Aurelia "I saw... a vision, a thing that needed done in a moment that had gone, and the shape which would reach it. I held the moment of now in a note, stretched it, shaped, wove it in a path that twined back to join that moment past, for the space of a song made the two one."

Dionysus He frowns, "Is that poetry?"

Aurelia "All words are poetry."

Dionysus One sec

Dionysus "That's an interesting idea, but poetry has no rules. I can't say I like that."

Aurelia "If poetry is words, and words poetry, poetry's rules are those of words."

Dionysus "An interesting idea. I'll look into that."

• Aurelia smiles.

Dionysus He grins, "Want a book of instructions for a windmill?"

• Aurelia tilts her head curiously, then nods.

Dionysus He hands you one, and it explodes into confetti. He frowns, "Huh. It shouldn't do that until you open it."

• Aurelia flinches at first, then smiles again, watching the confetti fall.

Dionysus "Ahh, well, back to the drawing board. Is there more I can do for you?"

• Aurelia shakes her head and curtsies again. "Thank you."
• Aurelia goes, if nothing more is said, to return the chest to her room before heading to floor 4. On the way up she steps briefly in on each floor, testing the empathic waters out of curiosity.

Dionysus Third floor notables include a lot of footpads, Fane Crow, and a gap in your empathy where a person should be.

Aurelia Now that is interesting.

Aurelia Not something I've encountered in a while.

Dionysus Fourth floor includes Hyun Boxmaker, a hill giant feeling very satisfied in room 402, a shemir in 412, a... big lizardman of some sort, Dophanon Pard, someone asleep, another shemir, and then empty rooms.

Dionysus Later, some arrivals will fill those rooms

• Aurelia makes a note to visit Hyun as well.

Dionysus So... where to?

Aurelia 402

Dionysus The hill giant's door is huge, and he kneels, his ten feet lowering to about six, when he answers, "Hello."

• Aurelia curtsies to him.

Aurelia "I am Aurelia Lucent. I would meet you, and ask of rules."

Dionysus He nods his head,, but feels much like the centaur did. "Ask."

• Aurelia tilts her head, watching him, then smiles. "I am answered."

Aurelia That specific aside, does contentment define him as peace did the centaur?

Dionysus Yes

• Aurelia does he say anything further?

Dionysus He bows slightly.

• Aurelia curtsies again. "Thank you."

Aurelia Is he curious about my response? Knowing? Unconcerned?

Dionysus Content

Aurelia Cool.

Aurelia Is 406 empty?

Dionysus Oh... No.

Dionysus No, it feels like intense benevolence.

Aurelia Shiny.

• Aurelia knocks.

Dionysus The alabaster door swings open, and shining light like that of the sun greets you. Warm benevolence and structure flow out, and a human-like figure with seven wings and golden hair speaks, gently, "Welcome, Empathic One."

• Aurelia curtsies to him.

Dionysus His feet don't touch the ground, "How may I help thee?"

Aurelia "I would meet you, and perhaps ask of rules."

Dionysus "I will say unto ye as I did your companion who is unseeable: Rules to me are like the physical make up of mortals. I cannot but abide by their strictures. To do otherwise is to fall."

• Aurelia nods, not having expected much other. He does not reveal anything surprising emotionally?

Dionysus Benevolence, structure, mercy, compassion, hope, calm, contentment... holy emotions

Aurelia Indeed. I wonder if he sees the sword.

Dionysus He sees everything about you.

• Aurelia curtsies again. She pauses and tilts her head. "May I paint you?"

Dionysus The angel hovers, "I mayn't pose, but my image shall not leave your memory."

• Aurelia smiles. "Thank you."
• Aurelia turns to go, to 412 next.

Dionysus The door slides open, and the shemir answers, "Greetings."

• Aurelia curtsies.

Aurelia "I would meet you, and ask of rules."

Dionysus "Ask away, miss."

Aurelia Emotional makeup and response.

Aurelia ?

Dionysus Creative and blase.

Aurelia No opinion on the asking?

Dionysus Blase about it.

Aurelia Curious.

Aurelia "Will you tell me your role?"

Dionysus "I am a judge. I judge things."

Aurelia Was that sharp?

Dionysus More like that old Jewish man tone of matter of fact.

Aurelia What is the emotional inflection of his judging things? Will he do so... matter of factly? Creatively?

Dionysus On the surface, the former, but digging, the latter

Aurelia How does that relate to his feelings of the external? Can I tell if he values creativity, exploration, in others?

Dionysus Interesting. He would value creativity, yes, not necessarily exploration, though. It's not that he doesn't care, but he certainly doesn't let all this worry him, is mostly his feeling.

Aurelia Ok. I can accept that.

• Aurelia smiles and curtsies again. "Thank you."

Dionysus He blinks, "Any time."

• Aurelia turns to go to 431.

Dionysus An empath is within, you note.

Aurelia Interesting.

Aurelia I don't recall whether I said, but Aurelia is an ender again since leaving the greater empath.

• Aurelia knocks.

