Tiypo
Forever Phone Posting
I'll counter that Venus actually is, D1 Mars is very fun once you take out a Sparrow that can do tricks.
Paradoxical [Destiny/Worm Post-GM]
- Thread starter ensou
- Start date
- Crossover
- Location
- Finland
I think their point might have been its Lore Tab and ya boi Misraaks.
Ah, it's been so long since I played D1 that I'd forgotten that there was some sort of connection between the Garden and the Vault. And I never did any of the D1 raids anyway
Briefing: "The Vex are up to something and it's your job to figure out what. Here's what we know blablablabla......"Plus the whole Rookie Guardian/Young Wolf blundering into this high grade Vex/Darkness plotting, having no idea what is going on, and just killing everything until the confusion stops.
After-action report: "Instructions unclear, killed all the things."
- Location
- United States
ensou
Magical G̶i̶r̶l̶ Servant Mordred-chan
- Location
- NEW YORK CITY!??
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I am currently visiting my parents in Florida, so I have not been able to play Destiny at all recently u_u
HOWEVER! This also means I have been getting a lot of writing done. The next chapter of this is already (effectively) done and will be coming out the 23rd.
- Location
- United States
My mother just bought a house in Florida last month. I've already told her I won't be visiting for Christmas because airfare is a bitch and I usually work the day after. As such my mother has declared she'll be staying in Massachusetts until after Christmas before going down to spend the rest of the winter months in the tropics.
If this confuses anybody, I must apologize, because my mom makes little sense at the best of times. She's got a rowboat stored in my garage she won't let me sell despite literally not laying eyes on it for five years.
As for Destiny, Outbreak Prime has been buffed and rereleased as Outbreak Perfected, and it's utter bullshit for all the right reasons. The quest to get it though is bullshit for all the wrong reasons, culminating in the Zero Hour quest mission, where you have 20 minutes to fight past a bunch of Fallen, navigate the seedy underbelly of the Tower, and dodge Trevor the Robot Murder Wall. Why the Vanguard has a 10ft tall ambulatory wall made of knives is anyone's guess, and the idea of Kali flipping out because Trevor exists puts a smile on my face.
The answer probably involves Cayde and a bet.
Home
ensou
Magical G̶i̶r̶l̶ Servant Mordred-chan
- Location
- NEW YORK CITY!??
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Present Day, Merina
She piloted the Seeker into the docking bay, letting the magnetic clamps grab hold before she cut main power. Transmatting outside onto the deck, she took a deep breath, the scent of metal, oil and the slight tinge of difference that was always present in Vesta's atmosphere filling her senses.
Tilting her head, she looked up at the clouds and the bright light that emanated from inside them, an impossible sky for a city made from a wish.
Home.
She felt her muscles relax, a weight she hadn't even been aware of disappearing.
'It's nice to be back,' Kali agreed.
"Welcome back, Blade. Would you like anything done with your ship?"
Weaver blinked and tilted her head back down to look at the naval yard worker. "Just general maintenance, please. Let me know if there's anything major and I'll take care of it myself. Otherwise you can just put it in storage."
The Awoken worker nodded, tapping away at the digital pad in her hands before looking back up at Weaver. "Alright, I've made note. Is that all?"
Weaver nodded. "It should be. Thank you."
The woman smiled slightly. "Just doing my job, ma'am. Have a good day."
With that, the worker turned away, moving on to the next ship, leaving Weaver standing there.
Well, nothing was going to get done like that.
She started walking towards the exit of the docks, the sounds of the workers and ships—so similar and yet so different from the docks she knew from her first life—filling the air around her.
It was nice having people treat her well, even if she didn't interact with a great deal of Awoken outside the members of the Guard, the general populace, and the handful of friends she'd made over the years.
…And Eliera, but that was a whole different matter.
Weaver transitioned from the open naval yard to the hallways and offices, moving through the building until she emerged onto the streets of Merina. It was a city of metal and stone, and the seat of the Awoken government.
She walked through the streets, heading towards the towering main spire at the center of the city, returning some of the nods and greetings she got along the way.
It was rather easy to recognize the only human in the entire Reef, after all.
She was pretty sure just about everyone knew her, even if just from notoriety. That's not to say everybody liked her, far from it. She'd received her fair share of assassination attempts and prejudiced racism just for being human and 'having the gall to stand at our Queen's side.' Still, that was a relatively small minority, and everybody else seemed willing to happily accept her, or if not that, at least tolerate her. It had been twenty years after all, she wasn't exactly new or anything.
Still, on the other side, it seemed she was also rather… popular in her own way. She was sure the novelty of her race was part of it. Weaver grimaced, remembering the ceremony where she'd been awarded her title. There had been a surprising number of attendees, not to mention it was broadcast publicly to the rest of the Reef.
It was rather ironic, considering how she'd gained recognition and her position in her last life, actually, even if she had gone straight in the end. Those first few months as Skitter still felt almost… more defining, in a way, than her time as Weaver in the Chicago Wards. Weaver had been the end result, but Skitter had been how she'd discovered herself.
