Theta tunnels in a cave, sadly not a baby cave

[13:19:45] [@Adenine] Okay then! Choose your location - did this happen sometime during TUNNELS or after you got back from your bath?
[13:20:45] * Shawyun_Sariri has quit (Ping timeout)
[13:20:46] [Theta] Let's go with in the tunnels
[13:24:25] [@Adenine] Dryn has been concentrating at the shrine and channeling power directly into Theta. You've felt a surge of earth power, and to your surprise, pushing away stone is almost as easy as simply thinking it away! You're making good progress on these tunnels north from the Shrine of Stone, and occasionally Adenine pops in with teleport. This time, she's got a bottle of ice water with her and a
[13:24:25] [@Adenine] handkerchief.
[13:24:58] [@Adenine] You're still quite a bit dirty, of course, this isn't very clean work.
[13:27:03] * Theta looks over as Adenine approaches and waves.  "Any news yet?" He doesn't really want to keep Dryn waiting on him, so tries to split his attention between pushing forward and Adenine.
[13:27:38] [@Adenine] She offers the bottle of water. "No, things seem pretty quiet." she wipes a bit of grime and sweat from your forehead, trying not to get in your way.
[13:27:55] [@Adenine] "Think I'll just stay here a bit."
[13:30:45] * Theta pauses briefly, twisting the top off the bottle. "Thanks.  It's tiring, even if it looks easy." He gulps down a few bit of it and then puts it in a pocket as he continues.
[13:32:03] [@Adenine] "By the way..."
[13:32:15] [Theta] "Don't imagine this is fun at all to watch, but I appreciate the company," he laughs.  "What's up?"
[13:32:18] [@Adenine] "You said earlier you had been meaning to ask something." she says with a bit of interest.
[13:33:59] [Theta] "Well, it's sorta personal and selfish to ask, so wasn't sure you'd be willing to answer it.  Our talk earlier just sort of got near it."
[13:35:19] [@Adenine] She has a seat nearby while you work.
[13:35:33] [@Adenine] "Well, you won't know until you ask it?"
[13:37:22] [Theta] He pauses his work again and turns toward her, "Alright...what Abigail said a few weeks go sort of stayed on my mind, so I was curious : What did you hear when you were born?"
[13:43:13] [@Adenine] "This is about the voices, then." she closes her eyes and thinks.
[13:47:31] [@Adenine] "It feels distant now. But there was a comfortable feeling, and I remember hearing...  something like 'don't be afraid, because you are loved.' Vague nonsense. Other girls seem to have heard something call as well, it's a little different for everyone I think. Some knew your name from the start, and scared Ayane by asking who you were."
[13:51:10] [Theta] Theta nods.  Theta nods. "I don't have any more of an idea who or what it is than any of you do, sadly.  Thanks for sharing that, though."
[13:52:05] [@Adenine] "Is that all you had to ask?" she leans against the wall of a tunnel, thoughtfully. "I guess it did have some merit, I'm certainly not afraid anymore."
[13:58:43] [Theta] "Disapointed?" He chuckles and resumes digging forward.  "I dunno, it seemed more personal to me than it maybe is.  Wish I had more answers to things like the mystery that is.  Got tons of questions and doubts, after all."
[13:59:38] [@Adenine] "Well... talk to me about it. You shouldn't keep things bottled up."
[14:04:48] [Theta] "The more time goes on the more I realize how utterly twisted what Ayane did is and how easy she got off just going 'Oops!' and giving herself up."
[14:05:59] [Theta] "Let's ignore the fact I'm really not much closer to knowing how to help you all than I was a few weeks ago.  Even after, and if, I can do that, our race is in a terrible position because of her actions."
[14:09:17] [@Adenine] "I heard Ayane got busted out of jail. It's possible Millie might try to convince her to try again." she frowns.
[14:10:49] [@Adenine] "If that happens, well, I don't look forward to how 'fun' dealing with that will be."
[14:11:49] [Theta] "When the hell did that happen? And if that's the case, what of the imposter they had in place?"
[14:12:58] [@Adenine] "Like just recently. Earlier today or yesterday. ...might be wise to try and get any of our friends in the palace out when we can."
