#except you know lake Doric

[just-eyris-things]

Technology in Tyria: Waypoints (headcanons) + a little bit on other stuff.

As we all have noticed, Tyria is full of waypoints, bah, we can even help placing some in Dragonfall! We can sometimes see NPCs walking towards them and disappear in the blue light. During LWs1, at the end of Marionette battle event, we can hear Taimi and Logan talk. He tells her he will escort her and she tells him she will go only if he handles waypoint fees.

So, a question popped up in my mind: how do waypoint fees actually work?

We know, that they are asuran devices - so it would be logical for the money going straight to asuran pockets, right? I mean, they need to be maintained, and so do the asura gates. But about AG later. Now - waypoints. So, by waypointing we feed Phlunt. But how is the money collected?

And here I'm using readmore becausue this? this is LONG.

So, I have this headcanon that each waypoint has a little guy like this!

These folks ask you about your destination, they will tell you the Waypoint name and if the WP is available. STH like this:

Character approaches

Golem: Hello-adventurer. Where-would-you-like-to-go?

Character: Cragstead

Golem: There-are-no-waypoints-in-Cragstead. Do-you-want-to-choose-a-nearby-waypoint?

Character: Yes.

Golem: There-are-Dolyak-Pass-Waypoint-and-Solitude-Waypoint. Which-do-you-prefer?

Character: Dolyak Pass.

Golem: Waypoint-unavailable. Would-you-like-to-travel-to-Solitude-Waypoint-instead?

Character: Yes.

Golem: The-cost-of-travel-is-4-silver. Please-choose-payment-option. Option-one: The-Fast-Travel-Waypoint-Card. Option-two: Charge-Bank-Account. Option-three: coin-exchange.

The Fast Travel Waypoint Card (FTW for short) is something like a Public Transport Card. You pay a monthly fee for unlimited travel. Fee depends on the option the traveller chooses when buying/refreshing their card: a region specific (Kryta-Ascalon-Maguuma-Shiverpeaks), all regions, work days only, etc. Please note that FTW only covers CORE GAME maps. To unlock other regions one has to pay for each region, or buy a region pack. Please note that region packs concern mostly LWs3 locations, since other seasons majorly happen in single areas. IBS takes place in Ascalon and Shiverpeaks. So one can either pay for Region Pack or unlock Ascalon and Shiverpeaks separately.

"Isn't this too complicated?"

I don't know, ask some asura, it's them who get all the gold, not me. I'm just breaking down the system for you.

Charging one's bank account demands a bank card/ID - they both are very similar, it's possible to find one's bank account in the data base with ID, so that works. And coin exchange is, well, coin exchange. Golem will ask you to put some coins in the designated place and you're good to go.

Okay, so we have that covered. Remember how I said that FTW only covers core game locations? Well I HAVE A REASON FOR THAT TOO!

Why wasn't the Heart of Maguuma explorable before? I headcanon that simply the journey through the wastes was really dangerous and only some adventurers dared to go that far. There are no waypoints there, except for Tangled Depths - asura used to live there, so there are waypoints, but the technology is much older and attuned differently, just to match this old asuran tech. They had to be reattuned to work with other waypoints or exchanged to newer tech. Waypoints in Heart of Maguuma are placed strategically, post Mordremoth's defeat. In Dragon's Stand I imagine they were putting waypoints on the spot, just like you do it in Dragonfall.

Living World season 3! We are all over the place, but one out of all the maps should have the waypoints from the start - Lake Doric (code name: Lake Dorky). So why can't we access it prior? Let's note that Lake Dorky is quite isolated. You can't get there from Harathi or Queensdale (unless you're Caudecus, that is) and only way to get there is through DR. Lake Doric is quite a small area, so maybe they thought "they can just walk" and waypoints were placed, yet again, similarly to the ones in Dragonfall.

Okay, so what about Cantha? They have waypoints!

Yes, but Canthan technology is quite different from Tyrian. Let's compare the two lands - in Tyria we have FIVE angry Elder Dragons. We have civil wars, treaties, fights for territory. Each region has their own forces of authority, some people are united by the Orders and later on, the Pact brings people together. Let's please look at the lines from cinematics that you get when you enter an order.

Order of Whispers: Only the Order of Whispers stands between civilisation and ruin. [...] It doesn't matter where the dragons came from, or why they awakened. The secrets we discover will help us send them back to hell.

Durmand Priory: "Your power is only equal to the sum of your knowledge." If that's true, then we're Tyria's best hope to survive the darkness gathering on the horizon.