Here, though, she'd always been Weaver. A different Weaver, for certain, but she'd only had one persona, one face, not experiencing the… division the way Taylor, Skitter, Weaver (and Khepri, part of her whispered) had.
It was simpler, and honestly she by far preferred it. She didn't have to hide parts of herself, or act to be more "villainous" or "heroic", she could just be.
It was something that had led her and rewarded her to where she was now, to being the Queen's left hand herself, the blade held behind her back even with a hand put forward.
Honestly, she preferred it that way. Maybe in her past life she would have chafed at the idea of being subordinate like this (especially at the end, with the way her thoughts had been), but here she knew she was in the best place she could be. She didn't have to bear the responsibilities that came with total leadership, she didn't have to worry (too much) about those she did lead.
She didn't have to be in control.
It was peace in a way she'd never truly had in her past life.
She wasn't just satisfied, she had happiness, something she couldn't remember having since her mother's death.
Maybe, maybe if she'd taken a path similar to this in her first life, she wouldn't have had so many regrets at the end. She wouldn't have wanted to do so many things differently.
But this life was different.
Here, she had everything she could have wanted and some she hadn't even imagined possible.
And that? That was more than enough.
«Welcome back, Captain.»
Weaver ran a hand over her face, rubbing at her eyes. The trip back had taken more of a toll on her than she'd originally thought. «It's good to be back, Red.»
Rediraksis, probably one of the longest-named Eliksni Weaver had ever met, fell into step beside her as she moved towards the Queen's working wing. The throne-room was only really ever used when she needed to make a statement. And as far as she knew, there wasn't a need right now.
«Any news? Anything worth note?»
«No, Captain,» he replied.
«And our Queen?»
«Marakel stays strong.»
Some of the tension in Weaver's shoulders disappeared, muscles relaxing.
«Well that's good, at least. How're you doing, Red?»
The Eliksni gave a throaty chuckle. «I am well, Captain. Veraxis has finished repairing Kaliks-8 and the ether is flowing freer now.»
Weaver eyed him. «Oh? Should I expect you to gain back that height you lost from the rations?»
Red looked over at her, and she had the distinct feeling that if he didn't have his mask on he'd be grinning. «I will be tall once more.»
The dark-haired Risen grinned. «Good, it's been weird having you guys eye-level with me.»
«We agree, Little Captain.»
Weaver groaned. «Not you too. I get enough from the inmates. How did you even hear about that?» She bit her lip. «It was Variks, wasn't it?»
Her companion was silent, and she took that as all the confirmation she needed.
«I just know this is payback for beating him so badly at cards last month.»
Rediraksis laughed behind his mask, hissing. «Variks of House Judgement should have learned not to play against the Captain.»
«Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure he has now,» Weaver countered. «Let me know if there's anything happening tomorrow night. I haven't had a good drink since I left; the City-dwellers had nothing good.»
She shook her head.
«At least the company wasn't terrible.»
They slowed as they drew up towards the large open entrance on the side of the hall that had two Eliksni posted to the sides of it, the pair straightening and resting the hafts of their arc-spears on the floor.
««Captain,»» they both greeted, and Weaver nodded at them.
«Erahk, Meksis. Well met.»
By now, Weaver and Kali could both recognize every single Eliksni that worked in the Guard by just by appearance and voice. The only other who could likely claim the same was the Prince, most of the others in the Queen's Guard not bothering to get to know the ones they didn't work with.
Of course, being given unofficial command of the entire Eliksni portion of the guard meant that—as the equivalent of a Baroness—Weaver had the duty to know her 'crew'.
Weaver had always been just as at ease with the insect-like Eliksni as she had with Awoken, and both she and her Ghost had wondered more than once if that had been carried over from her first life. Now of course, they both knew about previous control over insects, how they'd become her closest companions, to the point she'd been more comfortable with them than other humans.
Now, things made sense.
Where others were repulsed by the alien, insectoid anatomy of the Eliksni, Weaver didn't even acknowledge it as unusual, finding it more interesting than anything.
The Queen had noticed, of course. Which had led to Weaver's position-in-all-but-name. The lone Baron of the Mraskilaasan—the 'gentle weavers'. And of course, the Eliksni in the Guard had practically taken Weaver's name as a sign she was meant to be a part of the Wolves.
«I'll see you later, Red?» Weaver asked, looking towards the male at her side.
«Yes. But now I must find Sarask,» he told her, giving a short bow of his head. «Good day, Captain, Kalii.»
Weaver just raised as hand in his direction as he walked away, turning back to the posted guards.
«Is she in a good mood?»
The Eliksni looked at each other for a moment. «Marakel appears satisfied.»
"I can hear you out there, Weaver."
Kali's Risen froze with a grimace, before steeling herself and walking forward.
"Good day, my Lady."
The Queen looked up from where she lounged on a couch, holographic data-scroll in her hands, a pile of them to her side on a table. "The Heart?"
"Destroyed. They probably could have done it on their own, with effort," Weaver acknowledged.
Mara hummed and tilted her head slightly, the scroll going onto the table as she rose and drifted towards Weaver.
