Voidus

~Laurelai; Lita's Apartment, the Alleys~ "Power or subtlety, is it?" Lita asked jokingly, though Laurelai did not miss the fraction of a second where her voice had cracked. "Or is this the mysterious third option I was not told about? The ability to never lose at cards? Being able to taste memories? Pulling mille feuille out of my pockets like Mac does?" "I do believe that I've already never witnessed you lose at cards." Laurelai said, grinning in kind. "And unfortunately I have absolutely no idea how Mac does that, even R&D isn't entirely certain. Now there should also be..." Laurelai reached out to pull the cream silk lining up, revealing a small glass vial beneath it which she set in front of Lita, still smiling subtly. Laurelai did love receiving gifts but she enjoyed giving them just as much. She savoured the smile and the laugh that Lita gave her at the present, felt it warm her own smile a little more. Whatever else had happened during the Forgery, at least this had not changed. They were still friends. But would she stay that way? If she knew. That insufferable voice just refused to stay quiet. If you were really her friend Laurelai then you would actually be honest with her. "You already have a zinctongue" Laurelai said, forcing a smile to carry through a slight shiver of discomfort. "I thought perhaps some brass to go with it?" ~Voidus; Alley K-9-1077~ "Hello, Nox, it's so wonderful to see you today." Vivica replied, her voice shaking slightly even as her eyes lit with delight. Something wrong? Voidus thought, eyes quickly flicking back to Gamma-10, but the grizzled Seekrador seemed as at ease as he was ever likely to, and had not made any motion to report any unusual or noteworthy incidents. What then could have upset her? Or was it simply the lingering instability to her soul? "I'm afraid I've gotten nothing for you - please forgive me. I should have been more prepared. It's... alright if you don't want to give them to me anymore. I'd understand." She continued. Voidus gave a wry smile at her words, something he should have expected. Vivica, while remarkably unbothered by things that certainly did bother most, was also perpetually worried about appearing impolite or rude. He shook his head in a slight motion, his smile shifting to an attempt at being reassuring, and he set both the boxes on the table, the slightly squarer, smaller box on the bottom. "You have given me plenty Viv." He objected. "You gave me back everything that I now have, and you gave me..." Almost he said 'you', it had been clear enough after all when he had shared her mind for those few delightful moments. She had offered everything about herself to him, every corner of her mind, every joyous moment of delight. But they had still not precisely had a moment to discuss that, and so he shifted slightly at the last moment. "You gave me the pleasure of your company." He said instead. "Both during the Forgery and after. But if you insist on giving me something in return, this first one is actually something of a present for myself as well. If you would care to, I would love to have your company tonight. There is a... meeting of some kind in the city. I would love some more pleasant company during it." Pulling the top of the box he revealed the simple white dress inside of it, tailored to her size and with an additional chiffon skirt layered over the silk. He had tried to find something that was formal enough without veering too far from Vivica's normal style. And in white to better to show any red that she acquired whilst wearing it. "I do hope you like it." Voidus said, dark eyes watching her interestedly for her reaction. "But if there's anything you would like to change..." @ZincAboutIt

~Voidus; Alley K-9-1077~ Voidus appeared outside the door, rather than inside. Knocking would be the polite thing to do, even if Vivica had very little concept of privacy around him. She had bared her mind to him after all, compared to that what was being caught at an unexpected moment? But it was still the polite thing. Voidus believed in extending courtesy even to the irritating citizens of the city when he had to, he could certainly extend it to Vivica. He rapped gently on the door, smiling at the sound of exuberant yips and the sound of tiny furred bodies falling over themselves and each other. Likely forming themselves into a line, though the younger squads took a little time to do so effectively. He would need to remember to give them some praise over it, as a show of appreciation for them taking on a less than normal task. Usually Seekradors were tasked with tracking and retrieval, not protection. "Vivica?" He called aloud, voice carrying through the hardwood door. "It is Nox. May I..." He opened the door carefully, giving a respectable pause for her to refuse him entry though he was entirely uncertain of what circumstances could ever prompt her to do so. She was remarkably... cavalier sometimes. As expected no objections came and so he entered, folding his coat over an arm as he crossed the threshold and giving a passing glance over the room. As expected, the Seekrador pups had lined up, a few of them trembling with excitement and all except for the older Gamma 10 wagging their tails involuntarily. It was only as his gaze passed each of them that they held perfectly still, head lifted up proudly only to immediately tremble with even greater excitement as he moved on. "Hello Viv." He said, eyes turning to Vivica with a slight smile. "I hope you're well. I brought some presents." ~Laurelai; Lita's Apartment, the Alleys~ Something flashed for just a moment behind Lita's eyes, too quickly to catch. Laurelai felt her own eyes sharpen in response, quick to trace each line of expression as Lita raised an eyebrow, glancing first at her own, and then Laurelai's outfits. Laurelai looked for any hint of a tell, but in a most unfair distribution of talent Lita had the ability both to see through most other people's deceptions as well as immaculately craft her own. It was rare that Laurelai managed to get an entirely complete read of the redhead, even after knowing her so well. "Yes, positively sweltering." Lita agreed with a smile, though Laurelai wasn't quite sure that she would call it 'sweltering' even if her cheeks, ears and neck did feel rather warm. "Whyever did you choose to wear so many layers?" Lita continued. "Oh well you know." Laurelai began, her tongue buying time for her mind to finish processing body language and start with the question that she had been asked. "It's just part of... part of the..." Layers? Her mind repeated with curiosity. Laurelai looked down at the dress Lita had just examined. It was one of the bolder outfits that she had ever owned, and while there were very technically layers of fabric to the dress, they were not the kind that would cause any issues with heat. Quite the opposite in fact. And even with the thinness of the fabric disregarded, the amount of visible skin it showed would be enough for her to catch a chill in any season but summer. "Mmm, perhaps the wine." She said, her face growing another degree warmer at the realization of just how much Lita could see of her. "I... well it's best to relax while picking an outfit so I suppose we both started a little early today." She gave an easy, wry smile. Though it did require a little more deliberate effort than usual to produce. Internally however she bore through her own self-directed scowl of disapproval and berated her choice to go quite so bold. Showing up with an outfit like this and her ears altered on top of it? Laurelai had no doubt it would seem almost desperate, and that was something she always wanted to avoid. Particularly now. Yes wouldn't want to look so desperate in front of Lita would we? The mocking voice returned. Wouldn't want to... collapse into a ball of stress so tense that you practically unraveled yourself at her touch. Partially to distract Lita, and partially to distract herself, Laurelai pulled a small box from within her bag and laid it onto the table. She let it sit just a moment before sliding the green velvet box across to Lita with a more natural smile. "However speaking of which, the weather not the wine, I got you something." Laurelai said, eyes glinting with genuine enjoyment to give a gift to her friend. "Something of a 'welcome back' present. Or a 'congratulations on the promotion' I suppose." @ZincAboutIt

Yeah I think our preference would be to try something else, we can potentially revisit the idea of someone with DID later if it's something you want to practice writing. Alternatively we are hoping to start up some more things like writing advice threads, and practice writing areas where people can try things like this out, might be good to practice and also let us see kind of what you were thinking. But for now I'd say probably the twinborn would be the better choice to start. Fear of loss comes to mind as the biggest one, but generally speaking it would somewhat change based on the person and the circumstances. 'Trauma' can be reacted to in a million different ways, there's not single universal human response.But also what counts as a flaw is somewhat different for different people. Honestly though referring to Brandon's characters is not a bad idea in this, look how various characters have responded to trauma and deaths of those close to them. Kaladin's depression, Vin's emotional walling off, Dalinar trying to change. A flaw also does not necessarily have to be internal, though I would suggest thinking of at least one of those for each character to add some complexity. But a flaw could be that their goals are stifled by some insurmountable authority, or the thing they are seeking is unrecoverable and held by an opposing faction. There are a lot of ways to approach looking at it but it boils down to 'Thing that is stopping your character from achieving their goals and introducing tension into their arc.'

