UNTITLED SMP
UNTITLED SMP
Characters present: Joco, Cinder, Finch
Date: 9/22/23
Season: 3
[Cinder and Finch walk out to Joco’s void hole in progress together.]
[20:32:06] <✦[rp] Cinder> you know I think this is one of the first times ive actually made it all the way out here
[20:32:17] <✦[rp] Cinder> i normally stick round verde gris. I get lost easy
[20:32:35] <✦[rp] Finch> It is kinda out of the way, I guess. I didn't really have much of a reason to go here before now
[20:32:52] <✦[rp] Cinder> yeah, guess not. do you know where we're actually meant to be meeting?
[20:32:58] <✦[rp] Finch> No clue!
[Finch jumps in excitement, floating back down beside Cinder.]
[20:32:53] <✦[rp] Finch> Do you think its done something?
[Cinder laughs a little.]
[20:33:09] <✦[rp] Cinder> hell if i know. I havent even seen it yet
[20:33:20] <✦[rp] Finch> oh boy! just you wait! its great
[20:33:29] <✦[rp] Cinder> mm. sure.
[Finch leads Cinder into the lift positioned over the Void hole.]
[20:33:41] <✦[rp] Finch> its Down There
[A shadow darkens the sky above them as Joco swoops down from atop one of the spikes above them.]
[20:33:49] <✦[rp] Cinder> oh! hello
[20:33:55] <✦[rp] Finch> hi!
[Joco lands beside them.]
[20:33:58] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Hello!
[They put their hands on their hips as they notice Finch and Cinder standing in the lift to the side.]
[20:34:07] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Y'all realize. That lift's not functional, right?
[20:34:18] <✦[rp] Cinder> I just think its fun.
[20:34:28] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Alrighty!
[Finch points at Cinder as they walk out of it and over to Joco.]
[20:34:21] <✦[rp] Finch> Cinder walked in here so I thought i would too
[20:34:26] <✦[rp] Cinder> nothing's gone wrong, has it?
[20:34:32] <✦[rp] Finch> has something happened?
[20:34:36] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Well, I haven't actually looked down there in a while
[20:34:37] <✦[rp] Finch> did it do anything?
[Joco peers over the side of the hole.]
[20:34:40] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I've been a bit busy
[Finch and Cinder speak almost at once.]
[20:34:45] <✦[rp] Finch> with...?
[20:34:46] <✦[rp] Cinder> with?
[Joco clenches their teeth, their shoulders up to their ears.]
[20:34:52] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> .. things?
[20:34:52] <✦[rp] Cinder> ha, jinx
[20:34:56] <✦[rp] Finch> darn
[20:34:59] <✦[rp] Finch> what things?
[20:35:16] <✦[rp] Cinder> what things are more important than trying to summon the void to our server as a weaponised attack dog
[Joco ticks their business off on their fingers.]
[20:35:23] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Built a dam, chatted with Doc, worked on the Copper Processing Plant,
[20:35:36] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I cooked some food. That's important.
[Finch’s ears flick back.]
[20:35:29] <✦[rp] Finch> ....doc?
[20:35:39] <✦[rp] Cinder> oh, old guy. Hows he doing
[20:35:44] <✦[rp] Finch> the... uh. that. the. you know.
[20:35:58] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> He's doing a bit better than he was at the wedding, getting used to his arm being fucked up
[20:35:59] <✦[rp] Finch> you spoke to doc
[20:36:07] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yes, Finch, I spoke to Doc.
[20:36:12] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> He's a lovely fella
[Finch shakes their head vehemently.]
[20:36:33] <✦[rp] Finch> i dont think we should be getting used to it. i think we should be getting rid of it. bad arm. bad sculk.
[20:36:40] <✦[rp] Cinder> Wiz was talking about maybe needing to turn to amputation, right? any news on that
[20:36:57] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We can't cut it off, Prince has threatened to make everything worse if Doc does
[Growling: ]
[20:37:05] <✦[rp] Finch> grrhmpm
[20:37:15] <✦[rp] Finch> so we allow another prince to happen. or else.
[20:37:17] <✦[rp] Finch> both options seem bad
[Joco holds up a hand.]
[20:37:18] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Doc is a hostage, Finch, not another Prince
[20:37:24] <✦[rp] Finch> you dont know that.
[20:37:33] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> If Prince wanted another Prince, he'd have done more than fuck up Doc's arm by now
[20:37:35] <✦[rp] Cinder> Has prince visited you? Like have you talked with him directly?
[20:37:54] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> .... no? Does talking through Doc's fucked up arm count?
[Cinder blinks.]
[20:37:59] <✦[rp] Cinder> im sorry what now
[20:38:03] <✦[rp] Finch> yes. Very.
[20:38:05] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> His arm sometimes gets a shrieker sticking out, that Prince talks through
[20:38:09] <✦[rp] Cinder> his arm TALKS?
[20:38:14] <✦[rp] Finch> you understand how bad that is right.
[20:38:22] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yes, Finch, it's very painful for the old man
[20:38:34] <✦[rp] Cinder> oh thats. oh i think im going to be sick actually
[Joco moves their hand, wiggling their fingers.]
[20:38:36] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> His bones get discombobulated and whatnot
[20:38:47] <✦[rp] Cinder> how
[20:38:50] <✦[rp] Cinder> how does that even work
[20:38:59] <✦[rp] Cinder> how can prince talk through docs FUCKED UP ARM
[20:39:07] <✦[rp] Cinder> what even is he anymore
[20:38:37] <✦[rp] Finch> he has more reach. more ability to do whatever it is hes doing. more sculk. more bad.
[20:39:08] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Finch. You saw the sculking in Verdigris. Prince can spread the sculk anywhere he wants, it's not like we can be everywhere at once.
[Finch throws up their hands.]
[20:39:26] <✦[rp] Finch> we can try! we're trying right now aren't we?
[20:39:32] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Prince, I believe, joined at least partially a sculk hivemind. That's the way he makes it sound whenever he discusses that.
[20:39:32] <✦[rp] Finch> isnt this why we're trying to get my friend back?
[Cinder nods, trying to reassure.]
[20:39:36] <✦[rp] Cinder> we are trying, finch. dont worry
[20:40:01] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Finch, we're trying to get something to fight back. We can't be everywhere at once to prevent the spreading, because there's only 8 of us.
[Finch points down at the ground, to Corroded.]
[20:40:22] <✦[rp] Finch> we can prevent the spreading here. at home. where we are. we can do that... right?
[20:40:39] <✦[rp] Finch> we only really need to protect two factions if it came down to it
[20:41:09] <✦[rp] Finch> one if we're conserving our resources and ability-to-do-stuffing
[20:40:41] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Not the manual spreading, the kind where he goes around planting it
[20:40:10] <✦[rp] Cinder> we'll stay safe. If nothing else goes to plan,. we at least will keep each other safe.
[20:41:02] <✦[rp] Cinder> we can do whatever we can. That's all we can try right now.
[They bump against Finch in an attempt to be comforting. Finch pauses for a moment, and bumps back a little harder, not quite understanding the gesture, but trying to be kind about it.]
[20:41:11] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> To eradicate something like this, we'd have to do a complete removal. Letting it fester will only let it grow in power and erupt, taking over us all.
