[ he smiles, a little, from the feeling of anxiety and being touched, alike. it's familiar - reminds him of standing in the mausoleum at whitestone, converted into a shrine.
vax nods, though. ]
Let's.
[ and if shale will let him, he'll lead the way out there! off to the simulations room they go.
it is of course very bland and boring, at first - just a plain white room with white walls. vax makes his way over to the little panel and settles down with his hand on it, closing his eyes. ]
[they peel off their calm eyebrows and place them back in the little pouch. there are a few different eyebrow choices ready, depending on what vibes this place is!]
[ with that confirmation, he reaches to start the little simulation.
the world around them blooms with color - trees sprout up, up, up above their heads, leading to a grid-shaped series of walkways. distantly, shale will be able to see farmland, rich with bountiful harvests that never seem to end: golden wheat fields and bright green plant life alike bloom endlessly, despite the snowflakes falling from the air. there's a brisk breeze in vasselheim, from vax's last memory in this place, and they can see people milling about on the walkways through the forests, sometimes couples holding hands, in all manners of life from humans to elves to dragonborns to firbolgs to even a goliath. occasionally, one walks by wearing green and white robes.
there are two, much larger trees the closest to them - the birth heart. they bend together and create an archway of branches and trees that knit into each other and wrap around, and just beyond that, there's an even larger tree, with the faint glow of golden light filtering through the branches of the knotted, intertwined archway that signifies the beginning of the birth heart.
the air here feels fresh, clean. it's not vax's temple, but it's familiar, and so he rolls his shoulders back as they enter, and glances over to see shale's reaction. they'll have to walk a bit, but, this is: ] ... The Abundant Terrace.
Birth Heart's that way. [ gesturing to the big tree arch. ]
[oh. well, their emotions sort of pick up with fascination and curiosity but also a sort of longing and inspiration as they take this all in. it's warm, and everything both feels familiar and doesn't, because they have never been to this specific place before but they know the feeling of it all too well. those vines in their chest push, reaching out, grasping.
but it's when they see the tree, the golden light filtering through the branches, that's when they stop.]
I've been here before.
[no, that outburst is replaced by confusion. no, they haven't, not here, but something is...]
this feels... well. it feels a little like maybe what he's supposed to do. like what his time with the raven queen will be like, when all is said and done - like a guide, to fate, or to the great unknown.
he watches those vines for a moment, and looks at shale, and then - even if they're a statue - offers out his hand? wordlessly, silently, his emotions reflecting a little of the purpose of this moment. if shale wants to walk on, then they can walk on, standing here at the edge of a moment, but they won't have to do it alone. ]
[they'll take the hand, yes. and they'll walk forward, seeking that feeling of familiarity. it's the tree they approach and something about it seems to be stirring something.]
How do I...
[a glance towards the panel. they haven't tried this.]
[fuck if i know i had to go look at the description but that seems right. i think you have to use color. anyway. shale does that.
...the room flickers for a moment. for a brief moment, it's a dark sky, a city, and there's a house in the middle of it that wouldn't appear to stand out except for the enormous tree growing out of the roof, glowing brightly with lights in the branches. the tree looks similar, though smaller, to the one in the vision vax just showed them. it feels like a home. but this gets fuzzy after a second.
it flickers again. it's a barren field, a wasteland, scarred with absolute destruction. but in the center of it, reaching up to the heavens, an enormous tree grows, the only thing in this land that appears to have any life.]
the house is new - a structure he's never quite seen before, but the feeling of home lingers, and it's the second tree that feels the same. the two images almost overlap - the birth heart in vasselheim, and this tree he doesn't know, in the middle of nothing.
... he hopes, really hopes, that this isn't the future. the idea of vasselheim of all places being destroyed is - a lot.
but! aside from a moment of unsureness, his emotions don't really reflect those thoughts. just surprise, at first, followed by a sparking curiosity and interest. ]
.... Got the same energy, huh? [ that tree and this tree and also the home tree. ]
[and the seed, too, planted at the xhorhaus, also a sister. the tree here, growing out of the barbed fields, is ancient, old.]
This is...it's a scar, from the Calamity. The tree is ... it was left behind, a symbol. I didn't remember that I'd seen this. [...] I never went far from home, but this isn't... maybe in the time after I left. I remember this place. It's a good place.
