Session Start: Sun Nov 11 23:23:34 2007
Session Ident: #lunar-iog2
<Niri> ==Lude Begin OH NOES==
* Niri can be found, some little time later, pacing the halls restlessly not too far from the greenhouses. She mutters to herself a little bit as she does so. After a while she stops, taking a deep breath and letting it out in a sigh, then glances down when she is surprised by an answering mew.
<Niri> Oh...hello, Molly. *She reaches down to pet the kitten, who attacks her shoes.* Don't suppose Trune's around, is he?
<Trune>  >>  Molly looks up at Niri with a steady, yet adorable, gaze, her tail flicking contentedly behind her.
<Trune>  >>  Molly then goes back to attacking Niri's shoes, because shoes are way more intresting than anything else.
* Niri grins and wiggles her toes enticingly.
<Niri> I wish I were a kitten. Big huge moral dilemmas mean nothing when you're cute and fluffy.
<Trune>  >>  Molly then makes a few more swishing motions with her paws, then suddenly mews and bolts into a small sideroom in the complex.
* Niri tilts her head to one side, then follows Molly, peering into the sideroom.
<Trune>  >>  The room itself is small and very cramped, but from wall to wall there appears to be shelves of books. Most of the books seem to be very old; some that are on the floor are already crumbling due to the passage of time. Trune is quietly reading an old book of some sort, so old in fact that the pages look ready to crumble at any given moment.
<Niri> ...Oh look, Molly. You found a Trune.
* Niri peers around the edge of the doorway. "Can I come in?"
<Trune> Uh? Oh. Uh.
* Trune looks a little surprised for a moment, but then his face reverts back to a rather passive look, "I guess."
* Niri frowns and enters. "'I guess'? You don't sound too sure."
<Niri> In fact, you've been pretty...quiet lately. Standoffish even. What gives?
<Trune> Standoffish? Dunno what you're talking about.
* Niri narrows her eyes. "Yes, you do. Basically, you're acting like you did early on, when all of us first met."
<Niri> I thought you'd loosened up a little, Sunshine. Granted, we've been through a lot lately, but...if I did something wrong, you need to tell me. Otherwise I won't know.
<Niri> I'm dense like that, remember?
* Trune closes the book gently, but he's tense now, "Look, I said it before. Nothing. Is. Wrong. I guess if you want to know I'm on edge because I dream I'm some other bastard at night. Other than that, life's peaches."
* Niri frowns.
<Niri> There's more to it than that.
* Niri thinks very, very hard.
<Niri> ....Does this have anything to do with me snapping at you back in the desert?
<Trune> A dim bulb brightens.
* Niri glowers, but lets that comment slide. She thinks back, trying to remember exactly what she said.
<Niri> Listen, I don't quite remember my words, but I know they were harsh. I'm really sorry. I was worried that Mikel was dead and I wasn't really watching what I said.
Session Time: Mon Nov 12 00:00:00 2007
<Trune> You also weren't thinking. I'm guessing the entire fact that Mikel did all that was to protect you, right? DId you realize that?
<Niri> He did it to protect everyone, Trune. That said, it was still reckless and if anything had happened to him, I would have felt partly responsible.
<Niri> Do you imagine I feel much better about what happened to Angie? What almost happened to Ryllan? With every step we take this whole thing gets so much harder.
<Trune> Feh, there you go again. You know how damn annoying it is to have you blame everything on yourself like you're some martyr or something? You're not. Mikel chose to be a crazy bastard, Angie dealt with powers she couldn't handle, and Ryllan was just being fuckining Ryllan.
* Niri blinks.
<Niri> Well, excuse me for caring about people.
<Niri> It's more than you seem to do most of the time.
<Trune> Nrgh! That's not what I'm saying and you know it!
<Niri> Then what ARE you saying? What have I done so wrong that has you spitting nails? Or is it also what happened today?
<Niri> Not that I would blame you if that's part of it.
