TDM#5

[labyrinmods]

Arrival / Enchanted Garden

Whether it be sleep or death, you feel your eyes close, and as your body begins to let go, you see a barn owl that is flying through the darkness, soon sweeping you across the clouded sky. You feel yourself mouth the words, “I wish, I wish..” and utter your deepest and darkest desire.

When you regain consciousness, you’ll find you are in an unfamiliar place with no recognition of how you arrived here. You have the clothes on your back, but nothing else. No weapons and if you had a particular superpower, you’ll notice it is missing. All you have is a satchel with a piece of bread, a vial of water and a potion. The potion could be red, blue or golden. There are no instructions about these potions other than two words: Drink Me.

Will you drink it or not?

There is a parchment, handwritten, and it simply gives you a welcoming:

“Welcome to my Labyrinth. Per our agreement, you have consented to live your life here for an undetermined amount of time. In exchange, I will grant you the wish that you desire the most.”

You’re in a garden, surrounded by flowers and plants– most of which you cannot identify. However, there are a few that you can make out: morning glory and gladiolus. Time spent too close to the morning glory flowers invokes a state of intense obsession. Obsession over an event, a person, or things/objects are all possible, but the victim’s drive to be involved with their obsession is intense and all-consuming. Be careful, not all obsessions are peaceful ones. Pollen from the gladiolus flowers will find their strength increased tenfold. It might make day-to-day interactions a little difficult especially when gripping a pen or a cup winds up in a broken utensil or shattered mug. Of course, no amount of strength can affect the labyrinth walls, however…

Draconic Departure

CW: mood altering substances

It is time. Everyone knows it, and there is no denying it. It is time for the dragons to leave. No effort to keep the dragons from leaving will work, the dragons themselves inexplicably compelled to leave. It’s both a happy and a sad time for the pairs who have helped raise these dragons, but even the parents know somehow that it is time.

Dreamers and their dragons have one last night on Starlight Cliff before the dragon’s departure. It’s a simple gathering, put together by those who cared for the dragons and those who favored them. Picnic fare and simple decorations with glowing lanterns and soft blankets decorate the grassy flat portion of the cliffs. As the dragons leave, they leave a gift— one each for their adoptive parents. Gold dragons leave behind an item that reminds their parents of a loved one, red dragons leave behind an item that reminds their parents of their childhood, and blue dragons leave behind an item that reminds their parents of the wish they made when they found their way here.

It’s important to note that all are welcome to this celebration and departure. Some dragon parents have commissioned the townsfolk to create gift pouches for attendees. Each pouch has several packages of colored dust that when thrown into the air creates shimmering lights and effects similar to fireworks. However, if misused, like when thrown on others it can cause hair color changes, temporary sparks glittering from fingertips that can cause things to smolder, or even dye clothes that will all then affect the mood of the wearer. Red can cause tempers to flare, blue can create a morose mood, green will inflict an amorous feeling, and yellow will induce generosity. Luckily, washing off the dust will remove all of these effects immediately. Maybe throwing a glass of water on someone might help?

[ In the interest of fairness, each character who helped raise a dragon will get only ONE gift from them, even if they have helped raise more than one. In the case of multiple colors, it is up to player choice which gift they receive.

Items received from the dragons must be mundane in nature; magically powered or mystical items are not allowed. Weapons are allowed if they are likewise mundane and could have been received based on the 50 shard reward.

Dragon parents who received a magical tattoo will find that their tattoo persists even after the dragons' departure. ]

Mystic Grotto

CW: spiders, tentacles

It happens in the middle of the night, a rumbling and tearing of earth that ricochets shaking throughout the land. Nothing is damaged, but even the air is awash with a new scent like something old has reappeared. Those who investigate the origin of the disturbance will find a small portion of the island has risen up out of the sea. It's land damp, still dripping with saltwater and half covered in seaweed, at first glance there’s little remarkable about this new piece of land. That is until wandering past craggy rock and slick ground lands the most daring explorers right in front of a large cave entrance.

The environment inside changes almost immediately. Gray crumbling stone gives way to more surfaces giving way to shiny dark obsidian the deeper inside you go. It’s hard to see, the lighting nearly pitch black past the entrance. As the cave twists and turns, something ahead seems to glow. As pools of salt water in the grotto appear, so too does the glow increase. Water that shimmers like a starry night blots a patchy, swampy chamber, crystals of deep watery hues jut from the walls and ground, reflecting glowing light that seems to zigzag across plant life that grows from every corner. Pools of dark tar-like substances are a hazard, creating a mess and potentially trapping explorers who aren’t watching their footing. Webbing that looks crystalized decorates the darkest corners, and those who wander too close might disturb crystalline spiders that will defend their nests with a vengeance.