Dionysus She answers, looking and feeling frazzled, "There's no way he could ha--can I help you?"

Aurelia One sec

• Aurelia blinks and echoes, "He?"

Dionysus "Don't worry about it, sugar. What can I do for you?"

• Aurelia curtsies. "I would meet you, and ask of rules."

Dionysus She watches you curtsy, "I'm Diora. Nice to meet you."

Aurelia Emotional makeup/response?

Dionysus Sarcastic

Dionysus Compassionate, but sarcastic

• Aurelia herself is... curious and thoughtful.

Aurelia Why sarcastic? Can I tell?

Dionysus It's just the way she is.

Dionysus Her coping mechanism, actually, for all the pain out there

Aurelia Does she have response beyond that to the question?

Dionysus What question?

Dionysus Oh, of rules

Aurelia Yeah.

Dionysus She's reserving judgment until she knows what your question is

Aurelia Not technically a question I suppose.

Aurelia "Will you tell me your role?"

Dionysus "To judge people's behavior."

Dionysus She feels like she's pointing out the obvious

Aurelia Mm, but how does she feel about the role? Does the question evoke enough of that for me to latch onto and explore?

Dionysus If you follow her emotions there, it ends at "what kind of idiot is this asking such a stupid, obvious question?"

Dionysus It's almost like her emotions on the subject are intentionally shallow, her walls built up so strongly she no longer even feels much deeper emotion

Aurelia Strong understanding from Aurelia. Sympathy.

Dionysus Surprise from her, then gratitude. She... directs her emotion to a strange message of caution, of sympathetic understanding, and of direction: your general sense of it is, 'just don't get caught'

Aurelia Acknowledgement and gratitude.

• Aurelia tilts her head, then steps forward and hugs the other before turning to go.

Dionysus "Any time, kiddo," she says as she hugs back.

Dionysus She smells of cigarette smoke

• Aurelia smiles at her on way out.

Dionysus Ocean of Sound?

Aurelia Actually, she'd go from there to Hyun, but just to thank him so it needn't play out if you'd druther not.

Aurelia Same the Ocean of Sound and Sather. She just wants to thank them for the wedding gifts.

Dionysus Hyun is actually in the room of another man, from your emotional register, and apparently in the throws of sex. The man's name on his door is Martha Mellaus.

Aurelia Ah. I'll come back another time.

Dionysus The Ocean representative you meet is the leader, Katerina, the wild talent. She smiles friendily, but you can tell she's sizing you up and is nervous about what she sees. She's very genuinely gracious about the gift, though.

Aurelia Though out of curiosity, what can I tell about his partner?

Dionysus If you delve into his partner, she's a he who wants to be a she badly, and is madly in love with him, and a Contestant

• Aurelia is also genuine in her grattitude. She makes a point of wearing the pin her feather is in, fastening her aunt's cloak, when she goes to convey thanks.

Dionysus The Sather twitches nervously, "You can see me?" he asks, when he answers the door.

• Aurelia makes a note to speak to her as well. And also checks his feelings for her for points of contention.

Aurelia Can I?

Dionysus Yes

Dionysus Hyun is in love with her as well

Dionysus Though he's conflicted about her becoming female

Aurelia That's what I feared.

Aurelia "Yes."

Dionysus He is gay, afterall.

Dionysus "Damn. I need more work." And he closes the door.

Aurelia Reputed to be. Truth could be otherwise to some degree.

• Aurelia pauses, then knocks again.

Dionysus He opens the door, "Oh?"

Aurelia "I would thank you for the gift you gave."

Dionysus He blinks, "Sure, no problem, least I could do." He has no idea what you're talking about, and he really wants to go back to hiding, "Have a good day, ma'am."

Aurelia "Your heart sings also. Those who can listen may hear if eyes fail."

Dionysus He pauses, thinks, then nods, "You're all right in my book." And he means that even as his mind whirls through this new development

• Aurelia curtseys to him and turns to go.

Dionysus Anything else?

• Aurelia would like to size up Darion, from a distance at first. See how he's changed.

Dionysus He's meek, timid, devoted to order, and lonelier than you've ever felt anyone feel

Aurelia Gods. Alright.

• Aurelia finds him in his room not long after his arrival. She brings the painting, covered.
• Aurelia knocks at his door.

Dionysus He answers timidly. "May the Fat--" he stops short, awed. "Hello, my sweet punisher."

Dionysus He kneels.

• Aurelia blinks, staring at him for a moment, then reaches for his shoulder to tug lightly in request he stand.

Dionysus He slowly does, unsure.

Aurelia "You are changed."

Dionysus He laughs hoarsely, "I am a shell."

Aurelia How does he feel about the change? About me?

Dionysus He reveres you, and feels like he is stronger now than ever before, but he is desperately lonely.

Aurelia "A prisoner."

Aurelia "In a cage built of that which you once wielded."

Dionysus "You were His arrow. I am His servant. He has given you His blade as reward. I am unworthy even to see it. I repent, but accept your judgment."