<Trune> Nrgh...I don't even KNOW! It's just you get like this---I could continue to tell you we're in this together and to stop blaming yourself for every stumble and every kitten we don't save from a tree until I'm bleeding from the eyes, but it's  never enough for you! Do you know how hard it is to talk to you when you're like this? It's like...agh, talking to this brick wall of cheery sunshine and angst!
 06[00:14] * Niri blinks at this strange imagery, trying to get it through her head, and waiting to see if he has more to say,.
<Trune> But...you push everyone else out with this 'Only I can be the chosen one! I must go alone!' bullshit that either I have to say 'Yes Ma'am' or I am...what was it you called me? Oh yeah. An uncaring bastard.
* Niri opens her mouth to make a biting comment, then closes it, taking a deep breath.
<Niri> For the record, I never used the words uncaring bastard. But...as for the rest...
<Niri> Look, Trune. I know I'm no chosen one. I know I couldn't do this alone. But knowing that doesn't make it any easier to accept when the people around me are hurt. Can't I be allowed to be upset when that happens?
<Niri> I know I can't go it alone. I'm not going to try to, either. Okay?
<Trune> Being upset and blaming yourself are two seperate things.
<Niri> ...And good grief, Trune. When have I EVER expected you to just say "Yes Ma'am?" For that matter, when HAVE you? When does anyone say anything even remotely like that to me?
* Trune looks like he's going to say some other biting comment, but stops, instead glowering into the book that's still placed on his lap.
<Niri> Honestly, I would much rather you just slap me when I'm being stupid, rather than sit there and stew.
<Niri> Maybe then we could get it over with and go back to being friends.
<Niri> I don't know how else to make it up to you at this point.
* Trune sighs and puts his head in his heads, "...Shit. Ugh. Just promise when things get bad you won't instantly blame yourself."
* Trune then has a ghost of a smile behind his lips, "...and believe it or not I may be an ass but I don't hit ladies."
<Niri> You sure? It might make you feel better.
<Trune> ...nah.
* Trune 's small smile vanishes and he looks a bit remorseful, "...I'm sorry."
* Niri frowns. "You're sorry?"
<Niri> For being mad at me for flying off the handle?
<Trune> The long and short of it, yeah.
<Niri> Bah. You've done no more than anyone else has. I'm rather inclined to think I deserved it, at this point.
<Niri> Did you HEAR the argument I had with Tanan and Ryllan?
<Trune> Bits and pieces of it. You don't want me to comment on Tanan. It's obvious he dislikes me...I don't really like him, so we're on the neutral grounds of keeping a safe distance from each other. Anything I say is gonna be pretty biased.
<Niri> Mmmmm. Maybe so.
<Niri> ...I'm really not sure what to do now. I can't go back for a while yet, so I'm just kind of...wandering...till I cool off.
* Niri sits down in a corner, poking gently at a fallen book.
<Trune> I wouldn't look at that one. Trust me.
* Trune gets slight grin akin to a chesire cat.
* Niri blinks and frowns suspiciously. "Why not?"
<Trune> Well....does Beach Blanket Babes sound super scientific to you?
* Niri blinks. "...Not especially, no." She grins and shakes her head, leaving the book alone.
<Niri> So.
<Niri> We've established why you were angry at me, I apologized, and you graciously refrained from punching me in the face. So, is there anything else going on that I should know about?
<Niri> I meant it, you really have been quiet lately. And I also wanted to know how you're doing...after that battle this afternoon.
<Trune> Heh, I'll sound like a hypocrite, I know, but I'm personally getting tired of messing up myself. Today was just...a colossal mess up. I know Ryllan and Angie ultimiately did what they did, but...If I didn't...well, maybe they wouldn't have had to make those choices.
<Niri> If you didn't what...?
* Niri has an odd, rather knowing look on her face, almost a satisfied smirk, tinged with exasperation.
<Trune> Cast magic that made the Prophetess utterly insane?
<Trune> I should have known it'd have the same effect as before...I wasn't thinking!
<Niri> ...I don't recall the Prophetess turning into a raging demon before.
* Trune sighs and leans against a wall, "I meant really messing her up."
<Niri> Look, a lot of things happened that weren't supposed to.
