Lysithea von Ordelia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
notimeforfailure) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
deernet2021-12-01 09:17 pm
notimeforfailure) wrote in deernet2021-12-01 09:17 pm
video, un:charon
[Lysithea appears on the screen in front of a doorway painted mint green, looking grim, but resolute. Her arm is in a sling and she has obvious scars and cuts across her face and neck, but at the very least, she is in one piece. She couldn't say the same for some of her friends.]
I am one day late.
I am pleased to announce...
[And here she makes a gesture with her good hand, and it becomes clear that this is a recording through the eyes of her Omen. The bird flaps back a few feet to reveal a recently renovated building that looks, if not grand, at least, well... intact.]
The grand opening of the Patisserie Lysitherie. Located in the Willful Machine, [address here], five minutes' walk from the closest Lamp Friend.
[Lysithea steps inside and her Omen follows to showcase part of the interior.]
...I'm sure I've prattled on about my business long enough, so I won't bore you with more details. Just know that our trade rates are exceedingly reasonable, and we seek to procure only the finest ingredients from the docks. It is winter, of course, so temper your expectations accordingly. Additionally, all purchases will come with a package of Weeping Wafers, our first in-house concoction. The taste is nutty and earthy with hints of nutmeg and almond. It's delicate - and not excessively sweet.
Most importantly, it is made with raw, diced Weepers.
After the... occurrences of the previous month, I imagine we could all benefit from their magic. If you seek mental stability, come by and we're happy to provide you with free samples. Don't take too many, though - I don't know what the effects are if you overdose.
...Well, that's all. Thank you for your business.
[...It is evident that Lysithea has no idea how to end this. After a moment, she looks around awkwardly and then dips her head as if in a bow before the transmission cuts.]
[action, ota, at the Patisserie]
[Lysithea will be manning the sweets shop during business hours. Her employees are welcome to join her when they're free - she could use some extra help, given her dislocated wrist. Drop by to sample normal baked goods, Weeper products, or simply strike up a conversation.
On slow days, Lysithea can be found eating her Weeping Wafers and fingering what appears to be an old research journal of some sort.]
I am one day late.
I am pleased to announce...
[And here she makes a gesture with her good hand, and it becomes clear that this is a recording through the eyes of her Omen. The bird flaps back a few feet to reveal a recently renovated building that looks, if not grand, at least, well... intact.]
The grand opening of the Patisserie Lysitherie. Located in the Willful Machine, [address here], five minutes' walk from the closest Lamp Friend.
[Lysithea steps inside and her Omen follows to showcase part of the interior.]
...I'm sure I've prattled on about my business long enough, so I won't bore you with more details. Just know that our trade rates are exceedingly reasonable, and we seek to procure only the finest ingredients from the docks. It is winter, of course, so temper your expectations accordingly. Additionally, all purchases will come with a package of Weeping Wafers, our first in-house concoction. The taste is nutty and earthy with hints of nutmeg and almond. It's delicate - and not excessively sweet.
Most importantly, it is made with raw, diced Weepers.
After the... occurrences of the previous month, I imagine we could all benefit from their magic. If you seek mental stability, come by and we're happy to provide you with free samples. Don't take too many, though - I don't know what the effects are if you overdose.
...Well, that's all. Thank you for your business.
[...It is evident that Lysithea has no idea how to end this. After a moment, she looks around awkwardly and then dips her head as if in a bow before the transmission cuts.]
[action, ota, at the Patisserie]
[Lysithea will be manning the sweets shop during business hours. Her employees are welcome to join her when they're free - she could use some extra help, given her dislocated wrist. Drop by to sample normal baked goods, Weeper products, or simply strike up a conversation.
On slow days, Lysithea can be found eating her Weeping Wafers and fingering what appears to be an old research journal of some sort.]
no subject
You are speaking philosophically.
I am speaking less of the workings of the universe and more of the workings of the Pthumerians. Unless you believe that it is random chance that Sleepers pop up here - that there is no choice or guided outcome at all - or reason that this place brings in souls from other worlds...
I do find that hard to believe.
I intend to create my own path - which, I believe I have begun to do so - but I do continue to question why and how it is that Sleepers are drawn here.
no subject
Perhaps we are meant to 'carve our own path.' We are the ones who gave this world its mold and shape. So, perhaps we are here to finish that task?
no subject
[Lysithea flattens her lips.]
Perhaps it's not the same as Julia's motivations, but it might be in a similar vein. The Pthumerians are drawing in people they think can shape the town into a more stable place. ...Or unstable. Who knows what they intend for Trench?
Either way, the incident with the Tower seems to have been a particularly aggressive form of test.
no subject
... But as you said, there's probably an intended purpose. I get the feeling the answer will take time to learn.
no subject
Doesn't it seem... very much like this is déjà vu?
How many identical conversations have we had like this in the past, Vira-Lorr? In Deerington - even in the past few months here.
Oh, but it does get tedious, doesn't it? Always the same! Endlessly wondering, never any certain answers.
