A Blade and Her Witch - Chapter 62

Cracking Visitors and Unexpected Voids (Witch)

Content Warnings:

Unexpected guests. mild misunderstanding of a person's gender. Wibblie anger and lying about murber. Threats of Dollification, worry about detransitioning (it's unspoken and brief and not a happenin' but still kinda there because Xafra is a cutie), getting collared because bad boy. Mhm

Lynette intones gently as she shows me another report dredged up from the Estate’s Archives.

She’s softened so much these past… How long have I gone without proper sleep? I know it’s been at least one or two since our trip into Verbess’ Dream but…

I sigh and let myself chuckle. “It’s worth it, and our sleep deprived mind’s always gifted us considerations we’d otherwise miss. And we’re so close. I can feel it.”

And all my gerls have slept and rested so well in this time. I mean to give them twice that, even if we’re ready to remove the Garrote. Let my own body rest before taking on the real work and troubling them to come and aid.

I go still. It’s… Physis is one thing but Ousia another. Letting her gain access to that while I even relax is…

She sighs.

“I… Yes. I would. Sorry. ” I murmur, shoving down the guilt.

Lynette murmurs.

“Thank you. I know things will need to shift once it is unwoven but… appreciate your understanding now.” I whisper. “I’d… I’d like to see you in ways similar to how Schatzi insisted. Part of me yet… separate. This… You deserve freedom. The ability to feel flesh unbound by my fears and cruel views on you.”

“No. Lynette, I… between all this I’ve finally decided to take Xafra’s perspective on this.” I press. “You’re not who I was, and never will be. You’re… this flesh and memories are yours too, of course. But… but there is so much about you that I never had. That… that maybe even makes me think that I…”

Trail off. Don’t know how to grapple with this wordless hope that bites like my worst fears.

Lynette snaps.

“Oh.” I sigh, and nod. Glad for the distraction. “You can send them up. Who is it?”

Blood turns to ice at that.

“But we should still have weeks, at least.” I hiss, snatching up the needle and moving to the balcony to stare out over the Thorn wall. “Cracked and Riven Moon. How many?”

A pause.

“I… A forward Envoy? Scout?” I ask.

“A Thresher, more like.” I growl. “No muppets though?”

Lynette intones.

“Could they be one of the Sun-Blessed? Venturing here early?”

“Alright. Let’s call up the Pack and see what they think.”

{Xafra, dear. Apologies but we have an odd situation.} I reach out and begin moving through my Spire. Taking up more sturdy clothes and even my pouch of preserved Bone Marrow out of familiar comfort. {We have a guest approaching the Estate from along the Root Way. Lynette thinks it either a Witch, Thresher, or Sun-Blessed. But can’t be certain. Gather the Pack in the main floor of my Spire so we can discuss the best option for meeting this unexpected visitor.}

The response is swift as I feel Xafra and my Dolls snap from groggy pleasure to aggressive readiness. [Mistress? Ah... We will be there momentarily.]

I do end up taking a moment to clean my face and organize my thoughts, try to seem the well-put together Witch I'll need to be for this, before heading down to find them all waiting. "So... We still have time before this individual reaches the Roots that allow introductions and requests to be sent in, but Lynette is still only sensing one set of legs. Decent Ousia reserves, but... not full or unused. Which means we're dealing with some manner of Witch or such. Even chance they're a Thresher sent as a forward Envoy but... that seems an odd choice and a great way to get some poor fool killed for the insult. And... from our encounter with Krelliva I'm not tossing out the possibility of this being a Sun-Blessed."

"Alright. Um… This one is not used to whatever passed for standard procedure but are we... going for a quick kill if we identify them as a Thresher, or capture? And if they're a Sun-blessed, This one assumes we are to be diplomatic? But if they're a regular Witch, what... do we do? We're trying to make allies, but also not show our hand too early, yes?" Adaline rattles out, tightly bracketed by Verbess and Xafra.

"Talk first, of course." I agree with her. "If we kill any messengers who wander out here, especially a Thresher, it could fuddle the eventual meeting with the Groves. The real question is..." Looking to Xafra I consider aloud, "They know this place has some manner of Combat Dolls, and the Quill-Song will be seen as a Quirk of their Function, but your Ousia will cause problems. When I first sensed you in the Archive I couldn't tell that you were separate until the bug holding you died. So... if you stand close it should just seem an extension of myself out onto you. Odd but not horrifically so."

Xafra nods and... Does something, flexing her Ousia and Physis inwards like how Lynette reached through into the Driftdream and I realize that it's no longer noticeable at all, her Frame form lacking any hint of the power she contains. "I've been practicing this over the last few days. Adaline gave this o— Me the idea."