"Something has changed, hasn't it?" The Queen drew up close to Weaver, the effect of her piercing eyes undiminished by the nearly fifteen centimeters difference Weaver had on her in height. "You've regained something. You've found what was missing all these years, haven't you? The thing that made you feel so incomplete."
Weaver nodded as the Queen reached out to pluck at the golden-wire strands of Light playing around her head in the outline of a simple helmet.
"Tell me."
"I…" Weaver took a breath, letting it out slowly. "I've regained the memories of my first life. And a power I held then that doesn't come from the Sky or the Deep."
The Queen's eyebrows rose. "Truly? And who were you, in your past?"
Weaver gave a sad, thin smile. "A warrior. A fighter. Someone who only wanted to help and protect but kept getting caught up in things larger than myself."
'Not too different from now, really,' Kali commented wryly to Weaver, who laughed silently.
Mara Sov nodded in acceptance, turning back towards the couch and seating herself, before gesturing at the one on the opposite side of the scroll-covered table. Weaver took a seat. "There is time, so perhaps, you should tell this from where it should start: the beginning."
Weaver settled, and Kali could feel the way her mind started ordering things, preparing to tell her story.
"My name was Taylor Hebert. I was born in 1995, and when I was twelve, my mother died in a car accident…"
She'd spent nearly three hours telling her story to the Queen, who not once had paid her anything less than her full attention, even disallowing outside interruptions. There hadn't been time to tell everything, so she'd focused on the important events.
"The last thing I remember is Contessa putting two bullets through my head and falling. The next thing after that was waking up in the middle of the sands of Mars when Kali brought me back," Weaver concluded.
The Queen sat back. "Alternate worlds…" she mused. "And you even had contact with them."
"…Alternate universes would probably be more accurate," Weaver said.
For a moment, the Queen looked at her sharply, the full intensity of her presence focused on Weaver. And then she closed her eyes and breathed, and the moment was gone. "Yes, I suppose so."
Weaver nodded. "I'd like to request a set of the Techeun's neural implants to assist me with managing my power if possible."
Mara stared at her, evaluating.
"…Release it."
Weaver recoiled, blinking. "I-I'm sorry?"
"Your barrier, release it," Mara repeated, gesturing at the ephemeral helmet.
"…B-but, my Queen," Weaver protested.
"I will not repeat myself again, Weaver. Release it," Mara ordered. "If you are so hesitant then replace it after one minute, but I have doubt that will be an issue."
The Risen woman took a shuddering breath. "Yes, ma'am."
And then she tore away the division.
Everything fell back into place, and Weaver could only barely restrain the content sigh of being whole again. She—no, her passenger—felt slightly anxious and annoyed, like when she'd had to manage her territory and one of her lieutenants was late checking in.
'Sorry. I told you I didn't know how long.'
Begrudging acceptance, now.
Her attention turned to those in her range: first snapping almost involuntarily to the newness she could feel at the edge of her range. She couldn't tell whether it was she or her passenger who examined them excitedly, like a child looking at and turning over a new toy on Christmas.
There were two, simultaneously familiar and not, so similar but also so complex and different from the insects she'd once known so well, their surprise at her hold affecting them in different ways than she knew. It took a minute to familiarize herself with them, keeping them breathing even as she felt the masks on her faces, looked out of the four eyes that saw colors she wasn't used to, re-familiarized herself with the sense of six limbs even though she stood upright on two.
So this was what it was like to be Fallen.
Only one of the Awoken guards was inside her range in the room, but that wasn't unusual, in fact she seemed rather bland in comparison to the Eliksni, especially considering the familiar fear she felt. Weaver remembered controlling civilians in the beginning of the fight, moving them between worlds, and this woman felt no different, though there was the hint of something different there, lying in the depths. Barely any, but still noticeable.
Her Queen though.
Her Queen.
She knew she was there but her control found no purchase. It wasn't like Glaistig Uaine, where she could tell the control was offloaded to one of the Ghosts. It wasn't like the way some had resisted, fighting her control but always inevitably losing to her will. It wasn't quite like the Guardians either, their minds operating on a hybrid substrate of Light and the material, defying logic in a way her passenger couldn't comprehend and thus couldn't manipulate.
No, it was like she'd reached out and found frictionless glass, an impenetrable bubble. She could look, but was powerless to do anything else. And within the bubble was something that reminded her of a rotating black hole: absolute darkness and blindingly relativistic light, joined and moving in harmony.
She couldn't have looked away even if she'd wanted.
"Wha-what are you?"
The Queen's eyebrows raised slightly, before the mild surprise vanished just as fast. "I will admit I didn't expect you to find anything at all. I suppose I should have learned to stop being surprised by your ability to exceed expectations by now." She paused. "Still…"
A delicate hand reached out, almost thoughtlessly, towards Weaver, the Queen's eyes flaring. "Hm. It is physical, but not. Exposed here, but drawing from… elsewhere."
