Estinien has always struggled to remain idle, especially when there are things weighing on his mind. A combination of shame and paranoia had kept him hidden out at one of Greentruth's outposts, but as the days pass, the threat of his affliction causing harm has lessened, as has his list of things to occupy himself with. Continuing to hide away, at this point, would just be cowardly.
And so, he eases himself back into being around others by occasionally passing through Greentruth when his work demands it. He's been making an effort to map out the landmarks of the surrounding forest, which means his pale visage is occasionally spotted lurking around the main settlement, still largely colourless, but doing his best to hide it with a cloak and hood. Strands of glowing hair still fall free, illuminating the spaces beneath the dark fabric.
This time, he's pausing for some food. He sneaks around the area where daily meals are prepared, hoping to snatch up a few morsels before moving on. With any luck, no one will inspect him too closely...
Yuya may have come to Horos with exactly zero life skills, but he's slowly picking things up from helping around the settlement. These people have given them so much, so it feels only right to give back.
He's handling smaller tasks preparing for the next meal, which means he's around the scraps and recently cut vegetables as Estinien tries to slip in for a snack.
A tall hooded figure isn't exactly subtle, so of curse Yuya's attention is drawn from tearing apart leafy greens to... whoever that is. "Are you looking for somethi--Estinien?"
Unfortunately for Estinien, being short means he can see right up into that illuminated hood.
Estinien freezes with his hand on one of the leaf-wrapped rice rolls they are sending out with the hunters for the day. He shouldn't really be surprised that one of the other Aions was around. He's a bit surprised to be called out on it so suddenly, though.
It takes him a moment to think of what to say, otherwise just stares at Yuya with pale silver eyes in a moment of quiet bafflement. He tugs down his hood.
"...Aye," he says, taking the roll, and seemingly is attempting to just abruptly walk away from the situation.
"... W-wait!" Yuya shoves the greens aside as he briskly pursues Estinien. The lack of pigmentation is... a little. Alarming? "Are you back or are you leaving again?"
Estinien pauses mid-step. He keeps his face turned from Yuya, his shoulders slightly rigid, this situation a clearly awkward for him. Yet, he can realize how futile and foolish making this a big ordeal is.
"...I was getting lunch," he says. "My plans for the afternoon are yet undecided."
"Oh," Well, that seems obvious enough. Yuya leans on his feet, also awkward about not really having a better excuse to be pursuing him--but also not wanting him to just run off.
"Are you still feeling the effects of... you know." He means dying, not being completely privy to the details that lead up to that. He had, of course, been incapacitated in his own way.
Estinien could just blow him off entirely... but he is trying to be better about that sort of thing. He turns just enough to cast Yuya a glance, frowning. He'll try to give him a chance, at least.
"...If we are to speak of such things, I would rather it not be in the kitchens of all places."
"Oh, right." They can fly and probably normally do go other places in the forest. Yuya was just sort of... imagining them as Estinien's pets.
Yuya dusts his hands off, a little unnecessary, before he falls into step beside Estinien. At least, from this angle, he isn't too tempted to stare up at Estinien's pale glow. "So you were staying at an outpost? Alone?"
Some of them are making their best effort at being his 'pets' in the sense that they follow him around for food and what probably constitutes snuggles. Estinien keeps those moments to himself, though.
"Not alone. Himeka remained with me," he says. The place he was staying isn't far from here - just one of the hollows in the main tree. "I had... concerns about what these changes could mean for me. For other people." He looks downward. "I've seen the like before, and for most of history, 'twas a death sentence."
"You have?" He straightens up a little, curious. If Estinien has come back, then he's sure that means he's safe. So the revelation doesn't leave him any more worried than he was before. "Do you mean that whole illness or just the... uh, the glowing thing?"
"To be changed by a force that intended to make a puppet of you," he clarifies grimly. "The way its essence washed over me... 'twas much like a phenomenon we called tempering, in which a soul is contorted to more closely resemble the being that corrupted it, and filled with naught but the desires that had been inflicted upon them by that touch."
He's not completely certain, even now, but he would do not good for the rest of the Pleroma were he to hide away forever.
"Those with physical changes were the furthest gone."
[Ryu makes it all the way back to his quarters in Greentruth before inspiration hits. Going over in his head everything he knows about Entity, everything from the effects its powers seem to have to the various run-ins they've had with it.
The entity had... Touched Estinien's shard directly, really. But Estinien isn't the only one who'd fallen into its embrace, speaking more broadly. There's another Pleroma who they've been foolishly overlooking this entire time.
Maybe he shouldn't risk dragging the poor kid into this. Maybe this is a dead end, even. But... He's worried.
