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He definitely knows shock when he sees it. At least the rooms have sinks, little bathrooms. Doors that can either close or be left open, whichever feels more safe. Gently, he guides the kid back into his own room.
"Come on, sit down. What's your name? I'm Horatio."
"Come on, sit down. What's your name? I'm Horatio."
(from here)
Half is pretty good, honestly, I'll take it. Felfri is an alternate version of reality, built by a person collectively known as Elias, or the Fourth God. He built it to have a place where he has power over the world, instead of the god he's been trying to overthrow for years: the Fog God. The real world he's from - or at least, the part of it we're all familiar with here, is called Ryslig. But even that's its own dimension and reality in itself. The Fog God pulls people to Her from different worlds to try and rebuild Hers after it was almost destroyed by war.
[as he explains, he's watching Joker's face to see how he's processing and handling all of this = well, or not at all]
Basically you're in a nesting doll of worlds right now, a layer or two deeper than you should be. I got pulled into Ryslig two years ago, and I've only ever been here in Felfri once before.
Half is pretty good, honestly, I'll take it. Felfri is an alternate version of reality, built by a person collectively known as Elias, or the Fourth God. He built it to have a place where he has power over the world, instead of the god he's been trying to overthrow for years: the Fog God. The real world he's from - or at least, the part of it we're all familiar with here, is called Ryslig. But even that's its own dimension and reality in itself. The Fog God pulls people to Her from different worlds to try and rebuild Hers after it was almost destroyed by war.
[as he explains, he's watching Joker's face to see how he's processing and handling all of this = well, or not at all]
Basically you're in a nesting doll of worlds right now, a layer or two deeper than you should be. I got pulled into Ryslig two years ago, and I've only ever been here in Felfri once before.
"Mmmmmmkay, story time. I'll make it brief as I can. Long, long time ago on this peninsula, there used to be three gods: Day, Night, Fog. They got in a massive fight - Day vs. Night - and Fog tried to mediate them, creating monsters to keep th peace, but it just got worse and worse. Eventually Day and Night both died and the Fog was the only one left. Monsters evolved so that they had to feed on humans, like we do now, and the humans fought back. One of them found a way to steal a bunch of Her power and give it to his own son: a boy named Elias. Now that part of the Fog God's power was part of him, he became the Fourth God. Only, his power came partially from that stolen piece of the Fog God, and mostly from technology. And now Elias' goal is to completely obliterate the Fog God, and vice versa. Still with me?"
He glanced around. "The Fourth God does a lot of technological illusions. He's got a building where you can make the inside look like whatever you want. But he also found a way to create an alternate dimension where he's in charge, not the Fog. That's where we are now. He calls it Felfri. And if we're here, it means something big has happened back in Ryslig. Something that's going to have an effect on it all by the time we get back."
He glanced around. "The Fourth God does a lot of technological illusions. He's got a building where you can make the inside look like whatever you want. But he also found a way to create an alternate dimension where he's in charge, not the Fog. That's where we are now. He calls it Felfri. And if we're here, it means something big has happened back in Ryslig. Something that's going to have an effect on it all by the time we get back."
[he's counting as they all come out to the rendezvous point - okay, check, good, good, almost there - wait. wait, who's missi--]
Shit.
[immediately, Horatio Blinks to the building, to the exit point they'd all agreed to at the rundown. there she is, stumbling through the door. he clenches his fists and bends time around them, buying her an extra thirty seconds, maybe a minute, by taking the last couple of conscripts and Blinking them to the getaway vehicle - some bus or van that was hollowed out and repurposed to be tactical in the most rudimentary ways possible.
once that's done, he heads back to her, Blinking in beside her, and claps her on the shoulder with a grin]
Got you covered. I can either get you out of here now or I can cover you, whichever works, but pick fast, they'll be here in about twenty seconds.
Shit.
[immediately, Horatio Blinks to the building, to the exit point they'd all agreed to at the rundown. there she is, stumbling through the door. he clenches his fists and bends time around them, buying her an extra thirty seconds, maybe a minute, by taking the last couple of conscripts and Blinking them to the getaway vehicle - some bus or van that was hollowed out and repurposed to be tactical in the most rudimentary ways possible.
once that's done, he heads back to her, Blinking in beside her, and claps her on the shoulder with a grin]
Got you covered. I can either get you out of here now or I can cover you, whichever works, but pick fast, they'll be here in about twenty seconds.
