warpweft | [popdrop] H2: Scorpio

[The first thing you notice is how dark it is. It’s really, really stinkin’ dark. You can’t see anything. Even if you naturally have the ability to see in the dark, well, not anymore. Which may be the second thing you notice - any powers you have, any magic is gone. Silenced. You can’t feel it, similarly to when you’re in the theme park, with an additional sense of anxiety and loss surrounding the inability to tap into it. Even a heightened sense of emotion won’t bring them back, like it might in the theme park. If you have other powers of some kind, enhanced physical capabilities or the like, they’re either gone or significantly reduced as well. You feel extremely normal and it doesn’t feel good.]

[Whether you stay still or stumble along in the dark, at least it’s not too long. You eventually catch notice of something illuminating the darkness. You find yourself drawn to it. It's a small spherical glass object. Near the edges, it's black, but bits of purple and violet appear, gradually brightening and swirling together in a spiral shape at the center. The spiral at the center is bright enough to bathe you and the surroundings in a soft violet light. As you get closer, you can feel voices coming from the sphere. You can’t tell what they’re saying, but maybe if you were closer. You feel a deep desire in your stomach to just…reach out….]

What are you doing?

[The voice, a woman’s voice, comes from behind you. You didn’t hear anybody approaching, but you’re immediately filled with an intense sense of foreboding. You turn and look, but you can’t see anything. The darkness is once again overpowering, the violet glow from the object next to you being the only thing that isn’t swallowed up by it. All you can make out in the darkness is what may be someone’s face and…two eyes. With nothing in them. Pitch-black.]

You touched the Heart…

You touched MY Heart!?

[There’s a lot of anger and it’s not making that sense of foreboding go away. The darkness and the person(?) inside it advance towards you, slowly engulfing the violet glow around you. Just when you’re thinking you’re gonna have to decide between fight or flight, here — something moves.

Towards you.

You feel something punch into your chest and before you know it, you’re on the ground, searing pain running through your upper body. A few things briefly pass through your senses. You hear a loud scream. If you tilt your head up, you can see a long black spike…embedded in your own chest. And you can taste… …yup. That’s your own blood.

That’s about as far as you get before consciousness leaves you.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hex's sister? I'm Scorpio, though you might already know.

[Stirs cream and sugar into his coffee and takes a sip.]

Ahahahaha. [She grins pretty openly at that, for what feels like more than a couple reasons.] I do my part to make myself look youthful, but, not quite.

Don't tell me you're her mother, ahahah!

Alright, I won't.

[She sips her own drink.]

But I am.

I can see where she gets her good looks.

[chilling on a patio is pretty nice ngl]

You're quite the gentleman. Astute, too. I'm glad that she's chosen to associate with you.

But I don't think you came to my neck of the woods for my company and a cup of coffee, as great as those two things are.

No, not just for coffee.

If you don't mind, I'll have a look around and then be on my way soon enough.

[Once she acknowledges that, he'll head into the apartment (still carrying his coffee to sip)]

“Excuse me.”

[Lyra's hand glows as she flicks a hand in your direction. The door to her apartment slams shut an inch away from your face and from the clicking sound, locks. Her demeanor has rather...suddenly changed.]

“How presumptuous. I invite you to brunch and that makes you think you can go traipsing through my home?” [She waggles a finger.] “No, no. You came here to see me. Not to dig through my belongings and see which trinkets might make someone else start clapping and opening doors for you. You can give me your undivided attention and see what that gains you on this quest of yours, or you can pull that dinghy of yours out of the bushes and shove off. Understand?”

[You’re currently on the Patio. You can also explore the Apartment. You should probably stay on the Patio.]

[Looks to her and to the closed door.......

and shrugs, before going back to Lyra.]

I was instructed to look for something important - but of course it's rude to go looking through a lady's belongings. My apologies.

What's for brunch?

[When he turns back around, there's already a spread. Omelettes, sausage, salmon, crumpets, potatos...who knows how filling any of it will be, since this is just someone else's Heart, but it looks and smells good!]

Please, help yourself.

[Once he sits back down...]

You're looking for something important...well, I would say, nothing is more important than knowledge. Perhaps you can find what you're looking for with a few probing questions. And perhaps I'll even answer!

[That smile is back.]

[He will help himself, thank you. He smiles at her words.]

Hmm... Well, are you and your daughter close?

[She lets out a huff.]

I've certainly tried to be.

Other parties have stood in our way. Motivated by bitterness, no doubt.

Who would stand between a mother and her child?

That's an excellent question. It would have to be someone of exceptionally low moral fiber. Someone bitter and jealous and weak.

[There's acid in her words. Eventually, she stands up and retrieves something.]

Clearly, you understand, so I'll entrust you with this.

[She gives Scorpio something. It's a number of sealed letters.]

If you can give see that these are delivered to my children, I'll be so very grateful.

[You acquired Lyra's Letters.]

[He takes the letters and looks over the envelopes before tucking them into an inner pocket of his coat.]

I'll take these to them.

I suppose it's time for me to continue on, then.

Oh, I suppose so. [She lets out a sigh.]

Feel free to stop by again for another cup of coffee and another round of questions, if you so choose.

[She flicks a hand. His craft pops out of the bushes and lands on the patio, right-side up.]

Thank you for brunch. Maybe we'll meet again.

[He has a hand out and open towards her's - an offer to kiss it, if she allows.]

[She allows, reaching her hand out and lightly place it in his.]

You're a true gentleman. I'm certain my daughter is fond of you.

Take care to appreciate that. She's a very special person.

She's lovely. I imagine she would be glad to know you think of her that way, too.

[Kisses, then heads to his ride.]

[Shortly after you gets on, a cloud takes you away, back to the Spiraling Sea...]

[You can get off at the Spiraling Sea to speak to Cornelius, embark to another location or choose to catch a wave.

North: The Spiraling Sea
Northeast: ???
Northwest: ???
East: ???
West: ???
Southeast: City of Clouds (you are here)
Southwest: ???
South: ???

[He'll keep the letters for now and head towards the west]

[Your craft dips into the light and a few seconds later, you're taken away to somewhere new...]

[popdrop] H2: Scorpio

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