[20:41:52] <✦[rp] Cinder> shall we get this over with?
[20:41:58] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yes, that'd be a good idea.
[20:41:56] <✦[rp] Finch> we could.... always bomb malfaction if my friend doesnt come back
[20:42:00] <✦[rp] Finch> just. get rid of it all
[20:42:04] <✦[rp] Finch> but yes lets go see
[Joco sighs, they shake their head.]
[20:42:07] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Finch, bombing might just spread the spores. Airborne.
[Finch grumbles.]
[20:42:19] <✦[rp] Finch> mgrhgm
[Joco gives them a grin before jumping down to the top of the void hole. Finch tugs on Cinder’s shirt as they dive straight down into the hole.]
[20:42:31] <✦[rp] Finch> cmon we cant SEE anything if we aren't DOWN there
[Cinder jumps down and lands beside Joco.]
[20:42:33] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yep. Sure is a hole.
[Cinder stands at the top, they edge from foot to foot nervously. Their wings flapping slightly. Joco notices their discomfort, and takes out a bucket of water.]
[20:42:52] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Here, Cinder, how about I place a water stream
[20:43:08] <✦[rp] Cinder> thanks. i was gonna ask about what to do about my lack of elytra
[They both swim down to where Finch landed and is looking around.]
[20:43:50] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Oh.
[Finch rushes forward as the water stream falls through the hole.]
[20:43:50] <✦[rp] Finch> be CAREFUL about where you put that, you were so close to knocking off the flower.. it loves flowers. im pretty sure
[Joco stares at the surrounding foliage.]
[20:43:54] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> You.
[20:43:58] <✦[rp] Finch> The void loves plants!
[20:44:00] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> You made a cave around it.
[Joco groans.]
[20:44:15] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> It was such a clean hole.
[Cinder leaps down, they land, and gain their bearings. Ae marvels at the foliage around aer.]
[20:44:03] <✦[rp] Cinder> you put these here?
[20:44:19] <✦[rp] Finch> Yes!!! it loves plants. whenever we had my friend around, it always spread to plants first
[Joco pats one of the walls sadly.]
[20:44:22] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I worked so hard making it smooth.
[20:44:31] <✦[rp] Finch> it loves plants. maybe having them would've made it come back
[20:44:34] <✦[rp] Finch> see how much we cared about it
[Joco snaps slightly at Finch.]
[20:44:54] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> If you cared about it so much, why'd you abandon it
[Finch looks away from them.]
[20:45:23] <✦[rp] Finch> Sometimes that has to happen i think. We had to leave. It was oliver's job to stay with it
[20:45:46] <✦[rp] Finch> but that doesnt matter! we're here now! it'll come back. we're friends
[Cinder shudders, their wings ache, and he doesn't seem to know what to do about it beyond tucking them close. They shake their head and look at Finch.]
[20:45:35] <✦[rp] Cinder> so finch, it was your... friend. Can you tell me about that? im not sure I get it
[20:45:48] <✦[rp] Finch> well!
[20:46:08] <✦[rp] Finch> it showed up last world, and it was my friend! it gave me flowers. I gave it food. It lived under my house!
[Joco crosses their arms against their chest, addressing Cinder.]
[20:45:50] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> The first void hole last world was under Finch's base.
[20:45:55] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> They fed it. It grew.
[20:46:01] <✦[rp] Cinder> fed it? how
[20:46:09] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Throwing things in, placing things around it
[20:46:31] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Putting bio material around the hole, so that it'd absorb it.
[20:46:38] <✦[rp] Finch> The void loves plants! I'd place plants around the hole and it'd uh. get rid of them!
[Finch nods like this is something they’re sure of.]
[20:46:43] <✦[rp] Finch> the void loves plants.
[Cinder considers this information.]
[20:47:13] <✦[rp] Cinder> hmm. so for you, it spread like an infection
[20:47:20] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yes
[20:47:29] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Sort of
[20:47:29] <✦[rp] Finch> yeah, i guess. but that seems rude to call it that
[20:47:33] <✦[rp] Cinder> i suppose it is like the skulk then. in some ways
[Finch reaches their paws out and shakes them.]
[20:47:40] <✦[rp] Finch> no no no nothing like that!
[20:48:13] <✦[rp] Finch> the void was my friend, yes it er. got rid of Oliver. but that's okay. I tried. I tried. The sculk isn't like that at all. Its not my friend.
[20:49:54] <✦[rp] Finch> eventually we had to go. i couldn't convince it to back off in time. but thats okay. we have this time!
[20:49:58] <✦[rp] Finch> if itll er. show up
[20:50:06] <✦[rp] Finch> but it will! eventually. maybe. eventually..
[Joco continues to address Cinder directly.]
[20:47:44] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> It spread like an infection initially, then there was a sudden Gap under our town hall.
[20:47:57] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> And other chunks of infection spotted about the land's bedrock
[20:47:45] <✦[rp] Cinder> so is this... void? or Void.
[20:48:15] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Void, proper noun. Probably.
[20:48:33] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Eventually it was shooting meteors at us? Maybe? I don't really understand what that was about
[Cinder’s mouth drops open.]
[20:48:45] <✦[rp] Cinder> Meteors??
[20:48:50] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yes. It was weird.
[Cinder’s voice trails off.]
[20:48:55] <✦[rp] Cinder> i guess thats almost similar enough to
[They clear their throat and speak up.]
[20:49:17] <✦[rp] Cinder> well. it makes sense I guess. As much sense as it can?
[20:49:24] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yes, I suppose so
[20:49:39] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Some worlds have different voids, to be fair
[20:49:51] <✦[rp] Cinder> mm. that much is becoming clear
[20:49:52] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Your void infection could have been a different void infection than our Void.
[Joco looks down into the hole]
[20:50:27] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We don't have an Unknown planting the seed, this time.
[20:50:00] <✦[rp] Cinder> still, it feels the same. Not the exact same, but
[20:50:21] <✦[rp] Cinder> I can feel it under my skin. Like its crawling, or... something. Not exactly. But its familiar. i know the feeling
[20:50:27] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> It might not show up-
[Startled, they look back up]
[20:50:29] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Cinder??
[Cinder continues, they stare straight ahead, rubbing the outside of their arms.]
[20:50:36] <✦[rp] Cinder> buzzing, maybe
[20:50:39] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> You can feel it?
[20:50:45] <✦[rp] Cinder> you cant?
[20:50:49] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> .... no?
[20:50:52] <✦[rp] Finch> what...?
[20:51:09] <✦[rp] Cinder> its like it. echoes. being so close to it now, its like. I can feel it.
[20:51:35] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Wow!
[20:51:15] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I can feel the innate fear one gets in looking at an endless pit of death. But nothing more than that.
[20:51:48] <✦[rp] Finch> Huh…
[Finch shakes their head.]
[20:51:44] <✦[rp] Finch> Listen if it did that I'd know! its my friend! it wrote back to me whenever I'd give it letters! it was uh. unreadable mostly. but it wrote back to me.
[20:51:48] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Feeling. The void. That's not a common thing, buckaroo.
[20:52:04] <✦[rp] Cinder> neither is exchanging letters with it
[Joco turns to Finch.]
[20:52:15] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Finch, some magic things sing in different frequencies.
