Firmament

>:[

Hmm?

n..

:(

What's up?

no no no no NO

"No" what? Use your words!

not. the c...afe

Uh, pardon?

Did you just completely change your mind or something? Because we kinda already did all this stuff to get out of campus unseen. And personally, I really need to relax for a bit. Like... learning that my Dad asked a Demon to install some kind of memory-ghost in my head is actually kind of a lot to deal with? So, why do you have a problem with me wanting to relax all of the sudden?

Some of us may not want to go to the cafe because we’ve had some bad experiences with it.

Have itched to go in a cafe, but other voices not want. They fear, they scared, but I want see cafe.

Okay... for one, don't worry. I was still planning to go into the place when we get there. But seriously, why is this is such a big deal for some of you? Because... the feelings I'm picking up on from you are... weirdly heavy, and...

...pretty terrible, actually.

On second thought, I don't understand what the deal here is, and if this is serious I probably shouldn't press you about it. But if you're scared, there's no reason to worry. Cafes are perfectly safe. They're just quiet places you can grab a comfy seat, do some work, read and write, get pastries to eat, and stuff like that. Don't stress.

you probaby will have to eat something in the future to live, so I'm not gonna try to stop you from doing that, but maybe you could ease us into it with something liquid?

Burning perfectly good noodles earlier reminded me that I haven't eaten anything since yesterday's lunch, so I'm definitely gonna get some food with my coffee. But... if this entire experience is going to be a big ball of unpleasantness for you... I mean... I don't...

if you need me to... sleep? Sleep’s probs the correct term. If you need me to sleep for a couple hours while mental health day happens that’s fine by me.

Actually Rainboa, I appreciate it, but... please don't? I'm going to want to talk, or... whatever we're doing right now while I work through all the... this? And if you go silent again, I'm gonna start thinking I was just hallucinating from stress. So, if you really aren't part of some mental illness I didn't know I had, please stick around.

If you need to not be reminded about the fact that we're going to be in a Cafe and eating food though... how about I just... continue to not... share my senses with you for a while? Because I think I've been keeping my eyes and ears to myself since we... split. I'm not even sure how to... be the same person, like we sorta were doing before? But, uh... important part is that you won't have to see where we are, or know what I'm doing. If that's still not enough, and the idea of being in that place honestly just gets unbearable at some point, just... let me know, I guess. We can work it out then.

Also... since you guys can't see the world around us anymore, should I just... narrate what I'm doing, so you know where we are? I can avoid the stuff that might make you upset. Like, right now I'm just walking down the sidewalk. I'm starting to be able to see the barrier, so we're getting close to the edge of town. I don't know where exactly the Cafe is, and I don't know what it's called either since it's new, but... our turn is... West Perimeter road. I think.

...we might be walking for a while. So, did you still wanna talk about anything?

OwO UwU Hello!!!
New voice! New voice!!! New friend!!!!! :3
Rainboa is a clever name!! >w< I love it!! ^w^

oh heck yeah! Rainboa is a great name!

Heh, thanks. Can't believe you guys passed up an obvious play on words like that! Stick with me. I'll help you weirdos find your wit.

I'm sorry for suggesting that you set some noodles on fire to get you out of the building. In retrospect, it's still a great idea and I'm proud of it.

I thought I was giving suggestions, guidance. This is your body, your life. I can't speak for Rainboa as a whole, but your free will is something I will never take away.

So that was you guys. Well, like I said, don't worry about that. A fake fire alarm is totally harmless, and harmless shenanigans that get me out of trouble like that have my full support. Like, as long as we don't get caught. And don't get expelled.

So I take it you would be very embarrassed if you licked someone? Or is it specifically out of place to lick faceless people?

Uh... what? People don't typically lick other people here. Period. I mean, I'm sure some people are into that, but... uh...

...next question please?

heck yeah there are humans? cool. and did you say worlds? like more than one? is this a space age civilization? with magic?

I'm literally at school to major in "magic," so yeah? Is it illegal where you come from, or something? And I don't know what a space age is, but there's plenty of worlds and world-lines too. I'm actually new to this one; my Dad and most of my friends are back on the Theia I grew up on, before I crossed here for school. As for Humans, I take it you're from a worldline where they're rare or something? Please say you're not gonna be weird about it. I'll be really pissed if you make me say something racist again.

Oh, and also, we remember literally nothing between some weird hospital thing in a pond and now. Are hospitals like that here?

I can't say I've ever seen a hospital in a pond, no. Though... now that you mention it, I do sorta remember what you're talking about? It's a memory, but it's from your perspective, looking at me. I think that was when we first met... I was younger. And it really did look like I was on a hospital bed floating in a pond, huh. Only I don't think that was me so much as... some kind of aura or spiritual aspect of me?

