hugtopia_logs | Affurgato Mingle

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Affurgato Mingle

♥ Who: Lup + Open Mingle
♥ Where: A new cafe in town...
♥ When: Now + the rest of the month as needed!
♥ What: The grand opening of Havenwell's quality dining experience
♥ Rating: May vary! But probably PGish

A message is transmitted to every communicator in the morning that reads:

INTRODUCING AFFURGATO!

Come one and all for the best food in town as of today, which admittedly isn't difficult but is still going to blow your socks off. Your friendly neighbourhood wizards are here to save your tongues with Affurgato, a pet cafe full of warm fuzzies and sweet treats. Come for lunch, pet a cat, take the edge off. Bring your date for whatever off-brand V-Day is celebrated in this world. It'll be great.

Going forward it will be open for lunch and early dinner on weekends only, but for this week, doors will be open every day!

The message is accompanied by an address and open hours.

Those who venture to see what's up will find the business as stated, Affurgato, with a lovely carved sign out front and broad open windows to display the interior. You may even find a small striped cat at the curtain, pawing at the glass as if to coax you inside. The air that filters out through the door, when opened, smells heavenly, like the best baked goods you've ever tasted.

It's time for lunch!

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[ How... fortuitous, or perhaps rather, suspicious, that such an occurrence would take place now, given the context for this very discussion. After her initial scan of the room proves nothing too out of place, nothing that can't be set right later, she rises at Pyra's eager tugging, in her own agile movement. Not as in a hurry or as openly enthused as Pyra, but nimble all the same; curious, acquiescing toward her part of the link.

The moment passes, and the message weaves its way through. The only one she's heard, and how targeting it seems. Yet she is aware that Pyra has experienced some variety in them, given what they had already spoke of. Perhaps she has heard something more than this... supposed warning. For her part, Honerva remains pensive, musing quietly on it until Pyra speaks once more; the nature of the voice is loud, not the sorts of whispers she was accustomed to. ]

[ Thus far, she has heard:

"Remember to keep the balance", "we thank you for all you have done", "we shall do all we can to keep you safe", "share your bounty and joy", and "do not approach the walls".

This time what she hears is of a greeting, as if she's being welcomed to the world by someone finally able to give it. She repeats the message aloud in a whisper, opening her eyes slowly. ] ...Change is coming, is what I've received.

[ Unlinking one hand, she turns to face Honerva. As for her own expression, it's thoughtfully neutral. ]

What did you hear?

[ Vague, as to be expected. What form of change would occur that they would warn of it but give no clues as to what it referred?

And yet, her own, often repeated message:]

... "Do not approach the walls".

[ Her delivery is relatively even, as it often is. ]

Change, however... that is vague. Was there a tone to it?

[ A warning not to approach the walls only makes her more curious about them. But if the locals are receiving these same messages, it’s likely that they’re reinforcing their surveillance along the walls....

As for Honerva’s question: ] It was spoken as if welcoming.

Perhaps they are excited for change. That they are able to speak to us at all is a great change, itself!

Perhaps more is stirring within the world beyond what we are able to perceive.

[ That much was always... a given. Still, she can't help some wariness toward the source of these voices, either. Were such Gods truly so vocal and present with the lives of the locals before their state had dwindled to the current circumstances? And yet... they had been here for some matter of months, now. Perhaps they had gained enough strength to pass along these messages and only in the briefest of exchanges.

What more did they want, then. ]

It remains vague, even intended as a greeting. We are to be braced for a shift in our circumstances, if the other warnings yet mean something more.

[ She guides Honerva back to sit with her, if she is able. No use in standing here chatting when they can sit more comfortably against each other! ]

Have you heard... the other messages?

[ She acquiesces to Pyra's lead, easily enough. Standing, sitting, there was time when she was far more used to the former than the latter. Even now, she still rarely ever sits back when it comes to chairs or couches, always more situated on the edge of it. ]

None beyond what we have shared thus far.

[ Certainly some of the locals could be heard nattering about this and that, but they hadn't seemed particularly overeager to share details. Or further clarification. ]

[ Pyra appears more than happy to share the other messages she has received thus far with her, including the one she had already mentioned: ]

"Remember to keep the balance", "we thank you for all you have done", "we shall do all we can to keep you safe", "share your bounty and joy", and "do not approach the walls".

I haven't heard all of them myself, but your question earlier does reminds me that what I did hear happened to be spoken in different tones. [ With all of the voices sounding gender neutral, too. It would be impossible to identify which god said what one. ]

[ For one whose tone tended to be as measured as Honerva's, she was well acquainted with the fact that the way words were often said could convey certain intent. Particularly given the urgency of... that particular message.

Still, she listens to all of these, and weighs them carefully. Interesting... ]

... Anticipation, then. A change they will not name, an intent for our continued protection. Reminder, of our value as resources. Perhaps they have preconceived a change beyond our measure and the most they can offer are these words and their intent for us to continue to support them.