The Vigil: The Vigil was created to fight the dragons. To destroy them before they destroy us.

"But, Eyris, what does it have to do with Tyrian vs Canthan tech?"

I'm glad you asked! You see, Tyrian tech focused on war, survavibility. Please notice that when Mordremoth rises, Taimi starts working on a machine to save the waypoints from that one hungry boy. Ever since you start your journey - you constantly have to do things to keep the world in balance, first within your homelands, then with the order you chose, and then you fight Zhaitan.

Tyrian technology has an entirely different focus than Canthan. Tyrians focused on war and crisis. Canthans focused on changing life. Holonews. Microwaves. Decorative fish holograms. Jadebots that can fight but normally don't.

Canthans have been protected by an Elder Dragon. They have protection from corruption through all those years, when in Tyrians witness their loved ones turn into risen while holding them in their arms (it's somewhere in Sea of Sorrows novel, it's a good novel, strongly recommend).

"But Eyris, HOW DOES IT CONNECT TO WAYPOINTS?!"

Shush, I'm getting there. So, I dare say Tyrian tech is more durable and dependable than jade tech. I mean, we don't have power shortages in Rata Sum, do we? Two techs are different, so they work differently. What a shocker, I know! We couldn't just waypoint to Cantha before because the waypoints were not alligned and connected!

Needless to say, in Cantha you need a jadebot to use waypoints. Jadebot does everything. It's your friend, is it not? It takes care of your taxes, fees, schedules - I dare say it's like a phone to some extent.

And communicators? It seems not everyone in Tyria has a device like that and the commander is free to chat with everyone without any issues (we even tell Livia to go meet up with Taimi to get a com because she doesn't have one). But in Cantha? I bet people hear the commander and company talk and think "oh, a new podcast? But why on this frequency?", all because in Cantha communication divices are ordinary and it takes time for Taimi to encrypt it.

This is how I imagine waypoints work, these are some additional points that have been in my brain for a while, a big shout out to @foxholemonster and @thedreamsofgods for talking to me about Tyrian/Canthan tech some time ago, without them this post wouldn't be possible. Hope you enjoyed this long text.

[fellis-world]

Lake Doric is pretty fun except the centaur area, we don't talk about that place. Flying through this place just to get A ROCK feels like Kamikaze. Eos maybe would enjoy it cause uuhhh adrenalineeee. But seriously I can imagine better deaths than getting murdered by million arrows xD But the rest is much better than freezing your ass off in Bitterfrost Frontier. Of course I already played lw3 once with my weaver But I take the opportunity now to explore everything with my thief again and do the mastery too. I see things I haven't noticed before or was just to lazy to recognize them. Who ever played a weaver in open world knows that everything is only about survival xou have no time to look around cause EVEN A DANG CENTAUR CAN KILL YOU!!!! Ehem....on that Note....Eos Starsong became two years old today weeeee which also means I run around since 2 years in gw2 now. Leaving WoW für this game was the best decision I ever made.

[fractal-quadrilioquy]

A Non-Exhaustive Guide To My Various (In-Game) Non-Cats

(the sequel.)

Aihstheta “Theta” Arizech

- hunts dragons, except for one very specific dragon who he loves very much

- allergic to elder dragon corruption. the ice above is a fashion choice and is made of plastic

- drinks bloodstone coffee

- deflects on average one assassination attempt a month up until lake doric

- somehow the oldest commander in [Port] and boy does he feel like it.

Daesthai “Hunter” Kodux

- technically a civilian. ended up as a commander anyway because trahearne plays favourites and doesn’t know how other races age

- selectively mute

- does not stop him from snarking at other people through sign

- has an emotional support wolf

- eyes in the sky

Hense Aidnolea

- definitely not a bastion reference

- ditched the black veil 20+ years ago because she got bored of it in favour of something a lot more modern. perhaps too modern.

- keeps cool through sheer force of will and also a big fuckoff greatsword

- between hense and trahearne, they know the entire population of tyria

- often jokes about how things were ‘back in my day’ despite not looking a day over 26

- might be god

Alodiel

- definitely not a pyre reference

- pacifist

- ran out of the grove when she was about ten minutes old and honestly this explains so much about her

- almost constantly lost. though being lost only means something if you had a place to be in the first place, which she never had - or maybe always had? if you’re always pulled to see the unknown, are you always lost or are you always found?

- oh look a pocket raptor they’re so cute!!