Weaver would have sworn she could feel a touch that drifted upon something she had no ability to describe and hadn't even been consciously aware of before now. A finger twitched and it felt like there were suddenly harmonics in her mind, like the Simurgh's song but only one note, yet still layered up and down. She shuddered slightly against her will.
"And the augment?" Weaver asked, still recovering slightly from the shiver that had gone down her spine, from the note that felt like it had touched her soul. "Will they help?"
The Queen's hand fell. "Yes, I think they would fit quite well and be appropriate; there are more similarities than differences, at least in form. Though those differences are something to be aware of."
Weaver nodded.
Mara gestured at her. "You may replace the barrier, now."
She didn't want to though, this was how she was supposed to be why did she have to—
Weaver clamped down. 'Stop that.'
'Fiiiiine,' a younger Taylor's voice whined, simultaneously trying to sound serious—a memory of a response to her parents. 'But I want you to know I'm not happy about it!'
'Only for a little longer.'
With a twist of her Light, she imprinted the now-familiar pattern onto reality, anchoring it on her head, and the connection to her passenger was gone, leaving her feeling bereft and slightly empty.
As soon as she did, the Awoken woman who had been within in her range stumbled, but recovered. At the same time, the two Eliksni who had been guarding the door rushed in, pikes at the ready.
«Stand down, guys. It was just me. Sorry I didn't warn you, but the Queen wanted me to demonstrate something,» Weaver said, motioning with her hands to lower the pikes. «I'll explain more in the barracks later, but it shouldn't happen again now. You can return to your posts.»
«Yes, Captain,» Erahk responded, both of them returning their pikes to resting position and moving back out the door.
Weaver turned back to the Queen, whose eyes flicked over her once more, examining. "I will inform Sedia. You should only need those for your mind rather than your entire body, as your 'power' does not need to channel energy outwards."
Well, she was glad she wasn't going to be "glittering like a jewel" anytime soon. At least, that was how the stories described what the Techeuns looked like under their robes. Not that Weaver had ever seen that since they never wore anything that didn't cover their whole bodies. But if that was unnecessary for her, all the better.
"…I rather think that being Lightborn allows you to do enough of that already," the Queen continued flatly.
A joke.
Weaver wanted to shake her head in exasperation. Just when she thought she was getting a hold on the conversation, Mara would somehow throw her off. It always happened.
"And, since we are on the topic of Lightborn, what did you think of your peers? What do you think, now that you've seen their City?" the Queen smoothly segued.
Weaver frowned. "…It doesn't suit me."
"Oh?"
"Maybe twenty years ago, if I'd had my memories as Taylor, I could have adjusted. But now…" She shook her head. "The Reef is my home. You know this."
"I do," the Queen said, not unkindly. "But still, I ask for your thoughts."
The Risen woman sighed. "It was utter chaos. We knew of the Vanguard, but within it the Risen are separated into divisions based on… ideology? Abilities? How their Light first manifests? I didn't entirely understand that. There is a degree of recklessness that is almost… expected. A not-insignificant portion don't even interact with the common people, remaining in the Tower entirely," Weaver said. "If anything, my Queen, my time there only reinforced my resolve. I have seen the other side and found it wanting."
Mara took a deep breath and nodded. "Do you know why I offered you a position on my guard, all those years ago? Why I have treated you as I have any other Awoken rising through the ranks despite the reactions and jealousy of the others? Why I ordered the others to do the same? Did you not find it unusual, considering there are no other humans in the Reef and our policies on the Risen?"
Weaver swallowed. "I… will admit I wondered. But in the end I decided that the reason didn't matter, only that you gave me the opportunity to prove myself and learn where you could have just as easily rejected or killed me."
Mara's expression softened. "I saw something, that day. An indelible impression not even death or the Sky could wipe clean. A strength that many could never even comprehend and a resolve to match. A potential to become something more than just another Lightbearer."
The Risen nodded, looking down at her hands.
"I gave you that chance not knowing what would come of it. And yet in twenty short years, you have proven yourself time and time again, and I would have you nowhere else."
A sense of pride rose inside her, even as the Queen's mask fell back into place.
"So go, Twice-born Weaver, and know that this is only the beginning."
A/N: [cackling intensifies]
No but seriously now the real story starts.
She piloted the Seeker into the docking bay, letting the magnetic clamps grab hold before she cut main power. Transmatting outside onto the deck, she took a deep breath, the scent of metal, oil and the slight tinge of difference that was always present in Vesta's atmosphere filling her senses.
Tilting her head, she looked up at the clouds and the bright light that emanated from inside them, an impossible sky for a city made from a wish.
Home.
She felt her muscles relax, a weight she hadn't even been aware of disappearing.
'It's nice to be back,' Kali agreed.
"Welcome back, Blade. Would you like anything done with your ship?"
Weaver blinked and tilted her head back down to look at the naval yard worker. "Just general maintenance, please. Let me know if there's anything major and I'll take care of it myself. Otherwise you can just put it in storage."
The Awoken worker nodded, tapping away at the digital pad in her hands before looking back up at Weaver. "Alright, I've made note. Is that all?"