~Ember; Hall of Legends~ The Spren swirled around the collar of a statue, a man it thought, though possibly a woman, with upraised arms. A tiny chip had formed at the back, a patch where the stone was rough instead of smooth, and pitted slightly. The spren swirled around this spot with great interest, examining the break from many different angles to better appreciate the damage. It was small, the type of destruction that would take decades or centuries to overtake something this large, but it was inexorable, unceasing destruction. There is something beautiful in that too, is there not? Ember thought to themselves, his mental voice crackling in perfectly identical fashion to when he spoke aloud. Ooh, another interesting thing I remember. A difference. Humans say that their voice sounds different when they hear it, but to a spren a voice is only ever what it is. Should I tell Temeria? A flicker of sparks hovered up from behind the statue, figure dissipating into innumerable glowing points before pulling back together mid-air in the form of a person, a man with a straight back and glowing eyes and a tiny sword. Ember liked this appearance the most, lately. It felt more right. This was another form of desctruction, one not nearly as inexorable as pitted stone but far swifted and more exciting. It was one of Ember's favourite kinds. He found Temeria three statues over, just now turning and striding towards the entrance, it was a nice stride. Purposeful. Important. Decisive. If only she could crack the stone under her feet, or throw lightning while she walked or... or any of the other numerous ways that she might open up her surroundings and show Ember what lay on the inside of things. Ember loved the inside of things just as much as he loved the change in things. And he never understood the other spren's aversion to them. Honorspren looked to the inside of people all the time didn't they? They were always talking about how disappointed they were in the hearts of men. "Temeria." Ember said with a happy popping sound as he streaked to her shoulder and reformed, his sword now sheathed. "You look interesting right now. Important. Are we doing something important?" @Sorana ~Laurelai; Lita's apartment~ Lita was grinning as Laurelai inspected herself. Of course she was grinning, no doubt she would be able to hold this over Laurelai forever if she cared to. The night Laurelai had spent so long looking over herself and getting ready only to not notice that her anatomy had been altered. But if there was some small comfort it was that Lita would not at least be overly malicious in doing so, only teasing. Yes well you'd know all about that wouldn't you? A voice called to her. Her own voice. You remember during the Forgery there was another reason you were putting so much time into choosing outfits. You were trying so hard to tea- Laurelai cut the voice off with the swiftness of an executioner's guillotine. Silencing the traitorous thoughts. It was best not to dwell on those thoughts. Lita was her friend now, which meant it would be entirely innocent and playful teasing. An extension of their usual banter, nothing more. "Must you?" Lita said, moving a step closer with a subtle waft of perfumed skin. "I rather like them - for an occasion, of course." Laurelai's fingers froze, the skin beneath them growing noticeably warmer to the touch. The cursed things were about three times as sensitive as they were before, alerting her very quickly to the increased bloodflow an heat that rose at Lita's words, entirely unexpected. "But, if you must, there's a mirror in the bedroom. And the washroom. And the hallway. I have quite a few mirrors, as you might imagine. Probably not as many as you do, though." Lita continued, with a voice of light disappointment. Laurelai chewed her lip for a full three seconds before remembering to stop, releasing the soft flesh from between her teeth and trying to restore a neutral expression. She was calm. She was collected. Her ears and cheeks might feel increasingly warm, but that would simply be due to the chill of the air that had just begun turning towards true cold. Laurelai was not exactly dressed the warmest she had ever been. "I'm quite glad you took as long as you did, or I'd be completely sober to witness this as opposed to slightly tipsy. And that would be a terrible crime." Lita said, flashing brilliant white teeth in a grin that pinned Laurelai in place, followed by a wink that was all too familiar. 'Yes." Laurelai replied, voice trembling only for the first instant. "Well we wouldn't want to commit any terrible crimes would we?" She gave a smirk and a raised brow, trying to recover the usual patter, the familiar back and forth of wit. Much easier then, to focus purely on being clever, rather than on how long Lita's lashes looked right now, or how very nicely that teal set off her much more strikingly green eyes. "Goodness, warm today isn't it?" Laurelai said, somewhat more quickly and taking a quick sip of the wine to calm her nerves. @ZincAboutIt

~Laurelai; Lita's apartment~ A pleased smile crept across Laurelai's lips at Lita's immediate reaction to seeing her. Very well worth the time and effort of pulling everything together, of agonizing over her choices until everything blended seamlessly together into a single perfect aesthetic. It was doubly satisfying to receive such a reaction from Lita, Laurelai could all-too-well recall herself having a similar reaction, when she had seen Lita that first night. During the Forgery. Her mind whispered to her. You remember the Forgery don't you Laurelai? She held herself still, dismissing the thought with a mental shake rather than a physical one. Serene. Calm. Controlled. She was not going to let her emotions get the better of her today. No matter what happened. She could simply avoid thinking about the Forgery, focus on something else. Focus on... Her eyes drifted down from Lita's face to the dress she was wearing, teal and all in velvet. It prompted a second pleased smile from Laurelai, as she gave in an appreciative look over. Velvet was, of course, always lovely, she had to make a point to hold her hands still to keep from touching it on instinct. And the colour... Lita had looked lovely in the gold, but the slightly cool tones of this dress set the rest of her off very nicely indeed, her hair was even more striking in colour than usual, and her skin seemed to practically glow. The cut was lovely as well, with the neckline... Laurelai glanced away, pulling her gaze towards the table and the glasses that rested on it. Gods she could use a drink, she had been so busy getting ready she'd completely neglected to have a glass before arriving. Not usually a problem but... it would help her relax, stay calm. Laurelai smiled as Lita spoke, not forcing it but also not quite allowing herself a completely natural expression. It was a fine line to dance. "I do hope you paid your tailor in blood sacrifice. Or Atium." Lita said, taking note of her gaze and sliding the glass over. Laurelai had, in fact, found a tailor in the DA who did accept both methods of payment, but Mr. Renoux did not quite make clothes that suited her fashion preferences. His were more the type that incited instant madness in the eye of the one who beheld them. Which was hardly practical when one wished to be praised for an outfit, Laurelai had reasoned. It would be most impractical. "Whatever gave you the idea of Forging yourself pointed ears?" Lita asked. "Oh well you know." Laurelai began, nodding along politely. "It just seemed to... to..." It took a moment for Lita's question to actually register, focused as Laurelai was on keeping her appearance straight. But as the words finally clicked in Laurelai's mind her hands instantly shot to each side of her head, finding the base of her ear and trailing the earlobe with an extended finger and then leading up the outside, for longer than should have been normal, until it reached a slight point. "Oh for.." Laurelai huffed, very nearly swearing. "Of all the days. Cursed bane. Do you have a mirror I can borrow? I can set it right probably, just need a minute." ~Voidus; Voidus' office, the Alleys~ Voidus signed his name without any hint of a flourish, just practiced efficiency before he dragged the next paper across his desk from the now dwindling pile that needed his attention. Paying only half-attention as he read through it, he gave a weary sigh. The Alleys had needed a great deal more attention even than usual in the wake of the Forgery. Department heads vanished, entire departments that had been created in the Forgery were now in a dubious state of existence. Thousands of problems springing up, and nobody who wanted to deal with them. Denizens handed them up the chain to their heads of, and they in turn handed them on to Voidus. And a meeting in the city to deal with. He recalled with a touch of bitterness. The other guilds wanting to discuss the Forgery no doubt. He could have ignored the request, could have simply withdrawn into the Alleys and let everything eventually settle. Time had a way of balancing everything out. Enough time and the city would forget that the Forgery had ever happened. But time was not a luxury he could indulge in right now. Things moved too quickly, and for the first time in a literal age, Voidus had people in his life to consider. His daughter, Laurelai, was alive. Alive and with the DA. She was also far too mortal, in his opinion. But swooping into her life and spiking her with immortality would likely be considered overbearing. So instead he would need to simply protect her for now. And Vivica... well, Voidus had not quite had a chance to discuss what Vivica was just yet. After the Forgery there had been so much that needed doing, so many fires to put out both metaphorical and literal. He had barely had time to check up on her in the days since, leaving her with one of the squads of Seekradors for protection and comfort. Perhaps, if she was not alone that would help in some degree at least. He hoped so. Minutes ticked by as he worked through the pile, eyes scanning each page at blinding speed before signing, adding notes and addendums and a few stern replies. Gradually, blessedly, the pile shrunk until at last he signed one final page and set the pen to one side. He was, at last, finished. There would be more work soon enough, no doubt, there always was. But for now he could have some time for his own pursuits, he could... The meeting. He recalled again. He was also much more tempted to ignore it now, but perhaps... perhaps he could simply make it a little more pleasant for himself. Less of a chore, and a little more sociable. After all if he didn't meet with them now then who knew what would happen, a month from now they might try something stupid like invading the Alleys. With a single resolute nod, he stood from his desk and straightened his collar. He had a grip on the Alleys and was an instant from pulling himself through them before he recalled something. Reaching into one of the fine mahogany drawers, one that seemed strangely deeper than it should once opened, he pulled two boxes out. Both were long, thin and rectangular, dark black and with a simple ribbon on the top. Tucking both under an arm, he folded the Alleys around him and traveled to Alley K-9-1077.