[20:52:23] <✦[rp] Finch> what ?
[20:52:33] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> It could be that Cinder's more attuned to the type of magic eminating from voids.
[Finch wrinkles up their nose and pouts.]
[20:53:05] <✦[rp] Finch> thats not fair! its my friend! why cant i do that!
[Cinder’s wings wrap around their shoulders like a shroud.]
[20:53:49] <✦[rp] Cinder> i dont know if feeling it is a good thing, finch. maybe you being its friend and not feeling anything go hand in hand.
[20:52:49] <✦[rp] Cinder> I dont know. This is my first time ever being so close since
[20:53:10] <✦[rp] Cinder> well, since my home world.
[20:53:07] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> That makes sense.
[20:53:51] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I tend to avoid a world ender after I see it massacre a people. Luckily, last world only lost 1 life. So.
[Cinder’s eyes flick up from the ground to Joco’s face.]
[20:54:04] <✦[rp] Cinder> youve seen that a lot?
[20:54:11] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> World ends? Yes, many
[20:54:13] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> So many.
[20:54:24] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I never counted. Probably hundreds.
[20:54:19] <✦[rp] Cinder> hmm. interesting
[20:54:22] <✦[rp] Cinder> does it get easier
[20:54:38] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> If you care about the people? No, it never gets easier to lose loved ones.
[20:55:05] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Might grow disconnected from the people you meet, which makes it easier to move on. But the loss is never easier.
[20:54:43] <✦[rp] Finch> Well.. at least you're here!
[20:54:47] <✦[rp] Finch> and that's what counts!
[20:55:06] <✦[rp] Finch> at least you are alive. that is what's important here.
[20:55:19] <✦[rp] Cinder> we're all alive. id quite like it to stay that way
[20:55:43] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I worry that. For all that I despise that blue cat, we might lose this world.
[20:56:30] <✦[rp] Cinder> well, hey, joco. we arent letting it go without a fight, right? we'll go down swinging or not at all
[Joco presses their lips together. They nod, but their expression is solemn. The three of them are quiet for a moment. Cinder turns to brush a palm against one of the plants Finch has planted down within the hole.]
[20:55:34] <✦[rp] Cinder> does it seem like its... eaten any of the plants, finch?
[20:55:43] <✦[rp] Finch> uh... no.
[20:56:00] <✦[rp] Finch> it doesnt seem to have done anything
[20:56:17] <✦[rp] Finch> and i'm not sure about you, but I'd be fine losing prince. means this wont ever happen again.
[20:57:01] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Well, Finch, just because we stopped this world's sculk doesnt mean the next world won't have a similar issue
[Cinder turns to look at Joco.]
[20:56:58] <✦[rp] Cinder> have you noticed anything about it, joco? anything changing
[20:57:26] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Like I said before, I haven't really gone down here in a while. I didn't even know about Finch's.... additions. Until now.
[20:57:33] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Only change I'm seeing is what Finch has done.
[Finch beams with pride as they look upon their handiwork spread throughout the cavernous area.]
[20:57:57] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> That is to say, Before was a very clean area where you could tell any change at all, and now it's a mess
[Finch perks up to try and answer Cinder’s question.]
[20:58:14] <✦[rp] Finch> You'll always be able to notice a change! it's purple, after all
[20:59:05] <✦[rp] Finch> It'll still be purple, I think
[20:58:42] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> The bigger changes are purple-black, but if it's smaller? A more minimal change to start off?
[20:59:01] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We only noticed last world's once it was a bigger change. It was probably spreading for a while before that.
[20:59:30] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> If the same Void infection shows up, yes. It'll probably be purple.
[20:57:43] <✦[rp] Cinder> so maybe plants arent enough
[20:57:55] <✦[rp] Cinder> if we really want to call something here, maybe we need to do more.
[Finch introjects.]
[20:58:04] <✦[rp] Finch> I've tried writing to them again! thrown a letter down here . but er... no response.
[Finch turns to look at Joco.]
[20:59:28] <✦[rp] Finch> plus. it's better to put things thatll get it here in the first place than have a 'clean slate' or whatever to watch it from
[Joco narrows their eyes.]
[21:00:14] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> One of us spent days breaking the bedrock here and cleaning up the area afterwards, and the other broke that work to plant some grass.
[21:00:32] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> One of those people's opinions on this issue probably have more weight. And it's not the planter.
[21:00:47] <✦[rp] Finch> hey! i did good i think
[21:00:57] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> You sure did a lot of something, kit.
[21:01:03] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I'm not calling it good.
[Cinder has been quiet, thinking something over. He speaks up, and both Finch and Joco turn to look at him.]
[20:59:57] <✦[rp] Cinder> you said different worlds have different voids, and from what ive heard and seen, thats true. What if we called a different type of void infection
[21:00:31] <✦[rp] Finch> it'll still be purple. i think. it's my friend. my friend is purple.
[21:00:46] <✦[rp] Cinder> what if what we get isn't your friend, finch?
[21:00:46] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We very well may be calling a different infection
[21:00:50] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Something that isn't your friend.
[21:01:31] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Anyways, Cinder, you're right. We might be calling something more or less destructive than last world's Void. One that's less 'friendly'
[21:01:32] <✦[rp] Cinder> if letters and plants arent enough, maybe we need to do more.
[21:01:44] <✦[rp] Cinder> we cant just sit around waiting for nothing to happen.
[21:02:11] <✦[rp] Finch> yeah.. we cant just. wait around til the sculks at our front door
[21:01:55] <✦[rp] Cinder> or waiting until one day we wake up and everythings been taken.
[21:01:54] <✦[rp] Finch> what are you suggesting?
[21:02:07] <✦[rp] Cinder> i dont know. The only way ive ever been able to connect with the void before is
[Cinder draws in a long, laborious breath.]
[21:02:15] <✦[rp] Cinder> off the table. not an option. not here, not now
[21:02:32] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We could toss more magically powerful things down.
[21:02:41] <✦[rp] Finch> do you think that'll help?
[21:02:44] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Nether stars, a beacon, maybe even a whole Wither.
[21:02:51] <✦[rp] Cinder> maybe? fuel it more
[21:02:51] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> It could be funny to toss in a wither.
[Finch leaps into the air, shouting over the other two.]
[21:02:48] <✦[rp] Finch> .... I HAVE AN IDEA
[They float to the ground as Cinder covers aer ears, and Joco flicks their ears back.]
[21:03:14] <✦[rp] Finch> is er. wizard done with null. forever . like did everything possible
[21:03:21] <✦[rp] Finch> nulls important i think. we can toss in null.
[21:03:22] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We're not putting Null in the hole
[21:03:24] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> No
[21:03:25] <✦[rp] Finch> darn
[21:03:34] <✦[rp] Cinder> wizard is NOT gonna let that fly
[21:03:41] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Null is how Ollie gets us worlds and other such things.
[21:03:44] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> And it's cute.
[21:03:47] <✦[rp] Finch> fiiine.
[21:03:51] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We're not tossing the lil guy down the hole
[21:03:57] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I'd sooner sacrifice you to it.
