alternativewriting | Passages Inn OTA

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passages inn

Passages Inn OTA

There are Inns out there that exist between worlds and dimensions. They show up just when you need a place to stay, your car having stalled out a mile away or the unexpected rainstorm suddenly starts dropping torrents of water. Or sometimes you’re wandering around the streets in a city and need a place to stay and you spot the door to this Inn which looks friendly and inviting. Going in, things are just a bit off. The patrons are perhaps not quite human; the man behind the desk smiles a bit oddly. However he tells you that you’re in luck. There’s just one room left and you can have it.

But, when you leave the next morning and turn around to see what it’s called, the inn is gone. When you ask people about it, they look at you funny as if they have no idea what you’re talking about. There was never an inn there, they tell you.

And yet you may still have the key in your pocket, the leftover from dinner, a note from a girl you spoke to, just some little token that says well, maybe you’re not completely crazy.

The Passages Inn is one of those Inns.

Built in the middle of an interdimensional nexus it can reach any time or place or space. You just need to find the door and you can come in. If you’re lucky you can find the door again.

Just remember, first Tuesdays are Viking Night and second Thursdays are Poetry Slam.

The proprietor of the Inn is Alec Troven

element_wizard All questions and concerns may be addressed to him.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A pity. Still, at least Simon can relax about being exposed as a great big fucking softy. He will definitely, however, describe them when he discusses this little adventure with Phoenix and Vahl.

“Ours more than most, so I’m told.” He's aware of Vahl's history, intimately. The walking paradox who took the kind of liberties with the timeline that Phoenix regularly takes with the palace staff.

It takes a second or two for Simon to remember Phoenix mentioning Alec's cat allergy. This solves any mystery of why Alec wouldn't want the animal present. Simon can tell the dead from the living whether its obvious to a mortal or not, and he's mildly surprised that someone might be allergic to a ghost.

“New York,” he corrects, pleasantly enough. “I imagine you must be aware that I didn't follow his - your - suggestions”

Direction, instruction, command. Whatever. Simon had told Phoenix about it, but not with any motives to drive a wedge between the angel and the older Troven. It had simply been part of a conversation. Although Phoenix had cringed at the information.

“I continued the affair with Phoenix, until we realised we were in far too deeply to ever get out. It's always been my hope that your older self will at least understand, I’d never do anything to harm him. Though I make no attempt to deny that's what I had in mind when I set out.”

Better not. Phoenix will demand some. And they can, as can be told by Alec's missing sock, be destructive little buggers. Vahl would not approve. A second porg, this one with orange markings, comes waddling by with a blue handkerchief in his mouth. He gives Simon the side-eye and a muffled "Grrrr". He's met with croons from the female and sets about adding his finding to the nest.

Alec's completely wiped out/rewritten entire realities, not just timelines. Complete swaths of his history no longer exist/have never existed except in his memories. So, timelines are optional.

As for cat allergies... Alec is an entity of chaos and things from beyond. He is allergic to "cats". In any shape or form. Living or dead. The Core Concept of Cat. Very annoying. Half the reason why Spook - the cat - hangs around.

There's a brief tilt of Alec's head and loss of focus as if he's either listening for something or trying to remember it. When his focus returns, he says "He is aware that you did not listen. Yes."

He gives a shrug. "But you don't have to worry. He's not been doing much existing lately."

From what Simon picks up today, and as he's noticed the next one waddling around with another stolen item; Phoenix will be denied porgs. His Alphas will declare it a hard rule. He's already filled the palace with cats, and the edion all have pets, and then there are the anori and Familiars. There are all sorts of cuddly creatures lying about the place and, like pouring the tea, someone needs to say 'when'. This won't stop Phoenix popping in to see Alec though.

"Ahh." As he was back then, that statement would have confused Gruber, but he's quick to allow that his alts might have gotten the hell out of dodge. Either deeming it too much hassle, or being craven cowards... or having been turned into teapots there and then, and not having the choice of listening or not listening.

Not a comfortable thought. This particular reality has turned out quite nicely after all. Thus far. Simon has the intelligence not to disregard Troven's whims, despite the power backing him.

"Phoenix will be sorry to hear that," Simon offers, not quite knowing how else to respond. But then, perhaps the Older one will consider existing for the angel, for a short while.

"To continue?" he checks politely, before he does continue. "Vahl and Phoenix lived with your younger version in the river-house, for a couple of centuries. I knew they were very happy. Vahlmir and I became close friends, but I respected the pack and came nowhere near the house. He always told me he knew it wouldn't last. When it did happen, it was gradual, with no bitterness. That's not to say that Vahl didn't miss you quite terribly."

