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[fightforthejoyofit]

You've succeeded in reaching Zenos viator Galvus; leave your banal trivialities at the tone

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have we come to an understanding? let's agree to disagree [COMMUNION]

[perfectlygoodbird]

Meteion does not often participate in Communion, though she likely ought to. Especially now. So. She has barely let the crystalline shards of her rebirth fall from her form, barely allowed herself a chance to wrap herself in a blanket from one of her resourceful allies, before she pries her shard from her breastbone and holds it before her, sitting down on the lush grass (before she falls down, truly).

Visualizing the Visionary (one of them, anyway). It might be amusing were it not so terribly urgent within her mind. Long and lustrous golden hair; eyes the piercing blue of a predator's. A third eye central to his forehead. A proud patrician nose, and a name.

Zenos viator Galvus.

Can you...hear me?

[fightforthejoyofit]

The request scratches as him, as he lays in his room. There is only one person with whom he has communed, and for a moment his heart leaps... but it cannot be Himeka, she is chained and shardless. Who, then? Curious, he pries his shard from its place as his throat, letting it sit in his palm as he listens.

The response comes swiftly, once he recognises the voice, his tone sharp. Her absence has been noted; she has, as odd as their friendship relationship might seem, become his primary confidant since his arrival, and never has he been in greater need of sounding board.

Where are you?

[perfectlygoodbird]

The truth is safe enough, she wagers. Surely Zenos would not come charging out to her rescue, Meteion thinks. Not him. It is not as if she is harmed (now) anyway. She does not need it.

The Shrine of the Innocent. I am well. What of Zenos, then?

Meteion does trust that he's well, surely were he recuperating from anything, he would not be speaking to her now.

[fightforthejoyofit]

There's a brief flare of curiosity - why is she at the shrines? They have been told to prepare for possible new arrivals, yes, but efforts have not yet begun in earnest - and then a re-raising of walls at her question. One he does not directly answer - it is a foolish query, if he were not well he would not have responded to her call - though what he says is probably clue enough as to where his head's at.

You are aware of the Regent's current guests, I take it?

[perfectlygoodbird]

Meteion is not going to come out and tell him if he has no inkling as to why she's at the shrine. He can either figure it out himself--he is a big boy--or he can dwell in ignorance.

I am. I should think you would be...pleased to have Himeka within arm's reach.

Then again, he may not have been given leave to...play with her, which would chafe at the very least. The bird is not going to taunt him about that. She does respect him that much. As well as care. Bot about Himeka, and Zenos himself.

[fightforthejoyofit]

She's no good to me broken - the response comes swiftly, before he can think better of it, almost more of a snarl than actual words.

The bird will not judge him for that, though, surely?

[perfectlygoodbird]

No. In truth, she understands--is Himeka good to anyone broken? Though she is also fairly sure that Himeka is strong enough to withstand a great deal. Perhaps even more so, if she and Abel are together.

We must hope that she does not break, then, should we not? I do not think her so weak. After all, Meteion and her sisters had surely tried to break Himeka as well, and had failed.

[fightforthejoyofit]

An image of the two captives during their period as Achamoth's latest art installation briefly floods the link - not deliberately sent, so much as floating near enough the forefront of his mind to intrude.

I did not think her weak enough to be taken captive, and yet here we are

The image fades. A beat.

When will you be returning?

[perfectlygoodbird]

Even the strongest can be worn down, Zenos. You know how strong she is, do you not? Which is precisely the reason you ever strive against her.

Meteion has been making an effort to control her emotions, even before now and that flash of Himeka and Abel being held captive. It is clear to her that he could not control that, so she can at least pretend to be serene. A bird unruffled.

Ah. But he would ask that question. There are some she might try to lie to. Of all people, likely she should lie to Zenos, were Meteion truly capable of such a thing. Or perhaps ignore it. He's done so in the past, when she asked him things he cared for not at all. And yet...

I shall not be returning.