[21:03:51] <✦[rp] Cinder> now. im not saying this is what we should do
[21:03:57] <✦[rp] Cinder> or even what we should consider
[21:04:10] <✦[rp] Cinder> but the skulk got... more after prince did something at that wedding, right
[21:04:18] <✦[rp] Cinder> prince gave up some form of life to it. and it got stronger
[21:04:33] <✦[rp] Cinder> a players sacrifice seems to fuel a force like that
[Finch’s ears flick up.]
[21:04:34] <✦[rp] Finch> yeah after prince did something at the wedding
[21:04:36] <✦[rp] Finch> whatever it was
[Joco points to the void hole.]
[21:04:35] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Finch, get in the hole.
[21:04:40] <✦[rp] Finch> no. im not getting in the hole.
[21:04:42] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Prince sacrificed himself.
[21:04:45] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> For his sculk.
[Cinder shakes their hands.]
[21:04:52] <✦[rp] Cinder> wait lets not get ahead of ourselves we dont know what would even HAPPEN to finch
[21:04:54] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> You could sacrifice yourself. For your Void.
[21:05:06] <✦[rp] Finch> I'm not getting in the hole. I love my friend but im not doing that.
[21:05:09] <✦[rp] Cinder> but. if thats what it takes. it might be what it comes to? Maybe the void needs a person
[21:05:15] <✦[rp] Cinder> it wanted something from me
[A look of realization dawns on Finch’s face, their tail flicking with excitement.]
[21:05:16] <✦[rp] Finch> ... we can throw in prince?
[21:05:19] <✦[rp] Finch> two birds, one stone?
[21:05:37] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Prince is part of a hivemind, he'd just be able to generate a new form.
[Cinder takes in a shaky breath.]
[21:05:26] <✦[rp] Cinder> back when. when i was with it
[21:05:57] <✦[rp] Cinder> maybe it wants something from someone now. maybe it needs something stronger than plants or letters or magic
[Finch considers this.]
[21:05:59] <✦[rp] Finch> mmm..
[21:06:09] <✦[rp] Finch> ...doc?
[21:06:23] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We're not sacrificing Doc
[Cinder shakes her head, she stares down into the void.]
[21:06:11] <✦[rp] Cinder> i dont know. i dont even know if we should consider that as a possibility
[21:06:28] <✦[rp] Cinder> i really dont want to throw the old man down here
[21:06:36] <✦[rp] Cinder> i dont know if whatevers down here would even want him
[They grimace.]
[21:06:43] <✦[rp] Cinder> sorry doc.
[21:06:44] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> He's got a family to get back to, if we can get him home.
[Finch jumps up and down, raising their paw into the air.]
[21:06:43] <✦[rp] Finch> oh! oh i know! malfaction's probably doomed anyways, so we could take one of them!
[21:06:52] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Who's in.
[21:06:54] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> hm.
[21:06:55] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Punk?
[21:07:00] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> He's a Malfer
[Finch shakes their head vehemently.]
[21:07:00] <✦[rp] Finch> Dad would be upset
[21:07:12] <✦[rp] Cinder> yeah dan wouldn't like that option
[21:07:14] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> The only Malfers I can think of off the top of my head would upset your dad
[21:07:09] <✦[rp] Finch> uhhh... ceph! we could throw in ceph
[21:07:18] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Ceph dying would upset your dad.
[21:07:18] <✦[rp] Cinder> ceph is... weird, right?
[21:07:20] <✦[rp] Cinder> cant respawn
[21:07:25] <✦[rp] Cinder> dont know if that would even work
[21:07:30] <✦[rp] Finch> yeah thats the point!
[21:07:33] <✦[rp] Finch> the no respawn thing
[21:07:45] <✦[rp] Finch> how can we be sure the sacrifice took. only unless they dont come back
[21:08:08] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Finch, that's more a point towards throwing a respawner down. If they don't respawn, then it took.
[21:07:33] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We're not permakilling Ceph on a hunch.
[21:07:44] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Your dad would be pissed.
[Finch lets out a huff.]
[21:07:48] <✦[rp] Finch> .... fiine.
[21:08:00] <✦[rp] Finch> dad would be upset about ceph.
[21:08:05] <✦[rp] Finch> who else. lives in malfaction
[21:08:16] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Punk, Ceph,
[21:08:24] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Hm.
[21:08:26] <✦[rp] Finch> er..
[21:08:29] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Pyrite?
[21:08:34] <✦[rp] Finch> oh! maybe!
[21:08:48] <✦[rp] Finch> we'll just have to grab them before the sculk does!
[21:08:37] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> The. They looked like a plant at the wedding.
[21:08:50] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> They seem alright, though.
[Cinder slowly shakes their head.]
[21:08:48] <✦[rp] Cinder> i feel like i shouldn't have even said this. I feel like we';re going down a slippery slope
[21:09:02] <✦[rp] Cinder> the void wants things, sure, but it doesnt always mean its good to give them to it
[21:09:11] <✦[rp] Cinder> and we dont even know if it wants this
[21:09:14] <✦[rp] Finch> ...
[21:09:20] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah no I think maybe player sacrifice isn't the best option here. Only one we could reasonably sacrifice in good morals is Prince.
[21:09:29] <✦[rp] Finch> yeah that would be getting rid of a potentially useful asset on an idea
[21:09:34] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We could also have a sterile void.
[21:09:42] <✦[rp] Cinder> hmm. maybe, but
[They rub the outside of their arms again. Dots of goosebumps flare up, and the hair on her arms stand on end, like static electricity is pressing against her skin.]
[21:09:53] <✦[rp] Cinder> dont you feel something?
[21:09:59] <✦[rp] Cinder> it doesnt feel empty
[21:10:06] <✦[rp] Finch> no, not really. i dont feel anything, sorry
[21:10:05] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Cinder, I don't feel anything except maybe a bit cold.
[21:10:13] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I can check down there, if you'd like?
[21:10:26] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I'd need to grab some more rockets, but.
[21:10:57] <✦[rp] Cinder> might be good, but. it's probably nothing anyway. Dont put yourself in danger for me being a bit weird about this
[21:11:17] <✦[rp] Cinder> we need a plan. or an idea for one, anyway. of what to do next
[21:11:29] <✦[rp] Cinder> we cant just sit by and watch it
[21:11:51] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I mean, we could
[21:12:05] <✦[rp] Finch> I agree with cinder
[21:12:08] <✦[rp] Finch> we need to do something
[21:12:17] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> If y'all want to, you could dig another hole.
[21:12:46] <✦[rp] Cinder> that does make sense. more spots for it to come through. like tearing open a bigger and bigger portal
[21:13:02] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Like opening wounds on your skin to let more infection take.
[21:13:26] <✦[rp] Cinder> and feeding it with magic, like Joco said. that might do something
[21:13:11] <✦[rp] Finch> mmmm maybe? i. i dunno. but any ideas better than no idea
[21:13:39] <✦[rp] Finch> maybe
[The three of them go quiet for a moment.]
[21:13:44] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> A wither could be REALLY funny
[The joke doesn’t seem to land.]
[21:13:56] <✦[rp] Cinder> and if it came down to it... I suppose we think on the idea of a player.
[21:14:12] <✦[rp] Finch> if it came down to it
[Cinder stares down into the depths of the void. It swirls in patterns that have never been seen before now. It hums. It speaks to him in a voice no one else can hear.]