~Laurelai; Laurelai's apartment, Lita's apartment~ "Perfect." Laurelai said to herself, turning a graceful circle in front of the mirror to examine herself from a number of angles. "Absolutely, irresistibly lovely." A little minimalistic makeup, her hair done, dress draping perfectly over her tall figure. Finally she was ready, a vision identical to the one she had been picturing. It was always worth taking the time to achieve perfection, rather than settling for mediocrity. Or simply 'nice'. People might compliment her on looking nice, it tended to make conversations a little easier, particularly if you wanted something from someone. But people remembered when you were perfect. Five minutes. She sent, picking up a slender silvery pen from a desk and twirling it through her hands. Promise I'll be there then. Setting the pen back on the desk she gave a subtle sigh, turned it into an even larger breath in, and then out. She forced her satisfaction at her work down to a very dim burn. The faint, trickling sound of water called to her, tempting her to a nice cool shower to help her relax, but she put it out of mind. It was both easier and harder as time went on, but tonight at least she did not have time to entertain thoughts of the Chapel. Nor did she have time to entertain thoughts about anything else. She needed to stay calm, collected, and poised. Tonight, Laurelai promised to herself, she would stay calm, no matter what. She would not let herself be distracted, would not let emotions show so easily on her face that they might as well come with a giant sign over her head advertising her feelings. By habit she began practicing expressions in the mirror, a polite smile, a subtle smirk, an arched eyebrow of interest. Over and over again she moved each muscle of her face with deliberation. Holding them all with an iron will that would brook no movement but those that she permitted. The movements relaxed her, loosening the tense muscles of her jaw and the familiar motions brought calm to her mind, allowing her to finally give another satisfied nod. "Perfect." She said, picking the pen from the table and causing it to vanish with a flick of the wrist. Not magic, just a trick of sleight of hand she had picked up. She stepped out into the quiet Alley, looking up only for a moment to the roiling clouds of darkness before back into the stone underfoot. A thought was all it took to rearrange the Alleys, the one Lita resided in only a short distance from her own. It took her only a minute to traverse through them, arriving at a familiar door, and her hand raised to knock before she realized something. Shoes, idiot. A mental voice sighed, prompting her to look down and notice that she had, indeed, forgotten to replace her shoes. But she was already outside Lita's door, and the tineye had no doubt noticed her, she could not exactly leave without a word and then return. And she absolutely could not tell Lita that she had forgotten something after taking so long to prepare. Instead she sent another little surge of Investiture downwards, Forging herself into the pair she had picked out, a pale beige that blended in with her skintone. She raised a hand and knocked gently on the door, merely a formality when the resident was a tineye, and had only just heard Lita's footsteps approach when the familiar backflow of Investiture surged through her. She controlled it down to a tight trickle, control learned over years and years of practice, but it would still be something unpredictable, they always were. Hopefully nothing too noticeable. @ZincAboutIt

~Voidus; The cognitive realm~ It was the same familiar grin. The same pleased tone. The same sparkle of an eye. The Stranger greeted them, and if one ignored the words he spoke, and the context surrounding them, you could almost believe they were simply catching up again after a long parting. But his spikes, most of them usually well hidden beneath a coat now jutted from his back like a porcupine, his smile while still in good humor was fashioned from jagged predatory teeth. His eye had been replaced by a deep well of nothing. "Working with him then." Voidus said, a statement rather than a question. "I had assumed. Not many places to acquire enough knowledge of me. But always best to confirm a hypothesis." He stared into the Stranger's dark eye, at the glinting spike in his other orbit. His lips parted again, about to say something before stopping with a sigh. It was not the first time Voidus had needed to confront someone who threatened to end a world. He had, in fact, done so so many times that the act itself became boring, predictable. The Stranger was, at least, more interesting than most. Certainly more dangerous than any except for one. "You know that this was never of much interest to me." Voidus replied. "Saving the world, listening to dramatic speeches. Usually I would prefer simply to..." At a speed beyond comprehension a thin piece of metal flew through the air, whistling as it traveled directly for a bindpoint in the Strangers heart. But the splinter of Aluminium was engulfed by darkness the moment it left his hand, and it never reached its destination. "But some days work is a little more of a chore than others." Voidus said with an unsurprised and tired smile. "So let me play along with the script for just a moment, to ask you about the grand plan. Or really, just an element of it. When you did all of this, did you actually think that you were doing it for someone else? Or deep down were you aware that it was all about you?"

