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[beshackled]

[It's that fellow with the glowing red eyes again. And this time, he looks... tentatively happy? Quite the reverse of some of the general sentiments being posted in the most recent of days.]

Greetings. Pray forgive my neglect of checking these devices as of late. I ought to have checked more frequently... but, I confess, I became so absorbed in assisting with the matter of housing that I did little else this past moon.

On that subject, I am pleased to say that a number of small houses have been completed. Those we brought back from the desert worked hard on them, so I am sure they shall be pleased to see them put to use.

Ah... on another subject, I have yet to check over much of what I have missed, but did anyone else have an unrelated transmission involving mysteriously-appearing tattoos come up when they activated their charm?

Comments

[beshackled]

Mayhap so... the people who attacked us in the desert also bore marks. Yet I have naught to compare them to...

[He briefly sinks into his thoughts.]

Mayhap I can make a drawing of what I remember. Imbuing my memory of the event into a crystal would have been preferable, were it not for the impermanent nature of our magicks here... but a sketch may serve well enough...

[Breaking out of his rumination, Erichthonios lifts his head.]

What do you remember of the event of moons ago?

[emet_sulk]

[ He shrugs. ]

'Twasn't very remarkable. A hooded priest offered great power in exchange for aligning myself to his cause. I was marked with a familiar image on my skin and given new abilities. Unfortunately I was stopped by a man wielding Light before I could contribute anything meaningful.

[beshackled]

['Tis a revelation surprising to Erichthonios. Were is not for his foreknowledge of their enervation, he would be inclined towards disbelief.

That a mage of Emet-Selch's caliber would need to seek out a power such as that... and furthermore, that skills beyond what he could do were granted to him, is at once perplexing, concerning, and... a source of curiosity. A mystery begging to be unraveled.]

What manner of cause did he hold so dear, to recruit strangers in a place so untrusting?

[emet_sulk]

I don't know. Quite frankly, I didn't care to know at the time.

[ Etheirys being more his concern than this one. ]

Mayhap he believed that, being criminals, we would have unscrupulous natures. He wasn't entirely wrong.

[beshackled]

...Mayhap so...

[He cannot help but feel trepidation at the thought. He has had more than his fair share of seeing colleagues gone mad and bearing new powers.]

Are there no lingering effects? You would tell us if you aught were amiss, would you not?

[emet_sulk]

[ What is this uncomfortable feeling in his chest when Erichthonios expresses concern for him? ]

No. Even if there were, what would you be able to do about it? You are not a healer.

[beshackled]

...You are correct in that I am not a healer by occupation. Still, I am capable of some small manner of healing magicks... and should these... new abilities of yours come with unpleasant side effects, that which we learned in Pandaemonium could be of help in removing any detrimental influences from you, much as we did for Hegemone.

[Although that... had been under less than ideal circumstances, with the keyward very much disinclined to accept help. He hopes it will not be the same with Emet-Selch.]

You need not suffer your burdens alone.

[emet_sulk]

[ What could Erichthonios possibly know of his burdens? Emet-Selch's lips press into a thin line. ]

I shall keep that in mind. More to the point, these dwellings... Who are they for?

[beshackled]

I believe their intent was to repay the kindness of those who assisted in the desert.

...Would you like to see one? I admit, they pale in comparison to the dwellings of Amaurot, but those who contributed to their construction worked hard on them.

[emet_sulk]

Fine. I suppose if they are intended to be our accommodation for the foreseeable future, I may as well take a look.

[beshackled]

I shall be happy to show them to you.

[That said, he imparts to the other the area of the town in which the buildings have been constructed.]

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch's image vanishes. Presumably he is heading out to meet Erichthonios. Indeed, a short time later the Ancient will see him stepping out of a black rift near the construction site.

Emet-Selch casts his gaze around until he locates the other man and then strides purposefully over. ]

Impressive progress.

[beshackled]

I am sure they shall be glad to hear of your approval. Considering the laborious method of their construction, it did take some time to construct them... and they are on the simple side. However, they appear solid enough to make additions to, should one desire it.

[He procures a key from his robe.]

...They use these to secure them. Odd little things, are they not?

[emet_sulk]

Those are called 'keys'. They are commonplace now. Since mortals succumb to greed far too easily, one must needs protect one's property.

[ These houses are...surprisingly generous living quarters, he thinks. For people who are supposedly prisoners. Well, one must have a cell to live in, he supposes. ]

How do they plan to allot these to the Chosen?

[beshackled]

[Their greed... drives them to take from each other? 'Tis said that a modicum of avarice is a sign of sentience, but to simply barge into another's rooms and take is... contrary to Erichthonios' own impulses. Such is why he had not picked up anything in the desert; nothing there belonged to him.]

I know not the finer details... but I believe these smaller quarters are to be assigned freely. There was some talk about potential additions... which is why they are spaced the way they are.

[Room to grow, as it were.]

[emet_sulk]

How generous...

[ Generous indeed. The sort of charity his people would never think twice about. All had a home. None were left to squalour. He should be pleased yet it feels so...foreign now. ]

I suppose I shall look forward to being allocated my own then.

[beshackled]

[Erichthonios glances down to the key, sinking once more into thought. If all the abodes are the same, does it matter aught which he is assigned? If not, then why not this one?

Looking up again, he offers a meek smile, proffering the key.]

If it is to your liking... I can inform them come the morning.

[emet_sulk]

[ He stares at the proferred key. Then at Erichthonios. ]

But this is your dwelling.

[beshackled]

...Ah. W-well, you see...

[Rapidly becoming self-conscious, Erichthonios shifts his weight, fingers reflexively closing over the key.]

I... asked Themis... Elidibus, that is... not long ago if we might live together. And he agreed, so... we would only need the one.

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch's stare must surely be discomfiting at this point. But ultimately he closes his eyes and sighs quietly, holding his hand out for the key. ]

I didn't know you and he were so close.

[beshackled]

[Emet-Selch certainly does have a piercing way about him, one that only seems to accentuate Erichthonios' natural shyness... if not so badly as the gaze of his father does.]

We met in Pandaemonium. We... had some time to get to know each other a little.

[Fingers uncurling, Erichthonios hands over the key.]

[emet_sulk]

'A little'.

[ He tucks the key somewhere secure, once again eyeing Erichthonios. ]

A man doesn't move into another's abode unless they know each other more than 'a little'. There is no need to be ashamed of it, boy.

[beshackled]

[At first, Erichthonios can only stare in open-mouthed shock at the sheer audacity of the statement. If Emet-Selch's plan was to throw him off-guard, said plan is a resounding success.

Color soon follows; a flush so deep and so bold that it makes its mark upon his cheeks.]

...I-I-- I did not wish to make such bold suppositions about our... our...

[Oh no. What was the word? He cannot think of it! Oh, to draw a blank at the most inopportune of moments!]

[emet_sulk]

Relationship?

[ He sighs. Then again, it isn't like he can judge. He has yet to acknowledge his feelings for Hythlodaeus - he has yet to acknowledge he is even Emet-Selch to his friend. But he will, in the maze later. ]

Mayhap you should ask him then.

[beshackled]

[Erichthonios' cheeks burn all the brighter with the utterance of the word. Of course a relationship can be any sort of relationship. Friendship, familial...

But, he cannot deny that small feeling of longing, ever-present in his breast. He is, in some ways, his father's son.]

M-mayhap...

[He clears his throat, rallying his composure... or at least making a thorough attempt at it.]

Shall we go in? It will not take long to show you around.

['Tis a small abode, after all.]