Voice (Unseelie Network) | Voice (Hermione-net)

[gordianknots]

Unseelie Locket Network, voice

In light of the decree given by the Black Shuck, I am seeking to try and create a database of banshee sightings, to try and help get teams of people or individuals out to the exact location and to give them a hand. To that extent, if anyone is willing to volunteer where they’re interested in heading, so that a note of it might be made and more ground can be be covered by others checking to see if an area has been seen to, please let me know. The goal is to organize something useful, so that this can be done as completely as plausible.

Thank you in advance for your help, and I wish you luck in your endevours.

To Hermione-Net, voice

Hi all. To make a long story short, with the temporary lax standards the Shuck has forced our monarchs to to take, I’m temporarily allowing Unseelie and Seelie alike into the Barrel to try and get this banshee task attended to in the most concise manner possible. I’m trying to collect all possible sightings, and I’ll be happy to pass on spots to check out for anyone who’s interested in restoring their voices.

Obviously for everyone’s safety I’m going to ask that those of you making use of the Barrel try and not go too far astray from the task before us. However, if you need a place for final farewells, I’m not exactly going to stop you either.

Please let me know if you have questions, otherwise I do look forward to seeing a number of you for a final round of cooperation before we have to get back to killing each other.

[ooc: Please let me know what network you're replying on. Also Barrel link for all your cooperation needs!]

Comments

[uneulogized]

See, that's what I'm actually wondering about. [Which part? Well, Jason can sometimes be a master of non-sequitur thought. But it'll be clear in a minute.

Like now:]

Are we certain that this is positive work?

[gordianknots]

We could well be lead astray by the god of Death, a power so great the monarchs bow to him as well.

But then I think of these murmurs of godswar, and wonder if we are only treating a symptom, rather than the cause. What might cause a banshee to lose it's voice? What's so great that the Shuck himself couldn't prevent it?

[uneulogized]

You'll find that I'm not exactly ace as dealing with anything with gods. [It's an admission that comes out swiftly and harshly.]

But are you suggesting that someone else is making the gods fight? [Jason knows Loki's theory. But he wants to hear Waver's take, or if they line up.

He realizes that they might.]

[gordianknots]

[Waver takes note of that particular admission, but moves on deftly from it. No need to dwell on sore subjects.]

I don't know if it's someone else, or perhaps it's just circumstance. I mean, we're at the tail end of this war, regardless of the victor, correct? [Void looming, all that fun stuff.] Gods are starting to come out of the woodwork, and they all want a say in how things end. They'll have their own goals and desired outcomes, and they have to start working towards those end goals now. There's a logic in going after one major deity or the other, and all the more concerning because of what those deities represent. Life and death. Throw one out of whack, and you're adding a new layer to this war.

[More like sedimentary layers of bullshit, but the editorializing isn't needed.]

A working theory, at least. Easy to prove or disprove, and work new knowledge into, hopefully. Regardless, I've read enough Homer to know that this won't be good.

[uneulogized]

Homer's not exactly reliable, though. The gods weren't actively involved, but they were more involved. The Void is right there, and succeeding, so why did they wait so long? Why is it only the end that's dragging them out? And don't they have a reason to not want to be swallowed up and forced on the path of rebirth or whatever?

[But it is bad. And Jason is somewhat relieved to hear that Waver knows that things are only going to get worse. At least he knows that he should be afraid, even with all his meddling and his own cards at play.

(Sometimes, a shared fear can humanize someone. He can't help that.)]

[gordianknots]

Of course Homer isn't reliable, but if there's one thing I think that the Drabwuld proves, it's that the first world has reflections of it across all others. This just strikes me as an example.

[Honestly, it was less a reliance on Homer, and more that Rider relied on the text. But no matter.]

Maybe they were just waiting for the end, to see what the conditions were like before they entered the fray. Size up what the circumstances are, and then go all in. I can't guess beyond that, I have to read up so much to give a hypothesis I'm remotely confident in voicing beyond what I've already offered.

[He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose like that'll conjure up answers.] Maybe some of them gain something with rebirth. Maybe it's in their nature. Maybe I'm talking out my ass. [A beat, and then:] Oh at this point I'm definitely talking out my own ass. Gods keep their own council, and we need to understand them better to get a better lay of the land in this matter.

[uneulogized]

What about shardbearer gods? How do they play into this council, assuming you aren't just dragging that outta your ass as well? [He's given Jason a lot to think about, but he's not going to push matters yet.

Still, Loki has been getting information out of him, hasn't he? Jason can only do so much right now. Utilizing a resource, but understanding the biased nature of that resource, would be good right now.

It can also prove to be a good test of his loyalties. How much information is he withholding? How deep does his own agenda run? Is it just a matter of manipulating the threads of information? As much as Jason would love to antagonize him, he's already switched gears: it's time to both be antagonistic and patient.

Oh, Dad would be proud of him for that decision.]

