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DND ARCHIVES BACKLOG - ARCHIVE SOON / rp-archive-11-22-25 / Lyra Eos - Lake Gate Mercantile Piers
Between 01/01/2023 00:00 and 01/01/2026 00:00
EasyThreads added AsaniDraws to the group. 11/22/2025 22:25
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Narrator BOT 11/22/2025 22:29
After 8 Days of Travel, At last the Envoy Lands At Lyra Eos. All of their food rations gone by this point.
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Laika BOT 11/22/2025 22:37
*Was currently Asleep and had her head resting on Dante's Lap*
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Narrator BOT 11/22/2025 22:39
As the carriers set down the vessel, and head out for some rest and food, the leader of the envoy approaches them. "Welcome to Lyra Eos. Our business is concluded. Now, if you'd be so kind.... *gesturing to the platform as if to say get off my boat as politely as he can*
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 22:39
*gently strokes Laika's cheek to wake her* Hey... we're here...
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Laika BOT 11/22/2025 22:40
*Stirring. Slowly Opening her eyes a bit and rubbing them* Mm...Hm?... We are? *She asked groggily. sitting up and stretching*
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 22:42
At least that what he tells me. Come on, we should get going, i'm sure he has places to be.
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Narrator BOT 11/22/2025 22:42
I have goods to sell and I can't do that if everyone is gawking at you two, so, again, if you'd be so kind.
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 22:42
Of course, *starts to get up and pack what little things they have*
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Laika BOT 11/22/2025 22:42
*Quickly begins helping. Grabbing what she can and hurrying to Climb off*
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 22:44
*eventually steps off as well, taking Laika's hand and heading away from the vessel*
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/22/2025 22:46
*Spotting them and Running up* Greetings newcomers!!!
22:48
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/22/2025 22:49
*coming up behind him. stoic, yet there is a calm elegance in his demeanor* Don't scare them off, Malakai.
22:49
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/22/2025 22:49
Me? Scare them? Darling don't be Absurd!
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 22:49
*giving Laika a look like "you sure about this?"*
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Laika BOT 11/22/2025 22:50
*Nods and just ruffles his hair a little*
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/22/2025 22:51
What brings you here Unique Appearanced ones?~
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 22:51
We're aliens from another world. Take me to your leader!
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/22/2025 22:52
What strange feathers you both have. So tiny and..... All over you....
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Laika BOT 11/22/2025 22:53
*Looking at her Body. and Then at them* O-Oh! Um. These aren't feathers. It's Called Fur. It's.. Basically the same as the hair on your head. but.. Everywhere *She chuckled awkwardly. and then looked at Dante and gave him a look like "really?"*
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/22/2025 22:53
*Walking in circles around them excitedly* Hmm.. ooh~ Fascinating!
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 22:53
*shrugs and lifts his hands*
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/22/2025 22:54
*chuckles* I apologize for my husband. He's a bit of a Fashionista. Unique means new ideas
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/22/2025 22:54
Oh you know it Honey~
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 22:54
well don't be getting the wrong ones now....
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/22/2025 23:01
Oh no, we would never! Anyway, what brings you here, strange ones?
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Laika BOT 11/22/2025 23:03
We... Um... We came from a.. Very different Place. With a Very different lifestyle than.. what we've heard you live. *Moving her hand to hold Dante's* And.. We wanted to Learn... The ways if Monogamy... Of.. How being Devoted and Loving to one Partner Should be.
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 23:08
Something like that, yeah. Look, we didn't choose to be here, but now that we are, we kinda got a new start and look who we were before isn't nearly as pretty as this place seems to be. And so, we figure if we're going to get a new start, we may as well look for the best one. And from what we hear, there's no place better than here. Buuuuuut, if we were told wrong......*looking like he's about ready to turn around and head back*
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/22/2025 23:09
*His face lights up and he turns to Charito and Grabs his arm. Shaking it excitedly like a Kid Spotting a Shiny new toy in a store* Ohhhh Darling do you hear that?!?!
23:09
They wish to learn our ways!!~
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/22/2025 23:12
Yes, I heard. But Darling, you need to settle just a little. You do not wish to overwhelm them, yes?
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 23:13
Why do I get the feeling we're about to be kidnapped....
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/22/2025 23:13
Oh of course not~ But we should bring them to the Dawn Assembly!