[14:15:02] [@Adenine] "I think they won't get back on their feet for a while, though. You guys did a number to Ayane, mentally. I'd estimate they're just going to bide their time for a bit while she recuperates."
[14:15:45] [Theta] "Ugh this is so stupid I can't possibly handle all of this nonsense while still being over here," he sighs.  "I wasn't even referring to that as much as the fact she's just enforcing the belief that we're all a bunch of loose trigger monsters that were made to destroy the world, and has -completely- skewed our race's avenus of survival into a handfull of ways."
[14:16:36] * Adenine nods. "I know what you meant, and it's true. The woman is sick in the head."
[14:16:49] [@Adenine] "Or else just completely deluded."
[14:18:56] [Theta] "There were less than a hundred of us left.  We were -always- going to have to rely on those machines to survive.  And then she goes and proves why we couldn't possibly sustain that, and in the process probably used the majority of the mist left in the world.  Hah!"
[14:20:09] [@Adenine] "But it's probably best to look on the bright side. Maybe we can actually give her what she deserves now. Apart from that... I don't think you've been doing a bad job. You've had other commitments certainly, but you've been giving it your best besides that. Almost everything you've been working towards had been on one lead or another, hasn't it?"
[14:26:29] [Theta] "It's always back to square one though.  Or something else comes up and prolongs it.  It's so stupidly unfair to you all that I'm this distracted all the time."
[14:27:12] * Adenine gets up again and steps behind you, rubbing your shoulders. "Try to relax a bit. You're going to pop a vein if you stay so tense. This has a lot of gravity to it but you've been handling it fine. And the Glutton? He's a threat to us, too, don't think you're not doing us a favor with what you're doing here."
[14:29:34] [@Adenine] "Let me share some of the burden. I'm willing to dedicate time to learning about how the spawning machines work, or considering how the population can be fixed, and anything else that would help me lighten the load off of you. You're not in this alone."
[14:33:52] [Theta] Theta pauses and shakes his head, "The Glutton?  Adenine...the planet itself is a threat to you.  Sure, he's got adamantite and Eidolons, but your lives are bare threads to a pair of scissors.  I know you guys have faith in me but that is -heavy-."
[14:34:34] [Theta] "That said...I'd also be lost without you all, which is the most twisted part of Ayane's little experiment here, huh?"
[14:35:05] [@Adenine] "She's stolen a lot from you, hasn't she?" she says a bit sadly.
[14:38:00] [Theta] "Yeah, and it really, really sucks."  He sighs.  "I don't think we should use those machines anymore.  I know I built one from those parts, but...it's just so hard to justify using after all this."
[14:38:24] * Adenine considers over it for a minute, hugging Theta from behind.
[14:38:42] [@Adenine] "...remake me."
[14:40:19] [Theta] "And it's just as wrong to just...print more -" he pauses, stops and turns around, wide eyed and pretty scared. "What?"
[14:41:22] [@Adenine] "You're going to need to eventually make fresh dolls to work with, aren't you? But you're afraid of bringing in new lives so carelessly. Why don't... you make a new vessel for me, one made by your hands, in whatever image you want. And then... we'll figure out how to move my soul into it. That can be done, can't it? ...somehow?"
[14:42:25] [@Adenine] "Or... I don't know."
[14:42:55] * Adenine sort of slumps. "I want to help you, somehow."
[14:43:39] [Theta] Theta looks about ready to faint unless Dryn's will slaps him awake.
[14:44:32] [@Adenine] You feel a sharp burst of energy flow into you with a sort of stinging sensation. Don't you faint, nigga!
[14:44:49] [@Adenine] "...okay so that's not helping, is it. Hrm."
[14:46:23] [Theta] Theta flails and wobbles and then snaps awake, planting his arms on Adenine's shoulders. "Woah, woah.  Wait.  What?  No, just.  You scared the hell out of me."
[14:47:03] [@Adenine] Adenine looks a bit worried and confused. "I did?"
[14:47:25] [@Adenine] She holds you up, hugging you close.
[14:47:41] [Theta] "I thought you were just going to drop lifeless suddenly and think I passed out for a second there but -" He takes the water bottle and pours some on his face. "Okay. Think I'm okay now..."
