Forged Iron

[Kingsdaughter613 she/her]

1 minute ago, AonEne said:

He danced with me? It was entirely possible that he had and she didn't remember it, or hadn't realized it was him. "You're wrong," she said with certainty. "I am myself, regardless of whatever you try to call me. I have been since -" Since Ruin died? But Ruin was when - when she'd most been herself. He was her Savior. Marie narrowed her eyes inwardly and insisted, "Pieces don't matter. It's the whole that they make up that does, and you can't change that by looking at it a certain way." You can't change me.

“You are,” Kelsier agreed, allowed his native accent full reign. He doubted Aspen would like him in her mind, but she wouldn’t want the others hearing this either. “But can you really tell me you’re little Marie Lekal? The girl in flowing gowns, curled hair, with just a trace of dirt beneath her nails from time spent in the greenhouse?

“Which were beautiful, incidentally.” He wasn’t lying; they had been. He remembered being both impressed and angry. Impressed at the skill, but angry that Skaa had been forced to work to create it. It had never occurred to him that the garden had been the work of Noble hands.

”But I don’t think you can say you’re all Ruin’s Inquisitor either. There’s too much of you and too little of him for that to be the case. So neither of those names fits.” He watched her carefully, gaze never wavering. 

“Why do you think I want you in my crew?” He asked abruptly. “I don’t need your powers and your spikes make you a liability, not an asset. I have enough spikes here to make an Inquisitor if I wanted one, but I don’t have to. I can duplicate my powers at need and give them to whomever I choose.

”But I remember your aspens. Strong enough to grow in ash, they were harsh things, stark and white. But you brought out their beauty, weaving their branches into a delicate trellis. I never thought aspens could be beautiful until you showed me they could be.

”I don’t choose people lightly, Marie. I choose people because they’re something I’m not. You are better person than I will ever be. That is why I want you on my crew.

”But even if you choose to stay with Saze, I want you to remember. You have something remarkable within you. Don’t hide it away.”

[Kings_way he/they]

On 3/6/2021 at 9:12 PM, AonEne said:

"I prefer my name, thanks," she said coolly. "Though Inquisitor works too - I am one." Her tone implied that meant she wasn't an Aspen. Belatedly, she realized he might have named her that because he'd figured out that she liked - hmm. Was this a barb, then? A threat? I know what you hold dear. The Survivor was the type to use the information he had, or to let others use it. Direct mind control might not be his style, but obviously he had no issue poking around in her head. No better than Harmony.

She shouldn't have relaxed her guard around him. Knives out and bronze burning, idiot. Ready with your zinc stores. Right, and tin, now. Her metals lit up inside, though she made no outward movement.

Ermin jumped as the Inquisitor, Marie, started burning her metals. He rested his hand on his gun, though he knew most of the people is this room could probably kill him without a second thought, except for the little girl. Although, knowing she's with Kelsier she's probably another Kandra or something. He warily eyed Marie, though it seemed like her attention was focused on Kelsier. At least she wasn't blindly following him, although they had killed Meens and his men together, so Ermin wasn't sure what he thought about her. He fingered his pistol, but left it at his side. 

[Random Bystander she/her]

49 minutes ago, Kings_way said:

Ermin jumped as the Inquisitor, Marie, started burning her metals. He rested his hand on his gun, though he knew most of the people is this room could probably kill him without a second thought, except for the little girl. Although, knowing she's with Kelsier she's probably another Kandra or something. He warily eyed Marie, though it seemed like her attention was focused on Kelsier. At least she wasn't blindly following him, although they had killed Meens and his men together, so Ermin wasn't sure what he thought about her. He fingered his pistol, but left it at his side. 

Ladashwy, who was burning tin, noticed him jump. She shot him a sympathetic look. He's taking this well, considering the circumstances. 

[Kingsdaughter613 she/her]

58 minutes ago, Kings_way said:

Ermin jumped as the Inquisitor, Marie, started burning her metals. He rested his hand on his gun, though he knew most of the people is this room could probably kill him without a second thought, except for the little girl. Although, knowing she's with Kelsier she's probably another Kandra or something. He warily eyed Marie, though it seemed like her attention was focused on Kelsier. At least she wasn't blindly following him, although they had killed Meens and his men together, so Ermin wasn't sure what he thought about her. He fingered his pistol, but left it at his side. 

“Not in danger,” Eryn told Ermin kindly. “Will protect while here.”

[AonEne he/him]

On 3/7/2021 at 11:58 AM, Kingsdaughter613 said:

”But even if you choose to stay with Saze, I want you to remember. You have something remarkable within you. Don’t hide it away.”

"That something is mine," she hissed back, angry and scared enough that her own voice dropped automatically into its old accent. "Not for others to use. And not for you to dissect and wave around in front of me." Her tin, bronze, and iron were burning high, every sense alert and ready for a fight, despite knowing that he was unlikely to do anything. Or was that instinct wrong, like the one that flinched away from her Almighty, like the one that wanted to trust the rusting Survivor, father to the one who killed gods and ended her entire world, again and again?