~Laurelai; Laurelai's apartment, the Alleys~ "This." Laurelai muttered as she looked at the choices laid out before her. "Is a difficult decision." She had wondered once, if she were offered the same options that Lita had been that night in the Alleystorm, would Laurelai have chosen subtlety? Or power? Subtlety she thought. But now, on deeper reflection the problem revealed its nuance. Laurelai might not need to wield open power, might prefer a subtle approach over brute force. But a clever application of force could solve many problems, and if substantially cleverly applied would be no more noticeable than had she wielded subtlety. But subtlety certainly did have its place as well. Subtle did not mean weak after all. Subtlety meant the application of just enough force as was necessary. Subtlety meant precision. Meant achieving exactly what you sought to achieve without any unintended consequences. Subtlety was a carefully worded letter, not to the person you were trying to influence but to their spouse, or their friend. Perhaps their tailor. It was a thousand carefully laid plans that came together perfectly. So which, in the end would Laurelai choose? "Oh it'll have to be power." She said, nodding with finality. "I'm always opting for demure and subtle, it's nice to be a little bold every once in a while." The dress was certainly that. It had been in her wardrobe for months without being worn, not even counting during the Forgery. She wasn't even sure what had driven her to purchase the thing except that it was made from some of the most delightful silk chiffon that she'd ever touched, dyed a slightly dusty lavender and draped absolutely perfect every time she'd tried it on. It also exposed her shoulders and half of chest as well as a long slit that ran up to the upper thigh. "Hmm..." She considered, holding the dress to herself and examining a mirror. "Maybe it should be subtlety after all." Fifteen minutes later she was finally dressed in the lavender wonder, and had just finished her hair, Forging it into position over one shoulder and kept in place with a delicate silver hairpin. Giving herself another look in the mirror she had given a final satisfied nod when she noticed her eyes. Leaning closer until they took up most of her vision she tutted gently as she looked at the area of skin underneath. It was well concealed but Lita at least would have no difficulty spotting the discoloration, the bags that had formed from a lack of sleep. She gave a wave in the direction of the mirror, the gesture was entirely unnecessary but it did add something to the aesthetic, Laurelai thought. A trickle of Invesiture accompanied the wave, and a moment later she looked as bright eyed and refreshed as if she had awoken from a ten hour rest. She felt it too, in fact, Forgery was lovely and versatile like that. It had allowed her to spend most of the last week without sleeping at all. Which was quite helpful. Too many things haunted her at night now, too many things that Laurelai Esserethel preferred not to think about. There was her father for a start. Voidus, the man who had created the Alleys. She had still not had time to actually speak with him beyond a few hurried and public conversations immediately after the Forgery. Second, there was the Chapel, its glowing blue waters seemed to lurk in every fountain, reflected in every mirror, haunting her, calling her. Finally, there was the topic that she had thought long since buried, but the presence of the other two nightmares in her life had prompted a recurrence of the third. Laurelai's own history. ~Laurelai; Alleycity, 20 years ago~ Her hands slid over the person who was lying in front of her. Something sticky covered them underneath the strange hardened clothes they were wearing. She had thought it was paint, but it didn't seem quite the same, and the smoke was too thick for her to tell the colour. She coughed, choking as that smoke entered her lungs again, stifling her call. She had repeated it over and over again, shaking the figure until the paint dried on them and her throat hurt. By now she knew it wasn't her mother, wasn't her father. It was a stranger. A sleeping stranger who never awoke no matter how much she shook them. Voices finally reached her, the ringing sensation and loud screeching sounds from nearby had been pulled away by the wind and she could hear a voice. Calling. It didn't sound like her parents but still, Laurelai pulled herself upright, using the sleeping figure to balance and then wiping the paint off onto her dress. She stumbled in the direction of the voices, her thin weary voice calling out in response. "Salve?" Laurelai called weakly. "Salve? Matrem? Estne tu?" "It's another kid." The voice called, speaking strange words that she couldn't quite understand. "Gav, give us a hand looking would you? Need to take her to one of the safe buildings, half this neighborhood is aflame." Two figures finally stumbled into view, they were both men, covered in ash, dust, splinters, and the same black-red paint that she had seen before. They looked tired, but then Laurelai was tired too. She was tired, sore and confused. And she just wanted to be taken back home so that she could rest. "There you are." One of the men said, he crouched down and pulled the brown-haired fringe out of his eyes to look at her. "Come here. Are you alright?" "Paenitet nescio" Laurelai replied, shaking her head. She wasn't sure what they were saying. They didn't use big words, but it sounded like nonsense. On another day she might have laughed, but today she nearly cried instead. "What's that, Arelish?" The other man said, stomping up in enormous leather boots that covered half of his legs. "Speak common girl." "That's not Arelish." The man with the fringe said. "Don't know what that is. Might just be nonsense, she looks bloodied enough for a concussion or two. Might not even be old enough to speak." Laurelai just shook her head again, not understanding their speech. "Meum nomen est Laurelai?" She said, half a question. "Nostin' matrem meam?" "Yeah think you're right. Concussed." Said the man with the boots. He bent down and offered her a hand, wrapping her tiny pale arm in his large warm grip, and suprisingly gently began to lead her. "Can you walk?" She saw him make a walking motion as he spoke, it took a little while for her to understand but she nodded, copying the motion. It was a good thing that her vision had cleared up, she could see a little ways through the smoke now, and make out the colour of the paint on her hands. But a series of strange lines kept crossing her vision. Like stray hairs that had gotten caught in her eyes only glowing. They made it a little difficult to see, but not so bad that she couldn't follow two men that were this big. They were both almost as tall as her father, and he was almost impossible to lose. She followed in their footsteps carefully, trying not to trip over the mess of wood and stone on the ground. It was even messier than her room was, and her mother was never happy when she forgot to clean that up. Someone should really tell these two men's mothers what they had left lying about the place so that they would have to clean it. Laurelai might tell them herself, but they didn't seem to understand her anymore than she did them. She also wished the one holding her hand smelled nicer. He smelled like ash. And metal. And sweaty people. It wasn't very nice, it would have been so much nicer if this morning when he'd woken up he would have had a bath instead. Then he could smell nice. Like flowers. Almost as soon as the thought crossed Laurelai's mind the lines changed, moving about in front of her eyes and making her trip on something. The man with the boots caught her, holding her carefully as she got her footing back. And it was at that moment that she tried to irritatedly wave the lines away, shoo them out of her eye. Something... warm enveloped her. Like a lovely bath. She felt it flow through, over, and out from her towards the man with the boots. For a moment he paused, head tilted to the side. She smelled... flowers? Soap? It was the same rose-scented soap that Laurelai remembered from home. She clapped her hands delightedly, hoping that maybe he could take her to the shop where he bought it. Laurelai knew the way home from the shops after all. But then that warmth returned, three times as strong and much less gentle. The man in boots was engulfed in a column of fire, the heat searing the floral scent into her nose before replacing it moments later with a horrifying smell of matches, burned hair and charred flesh. She staggered back a step, staring in wide eyed confusion at the fire and then at the ashes that remained when it went out seconds afterwards. A quiet wind blew down the street, pulling the ash free from the large leather boots that remained.

~Voidus; The University/The cognitive realm~ Voidus continued to watch her, looking for a glimmer of bright blue eyes. But Laurelai kept her gaze turned downwards, not looking back, concealing her expression behind polite professionalism. It was even more formally than she had acted before, before she had known. The pain eased into his chest, joining the other well-worn wounds that rested there. It was sharp, fresher from the others, but it was not an unfamiliar pain to Voidus. He had spent time beyond counting knowing that he failed his daughter, this was just the latest reminder. "Yes." He said quietly. "Yes, everything is ready. Mac? Keep everyone else safe." Turning from where they stood, he held Vivica against him. Not pulling forcefully but staying in contact with her. Reassuring himself that she was still there, still alive. That he had not failed everyone at least. Her presence was a comfort, perhaps he should have tried to keep her away, leave her and Laurelai and Lita here while he and Mac went to confront the Stranger. But if he and Mac were unsuccessful then they would be no safer here than where they were going. And in many ways it would be safer, to be where he could see them, protect them if needed. "Time for one last experiment." He muttered, pulling a slender metallic implement from the table. At its core a spike of some unknown material and wrapped all about with wire and gemstones in intricate patterns. He pierced the pointed end into the air, felt resistance as the metal pushed not just against the air but against the boundaries between realms. Pressing a thumb against one of the gemstones he sent a surge of Stormlight into it, his feet lurched beneath him as all of them were pulled from the Physical realm to the cognitive. Immediately the hallway was illuminated by a flash of lightning underfoot, jagged and brokenly lifting up from the ground. The remnants of the Forgery were pulling free from the world, piece by piece. And they were taking a good deal of the cognitive realm with them. But that was of little consequence, this realm was the cognitive realm of the Forgery, a world of lies and fabrications. Its destruction would not affect the original. The Spiritual realm however, was consistent. That realm of pure truth, unreachable to mortal hands but for the occasional glimpse given by Atium or some other grand Investiture. But Voidus was not a mortal, and this was not his first time battling a god. "Stranger." He called, his voice still quiet, almost gentle. "Are you free for a chat?" His thumb slid from a small amethyst to an enormous diamond. Channeling light into it, pulling more and more from the storm, from the Lightning, from his own reserves until the gem shone like the sun, distributing power to the entire Fabrial. And then spilling out, spreading into the air around him. Opening a doorway to another realm.

