Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jun 19, 2021 22:52:24 GMT -5
Orpheus thought that L couldnโt possibly be that badโฆ he had ample opportunity to drown Orpheus, and if merfolk really had no morals, if they really were bloodthirsty killers, then L would have drowned him regardless of whether he had saved him or not. While Orpheus believed that one kind action would lead to another, the fact remained that L didnโt have to spare him. They didnโt have to be talking right now, sharing their different worlds as though they were merely from different places, not from warring societies. Orpheus wondered if anyone before them had done this. It was hard to believe that in hundreds of years of bloodshed, there had never been so much as one civil conversation. Orpheus couldnโt believe thatโฆ he had to believe that there had been people who had broken through the lies, who had found each other, even if they hadnโt been able to make a difference. Orpheus found he wanted to honor those people, those strangers who had been lost to violence and hopelessness. It seemed that he was getting through to L, at least a little bit. The way they were livingโฆ it couldnโt keep going on like this. Neither side was going to win without losing almost everything before they did. How much were they willing to lose in order to secure a win? It didnโt have to be like thisโฆ Orpheus believed firmly that there was a way to get around it. โHowโฆโ Orpheus echoed the question, brow furrowing. In truth, he had never gotten that far when thinking about it. He needed to believe that it was possible, but he had never managed to come up with a โhowโฆโ โWe would need to make one side believe that the other side wanted to open up negotiations. That the other side is willing to put the past behind them in order to secure their future. We need to convince both sides that working together is more lucrative than tearing each other apart, butโฆ I donโt really know how to do that,โ Orpheus admitted with a small, uncertain shrug. โI thinkโฆ I think I need to figure out how to make them believe that there are options other than war. Iโm notโฆ very good at lying. Or trickery. But I would need to get very, very good if I want this to workโฆโ he shifted a little bit uncomfortably at the thought. โHelp,โ Orpheus repeated, eyes widening a little bit. It wasnโt quite an offer, but it was far more than he had expected. โWouldโฆ you be willing? To help, I mean. To help me figure out how to end this warโฆ to save the people that come after us from having to live in fear like thisโฆ?โ In Orpheusโ eyes, it was about the future. There was no point in trying to get revenge for the past, at least not if it endangered the future. Nobody knew how the war started, not for realโฆ why were they all still so determined to fight it?
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 1, 2021 16:42:17 GMT -5
The fact was that they were both alive, somehow. They were both alive and they seemed like they were going to stay that way, for the time being. L didnโt want to kill Orpheus. Orpheus didnโt want to kill L. Somehow, they both seemed to want the same thing. They both wanted the war to be over. They both wanted peace. Orpheus was almost certainly right. How could they have all come this far without ever having spoken to each other as equals before? It didnโt seem possible that they were really the first, or that theyโd be the last, if Orpheus' idea failed. If he didnโt manage to stop the war...well. A lot more people would die. And maybe one day, one would wipe out the other. Maybe one day there would be no humans, or there would be no merfolk left. L didnโt want to imagine that. He didnโt want to imagine either scenario, he found. It was harder to feel for the humans, who he knew were cruel, but...he knew some fairly cruel merfolk too. He was aware that it wasnโt as black and white as some would have him believe. And it was hard not to believe Orpheus. To believe in him. He seemed so sure, so confident that it could be done, that there was a way to stop the war, and L didnโt know how to keep the voice of hope silent. He blinked, watching Orpheus. He didnโt have a plan. He didnโt know how. It was just...a fantasy. A wish. L knew better than to believe in wishes. Even when he wanted to as badly as he did now. โI donโt know,โ he admitted, looking down at the water. He could see pretty far down. Probably as far down as it would take Orpheus to drown, if he pulled him under. The thought was passive, and it didnโt stay long. He wasnโt going to pull Orpheus down. Heโd already made up his mind about that. โI only mean...I donโt know if I can agree to help with a plan that isnโt a plan,โ he added, looking up again. โItโs dangerous. Very dangerous. Tricking them into peace talks? That would take a lot of skill. Iโm not sure even I could lie that well.โ He didnโt know if it was turning Orpheus down, or hoping to be talked into it. He couldnโt tell what he wanted here, only that it was risky in a way he hadnโt anticipated. For the first time, he wondered what Watari would think of this conversation with the enemy. He didnโt have an answer. He pushed the thought away. โIโm not really hero material, Iโm afraid,โ he added quietly. โIโm not very brave. And I donโt like the idea of dying, even for a good cause.โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 2, 2021 0:23:44 GMT -5
