Characters present: Faulkner, Ollie
Date: 12/13/23
Season: 3

[Ollie sighs, they’ve been walking for hours. The search for Faulkner has yielded nothing, and the sun set hours ago. Hours and hours searching for nothing. Everything aches.]

[17:48:08] <✦[rp] Ollie> okay .......maybe if I go to the top of this hill- mountain. whatever- ..I could find him

[17:48:16] <✦[rp] Ollie> I have ...good enough eye sight . probably

[Ollie walks up the hill, huffing and puffing for breath as he does.]

[17:49:20] <✦[rp] Ollie> fucking sshit I hate climbingg...

[As Ollie makes his way up to the top, he notices patches of frost staining the grass white. He looks up, noticing the leaves on the trees curling with that same frost.]

[17:50:22] * ✦[rp] Ollie notices the bits of snow as he climbs

[17:50:47] <✦[rp] Ollie> huh...... I don't think ..that's normal

[17:51:01] <✦[rp] Ollie> I don't think this is high enough for that-

[He continues to climb higher, and notices that it’s suddenly gotten very cold. The wind wipes across the side of the hill, and Ollie pulls his cloak tighter around his shoulders.]

[17:52:13] <✦[rp] Ollie> ...soul lanterns,?

[As Ollie reaches the top of the hill, he notices that snow has started to fall lightly from the sky. He reaches up to let a few flakes fall on his hands.]

[17:52:36] <✦[rp] Ollie> the fuck is this

[Ollie notices a shape on the ground.]

[17:52:54] <✦[rp] Ollie> ..oh

[Faulkner’s ears perk up as he hears Ollie’s voice. He jumps up from where he was laying.]

[17:53:00] <✦[rp] Ollie> faulkner!

[17:53:06] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Oh

[17:53:12] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Hello..

[17:53:19] <✦[rp] Ollie> thank the fucking void-

[Ollie pulls Faulkner into a tight hug. Their skin is cold to the touch, but it doesn’t seem to bother them. Ollie pulls away, holding Faulkner at arm’s length by their shoulders, to get a better look at them.]

[17:53:26] <✦[rp] Ollie> what are you doing here?

[17:53:42] <✦Faulkner [rp]> ...stargazing

[17:53:57] <✦[rp] Ollie> oh, that's nice

[17:54:02] <✦[rp] Ollie> you sure like doing that

[17:53:31] <✦[rp] Ollie> ...what is this place?

[17:53:59] <✦Faulkner [rp]> It's uhm. A place of mine

[17:54:04] <✦Faulkner [rp]> an altar

[17:54:08] <✦[rp] Ollie> oh?

[17:54:11] <✦[rp] Ollie> altar for what

[Faulkner gestures upwards, pointing up to the sky. The clouds part slightly, and Ollie can see the twinkling light above their heads more clear than he’s ever seen them before.]

[17:54:34] <✦Faulkner [rp]> The stars

[17:54:51] <✦[rp] Ollie> ahh

[17:55:12] <✦[rp] Ollie> okay makes sense why you'd build this so high up then..

[Faulkner shifts around. It looks towards the ground.]

[17:55:09] <✦Faulkner [rp]> What are you doing here?

[17:55:23] <✦[rp] Ollie> oh uh

[17:55:42] <✦[rp] Ollie> I was looking for you!

[17:55:59] <✦Faulkner [rp]> why..?

[17:56:39] <✦[rp] Ollie> well first that whole . thing happened with the egg, and then you fucked off to the middle of nowhere

[17:56:59] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I do that a lot, no?

[17:57:15] <✦[rp] Ollie> well, yeah but-

[17:57:26] <✦[rp] Ollie> ..I didn't know when you would come back

[17:57:47] <✦[rp] Ollie> you seem pretty upset

[17:58:16] <✦[rp] Ollie> it's a cause for concern, you know

[Faulkner swishes its tail back and forth, disrupting the coal beneath it.]

[17:58:30] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I suppose

[17:59:06] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I just needed some time alone to think

[17:59:23] <✦[rp] Ollie> that's fine, I understand that…

[Faulkner looks back up from the ground to the starry sky above.]

[17:59:37] <✦[rp] Ollie> ...just tell me where you're going next time okay?

[Ollie steps forward, trying to catch Faulkner’s gaze. Faulkner hums.]

[18:00:01] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Alright

[Faulkner beckons Ollie with his tail.]

[18:03:44] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Would you like to join me?