[they remember a little bit more in the time up to when those strangers came for them, but after that, it's all sort of unclear. however, as they stand there thinking, something changes about the simulation they're creating. the tree is still there, but it's night. there's a person there as well, speaking. they're a little bit unclear, blurry. kind of a greenish-blueish-metallic blur, but they're speaking, a little hesitantly. it's both the emotion of the voice that's hesitant, but also a blur of not fully formed memories.
So, last night when we were sleeping, I had this dream like I do...
there's a flicker in shale's emotions, something sort of. maybe bordering on concern, but it's more expectant, hopeful.
Except unlike the previous times where I've seen ... eye ... I felt cold and this dark ... but I felt warmth and ... matronly voice beckoning to me ... greenery, like these vines reach out, inviting me forward. I can't help but think that might have something to do with the tree ...
silence again.
Who is she? says the voice, as though responding to something no one in this room has said. Only what you've told me about her.
more silence for the moment, and then the voice speaks again. even more hesitant, wanting something but trying not to sound too hopeful.
She said ... his will would find me again ... she could only intercede for a short bit ... maybe because we were so close to the giant fucking tree. a pause. But that felt really good. a pause again. What do you do to connect with her?
shale, watching this, gives an impression like a frown, silence, and then sort of responds, quietly.]
Just listen. Breathe. You'll see her and feel her in everything that is around, every plant that's growing, every animal that's hunting. Her power may wax and wane depending on where we are, but it's something that's always - nearly always - available.
[the emotion shale is giving off is complicated. on one level, there's a bit of confusion, trying to reach out for a memory. but then the memory they find is one of ... intense hopefulness. and gratitude. asking for something, wanting it for someone else, and finding those prayers answered. love, too. both the divine love, and the feeling of love and pride you might feel seeing a friend in trouble start to turn the corner.]
This is good. This is very, very good.
[the flicker, blurred person in the simulation looks a little bit more humanoid shaped. a greenish face, prideful and strong, but something a little vulnerable about it, too. someone lost, wanting to hope that they'll be found again but struggling to admit to it.
It felt good. Any tips you could ... I'm anxious to feel that again.]
That's very good. I'm anxious to help you - I have faith in you, Fjord. I know that there is a great darkness in your heart, but...
[they seem to forget the rest, but then the simulation fills in, speaking in shale's voice: You have good friends. These are good people. I know you're going to be tempted sometimes, but I would just...recommend trusting in us, to take care of you.
Right, the memory of Fjord says. Everything's going to be okay.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
...We could go give it a look, yeah. Sounds kind of interesting.
no subject
vax nods, though. ]
Let's.
[ and if shale will let him, he'll lead the way out there! off to the simulations room they go.
it is of course very bland and boring, at first - just a plain white room with white walls. vax makes his way over to the little panel and settles down with his hand on it, closing his eyes. ]
...Ready?
[ just one last check in. ] Get your eyebrows.
no subject
I'm ready.
no subject
the world around them blooms with color - trees sprout up, up, up above their heads, leading to a grid-shaped series of walkways. distantly, shale will be able to see farmland, rich with bountiful harvests that never seem to end: golden wheat fields and bright green plant life alike bloom endlessly, despite the snowflakes falling from the air. there's a brisk breeze in vasselheim, from vax's last memory in this place, and they can see people milling about on the walkways through the forests, sometimes couples holding hands, in all manners of life from humans to elves to dragonborns to firbolgs to even a goliath. occasionally, one walks by wearing green and white robes.
there are two, much larger trees the closest to them - the birth heart. they bend together and create an archway of branches and trees that knit into each other and wrap around, and just beyond that, there's an even larger tree, with the faint glow of golden light filtering through the branches of the knotted, intertwined archway that signifies the beginning of the birth heart.
the air here feels fresh, clean. it's not vax's temple, but it's familiar, and so he rolls his shoulders back as they enter, and glances over to see shale's reaction. they'll have to walk a bit, but, this is: ] ... The Abundant Terrace.
Birth Heart's that way. [ gesturing to the big tree arch. ]
no subject
but it's when they see the tree, the golden light filtering through the branches, that's when they stop.]
I've been here before.
[no, that outburst is replaced by confusion. no, they haven't, not here, but something is...]
no subject
this feels... well. it feels a little like maybe what he's supposed to do. like what his time with the raven queen will be like, when all is said and done - like a guide, to fate, or to the great unknown.
he watches those vines for a moment, and looks at shale, and then - even if they're a statue - offers out his hand? wordlessly, silently, his emotions reflecting a little of the purpose of this moment. if shale wants to walk on, then they can walk on, standing here at the edge of a moment, but they won't have to do it alone. ]
no subject
How do I...
