The crow was staring to see herself making this a hobby. She was fairly sure that while she watched the giant blue rock she'd see Dragon making another attempt to climb it, or she'd even see the pristine white figure of her own daughter sit down in front of it - as she had multiple times already. But neither of them were here now. Even Fleur, who she had talked to not that long ago - that poor skunk had left with her brother's gemstone perched on her head like some sort of gruesome memento. It had been tempting and shiny, but far too cold for her to actually want to touch. An unfortunate waste of a shiny, the crow had considered. Regardless, she was alone and she think she might have preferred it this way. Being around people, particularly strangers, put her on edge. As if it wasn't bad enough living in constant paranoia. With a ruffle of feathers and a soft croak, the black bird flew down from the rock she perched on and to the ground below, beginning to hobble closer to the spire with her head craned upwards, feathers fluffed up in contentment. table code © rasta 2015

@Louie

MY NAME IS IKHAEL

I CAN'T STAND IT
I KILL, THEREFORE I AM

There must be some sort of magic pull coming from the inner most sanctum of Origin, because Louie always found himself back again at the Spire, staring up at the monolith structure and pondering life's deepest questions. How there must be some reason they were here, not just rocks that had the ability to walk and talk. Gems that granted magical abilities It was all too much, and the fox man pressed his forehead up against the base of the Spire, once again feeling the tears well. Unaware of the approaching crow, he began to whisper, "Whatever the answers are. Can I have them please? I have no more explanations. There are no explanations. All I do is kill and murder to fulfill some sick task. It's the only thing that makes me feel. Sending them to their graves is my purpose. Their blood spilled is my purpose gained." Did that even make sense? Was he making sense anymore?

"Magic is the only thing keeping as all alive. But why bother. Why bother making our powers different so we can all just murder each other?" So many questions, but no answers and Louie let his rump drop the ground as he continued to keep his head pressed against the cool stone. Water was whispering nearby, but he ignored it. All he needed to do was let his mind empty, get over it all. Behind him, there was a disturbance, and without looking up he cast his White Sense to feel for any strange movements.

It didn't work, and he didn't bother trying again. If he was killed right now he could safely say he would welcome it.

AND I AM WHO I AM

code by dammit jim!! | table by azooka

She hadn't noticed the fox until she picked up on the soft whispering - to which she promptly blanked out. That wasn't her business, after all, and neither was making contact with this stranger. But she couldn't deny there was something oddly familiar about him. She hobbled to the side to look at him, before she blinked. "Louie?" she asked as quietly as a crow could, bouncing closer towards him. Perhaps she shouldn't have said anything. Perhaps she should turn and fly away. It seemed as though the fox wanted to be alone, anyway. Regardless however, she stopped near his forelegs, head craned upwards to peer at him. "You look..." she hesitated. "Like shit," Eve frowned - or at least, if she had a maw instead of a beak, she would - turning her head. "What happened to you?" she then asked as she turned her head back towards the fox. table code © rasta 2015

@Louie

MY NAME IS IKHAEL

I CAN'T STAND IT
I KILL, THEREFORE I AM

That was his name. At least the name they knew him by. He swung his head around to the ebony coloured bird and examined her as best he could. Anything with wings knew something he didn't. But the voice was familiar and he confirmed it was his previous mushroom spores buddy. Whilst their talkings had been lighthearted, he was now stuck on the truths behind their exchanged words. "At least I'm not covered in feathers," it was a lame insult even for him and he wiped his eye with the back of a paw, hoping she saw nothing there in the brief moments she saw his teary face. If she'd heard any of it he would actually crack her neck.

"Nothing happened. It's what's happened to everyone else OK." Louie was falling behind the 8-ball. "Just some stuff. Stuff to do with... uhhh. Baratheon." Yeah, make up some excuse like he wasn't crying about his existence and purpose in life. Muttering under his breath, he thought to himself, "Saying something like at least I don't eat shit would have been better." Not even that old, he wondered if it was his senior days playing up on him. No one in Origin really knew where the end was. Maybe he was supposed to die tomorrow.

"What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were off making rocks glow or something..." At least his memory was OK.

AND I AM WHO I AM

code by dammit jim!! | table by azooka

@Eve

If the crow had seen anything, she sure as hell didn't mention it. She rolled her eyes a bit, a talon lifting to scratch the side of her head. "Maybe you could do good with a couple of feathers," she said before she abruptly dropped her talon and twisted her neck back to peck at her tailfeathers before taking one out, placing it down in the space between her and Louie. "I don't know the name," she then said. "Though everything's gone to shit for a lot of people. Somebody came by who lost her hatch-mate, was wearing his gem on his head. Baratheon a good friend of yours?" For a moment, Eve thought it hard to believe that Louie could have normal friends and interact with them like normal people. But she found that hard to believe from anyone. "I hope you and Baratheon are alright," she then said, beak forming the name very oddly - almost unidentifiable. She blinked. "M-me? I have a kid here, y'know. I do more than make shinies." table code © rasta 2015

@Louie

MY NAME IS IKHAEL

I CAN'T STAND IT
I KILL, THEREFORE I AM

Mannerisms of birds were definitely different to mammals, and as she leaned back to preen herself and remove a feather, he forgot his troubles. Momentarily distracted by observing something that didn't resemble him in the slightest. Feathers instead of fur, scaled talons instead of paws. Snapped out of his trance by her placing a feather at his feet, he rolled it onto his paw and studied it. The gesture was something he wasn't used to receiving from anyone, and he felt his heart clench awkwardly.