Weaver nodded. "It should be. Thank you."
The woman smiled slightly. "Just doing my job, ma'am. Have a good day."
With that, the worker turned away, moving on to the next ship, leaving Weaver standing there.
Well, nothing was going to get done like that.
She started walking towards the exit of the docks, the sounds of the workers and ships—so similar and yet so different from the docks she knew from her first life—filling the air around her.
It was nice having people treat her well, even if she didn't interact with a great deal of Awoken outside the members of the Guard, the general populace, and the handful of friends she'd made over the years.
…And Eliera, but that was a whole different matter.
Weaver transitioned from the open naval yard to the hallways and offices, moving through the building until she emerged onto the streets of Merina. It was a city of metal and stone, and the seat of the Awoken government.
She walked through the streets, heading towards the towering main spire at the center of the city, returning some of the nods and greetings she got along the way.
It was rather easy to recognize the only human in the entire Reef, after all.
She was pretty sure just about everyone knew her, even if just from notoriety. That's not to say everybody liked her, far from it. She'd received her fair share of assassination attempts and prejudiced racism just for being human and 'having the gall to stand at our Queen's side.' Still, that was a relatively small minority, and everybody else seemed willing to happily accept her, or if not that, at least tolerate her. It had been twenty years after all, she wasn't exactly new or anything.
Still, on the other side, it seemed she was also rather… popular in her own way. She was sure the novelty of her race was part of it. Weaver grimaced, remembering the ceremony where she'd been awarded her title. There had been a surprising number of attendees, not to mention it was broadcast publicly to the rest of the Reef.
It was rather ironic, considering how she'd gained recognition and her position in her last life, actually, even if she had gone straight in the end. Those first few months as Skitter still felt almost… more defining, in a way, than her time as Weaver in the Chicago Wards. Weaver had been the end result, but Skitter had been how she'd discovered herself.
Here, though, she'd always been Weaver. A different Weaver, for certain, but she'd only had one persona, one face, not experiencing the… division the way Taylor, Skitter, Weaver (and Khepri, part of her whispered) had.
It was simpler, and honestly she by far preferred it. She didn't have to hide parts of herself, or act to be more "villainous" or "heroic", she could just be.
It was something that had led her and rewarded her to where she was now, to being the Queen's left hand herself, the blade held behind her back even with a hand put forward.
Honestly, she preferred it that way. Maybe in her past life she would have chafed at the idea of being subordinate like this (especially at the end, with the way her thoughts had been), but here she knew she was in the best place she could be. She didn't have to bear the responsibilities that came with total leadership, she didn't have to worry (too much) about those she did lead.
She didn't have to be in control.
It was peace in a way she'd never truly had in her past life.
She wasn't just satisfied, she had happiness, something she couldn't remember having since her mother's death.
Maybe, maybe if she'd taken a path similar to this in her first life, she wouldn't have had so many regrets at the end. She wouldn't have wanted to do so many things differently.
But this life was different.
Here, she had everything she could have wanted and some she hadn't even imagined possible.
And that? That was more than enough.
«Welcome back, Captain.»
Weaver ran a hand over her face, rubbing at her eyes. The trip back had taken more of a toll on her than she'd originally thought. «It's good to be back, Red.»
Rediraksis, probably one of the longest-named Eliksni Weaver had ever met, fell into step beside her as she moved towards the Queen's working wing. The throne-room was only really ever used when she needed to make a statement. And as far as she knew, there wasn't a need right now.
«Any news? Anything worth note?»
«No, Captain,» he replied.
«And our Queen?»
«Marakel stays strong.»
Some of the tension in Weaver's shoulders disappeared, muscles relaxing.
«Well that's good, at least. How're you doing, Red?»
The Eliksni gave a throaty chuckle. «I am well, Captain. Veraxis has finished repairing Kaliks-8 and the ether is flowing freer now.»
Weaver eyed him. «Oh? Should I expect you to gain back that height you lost from the rations?»
Red looked over at her, and she had the distinct feeling that if he didn't have his mask on he'd be grinning. «I will be tall once more.»
The dark-haired Risen grinned. «Good, it's been weird having you guys eye-level with me.»
«We agree, Little Captain.»
Weaver groaned. «Not you too. I get enough from the inmates. How did you even hear about that?» She bit her lip. «It was Variks, wasn't it?»
Her companion was silent, and she took that as all the confirmation she needed.
«I just know this is payback for beating him so badly at cards last month.»
Rediraksis laughed behind his mask, hissing. «Variks of House Judgement should have learned not to play against the Captain.»
«Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure he has now,» Weaver countered. «Let me know if there's anything happening tomorrow night. I haven't had a good drink since I left; the City-dwellers had nothing good.»
She shook her head.
«At least the company wasn't terrible.»
They slowed as they drew up towards the large open entrance on the side of the hall that had two Eliksni posted to the sides of it, the pair straightening and resting the hafts of their arc-spears on the floor.
««Captain,»» they both greeted, and Weaver nodded at them.
«Erahk, Meksis. Well met.»