I smirk, Canting ::Pride/Delight/Curiosity:: while I double and triple check her work. "Oh isn't that terrifying? Good work. This solves at least three worries I'd thought we'd have to balance. But... just to make sure we're all on the same page, and excuse my resorting to old phrases, you're to all defend and guard first and foremost. Your Witch, yes, but more so each other. Only attack if I call for it. Even if this fool tosses some nasty magic at me. My wards were Knit to counter anything but spitefully clever workings. Thresher Garrotes and worse will slip off and my Ousia will burn on its own to restore them."

Lynette muses while watching Root Way,

{Most likely. I'll check on her once this mess is handled.}

"And if you are rendered unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate?" Xafra clarifies.

"Hah. Then we're probably Cracked." I cackle, exhaustion bubbling up in a way that takes me a second to recover from and add. "Sorry. Just... pull me back and don't Negate things coming from the Estate. Only pounce if they somehow manage to... No. Not even then. If they somehow do manage what you just mentioned AND drag me a Grove Span down the Root Way then you're free to handle them and me however you like. But otherwise remain what you will seem to them. Defensive Combat Dolls given strict commands to guard me within the confines of the Estate. Unable to leave our meeting place due to old Oaths and Agreements."

"Mistress..." Verbess intones softly, brimming with worry at that.

"I'm not the fragile mess I was when last I walked from this place. If anyone can hit my reinforced wards fast and hard enough to shatter them and knock my head spinning then we've greatly overestimated ourselves and should probably take another decade to consider our future plans anyway." I shrug. "And... fine. A third of a Grove Span drug away from you all. Then consider yourselves free to alter these plans and make your own foolish choices in this with my full support."

"Thank you. That is more than reasonable. Verbess, as Streethverk, you're in charge for this mission until the Mistress declares it complete. Krahe, Warden, Schatzi, all three of you stay submerged but alert for any issues. Adaline, do not use your arsenal unless explicitly instructed, stay directly behind the Mistress in case we need to emergency evacuate her. Voice communication or Pack bond only unless the Mistress says otherwise." Xafra recites instructions rapidly as I feel a change in the Pack. 

Verbess thrums an and we wait for what feels like an Eternity before...

[Wha... I don't understand. I... My Mate, don't make me... please.] Xafra's trepidation grows to distress, provoking a hiss of concern from Adaline.

I move to stand in front of her and take up her hand. Kiss it and murmur softly. "Sh. Shh. Shh. Shh... Sorry, plans are getting ahead of me. I'd never ask you to do something wretched here. But I... If this fool boy tells us what we want to know. Quickly, and without lies, would you finish what I only was able to give him part of? The body he always needed? I'd do it myself but... I've not Fleshcrafted well in nearly a decade, and it would take so much longer than what you can do."

"Oh. Yes. Of course. Thank you Mistress." Xafra calms and responds with hope.

I turn to lead us after Verbess. Instructing them to bring him to kneel outside my Spire. Giving him a wonderful view of the grounds.

"I don't want to Garrote you." I start, standing over him. "Really, truly, I don't. That wasn't a lie. But..." Then I kneel. "I won't let your stupidity hurt them."

He eyes the grounds, eyes still able to recognize Ousia and Physis and see the lack of bindings upon some Dolls walking about. "This... you freed them? Got the Garrote off without breaking them?"

"Not me, but yes. We're keeping them safe here. Each has a name, and... and a family. Technically a Mistress but... she understands something we were never taught. The weight of surrendering oneself to another. And that burden sits around her neck like the stone collars Threshers like to put on troublesome captives. But she bears it well. Gets stronger every Cracked and Riven day. And still seeks to free more rather than simply settle and live well."

He shakes his head. "That... But..." Then looks to Xafra. "What is she? Some Doll? Or a monster dredged up from the depths of this place?"

"I'm the reason Threshers exist." Xafra laughs. "Mistress, may I change into something more... appropriate?"

"You may take any form and attire you want, my love." I smile at her over my shoulder.

She walks into my Spire, and back out a few heartbeats later in her Warlord form, chest wrap and trousers, having exchanged the servant robes she was wearing for the clothing stashed inside the entrance. "Much better for this sort of business."

His eyes go wide. "I... A Warlord? And a Doll? You... but..."

I touch a hand to sputtering lips. "She can share her nature with you later if she wants, but for now... I need you to listen. Our world is so very broken. You know this. We... Your words and dedication to trying to make it better literally pushed me to find and help people I hurt. I would have left my victims to rot if not for you. And just when I thought I could do no more, I found her. And she's going to change the world for the better."

