Conversational Silence

Upon the Bridge of Mzithrei.
Throughout the location, small dancing flames flicker and spark. A soft, almost feathery fog wraps
itself around the central span of the Bridge of Mzithrei, leaving it floating in a quiet space. Beyond
the poppy-carved stone lip of the bridge, little is visible save a strange, shifting fog filled with
the distant light of strange stars. Shadows of sails pass across what few support pillars sink beneath
the roadway, not deigning to rise above the clouds choking at the chiseled adornments and the burnt out
stubs of ebon and ivory candles.
You see exits leading north and south.

The Mantle of Starlight flows gently against your form, twinkling stars shifting across its surface as
the starry infinity continues its eternal motion.

A bright giggle can be heard, and you swear you hear the pitter-patter of bare feet running against
stone rushing past you.

You peer about yourself unscrupulously.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, you say, "Alright, not unexpected..."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, you say, "But it occurs to me that I have absolutely no
idea where a once-thief would even be found."

A charge of energy flows through your soul.

His voice quiet and hoarse, Akuuko, the once-thief says, "Lose something?"

Upon the Bridge of Mzithrei.
Throughout the location, small dancing flames flicker and spark. A soft, almost feathery fog wraps
itself around the central span of the Bridge of Mzithrei, leaving it floating in a quiet space. Beyond
the poppy-carved stone lip of the bridge, little is visible save a strange, shifting fog filled with
the distant light of strange stars. Shadows of sails pass across what few support pillars sink beneath
the roadway, not deigning to rise above the clouds choking at the chiseled adornments and the burnt out
stubs of ebon and ivory candles. Twisting skeins of dreameater silk slowly about its tubular body, a
lethargic, many-spined moth caterpillar spins here. Crutch laid across his lap, Akuuko sits here on the
side of the bridge.

You shake your head.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, you say, "No. I am mostly here out of a sense of...
curiosity? Camaraderie, perhaps?"

"thief98629"                  Akuuko, the once-thief
Number of objects: 1
p 98629
The tattered remains of a monk's saffron robes are wrapped as tight as can be around what is left of
this poor man's body, just above the black garments of a sneak thief. Where once the loose-fitting
garments would serve to protect him from sight and allow quick movements, much of the fabric has been
pulled tight and wrapped to hide the atrocity that has befallen him. A great amount of his right side
is missing entirely, as though sheared away by the great hand of some cruel instrument, giving him a
decidedly lopsided appearance as his silhouette runs from neck to hip in a single, smooth line. Tight,
clean bandaging covers where the black of his clothing has been burned away there - packed tight with
globs of liquid that occasionally seep through and smell strongly of bitter, pungent herbs that smell
cold and hot at the same time. A small icon of an indistinct, robed figure swings loose around his
neck, clanking against his chest with each laboured movement. Brilliantly orange eyes are drawn and
tired, sunk deep into the dark green scales that cover his body, scabs and gashes across his skin
indicative of no small amount of progress in recovery from whatever tragedy he suffered through. He
clutches tight with his remaining hand and arm to a long crutch of rich wood, inscribed with prayers
and blessings to the Lord, Lady, and Neither, Mysrai.
Akuuko, the once-thief is quite powerful.

You think to yourself: A common set of skills that we have been using to assist our friends in their
trials.

Akuuko, the once-thief raises a leg up near to his posterior, resting his chin on it as he wraps his
single arm around his shin. "I see. I think I remember youse hangin' around with the orange-haired one
and the kid, right?"

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: Ah, yep. You're the one, then.

You think to yourself: It helps in giving Gurashi a voice. ... and Gurashi has entrusted me with a
certain thing that is a secret from just about everyone.

Akuuko, the once-thief arches an eyebrow that is still scarred through with bleached white skin in an
arc of lightning.

The sun reaches the zenith of the firmament, pausing in his quest to allow the land to bask in his
shining golden rays.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: Oh? So you know what the orange boy did, then?

You think to yourself: About Whose service he has entered? Yes. I know.

Aquamantic symbols suddenly project themselves upon the very air in dark blue light, fading after a
brief moment.

The Shifting City fades around you. Your stomach drops into nothingness, falling endlessly before the
surrounding buildings and streets recondense.

You think to yourself: About his efforts to find a Path, as well.

A wry smile spreads across Akuuko, the once-thief's face.

You have emoted: Tridemon looks up toward the sky, and out toward the fog in apparent silence.