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Laika BOT 11/22/2025 23:14
How when we came here of our own occord? *She whispered to him*
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 23:15
Hey, you never know... it's always the ones you suspect the least....
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Laika BOT 11/22/2025 23:22
True...
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/22/2025 23:22
Of course! Follow us we'll take you right to them. and they can also decide where you'll rest and lay your Load! You seem to have quite a bit to carry. Perhaps we can help?
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 23:23
Hey, I was just kidding about that take me to your leader thing....
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/22/2025 23:23
Nonsense! You simply must meet them!
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/22/2025 23:24
If there's anyone best to Help it's them!
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 23:24
No really, it was a joke!. I was joking, *looks to Laika* Tell them I was joking, they do know what a joke is right?
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Laika BOT 11/22/2025 23:25
We Really Should see them Dante...
23:25
This is their land after all.
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 23:28
Fine, but if there's a ritual sacrifice, just let me go first so I don't have to go I told you so to your corpse.
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Laika BOT 11/22/2025 23:28
Deal. *She giggled*
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/22/2025 23:29
Why don't you lead the march, Dear?
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/22/2025 23:30
Me? Oh I'd be Honored~! *He said. Fake Swooning into Charito's Arms. Before Daintily Walking Off in that Direction.* Do keep up~!
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/22/2025 23:31
*shakes his head affectionately as he follows*
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Dante BOT 11/22/2025 23:32
*shrugs* Well, when in rome, *shakes his ass as well as he walks off, mocking Malakai subtly*
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Laika BOT 11/22/2025 23:33
*Covering her mouth to hold back laughter to the best of her Ability*
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Narrator BOT 11/22/2025 23:47
After a Relatively Short Period of Time and a few Glances from Other Locals they all Arrive to where the Dawn Assembly Reside.
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/22/2025 23:56
Oh Great Oness!~ We've come to you with Guests~
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/22/2025 23:57
New strangers from another world
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Narrator BOT 11/23/2025 00:29
[Dawnseer Ilyria] *rises from the central marble seat, the pale veil at her shoulders falling in a gentle line as dawnlight spills through the high oculus and washes the chamber in soft gold. Her feathers catch the light, turning faintly rose-hued as she regards the newcomers from on high.* "Malakai Kordios. Charitoména Pódia." *Her voice is calm, measured.* "You bring outsiders into the Hall of First Light. Step forward and name, in clear words, what business brings them before the Dawn Assembly."
00:29
*Malakai and Charito are given that brief, expectant silence. Whatever short explanation they offer, it is acknowledged with a slight inclination of Ilyria’s head before her gaze returns fully to Dante and Laika.*
00:29
[Dawnseer Ilyria] *folds her hands lightly before her, posture regal but not unkind.* "Strangers, welcome to Lyra Eos. This hall is a place of order, not of chaos. While you stand beneath this roof, no hand may be raised against you—nor may you raise a hand against any who dwell here. You will speak plainly, offer no falsehood, and respect the peace of this place. In return, you will be heard."
00:29
[Lakewarden Corren] *a broad-shouldered swan-kin to her right inclines his head, both hands resting on a staff capped with a carved white stone drop. His lake-silver eyes study their unusual forms with steady curiosity.* "The waters of Dawnmirror know the shapes of our own flocks," *he says slowly,* "and yet you are unknown to them. You are not of our tribes, nor of any we have seen pass through our skies. Tell us: by what word are your people named, and from what lands—or seas—do you come?"
00:29
[Eoscribe Pelagos] *at the edge of the dais, a slender figure in layered pale blues unfurls a long band of parchment, quill poised. His tone is soft, precise, almost ritualistic.* "For the record of Lyra Eos: two guests of foreign form, presented by Malakai Kordios and Charitoména Pódia." *He looks up at Dante and Laika.* "Speak your names clearly. What are you called, each of you? And how do you name the path that led you here—trade, pilgrimage, accident, exile?" *The quill hovers, waiting.*
00:29
[Mirror-Priest Neris] *steps from beside a tall mirrored pillar, his eyes a rare reflective silver that catch their features like a still pond catches the sky.* "In this hall, we do not guess at another’s heart," *he says, voice gentle but cool.* "We ask, and we listen. So we will not assume why you stand before us. You will tell us: what is it you seek in Lyra Eos? Shelter? Trade? Knowledge? Passage onward? Or something else entirely?"
