audio -> video | un: 10-0

[devilmind]

Hello, everyone.

[ The Operator’s youthful voice is cordial and cautious. Though they aren’t exactly shy, neither are they accustomed to mass communication. Sure, they come from a world replete with advanced technology and they’re familiar with the concept of network communications, but that’s usually handled for them by non-Tenno agents. The Tenno themselves have a reputation to maintain, one that’s about as far removed from diplomacy and idle chatter as one can imagine—the vast majority of people in their system don’t even know they can talk.

But, well, the Tenno certainly don’t have such a reputation here—and there is something the Operator very much wants to know. ]

I understand that this is the time when new Sleepers arrive in Trench. I’ve seen them washing up on the Farther Shores for the past few days.

I’d like to know: how many usually arrive at one time? And how likely is it that those new arrivals have some connection to the people already here?

[ Their tone up to this point has been quite serious and measured, their wording precise. They’re all too aware that this isn’t their usual role and they're doing their very best not to come across as incompetent or rude—or worse, childish. Yet, their even tone falters as they continue. ]

I was also wondering if—if anyone saw a certain person among the new arrivals. She might have looked like a woman with a purple headdress. Or she may have looked like a Sent—

[ They cut themselves off. No one here will know what a “Sentient” is and even if they did, they’d still be better off not hearing it in this context. But how else can they describe what the Lotus looks like? What she is? Words come to mind and they all make the Operator’s stomach churn. Insect. Amalgam. Monster.

For an instant, they bury their hot face in their hands, wanting nothing more than to disintegrate into the Void rather than to hear another word from themself. Then, they sigh, short and angry, and switch to the video setting on their Omni, propping it up to face them. Their surroundings show stone walls, flickering with firelight.

The video broadcast lasts mere seconds. The Operator, glaring at the Omni with luminous golden eyes, folds their hands in front of their chest as if in prayer. ]

Like this.

[ Then they reach once more for the Omni, and their broadcast ends. ]

Comments

[devilmind]

Thank you.

[ They know that the chances of the Lotus arriving here are slim. But it's not impossible, is it? This woman has had her daughter arrive here and even Junia has mentioned someone she knows from her homeworld appearing. And if one more person is keeping an eye out for the Lotus, well... maybe the Operator will see her again after all.

The woman's—Rose's words get a small smile from them. ]

It does. Maybe that will give some extra luck.

[ They doubt it but... it's a nice thought, isn't it? ]

You can call me Tenno. Like my username.

[rosae]

( It's not impossible; Rose is sure of that and she's certainly a testament to it. She may not quite understand the rules of this place, what logic it runs off of, but that only means she stays open to the possibility that anything could happen. And her daughter came here for a reason.

Maybe their Lotus will, too. )

It's nice to meet you, Tenno. ( Her smiles brightens a little, happy to have a name to refer to them as. She hadn't gotten to ask last time on that dreamlike, snowy beach-scape. )

Are you doing all right here, otherwise? Have you found a safe place to stay?

[devilmind]

I'm doing alright. I really thought I'd be home by now, but it isn't so bad here. It's... calm. And the people are very kind.

[ Honestly, it's a little disconcerting. In the Origin System, there were always battles to be fought, allies to be saved, work to be done. There was no rest, even in sleep. Now, the Operator's days feel long and empty, lacking any pressing tasks to complete or orders to follow.

They haven't yet decided if they like it or not. ]

A Sleeper I met is letting me stay at her church. We've got plenty of incense there, so it should be safe.

[rosae]

( "Calm" is a strange word to hear used to describe this place. It's... telling of what sort of world they might have come from.

Rose's smile is settling into something a bit more somber, thoughtful — worried, in her way. She does worry about what the children here might've once known. She's met some with all manner of capability (and responsibility, as a result.) There's even a boy here who was in training to be a "hero", who knows things children possibly shouldn't.

That nudge of worry suddenly finds a new form at what they say next. Rose blinks, looking visibly taken aback by that. )

There's a church here?

( When she'd first arrived, it's what she'd looked for first: a church, thinking this place was surely the work of the Brethren. That they had her child again. She hadn't been able to locate one and nobody mentioned any other places of worship.

Alarm pinches within her, tight and sharp and unpleasant. )

Is it— are there other people there?

[devilmind]

[ This discomfort on the woman's face doesn't come as a total surprise. People seem quite tolerant here, but religion in the Origin System could be violently factional. Maybe it was similar in the woman's world. ]

Yes. The Church of the Holy Flame.