[21:14:12] <✦[rp] Cinder> someone without family to go back to. Who respawns. Who people wouldn't miss too bad
[Cinder stops, pausing very suddenly. Their shock is visible.]
[21:14:26] <✦[rp] Cinder> huh.
[Finch nods, seemingly the only one not to notice.]
[21:14:48] <✦[rp] Finch> someone who can disappear without too much of a fuss
[21:14:43] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I think. Of all the players to sacrifice. Our best bets would be Prince or Finch. Finch made a 'connection' with the Void, and Prince is. Sacrificeable.
[Finch backs away from the hole.]
[21:14:59] <✦[rp] Finch> We are not sacrificing me
[21:15:08] <✦[rp] Cinder> I dont think dan would be happy with finch being the sacrifice
[21:15:10] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I think sacrificing someone simply because they aren't loved is a terrible thing.
[21:15:27] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I don't think anyone would be really happy about sacrificing anyone on the server.
[21:15:34] <✦[rp] Finch> Prince is good. getting rid of the head of that sculk thing and maybe getting my friend back
[21:15:46] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Prince isn't the head, Finch. I dont think so, at least
[21:15:29] <✦[rp] Cinder> and prince is already Something Else. I dont think that would work
[Cinder’s eyes swim for a moment. Like the blackness of the void has been painted on the surface of their vision.]
1:15:37] <✦[rp] Cinder> but if it really came down to it
[Their wings open.]
[21:15:40] <✦[rp] Cinder> i could
[21:15:45] <✦[rp] Cinder> i could do it
[Finch watches Cinder stand before the void. For a moment their paws lift up, just for a moment. It wouldn’t be hard to push Cinder in, they’re strong, and ae doesn’t weigh that much.]
[21:15:57] <✦[rp] Finch> ...
[Joco steps forward almost as if to stop Cinder.]
[21:15:49] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> No.
[21:16:01] <✦[rp] Finch> what joco said! no
[Cinder blinks, and they tear their eyes from the void.]
[21:16:03] <✦[rp] Cinder> i dont want to. I dont ever want to go back to that thing
[21:16:03] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Cinder, you've just joined us. You're not allowed to throw away your life for us.
[His voice is soft.]
[21:16:07] <✦[rp] Cinder> but if i had to
[21:16:19] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> If anyone had to, I've lived hundreds of years.
[21:16:25] <✦[rp] Cinder> if someone needs to do it, joco, then id rather it be me than one of you
[21:16:28] <✦[rp] Cinder> its penance
[21:16:37] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Penance for what crime, survival?
[21:16:50] <✦[rp] Cinder> survival isnt the half of it.
[21:17:13] <✦[rp] Cinder> im not saying i want to do it. or even that I would
[21:17:24] <✦[rp] Cinder> but i know the void. Youve seen it, I can feel it. I think it would know me too
[21:17:35] <✦[rp] Cinder> if we had to, if we had nothing else, I'd do it
[Joco moves forward, they place a hand over Cinder’s chest, moving aer gently back and away from the Void. Their voice is soft.]
[21:17:44] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Just because you can feel something, doesn't mean it can feel you, too
[21:17:54] <✦[rp] Finch> Like ... a pillow!
[21:18:12] <✦[rp] Cinder> Yeah but that might be the best shot we've got
[He still lets himself be pulled back and away.]
[21:18:13] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> An ant can feel a player's footsteps on the dirt, but a player might never see that ant.
[Cinder’s eyes are wide and frightened. Joco furrows their brow as they see, even in the darkness of the cave, that for a moment, Cinder’s pupils have become almost void-dark.]
[21:18:27] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I think we best be getting out of this pit.
[Cinder looks away.]
[21:18:34] <✦[rp] Cinder> maybe. my head hurts
[21:18:49] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> The dim lighting and void proximity isn't good for the mind.
[21:18:56] <✦[rp] Finch> fine
[Cinder pushes Joco away, not with any anger, but almost out of fear of what a proximity to anyone might mean.]
[21:19:03] <✦[rp] Cinder> i need you guys to trust me when i say im not being reckless here. Im not going to endanger myself. Please just keep the option in mind
[21:19:27] <✦[rp] Finch> I will! But please don't do it recklessly
[21:19:33] <✦[rp] Cinder> i wouldn't say what I don't mean. We will try everything else before it comes to anything like that.
[21:19:23] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Cinder, I would sooner toss myself down there a thousand times than consider letting you go in once.
[21:19:40] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> You're part of our group, and we protect our own.
[21:19:56] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Worse comes to worst, we can always try fleeing to another world.
[Guilt weighs heavy in Cinder’s stomach.]
[21:19:57] <✦[rp] Cinder> sure
[21:20:05] <✦[rp] Cinder> but. dont count it out.
[21:20:11] <✦[rp] Cinder> and keep yourselves safe too
[Joco’s face stays neutral, but their eyes search Cinder’s face. They will do everything to keep this person from losing themself to this.]
[21:20:19] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Hm.
[Cinder draws a flower from their pocket. It’s a lily of the valley, slightly wilted from its journey, but still strong nonetheless. They dig away the dirt with their hands, and place the roots of it into the ground.]
[21:21:26] <✦[rp] Cinder> Let it be known im not doing this as a gift to the void.
[They tamp down the earth, and let their fingers brush against the flower one last time.]
[21:21:26] <✦[rp] Cinder> It's... largely unrelated
[21:21:52] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> It's a beautiful flower, Cinder
[21:22:02] <✦[rp] Finch> It is really nice
[A sad smile twitches at the corners of Cinder’s lips.]
[21:22:06] <✦[rp] Cinder> isn't it?
[They stand, one weight has been removed, but another has been hefted onto their shoulders.]
[21:22:15] <✦[rp] Cinder> come on, we should go. Joco was right.
[21:22:24] <✦[rp] Cinder> we have ideas. we just have to act on them
[Joco nods to Finch and Cinder, making sure they’re the last one at the bottom.]
[21:22:22] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Up to the top we go.
[Finch flies up through the top easily, waiting for the others. Cinder swims their way up, while Joco follows close behind. They arrive at the surface together, Cinder looks back at the void once more before climbing out and onto the sand.]
[21:23:52] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Well.
[21:23:56] <✦[rp] Cinder> well.
[Joco turns to look at Cinder. They relax slightly when they notice that Cinder’s eyes have returned to a normal blue.]
[21:23:58] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> It sure is a hole.
[21:24:04] <✦[rp] Finch> it is a hole
[21:24:02] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> What now?
[21:24:11] <✦[rp] Cinder> i guess we dig another one?
[21:24:19] <✦[rp] Finch> throw in beacons or something?
[21:24:22] <✦[rp] Cinder> and we find what can go down. Not null, but something powerful
[21:24:29] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Last world, the holes created triangulated to a certain spot.
[21:24:40] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Maybe we try to. Triangulate.
[21:24:54] <✦[rp] Finch> to.. .what exactly
[21:25:16] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I don't know!
[21:25:24] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Maybe we want it at spawn.
[21:25:34] <✦[rp] Cinder> or where theres the most skulk?
[21:25:36] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Maybe we want it. at Malfaction. That'd take a lot more distance.