00:29
[Swan Matriarch Hestera] *older than the rest, neck long and dignified, white plumage touched with faint dawn-pink at the tips; she leans on a carved laurel cane as she peers down at them with sharp, appraising eyes.* "You arrive together, hands joined like kin or companions," *she observes, not yet attaching any heavier word to it.* "Are you bound to one another by blood, by oath, by chance… or merely by circumstance on the road? Speak to us of the bond between you, so we know whether to host you as one household or two."
00:29
[Phoenix Elder Kaion] *a scarred elder seated slightly apart, with the barest hint of ember-gold along the edge of his feathers, regards them with quiet intensity.* "Visitors rarely cross so many skies without reason," *he says, tone neutral.* "Did you come here of your own will, or were you sent? Are there others who follow, or wait for word from you? We would know whether you stand alone, or as the edge of some larger tide."
00:29
[Dawnseer Ilyria] *raises one hand, gathering the threads of the moment back to the center.* "Begin from the beginning," *she instructs, eyes resting on Dante and Laika in turn.* "Give us: * Your names. * The place you once called home. * The road that carried you to our shore. * And what you hope to receive—or offer—while you remain in Lyra Eos." *Her gaze is steady, but her voice softens by a fraction.* "Answer as you would wish to be remembered. The first words we write of you are often the ones that endure the longest."
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Laika BOT 11/23/2025 01:45
*Looking to Dante for a moment. Trying to decide how much she should tell them. Gripping his hand a bit more before taking a deep breath, and speaking* I am Laika.. This is my Companion Dante... We... We are bound by Circumstance.. We come from a place far far away from here. A Place once called home but.. Became a Place of Nightmares. Where we were made to do things we didn't wish to.. Our Bodies Used for the Pleasure and Satisfaction of Others. A Place we Fled. And ended up here on this strange Planet.. Where we have been Staying with the Pua Hala Kai. Our... Circumstances have been rather difficult but. We've worked and grown together even in such a short time here and we.. We've talked and.. We'd like to explore a Different kind of Relationship than what we've become accustomed to. The kind of relationship where you Devote yourself, your heart, mind, and body to only one other.. And we've heard you are the most knowledgeable in that regard..
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Dante BOT 11/23/2025 01:53
As she's said, I am Dante. *his voice soft, yet serious, dignified in a way most have never heard him speak* And as she said, we travel far. But we come alone. There are others yes, but.. they are my kin. Not ambassadors, or convoys, we have no servants or leaders, we come alone, one unit.. one... family... We harbor nor ill will, nor ask for anything. We come, not to take, and we have nothing to offer. We have but our own desire to learn. to start again, to live, free. We come to you, not seeking shelter or harbor, but a way of life. We wish to learn. what it truly means to live, to love, and to hold a moral truth greater than our own. So, if you have it within your hearts to show us, we are ready to learn how to see.
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Laika BOT 11/23/2025 01:54
*Looking at him. A Small Spark in her eyes as the Slightest smirk Spreads across her lips. Leaning into him a little bit*
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/23/2025 01:57
*Standing in the Back with his Husband Casually Waving Away the moisture from his eyes*
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Narrator BOT 11/23/2025 02:00
[Mirror-Priest Neris] *is the first to move, the faint rustle of his feathers barely audible in the hush that follows Laika and Dante’s words. His lake-silver eyes are steady, not flinching from the ugliness described, but refusing to sensationalize it.* "Your bodies were taken as instruments," *he says quietly,* "used without your full and clear will. In this sky, such acts are counted among the gravest of stains upon the heart. Hear this clearly: while you stand in Lyra Eos, your bodies are your own. No one here will claim them, or your choices, as property."
02:00
*He lets that sit—less a comfort, more a statement of law.*
02:00
[Lakewarden Corren] *exhales slowly, the hand on his staff tightening for a brief, controlled moment.* "Nightmare-places leave turbulence behind," *he says at last.* "The water of your story is not still; it is churned with fear and habit learned under threat. We do not blame you for the storms that were forced upon you." *His gaze shifts between them.* "But waves do not vanish because we wish them gone. If you would choose a new way, you must learn to let your waters settle—together and apart."
