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A PSYCHIC FEELING THAT TOUCHES ALL OF DRAEGA
[At sundown, twin blasts of Opal and Rose slam through a wall in the Queen's Residence. Those living in the Residence and those nearby hear cries of alarm. Smoke is visible above the buildings throughout the city. Everyone in the city feels a sudden, sharp punch of power: one of the Blood shooting downward into the abyss with startling ferocity.

Moments later, three ripples of power expand outward from the Queen's Residence. One is shallow and superficial. The Blood recognize it as a blast of power just above the level of the White; the landens feel it only as a vague sense of unease.

The second comes at the level of the Rose, and the final at the Opal.

Shortly after, those who reside in the Old Town Bazaar begin to hear a haunting dirge. A woman's voice, sad and full of mourning, fills the still air. Night darkens the city, and the song spreads with it. From Old Town to the Guild Halls, up into River North and the slums, and from there to River East. The melody echoes through the docks, curling around warehouses and ships and reverberating strangely over the water.

Long into the early hours of the morning, the echoes of the song linger.]

A PSYCHIC LINK, FAYURA TO THE STRANGERS
[The quiet, psychic contact comes with the dawn. For those who have felt Fayura's psychic presence before, this touch feels much more distant. For those who haven't, she brushes against your mind with great caution and respect as though knocking softly at a door for fear of causing a disturbance. When she speaks, her mental voice has a hollow, tiny tone, much like that of an old telephone call for those who understand the analogy.

She is tired. She sounds tired. Grief makes her voice rough.]

Thank you. For finding the coven, I thank you.

The witches Amanita Nissa, Harrin, and Little Blue are dead. They have become whispers in the darkness. This is no easy thing. I know many of you will be displeased to hear they have been executed, but this is our way. Shattering the mind of a young Queen—of anyone who wears a Jewel… there is no greater crime.

The streets are safer without them.

Specific thanks to Guts, Daylight, and Mordred, who were each responsible for bringing in one of these witches.

THE MORNING NEWS
[Garret and Wilt are the perpetual news anchors. Their broadcast begins when most people are sitting down to breakfast or have just come in from morning chores on the farm.

Garret:] An official announcement from the Queen of Hayll confirms the executions of the Black Widows Amanita Nissa, Harrin, and Little Blue early this morning. Per the announcement and in accordance with ancient tradition, their Jewels have been shattered and their minds… burned out?

[Wilt, speaking slowly for once:] This is, of course, in reference to the old mythology that the Blood can become demon-dead. The body dies but the mind lives on, resulting in a kind of undeath driven by the power of the Jewels.

[Garret, cringing:] The Queen has declared that she will hold court between the hours of six and nine at night to accommodate those whose work hours are less flexible should anyone wish to inquire after the decision to execute these three witches.

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[ that’s a very good question— ]

There's... There’s Esso, for starters. Is there something we can do to help keep her off the streets? So she has a choice on what to do? [ esso is young. really young. that’s what first got his attention when he was trying to help out with the investigation and saw the suspects.

it threw him off that someone so young could be considered a suspect and he wants to keep esso from being considered with suspicion again. ]

And there’s, um, Denica… [ he feels a bit nervous about this but, ] Would she be alright with talking to us after all that's happened? I’m— I’m curious about some things.

... If there is aught we may do to assist Esso, I would ask you to relay the information to me as well.

[He felt like it was the least he could do. He's seen how easily young minds can be corrupted by people who would do others harm first hand. He didn't feel right allowing it to happen again.]

Yeah! I sure will, buddy! [ daylight's end of the link notably perks up, gladdened that someone else is interested in helping the other black widows out.

the other three... they were long gone, reluctant as he is to admit that, but daylight has hope for the other three and he wants to help them out somehow. ]

Hey- You brought in Esso, right? When we were investigating and stuff. [ he didn't get to interact with her a lot when they were trying to figure out who the guilty black widows are. ] What's she like?

[At least one of them was cheerful. On Takame's end he was the same as always, if tired. He felt nothing for the ones gone.

He didn't have a good answer for Daylight, shame bled through his link as a result.]

She is... young. Inexperienced. But I could not well gauge the sort of person she was at the time. I was... preoccupied. [With trying to catch the guilty covenant and force control over his Echo without making himself useless as he was for days.]

