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Lavender Flash Candy
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Getting a little serious again, Mina continues, “I agree with you though, that box is bad news in some way or another. Getting it into the hands of someone more capable would be for the best. Luckily, we’re not too far from a city called Cosiax, it’s about a few days' travel from here.”
The name sounds familiar, I think… it was some kind of capital? “Are there people there that could help with… all of this?”
Mina nods with more determination now, some confidence returning. “I’m certain. Cosiax houses some of the most powerful organizations in the world, places called the Cosiaxian National Institute of Research and Temple of the Omnifideus.”
Evel’yee rolls her eyes. “You know that shit doesn’t come free Mina. There’s no way a couple of nobodies like us could get an audience with people that high up.”
Mina lets out an annoyed sigh. “Eve, you just heard what Tanna said. You saw what happened tonight. We’re so far out of our league with this, it’s so incredibly dangerous. Besides, this thing killed Roderick. This is the easiest way to desss- open it.”
Despite Mina’s obvious mistake, the fact that she’s even pushing for this Cosiax seems to put Evel’yee on a bit of a bender. “You think they won’t try to use it themselves? Those people are scum Mina, the worst of the opportunistic bastards, and that’s saying something because everyone in Cosiax is one. Such a little paradise, all supported by company towns tucked away in corners where nobody can see the atrocities that happen there.”
Something changes in Mina when Eve says this. She doesn’t seem to disagree, but her fur starts to bristle and her voice takes a hard edge. “You think I don’t know that? That I want to go to Cosiax myself? I can’t stand the idea of going there, but this monster killed Roderick, and from what Tanna’s saying, it’s capable of so much worse! I have a moral duty to see it dealt with, and if that means using the connection I have to do so, I will.”
Evel’yee seems genuinely surprised when Mina says that. There’s something like sympathy in her gaze when she regards Mina now. I let out a small cough, I’m kinda lost. “Uhm…”
There’s a bit of a hollower edge to Mina’s voice when she speaks again. “I can… get us in to see someone pretty high up within the Avlontol branch if we go to Cosiax. People within the institute. They’d be far more equipped to deal with whatever is happening with that box and you.”
“That’s… good?” What’s the problem then?
“The person she’d have to get into contact with to make that happen isn’t a good person, Tanna, and the Avlontol Research Association if composed of a bunch of fucking psychopaths. It’s not an option Mina.”
Mina doesn’t say anything, instead just shaking her head.
>Mina is feeling really helpless right now.
“Hey, there’s no need to rush into things, we can figure it out in the morning.” Not going to open that can of worms for now.
“Besides, we need to figure out how to help Jacob and Vax too…” Evel’yee says, though she can’t seem to suppress a bit of venom in her voice when she says their names. For Mina though, she jolts and bites her lip. “Cosiax is too far away, and I dunno if bringing them with us is a good idea exactly. I think we should stop by Felicol. It’s way closer, and there’s probably someone there that could help. Roderick was pretty close to that mayor guy, maybe he could.”
“You’re right…” Mina is quiet for a bit. When she opens her mouth again, she speaks in nearly a whisper. “Well, I think that's enough discussion for now. I’m going to go see Roderick now.”
An air of solemnity passes over the two of them as Evel’yee wrings her hands together a little bit. “Aye, I think I’ll do the same.”
>Also, see if you can cover the box in cloth maybe, without looking at it, so it can be manipulated without looking at any of the facings
Good idea Winds. “Do you have a cloth or something Evel’yee? I think it’d be a good idea to cover the box up for now.”
“Yeah, here.” She says as she fishes into her pack and produces a simple gray cloth, sizable enough to cover the box in its entirety.
“I think the Winds have something they want to say to you Eve, you mind hearing them out for a sec? They’ve got a way of making me feel better.”
“Are they not a single thing? I guess that’s why you’re using ‘Winds’, huh?” I give her a quick nod. “Sure I suppose.”
>To evelyee : hello there. I apologise for the intrusion but, please, feel no guilt over those words. What he spoke were not his thoughts given voice but bakoths weapons. Words like arrows aimed to wound you. I only know a little of roderick but from what i do leads me to believe he wouldnt have been hurt by your words. If anything, he'd have been proud to see you fighting back against a most cruel foe. Prouder still to know you both live and the foe who used him failed. Feeling guilt here would be giving bakoth a small win. He deserves nothing. Victory here belongs to you, mina and even roderick for i can assure you while his fight was not physical, he was still fighting alongside you all. I… I'll go now. Feel loss, feel pain, honour your friend, but feel no guilt. Not for this.
Her whiskers twitch as your message reaches her, her gaze softening slightly. “Man that’s a weird feeling…” There’s a pause before she continues, “Hard not to feel guilty, it felt good to thunk him with arrows in the moment. Felt like getting revenge for the past few shit days. All just to realize he wasn’t even himself. Have his own ‘kids’ at each other’s throats.”
Evel’yee chokes up, her next words coming out in quavering waves. “I-It’s just… why did this have to happen…” Just as quickly as her voice quavers though, she clenches her fist and forces it back down. “Abyss take it all, things just never seem to get better.”
>To Evel’yee:
>Well, we can yank you around with the gentlest of touch. What do you say? Cards on the table and the general goal of reaching a happy ending. (Several, if we can help.) Up for more ocasional head nudging and cheering of your sharpshooter skills?
With a choked laughing cough, she softly sniffles and nods. She takes another deep breath and manages to catch herself. “Yeah you know what, sure. I am a damn good shot. The best even! Just stop suggesting stupid shit like that charm idea.”
“Eve, chill out. You can’t be doing that.” The mousling shoots Mina with a mean glare, but that doesn’t seem to phase her. “They don’t know what makes you uncomfortable. You snapping at them like that doesn’t help, it just makes you seem antagonistic.”
Evel’yee whiskers twitch and she looks like she wants to snap back, but she ends up just pinching the bridge of her snout instead. “Agh! Fine. I just…” She takes a deep breath and curses under her breath. “Fucking hells… look.”
Holding onto her elbow and exasperatedly sighing, she quietly says, “I didn’t mean it like that. I would appreciate it if you didn’t call me cute, touch me, or suggest things like charming me… Sorry for being a bitch about it.”
Krai’s sake, this constant whiplash. At least there’s some kind of apology there, but I have got to get away from these people. “It’s not a big deal, don’t worry about it. I can’t really speak for the Winds, they kind of come in ‘waves’. I’m sure they’ll send a message though, or let me know.”
“Erm… yeah. Okay.” Making quick eye contact, she’ll give a nod. She then moves to the ritual room, and with an awkward wave, Evel’yee enters.
Mina passes a wave as well and lets out a soft laugh. “Well, we’ll be out soon, just need a moment with Roderick. There’s a camp nearby above ground, feel free to rest there if you’d like. Just, please don’t run off?”
Stop tempting me. “Please, why would I think of doing that?”
Mina raises her eyebrows at me. UGH… “Okay, fine. I already had this moral dilemma in my head already.”
She purses her lips and looks like she wants to say something about that. Thankfully though, she instead passes a soft smile. “Alrighty Tanna. If you end up falling asleep somewhere, then have a good night.” Turning away, she closes the door behind her, the only light left coming from the faint glow of the moons from the main hall.
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