[gordianknots]

If you mean to talk about Ariadne, please just say so.

[But it's a valid point. Waver pauses, making it clear he's genuinely thinking before giving a response. The truth is the godswar is too new, too uncertain, and where to get the best information from something Waver is still unsure of.]

The truth is, I don't know. I have to do more research, and right now I've been struggling with prioritization. [The banshees have to come first, and the dryads have sucked up so much time.] The best idea I can even think of is to head to the university and take advantage of their open stack policy for non-students. Absorb what's there, and then see if there's anything even about shardbearer deities.

[uneulogized]

You think she's the only one? That's fascinating. Must not be that aware of Norse mythology. [Jason's voice takes on a sing-song tone. He really just wanted to rub that in Waver's face, and that's clear.]

But that seems like a likely venture.

You know, when the Shuck's not breathing all doggedly down our necks.

[gordianknots]

Shit, Loki's started a cult?

[Okay. Not that funny.]

Point taken. I was thinking on preestablished religions.

[Also. That pun. That pun, Jason.]

I'm sure that we'll all be less ruff and worse for wear when it's all said and done with.

[uneulogized]

Oh, Loki gets up to a whole lot that I'm sure you don't know about. [Is he bullshitting when he says this? Yes. Or he's referring to Loki's sex life. Either way, he'd be surprised if Waver is privy to that.

(Hint: Jason's not privy to it, either.)]

And my pun was better. But thanks for playing. You know, though, you really shouldn't depend on me to dig up that information. Just consider that a big ol' hint. I'm a busy, busy guy. Lots of leads, and, oh, I don't know, making sure people know what they need to know.

look if any of loki's shenangians involve octohorses i think NONE of us want to be privy

[gordianknots]

[Half of Waver wants to raise hackles at Jason's attitude, if only because it comes off as over-the-top mocking. The rest of him assumes that that's the point, and forces him to remain civil.]

I'll give you the better pun. But the information is appreciated. I can't know everything. That's humanly impossible.

[But the dig is clear. How charming.]

[uneulogized]

Yeah, but around here, it's sometimes better to try, don't you think? Then again, you probably have your priorities.

[gordianknots]

I wish you luck with yours, then.

[uneulogized]

Oh, luck. I'll be sure to use it well.

[gordianknots]

If you're going to needle me about word choice, then I'm not sure what to tell you. No matter what I say, you'll take issue.

[uneulogized]

Kinda quick to the draw there, aren't you? What issue am I taking? What suggestion have I made?

[gordianknots]

Your tone has a tendency to act as if I've given you some offense or reason to take issue with me, although we've spoken a grand total of once before this.

[uneulogized]

I talk that way with anyone, but let's be real: who doesn't know about you? You're rather famous around these parts. Can't go running without information, can you?

[gordianknots]

I'm glad I'm the rule, rather than the exception. [But good lord how does anyone stand conversation with him with such a sour demeanour?]

And yet all I want is a quiet life in all of this. I'm not suited to this fight.

[uneulogized]

Not every fight involves drawing blood. [He pauses.] Mine does, don't get me wrong. [Thaaaat's not a lie in any way, nope. Jason doesn't deal in information at all.]

But everyone's got their part to play. Even if they make a killer latte. [Not that he's ... had a latte there.]

[gordianknots]

If I figure out how to magically froth milk, I'm pretty sure someone could actually weaponize it. It would not be the strangest thing in the Drabwurld, would it?

[But Waver knows these fights, the information fights. It's his survival mechanism for Clock Tower and it's served him well in the Drabwurld.

And it's that same experience that has taught him precisely when to make it seem as if he's throwing in the towel.]

I'm tired. I am starting to flag, as you have keenly pointed out. My attentions should, perhaps, remain simply on anticipating battles, and moving the natives out of the way so that they're minimally harmed.

[uneulogized]

Huh, good play on words. [And not actually his intent. Does Waver realize that? Jason wonders.

Still, the agreeable response seems off to him. Maybe it's because he came here for an argument, and he's just not getting it. He wanted one, or at least a little more of a game. Jason doesn't press the matter. He won't be able to play the angle of "I'm always a dick" if he needs to look into Waver more.]

You're right. So we can count on you in the future to help with precisely that?

[gordianknots]

I sometimes have those.

[It wasn't, but Waver won't let that show.

Just like his frustration at Jason's approach. When confronted, being docile and non-threatening is the goal. It gives people less ammunition against you, makes it hard to turn enemies against you. Waver's entire public persona was deliberately built around that simple fact. It was how he made allies, built a base that could mobilize.]

When the need arises as it has in the past and as I've done in the past, yes. Logistics and coin.

[uneulogized]

Well, aren't we lucky? I'll remember that. [The real question is: what would Waver help with? What could count on him for? He'll have to ask Loki.

For now, he decides his words are a good ending to their "friendly" chat, so he closes his locket, suitably ending the conversation.]