From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
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Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
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Amun stayed right where he was, though he shrugged at Zidane's response. "I think you and I have very different definitions of what it means for life to be worth it." The potter's voice was quiet. Then he leaned back, crossing his arms. His expression was inscrutable.
At the other man's offer to help, Amun grinned, though it was slightly faded. "I think we've got it handled. But if you wanna help, talk to Wessex. She's the one who got the assignment from The Voice." The words were soft, pitched low enough that only Zidane and no one else in the VlamVloed could possibly overhear the conversation.
Zidane smirked at Amun while he shook his head slightly, clearly amused over that statement. "Indeed Amun. Indeed" He wasn't upset over the fact at all, heck, everyone was different which was the thing that made the lifetime interesting. He himself had nothing else really to live for but that didn't mean others had that same misfortune. He had been very close to his family and to lose them all in the span of an hour had been to much for a man like Zidane to handle. Sure; people died all the time but normally not every single person they knew almost all at once.
Zidane still looked at Amun that by now had leaned backwards a bit again and replied in the same low voice as Amun had used, to make sure they were not overheard. "Well, i'm quite unsure were I'm standing amongst the ascended community since, to be fair, i don't really care all that much about helping out. I should, i know, but i just don't do it. But maybe it is time? Even though i'm not very fond of apologizing to others, which I'm sure would be needed." Yes it was quite easy to know that an apology was in order if he went to offer help. Such a hassle really but to say he himself wasn't to blame would just be stupid.
As Zidane expressed his concern about how much or whether he mattered to the rest of the Ascended, Amun shrugged. "Honestly? I wouldn't worry about it too much. And I don't think an apology is necessary." The potter's was still speaking just loud enough for the other man to hear.
"The Voice loves all of us, and she's the one who ultimately matters. As for the other Ascended, Wessex sometimes gets upset when she thinks people aren't following orders, such as they are, but the rest of us are just happy to be in the presence of other Ascended." Although there wasn't affection or joy in Amun's voice, hopefully Zidane would find it reassuring. "As long as you're not actively harming our reputation, no one really cares."
"Well i don't seam to do very much of anything really, so at least I'm safe from destroying our reputation." He said honestly before finally breaking eye contact for a brief moment. Seamed to be looking around on the people closest to them to be sure nobody was eavesdropping. Sure they wouldn't really hear anything at all but it said alot about a person that actually tried to listen in to a private conversation. At least according to Zidane. Though it seamed like no sneaky little thing was trying to listen to them, most people seamed way to occupied with drinking. Yeah, drinking.. It had gotten to the point were he certainly would kill someone if it meant he could enjoy a single beverage. The stronger the better.. Man, he really missed that. One could also kind of figure out what went through his brain as his gaze were locked at a cup of alcoholic beverage. With struggle he broke away from eying it to instead look upon Amun again. There was so many things to miss out on as an Ascended.
30 years ago when he had still been human he would most likely click on the charm and flirt with Amun (if he had actually been of proper age that was ofcourse). His mind had been quite simple back then and probably still was in some ways but he couldn't really enjoy that outside the emotions after all. Still... it was always tempting in it's own way. "What do you miss the most from your previous life?" He asked quite curious to hear the answer. There was ALOT to miss after all but what was the number one thing for Amun?
Amun smirked, though it was still a ghost of his former mischievous self. "Don't worry, the rest of us got that covered." Despite the joking words, there wasn't much humor in his tone. Given that the potter's back was to the wall, he was easily able to keep an eye to match sure they weren't being eavesdropped. Indeed, his eyes flicked past Zidane every few moments, watching the others in the bar.
However, Amun's gaze returned to the other man as he watched someone drink with longing. The potter didn't say anything, though. When Zidane asked what Amun missed most about his old life, his eyes grew distant. He was silent for a long while. "The feeling of a sea breeze against my bare skin." There was a naked longing in his voice.
