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[A wide-eyed Elliott appears on video suddenly, hair tousled like he's been running his fingers through it a lot. His voice holds a note of urgency]

Guys.

I've been looking at my notes, and there's stuff about- about all this. Like I don't fully understand everything, but I just--

The stones are- the gods-

[He reaches back for something and reads off of it]

Even the altar. Like. They're all malachite?? Malachite is 'a gift from Nevedomost'. The priest's name is Neved?? 16 recesses. But there's only 8 stones listed.. Oh, he's- he's unbalanced.

Even- even the palace guard Uspor- Usporiadat? Zmat in the market. What kind of--

The King being sick or possessed after he went out there. Anthony could sense it- the deities battling in the hills?? Are there really?

[He glances around, possessed by a growing frenetic energy]

This is- I can't- I need to do.. something with all this.

Edit:

My notes. Add stuff if you want?

Elliott N. would like to share a document with you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Clarence makes it to the Naeuri’s in record time. Kris saw the pale look to his face and insisted he take her bike if he was so worried. He barely managed to get his thanks out before he was out the door and pedaling down the street like a man on a mission. As soon as he’s there he drops the bike on the stoop and pounds on the door.]

El! Let me in!

[The door wrenches open, Elliott looking a little harried. He's dressed down for sleep, but obviously that's very far from his mind right now. He looks okay other than the messy hair and lingering quake in his fingers. And the quick, almost uncharacteristically impatient way he speaks]

I'm okay, I'm okay, okay? Just.. sorry um, I don't know. Come in, I guess.

[Clarence gives Elliott a hard look, trying to discern how “okay“ is really okay. But he’s not a doctor or Elliott’s mom so he can’t ask for more details beyond... friend stuff. Still, he takes the invitation and comes in.]

[Once the door is closed, Clarence reaches out and grips Elliott in a hug. It’s not something he’s really done before for someone, not in a long time, but he feels like he has to do something to bring Elliott back down.]

... You’re scaring me, Elliott. Just settle down and breathe, okay?

[Elliott leans into Clarence readily, the contact doing wonders for his heart rate.]

Sorry, sorry. I'm fine. Just feel like... I dunno, I something really important is happening. Like I only just noticed.

So important you can’t form complete sentences? You realize how you probably sounded on the network, right?

[Coked up, if not worse. Clarence holds him tighter, taking a moment to breathe deep himself.]

[Once Elliott isn’t trembling quite so much Clarence finally pulls away, giving his face one more once-over.]

.... Now, show me what the heck you’re going on about.

Like I had five redbulls apparently.

[He steps back as Clarence pulls away then drags a hand down his face, shaking his head]

Yeah, okay.

[Elliott pads back toward his room]

So uh... there's a lot of stuff going on. People becoming possessed, the King included possibly. Gods fighting in the hills possibly- I think I'm going to there tomorrow- and they might be out of balance or something?

That's generous. I was going to say strung out on crack.

[Doesn't Elliott work for the people who set up the network in the first place? He should be putting his best foot forward--That would be what Clarence would say if he was an asshole adult, but he's not going to berate his friend any further for his excitement. Someone else can do that.]

[He listens intently, following Elliott as he goes but he stops dead at the idea of Elliott going out into a place where "Gods are fighting".]

That sounds dangerous and not in a cool points kind of dangerous way. You're not going alone, are you?

[As for being out of balance...] Oh. Yeah, I recall hearing something about that; they have balanced and unbalanced forms or something?

Yeah!

[Elliott makes a dive for the ipad on his bed and turns it over to scroll through his notes]

But uh, I mean it's not a solid plan, yet. Maybe I could ask someone. Mr. Fell's been there before, I'm pretty sure. I wonder if he saw anything.

You're being reckless again, Elliott. Please make sure you go with someone who knows what to do if you end up, eye-dee-kay challenged to a leg wrestling match by some weirdos in the hills.

[He laughs shortly]

I should be fine. It's just a trek up to the hills to see if anyone's really up there. Probably the worst that will happen is I might lose my balance from the tremors.

[Clarence sighs, slumping down to the floor so he can lean back against the side of Elliott's bed.]

If you say so...

[Again, he's not going to argue about this.]

So what if the gods are unbalanced? What does religion have to do with anything really?

Edited 2020-06-24 20:32 (UTC)

[Elliott checks his notes again]

Well, there's a rumor that the King is possessed by one of them- Strach. Unbalanced, he's the spirit of fear. I didn't think much of it at first, but then there was a guy at the tavern that started attacking people suddenly. Anthony said he could sense that it seemed like he was possessed. I'd heard about unrest in the city, but.. that was serious.

