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Collab bet'w Winter, Mizos & Silent
In the morning when they all reconvened, Jack couldn't take his eyes off Cedric. His brother stuck close to Luro, avoiding him, acting like he didn't exist. Jack didn't dare approach. Not now, in front of Shay and False Alicia, and when Cedric made it so clear he didn't want to talk. It consumed Jack with anxiety. He wrestled with pushing it away as he hovered near Runali.
One thing managed to disrupt his wallowing–unsurprisingly. Adelaide came out of their room with a whole new look, conjured up like they'd changed their room. A revealing outfit inspired by Arbirean style: cuffed, puffy pants made of transparent blue gauze, a white sash around her waist, a crossed top of deeper blue and trimmed in white. Strips of tasseled cloth connected from her shirt to gold wrist cuffs. Her hair was teased into an afro with one side made into cornrows, accented by more gold jewelry. The only part that remained the same was her bag of flowers.
She paused in their doorway, smirking as she watched Jack's jaw drop. Their eye contact didn't stop until Shay arrived and Runali jabbed her elbow into Jack's side. He cleared his throat, cheeks heating, and looked away.
They traveled to the kitchen, during which Jack remained quiet but observed everything around him. He got the jolt of a lifetime when Jackie appeared.
His eyebrows shot up when she threatened him. What is this? I'm nothing like her… He squared up against her, a snarl rumbling in his throat, fingers brushing along a hidden blade. Snake and jackal, waiting to see who struck first. It might've come to blows if it hadn't been for Runali stepping in.
Jack harrumphed and crossed his arms. "I'm not seeing the resemblance…" he muttered but kept eyeing her, and Cedric–Shit, there's too much going on-- while everyone settled down. He wanted to approach his counterpart but Adelaide got to her first. He took one step before hearing her lilted chuckle. A gust of wind made him stumble. She forced him to turn around and pushed him away. "Go play with the others." She gave him a tap to the back.
"Play?" Jack frowned.
"Someone told me you're like my dog. It amused me."
"Woof woof," Jack muttered sarcastically. Adelaide laughed.
He waved a dismissive hand and went over to where Alicia sat with Tashi. He lit a cigarillo–and bristled when Jackie did the same thing. "Is this as weird to you as it is to us?" he asked Tashi.
Tashi attention was on a square wooden board when Jack approached, it was decorated with strange oval items of different colors resting on the board. She was setting the oval's in a particular way, causing the colors to shift as she did so, other shifting colors in response. She made no effort to speak to her counterpart or anyone else, though there was no animosity coming from her. She was as approachable as usual thus when Jake spoke to her, she calmly set down her current piece, and turned to face him, giving him her undivided attention.
"It was at first, but I have grown used to it. Whether that is a good or bad thing is another matter."
She closed her eye at this and shifted slightly.
"I have met many 'Jacks' and 'Jackie's', and I was there before you all awoke, even if just for a moment. I was more surprised then…though I will admit that I am a bit more surprised. All of you are among the most 'normal' I've encountered. That is weird to me."
She opened her eye again before adjusting her eyepatch and returning her hands to her lap
"I can understand if this is strange to you as well."
Jack's lips quirked up. "Just a little bit." He shook his head. "Would you explain your…purpose here? For Imposter? How did you even get involved with them?"
Tashi gave a small nod at this, they seemed to be adapting well so she paid it no further mind and decided to answer his question.
"Our purpose is the same as yours. To hunt the Realms and acquire 'supplies' for the war effort. It is difficult to explain, once you actually finish a job, I assure you it will make far more sense. I could explain it, but the…what do you call it…jargon won't make any sense. I believe you will be taking over the job we have been doing. Which I wish you the best of luck in the regard."
Her eyelid lowered slightly as she considered the second question.
"Through strange circumstances outside of our control, my Captain requested I not share too much on that yet. I mean no offense but we have encountered many 'you's', some were not so welcoming. That information reveals a fair bit about us and could endanger our crew needlessly, as First Mate I have to minimilize risks where I can…especially with Luro around."
She gave a small bow at this.
"Once the Captain meets you and 'sizes you up' I can answer how we got involved should she give the nod of approval."
Raising her body she reached up and brought a hand to her chest.
"I can share however that we also are not from this world, but that is all. Now if I may pose a question…what is your relationship with Luro? Both of you if possible."
Alicia had been seated quietly with what appeared to be a cup of tea, not too far from her other self but not so close as to insinuate she was comfortable with the situation. She'd raised her cup halfway before pausing once the conversation had started with Jack's arrival. This new information was important and gave more clues to aid her own suspicions.
"Luro is a friend." she replied simply. "I'd wager he's either the smartest of us all, the most foolish or perhaps just lucky." she lightly shrugged. "Could be all three or none at all, but I trust him and he's earned that from me" she replied before placing the cup down neatly in front of her.