Zidane smirked and nodded to Amuns first statement, he enjoyed some humor in a regularly dull existence. He was sure they though indeed had it covered but he should probably try and lend a hand from time to time. He did not like his downtime much at all to be honest so it was time to change that now. Without even asking Amun if it was okay (as per always) Zidane stood up to move his chair closer to Amun, sat down again as Amun finally answered his question before leaning his back onto Amuns shoulder. Who knew why really. Could be all from simple paranoia about the room behind him to just that he felt like it. He wasn't even sure he knew himself but what he did know was that Amun had the best (according to him) spot in the bar to see things unobstructed. So probably that was the closest to the reason he had moved over here. As nothing had happened he hummed a bit before answering his own question as well. "Yeah.. there is a lot to miss.. For me oddly enough its the feeling in general. I even miss feeling the searing pain of an injury. To be able to feel anything at all just for a second would be quite nice."
He said as his eyes fell on to a laughing group that seamed to have had way enough to drink for the evening. One woman could barely even stand so it would be any minute now til they were asked to leave before destroying furniture by accident. He missed feeling the heat of alcohol surging through his veins as well. As stated; he kind of missed it all.
As Zidane got up and moved his chair over to Amun’s side of the table, the potter tracked the other man’s movements. However, Amun didn’t say anything as Zidane sat down again and leaned against the potter. In fact, he barely reacted at all except to shift so he could watch the other man as they spoke.
"I miss it too." The potter's voice had dropped even further in volume, given their now close proximity. "But I've been told The Voice took it away for a reason, and I'm sure it's a good one." He fell silent for a long moment as he just watched the room. "Are you still glad you Ascended?"
As said Zidane didn't really mind using Amun as a back support even though he really didn't need it. It wasn't like he could feel anything bodily after all, no back pains or uncomfortableness but it was more as a way of showing his close friends that they had his trust, and to be completely honest Amun was the only one that had ever come to the close part. He knew some other people but none he could really feel safe leaning against in this manner. Humans was so unpredictable after all. Amun was not a human however and one that had earned Zidane's trust in this world.
"One may wonder what the reason is however.. Maybe it is to not feel the pain of an upgrade or to not create small Asceneded's that are not approved. It is quite the mystery.." His voice had lowered as well which was relaxing. There existed no risk at all to be overheard anymore unless someone fell ontop of them both which he was quite certain they would see. Zidane furrowed his brow a bit from Amun's next question and fell silent for a bit as if he was trying to figure that out himself. After a bit he replied however with a slight gloom in his voice. "glad is such an awkward word for it, i'm not even sure i was glad about it from the start. I just felt.. enraged and lost with nothing left to live for as i became an Ascended.. But in a way i'm glad about it still now when time have passed. It gived me more time to get the revenge my soul seams to need." Yes since Zidane never really worked out the greif it wasn't so odd to hear him say these words, just a shame that his mind seamed to just be pointing at one direction still. "Are you glad to be an Ascended?"
Amun shrugged, though he had to be careful not to dislodge Zidane. "Perhaps. Or perhaps it is simply to prepare us for greater heights to come." The words were soft, but it was clear that the potter was not at all perturbed by his lack of knowledge. "Whatever it is, we have to have faith."
Nodding at the other man's words, Amun's lips quirked into the ghost of his former smirk. "Perhaps I should've asked if you still feel that you made the right decision." When Zidance turned the question around on the potter, his reply was swift and certain. "Of course. What's not to love?" He paused, eyes trained on the room. "Sure, there are drawbacks, but there are drawbacks to everything."
"That is true." Zidane stated calmly as his eyes got caught by the woman from before that had been drinking a lot falling over with a hell of a noise, pulling cups of beverage with her in the fall to the ground. The bartender hurried over to strictly ask the overly drunk hoard of friends to leave which in turn lead to its own chaos. It did however not interest Zidane that turned his eyes back to Amun after this annoying disturbing of the people. Zidane could also be described a bit like a keg of gunpoweder, just not as extreme. His mood could fluctuate a lot depending on what was happening. Like for instant: noisy people. Amun could probably see traces of it already in Zidane's face that mixed with the will to just try and ignore them. Sooner or later they would be gone from here, hopefully sooner.
