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Kenos Inbox
voice / text / communion
D's mind is a cacophony of things.
The landscape is shadow and darkness, and it is chilly and reserved where D sits in it; he feels like a simple young man. Quiet, soft, human. But behind the stoicism is a warm, sensual, and elegant sliver of something primordial and powerful. Embracing it is hypnotic, arousing, yet also a little horrifying.
Amidst all of this is something else, too: a craggled and old presence which can be heard on occasion cackling or chattering separately, the crusty voice belonging neither to D or the peculiar entity in the space.
The landscape is shadow and darkness, and it is chilly and reserved where D sits in it; he feels like a simple young man. Quiet, soft, human. But behind the stoicism is a warm, sensual, and elegant sliver of something primordial and powerful. Embracing it is hypnotic, arousing, yet also a little horrifying.
Amidst all of this is something else, too: a craggled and old presence which can be heard on occasion cackling or chattering separately, the crusty voice belonging neither to D or the peculiar entity in the space.
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Depends on the ghost. Don't usually go digging for ghosts if we can help it... but the sleeping girl, eh? This cute broad had been asleep for thirty years. She kept coming to D in his dreams. Hehe.
[Why must he suffer with this parasite.]
Vampire Nobles can linger behind in a place of refuge as ghosts if they are powerful enough.
Yeah, like Carmilla! Supposed mistress to the ruler of all vampires. Bbleergh. Nasty woman. Never want to taste that again.
He deals with what I'm unable to touch.
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Lefty really is similar to Add. They even complain about the same things.
[ This is still a pretty stunning development to Gray, who truly thought of Add as one-of-a-kind. She raises his cage so that she can talk to him. ]
This might be a good thing. Add, wouldn't you like to have a friend you can relate to?
... With that old-timer?! Idiot Gray, shouldn't you go on a date yourself before you try setting other people up?
Add!
[ Gray chastises him sharply. Add refrains from laughing, if only because he can feel how close to punishment he is. He looks away innocently instead, as if he never said anything in the first place. ]
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The back-and-forth between Gray and Add reminds him a lot of himself and Left Hand. Though he is more stoic and doesn't really ever entertain a reply unless it's to tell Left Hand to shut up.
It gets the corner of his lips to twitch in an almost smile. GUESS SHE CAN FEEL THE AMUSEMENT BC THEY ARE BOTH DUMMY ADVOCATES.]
Who's old?! I'm filled with vitality! I could go all night! Wait, I do go all night, I don't sleep... Anyway, D will take you on a date! Haha! He needs more practice! Right, D?
Stop being a nuisance.
[THE EARLIER AMUSEMENT IS COMPLETELY GONE NOW.]
1/2
D's little blip of amusement makes Gray glance over at him, a bit confused, and then she realizes that he might also be a fellow Advocate. She has to wonder if it will make living with him more complicated. Not that she has anything to hide, and neither of them are the types to tease each other... but still.
On one hand, it's convenient being able to parse D's feelings beneath his stony exterior. On the other hand, this means D will be feeling the instant alarm Gray feels when Lefty suggests a date, followed by her relief when D immediately shuts him down. That roller coaster of emotion could be interpreted as rude toward D, when really, the idea of going on a date with anybody at all is just intrinsically alarming to Gray. She's hoping he didn't notice.
Unfortunately, Add did notice. ]
What's this, Gray? Don't tell me you're gettin' excited! I'm starting to see that you have a ty—
Excuse me.
[ Gray says this politely to D. And then she walks away, into the chicken coop. The door closes behind her with a wooden clack. ]
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AAaaaAAaaAAaaAaaAA—!!
[ Like so. It's accompanied by a high-speed smash and rattle of metallic parts like a cocktail being shaked, except the cocktail is a dense metal cube.
This goes on for a good fifteen seconds.
When Gray emerges calmly from the coop, Add is nowhere to be seen. She returns to her spot and looks at D. ]
Please don't mind Add.
[ Take a drink every time D or Gray has to apologize for Lefty or Add... ]
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As soon as Gray says to excuse her, and she and Add disappear into the coop, Left Hand stretches his face around to look at D with a truly 😨 expression. The yowling and shaking make the old eyes big on the palm. Erebus lifts his head to glance around at the coop curiously, ears forward.
(Gray is getting a sliver of distant amusement again.)
D returns a taciturn, silent, pointed look at Left Hand, and the parasite winces sympathetically before hurriedly absconding inside once more. It's what happens to naughty additions.
