ellipsanet | Text | UN: Athena

Is that... Literal?

It sounds rather Messiah-like, thought. And, quite a heavy burden to carry.

But, regardless. Cor did tell me about your love of academia, and I would love to exchange notes at a better time. Perhaps when I'm not recovering from getting zapped by Cor's lightning kitty???

I know nothing about tonberries or coeurls or any creatures from your world but they seem capable of incredible levels of aggression. It's impressive, if I'm being honest, and I'd be curious too meet them someday.

Yeah, I'm noticing that myself.

Yeah, the worst of the headache is gone now; I hope you had help with your disorienting arrival as I did. Doing this kinda thing alone can be quite scary.

I did notice my roomy filleting some fish the other day. That could be a help. Cats usually like fish...

Won't hurt to try, probably. Sometimes the smell alone can be enough, but would be kinda mean not to have the actual treat at the end, too. Hopefully enough left to offer.

If I could work out how to make it use punctuation properly that would be easier But thankfully I did yes, a couple of other newcomers were able to help me I am used to keeping myself safe, but it would have been much more difficult without them

[If she'd had to tough it out and manage it by herself, that was just how it was. She was still...adjusting to the idea of letting other people help and look out for her. It was usually the other way around. And it sounded like others had helped Athena, too.]

You were able to find some trustworthy people too I have found here are some good people here and there are not too many dangers in the city itself

[...It felt strange- wrong, somehow- to be just casually talking to them like this. But she really had no idea how to approach the elephant in the room. Was this who they said they were? Would calling them out to talk in person even be a safe option?]

Edited 2023-05-30 16:34 (UTC)

[Go ahead, call them out.

Athena is currently none the wiser.]

I had the good fortune of stumbling on a tough but honest gentleman. We're roommates now, at least for a while.

Have you tried saying that punctuation that you plan to use out loud while using Speech To Text? It's awkward to listen to but fairly effective.

Out loud no I had not Um, I wonder if that would work a little better? Like this, then. Thank you. Things like this did not exist when I was alive.

[Look at that! Much better. She’s appreciative, but right now her other emotions are distinctly at the forefront.]

Your companion sounds reasonable. It is better than living entirely alone.

[…this was too much. A few moments later, she sent another message: ]

This is uncomfortable. I have questions I want to ask you. Would you be able to meet me? I can show you the research centre or the library, there is a decent flow of people there at this time but it should not be crowded.

[Overly cautious perhaps, and sure she would be embarrassed if this proved entirely unwarranted, but… she didn’t want to draw this out.]

[...Uncomfortable?

Blinking at the message, Athena took a moment to reply. They had only been in the city for a couple of days-- long enough to annoy Cor and regain some of their stamina, as well as break up a fight that involved a electrifyingly exotic cat. None of these were reasons for anyone to be Uncomfortable.

The handle suggested nothing overt about the other party involved. And, with their arm offline...]

If you're needing to use Speech To Text, then I imagine that you have your reasons to not be using the keyboard. Those reasons are your's but...

I get it.

[It had been years-- but, once, Athena had been in need for Speech To Text for reasons that were not merely multitasking.

A sigh. This was a gamble-- but, they had gambled with plenty already.]

I'll meet you there.

What time?

Oh, no.

The cat will get the fish. If Cor complains, I'll make him foot the bill here.

[As for her reasons…well, that would become apparent soon enough.

It was both a fear and a relief that they were willing to meet up with her. That would clear this up, one way or another. At least it seemed they understood her position, somewhat.]

Thank you. At the front of the research centre, then? I can be there in half an hour.

[That would give her enough time to contact one of her friends and ask them to be on standby incase anything went wrong.

…Perhaps with a mirror on hand. Just incase she were to fall under the thrall of that curse and truly become that monster again. If Gorgon were to run rampant here, she would want to be stopped quickly.

Hopefully it would never come to that.]

Deal. I'll be the nerd dressed like a record shop exploded.

[Rider wasn't the only one forming a back up plan. However easy Athena was taking matters, they still had a few tools on hand: a sturdy knife, and their trio of drones that set to record in case of dangerous levels of trouble.

It was fortunate that the research center wasn't difficult to find. Athena arrived early, in a gaudy button up with dayglow geometric patterns against a dark blue background and their long hair disheveled and unbound.

Their right arm was notably in a sling. But, besides the l this, nothing overtly seemed off about them. Only astute observers would notice the small, soda can sized drones that trailed after their movements-- in pink, teal, and yellow to match the retro, dayglow aesthetic that they cultivated.

... The only trait that they shared with their namesake was the fact that their eyes were the same gray as the warm seas.]

[Oh right, descriptions. If they were who they said, then it wouldn’t be necessary to describe herself, but…]

Tall woman with long purple hair

[Of course the first distinguishing feature she could think of was her height…well, that should do. Either way, she manifested near the research centre only a couple of moments after Athena did. Hopefully they would not be too unnerved by someone seemingly appearing out of nowhere!

Rider’s own appearance was fairly distinctive, regardless. Her hair certainly was long, and there was the blindfold of a sort that sealed her eyes.