Man, remembering memories that I know aren't mine is... still really weird.

Anyway, I don't think I was actually in a half-sunken hospital? The scraps I can remember from the years I was sick are always surreal and messed up like that. Like, parts of them are impossible, or don't make much sense. So, if you were tapped into my mind or soul back then, maybe... you were just seeing things the way I was?

Say, you said in your nightmares there is a sharp pain in neck, is that right? Or was that just an example and the pain goes wherever it feels like?

I... don't think that was one of my nightmares. Don't remember it at least. Maybe it's another memory of yours?

> Some clatrification about this symbiosis partnership: Do not believe we "make you do" stuff.

Merely suggest. Speak among ourselves. We suggested and our state of link, those suggestions became compulsions. But of the many things that were said, you refused or resisted many, others you almost immedialty did even when among ourselves they were controversial.

Answer honestly: Am I so wrong to assume you are fairly impulsive, even when we were alseep for most of your life?

Impulsive? Do you really think so? I mean, I do what I want, or what I have to to get by, sure. And I don't really care about following rules, or doing something someone says to do, just because they're in charge. If that's what you mean.

Like, I know rules are meant to protect people, and they're generally really important. But sometimes, the reason a rule got made up doesn't really apply, you know? And, if breaking it doesn't hurt anybody, and following it would only cause you or somebody else trouble... I mean, don't those kind of rules miss the whole point of having them in the first place? So yeah, I'm a fan of rules that make sense. But if the rules are bad or pointless, and people still want you to follow 'em just because "They're The Rules," I could honestly care less.

Anyway, I don't think that makes me impulsive, but maybe that answers your question. What else d'you want to know?

> Can guess lot. Want adventure. Something bout Mother. Academy for adventure. Difficulty with magic. Might be fault our.

> Want know? Relationships. Who important? Why? Know dad. Aware mom, sad. Heard roommate, annoyed? Not want pry. Want ask, but not pry. Can pry but not do.

Uh... huh. I think I get what you're asking? And I guess you might not know why I enrolled here. Or a lot of stuff about me, in general. I can talk about myself a bit.

I don't know if you could remember it, when we were talking to Dad? But, my Mom was a Wayfarer. Before she died, I mean. And Wayfarers are like... they're these teams of specialists from all kinds of fields. They get hired to patrol roads and places outside the cities, or investigate monster problems, or research how the Wilds have changed lately, or protect folks when they need help. Stuff like that. Basically, Wayfarers help make the outside world safer for people. Even stubborn people who won't move to the cities, where it's already safe.

Anyway, I've apparently got a good capacity for learning Spirit Arts. Even if, like you said, I'm also apparently terrible at actually using them? Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if you being in here as part of my Soul just... made my aura look like I'd be better at this than I actually am? Like, maybe you being here confused people, and I actually shouldn't have been accepted into the program at all because my Mana Gate was broken when I got sick or something, which is...

...actually, I'm gonna stop thinking about that right now.

But, uh... like I was saying, everyone used to say I'd be good at magic, so I figured I should probably study that, and maybe use it to apply with a Wayfaring Company. So, that's why I'm working on getting certified as a Spirit Artist right now. And, I guess, if it turns out that I really can't actually do this for some reason, then I have some fall-back plans. Like Dad was saying, there's other programs I could enroll in. I could switch to a pure Technical or Research program, since I'm still pretty good with Astral Theory. There's plenty of Wayfarers who do Research too, but I'd rather be... I mean... I like the idea of being able to keep people safe, you know? I don't want to be stuck taking samples in the Wilds or something, while other people have to keep me safe.

Other than that, there's some other options. Kiri... uh, do you remember them? That's my friend, who's recording the Cosmology lecture I'm supposed to be at right now? "Moondog?" Anyway, Kiri likes to spar with some friends in the Martial Arts program, right? And they've been talking about dual-majoring in Spirit and Martial Arts, if their parents let them. So, maybe if I can't do Spirit Arts, I was thinking maybe there's room for a natural flier like me to be some kind of Martial specialist? Or, maybe I could find something else.

I... honestly I'm not sure on all this. It's been on my mind a lot lately. I either have to hope for some kind of breakthrough in class, or switch programs like Dad says, or just... drop out and get a townie job. I honestly don't know what to do...

Learning, reconciliation. Us learn to Cassie. You learn to Eidolon. We learn to live. Yes? Groovy. Things Eidolon do well, others not so well. Cassie also. Good and bad but sharing to avoid is Double Good!

Two minds very powerful.