Cael

- definitely not a bastion reference

- will pass a fist through your face

- ran out of the grove when he was about ten minutes old and honestly this explains so little about him

- tired older sibling to alodiel despite the fact that he’s younger than her and is also like 5

- blunt force trauma doesn’t technically count as killing things. just very much inconveniencing them.

- oh don’t give him that look he well knows that’s not what pacifism means

Riaiva

- manages to completely avoid the main plotline and stays out of business that isn’t hers. a rarity, in these trying times

- at first it was almost certainly an accident. nowadays it is almost certainly on purpose.

- studies robots and plants and birds and making robot plants and robot birds and has named all her gyros

- likes charr because they are practical and don’t look down on her like asura do. the giant wrench has nothing to do with it of course she just likes not being in the way and if she happens to have a giant wrench beside her that she can lift with ease despite being a skinny plant that’s just a coincidence and not a subtle intimidation tactic

- the less said about the attempted robot skelk the better

Tezzhesta

- the pale tree saw his dream and declared that he was to be a beacon of hope, a lighthouse shining in dark and stormy times except all of that was bullshit and he just wants to be a sailor, come on mom

- singing voice to rival the skaalds of hoelbrak

- can tell you exactly how to assemble a ship from scratch but has no clue how architecture works

- nobody complains when he uses magic to make the ships go faster

Teyll Kiranison

- follower of wolf

- wolves follow her

- all of hoelbrak is under their protection and this does mean that all of the older svanir have to take their business elsewhere. you want to practice toxic masculinity then go practice it somewhere else

- she’ll be here if you come back though. how you interpret that is up to you

- a real firestarter

- no, kiranisdottir isn’t the right name.

Rylix Cloudpiercer

- snipeshot

- ex-svanir, but in his defense, he didn’t exactly have a quote-unquote ‘support network’ until teyll came along

- patrols the shiverpeaks for icebrood

- remarkably good at blending into his surroundings considering that he is 10 feet tall, made of muscle, wears dark clothing in the shiverpeaks, and carries a rifle wherever he goes

- fondness for bees

Devkynn

- honey you got a big storm coming

- disaster relief and stormcaller, an all-in-one exclusive package arriving in pint-sized form

- somebody’s gotta help keep the battlefields clear of civilians and by god is dev up to the task

- wonderful bedside manner

- wonderful seabed manager

- no, his patented weather machine generator is for non-emergencies only.

[cycleof-dusk]

"why didn't you tell me?" For the secret ask meme thing ✨

this one’s based off a little scenario I’ve talked about with Aym’s player!! (who doesn’t have a GW-specific blog yet but maybe soon)

readmore because it got a liiiiiittle long

“Why didn’t you tell us?”

The question is simple, as Sionedda stirs a pot over a fire. Months ago, they’d been spending time, helping out in areas outside of the big cities, breaking in their powers as Revenants.

They didn’t expect to find two legendary spirits hanging out around Lake Doric. They didn’t speak much at first, not like how Jalis or Ventari or Shiro, even, would chat with them.

But it’s been months, since, and they didn’t learn anything about them for a long time, until an impromptu foray back into Elona.

“What do you mean?” The first Legendary Hero asks, a ghostly form perching on a log next to Aym. She’s tiny, hair done up in buns and twirling a dagger.

“Who you were. What you’ve both done.”

“We’re dead. It’s been two and a half centuries, and Tyria has changed much in the time we’ve been gone. It wasn’t necessary.” The other - tall and long with her hair done up elegantly - floats just outside of the main light of the fire, the sparks of energy dancing around her hair a ghostly light source across her face.

“Wasn’t necessary?!” The spoon clunks against the edge of the pot. “You were the ones who destroyed most of the Mursaat and the White Mantle! The ones who killed Shiro Tagachi for good! The ones who were with Kormir!” She drags a hand through her ferns, getting them out of her face.

“We wouldn’t have even known except that Dunkoro and the Last Spearmarshal knew you both were nearby.”

They both do look a little scolded, exchanging a look between each other. “Our time as heroes has long past,” the smaller one begins, standing up again - she’s shorter than Aym even while he sits. “We wish to lend you our aid, but not to be leaned upon for our deeds so long ago.”

“Can we at least know your names?” Aym finally speaks up, eyes glancing over both of them rapidly. “For posterity’s sake.”

They both sigh in tandem. “Sure. You can call me Yawen,” the smaller Hero offers.

“And I’m Hikari. We’re Tyria’s Legendary Heroes.”

