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Post by Lorelei on Oct 23, 2022 18:21:45 GMT
Lorelei covers her ears and gives Cody the nod to proceed.
With Cody's 'Psychic Shouts' there are two distinct yet overlapping... well, responses may not be quite the right word. The 'sound' echoes back staggered and distorted as if he had yelled inside a massive cavern accessed through many branching and twisting tunnels. The 'sight' is more like lightning flashes in a fog bank, each flash a fragment of memory or perhaps the residue of dreams, slowly dimming... Getting a reply on the first attempt is perhaps asking too much. There is no calling back to him, but that could simply mean that his mother is not currently dreaming... or is in a different section of the Abyss, too far away to hear...
Lorelei points to one of the illuminated patches asking, "What is that?" When Cody turns to look, it is as if his attention to it makes it more real, sharper, clearer... .
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 23, 2022 21:16:54 GMT
Of course Cody didn't expect any response on his first try. He didn't even know that he could shout psychically. Then again, this could all be a dream, as lucid as it all seemed.
He sure hopes that he didn't upset the Kraken by making so much ~noise~.
The remarkable things he's seen and done since leaving Station...
tragic miracle/miraculous tragedy
How do gauge these things?
Cody is snapped out of his momentary reverie and turns to look where the young girl is pointing.
An image comes into focus.
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Post by Lorelei on Oct 23, 2022 22:13:18 GMT
As Cody's eyes first fall upon the glowing vista, it resembles a photograph... flat with an explosion of color. As he continues to look it takes on a 3-D quality and starts to move, speeding up to real-time. It takes a moment to realize he is seeing the reflection of himself and his mother in the canopy of a ship in the Flux. His mother is saying something but the sound is muffled. The words becomes more distinct as he continues to focus on the scene... a scene he is part of... .
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 24, 2022 14:12:16 GMT
Cody is stunned to see the apparition of M-unit and his younger self. Uncertain of whether this is a dream within a dream, or a memory. He steps towards the vision as it sharpens and takes form. Silently, he lets the vignette play...
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Post by Lorelei on Oct 24, 2022 14:38:27 GMT
Cody remembers several occasions where he had been allowed to co-pilot one of the larger ships with his mother. This trip was different. While she still had nerves of steel, this was the one time he had witnessed his mother's happy veneer slip - this was the day the Flux broke under them and the Black Road appeared. Her words were still muffled but becoming clearer. What was she saying? What came next? .
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 24, 2022 15:03:36 GMT
M-Unit said something strange, "This is not of this Shadow." But she didn't elaborate.
Cody wouldn't learn about ~Shadow~ until several weeks later.
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Post by Lorelei on Oct 24, 2022 15:24:18 GMT
Lorelei asks, "What is happening? I have never seen a place like this before... or this kind of event..." Was she asking about where they are or about what they are seeing?
Cody has the feeling that he could slip into his younger self for full immersion if he wanted... but could he change anything if he did? .
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 24, 2022 18:07:51 GMT
<OOC> Too many red flags on causing a Temporal Paradox here. </OOC>
Cody looks at Lorelei and wonders, "I don't know how this event is appearing before us, but it's a memory of mine." He feels the urge to step back inside his former self.
Would he forget everything that he has lived before that point in time?
Would he remember?
Could he talk M-unit into ignoring the scar across the Flux?
Beg her not to go...
Feeling pulled in two directions, Cody is lost in thought. Looking into his M-unit's eyes he sees her fear and the fierce determination. He knows that no matter how hard he could try, there would be no way to change her mind or their fate.
Looking again at Lorelei, "The place is beyond outer space in the Flux where I first saw the ~Black Road~."
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Post by Lorelei on Oct 25, 2022 6:11:41 GMT
"Tapping your internal power, you called for your mother in place where existence is fragile," Lorelei speculates. "This scene is a moment of intense connection between the two of you. I think each of these motes will be a different instance following that theme, but we won't know until a few more are checked... assuming they last long enough..."