"There - there's plenty of Ruin in me. Our Lord is in all of us, including you, Survivor." She was grasping at ash, she knew it and she was still doing it because she was desperate and he just kept going. She gripped the handle of her knife, sweating, and went on, "Even in that imbecile woman of yours, the one who upset the stability of our glorious empire and then killed -" She couldn't keep talking. She hadn't cared about the Final Empire. Hell, they'd stolen her life away.

"Stop talking to me," she said finally, flipping the knife in her hand into a throwing position. She couldn't fight him, but there were other options.

[Kingsdaughter613 she/her]

40 minutes ago, AonEne said:

"That something is mine," she hissed back, angry and scared enough that her own voice dropped automatically into its old accent. "Not for others to use. And not for you to dissect and wave around in front of me." Her tin, bronze, and iron were burning high, every sense alert and ready for a fight, despite knowing that he was unlikely to do anything. Or was that instinct wrong, like the one that flinched away from her Almighty, like the one that wanted to trust the rusting Survivor, father to the one who killed gods and ended her entire world, again and again?

"There - there's plenty of Ruin in me. Our Lord is in all of us, including you, Survivor." She was grasping at ash, she knew it and she was still doing it because she was desperate and he just kept going. She gripped the handle of her knife, sweating, and went on, "Even in that imbecile woman of yours, the one who upset the stability of our glorious empire and then killed -" She couldn't keep talking. She hadn't cared about the Final Empire. Hell, they'd stolen her life away.

"Stop talking to me," she said finally, flipping the knife in her hand into a throwing position. She couldn't fight him, but there were other options.

Kelsier watched her calmly, keeping himself completely relaxed. His old instincts hated that, but he forced them down. This was not a time to react. Aspen was like a feral cat, so used to being beaten down that she lashed out at the offer of milk. Kelsier had adopted a few of those.

Instead he nodded slowly, smiling kindly, swallowing down the words he wanted to say to her. That he was more of Ruin than she, and that he came by the Connection naturally unlike her, who had had it forced upon her.

But she’d asked him for silence, so silence he’d give her. It was long past time someone cared about what Aspen wanted. He’d respect her wish, and let her know that it would be respected.

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Kelsier is canonically a cat person. And he totally thinks Marie is a cat.

 

[Condensation she/her]

Zola yawned. "This is boring. Can you hurry up?"

[AonEne he/him]

9 minutes ago, Kingsdaughter613 said:

Instead he nodded slowly, smiling kindly, swallowing down the words he wanted to say to her. That he was more of Ruin than she, and that he came by the Connection naturally unlike her, who had had it forced upon her.

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She totally is in some ways haha! And nice comeback.

Marie narrowed her eyes at him, then at Zola. Her grip on her dagger tightened when the child spoke, but she turned and sat on the top of a pew, running her fingers over the flat of the blade.

[Lunar Blessing she/her]

“Oh geez. That got a little intense. I’ll be honest, I was scared you two would fight. I’m not good at close quarters combat, too easy to accidentally kill someone.” Val glances between the two. Hemalurgic creature are so often looked down on that seeing one respected like this by the survivor himself made her happy, even if he had threatened to kill her a little bit ago.

[AonEne he/him]

1 minute ago, Blessing of Potency said:

“Oh geez. That got a little intense. I’ll be honest, I was scared you two would fight. I’m not good at close quarters combat, too easy to accidentally kill someone.” Val glances between the two. Hemalurgic creature are so often looked down on that seeing one respected like this by the survivor himself made her happy, even if he had threatened to kill her a little bit ago.

Marie latched onto a situation she knew how to deal with in relief. This kandra had no power over her, in her opinion. "That's right, sometimes I forget you lot aren't supposed to kill," she said, hurrying to get the words out. "Can't have you disobeying the laws of a dead man."

[Kingsdaughter613 she/her]

3 minutes ago, Condensation said:

Zola yawned. "This is boring. Can you hurry up?"

“Yes,” Kelsier said, shooting Zola a warm smile. “Bubble down.”

Eryn smiled, getting up. “Good. Come child. We go shopping now.”

3 minutes ago, AonEne said:

Marie narrowed her eyes at him, then at Zola. Her grip on her dagger tightened when the child spoke, but she turned and sat on the top of a pew, running her fingers over the flat of the blade.

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Thanks! Pity Marie asked him not to talk to her... She couldn’t have picked a crueler torture for him if she’d tried, lol!

He actually does mean well by her, surprisingly. The real reason he wanted to recruit her was because she was from the Final Empire and he’s a lot more lonely and homesick than he’s willing to admit. Although that’s not the reason he’s telling himself.

 

[Condensation she/her]

Just now, Kingsdaughter613 said:

“Yes,” Kelsier said, shooting Zola a warm smile. “Bubble down.”

Eryn smiled, getting up. “Good. Come child. We go shopping now.”

"Wait, shopping?" Zola sighed. "Fine. Let's go fast."

[AonEne he/him]

1 minute ago, Kingsdaughter613 said:

Thanks! Pity Marie asked him not to talk to her... She couldn’t have picked a crueler torture for him if she’d tried, lol!