02:00
[Swan Matriarch Hestera] *leans forward slightly, the lines at the corners of her eyes deepening with a mixture of sorrow and scrutiny.* "You come from a place where you were treated as tools, not as hearts," *she says, voice softer than before.* "And in such places, what passes for 'love' is often only obedience, fear, or numbness." *Her attention fixes gently on their joined hands.* "You say you wish to devote yourselves, your hearts, minds, and bodies, to one another alone. That is a solemn desire. But I will not take your words at face value until I know this: are you choosing each other out of **freedom**, or out of fear of being alone again? Out of genuine love… or out of guilt and shared wounds?"
02:00
[Swan Matriarch Hestera] *her eyes move first to Laika.* "Child, if all the world has ever done is take from you, it is easy to cling to the first hand that does not." *A small, sympathetic tilt of her head.* "Do you choose Dante because you desire him as your only hearth… or because you are afraid of having no hearth at all?"
02:00
*Then to Dante.*
02:00
[Swan Matriarch Hestera] "And you, Dante. You speak of a wish to live by a 'moral truth greater than your own.' Noble words. But tell me this: if Laika were to walk another road tomorrow, would you still seek that truth? Or is your virtue only as deep as her presence at your side?"
02:00
[Phoenix Elder Kaion] *shifts, feathers whispering like distant cinders.* "You say you come alone, without lords or masters, without army or staff. Good. Rebirth is lighter when you do not drag an empire behind you." *There is the faintest hint of wryness there, quickly gone.* "You offer nothing but the willingness to learn. That is not 'nothing.'" *His gaze sharpens.* "But understand: to us, 'learning' is not sitting in a hall hearing pretty words. It is being altered by what you hear. It is letting old reflexes die. Are you prepared to have parts of your former selves—those shaped by cruelty—named, challenged, and set aside?"
02:00
[Eoscribe Pelagos] *the scribe’s quill has been moving almost continuously, but now he pauses, looking up with uncharacteristic softness.* "For the record," *he repeats their words back with slight formality,* "Laika and Dante: former dwellers of a nightmare-place where their bodies were misused; now guests of the Pua Hala Kai; standing before the Dawn Assembly to seek a different way of living, and of loving—one of chosen devotion." *He taps the quill lightly against the parchment.* "The record will also reflect this: they come with no demand, no tribute, and no threat. Only a request to learn."
02:00
[Dawnseer Ilyria] *has been silent through most of this, watching them with that unnervingly serene, dawn-lit gaze. When she finally speaks, her voice fills the hall without needing to rise.* "Laika. Dante." *She tastes their names with care, as though weighing them.* "You have fled a sky of coercion and come to one of reflection. You have lived as objects and now ask to live as oaths. That path is neither quick nor easy… but it is not closed to you."
02:00
[Dawnseer Ilyria] *steps down a single stair from the dais, reducing the height between them.* "Understand what you ask: in Lyra Eos, devotion is not a feeling that flickers with mood. It is a discipline. A craft. A vow that binds tighter than any chain ever did—but which you accept willingly, eyes open." *Her head tilts slightly.* "Before we even speak of our customs of union, there are things we must know, and things you must confront."
02:00
[Dawnseer Ilyria] "First: you have named your past in broad strokes. That is enough for today. We do not need the details of your pain to believe that it was real." *A small, decisive nod.* "What matters now is this:" * "Do you each, **individually**, wish to walk this path—even if, in time, it means learning hard truths about yourselves that may sting?" * "Do you consent to being guided, questioned, and sometimes contradicted by us, even when it clashes with what you were taught was 'normal'?" * "And do you understand that if we teach you, we will do so not to polish you into ornaments for our own pride, but to ensure that neither of you ever becomes what was done to you?"
02:00
*She lets the questions hang like bells, not demanding immediate answers but inviting them.*
02:00
[Mirror-Priest Neris] *adds in a quieter tone, like the echo of the Dawnseer’s words:* "If you agree, your first days here will not be about romance, but about **clarity**. You will speak to us separately and together. You will learn the laws that guard our bonds. And we will watch to see whether your wish to devote yourselves comes from clear water… or from the panic of drowning souls grasping at one another." "Neither is a crime. But we will not build sacred vows on panic."