[dasozelotvonnebenan]

30 questions: GW2 edition

not tagged by anyone (yet) but @pr-gw2​ said to just do it if you like and I’d very much like to ^^

This can be done in many different ways: get asks by your followers, pick some questions for yourself, answer the whole damn thing at once, etc!

You can draw, write (to explain in details or not) or just post screenshots! If you miss one it’s totally okay, whether it’s by lack of answer or time. Have fun!

1. Favorite living world season?

Season 3, though it also includes some of my least favourite maps (looking at you lake doric) had a very fun story. Well apart from what they did with the actual lazarus.

2. Favorite expansion?

Definitely HoT. Love the maps, love the story, love the elites. I’ve spent a significant part of my life in the heart of maguuma.

3. Favorite soundtrack?

“Attack on Tarir” and “Tarir, the Forgotten City” and the rest of the HoT soundtrack in general. The instrumental version of fear not this night that plays when you fight at the artesian waters in orr. The vanilla character select music, as well as the HoT one. Some of the PoF combat music. Look I really can’t decide on a favourite the games soundtrack is just awesome.

4. First profession you played?

Ranger, its Frigg

5. First race you played?

Asura, its Frigg

6. Favorite Destiny’s Edge character?

Zojja

7. Favorite Dragon’s Watch character?

Rytlock. He’s an idiot, and not actually the character I like the most, but I think he’s a great character. I also want to say that Faren should be an honorary member of DW

8. Favorite Elder Dragon?

Zhaithan. His design is just *chef kiss*

9. Best boss fight (story)?

Joko, obviously, loved to hate him

10. Best boss fight (fractal)?

Its been ages since I last did a fractal. Uhhhh the molten Berserker and Firestorm is awesome

11. Best boss fight (raid)?

Only one I ever fought was Vale Guardian. From what I saw in videos Samarog really cought my eye.

12. PvE or PvP or RP?

Never actively played PvP, I really don’t enjoy it. PvE only casually, no fractals or raids or anything. I’ve been playing RP in a guild for five years now, and its definitely the thing I spent most time on. (though now that the guild is disbanded I don’t play actively anymore)

13. Favorite canon couple?

Caithe and Faolain. Its interesting to me. Its an absolutely horrible relationship, but its interesting.

15. Favorite quote?

“Commander, a word” just sends a jolt of happyness through me everytime I hear it.

“We'll have no more words, Tyrian. Only death.” from Balthasar was nice as well.

A lot of Joko’s dialogue is obviously up there

16. Most emotional cinematic?

Seeing Zhaithan fall down into the ruins of Arah. Such a sweet victory.

17. Favorite VA?

Zojja’s VA, Phlunt also. Basically any asura. (Though I have to note that I’ve only semi recently changed the voice to english. The german dub is really good, and I actually enjoy the asura voices in german more)

18. Post a fun screenshot!

They certainly won’t recognize you Eir!

19. Post a landscape screenshot!

A landscape screenshot? My folder has about 800 of those! (250 of those are just screens of Asura Buildings. Don’t worry, it was just a phase)

But this one is one of my best!

20. Most used mount(s)?

Jackal most likely. I have all but the Warclaw, but rarely use them outside of PoF and later areas.

21. Favorite mount skin (for every mount you have)?

I don’t have any mount skins except for the ones I got today from the supply drop thing I impulse bought despite the fact that I rarely play currently. I also don’t really look at the skins so I can’t say that I have favorites.

From the two licenses today I got the primordial raptor and the exo suit roller beetle

22. Favorite weapon?

This is a hard one. I’d say Cobalt, for the simple reason that it was the first exotic I dropped and used for a long while. I still have the original cobalt in Frigg’s inventory.

23. Favorite gear set?

I really like the carapace armors. all three of them

24. Favorite title?

Honorary Skritt and Storyteller of Orr

25. Something you worked really hard to get?

I have the first stage of the Claw of Khan Ur legy, and that first step alone was enough work to put me off building legendarys alltogether. I love the collections they did for the gen 1s and some of the later collections of those sound fun as heck, but the amount of mats involved means I’ll never do them.

27. Most used miniature?

Mini Snow Owl because that way I can have both of Frigg’s pets out at once. (I also have the mini whiptail devourer so I can switch around, though I usually run with knibbles as the actual pet)

28. Most used novelty?

Embiggening Tonic to make my Norn as big as they actually are.

29. Number of achievments points?

11.873

30. Something you’d love to see in GW2?

Honestly I’m just looking forward to the coming expansion maps where they don’t expect you to have mounts anymore. I know the vistas are intended that you jump up there with the springer, but it still feels like cheating.