When Gray emerges, only D is left waiting for her, one arm by his side and the other holding the horse's reins like before.]
It's alright. Don't let what the Carbuncle says bother you either.
[They like to stir them up.]
Has he been with you for very long?
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Since I was five. The master gravekeeper decided I had aptitude then, and passed Add down to me. There weren't any other children around, so he ended being my closest friend.
[ Try only friend. But still, despite all that has transpired here, D will feel a sincere warmth of gratitude emanating from Gray toward Add. ]
How long has Lefty been with you?
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And with other instances, too. When your annoying parasite entity is your only "friend".....
Gray is so forthcoming with admitting as much, so he says:]
...I was about the same age.
[For the moment, he doesn't tell her Left Hand was experimentally inserted into him... but it might be obvious in a way considering it happened when he was a child.
What child would ask for that unless they were just attacked?]
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Though she's curious, she doesn't feel familiar enough yet to pry. There are some things she'd rather not discuss with a recent acquaintance; call it projection, but she imagines D might feel the same on this particular subject. ]
I see... We really have a lot in common.
[ Freakishly so. It's startling to think that someone she can relate to in such a rare manner has spontaneously come to live under the same roof as her.
She blinks as she remembers why this happened in the first place. She glances back at the house. ]
Mr. Dokja might be surprisingly astute...
[ A mastermind even........ Gray wonders if she should reform her view of him. ]
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He won't tattle on Gray, but he will tattle on Dokja as a gentle, almost distantly affectionate bullying:]
His intent was for me to meet you. He made it sound as if it was for your benefit, [he says this as if he does not believe his company could ever be for anyone's benefit] but now I am wondering if he thought it would also be for mine...
[He follows Gray's gaze directly across the yard at the nearest window or door which would be at the kitchen.
Dokja..........]
It had not been my intent to intrude on your lives.
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[ Gray would never plant her hands on her hips, but a bit of that energy quietly enters her voice. Dokja really played them both...
She leaves that thought aside to look back to D when he makes that regretful comment. She slowly shakes her head. ]
To be honest, I wasn't sure at first, but... I'd be happy if you stayed with us.
[ Thanks to the power of Advocacy, he can even feel that she's being sincere!! She smiles, a small show of support. ]
Mr. Eustace might need a little time, but he's a good person. If it's important to Mr. Dokja that you stay here, it will be important to him too.
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Anyway, sad to say that Gray's very kind and soft words make him feel extremely soft and it's UNFORTUNATE they are the same Aspect. Now she knows his stupid, squishy secrets anytime she is nearby. It's like biting into a sour candy with a sweet inside? He's :man_standing: now with a fuzzy middle.
He also looks quickly away from her when he gets beaten up in the back alley by a smile and show of support feelings. Get those outta here.]
I don't mind if it disturbs him. [As in, Eustace is valid.] He was here first. But I can tell he is a good man.
[Very romantic and loyal when cursed to be in love with him.]
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It sounds like D really isn't offended by Eustace's HORRIBLY INHOSPITABLE reaction, which is a relief. She relaxes and turns her gaze back to Erebus, who continues to be surrounded by chickens like a man feeding pigeons at a park. Which reminds her that if D will be living here, he will need introductions to the many... many animals that live here.
Gray points at each of the chickens as she names them. ]
That's Chicken Nugget, Chicken Tender, Chicken Skewer, Chicken Potpie, and Popcorn Chicken.
[ Popcorn is a lil baby chick actually. ]
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D's face remains as placidly unbothered as ever. He looks at each chicken as they are called out. Not Popcorn Chicken........... What the hell does he say to this? He's aware these are Gray's babies. Maybe she doesn't mind them named this way. Who is he to criticize when only just became invited into the household?!]
I see.
[HE DOESN'T SEE.]
Hello.
[To the chickens... because he's polite. They truly pay him no mind because Erebus is far more entertaining even though Erebus is :horse_standing: amidst the lot of them. Erebus kind of just occasionally leans his head down to give them a sniff when they venture close to his front legs. Good thing there is no weird, sudden lore about Frontier cyborg horses eating meat.]
Do they produce many eggs?
[HE IS PRETENDING LIKE THEY ARE EGG CHICKENS, NOT FOOD.]
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[ A normal amount! More importantly, Gray catches the BLAST OF HORROR from D and raises her hands to assuage him. She can guess where his horror is coming from... ]
Um, we didn't cook any of our chickens for the meal. They're basically pets.