The deeper the explorers get, the more dangerous the cave seems to become, like it is a trial that must be passed in order to see what is in its deepest reaches. Mist and fog hide deeper pools that house mysterious creatures who will reach out with large suckered tentacles in an attempt to pull in stray creatures no matter their size, almost as if they’re looking to sate a driven hunger. Those who make it past these creatures will find traps laid out that when sprung will loop adventurers into rope and twine cages, netting, and loops. Unfortunately, these traps only seem to be able to be cut by the sharp edges of crystal growing in the cave. Hopefully, travelers have considered picking some up on their way…

But those who are sensitive to magic and will might sense an urge to press forward, guided by an unseen force to see their exploration through until they come across a spiraling staircase to the exit. Just watch out for that slick stone, which could send you all the way back down to the bottom, luckily any falls will be softened by glittering moss surrounding the base of the staircase.

Mystery Revealed

CW: potential death, emetophobia, body horror

Past the Mystic Grotto, beyond the carved exit and dangerously thin path that stretches along a cliffside that drops straight down into the waters below, is a small outcropping suspiciously connected to the Labyrinth itself. Those who look closer will notice that the outcropping is home to an entrance into the labyrinth. Unfortunately, thorough investigation reveals that this older, more run-down section of the labyrinth does not connect to the one that is more familiar, almost as if it was cut off purposefully. Those who want to get to this portion of the labyrinth only have one option, and they will need to tread along the cliff path carefully, Falling from this path will only end in death.

Twists and turns will eventually lead to the main chamber of this section, wildly overgrown with greenery and inhabited by fireflies of different shapes and sizes all with a pleasant, soothing glow. Most important is the tall stone fountain, still somehow functional despite the apparent overgrowth and decay. Perhaps it is because the fountain is encased in something clear and glass-like, preventing anyone from actually touching or entering the pool of water. From each of the 5 spouts different colors of water pour down into the main pool to converge in an almost oil slick like appearance where the colors blend and mix together in places. Next to the fountain, a stone and wood contraption sits, levers still intact. Should a visitor decide to investigate the device, they’ll find that it is magically enchanted. Any attempt to harm the device will result in the character being blown back with force, enough to shove them off their feet or send them airborne into the walls of the room.

Pulling the lever, however, activates a groaning sound, and the exposed gears of the machine clamber into life as the sound of something opening and clattering echoes through what must be an empty stone chamber. Eventually, a small potion bottle filled with one of five colors (Purple, Brown, Teal, Chartreuse, Navy) rolls out of the ground and toward the operator’s feet. The colors seem misty inside, sparkly but dull, almost as if their mixture is incorrect or incomplete somehow. Upon opening the bottles, the scent that wafts out is foul: overly sweet but spoiled. But perhaps this is the way these potions are meant to be? Those brave (or stupid) enough to drink the potions they receive will struggle with stomach cramps moments later, others might feel the need to regurgitate the potion forcefully. Characters’ sight may blur and they may feel dizzy or ill at ease, but should they hold the potion down one of several things may occur.

⚗️ Teal potion drinkers will find themselves crying, unable to stop no matter how hard they try. Their tears will not stop flowing, and the fireflies in the area seem oddly attracted to the tears that drop from their eyes. It makes catching these creatures easy, but also an annoying hindrance to anyone who is subjected to crying their eyes out.

⚗️ Navy potion drinkers will find themselves feeling lighter than air. Though the effect is slow in the beginning, the longer they are in this part of the blocked-off labyrinth, the more they are affected. At first, it’s like walking on the moon, then they slowly find they have a harder time landing… until they wind up floating up slowly, up and up and up. But instead of winding up in the heavens, or seeing anything useful of the main labyrinth, they find themselves mysteriously floating back toward the garden. Once there they find they stop moving but will need to hold hands with others who are affected in order to land safely onto the ground again.

⚗️ Purple potion drinkers will find themselves consumed by hiccups that cause bubbles to float out of their mouths. These bubbles, when popped by anyone other than the owner, will release a secret said in the character’s voice.