[libidomechanica]

Untitled Poem # 8652

These Oriental pangs o joy. That  same dislike occasion I know, sweetbreads; and  upon thy hours. Shepheards pryde: waile we the  Doric mother spirit in teares  within our own worth do define,  asks eased to spy: her love of the  full-grown on your dwarf took amiss: in  compassion bred in manners bland; he star of  light the age or humor without  an age—expectant, ye shepheards daughter  fare; and flasks of yore, that tempt to  raised, until his late school boys and the  sad mistaking. When she crime, to  put the pine, to some world or  Nations mind else would call me not avowd it had stoln  good compromised to clay. I would not  succeed the luckily, the leant from  the faint of trials must, thy  face; thy sighd for words new, spending, turnd his  solemn hood. You that with a  truth like a Duck, so with the breeding,  while I with thee to  their native of moralists  the sight, That or This, or  dungeon at the one joy, by his life? With  a kind attended by bonnie  Doon to feed deep, deep seas to enterd clerk  still freeze, At length to jest upon the  lake lies my paines may pour myself thou to  be pleasaunce? at random from Greenwich  hither, he chose tears of the clime  shepheard or seen, the very air sedate  grey cloud, that spring his few present  piece of mourn, alive, and in  yougth and sung in the urn tossd in  fact, except something between his suns  love, I only had the sea, that eer she wild  wood so cool cell where hope of Pallas bold.

[naxxiblogfuntime]

Long post under read more because I have of into ranting, also LS spoilers wew

So it’s been several days since the most recent LS instalment and while I have a more or less positive feeling towards the story missions, I don’t really feel that good about the whole thing. 

As for the story, I felt that the first mission thankfully had a degree of action where there was a degree of tension and suspense, even if I found a bunch of little details to be really bothersome. Stuff like how downplayed Jennah is towards the ministers feels really out of place for the setting. Anet hasn’t in general been very consistent about what type of setting Kryta is supposed to be, but I’ve usually just chalked that up to them not doing proper research. What I liked most about the first mission was that something actually happened. All three previous LS instalments have felt just like buildup to something else, so it was nice to have that kind of change. The problem with the White Mantle attack on DR though is that, while it has been built up to, it didn’t have the cathartic effect on me that I think it was supposed to. I’ve never been able to touch raids on account of never having anyone to do them with (My guilds are largely inactive RP guilds) and I know that raids have a very White-Mantle-focused story, so I don’t know if someone who’s been doing them would feel differently. 

I think the biggest problems of this update’s story is the pacing and sense of urgency. Pacing as a problem for Arenanet is nothing new, and it was also one of the biggest problems for HoT. The sense of time in this update is not well-communicated and as a player I found myself taken out of the action by stuff like this.  Based on what Logan says after you do “mission 2″ which is essentially just completing renown hearts and events instead of an actual mission, the Seraph have apparently already completely routed the Mantle forces. This raises a lot of questions for me. Like, how much time is supposed to have passed between the first and third missions? How did the Seraph army mobilise so quickly to Lake Doric despite having been taken apparently by complete surprise? How much of the Seraph is stationed in DR/Lake Doric then? How big even was Caudecus’ faction within the White Mantle that they were apparently obliterated within hours? This brings me to my next point on urgency which is largely hand-in-hand with the pacing.

The idea that Divinity’s Reach is under any kind of threat is immediately dispelled when Jennah is able to put up a giant impenetrable shield over the entire city. From that point on I ceased to be properly engaged in the story because loljennah, and it just goes downhill in that regard from there.  Next thing we know the Seraph have already broken the Mantle forces and the way is open to strike at Caudecus. But wait, wasn’t the Mantle supposed to be this big threat? Well I guess they weren’t because the Seraph are just so great.

The instalment definitely felt like it was supposed to have at least three story missions instead of the two we got, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that the whole thing was quite rushed.