[14:49:10] [@Adenine] "...oh you are such a spaz!" her expression suddenly turns a little annoyed and she smacks you on the head. "Give me some credit, I'm not that melodramatic! And we all still have at least 10-11 months left at minimum. Jeez."
[14:50:25] [Theta] ;-;
[14:50:54] [@Adenine] "Oh, come here." she hugs you tight.
[14:50:58] [@Adenine] "I'm not going anywhere, silly."
[14:51:05] [@Adenine] "Not now, not later."
[14:52:03] [Theta] "I slowly watched all the first I met when I came to this world pass away, okay? That really did scare me."
[14:52:37] [@Adenine] She nods. "...sorry, I guess I didn't really consider that."
[14:54:05] [Theta] "And...your idea - I'm touched, but it also scares me a bit.  Is that really something you would be okay with?"
[14:54:31] * Adenine nods. "Yeah, if you wanted to go through with it."
[14:56:44] [@Adenine] "I get the feeling you kind of want to make one of us by your own hands, anyway... and if you're worried about the responsibility with that... well... that should help? It wouldn't be an entirely new life, but I'd be brought again into this world, and this time by your hands alone. And to be honest, I'd like that. But it's up to you."
[15:00:11] [@Adenine] "I'm also not going to push it if you're really scared, or if you want your first mage to be a new being herself..."
[15:00:45] [@Adenine] "You don't even have to answer now."
[15:01:39] [Theta] "I...dunno what to really say at the moment.  It's scary, which makes me also sorta freak out and realize how much you would trust me to do this...it would have to be something we're both happy about, right?"
[15:02:11] [Theta] "But far as using the machines on the scale Ayane did again...that really doesn't feel right."
[15:03:50] * Adenine nods and hugs you again. "Of course I trust you, Theta... I wouldn't have even dreamed of pursuing a relationship with someone I didn't trust implicitly. I -love- you, too... And yes, we'd both have to be happy about it."
[15:09:51] * Theta hugs her back and rests his chin on her head. "I love you too, Adenine.  I'll think this over some, alright?"
[15:10:22] [@Adenine] She nods. "Yeah, no worries."
[15:10:47] [Theta] "I don't think what we choose, far as that's concerned, has much to do with our larger problems anyway."
[15:12:00] [@Adenine] "We'll figure it out. Together. We won't let that bitch's recklessness force us into a hasty hotfix. We'll do this right, you and me."
[15:16:44] * Theta seems a bit relucant to point out what the most obvious 'natural' solution to this sort of situation would be given the mood.  He holds tight for a while and collects himself.  "Just what do you hope things are like a year from now?"
[15:19:40] * Adenine looks up at him and smiles. "We'll be spread all over the world, from Esto Gaza to Treno. Black Mage Village and Treno will be shaping up into greater and grander versions of themselves, thriving from all the efforts we've made. No, not Black Mage Village. The Black Mage Enclave."
[15:21:11] [@Adenine] "Businesses will be thriving, and depending on how the world changes from the efforts of your group to reassemble this crystal, we'll be making use of new terrain, new resources. There won't be a hungry mouth in the Dark City at all. And we'll all be free to live our lives just how we please."
[15:22:56] [@Adenine] "There will be families. Between black mages, or black mages and genomes, genomes and gaians, or gaians and black mages, or hell, throw these elves into the mix too. What matters is that everyone will be happy. That is what I see for Gaia in a year."
[15:24:12] [@Adenine] "Ayane, if she's still alive, will remain largely forgotten, because even infamy is too good for her. The best end I could hope for her is that all of her efforts are swept under the rug and no one acknowledges them again evermore."
[15:25:31] [@Adenine] "I think it's a turn of phrase from Burmecia? 'To be forgotten is worse than death'."
[15:26:38] [Theta] "Geez...and even next week's a mystery to me."
[15:27:15] [@Adenine] "You have to dream big if you want to make it big."
[15:27:49] [@Adenine] "Better to shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."
[15:29:00] [Theta] "I think I'd settle for a feathered mattress."
[15:29:23] [@Adenine] "Is that a come-on?" she raises her eyebrows.
[15:30:19] [Theta] "Um."