He's usually more careful when it comes to offering up information on Vahlmir's personal emotions. But he knows Vahl did very occasionally see a little of Alec afterwards, for a time, and they had both been honest and open with how they were mending.

Alec would love nothing more than to get rid of the porgs at the Inn, however they somehow keep on finding their way back and the little kids that visit love them. That's how they all ended up with pretty bows around their necks. And no, it won't stop Phoenix from stopping by for his porg fix. The porgs seem to be happy with their stolen goods and little porglets who are chirruping sleepily. Though Simon may have stumbled upon the best Alec deterrent device: Cats. He will avoid a place with cats like the plague.

This Simon has nothing to worry about. So that's all he needs to worry about. Or that version of Alec had been... scarier/more threatening. Who knows.

Another shrug. "Eh. He'll find his way back into reality eventually. We always do. Phoenix shouldn't worry about it. Time doesn't exist... ŏ͓̩̮͂̔͟͞v͇͋ë͈̖͈̱̎̒͑r͚͘t̹͛h̬̊ȅ͓̣̺͈͕̄͊͐͝r̨͔̲͖̆͗̂̂͘͢e̜͛" He coughs and makes a brief face, speaking like that wasn't easy while human. Vaguely he waived off somewhere else.

Instead he listens politely, fingers twiddling with a coin from somewhere, like a fidget spinner. It's always interesting to hear what's been going on with other hims. Especially from other people's point of view. Ego. Yes, he has one. A couple of centuries. Sounds about right. Alec nodded.

Then he got a mischievous grin on his face. Kind of disturbing with the dead eye. "And then you took my place?"

Alec has insisted over the many, many years that he's funny. This is debatable. Highly debatable.

Edited 2020-12-09 20:24 (UTC)

Alec should open a pet shop. There must be money in porgs. It is Simon who thinks of this, ~~not his mun, honest.~~

Phoenix has explained, and Simon has grasped - as much as he can - about the way Alec functions. He accepts the vague wave as being what Phoenix refers to as 'an Alec thing'.

He's more engaged with the accusation of becoming ...a pack Omega.

“In a manner of speaking.” Well, it's true he did take the vacant place in the pack. “Albeit at a slightly different rank.” It's clear Alec is joking, but at the same time, yes, Alec. That is a touch disturbing.

“You know of course, of the ge'yori bitch. Of whom Vahl was unfortunate enough to be called 'twin'?”

He dislikes Versha's memory and everything about her. He even detests speaking her name. Most Keldrans refer to Versha and Solus as ge'yori. It's a swear-word, though even keldran children are permitted to use it. It means not-god, fake, plastic idol and the like.

Batuu. Porgs are available for purchase at Black Spire Outpost on Batuu from the Creature Shop. At a very reasonable price and they even come with their own carrier. Alec has enough problems running an Inn, he doesn't need to worry about selling pets.

Alec is Alec and there's none like him, which is a good thing for everyone.

And that is the entire reason why Alec said it. There was going to be some more needling, but he pushes off it for now at the mention of Vahl's sister.

"Versha? Sure. Kind of hard to forget her." The coin flicks between his fingers a few times. "A version of her showed up at the Inn a short while back. She had no idea who I was. I never showed up in her reality. Not a crazy version of her either. She and her Vahl had a normal sibling relationship, which was weird to hear but that's not what you're talking about."

Alec doesn't dislike her. He feels sorry for her having gotten the shit end of the stick. But even after all she did to Phoenix, to Vahl, to everyone else including him, he can't find it in himself to hate or dislike her. Because he knows someone else was pulling the strings and he knows the issues of being a puppet.

Needling is both anticipated and expected. It's what he knows of Alec through Phoenix, and simon has little reason to expect the chaos embodiment to become a bosom buddy. All Gruber attempts to achieve is a civility for the sake of the angel they both love, and assumes they can at least agree that his happiness is worth more than a bruised ego.

He takes another sip of his beer. It's extremely good. Not too sickly sweet, with a nutty aftertaste.

“Is that so?” He's fascinated to hear that some decent version of the ice goddess has at least been sighted. And slightly more pleased for Vahl's sake than hers, that they have a healthy relationship.

“The only real relevance is this. Vahl and I became a lot closer, and occasionally spoke of his twin. We spoke also about the nature of twins, the regrets he had that it wasn't someone more worthy. When the time came that he told me I would be worthy, that I was the twin he'd long wished he could have. We then realised our friendship had become something more. And so, eventually, I became part of the pack as Ba'Kareh, second Alpha in command...Which made Phoenix pout and make threats for us to kindly not refer to him as 'little Omega'.”