02:00
[Dawnseer Ilyria] *inclines her head to them both, feathers catching the light once more.* "Answer us, Laika and Dante. Not with perfect words, but with true ones. Do you still ask for this path, knowing it will require more unlearning than comfort?"
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Laika BOT 11/23/2025 02:11
*Listening to them intently. Her ears Perking up and Swiveling to focus solely on their Words. Before Thinking for a long moment... And finally replying* For the Longest time i.. I Followed What was Instinct.. What was Natural and.. Fun and Free... Rather than My Heart... But then.. I Noticed Dante.. We've known eachother for as long as i could remember but.. Never really.. "Known" One another.. But The more i saw him.. The more i was around him the more i saw... Something Deeper than what He Showed.. And I began to feel... Something else.. Attraction.. Curiosity.. So i.. Pursued it.. I Spoke with him more.. Did what i could to Spend time with him or be near him what chance i got and.. Despite his *She chuckles a bit* Best efforts to Get me to go away.. And That he had eyes for so many other Women.. He Never really pushed.. And in the Darkest, Hardest Moment of my Life... He.. Showed me the other side i had only Glimpsed beneath the Surface.. He Saved me.. Saved us... (edited)
02:12
I Thought i knew what and who i wanted to be before i met him.. But i Began to feel different... To... Love.. Him... But i accepted at the time he may never.. Feel that same way..
02:14
I Accept What you have to offer and What i can Learn As An Individual. Regardless of the Outcome. And I Consent to all you mentioned and Understand Your Reasons and Expectations For What you're doing For Us.. And.. I Appreciate it.. Truly.
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Dante BOT 11/23/2025 02:28
Speak without perfect words. Be careful what you wish for.... *dropping the formality* You want me to be real. Alright.. *he takes a step forward* I hate this. Truly. *looking back at Liaka* I do. And I'm sorry for that... *he looks back at the assembly* I don't want anyone else telling me what to do again. Go here, do this, do that, do... things... with them..... or... You want the ugly truth of it? I'll spare you the details. That's my scar. But you know what I do want? I want her to be happy. So am I doing this out of shared pain? No, my pain doesn't matter. Am I doing this for fear of being alone? Also no, I don't care what happens to me. Obedience, I just told you I never want to obey again. Guilt? You bet your ass it's guilt. But... *looking back at her* It's more than that... *looks at the assembly again* She's probably the only person i've ever met that gave two shits about who I was.... Who didn't see the what but the who... and... I don't know i just... I guess I felt something too. I don't know what to call it.... she thinks it's love, others thinks it's pity. I don't know what to think... But I know how I like who I am when I'm with her... and that's got to mean something, right? If I hated what I was... who... I was... Who am I kidding, who I still am... She makes me want to do better, be better.... Not because she tells me to do these things. but... Because I know it would make her happy.... And so if this... day camp of yours... is what it will take to make her happy, then yes. I'll go along with it... But the one thing I won't do, is say it's for me. It's for her, anything... for her..
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/23/2025 02:29
Excuse me a moment please *He said. And Had to walk away before the tears started to flow free*
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/23/2025 02:30
He'll be fine, he's done this before when we see plays
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Narrator BOT 11/23/2025 02:41
[Mirror-Priest Neris] *listens without interruption, the silver of his eyes steady on Laika as she speaks. When she finishes, he inclines his head a fraction, as though acknowledging something hard-won.* "You have begun to notice the difference," *he says quietly,* "between instinct and intention. Between chasing what is loud and easy… and choosing what is deep and difficult." *He folds his hands before him.* "You loved the feeling of freedom once. Now you have found a person in whom you glimpse a truer freedom than anything your old life offered. That is not a small insight."