"Sounds gruesome," Louie lied, a stone that had no life in it wasn't worth anything. Really all the poor sap was doing was walking around with a rock on their head. Must look pretty ridiculous. Eve prodded him on Baratheon and he felt his fur growing hot but he laughed dryly, "Friend is an understatement..." Snorting, he rocked his head from side to side, "Let's just say we didn't part on particularly good terms. If we're not alright I'd imagine it'd be my head on his horn." What a sight that would be.

"Kids?" Ears pricking forwards, he lifted his head slightly from where it had been hanging in defeat. It seemed everyone his age was having kids. Just following the cycle they were. "Technically, life gems are shiny you know. Have they hatched?" What sort of monstrosity had she created... Anything larger than a bird with wings was a force to be reckoned with.

AND I AM WHO I AM

code by dammit jim!! | table by azooka

@Eve

She watched Louie for a moment, head tilted. She had no idea what kind of creature Baratheon was, but she immediately assumed he was the cause of Louie only having half his face. The scar didn't particularly bother her - when you have to observe a giant, rotting pig or a bat with a bulbeous orb for a face, you get used to these kind of things. She gave an odd little shrug, folded wings shiting upwards before dropping again. "Such a shame," she said - though it wasn't very clear if she was insincere or not. Especially with a rather expressionless bird-face. "It'd be a waste on your part." She thought, briefly, about the fox's head on the horn of something among the likes of Raheerah, jaw loose and tongue lolled out, nose and eyes dripping with crimson fluids. And then she stopped, because she was starting to creep herself out a little with the thought. With a quick shake of the head, she croaked. "I have two. One of them is here with their father. They hatched a while ago," she said, glancing off. "Accidental. I was told a weapon would be made out of it, but my son seems rather harmless. My daughter, I don't know." She glanced back at Louie. "Things like you and me can't be weapons anyway. Can they?" her chirps were almost hopeful as she dismissed the thoughts of Raheerah and how many people must have died by his claws. table code © rasta 2015

@Louie

MY NAME IS IKHAEL

I CAN'T STAND IT
I KILL, THEREFORE I AM

At least someone would consider it a waste if he died, and he laughed dryly yet again before returning to his solemn state as he continued to eyeball the feather. It was the gesture behind it that had him stumped, but he felt the filaments separate and stick back together like glue as he brushed it gently and genuinely gave a small, almost sad smile before placing it between his legs and placing all paws on the ground. "Yeah well, Bara wouldn't feel the same way that's for sure." Just as Eve, he felt no lingering disgust at thoughts like that. They were all a bit damaged, violence and blood were commonplace.

"A weapon? Fascinating, ones child is more likely to end up being a liability than anything else." Which is why he knew that this child would either be a star, or be left in the dirt. Just as all his other useless endeavors. Body stiffening, he wasn't sure how to answer her question. So instead, for the time being he decided to divert the conversation to something a little lighter. Somewhere he wasn't likely to spill blood or break down in tears. Briskly shaking his fur, he tried to dislodge the dander that clung so closely to his skin... It didn't work, in fact he couldn't even get dust to lift off his coat and he wondered if he was just slick with grease and oil from not having bathed. Next time... He'd get it right. Hopefully.

Defeated, "Well... I mean we are already driven by primal instincts to be a "weapon" I guess. Some to eat and some to defend. I don't think anything is inherently a weapon." Louie had different feelings about himself, but he supposed everyone could be a weapon if they so chose to be. Raheerah had brought out the blood lust and drive in everyone. Whether that was present all the time.

AND I AM WHO I AM

code by dammit jim!! | table by azooka

@Eve

"Bara," she repeated, as if finally finding an easier alternative to say. She was quiet for a few moments before she added, "He sounds a bit like an ass." She watched the fox for a moment while, only now noticing how filthy he actually was. Though, rather more abruptly, she realised what he was doing. Her gemstone talon, which was missing the nail, began to shimmer gently as dimly-glowing specks around the air began floating around lifelessly, like fat fireflies. It was subtle - barely noticeable in the light of the spire - but they were there. The crow observed her own work for a moment before she chirped. "There's instinct and then there's weaponry," she said softly. "I'm sure there's some creature out there who uses themselves as a weapon." She didn't continue the conversation any longer - in fact she immediately changed subject. "What's been happening, then? I've been in Cetus for a long time, now." She realised shortly after that this change of subject might go for the worse - perhaps some horrible thing had happened in the caves while she was gone and Louie was upset about it. Thinking on it now, he did look particularly upset. table code © rasta 2015

@Louie

MY NAME IS IKHAEL

I CAN'T STAND IT
I KILL, THEREFORE I AM

"Yeah... Kind of was an ass." Conversing with Eve was pleasant. There was a slight glow, and dozens of little blobs began to glow and light up the area in between the pair. Definitely out shone by the Spire, they were still beautiful and now, he reached out a paw to touch them. There was an innocence in everything, Louie just got bogged down in his transgressions to the point that that was all he was. -There's instinct and there's weaponry- I'm sure there's some creature who uses themselves as a weapon- Paraphrasing her words in his head, he placed his paw back down and returned to the doom and gloom he was feeling before. "If there is I feel sorry for the guy."

More directly, she began to ask what exactly had been happening in his life and he shrugged his shoulders. "Merry Men want to punish me for abandoning them. I mean, I did get the dragon... Baratheon not Raheerah, away from them. Mostly I've just been looking after my own two gemstone children." Faintly, he smiled again. "Can't let them be damaged... Gotta be a responsible father now!" Beside them, the river of the water began to whisper once more to him and he shot a fearful look in the direction of the body of water.

"Go away... Leave me alone!"

AND I AM WHO I AM

code by dammit jim!! | table by azooka

@Eve