Can I ask why the focus on having a character with DID?

~Voidus; The University~ There was, Voidus mused to himself as he watched Vivica awaken, nothing quite so intimate as sharing a mind with someone. He had intended to linger only a moment, just long enough for her to begin tapping the metalminds herself, and for him to be sure that she would be okay. But as he felt the overwhelming rush of emotions as a mind returned to her body he lingered. The Forgery had allowed Voidus to experience what it was to be alive again, what it was to enjoy a relaxing meal or be annoyed as an unexpected rainfall soaked his journal and ruiined the notes he'd been working on in the garden. So many things that had been blunted to the dullest of edges by the passing of time had been given back to him with renewed sharpness. But that edge paled in comparison to what Vivica felt, every emotion heightened every instant experienced more fully than Voidus may have ever done. If his old feelings returning were like a knife then Vivica was a scalpel, cutting deep into his core with barely an effort. And then she felt him. He was tempted to apologize, to retreat immediately and hope that she could forgive his intrusion. But wordlessly she hurled herself into him, not her physical body but her memories, her thoughts, her feelings. Each hit him with the force of a meteorite, and cut into him as not even a Shardblade could. He was completely and utterly overwhelmed under the assault as she poured out her every feeling with none of the hesitance or guile that anyone would ordinarily have towards someone sharing their mind. "Thank you," she whispered, and Voidus could feel the lips moving as she spoke, was suddenly intimately aware of their each movement, of how soft they were, of how lovely and red. "I never worried for a moment." "I..." Voidus could not even recall the last time he had been so lost for words. "Vivica that was... thank you, that was lovely of you to show me. It means a lot to me." With a start he recalled where they were, and what they had been preparing for. The storm already raged overhead, Vivica had returned, the Forgery was shattering into pieces. Everything was ready, all he had to do now was to pull the final trigger. "I came to visit you... after." He said instead, quietly. "I had been hoping that perhaps we could have some tea together." With an absent wave he cleared the table of what he had been working on and replaced it, two porcelain cups on their saucers, and a small silver platter in between covered with sweets and pastries, all of the icing in a deep red. "Perhaps, now that we both have a little time we could-" He had gotten halfway through his invitation when he realized that their minds were still joined. "My apologies, terribly rude to linger like that." Gently, carefully he began to extricate himself. As he did he wondered idly if this was perhaps somewhat what it would have felt like for that girl to step out from the Chapel, to leave those waters of enlightenment behind and re-enter the real world. It hurt. @ZincAboutIt

~Laurelai; The University~ "Yes." Laurelai replied slowly, her brow creasing into a slight frown. "Yes, I'm fine. Sorry, I just thought... must have been my imagination. Forgery throwing me for a loop still, though you'd think I'd be used to it." She gave a slight shake of her head, putting the thought out of mind. They had more important things to worry about, things like a department head who had just returned from what she had previously assumed would be a retirement. But then, that was nothing too unusual for the DA. So many denizens wandered off into the Alleys only to return years, even decades or centuries later as though they had never been gone. It was a nightmare to organize and quite the problem for the department of Records. She gave a faintly polite smile, though one that soured as Mac mentioned the Stranger and the Forgery again. A topic she could do without discussing again, though given the circumstances that seemed unlikely. They were all here it seemed, gathered to confront the man who had Forged the world. And it did not seem like the kind of gathering that would end with a polite conversation. Laurelai gave another glance to Lita, stilling her own expression back to that polite smile as she watched. Read Lita's bearing. Lita, who had been much closer to the Stranger than Laurelai ever had. Who had a strange close-yet-distant connection with him. Lita whom the Stranger had spiked in a storm much like the one that now thundered directly overhead. Laurelai could still recall the moment, a flash of lightning illuminating the Alleyway as Lita's body crumpled to the ground. Her expression frozen in an instant of pure overwhelming sensation that defied description. "Are you alright?" Laurelai asked, letting only a touch of her concern into her voice. "I just... you were so-" Her tongue tripped over the word 'worried' for a moment, afraid of perhaps overstepping into an assumption about Lita that may not be true. "So focused on helping me, I didn't really get a chance to ask." She continued, trying to gloss over the verbal stumble. ~Voidus; The University~ He had gone over the steps innumerable times already. Mentally revised the plan. Confirmed it with one who spoke with all the knowledge that the Chapel had possessed. But actually beginning it was a separate thing entirely. For anyone else, if their soul still lingered without passing into the Beyond at least, it would have been easy. Vivica's body had returned, the wounds suffered during the Forgery as if they had never existed. When Whisper had placed it at his feet and untied the clean medical bag she was held in Voidus had almost instinctively reached out. For what, he was not sure. To brush a cheek? To close her eyes? She looked peaceful, asleep with her eyes open. But Vivica did not sleep, and therein lay the problem. Anyone else could simply be returned to their body without issue. But Vivica was a bronze compounder, and one who indulged in that habit to the point of self destruction. As soon as the weight of all of those sleepless nights returned to her she would die. Even medical intervention would not be able to stop it, no matter how prepared. There were precious few solutions to the problem, and almost none that could be accomplished by anyone outside of the DA. "Thank you for the earring." He said quietly. "I got one for you as well." Pulling the ring of brass from his ear, he efficiently pierced it through an identical bindpoint on Vivica. It would allow her to tap the brassminds he still held, a wealth of Wakefulness waiting to be used. And he had no need of it anymore himself, unlike Vivica his body would not suffer from lack of sleep no matter how much he accrued. But even that was not enough to save her, because a metalmind needed to be tapped. And Vivica could not do that until she returned to her body. And practiced as she was with her metal, there was nobody who could tap a metalmind in the very instant they were returned to life. "I'm just going to be helping for a moment." He said, looking into the garnet that he had placed on the table and now leaned over. "Just to make sure that you're okay, I promise that I won't do anything else." He attached a small fabrial to Vivica's wrist. One of his own design, it took only the press of a button before it gave a slight spark and poured Light into Vivica's body. Her pulse returned, her lungs inhaled, her eyelids flickered. Her body was alive, if mindless. He gave a small smile at that success, not surprised but relieved at least. But a body with no mind was hardly a person. Her soul resided elsewhere, but at least blood now moved through her body. Blood that would allow spikes to function. Voidus pulled a vial that had been prepared, placed meticulously and waiting for him. The warm glow of an allomantic reserve sprung into being in his chest and he burned it immediately, twisting Investiture through its structure to a singular purpose. He reached out, towards the now-warm body in his arms, and touched the power against it. He Soothed Vivica with the Brass, flaring the metal as powerfully as he could until he felt something shatter, a barrier between himself and her. The body twitched, shuddered and drew in another breath, this one deliberate. Her eyes blinked and then began to snap into an absent kind of focus, but one with unmistakable intention. Her hand grasped tightly around the bronzemind he had placed in her hand, tapping the stores from it and taking them into herself, sustaining her brain and vital functions with a deep draw of Wakefulness. Voidus pulled her to her feet, face oddly expressionless and lacking all of its usual mirth and joy. He passed the garnet to Vivica, letting her hold it in her hands. The tiny form that still resided in the garnet looking up at her own body now. "All fixed and waiting for you." Voidus said through Vivica's mouth. @ZincAboutIt @MacThorstenson