Oh. [ daylight sounds (and feels) surprised by that but he tries to be understanding. everyone was pretty busy at the time. while he didn't run across a lot of the others during the investigation, he knew it had been because they were all tracking down leads and stuff.

that, or trying to avoid the crazy bad memory webs. that was an important thing to look out for too. ]

I guess that means we've just got to work hard to make her trust us and our word to give her a hand! [ while he doesn't meant to, he ends up pushing a lot of confidence and optimism into the link.

some of it a show of bravado to hype takame (and himself) up. a lot of it genuine since he wants to help. ] Do you think we can help her find a job somewhere...? Or somewhere that'll be safe for her to sleep or something?

Hm. [Takame intentionally hid anything having to do with the Echo. It gave him too much to consider with the memories he saw, too much to process. It was no wonder he couldn't get much from the girl. He highly doubted she would be willing to speak with him at this point but he did not voice that thought.

He did not share Daylight's optimism, Draega was already limited on resources for those they wanted to help let alone a young Black Widow from the slums they likely did not, but he did want to emulate it. He wasn't exactly an idea person, though.]

Ah, perhaps... there is likely more she may need than that. [He tried really hard here, asking himself what would they do.]

It'll be a good start, at least! Keep her safe from most dangers on the streets and let her make a, um, base of sorts. [ better than nothing and she'll have something to call her own. that's a win, of a sorts, in daylight's point of view.

he's doing his best to see the world in a glass half-full. though this is a stretch, he does think that this is a start in the right direction. long as it's a start and allows them to make an attempt to break a cycle, day is going to do what he can to help esso.

he also wants to help denica, given her circumstances, and feels like addressing her in the talk is important too. but how to go about it... ]

There's something else we can do to help others. I was thinking... [ and this is where he freezes all of the sudden. his thoughts all but coming at a screeching halt when he remembers that he's thinking these thoughts out, and others are, in a way, also listening in.

worry blooms from daylight, the emotion's presence sudden. ] I need to ask you something- You didn't get a chance to see the webs, right? The memories of the Black Widows?

[When the memories are brought up, there's apprehension on Takame's end. The feeling of every muscle (or whatever Daylight's equivalent was) tensing up all at once as if bracing for something, trying to stand still. What exactly prompted this would be unknown to most, but it was his mind telling him to not be pulled away by another vision of the past.

Despite that, he responded to the inquiry in his usual manner.]

... I did.

Oh! You did?

[ that's a relief. daylight is uncomfortable describing the details of a certain memory.

though he does feel bad for causing apprehension on takame's end, he tells himself that it's important to get the basic facts down. doesn't hurt to make sure everyone is on the same page. ]

Okay, okay... That's good...

Can I ask a favour from you then? Pretty please?

What do you need? [Said plainly and quickly. No, "it depends", no "I guess", not even a moment's hesitation.]

[ and he's very, very grateful for that. he really is. ]

Can we meet up somewhere, um, private in a bit? Like, soon as possible?

There's something I want to talk about but- [ he pauses, unsure of how to say this without it coming off as alarming and stuff. ] I want to be sure certain stuff is between us since we're friends!

[ ...

.... not the best excuse, honestly, but he hopes the meaning behind the words is clear. 'i trust you and want to keep it between us.' ]

[..."Friends" are they.]

I will be there. You need only give me the location. [Once again, said without hesitation. Takame agreed to the request under anyway but whatever Daylight had to say he would not underestimate.]

[ yeah! friends!! daylight doesn't hesitate at that during his fumbling speak. ]

Old Town Bazaar. Do you remember the The Last Meal? The restaurant where- [ he pauses, the memory of what happened when he first arrived still painful to him. ] -that we had to help with, a few months back?

We can meet there, if you want.

[It's Daylight's lack of hesitation in that that threw him off... Takame helped less there and more at the plant, but he knew of the place to be sure with how on the mind it was for so long.]

I will meet you there.

Thanks, buddy!

And- [ he pauses here, feeling a little bit sheepish to ask this but he's got to ask: ] Be careful, okay?

[ daylight noticed there weren't a lot of them left now and he's worried. standing strong and being strong is super important in times like these so he's got to make sure. he's gotta...! ] If you ever need help from me on, like, anything- Let me know!

We've got to stick together. Especially in times like these.

... Yes. You're right. ... Stay alert yourself. [With their limited numbers Daylight was correct, of course.

He may never get used to such treatment is all. Even though he appreciated Daylight's compassion and he headed towards their meeting place.]

'Course I'll do my best! [ he tries to project confidence and chipperness through his link now. ] I don't want you worrying about me!