He swallows. Looks between us and the grounds. "How?"

"Lots of ways. But she's started here. And the only reason I've not Garroted you out of sheer frustration and fury... is because she sees me as something I am not." I'm whispering by the end. "Xafra's made her own mistakes, but... I'm trying very hard to make sure loving me isn't one of them. And the thought of her seeing me Garrote and drag answers from you will... will... it'll ruin me. Not forever. But I have delicate things to attend to and I can't be off-balance. Dear Ones I need to help free and heal."

"More Dolls?"

I smile gently. "Does it matter?"

He looks away. Over the Estate, then back to us.

As we talk, Xafra suddenly leaps up and backwards catching Calix as he falls from some sort of contraption he decided to launch from the balcony of Xafra's Spire.

"Wow! That was terrible!" He exclaims joyfully.

"Calix... Please be careful. You don't even have any sort of landing zone set up." Xafra begs as she sets him down and brushes off the leaves and twigs from his newest project.

I sigh and push down my fury. Wanting so much to... No. He's a sweetheart. My anger is for the stupid Half-Knit who would threaten him and...

"Who..." I turn back to find this Thresher staring at Xafra's fool of a Doll. "I... what? Why did... Did you just fall from the sky?"

Calix rushes over to where he kneels and sits on the ground in front of him. "This one is Calix, he wanted to see if he could fly with a simple Frame of leaves and twigs. Thankfully it didn't work, which means more experimentation." He leans in like he's sharing a secret, "This one waited until the Mistress was below so she would catch him."

"I... Why are you trying to fly?" The Thresher asks carefully, reeling a bit, but... otherwise seeming quite honest with that question.

"Sounded like fun. This one could ask Mistress Xafra to Resheath him but it doesn't seem like wings are part of this one's ideal self, you know?" Calix answers, happy to chat with the first man he's seen in over a decade.

"That's... Your Frame seems incredible without them. Yes. But... Resheath. Is that like some kind of... odd Fleshcrafting?" The Thresher shakes his head, probably taken aback by the idea of a Doll being allowed to just... do things they want to do. Much less the other bits Calix has blundered into sharing. Was... not wanting to make them part of the offer. But... Why? 

Lynette murmurs.

"Oh! No, Mistress Xafra is suuuuper old, like before the moon broke old, and she can do this thing with muuud and reagents and a healing salve where you climb in and she does the wooosh with her Physis and says the wibbly words and then you get out a few hours later with a body that matches what your soul says it should look like. Adaline got that a few days ago and now she has tusks which are really cute, and more eyes, and the Quills." Calix gesticulates wildly as he talks, getting really excited.

Adaline responds by throwing a small clump of dirt at Calix as she blushes.

Calix in turn, immediately puts it in his mouth and swallows.

I expect this Thresher to balk or refute or deny Calix's every word. But... he doesn't. Only seems to sit up straighter and lean close and absorb all this. Even catch a smile touch his lips as Calix gobbles down the dirt.

"Mud? Dirt magic to... to remake Dolls?" He whispers, eyes dancing over the man sitting before him.

"Mhm." I smirk and lean back. "And... Xafra seems pretty confident it'll work on people. Needs willing subjects though. People who have an ideal self they'd like to have without needing to go through Dollification."

He goes quiet, looking down before eventually murmuring. "It seems too cracked to be real, but... Even if everything you're saying is true I can't just... betray them. My Cadre."

"Then let me make this simple." I interject. "I'm going to see what I started years ago on you finished. If you tell us everything we need you can pick how you want that to go. Dollification, Resheathing, or... well if you're willing to wait I'll be attempting to master Fleshcrafting. Otherwise... well... I get to pick. Either way you're not going to be a Thresher when the Suns stop weeping."

The Thresher looks between me and Xafra. "I... If I tell you. Will you promise to not kill them? My Cadre? The letter is in a place that if you're careful you could take it without needing to."

"I am willing to promise to do my best to avoid killing or harming them in any way. Yet. But I will not suffer a Chain to continue existing in the future, so they will either have to submit or die when it comes to that." Xafra offers.

He goes quiet for a while, taking slow breaths as his mind races. I'm about to prompt an answer when he nods. "Alright. Alright. I... It's the best I can do. Least amount of people hurt. Even if you're lying to me. Which I have good reason to believe you're not."

The town he gives us is close, thank the dead and rotting hag, half-way between us and Salzige. His Cadre of six is working out of an inn they claimed about a year ago. His bunk is on the Root level, and it'll be two weeks before they'll consider checking over his belongings and stumbling across the note left among them. Which would then need to be carried all the way to one of the main Thresher Burrows. 

