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[makehistoria]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, <MOIRAE>. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 44.78.67.42

• Stocke uses <swordpacts> and <moirae> interchangeably; the former especially for Devil's Nest business. Any of his friends/fellow Nest employees probably have his number.   • He's careful to use randomized names on the network the rest of the time; watch out for that if you want your character to contact him about something he said! (Basically just come up with an excuse for them to recognize his writing and all is good.)

Comments

[showyouthesight]

[ Rin manages to look as resolute as a bird can get. The sharp tone of his voice does the rest. ]

I'm not a quitter. Once I start something, I follow it through.

[ He pauses, as Stocke's words remind him of something else he meant to ask. ]

Mike didn't really go into details of your infiltration. What did you do and what were you trying to get out of it?

[makehistoria]

[Stocke shakes his head.] And if you disappear? [That's what he meant. It was always the people trying to build them vanishing - and then, as the old monsters among them grew more and more jaded to such attempts - having trouble even recruiting.]

[Not that he's trying to discourage Rin. But that is Rin's answer - why did they fall apart?]

[- ah.]

[Stocke's tendrils jag, faintly.] ...we've been here this long without finding any way to harm her. Affect her at all. I wanted to see if hitting her version of Dyster would do anything.

I set it aflame.

[Or blew it up. Semantics.]

[showyouthesight]

That won't happen.

[ He says it, as if he had any hope of preventing it through sheer will. He even snaps his beak loudly for good measure.

His eyes turn more intense with Stocke's confession. Despite his aversion to hurt others, Rin has no love lost for Dyster and its warped society. ]

And? Did it affect her at all?

[makehistoria]

She was furious. That much I can say.

[Stocke's eyes drop to a dim, barely-lit glow - then, abruptly, flare brighter than before. Whatever emotion this conveys, it doesn't reflect in his voice; that's unchanged.]

I've not heard from Mike of irreparable damage. It may be that I only just missed something that scared her. Or it may have been simply the insult.

[showyouthesight]

Would Mike share that with you? I mean, I know he's not super-devoted to her. But he's still a follower?

[ Rin trusts Mike not to completely screw people over, unlike most followers. But he also knows that Mike is naturally loyal when someone does him a solid. ]

[makehistoria]

I have more reason to trust Mike's word than I trust yours. [Dry. He's not intending that to be mean, but...]

[Stocke isn't always the most diplomatic.]

[It's still a valid enough question, despite that. But Stocke's shaking his head.] ...I don't think he'd be able to hide it, even if he wanted to.

[Permanent damage to the Fog God would be a Big Deal.]

[showyouthesight]

[ Rin fluffs his feathers irritably, but he mostly understands the sentiment. ]

Yeah well. I wanted to be sure.

[makehistoria]

[Stocke's tendrils twitch up; he inclines his head. Yeah, he's sure - or as sure as he's going to get.]

Something else you wanted to ask?

[showyouthesight]

[ Rin lets his feathers smooth back down and looks about as serious as a bird can look, lowering his head a bit. ]

Yeah, there is. I've been talking with Tsukikage as well. We want to see if we can form a small coalition. Like a council or something. Dedicated to talking about what neutrals can do to protect each other and oppose those bastards. Maybe even talk about our own recruiting.

[makehistoria]

[Tsukikage. Stocke notes the name, though he doesn't recognize it - except maybe in passing? Doesn't matter for now, because...]

You want me to join. [That's an invitation, isn't it?]

[After a moment, he shakes his head.] ...I wouldn't turn down being present. [Knowing what's going on could only be helpful.] But if you'd like to avoid harming followers - I'd have little advice I could give you, right now. Nor would you want me there.

[For a multitude of reasons. Even aside from him not hesitating to attack god followers - he's never sure how much attention the Fog and Fourth still pay to him. Also - to be honest? Were one of them to blackmail him again, Nest or neutral faction...]

[He knows what his choice would be.]

[showyouthesight]

I want someone who's been around for a while and knows his way around the gods. We need your ongoing insight.

I don't care what goes on between you and other followers. I'm just not looking to start anything on a larger scale just yet. You can do what you want.