[21:25:51] <✦[rp] Finch> oh! malfaction would be good
[21:25:59] <✦[rp] Finch> spawn it there. let it kill the sculk faster
[21:24:53] <✦[rp] Cinder> if you work out where that should be, I'm sure we both can help
[21:25:57] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We'd need somewhere far northeast and southeast, probably.
[21:26:16] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> As far away from the Malf town as this is, both of those pits.
[21:26:19] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Quite a distance.
[21:26:30] <✦[rp] Cinder> but not an impossible one, right?
[21:26:42] <✦[rp] Finch> ...right?
[21:26:45] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> No, never impossible
[Joco chuckles.]
[21:27:13] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Goodness, imagine if a little distance made a task impossible.
[21:27:30] <✦[rp] Finch> you never know!
[21:26:53] <✦[rp] Cinder> then i say we try it
[21:27:29] <✦[rp] Cinder> I may not love the idea of bringing void here, but I would like to be sculk zombied even less. so lets give them hell
[Joco sighs, they flick their tail from side to side absentmindedly.]
[21:27:45] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We don't even know if the Void will come.
[21:27:56] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We could be digging pits all for naught.
[21:28:06] <✦[rp] Cinder> we should work out what to do if it doesn't. but anythings worth a try, right?
[21:28:14] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yes, it is.
[21:27:58] <✦[rp] Finch> we have to try everything i think
[21:28:11] <✦[rp] Finch> i don't wanna end up like prince
[21:28:28] <✦[rp] Cinder> we wouldn't let that happen, finch, no matter what goes wrong
[21:28:31] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Finch, if it makes you feel any better, I don't think anyone could quite end up like Prince
[21:28:35] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> He's.... unique.
[21:28:48] <✦[rp] Finch> well i don't want whatever he's doing to others
[21:29:11] <✦[rp] Cinder> im the same. Im not letting myself be made a puppet for something so fucked up ever again. we'll stay safe. we have to
[21:29:15] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> He's not the most efficient infector.
[21:29:08] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We only know of one victim at the moment
[21:29:27] <✦[rp] Cinder> true. out of anyone, doc was a strange choice
[Finch pipes up.]
[21:29:27] <✦[rp] Finch> we only KNOW of one. we dont know if theres others. all of malfaction could be gone by this point
[Joco pauses, considering something.]
[21:29:53] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Has your dad talked to Punk recently?
[21:29:57] <✦[rp] Finch> uh.. actually
[21:29:59] <✦[rp] Finch> no.
[21:30:10] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> He should. Maybe check on his lover.
[21:30:11] <✦[rp] Finch> he hasn't written back, dad told me recently. had a nice outing together
[21:30:21] <✦[rp] Cinder> maybe he should check on him, then
[21:30:23] <✦[rp] Cinder> just in case
[21:30:26] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> That's very sweet. Your dad might be a double widower.
[21:30:28] <✦[rp] Finch> makes sense. all malfactions gonna be gone soon enough with prince around
[21:30:43] <✦[rp] Finch> i dont. have high hopes for their survival
[21:30:41] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Finch, we don't want all the Malf folk to die.
[21:30:51] <✦[rp] Finch> oh, no, i dont want them dead
[21:30:53] <✦[rp] Finch> dont get me wrong
[21:30:56] <✦[rp] Finch> i just think theyre dead
[21:31:00] <✦[rp] Cinder> if something went wrong, where could they go?
[21:31:06] <✦[rp] Finch> somewhere else.
[21:31:07] <✦[rp] Cinder> does corroded have a refugee program or
[21:31:24] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I like to think we wouldn't turn away those in need
[21:32:01] <✦[rp] Cinder> between us and wisteria im sure things would be fine, if any of them did need an out. though it seems no one has needed one so far
[21:31:59] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We've got quite a few small towns, they could stay there or in Verdigris or even here.
[21:31:43] <✦[rp] Finch> nobody showed up to our doorstep, though
[21:32:20] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Maybe they don't realize the danger they're in. Or maybe it's already too late.
[21:34:52] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I do so hope it's not too late for them.
[21:35:03] <✦[rp] Finch> i hope not
[21:35:11] <✦[rp] Finch> but i wouldn't be surpised if it was too late
[21:35:07] <✦[rp] Cinder> I havent met many malfaction people, but they seemed nice
[They pause.]
[21:35:16] <✦[rp] Cinder> though i thought that of prince, too.
[21:35:45] <✦[rp] Finch> dad's weird husband is okay i guess. uh. ceph. exists. i don't really like them but they exist
[21:35:50] <✦[rp] Finch> pyrite. also exists i guess. uh
[21:37:00] <✦[rp] Finch> they exist i guess! theres someone dad cares about in there, and thats about how much i feel about any of them
[21:37:27] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> There's two someones your dad cares about in there.
[21:37:37] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> He was Very quick to volunteer to marry Ceph.
[21:38:02] <✦[rp] Cinder> Finch I think your dad is trying for a world record of spouses
[21:38:43] <✦[rp] Finch> I hope not!
[21:38:14] <✦[rp] Finch> theres one someone dad cares about in there. the other one is... ceph.
[21:38:33] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Dan sure seems to care about Ceph
[21:39:02] <✦[rp] Cinder> oooohhhh, so is that why ceph was off the sacrificial table
[21:39:07] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yep
[21:39:28] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> That and. One-lifers. I don't like sacrificing one-lifers.
[21:39:43] <✦[rp] Cinder> yeah. I suppose theres nothing very fair about that
[21:39:53] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> They tend to leave bodies.
[21:39:55] <✦[rp] Finch> ... i guess
[21:36:20] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Honestly, the Malfactioners aren't bad. They're just emo. Evil-coded.
[21:36:40] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Building in all blackstones and snowy biomes will do that.
[21:36:36] <✦[rp] Cinder> yeah they are particularly miserable
[Cinder winces.]
[21:36:42] <✦[rp] Cinder> that sounded meaner than i meant it. but.
[21:36:52] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah no that was kinda mean.
[21:37:25] <✦[rp] Cinder> well, who knows. maybe this plan of ours, or whatever we do if it fails, will help them too
[21:37:29] <✦[rp] Finch> i don't understand why anyone'd go willingly live in such a cold place, but i guess they'd think the same of us.
[21:37:51] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Some folk just like cold more than warm. That's okay.
[21:38:11] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Only so many layers you can take off to beat the heat, while you can put Many layers on to keep out the cold.
[Joco pushes their hands into their pockets.]
[21:39:03] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Well then
[21:39:58] <✦[rp] Cinder> youll tell me if the void changes, right Joco? you'll keep an eye on it?
[21:40:03] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yes, of course.
[21:40:10] <✦[rp] Cinder> i might come back to visit sometime
[21:40:19] <✦[rp] Cinder> i think it will make me feel better to see it myself here and there
[21:40:20] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Alright! You're always welcome to come by
[21:40:44] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I've got a hut. Very full of animals. For folks to stay in. A church, if anyone wants to sleep on a bench.
[21:41:02] <✦[rp] Finch> I think the most important thing you have here is the hole
[21:41:19] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I think the most important thing I have here is my home.