<Niri> And you're right, if I'm not allowed to blame myself, you aren't either. We were throwing everything we had at her.
<Niri> In fact, from one point of view, what you did actually helped us. Once we got over the shock, we were able to use her new form to our advantage. Things happened that we didn't exactly plan, but they weren't because of what you did.
<Trune> I guess...Still, this would be an easier pill to swallow if we actually really nailed her.
<Niri> You're telling me.
<Niri> Ryllan nearly got killed and got stuck with Noah again, Angie's completely vanished without a trace, Mikel got hammered with the backlash of his spell failing and looked like he was going nuts for a minute there, and now I can't even go back and talk to Tanan because I've made him and Ryllan furious.
<Trune> You know...it's a shame we're in the middle of nowhere. Whenever life was like this I'd go out...someplace removed for a while so I could take my mind off of it. But I've got nothing. Except...
<Niri> Except?
* Trune peers into his bag, "Cards, my guitar, an apple, and one last chocolate bar I took from home, properly melted and squished."
* Niri laughs. "Want to share the chocolate?"
<Trune> Sure. Hope you like almonds.
<Niri> Yum.
* Niri reaches out and grabs Trune around the neck, pulling him into a quick hug and then releasing him.
* Trune goes to break the bar into two pieces, but then he's hugged. He looks a little surprised, "Wha...hey, don't take this the wrong way or anything, but what was that for?"
<Niri> 'Cause I'm glad I have my friend back, that's why!
* Mikel coughs from the doorway. "I w-... bah, you beat me to it."
<Niri> Hey Mikel! Feeling any better?
<Mikel> I lack the urge to make more ice sculptures and then break them.
<Mikel> This is an improvement.
<Trune> ....That is an unique way of taking out your anger. I read books. I'm boring.
<Mikel> You also didn't get attacked by a lion.
<Mikel> How are you holdin' up?
<Niri> Also less destructive.
<Niri> He didn't slap me, Mikel! I'm amazed.
<Niri> He must be feeling better.
* Mikel raises an eyebrow.
<Trune> Were you two betting or something? Man, I wasn't going to slap her. I'm not a slapper.
<Mikel> No, Niri's the slapper.
* Niri looks oh-so-innocent
<Trune> Oh yeah. Kinda forgot about that.
* Mikel snickers before stepping into the room and grabbing a seat for himself on the floor. "Seriously, though. Keeping it together?"
<Trune> Alll things considered, better than before. There's still the big unknown for me in terms of all the elementlors being back together, but I probably won't know the answer to that for a while, if there even is one.
<Mikel> Mm. What Saturn said was a bit... creepy.
<Niri> What did she say?
* Trune looks down at the ground, "So it wasn't just me, then?"
<Mikel> 'All will be right'.
* Mikel shakes his head.
* Niri frowns. "Very cryptic."
<Mikel> Everyone around us is cryptic.
<Trune> Her words were, "Now that the 8 of us have been restored, the time is coming when all will be right."
<Niri> Part of me hopes that's true, but part of me worries what she means.
<Mikel> Don't suppose asking her would help?
<Trune> She seemed to be surprised when we did ask her.
<Trune> She gave me some sort of answer but it didn't sounds sincere. It's almost like she said it and we caught her unawares.
<Niri> Hmm.
<Niri> It might be time to talk to Webbly again soon.
<Trune> If he even knows anything.
* Mikel sighs. "With our luck..." He shakes his head, thinking. "We need to find another actual working computer with info."
<Niri> And we also need to get past that barrier somehow and find our way back home, and then see what's going on with those creatures from Bluetooth Valley. And also look into this Lazarus stuff.
<Niri> Maybe I can go back to the Spire and check on my mom, too.
* Mikel nods. "Spire, Landing, see if the Polaris made it back and if it can sail I guess."
<Trune> What if the Polaris isn't fixed yet? How can we go back home?
<Mikel> We ask them very nicely to lend us another boat in exchange?
<Mikel> In the interests of saving the world and all that.
<Trune> Hopefully they've got one to spare.
<Mikel> Well, we'd trade it for the Polaris.