Orpheus knew he needed a better plan. The truth was, he had never met anyone else he felt comfortable talking about his idea with. He had a feeling most other humans would believe him bewitched by the other side. They would call him a traitor. Actually, they would probably call him much worse. Any other merfolk would have drowned Orpheus on the spot. This was the first time Orpheus had ever been allowed to voice his potential plan out loud. He had agonized over it, had tried to think what might work, but he had to admit that he wasnโt really a plan person. He was incredibly persuasive, but the difficult part wouldnโt be the individual talks Orpheus wanted to have with each of the leaders of their respective societies. The difficult part would be getting him access to places he wasnโt technically supposed to go, getting him time to speak with the sorts of people who could enact change. โI guess itโs always seemed a little bit like a dream to me,โ Orpheus admitted with a small shrug. โItโs justโฆ something that I think about when I wonder what the future looks like. Iโve never actually told anyone about this, until nowโฆโ he gave a small frown, lifting his gaze so they rested on Lโs. โI guess thatโs why there really isnโt a plan yet. It was never something I could do alone. It was just something that I didnโt know who to tell it toโฆ I didnโt know if anyone would be willing to support me. Thereโsโฆ well, thereโs a lot of propaganda, and Iโm sick of it.โ The issue was time sensitive, and only growing more time sensitive as both societies grew more and more industrialized. As weapons advanced, got better at killingโฆ โI donโt know exactly how it would go. Iโm not sure there would need to be any actual lyingโฆ just strategic placement of thingsโฆ I donโt know. But weโฆ I mean I would have to do it somehow so they both believe the other side is willing to try to make amends.โ He shrugged, trying to think of something that would be that powerful. A gift of some sort might work, but it would have to be extravagant, and also something that would work underwater as well as it works on landโฆโ he trailed off, lost in thought for a few moments until he sifted through the options. As he tried to process Lโs words. If L didnโt want to help, he wouldnโt make him, but he had to admit having a second person who wanted peace might make it all a little easier to navigateโฆ โIโm not a hero, either,โ Orpheus whispered, staring up at the sky for a few seconds. โIโm justโฆ well, I guess I have big dreams. I donโt know if theyโll work yet. Iโm just hoping to make a difference, even if itโs just a little one. Even if I canโt end the war for good, if I could at leastโฆ ease tensions a little bit?โ Even that would save a few lives, and in Orpheus' eyes... that was something of a success.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 4, 2021 0:28:40 GMT -5
L didnโt know if he thought this plan was very likely to work. Actually...he was pretty sure what little Orpheus did have, wasnโt going to do anything. He hadnโt heard Orpheus, yet. He didnโt know him. But he thought, probably, that just talking to people wasnโt going to do much good at all. What good would it do anyone to just...tell them his opinion? Theyโd ignore him at best, label him a murderer and kill him as worst. No, this wasnโt going to work. L didnโt really know if anything would, but a part of him was turning the problem over now, trying to find some sort of interesting loophole to the seemingly endless difficulties. He had to admit that Orpheus was convincing, though. He had to admit that, in spite of everything, he was drawn in the the idea. It was as if Orpheus himself believed it could be done so strongly, it leaked out into the water L breathed, making him believe it, too. He met Orpheusโ eyes, his own serious. โWhen I think about the future, it seems...dark,โ he mused, shaking his head a little. โNot that I think itโs all bad. But I donโt think I dream the way you do. I donโt know how.โ He breathed out, looking down again. โI know. Thereโs nothing we have that describes humans with any redeeming qualities. Youโre supposed to be monsters who love hurting us, and need to be exterminated. Thatโs all.โ He didnโt know whether Orpheusโ plan was even possible. He didnโt know whether he should even be here. He probably shouldnโt, all things considered. Why was he letting himself get drawn into this? He knew better. He knew how to stay safe, and this, this wasnโt safe, not even close. He did want to help. For better of for worse, he did, but he didnโt want to get himself into trouble. He knew better than to believe he was cut out to be a martyr. He was much too concerned with staying alive for that. โIt wouldnโt need to be the same thing,โ he offered finally. โBut weโd need two things, if it wasnโt. In fact...probably two different gifts would be better. I donโt know if thereโs anything both humans and merfolk would appreciate.โ He didnโt know how to offer his help. He didnโt know if he even wanted to. He was torn, unsure, he kept going back and forth, and he didnโt know how to explain that he wasnโt ready to sacrifice himself. โI suppose...that makes sense,โ he admitted, looking up. โI think...Iโd be willing to help you. At least, for now. I may change my mind later, I donโt know. But for the present, Iโd like to do what I can, if youโd accept my help.โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 5, 2021 17:37:49 GMT -5
Orpheus didnโt think it was terribly difficult to dream. It came naturally to him, at leastโฆ to believe that the world could be better and do everything in his power to strive for a world that was. It meant, however, that sometimes he got caught up in that world and forgot that the world he lived in hadnโt quite caught up. Perhaps that was why he found himself here now, talking to someone who was supposed to be the sort who wanted him dead. Truthfully, Orpheus found that acting as though the world was better, acting as though there werenโt a feudโฆ well, he knew it wasnโt the brightest idea he had, but it had gotten him a chance to converse with L, hadnโt it? He knew that most merfolk wouldnโt be quite as willing (they may, after all, assume he had killed others of their kind, even if they werenโt particularly bloodthirsty themselves), and that doing what he had done was dangerous. Sometimes, Orpheus thought, it was better to take the risk, even if it could get you hurt. Even if most merfolk likely would have drowned him the moment they were back in the water. He had gotten lucky. L had gotten lucky. โYou didnโt exterminate me,โ Orpheus pointed out lightly, giving a small smile. โI meanโฆ weโve both been taught dreadful things about each other, but here we are. If youโll allow me to be frank, this is the nicest conversation Iโve had with anyone, even other humans in a very long time. I think thereโs a chance that we donโt have to kill each other. I think thereโs a chance to break through everything weโve been told and find the similarities between us instead of focusing on what pulls us apart. I meanโฆ humans and merfolk. Not you and me.