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[sorte]

MURMUR + TETHERS.

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delicately crashes in here

[vixenish]

I have a proposition for you.

[ without warning, a few days after they … “arrive.” ]

❤️!

[sorte]

Oh, I'm all ears, my dear.

[vixenish]

I’m sure you’ve noticed by now how pressed we are for supplies. People will start getting desperate very soon.

I’ve been stockpiling. Weapons, food, clothes. Help me. The faster I can build up my stock, the more influence we’ll be able to wield. [ we. intentional. it’s an offer. ]

I’ll be sure to award you accordingly, of course. Or perhaps you might like to be business partners~?

[sorte]

[ well, he knows a good offer when he hears/sees one; not to mention having a confirmed ally would be very helpful in this situation. Besides, he's actually quite good at scavenging, even if it's been a pretty long time since he's had to do it. ]

Consider it done. Business partners has a lovely ring to it, I wouldn't dream of declining such generosity. I'll be sure not to disappoint you just as you won't me.

[ A short silence follows, the Murmur feeling like it itself is being sorted through or it's somehow sorting something on its own.

In reality, Aventurine is assessing some things outside as he explores. ]

Now, I assume you've already established a little base for yourself? There are a few resource I've found that we might need to simply mark and leave for later until we can figure out how to transport them as they're too large or cut them down to size.

[vixenish]

Aventurine.

[ she sounds ... tired. the month's barely begun and already the effects of the blood moon are wearing on her.

still, it's not as if she can afford to stop or slow down. the world will keep moving even if she does not. ]

I have something I'd like to show you.

[sorte]

Of course.

[ he can sense the weariness and while he knows it could be the blood moon, there's no reason to bring attention to it if she doesn't first.

he's not suffering nearly as badly as he could be just yet—of if he is, he's managed to stifle it even through the murmur. ]

I'll meet you somewhere, if you like.

[vixenish]

Please. And I'd like to keep this between us. I'm sure you understand.

[ it's for the good of the business, after all. ]

I'm not far from midtown. Are you anywhere nearby?

[sorte]

Of course, I won't tell a soul.

...Mm... I'm staying in what they call "SoHo," I believe. It's in lower Manhattan. Are you further north than midtown? I admit I'm struggle a little with reading some of the language on the signs and maps, still. I'm trying to memorize them, but ...

week 4 of TNDNBTG

[sorte]

• time reference

after: this conversation, which takes place after Jinx's Murmur Announcement

• murmur connection between Aventurine, Kalmiya, Toki, Sharon, Jaskier.

---

I'd like to discuss the situation regarding One and Sleep that Jinx revealed to us earlier.

In person, I don't trust that One is able to be kept out of our personal affairs within the Murmur short of a shared tether, but if he's flesh and blood he most likely has to make some inconvenient effort on his part to eavesdrop physically.

Unfortunately, Sleep is an Unknown, so we just have to work with Her being assumed Omniscient.

In short... I think we may have a problem with a capital P fast approaching, and it's not to do with Sleep's encouragement for Jinx to deliver Her the results of an indoctrinated killing of Her first vessel.

Although it's short notice, I need you here [ he'll give them a location and visual of the Crosby Hotel ] by noon tomorrow.

( meeting link )

[dethangel]

[That's a lot of complicated-sounding stuff Aventurine just said, but if they're gonna have to talk in person, then Toki probably shouldn't say a lot here, even if he's got a bad feeling and a million questions he might not even be able to pose in a way that makes sense.

That can all happen later.]

Okay. I'll go.

[sorte]

[ hard not to feel his apprehension through the Murmur, and Toki is a tricky honest soul. So Aventurine wants to reassure him without giving too much hint. ]

I can promise you, at least, that nothing here is going to have me try and encourage you to give up on being friends with and protecting One.

I just don't want him privy to our discussion because, regardless of the type of person he is, he's currently ruled by a deep-seated fear. If he so badly wants to hear what's discussed about him, then he's welcome to show his face at the meeting to be a part of it. That's plenty fair exchange, especially after what he's already done to us.

Does that help?

[dethangel]

...Yeah. That helps.

[He hadn't thought he'd have to be so worried about the guy's safety beyond what he seemed to be doing to himself and whatever Sleep was doing, but after that whole Murmur ordeal... well, it's good to know when he doesn't have to worry so much.]

Think he'll show up?

[He doubts it himself, based on how elusive he is, but you never know.]

[merged]

[ This catches her by surprise, but she welcomes the invitation. Anything about Sleep has her full, undivided attention. ] Yeah, all right, I'll be there.

[sorte]

Glad to have you aboard.