We have time. More than I'd feared to dream for.

"Thank you." I sigh and rise. "Cracked and Riven Moon. So... Did you have a preference or did you need to sleep on it? All but the Fleshcrafting can be done today."

He blinks. "I... You're not going to wait until you have the letter to offer?"

"If you're lying, I can punish you aptly then. And if someone gets hurt because of said lie..." I give him a pointed look. "I'd be more than happy to feed you to this Estate and let you discover what it thinks you should be."

It's a lie, of course. And I let Xafra feel that through our bond. How much I hate to threaten even that, though. I'd only Dollify him, which would probably leave him much like what his Resheathed form would look like. 

But from his nod I know he believes me, and that his words are probably true. "Understood. Um... Resheathing sounds the best option. Less... less me lost?" And he looks to Calix in a searching manner.

Calix nods "Mmhm! It doesn't change what's in your head at all actually. Mistress Xafra said it was used for people like... you?" He trails off confused. Then simply stands up and walks away.

"Blind Oracles. It'll probably be a few hours at least before he works his way out of this one." Xafra mutters bitterly.

"I... like what?" The man at our feet asks. "Is... Did I say something wrong? Hurt him?"

"He means... I don't know if your language has a polite word for Half-Knits, but we called them Resheathed. And no, you didn't do anything, he hit a mental snag. we're doing our best, but Calix was Yselda's oldest Doll from what we've been able to learn and she used him specifically for testing new variations of Garrote and other unsavory weaves."

The man winces, nods. "It doesn't, unfortunately. Not that I've come across, anyway. If there is anything I can do to help him please let me know."

"Be kind and honest with him. He uhhm… shared a lot more with you than I expected or would have been willing to myself. I'm going to go get the Ritual prepared... Glad I didn't have to kill you. Mistress Elevar hasn't mentioned many friends from her past." Xafra says bluntly before heading to her Spire. 

[That... could have been worse?] She intones to me.

{Much.} I reply. {You all handled that perfectly. Thank you. And... Apologies. I did not expect this, of all my past mistakes, to come to our home with pitch and torch. He was always a fool, but not a spiteful one. Just... Latched onto his home's view of Threshers and didn't see their rot until he had too many friends to consider leaving or burning it away.}

[Heh. He brings back old memories of that fool Namtar, and it's hard not to start yelling at him to notice what is going on around him]

[I'm glad we were able to avoid harming him. He was always nice to us. also Adaline says, ‘That better show Lynette why I'm amazing’] Schatzi adds

Lynette giggles.

Then I turn to him, offer a hand. "Despite your stupid plan and worse manners... It's good to see you well."

He takes my hand and rises. "S– same. You... you seem better than ever. Did you really find a cure? For the Soul Rot?"

"No. That was Xafra's doing." I nod, step past him. "C'mon. You can stay in my Spire for now."

He follows, and I lead him up to a spare bedroom. Give him prompt and simple rules. Be kind, ask before entering new places, and do not attempt to hurt anyone else on these grounds. Tell him that he is, for now, a guest. The more kindness he shows the more trust he will be given. I don't have the energy or will to threaten him anymore, and am happy to let his imagination do that for me.

I settle into my desk and murmur back to Schatzi and Xafra. {Me too, Schatzi. If anything... well... I think we might have saved his life a bit today. I could sense that he's not interrupted the Fleshcrafting I did but... nor has he encouraged it. Cultivated the changes or explored the Art. Calix seems to find him a fascinating sort. Hopefully they'll get along. He... I don't recall him taking my cutting off our relationship very well.}

[I hope so as well.] Xafra responds after a few moments. [I've brought the basin downstairs to one of the side rooms, and it is ready for him.]

{Wonderful, thank you. I'll bring him over.} I intone back. Then rise to go find him sitting on the edge of the bed. Lost in thought. 

"Alright. She's ready. Let's see you put a little more together." I murmur softly, take up his wrist, and lead him.

We don't talk for the walk over and it's not until we're outside the room Xafra's prepared that I speak. "So, One last thing."

He nods carefully. "Yes?"

"When you leave the basin, you are no longer a Thresher. But, before you return to my Spire, I expect you to have a proper name. Ask Xafra, one of her gerls, or... well if Calix deems you worthy of his considerations again, if nothing comes to mind. They are quite apt at this sort of thing. Understood?"

He purses his lips, "I... okay."

"Wonderful. Be good. And congratulations." Then I turn, and begin to leave him. 

But as I walk away, I hear the unsettling voice of Augusta greeting him, "Good morning Mr. Chain. I am looking forward to having you as a patient soon.” 