[21:41:10] <✦[rp] Cinder> and finch, good luck with what you're trying to do with it. I sincerely hope your friend answers you. that would make things a lot easier
[21:41:17] <✦[rp] Finch> it would
[Cinder turns toward home, but shifts back for a moment.]
[21:41:20] <✦[rp] Cinder> hey joco
[21:42:15] <✦[rp] Cinder> if this fails, and we have to go onto a new world
[21:42:23] <✦[rp] Cinder> i hope im able to be there with you guys
[21:42:32] <✦[rp] Finch> I hope so too
[21:42:35] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We'll do our damndest to get you there with us.
[21:42:49] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I will, at least. Wiz likes people, he'd help too.
[21:43:20] <✦[rp] Cinder> but it wont fail. it cant. we have to keep trying
[21:43:21] <✦[rp] Finch> yeah!
[21:43:35] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yep!
[21:43:45] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We're doing our best.
[21:43:35] <✦[rp] Finch> we've gotta do SOMETHING
[21:44:01] <✦[rp] Finch> because im not just gonna sit around and let myself turn to sculk mush just because someone showed up and said we had to
[Joco holds up their hands.]
[21:43:57] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Just. Focus on not getting infected by sculk. That's priority number one.
[21:44:28] <✦[rp] Cinder> Agreed. we have each others back, I'm sure we can stay safe
[21:44:50] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Who ever said anything about letting ourselves get sculked?
[21:44:59] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Besides Prince, of course.
[Cinder raises an eyebrow at Joco.]
[21:45:12] <✦[rp] Cinder> well, joco, you seemed pretty keen to the idea after that wedding
[Finch nods along with her.]
[21:45:20] <✦[rp] Finch> well er, you kinda suggested doin that to yourself
[21:45:22] <✦[rp] Cinder> though im glad youve changed your tune
[21:45:42] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> That wasn't me wanting to sculk anyone else, that was me saying I'm willing to GET sculked. For Science.
[21:45:50] <✦[rp] Finch> please don't
[21:45:51] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Unless it was immediately after the wedding. I was drunk and high.
[21:46:08] <✦[rp] Cinder> yeahhh you were quite out of it
[21:46:15] <✦[rp] Cinder> talking about how ceph let you hit
[21:45:59] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We don't listen to drunk and high Joco.
[21:46:26] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Doc, Wiz, and I figured out that. Milk probably has alcoholic effects on me.
[21:46:44] <✦[rp] Cinder> huh! Is that cause of the cat thing or just, entirely separate
[21:47:03] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Probably cat thing, never happened before
[21:47:13] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Finch, milk's normal for you, isn't it?
[21:47:20] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Just like. A liquid.
[21:47:14] <✦[rp] Finch> i promise drinking milk just makes me not feel well. at all.
[21:47:30] <✦[rp] Finch> a liquid of feeling bad, yeah i guess
[21:47:35] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah no it's definitely related to my. Catification.
[21:47:23] <✦[rp] Cinder> very interesting
[Joco pats the top of their head, flicking their cat ears back
[21:47:43] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I kinda miss having normal ears.
[21:47:55] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Having to modify hats isn't that fun.
[21:47:54] <✦[rp] Cinder> wait what happened to your normal ones
[21:47:59] <✦[rp] Cinder> like. where did they go
[21:48:03] <✦[rp] Cinder> did they fall off
[21:48:21] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> No idea! Ate a bunch of raw fish for weeks. Months. And woke up one day with cat ears. And cat eyes.
[21:48:32] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Like, the reflectiveness of cat eyes.
[21:48:40] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> It's fun. If you don't think about it too hard.
[21:48:36] <✦[rp] Cinder> do you think that would work for me
[21:48:42] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Probably not?
[21:48:50] <✦[rp] Cinder> i dont need more going on but. I;d like to know in theory
[21:49:13] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I'm pretty sure it has to do with my body reacting to being in the Hallways for so long. And we don't really know my species, so.
[21:49:17] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah.
[21:49:54] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Had a diet of cooked fish a few months ago, and woke up one day with a tail.
[21:49:34] <✦[rp] Cinder> i wonder what my species would show up as
[21:49:48] <✦[rp] Cinder> i was born an avian-human hybrid, but. I wonder if things have changed
[21:49:57] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Oh?
[21:50:06] <✦[rp] Finch> hm?
[21:50:19] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Did your code get messed with?
[Cinder nods slowly.]
[21:50:29] <✦[rp] Cinder> you could... say that
[21:50:51] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> That's rough, buckaroo.
[21:51:02] <✦[rp] Cinder> I had some things change after something happened. And I still don't know what it did to me. Havent really had anyone I could ask.
[21:51:05] <✦[rp] Finch> ouch! i think. thats the appropriate reaction here
[21:51:34] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> That's rough
[21:51:17] <✦[rp] Cinder> eh, I'm not too torn up about it anymore
[21:51:49] <✦[rp] Cinder> probably a question for another day, though! bigger fish to fry and all that
[21:51:44] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> One time, the Unknown removed a cat allergy from me.
[21:51:51] <✦[rp] Cinder> they
[21:51:54] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah.
[21:51:55] <✦[rp] Cinder> they did what?? Why??
[21:52:08] <✦[rp] Finch> what?
[21:52:20] <✦[rp] Cinder> and if they hadnt done that and you still became like you are now then would you be allergic to yourself
[21:52:39] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Honestly. I might be hypoallergenic, we don't know.
[21:52:23] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> It's an independent factor. They didn't want extra independent factors.
[21:52:36] <✦[rp] Finch> independent factors ...?
[21:52:43] <✦[rp] Cinder> independent factors. like for testing? Research?
[21:52:48] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah, like in science, independent and dependent.
[21:53:01] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Factors.
[21:53:02] <✦[rp] Cinder> they were... testing you? or testing on you?
[21:53:15] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Testing.... with me. We're going with "with me"
[21:53:25] <✦[rp] Cinder> god
[21:53:32] <✦[rp] Finch> that doesnt... sound good!
[21:53:37] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Whenever I get put in a world, that world destroys itself within a few years at longest, a few weeks at shortest.
[21:53:54] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> They tossed me from world to world, a trail of destruction, for centuries.
[21:54:03] <✦[rp] Cinder> oh, so when you said youve seen world ends
[21:54:06] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah.
[21:54:01] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> That's why I've seen so many world ends.
[21:54:11] <✦[rp] Cinder> thats horrible.
[21:54:14] <✦[rp] Finch> that doesn't sound very .. uh good
[21:54:24] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yep.
[21:54:33] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> They were about to move me again when I came here.
[21:54:33] <✦[rp] Finch> well glad you're with us then! the world ending is just par the course here! i don't think we've ever stayed in one place.. for uh too long
[21:54:41] <✦[rp] Cinder> and they just. put you in places again and again? and watched what happened?
[21:54:53] <✦[rp] Cinder> they make me sick. Im glad you got away
[21:54:55] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yep. They couldn't figure out why it happens.
[21:55:15] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Wiz checked my code, and it's all wacky. So. We can't figure it out either.
[21:55:29] <✦[rp] Cinder> Wiz can check code? hmm. might have to go talk with him
[21:55:13] <✦[rp] Cinder> and for what its worth. Its nowhere near anything like that, but. I do get it, to some degree
[21:55:38] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I mean. Benefits of my life, I got to have a kid body for a LONG time. So spry. So energetic.