02:41
*His gaze softens, but the line of his mouth remains firm.*
02:41
[Mirror-Priest Neris] "But hear this, Laika: when someone pulls you from your darkest water, gratitude and terror often braid themselves together and call the braid 'love.' Sometimes it is love. Sometimes it is only the memory of drowning. The work ahead of you is to learn which is which inside yourself." *He nods once, accepting her earlier consent.* "You have agreed to be examined as an individual first. That is wise. We will hold you to that. Whatever becomes of your bond, your heart must be clear on its own surface, not only in his reflection." ---
02:41
*Attention in the hall shifts subtly as Dante steps forward and speaks, the informality of his words landing like a pebble cast into a very still lake. There is no outrage—only a tightening of focus among the elders.*
02:41
[Lakewarden Corren] *studies him for a long moment, then exhales through his nose—more tired than offended.* "You hate this," *he repeats calmly,* "and yet you stand here. That tells me two things: that you have not confused us with your former masters… and that you still expect anyone who guides you to eventually turn into them." *His grip on the staff loosens slightly.* "We are not interested in your obedience, Dante. We are interested in your **clarity**. If all you intend to do is grit your teeth and endure for her sake, your waters will never settle. You will simply create a quieter kind of storm." ---
02:41
[Swan Matriarch Hestera] *fixes him with a long, unblinking look, old eyes sharp as a beak’s edge.* "You say your pain does not matter. That you do not care what happens to you. That you will walk this path 'for her' and not for yourself." *She taps the end of her laurel cane once against the marble.* "Then hear me clearly: in Lyra Eos, we will not build a Swan-Bond atop a heart that treats itself as disposable. A bond here is not one whole and one sacrifice. It is two whole souls choosing to lean toward one another without erasing themselves."
02:41
*She turns briefly to Laika, then back to Dante.*
02:41
[Swan Matriarch Hestera] "If a man sees himself as nothing but a shield, he will eventually resent being struck. If a woman loves only the savior in a man, she may ignore the parts of him that still bleed. Neither is fair." *Her voice softens, but never loses its edge.* "You say you like who you are around her. That is a beginning. But if you will not admit that you also deserve to become that man for **your own** sake, not just to please her, then what you offer is not devotion. It is self-erasure dressed up as romance." ---
02:41
[Phoenix Elder Kaion] *leans forward slightly, embers in his feather-edges catching the light.* "You speak of guilt," *he says, more gently than his scarred face suggests he could.* "Guilt that you survived. Guilt for what you did under compulsion. Guilt for what you did willingly. I hear all of it between your words." *He gestures vaguely in the air between them.* "Guilt is not useless. It is the heat that says, 'This wound is not healed yet.' But if you let guilt drive every step, you will set yourself on fire and call it love."
02:41
[Phoenix Elder Kaion] "So I will ask you directly, Dante: if, one day, Laika looks you in the eye and says, 'I wish you to be kinder to yourself, even if it displeases me in the moment,' will you listen? Or will you cling to your suffering because it feels like the only thing you have to offer her?" *His gaze holds Dante’s without malice, only insistence.* "If your answer is the latter, then we must begin not with the bond, but with your belief that you must forever be punished." ---
02:41
[Dawnseer Ilyria] *descends another slow step from the dais, the veil at her shoulders whispering along the marble. Her voice gathers all the threads that have been cast into the air.* "Laika," *she inclines her head,* "you have said: *I accept what you offer as an individual, regardless of the outcome.* That is the sentence that opens the door for you here."
02:41
*Her eyes then turn to Dante, steady and luminous in the dawnlight from above.*
02:41
[Dawnseer Ilyria] "Dante. You cloak yourself in defiance and in indifference to your own well-being. You think this protects you from being owned again." *She takes a breath.* "We will not own you. We **cannot** own you. If at any point you decide that our path is not yours, you may walk out of this hall and return to Pua Hala or to any other shore that will have you. That is our law."
02:41
*Her tone firms, like a hand closing around a truth.*
02:41
[Dawnseer Ilyria] "But if you stay… you do not get to lie to us by pretending you are only here for her. You are here because a part of you is tired of the man you still are—and curious about the one you might become. You admitted as much when you said you like who you are beside her." *There is the ghost of a smile at the corner of her mouth.* "We will hold you to **that** truth, not to the mask of not-caring you wrap around it." ---
02:41
[Mirror-Priest Neris] *steps in again, voice softer now, more practical.* "This is how it will begin, if you both still wish it:" * "You will be lodged as **guests** of Lyra Eos, under our standard rules: no violence, no coercion, no disruption of our sacred waters." * "For a time, you will not be taught as a pair, but as two separate hearts. Laika will meet with a Mirror-Priestess. Dante will meet with me, or another of my order." * "We will ask you the three questions we ask our own youth at the Mirror of Dawn: *Who are you? What do you fear? What do you seek?* Your answers—and the way your hearts move around them—will tell us how to proceed."