Faith indeed.. What else could they really do then to have faith? Who knows.. maybe they became deadly weapons in the future? Then those pesky monsters would get the honor of suffering to death. One could indeed have hopes for something like that to come along. As the next statement came Zidane smirked softly towards Amun and nodded. "Yes. I would already be dead or old if i hadn't." Yes he would be an old man now if he hadn't made the choice and probably frail and weary IF he had even lived this long then. People tended to die rather quick here after all. And drawbacks was right but he did indeed not change his mind considering becoming an Ascended. There was A LOT to miss out on but what did it really matter anyhow? He let Amuns words sit for a while before he started to talk again. "Speaking of it all, i'm considering an upgrade soon. I haven't really thought about it before but feels like it's a good time by now to start upgrading, don't you think?"
As the gaggle of drunks was firmly escorted out of the VlamVloed, Amun’s eyes tracked them. However, his expression didn’t betray any of his thoughts. Out of the corner of his eye (and from where their bodies touched) he noticed Zidane’s slight discomfort. ”Some people can’t hold their liquor. Good thing we don’t have that problem, right?” The potter’s voice was pitched just loud enough for the other man to hear it.
Nodding at Zidane’s explanation that he was happy to have Ascended, Amun shrugged at the comment about upgrades. ”It’s probably the right time, yes, but I don’t really have any. Just one that makes me invisible to the LongNight monsters, which I imagine you’d be quite interested in.” He glanced at the other man. ”Probably worth asking The Voice if you can get one as well.”
Then the potter slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out the square he’d taken to carrying with him. ”I did find this recently.” Sliding it on his palm, he told it to create a series of different scars.
"Yeah.." Zidane said with that huge trail of annoyance in his voice over the disturbance of the arguing drunks getting escorted out, he wasn't very fond of annoying sounds like this. One could say it disturbed the balance within him but some would also say he was just a grouchy old man. No matter what it was he just didn't approve of sudden, loud noises. Mostly since all the sounds that night so long ago where he lost everybody he loved. Since then it in some ways triggered him, lit up the echoing screams of his sisters losing their lives.
As Amun talked he seamed however lose the trail of annoyance and looked up at Amun with a piquet interest. That indeed would come in handy, being able to walk right up to a monster and rip its damn throat out. "Ohh trust me, that. I will." He said with a fire burning in those clear eyes of his, he would indeed ask the voice for just that. How had he not known about this upgrade?! And what more upgrades was there?
He looked at Amun with those flaming eyes as if he just had told the best thing he had ever heard and almost fell back to his persona he have had when he still was "alive". He raised his hand to place it on Amun's closest cheek as a smile lit up the otherwise gloomy Zidane. "Thank you Amun" He said truthfully before he slowly lowered his hand again to give Amun some space, even though he didn't complain over being used as a pillow things could go to far after all. His eyes then wandered down to Amun's hand to see what it was he had taken out to show him. Looked at it before he looked at the scars that covered Amun's skin all of a sudden. Curious he touched one of the scars to investigate it, indeed still very cheered up.
"That pretty neat.. How does it work?" He asked, curious if it only made scars or if it had other properties as well.
Thankfully, the mention of the chip that hid Ascended from the LongNight monsters was enough to distract Zidane from the rowdy patrons. "You're welcome." As it had been this whole time, Amun's voice was quiet. However, there was more than a hint of understanding behind the potter's words this time.
Shrugging, he commanded the square to turn the skin under the same blue as the bar's decorations. It did that, and the scars disappeared. Under the dim light, it was nearly invisible. "It seems to be camouflage, of a sort. It changes the appearance to whatever I think of." Still, his tone was uncertain, and he shrugged to indicate he didn't exactly know.
It was nice to have a friendship that saved him from his inner turmoil in such a simple and uncomplicated manner. He didn't even notice the arguing people's voices disappearing outside since Amun had given him other things to think about. Upgrades.. he had indeed a need of that special upgrade to say the least. He had been decently good after all and it never harmed to ask right?
Zidane watched the skin turn again and let out a fascinated little "hmm..." as he watched the blue color take over the natural pigment. He had to wonder how much of this Amun had tried out. Had he tried it at his entire body to meld into a wall or something like it? "I can see how this will come in handy.. being somewhere without getting noticed is a great asset as well. How long have you had this?" His voice was low but clear to hear for Amun as he investigated the stone in his hand.