[ In her world... only one may claim to speak for the Architect: the Praetor. Having met others here who have so many gods who interact with mortals, she's since adopted the notion that that is more common than she would expect.

Hearing the voice of a foreign deity for herself had been surprising, to say the least. ]

All together, their messages do not seem as cryptic as they appear alone. [ But-- ] They do not give a better way for us to help them more, do they?

Power remains their goal from us. Perhaps control as well.

[ Benevolent gods or not, her own experiences directs her thinking between these offered lines of continued care and want of their support. ]

Perhaps the gods may see threat in such intent to do more, when all they have ever asked for is our energy and cooperation. Not our skills, or own perspectives on the matter. Perhaps they fear whatever it may have been that led the people of this world so astray, to be unable to provide them anything more on their own now beyond... ensuring their faithfulness, and that their will is carried out.

[ She paints the gods far more responsibly sympathetic than others. If the world is dying, and this was the solution to save all that they hold dear, why wouldn't they do so, if they had the means? The gods needn't explain themselves to anyone-- ah, but she checks herself on this. In her world, the Architect and his tools do not need to explain themselves. In other worlds? It might very well be a thing for others to demand answers.

For Pyra the solution is the same: they will just have to prove to them and the locals that they might contribute more than just touch. It would still be making themselves out as tools to the gods, only with a little more say in how they might help. However--

"...ensuring their faithfulness, and that their will is carried out." ] That's... very insightful. [ Withholding information in such a manner, to ensure obedience... She can understand it. She's no doubt that her willingness to continue holding hands with others comes across as naive and far too trusting of the gods. But she's seen proof that it helps the world itself: by how touch seems to literally power the barrier that protects all of them. ]

Are there gods in your world, Honerva, that do the same? Or entities like them?

[ She is quiet for a long moment, wondering why Pyra has chosen to pursue such a question knowing full well of her own background and what she has already said to her. Her own insights could be found buried there.

Perhaps there was more, but the universe was complicated and she had so little to grasp of it, herself. ]

... It matters not. For the world we have been drawn to, we can see the evidence of these statements. We observe how the locals act and how in check they are kept, down to their lost knowledge. We are aware of what is expected of those brought here, and what is orchestrated out of need to produce more energy. Results... are what is necessary for them. It may be to revive a world but it is no different from other systems of manipulation.

[ Back to the topic at hand, then.

Manipulation is a wonderful word for it, but she does not begrudge the deities here. She would do the same to save her own world. ]

Then... we need to produce results, too-- and show them that we are more than just batteries for their barrier. [ Hence, this small idea of theirs.

Down to business, then. ] I'll search for an appropriate space for us to work in together. I'll be in contact with you again soon, alright?

[ She is not using the words to begrudge them; she is only calling the matter as she sees it, from experience. Well-intentioned or not, she wasn't going to pretty it up, either.

Batteries, though. Speaking of a word with connotations. ]

Do you wish to garner their favor with such attempts?

[ Perhaps the gods knew little of the sorts of people they had pulled here, perhaps too used to the people of their own world. Or perhaps they knew quite well, and it was still of no matter to them, so long as the result was there.

Energy was energy, in the end. ]

You know how to reach me.

[ For her question, she shakes her head. ] I wish to help this world in any way I can. [ Holding hands. Or not holding hands while she is working in the labs. She attempts to keep busy with this world.

Of course the fact that she is here at all, among others of other worlds, is a selfish blessing that cannot be understated.

She’s about to rise from her seat, but then stops. ] Oh, and... your juniberries. They are doing well. They may be ready to bloom soon.

[ Of course. Helping the world was always important to Pyra, one way or the other. There is little cause to respond to the oft said statement; even with her own words said, there was little reason to believe that the answer would deviate.

Pyra would ever remain dutifully focused upon the world; Honerva must remain focused on her path ahead with her family. Thus far, these paths remained aligned.

Then, instead of taking her leave, Pyra ... speaks of those flowers. ]

Strange that the world supports their growth.

[ Is all she says, tone carefully neutral as it always is. She knew the plants would not falter under Pyra's care but it was still so very difficult to assign them such meaning. Altean flowers. Why had they come. What did this world think to buy from her with their existence. She knew not. ]

And... one day, I hope you'll have to see their growth for yourself.

[ It's said gently, not meant to press her or to remind her that the flowers that had been gifted under such strained circumstances, but to encourage her. The flowers will be there, when Honerva is ready or not. But she also believes that Honerva should not miss when their petals unfurl for the very first time. It's a delicate conflict, between knowing that the flowers pose some amount of distress to her, yet must also be so important to her.

But with that, Pyra's hand will slip out of hers, and she will leave with a small wave and a smile. ]

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Affurgato Mingle

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