I glance just as he steps in and her eyes find mine. “You as well, Matrons Elevar and Lynette," before the door closes firmly on me.

That… Is such an odd Doll. I muse as I leave.

Lynette only murmurs as I've settled back into my study and pulled the needle free to consider.

Cracking Visitors and Unexpected Voids Witch Content Warnings: Spoiler Unexpected guests. mild misunderstanding of a person's gender. Wibblie anger and lying about murber. Threats of Dollification, worry about detransitioning it's unspoken and brief and not a happenin' but still kinda there because Xafra is a cutie, getting collared because bad boy. Mhm collapse Lynette intones gently as she shows me another report dredged up from the Estate's Archives. She's softened so much these past How long have I gone without proper sleep? I know it's been at least one or two since our trip into Verbess' Dream but I sigh and let myself chuckle. It's worth it, and our sleep deprived mind's always gifted us considerations we'd otherwise miss. And we're so close. I can feel it. And all my gerls have slept and rested so well in this time. I mean to give them twice that, even if we're ready to remove the Garrote. Let my own body rest before taking on the real work and troubling them to come and aid. I go still. It's Physis is one thing but Ousia another. Letting her gain access to that while I even relax is She sighs. I Yes. I would. Sorry. I murmur, shoving down the guilt. Lynette murmurs. Thank you. I know things will need to shift once it is unwoven but appreciate your understanding now. I whisper. I'd I'd like to see you in ways similar to how Schatzi insisted. Part of me yet separate. This You deserve freedom. The ability to feel flesh unbound by my fears and cruel views on you. No. Lynette, I between all this I've finally decided to take Xafra's perspective on this. I press. You're not who I was, and never will be. You're this flesh and memories are yours too, of course. But but there is so much about you that I never had. That that maybe even makes me think that I Trail off. Don't know how to grapple with this wordless hope that bites like my worst fears. Lynette snaps. Oh. I sigh, and nod. Glad for the distraction. You can send them up. Who is it? Blood turns to ice at that. But we should still have weeks, at least. I hiss, snatching up the needle and moving to the balcony to stare out over the Thorn wall. Cracked and Riven Moon. How many? A pause. I A forward Envoy? Scout? I ask. A Thresher, more like. I growl. No muppets though? Lynette intones. Could they be one of the Sun-Blessed? Venturing here early? Alright. Let's call up the Pack and see what they think. {Xafra, dear. Apologies but we have an odd situation.} I reach out and begin moving through my Spire. Taking up more sturdy clothes and even my pouch of preserved Bone Marrow out of familiar comfort. {We have a guest approaching the Estate from along the Root Way. Lynette thinks it either a Witch, Thresher, or Sun-Blessed. But can't be certain. Gather the Pack in the main floor of my Spire so we can discuss the best option for meeting this unexpected visitor.} The response is swift as I feel Xafra and my Dolls snap from groggy pleasure to aggressive readiness. Mistress? Ah... We will be there momentarily. I do end up taking a moment to clean my face and organize my thoughts, try to seem the well-put together Witch I'll need to be for this, before heading down to find them all waiting. "So... We still have time before this individual reaches the Roots that allow introductions and requests to be sent in, but Lynette is still only sensing one set of legs. Decent Ousia reserves, but... not full or unused. Which means we're dealing with some manner of Witch or such. Even chance they're a Thresher sent as a forward Envoy but... that seems an odd choice and a great way to get some poor fool killed for the insult. And... from our encounter with Krelliva I'm not tossing out the possibility of this being a Sun-Blessed." "Alright. Um This one is not used to whatever passed for standard procedure but are we... going for a quick kill if we identify them as a Thresher, or capture? And if they're a Sun-blessed, This one assumes we are to be diplomatic? But if they're a regular Witch, what... do we do? We're trying to make allies, but also not show our hand too early, yes?" Adaline rattles out, tightly bracketed by Verbess and Xafra. "Talk first, of course." I agree with her. "If we kill any messengers who wander out here, especially a Thresher, it could fuddle the eventual meeting with the Groves. The real question is..." Looking to Xafra I consider aloud, "They know this place has some manner of Combat Dolls, and the Quill-Song will be seen as a Quirk of their Function, but your Ousia will cause problems. When I first sensed you in the Archive I couldn't tell that you were separate until the bug holding you died. So... if you stand close it should just seem an extension of myself out onto you. Odd but not horrifically so." Xafra nods and... Does something, flexing her Ousia and Physis inwards like how Lynette reached through into the Driftdream and I realize that it's no longer noticeable at all, her Frame form lacking any hint of the power she contains. "I've been practicing this over the last few days. Adaline gave this o Me the idea." I smirk, Canting ::Pride/Delight/Curiosity:: while I double and triple check her work. "Oh isn't that terrifying? Good work. This solves at least three worries I'd thought we'd have to balance. But... just to make sure we're all on the same page, and excuse my resorting to old phrases, you're to all defend and guard first and foremost. Your Witch, yes, but more so each other. Only attack if I call for it. Even if this fool tosses some nasty magic at me. My wards were Knit to counter anything but spitefully clever workings. Thresher Garrotes and worse will slip off and my Ousia will burn on its own to restore them." Lynette muses while watching Root Way, {Most likely. I'll check on her once this mess is handled.