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[matermali]

USERNAME: HIDDEN MISS IVES "Take care with what you say. Our enemies may be listening." TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO • ACTION • OVERFLOW

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Works for me!

[abit_ofboth]

Miss Ives,

Please, you may call me simply Loki. I am not Lord of anything anymore.

I am quite unused to receiving gifts of such a nature and believe me, I was truly touched by it.

I do hope neither of us require such help of each other, but if I am ever in need, I will consider you as well.

Yes, thank you for asking. It has been the best celebration of Yule I have had since I was a child. How has yours been? I do hope it has been a good one for you.

Sincerely,
Loki.

[matermali]

Loki, then, if that is your preference.

I would say that it has been the best experience yet for me, which does feel strange to admit to under the circumstances. After all, it should not be a good thing were we all to still be here for the next season's celebrations.

[abit_ofboth]

It is a bit of a conundrum, is it not? I do not wish to be here, but I would like to keep those I have become close with and stay with them outside of this place. I simply do not know if that is possible.

[matermali]

Does such a concern have something to do with the reading you received when we met?

[ It wasn't optimistic. ]

[abit_ofboth]

It does. Apparently I did not survive what I encountered just prior to arriving here. I suspect it is how they managed to take me in the first place.

One is never more vulnerable than when in the throes of death.

[matermali]

[ Yes, apparently. She still remembers how it felt, thank you, there was no question in her mind. ]

To then be taken to a realm between realms brings thought that you have not yet arrived at death.

[abit_ofboth]

Though, I suppose not. Though it is concerning me what will happen if this world comes to an end. Or I leave for any purpose. Will I then cease to exist?

I do hope not. I have found too much to live for here.

[matermali]

Death is not the end. You would still exist, though not in the way you most desire. 

Perhaps if we manage to discover our captor, this city can be cared for by those who would prefer to remain. Such as yourself. 

[abit_ofboth]

I know, but I fear where I will end up. I am sure Valhalla will not accept me, and I am unsure I would want to go there anyway. Am I doomed to wander the realms alone?

I am tired of being alone.

If it meant being able to stay alive and with those of whom I care the most, I would like that. But I fear no one else truly wishes to stay.

[matermali]

I have a doubt in that... There are many damaged souls who have found family here. You ought to ask.

In the rest of it, if you wish, I may attempt a reading. Only, a warning, anything directly occurring within the City is never made clear. Such things are already unpredictable in their success, but I am especially confined for now.

[abit_ofboth]

True, but I worry none of them are those I feel are like my family now. And if they do not want to stay, I would not want them to feel guilty for saying no if I were to ask.

I understand the limitations and thank you. I still wouldn’t mind you trying, since you are offering.

[matermali]

You need only ask them what their plans are once they are free. It seems a natural enough curiosity for anyone you've come to know.

If such thought does ail you, I can show you how to address the network anonymously — when we meet for your reading.

[ Wrench was awkward (around her) but very very useful with these devices. ]

[abit_ofboth]

I know you are right about this. I am simply worried about the reaction and admittedly am not good at facing my fears.

I would appreciate that, yes. I like to think myself decent with technology, but admit I have not gone out of my way to learn any new features here.

[matermali]

Unlikely that any of us could become good at such a thing. Practiced through necessity, perhaps.

I have no special understanding of such devices, I assure you. A former resident of our city was able to discover new ways to trespass through the technology's

[ Only a short pause while she remembers the word. ]

coding. He called it hacking.

[abit_ofboth]

I don’t know, some people seem to take to these things better than others. How or why, I do not know, but practice always at least helps.

Hacking… that term seems familar, though I admit I do not really know what it is. So they were able to do things with the technology that it was not intended to do? Or that we were not supposed to be able to do? Either way, that is rather interesting.

[matermali]

Something of that nature. Unfortunately, I haven't met anyone else to offer such a skill since his departure.

[abit_ofboth]

That is a true shame. I would’ve like to have met someone with such skills. Seems rather helpful. I hope you have not lost too many people with the mass departures recently.