[15:30:36] [Theta] "No. Not intentionally. Maybe.  Just...landing on a feathered...oh nevermind."
[15:31:12] [@Adenine] She pushes you a bit teasingly. "Quit while you're ahead."
[15:32:40] [@Adenine] "Anyway, try not to worry so much. You should prooobably get back to digging before that chick comes to see what's up."
[15:33:33] [Theta] "...Er, right." He coughs and tries to get back to digging.  "Things might be odd though if we -don't- rely on those machines, however.  If it's something that you're really motivated about, however, I'd appreciate your input."
[15:33:47] [@Adenine] "Odd how, exactly?"
[15:36:11] [Theta] "Well...Either we'll need to utilize some rather....well, choice magical or alchemical means, or the concept of family for us is going to be a bit different than it is for most Gaians."
[15:37:41] [@Adenine] She has a seat, thinking about the implications of that. "...are you suggesting polygamy?"
[15:41:37] [Theta] "Look.  There's less than fifty males in our species and nearly twenty times the number of females, and our race is sterile with others.  If we -don't- even begin to consider the possibility that Ayane would, 'oh, let's just create a bunch more to balance it out!'...our options are sort of limited aren't they?"
[15:42:10] [@Adenine] She closes her eyes, considering this. She doesn't seem to be upset, but she's thinking hard on it.
[15:44:10] [@Adenine] "Won't genetic viability be precarious either way with so few fathers? And that's assuming that there aren't any gay genomes, either, or that there aren't any that are interested in other races or don't want to have kids."
[15:44:31] [@Adenine] "...It's a pretty difficult situation."
[15:45:44] [Theta] "It is, isn't it?"
[15:45:49] [Theta] "I know she never even considered it."
[15:46:13] [@Adenine] "It would have been a difficult situation before Ayane intervened, even."
[15:46:42] [@Adenine] "Have you spoken with Mikoto about her thoughts on it? I imagine before a thousand of us appeared out of nowhere she might have dedicated some thought to keeping her people alive."
[15:47:39] [Theta] "Haven't been able to.  Sorta been busy...just ensuring I can save everyone.  I'm sure she's thought on it, but..."
[15:47:59] [Theta] "I don't have confidence in those machines that birthed us. It's been proven enough times in a decade how people will use them."
[15:48:50] [@Adenine] "Maybe we should look into possibly modifying our people to be genetically compatible with Gaians."
[15:50:14] [@Adenine] "If technology like that existed... it'd probably have been on Terra, right? They originally created us. Or you, really. But the genomes are the baseline for all of us."
[15:50:46] [Theta] "That could be dificult being we were created to usurp them, but maybe?  I really don't know.  This will be a bit ugly no matter what we do to try to fix it at this point..."
[15:52:09] [@Adenine] Roll... Nature.
[15:52:58] [Theta] 2d6+8
[15:52:59] [DiceMaid-9001] Theta, 2d6+8: 16 [2d6=6,2]
[15:53:46] [@Adenine] Your knowledge of the way reproduction works is a good deal better than hers, and lends some credence to your arguments.
[15:54:52] [@Adenine] This doesn't seem easy for her to say, and she rubs her forehead a bit, but finally says, "In the meantime... if you really think that polygamy will help solve the issues our people are having, then I'm going to try and have an open mind about what you do. As long as it doesn't interfere with us."
[15:58:02] [Theta] "I don't have the answers.  There's no garuntee the gender ratio would stay that way forever until a few generations from now, but..."
[15:58:34] [Theta] "I just wanted you to be aware of these things, I don't think many people have started thinking on them yet."
[15:59:00] [@Adenine] She nods. "Right."
[15:59:00] [Theta] "I don't think most people, outside of a few of us, even know the gravity of what Ayane's done."
[16:00:25] [Theta] "And I know you disaprove of a lot of the things about these Elves, but I can't help but see some similarities in what they had to do to survive."
[16:00:54] [Theta] "Don't let it get to your head, alright?  I do value your input here, and this -is- something you would have a vested interest in researching or thinking on yourself."
[16:01:07] * Adenine nods again.
[16:01:32] [@Adenine] "The only input I really have is... kind of selfish, honestly, so I don't value it much in being able to help you."