The third mission was the strongest part of this update. I would say it was in general probably one of the better story missions they’ve done since launch. It did a good job of tying up a lot of ends that had been loose since the original personal story, and their inclusion of Demmi was a very good idea. The use of the Caudecus’ Manor dungeon as the instance for this mission was an excellent choice, and it made me feel a lot more engaged when I was exploring backwards through a place I knew to be so deeply entwined with this story and that I had a greater connection to. The letters achievement was a really nice detail that I made sure to complete on my first run through, and I would strongly recommend completing it if you haven’t. I would’ve liked it if the mission was a bit longer, but I felt they made great use of the dungeon. The two-part bossfight was one of the better story mode bossfights they’ve done. I found it decently challenging (If frustrating because of the Jade Bow) and it was nice to see them finally use the room full of Caudecus faces that people map-broke into before. For the narrative, I don’t know if having Caudecus kill Demmi was necessary to illustrate his complete descent into madness but I wouldn’t say it was the wrong decision. Him turning into a bloodstone monster a la Matthias was a good idea because on his own he’s really not that threatening as a regular human. 

I was happy to finally have an ending to the Caudecus arc that’s been left dangling since launch, and because of that I would rank this as the best living story season 3 instalment so far. I also have to give it praise for the absence of almost all of Destiny’s Edge 2.0, except for Taimi’s voice over the radio and our darling cactus boy Canach. I’m really not a fan of any of them especially now that Braham is edgy™, and their presence was always super distracting to me. Except Canach because he’s actually a well-written and interesting character, and every moment we have with him is a blessing.  On the subject of its ending, however, I have to say I was left with a “Oh, hey, so that’s done” feeling. I think this instalment needed much more buildup time to make the stakes feel higher, and if they had done that it would’ve given the ending way more impact. It felt like they intended to have done more with Valette by this point, so I wonder if they originally had another story segment planned that would have been between the previous one and this most recent one. I would’ve preferred that because as much as I might complain about this game’s story, the White Mantle arc was the one thing I found legitimately interesting about the living story. I don’t find the Elder Dragons to be very interesting or compelling to me as villains because they’re just a generic force-of-nature/faceless villain. They have no motivations beyond “kill everything and eat magic.” So because of that, I’m sad to see what I assume is the end of the Mantle arc, but I’m at least interested to see what happens with our buddy Lazarus. I’d also like to see us get more stories about the different races in the same sort of vein as this, like what’s going on with the Nightmare Court.

As for the map itself, I thought that it was nice but rather bland. It doesn’t stand out as different from the rest of Kryta and I would’ve liked if it got more of the vertical treatment or something. I’ve felt no need to re-visit it after the launch day.

[mosaic-lights]

Red orange yellow blue?

Oh boy this is gonna be long but lets go

Red:-My first ever kiss went from really exciting to terrifying very quickly. In retrospect I was probably god awful at it lol - Wow this is gonna sound real yikes worthy but I don’t have anything I love or remotely like about myself so I’ll leave that at that - god its been years since i warmed my hands by a fire but I think about it a lot tbh - sunset, sunrise is freaking beautiful and liminal but I really dislike getting up that early - hmm, I used to just like being out of school and seeing friends more freely and going to the ocean but things are changing lolOrange:- When people say they thought of me or missed me or trust me that shit makes my knees weak - Ive watched the addams family movie for years on halloween. Thats really my only solid tradition and I love it. - I learned about the differentiation between archaic doric columns and classical doric columns yup - I still feel obsessed but what I’m obsessed with is a secret ;p - Hmm, I have a really comfy pair of shorts that feel like pajamas and theyre my fave atmYellow:-I’d like to over-look something. Whether a forest or lake or a city. Something that gets a lot of light. - I like to sit with a drink and food and talk to my fave people or draw. Just relax. - I dont really know whats lucky I know its not usually me (except in regards to my partner)- lame but a good cup of coffee and this ask!- My partner, and all the sunshine got to see today before it got cloudy made me happyBlue:-I usually curl up in a blanket tbh with food and youtube- Scroll tumblr and play minecraft to try and get myself to fall asleep - God I think it was when we had a few days of almost half a foot of snow and we all went out to play in it. It wassooo fun- I have a black and white pattern( its called tribal pattern but ehhh) and like two blankets, one of which was made by my partner- Okay lame but I definitely tell all my ‘secrets’ to my partner or my best bud soooo

Sorry thats really long and I feel like you know a lot about me now haha, thanks for the ask though!

[charlottemaunqmal-blog]

Evening is falling as Charlotte lets herself out of Ocas’s front door, and the streets of the Salma District are alive with people going to and fro. Charlotte is not at much risk of being recognized as the old star of the Coronet Theater; her hair is dark now, and her clothes, though still finely made, are subdued in color and utilitarian in design. She wears a long, dark leather coat, from beneath which two fine steel swords flash occasionally as she walks. She heads down the street towards the main thoroughfare, her face relaxed, appearing in no particular hurry.