โ Orpheus blushed, realizing he had been rambling. He hadnโt really expected L to actually buy into his idea. He had pointed out some of the flaws Orpheus was aware of and tried to ignore, and even a few that Orpheus hadnโt even thought about. Perhaps it would be better to have someone help who was better at planning instead of just acting immediately on impulse. Orpheus couldnโt hide the small smile that pulled at his features as L started to use โweโ to refer to the plan. It was a joint effort, now. It was more than just Orpheus and an impossible dream. โHumans need certain things to survive. Foodโฆ waterโฆ airโฆ shelterโฆ sleepโฆโ he frowned a little bit, trying to think of what might be a good enough peace offering. โMaybeโฆ something to do with fish. Something to help us sustain ourselves. And since we have laboratories above the waterโฆ maybe someone would be able to help me make something that would allow you to come up to the surface. Would thatโฆ be a peace offering?โ Orpheus bit his lip, leaning down to trace a finger across the surface of the water. He watched as the ripples spread out and moved away, then shifted his gaze to L. โIโd be honored to have your help.โ
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 13, 2021 19:05:52 GMT -5
Dreaming wasnโt easy for L. He didnโt know how to act like the world was better than it really was, or now to believe in people. He was paranoid. He didnโt know how to believe that people wouldnโt hurt him, given the chance. And yet, here he was. Somehowโฆhere he was. Talking to Orpheus, like they could be anything but enemies. Like there was any point in pretending they could be something like allies, or even friends. They couldnโt. They just couldnโt. He didnโt want to leave though. Somehow, he didnโt want to leave. That scared him a little, or maybe more than a little. It was like Orpheus had already gotten in his head somehow. He didnโt believe in spells or charms, or he might have thought himself bewitched. โI didnโt exterminate you,โ he admitted. โIโve enjoyed talking to you, in fact. Many of my kind, I dislike, and donโt want to talk to. Itโsโฆpleasant to speak to someone I do like.โ Was that too much? Maybe he wasnโt supposed to admit that. Noโฆhe definitely wasnโt supposed to admit that. He was supposed to kill Orpheus and move on. But now, that felt completely impossible. Theyโd spoke, and he liked Orpheus, and he didnโt want him dead. Did that make him a traitor? โIโฆdo understand what youโre saying,โ he added thoughtfully. โWeโve all been fed the same stories. I mean, you, that weโre all monsters, and us, that youโre all monsters. I donโt think that youโre a monster, and that means there are humans who arenโt. So, theyโre lies.โ He hadnโt intended to use โweโ but it was too late now. He was in, and he didnโt like he could walk away. He considered the idea quietly, looking away at the mention of laboratories. โI donโt think mentioning those would be a good idea,โ he murmured, ducking down a little lower in the water. โWe may be operating off or lies, but there are truths mixed in. I donโt think reminding people of them would help.โ He nodded a little as Orpheus continued. โIโll help,โ he decided, to make it official. โI will help you stop the war.โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 13, 2021 23:18:27 GMT -5
Orpheus watched L, half surprised that the merman had agreed to go along with his plan. Had agreed to help him, even though he saw flaws in it. Because as many flaws as there were in Orpheusโ plan, there were more in the way their people currently interacted. Merfolk werenโt monsters. They were just people. People who were afraid for their families, people who had lost the people they cared about and needed someone to blame, people who were all going through the same things. The humans pretended that the merfolk were barbarians, but they were developing weapons to make it easier to kill a moving target underwater. The merfolk were afraid of the humans, but they continued to drown them. The world was broken. Orpheus and L just wanted to fix it. โIโve enjoyed talking to you, as well,โ Orpheus returned, a small smile touching his face. He was more grateful than he was capable of showing that L felt the same as he did. It all felt quite complicated. It all feltโฆ wellโฆ they werenโt supposed to get along, but they did. They werenโt supposed to be allies, but Orpheus thought L could be a good one. How was the war ever going to stop if there was no willingness between parties to talk to each other? Orpheus didnโt know if they were the first to break through that barrier, but he had a feeling deep down that they were going to be the first to succeed. The first to make progress in stopping the warโฆ or, at least, create progress in the two sides starting to talk to each other again. It was more difficult or kill an enemy when you didnโt know if you were friends with someone they knew. It was a lot easier to kill someone when you didnโt even get a glimpse at their face. When you didnโt let yourself believe that they were a person with an inner life as rich as your own. Perhaps that was why Orpheus had never had an easy time imagining killing someone else, even if it was one of the merfolk. He had a hard time managing anyone โ even some of the less obviously sentient animals around him โ without a rich internal life. Without wants and needs and desires that couldnโt be told just by looking at them. โCan I see you again?โ Orpheus asked rashly, not stopping the words as they surged forth from his lips. โI meanโฆ to plan, of course, but also to justโฆ spend time with you. Youโre nice. You have interesting things to say. I guessโฆ I think Iโd like to hear more.โ
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 25, 2021 19:20:29 GMT -5