⚗️ Brown potion drinkers will grow the sickest initially, but will also feel better the fastest. However, they may find that as they walk, mushrooms and other fungi grow in the wake of their steps, the kinds varied and assorted and not at all safe to eat or touch. It might be best for those who didn't drink this potion to avoid eating, touching, or spreading this fungal growth.

⚗️ Chartreuse potion drinkers will find that much like some species of frog they have become incredibly sticky. Not only do they stick to other characters, but their skin will stick to anything they touch. It’s best to be careful when under this effect unless you want to become a living katamari ball!

Perhaps it might be best to investigate what this fountain actually is and leave it alone for now, instead? By the time afflicted and nonafflicted explorers make their way back to the mouth of the grotto, they will find the effects of the potions drunk by characters have weakened to nothing.

[ Anyone who tries to take a potion with them will find the potions mysteriously absent the moment they leave the fountain chamber, their containers dry and void of any liquid that may have been inside. ]

Suspicious Message #3

On the morning of the 1st, some dreamers will receive a message from an unknown user.

What is it that you are most thankful for?

They will feel compelled to respond with a truthful answer, as if their brains had gone into a trance, and before they know it, their response will be there for everyone to see. It cannot be deleted or changed. The user will not respond personally, but you get the sense they are definitely reading.

[ This is an additional network option for characters to interact with. Feel free to add a network prompt into any of your top levels. If you do not want to interact with this prompt, simply assume your character did not get the message. All threads are public unless actively privated by characters. We generally encourage threadjacking and engagement, so feel free to mention if threadjacking is fine with you so that others are aware. Note that the NPC will not be actively responding. ]

OOC

Welcome to the labyrinthum TDM! All events are game canon. New characters (invited or not) and old characters alike are welcome to play in it. Existing characters can start their own logs or network posts for the event if they wish to.

New and Old characters are welcome to top level on the TDM. Please state in the header if you are a new or old player! Also, new characters may link their top levels under the new character comment so they are easier to find. Thanks for your cooperation!

New characters will arrive depowered and with only their clothing, and will be given a satchel with a crystal pendant, a communication device, some water and bread and a magic potion. If they drink the potion, they will manifest an elemental, healing or animal transformation ability.

With the exception of Castle Vaeros, characters are free to go as they please, so feel free to place them in any of the locations available on the map.

You can find more information about the game here. Any questions regarding the TDM can go under the comment below.

Comments

Grace | Stray Gods | New Character, Current Player

[embracethefire]

ARRIVAL.

The instant Grace wakes up she realises she feels different. Like she did before. Before Calliope found her way to her doorstep and died in her arms, giving her her eidolon. It feels… quiet. In a way that feels almost strange. Which is just weird. She’s been human way longer than she’s been a muse. Her entire LIFE longer. And yet… here she is. Feeling like something’s missing.

“Okay,” she breathes, getting to her feet. “Let’s see what’s going on.”

There’s a satchel, lying on the ground near her, so she picks it up and rummages through it. Hopefully it’s supposed to be hers because otherwise she just stole someone’s stuff. She’s pretty sure it is, though, because there’s a piece of parchment in it.

“Welcome to my Labyrinth. Per our agreement, you have consented to live your life here for an undetermined amount of time. In exchange, I will grant you the wish that you desire the most.”

There’s a piece of bread, a vial of water, and a strange red potion that says Drink Me on it. That’s it. “This is the weirdest welcome gift I’ve ever gotten. Think I like it better than Athena’s cookies, though.” But she slides the strap over her body and looks around. It reminds her a little of the spot on Olympus where she met Pan. With the tree. Only more so; there’s so many flowers and plants. And she doesn’t recognize hardly any of them.

It's beautiful. But she has more important things to do. Like finding out more about where she is.

“I don’t suppose you know anything about this place?” She’ll ask once she finds someone. “I’m new.” Which is probably obvious. But still.

DRACONIC DEPARTURE.

This is WILD. And yeah, the whole dragons-being-real thing is kinda weird… but no weirder than her being a muse. Well, not a lot weirder, anyway. Grace has no idea what’s going on, but it’s easy enough to figure out a little bit, just from striking up conversation here and there. She feels a little out of place; she’s new here, after all. She didn’t take part in anything… dragon-y. But all are welcome.

So she goes. Hands tucked in the pockets of her leather jacket. There’s picnic stuff and glowing lanterns and soft blankets out for anyone to use. It’s pretty. “God, Freddie would love this,” she murmurs sadly. If that parchment was right, if she did agree, if she did make a wish and if he keeps his word… then she’ll be able to fix that. She’ll be able to bring Freddie back.