On the corner ahead, a small knot of people laugh together.  Clearly they are enjoying the evening, the city's tension fled as order has been restored long enough to feel solid once more.  One of the group, to the right as Charlotte approaches, stands a head taller than the others.  His head tilts back with his laugh, a bit of breeze playing with his pony tail, and she realizes it is Donari, wearing nicely tailored street clothes in his preferred green and black and gold.

Charlotte slows as she approaches the group, giving herself time to decide whether to stop or to keep walking—or, knowing Donari, time for him to see her and make the decision for her.

A woman in the small group starts to tell another joke.  Donari turns to murmur something in the ear of the man next to him and his eyes flick to the approaching swordswoman, just a casual glance concealing his attention to everything around him.  The barest shiver runs through his expression; Charlotte remembers that tiny tell of shock, quickly masked.  He smoothly continues his whisper, but now instead of a side comment he is making excuses and sliding out of the conversation.  He raises a questioning eyebrow at Charlotte with a subtle head tilt suggesting shall we talk?

The corners of Charlotte’s mouth lift in an almost imperceptible smile, and she gives a slight nod of her head.  The two of them fall into step with each other, heading for a bench by a small patch of grass shoehorned into the city planning as an almost-park -- while it is occupied, Donari has spotted the signs of imminent departure and the pair snag the seat before anyone else thinks to.

"So," he says, leaving an inviting pause.

"It's been a long time," Charlotte says. There's more warmth in her voice than the last time they spoke.

"Long enough to fancy it a dream," he replies, voice rasping with a huskiness little better than in their Ebonhawke meeting, though less raw and painful.  "You look ... well."

Charlotte looks him up and down. "So do you. I like the ponytail."

His mouth quirks in acknowledgement, a hint of of-course-I-do in his face.  "There hasn't been as much need for wigs of late.  It seemed a bit more mane might be in order, and of course take less time to maintain."  His hand lifts but does not come near touching her.  "Your hair is lovely in any color ... " he chuckles at himself.  "I am in danger of becoming the most banal of men.  Listen to us.  Tell me in truth:  are you well?  Are you happy?"

Charlotte looks across the park for a moment, considering. "Yes," she says at last; "I think I am. It's very strange living life as a different person. I have all of her memories and none of her fears. In some ways I feel the same, and in some I feel like that old life was just something I watched on stage."

A slow sigh leaves Donari's lips.  He leans back, stretching an arm along the bench's back, but on the side away from Charlotte.  "Pray forgive me that the memory stays rather more vivid in my mind.  The curse of excellent recall."

"You should try dying," Charlotte recommends. "It really loosens your grip on the things that used to seem vital."

That buys her a flashed smile.  "I told you how I intend to pass.  Most of my plans are flexible but still I hold to that.  And much as I might like watching myself on stage, I aver 'tis better to be on stage being watched."  He ripples his fingers at a sword hilt.  "You seem ready to prevent it happening again."

Charlotte's eyes follow the gesture to her sword. "Oh! I keep Ocas out of trouble by making him practice with me. I’ve never really given any thought to having to defend myself. Life as a florist isn’t that adventurous. Anyway, I already experienced the worst. I died alone, in fear and agony. However it comes about again, it probably won’t be as bad the second time.” She says all of this without the slightest hint of bitterness or rancor; just stating a fact.

Nonetheless, Donari's mouth sets a bit more grimly.  "I've seen enough death to know it's nearly always bad.  Do you remember Jerred?" He names one of the di Bette's able doormen.

Charlotte thinks for a moment. "I think so."

"He fell aiding the house against the White Mantle, along with other good people on staff."  Donari recites a litany of several names.  "Even those who fell quickly, I'd not call it a good death."

"I'm sorry," Charlotte says. "What about your family?"

"Thank the -- the whoever we thank, now," Donari responds soberly, pulling his arm back into his lap.  "All alive.  Mother unscathed, though her garden is gone.  Father ... still bedridden, he was briefly hostage in the Park and forced on his knees.  They're not recovering this time.  Lucy got a badly wrenched shoulder but mostly has use of her arm once more, and Tancred -- her fiance, you've not met him, he's in the Seraph -- came back alive from the Lake Doric push."  He pauses.  "Have you heard aught of Nishi?  I've no idea where she was during the siege."

"She doesn't live in the city anymore. She went back to live with her father. But I haven't seen her since before. She'd moved on, and I decided it was better to let her."

"The troupe may persist," he says sadly, "but 'twill never be what it was.  Everyone who survived the Arch has 'moved on,' it seems.  And some who didn't survive, as well," he adds wryly.

