caughtinanetwork | 1 ♐ Voice ♐ A brief check up

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1 ♐ Voice ♐ A brief check up

[Wow, Darkleer is actually communicating with the network on a whole for once instead of being a miserable hermit. Must be a special occasion. Does anyone know his wiggling day?]

Now then. Have we all cleansed ourselves of the mess and done whatever strange death rituals foreign species feel the need to do?

[Okay, maybe it is just Darkleer being a coldhearted dick. Eh.]

I believe we should focus on the more important matter here. I have seen discussions scattered throughout the network, but it would be best to have all our thoughts and speculations focused in one place on both the destruction of those so-called faeries and on the recent appearance of that Carol individual.

For those of you who are oblivious and prone to missing the obvious, things are changing in this place. It would be best to be prepared.

[Don't be fooled, he's not doing this to be nice. He's doing what any troll knows to do: looking out for himself and the few he cares about. If that means even faintly working with others, well, he'll learn to deal.]

[Also, that's all the network is getting from him. Click goes the camera!]

[Filtered to Summoner]

[Darkleer hesitates before sending this one out, although his voice is just as stoic and stern as ever.]

Since your children in particular seem to be taking this badly, perhaps it would benefit you to know that those things which followed us were nothing more than mere robots. The technology may have been organic in nature, but it was still nothing truly living. No pain, no loss of life.

That's all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A good couple of hours pass, Summoner never sleeps long, and he slowly starts to wake up. Something... strange happened. This is actually the second time it's occurred, and now it's no longer a coincidence. Darkleer has been here both times, both times Summoner had not stirred in his sleep, didn't wake up abruptly covered in cold sweat, or crying, or screaming desperately wanting to help someone who was only an illusion made in his slumber. Two times now, and Summoner's mind doesn't take long to realize this, especially with Darkleer right there.]

[The General sighs, eyes slowly opening, his ears flick and he finds himself staring at the ceiling before slowly sitting up. Wings bent up a little, practically pasted to his back, they flick out, opening up slowly and stretching behind him. A long yawn, dipping his head down before he looks over to Darkleer. Eyebrows steeple as he stares, slowly realizing that he... he didn't dream at all last night.]

[Nothing.]

Have-

[He starts, realizing this is the second time in so many sweeps that he slept this well.]

Have you been here... the whole time?

[His expression is almost scared, just staring in Darkleer's direction, puzzled, terrified, surprised, he can pinpoint how he feels yet, if he should be all right with this. If Darkleer was even the cause of this. If he should feel bad because not dreaming is like not remembering in a way.]

[As Summoner begins to wake, moving and stretching in his bed, Darkleer places back his bookmark in its proper place and slowly closes the book. Just like always, his stare is calm and collected with those glasses in the way.]

[The answer to Summoner's question is a nod.]

How did you sleep?

[His wings are doing this buzzing thing now, waking up. They're always numb after he sleeps on them.]

...Good...

That's good to know.

[Putting the book away in his sylladex, Darkleer stretches as well. He's only gotten up once, putting away the meal he made for the other. His neck is a bit sore, and he rolls it about a bit to get rid of the ache.]

Are you still hungry?

No.

You- You don't understand.

That's the first time, no, the, the second time I've slept good in sweeps. [He stares, looking rather concerned.]

Normally I- [Stops.] Normally I don't.

I could surmise as much.

[Still just staring, still calm.]

You weren't drugged, if that is your concern. There was nothing in the thermos besides tea.

Explain.

Explain what?

Uh...

Just.

How!?

Why? Does it have something to do with-with with you?

[He answers the questions in order.]

I don't know, I also don't know, and... yes. I believe so.

[Glancing away, Darkleer shrugs slightly.]

People simply rest easier in my presence. That is all.

[Just going to stare at you with a really confused and weary expression now.]

[After a moment, Darkleer glances back.]

...I do not do it on purpose. It has simply always happened.

[He's not sure why he feels the need to apologize now. Not that he is apologizing. He's simply... explaining.]

You, you don't have to apologize... I.

[Should he be happy? It only happens when Darkleer's there, so, he's going to just have to get used to his dreams again, won't he? But sleeping as he did last night was still good, he needed the rest, so.]

Thank you. Even if you- you didn't choose to do it.

I'm not apologizing, you simply... stated you did not like to sleep. You didn't expect this.

[Again, he looks away and finally gets up onto his feet.]

That is all.

...You're welcome.

No.

I like sleeping! I, used to.

[...]

That used to be all I w-wanted to do.

I just, now I don't really enjoy... w-what sleeping brings. I don't get dreams like I used to anymore.

...I see.

[Lightly, he reaches over to settle his hand on Summoner's shoulder.]

I can't give you those back.

Hm.

[He looks down, glancing at Darkleer's hand for a moment.]

Eh. Y-you have to grow out of a lot of things. Apparently that was- was one of them for me. No one is asking you- you to do anything for me concerning them, or anything. [He shoves out a small laugh.]

I'm just a perverted lowblood rebel, remember?

And some other things besides, not all of them necessarily so crude.

[Sighing, Darkleer pulls away.]

Still hungry?

We're all many things, Tink.

Hm?

[He pauses, a hand moving to lace over his stomach momentarily.]

No, not really, but uh... I should um, probably eat something, shouldn't I?

You probably should.

[It's a mild agreement, and Darkleer walks off to retrieve the meal he made- nothing impressive, really just a kind of sandwich, only instead of bread, two very large mushroom caps have been used instead, and a variety of vegetables take up the space of any meat. He holds it out to the Cavalreaper wordlessly.]

[He stares at it for a moment before taking it, crossing his legs.]

So I'm going to say... I w-was right to assume earlier, uh, when we were talking about my preferences. You don't eat meat either then?

[He's looking over the sandwich, rather pleased with it before even taking a bite.]

Correct.

[A pause, and then Darkleer takes his seat again at the foot of the bed, elbows resting on his knees.]

It can be troublesome in terms of practicality, but I would not change to anything else.

Hmm, I'll agree, sometimes I wouldn't eat for a while because of it, y-you know, when rations were really low. Down times during the war.

[He leans back, taking a bite, chewing and swallowing before speaking again.]

Still eat fish and insects though, cracked after a while, plus they ...think different, it's easier to justify. But I think if times were- were easier, I wouldn't eat them either?

Times are easier here, so I imagine that will be of no problem.

[It certainly hasn't been for Darkleer and Equius.]

Heh, no problem. Did take yo- you for a jester too, Tink. [A distant smile before going back to eating.]

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