} "And if you are rendered unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate?" Xafra clarifies. "Hah. Then we're probably Cracked." I cackle, exhaustion bubbling up in a way that takes me a second to recover from and add. "Sorry. Just... pull me back and don't Negate things coming from the Estate. Only pounce if they somehow manage to... No. Not even then. If they somehow do manage what you just mentioned AND drag me a Grove Span down the Root Way then you're free to handle them and me however you like. But otherwise remain what you will seem to them. Defensive Combat Dolls given strict commands to guard me within the confines of the Estate. Unable to leave our meeting place due to old Oaths and Agreements." "Mistress..." Verbess intones softly, brimming with worry at that. "I'm not the fragile mess I was when last I walked from this place. If anyone can hit my reinforced wards fast and hard enough to shatter them and knock my head spinning then we've greatly overestimated ourselves and should probably take another decade to consider our future plans anyway." I shrug. "And... fine. A third of a Grove Span drug away from you all. Then consider yourselves free to alter these plans and make your own foolish choices in this with my full support." "Thank you. That is more than reasonable. Verbess, as Streethverk, you're in charge for this mission until the Mistress declares it complete. Krahe, Warden, Schatzi, all three of you stay submerged but alert for any issues. Adaline, do not use your arsenal unless explicitly instructed, stay directly behind the Mistress in case we need to emergency evacuate her. Voice communication or Pack bond only unless the Mistress says otherwise." Xafra recites instructions rapidly as I feel a change in the Pack. Verbess thrums an and we wait for what feels like an Eternity before... Wha... I don't understand. I... My Mate, don't make me... please. Xafra's trepidation grows to distress, provoking a hiss of concern from Adaline. I move to stand in front of her and take up her hand. Kiss it and murmur softly. "Sh. Shh. Shh. Shh... Sorry, plans are getting ahead of me. I'd never ask you to do something wretched here. But I... If this fool boy tells us what we want to know. Quickly, and without lies, would you finish what I only was able to give him part of? The body he always needed? I'd do it myself but... I've not Fleshcrafted well in nearly a decade, and it would take so much longer than what you can do." "Oh. Yes. Of course. Thank you Mistress." Xafra calms and responds with hope. I turn to lead us after Verbess. Instructing them to bring him to kneel outside my Spire. Giving him a wonderful view of the grounds. "I don't want to Garrote you." I start, standing over him. "Really, truly, I don't. That wasn't a lie. But..." Then I kneel. "I won't let your stupidity hurt them." He eyes the grounds, eyes still able to recognize Ousia and Physis and see the lack of bindings upon some Dolls walking about. "This... you freed them? Got the Garrote off without breaking them?" "Not me, but yes. We're keeping them safe here. Each has a name, and... and a family. Technically a Mistress but... she understands something we were never taught. The weight of surrendering oneself to another. And that burden sits around her neck like the stone collars Threshers like to put on troublesome captives. But she bears it well. Gets stronger every Cracked and Riven day. And still seeks to free more rather than simply settle and live well." He shakes his head. "That... But..." Then looks to Xafra. "What is she? Some Doll? Or a monster dredged up from the depths of this place?" "I'm the reason Threshers exist." Xafra laughs. "Mistress, may I change into something more... appropriate?" "You may take any form and attire you want, my love." I smile at her over my shoulder. She walks into my Spire, and back out a few heartbeats later in her Warlord form, chest wrap and trousers, having exchanged the servant robes she was wearing for the clothing stashed inside the entrance. "Much better for this sort of business." His eyes go wide. "I... A Warlord? And a Doll? You... but..." I touch a hand to sputtering lips. "She can share her nature with you later if she wants, but for now... I need you to listen. Our world is so very broken. You know this. We... Your words and dedication to trying to make it better literally pushed me to find and help people I hurt. I would have left my victims to rot if not for you. And just when I thought I could do no more, I found her. And she's going to change the world for the better." He