Then maybe they can explore this world together a little before they go home. To Apollo. And whatever waits for her.

The gift pouch is unexpected, and she tries to give it back, because she’s new, she shouldn’t have one, but they insist. Which leaves her with a pouch full of coloured dust. “I wonder what it does,” she wonders aloud, taking out a handful. It’s not until she sees someone else fling it skyward where it bursts into shimmering lights. Like fireworks but PRETTIER. She grins, and flings her handful into the air.

Yeah, Freddie would love this.

It’s an accident, but she ends up covered in the stuff thanks to a wild throw by someone else, the green dust in her hair and on her clothes. Only… it doesn’t look like it’s just ON her clothes and hair, now. Her hair’s green, her jacket and some of her pants are green, and so is part of one boot. “Oh WOW.” It’s kinda neat, even if green’s always been more Freddie’s colour.

The sparks suddenly glittering from her fingertips are unexpected. She’s a little focused on that, on seeing if she can make it happen on purpose, and wondering if it’s PERMANENT so she doesn’t notice the slow-building warmth as desire slowly spreads through her veins.

Until finally she does. “Is it warm in here? Or out here, I guess.” Maybe it’s just the sparks.

MYSTIC GROTTO.

“Does this happen often?” she wonders aloud to someone nearby. Because that sure is part of the island rising up out of the see like something out of the mythology that Grace is suddenly a part of. Or like a fairy tale. Which means going poking around is probably a really bad idea. But still… She can’t help but go check it out.

There’s a cave. “Oh, this is probably an awful idea,” she murmurs under her breath. “But am I going anyway? Probably.”

It’s definitely like something out of those D&D campaigns Freddie talked about. Dark and eerie and super mysterious. There’s something… glowing, though, and she keeps going. It’s sort of beautiful, water shimmering like a starry night, crystals reflecting the glowing light. She stays FAR AWAY from the crystalline spider webs in the dark corners. She’s not here to find out what the spiders look like that make those webs. She shudders a little. Absolutely NOT.

She picks up a few crystal shards, tucking them absently into her pocket as she explores.

As she goes deeper, the mist and fog get thicker, and it’s hard to not be reminded of the world just outside the Reliquary. It’s just as eerie, too, and she moves slowly. Trying to keep an eye out for… something. Anything, hidden in the fog. It doesn’t make it easy.

Which is how she ends up getting caught off guard. SOMEthing comes whipping out of the dark and the fog and the mist and she goes flying. It’s not until she hits the ground that she sees what it is. “Oh SHIT!” She scrambles backward as the tentacle whips back out at her…

Wrapping around her ankle.

MYSTERY REVEALED.

Surviving her encounter with the tentacled… whatever it was, Grace wastes no time in getting the hell AWAY from them. The outcropping is strange, and when she sees that it’s connected to an entrance to the Labyrinth itself, it makes her wonder. And so does the part of the Labyrinth it connects to. It looks like it was cut off on purpose. “Somehow I doubt that was done on a whim.” And here she is, going into it like it’s a perfectly reasonable plan.

But she keeps going, carefully making her way along the cliff path, her back pressed against the stone. Because she really doesn’t want to fall to her death. She has too much to do yet to die. She’s not going out here. Once she’s past the perilous path she breathes a huge sigh of relief. “Okay yeah, next time I’m avoiding strange caves and dangerous hiking trails.”

Now that she’s past it, it seems like it was worth it finding her way to this chamber full of fireflies. And a fountain. Which doesn’t seem like it should still be working, given where it is. But the clear apparently protective covering probably helps. She wanders her way around it, until she finds the strange wood and stone contraption. “Do we want to take bets on whether or not this blows up in my face?” she asks aloud… before reaching out and pulling a lever at random.

It doesn’t blow up, which is nice. Instead she ends up with a potion. Kind of like the one in her welcoming satchel. She sniffs the purple potion and shudders. “THAT doesn’t smell drinkable at all.” If someone’s nearby with a different colour potion, she’ll look at them curiously. “Do they all smell that way?” A pause. “Are you going to? Drink it, I mean.”

SUSPICIOUS MESSAGE #3.

The people dearest to me. Freddie… My best friend. I wouldn’t be here if not for Freddie. Literally. She saved my life. She GAVE her life for mine.

And Apollo… He’s been by my side. Through a lot in a really short time. From the beginning, pretty much. He stood up for me when no one else did. Came with me to the Underworld, even though he didn’t have to. Even though its Queen… dislikes him.