There were flaws to the plan, without a doubt. There were ways it could go very, very wrong, probably more than L had even managed to think of in the brief time heโd known about it. He knew this wasnโt going to be easy, and he didnโt trust Orpheus, but at the same time, how could he say no? Orpheus had saved his life, and he hadnโt needed to. He had risked his own safety to do it. L didnโt see what sort of ulterior motive he could have had for thatโฆhe didnโt know how Orpheus could have planned it, he couldnโt see any sort of benefit he could have had in deceiving him somehow. It had been a genuine desire to save a life that had driven him. L didnโt trust him, but he had to acknowledge that much. There was just no other way to make it make any sense. In which caseโฆin which case, he was telling the truth. If heโd made a habit out of looking for injured merfolk to try and turn to his cause, heโd have been dead a long time ago without a doubt. If this was anything other than a coincidence, an unplanned meeting where Orpheus had decided to save an enemy life with no benefit to himself, then it wouldnโt have happened the way that it had. He didnโt trust him. But maybe he did. He had killed before. He had taken human lives. Had they been like Orpheus was? They had to have been. They must have had familiesโฆlives, hopes, wishes, dreams. It was so much easier when they were merely enemies, dangers to be stopped, when killing them was always in self defense because theyโd kill you if they ever had the chance. Stopping them had been stopping more deaths. Only, maybe it hadnโt been, after all. He was going to think about it, a lot. But not right now. โSee me again?โ He repeated, startled out of his thoughts by the words. He looked up at Orpheus, searching his expression. โWellโฆyes, that would make sense, I couldnโt really help you if I never saw you again after this. And we could talk, too.โ He wasnโt really used to someone wanting to spend time around him. He wasnโt sure what to do with it. โIs there a place youโd like to meet?โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 25, 2021 22:49:41 GMT -5
Orpheus knew that meeting with L again was a risk, but nobody had ever offered to help him before. Nobody had ever shown any interest in what he was trying to do. Perhaps, he thought, that was because there was hardly anyone alive who knew what he was planning to do, butโฆ still. Orpheus doubted there would be very many humans who were pleased with his plan. They were all careful about how they mentioned merfolk. They spoke only in terms of the propaganda that was fed to them ceaselessly. They didnโt stop to consider that merfolk might be people too, because they had lost loved ones to the deep. It was complicated, Orpheus knew, and he was mildly surprised that L had volunteered to help at all. After all, surely L had lost people to humans, too. Surely he had seen how devastating this war wasโฆ the thing was, the war wasnโt saving people. It was just making sure that more people died. Orpheus didnโt see how that was any way to honor someoneโs memory. Perhaps, though, there were people who didnโt mind how many of their own people died so long as they could take down some of the enemy with them. Orpheus was quite certain he didnโt want to be associated with those people. โYou canโt come too close to town,โ Orpheus mused, letting his fingers dip down towards the water. He let them skim over the surface, collecting just enough water to drip down once he lifted his hand. The sea was still enough that ripples pooled away from the drop as it fell. โIf you were to be seen, I might not be able to stop them from hurting you. Besides, I donโt want you thinking Iโm luring you into a trap, especially if I ask you to go somewhere thatโs practically swarming with humans. Soโฆ we should meet somewhere out here, in the water. Where nobody from the village will look, and where merfolk donโt tend to go that often. Doโฆ do you know of any place like that? I guess we could try somewhere where people fishโฆ I donโt know if your people avoid those areas or if theyโre prime hunting grounds.โ He blushed, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck. โIโve neverโฆ tried to arrange a meeting with any merfolk before. I guessโฆ you probably knew that, though. Since Iโd never met any before you.โ
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 3, 2021 23:24:00 GMT -5
Meeting again was a risk, even bigger than talking now was. Meeting again meant intent. L hadnโt planned to be rescued by a human. He hadnโt planned to talk to that human after it had happened. All of thisโฆit was a fluke. If they left now and never spoke of it again, no one could call them traitors for it, even if someone eventually found out what had happened. If they made plans to meet again, though, that was a different story entirely. That would be conspiring, sympathizing, stirring up trouble. Plotting together when they should be helping kill each other. It wasnโt as though he couldnโt see the reasons at all. There wasnโt a person in the world who hadnโt lost someone to this war. There was angerโฆgriefโฆfearโฆthe reasons to keep fighting were hard to argue with, because they werenโt really reasons. They were habit. They were bloodlust. They were probably even good intentions on some level. He nodded, listening. โIt would be a fairly poor trap, if it were that obvious,โ he mused, watching the water drip from Orpheusโ hand. It was sometime odd to watch how small amounts of water worked. He was used to being surrounded by it at all timesโฆhe was never dry. What did water feel like against human skin? โI donโt knowโฆโ he admitted. โI think we should stay close to land, though. The deeper areas would be difficult to protect you from, if someone caught us. I can point out the areas merfolk go most frequentlyโฆโ He hesitated, looking up and meeting Orpheusโ eyes, โThatโs where the brave go. Or the ones desperate for glory. Itโs also where children sometimes dare each other to swim from one side for the other, straight through the middle. Touching a boat on the way isnโt the most important part, but itโs enough to make them lie about having done it afterwards, even if everyone there saw that they didnโt.โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 3, 2021 23:51:36 GMT -5