[Clarence nods, listening but when he mentions someone starting to attack people in a tavern, he pulls a face and his skepticism can't be hidden.]

Really, Elliott? Someone going into a rage at a bar? Attacking people? You don't say...

Drunks are drunks, man. That doesn't mean they're possessed. It just means they're stupid jerks.

[That probably means that Anthony was drunk too. How unfortunate. Well, guess that means Clarence isn't going to be talking to him for a while now, huh.]

[He sighs, deflating a bit, ipad falling into his lap]

I was there the whole time. There wasn't any lead-up. Anthony sensed it before it even happened.

What, were you next to the guy and he just started raging out of nowhere?

[Clarence grimaces, rubbing at his face.]

You can't trust anyone who drinks, El. They just want an excuse to lose their minds so they don't remember how much they're hurting anyone else.

[Elliott's stomach pits and he goes quiet for a good minute. There are several things he wants to say, but fear keeps him silent.

There's a dark impulse to throw his ipad against the wall. Instead, he sets it down and flops back on his bed and throws an arm over his eyes. He doesn't quite manage to keep the frustration out of his voice, though]

I guess there's nothing to worry about, then. You're right, I got worked up about nothing. Sorry to worry you.

[There's no mistaking something in Elliott's voice; it's tense and lined with anger and Clarence freezes, unsure of how to proceed. They've never really had reason to fight before, but he didn't think this was something worth arguing about. What did someone say in this situation. He isn't sure.]

[Looking down at his hands in his lap, Clarence mulls over his choices then sighs.]

... Look. If you're convinced they were possessed, sure, I'll believe you. You've never lied to me before so I don't see why you would now. I just...

[He licks his lips, mouth suddenly dry. He didn't want to talk about it so he doesn't.]

I don't really understand religious stuff. Possession and all that isn't something I'm used to hearing about.

I'm not religious, either. ..Or I wasn't.

[Elliott draws his arms up to massage his forehead]

There's a lot of stuff happening that's unusual: memories, our powers, a whole portal to another universe has popped up. None of it's theoretical anymore, but it's like I still can't talk to anyone about anything. Just everyone's gullible idiot that doesn't know what he's talking about or even what the hell he's doing. God knows I've been screwing everything else up lately.

[In his attempt to not be a dismissive jerk Clarence managed to become... a dismissive jerk. Great.]

[Turning around, Clarence pushes himself up on his knees and crosses his arms, laying them on the bed so he can rest his chin there and look at Elliott.]

Hey, I’m... sorry. I’m just [a deep breath] I’m scared, okay?

There’s a lot of stuff we’re just playing around in. You may be making breakthroughs, but you’re not invincible even with your magic. You make it sound like it’s no big deal going out into the wilderness after stepping across space into a different world, like fighting gods or earthquakes aren’t potentially dangerous, but that doesn’t account for other things like wild animals or heat stroke or—

[He stops himself and presses his forehand against his arms, voice muffled.] Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel like that.

[His heart softens, arms dropping and turning over to better face Clarence.]

It's not- you're fine. I know it's a lot and it's frightening, and that I'm not invincible, but I don't know what else to do. Ask someone else to join the Bureau for me? Or ask them to 'go climb that hill please and report back because I can't be bothered, thanks'?

I'm just.. trying to do the things I think I can do. If I really thought it was too dangerous, I wouldn't go. I'm not actually a reckless idiot.

[To his credit, Clarence didn’t cry but his eyes were wet when he looked back up.]

Just.... don’t get too hurt if you do get in trouble, okay?

[Elliott shifts closer]

I'll be careful. I'll bring my sword, I think. I actually think I know how to use it, so good on the wild animals angle. And I can heal a little. I'll pack food and water and everything. But short of walking in on the two gods in the middle of their feud, I'm pretty sure the worst that might happen is twisting my ankle.

Okay, that... [He sniffs and rubs at his face.] Okay.

I guess I understand. There isn't much I can do, not like you can. Your mom, at least she's also one of the Different. If I just didn't come home one day and I couldn't be contacted, Phil and Kris would lose their minds.

[He wasn't their kid but he recognized that they did care about him, for some reason. And he was starting to care more about them, too.]

Just... text me whenever you get back home, if you don't mind. [He grimaces, then shakes his head.] Actually, no. You don't have to. Sorry.

[Guilt wriggles at him until Elliott reaches out and touches his arm]

Nothing terrible is going to happen to me. And I'll text you as soon as I step back through the portal, I promise.

You really don't have to. [He shrinks down a bit further.] I'm just being stupid.

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