<Mikel> If they don't, we just swipe one or something.
* Mikel shrugs and leans back.
<Trune> Wouldn't that kill our good hero credentials? We haven't gotten kicked out of towns yet.
<Mikel> To hell with credentials if they can't lend us a boat.
<Mikel> Saving the world and all that.
<Niri> ....What if a boat isn't going to do us any good?
<Trune> It might be more prudent to get rid of the barrier. I wonder if there's something or someone that could break it.
<Mikel> Then we have to... yeah.
<Mikel> You can't put a barrier over an entire continent. There has to be a way in.
<Trune> Problem is...where to look?
<Niri> We should try to find a way through, yeah...but after all that's happened, I wouldn't be so quick to assume what our enemies can and can't do.
* Mikel closes his eyes. "If he can lock off the entire mainland then I beg to question what the /hell/ he's doing instead of just taking us down then."
<Niri> Point.
<Mikel> We sent Emiria packing, we did in the end tear the Prophetess a new one when all was said and done...
<Niri> Maybe he's scared of us?
<Trune> He might be trying to keep us away while he builds power or something. That's probably what he's doing.
<Mikel> Hmph. If he's scared of us /now/, we're just gonna get stronger in the future.
* Niri nods, but she looks doubtful.
<Niri> Mostly, yes. But....
<Trune> I agree on the getting stronger part, but don't get too cocky, flyboy.
<Niri> I don't know what'll happen if...well.
<Niri> If Tanan gives up on me I may not be much use anymore.
<Trune> If Tanan gives up on you, he's made a mistake. That's that.
<Mikel> Seriously.
<Trune> Plus you'll always be useful.
<Mikel> And you're perfectl- yes.
<Mikel> The man speaks the truth.
* Niri smiles a little, but she still seems worried.
<Trune> Seriously Niri, you're past the ankle biting stage. Armor or not, you've become really strong.
<Niri> Yeah, I know.
<Niri> I'm just worried that this time I've pushed him too far.
<Trune> ...For some reason, I don't see him abandoning you.
* Mikel nods. "I don't think he will. If he does, he's a moron."
<Niri> Well. If he thinks I'm too soft to do what has to be done...or if he gets tired of me being human and sentimental...
* Niri makes a face
<Mikel> Baseball bat.
* Mikel nods.
<Trune> No, hockey stick.
<Niri> ....What? No!
* Mikel snaps his fingers. "Damn, that'd be awesome to see."
* Trune grins, "Okay, we're only kinda serious on the blunt object beatdown part."
<Niri> Mm. Well, if it turns out he needs a beating, I call dibs.
<Niri> Though knowing me I wouldn't be able to go through with it anyway.
<Niri> ...I am not, however, above getting him to form a projection and then slapping him.
<Mikel> Bah. I hit him with the staff.
* Trune pouts, "I had to pick ceremonial knives. Can I chip away at him then?"
* Niri can't help but chuckle.
<Mikel> 'tink tink'
<Mikel> Maybe you'd vex him.
<Trune> Heh, maybe. Or maybe I should just invest in a huge club and go crazy.
* Niri makes a face. "Do you guys really dislike him that much?"
<Trune> Told you I'm biased.
* Mikel rolls his eyes.
<Mikel> If he's going to be a pain in the ass about it he deserves it.
<Niri> Well, let's wait and see what happens.
<Niri> And to be fair, I blew up at him, too.
* Mikel shrugs. "Maybe I'm a little biased then. Either way, you two ought to be able to sort it out."
<Trune> Yeah, don't give up on it.
<Niri> Maybe.
<Niri> ...So!
* Niri eyes Mikel and Trune askance.
<Niri> I think it's time to cause some trouble.
<Mikel> Trouble?
* Niri grins and then starts tickling both of them at once.
<Trune> Tro---oh geez!
<Mikel> Gah! You're not winning this time!
* Niri grins and giggles mischievously.
<Mikel> >> GOOD END?
<Niri> >> MAYBE
<Niri> ==Haha they didn't kill each other YET - LUDE END==
Session Close: Mon Nov 12 02:06:04 2007