-- Orpheus didnโt truthfully know if he expected L to show up. They had agreed on a meeting place, far enough out of sight of town that Orpheusโ business wouldnโt immediately be seen and questioned, but close enough that most merfolk wouldnโt dare to spend much time there except to scout or patrol ahead, and L could easily say he was doing the same thing. Orpheus may not have found such a logical spot were it not for Lโs assistance โ well, not really assistance so much as guidance and tutelage. Orpheus could already tell that L was much smarter than him. Much smarter than he would ever be, probably, but he found he didnโt mind. He was justโฆ glad to know L. Glad to have someone else on board who believed in what he was doing. Who believed that there might be some way to end the war, even if it was built on anger that couldnโt be easily quelled. So he waited, anxiously keeping all parts of himself inside the boat. He was afraid to know what might happen if he dipped a toe in and someone else showed up โ someone who wasnโt L. He didnโt want to tempt a stranger into drowning him. It wasnโt abnormal for there to be empty boats around here โ it would be simpler if they just believed this to be one of those.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 4, 2021 0:15:40 GMT -5
L couldnโt help but be grateful to his past self for disappearing without warning or explanation often enough that it was no longer cause for worry. It meant leaving now was a lot easierโฆhe didnโt even have to attempt lying to Watari to do it. All he had to do was leave when he wasnโt paying attention. As long as he wasnโt asked to stay, it would be incredibly simple. He wasnโt asked to stay. Not one person tried to stop him. It was strange to carry a secret through a crowdโฆit always felt like someone was going to just know. But no one did. So he was actually on time when he arrived. Maybe even a little bit early. He swam closer, trying to see whether Orpheus was there yetโฆhe saw a couple boats, but that wasnโt unusual, there were usually a few. He surfaced carefully, poking his head above water just enough to see. It took a moment, but then he saw it: a figure waiting in a boat. He moved closer, then poked his head up the rest of the way and waved. โHello.โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 4, 2021 0:21:01 GMT -5
The thing about dark shapes moving in the water was that they could be just about anything. Fishโฆ dolphinsโฆ merfolkโฆ there were multiple decent options, one really good option, and several deadly options. It made the whole process of waiting rather nerve-wracking. Eventually, Orpheus thought, he might come to recognize L before he surfaced, but he wasnโt at that level yet. He was able to lift a hand in greeting in time to not seem rude, in spite of his shock at Lโs sudden appearance. Merfolk were fast. It was easy to forget that they were just as adept in the water as the fiercest predator there. More adept, actuallyโฆ Orpheus shook the thought away, instead offering L a smile and swinging his feet over the edge of the boat so his toes could rest on top of the water. There werenโt very many people who could swim. In fact, Orpheus was fairly certain that humans were designed not to be able to swim. He didnโt know anyone who had ever tried, but he did enjoy the feeling of the water against his toes. He enjoyed physically bridging the gap between his world and Lโs as they bridged it in conversation as well. โHowโฆ have you been?โ Orpheus asked somewhat awkwardly, unsure how to begin.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 4, 2021 0:31:43 GMT -5
L hadnโt considered that he might have been a little intimidating when he surfaced, especially since he tended to do it very fast. It didnโt occur to him to try and do it any slower. It was justโฆappearing. Moving from place to place. Admittedly, when most merfolk surfaced near a human, they intended to kill that human, but he had no intention of killing Orpheus, so this was different. He swam closer, putting a hand on the boat to steady himself as he looked up at the human. โIโve been relatively well,โ he told him. โAndโฆyou? How have you been feeling since we last spoke?โ He wasnโt very good at conversation, but he was willing to try it. Friends talked about things like that, didnโt they? Not that they were friends, of course, or that they ever would be, butโฆit was the friendly thing to do. And he actually did want to know how Orpheus was. They hadnโt seen each other in long enough that something bad could have happened, after all.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 4, 2021 0:45:29 GMT -5
Orpheusโ smile returned easily once he was absolutely certain that L wasnโt going to hurt him. That, same as the first time they had met, they were uneasy allies. Not quite friends, because Orpheus didnโt know how to have those, butโฆ friendlier than most people were. Yes, allies was the best way to describe their relationship, if they could even be said to have one. They were still pretty distant from each other โ they had only ever had one conversation, after all. A deep conversation, yes, but just one. You couldnโt become instant friends with someone you had been taught to hate in one conversation. โIโve been alright, too,โ Orpheus replied after a long moment, leaning forward just a little bit. โI meanโฆ it hasnโt been that long, so I guess not much has happened. Itโs odd, though, that the things I think of as normal are probably really strange to you. The things that make up my day to day life are things that you may never even have heard of, the things I use andโฆ and know aboutโฆโ he trailed off, blushing.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 6, 2021 21:36:23 GMT -5
L listened, interest bright in his eyes as Orpheus spoke. He supposed that was probably accurateโฆhe hadnโt heard of most things that humans did. He didnโt know what kind of thing was normal for them, or how they coped with being dry, or what they did day to day. โAnd the same goes for you, I think,โ he considered, watching Orpheus curiously. โMy life must be equally mysterious for you. Things Iโve never even thought to questionโฆโ He shook his head a little. โItโsโฆfascinating to me. That someone so very like myself could live a life so different. I have to wonder how itโs affected usโฆhad it made us more different than we would be naturally?โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 7, 2021 0:03:19 GMT -5