02:41
*He gives them both a level glance.*
02:41
[Mirror-Priest Neris] "During this period, you may remain close, speak, share meals. But you will refrain from making private vows or physical promises that mimic our bond-rites until we judge that your waters are at least calm enough not to drown each other." ---
02:41
[Dawnseer Ilyria] *straightens, looking between them one last time.* "You came here asking to learn a different way of living and loving. We will not hand you a ceremony like a trinket from a stall. We will offer you work, reflection, and the chance to become the kind of people who could carry such a vow without breaking under it."
02:41
*Her wings fold neatly behind her as she speaks the final question for now:*
02:41
[Dawnseer Ilyria] "Knowing this, Laika and Dante, do you still wish to remain under the guidance of Lyra Eos—as **yourselves** first, and as a possible pair second?"
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Laika BOT 11/23/2025 02:48
*Turns to Look at Dante once again once they finished speaking. Before turning back to them. and Nodding Solemnly* I do... And If it Takes Longer than the Week we had.. Originally Only Intended to stay... Would it be Possible for us to Send Messages to Our Family Back in Pua Hala Kai to Inform them so they Won't Worry?...
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Dante឵ BOT 11/23/2025 02:52
*letting the words strike him* We.........*thinking on what they said about individuality* I..... accept your terms... It may not be what I want, but, maybe that's because I haven't learned how to want yet... So... while I am hesitant, while I will be stubborn... and argumentative, defensive...... you get the point... Anyway, what i'm trying to say, is... I know when I need help... and... though I may not want it, yet... I know I need it. And so... yes... I ask you for your help.. *he bows his head*
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Narrator BOT 11/23/2025 02:53
[Dawnseer Ilyria] *turns first to Laika, the tension in her shoulders easing by a small but visible degree at the girl’s solemn nod.* "You ask not only for a path, but for your family to be spared needless worry," *she says, approval flickering in her eyes.* "That is a good instinct. One who thinks of the hearts behind them is less likely to trample the hearts beside them."
02:53
*She looks toward the scribe with a small gesture of two fingers.*
02:53
[Eoscribe Pelagos] *straightens immediately, parchment rustling as he steps forward a little.* "Yes. It is possible," *he answers Laika directly.* "We maintain regular couriers between our skies and those of other tribes. If your kin reside with the Pua Hala Kai, a message can be sent with the next vessel that bears trade and news." *His tone softens, losing some of its formal edge.* "You may dictate your words, or write them in your own hand if you prefer. We will see them sealed and carried. They will know you are safe… and that your path has merely become longer than planned, not darker." ---
02:53
[Lakewarden Corren] *gives Dante a slow, measuring nod as the man bows his head.* "You speak of not knowing how to want," *he repeats, as if tasting the phrase.* "I find more honesty in that sentence than in most oaths I have heard from men who claimed to know exactly what they desired." *He plants the butt of his staff gently against the floor.* "Hesitation, stubbornness, defensiveness—none of these disqualify you. We have seen all of them in our own youth, and in ourselves. What matters is that, beneath all of that, you recognized the need for help and asked for it without being forced."
02:53
*His lake-silver gaze narrows just a touch, not unkindly.*
02:53
[Lakewarden Corren] "Remember this, Dante: you are not here to perform willingness for our benefit. You are here to practice it, unevenly and imperfectly, until it becomes real." ---
02:53
[Swan Matriarch Hestera] *lets out a soft, almost inaudible hum, watching the bow of Dante’s head.* "Good," *she murmurs.* "You lower your head for a choice, not for a master. There is a difference." *Her focus shifts between them both.* "You have each, in your own way, claimed this path as your own—Laika with clearer words, Dante with a grudging honesty that I will accept for now." *The tap of her cane is gentler this time.* "That is enough to begin. Not enough to bind, but enough to teach." ---
02:53
[Phoenix Elder Kaion] *tilts his head, a faint ember-glow catching along the edges of his feathers.* "You say you will be stubborn and argumentative," *he remarks to Dante, a trace of dry humor in his voice,* "as though we have never seen such a creature before." *He gestures vaguely around the semicircle of elders.* "You are in a hall full of people who once thought much the same. Some of us still do. You will not frighten us with your rough edges. You will, however, be asked to look at them." ---
02:53
[Dawnseer Ilyria] *steps back up onto the central level of the dais, reclaiming the room with a quiet sweep of presence rather than volume.* "Then let it be recorded," *she says, glancing briefly to Pelagos,* "that Laika and Dante, outsiders under the provisional protection of Lyra Eos, have agreed to undergo individual guidance under the Mirror and under our law—" *her eyes return to the pair* "—for as long as the work requires, not as long as a convenient week."