~Laurelai; The University~ Laurelai's eyes slid for a moment towards Voidus, her father, as Mac mentioned him. He was not looking to her, but to the side of the hall where a girl Laurelai had forgotten about entirely was arranging a number of items on a small table. She remembered once she had been terrified when he paid her attention, but now she felt a slight anger at its lack. She knew that they had spoken not all that long ago, in the Forgery. That they had had a good relationship together, friendly enough. But that had been built entirely upon lies. The Stranger had propped her up like a porcelain doll of a daughter, perfect and content. And now, now that they were both back to their normal selves he ignored her, walking instead to the silent and eerie girl who had very nearly not allowed Laurelia to return at all. "Here." She said, a slight iciness to her tone that had not been there moments ago as she turned back to Mac. "Let me just take care of it." It was almost too easy, the familiar sensation of reaching inwards and then out. A series of interconnected lines appeared in her mind, like Alleys that formed a larger symbol, constrained by a carefully drawn circle. A stamp to subtly tweak history. She reached out mentally to place it upon Mac's clothing, the frayed and tattered fabric immediately becoming clean, neat and pristine. The suit that he had worn the last time she saw him, before he left. "I had thought you were gone?" She said, voice still a little cold. "Even before." A rush of energy flowed back into her, reversed from the stamp. She was used to these drawbacks, had even learned to control them to a degree, but the intensity of this dwarfed anything she had felt before. It felt like the entirety of the Dor trying to flow into her body, looking to manifest in some way, looking for release. Her stomach lurched as she connected the sounds she had been hearing to the reality. She had tried to Forge in an Alleystorm. Her eyes flew to Lita, trying to think of some way to protect her friend. Mac and Voidus were both nigh indestructible, but Lita... Lita could be hurt still. Could discover firsthand that the drawbacks to Laurelai's abilities were not always soap bubbles and flowers. Sometimes there was fire. Sometimes there was death. The sensation vanished as quickly as it had arrived, a sudden anticlimax that she had not been expecting. She had experienced drawbacks that weren't immediately visible. Even some that she had never discovered what precisely had happened. But this felt different, the energy had been building, seeking some way to escape and manifest into something, likely something dangerous, and then it had just... vanished. ~Voidus; The University~ Voidus had stared for long moments at his daughter when he first arrived. Stunned to see her again now that he recalled the long, endless years where he had not. A vicious ache in his chest cooled the edge off his anger again, the painful reminder that he had missed her entire life. That his daughter barely knew him, outside of the Stranger's fabrications. And from the way her gaze glided past him to stare at Mac beside him, it seemed that he was back to being a stranger to her. It was rare that Voidus' feelings got the better of him. The endless passage of time had numbed most of them, and even those he did experience were typically muted. But now he turned, facing away from his daughter out of fear that the pain would be visible in his expression. It would be far too selfish of him to try to continue living the life he had enjoyed in the Forgery, to keep everything that he had liked even as he ripped that false world apart. "Let's get you back, shall we Viv?" He said instead, voice oddly quiet. He walked towards a table, currently being attended to by the girl from the Chapel, Whisper. She had laid out each item he had requested from the Alleys and even begun assembling some of the simpler pieces together herself, all now neatly arranged and awaiting him. It was eerie to have his intended design known so precisely when he had neither noted it down nor discussed it. But it seemed she retained some knowledge from that place, and was putting it to good use. About to thank her, he paused. Glancing behind at the sudden titanic swell of Investiture that engulfed his daughter. It was formless, unshaped and seeming ready to squeeze itself out into the physical world using whatever random conduit it could find. It was incredibly dangerous to hold, even more dangerous to release. His eyes faded from black into the deepest recesses of nothingness. A true void that would allow nothing to exist within it. The lights around the room flickered for just a single instant as he extinguished the Investiture, erasing it from existence. And then he glanced back down, towards the desk. It had been unintentional surely, but even so Voidus doubted Laurelai would appreciate being fussed over by a man she had never actually spoken with outside of work or a world of lies. @ZincAboutIt @MacThorstenson

~Laurelai; The University~ After her initial slack-jawed surprise, Laurelai tried not to show the sudden spike of irritation that flashed into mind at Lita's words. Lita, her friend, had known about this... before the Forgery? For how long? Why had she never said? But quickly soothing the irritation was an even strong wave of gratitude and relief. That she had been believed, that she had been correct and not simply mad. Most of all she was grateful that Lita had told her the truth. Laurelai did not have much trouble being amicable, drawing people's attention and even their affections. And yet, there was only one person she could actually call a friend. Innumerable acquaintances, a number of colleagues,a number of proprietors at stores around the city adored when she stopped by. But the trained eyes of a Forger were difficult to switch off. It was all too easy to spot the hidden intentions, the casual lies and deceit. The secrets. Nobody had ever given those to her before, and nobody had asked for hers. Not until that night, at the odd job tavern, when Lita had told her that even spies could be honest. "Trust a tineye." She said aloud with a smile so wry it was almost disbelieving. "I was beginning to suspect it myself even before, right before the..." She trailed off, the reality of their situation crashing in around her once again. The weight of what had happened and what had already happened. A peal of thunder echoed from outside, emphasizing the point and it was only now that she realized she could hear the distant sounds of rain on the building's roof and windows. She looked down the hall, wondering if there was a storm of some kind brewing outside that had an eerie sense of atmospheric appropriateness. Her gaze jumped as she spotted movement, one of the side doors to the hall opening and a pair of figures walked from within. Instinctively she stepped to Lita's side, unsure what she could do precisely to help or a protect her but unwilling at this moment to part. It was only a second later that she realized who had just stepped in. The storm it seemed was not the only one who had a sense of dramatic appropriateness. Her father had stepped in, mere moments after she had been discussing him. Another figure stood next to him, looking so disheveled and out of place next to the neat, if bloodied, suit that Voidus wore. The man was so different, so unexpected that it took Laurelai a moment before she realized who it was, eyes widening even further. "Mac?" She said with horrified realization. "Is that... gods, sir you look terrible." @MacThorstenson @ZincAboutIt

~Laurelai; The University~ Lita's swift departure from the hug left Laurelai slightly dazed, she almost had to move back a little herself as Lita's braid whipped around at the sudden turn of her head. Clear, watchful green eyes darted in an instant to every corner of the room before returning and pinning Laurelai in place with their intensity. "What is it? Did you hear something? See something?" Lita said, the warmth was not quite gone from her tone but it was overshadowed by an immediate efficiency. "No." Laurelai said instantly, her cheeks reddening for an instant with shame before she drove it back down. "No, nothing like that. I'm sorry, everything is still a little.." She scrambled through her mind and memories, searching for something, a distraction or an excuse that she could use to divert attention. Something that could help her from making herself look like anymore of a complete idiot than she had already managed. "It's just... I remembered something. Or realized I suppose." She said, her mind indeed clicking a few startling memories into place at this moment. "It's... gods it's almost embarrassing to say. You're really not going to believe this but I promise I'm not lying okay?" She drew a deep breath, using the motion to cool her cheeks and to calm her pulse as she locked eyes with Lita. "It's my father." Laurelai said, cautiously. "Lita I know it's impossible but my father he's..." Gods how do I even say this? You can't just casually reveal that the dark god who made the world is actually your father. @ZincAboutIt

Hi everyone, era 6 has begun! New threads are up, feel free to start using them immediately. The Aftermath thread takes place in the moments immediately following the Forgery breaking, and the Vigil thread takes place a week later. The Forgery Breaks thread will still be used for some time while we write the details of what happens in the final confrontation but ultimately the Forgery is broken, the Stranger defeated and the world limps its way back to some semblance of normalcy. The Forgery breaking will likely have large impacts throughout the city, both immediate and long term. Feel free to improvise and be creative with these consequences to a degree but any large scale changes should ideally be discussed here.

