Dionysus What do you do instead?

Aurelia Spend some time as close to alone as I can get before I have to talk to Arsul.

Dionysus As you are getting your alone time in, you sense a sleeping entity approach, & identify Rumbelford long before he enters without knocking.

• Aurelia is already looking toward him when he enters.

Dionysus He's not even visible at first, then he's there, a wizardly looking figure with big pointed ears & thin insectoid antennae. "Miss." He nods to you.

• Aurelia smiles faintly at him for a moment, then just watches.

Dionysus "Err, the child... you've not been... That is, it remains mostly unshaped."

• Aurelia looks away.

Dionysus "You seem healthier, though."

• Aurelia doesn't respond.

Dionysus He shakes his head, "Have I failed to impress upon you the risks here?"

• Aurelia shakes her own slightly.

Dionysus He looks grim, "Then see to it you start on this again. Were it not for my knowledge of what lies within you, though, I'd say pregnancy suits you."

• Aurelia blinks.

Dionysus "That said, if next I see you the child remains unshaped to my satisfaction, I shall be forced to act. See to it it does not come to that. It would hurt his Highness."

• Aurelia nods slightly.

Dionysus He feels stern, worried, regretful, dreading, impressed, & stressed.

Dionysus "Thank you, my lady."

• Aurelia blinks again, not sure what she's being thanked for.

Dionysus He vanishes, & you feel him walk away, then permanently vanish once he's out of range.

• Aurelia watches where he was for a little while.

Dionysus Do anything after that of note?

• Aurelia oboes quietly for a while.

Dionysus You sense Valara approach. She knocks.

• Aurelia opens the door.

Dionysus She smiles at you, her emotions uncertain, shaky. She pauses, then says, "Is it always like this?"

• Aurelia tilts her head, not understanding the question.

Dionysus "There's so much... The drama around all this, the emotional... gauntlets. The nonstop... danger. I thought I'd seen action before, but... And then... There's the... The... /wonder/."

Aurelia "Yes."

Dionysus She moves to hug you, "How do you... remain so... you?"

• Aurelia blinks and hugs back.

Dionysus Her emotions are pride, worry, curiosity, & pain. "What are you planning? I can sense it."

• Aurelia tries to figure out an answer, rejecting some, reluctant to voice other... that stops at the second question, replaced with guilt, faint self loathing, fear.

Aurelia All of it is muted though, stunted by her old walls.

Aurelia "I wished you safe from nightmare."

Dionysus She pulls back & looks you in the eye. "Aurelia." Her voice has a note of... reproach to it. "Guilt I'll accept, if you're guilty of something. Fear is understandable. But that tiny drop of hatred of yourself is completely out of the question."

Dionysus "You did something to protect me from nightmare?"

Aurelia The self loathing increases a notch. "No. The lost gods offered strength, to save. Accepted, but useless. The cost remains."

Dionysus A pause, then cautious understanding, "Is that why you can sense so much now?"

• Aurelia nods.

Dionysus An emotional & literal rolling of the eyes, "They give you strength & throw you into the pot & expect you to know how to use it? What cost?"

Aurelia "To heal Shem's wound."

Dionysus She frowns, then again, understanding, "The mark on the world?"

• Aurelia nods.

Dionysus A bit of awe, then, "How?"

Aurelia "Arsul will know."

Dionysus She frowns, then nods. "Why does this... bother you? Why are you upset over it?"

Aurelia "The bargain was foolish."

Dionysus "You don't seem to be afraid of the task before you, exactly. What is it? Help me underst--"

Aurelia Slight understatement.

Dionysus She pauses, a bit derailed. "For you, or for them?"

Aurelia "It gave no aid."

Dionysus "Can you... renegotiate?"

• Aurelia shakes her head.

Dionysus She pauses, pensive.

Dionysus "What exactly did they give you?"

Aurelia "Strength."

Dionysus She nods, "You can sense the void-things, though. That's your empathy stronger. Do you mean physical strength, too? You do look... healthier."

• Aurelia nods.

Dionysus "Well, that's something. Look, you were forced into that negotiation under duress. It's not your fault. If we meet whoever it was that made you do this, I'll give them a piece of my mind..." She means it, too.

• Aurelia shakes her head. "I chose."
• Aurelia means that, and intends to deal with the consequences of choosing. She just doesn't like them.

Dionysus Valara shakes her head, "If a man puts a gun to your head & says, 'Do this or die,' the choice is yours, but the fault is not."

Dionysus "You might have to face these consequences, but you've got nothing to feel bad about."

Dionysus You can sense urgent emotions in the direction of the war room. Valara cannot as she says, "Will you... cheer up for me?"

• Aurelia looks toward the war room, distracted for a moment.
• Aurelia looks back at Valara and nods, uncertain.

Dionysus She smiles, then hugs again, "You have to face this with fortitude, Aurelia. If you become detached, I lose my strength."

Dionysus An athak approaches & enters without knocking, <Your companions wish your presence.>

• Aurelia hugs back and makes herself smile a little bit.
• Aurelia nods at the athak.

Dionysus Valara stands, confused, not having her translator on.

Dionysus You go?

Aurelia "The Colour calls. They are urgent."

Aurelia Yes.

Dionysus She nods, & moves to go