Me? Yeah, I'm fine. It'll take a lot more than that to get me down for the count, you know that.
[he paused, realizing that might not be the case]
Wait, do you remember me?
[he paused, realizing that might not be the case]
Wait, do you remember me?
Weak language was never quite my strong suit.
[he flashes Kaito his usual sarcastic smirk]
I'm fine. But yeah, Elias is - he calls himself the Fourth God, but only because his hack scientist father stole some of the Fog God's power a long time ago and siphoned it into his body. This place is a virtual world he made - I've been here once before. Though, granted, last time wasn't nearly as much of a pain in the ass.
[he flashes Kaito his usual sarcastic smirk]
I'm fine. But yeah, Elias is - he calls himself the Fourth God, but only because his hack scientist father stole some of the Fog God's power a long time ago and siphoned it into his body. This place is a virtual world he made - I've been here once before. Though, granted, last time wasn't nearly as much of a pain in the ass.
Edited 2022-10-25 22:27 (UTC)
"Not my fault the asshole had two sets of metal claws down the back of their forearm like something out of a bad 80s dystopia movie," Horatio says through gritted teeth, using his wit and anger to cover up the sting of the syringe.
He doesn't flinch at the makeshift rig Gabe sets up, or the prospect of the glowing-hot iron, but his thin chest heaves high before he tenses every single muscle in his body in preparation for what's to come. Horatio ducks his head for a moment to grab the lip of his cotton hood between his teeth, something to bite down on rather than accidentally finding his tongue in his jaws. He doesn't move his head after that, simply cuts his gaze over to Gabe with resolve, nostrils flaring.
"Do it."
The pain of metal against the severed artery is white-hot, all-consuming, and he grinds his heels into the floor, gripping the chair with his good arm as tight as he can, stomach clenching, even as he stares straight ahead at a fixed point - a water stain? or is it rust? - on the wall ahead of him. Horatio's jaw shakes, the fringe of hair along one side of his brow flopping a little into his face as he rides out the agony. Only a few seconds, if that, but it feels like an eternity before he's letting out the breath he'd held in a groan.
He doesn't flinch at the makeshift rig Gabe sets up, or the prospect of the glowing-hot iron, but his thin chest heaves high before he tenses every single muscle in his body in preparation for what's to come. Horatio ducks his head for a moment to grab the lip of his cotton hood between his teeth, something to bite down on rather than accidentally finding his tongue in his jaws. He doesn't move his head after that, simply cuts his gaze over to Gabe with resolve, nostrils flaring.
"Do it."
The pain of metal against the severed artery is white-hot, all-consuming, and he grinds his heels into the floor, gripping the chair with his good arm as tight as he can, stomach clenching, even as he stares straight ahead at a fixed point - a water stain? or is it rust? - on the wall ahead of him. Horatio's jaw shakes, the fringe of hair along one side of his brow flopping a little into his face as he rides out the agony. Only a few seconds, if that, but it feels like an eternity before he's letting out the breath he'd held in a groan.
"It's a start," Horatio concurs with his quip, popping one shoulder in something that almost counts as a shrug.
"This is definitely not the way I remember Felfri being, the last time I was here. For whatever that might be worth."
"This is definitely not the way I remember Felfri being, the last time I was here. For whatever that might be worth."
We can definitely do that. There was a heat vent right over my cot in my room, if you don't mind sitting around in there for a little bit. Might help.
[oh. oh, having a damp cookie in your hand is a weird feeling, and he has to fight the subliminal urge to pull a Taylor Swift and just shake him off, shake shake shake him off, as he starts to carry him back toward his room]
And you were too little to be able to pick up the tiny computer-phone thing, so you've got no clue where we are, I'm guessing. It's ... an alternate dimension the Fourth God made. He calls it Felfri, and from what little I remember of the last time I was here, it's ... very different.
[oh. oh, having a damp cookie in your hand is a weird feeling, and he has to fight the subliminal urge to pull a Taylor Swift and just shake him off, shake shake shake him off, as he starts to carry him back toward his room]
And you were too little to be able to pick up the tiny computer-phone thing, so you've got no clue where we are, I'm guessing. It's ... an alternate dimension the Fourth God made. He calls it Felfri, and from what little I remember of the last time I was here, it's ... very different.