[ Basically, Rin isn't sticking his neck out to protect followers anymore, not after what's been happening recently. He might not target them on his own. But nor does he have any desire to intervene in any fight that comes at them. ]

[makehistoria]

[Stocke watches the harpy silently, tendrils flicking back and forth at his back.]

[Finally, much like what he was thinking:] That's not the only reason.

But as I said - I wouldn't mind being present. I'll give you what help I can.

You already know how to find me. [He tilts his head toward Rin.] Unless you'd rather avoid the network altogether.

[showyouthesight]

I prefer to find you in person. I'd rather cut out as much use of the network as I can when it comes to this.

[ He's given up trying to completely hide from Elias but he would like to avoid followers as well. Not that most of the higher up ones ever seem to notice what he does. ]

[makehistoria]

[Stocke inclines his head. In that case...]

[He fishes something out - a matchbox? - and tosses it to Rin, in a light, underhanded swing. Easy to catch.]

Follow the road out of Bavan north, to the coast. East from there is where I'm staying; you won't miss it. [He jerks his head toward the matchbox.] That'll get you in. [But just once.]

[A short pause - for a moment, the glow of his eyes goes sharp and cold.] The humans there are off limits. Non-negotiable. [If you need to feed - do it before you show up.]

[Then the glow dims back to its usual level.] Tell anyone you're looking for Stocke; they'll find me.

[Through all this, Stocke... neglects to mention the place Rin "won't miss" is an entire city, if not quite on the scale of Bavan or Vandare. Oh boy.]

[showyouthesight]

[ Rin darts forward almost instinctively to catch the item in his talons. ]

Don't worry. I don't hunt just anyone.

[ Rin has very particular standards when it comes to feeding. And thankfully, he's the kind of monster that he can buy himself a bit more time hunting animals. ]

Sounds easy enough.

[makehistoria]

Be as that may. I don't know how you choose your hunts.

[Rin might have to set those standards aside, especially in Djävulenstad... though it's also not so far from Bavan that it should be a problem, unless he needs to hunt daily.]

[Stocke's voice isn't quite so sharp as it was before, though - he'll take Rin's word for it.]

It should be. [His tendrils twist.] I'll see you then.

<belialclaw>

[courage_and_claws]

> hey buddy
> theres a guy over the network thats working on creating a safe place for neutrals to meet up
> but he needs a vial of shade blood
> for one of those mana quest things
> i said i might know a guy
> didn't name any names
> but you think its worth checking into?

<moirae>

[makehistoria]

[...]

i'll take a look

<belialclaw>

[courage_and_claws]

> i'll be coming along too
> he said he prefers to meet people in person
> easier to gauge them that way
> can't really argue with that logic

> oh, and while i didn't name names
> he might be someone who knows you
> just as a forewarning
> you know anyone that runs a general store in bavan?

<moirae>

[makehistoria]

[There's a very long pause before there's a response - hours long, that is. Did... did Stocke already run off to see this guy by himself?]

[...he did, didn't he.]

[Eventually, though:]
i know him
recognized the name on the network

<belialclaw>

[courage_and_claws]

[Wow, rude, buddy. Always sneaking off and doing your own thing when no one is watching.]

> yeah?
> he mentioned he knew you and heather, too!
> so i guess maybe i was worrying for nothing
> you ready to go and check things out?

<moirae>

[makehistoria]

[Well, actually, about that...]

[...]

already done

[Damn it, Stocke.]

<belialclaw> [1/2]

[courage_and_claws]

[DAMMIT STOCKE, INDEED!]

> wait
> whayt
> you alreaady
> WHAT THE HELL?

<belialclaw> [2/2]

[courage_and_claws]

> so THATS why it took you so long to respond!
> i thought you fell asleep or something!




> well?
> what did you find out?

[He can't stay too mad at the resident spymaster for doing his job, but geez...]

Re: <belialclaw> [2/2]

[makehistoria]

[Stocke decides to... refrain from answering that with "when have you known me to sleep."]

as i said , i know him
he's tried to seek me out before for something related

he's genuine
or a really good actor

[...]

but he leaves too many things he values out in the open

[Translation, Stocke doesn't think he's acting. He'd have to be playing an impossibly good long con, one without any payoff worth the game. At least, anytime soon.]

he was missing shade's blood and lich bone
now he's missing only the bone