[18:03:57] <✦[rp] Ollie> oh

[Ollie nods, unsure at first.]

[18:04:00] * ✦[rp] Ollie nods

[18:04:02] <✦[rp] Ollie> sure

[Ollie steps onto the altar, taking it in. It's a platform made of cut quartz. With pillars at each corner. The center is coal. An... interesting build decision. Faulkner pulls out a spyglass, offering it gently to Ollie.]

[18:08:54] <✦Faulkner [rp]> You can take the spyglass if you'd like

[18:08:55] <✦[rp] Ollie> sooo ...are you here very often?

[18:08:58] <✦[rp] Ollie> oh!

[18:09:03] <✦[rp] Ollie> sure

[18:09:09] <✦[rp] Ollie> would be helpful

[18:09:48] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I do enjoy coming out here quite a bit. It helps me relax. Reminds me of home

[18:10:01] <✦[rp] Ollie> oh?

[18:10:12] <✦[rp] Ollie> did you have this altar back at ..home

[18:10:29] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I did

[18:10:49] <✦Faulkner [rp]> The materials were different and it was much more...

[Faulkner gestures vaguely.]

[18:10:49] <✦Faulkner [rp]> magical than this

[18:11:05] <✦[rp] Ollie> ooooh

[18:11:07] <✦[rp] Ollie> magical?

[Faulker moves their paws through the air, they almost seem to mimic weaving invisible strands in the air.]

[18:11:45] <✦Faulkner [rp]> It helped me craft objects with the power of starlight. I was able to make wands and such

[18:12:02] <✦[rp] Ollie> oh....wow

[18:12:10] <✦[rp] Ollie> that sounds cool

[Faulkner seems to smile, though it’s hard to tell. Their teeth poke out slightly.]

[18:12:53] <✦Faulkner [rp]> It was

[18:13:31] <✦[rp] Ollie> damn I guess if I lived in a magical star world, I'd ..really want to go back to it

[Faulkner sighs. It claps its paws together.]

[18:14:46] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I do miss it. It was much easier to nagivate compared to here

[18:15:09] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I haven't quite gotten used to the weird social dance everyone insists on doing

[18:15:30] <✦[rp] Ollie> what are you referring to?

[Faulkner shrugs.]

[18:16:57] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Where I came from, I was the only one like myself. There wasn't exactly this idea of negotiating. You didn't talk things out. I learned that the hard way

[18:17:38] <✦[rp] Ollie> ...oh

[18:18:16] <✦[rp] Ollie> I guess it is very different here

[18:19:13] <✦[rp] Ollie> talking things out is a preferred option here

[18:19:26] <✦[rp] Ollie> ...not that I myself do a lot of it. to be honest

[18:19:34] <✦[rp] Ollie> so maybe I shouldn't judge

[18:19:42] <✦Faulkner [rp]> It doesn't help that you all seem to know one another. I'm expected to play along. It's... frustrating

[18:20:03] <✦[rp] Ollie> ah..

[18:20:34] <✦[rp] Ollie> well that's not particularly true, there's plenty players I don't know

[18:20:32] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I'm realizing I don't know much of anything

[18:20:42] <✦[rp] Ollie> oh

[18:21:00] <✦[rp] Ollie> I guess that makes sense, you are from... a very different world

[18:21:06] <✦[rp] Ollie> it's not too hard tho

[18:21:09] <✦[rp] Ollie> to learn

[18:21:27] <✦[rp] Ollie> and adapt

[Faulkner huffs.]

[18:22:11] * ✦Faulkner [rp] huffs

[18:22:20] <✦Faulkner [rp]> You'd think so

[Faulkner lays down, stretching out. Ollie messes around with the spyglass. He gazes up into the stars, really for the first time. They starry sky is so different than the starry sea of the Void.]

[18:24:40] <✦[rp] Ollie> this makes it a LOT easier to see the stars, I get why you use this

[18:24:48] <✦[rp] Ollie> they seem closer than they actually are

[Faulkner nods.]

[18:25:22] <✦Faulkner [rp]> It makes it easier to chart the sky

[18:25:34] <✦[rp] Ollie> ooh, have you been doing that?

[18:26:23] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I've been trying. It's proven to be harder here. The tools I can make are much less powerful

[18:26:35] <✦Faulkner [rp]> The patterns don't catch my eyes as easily

[18:26:49] <✦[rp] Ollie> unfortunate

[Muttering: ]

[18:27:11] <✦Faulkner [rp]> yeah..