A century or so ago in Simon's timeline, he actually went back in time, to the point just before Versha was killed in the Hell War. He'd dragged her, immobilised and in agony, to Vahl, as an engagement gift. It took The Nightmare months to kill her, a revenge he eked out to the very last drop.

Which is hardly Simon's fault, if he too is a puppet. The poor bastard has two string-pullers who are terrible, terrible people; who make him do the most appalling things whilst screeching at each other in capslock. Though he did retrieve Versha's unborn child, who originally died in its birthsphere at the same time; taking her into the future for Ylaia to raise. So there's that.

He's looking for Alec's reaction as he speaks, expecting some smart comment or another, eventually saying, “As 'Keldran friends', we'd already moved past the discomfort of wearing the same face. Any concern over whether or not we were a pair of narcissists, was short-lived. In fact, it's been somewhat difficult to prise Phoenix and Lex apart lately, so it's done the pair of them some good.”

Edited 2020-12-09 22:10 (UTC)

Reality is strange. Shit happens. Everything and anything is possible. Etc. Etc. That's all there is to it. Right now Alec is more curious as to what's been going on than to fully needle. At least he's not his elder self who would be beyond needling and going full on hedgehog.

At the bit about being worthy, Alec gives a hard snort. "That is such a Vahl thing to say," he says fondly. Mostly. It is a Vahl thing to say.

There is, of course, the whole 'there's they family you're born with and the family you choose' thing. Which Alec happily believes in. Some people are just better without their blood relatives. But declaring 'you are worthy' reminds Alec of some being from on high saying this through thundering clouds to some poor kid who pulled out a sword or saved a white stag's life. Which, again, is Very Vahl. It also reminds Alec a bit of the whole Oprah thing doing "You get a new car! And you get a new car!" but instead "you're worthy! And you're worthy!"

Having been on the receiving end of 'little omega' enough times Alec just twitches a smile and is not at all sympathetic at Phoenix's predicament. Especially at his current age he would still get a few 'little omega's.

Alec does start at the mention of Simon and Vahl sharing the same face and he squints a bit almost as if he need glasses. The visual/physical spectrum makes up a small part of how Alec sees and interacts with the reality. It's one of the reasons why he can be allergic to cats that are dead. To him, Vahl and Simon look nothing alike beyond the superficial. "Oh. That's right. You two do look alike. I forgot."

No comment on Phoenix and Lex, because again, they don't look alike to him. Or the narcissism. He thinks about all this for a moment. "So you're now Vahl's twin? Took over Versha's place?"

It is a very Vahl thing to say, and Simon realises that the inclusion of the word 'worthy' in his summary of events, was perhaps a little inaccurate. Though Vahlmir did actually use the word at some point. So.

It was said with love though. But Simon isn't about to turn all dreamy-eyed and sappy by pointing it out.

Phoenix would fold his arms and hmph at Alec. He's Beta, gods-damn you all.

"I didn't take her place as such, but I was adopted by the kayori then, and am now emblazoned on most sets of the keldran oracle decks alongside Vahlmir... zhe pair of us as the official twins card."

There is more to tell, and he will, but what sparks Simon's interest for the moment, is Alec’s reaction to and his ruling on, Simon's likeness to Vahlmir. Well now. Here's another creature who perceives without the use of his eyes. Alec's problem eye was of course noticed, but the other one, Simon has assumed, is perfectly good.

“You know, when I was first introduced to the Edion, they couldn't see me. They thought I was literally a ghost, which terrified them. Chimaera was instantly ready to slay me.” Thanks to Kuvahli's gift, Simon enjoys a safe haven in his own mind.

He elaborates, “It was part of my immortality package, that I received impenetrable psychic blocks. A useful ability around Vahlmir.” At first, Simon had distrusted Vahl and was furious that the god had read his mind without his consent. Later of course and now, he trusts the kayori completely, but still. It's entertaining to be able to frustrate his soul-twin. And useful at times.

“It turned out that the edion perceive mostly through empathy... is that the case with you?”

It is a very Vahl thing to say. Out of love, out of ... whatever. He's just that sort of person. No one will be able to convince Alec otherwise.

Phoenix's ranking in the pack - especially that particular grouping - is out of Alec's control and he will not comment on it, beyond find it hilarious. He will always be Beta in Alec's heart. And smoshy wooshy Etc. Etc.

"You know, I never managed to get my hand on those decks. I'm afraid to see if I'm in that deck and as what card," Alec said because he's morbidly curious but not willing to open that box. If Simon wants to tell him, that's fine. But he's not going to go looking.

Currently, the left eye is currently dead~ish. He sees a large grey swirling pea soup landscape. Thingy. But even with before, as a mortal, he had more than five senses. Seven - Empathy and his elemental senses. Now, sight is just such a minor part of how he "sees" the world.