You think to yourself: He perhaps shares too much, on occasion.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: Oh, definitely. I admit I cheated and didn't let him know I
had my skills at first, and he REALLY needs to get better about that.

You think to yourself: It doesn't help that it's essentially his best way of communicating with me. Or
with Tisohepsut.

Akuuko, the once-thief gingerly scoots forward off of the edge of the bridge and rises to his feet,
walking on his crutch a few steps before turning and looking out into the mist.

A single fish swims by in midair, scales flashing with ivory and flame-hued luminescence.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: Haven't bothered delving into all of that. Heard plenty, but
figured I could always sell him something later for that easy bit of info.

Continuing the hunt for his dark mate, Father Sun presses forward in his journey, lowering himself in
the sky yet still casting even, full light upon the land.

You have emoted: Tridemon grimaces slightly, his expression turning slightly hard at a memory.

You think to yourself: It was a terrible thing that was done to him. And a terrible thing that his past
has been doing to him. ... but he's starting to find music again.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: Think the kid just needs someone to hug him close and make
everything else shut the Nil up. Really care about him, y'know? Half the time him and the Liar are
around together and hug they both look exhausted enough to fall asleep right there.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: They're too young to be that tired.

At those words, Akuuko, the once-thief shifts against his crutch and you realise with a start that he
cannot be much older than those he refers to as 'kids'.

From seemingly nowhere, Bizirik appears, a slice of orange-glazed vanilla cake with chocolate ganache
clutched in its set of smaller forelimbs. It clumsily hands a slice of orange-glazed vanilla cake with
chocolate ganache over to you before slinking back off.

Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "** the wedding is over! happy! good! cake! enjoy!
breads! huffing and puffing **."

You think to yourself: I do occasionally- Oh, hello Bizi. Goodbye, Bizi.

A single fish swims by in midair, scales flashing with ivory and flame-hued luminescence.

You think to yourself: If you're inclined to steal the cake, I won't mention it. Anyway! Yes,
occasionally I will make him stop thinking so much about things- and even silencing Tiso if boundaries
are overstepped isn't out of the question. I find that non-sequiturs in very strange directions will
grind the gears of thought to a halt very nicely. Won't always work, of course.

Shadows grow longer in anticipation for the return of their dark mistress as Father Sun's chase brings
him closer to the world's edge.

The Shifting City fades around you. Your stomach drops into nothingness, falling endlessly before the
surrounding buildings and streets recondense.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: Nah, I couldn't do that. Might sound weird coming from a th-
-.

Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "** did get the cake? Bizi has been -extra- naughty **."

Akuuko, the once-thief's back stiffens slightly, and then he looks down towards the fogsea below.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Wakabi-Armed Gurashi An'Ryshe, the Crescendo, "Yes, I got
the cake. Have you considered going to an inner sea beach to make a sand castle recently?"

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: Might sound weird coming from me, but there's some things you
shouldn't take, and some lines you shouldn't step over. Going into someone else's mind is...well, I'll
never make that mistake again. ** There is a wash of bitterness and anger so powerful that it is near
enough to force you a step back, a lifetime's worth jammed into this small-framed dracnari.

Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "** a pointed blink - ah - perhaps ... after some breads,
first **."

Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "** a nice idea, though - but it is cold! wintertimes...
**."

Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "** oh! can borrow your manse? nice beach, good
temperature **."

You have emoted: Tridemon glances over to Akuuko and looks down at the sea of fog below.

You think to yourself: It takes a strong personality, and absolute certitude in who you are. And even
then, one must be careful not to touch too many memories or delve too deeply. Or one might become lost.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: Or make someone else lost. You can break a lot of stuff, when
people leave the doors to their mind open.

Across the heavens, the stars and moon challenge night's dark reign, revealing familiar constellations
that tell the tales of myth and legend.

You think to yourself: I tried to teach him to make walls. Defenses to repel certain threats. But it
came down when the truth of the past caught up with him. **A flash of a foreign memory- a colourful
kepheran princess holding a severed antenna. Blood holding eyes stuck shut. A still body on a stone
floor.**.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: You're doing a good thing. I was trying to help the kid do
the same, before...well, before that whole affair.

A few ephemeral, veil-wrought figures hurry past you, vanishing down a rapidly-vanishing sidestreet in
the Shifting City.

Akuuko, the once-thief waves his one good hand through the air, gesturing vaguely towards the villa
tower visible in the distance.