Orpheus knew that, technically, they shouldnโt be meeting except to talk about ways to make their plan work. He knew that it was risky to meet in the first place, and if they werenโt doing something productive with the time, they were both putting themselves in danger for nothing. They needed to be talking about strategy, about how they would be able to get both sides to believe them and drop their weapons. There were any number of flaws in Orpheusโ plan, and they needed to be ironing those out. That wasnโt what Orpheus wanted to do at the moment. He wanted to hear all about Lโs daily life. He wanted to know what kinds of things he did, what sorts of things he ate. All of the things that he hadnโt even thought to consider about merfolk. โWell, I donโt think we would be the same people if you had grown up on land and I had grown up at sea. Butโฆ I donโt know. Whatโฆ do you do all day? I meanโฆ do you have shops and jobs and things and all of the sorts of stores and responsibilities we have up here? Do you have agriculture? Itโs not like you can have cornfields or anythingโฆโ he broke off, realizing he was probably asking too many questions. โI would justโฆ like to know how parallel your life is to mine, I suppose.โ
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 7, 2021 17:45:44 GMT -5
L knew it was risky to justโฆmeet and talk like they were friends, or people who could at some point in time become friends. They werenโt here to get to know each other. They were here to try and stop a war. If they were caughtโฆL didnโt know what the humans would do, but he has a good idea of how his own people would react. They were, as far as anyone else was concerned, traitors for doing this. Even if they were just trying to save lives. But was it so wrong to get to know each other? Was it so wrong to learn what they could about each otherโs world? Maybe it would even help. Maybe they needed to know these things if they wanted to stop the war. Even the little things. โWe have jobs and things like that,โ he replied thoughtfully, swimming closer so he could grasp the edge of the boat and steady himself. โAnd shopsโฆand houses. We hunt fish, of course, and we gather various plantsโฆwhatโs agriculture? Is corn a sort of plant?โ He considered for a moment. โDo you have a job?โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 7, 2021 19:30:23 GMT -5
It was difficult to imagine plants growing underwater, but Orpheus figured it was probably difficult for L to imagine plants growing above it. He could see grass growing on the shoreline, of course, but humans didnโt eat grass. Orpheus was fairly certain that merfolk didnโt eat it either. It struck him that he didnโt actually know much of what L ate. Was it possible that they survived on two incredibly different sources of nutrients? Those questions would probably be better understood and asked by a scientist, but Orpheus was the only human who had an unlimited source of knowledge about the way merfolk lived. He didnโt have to press to get information out of L โ he was given it freely, as he was giving L information freely in return. How much could they gain with an alliance like this? Orpheus wasnโt used to thinking in those sorts of terms, but he was going to have to get used to it if he wanted to convince his people that it was a good idea. โWhat sort of plants do you gather? Agriculture is basically cultivation of specific plants. Like corn, and wheat, and other edible things that we use to make things like cake and bread.โ โI do have a job,โ he said, letting his finger skim lightly over the water. โI wait tables at a cafรฉ. What about you?โ
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 9, 2021 14:54:46 GMT -5
This was the sort of alliance they were trying to build. Thisโฆthey were here, now. They were together, trying to talk about the plan, but also justโฆtalking. Sharing information, getting to know each other better. It was dangerous, but it was also proof that things could be different. Things didnโt have to be the way they wereโฆthis war, it wasnโt necessary after all. Orpheus was living proof that humans were not the pure monsters heโd been taught they were. And he was not the monster Orpheus had been taught to fear. Theyโd both been told mirror images of the same lie. And they were both learning the truth, finally. โI donโt really know what theyโre called,โ he admitted. โJust that we donโt cultivate it. We find it, and sometimes we have to travel a bit to do that. We manage to stay in the same area thoughโฆthe fish help with that.โ He hesitated, then shook his head. โI donโt at the moment,โ he replied. โI will likely get one at some point. I just watch people and try to solve crimes when I can. Whatโs a cafรฉ?โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 9, 2021 20:55:10 GMT -5
Orpheus thought that the two of them could probably spend an eternity talking, if they were allowed to. It was nice, being able to speak candidly and knowing that what he said must have been as fascinating to L as Lโs words were to him. It was a little bit like magic โ knowing that there was an entirely different way of life out there, a realm that the poets hadnโt even touched because they were so busy viewing its inhabitants as enemies. After meeting L, Orpheus didnโt think he could see merfolk as the enemy, even though most of them would kill him without a second thought. It was a harrowing thought, but he tried to push past it. If the two of them succeeded, the war would be over. Finally. Theyโd have a little bit of freedom from all of the hate and all of the fearโฆ and maybe, just maybe, theyโd become allies. โItโs odd that you donโt cultivate plants,โ Orpheus admitted, tilting his head as he met Lโs gaze. โDo you have likeโฆ farms, where you breed certain types of fish for different things?โ He was curious how similar Lโs world was to his own. So far, it seemed that while the two of them were similar, the worlds they had grown up in were very, very different. โYou solve crimes?โ Orpheus asked, eyes widening. โThatโsโฆ really impressive. I justโฆ bring people things to eat and drink when they ask for them, and sometimes I clean off tables.โ