[Ollie looks around the structure, they suddenly notice something etched into the altar. A…paticular text.]

[18:27:22] <✦[rp] Ollie> uhh..

[18:27:29] <✦[rp] Ollie> not to interrupt but

[18:27:33] <✦Faulkner [rp]> hm?

[18:27:43] <✦[rp] Ollie> what's ...that

[Ollie points over at the a line of text. Faulkner looks over at Ollie, and then the sign he’s pointing to.]

[18:28:10] <✦Faulkner [rp]> a sign..?

[18:28:35] <✦[rp] Ollie> I- I KNOW what it is okay.

[18:28:44] <✦[rp] Ollie> sorry

[18:28:48] <✦[rp] Ollie> I just ...

[18:29:08] <✦[rp] Ollie> ...can you read what it says?

[18:29:36] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Oh that

[18:30:03] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I forget some of you can't read those letters

[18:30:24] <✦[rp] Ollie> so you can..

[18:30:35] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Well yes, I wrote it

[18:30:28] <✦Faulkner [rp]> It says "To the stars I call", thats all

[Ollie’s response is sour.]

[18:30:50] <✦[rp] Ollie> hm

[Faulkner looks on with confusion.]

[18:31:28] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Is something wrong?

[18:31:40] <✦[rp] Ollie> uhh...

[18:31:44] <✦[rp] Ollie> no. its fine

[18:31:53] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Are you sure?

[Ollie hides his distaste poorly. His words are clipped.]

[18:32:07] <✦[rp] Ollie> yeah

[18:32:09] <✦[rp] Ollie> im sure

[Faulkner frowns. He doesn’t fall for whatever Ollie’s trying to hide.]

[18:32:55] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Maybe now would be a good time to practice our communication skills

[Faulker gives Ollie a pointed look. Ollie grunts.]

[18:33:36] <✦[rp] Ollie> okay I'm not particularly known for my "communication skills"

[18:33:39] <✦[rp] Ollie> you got me there

[Faulkner inches closer to Ollie in a vaguely animalistic manner. Ollie sighs.]

[18:35:03] <✦[rp] Ollie> ....fine.

[He looks away from Faulkner, resorting to looking at the night sky instead. He fidgets with the spyglass.]

[18:36:33] <✦[rp] Ollie> I've seen that writing before ... not that specific phrase but

[18:36:57] <✦[rp] Ollie> the letters .....the language?

[18:37:20] <✦[rp] Ollie> I've seen ..the Unknown use it

[18:37:49] <✦[rp] Ollie> so forgive me for not having particularly fond memories when I see ...that.

[Faulkner perks up, their ears flick.]

[18:38:00] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Ah. I see

[18:38:27] <✦Faulkner [rp]> The Wizard informed me of what those things were before... the incident

[18:38:41] <✦[rp] Ollie> ah

[18:38:58] <✦[rp] Ollie> yeah I guess you had no reason to know beforehand

[18:39:01] <✦[rp] Ollie> what they are

[18:40:00] <✦[rp] Ollie> I assure you I have nothing but the worst to say about them

[18:40:29] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I'd imagine

[18:40:59] <✦[rp] Ollie> yeah....

[18:41:33] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Apologies if the sign startled you. I didn't realize the association was there

[18:41:46] <✦[rp] Ollie> no it's ...it's okay

[18:41:49] <✦[rp] Ollie> you didn't know

[18:42:12] <✦[rp] Ollie> just be careful

[18:42:36] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Careful of what..?

[18:42:36] <✦[rp] Ollie> don't need anyone finding these and assuming the worst

[18:42:43] <✦[rp] Ollie> it's ...happened before

[18:42:47] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Oh

[18:43:43] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I'll be sure to be mindful. Though I can't imagine many bothering to come up here

[18:44:01] <✦[rp] Ollie> that's true

[18:44:44] <✦[rp] Ollie> oh yeah! wait

[18:44:51] <✦Faulkner [rp]> hm?

[Ollie rummages through his coat, and takes a piece of gold from his pocket.]

[18:45:39] <✦[rp] Ollie> I brought this for you

[Ollie smiles down at it.]

[18:45:58] <✦[rp] Ollie> I thought this would help me find you....somehow

[Faulkner’s pupils dilate, taking up much of their iris. They lick their lips, already salivating.]

[18:46:42] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Thats nice…

[Ollie pushes it into their hands.]

[18:46:54] <✦[rp] Ollie> there, all yours

[Faulkner presses their face against it. A soft purr hums in their chest.]