Perhaps next time, we'll kidnap one of the zealots and force some answers out of them. We'll turn the tables.
no subject
...
Maybe I'll try to reach out to Doorway. She's my patron, so... we'll see.
no subject
In the meantime, the only concrete answers I ever get are to the question, "Chocolate or strawberry?"
[Lysithea pauses.]
What are you finding for yourself here, Vira-Lorr?
no subject
It's been creepy but peaceful?
Oh, and ... dark chocolate please.
no subject
[Peaceful is not a word Lysithea would use. But of course, Vira-Lorr had mentioned she had not been exposed to the full horrors of the tower.]
I think that's the element that's missing for me, still. Peace. I have my goals and my ambitions. I don't have faith that this world is stable enough for us to fulfill such goals.
I'll keep that in mind.
[she means the chocolate preference]
no subject
I suspect that it will need pro-active molding to make certain that the more peaceful elements remain at the fore. This is a peace that requires active defense. But I'm not entirely sure what your goals most are in this place.
Heh. Forgive me, but I imagine you want more than just to be the best baker in town, though I'd be pleasantly surprised if I found out that was on your mind just as I would many other goals.
no subject
[Lysithea has never been lacking in confidence.]
...But my goal is to create the best baking empire in town.
[There might be some part of this that is a joke. But her expression presents it as outwardly serious.]
Otherwise, I seek knowledge, of course. The nature of this place - of blood - of the gods who govern us. And when I have enough knowledge, I can effect the change I hope to see.
no subject
[She was a mixture of serious and playful, leaning heavily into the playful side because it was her. Still, the idea of making herself the pre-eminent baker in town was kind of ... actually it was a good notion of a plan.]
We can work together on learning the blood magic. I know at least two others who are starting to actively research in as much as they can. So we will make progress with time.
no subject
[Lysithea matches the inscrutability of Vira-Lorr's tone. ...Though Vira-Lorr probably knew her well enough at this point to know that anything without sugar wasn't really Lysithea's style.]
Oh --
I did finally figure out my own brand of blood magic. I had thought for a while that I had nothing particularly worth manifesting.
It seems I have the standard darkblood connection to the concept of time.
[...And as Vira-Lorr knows something about Lysithea's past and her absence of time, this might not be surprising.]
no subject
[But sugary and buttery confections aside, the comment about her blood powers had the woman's attention. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands.]
So, you have a power associated with time? In theory perhaps it can be refined and built upon... which probably means that the visions I get from objects could probably be refined on some level.
What exactly does your time connection do?
no subject
[Lysithea smiles wanly.]
I was always desperate for more time. So I suppose the universe has granted me as much of it as I need.
...To an extent.
It just about knocked me out the first time it happened.
no subject
[Lysithea got to see one of those rare moments where Vira-Lorr actually looked a little shocked. That kind of power was definitely something extravagant.]
I can see how that might have taken a lot out of you. I suppose if you stretch it carefully you might be able to do a great deal with it, if you do not shred yourself to pieces using it.
Do be careful.
no subject
I don't feel anywhere near as burdened as I did before. My blood has always been a curse to me, you know. If this is the curse it carries now, then... at least it is one that I chose to use, in one sense.
[She shakes her head.]
Up to now, it's only showed up to save my life, anyway.
no subject
And that choice... it is important. Maybe in time you can experiment. Preferably not with life threatening situations, heh.
no subject
I don't know how I would go about 'practicing,' though. I... suppose my first thought was simply to conduct some research.
Time manipulation is not uncommon among Darkbloods.
no subject
[...uh, explain yourself, Vira-Lorr. Now.]
A chamber that is dark and lit solely by candles and incense. A means to practice with them may be to use the space not only for meditation but also to help you reflect and watch the power at work. the flicker of the flame is so quick and difficult to control that you can use it to fine-tune exactly how complete the stop is, how long you hold it, how well you can control it.
though I suspect you might have thought of this already. You need a dark, safe room sealed away for the practice. And ... uh... that nightmare might happen for a day at some point. Fair warning. That seems like the kind of awful thing this place might do.
no subject
[Lysithea considers.]
You know, I think that's an excellent idea. It is a completely isolated and entirely trivial thing to attempt to manipulate - it would scarcely take any power to alter the time within such a small space, but the effect, if successful, would be noticeable immediately.
You truly do have the wisdom of years, Vira-Lorr.
[is that a joke
it might be a joke]
I am perfectly aware that it is fated to happen now, but I'm trying not to think about it for fear that the Pthumerians will notice.
no subject
Mmmm, I think you would have found something eventually like it, but good to know I'm in the right category. Like you said, it's harmless, easily controlled and you can verify it, while assisting in meditating.
mmm, true. Hard to say when they'll intervene to help us along, mmm? No use inviting disaster in that case.
no subject
[Lysithea pauses.]
There's no one in the shop at the moment, anyway. And if they disturb me, I'll just be lighting some candles.
I'll let you know what happens later. Thanks for the suggestion, Vira-Lorr.
no subject