By now, Weaver and Kali could both recognize every single Eliksni that worked in the Guard by just by appearance and voice. The only other who could likely claim the same was the Prince, most of the others in the Queen's Guard not bothering to get to know the ones they didn't work with.
Of course, being given unofficial command of the entire Eliksni portion of the guard meant that—as the equivalent of a Baroness—Weaver had the duty to know her 'crew'.
Weaver had always been just as at ease with the insect-like Eliksni as she had with Awoken, and both she and her Ghost had wondered more than once if that had been carried over from her first life. Now of course, they both knew about previous control over insects, how they'd become her closest companions, to the point she'd been more comfortable with them than other humans.
Now, things made sense.
Where others were repulsed by the alien, insectoid anatomy of the Eliksni, Weaver didn't even acknowledge it as unusual, finding it more interesting than anything.
The Queen had noticed, of course. Which had led to Weaver's position-in-all-but-name. The lone Baron of the Mraskilaasan—the 'gentle weavers'. And of course, the Eliksni in the Guard had practically taken Weaver's name as a sign she was meant to be a part of the Wolves.
«I'll see you later, Red?» Weaver asked, looking towards the male at her side.
«Yes. But now I must find Sarask,» he told her, giving a short bow of his head. «Good day, Captain, Kalii.»
Weaver just raised as hand in his direction as he walked away, turning back to the posted guards.
«Is she in a good mood?»
The Eliksni looked at each other for a moment. «Marakel appears satisfied.»
"I can hear you out there, Weaver."
Kali's Risen froze with a grimace, before steeling herself and walking forward.
"Good day, my Lady."
The Queen looked up from where she lounged on a couch, holographic data-scroll in her hands, a pile of them to her side on a table. "The Heart?"
"Destroyed. They probably could have done it on their own, with effort," Weaver acknowledged.
Mara hummed and tilted her head slightly, the scroll going onto the table as she rose and drifted towards Weaver.
"Something has changed, hasn't it?" The Queen drew up close to Weaver, the effect of her piercing eyes undiminished by the nearly fifteen centimeters difference Weaver had on her in height. "You've regained something. You've found what was missing all these years, haven't you? The thing that made you feel so incomplete."
Weaver nodded as the Queen reached out to pluck at the golden-wire strands of Light playing around her head in the outline of a simple helmet.
"Tell me."
"I…" Weaver took a breath, letting it out slowly. "I've regained the memories of my first life. And a power I held then that doesn't come from the Sky or the Deep."
The Queen's eyebrows rose. "Truly? And who were you, in your past?"
Weaver gave a sad, thin smile. "A warrior. A fighter. Someone who only wanted to help and protect but kept getting caught up in things larger than myself."
'Not too different from now, really,' Kali commented wryly to Weaver, who laughed silently.
Mara Sov nodded in acceptance, turning back towards the couch and seating herself, before gesturing at the one on the opposite side of the scroll-covered table. Weaver took a seat. "There is time, so perhaps, you should tell this from where it should start: the beginning."
Weaver settled, and Kali could feel the way her mind started ordering things, preparing to tell her story.
"My name was Taylor Hebert. I was born in 1995, and when I was twelve, my mother died in a car accident…"
She'd spent nearly three hours telling her story to the Queen, who not once had paid her anything less than her full attention, even disallowing outside interruptions. There hadn't been time to tell everything, so she'd focused on the important events.
"The last thing I remember is Contessa putting two bullets through my head and falling. The next thing after that was waking up in the middle of the sands of Mars when Kali brought me back," Weaver concluded.
The Queen sat back. "Alternate worlds…" she mused. "And you even had contact with them."
"…Alternate universes would probably be more accurate," Weaver said.
For a moment, the Queen looked at her sharply, the full intensity of her presence focused on Weaver. And then she closed her eyes and breathed, and the moment was gone. "Yes, I suppose so."
Weaver nodded. "I'd like to request a set of the Techeun's neural implants to assist me with managing my power if possible."
Mara stared at her, evaluating.
"…Release it."
Weaver recoiled, blinking. "I-I'm sorry?"
"Your barrier, release it," Mara repeated, gesturing at the ephemeral helmet.
"…B-but, my Queen," Weaver protested.
"I will not repeat myself again, Weaver. Release it," Mara ordered. "If you are so hesitant then replace it after one minute, but I have doubt that will be an issue."
The Risen woman took a shuddering breath. "Yes, ma'am."
And then she tore away the division.
Everything fell back into place, and Weaver could only barely restrain the content sigh of being whole again. She—no, her passenger—felt slightly anxious and annoyed, like when she'd had to manage her territory and one of her lieutenants was late checking in.
'Sorry. I told you I didn't know how long.'
Begrudging acceptance, now.
Her attention turned to those in her range: first snapping almost involuntarily to the newness she could feel at the edge of her range. She couldn't tell whether it was she or her passenger who examined them excitedly, like a child looking at and turning over a new toy on Christmas.