Being someone who is also somewhat immune to Vahl's probings mostly because of being in his head without permission is a Bad Thing for anyone. "Most people don't go poking in my head because they don't come back out with their sanity intact." Vicious grin here. Does he enjoy that? Yes. Yes he does. "And no... I mean, I am an empath but that's not it."

He reaches out and starts sketching out in the air, drawing two sets of multicolored lines. One is very long, thick and entwined, the other much thinner, shorter and less colorful. "I usually see people's connections in reality in addition to the visual realm. That's just a small part of it." Gesturing to the lines he points to the thick one. "That one what I'd see around Vahl." To the second one, he says, "That's you. There are similar colors; yeah. But there's no way you'd confuse one for the other. And you have two different... cores."

He stares up into the sky trying to think of how to explain it. "Everyone has their alternates, right? But there's something about a person that lets you know they're... them. Like with me and the Fool. There certain traits that follow through between him and me that let you know we're alternates of each other and not look a likes. We feel similar," he said. "You and Vahl don't feel similar in that aspect."

“There's no cause for concern,” Simon tells him. “There's one with you as you were when Phoenix was young, and you were bonded. There’s another of your older version. He's in group that represents the most powerful of the cosmic deities.” He's not sure if Alec would appreciate that, and even less sure Alec is going to accept some of the changes Keldra had made, regarding Simon.

As a stranger, Vahl would not have dared poke Alec's mind anyway, knowing how powerful he is. As a lover, well, Vahl was aware of the dangers of Alec's mind, and never did anything more than pick up on any broadcast thoughts. Much the same as somebody who can't help hearing a loud voice, from someone who should probably be whispering.

Still on the subject of Vahlmir, Simon knows the kayori likes to make sketching motions himself, when he's creating vistas and objects in the Dreamtime, or summoning something complex. He's always enjoyed watching Vahl do that, as the god focuses on his work. Alec reminds him of this and he sits forward a little, watching as the coloured lines are scribed into the very air.

“That makes sense,” he observes, not just that Vahl and he would have different coloured lines, but also different cores. Their power bases are so entirely dissimilar are their souls, minds, hearts. Their personalities may be similar in some respects, as are their features but there is more that is different, than like.

“It's a fascinating form of perception.” One he'd like to be able to experience himself, if only for a few minutes, if only to learn something new. “I wonder if it's in any way similar to Danaë's unique perspective.”

Simon takes a large swallow of his drink, setting down the tankard on the table at his side.

“There is more,” he tells Alec. “A good few centuries have passed, though I’m not certain how well you'll receive some of it.”

"What's the one of me and Phoenix?" It makes sense that his older self is one of the cosmic deities. He's sort of resigned himself to the whole being considered a deity like entity to the Keldra. Doesn't like it, but it's like trying to stop a damn break with a finger.

Vahl is smart. There are others that aren't. Much to their determinant.

Alec's found that it's easier to show what he's talking about than just speak it. It can get confusing. And in a way this is a very poor representation of what Alec actually sees. Sketching also helps with his need to physically fiddle and move about. "It's ... interesting..." He'd be happy to give Simon a brief look, definitely not a few minutes, but a brief one. "You know, I don't know about that one. Never asked her."

Swiping his hand through the air, he erases the lines and gives a good thought to the statement.

"I'm not going to force you to tell me. However, I will promise you that I'm not going to consider whatever you tell me falls under the 'stupid beyond belief' rule that I have at the Inn that allows me to kick patrons out. If only because you didn't do it at the Inn," he said. There are binding rules at the Inn that let him do what he does. "Nor will I take it out on you if we meet outside the Inn. I'm not in charge of Vahl or Phoenix or your lives. You're allowed to make your own decisions."

“It's an image of you alone, 'The Traveller',” Simon explains. “Signifying Keldra's propensity to welcome in newcomers, and all that goes with hospitality. The negative aspect of the card, is to warn that not everyone comes as a friend.” It's a card Simon can relate to. Being one of those newcomers himself, once upon a time.

Danaë has never spoken directly to Gruber, although it's clear that she's welcomed him in. All the kayori are aware there is some kind of asexual courtship occurring between she and the UnGod. “Even is asked directly, I'm, told her responses are open to interpretation,” he comments, wryly.

He can't help a chuckle at the mention of the stupidity rule. “I'm content to continue. If only on the basis that whenever concerns were raised, Phoenix would chime in with 'chill the fuck out, Alec's gonna be cool with it,' or 'You know Alec probably doesn't give a fuck, right?'. We made him our official Alec-gauge.”

Though he's speaking with humour - in a near-perfect Phoenix-accent - he's not joking about that. Now... where were they? ah.

