|
|
Post by Neo 5.0 on Dec 27, 2020 4:16:33 GMT -5
Nora transforms and flap flaps straight up into the air, as instructed.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vitsheep on Dec 29, 2020 2:42:54 GMT -5
Nora
Nora proceeds to fly upwards until she can get a look over the cliff edge. The top has a small, green field with what looks like a stone quarry past it. And beyond the quarry... nothing. A stark-white, barren wasteland extending as far as Nora can see. A small dot in the distance moving quickly along the horizon is the only sign of life Nora can detect. The wind picks up and Nora starts to feel a bit tired from the effort of the new motion needed for flying, and makes a less-than-graceful return to the ground. She's glad to land on the soft sand until she feels it start to give way underfoot. Mareena reaches out and grabs her hand, yoinking her to safety as a small sinkhole appears.
"So? Did that answer your question about what the Otherworld is like?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Neo 5.0 on Dec 29, 2020 3:28:59 GMT -5
Nora catches her breath and smoothes out her dress. "Thanks for the save, dear. As to your question, yes, quite... And very much not what I expected. Was it always like this?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Vitsheep on Dec 29, 2020 3:44:09 GMT -5
Nora
"Nope!" Mareena dances back a few steps to the edge of the water and twirls, kicking up a few drops. "That's what the Vagus did to the place last time they appeared. Anywhere not under the direct protection of a Guardian ended up like that. That waste's so devoid of aether, you wouldn't even be able to use your key!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Neo 5.0 on Dec 30, 2020 0:10:04 GMT -5
A dark expression passes over Nora's face. "I see... And is this what could happen to our world?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Vitsheep on Jan 2, 2021 0:22:24 GMT -5
Nora
"Presently? No. In due course? Most likely." Mareena comes back, stoops down, and scoops up a handful of sand, letting you watch it run out through her hand. "Everything here in the Otherworld is made of aether, which is fundamentally different from the matter in your world. I'm no expert in physics, but I believe it would be easiest to compare aether with molecules? I'm sure there's plenty of differences and subtleties and that the fundamental forces only partially align... but frankly most of that is lost on me. That's really more of my brother's thing. The important thing is that aether is extremely adaptive and flexible and therefore compatible with 'normal' matter in some ways. Which means the two can co-exist with things like hybrid technology, Soul Keys..." Mareena pauses and grins. "Reproduction."
She opens her hand to drop the last of the sand. "The Vagus... absorb aether. Could they absorb matter? It doesn't seem so. Yet. But in the future, given enough time, maybe. Anyway! Come hold my ankles and lower me into one of these sandpits for a bit. I need to see what's going on down there, but I don't feel like working my way back out." She leans forward a bit, pressing down and sending a shower of sand spilling. "I won't take long. Oh! And absolutely no tickling... or else."
|
|
|
|
Post by Neo 5.0 on Jan 2, 2021 19:37:56 GMT -5
Nora pretends to pout. "No tickling at all? Not even a little? Shame."
Nora moves closer and positions herself to hold Mareena's ankles.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vitsheep on Jan 3, 2021 8:07:03 GMT -5
Nora
Mareena shrugs as she slides forward. "If I start squirming and we fall into the caves you're getting us back out." She pauses. "Afterward? Hm. Do as you please, so long as you accept the consequences of your actions." With that ominous note, she jams her head into the sand. Even bracing, the force of the sand collapsing is almost enough to pull you over. At least once she gets stuck, it's easy to hold her in place.
After a minute, you hear a very muffled voice calling back up. "OK, I'm done down here!" Dragging Mareena back up is much harder, even with her doing what she can to push herself. She shakes her head, sending a shower of loose sand flying. "Well! I've seen all I needed to see."
|
|
|
|
Post by Neo 5.0 on Jan 3, 2021 17:18:19 GMT -5
"What did you see?" Nora asks, breathing a bit heavily, sitting back on her knees and rubbing her arms.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vitsheep on Jan 4, 2021 2:42:27 GMT -5
Nora
"Not used to heavy lifting, hm? How lucky for me." Mareena smirks. "Nothing. I saw nothing. Just as I hoped!" She takes out her phone. "Monster activity level seems to have returned to normal..." She taps out a pair of messages. "You don't have to be passive to be neutral, no? So long as I help both sides equally and give them the same information... It should be fine, yes?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Neo 5.0 on Jan 4, 2021 18:38:45 GMT -5
Nora gives Mareena a curious look. "That is true, I suppose, though if you don't mind me asking... Why are you neutral? You seem to know more about the Otherworld than most, if not all of the others."
|
|
|
|
Post by Vitsheep on Jan 5, 2021 2:55:44 GMT -5
Nora
"Oh, I have my reasons..." Mareena says. "It's more profitable, it's more amusing... and more importantly I'm not sure which side is more capable of preventing the coming disaster. Mercia's vague predictions line up with my own, you know. Something is coming. What is it? The Vagus? Perhaps. Something more? Who can say? Will one side claim dominance, or will the two come together?" She shrugs dramatically. "I make a point of helping both sides become as powerful as possible so that regardless of the outcome we have the strongest response available... no?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Neo 5.0 on Jan 5, 2021 4:34:55 GMT -5
Nora thinks for a moment. Then she says, "I'll be honest dear, that's a much more practical answer than I was expecting. And one I don't necessarily disagree with. Of course, I can't exactly be neutral myself. The others are convinced Mercia is a villain, though I'm pre-e-e-ty certain we should be working together to stop... whatever is coming. But I've read Lord of the Flies, and I know what would happen if I suggested such a thing to a bunch of kids with superpowers. I'd probably be dead within the hour. So... how do we get them to work together?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Vitsheep on Jan 5, 2021 22:54:28 GMT -5
Nora
Mareena shakes her head before dropping her shrug. "Go back in time and stop Mercia from making some of her previous decisions?" She laughs. "But of course such a thing is impossible. Regardless, I don't think you need to worry quite so much about your little nightmare scenario. They did help with the rescue operation, after all, and repelling the Vagus... and not just during the recent incident, for quite some time now. Even your darling is conflicted..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Neo 5.0 on Jan 7, 2021 2:32:59 GMT -5
Nora seems relieved. "Well, I suppose that's good to hear. So maybe Alice won't completely freak out when she hears how I really got my Soul Key. Do I get a discount on relationship advice for being your lovely assistant, hm?"
|
|
