can stop anytime, if it's more important, of if you need something..."

She trailed of, looked to the door and wondered if she could flee. He'd never spoken to her. Never had adressed all the issues she had brought up. And she still had no idea what to make of that.

[AonEne he/him]

44 minutes ago, Sorana said:

Is Joy still there, and you only can't see her, or is she gone completely?

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What a good question to be asking  

By the way, I’ve officially decided to drop Eiss as a character, I can’t figure out how to fit her in. So she was just an NPC. I’ll remove her from the list later when editing is easier. 

 

[+Sorana she/her]

Just now, AonEne said:

What a good question to be asking  

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Well, if she's flying around Cass sadly, Shana will react to it. Or Mahad will.

 

[AonEne he/him]

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They won’t see Joy flying around her, sadly or otherwise.