[fightforthejoyofit]

There's a flicker - not an image, this time, he's keeping the specifics of what happened very close to his chest, but an emotional echo - of the frustration he'd felt in Godsblood, when the fight he'd been promised had failed to materialise and they'd ended up having a very strange picnic instead.

Perhaps I overestimated her potential he says, though there's... not a complete lack of conviction to it, but a certain hollowness, because he desperately does not want to believe that.

Ordinarily that glimmer of doubt would be the Big World-Shattering News where he's concerned, but their conversation continues, and Meteion's latter answer hangs for a number of heartbeats - indeed, she might begin to suspect he has left the line altogether, or at least put some slight distance between his skin and his shard, so the connection is not quite so raw and immediate while he thinks through his response in a torturous mechanical shriek of poorly-meshing cogs.

He is aware that others have... questioned their Loyalties. That some have even defected. But he recalls their conversation in the Cave. She had been certain then, hadn't she?

Though perhaps he is jumping to too swift a conclusion. Best to confirm. You mean to take up residence elsewhere?

[perfectlygoodbird]

You do not believe that. Not truly. Though that's in regards to Zenos' grumblings about Himeka. Again, even with the ridiculous picnic (Himeka truly is capable of whimsy, is she not?) if Zenos believed her of no consequence, their mutual friend would simply be his victim.

Yes, Zenos. I do. I am not coming back to Achamoth.

Meteion would not say she had been entirely certain, no. She'd had doubts, but not so cuttingly deep and so many that she would have turned her back on the Regent then. Now she had, and had done something about it.

But she refused to turn her back on Zenos himself. To Meteion, it was that simple. (And, truly, the Regent had never been her friend.)

[fightforthejoyofit]

There's a sound, and feeling, very much like a sharp intake of breath, and another pause.

Then we have nothing left to say to each other, unless it is as enemies.

Despite him saying that, though, the line stays open (if nothing else, it's his enemies he talks the most often and most openly with, isn't it?).

[perfectlygoodbird]

Are we? Are we really?

That's gentle reproach, if only because they are so physically diverse, she could never truly fight him. Not physically. Though she's well aware that there are other ways, so there is the weight of knowledge there, as well.

If you ever wish to speak to me, in any way, I will not turn you away, Zenos. Ever.

(yes, even if it's just Zenos gloating...)

[fightforthejoyofit]

There is the sense of his head tilting to regard her with curiosity.

Do your new allies know that we are talking? I assume not.

[perfectlygoodbird]

I have no plans to hide it, should someone ask.

The Pleroma might ask. If they do, she'll answer truthfully. But Meteion is good at omission.

Are you going to tell the Kenoma that we are talking? I warn against it only because it would endanger you.

And yes, your safety is important to her, Zenos, please take that from this.

[fightforthejoyofit]

A disparaging snort. He doubts the Kenoma will, by and large, give a solitary fig what he does (and there is something liberating in that, isn't there?)

My previous indiscretions have not merited censure. Besides -

The sense of teeth bared (though in a smile, rather than a snarl).

- a little danger might serve to break the tedium. If I am asked, I will not lie

[perfectlygoodbird]

A vague sense of annoyance suffuses Meteion for a moment. He's so stubborn, though she supposes that is part of the reason why she is fond of Zenos in the first place. None can say he is not tenacious.

Do not be foolish. It is only a matter of time, then, before you do something viewed as disobedience. Do not get complacent.

Though Meteion does have her doubts as to whether he actually would.

[fightforthejoyofit]

Forgive me if I am not inclined to listen to advice on obedience, coming from a traitor. he retorts, though it's amused rather than venemous.

There is another brief pause before he 'speaks' again.

What was it, that tipped your hand? The Eikon? Because obviously, he needs another reason to hate that thing.

[perfectlygoodbird]

Forgive you? There's no venom in that, either, amused shock, perhaps. Were you to be obedient to anyone, I would be truly shocked.