"Which is more than I can say for you." she closed her eyes with a slight frown as her fingers parted from the cup in front of her, eyes opening to fall upon her other self. "You… we, are a result of our different choices right?" her gaze was critical of her reflection as she spoke. "Then the extent of my trust in you will depend on where our choices began to separate from one another. I imagine that feeling is mutual."
"So spare me the details for how you got mixed up in this if you must, but I would hear how your life differs from my own before you made it here." If her suspicions were correct based upon what she'd listened to thus far, the milestones in their stories should be somewhat similar with the choices made being what separates them. Then again, she could be wrong but if so at least she would be closer to understanding the situation further.
Jack twisted the cigarillo between his lips and leaned back, also curious to hear about this.
"A friend…trust…I see. He will be happy to hear that. Thank you I will share that with my Luro the next time I see him, that will saitate his curiosity," Tashi gave a small nod at this.
Tashi shifted her self slightly to Alicia to listen to her properly, she met her gaze with a strange serenity, merely closing her eyes as the state of their 'relationship' was mentioned. Whether she expected this response or was taking it in stride was left unsaid, but she opened her eye and nodded at the mention of choices. The idea of mutual feelings however were only met with a slight lowering of her eye, and a silent stare.
Tashi's eye moved to Jack before returning to Alicia, folding her hands together she spoke once more.
"Regretfully I can't share all of that, as those choices play a part in how I have become...'mixed up in this', similar to you all and I cannot share specific instances as I do not know exactly which...'Alicia' you are. Thus where our stories converge and separate is mostly unknown to me."
Tashi said this before raising a finger and tapping the side of her head.
"When you came here we 'Resonated' with you. We have more experience in this realm so it was a natural response not purposeful, but we saw your memories, parts of them. I however broke away when yours filled my mind Alicia, out of common courtesy."
She said this before lowering her hand.
"I have no intention of sharing my entire life story, and I do not know every moment where our 'history' converges. I can only guess from my observations and what little I have seen. If you are fine with that, then I am fine sharing. However I only do so because I peeked at a few of your memories without permission. Jackie has told me Jack's so he can be included in this as well."
She glanced at Jack at this not forgetting he was there before focusing back on Alicia.
"With that said other me…" Tashi's reached up and covered her eye patch with her hand. "Do not trust me. I would prefer it that way, so I also feel no obligation to share for that reason."
She lowered her hand from it closing her eye.
"We have the same parents, and the same siblings...all of them."
She let that hang in the air knowing her other half would know what she meant before continuing.
"I have beaten Odyn, and I lost my father shortly afterwards."
She opened her eye at this and motioned to Alicia's swords.
"I also carry Shusui, but I am sure you noticed that already."
She stopped there as she had finished 'sharing' her history with them.
A short exhale was all Alicia gave in response. She'd expected more but she wasn't about to make complaints about it openly, even if the frustration was evident. "Very well then."
She reached back towards her cup before raising it up towards her lips for another small sip before setting it back down between her hands. "I'm sure you have a good enough reason for all this in the end. Regardless of how our choices differ, I know I wouldn't fight for anyone I thought to be evil." silver eyes returned their stare against that single red iris.
"So if you're anything like me at all, that'll be true for you as well." she held her silence to sink that in a little deeper before shifting her gaze towards Jack. "What do you make of all this Jack?" she asked, raising a hand to casually wave away his cigarette smoke.
Jack choked on his inhale when Tashi admitted to seeing (some) of their memories. "What?
He immediately glared at Jackie–because he knew she'd have looked at all his, damn them both for being one of the same–and the displeasure at his hypocrisy made him grumpy. He settled back, waving his hand to say ignore me, and listened to the rest of what Tashi had to say.
When Alicia turned to him, Jack pressed his lips together and sighed in thought. "Tashi, you say you don't know which 'ones' we are. Care to explain? I imagine it goes beyond 'Are we good or bad versions' if you have peeked into our memories, seen our lives. Even if you were polite enough to stop before going too deep," Jack inclined his head to her.
"To answer you directly, Amaiya…shit, I don't think it matters what we do or don't make of it. We're helpless in this scenario," Jack spread his hands out and shrugged, clearly unhappy with his own statement. "We're pawns on a chessboard, not even a bishop or rook among us to give ourselves an advantage. Our allies, our enemies, our fight is not our choice save for what our own survival dictates. Normally I'd try to find another option, if only just to gain some control…"
A chill crept up his spine as he remembered standing before Imposter. Luro with a hole in his skull. "The Grand Summoner of Trovale has the power to fight our whole crew, and she's a mere human lucky to be born with magic. I will not make the mistake of believing we can outmaneuver, outmatch, outsmart Imposter. Not in their own realm. But, just for once, I wish we would end up in a situation where we had a choice," he added softly, eyes half-closing, a measure of wariness seen in the slump of his body. A hand absently brushed through strands of silver that hadn't been there before he'd brought Cedric back to them.
