[ME] just the way of things

Quite the empathetic creature, Remi's expression softly crumpled as the lantern light contoured the lines of sadness on his friend's face. Before he could ask what it was troubling the man, Rory provided the answer. Though the alchemist did not know Wessex, it hardly mattered. Inhaling sharply, his face a tapestry of sadness and sorrow, one of his hands instinctively reached forward. But reached to do what? To take Rory's hand? To place it on his shoulder? To remove the lantern and gently kiss the pads of his fingers which had lingered too long on the hot metal? Remi didn't know, and so his hand fell back to his side. "I am so sorry Rory." He whispered, pale stare flickering to and fro from Rory's eyes, to his lips, to his fingers upon the lantern. The wave from Phoebe caught his attention, and the alchemist hazarded a tentative smile her way just as Ronin joined them. As the former-captain began to address the room, Remi smiled apologetically at Rory before taking a breath and turning to face the crowd as well. "There is more." Remi added, his thickly accented voice easily filling the space despite his utter lack of experience addressing a room or congregation of this size. "A number of us found a shrine in the Underground. There was a being there, she called herself The Voice and said that we freed her. Two of the ascended with us drank from her, and she offered to ascend another member of our group—" Pausing, Remi gave a sideways smile towards Amalia before continuing. "—who declined. It is possible that she is one of the New Gods written about in some of the books in the Atheneum." Clearing his throat slightly, Remi swallowed hard feeling uncertain and uncomfortable about explaining this next portion. Perhaps it was because Jigano had made him to feel a fool for bartering for this information, or perhaps it was simply because the encounter itself was so strange to think of. Even so, the alchemist took another breath before continuing. "I spoke with one of the other gods here, Ludo. I asked about the barrier and how we might leave here—" Desperately Remi wanted to look towards Rory as if he owed the man an apology for this, but instead kept his gaze focused on the crowd. "—it said we would need help from the ascended...and that the answers about how to leave would be found at the Spire. It was a long shot, but given the creature that guards it, myself and two others flew to the top of the Spire to see if perhaps a way in could be found." Casting his eyes down, Remi frowned sadly and shook his head. "Unfortunately there was nothing to find." So saying, the alchemist fell silent, glancing towards Ronin to see if the ex-captain had anything more to add. remi Every now and then the things I lean on lose their meaning And I find myself careening in places where I should not let me go