[Even now, though, she might feel a faint twinge of embarrassment across their connection when she confirms his suspicions. He's a private person, but there are worse people to share with, he supposes.]
That said, I suppose this must be useful data to you...?
Yes, it's a bit different, since guilt implies wrongdoing... Discomfort, I suppose? Embarrassment?
Ordinarily, we're able to exert more control over what we share via communion, so it makes me a bit self-conscious to realise someone has been aware of some of my feelings for a while.
[Which itself is embarrassing to admit, since he prefers to project the image that it's difficult to faze him, but he won't complicate his explanation too much.]
[ the invitation for Communion is one gently extended to Barnaby on Yima's behalf. should he choose to accept, he will feel a pleasant, soothing wash of welcome journey through their bond that is infectious.
[Barnaby does accept, and in response she'll feel his surprise and concern slip through the connection in turn. It soon settles when he realises she's in a good mood.]
[He does carry it with him all the time, as a Shard attached to a pendant for safekeeping. Automatically he reaches into his jacket for it to find it gone.]
But how did she--? [He has to force himself not to be alarmed. Yima brought her here, after all, so there's no reason to disbelieve what she's saying.] I'll be there as soon as I can.
[ It’s a day or so after Barnaby revives that he'll find himself receiving a request that might be unexpected. Cyrus, the Tribune of Springstar and leader of the Meridian, is requesting Communion. There’s a warmth that comes with the presence gently asking to talk that’s comforting, but there’s an emotion with it that’s hard to miss. He’s feeling guilty.
[Barnaby is reluctant at first, though that's not anything personal against Cyrus as much as generally being unwilling to talk to anyone, via Communion or otherwise. He does decide to reply though, however halting.]
Yes?
[The emotion he'll feel in return from Barnaby is strained, but curious. He's willing to hear Cyrus out.]
[ And immediately, there's warmth that comes through with the Communion. Not physical, of course, but more just a kind of gentle relief that Barnaby did decide to return his "call", so to speak. ]
Hello, Barnaby. Wish I could be reaching out to you under better circumstances. I- [ It's brief, the hesitation, but there's a laugh that comes with it that's soft. Cyrus might just be the kind of person that fills a silence with a laugh is the impression that comes from it. ]
I heard that you went to Alenroux and that... Well, it's more than I expected for sure. [ There's that pang of guilt again, however brief, but it has the same note as what started the request. ] Let me start with this: how are you doing?
[The silence on Barnaby's end is longer and more uncomfortable, along with the feeling he's deliberately trying not to project any unwanted thoughts or emotions across their shared connection. It's almost stifling, but finally, he responds.]
I made a mistake. Please don't worry about me.
[He underestimated that creature not once, but twice, and both he and Rosaria paid the price for it. As far as he's concerned, another party shouldn't feel guilty about it.]
[ Cyrus is familiar with Communion, since he’s grown up with it, and as such, he’s good at picking out some of its nuances at times. Barnaby holding himself back is something he notices… But respects. There’s not even a hint of wanting to pry on his end. ]
Wish I could, but I can’t help it. [ He’ll at least admit that easily and with a little humor, but he doesn’t linger there long. He doesn’t want it to be uncomfortable. ] Getting dissipated, it’s never easy. I’ve- Well, been there myself.
[ He admits it with the verbal and emotional equivalent of a shrug. ]
So, I’m sorry that it happened. It shouldn’t have. Or, I guess, I would've hoped it wouldn't have.
Well, twice, technically. First one is, uh. Stupid, though. I grew up with a Shard, so got dissipated when I was still a stupid, overconfident kid.
[ There’s a bit of a sheepish laugh and embarrassment, so it seems to be genuine! It cools off quickly, though, and there’s a bit of a pause before he answers. ]
You know it best now that Alenroux is dangerous, but it’s important. Without it, my people don’t get to eat. So, it’s not ideal. Every once in a while, a new island drifts close enough to Springstar that we can go check it out, essentially, and last time one came by, it seemed like it’d be a good candidate for safer farmlands. Maybe even a place that people could go live, since not everyone likes the city life.
The way these new islands kind of… work is that the first person to establish a Cornerstone essentially claims that island for Meridian or Zenith, just in terms of how it effects your Shard. Discord and that kind of stuff, so it’s important. I wasn’t the Tribune yet, but a few of us went over there to check it out and establish it.
[ He pauses again, and there’s a pang of bitterness, however brief before he laughs it off. ]
Got betrayed, in short. A friend of mine had switched over to Zenith, so we fought. I lost.
[Vander hasn't had too much experience yet communing with folks he doesn't know all that well, so there's a little hesitance in the offer when he first reaches out. A hint of worry too, hiding underneath it.]
[The person reaching out to him is unfamiliar at first; as someone he'd never Communed with before, his unique mental signature is almost entirely foreign to him, and the hesitancy doesn't help matters. Still, Barnaby reaches out in return when he realises who it is.]
Vander. I'm... all right, thank you. [A neutral, carefully measured response.] Did you manage to return safely?