“After some time, a century or so, Keldra had embraced my adopted Cenn, Kuvahli. There were temples and shrines, to It and myself appearing throughout the realms. Danaë even created a realm for It, in which a great temple was built. It became classed on a level with the Architect, and with your older self. Phoenix always said, your elder version was never too pleased about being considered a god, so over time, Keldra turned more towards the UnGod. It had given our world a promise that Keldra would never end.”

Which could mean anything. If the entire population was wiped out and the planet left a lifeless lump of rock, The Ungod would have still kept Its word. But people being people, had seized on the positive aspect of this - as well as their fear of It.

Next, Simon hesitates.

“Seeing as your older self had moved up in the hierarchy, to the level of the supreme beings; there was then a hole In the element of Chaos. So a new house was created, the Great House of the Void... I was actually, eventually, crowned as Chaos Chieftain.”

He's uncertain if telling the embodiment of chaos that - however unintentionally - Simon has usurped him, is sensible. All Simon can do is trust Phoenix's judgement.

"The Traveler? Really?" That sends Alec cackling for a moment. His friend Rhys who is sort of his counterpart in reality...ish... maybe... well, he's one of the few people Alec will actually listen to when told doing something will have catastrophic consequences for the entire multiverse... is often known as the Traveler, the Far Traveler, the Wanderer things like that. Taking his 'name' just amuses the fuck out of Alec and Rhys will be hearing about this later. It won't get much of a reaction, but still.

"It's more fun that way," is the only thing he says there.

The stupidity rule is one of the ways he can maintain order at an Inn which allows beings of various states of power and stuffness. And to let others take comfort in knowing he has some sort of 'boundaries'. He does snort at the mimicking and the Alec-gauge, but Phoenix isn't wrong.

At the mention of the not-liking being called a god bit, Alec does feel the need to say, "That's because we're not. Gods are things of reality. Gods get things from being worshiped by people. I don't. I'm a parasite pretending to be real. A penguin can swim in the ocean, but that doesn't mean it's a fish." It's said sort of snappishly. He understands that some people have a hard time understanding the distinction, especially since superficially he does seem like a god. But, better they should worship something that will do them good.

Though apparently they're not getting a good trade; what with that promise. Because yes, technically, if there is a rock the size of the tankard left of the planet, the promise has still been kept. Another one of the reasons why Alec dislikes being called a god.

Out of all the things that Simon has said about the changes he's caused, the chaos chieftain is the one that Alec could care less about. He's always considered himself an entity of chaos. There are multiple. Also, less of a burden on him. Moving up in the hierarchy is good for something, he guesses?

"You want the hat? Phoenix got me a hat when that happened to me." He's completely pokerfaced when he says that.

He's a little bemused at Alec's reaction. Simon had figured that it was a neutral enough label, and nothing demeaning or embarrassing. He hadn't expected laughter. Perhaps Phoenix's policy of 'sometimes it's best not to ask' applies here.

“I know,” he holds up a hand in a placatory gesture. “The kayori all know. But people will be people, be they kelde humans, wraith, quralir, or sirenian. These archetypes find their way into the collective. The gods show respect to a being, and the people of the world elevate them. The only way to prevent that is to show no respect, and that would be unhealthy for zhe pantheon, I think.”

It's open to interpretation, but at least with the UnGod's adopted neonate being so fond of the place - and more in charge than he's gotten around to telling - Keldra stands a pretty good chance.

“There's a hat?” That does make Simon chuckle. “Phoenix has never mentioned it.”

As far as Alec knows, none of the others have met Rhys or if they have, know about that particular moniker. So it really is an in-joke that only Alec is in on. Rhys will be finding about this later.

He sighs. "I know people will be people. And there's nothing I can do to stop them. Doesn't mean I can't be annoyed. Phoenix and Vahl has heard me rant about this enough times." Because really. It is annoying. It's like trying to get your neighbor to stop playing the accordion everyday for five hours. He does try to mitigate any damage that could be cause by the worship and stuff... but...

"There is a hat. I can't believe Phoenix didn't tell you about the hat." He looks aghast at this, even though he totally made up the hat about five seconds ago. Chaos entity. Etc. Etc. "Let me go get you the hat."

With a blink he vanishes. About thirty seconds later he reappears with a hat - it's a bright, oily purple fedora with a green band and rainbow feather that shimmers oddly tucked into the band. "Captain Chaos" is also sewn into the band with a bright yellow thread.

“If it helps,” Simon offers, “we might be a little more firm about shuffling you out of the deck. If you'll pardon the pun. Our power is growing, and with Vahlmir's influence on the collective psyche, we might achieve some measure of success.” It might take a few generations, but Alec hasn't been on Keldra for a good long time now, and eventually he might fade from the psyche of the collective. It's not as if Alec will cease to exist if people don't believe in him. Not like some gods.