Tashi's red met silver as she retained her stoic stare at Alicia's comment, her eyelid lowered slightly at 'reason' but she chose not to speak. She only offered a nod to her to show there was an understanding of where the two of them lied with each other. Her shoulders seemed to relax slightly before her gaze moved to Jack at his question. She had ignored him at his silent request and had a feeling what had caused him discomfort, speaking of it wouldn't help either of them right now.
Reaching over she took a few of the oval pieces off her board and set them down on the table.
"For a moment imagine that there is an Amaiya, a wandering swordswoman in this realm."
She grabbed one of the pieces the 'Amiya' before continuing.
"Now imagine an Amaiya, let us say she chooses to go by Alicia in this realm."
She picked up the 'Alicia' piece and held it up.
"There is no notable differences between them."
She held the two oval pieces and sure enough they looked exactly the same, same color, same shape.
"Until the two end up in conflict they are indistinguishable from each other."
Tashi hit the two pieces together, when shedid the 'Amaiya' piece turned red and the 'Alicia' piece turned blue.
"Until you 'witness' this change they are the same as any other. That is the case with you all Jack. Amaiya will slay the blood of the innocent, and has no qualms fighting for evil, survival is her only desire, if her life is not threatened she will not draw her blade. Alicia however will fight for good and protect others but she is quite prone to punish what is 'evil' with extreme prejudice. Showing no mercy to criminals or any involved with them."
She set the two now colored pieces down before grabbing a third colorless piece and setting it in front of the two pieces, before tapping it.
"This is you right now Jack, all of you. You are colorless, I do not know which one you will become. It is more than your memories…how will you respond to Imposter, how will you face the trials in front of you, I can only guess from what I know. Neither the red or blue are perfect, both carry their own faults, you are right that it goes beyond good or evil. It is too early to see what you will be in this world, where you will go…and how you will handle the absurdity that is this reality."
Tashi said this before setting another piece down.
"I hope you are not forced to face 'possibilities' that defy your logic…but if you should."
Tashi tapped the piece causing it to turn black.
"It will force questions about you that should never be asked. Whether they are 'real' or not will stop mattering if you stay here too long."
Tashi picked the pieces up and returned them to the board.
"I can no longer say I would 'never fight for evil'...because I know a me that would. I've looked her in the eyes. That is how this world is, all 'possibilities' are here…even the ones you can't even fathom…so I need to know which one you are. What if all it took was one or two moments Alicia, one or two moments to change everything you are. That is the question that will be raised here."
Tashi eyelids lowered a bit at this and her body seemed to tense, she closed her eye and seemed to push down whatever was trying to rise up and managed to regain herself relatively quickly.
"However your existances cannot overshadow ours, thus why we can stand here with you. I took a chance with that knowledge. I hope I do not regret it…and do not worry. When you grow accustomed to this world…you will see ours, whether you want to or not."
Alicia patiently listened and observed the demonstration, finding it comfortably easy to understand since it was being delivered by, well… herself. She'd thrown Jack a small reassuring smile in response to his comment on their situation, sympathizing all too well considering their habit of walking into the strangest of situations. Though even she had to admit that despite their adventures this was pretty far up there and considering they had all died once that was saying something.
"Well that brings me back to why I initially asked you about where our lives diverged." she spoke again, returning her attention back to her other self. "For that question to be answered, only from my perspective as opposed to your own." she admitted, being forthcoming in what she'd been trying to ascertain from the beginning.
"But I suppose you already knew that." Alicia realized she'd have to keep in mind there were no secrets kept from herself. It would seem that only the more abstract concepts of what made up their dividing personalities would be what separated them. But even if this version of herself in front of her was indeed evil, she was still Alicia and thus would still think and act similarly up to a point.
"Our other selves then, those we'll chance to meet when gathering this resource Imposter desires." she decided to move the conversation on towards something else that'd been on her mind. "What effect will the removal of the resource have on their worlds?" she asked curiously. "Before I agree on taking anything from anyone, I would need to know the consequences first."
Tashi offered a small nod to her, the fact she had chosen to answer at all came partially from an understanding of necessary perspective, the other part was kept to Tashi herself and she made no effort to expand upon that reason. She seemed content that they were changing the subject though at her question she offered her a shake of her head.
"Regretfully I cannnot share that with you. I mentioned it before but Imposter wishes to explain such parts to you. I believe I referred to them as the 'fun' bits. Specifics such as that are not for us to clarify, they are matters Imposter wishes to touch on with you. So I am unable to answer that question for you."