swallows. Looks between us and the grounds. "How?" "Lots of ways. But she's started here. And the only reason I've not Garroted you out of sheer frustration and fury... is because she sees me as something I am not." I'm whispering by the end. "Xafra's made her own mistakes, but... I'm trying very hard to make sure loving me isn't one of them. And the thought of her seeing me Garrote and drag answers from you will... will... it'll ruin me. Not forever. But I have delicate things to attend to and I can't be off-balance. Dear Ones I need to help free and heal." "More Dolls?" I smile gently. "Does it matter?" He looks away. Over the Estate, then back to us. As we talk, Xafra suddenly leaps up and backwards catching Calix as he falls from some sort of contraption he decided to launch from the balcony of Xafra's Spire. "Wow! That was terrible!" He exclaims joyfully. "Calix... Please be careful. You don't even have any sort of landing zone set up." Xafra begs as she sets him down and brushes off the leaves and twigs from his newest project. I sigh and push down my fury. Wanting so much to... No. He's a sweetheart. My anger is for the stupid Half-Knit who would threaten him and... "Who..." I turn back to find this Thresher staring at Xafra's fool of a Doll. "I... what? Why did... Did you just fall from the sky?" Calix rushes over to where he kneels and sits on the ground in front of him. "This one is Calix, he wanted to see if he could fly with a simple Frame of leaves and twigs. Thankfully it didn't work, which means more experimentation." He leans in like he's sharing a secret, "This one waited until the Mistress was below so she would catch him." "I... Why are you trying to fly?" The Thresher asks carefully, reeling a bit, but... otherwise seeming quite honest with that question. "Sounded like fun. This one could ask Mistress Xafra to Resheath him but it doesn't seem like wings are part of this one's ideal self, you know?" Calix answers, happy to chat with the first man he's seen in over a decade. "That's... Your Frame seems incredible without them. Yes. But... Resheath. Is that like some kind of... odd Fleshcrafting?" The Thresher shakes his head, probably taken aback by the idea of a Doll being allowed to just... do things they want to do. Much less the other bits Calix has blundered into sharing. Was... not wanting to make them part of the offer. But... Why? Lynette murmurs. "Oh! No, Mistress Xafra is suuuuper old, like before the moon broke old, and she can do this thing with muuud and reagents and a healing salve where you climb in and she does the wooosh with her Physis and says the wibbly words and then you get out a few hours later with a body that matches what your soul says it should look like. Adaline got that a few days ago and now she has tusks which are really cute, and more eyes, and the Quills." Calix gesticulates wildly as he talks, getting really excited. Adaline responds by throwing a small clump of dirt at Calix as she blushes. Calix in turn, immediately puts it in his mouth and swallows. I expect this Thresher to balk or refute or deny Calix's every word. But... he doesn't. Only seems to sit up straighter and lean close and absorb all this. Even catch a smile touch his lips as Calix gobbles down the dirt. "Mud? Dirt magic to... to remake Dolls?" He whispers, eyes dancing over the man sitting before him. "Mhm." I smirk and lean back. "And... Xafra seems pretty confident it'll work on people. Needs willing subjects though. People who have an ideal self they'd like to have without needing to go through Dollification." He goes quiet, looking down before eventually murmuring. "It seems too cracked to be real, but... Even if everything you're saying is true I can't just... betray them. My Cadre." "Then let me make this simple." I interject. "I'm going to see what I started years ago on you finished. If you tell us everything we need you can pick how you want that to go. Dollification, Resheathing, or... well if you're willing to wait I'll be attempting to master Fleshcrafting. Otherwise... well... I get to pick. Either way you're not going to be a Thresher when the Suns stop weeping." The Thresher looks between me and Xafra. "I... If I tell you. Will you promise to not kill them? My Cadre? The letter is in a place that if you're careful you could take it without needing to." "I am willing to promise to do my best to avoid killing or harming them in any way. Yet. But I will not suffer a Chain to continue existing in the future, so they will either have to submit or die when it comes to that." Xafra offers. He goes quiet for a while, taking slow breaths as his mind races. I'm about to prompt an answer when he nods. "Alright. Alright. I... It's the best I can do. Least amount of people hurt. Even if you're lying to me. Which I have good reason to believe you're not." The town he gives us is close, thank the dead and rotting hag, half-way between us and Salzige. His Cadre of six is working out of an inn they claimed about a year ago. His bunk is on the Root level, and it'll be two weeks before they'll consider checking over his belongings and stumbling across the note left among them. Which would then need to be carried all the way to one of the main Thresher Burrows. We have time. More than I'd feared to dream for. "Thank