Ended up having a run-in with the guy we'd been looking for out there. Never had to go up against something so damn strong before. It's... kind of why I wanted to check in with you, in fact.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hundredpower) wrote2022-09-13 07:11 pm
text, we hair bonding
text - aww yiss
How have you been since the incident at the Tree?
no subject
no subject
More than that, I'm sorry if you've been experiencing any of my emotions. Some of the side-effects of having Shards can be intrusive.
[which is a polite way of saying he's also been experiencing hers...! good times all around]
no subject
no subject
[Even now, though, she might feel a faint twinge of embarrassment across their connection when she confirms his suspicions. He's a private person, but there are worse people to share with, he supposes.]
That said, I suppose this must be useful data to you...?
no subject
[ In response, he can feel a probably overwhelming sense of enthusiasm. ]
This feeling, like I don't want people to look at me, kind of like... guilt? But it's different... what do you call it?
[ Listen, she has never been embarrassed in her very short life. ]
no subject
Ordinarily, we're able to exert more control over what we share via communion, so it makes me a bit self-conscious to realise someone has been aware of some of my feelings for a while.
[Which itself is embarrassing to admit, since he prefers to project the image that it's difficult to faze him, but he won't complicate his explanation too much.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Communion, morningtime (any day of your choice prior to the 9th)
[ the invitation for Communion is one gently extended to Barnaby on Yima's behalf. should he choose to accept, he will feel a pleasant, soothing wash of welcome journey through their bond that is infectious.
Yima is in a good mood. ]
no subject
Lady Yima. How can I help you?
no subject
And do you have Cerys Shard with you?
no subject
no subject
[ there is a reason she asks - and, even if Barnaby had laid eyes on it as much as a moment before their Communion, should he check--
he will find Cerys' Shard missing from its place in his safekeeping. to allay his panic-- ]
Please... come to the Tree. She is ready at last.
no subject
But how did she--? [He has to force himself not to be alarmed. Yima brought her here, after all, so there's no reason to disbelieve what she's saying.] I'll be there as soon as I can.
no subject
[ this is a natural process, it seems - and with that comfort relayed, Yima is gently dissolving their Communion.
whenever Barnaby is ready, he will find Yima standing before the Tree of Life, hands clasped before her and a soft smile on her face. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
communion (takiltu, post-revival)
Does he accept? ]
no subject
Yes?
[The emotion he'll feel in return from Barnaby is strained, but curious. He's willing to hear Cyrus out.]
no subject
Hello, Barnaby. Wish I could be reaching out to you under better circumstances. I- [ It's brief, the hesitation, but there's a laugh that comes with it that's soft. Cyrus might just be the kind of person that fills a silence with a laugh is the impression that comes from it. ]
I heard that you went to Alenroux and that... Well, it's more than I expected for sure. [ There's that pang of guilt again, however brief, but it has the same note as what started the request. ] Let me start with this: how are you doing?
no subject
I made a mistake. Please don't worry about me.
[He underestimated that creature not once, but twice, and both he and Rosaria paid the price for it. As far as he's concerned, another party shouldn't feel guilty about it.]
no subject
Wish I could, but I can’t help it. [ He’ll at least admit that easily and with a little humor, but he doesn’t linger there long. He doesn’t want it to be uncomfortable. ] Getting dissipated, it’s never easy. I’ve- Well, been there myself.
[ He admits it with the verbal and emotional equivalent of a shrug. ]
So, I’m sorry that it happened. It shouldn’t have. Or, I guess, I would've hoped it wouldn't have.
no subject
You have? What happened?
[It's not his business, but he still can't help but be curious. Who or what would dissipate such an important figure?]
no subject
[ There’s a bit of a sheepish laugh and embarrassment, so it seems to be genuine! It cools off quickly, though, and there’s a bit of a pause before he answers. ]
You know it best now that Alenroux is dangerous, but it’s important. Without it, my people don’t get to eat. So, it’s not ideal. Every once in a while, a new island drifts close enough to Springstar that we can go check it out, essentially, and last time one came by, it seemed like it’d be a good candidate for safer farmlands. Maybe even a place that people could go live, since not everyone likes the city life.
The way these new islands kind of… work is that the first person to establish a Cornerstone essentially claims that island for Meridian or Zenith, just in terms of how it effects your Shard. Discord and that kind of stuff, so it’s important. I wasn’t the Tribune yet, but a few of us went over there to check it out and establish it.
[ He pauses again, and there’s a pang of bitterness, however brief before he laughs it off. ]
Got betrayed, in short. A friend of mine had switched over to Zenith, so we fought. I lost.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Communion, a few days post-revival
Barnaby? Hope you've been doing alright.
no subject
Vander. I'm... all right, thank you. [A neutral, carefully measured response.] Did you manage to return safely?
no subject
[There's the mental equivalent of a sigh.]
Ended up having a run-in with the guy we'd been looking for out there. Never had to go up against something so damn strong before. It's... kind of why I wanted to check in with you, in fact.