With, as they say, extreme prejudice.
[he frowns]
But being a target never stopped me before. If this is, as I'm guessing, a safe house for Fog followers, at least some of them have to know where Elias' weak points are. If they're all under attack, they have a counterattack or a defense planned, and wherever that is, that's where I need to be. So I can talk to the people who know the score and find out how to get out of here.
[he frowns]
But being a target never stopped me before. If this is, as I'm guessing, a safe house for Fog followers, at least some of them have to know where Elias' weak points are. If they're all under attack, they have a counterattack or a defense planned, and wherever that is, that's where I need to be. So I can talk to the people who know the score and find out how to get out of here.
Had it since last November, you just never got to see it, I guess. Bought it back from Mana.
[never left. of course he would think that. it tracks.]
You may not have left, but you still missed a lot. No one's seen you in months.
[he may have lowered the pipe, but he's not loosing his grip on it, not when he can see just how tense Monty is, how the other man's grip on the rock hasn't gotten any more relaxed either. something's got him still locked into fight mode, and whatever it is, Horatio might have to contend with that any moment now. it wouldn't be the first time he'd had to fight family. he's certain it wouldn't be the last.]
What's the last weird Fog shit you remember dealing with?
[never left. of course he would think that. it tracks.]
You may not have left, but you still missed a lot. No one's seen you in months.
[he may have lowered the pipe, but he's not loosing his grip on it, not when he can see just how tense Monty is, how the other man's grip on the rock hasn't gotten any more relaxed either. something's got him still locked into fight mode, and whatever it is, Horatio might have to contend with that any moment now. it wouldn't be the first time he'd had to fight family. he's certain it wouldn't be the last.]
What's the last weird Fog shit you remember dealing with?
Back in they go. It's a smaller space, and while he warily watches the door, it does at least seem better with it...closed.
He can keep his eyes on Horatio then.
Seeing how...he has that name...
"...E...Emporio," he answers with a swallow, fruitlessly rubbing at shivering arms. It's cold in here, why is it so cold....
He can keep his eyes on Horatio then.
Seeing how...he has that name...
"...E...Emporio," he answers with a swallow, fruitlessly rubbing at shivering arms. It's cold in here, why is it so cold....
[Emmet sadly shakes his head. He, he does not. It is odd to be told he knows so many people and yet he doesn't know them.]
I am sorry. People have told me I have been at a similar stop. But I do not remember.
I am sorry. People have told me I have been at a similar stop. But I do not remember.
[ Saint-Germain nods. It makes sense, that this would be his justice - he, who has found solace in choosing to follow the Fog.
That's not her. In this, they can never be comrades. Yet... ]
And I'll investigate the city.
[ When they face the same enemy, they can shout in unison: but even so. ]
That's not her. In this, they can never be comrades. Yet... ]
And I'll investigate the city.
[ When they face the same enemy, they can shout in unison: but even so. ]
Last November, you were--
[ The rest of Horatio's words put a stop to his before they get much further, stalling at least a portion of his ire. Months. Montgomery's scowl deepens, and there's the faintest creak of leather as his grip on the rock tightens harder still. Horatio wasn't in (much) danger of being clubbed with it at the moment, truthfully, but he wasn't doing the best job of making that incredibly clear, either. ]
Everybody got their shit swapped around after somebody tried blowing Elias up, and I wound up a fuckin' gargoyle.
[ And flying had been something, alright. Suddenly being forced into a nocturnal lifestyle was a little less desirable, though. ]
[ He shifts in place, trying to deflect enough of his attention elsewhere to make him less inclined to want to start swinging--the urge is still there, unfortunately, but Monty was nothing if not stubborn. ]
Is that ringin' any bells for you yet?
[ The rest of Horatio's words put a stop to his before they get much further, stalling at least a portion of his ire. Months. Montgomery's scowl deepens, and there's the faintest creak of leather as his grip on the rock tightens harder still. Horatio wasn't in (much) danger of being clubbed with it at the moment, truthfully, but he wasn't doing the best job of making that incredibly clear, either. ]
Everybody got their shit swapped around after somebody tried blowing Elias up, and I wound up a fuckin' gargoyle.