[ he listens! And Sharon is very convicted even if she is young. He definitely thinks she's got a good head on her shoulders, and he also has a personal set of feelings regarding gods (and family) so he can relate to her more than one might expect. ]

[licensetotrill]

[ Weren't you the one that pointed out that Jaskier had some apparently privileged information, sir??? Not that Jaskier is suspicious by nature, but still... ]

This isn't some kind of trap, is it?

[ An actual one or a "you really fell for that? I'm disappointed in you." kinda trap. Then again, outright asking is probably kind of silly, too. ]

[sorte]

[ he did, and to be honest, Jaskier should be wary of someone like Aventurine!

He laughs good-naturedly, though. ]

For you, my friend? I don't think we'd need anything so elaborate. You have a very fierce moral compass, which means you can be lured with something a lot more direct and with far less scheming involved.

You're being invited because One's wellbeing seems to be potentially higher priority than someone who is simply trying to perfect the group of us as a whole. I wanted to discuss what Sleep has said to me and what my suspicions are concerning that dream we've been having. And I'm sure you've noticed off behaviour in yourself and others?

If you all also believe it's something to be concerned about, I want to give you all a chance to come up with a way we should deal with it before I give the information to everyone else who doesn't care about One.

[licensetotrill]

Ouch. That was harsh, but fair I suppose.

I will be there.

[ A pause, but then there's a good natured laugh of Jaskier's own. ]

Well. I'll do my best. I'm still learning how to navigate a place with buildings this tall.

[longwillows]

[Ah. Responsibility, her favorite thing...

There's a rumble of something like begrudging acceptance across the Murmur, as if someone has just agreed to carry a heavy object that's a little heavier than they expected. Despite that, her voice is playful.]

Ooh, a privileged invitation. I'll be there with bells on, darling.

[sorte]

[ well you are one of the top three people who don't want to get dead, so it kind of does come with the territory, pretty lady. ]

Oh my, I'll make sure we have the perfect lighting to catch them aesthetically should you grace us with a dance after, then, love.

[trashblaze]

[ This is a sticky note with this appearance left at Aventurine's bag. It's been placed right on the top, where it's impossible to miss! It's handwritten in their home language, Universal Script. ]

Aventurine,
Don't forget to smile today! For yourself!
You've really worked hard all this time. I want you to know that I've noticed it all and appreciate your efforts.
You're always doing your best, even without the pressure of the IPC here. It just proves the honest nature you have.
You know I'm always here, right? You don't have to do everything alone. Don't hesitate to come and bother me anytime!

Galactic Baseballer

[sorte]

[ sighs softly, what is he gonna do with his baby raccoon? how long before he has to worry this place is going to start zapping all that positive energy away if they can't make progress? he really can't let that happened.

he carefully takes the note and slides it in a blank-date agenda book he has been using for everything and puts it neatly protected on the inside cover. ]

November, before the Subway Expedition. A Stray Cat (and Fallen Angel) Finds The Man in Sunglasses

[closetdweller]

[It had been an interesting few weeks of settling in the Hotel at Aventurine's invitation. The residents were a motley bunch- but that was hardly a surprise. It was familiar, even. But Urushihara knew that it was high time he fessed up about a few matters to the man who was hosting him.

It was a matter of safety for everyone, after all.

After his usual hoodie had gotten sodden while helping Jayce, Urushihara had found a selection of hoodies to swap around while he laundered them, incident ridiculously pink sleep hoodie with fleece lining to wear while hunkered down in the hotel hiding from the beasts that were starting to emerge.

He looked almost comical as he approached wherever Aventurine was- it was the serious frown on his face that dampened the humor.]

Oi, Sunglasses? Do you have a minute? Or, maybe five?

[sorte]

[ Aventurine is in the dressing room, reading (aka: pretending to read and looking at manga panels) by the fireplace. He glances over his book when he hears someone approaching, lowering his book fully when address. ]

—Oh, you know, that's such a cute color on you~.

And yeah, I got some time, shoot.

1/2

[closetdweller]

[The immediate compliment threw off his game- and immediately Urushihara found himself growing flustered.]

It- it's not like there's a lot of options!

[He pouted, pulling the hood up over his hair.]

2/2

[closetdweller]

... I mostly wanted to apologize for surprising you with the thing about the Pink Girl.

[He added, peeking out from under the pink hood.]

Ash and I had a verbal pact that happened before you invited me here- and I did suggest to her Old Man that it should probably be a group effort if they do it again. Then Ironeye got curious and I had to bat him away from the idea with the same explanation.

So. Point is that I'm a little responsible- and she's kind of a mess. It'd be rude to back out of a Death Pact at the last minute.