[ That said, D won't feel any reciprocal horror at the thought from Gray, even if she's fond of the Chickens Sometimes Known as Tristans. She did grow up in the remote countryside, where animal butchery was close and common. Sometimes she feels a little silly keeping chickens for pets, but being able to talk to them makes a girl a bit more sympathetic.
Speaking of which, she's happy to translate. She calls softly to the chickens, layering a bit of spellbook goodness into her voice. ]
Everyone, this is D... He'll be living with us from now on. He says hello, and he's very nice.
[ The chickens all look at her, then at D. Then they hop up and bob over to form a loose circle around him like they did Erebus, except this time they are looking at him curiously. ]
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[The nuance of his surprise being maybe Dokja naming them after food items which he does not explain because he is yet another stupid man addition to this household.
Though if they were to be eaten, maybe food items would be better than something personal.]
Though it seems they are happier alive. It's been a long time since I have seen chickens like this.
[??????????
He watches these hens (and baby) become suddenly infatuated with greeting him...
Carefully, he squats down to one knee so he can give one or two of them some friendly pets. One hen decides it's fine if she roosts on his raised knee, not bothering to ask if it's okay. (It's okay.)]
Thank you for allowing me to stay.
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Gray watches as the chickens blink and bob excitedly under D's friendly petting. It's a heartwarming scene. The chickens not being petted by D's mere two hands crowd closer to D's haunches so that they're nearly under him, impatient about getting their turn.
A bit of movement catches Gray's eye. Ah, yes. She turns and addresses yet another important family member. ]
Raisin...! You should say hello too. D will be staying with us from now on.
[ Raisin the giant dog boofs cheerfully as he heads over. Eager to give D a warm official welcome, he begins to sprint at D and the chickens. He is only getting faster. ]
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Raisin is a perfect creature. D appreciates dogs maybe in the same way Eustace appreciates them. He doesn't hate cats, but dogs... Loyal, loving unconditionally, protective. Just like him. 🥹 D can tell almost immediately the dog is going to be a dog about the greeting.
Swiftly and fluidly, he moves the chicken off his knee and uses both arms to sweep them forward toward Gray, out of the way. The dog is getting so much faster, wow. D faces Raisin and lowers his knees, bracing them on the ground. He holds both hands out, an attempt to at least steer Raisin correctly when they inadvertently collide.
And collide they do. Raisin is too excited, galloping directly into him. He at least doesn't topple over onto the ground in the middle of all the chickens. But now he's getting a bunch of dog kisses, messing up his hat, tangling his hair.
Very weird to get dog kisses when most animals are terrified of your aura.]
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Together, Gray and the chickens watch as Raisin forcefully smothers D with all of his wrinkled, slobbery pounds and delivers a rousing baptism by dog kisses. It's a remarkable sight, all of that pure dog energy poured directly into making the ever-stoic D's head a disaster zone.
Gray laughs. It's out before she can think it might be too mean-spirited of her, the kind of laughter that comes from the chest. It's a brief affair, and in a moment she steps over to drag Raisin up off D as if he were an unruly puppy. As she is only a little taller than him at full height, his doggy rump is still on the floor when she hugs him under his forelegs to her middle. ]
He can be a little too friendly.
[ Raisin pants and thumps his tail on the ground, looking at D eagerly as if willing him to get closer so that Raisin's tongue can reach him. ]
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Dogs never know a single brake! D is at least strong enough to keep Raisin from jumping too wildly on him, and he makes sure the strength isn't too much to hurt the excited doggo. He's left to sort of... blink while finding his bearings as Gray pulls Raisin away. Reaching up, he politely uses the back of his hand to wipe some of the slobber away on his face.]
That's alright.
[He could never hate a dog for being friendly. He reaches out with his hand to offer Raisin some distant, controlled pets.]
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Raisin's tongue whips out at D's hand as it ventures into the lick zone, but otherwise he peacefully accepts the head pats. Meanwhile his tail thumps uncontrollably, slapping at least one chicken around.
Feeling that Raisin has calmed down enough, Gray lets him down onto all four paws. From there, Raisin joins the crowd of chickens in competing for D's attention with their eyes and wiggles. ]
The cats should all meet you too... but, um, that can wait for when you're ready to move in.
[ She assumes he has affairs to put in order?? Things to pack?? Maybe he needs time to mentally prepare before moving into a house with three people and eleven animals?? ]