[ And flying had been something, alright. Suddenly being forced into a nocturnal lifestyle was a little less desirable, though. ]
[ He shifts in place, trying to deflect enough of his attention elsewhere to make him less inclined to want to start swinging--the urge is still there, unfortunately, but Monty was nothing if not stubborn. ]
Is that ringin' any bells for you yet?
I-- Horatio-kun!
[ She looks behind them - the E+L forces are farther away now, but gaining quickly. ]
Can you-- I'm sorry-- I'm slow-- I just don't know if I can--
[ Wow she HATES this!! She feels so unprepared for being out in the field, and she's definitely gonna be reprimanded for being slow... ]
[ She looks behind them - the E+L forces are farther away now, but gaining quickly. ]
Can you-- I'm sorry-- I'm slow-- I just don't know if I can--
[ Wow she HATES this!! She feels so unprepared for being out in the field, and she's definitely gonna be reprimanded for being slow... ]
"You're all right."
He's murmuring softly, the metal pulled away as soon as the bleeding stops. He grabs a saline bottle, rinsing out the wound and cooling the site as much as he can. With the bleed stopped, he can quickly deliver local anaesthetic without Horatio bleeding out before working to pull everything back together.
"Unclench your teeth, or you'll break 'em. I don't know how Fog shit affects teeth yet."
He'll find out, he supposes, tongue again worrying at the empty socket where a canine has been knocked out. He defty grips a needle in some forceps, leaning in to start stitching muscle back where it should be with his limited supply of dissolving stitches.
"Excuses," he teases gently, trying to distract him as he works at the wound. "You can blink."
He's murmuring softly, the metal pulled away as soon as the bleeding stops. He grabs a saline bottle, rinsing out the wound and cooling the site as much as he can. With the bleed stopped, he can quickly deliver local anaesthetic without Horatio bleeding out before working to pull everything back together.
"Unclench your teeth, or you'll break 'em. I don't know how Fog shit affects teeth yet."
He'll find out, he supposes, tongue again worrying at the empty socket where a canine has been knocked out. He defty grips a needle in some forceps, leaning in to start stitching muscle back where it should be with his limited supply of dissolving stitches.
"Excuses," he teases gently, trying to distract him as he works at the wound. "You can blink."
He takes the blanket off his bed and wraps it around Emporio's shoulders, then goes to the sink and lets the water run so it can heat up.
"Good to meet you." He thinks fast on his feet, trying to figure out a way to guide him through the grounding exercise he's used on people before without alarming him with it. "Hey, is it just me or are our rooms a little different? You notice anything?"
The idea is, of course, to ground him in facts so that he won't panic quite so much. Once his brain stops sending out all that adrenaline and the other hormones, his body will start to regulate a little too, and maybe it'll be a little easier for the poor kid to cope.
"Good to meet you." He thinks fast on his feet, trying to figure out a way to guide him through the grounding exercise he's used on people before without alarming him with it. "Hey, is it just me or are our rooms a little different? You notice anything?"
The idea is, of course, to ground him in facts so that he won't panic quite so much. Once his brain stops sending out all that adrenaline and the other hormones, his body will start to regulate a little too, and maybe it'll be a little easier for the poor kid to cope.
Right, got it. Grab my hand.
[he reaches out and takes it before she can, though. with another flash and the world distorts around them, blue light rippling out and away as it replaces their surroundings with new ones: the safety of the back of their transport. one of the team leaders spots them both, catches Horatio's eye, and looks like he's about to bitch Chiaki out]
Don't even start. You try making sure everyone gets out and doing your damn job even though you have literal roots for feet. Look at you, you've got eight fucking legs and wings. You give Nanami even an atom of shit and I fling ten times its weight right back at you. Capische?
[the soldier knows what the New Fairy Kid is capable of - he saw it first-hand on their last run. he also knows said kid has zero shame and regard for rank. it's been a thing, thus far, to just point Horatio in the right direction and let him go. thus far? it's worked. Horatio watches him back down and smirks before turning back to Chiaki]
You good?
[he reaches out and takes it before she can, though. with another flash and the world distorts around them, blue light rippling out and away as it replaces their surroundings with new ones: the safety of the back of their transport. one of the team leaders spots them both, catches Horatio's eye, and looks like he's about to bitch Chiaki out]
Don't even start. You try making sure everyone gets out and doing your damn job even though you have literal roots for feet. Look at you, you've got eight fucking legs and wings. You give Nanami even an atom of shit and I fling ten times its weight right back at you. Capische?