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 13, 2021 16:21:33 GMT -5
L wanted to know everything he could about Orpheusโ way of life. He didnโt know how different it was, but he didnโt know what it would be like to cultivate plants, so that was one difference. He considered for a long moment, unsure how to reply. โNo,โ he told him, shaking his head. โWe donโt really do much with fish, besides watch them and eat them. I follow them sometimes, but I donโt know what it would be like to haveโฆa farm? What is that?โ He hesitated, then shook his head again. โItโs not really a job. I donโt get paid for it,โ he told him. โI just help people who were hurt. I can usually figure out who did it, and then even if no one listens to me, I can do my best to make sure they canโt do it again.โ He fell silent for a long moment, resting his chin against the edge of the boat as he looked at Orpheus. โWhat sort of things do you eat and drink? It must be difficult to have to move around on land all the time. Donโt your legs get tired? How do you balance on only your feet?โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 14, 2021 23:34:43 GMT -5
Orpheus blinked. It was more different than he had imagined, which was saying something. He hadnโt believed there would be many similarities, but he couldnโt imagine having to rely on the whims of the environment for food and survival. They were guaranteed, even on years with a poor yield, that there would be some crops to get them by over the winter. Winter wasnโt very harsh because of the proximity to the ocean, but it still got colder. Crops still died. He frowned, wondering how to explain a farm to L. Did they experience seasons at all under the water? Did they have any parts of the year when it was harder to find food? โA farm is where people grow their own food and keep animals for various reasons. Some for food, butโฆ we also keep cows and goats for milk and cheese, and chickens for eggsโฆโ Orpheus trailed off. He doubted that L knew what either milk or eggs were. โMaybeโฆ maybe I can bring you eggs one day. So you can see what one looks like. At leastโฆ chicken eggs. You probably have fish eggs down there.โ It was difficult to describe the surface. Hard to know what terms might be understandable and which would just be more confusing. โWe eat a lot of plants and some meat from animals you donโt have down there. And we mostly drink fresh water from the estuary. Honestlyโฆ walking is pretty easy, once you get the hang of it. Iโve never really thought about it. Isnโt swimming tiring?โ
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 19, 2021 15:57:00 GMT -5
L listened, eager to hear everything Orpheus had to say, it was fascinating, he had to admit. He hadnโt expected humans to have such a different system than they did, but he guessed it made sense. He could see the appeal of having farms, though he didnโt recognize the things that apparently lived there. Eggs, he understood, though he hadnโt known other animals laid them. Fish did. Apparently, so did chickens. It was unfair that humans could go in water, but menfolk couldnโt go on land. Orpheus probably knew a long more about Lโs home than L did about Orpheusโ. โWaking doesnโt look easy,โ he noted. โI donโt know. Maybe the air gives you more support than it seems like it would.โ He waved a hand above his head, testing the resistance. It wasnโt nearly as much as water gave. He didnโt know how humans did it. โSwimming isnโt hard, unless youโre going a long ways away. I suppose it would be harder without a tail. I donโt really know why you donโt crawl. It seems like it would be more stable.โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 19, 2021 17:31:20 GMT -5
Orpheus knew that humans technically had an advantage over merfolk. There was a lot more they could observe about the way merfolk lived than the other way around. They knew what sort of animals lived among merfolk, though they hadnโt been able to get deep enough to know what sort of animals lived at the same depth some merfolk were capable of achieving. On the other hand, though, merfolk could provide for themselves entirely without coming on land. Humans needed fish to survive, otherwise there wouldnโt be enough meat to feed an entire village. They could have as many farms as they liked, but livestock were hard to raise, and it took time for them to be old enough to be worth producing meat. There was only so much food one farm could provide, and only a limited number of farms could fit on the island. In order to sustain themselves, humans needed to fish. Secretly, Orpheus thought this may have had something to do with the start of the war. If humans had started to fish and accidentally captured a merpersonโฆ it was entirely possible that the merfolk would have retaliated. It could create something as vile and rancor-filled as the war they had on their hands now. โWe donโt really use the air for support,โ Orpheus replied, shaking his head. โItโs easier to balance than you think. But feetโฆ seem like they wouldnโt be very useful for swimming. I donโt know, though. Iโve never tried.โ
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 26, 2021 1:21:54 GMT -5
L didnโt know what had started the war. Heโd thought about it before, of course, but heโd never come to any sort of conclusion. There were just too many possibilities and he didnโt have enough evidence for any of them. Did it matter, if no one even remembered it? It wasnโt why they were fighting now. They were just fighting because both sides were in constant states of grief and loss, and no one wanted to listen. Or, like L, they hadnโt thought the other side was even capable of anything but brutality. He hated it. But he knew he was a part of it too, however little heโd done. Orpheus had never killed beforeโฆdid he know L had? He shook his head of the thought. It wasnโt important. What mattered right now was getting to know the one human heโd ever attempted to talk to. โIt still looks hard,โ he admitted. โWhen I get tired, I can just float. Youโd fall over if you stopped paying attention to what you were doing when you walked. Do people just lie down when they get tired?โ He studied Orpheus for a long moment. โHave you ever been in water before?โ He asked finally, genuinely curious. โEven shallow water?โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 27, 2021 20:09:22 GMT -5
