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[Aubri looks far more composed for this message than he did the last time he addressed the locket. His feathers are neatly groomed, all traces of dirt and blood gone. The alertness in his gaze is less stress-induced and more of genuine curiosity. The brand above his left eye -- a simplied Unseelie sigil -- is visible, though well on its way to healing. All in all, he looks much better than he did when he warned of Celegorm's march on Caer Glaem.]

It has not been so very long since many of us found our memories plucked from our minds and given to the public. Perhaps it is not so for some of you, but for me, it is rather unheard of.

[A pause] I wonder: do any of you know why this happened -- and why it happened to some but not to others? I was otherwise occupied during much of that time and, if it was said, I missed it.

[[This also serves as an open ACTION post: Aubri has taken up residence, for a good part of the day, on a patio at the Station. He has laid claim to a nice, warm sunbeam. For the price of good company, he'll share it.]]

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[Once he saw this message, it didn't take Javik long to figure out where Aubri was to come and join him. While he was aware of the conflict that had just happened, he'd kept himself as distant from it as possible. That was getting harder to do, he knew now, when the people he spent time with around here were involved. He gave the gryphon his space, letting him have his patch of sun while he stood a yard or so away.]

You look... better. [He cleared his throat awkwardly - pleasantries and the like weren't his strong suit, so he plowed on.] I believe our memories were broadcast because we kept a star. A punishment, maybe, for not returning them.

[His tail is lashing absentmindedly as Aubri rolls his gaze toward Javik. He's thoroughly enjoying his sunbeam, thank you.]

I can't look much worse. [No, seriously. He knows how horrible he looked at the time.] I have heard rumor that only those who kept a star had a memory shared.

[He could have it - Javik stayed where he was, clasping his hands behind his back. Though there didn't seem to be any enmity between them, it was still 'his' faction that had done this to the gryphon.]

It is the only correlation I have seen, though I have not asked quite so many people. You said it was unheard of where you are from - did the broadcasts trouble you?

[As far as Aubri is concerned, this was not strictly Seelie vs. Unseelie. The factions, of course, play into the politics of the whole thing, but so do many other things.]

They did. What is in my memory should remain there and, if it is to be shared, it should be on my terms or not at all.

Then you share that opinion with many of the other species I have known. Sharing memory and experience was common among my people, and allowed us not only a better understanding of each other, but the ability to quickly learn new ideas and concepts. How any species makes it as far as they do without that connection, I do not know.

[He'd had time to get used to the culture shock back home. At least now he was better about going around and grabbing someone to read their memories.]

[Aubri hums quietly, tail flopping about as he thinks over that particular comment. He'd never thought of it that way but it makes sense. After all, they use Mindspeech in White Gryphon to remain in communication and is a simpler form of the same, he thinks.]

It's that it was done without my consent that bothers me.

[Javik shrugged. That was a valid complaint, he supposed. Just because they could share everything didn't mean they always did as much.]

Whom do we blame, then? Ourselves, for keeping the stars?

Perhaps. [Aubri lifts his wings, lets them fall slightly.] Perhaps no one. Was it a natural consequence to our actions or something a little more meaningful?

I doubt it was very meaningful, though I only say that because the broadcast did not distress me. There were worse memories the star could have chosen. If it was meant to teach us a lesson, I do not think we learned it.

I have worse memories myself. I am not sure what we are supposed to take away from this, but I do not think it was meaningless.

Then tell me what you believe to be the purpose of those broadcasts. [Normally he didn't care much for what other people thought, but... Aubri was a unique species. He was curious.]

That, I have not figured out yet. [Aubri huffs a sigh.] I feel that it might have less to do with the rulers of this world and more to do with the stars themselves.

[Fair enough - he hadn't spent a lot of time agonizing over it himself. If he thought too hard about how things worked here, it just made him mad, anyways.]

I have never seen a star so small it could fit in the palm of your hand, but you might be right. Even if they are quiet now, they may do it again in the future.

Nor have I. [A pause, as Aubri considers his words next.] I do not believe that this -- whatever it is -- is over.

Certainly not. [Javik shook his head. He'd been here close to six months now, and like back home, one thing just lead to another. It was just as awful a waiting game here, too.] Perhaps you will get a better answer from someone else. I will leave you to your... research.