There were two, simultaneously familiar and not, so similar but also so complex and different from the insects she'd once known so well, their surprise at her hold affecting them in different ways than she knew. It took a minute to familiarize herself with them, keeping them breathing even as she felt the masks on her faces, looked out of the four eyes that saw colors she wasn't used to, re-familiarized herself with the sense of six limbs even though she stood upright on two.
So this was what it was like to be Fallen.
Only one of the Awoken guards was inside her range in the room, but that wasn't unusual, in fact she seemed rather bland in comparison to the Eliksni, especially considering the familiar fear she felt. Weaver remembered controlling civilians in the beginning of the fight, moving them between worlds, and this woman felt no different, though there was the hint of something different there, lying in the depths. Barely any, but still noticeable.
Her Queen though.
Her Queen.
She knew she was there but her control found no purchase. It wasn't like Glaistig Uaine, where she could tell the control was offloaded to one of the Ghosts. It wasn't like the way some had resisted, fighting her control but always inevitably losing to her will. It wasn't quite like the Guardians either, their minds operating on a hybrid substrate of Light and the material, defying logic in a way her passenger couldn't comprehend and thus couldn't manipulate.
No, it was like she'd reached out and found frictionless glass, an impenetrable bubble. She could look, but was powerless to do anything else. And within the bubble was something that reminded her of a rotating black hole: absolute darkness and blindingly relativistic light, joined and moving in harmony.
She couldn't have looked away even if she'd wanted.
"Wha-what are you?"
The Queen's eyebrows raised slightly, before the mild surprise vanished just as fast. "I will admit I didn't expect you to find anything at all. I suppose I should have learned to stop being surprised by your ability to exceed expectations by now." She paused. "Still…"
A delicate hand reached out, almost thoughtlessly, towards Weaver, the Queen's eyes flaring. "Hm. It is physical, but not. Exposed here, but drawing from… elsewhere."
Weaver would have sworn she could feel a touch that drifted upon something she had no ability to describe and hadn't even been consciously aware of before now. A finger twitched and it felt like there were suddenly harmonics in her mind, like the Simurgh's song but only one note, yet still layered up and down. She shuddered slightly against her will.
"And the augment?" Weaver asked, still recovering slightly from the shiver that had gone down her spine, from the note that felt like it had touched her soul. "Will they help?"
The Queen's hand fell. "Yes, I think they would fit quite well and be appropriate; there are more similarities than differences, at least in form. Though those differences are something to be aware of."
Weaver nodded.
Mara gestured at her. "You may replace the barrier, now."
She didn't want to though, this was how she was supposed to be why did she have to—
Weaver clamped down. 'Stop that.'
'Fiiiiine,' a younger Taylor's voice whined, simultaneously trying to sound serious—a memory of a response to her parents. 'But I want you to know I'm not happy about it!'
'Only for a little longer.'
With a twist of her Light, she imprinted the now-familiar pattern onto reality, anchoring it on her head, and the connection to her passenger was gone, leaving her feeling bereft and slightly empty.
As soon as she did, the Awoken woman who had been within in her range stumbled, but recovered. At the same time, the two Eliksni who had been guarding the door rushed in, pikes at the ready.
«Stand down, guys. It was just me. Sorry I didn't warn you, but the Queen wanted me to demonstrate something,» Weaver said, motioning with her hands to lower the pikes. «I'll explain more in the barracks later, but it shouldn't happen again now. You can return to your posts.»
«Yes, Captain,» Erahk responded, both of them returning their pikes to resting position and moving back out the door.
Weaver turned back to the Queen, whose eyes flicked over her once more, examining. "I will inform Sedia. You should only need those for your mind rather than your entire body, as your 'power' does not need to channel energy outwards."
Well, she was glad she wasn't going to be "glittering like a jewel" anytime soon. At least, that was how the stories described what the Techeuns looked like under their robes. Not that Weaver had ever seen that since they never wore anything that didn't cover their whole bodies. But if that was unnecessary for her, all the better.
"…I rather think that being Lightborn allows you to do enough of that already," the Queen continued flatly.
A joke.
Weaver wanted to shake her head in exasperation. Just when she thought she was getting a hold on the conversation, Mara would somehow throw her off. It always happened.
"And, since we are on the topic of Lightborn, what did you think of your peers? What do you think, now that you've seen their City?" the Queen smoothly segued.
Weaver frowned. "…It doesn't suit me."
"Oh?"
"Maybe twenty years ago, if I'd had my memories as Taylor, I could have adjusted. But now…" She shook her head. "The Reef is my home. You know this."
"I do," the Queen said, not unkindly. "But still, I ask for your thoughts."
The Risen woman sighed. "It was utter chaos. We knew of the Vanguard, but within it the Risen are separated into divisions based on… ideology? Abilities? How their Light first manifests? I didn't entirely understand that. There is a degree of recklessness that is almost… expected. A not-insignificant portion don't even interact with the common people, remaining in the Tower entirely," Weaver said. "If anything, my Queen, my time there only reinforced my resolve. I have seen the other side and found it wanting."