[21:55:46] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Downsides. Everything else.
[21:56:10] <✦[rp] Cinder> so that explains why you act like an old man in a twenty something year old body
[21:56:24] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah.
[21:56:22] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I'm probably older than 600.
[21:56:24] <✦[rp] Finch> But hey! at least you survived! You haven't died to the end of the world yet
[21:56:28] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yep!
[21:56:38] <✦[rp] Cinder> good job on not dying! please keep it up
[21:56:34] <✦[rp] Finch> and you survived! isn't that something to be proud of?
[21:56:46] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I mean. They usually pulled me out before I could die. But! Yeah.
[Cinder turns to face Finch.]
[21:57:02] <✦[rp] Cinder> finch? If you dont mind me asking. have you had any run ins with the unknown?
[21:57:11] <✦[rp] Finch> uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
[21:57:21] <✦[rp] Cinder> beyond the one your dad was married to i guess
[21:57:58] <✦[rp] Finch> beyond noxy.......? erm. i mean there was the one from the last world's, but i didn't uh interact much with them. er. there was once? i think. but that one's existence is more ehh. i had bigger problems at the time
[21:58:32] <✦[rp] Cinder> im glad you've managed to dodge getting into any direct trouble with more... hostile ones.
[21:58:12] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We had Scifi! Last world. Alex.
[21:58:30] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Penpal. Language loving bitch.
[21:58:49] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Alex is the one who planted the Void last world.
[21:59:34] <✦[rp] Cinder> i assume alex isnt around to do that again?
[21:59:59] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Well, we haven't heard from them since.
[21:59:58] <✦[rp] Finch> I hope not
[22:00:03] <✦[rp] Finch> not in a er, i dont want the void
[22:00:46] <✦[rp] Finch> but i didn't really like them too much. ollie doesn't really like unknown, and dad's married to one. and I'm more inclined to agree with dad here. but. you know. ollie would be mad which would upset dad
[22:01:32] <✦[rp] Finch> but thats besides the point
[22:00:14] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> They'd probably be our best bet for getting Finch's 'buddy'
[22:01:01] <✦[rp] Cinder> well as... useful as that would be, i guess I'm glad about that
[22:01:34] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yes.
[22:01:48] <✦[rp] Finch> that points not important. im just glad they aren't here. that usually means we have to move soon
[22:01:59] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I mean. We might have to move soon, anyways
[22:02:08] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> We've been here a while now.
[22:02:07] <✦[rp] Cinder> but at least there's no unknown
[22:02:31] <✦[rp] Cinder> I'd prefer void to skulk but id prefer skulk to unknown. any day
[22:02:44] <✦[rp] Finch> yeah
[22:02:44] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yes.
[22:02:51] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Pick your poison and whatnot.
[22:03:05] <✦[rp] Finch> though maybe if i really had to choose between unknown or sculk, itd be a hard choice
[Joco answers quickly.]
[22:03:16] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I'd pick the Unknown.
[22:03:23] <✦[rp] Finch> .... yeah probably.
[22:03:31] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> They're, ironically, a known evil.
[22:03:47] <✦[rp] Cinder> I cannot say the same. But at least we shouldn't HAVE to make that choice
[22:04:07] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Maybe next world we might find one less vanilla.
[22:04:17] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> That could be fun.
[22:04:30] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> One with. Blueberries.
[22:04:46] <✦[rp] Finch> with.....? what?
[22:04:58] <✦[rp] Cinder> ooh id like blueberries
[22:05:03] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Blueberries are so good.
[22:05:06] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I miss them.
[22:05:23] <✦[rp] Cinder> i hope the next one has them for you, then
[22:05:30] <✦[rp] Cinder> we can grow them together maybe
[22:05:39] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> They're a fruit, like sweetberries but blue. And different flavor
[22:05:43] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> That could be nice
[22:05:43] <✦[rp] Cinder> corroded can have a blueberry field. itll be nice
[22:06:20] <✦[rp] Finch> huh! neat
[22:06:30] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah...
[22:06:36] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Anyways! It's getting late.
[22:06:47] <✦[rp] Finch> ..yeah
[22:06:50] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> So, plan is to make more void holes, triangulated around the Malfaction town?
[Finch nods with excitement.]
[22:06:54] <✦[rp] Finch> we should, probably all get home soon
[22:07:06] <✦[rp] Finch> and also throw more things down there. in the hole
[22:07:15] <✦[rp] Cinder> Sounds good to me. We can meet again if anything changes
[22:07:32] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Alright!
[The sun is beginning to set behind the horizon. Cinder turns their face towards it, rubbing at their wings. Their arms feel strange, almost like they’re experiencing the echo of a sensation, a pale memory of the goosebumps made manifest. The pain still prickles at their back, but has faded the further they’ve gotten from the void hole. They flick their wings, trying to get the sensation of pins and needles to go away.]
[22:08:21] <✦[rp] Cinder> stay safe, you guys. I'm gonna get home. sleep for like a week
[22:08:27] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Alrighty!
[22:08:28] <✦[rp] Finch> Goodnight!
[22:08:30] <✦[rp] Finch> Sleep well!
[22:08:37] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I'll. Make sure this pit doesn't explode or something.
[22:08:42] <✦[rp] Cinder> please do.
[Cinder heads off in the direction towards home.]
[22:08:51] <✦[rp] Finch> I should also. get home, soon.
[22:08:53] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yep
[22:09:00] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Have a nice night, kit
[22:09:02] <✦[rp] Finch> You can find me where you can usually find me
[22:09:08] <✦[rp] Finch> and if you see dad uh
[22:09:17] <✦[rp] Finch> please tell him to fix his floors. last i checked he still hasnt
[22:09:24] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Wow.
[22:09:20] <✦[rp] Finch> im worried about him
[22:09:31] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah that's. Concerning.
[Finch grabs Joco’s wrist.]
[22:09:29] <✦[rp] Finch> and if i disappear one day, joco
[Joco rolls their eyes for a moment.]
[22:09:36] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I'm not finishing your train.
[Finch’s voice is quiet, and almost emotional, rare for them.]
[22:09:37] <✦[rp] Finch> uh. please find me.
[22:09:48] <✦[rp] Finch> i don't trust prince, okay?
[Joco softens.]
[22:09:49] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> I'll try, kiddo, I'll try.
[22:10:03] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Barely anyone trusts Prince, to be honest
[Finch looks down at the ground.]
[22:09:54] <✦[rp] Finch> i don't know what he's gonna do
[22:10:04] <✦[rp] Finch> and i dont trust dad's weird husband just. stopping communications
[They look back up into Joco’s eyes.]
[22:10:14] <✦[rp] Finch> i don't want that to happen to me, okay?
[Joco puts a hand on Finch’s head, scratching between their ears.]
[22:10:17] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah.
[22:10:37] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Yeah, you're. You're in our territory, you should be safer than him.
[Finch grins, letting go of Joco.]
[22:10:34] <✦[rp] Finch> thanks, joco! you're the best
[They begin heading off towards home, waving at Joco over their shoulder.]
[22:10:35] <✦[rp] Finch> seeya!
[22:10:40] <✦[rp] Joco Serious> Bye!