Huh. That's a good point. We're stuck together, but I guess that means we can learn from one another, and help each other out too. And... I mean, this is still all pretty weird. And I still kinda don't know what to do about school and all that. But this situation with us might not be so bad after all.

Does this count as a friendship point? Maybe?

Sure. 1 Friendship Point for you. For us? Yeah, whatever! We're good.

Hey, sorry it's taking so long to get to the Cafe, by the way. I really should've looked up directions before we left the dorm. Maybe... I wonder if I should just ask somebody in one of the shops here if we're actually going the right way to get to the...

Cassie no can use magic, yes?

Uh... yeah?

I mean, I can't manifest my Pneuma. That's the first thing my professor wants us to be able to do before we start channeling with our Mana Gates, since it's safe and easy. The rest of my class can, and we're moving on to more advanced stuff.

...why are you asking, all of the sudden?

Am thinking source of big problem also gave you little problem of no magic.
No, sorry-sorry. No magic fuel.
But, makings One-of-Many coherent brought thread of memory, and give idea. And spirit-ache.

One-of-Many want bargain.

Hey, hold up one sec. I don't mean to be rude Rainboa, or One-of-Many, or... whoever all I'm talking with right now? But could you guys please work on being more... coherent again? Half the time your words are all wrong, and it's kinda mucking up my head. Or... like, it felt like we were having a bonding moment for a second there, and... well, I'm sure you're doing your best as a memory-ghost hivemind or whatever, but... can we work on it?

Anyway, it sounded suspiciously like you were just about to offer me a Contract or something.

One-of-Many give little task to be done when convenient, and will try to let Cassie use magic-fuel for castings now whether or not Cassie get to task.
Simple, yes? Maybe even have more for Cassie when... If, memory returns.

So, bargain. Crystals. Jewels. Glass. Mirrors. Stones. Metals.
Find, handle, use senses as best can. One-of-Many not picky, but suggest usinks common sense before other senses.
Task is not time-sensitive, do not go out of way for shiny gem!
...And do not eat rock. Safe-guess most rock not part of... Garudan diet? One-of-Many old diet maybe, but not Garudan.
So, use best judgement. Cassie know more about Garudan than Rainboa.

So... uh... if I've got this straight, you do want to form a Contract. You're... saying you think my Mana Gate's broken, and not letting me channel my energy, right? And you think you can fix that, or work around it, or something? And in exchange, you want me to agree to... find you some valuables, basically? Like, metal and jewelry, or whatever?

First of all... are you the memory-ghost of a Dragon or something? Because this sounds like some Dragon-tier shit right here. Secondly, if you really think there's a problem and you can fix it... well, maybe? I mean... I'll think about it.

We haven't exactly gotten to Contract Magic in class yet, but everybody knows this stuff can be really dangerous. Especially if you don't know what you're doing. And you're an Eidolon, which is some kind of Spirit I've never even heard of before. And you worked with a Demon. And we're literally talking about a Contract that lets you mess around with my Soul here. I don't feel any malice from you here, so... I wanna trust you. But this is kind of a lot of red flags, for a lot of reasons. And you can really mess yourself up by modifying your Soul, which is why that's generally off limits, and...

...well, I guess you already did that when I was younger, didn't you.

But... still. You're basically a second part of my Soul already. I have no idea what might happen if I took you on as a Patron, or a Familiar, or whatever you'd call it. Like, would I be my own Familiar? Would I be making a Contract with myself? Can you even do that? And... why am I asking you? Do you even know what you're doing?!

...

...what I mean to say is, this is... honestly really tempting. But I'm not sure I'm in a position to be getting involved in a Contract right now. Maybe let's talk about this later, okay? At least some time after the Cafe.

Which... actually, the Cafe might be up ahead? Little brick place in front of us? Got a "Yes We're Open!" chalkboard out front? With a mug doodle on it? Looks like... baristas and machines and cakes and stuff inside the window? Uh, yeah, so... Rainboa? If we can put the Contract thing on the back burner for now, I think this is the place.

Are we good to go in?

It's not too busy, if it helps. I see a quiet spot in the corner by a bookcase we could just sit at for a bit. I could go set up my laptop, while you see how you feel. Or, we could say hi to the friendly looking kid with the big ears behind the counter, so you can see that there's no one dangerous in there. Or, if you still wanted to try a drink before I get some food, they've probably got hot or cold coffee drinks, teas, water, smoothies, and other stuff. If any of those sound good? I could let you pick out a sandwich or a cake or something too, if you want. Or, if you don't know what any of those are, you could just... tell me some of the foods you like, or some of the flavors you like even, and I could pick something? Or... I could just... not tell you what's going on, and handle it all myself. So you don't have to worry?

What's it gonna be, buddy?