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[purrtagonist]

Soooo how's everyone feeling?

[THIS MESSAGE HAS A PURPOSE HE SWEARS]

Serious question, by the way. I talked to Astoria as soon as we got back, and she was pretty worried about the way I. . . felt to her?

[GOD PUTTING IT THAT WAY SOUND WEIRD]

She said that I brought something back with me from Struxta. Something dark, evil, heavy. . . wrong? I don't know about you guys but absolutely none of that is confidence inspiring. Wonder why.

[AHA]

She also told me that the wilting plants around the temple aren't normal. "Everything here seems to be just here. Present, alive, blooming," is what she said, word for word. She's never seen anything here die before.

[. . .]

I don't really know what she's talking about, especially because I feel just fine. I don't think she does yet either, though I imagine she's going to investigate. Just be careful, all right? And if you notice anything off about yourself, let me or someone else know.






Because if we all came back possessed by space demons or infected by robot tuberculosis I'm gonna be pretty pissed.

Comments

[paladorable]

[ Oh. Um. He's sort of been mulling over this message for a bit, wondering why something about it keeps itching at the back of his brain. Then he remembers all the data from the library that he helped Connor go over, and--- ]

Now that I think about it, wasn't it a plague that wiped out the organic life on that star?

[purrtagonist]

[by now, several people have brought up the plague, and Akira's feeling. . . uh. kind of antsy about it. for understandable reasons]

Yeah. It was.

When we didn't get sick while exploring the tunnels, I assumed it was long gone.

[paladorable]

It sort of slipped my mind as well, until I saw your message. If the plants are dying too, we really might have brought it back with us.

[ Which. You know. Doesn’t bode well for any of them, with the few notable exceptions being the robots. ]

[purrtagonist]

[hahahaha. . . ha. . .]

And if it gets as bad as it was on Struxta, then we're REALLY in trouble.

[but all that said? Akira hasn't the foggiest clue how to stop the illness from spreading, or how to treat anyone who might already be infected. if they're right about it being the Struxta plague, that is]

[paladorable]

[ This is sure a happy conversation to be having. Arenvald an practically feel a leaden weight in his gut growing heavier by the moment, as the true weight of their conversation begins to sink in. ]

You said Astoria didn’t really know what it was we’d brought back. I don’t suppose there’s any hope of her finding a cure now that we’ve possibly pegged it down, is there?

[purrtagonist]

I don't know.

[which is an answer he hates to give. but, that said?]

But I don't doubt she'll do everything she can to do just that.

[paladorable]

You always seem to have faith in her. Honestly, I find that sort of reassuring.

[ It gives him faith too, in some small measure. ]

[purrtagonist]

[ah. . . well]

I think she's a good person. Witch? Goddess? Witchess.

[it's as simple as that]

I'm not usually very trusting, and I'm not saying that her whimsical nature isn't dangerous or harmful. But I think her heart is in the right place. And because of that, I believe she'll take care of us.

[paladorable]

I'd find it more suspect if yours was a blind faith, actually.

[ That he is able to see and acknowledge her flaws and still trusts her speaks more to Arenvald than anything else would. ]

We've got little recourse but to put our trust in her, anyroad. The citizens of Struxta couldn't beat this thing with technology, so mayhap a bit of magic is what we need.

[purrtagonist]

Yeah. You might be right about that.

Provided that magic actually affects it. Do you remember how the tunnels seemed to block out Astoria's magic?