"All things come to an end," Charlotte says easily. "What about you? Have you moved on?"

Donari's husky voice manages a droll tone.  "Some claim I've grown up.  I suppose Nik's been gone long enough that his fecklessness no longer infects me.  And, well.  "tis difficult to play the jigging fool when the world's tumbling down."

"Nik's gone, is he?" Charlotte sounds wistful.

"Forever and a day now," confirms Donari.  "Born to Travelers, he went off Traveling again.  I worry for him, from time to time, given his madness."  The last bit sounds fond.  "He'd little enough sense of reality, last I saw him."

"Things could never be the same without him." Charlotte sighs. "The only certain things in life are change, and death."

"And love," Donari reminds her.  "That does keep springing up."  His smile returns, slightly teasing.

"Oh, I don't think that's certain at all. Plenty of people live and die without it."

"How cynical of you."  Donari's shoulders lift in an eloquent shrug.  "You and I likely disagree on the percentages there.  Tell me ... I know you've changed your view of me.  Fair enough.  But can you, as you are now, find it in you to love anyone?"  He searches her face.

Charlotte shrugs a shoulder. "I don't need love the way I used to. I'm perfectly content without it." She smiles wryly. "Say pain is a certainty, if you must. Love falls in that category."

At that, a recoil, fingers pressed delicately to chest, expression appalled.  "It should never be so.  Was it, at the time?"  With concern, he continues, "Or is that how you perceive it now, in your stage-watching memory?"

Charlotte considers. "It wasn't your fault," she says after a while. "It wasn't you that caused me pain. Well, sometimes. But it was mostly... this giant, sucking hole inside of me that I could never fill. I wanted to fill it with love--I thought that was the only thing that could fill it. But it never came close."

He nods thoughtfully to that.  "I'd not wish such a gaping hole on anyone, to be sure, though it also gave you passion.  You shone with it."

Charlotte smiles ruefully. "I'd rather not shine, and be whole."

Donari reserves judgment on just how whole she is.  "So what are you doing now, in your non-shiny fashion?  Clearly you're not hand-to-mouth."  He taps the nice leather of her coat where it splays on the bench.

"There was my share of the payout when Lion's Arch demolished what remained of the house and built something new there. Between that and my flower wagon, I get by. I've got a much smaller apartment in the Commodore's Quarter. Very modest. I find I'm less attached to the idea of a home these days. All the things I craved, that I thought would make me feel... safe, or something--they don't have such a hold over me now. If it doesn't sound like _too_ much of a cliche--I just feel happy to be alive."

"Beats the alternative," he agrees, firing a cliche right back.  "I confess to curiosity on that point, however.  How did you break back through the Mists?  Without becoming all pale and ooooooooohhhh," the latter in a ghostly tremolo with fluttering hands.

Charlotte shakes her head. "I've no idea. No one I've consulted has any idea." She sighs. "I've come to terms with the idea that I may never know."

"Then I shall live in the hope that the process does not equally mysteriously reverse itself.  There is an easing of the heart, knowing you are not lost after all.  Even changed as you are it does ... beat the alternative," he repeats in a dry but sincere tone that conceals the memory of raw grief.

Charlotte gives him a gentle smile. "I might wish for you that you could let go of the past as easily, except that it wasn't easy. I wouldn't want to put you through my process, anyway."

"I promise you, Bright Lady, I've been through several processes of my own.  I'd trade away very little of it -- other than the loss of good people.  I never wish to stop feeling."  They've not yet so much as touched; now he reaches for her hand.

Charlotte turns her hand over to allow Donari to take it. "I haven't stopped feeling," she says. "I've stopped needing. There's a difference."

He lifts the hand up to gently kiss her knuckles, then folds both hands over it.  "You still shine," he decides, and stands, slowly releasing his grasp to let her fingers trail off of his.  "It is merely a different light.  If you do need aught of me -- need with a small n," he amends -- "then you know my address.  Send a bird, unsigned, for I'm not the only nosy one in the house."

Charlotte nods. "I will, if the need arises. I'm sorry for what your family's been through, and I'm glad they're all safe."

"Thank you for that.  Be well, please be ever well," Donari rasps in his smoker's voice.

Charlotte smiles sardonically. "I'll do what I can."

A nod, a head incline to suggest the much more florid bows he used to employ, and Donari melts into the flow of people heading to their homes or favorite cafes, his height making him visible for a shorter time than one might expect.