[ day does his best to sound chipper and optimistic, even if his spirits are failing him a bit at the end here when he thinks more and more about what could happen to them, later down the line.

but!! he tries! especially for a friend of his like takame. it's the least he can do for his fellow ~~puppy power pal~~ adventurer. ]

See you then!

[A threat of sorrow passes between them.]

Esso is from the slums. I could take her in and offer her a place in my court, but I cannot take in every young woman who needs a job. Were the city in a better place, perhaps we could create some kind of program to help slum children find employ in the Bazaar, with the Guilds, or even at the Council. Right now, as we struggle to survive, I... I can only rarely consider the one.

[And that kills her a little more every day.]

As for Denica, I see no reason why you could not speak with her.

[ daylight feels the thread of sorrow from her and, out of instinct, reacts to it by trying to return some optimism and hope on his end. trying to help her spirits from his desire to aid others if he can do something.

it helps that there's sincerity mingled with his feelings. he also feels frustrated and sad that there's only so much they can do to help, but he's determined to try, at least, make some headway for it. ]

Giving Esso a hand is a good start. When things get better- [ not if. when. ] -Maybe she can help us convince the others to trust the idea of working with the other groups in return for pay or shelter or both.

Maybe I can help getting others warmed up to the idea of program thingy? [ he seems a little nervous at this point. and maybe has a reason to with what he has to say next: ] I'm working with the Guilds and been trying to help them out with some stuff. Maybe they'll be willing to think on this. Having more hands to help over at the Guilds will be good, I bet.

[ he's not addressing denica (yet) but he's clearly happy with the words thanks to the hope that's bubbling to the surface. it's tempered, however, with something else caution. something like that, at least. ]

[As soon as Daylight says he's working with the Guilds, Fayura takes a noticeable mental step back. The shields around her mind grow tighter, and he'll get the impression she's frowning.]

You think—

[She catches herself. She's asked the Strangers to bridge this gap. Her demonstrating the same resistance to change as the Guilds and Ebon Council won't get them anywhere.]

Grand Master Niall isn't unreasonable. Some might object to the Blood learning Guild secrets, but I'm sure he'd help you work something out.

[ oof. there we go.

daylight tries not to wince at the reaction, trying to stand firm but, at the same time, trying to give a sense of, 'yeah, i get that.' which is difficult to do because how do you convey that in emotions? sheepishness? apologeticness?

it's hard to say but he gives it his all while he speaks, half-explaining, half-almost justifying his actions. ]

I— I think I can work best with them. Given my, um, stuff and things. [ eloquence is not daylight's strongest point, especially when he's nervous. by gosh does he still try, though. ] And I want to believe that helping them stride towards improvement can help others in the long run.

It's a shot in the dark, I know, but it's something I'm willing to try.

[ and something he's willing to own up to, if anything happens. he really hopes he conveys this part well. ]

[Intent is enough. Though Daylight isn't experienced in psychic threads and mental connections, Fayura senses quite keenly what he's trying to send to her. The rest of his feelings come through in his words.

Psychic threads reveal so much more than just what one wants to say.

She smiles faintly, stuffing down her own reactions and nodding along as he speaks. He's right, and she accomplishes nothing if she acts the same way the Council always has.]

No, you're very right. I asked everyone to come here to help. Showing the Blood that someone with a Jewel can work with the landens is good. Likewise, it will be good for the landens to see they can work with someone who wears the Jewels. These little steps are what we need.

Yeah! Baby steps! [ daylight's confidence (and, in turn, cheer) returns in full bloom. almost bouncing back, comically so, now. ] We-

[ he needs a moment to collect himself, trying to get his thoughts in a proper order without overexciting himself too much. day had been told he be a bit 'too much' when just speaking to him, so he can't imagine what it's like when having a link with, like, his processors and everything. ] We can hope this leads to something more in the future. When others come in and build up on it.

It's not, um, as big or as noticeable but it'll lead to something good in the end. [ or something he hopes leads to something good in the end. it's what he hopes and can only hope for.

... though he can't help but ask something that now pops in his helm, thanks to the conversation at hand: ]

I do have a question. About the Guilds. Can I ask? If that’s, like, okay.

I will do my best to answer, but I can't promise anything. I'm only a... friend of Grand Master Niall, not a member.

It's okay- I'm- I'm not asking about, um, Grand Master Niall. [ he now realises if this is a risky thing to do but it's already happening.

better to just double down and plow through. something is going to happen. ] It's about one of the Guild Masters who work under him.

[ how does he word this politely as possible...? ]

-Is it bad that I feel kind of creeped out by the Guild Master for the Medicos?

[ nailed it. ]

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