voice; [un: sprite bulb]

[bearshermark]

Ah... I just want to assure anyone who might be concerned that I'm not missing.

[Hendrik, mostly, but other people who might have noticed that he doesn't appear to be with the caravan today]

I know where I am, and I'm uninjured. I've gotten one of Fox's tattoos, so if that changes, it'll become apparent.

[Because that's not at all worrying. He definitely doesn't sound nervous and a little stressed.

Metal rattles, like shifting chains. Another sound, akin to burbling liquid. Oh look, a distraction]

This is also going to sound strange, but I think the tar I've been working to collect has been following me? It doesn't seem like anyone else has noticed, but it's now taken the form of- of.. well, a tree.

..I've touched it, so I don't think it's an illusion, but I don't know what else to make of it.


[ooc: alluding to these shenanigans though El will be reticent about his (temporary) captivity to avoid stirring potential conflict]

Comments

[unswervingcompanion]

Where exactly are you?

[bearshermark]

[Well, it had been too much to hope he'd manage to distract Hendrik. It's almost possible to hear the wince in his voice]

I'm with the caravan.

[unswervingcompanion]

[Nice try]

I did not see you when I just completed my rounds.

[bearshermark]

I'm here, I promise.

[unswervingcompanion]

And where is that exactly?

un: lady love of a thousand poets

[thehoneybadger]

Okay, so you know where you are and you're being stalked by a tar baby. Need me to fight it Br'er Rabbit style? [Rachel, nobody knows what you're talking about.]

[bearshermark]

Um... No, I don't think fighting it would help. It just.. kind of shifts and reaches back on contact, then starts getting warmer until it's uncomfortable. But I appreciate the thought.

[thehoneybadger]

I've never met something I can't punch.

So, where you at?

[bearshermark]

I mean, I'm sure you could, I just.. think it would reform just fine. Probably not worth risking a burn for.

[As for where he is, well.... hm.]

un: any fin is possible (audio)

[lancifolium]

Are you in danger? Do you know when you'll rejoin us?

[ The concern in her voice is practically palpable. ]

And, pardon me - what, exactly, is following you?

[bearshermark]

Ah- well, tomorrow, at the latest, probably...

[He sounds more resigned than enthused about the prospect, but he isn't going to manage to beg patience from Archeval nor Hendrik for much longer]

But it's um, appears to be floating tar in the shape of a tree.

[Y e p]

[lancifolium]

That doesn't answer my first question.

[ A long pause. That's not the strangest thing she's ever heard of, but it's certainly up there. ]

What happened when you touched it? Have you tried to speak to it?

[bearshermark]

[Darn, he'd hoped she'd overlook that]

When I touched it, Sh- er, it touched back. It feels like the tar I've been collecting- warm, then growing warmer until its uncomfortably hot. It could burn bare skin after a bit, I'm sure.

As for my situation, my life is not currently in danger.

voice: wei laozu

[weifinder]

Eleven, what's happened?

[bearshermark]

[A soft sigh. Someone's had too much time to think about his circumstances]

I did something stupid. And now I think it's going to cause much larger problems.

[weifinder]

Eleven, explain, please.

[bearshermark]

I can't, here. One moment.



[ooc: for future follow-up reading: cont. here]

un : deft hand of little deaths [voice]

[scrapgege]

Is that same tree you told me about? The one who is a god in your world?

[bearshermark]

Ah- yes. ..Or it's trying to replicate Her image, anyway.

[scrapgege]

Hm. Strange. How would it know how to do that? This is really weird.

Also, why is it a concern to tell us you're not missing?

[bearshermark]

Well, it would be difficult to look for me at the moment. Better to say something than cause a panic. There's already one person distressed over that much.

But for how this shadow could know Yggdrasil's shape, I couldn't say.

un: ut malum pluvia | audio

[somebadnews]

[ It's pretty easy to read between the lines just by picking up on some of the conversations, no matter how cryptic he thinks he's being. Five debates saying anything, since he's got a whole group of people looking out for him. Not like El knows anybody who can teleport him out of a jam.

Still, curious: ]

Are you alone?

[bearshermark]

Er.. [How to be vague about having guards?]

..Not exactly.

[somebadnews]

[ Mhm. It's fine, he can jump to these conclusions on his own. ]

Can they hear you?

[bearshermark]

..Probably.

[He's been trying to speak quietly for more sensitive things, but he doesn't know precisely how far away said guards are, so it could well be for naught]