you." I sigh and rise. "Cracked and Riven Moon. So... Did you have a preference or did you need to sleep on it? All but the Fleshcrafting can be done today." He blinks. "I... You're not going to wait until you have the letter to offer?" "If you're lying, I can punish you aptly then. And if someone gets hurt because of said lie..." I give him a pointed look. "I'd be more than happy to feed you to this Estate and let you discover what it thinks you should be." It's a lie, of course. And I let Xafra feel that through our bond. How much I hate to threaten even that, though. I'd only Dollify him, which would probably leave him much like what his Resheathed form would look like. But from his nod I know he believes me, and that his words are probably true. "Understood. Um... Resheathing sounds the best option. Less... less me lost?" And he looks to Calix in a searching manner. Calix nods "Mmhm! It doesn't change what's in your head at all actually. Mistress Xafra said it was used for people like... you?" He trails off confused. Then simply stands up and walks away. "Blind Oracles. It'll probably be a few hours at least before he works his way out of this one." Xafra mutters bitterly. "I... like what?" The man at our feet asks. "Is... Did I say something wrong? Hurt him?" "He means... I don't know if your language has a polite word for Half-Knits, but we called them Resheathed. And no, you didn't do anything, he hit a mental snag. we're doing our best, but Calix was Yselda's oldest Doll from what we've been able to learn and she used him specifically for testing new variations of Garrote and other unsavory weaves." The man winces, nods. "It doesn't, unfortunately. Not that I've come across, anyway. If there is anything I can do to help him please let me know." "Be kind and honest with him. He uhhm shared a lot more with you than I expected or would have been willing to myself. I'm going to go get the Ritual prepared... Glad I didn't have to kill you. Mistress Elevar hasn't mentioned many friends from her past." Xafra says bluntly before heading to her Spire. That... could have been worse? She intones to me. {Much.} I reply. {You all handled that perfectly. Thank you. And... Apologies. I did not expect this, of all my past mistakes, to come to our home with pitch and torch. He was always a fool, but not a spiteful one. Just... Latched onto his home's view of Threshers and didn't see their rot until he had too many friends to consider leaving or burning it away.} Heh. He brings back old memories of that fool Namtar, and it's hard not to start yelling at him to notice what is going on around him I'm glad we were able to avoid harming him. He was always nice to us. also Adaline says, That better show Lynette why I'm amazing' Schatzi adds Lynette giggles. Then I turn to him, offer a hand. "Despite your stupid plan and worse manners... It's good to see you well." He takes my hand and rises. "S same. You... you seem better than ever. Did you really find a cure? For the Soul Rot?" "No. That was Xafra's doing." I nod, step past him. "C'mon. You can stay in my Spire for now." He follows, and I lead him up to a spare bedroom. Give him prompt and simple rules. Be kind, ask before entering new places, and do not attempt to hurt anyone else on these grounds. Tell him that he is, for now, a guest. The more kindness he shows the more trust he will be given. I don't have the energy or will to threaten him anymore, and am happy to let his imagination do that for me. I settle into my desk and murmur back to Schatzi and Xafra. {Me too, Schatzi. If anything... well... I think we might have saved his life a bit today. I could sense that he's not interrupted the Fleshcrafting I did but... nor has he encouraged it. Cultivated the changes or explored the Art. Calix seems to find him a fascinating sort. Hopefully they'll get along. He... I don't recall him taking my cutting off our relationship very well.} I hope so as well. Xafra responds after a few moments. I've brought the basin downstairs to one of the side rooms, and it is ready for him. {Wonderful, thank you. I'll bring him over.} I intone back. Then rise to go find him sitting on the edge of the bed. Lost in thought. "Alright. She's ready. Let's see you put a little more together." I murmur softly, take up his wrist, and lead him. We don't talk for the walk over and it's not until we're outside the room Xafra's prepared that I speak. "So, One last thing." He nods carefully. "Yes?" "When you leave the basin, you are no longer a Thresher. But, before you return to my Spire, I expect you to have a proper name. Ask Xafra, one of her gerls, or... well if Calix deems you worthy of his considerations again, if nothing comes to mind. They are quite apt at this sort of thing. Understood?" He purses his lips, "I... okay." "Wonderful. Be good. And congratulations." Then I turn, and begin to leave him. But as I walk away, I hear the unsettling voice of Augusta greeting him, "Good morning Mr. Chain. I am looking forward to having you as a patient soon. I glance just as he steps in and her eyes find mine. You as well, Matrons Elevar and Lynette," before the door closes firmly on me. That Is such an odd Doll. I muse as I leave. Lynette only murmurs as I've settled back into my study and pulled the needle free to consider.