[the soldier knows what the New Fairy Kid is capable of - he saw it first-hand on their last run. he also knows said kid has zero shame and regard for rank. it's been a thing, thus far, to just point Horatio in the right direction and let him go. thus far? it's worked. Horatio watches him back down and smirks before turning back to Chiaki]
You good?
[he breathes in slowly, thinking of the sort of stuff that had happened around the time Emmet had arrived]
Probably for the best. ... Have you found this yet?
[he waves his own smartphone at Emmet]
It explains where we are, but it doesn't tell the whole story.
Probably for the best. ... Have you found this yet?
[he waves his own smartphone at Emmet]
It explains where we are, but it doesn't tell the whole story.
The quiet assurance reminds him of Grace, and though he'd never admit it, Horatio immensely appreciates the comfort. They get so little of it here, after all, and neither of them are exactly soft people. But they have their moments, and he makes a silent note to himself to afford Gabe one of his own soon.
He relaxes his jaw, even going so far as to give it a flex and stretch from side to side to undo the tension, watching Gabe work. He doesn't need to assess or check the man's work - he knows he's good - it's more the idle curiosity of someone who likes watching a craftsman.
"Yeah, sure I can, smartass, but even if it takes longer, I still run outta juice. Eventually I have to slug it out like the rest of the rabble. ... What about that shiner?" He tips his head a little to indicate one of Gabe's bruises. "Someone get a little too unruly when their chip came out?"
He knows Monty is back, of course. He just ... would never make that sort of connection.
He relaxes his jaw, even going so far as to give it a flex and stretch from side to side to undo the tension, watching Gabe work. He doesn't need to assess or check the man's work - he knows he's good - it's more the idle curiosity of someone who likes watching a craftsman.
"Yeah, sure I can, smartass, but even if it takes longer, I still run outta juice. Eventually I have to slug it out like the rest of the rabble. ... What about that shiner?" He tips his head a little to indicate one of Gabe's bruises. "Someone get a little too unruly when their chip came out?"
He knows Monty is back, of course. He just ... would never make that sort of connection.
Sounds like a pretty good plan to me. I'm not sure if you'll be able to come back here once you leave ... we should figure out a way to share information somehow.
[he thinks about it for a moment, recalling old Commission tricks, and gives a huff of a laugh]
I guess there's always coded classified ads in the newspaper.
[he thinks about it for a moment, recalling old Commission tricks, and gives a huff of a laugh]
I guess there's always coded classified ads in the newspaper.
I took a long-ass nap in the graveyard, yeah. But before that, I bought a spell from Mana. It was the last thing Celeste and I did together...
[but enough of that. he shakes his head, derailing that train of thought, and thinks about all of this. yes. that makes sense. he had thought he'd still been a damned dog when he'd gone to console Gabe. with a slow nod, he tries not to focus on that rock in Monty's hand, the one he's still glomming on to and refusing to put down. is it anger, he wonders? just at having lost time? he knew the guy had a temper, but ... usually he didn't direct it at people who didn't deserve it. maybe he was waiting for some unfamiliar face to take it out on. Horatio wouldn't say he blamed him if he was.]
Yeah, it does. ... You've lost about five months. Those scientists escalated everything after that. It's been a shitshow.
[but enough of that. he shakes his head, derailing that train of thought, and thinks about all of this. yes. that makes sense. he had thought he'd still been a damned dog when he'd gone to console Gabe. with a slow nod, he tries not to focus on that rock in Monty's hand, the one he's still glomming on to and refusing to put down. is it anger, he wonders? just at having lost time? he knew the guy had a temper, but ... usually he didn't direct it at people who didn't deserve it. maybe he was waiting for some unfamiliar face to take it out on. Horatio wouldn't say he blamed him if he was.]
Yeah, it does. ... You've lost about five months. Those scientists escalated everything after that. It's been a shitshow.
[ She nods: there are several avenues of communication worth trying - telepathy is not an option, unfortunately, but alchemy is nothing if not a flexible discipline. ] You'll hear from me.
We should choose our codenames now, so we'll know who to look for. I'll sign mine as Homer.
[which MAY clue St. G in, later, to his usual anon username: Odyssean]
[which MAY clue St. G in, later, to his usual anon username: Odyssean]
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