[a glance towards the panel. they haven't tried this.]
no subject
... Just think about it, and it'll show up.
[ the vibes are encouraging. you can do it, shale. ]
no subject
...the room flickers for a moment. for a brief moment, it's a dark sky, a city, and there's a house in the middle of it that wouldn't appear to stand out except for the enormous tree growing out of the roof, glowing brightly with lights in the branches. the tree looks similar, though smaller, to the one in the vision vax just showed them. it feels like a home. but this gets fuzzy after a second.
it flickers again. it's a barren field, a wasteland, scarred with absolute destruction. but in the center of it, reaching up to the heavens, an enormous tree grows, the only thing in this land that appears to have any life.]
no subject
the house is new - a structure he's never quite seen before, but the feeling of home lingers, and it's the second tree that feels the same. the two images almost overlap - the birth heart in vasselheim, and this tree he doesn't know, in the middle of nothing.
... he hopes, really hopes, that this isn't the future. the idea of vasselheim of all places being destroyed is - a lot.
but! aside from a moment of unsureness, his emotions don't really reflect those thoughts. just surprise, at first, followed by a sparking curiosity and interest. ]
.... Got the same energy, huh? [ that tree and this tree and also the home tree. ]
no subject
[and the seed, too, planted at the xhorhaus, also a sister. the tree here, growing out of the barbed fields, is ancient, old.]
This is...it's a scar, from the Calamity. The tree is ... it was left behind, a symbol. I didn't remember that I'd seen this. [...] I never went far from home, but this isn't... maybe in the time after I left. I remember this place. It's a good place.
[they remember a little bit more in the time up to when those strangers came for them, but after that, it's all sort of unclear. however, as they stand there thinking, something changes about the simulation they're creating. the tree is still there, but it's night. there's a person there as well, speaking. they're a little bit unclear, blurry. kind of a greenish-blueish-metallic blur, but they're speaking, a little hesitantly. it's both the emotion of the voice that's hesitant, but also a blur of not fully formed memories.
So, last night when we were sleeping, I had this dream like I do...
there's a flicker in shale's emotions, something sort of. maybe bordering on concern, but it's more expectant, hopeful.
Except unlike the previous times where I've seen ... eye ... I felt cold and this dark ... but I felt warmth and ... matronly voice beckoning to me ... greenery, like these vines reach out, inviting me forward. I can't help but think that might have something to do with the tree ...
silence again.
Who is she? says the voice, as though responding to something no one in this room has said. Only what you've told me about her.
more silence for the moment, and then the voice speaks again. even more hesitant, wanting something but trying not to sound too hopeful.
She said ... his will would find me again ... she could only intercede for a short bit ... maybe because we were so close to the giant fucking tree. a pause. But that felt really good. a pause again. What do you do to connect with her?
shale, watching this, gives an impression like a frown, silence, and then sort of responds, quietly.]
Just listen. Breathe. You'll see her and feel her in everything that is around, every plant that's growing, every animal that's hunting. Her power may wax and wane depending on where we are, but it's something that's always - nearly always - available.
[the emotion shale is giving off is complicated. on one level, there's a bit of confusion, trying to reach out for a memory. but then the memory they find is one of ... intense hopefulness. and gratitude. asking for something, wanting it for someone else, and finding those prayers answered. love, too. both the divine love, and the feeling of love and pride you might feel seeing a friend in trouble start to turn the corner.]
This is good. This is very, very good.
[the flicker, blurred person in the simulation looks a little bit more humanoid shaped. a greenish face, prideful and strong, but something a little vulnerable about it, too. someone lost, wanting to hope that they'll be found again but struggling to admit to it.
It felt good. Any tips you could ... I'm anxious to feel that again.]
That's very good. I'm anxious to help you - I have faith in you, Fjord. I know that there is a great darkness in your heart, but...
[they seem to forget the rest, but then the simulation fills in, speaking in shale's voice: You have good friends. These are good people. I know you're going to be tempted sometimes, but I would just...recommend trusting in us, to take care of you.
Right, the memory of Fjord says. Everything's going to be okay.
and then it sort of blinks out.]