un: sweet lily of the hidden valley - handwritten

[bearshermark]

Haltham says we're going to need another 50,000 or 60,000 more coins for a smuggler, travel fees, rations, and papers, and because now there's more of us. They haven't figured out where we're heading after this or how long we'll be here. It's a little frustrating. I guess the regions of this world must have a lot of border security. He also said the weather is unusually bad for this time of year, so that makes things more difficult.

But I'm not going to be able to go into town much now that I have someone that stands out a lot following me around everywhere, so it'll be hard to make more money to put toward that fund. But I am going to make myself useful and help with everything that needs done around the farm. I think it's important to work together as much as we can, so if anyone could use an extra set of hands or two with anything, please let me know.

P.S. Don't mind Hendrik too much. He only looks intimidating.

-Eleven

Comments

[somebadnews]

[ Uh huh, so it's probably a generous estimate. He'll look into it himself before he makes a decision, but then he gets caught on that 'Bloodbonnet' reference and it takes him a second. He's pretty sure he's heard him use that word before. ]

I take it that's an affectionate nickname.

[bearshermark]

...I think he's earned it. If he doesn't like it, he could give us his name.

[somebadnews]

There's some good reasons to stay anonymous. Aside from the obvious, it's less trouble when someone decides to hold a grudge.

[ He's just saying. The only reason Five always gives his real name is he's daring someone to recognize it. ]

What does it mean?

[bearshermark]

I- it's.. a monster from my world. A small one, that doesn't value its fellows very much. It has a pink facial feature that resembles a-

[A lengthy pause]

..A tall hat, thus the name.

[And also something far less appropriate]

[somebadnews]

[ Wow. That's... actually hilarious. Considering Five's unfortunate interaction with the Merchant, that gets a surprising laugh out of him. He must be so flattered. ]

I don't know that I blame him for keeping his distance. [ And hey. He'll give it some thought. See what they come up with. ]

I'm sure he trusts that we can cover our own expenses.

[bearshermark]

[His voice takes on a rueful tone. Perhaps he hadn't been very discrete with that explanation after all]

He doesn't have to offer his real name, but not giving us anything after saying all that... [Well, he's not terribly sorry tbh]

I just hope we'll all be okay.

[somebadnews]

[ He remembers how young El is, so Five holds back some of his thoughts on that subject. Because he's not completely terrible. ]

Well, I haven't heard about any casualties. From our group, anyway.

[bearshermark]

Yes. It seems we have a few more healers now, so that can only help. Still, the amount of undead here is starting to feel oppressive. I'll be glad when we leave.

[somebadnews]

[ Hm. That's something he should probably note. Not for his own sake, but you know. He has to look after his family. He picks up his pen again, like he does. ]

Healers. What are their names?

[bearshermark]

Well, that I know of, there's myself and Archeval, and now Hendrik, and I believe Fox said he had healing abilities, too.

[somebadnews]

[ Yeah, he's crossing things out. It probably won't come up. ]

That should cover it. Hendrick is the one from your home, isn't he?

[ He's getting used to El just answering anything he asks. ]

[bearshermark]

[Someone believes in group cooperation]

Yes.

[somebadnews]

[ That was a shorter response, but hey. All he really needed to know, so he doesn't press. ]

We should all be so lucky.

[bearshermark]

..Have you had any luck with your family?

[He'd forgotten to ask while they were rescuing people woops]

[somebadnews]

[ Five debates for a moment before answering. He didn't say he wasn't one of the lucky ones. ]

My sister.

[bearshermark]

Really? [His voice warms, happy for him.] I'm glad.

[somebadnews]

[ That's pretty strange for him, actually. Someone being happy for him. There's a lot he could say about his sister, but he's the only one who takes care of his family. Though he can't say he isn't relieved that he's the one who found her. ]

Proves the theory, anyway.

[bearshermark]

[It takes him a moment to recall, though the memory of that conversation is far from exact]

The theory that.. your siblings will go with you anywhere?

[somebadnews]

[ He's not just talking about him this time. He already knew his siblings would turn up eventually, but apparently it's not just him. ]

It's not a coincidence to find someone you knew.

[bearshermark]

[Eleven offers a thoughtful hum, then]

Well, I guess if anyone was destined to find me, it would have been.. well, either Hendrik or Erik. ..Or the Twins, since they're the reincarnations of Serenica.

[Bc clearly Five is referring to Destiny and El has a whole history with it]

[somebadnews]

[ Not... exactly. Close though. ]

A little backwards there. They didn't find us, we found them.

[bearshermark]

True enough. Either way though, really. Destiny is funny like that.

[somebadnews]

[ Don't get him started on that 'what's meant to be' bullshit, he has Opinions. At this point the timeline is such garbage that it's laughable to talk about anything that was supposed to happen.

This is just logic at work. And logic says his siblings are scattered out there, alive, just like he last saw them. ]

It's a matter of time.

[bearshermark]

A part of me hopes you're wrong for their sake, but my world isn't much better than this right now, so it's hard to say.

[somebadnews]

[ He's gotten that impression before, but he never really got into it. Mostly because it gives him a headache. ]

Did you have an army of the undead?