You think to yourself: It was needful. And at first I framed it in a way that would mean that he was
helping someone else and keeping them safe, instead of simply himself. I don't think he would have
taken to the lessons quite so vigorously if they were centered solely on his own benefit.

Akuuko, the once-thief gives a single quick cough of a laugh, nodding his head as he looks towards the
fogsea.

A few ephemeral, veil-wrought figures hurry past you, vanishing down a rapidly-vanishing sidestreet in
the Shifting City.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: It's like reading one of those novels you'd find in your ma's
house, isn't it? Such a little hero, he is. It's enough to make the cynical sick.

Midnight shadows coalesce around a new day, and Mother Night embraces the land in utter darkness.
It is now the 23rd of Estar, 565 years after the Coming of Estarra.

You think to yourself: It would be if he didn't suffer so much for it. Though I rather suspect the
attentions he was getting in those directions will... lessen somewhat.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: Until the Divine of his forest find out. It's only a matter
of time until someone screws the wakabi there.

You have emoted: Tridemon stares out at the fog a bit more, his left eye rotating and bringing the
pupil-less opal segment into focus.

You think to yourself: That rule is a mortal one. She kept Her silence when Gurashi was asking publicly
to be what he is now. Perhaps She will again keep Her silence when the secret emerges.

You think to yourself: ... I actually argued with Her a bit when She came to torment him in my home.
But that's a thing you can't do often without making things much, much worse.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: Perhaps She will. But you know...you never can tell with
gods. They normally don't miss.

Akuuko, the once-thief's scars seem to glimmer for a moment as he reaches up to adjust his habit.

You think to yourself: Occasionally They'll forgive. There's always hope. Hope is a funny thing. In the
end, it's something that can't be taken away from you. You have to give it up on your own. ... but that
doesn't mean it will be fruitful. Simply that it endures as long as you can.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: If She forgives him, it'll only be because She wants to twist
and pervert something to make him miserable for betraying that forest. They preach about not having
mercy for Sebitti's sake!

Akuuko, the once-thief shakes his head, spitting over the bridge in disgust.

You have emoted: Tridemon has a flash of an almost-smile before schooling his face back into passivity.

You think to yourself: He'll endure as long as he is able. And if it's pushed too far... well. Other
folks will welcome him with open arms. Even if what he loses in the process will hurt in ways that echo
what he's endured before.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: You're probably his best friend, next to the kid. So I know
you're going to tell him he's always got a home with you, but you should remind him the same is true
for us. The kid don't know better to try and do it, and it's not right of me to use information he
didn't trade me.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: He's Beloved. It's more than a name, so long as you act in
Love.

You think to yourself: Act in love, and let it guide you. If it is truly an act of love, seldom will it
hurt anyone. ... I hadn't realized that he didn't KNOW that love is the greatest of virtues. The idea
of someone not knowing that was something of an abstraction. I suppose I got a touch sheltered after a
couple of centuries.

A single fish swims by in midair, scales flashing with ivory and flame-hued luminescence.

Glorious rays of morning light burst forth from Father Sun's crown as it peeks over the world's edge,
announcing a bright and shining new dawn.

Akuuko, the once-thief thinks to himself: Listen. I was just avoiding the kid while they were visiting
the monastery. They're gone, so I should be to. I uh...

A single fish swims by in midair, scales flashing with ivory and flame-hued luminescence.

Akuuko, the once-thief begins stepping away with his thoughts, turning and looking at the cake held in
their hand, examining the orange carefully. He carefully tucks it into the inners of his robes before
turning and saying, quietly, "I hope you you enjoy your walk."

You nod your head emphatically.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, you say, "It's nice scenery."

Limping heavily, Akuuko slowly hobbles away to the south.

The Mantle of Starlight flows gently against your form, twinkling stars shifting across its surface as
the starry infinity continues its eternal motion.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, you say, "Well. I should probably head home now. An
enlightening conversation. For all of us, I should hope."

Mysrai, the Urchin in Ivory has bestowed Her divine favour upon you. It will last for 13 months.

A single fish swims by in midair, scales flashing with ivory and flame-hued luminescence.

You have emoted: Tridemon smiles a bit and gives a salute to the empty air before touching his wrist.

You touch your fingers to your time tattoo, contemplating the distance between you and the Immortal
Clock of Past's Restoration, and the possibilities that led you to this moment. The air warps, as a
clock-like portal manifests, time bridging the distance between.