DUNGEON - BELLMARE ENCLAVE (BELLMARE MOUNTAINS, PT 2)

[phantasmods]

The shadows are starting to grow very long as you crest his particular ridge - it's not night yet, but it will be soon. In the shadows of the afternoon, with a tall mountain already blocking the sun, lies a snow-covered valley that is different from the ones you've come across thus far in your investigation.

This valley is home to a town, and unlike all the settlements you've seen so far - Incendia, the Telovia mining town, and the manor - it's very much active. There are actual people in the streets, visible from above, going through their days on snow-free streets, bundled up against the cold.

Those of you who asked were told of the handful of people who didn't go into the slumber of stasis as the Fissure conditions of the world grew worse and worse, instead isolating themselves and trying to continue living their lives as they could. Now, it seems, you've found exactly such a group.

Welcome to the Bellmare Enclave, and enjoy your stay.

[[OOC: Welcome to part 2 of the dungeon! For the most part, interaction with the town's NPCs can be handwaved as described on the main information post. Worth noting are the following major things: The Bellmare Enclave isn't expecting visitors, though the people are generally friendly to the new arrivals. They don't know about the time dilation effect of their Fissure - to them, it's only been about eighteen years since the Slumber Plan was put in place and they withdrew from the world. And finally, by a similar token, they have no idea how far the Fissures outside of their own have grown - while it's not uncommon for them to find odd objects from time to time, they'll assume that the characters are just arrivals from other places within their own world, rather than outsiders, until told otherwise.]]

Comments

[photoshooter]

um

idk about that. i mean sure you like me but??? i'm an acquired taste for most ppl or something like that, i'm sure they've got enough to deal with.

[founderinglight]

Don't be foolish. You're Noctis' best friend, as good as family, and I know Regis will welcome you with open arms as much as I do. As for Nyx, all you need to do is tell him about the time you shot off my hat and you'll have his approval quite readily.

[photoshooter]

lol. clearly this nyx guy is a dude with good taste.

is his majesty doing any better?

[founderinglight]

That could hypothetically get confusing, you know.

They're both stable and resting for now. I'm trying not to fidget too terribly which mostly has resulted in running inventory on my Armiger and pen-twirling. There's not terribly much more I can do, myself.

They should both pull through. Exactly when and in what condition is up in the air.

[photoshooter]

what will get confusing?

[founderinglight]

Calling Regis by titles.

I do think we're both retired at this point. c:

[photoshooter]

oh but

well i never call you by titles so it should be fine! you're you and his majesty is his majesty. ( ˘ω˘ )

[founderinglight]

Which I do appreciate. He called me 'Your Majesty' and I about choked.

[photoshooter]

ewwwwwwwwwwwww weeeeeeeeeeeeird.

[founderinglight]

It was terrible! I hope to never hear that one again.

[photoshooter]

what's he supposed to call you though? grandgrandgrandgrandpa? are you gonna make up another one of those words with the t's and the x's in stupid places?

[founderinglight]

It's not made up! It's Old Tenebraean, you can ask Ravus, he speaks it at a passable level for a language that's been dead to everyone but academics for an age or two.

At any rate, my name is still perfectly functional.

[photoshooter]

it's probably pretty weird to call your granx'tgranx'tgranx'tgranx'tpa by name. you should let him call you something. like..........paw-paw!

1/2

[founderinglight]

Not a chance on your life and I will bleach all of your clothes if you ever make that suggestion aloud. Dear gods.

[founderinglight]

[The second part comes sometime later, the 'elevencrows is typing' starting and stopping a few times as Izunia tries to work out what he wants to say.]

I want to have an equal relationship with him. Regis most of all, because he's the one who bore also the weight of knowing that the prophecy would take that which he loved most.

Anything but names plays with that balance of power in a way that I don't want. And especially when I think that he was a better king than I, to have that balance tilted to put me above him, even if simply due to the matter of age, leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I don't like it.

[photoshooter]

oh.

i guess that makes sense. that's not as much fun though. i hope he nicknames you something goofy eventually. kind of hard to imagine his majesty making up nicknames though...

[founderinglight]

If he does then I'm going to call him Reggie where every single person can hear.

[photoshooter]

don't think anyone who cares didn't already know his nickname was reggie. cindy's paw-paw said it all the time.

[founderinglight]

I mean, I could go more embarrassing, but I'd rather not try my luck with the one relative that likes me.

[photoshooter]

.....

haven't you adopted like 3/4s the station? they like you.

[founderinglight]

I mean, yes, but that's different. The liking part came before the family part.

[photoshooter]

so??

[founderinglight]

It's different with someone that I've known in some regard for as long as he's breathed.

[photoshooter]

why?

[founderinglight]

Because, except obviously for Ardyn and to some extent you, I haven't seen the rest grow up.

It isn't a lesser love, but it's fireworks compared to the warmth of a fireplace. There is something to be said for the known and the old, for the things that you know won't shift so easily, and the kind of deep knowing that comes from watching someone grow.