[ Which hadn't meant anything to them before they came here, but may to others. Junia speaks of the Light as something universal and even the Operator can't deny that there are parallels with their own system's Red Veil. Maybe the woman has heard of it, in her own way. ]

There's just me and Sister Junia right now. But you're welcome to visit if you ever want to. [ There's an undercurrent of hope in those words. They've only interacted with Rose a couple of times, but she's already someone they'd like to see more of. ] It's in Cassandra.

cw: fire-related horror / imagery

[rosae]

( The Church of the Holy Flame. It's a new title to her, but not at all a new concept. In fact, it's so achingly familiar that for a moment Rose's senses are invaded with memories that are still very fresh, and she feels sick.

Ash upon skin, the way it smeared almost like paint against the tips of the fingers. The smell of perpetual fire: not pleasant, not warm and cosy and comforting. Not even powerful in a beautiful, terrible way, the way the holy fires of God Himself are said to be in the religion she'd always followed.

No, this fire smelled like rot. Like skin and hair burning, endlessly. Like fluids boiling, like tissue curling inwards. That fire was said to cleanse, but all it did was torment. It wasn't something holy. It was pain, and destruction. It was unspeakably cruelty.

For a long moment, Rose is outside of her body, detached from it, numb. They're here, she thinks. They're here, and her daughter isn't safe. Maybe she'll never be safe.

....But it might not be them, and she flutters back into her body again, mouth tipped slightly open. Some ounce of logic hangs on, reminds Rose that she's encountered people here who reminded her of the Brethren and they weren't.

Still...... this is big. This is— she's going to have to address this. Find out more about it, as soon as possible. And.... if Tenno is in some sort of danger here, a thought that rests like a stone in the base of her throat, makes it hard to get proper breath. It may be this one woman for now, but what if the rest of them are gathering? What if they hurt Tenno the same way that— )

I'd— like that. To come see it. ( She tries to compose herself a little better; she doesn't want to risk scaring them, or potentially alerting this "Sister Junia" in the process. )

Sometimes churches can be a little... scary. Do you feel safe there?

[devilmind]

[ The Operator doesn't miss the far-off look in Rose's eyes when they tell her the name of the church. They wonder for a moment if she recognizes it—or maybe she isn't sure. But then she seems to come back to herself—and says she'd like to see it sometime. The Operator smiles. They aren't used to actually living planetside, much less having a home that people can visit. The novelty cheers them after all their gloomy discussion about the Lotus. ]

It's not scary, [ the Operator says, tone reassuring. Compared to the temples of the Red Veil, it's downright cozy. ] And I think it's pretty safe. It's in Cassandra, so there's plenty of incense to keep monsters away.

[ Of course it doesn't occur to them that the woman might be asking after danger of a different kind. Junia, much like Rose herself, has been nothing but kind to them since they arrived. She is an ally—not a threat. ]

[rosae]

( Hearing that they feel safe there is, at least, some relief. However, it's hardly an all-consuming one, and certainly not lasting. Rose knows too well what dangers could be lurking beneath seeming kindness, and safety. The stone in her stomach grows, makes her body feel heavier.

But not stagnant. Never that. No, she won't be sitting still, won't be keeping quiet. She'll find out more about this. )

I'll definitely be paying you a visit, in that case. ( She wills a smile, the kind she'd conjure up for Sharon after she had her bad spells at night. Often the little girl would wake up crying, confused, upset — a state that would only be made worse by seeing her parents' upset. Rose learned how to try and smile for her daughter even when she wanted to put her face in her hands and scream. )

Until I see you again, please know that you can always contact me if you ever need to. If you ever need help, or anything at all.

[devilmind]

Great, [ the Operator says, returning her smile with a genuine one of their own. ] I'm usually there in the mornings and evenings—or you can just message me when you'd like to come over.

[ They do their best to sound nonchalant, as if they make invitations like this all the time. Still, there's a trace of excitement in their eyes—and perhaps a bit of trepidation. Having a visitor in their home is foreign territory for them. Maybe they should start thinking about preparing...

Rose's offer rouses them from their thoughts. They bow their head. ]

Thank you, [ they say, the giddy teenager once again subsumed by the solemn Tenno—but only just. A hint of a smile still remains. ] You can always call on me if you ever need help, too.