They both know he's the type to do exactly what he wants, when he wants, pretty much. Not getting to go out and find someone to test his mettle chafes him.

The Innocence? No...it was not one single thing, just a culmination of many things. The dam finally broke.

[fightforthejoyofit]

Was it already cracking when you had me bind myself to the Regent's cause?

The question comes quickly because, well, it's really the question right now, isn't it? The thing he's let's-go-with-cherished-even-if-he-would-never-admit-as-much about their relationship (such as it is) is her honesty, after all.

[perfectlygoodbird]

I was not happy when I had you bind yourself to the Regent, but I was never truly happy as a Kenoma. It was not well budded, but...yes. It had begun, but it was of little consequence then. I could look past it and at least attempt to do my duty.

Which is what you were, Zenos. Binding you was Meteion's duty, at that point.

It eroded further after the events in Venera. And far faster.

[fightforthejoyofit]

He cannot really ask for more than that, can he? Unenthusiastic fulfilment of duty is something he understands, after Doma and Ala Mhigo. The important part is that she did not feel the need to coddle him in pleasant lies.

So you simply... elected to leave? That doesn't sound right, not given the way the vile black serpent curled around his soul when he submitted; if it were that simple, they'd have lost more than the handful they have, surely.

[perfectlygoodbird]

I would not call it 'electing to leave'. The truth is I fled. My heart could no longer endure the cruelty, after I had freed myself of my sisters'.

It had not been easy by any means, and it had taken months...though shaking off the last bit had seemed to come to her more easily. And it is entirely possible--nay, probable--that Estinien's lance had severed the last of it when he took her down in Venera.

I cannot speculate, and I doubt you truly wish to join those you see as...do-gooders. Though her mental tone is light and vaguely amused, there. And in truth, if Zenos ever changed his mind, there's one individual who would welcome him with open arms.

[fightforthejoyofit]

He laughs at that - a single, plosive bark. Nor do said 'do-gooders' desire aught more than my head on the horse-woman's latest pile, I'm sure.

No, Meteion, he's not looking to join you in defecting. He's merely curious as to the metaphysics of it all, and unlikely to get a straight answer (or anything but unwelcome attention) if he asks in Achamoth, whereas you're uniquely qualified to advise. That's all.

[perfectlygoodbird]

Well, I doubt I can be considered a do-gooder. I much prefer your head remain where it is. Not on Hayame's pile. Not that she really has a pile.

Not that Meteion knows whether the jinba actually does own a pile, or not. She doubts Hayame would let her close enough to see, and that even assumes...well. It assumes a great deal that is not likely to happen.

Are you well enough, though? Truly, Meteion can't imagine that Zenos is not, yet to her it still bears asking, because she does care about the answer.

[fightforthejoyofit]

In response to her comment about Hayame's pile, he sends the image of her handiwork Childe had shared with the Kenoma, along with a sense of... amusement, is probably the nearest word? Maybe admiration.

... and they're back to that question. Honestly, he does not understand why she places such import on whether he is "well" or not. He is alive. He could fight if he needed to. That has always been all anyone wanted to know. He settles on turning her words back - My heart "endures" well enough. - with something that feels very much like a shrug.

[perfectlygoodbird]

Thank you. She doesn't quail at Zenos' sharing of Hayame's...collection. There's a brief bit of startlement, but it's not horror or revulsion. More an 'Oh' sort of reaction. Yes, that certainly was a thing. Meteion recognizes Venera as the backdrop...

Well. Maybe it will inspire some of the people there.

There's more than a bit of warmth and gratitude that suffuses the communion, then--Meteion is pleased with Zenos, and has no reason to not let him feel it. Good. I know we are no longer comrades, but I would see you well.

Why? Because she considers you a friend, Zenos!

[fightforthejoyofit]

We are enemies. You should wish to see me dead

Is that concern in his tone, for what might befall her if her Loyalty is questioned? Surely not. They are, after all, not friends.