Talks about annoying things should be had with something pleasant. [He waves a hand. He accepts the milkshake when it is handled to him.] And this one sounds like it will be a bit of a pain. Undercover work always is.
Ah, that. Yes, that was the announcement I was talking about. [He sips his drink. He’ll have to show these to anyone from home. They might like it. He reaches into his pack and pulls out a smaller take out back. He unwraps a single spicy chicken sandwich.]
She does tend to give warning when she talks to us one on one. That’s been what I’ve heard anyway. I reached out to her for my discussion.
She answered my questions about herself and Echo. But only what she could answer. Are you familiar with the Rules of Binding? [He takes a bite of his sandwich. The spices are just right.]
[mutely, Pending shakes his head. Knife could guess at those just based on the words used, but it's too broad to really tack down, and them so...not fully learned of the world's magicks let alone the magicks of other worlds.]
It's not the official name for such things. That itself might be hidden behind The Rules. But it seems to be a common pattern with spirits and the divine. There are strict rules about what they can or can not say. In Aurora's case...it might be built into her from the start. Her and all her siblings.
Or for both reasons. She has told me when she couldn’t answer a question because she can’t talk about Echo. [He takes a larger bite of his spicy chicken sandwich. He makes a pleased sound. Good spice level. It doesn’t detract from the chicken.]
[that gets a grumbly noise, more just an assent of hearing it than any approval or disapproval while Pending's trying to pick seasoning out from under his fingernail.
after a beat:] Another slave, I guess. [that puts them closer to even footing, but Knife isn't ready to sympathize with her beyond that.]
That echo exists and worlds are dying. She could tell me she has brothers and sisters but can only talk to those in reach. In short. What we at home call the standard response.
If gives the asker nothing. [Another bite. He chews slowly, savoring the sandwich.]
[that this could be a great, big lie made to placate and coerce responses is never lost on Knife. they grew up subject to being...well, a subject. it wouldn't be new.
it'd be awful, though; even a big cage is a cage.
surprising to no one:] I don't like it. [incredible revelation. it's not meant to be, though; just some words to fill in space before they cram the remains of that sandwich in their mouth and choke it down. where Kaeya savors, Knife scrambles - gotta make food disappear before it can disappear on you.]
Y'know there's people and sorts here that...can do a lot of wild things. To break a lot.
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Date: 2025-07-12 12:29 pm (UTC)From:looking owlishly back at Kaeya:] What's the occasion?
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Date: 2025-07-14 02:57 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-07-14 02:00 pm (UTC)From:...yeah, nah, they're not immune to bribes. Pending turns and goes back to the waterside near his messy encampment to set things down.
when Kaeya's joined:] She talked to me. Aurora. From this. [he points to the earpiece.] Like a sending stone, but out loud.
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Date: 2025-07-15 04:49 pm (UTC)From:One sip and he sighs, content. Chocolate mint is quite nice. In his opinion anyway.] Or should I say, what did she tell you?
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Date: 2025-07-15 04:52 pm (UTC)From:he puts his drink aside to get to the food, tearing some wrapping.] She said that...we're getting new names.
[More shit I gotta keep track of.]
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Date: 2025-07-15 06:21 pm (UTC)From:She does tend to give warning when she talks to us one on one. That’s been what I’ve heard anyway. I reached out to her for my discussion.
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Date: 2025-07-15 06:22 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-07-16 04:42 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-07-16 08:53 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-07-16 10:46 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-07-16 10:53 pm (UTC)From:after a swallow:] So the lies can be on accident. Because of having to be quiet.
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Date: 2025-07-18 05:01 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-07-18 06:15 pm (UTC)From:after a beat:] Another slave, I guess. [that puts them closer to even footing, but Knife isn't ready to sympathize with her beyond that.]
What could she talk about.
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Date: 2025-07-23 01:33 pm (UTC)From:If gives the asker nothing. [Another bite. He chews slowly, savoring the sandwich.]
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Date: 2025-07-23 01:39 pm (UTC)From:it'd be awful, though; even a big cage is a cage.
surprising to no one:] I don't like it. [incredible revelation. it's not meant to be, though; just some words to fill in space before they cram the remains of that sandwich in their mouth and choke it down. where Kaeya savors, Knife scrambles - gotta make food disappear before it can disappear on you.]
Y'know there's people and sorts here that...can do a lot of wild things. To break a lot.
Nobody's tried to break this place?