He actually does mean well by her, surprisingly. The real reason he wanted to recruit her was because she was from the Final Empire and he’s a lot more lonely and homesick than he’s willing to admit. Although that’s not the reason he’s telling himself.

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I know, and a different version of her would go with him, and both of them could be happy that way. It just wouldn't be good for her in this circumstance, I think (though I'm not a trained professional, only a girl who loves characters and psychology and stuff).

 

[Kingsdaughter613 she/her]

3 minutes ago, Condensation said:

"Wait, shopping?" Zola sighed. "Fine. Let's go fast."

Eryn chuckled, heading toward the door. “Princess now. Must dress proper.”

2 minutes ago, AonEne said:

 

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As someone actually studying the field... I think she needs autonomy within a clear, bounded, but not overly constrained structure.

Kell isn’t good for her because she knows too much to trust him (even if he really is being genuine here) and he’d leave things too open. 

Saze is worse though, since he’s too constraining and he gave the controls to someone who takes them much too far. They also have too much history at this point.

Marsh would probably be best, if she’d be willing to work with him. But he’s not currently involved (beyond pointing Kell at her in the first place; neither brother approved of that situation, but Marsh underestimates his ability to help, I think.)

 

[Condensation she/her]

2 minutes ago, Kingsdaughter613 said:

Eryn chuckled, heading toward the door. “Princess now. Must dress proper.”

"Oh! That's right. Okay, let's go."

[Kingsdaughter613 she/her]

Just now, Condensation said:

"Oh! That's right. Okay, let's go."

Kelsier waved lazily, lounging in his seat. “Have fun!”

Eryn bowed slightly in farewell, then pushed open the temple doors.

[Condensation she/her]

3 minutes ago, Kingsdaughter613 said:

Kelsier waved lazily, lounging in his seat. “Have fun!”

Eryn bowed slightly in farewell, then pushed open the temple doors.

"See you, Kell!" Zola waved and went through the doors.

[Kingsdaughter613 she/her]

1 minute ago, Condensation said:

"See you, Kell!" Zola waved and went through the doors.

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Kell is staying to talk to Drae, btw.

@Lecky Twig

Eryn took Zola’s hand as the headed down the street. It was a small town and she had seen the dress shop on the way to the temple. It wasn’t very far.

[Condensation she/her]

Just now, Kingsdaughter613 said:

Eryn took Zola’s hand as the headed down the street. It was a small town and she had seen the dress shop on the way to the temple. It wasn’t very far.

Zola slowed down for Eryn, although not by much.

[AonEne he/him]

26 minutes ago, Kingsdaughter613 said:

As someone actually studying the field... I think she needs autonomy within a clear, bounded, but not overly constrained structure.

Kell isn’t good for her because she knows too much to trust him (even if he really is being genuine here) and he’d leave things too open. 

Saze is worse though, since he’s too constraining and he gave the controls to someone who takes them much too far. They also have too much history at this point.

Marsh would probably be best, if she’d be willing to work with him. But he’s not currently involved (beyond pointing Kell at her in the first place; neither brother approved of that situation, but Marsh underestimates his ability to help, I think.)

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I'd agree with all of that. She's going to chat with Sazed soon and straighten some stuff out.

 

[Random Bystander she/her]

Ladashwy, who hadn't slept the night before because of obvious reasons, had fallen asleep during the conversation between Marie and Kelsier. 

[Kings_way he/they]

Ermin felt a little awkward standing there as the others started to leave. He wasn't sure what to do, so he sat down on a bench. Bringing anyone here to justice wouldn't work and was apparently illegal, but he was sure he was here for a reason. What should I do? He thought, fingering the plain earing he wore. He had heard of other Pathians receiving messages from Harmony, but he had never felt anything, at least not in the form of words. He still wore it, and often felt a sense of direction and purpose while wearing it. Harmony? If your listening, do you need me to do something?  

@AonEne

 

Edited March 10, 2021 by Kings_way

[Kingsdaughter613 she/her]

12 minutes ago, Kings_way said:

Ermin felt a little awkward standing there as the others started to leave. He wasn't sure what to do, so he sat down on a bench. Bringing anyone here to justice wouldn't work and was apparently illegal, but he was sure he was here for a reason. What should I do? He thought, fingering the plain earing he wore. He had heard of other Pathians receiving messages from Harmony, but he had never felt anything, at least not in the form of words. He still wore it, and often felt a sense of direction and purpose while wearing it. Harmony? If your listening, do you need me to do something?  

@AonEne

 

If you’re going to talk to Saze in my house, it’s polite to ask first. Especially when I’m right here.

[Kings_way he/they]

Just now, Kingsdaughter613 said:

If you’re going to talk to Saze in my house, it’s polite to ask first. Especially when I’m right here.

Ermin looked around, then remembered where he was. How are you speaking to me? 

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He doesn't know anything about hemalurgy, and thinks of the earing like a tool for meditation

 

[Kingsdaughter613 she/her]

Just now, Kings_way said:

Ermin looked around, then remembered where he was. How are you speaking to me? 

 

You were the one praying in my church, Kelsier sent bemused. Why are you so surprised I’d answer?