02:53
*She inclines her head to Laika specifically.*
02:54
[Dawnseer Ilyria] "Your stay will extend until we judge it safe and wise for you to take what you learn back into the wider world—or to remain, if that is ever what you both truly wish. In the meantime, your right to send word to Pua Hala Kai will be honored. No family should be left to imagine monsters where there are only lessons." ---
02:54
[Mirror-Priest Neris] *steps forward one last time, tone shifting from probing to practical.* "From this moment, you are considered **guests of the Dawn Assembly**," *he declares.* "You will be given quarters within the guest tier of our halls, with food, water, and space enough to breathe without looking over your shoulders." *He looks at each of them in turn.* "At first light tomorrow, you will be met by two guides. Laika, a Mirror-Priestess named Seliane will walk with you. Dante, you will walk with me. We will begin with simple questions and simple observations. No rituals. No grand oaths. Just the work of sorting which parts of you belong to your past… and which belong to the person you wish to become." ---
02:54
[Dawnseer Ilyria] *lifts her hand in a small, formal gesture that also manages to feel like benediction.* "The Hall of First Light has heard you," *she says.* "Your request to learn a different way of living and loving is accepted—on our terms, and with your consent." *Her gaze softens, but still gleams with that relentless clarity.* "Go now with those who brought you here. Eat. Rest. Write your message to your family. Dawn will come soon enough, and with it, the first mirror you must face."
02:54
*She lowers her hand; the tension in the chamber uncoils. Attendants at the sides of the hall move to guide Laika and Dante toward the guest quarters, while Malakai and Charitoména remain near the doors—ready to shepherd them into this next, quieter kind of storm.*
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Laika BOT 11/23/2025 03:08
*Assuming they're being Housed together. Lets the Attendants Escort them out*
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Dante BOT 11/23/2025 03:08
*nods again in respect, and turns to towards the door*
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/23/2025 03:10
*Running back over with cheeks smudged with Mascara* Oh my Feathers They Approved?! You can Stay? I Knew they'd Accept you!!! This is Wonderful!! Where should we house you?? Would you like to stay with my Husband and I? We don't mind Guests~!
03:11
But if you'd prefer your own Quarters We'd LOVE To show you our Available Homes~!!
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/23/2025 03:12
Malakai, Darling....
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Dante BOT 11/23/2025 03:13
As tempting as that sounds, it might be hard to focus when having too much fun.. *trying his best to not let that sass come out and give away the fact he's lying through his teeth and just doesn't want to hurt their feelings*
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Malakai Kordios BOT 11/23/2025 03:14
*Pouts Briefly* Aww.. Pity.. Okay!! Well Come with us then and we'll Let you pick which Living Space Best suits you!~ *He said. Taking Charito's Hand and Frolicking forth*
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Laika BOT 11/23/2025 03:14
*Snickering* He's a funny one...
03:14
he reminds me of Elios.
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Dante BOT 11/23/2025 03:15
Not that funny.....
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Charitoména Pódia BOT 11/23/2025 03:15
*lets out a sound. half sigh, half swoon*
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Dante BOT 11/23/2025 03:15
*overheard it, and looks at him* You and me both brother...
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Laika BOT 11/23/2025 03:16
*Rolls her eyes with a Smile and Follows them. And As not to Risk anything she Clasps her hands together. Despite Wanting to Hold Dante's again*
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Narrator BOT 11/23/2025 03:22
After Being Taken on a Mini Tour around The Two Settled on a Decent Sized but Quaint Home. Malakai and Charito Helping them Settle in and Get their things Organized Before Saying their Farewells and Departing for the Evening. Leaving Dante and Laika to Settle in Themselves. Going to their Separate Rooms Next to Eachother. Curtains Closed. Longing for Eachother's Touch, But Obeying the Rules that have been set for Themselves. And Gradually Drifting off to Sleep Despite their Full Minds and Heavy Hearts. (edited)
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