[16:03:42] [Theta] "Well, yes, I figured you'd hate the idea so didn't really know how to approach the topic," he admits.
[16:06:15] [@Adenine] "I'd honestly love it if things could be a bit simpler. All I really want is to lead a successful life, have you all to myself, give you a couple of daughters, then grow old, get ugly, wilted grey hair and die next to someone I love, leaving my life's work to my children. But I can't have you all to myself because of Elizabeth, and having daughters would just contribute to the problem thanks
[16:06:16] [@Adenine] to Ayane. ...I'm not really -bitter- over it because you're happy with her. I made my peace with all of that before. Just could have been nice."
[16:07:07] [@Adenine] "I want you to know though, that I do love you, and you don't have to worry. Things aren't fair for either of us in a lot of respects, but it'll work out."
[16:07:59] [@Adenine] "And... as long as it does, I'll be happy."
[16:09:56] [@Adenine] "That's all I wanted to say."
[16:12:27] [Theta] Ouch.  He winces, pauses and slumps some.  "I'm sorry.  I know things aren't you'd hoped for and I can't really blame you for having the attitude you do with her.  I'm doing what I can, but I'm not a miracle worker and by no means perfect either."
[16:12:52] [@Adenine] "No, come on, look, I wasn't trying to get you down."
[16:13:10] * Adenine sighs. "I'm okay with it, really, or I wouldn't have agreed to it in the first place."
[16:14:18] [@Adenine] "You aren't perfect, but I do -know- you can work miracles. You're special, Theta."
[16:14:50] [@Adenine] "Remember that talk I gave you a while back? About being a hero to all of us?"
[16:14:55] [@Adenine] "That hasn't changed any."
[16:15:13] [@Adenine] "...what attitude do you mean, though."
[16:16:17] [Theta] "Nor is it picture perfect for me either - I get a hint of what you're going through all the time seeing she seems to prefer Lenore anyway.  Not really sure what else I can say.  This...sorta all comes down on Ayane and myself.  And...well, you seem to tolerate each other, at best."
[16:16:59] [@Adenine] "...prefer Lenore? What have you been smoking? She's been all over you until since yesterday."
[16:17:43] [@Adenine] "...oh, that's how you see it? Well..."
[16:18:02] [Theta] (This might be an OOC perception thing - most that stuff sorta happens off screen? In session it's another story, so it's hard to guage)
[16:18:31] [@Adenine] (Liz has been hanging with you pretty much 100% of the time until you mentioned she hadn't been with Lenore)
[16:19:33] [Theta] (Oh, oops, nm that comment then - I think the slow passage of time is messing w/ me)
[16:19:54] [@Adenine] "To be honest, I don't really mind her. I can't say much for her taste in girlfriends, but Elizabeth herself doesn't seem to be as whorish. She's intelligent and she's good at what she does. She also shares scientific interests with you, which... I guess I'm a little jealous of."
[16:20:02] [@Adenine] "But mostly I give her a hard time to see if she's serious about you."
[16:21:30] [@Adenine] "Cirra made a bit of a disturbing comment when I spoke with her over lunch, too. She said I reminded her of Liz."
[16:21:38] [@Adenine] "I'm not sure what to make of that."
[16:22:11] [Theta] "Um...yeah me either.  You both like the Teleport Spell?"
[16:22:19] [Theta] "She's sort of weird..."
[16:23:14] [@Adenine] "I guess it might be how we speak, sometimes? I don't get it."
[16:23:47] [@Adenine] "Anyway." she shakes her head. "Don't let what I said get to you, either."
[16:24:00] [@Adenine] "I'm fine with things having turned out like this."
[16:26:21] [Theta] "Just wish I could do something to match how understanding you've been, I guess." He resumes digging.  "And thanks for putting up with me," he laughs.
[16:27:30] [@Adenine] "Maybe I'll think of something, then." she smirks. "...and thanks for putting up with me as well. I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with with how blunt I can be."
[16:27:45] [@Adenine] She sits down, content to watch you.
[16:29:12] [Theta] (think that's it, then)
[16:30:06] [@Adenine] Alrighty
[16:30:10] [@Adenine] and... </mini>