shellphones | Whale Man Tries to Turn Around And Walk Back Into the Rift

[ That first scathing reply has Ulpianus staring at the screen blankly for a moment. It does not help the image he's formed of his conversation partner as someone who has a tendency to inject her own perception into others' words. (Or maybe you just sound rude all the time, Ulpianus.)

And... aether? Fine, he can accept that to be her world's understanding of atomic and molecular structures... mixed with some other characteristic that they denote as aether quantity? ]

How does abundance or scarcity of aether manifest in living beings? Does a tree have more or less aether than an animal?

Less. I believe it would safe to say that if a tree began to be capable of speech, it would contain much more aether than the silent one next to it. Though at that rate, said tree would probably be something worthy of hunting down and eliminating, depending on its other behavior.

[A beat:]

We tend to be suspicious of things behaving in ways they shouldn't, if you understand. With good reason.

[ So the quantity of 'aether' corresponds to the level of intelligence - human-like intelligence, at least. And the Eikons possessing more than humans... A different kind of cognition?

This is starting to sound familiar - and dangerous. ]

Such distrust is a basic instinct.

Continue.

[ No, actually... ]

Disregard that. This method of communication is too slow. Let us speak face to face.

[Does she want to meet this guy in person? Would that even be a good idea? Certainly text gives Jill the opportunity to hide her facial expressions, but he is right. It is slow and not to mention, impersonal.

Besides, if he turns out to be bad business, Jill has Shiva, her lesser magick from the tattoo, and a rapier on her hip. The girl can handle herself.]

Fair enough. Should I assume you haven't explored here enough to have a preference on a meeting place?

[ Here's some cool advice, Jill: wear a face mask and a broad-brimmed hat! You will always have your facial expressions (mostly) hidden! ]

No preference.

[ Well... He was given some basic pointers after his arrival. ]

Pick a meeting place and describe its location relative to the MANTA Center.

[How about no, Hunter? She prefers looking normal!]

Very well then. I will send you coordinates of a nearby inn. It should not be hard to find as it's cleaner and less rowdy than most pirate frequented establishments.

[Which she does immediately as a follow up.]

Look for a silver-haired woman. [He can't see it, but she's giving a bit of a sheepish look.] Apparently it makes me I stand out from others.

[It's probably the length too, girl.]

I will find you.

[ #normal things to say.

After he receives the coordinates, it doesn't take him long to reach the inn and locate Jill. If she worried about standing out... well. She is perfectly normal compared to her new friend... although they do share the long silver hair. ]

We can continue the conversation.

[ It looks like he is no less curt in person: no hello, no introduction, not even confirming if she is his informant. ]

[Jill has taken the bit of time before his arrival to order a mug of ale and she's mid-sip when Hunter seemingly appears out of nowhere. One could be easily convinced the unladylike spittake that happens is because of his curtness, but really, it's his appearance. It's more than a bit much? And the mask? What's that for? Jill skulked around in back alleys for five years undetected; she can't imagine someone dressed so ostentatiously would be hiding from others.]

Um... [She pulls a handkerchief from a small pouch tied at her hip and dabs at her mouth.] It's a pleasure to meet you too, Hunter.

[It appears she will have to instruct him on the methods of saying hello, good afternoon, and all those pleasantries too.]

Edited 2026-01-08 01:57 (UTC)

[ Ulpianus has given various explanations about the mask over the years, depending on who he's talking to and what they need to know... but deep down, this is simply how he prefers to dress.

(And look, under the sea being shrouded in dark clothes IS inconspicuous!)

After a brief glance at the others in the inn, he takes a seat next to Jill. Something about his manner suggests that he might be uncomfortable among people, but it could just as easily be his general grumpiness. ]

You were talking about your Eikons.

[ Another brief glance around, and this time he looks Jill directly in the eye. ]

Our worlds are different and we lack a common framework of knowledge. Thus I will ask additional questions when I need clarifications. Please and thank you.

[ The way he says those words is incredibly... utilitarian. As if to him it really is just a performative ritual necessary to get an answer out of her. ]

[Well, if he likes it, she loves it. She's no fashion police.

While she can't make out anything but his eyes, Jill has become skilled enough in reading Clive's body language over the years that that talent seems to be coming in handy right this moment with someone else. Something's off about this man, not in the suspicious way, but in the he's probably better suited for network conversations rather than something face to face way. She can't help but wonder if he would have been less surly speaking like that, but instinct is telling her no.]

I was, yes.

[She slips the handkerchief away and brings out her shellphone, tapping at the screen to bring up their previous conversation. There was no way she'd remember all those questions he asked en mass off the top of her head.]

I believe you wanted to know what degree of conscience and intelligence do they possess?

Yes.

[ Ulpianus brings out his own shellphone; there should be a voice recording function, right... He trusts in his own ability to remember everything she says, but he also doesn't know how being here will affect him.

... Speaking of which. He glances at the barkeeper, who catches on and asks what the guest would like. ]

Water.

[ Ignoring the weird look he gets and offers of beer, Ulpianus turns to Jill. ]

Continue.

[She waits until the bartender moves away before speaking. It is not that Eikons are a secret here; if they were, she wouldn't have mentioned being a Dominant to begin with. That remnant of her former life is no longer part of her now, yet Jill still desires control over who hears and when. The bartender has only one job and knowing her business is not it.]

I have not asked the other Dominants on their experience, thus I can only truly speak on my relationship with the Eikon I behold. She is capable of speech, though the opportunity to do so does not happen often. Any situations where I have called upon her wasn't one of camaraderie.

[Translation: too busy fighting to really talk.]

I am always aware of her presence in some manner, much like she is aware of mine. After all, I ultimately hold the key to whether or not she is allowed to come forth.

