capeandcowl | twenty-one swords line up with each other

[ video ]

[ Click, and the rustling of leaves: the communicator opens its video on booted feet and a long red coat. Archer is holding it in one hand at his side as he walks through a park, heedlessly kicking up dry leaves around him. ]

It troubles me to say something so mundane, but it's been over a year now since I arrived in this stupid heroes' City. Well, I won't bore any of you with the mundane details of how much blood I've needed to wash out of my clothes since then or something like that. I'll only say this: as counterintuitive as it seems, this place isn't totally worthless.

[ His grip on the network device tightens, his thumb briefly obscuring the input and slightly muffling his next words-- ]

There are good people in it.

[ Then he's lifting it so that the camera focuses on his face at last. ]

Listen. I intend to protect people like that, as stupid and useless as it might be in the long run.

[ He looks away from the camera for a moment, and when he glances back, he's all business. ]

Who has skill in communicating with beings of darkness beyond human ken? There might be some interdimensional travel involved as well, but we're all old hat at that.

Naturally, I have fought such existences. But this one might be an ally, not an enemy.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He can't talk to darkness, but Archer is thinking along the same lines he has been lately. ]

I wonder if there's a way to get the two sisters to talk.

I wonder too. In any case, we have some evidence now that one that might be "Atropos" is already irritated with Vulcanus. If we can stir her into action...

Yeah, getting her to talk to Lachesis might also be in our favor.

The question is how can we approach Lachesis without her porting us elsewhere or doing something to imPorts at large?

[ Women!! No, just kidding. ]

Hah, better men than I have tried. That doesn't mean I won't try again myself.

Maybe we could use the network. She's used it in the past.

[ Don't incur her wrath, Archer. ]

It's our best shot, I suppose.

We need to find a way to Atropos. I might be able to use my Chain's power, but I need an open pathway to take others through.

Edited (lol words) 2013-11-20 09:34 (UTC)

Your Chain? No, you can explain that to me later.

If we can secure Lachesis's cooperation, there's our path. It's likely our only path. It seems like she and Vulcanus are the only ones who've ever been able to travel between worlds from here at will.

[ He's grateful for that. Conversations always get steered in another direction when it comes to Raven. ]

Perhaps if we made it seem we were doing her bidding. After all, she's the one that sends us after Vulcanus in these other dimensions.

Are you suggesting she can be manipulated with flattery and appeasement? Heh, you might be the first one to try such an approach. It's worth a shot.

Do you think there's a way to message her directly? Or call her out publicly?

Most likely she sees everything on the network, but would she respond? That's the question.

If she doesn't, we'll have to find a way to Atropos without her.

We would need to find what exact method Vulcanus used.

Unlikely. All the information we've been able to find on them is fragmentary, filtered through unreliable sources. Those are, after all, the only kind of sources Vulcanus leaves to us.

It's a mighty risk, entering whatever dimension Atropos may be residing in without a stable pathway to or from it.

[ But it sounds like they're going to have to take it. ]

Too bad. Risk is a necessary part of being a hero.

[ --he says, without a trace of irony. ]

We'll have to do it.

[ Hero? He could never call himself that. Heroes are brave and good, as cheesy as it sounds, and he's nothing like that. ]

Do you have an idea how we might be able to approach Lachesis or Atropos?

twenty-one swords line up with each other

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