Deep breath. Right. She couldn’t sense anyone with a particularly strong presence nearby, and she hadn’t yet heard any buzz from those drones, so for the time being she focused on listening out for anything odd…]

Hi!

[They hardly startled at the sudden manifestation of a person matching the description from the texts nearby-- rather, Athena greeted them in a cheerful voice and with a wave.]

You're Flyer, right? Tall, purple hair... [The chatter slowed in pace for a moment as Athena noticed the blindfold, and quickly they added:]

Gosh I had no idea you weren't even using your eyes. I'd have switched to audio if I knew!

A safe way to corral what's his cat after all, right?

Reminded me to make sure the cat that's decided to live with me is all good before I'm out the door.

Mm, I am. ...So you are Athena, then.

[Rider was stoic as always, but the name still set her on edge.

Her expression faltered, just a little, at a couple of things here. To start with, 'Athena' was calling her by her username rather than her True Name, and second, the fact that Rider had sealed her eyes seemed to come as a surprise to them. (Unless it was a taunt at their own handiwork, but that certainly didn't ring true with the cheerful tone they used. This one was certainly...energetic in how they spoke.)

She wasn't sure how respond to that for a moment.]

I... won't, in the city.

...it is not an issue. The devices are capable enough to compensate.

[Aside from when she arrived, she had only ever revealed her eyes when she had been fighting monsters deep in the Segments. The rest of the time, she did not want to risk her Mystic Eyes petrifying everyone around her.]

But I appreciate you meeting with me all the same.

[The idiosyncracies that Flyer was questioning were also among what Athena was questioning. The interest in Athena's chosen name, the nervousness, the blindfold,and the fact that apparently Flyer's eyes were just fine to use outside of the city we're all revolving towards a data point that didn't fit well with the current situation.

It was neither impossible nor improbable. It was, however, strange.]

... Of course I'd meet you, [Athena said evenly, noting that their own height now that they were near each other was a little taller than the purple haired woman. The drones refocused their lenses on the woman on a silent command from Athena, and for a moment they seemed to stare into the middle distance while they chattered.

They wanted to see this stranger from all angles, to search for missing clues.]

I just don't understand the reasons for it. I haven't even been here for 72 hours, but you seem... Unsettled, if you don't mind my boldness.

[If Rider had heard the drones, she didn't seem to be reacting to them- she was unarmed, but looked as if she had decent strength in her own right. If the drones had a way of telling she was a spirit manifesting a human form, that was open to their data, too.

She did keep her device close at hand, should she need to call in backup, but she did not look like she intended to use it immediately. Unless she was dealing with a vindictive Greek Deity who sought to harm her, Rider did not plan to use that insurance.

In this conversation, she knew that her True Name was unlikely to remain hidden. Even if she had to ask questions that narrowed down her own identity further, it was worth the risk to get a clear answer as to who she was dealing with. Anything else would just be overcomplicating the matter.]

...I wanted to know if you really were who you claimed to be.

If so, there were questions I wanted to ask you. If not...then perhaps I have been overly cautious in all of this.

... Like Hypnos. I get it now.

[A sigh, and Athena released some of their worry-- they understood, and once again it seemed like they had been confused with the Olympian.]

There's only a handful of people that you can be, and the question of your eyes helps narrow that down further.

No: I'm not the goddess of wisdom and war. I'm an academic with a fondness for the ancient world, and I borrowed the goddess' name while I played games of war strategy during a long and hard recovery a decade ago. I was grievously wounded, you see. But, using my mind helped to distract from the worst of the pain.

I invoked her name to rebuild my own strength, and it kind of stuck.

[It was a lot of words, but this was still the shortened version of the story that Athena was loathe to fully tell. The entire timeframe was a fragmented mess, where they had to relearn how to use their own body.

Another sigh, and Athena took off their glasses before directly facing Flyer.]

I'm sorry for your confusion, Priestess. I never expected to ever meet any of the people here.

... And, I hope you know that many, many injured and abused women, young and old, invoke your name and look to you for strength millennia after your time.

Edited 2023-05-31 14:21 (UTC)

fair enough (⌒_⌒;) true, these smartphones are convenient for that. i sometimes miss the old stuff tho, so i don't mind going outta my way to get some kind of real media too.

... Does a retro media music club sound fun to you? I've met another here who's into vinyls, and if enough people are into it we can try to make it a thing.

Edited 2023-05-31 21:10 (UTC)

I'm glad we could help!

Kitties deserve to live safely inside with their caretakers. They find trouble way to easily outside, and it's no fun seeing your fluffy friends be hurt.

lol i hear is the right way to respond to that

[ he's learning ]

hades is a neat boss. he likes my doodles and made me employee of the week once. he's a pretty big guy with a long beard. he is very busy and kind of grumpy but i like him most of the time.

i mean yeah it is mostly thanatos. he is always so busy. he was here but he's gone home.

that is ok though. he will be much happier at home.

Makes sense! I've never had anything like a cat before, and apparently there was a lot of them that escaped a shelter here? Called them void cats and it kinda fits this one well.

An adorable void with bright eyes that has taken over the apartment, and I'm not even mad about it. Just need a name eventually.

But with kitty settled I think I can head over now, if it's good on your end.

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