[Except when Jill loses control of her emotions, but she'd rather not discuss that right now.]

[ He notes that she doesn't seem to want to speak in the presence of the bartender. More secretive than he'd expected, but still at odds with her previous willingness to talk. Is she afraid? Simply cautious?

His brain files those considerations in the background while Ulpianus focuses his attention on her words. ]

Elaborate. Can she overcome your will and force a manifestation?

[The mug is at her mouth when he asks the question and it remains there when she answers him, giving Jill her own sort of mask to cover up the single word that comes out.

The irony is not lost on her, but at least it looks far more like an casual act than something as glaring as his piece of cloth.]

No.

[A lie. Her apartment here bears the scars that confirm it. Her shame equals her guilt.]

[ Jill. Jill he is going to be mad about you lying to him if he ever finds out. Jill no.

But for now, it's not enough signs for him to pick up on the lie. ]

I see. Tell me about the mechanism of manifestation.

[He can't get mad if he never finds out, so let's not have him find out, hmm?]

For what reason would you like to know?

[Much like she's uncomfortable telling him the truth that enough psychological stress means she loses her tether on Shiva, Jill's also uncomfortable explaining how she primes. It's something she never really cared much to do, especially all the times she was forced to, and having to put it into words brings up some not-too-long-forgotten feelings in Jill.]

[ This is the first time she is reluctant to answer, and it gives Ulpianus pause. Is she cautious? Or unwilling to talk for some other reason? Is "please and thank you" not enough to get an answer? ]

... To understand and combat a similar phenomenon in my world.

[If she wasn't cautious, she is now. Jill's already said too much. Her fault, really, but still, her hackles are raised. Coming from a place where the Ironblood would rather see her die from abuse than thrive in peace, she now wonders if this Hunter believes the Dominants and the Dominant-alike are abominations too.]

And why do you believe they need to be combated?

[The last word is spit out with a certain amount of disgust.]

[ Ah... Yes, he's hit on some nerve, even if he's uncertain what exactly it is yet. ]

It may indeed be possible to find another way to stop them. That is what I want to know.

[ Sure would be nice if he, like... explained. Anything. ]

Do not project your own problems onto me, and do not assume you know what my world faces from some broad, vague similarities.

[ SURE WOULD BE NICE!!!! IF HE WASN'T LIKE THIS!!! ]

[No, she's going to project. Why? Because she spent thirteen whole years with people who wanted to destroy her any way they could and Founder forgive her if she's going to sit here and give this man the information to do that to someone else.

Even if those other kinds may deserve it. Who know? It's not like he's telling her much of anything about his world, so she has only what little he's given her to work with.]

You come here, tell me something similar to what I am needs to be destroyed, and you have the audacity to tell me I'm making baseless assumptions? Do you even hear yourself?

[The bartender returns with the glass of water and manages to catch the seemingly reserved woman's final words. He probably can't figure out what has changed her attitude so much, but at least he's got the good sense to skedaddle out of there as soon as the glass hits the table.]

[ Ulpianus takes that glass of water calmly, seemingly unmoved by Jill's outburst. This, too, can be a way of getting to understand people, even if a somewhat cumbersome one.

If this were Aegir, he could have asked her to dance or sing together, but he's learned long ago that land-dwellers put very different connotations on those things. So he'll just go on what he can understand about her so far. ]

Your own isolation drives you to seek companionship in beings you have never seen, but hope that they are like you. Beings that would devour you as naturally as burdenbeasts graze on grass, and construct more of their brethren from the nutrients of your corpse.

Seek your solace in the multitudes of humanity, not in the unknown.

[Is it seeking companionship or her learning that even the beings being looked down upon deserve a chance to be understood? An old(er) man once taught here, every man is worthy of that chance. They just need to know it exists in the first place.

And Hunter doesn't seem like the type to take the time to inform them.]

You talk about these them as if they aren't living creatures in need of survival too. Regardless if they are as bad as you make them seem, your first thought is to gather enough information from me to end them rather than use that information to truly understand their goals. Their desires. Their wants and needs.

Perhaps you should do that and maybe, just maybe, you might find you can come to a peaceful mutual understanding.

[Of course, this is all her supposing that whatever this great thing Hunter is in opposition to can't be that awful. Much like how some people think Dominants and Bearers are nothing but the elements that turn a good world bad.

Though one could say Hugo Kupka has earned that reputation.]

Many sought that mutual understanding. And it was only ever one-sided.

[ He seems as unwilling to budge as her. ]

They have only one goal. Only one need and desire. To propagate. To turn the sea, and then the land, and then the stars into themselves.

[ Fortunately for everyone involved, he stops for a second to think about how to convince Jill instead of simply insisting he's correct. ]

If this helps you understand... I am one of them.

I could easily say your take is just as one-sided too.

[In other words, she's only getting his view on things. Maybe if there was someone else to corroborate with what he's telling her or even better, another person to refute all his words, Jill just has to work with what she's got right now and none of it sits well within her.

No, it doesn't help her understand, but it cause her to stop and think for a moment, brow furrowed in confusion.]

You want to end your own kind?

[She understands being so hopeless where self-destruction seems like the best choice of all. She, however, does not comprehend the idea of wanting to wipe out your entire species too.]

[ If ONLY Ulpianus knew how to earn people's trust and explain things clearly and without apparent hostility. ]

They are not my kind.

[ That totally helps.

Again, he pauses, looking at Jill as though he's studying her. Eventually, he leans back slightly, seemingly having reached a decision. ]

An analogy for you, Dominant. Do you hear the voice of that Eikon you hold inside you? Do you feel what it wants? Do you know it better than a stranger from another world?

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