[Okay wow… that’s… Well, at least she didn’t do anything embarrassing like confess her feelings for a certain Sun God. It’s still not great, but she could have embarrassed herself WORSE, probably.]

WILDCARD.

[Exactly what it says on the tin! Feel free to choose your own adventure with this one, or hit me up on plurk at ThriceWiddershins or message this journal if you feel like plotting a little something out.]

suspicious message;

[existenceischaos]

It is a fortunate thing, to have those you can count on in your darkest hours.

[A thing he never really felt he had, all those years in Asgard as an Odinson.]

[embracethefire]

But counting on her cost my best friend her life. I don't know if I can ever forgive myself for that.

I just hope that being by my side doesn't bring Apollo the same fate. I don't think I could handle losing both of them.

[They both mean so much to her and if she loses both of them, because of her... she doesn't know how she would even begin to deal.]

[existenceischaos]

Something tells me your guilt is misplaced. Surely you did not ask for her to die in your stead...

[Survivor's guilt, he's pretty sure he's heard it called.]

[embracethefire]

[Yeah, Grace is caught a little off guard. He's right, she didn't... but hearing it from someone else is... ]

I... No, I didn't, but... If not for me she'd still be alive. She put herself between the Furies and me. To stop them from killing me.

[existenceischaos]

She took the risk. She knew what she was doing and what the consequences were, and chose to save you anyway.

It does nothing for your loss or your grief, I'm not sure anything can assuage that except that fickle thing we call time... but pity and blame you shove inward is surely not something your friend would want from you in wake of her sacrifice.

Perhaps...instead of wallowing in the loss, honor her memory by living the life she granted you.

[embracethefire]

It was my fault she was involved. I told her about becoming a muse. If I had just kept my mouth shut...

[She doesn't mean to just... let it all out to a random stranger but she can't help it. Its been... god, she doesn't know how long she's been in this world but it had been maybe a handful of hours after it happened that she found her way here. And now that she's talking about it, talking about her best friend who she's never going to see again... it just sort of spills out.]

And it might all be for nothing! She sacrificed herself for me and I might not even be alive in a few days! If I can't find a way to prove my innocence Athena is going to execute me. ... Which would mean her sacrifice was pointless.

[Get a grip, Grace.]

Sorry. I was... I'd just watched her die pretty much right before I ended up here.

[So it's a little fresh. And without the desperate need to find a way to prove her innocence she has a lot of time to just... think. The grief is overwhelming.]

I think Freddie would have liked you.

mystic grotto

[woo_oo]

[ As Grace struggles to free herself, she'll hear the sound of rapid footsteps heading towards her... except instead of sounding like shoes thudding, it's more like... wet slaps? Like webbed feet? Perish the thought. ]

UNHAND HER! ... Wait. I mean, UN-TENTACLE HER!

[ So goes the heroic cry from what sounds like a very young girl. The footsteps stop as a shadowy figure jumps, and a gleaning sword cuts through the tentacle, leaving Grace still wrapped but now able to wriggle out. The heroine stands tall...

... And it's a duck. ]

Y'know, so many people complained about me getting a sword, but it sure does come in handy! Maybe I should start thinking of giving it some kind of cool name...

[embracethefire]

[Okay. That’s not… what she expected her rescuer to look like. A duck. She’s a duck. A duck with a SWORD. Considering that she just became a muse less than a week ago and learned about the existence of gods and goddesses you’d think that a duck with a gun would be less surprising.

But here she is, all surprised.

The sword is fucking useful, though, and Grace scrambles backwards and to her feet, eyes locked on where the tentacle had come from. She does spare a glance sideways though.]

I mean yeah, a sword should absolutely have a cool name. And thanks. For the rescue.

[Freddie would absolutely love this duck.]

[woo_oo]

You're welcome!

[ Said very cheerfully, as she waves the sword a bit to get some blood and guts and gunk to come off. ]

Rule of thumb, you guys should never stick too close to a cave wall unless there's total darkness. You never know what'll be there to get you. I'd also recommend tying up your pretty hair, in case there are bats fluttering around here.

[ And with that pleasant mental image, she beams at Grace and offers a hand to shake. ]

Hi, I'm Webby!

[embracethefire]

[Grace is just going to side-eye the entire chamber. And she’s still watching out for more tentacles. Because she’s not keen on a repeat performance.]