Fortunately, the kayori won't simply fade away if people stop believing. They've tried in the past to deny they are gods, to no avail.

Simon tries to protest that Alec really shouldn’t go to any trouble, but he's gone before the void-touched god can open his mouth. And is back before Simon can take another swig of beer.

“Captain Chaos? Really?” He loves Phoenix with all his dark heart, he really does. But the angel's appalling sense of humour...

No. Alas, Simon loves that too. Despite himself.

“You do understand, I'm not going to wear that?” Best just to be sure about these things. Although a hat like that... “Or allow it to wear me,” he states. As a Waerloga - a German word with Keldran meanings, a magical trickster and devil; Simon is aware that phrasing is everything. Not that his power can stand up against Alec's. But still.

"We'll see what happens." Part of him doesn't want to be forgotten. He just wants the worshiping to stop. Sort of. He does enjoy complaining about it. It's all about ego. And he's bound to pop in for a brief visit. That being said, it's not his world and he's not going to prevent Vahl from doing what he wishes.

Of course it's no trouble! A blink of the eye after all. Admittedly, it might have been longer for him, but time travel. And technically he could have just made it out of thin air. But this is funnier. It makes it seem like there actually is an official hat.

Despite the special effects, the hat is just that. A hat. Nothing intelligent or anything like that. That's not something, even with all his power, Alec can do.

"I'm not going to make you wear the hat. Or anything like that. It's just the official hat. You know? Phoenix will back me up on it." Hopefully. Maybe even Vahl will go with it. Either way it'll be funny. What's the point of being a chaos entity if you can't cause chaos?

He then gives Simon a thoughtful look, tilting his head so he can see him with the good eye. "So. You're a goddish thing now. Have you had the joy of being unexpectedly summoned by cultists in the middle of doing something else yet? And then getting to destroy everything in a hundred mile radius because the summoners got something wrong when they summoned you?" That last part is said with a malicious glee that hasn't been present in Alec during their conversation up until this point.

It's the most... inhuman... he's been. Because there's enjoying destruction and killing, there's the indifference of a force of nature destruction and then there's the Eldritch Horror who would take any excuse to rend reality into shreds like salting the earth so nothing can grow. Just because he can. Not a face he often shows. He can count on one hand the number of times he's done it around Phoenix.

This isn't a threat directed at Simon. It's just him letting a bit of the mortal facade down in front of someone who wouldn't be hurt by seeing it.

Phoenix would never let them forget Alec, not that the kayori would want to. But having him included in an oracle deck isn’t quite the same as worship, so a happy medium should be achievable. Eventually.

“Phoenix did buy this for you,” Simon points out. “A gift from a lover? Are you sure you don't want to keep it?” Although secretly, he's not surprised that Alec might not want to keep such a.... an interesting object. But then, Simon isn't aware of Alec's fashion sense in general.

A goddish thing. It's as good a descriptor as any. Simon has indeed become godlike, and has a place in a pantheon who respect him, and whom he respects in turn. But there's that It about him. The monster of the void.

“Summoning?” No Keldran would be that stupid. In fact there are no recorded cases of any kayori, anori, or ed'iori being summoned by other Keldran species. Danaë protects her children from any offworlders who might attempt a summoning. The ed'iori, little sparks of light that they are, often simply appear for the asking. The gods of Keldra can hear prayers, and - quite rarely - may appear before someone who particularly catches their interest...

As he considers Alec's question, something in Simon rises to greet that malicious malevolent glitter of what the real Alec might be. It's a recognition of sorts. Simon has a healthy respect for Alec, absolutely he does; and as a mere god, Simon knows he couldn't hope to survive if Alec turned only a small part of that power onto him.

But, that gleeful Terror, who would shred reality for its own pleasure is very much what Kuvahli can be, if It has a mind to. So the forces inside Simon cannot help but respond to Alec. For one moment, his eyes blacken into twin voids that reflect no light whatsoever. His voice drops as low and gravelled as Vahl's ever did, when in full Nightmare mode...

“I had no idea that was one of the perks.”

He has it under control almost at once, and his eyes return to their usual cool blue. Simon is what he is, and will not act upon it while there are innocents around. Or indeed if he's in Passages Inn, because it probably falls under the rule of stupidity. Turning Voidfire in the territory of the personification of Chaos is, after all, imbecilic.

Happy mediums in regards to mediums is fine with Alec.