~Laurelai; The University~ ”Why the hell did you take off the damn ring, you vain idiot?” Lita cried into her shoulder. Laurelai gave a wry smile, the corners of her eyes were quickly becoming wet with tears, and for a moment she held them back. She was accustomed to such things, to disguising her expression and concealing her reactions. Stifling a few tears was certainly within her capabilities. But a moment later her resolve broke and she wept openly, Lita had endured enough false smiles and concealed emotions from her. Laurelai clutched tightly at Lita in return and pulled her close, using the wall at her back to support them both. "I'm sorry." Laurelai said, half-smiling through the tears. "It was just... I really hate wearing copper. I probably should have thought of that before..." Before sticking your life and all of your memories into a ring. A quiet voice chided. Should have perhaps thought of an idea that did not risk us breaking ourselves even further. She sighed at that thought. But copper had seemed the best idea at the time, the only idea they had. A Forgery wouldn't have held long enough, and if she'd drawn those creatures back to her and Lita things could have become even worse. They both might have been killed. They still might, actually. It was not exactly as if they were in a perfectly safe position right now, and as pieces slowly pulled together Laurelai realized what they were likely waiting here to do. "Lita..." She began, wiping the tears from her eyes so she could look down to Lita's familiar red hair. It occurred to Laurelai very suddenly how incredibly close Lita was right now. Her head against Laurelai's neck, tilted to the side and lips just a half-inch from the skin of Laurelai's collarbone. Lita was not pushing too firmly against her right now, but the presence of the wall at her back prompted a memory to return, unbidden, of when Lita had cornered Laurelai in her office, during the Forgery. She hoped very much that Lita mistook her suddenly increased pulse for joy at seeing her again, or fear of what might be about to happen. @ZincAboutIt

~Laurelai; The University~ The multitude of whispering voices manifesting only feet away from them with no notice brought Laurelai almost instantly from the slight relaxed enjoyment she had managed to gain, back into her previous state of anxiety. A pressure began to build at her temple as the headaches that had only just subsided began making a vengeful return. Unbidden, the words that she had been told in the Chapel returned to her. "A conflict." The eerie voice has whispered, seeming undisturbed and serene. "One Forgery with another. An Identity that cannot coalesce." One Forgery with another. What did it mean? Surely the girl has known, would have been able to give a more elaborate answer if she were so inclined. Even now Laurelai could hear the call of the waters herself, promising to answer this question and others. Any question. She searched the room around her, hoping that some insight or intuition would leap out at her from the shadows. But none did. She could only take the words at face value and assume that even with her memories returned she might still be living a lie. But who had created it? And why? "I know how much you hate copper." Lita said, wearing a smile that Laurelai instinctively copied to conceal the returned flash of pain. "But perhaps this time, you might make an exception?" "Always looked terrible against my skin." She muttered, a rueful twist to her lips. "But I suppose I had better. A terrible chaser of secrets I would make if I feared even to have my own memories." Taking the ring from Lita, Laurelai weighed the metal carefully in one hand. It felt strangely light for something so weighty with meaning. Almost as soon as her hand touched the metal she could feel something within it, a wealth of memories tucked away, waiting to be drawn back out. All she would need to do was reach out, and take them. Take them back. And what if you do not like who you were? A quiet voice whispered. A voice that usually sneered or derided. But now it sounded... fearful. What if you were a monster who pretended friendship? Or what if, even after you regain the memories you still cannot be the person that she wants you to be? The silence stretched a moment, her thoughts accelerating along with her pulse as she stared at the plain piece of copper. The questioned turned over in her head. Questions that perhaps not even the Chapel could answer for her. That was both a comforting and terrifying thought. The Chapel might help answer any question she had about what might have happened, even what will happen. But it could not answer questions of this nature, questions of right and wrong. What would she do if she still failed to be the person Lita expected her to be? Did she even want to be that person? That last one was an important question. She liked Lita, was fond of the woman even. But here, in this life, the two were not friends. Laurelai was not entirely sure how they could be, given that she had always had enough difficulties trusting other people in her life enough to form friendships, and those were people who were not spies. But Lita had said they were, and something about the mannerisms she spoke with, an easy familiarity, a slight pain that Laurelai could now see hidden, it all hinted at the truth. But hints only. If Laurelai was going to take this back, to be this person she would need to trust. Trust that Lita was telling the truth, and that if she had been the person Lita was imagining once then she could do so again. A person who could be trusted, who Lita cared enough about to worry to this degree. A slight suspicion grew within her, a momentary flash that tied all threads together. Well. She replied to the voice, slipping the ring onto a finger. If, after taking them back I'm still not the person she wants. Then I suppose I'll just need to make myself the right person. She pulled sharply on the well of knowledge in the ring, sucking it all into herself in an instant. Her mind already felt ready to fracture to pieces with the Chapel and the headaches, what was a little more knowledge going to hurt? Laurelai regretted that decision almost immediately. She sagged against the wall, using it to keep herself upright as a second piercing pain struck her other temple. Flashes of memory, connections, realizations, her entire personality it seemed was rewritten in an instant. Similar, but the subtle differences cascaded into a different life. As with any good Forgery it was the understanding of these subtle differences that lead to a true mastery, an effective and lasting Stamp. Two lives now hung before her, impossible to reconcile with each other. The Forgotten Daughter, and the tortured denizen. In neither had she achieved what she truly wanted. The latter had given her a surface-level satisfaction built on the lies of the Stranger. The former however had given her a chance, a path for what she actually wanted, built on the lies that Laurelai had created for herself. She seized those lies back with a relish, clinging to them like someone dying of thirst might cling to a waterskin. They were her salvation, her identity. What made her who she was. Because hidden within those lies there were a few truths. A few unForgeable aspects of herself that she would not, and could not change. One of those truths sprung immediately to mind as she opened her eyes, blinking at the return of the harsh light of the hall, and focused on the redheaded woman before her. Lita Attar is your friend. Laurelai remembered. "Well that was an interesting few days." Laurelai said with a warm and pleased smile. "Hello Lita." @ZincAboutIt

~Voidus; The Alleys~ Voidus gave an approving nod as Mac began preparing himself. Spikes they would both need, and plenty of them, making up for what they lost in time to prepare in a more thoughtful manner with sheer quantity. Voidus' own spikes had begun returning, as the last clinging remnants of the Forgery shattered and fell from him he felt the innumerable pinprick sensations followed by the blossoming warmth of Investiture. Allomancy. Surgebinding. A number of abilities had returned, but in the face of the Stranger they would prove little more than parlour tricks unless he had a source of power to back them up. Voidus' strength with his own field, Voidmaking, might surpass anything others could achieve with the power but when it came to Investiture he needed to get his power the same way everyone else did. And that meant that he needed a storm. "Thank you Mac." Voidus said, voice steeling back to an angered resolve. "There will be... others with us. If you could assist with guarding them, I can focus on doing what needs to be done." He pulled a small device from a pocket, a strange wire contraption studded with glowing gems surrounding a metallic spike of Duralumin. He could see the tiny stormspren, each captured perfectly into one of the gems, all of them channeling Investiture to the point that he needed it. And a spike of Duralumin, connection to anchor the storm, to center it on something. Or someone. He gave only the slightest of twitches as one more pieces of smooth metal joined the others. One more trickle of blood that quickly had its source healed until only a few dried droplets remained. His shirt was beyond saving at this point, though he was at the least more fortunate in that regard than Mac, if not perhaps more fortunate in any other. As the wound closed around the metal and a new addition latched onto his soul, Voidus felt a new sensation. It was distant, not connected to the Alleys at all and had no way of arriving here without assistance. So he called it instead to the city, to the university that was his destination currently. The Alleystorm had been absent for some time, but it bore down again now. Its winds almost quiet compared to a Highstorm were still quite capable of tossing unattended items and harrying people caught out in the streets, of dragging the encroaching sheets of rain directly into any who stepped outside. The night was dark and now the storm had come.