• Aurelia removes the painting's cover. "This is your cage. Ending it will open the door."
• Aurelia holds it out, offering the painting to him.

Dionysus He reaches up for it, then pauses.

Dionysus "It is your judgment. If you will it ended, end it."

Dionysus He bows.

• Aurelia shakes her head.

Dionysus "Please, I am unworthy."

Aurelia "The choice is yours. Open the door, if your strength will remain without bars, or if its loss is worth loss of lonliness."

Dionysus He looks into the painting, then sighs, "May I keep it, and decide later?"

• Aurelia nods. "Choose your path when you are ready." She offers the painting again, and turns to go.

Dionysus He is weeping as you leave, grateful and afraid

Aurelia Poor guy.

Dionysus Remorse, or just pity?

Aurelia Something like pity. He deserved what he got, though.

Aurelia I think it's just left then to seek out Hyun and his girl. Seperately though.

Dionysus You seek out Hyun?

Aurelia Yes.

Dionysus He's in his room at some point

Aurelia First, does the stat gain apply to read/improv/etc?

Dionysus Yes, that's what I meant about subskills

Aurelia Second, is Aurelia in or out vocally? Unaided she's 14, but with trinkets she's 20.

Dionysus In, but at the 20 base

Aurelia Aight

Aurelia Thanks

• Aurelia knocks at Hyun's door.

Dionysus He answers quietly, smiling, "Hello, your Grace."

• Aurelia smiles back and curtsies. "I would thank you for the box you sent."

Dionysus He smiles back, "You and your husband are pillars of the art and music community. I would be remiss if I did not help you celebrate your union."

• Aurelia blushes, still smiling

Dionysus "It was my pleasure."

• Aurelia curtseys again, and turns to go, unless he seems to want to speak more.

Dionysus He doesn't

Dionysus Martha's room, then?

Aurelia Yes.

Dionysus She answers the door, and she looks... very feminine. Her hair is a wig, though it looks well done. She has a bit too much make up, as she's fighting her natural masculinity and age.

Dionysus She's wearing elegant clothing, though

• Aurelia curtseys to her.

Dionysus She smiles, "May I help you, darling?" she says softly.

• Aurelia hesitates, uncertain. "May I enter?"

Dionysus She opens her door to reveal a disheveled but elegant room. "Certainly."

• Aurelia steps inside.

Dionysus She says, "I've no refreshments here, since the cafeteria takes care of all that, I'm afraid."

• Aurelia blinks, then smiles a touch and shakes her head.

Dionysus She smiles, "What do I owe this visit?"

• Aurelia pauses again, trying to figure out how to proceed. "Your heart sings of need that echoes through the halls."

Dionysus She frowns, confused, "I'm sorry?"

Aurelia "Need and war between what you are and what you are made to be."

Dionysus She blushes, "How... how do you know about that?"

Dionysus She's a little mortified

Aurelia "I am ender. Your heart sings to me."

Dionysus She blushes, "But you're... a woman."

Aurelia "Now."

Dionysus She feels... a tiny sparkle of hope. "How?"

Aurelia "Always in heart. Now in body and heart."

• Aurelia pauses. "Not by a path you would take. I may, though, hold another."

Dionysus She dares not even speak, she just looks to you.

Aurelia "I paint, and the world changes."

Dionysus She frowns, "I don't understand."

Aurelia "I have painted vines, and they grew. Flames, and all that they touched was consumed. A cage, and the man whose image filled it was imprisoned. Past moments, and for those who saw it was the present."

Dionysus She starts to understand, "Are you offering to paint something to make... me... my dream come true?"

Aurelia "To try."

Dionysus She considers, then says, "May I think on this? I will have word to you by the end of the Contest?" Hope and terror mingle within her

• Aurelia smiles. "Yes. And... if a painting is unmade, so will be its reflection."

Dionysus She pauses, fear spiking again, "Thank you."

Aurelia Does she think... she'll be gone if the painting goes?

Dionysus She's afraid someone will take away her dream after she gets it

Aurelia Aah.

Aurelia "If your dream is realized and lost, I will always remake it if asked."

Dionysus She blushes, "Thank you."

• Aurelia smiles. "I know this song of need. I would not hear it sung needlessly." She pauses. "Will you speak with Hyun Boxmaker?"

Dionysus She nods, fear spiking, "I love him, and he me, but... He is not attracted to women."

• Aurelia nods wordlessly.

Dionysus "But we... will see."

Aurelia "I am in 605. Please come, if you wish, whether you have decided or no."

Dionysus She nods, "Thank you."

• Aurelia turns to go.

Dionysus She lets you

• Aurelia returns to the room to think.

Dionysus About?

Aurelia Whether this was the right thing to do.

Dionysus Ahh. Let me know what she comes up with there

Aurelia Jeopardizing her relationship with Hyun would be a grave sin.

Aurelia She might be able to alter or preserve as appropriate his love for her, if they ask, but that's... sticky.

Aurelia It might be strong enough to last on its own anyway.