โI guessโฆ we canโt stand up for the entire day,โ Orpheus replied, giving a small nod as he reached the conclusion that L was technically rightโฆ standing up was hard, but not for the reasons that he seemed to think. โItโs a lot of weight on your feet, and though itโs pretty easy to get used to, eventually your feet will stop hurting. You donโt have to pay attention to keeping yourself upright, though. Your body sort of does it for you. I meantโฆ you probably donโt have to adjust to staying at the right depth while youโre swimming, do you?โ Orpheus had no idea whether that was the case or not, but it was the closest he could think of in comparison. He had a feeling that controlling depth would be an automatic thing, not something that merfolk would have to focus on. โWe lay down and sit down a lot, but most of the time we sit or stand. We sit to eat, for example. And a lot of people have jobs where they donโt have to be on their feet all day. And when we sleep we lay in beds. I think sleeping in the water would be scary, because the current could carry you just about anywhere. How do you make sure you donโt just drift off when youโre asleep?โ Orpheus breathed out, shaking his head at Lโs question. It was something that had never even crossed his mind. Swimming was dangerous, therefore he was never going to do it. Simple as that. โNo,โ he admitted out loud, meeting Lโs eyes. โOther than on a boat, no. Itโs too dangerous. And I donโt know how to swim.โ
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Sept 6, 2021 14:08:30 GMT -5
L nodded a little, glad that something about that made sense. He couldnโt imagine how standing would be easy, butโฆOrpheus seemed to think it was. He would know, L supposed. โOh, sort of an automatic system to make sure you donโt tip over,โ he replied thoughtfully, giving a small nod. โI suppose that does make senseโฆthat would have to be a difference between our brains, probably. Something in yours is built for help you have an automatic sense of balance. I think, anyway.โ Orpheus was right about the depth. Lโs brain was made to be able to control how deep he was going, as well as several other similar things. It made sense that the system for Orpheus would be similar, just modified. โIโฆsuppose that would seem like a problem to you,โ he mused, turning his attention to the concept of sleeping. โItโs not actually. I suppose we do drift a bit, but we sleep in fairly small rooms, so there isnโt anywhere for us to go. It can be annoying when we donโt intend to fall asleep, though. Sometimes I do end up drifting a bit when that happens.โ He hesitated, searching Orpheusโ gaze, a small frown on his face. โNot knowing how to swim, while rowing out to sea, in enemy territory, seemsโฆdangerous,โ he noted. โArenโt you afraid youโll drown?โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Sept 6, 2021 15:02:53 GMT -5
Orpheus tilted his head, considering. He hadnโt actually considered that there would be any difference between merfolk brains and human brains, but he supposed it made sense. They were used to two very different environments, and even if they thought the same way, merfolk brains had to be able to control their tails, and human brains had to be able to control their legs as much as possible. They were likely different muscles, even if they were closely related. Orpheus couldnโt help but wonder what other differences there may be. Was it possible that music wouldnโt impact merfolk the same way it did humans? That seemed unlikely, given how L had responded to his music at their very first meeting. It seemed to be able to affect them both in profound ways, even if it was difficult to articulate exactly how it affected them. โThat sounds frustrating,โ Orpheus agreed, though he was relieved to hear that there were at least dwellings where merfolk could go to avoid drifting off into the vast ocean in the middle of the night. โIโm very good at rowing,โ Orpheus murmured, picking up his oar and lightly placing it in the water to push forward a few feet in demonstration. โButโฆ yes, that is a risk. Fishermen have to decide if they would rather take the risk of everyone on board capsizing and drowning, or if they would prefer to send one person without backup when they go for food. I donโt think anyone in the village knows how to swim, honestly.โ
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Sept 6, 2021 23:26:32 GMT -5
L didnโt have any idea what the differences between them might be. As far as he could tell, they thought very similarly, so he didnโt think it could be extremely different. Maybe just the part that had to do with controlling limbs and swimming and things like that. He really wasnโt very knowledgeable about itโฆhe had to guess there were probably other people who knew more. โIt can be. Usually, it isnโt that bad, though. Thereโs a reason people donโt sleep outsideโฆdrifting off would be a much bigger problem if that happened. He flicked his tail, moving back a little to give himself some space as the boat moved. It still feltโฆvery dangerous, to be surrounded by something that could kill you with no real way to get away from it. As though a merperson were in a bubble and floating through the air, well aware that if they were to pop it, or if a human popped it, then they would die very painfully. L couldnโt imagine feeling safe in that situation. StillโฆOrpheus seemed to think he was fairly safe. At least when L was there, he could rescue him if he fell in. It did mean heโd worry about him whenever he was coming or going, though. โNo one?โ He replied, breaking off his own thoughts to stare at Orpheus. โIโฆsuppose it is dangerous to be in the water, but itโs not as though merfolk really come that close to land. It would be a death sentence for us to come within range of that many humans. Wouldnโt it be safer to learn to swim in the shallows, just in case?
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