Smiling she adds, "While we make our way to the next one, perhaps you can tell me a bit more about this Flux place..." .
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 25, 2022 14:10:51 GMT
"The Flux. I guess it's like moving through Shadow but you have to do it in a type of flying machine. The Flux is like finding the shortest path and the highest speed to take you to a place that you want to go. You can travel to different worlds that are infinitely far apart. I could explain it all in more detail, but it will take much longer."
Cody and Lorelei regard the next mote as is comes into view.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 28, 2022 1:13:32 GMT
The next memory unfolds: A much younger Cody appears wearing full fencing gear. Epee in hand.
"Ow! Why are we doing this?" Cody whines as he rubs his chest over his heart. There's a buzzer indicating the fatal thrust he just received.
"It's called exercise. It's good for you." His mother says as she lowers her epee. "Come on, little Rat. You keep dropping your guard. You're not paying attention."
"You call this exercise: I call it abuse. Why can't I just use the neuro-phys-stim VR like a normal person?"
"Because real life gives you bumps and bruises outside of your safe little cocoon. If you don't know what real pain is, you won't gain the kind of reflexes and resilience you need to survive in a hostile environment. You need to have every nerve aware. Now, pick up your weapon and reguard your foe."
Cody stood en guard. Without waiting for the salute he set into a fast attack. A thrust, tuck, roll, turn and slash that caught the back of his mother's thigh. She spun around and caught Cody with a slash of her own before he could recover.
In pain and frustration, Cody doubled down on his attacks. Hacking, slashing and thrusting with his epee. Eventually exhausting himself in a futile effort to best his M-unit.
"It's not fair, you're twice my size.
"Oh, my darling baby boy. Life is not fair. So you have to learn to beat it into submission." She said as she pulled him into her arms and held him tightly. "Be thankful one of my brothers isn't giving you these lessons. They'd use a Saber and leave you in a pool of your own blood for the maids to clean up."
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Post by Lorelei on Oct 29, 2022 10:10:52 GMT
Lorelei watches the fencing intently. When young Cody is being consoled by his mother, Lorelei says, "She was right, you were letting your guard down."
With the slow grace that can only be learned from a lifetime underwater, she moves to a position parallel to where his mother had been standing. Extending her arm into an en guard position, motes of light coalesce in her hand into a long, thin blade that has the visual properties of Grayswandir or Werewindle as seen in the trumps. With a slight flexing of her wrist, the point of the blade traces a representation of the Pattern in the air... a pattern of Pattern by position only...
There is a cutlass stuck in a drifting bit of wooden railing nearby.
"Shall we?" .
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 29, 2022 18:11:25 GMT
Cody winces at the idea of dueling with this little girl. He's sure that she has the skill to match or even beat him. So it's not a fear of hurting a child, but just a general distaste for sparring for sport.
"I was younger and smaller then than you are now. Assuming you're appearance is a representation of your actual self and that you are not actually an old hag in disguise." Cody gives a teasing wink.
Cody glances at the cutlass and Lorelei's weapon noting the differences between the walkaday quality of the one versus the obvious quality of the other.
"Not my usual choice of weapon these days. But I suppose it will have to do. Cody takes up the Saber and matches Lorelei's stance.
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Post by Lorelei on Oct 31, 2022 8:52:57 GMT
Lorelei notices the wince and seems saddened about it. The teasing comment gets a raised eyebrow in response.
"Being a royal has both privileges and responsibilities... I couldn't normally do this with just anyone," she says.
"Couldn't you alter... no, your mind opened these visions; the blade came from elsewhere... unless..." Lorelei begins to circle Cody, the elegance of her movement, that slow grace, being almost mesmerizing. .
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 31, 2022 14:25:33 GMT
Cody takes a defensive stance, waiting for Lorelei to make the first move.
"I don't know what any of this has to do with Royal Blood. Or why you are compelled to duel me because of it."
Cody admires the young girl's graceful movements while he stands pat.
Cody lowers his blade, "Unless what?"
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