Alec has heard of fashion sense. Decided not to bother with it. Much like tact. Admittedly his clothing now, just a white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled, a black vest and jeans isn't too horrid, but there are days. "I have plenty of gifts from Phoenix. Consider this a... no hard feelings gift?" He seems sincere.

Eldritch Horrors are not gods. Which is one of the reasons why he doesn't like being called one.

"Yeah. Summoning. Happens to me on occasion. People wanting knowledge from beyond and picking the Everstorm of Chaos to call to them. And if you get it wrong... well, it's not my fault you've decided that it was a good idea to summon something from somewhere beyond mortal comprehension." The ... we'll go with problem... of summoning Alec as the Everstorm of Chaos is that they don't want Alec as he is now. Mortalish. They want the Eldritch Horror. Shape informs thought and there is no human thought when he's the Everstorm of Chaos.

There's a thoughtful head tilt when the power comes up in Simon and he gives it a curious poke. He's heard of Kuvahli, of course, but this is first time he's ever been near the power itself. Sure, it's coming from a vessel, but it's still a taste. A hint of what could be.

Like is drawn to like.

The voice graveling does get a grin from Alec. It's one of those things he likes about Vahl. There's just something about it.

"It can be, yes. But the summoning has to go wrong. And you can't make it go wrong." Far too cheerfully, he then adds, "Though you can put in some specific requirements that can be easily overlooked. You'd be surprised how many people forget to cut the eye at the right point."

When Alec gets like that, innocents tend to get forgotten as a concept. He would destroy anything and everything in that form. Including the Inn.

Including people he cared about. Which, in his current state, he worries about happening.

Again, form informs thought.

There can't possibly be human thought, or human psychology in a being as vast as The Architect, Alec, or the Prime Powers of the multiverse. Even before the existence of angels was proven to him, Simon had always believed - not in a grand creator as such - but if there was such a being, it would transcend any human concept such as gender, morality, thought, emotion, or form.

Now with what he knows, it falls under Simon's own personal rule of Incredibly Stupid to not only try and contain such a thing, but to then expect it to behave as a rational mortal life form might.

And UnGod knows, even rational human beings dislike being dragged away from their homes without warning, and are going to lash out.

It can only ever end badly. He found that to his cost whilst still mortal. Kuvahli had given him the instructions and accoutrements with which to summon and bind an angel... only to Screw Simon over and open a hell portal. It had brought him his angel, but not in the way Simon had expected. It had given him a chance to see Phoenix in battle, and had given Gruber a whole new perspective on the angel. Not a soft pretty toy to be kept in a cage, as Simon at first thought he was. No, Phoenix was a glorious warrior. A battle-hardened comrade to fight at his side.

It's what made Simon fall in love with him.

With the hell portal in mind, however, whilst learning how to wield magic, he's never attempted to summon even the most innocuous-sounding demon. He may be as a god, but the smallest slip can indeed turn nasty, or summon the wrong entity entirely. Besides, what he's after doesn't require the mastering demons or other gods.

“Hm.” He ponders this for a moment. Even as an everyday mercenary, one had to be very aware of the fine print. It stood him in good stead whilst navigating the pitfalls of magic. A summoning ... “I wasn't aware the summonee was able to lay down specifications. But that has a definite appeal.”

Oh yes. His will be tortuous and detailed. Trickery and riddles are his thing, after all. It amuses Gruber to think he can lay down such finely detailed specs, that it will tie any potential meddler in knots.

Instinct tells him that it's best they steer away from this channel of darkness, however fascinating he finds it. It's that very fascination that can get one into trouble. Simon understands all too well that - yes, form informs thought - and that zoning into the abyss with a being like Alec can end up taking him to places he cares not to step.

“There's another chapter,” he says, more lightly. "And some pleasant news, if Keldra's good fortune interests you?"

Edited (Punctuation = good) 2020-12-12 23:09 (UTC)

You would think that, and yet people try to summon Cthulhu and friends all the time without realizing that. Which included Alec. They tried to touch beings like the Architect and things like that. And then they paid the price of it. As Simon has discovered. Though in a way, he's one of the lucky ones. He still's still alive and has his sanity mostly intact. Well, some people would say he's lucky.

It's a relatively recent occurrence that Alec's really embraced the whole eldritch horror aspect of his life. Alec has been summoned at some of the most irritating or awkward times. He's lost quite a few sandwiches to those. Food never traverses well during those. The shower is another time. The multiverse has been kind to him and not yanked him out in the middle of sex. Because that would have Consequences. There's salting the earth and then there's dropping a meteor on the earth.

Having been kept in a cage,in various forms, including summoning circles, enough times in his life Alec would only use that as punishment. Not for a toy. The marshmallow fluff jars don't count.

Phoenix the angelic warrior is really something to behold. Really. It's hard not to fall in love seeing it.