[18:47:55] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Thank you

[Ollie nods.]

[18:48:47] <✦[rp] Ollie> I'll give you another one if you decide to head back to our house

[Faulkner breaks apart the gold easily with their paws, almost even more so than usual. They bite through a chunk of it with little trouble. Ollie stares at them as they do.]

[18:49:25] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Hmmm

[18:49:46] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I know what you're doing

[18:49:54] <✦[rp] Ollie> oohhh do you?

[18:50:01] <✦Faulkner [rp]> ...but that does sound nice

[Ollie laughs.]

[18:50:28] <✦[rp] Ollie> I'm sure it does

[18:50:38] <✦[rp] Ollie> see I even have it right here!

[Ollie pulls out another block of gold. Faulkner grabs for it, there isn’t a thought behind his eyes besides a drooling hunger, but he doesn’t take it.]

[18:52:01] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Well if its here why would I need to go home for it

[18:52:36] <✦[rp] Ollie> because I won't give it to you till you go home

[Faulkner swishes his tail back and forth. He taps on the gold block he and Ollie are holding. It makes a twinkling, crisp, metallic sound from his claws.]

[18:53:44] <✦Faulkner [rp]> It would be very easy to take this from you

[18:54:35] <✦[rp] Ollie> I'd prefer you not, that wouldn't be fun

[Faulkner grins, their sharp canines visible. They tilt their head, a mischievous glint in their eyes.]

[18:56:03] <✦Faulkner [rp]> It would be a little fun

[18:56:09] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I'm hungry

[Ollie tugs on it, which only seems to make Faulkner more excited for the chase.]

[18:56:28] <✦[rp] Ollie> I'll kick you if you grab it !!

[18:56:39] <✦[rp] Ollie> you don't want me to kick you

[18:57:02] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Yeah?

[Ollie grips it tighter in their hands.]

[18:57:34] <✦[rp] Ollie> yeah.

[Faulkner pulls back in a single swift motion, easily snatching the block out of Ollie’s hands. He pulls Ollie forward with him.]

[18:58:42] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Yeah?

[18:58:55] <✦[rp] Ollie> FUCKER

[18:59:10] <✦Faulkner [rp]> What?

[Faulkner grins even wide, tilting his head again. Ollie grunts.]

[19:00:13] <✦[rp] Ollie> I'm not going to give you any more gold if you don't give it back

[19:00:30] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Oh you have more??

[19:00:42] <✦[rp] Ollie> I do

[19:00:55] <✦[rp] Ollie> but you won't be seeing any more of it.

[Faulkner pulls himself up into Ollie’s space. They back him against one of the pillars of the altar, towering over him.]

[19:01:01] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Yeah?

[Faulkner’s eyes almost seem to glow in the low light.]

[19:01:39] <✦Faulkner [rp]> You are very robbable

[Ollie looks away from them, their gaze is too intense. Despite the cold, it makes him warm.]

[19:01:59] <✦[rp] Ollie> You are very frustrating right now

[19:02:07] <✦[rp] Ollie> give the gold back

[19:02:08] <✦[rp] Ollie> now

[Faulkner snorts, he boops Ollie on the nose with one of his gold ingots.]

[19:03:23] <✦Faulkner [rp]> I'll make you a different deal

[Ollie huffs, upset.]

[19:03:42] <✦[rp] Ollie> I doubt i'd be interested.

[19:04:00] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Oh so you don't want me to come back?

[19:04:11] <✦[rp] Ollie> uuggghhh

[19:04:19] <✦[rp] Ollie> what do you want

[19:04:31] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Welllll

[Its tail swishes back and forth with excitement.]

[19:04:59] <✦Faulkner [rp]> You listen to me talk about one of the star patterns I have found. Then we can go back

[19:05:04] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Also I get to keep the gold

[19:05:23] <✦[rp] Ollie> you we're going to keep the gold anyway if you just did what I told you!!

[19:05:29] <✦[rp] Ollie> but, fine

[Faulkner gnaws on an ingot, pulling away a piece of it easily.]

[19:05:50] <✦Faulkner [rp]> Well we both get what we want ^^

[Ollie rolls his eyes, but smiles.]

[19:06:09] <✦[rp] Ollie> I guess so

[Faulkner points to the sky just ahead of them both, highlighting a set of stars that form a parallelogram-esque shape. Ollie listens as he explains why he chose that specific pattern, and the names he gave each star. Despite their annoyance earlier, they listen intently. It all melts away.]

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