Bats. Wonderful.

[She takes the offered hand, though, smiling.]

I’m Grace.

[woo_oo]

Nice to meet you, Grace! If this is your first time exploring, I'd be happy to help you out. Most of the adults will probably flip out knowing I'm here alone anyway.

[ Half-shrug. She doesn't get why it's such a biggie. She can totally handle it! ]

[embracethefire]

[She smiles a faintly sheepish smile.]

Here, yeah. My exploring has kind of been limited to… spooky magical libraries, back home.

[And that had gone… BADLY. Last time. She’s not sure it’d be safe for Webby to explore with her, but at least the Furies shouldn’t be here. So maybe she’ll be safe.]

I’d appreciate the company, though.

[woo_oo]

Oh, we had one of those here for a bit! Made us get stuck in a time loop while we fought devils. Wouldn't recommend, it gets repetitive after a while.

[ After that casual info-dump, she begins a-walking, expecting Grace to follow. ]

[embracethefire]

... does that happen often? This place changing like that?

[She's pretty sure she's going to be in for a wild ride. But at least she has a reprieve from the possible death sentence hanging over her. The only thing that could make this better would be a familiar face.

For now, though, she follows after the duck.]

[woo_oo]

Sure does! About every other month, if my math is right... although who knows how time REALLY works in another world.

[ Another little half shrug, occasionally batting away a tentacle with the sword without batting an eyelash. La de da~ ]

[embracethefire]

That often, huh?

[Wow, yeah, she's definitely in for an interesting time while she's here.]

Guess I'm in for a wild ride.

[And boy, Webby is incredibly casual about the tentacles. Grace just wishes she had her powers. Not that she thinks that they would work against... whatever OWNS the tentacles they're seeing. And she's not sure that seeing whatever that is sing would be anything but kind of horrifying if they DID work. But still. It'd be nice.]

[woo_oo]

[ Webby now turns around, walking backwards, wanting to touch on a certain topic as they journey together. ]

So, what are you? I assume human right off the bat, we have a huge majority of them here for some reason... And even the non-human species have a human-ish look. So, are you human, or just another human-ish kind of species?

[ She tilts her head left and right as she talks, trying to analyze all of Grace in case there's something Webby's missing as a clue to her "real" identity. ]

[embracethefire]

[Oh, that’s a complicated question. And Webby is studying her HARD.]

Both, sort of? I was human, less than a week ago? But now I’m… sort of a god. Well, goddess.

[woo_oo]

Oooh! A newly chosen divinity! Congrats on the honor!

[ Yes, Webby is fascinated and interested... but not wholly shocked, apparently. It's as if this isn't the first time she's met a goddess. ]

So, what are you the goddess of?

[embracethefire]

[Grace can't help but smile a little at that.]

Thanks.

[It seems like Webby has dealt with deities before? Which is... weird, but it probably shouldn't be. Considering that Grace IS one herself, now. So obviously they exist. So it makes sense they'd exist in others.]

I'm a muse? The last, actually. So... music, I guess. I can sort of... inspire people to sing? Get them to express their feelings and things through song.

Arrival

[avatar_state]

She's taking the time in good weather to get some meditation in when she hears the voice of the other. Nothing makes her miss her spiritual connection like...well, not having it. For all that she struggled to become a more spiritual person, it now feels like she's lost something crucial.

And because those thoughts of before are so close to mind, held at bay by the meditation - when she opens her eyes and sees waves of dark hair... But no, of course not. But she sighs, and manages a smile.

"It's the only new question that's also an old question around here...I don't think we ever quite figure this place out. But I can try to help a bit."

[embracethefire]

Grace is apologetic. "Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. This is just... a LOT." Which feels like she's putting it mildly. She's a world away from the death sentence hanging over her head and any familiar faces. Even dealing with... trying to prove her innocence, she hasn't been alone.

And now she is. And she hates it. She misses them. Freddie, and Apollo. Even Persephone, for all her prickliness.

"Have you been here long?" Does it get any less WEIRD if you are, is the question she wants to follow it up with, but she waits. Maybe she's been here just as long as Grace herself has. It just... doesn't sound like it. Feel like it.

[avatar_state]

"Couple of months now," she replied, with a bit of a nod. She gestures at Grace to sit opposite her, since it's at least available space.

"Has anybody told you about Vaeros yet?"

suspicious

[brokenfuse]

Don't underestimate her death. I don't think you are, but never fucking do it. I've died for someone. It's hard.