Derit (Last new character I swear... maybe... probably not. I have a problem okay? )

~Laurelai; The University~ Laurelai flushed lightly with pride, it was a compliment she was all too happy to take. And one that she was glad applied to her other self as well. There were a number of things Laurelai would be content to change about her life, but not her mind. That edge had carried her through life, allowing her to excel at her studies, and her career. Given her the ability to impress those around her. "Glad that I could be entertaining for you in that life as well." She said with an easy smile. "Though being entertaining is certainly a lot easier if one has a glass of port to hand." The pain from her head had subsided greatly now, which did assist Laurelai with concentrating. But it also made her dearly wish that she had a glass now. Preferably another Elariel Estate but she'd take almost anything. Well, except a Callingfale at least. "You really spent time as a... a private investigator? It does sound rather dull." Laurelai said, trying to imagine the idea. "It's a difficult thing to imagine. You seem so... obviously more than that." She couldn't point to a single specific thing that gave her this impression, though certainly some of Lita's outfits would have been very unusual for a private investigator to be wearing. But it was her demeanour, her charm, her... everything. What had drawn Laurelai to her that night at the festival, beyond simple attraction or social interest. It was difficult for her now to consider Lita skulking about outside of noble manors and listening for signs of a Lord or Lady's indiscretions. ~Whisper; The University~ Her gentle steps made little sound as she slipped quickly into the long stone corridor. The advice softly spoken into Whisper's ear had allowed her to slip in and out of the Alleys unnoticed by any. It was with an almost unnerving ease that she had managed to requisition all that she had needed from R&D. A number of infused gems, tucked away into her pockets, several spikes a few of which even Whisper wasn't sure the purpose of, vials of metal, and a pain band of copper. The ring she held in front of her as she stepped silently from the corridor and into an elaborate marble hall. Difficult to find, even with the words to guide her, the ring had taken her the longest of all to track down. Misfiled and in a tray that would the very next day have been melted down and reforged into something new, it was fortunate indeed that Lita had requested it now. Though of course, who knew what would still exist in this world tomorrow? Reality already creaked and shifted, ready to shuck the husk of this world for its true form. Even the Alleys had begun to groan under the weight of the coming change and chaos. "I have returned." She said, the echoes of the hall only adding to the intermingled whispers that formed her voice. "I apologize for the delay." It was difficult to convey sincerity when she spoke in her usual manner, but she did her best. She had no wish to antagonize Lita any further, and was indeed not entirely certain what had prompted her to do so in the first place, though she could only imagine it was something seen in the waters of the Chapel. But Whisper gave a small respectful nod as she approached before finally stopping a few feet away from the pair. The distance chosen partially out of respect but also due to the differences in their heights. While Whisper had to look up to meet Lita's eyes, Laurelai absolutely towered over her. "The item that you requested." She said, presenting the copper band to Lita. @ZincAboutIt

~Laurelai; The University~ Laurelai's curious blue eyes searched the inscrutable greens of Lita's, probing with all the care of a surgeon. She found Lita's immediate chafing at the very idea of living in a world of lies to be quite curious. Spies did such every day did they not? True there were not many who could magically do so as a Forger could, but they lived the lie all the same. Breathed it in and became one with it until none others could tell the lie from the truth. Perhaps a quirk. A difference between the mindset of a Forger and a Tineye. She mused. Curious how similar we are in some ways and how different in others, but perhaps I was more like that in the other world. Her brow shot up towards her hairline when Lita mentioned that Laurelai had been the one to recruit her originally, and offered to tell the story. While Laurelai had made an assumption that Lita had been in the DA in both worlds, she had assumed that she herself was either recently recruited as she was now, or not a part of it at all. The idea of being senior to Lita in that respect was distinctly strange to consider. Perhaps even stranger than the idea that she and Lita had been friends, actual friends rather than an employer and new acolyte. But it is... strangely comforting to consider. Laurelai realized. Pain is fading. That might just be the distraction but if so it's a welcome one. "I would love to hear about it." Laurelai replied, her smile a touch more genuine now as she relaxed. "I don't suppose there's any chance it was also prompted by a chance glass of Elariel Estate?" She gave a lighthearted chuckle at the thought. A simple gesture, hardly pouring her heart open. But it was cathartic all the same. Genuine. @ZincAboutIt

Approved Approved Approved And approved.

~Laurelai; The University~ Laurelai struggled to read Lita's expression. Her own exhaustion coupled with the woman's impeccable poker face rendered the task near to meaningless. While she noted a slight complicated interplay of thoughts that ran beneath the surface, unexpressed, Laurelai knew too little to be able to guess what they might be. Lita was different now than she had been even a few hours ago, and Laurelai had known the previous version only slightly better. "Getting better." She replied, wearing a polite, if tired, smile. "Very... yes, disorienting is definitely the term." For a moment she nearly opened up further, telling Lita about the headaches that still hammered away inside her skull. The strange conflicting flashes of memory that still sparked up anytime she thought about the Chapel. The half-remembered words that were all she could recall from Lita's conversation with that strange girl. But she stilled her tongue, taking the moment instead to compose herself, straighten her posture and wipe the traces of pain and confusion from her face. "So we did know each other?" Laurelai asked instead, her smile slipping to that of an easygoing conversation. "Before? We were... friends." That thought was perhaps the most disconcerting. That Laurelai had been friends with someone so deeply involved in the DA. But then did the DA even exist in this... other life? Had Laurelai known? Or had Lita kept it from her? Lita was enjoyable enough to talk to but Laurelai was not entirely sure that the leader of spies for a shadowy organisation would make the best of friends. Surely there must have been secrets. Too many secrets. Even more than most people had. "I am curious what it was like." She said, the pain fading a little faster now as she focused instead on pulling what information she could from her employer. "So much seems different. It must have been nice, for you to be so eager to have it back." @ZincAboutIt

So I don't know that this would work well for the RP and the direction we're heading currently. There's also a little bit of concern because there's a number of very real mental health concerns you're looking to incorporate here, some of them quite difficult to portray at the best of times. Dissociative Identity Disorder is the one I'd have the most concerns about allowing to be RP'd in this way, the reinforcement of an 'evil' personality feels like it could get problematic very quickly and also seems like it would be very likely to cause issues with other characters' stories. On the more mechanics side, I would be hesitant to allow 'general combat experience in every form' as a single, normal-level merit unless they were all at a relatively minimally effective level. Steel Savantism I would also not put as a minor merit either. Lastly as mentioned we're also trying to somewhat steer clear from straight up 'villain' characters as a general rule, especially those operating primarily by themselves as it tends to derail other plots and cause problems that don't particularly advance anyone else's story. Mod team are still discussing things but currently considering putting some limitations on these types of characters such as requiring them to participate in the Collaboration thread and get sign off from other players before introducing them to a scene. Something to ensure that they're actually helping to tell a story rather than just causing murder and chaos.