Rin really doesn't know what to do either, but he figures doing something would probably be better than nothing. He walks inside the house, sighing at the mess left by Hitari earlier. I don't even know what I'm doing at this point. I guess it's better than despairing and obsessing over my imminent doom?

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=130#1291 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/22/2021 at 9:14 AM Rin really doesn't know what to do either, but he figures doing something would probably be better than nothing. He walks inside the house, sighing at the mess left by Hitari earlier. I don't even know what I'm doing at this point. I guess it's better than despairing and obsessing over my imminent doom?

Itami sighs. And now it's all back to waiting. Delightful. Just. . .delightful. He taps his fingers on the dead grass, thinking to himself.

After a few seconds, he stands up and faces the house, about two feet from the front door. Tentatively, he reaches out a hand and brings it close to the knob, but quickly draws it back. Some kind of searing pain had started marching up his arm as he brought it near. Ow. Well, that's on me. . .don't know why I thought that was a good idea. . . He trails off as he goes back to sitting beside Shiawase.

- - - - - - - - - -

You say even in the void you inhabit, time and dimensions flow? Chaos ask.

"It's a figure of speech," Hitari grumbles. "And you know that."

Yes, yes, very well. Now. Do you, assassin, have a plan above my cipher's?

"Almost, just wait," he replies. "First thing that needs to be put away is the owl. It'll likely screech the moment I move or make noise."

Killing it wouldn't be very effective.

"It's my second plan, not that it matters. Either way, something dies."

Rin sighs, walking around the little house feverishly. What am I even doing in here, anyways? The thought strikes him- he's waiting. Waiting for something to happen. Something important, or interesting, or more likely than that, terrifying. He shakes the thought out of his head. I'm just..... aimlessly wandering. Nothing more than that.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=130#1293 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/22/2021 at 11:48 AM Rin sighs, walking around the little house feverishly. What am I even doing in here, anyways? The thought strikes him- he's waiting. Waiting for something to happen. Something important, or interesting, or more likely than that, terrifying. He shakes the thought out of his head. I'm just..... aimlessly wandering. Nothing more than that.

(*nonsensical screeching*)

Shiawase, not once have you ever been tired, mentally, emotionally, or physically, Itami murmurs. Merely worn, even after we cut down village after village. What exactly has happened to you, sister?

Well near a minute passes. You. . .you're not even smiling, he realizes. Y-you're not smiling. We didn't check to make sure you're - Quickly, he stands up and puts his hand gently on the side of her neck, as if he's testing her pulse.

Groaning in stress, he slides back down. Warm. Thank goodness. Oh, I'm too old to deal with this - well, not that I'm old, but. . .still.

- - - - - - - - - -

"The kid would probably just go into shock, but then Itami'd be likely to notice the stillness," Hitari mutters, mind still pacing for a sound plan.

You do realize Itami can neither hear nor see what -

"Hush, I'm thinking. . .if I went for Itami, he would live, so that's not a good path. Goodness, this. . .really isn't a simple bunch to plan for. Normally I'd just have one or two targets at most, but in this case I have five. . ."

Five? I do believe you mean four, as you clearly have the ability to budge past Hitari, Chaos says. Albeit for not too long. . .

"He's beginning to understand; just wait," Hitari snaps. "And no, Chaos, I do mean five."

Rin spends a couple seconds longer aimlessly cleaning up inside the house, then steps outside. No matter. I can be just as nervous and useless out here as in there, he says to himself scornfully.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=130#1295 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/25/2021 at 7:49 AM Rin spends a couple seconds longer aimlessly cleaning up inside the house, then steps outside. No matter. I can be just as nervous and useless out here as in there, he says to himself scornfully.

Itami glances towards you as he hears you come outside. I can tell you it's the same amount of boredom out here as it likely is in there. Shiawase hasn't even stirred.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Well, that movement's of little use to me. Maybe I should wait," Hitari grumbles. "Besides, if they're going to be a group like that, they'll fall apart on their own. . .perhaps I'll ignore them for now and skip to a different step."

You do not truly intend to destroy my cipher, do you? Chaos inquires. You have already cracked it; that destruction would bring about little change for you.

"I have already denied that, as I'm content with this - having to fight for consciousness is a thrilling fight, even if he's remarkably weak. No, I guess you could call it a cleansing of sorts."

"Stars above, this is nerve-racking," Rin mutters. "But at the same time, so incredibly grueling.....!"

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=130#1297 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/25/2021 at 11:15 AM "Stars above, this is nerve-racking," Rin mutters. "But at the same time, so incredibly grueling.....!"

Tell me about it, Itami says. It's been a while since absolutely nothing felt. . .tense.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Chaos, do me a favor," Hitari asks, hiding a grin under a blank face. "Leave us and stay here. Perhaps your influence reaches more than you intend. I would like to try their hand alone."

Leave? This would impact the cipher far too much, Chaos protests. His life would fail.

"His, maybe," Hitari replies. "But mine is more than enough. I have been sustained this long without having an ounce of your assistance. We'd be fine."

I. . .there is nothing of this degree to have ever happened; no such request. . .

"Then fulfill it, if the knowledge is what matters - " Before Hitari finishes talking, he feels like some kind of release, like the air around him became lighter than helium. " - well, that. . .is a strange sensation." He blinks, as the space in front of him darkens, like multicolored ink poured into water. "I wasn't expecting you to actually listen, you know."

I am not the same thing as ignorance, disobedience, or any of that. I am most similar to curiosity, Chaos says, their voice chilly. But, go. And return so that this can be put in our minds as a memory, not existence.

Rin sighs, sitting down and rubbing his temples. "Yeah. Since I came here, actually."

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=130#1299 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/25/2021 at 2:06 PM Rin sighs, sitting down and rubbing his temples. "Yeah. Since I came here, actually."

New world, new experience, I suppose, Itami muses. But I still don't understand how you ended up here. Unless you come back when you die, which I assumed you don't, you're not dead. You're not a spirit of any kind.

He sighs. I suppose the questions don't matter. There's few that would be able to answer.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Didn't need your permission, but thank you." Hitari hangs his legs off the side of the tree. He quietly traces a circle under Chaos, making it appear as if he's stretching strangely, the wood rotting a little from his touch.

Hm? asks Chaos, distracted with the loose feeling they too are feeling. Ah, yes. I will be awaiting your return.

Hitari nods and slides off the tree, keeping his eyes on the group at the house as he lands quietly.