"How else are people supposed to know how to summon you? Just be careful, once you get it down, you can't change it," Alec said. Reality has its Rules otherwise eldritch entities would be destroying it willy nilly. So, if he's going to do it, he has to get it right the first time.

It's a pretty good idea to steer Alec away from this topic, otherwise he might start taking the wrong sort of Interest in Gruber.

There's a physical sort of shifting in his body language and air about him. Like he's getting snapped out of his thoughts after zoning out. There's even that befuddled 'where am I, what am I doing?' look on his face just briefly. "What? Oh. Yes. Of course it does."

Really good idea to steer him away from that train of thought.

These summoning rules do beg the question - If there is no specified summoning ritual at all, does that mean nobody can summon the being in question? It does seem imprudent to provide specifications if the alternative is freedom from such impositions. It's nothing he can't look into of his own accord though, and for the time being, steering them both away from potential trouble trumps idle curiosity.

The shift in Alec is noted with interest; and the feral surge in Simon’s core ebbs away quite smoothly, as he takes another sip.

“As you know,” he begins, “Ylaia was Empress at the time of your younger self's pack with Phoenix and Vahlmir. After a few centuries though, she was weary of the responsibility, and as a Beta personality, started to feel that Keldra was beginning to require a firmer hand at the tiller.”

“Of zhe chieftains, Drake was well suited but had his hands full with the hell realms. Mae lacked interest, but Vahlmir was fast becoming the most powerful, so Ylaia asked him, on a couple of different occasions. Vahl wasn't what you'd call enamoured with the idea. He refused, not wishing to lose certain freedoms.”

Vahl has always made it known that he values and needs his freedom. But then he wasn’t so unfeeling as to force such a loss of freedom on any of his Danaë-born siblings. Especially Ylaia, of whom The Nightmare is inordinately fond.

“Eventually, once I had been chieftain for a couple of centuries, she asked... no, begged, actually. Again. This time Vahl thought it over, and with the condition that I was to rule at his side, not as consort, but equal, he accepted. Nobody was more surprised than I, when he came to me and suggested it.”

Simon's eyes glint with humour as he adds, “No. I'm not arrogant enough to label this as Keldra's good fortune, I'm coming to that in a minute... Suffice it to say, Keldra now has two Tzars. The Tzarkaehl and the Tzarkahn, to distinguish us from each other. Myself being the latter.”

The multiverse always provides a way to summon eventually. Alec would liken it to a form of worship. Gods have their rituals that they require to be preformed to make them happy to grant a petitioner's request. (Don't eat for three days, wash yourself in elderberry juice, sacrifice thirteen virgins...) Eldritch horrors have their rituals that need to be performed to cause them to show up. Might as well get a leg up on the game and get some form of amusement out of it.

It's not a headspace Alec lets him drift into often and it's hard to drag himself out of sometimes. Especially when there's no reason to. It's a very seductive place. A rapid change of subject is a good enough way to do it when Phoenix woobles aren't around.

The coin is back as a fidget spinner as he listens to the continuing good fortunes of Phoenix's people. It seems like a ... good...? compromise for them. He's not sure yet. But, it's not his place to say. It's not his world. At least Vahl will be able to rule and have his freedom. So there is that.

"There's going to be a sixteen dollar fee for me to not call you 'Tzarina'," he said before adding a do go on gesture. He's joking about that. It was one of those things that popped into his head and he decided not to filter out.

That smartarse crack makes Simon laugh. He'll give Alec a hundred dollars if he wants them, but... ”My counter offer? You don't call me Tzarina, and I'll arrange an 'error' in the official paperwork, resulting in Phoenix getting labelled 'princess'.”

It might mean Phoenix smashing a chair across Simon's face, at some point. But it'll be worth it.

“The great good fortune arrived after that. Vahlmir and Chimaera found a twin timeline, the continuation of a severance of their original timeline... You're aware of the paradox Vahl created, when he took his own life, having his soul transplanted into his future self?”

UnGod. Why can't such simple reminders be a little less involved? Simon frowns slightly, and continues.

“The original timeline continued without Vahl, he was dead in that strand. So, when the Hell War came, and half of Keldra's gods were killed in this strand... the half that were killed here were the ones who survived the other strand. Both of our strands stem from that initial splitting when Vahl killed himself.”

It's damned complicated. An absolute nightmare, but then Vahl was always good at those....

“In the other strand, the surviving gods are as close to the ones we lost as makes no odds...” Simon sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Long story short. The kayori wound up with all their number restored, bar Solus, Versha, and Tai. Even Drake's shredded soulbond with Corvo repaired itself.”

Passages Inn OTA

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