Mara took a deep breath and nodded. "Do you know why I offered you a position on my guard, all those years ago? Why I have treated you as I have any other Awoken rising through the ranks despite the reactions and jealousy of the others? Why I ordered the others to do the same? Did you not find it unusual, considering there are no other humans in the Reef and our policies on the Risen?"
Weaver swallowed. "I… will admit I wondered. But in the end I decided that the reason didn't matter, only that you gave me the opportunity to prove myself and learn where you could have just as easily rejected or killed me."
Mara's expression softened. "I saw something, that day. An indelible impression not even death or the Sky could wipe clean. A strength that many could never even comprehend and a resolve to match. A potential to become something more than just another Lightbearer."
The Risen nodded, looking down at her hands.
"I gave you that chance not knowing what would come of it. And yet in twenty short years, you have proven yourself time and time again, and I would have you nowhere else."
A sense of pride rose inside her, even as the Queen's mask fell back into place.
"So go, Twice-born Weaver, and know that this is only the beginning."
A/N: [cackling intensifies]
No but seriously now the real story starts.
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- Location
- The Other Side of Nowhere
I'm so excited! Saw the previous update and decided to reread the entire story; only to find the Awoken lore post to read. Once I was finished with that... A new story post! Man, I didn't think this day could get any better.
I'm really glad to have read that lore post. I played though the story of the two games but didn't have the time to go lore hunting. And I admire your ability to weave in the lore.
I'm really glad to have read that lore post. I played though the story of the two games but didn't have the time to go lore hunting. And I admire your ability to weave in the lore.
- Location
- Australia
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Seeing Weaver talk with her Eliksni was nice.
Well, Mara Sov is a badass, so I'm not surprised... But at the same time, it's a cool description
- Location
- a local spacial anomaly
Excuse my French, but fucking finally. Real excited to see where it goes.
- Location
- Switzerland
typo, I think?
I just really enjoy the worldbuilding/xenosocialization going on here. More!
...intimate...
AmusedOracle
Sleepyhearted Hierophant.
- Location
- The Empty Path.
I do believe it's time for a prequel meme.
*ahem*
*ahem*
James D. Fawkes
Court Scribe
- Location
- Avalon (Isle of Mists)
We get stuff like those nerfs incoming for Opulence, where Bungie reduces the best gear down to middling without seeming to understand that the reason they're so prevalent is because there isn't anything of similar quality or usefulness, and all I feel is tired and frustrated and resigned, and to some extent, just so done with it all.
Then, I come back, and stuff like this, that reminds me of how rich and fantastical the world of Destiny is, remind me also of why I love the game.
Then, I come back, and stuff like this, that reminds me of how rich and fantastical the world of Destiny is, remind me also of why I love the game.
deadcrystal
Slaaneshi Cultist
- Location
- The Warp
Nice to see her interacting with people who know her so she doesn't have to put the act on.
I'm taking this line as 100% confirmation that she has an Awoken girlfriend.
Good character exploration is good.
Also nice friendly banter.
Yeah that would defs peak her interest.
Throne World gonna Throne
Mara is nothing if not unique.
Hey, if they gave us the option I would totes explore the city.
Twei
I have a face!
- Location
- the land where they write things
- Pronouns
- They/Them
sorry I didn't catch some of these sooner D:
not that I'm to judge when I basically repeated an entire segment (Emma walking around, eavesdropping, feeling sorry for herself) in Defiant
Also, Mara is bae, this is known.
And it's really nice seeing her easy interactions with her Eliksni subordinates. Poor Variks, lol.
Wonder if we'll get his perspective soon.
"rewarded her" doesn't fit the context. Guided? idk
also, you use basically the same phrase (Honestly, she preferred it that way) twice in a few paragraphs
not that I'm to judge when I basically repeated an entire segment (Emma walking around, eavesdropping, feeling sorry for herself) in Defiant
Not sure if "Kalii" is a typo or an intentional translation adaption.
Also, Mara is bae, this is known.
And it's really nice seeing her easy interactions with her Eliksni subordinates. Poor Variks, lol.
Wonder if we'll get his perspective soon.
:3c
Electric Heart
Verified Bookworm Yokai
- Location
- Behind you!
Definitly...well, as long as we don't find more Tr3-VR's outside or even worse, a city as overly complex build as the old tower because...well, boy, I don't want to even imagine how many people died in making the old tower...
QuietlyObserving
The Railgun That Walks Like a Bear
- Location
- Here.
Not surprising that Mara can no-sell QA. She is a nascent Goddess.
Also, QA's communication is kinda cute.
Also, QA's communication is kinda cute.
I don't think Mara actually has a Throne World, yet. Lore for D2 tells us she actually jacked Oryx's after the Guardians killed him. Apparently the Awoken attack and Eris Morn's help were all part of Mara's gamble to get it. Which actually tells you a lot about how much she trusted in the Guardians, that she was willing to bet that we'd beat Oryx.
Wobulator
Within 1 AU of you!
- Location
- Mars
- Pronouns
- She/Her
No, she had her own throne world. That's what Eleusinia(or the Shattered Throne now) is. She stole power from Oryx, but she Wished for her own throne world, which is why it's so massive.