He tries reaching out by Communion first.]
...Sakaki-kun? Do you have a moment? I... I was hoping to ask you a question or two.
[Reflexively, Ryunosuke almost asks if he's okay. But, no... Of course he's not. None of them are.]
Forgive me, I hope you won't think this too odd... But I was wondering if. Since your illness in Venera... [How should he put this...] Have you heard from that entity again at all?
[Ryunosuke seems taken aback for a moment, but then he... Genuinely laughs, in a sort of self-deprecating way. Letting some of the tension about.]
Yes, that... That would be appreciated. But. Um. [He's about to make a really bad joke, but he's so tired, from everything; his filter for saying impulsive shit is just straight up worn out.] If you do I, uh, promise not to kick you this time...?
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And so, he eases himself back into being around others by occasionally passing through Greentruth when his work demands it. He's been making an effort to map out the landmarks of the surrounding forest, which means his pale visage is occasionally spotted lurking around the main settlement, still largely colourless, but doing his best to hide it with a cloak and hood. Strands of glowing hair still fall free, illuminating the spaces beneath the dark fabric.
This time, he's pausing for some food. He sneaks around the area where daily meals are prepared, hoping to snatch up a few morsels before moving on. With any luck, no one will inspect him too closely...
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He's handling smaller tasks preparing for the next meal, which means he's around the scraps and recently cut vegetables as Estinien tries to slip in for a snack.
A tall hooded figure isn't exactly subtle, so of curse Yuya's attention is drawn from tearing apart leafy greens to... whoever that is. "Are you looking for somethi--Estinien?"
Unfortunately for Estinien, being short means he can see right up into that illuminated hood.
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It takes him a moment to think of what to say, otherwise just stares at Yuya with pale silver eyes in a moment of quiet bafflement. He tugs down his hood.
"...Aye," he says, taking the roll, and seemingly is attempting to just abruptly walk away from the situation.
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"...I was getting lunch," he says. "My plans for the afternoon are yet undecided."
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"Are you still feeling the effects of... you know." He means dying, not being completely privy to the details that lead up to that. He had, of course, been incapacitated in his own way.
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"...If we are to speak of such things, I would rather it not be in the kitchens of all places."
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"I have," he says. "Some eventually found me at the outpost, regardless..." He shrugs a shoulder and then gestures for Yuya to follow him. "Come."
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Yuya dusts his hands off, a little unnecessary, before he falls into step beside Estinien. At least, from this angle, he isn't too tempted to stare up at Estinien's pale glow. "So you were staying at an outpost? Alone?"
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"Not alone. Himeka remained with me," he says. The place he was staying isn't far from here - just one of the hollows in the main tree. "I had... concerns about what these changes could mean for me. For other people." He looks downward. "I've seen the like before, and for most of history, 'twas a death sentence."
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He's not completely certain, even now, but he would do not good for the rest of the Pleroma were he to hide away forever.
"Those with physical changes were the furthest gone."
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Voice, late Soviseri I guess? After Estinien's network post
The entity had... Touched Estinien's shard directly, really. But Estinien isn't the only one who'd fallen into its embrace, speaking more broadly. There's another Pleroma who they've been foolishly overlooking this entire time.
Maybe he shouldn't risk dragging the poor kid into this. Maybe this is a dead end, even. But... He's worried.
He tries reaching out by Communion first.]
...Sakaki-kun? Do you have a moment? I... I was hoping to ask you a question or two.
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But he does, at least, respond through the communion.] What is it?
[It's... something to take his mind off of how helpless he feels, anyway.]
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Forgive me, I hope you won't think this too odd... But I was wondering if. Since your illness in Venera... [How should he put this...] Have you heard from that entity again at all?
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No, not since it left. I didn't expect it was going to come after Estinien like that... because he was in trouble?
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[But it hasn't contacted Yuya, then? He pauses to think a moment, turning the facts over in his head.
Maybe this was a dead end...]
Well I'm glad to hear it hasn't bothered you, at least... I can vouch that the side effects are deeply unpleasant.
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Sorry, I... I really shouldn't bother you with all this.
[He's just... Hitting a wall over what to do.]
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Yes, that... That would be appreciated. But. Um. [He's about to make a really bad joke, but he's so tired, from everything; his filter for saying impulsive shit is just straight up worn out.] If you do I, uh, promise not to kick you this time...?
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... Have you heard from it since we went to Venera the first time?
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[The emotions here are complex, but consist mostly shame and embarrassment. He really thought you were dying! Sorry!!!!]
...Yes, I have. A-actually... I just spoke to it. Or attempted to, anyway...
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