Tashi closed her eye at this.
"He wishes you to wallow in ignorance until it is deemed no longer necessary. You may ask an audience with him after your mission to speak your grievances...just do not be surprised if he 'snacks' during it while Shay paints a portrait...to hang on his 'Wall of Foolishness'."
Tashi seemed to squeeze the bridge of her nose at this, a small sigh escaping from her before her eye opened. It seemed as if she wanted to say something further on the matter, but looking at her counterpart she seemed to hold her tongue. Perhaps she disliked the situation herself or maybe she understood herself enough to know the words were meaningless to say. Whatever reason gave her pause was kept within her as she spoke again.
"I will leave the matter at that. Imposter whether on a whim or by calculation is being very particular about what you learn, it will all come in due time, it did for us...though we perished a few times in the process admittedly."
Jack closed his eyes. He took one long meditative breath and when he opened them, he seemed…perhaps calmer wasn't the right word. Accepting. Ready. Only another fluttering glance at Cedric contradicted his shift of mindset.
"Alright. I get it. Roll with the punches and all that," he made a gesture and then blanched, feeling like he turned into Runali for a moment. "Can you at least tell us your opinion of Imposter? Perhaps our chances of getting back to our world and not, no offense, stuck here doing his bidding like you seem to be?"
Alicia had been doing well to hide her frustration so far, though even she couldn't hide the slight irritation at getting no answers as they spoke. She also didn't like the implication of finding out the consequences after the fact as opposed to finding out before. She supposed that was part of his game as her other self lightly alluded to with her reply. "I see." she replied simply, the shortest answer being the better to prevent her voicing the frustration of this all openly.
She cast a glance towards Jack as he gave his question before giving a nod, seeming to appreciate this question as it seemed to open another avenue of interest she hadn't considered in all this Turning her attention back towards her reflection, she braced for yet another dodge from the answer however she remained hopeful still to glean anything even if the information was substantially inferior considering the greater questions they needed answers to.
"It's a good question, I'm sure you're at least allowed to offer your own opinions. Unless you're bereft of that right too."
Tashi watched the two in silence, her eye moving from one to the other as they spoke. She closed her eye and let out a small sigh. Reaching over to the desk a blue fire appeared under hand, when she took hold of it a teacup appeared which she set on the table. Opening her eyes she turned the steaming cup slightly before responding to them.
"If you find my answers unsatisfactory, you are free to speak with Shay who acts as your Aide. You seek clear answers in a world without them, I cannot help with that."
She spoke with the same calm as before as she picked up her cup, carefully with both hands. Taking a short sip she didn't respond to their inquiries immediately, whether she was forming her thoughts or was in no rush to answer was left to the two's observations. She set the cup down before looking back at them.
"I said I would answer questions about us Echo's, as much as I am able. If you seek answers in other affairs such as the Realms, returning to your world and the like, then speak with Imposter. I am bound by no reason to answer such questions, and feel no obligation to humor them. I offered the intial opportunity only because I understand your confusion to some degree."
Tashi picked up one of her pieces and tapping it with her finger made it turn silver, she fiddled with the piece as her eyelid lowered slightly.
"I am permitted to share my opinions…but I have no desire to share them with you."
Her eye raised to the two of them before she tapped it causing it to turn purple.
"You will see my memories one day in the end. You will know my opinion then whether I wish it or not, that is our connection…intimately cruel."
The woman picked up the piece and set it back on the board before standing up from her seat.
"Make mistakes and see the world through our eyes. At that point it will be worth sharing my viewpoint. Presently it would be meaningless and a waste of time. Now if you'll excuse me."
Tashi picked up her cup and walked away from the two.
"I will take breakfast in my room today Shay," she said as she passed the servant. "I have work to catch up on."
The swordswoman made her way down the hall, the game on the table consumed in blue flames before vanishing leaving no trace of it behind.
Alicia said nothing as her other self spoke before collecting herself up to walk away. Only once she'd left did she turn towards Jack and offer a small shake of her head. "Please tell me I'm not this difficult back in our world." she spoke to alleviate the mood a little as she collected herself up from the table.
She took a moment to stretch before releasing a deep exhale. "Well, I suppose we should just speak with Imposter… as unpleasant as I'm sure it'll be." she once again looked towards Jack. "Would you like to join me?"
"Oh, you're much more fun," Jack replied with the most neutral expression, pausing, before letting slip a half-smile to let know Alicia he was joking.
He got up and stubbed his cigarillo out on a plate. "At your leave, First Mate. I'm more than happy to." His eyes slipped over the crew–as always, staying too long on one particular obstinate member. "We should have Cedr–I mean, the rest of the crew come along too. Might as well get the nightmare started."