>"you really think so little of us?"

These are not the words of someone thrown into SHADOWHELLJAIL for CRIMES

>>1027499
>trans = gay
So close, and yet so far.

If he's bound tightly like this, won't strengthening the spell make it too tight? Could hurt him. I'm guessing a brightknife is not a flashlight, but a special tool for cutting darkness constructs.
>douse

>>1027522
Que?

>>1027522
"gay" can be an umbrella term, tho, and often was the go-to term until relatively recently. sure, like, heterosexual trans people exist, but until quite recently, the idea of a heterosexual trans person being straight (as in, not gay or queer or w/e) was ... not exactly super common.

(also hi, switching from mobile to laptop, so if my id number thing changed, that's why. going to vote as soon as i've caught up properly!)

>>1027531
I would say its more the opposite - while we don't know much from before the 40s cause the Nazis burned all the research, in most places around the world it was considered even worse of a crime to be seeing the gender you held yourself as, as that was a seperate crime (see: the clothing laws in the US, and how you can be denied legal recognition currently in the UK if you aren't straight)

>>1027532
i should've clarified: i really have no idea what straights think of any of us these days, tho i did run afoul of the kinda homophobic gatekeeping you're referring to when first attempting transition.

i was talking from the vantage point of Anglophone gay/queer communities — when "gay" was the default umbrella term (i'm talking like, back in the days of the TV/TS distinction, before TG as a term emerged), a heterosexual trans person could still be gay rather than "straight, and trans", as "straight" connoted (and in many places, still connotes) not just heterosexuality but specifically being acceptable under heteronormative and cisnormative terms. my knowledge of the specific history there is sketchy, ofc there are many examples of heterosexual trans people being perceived and treated as "straight", as long as they were stealth and disconnected from gay/queer communities, but w/in our own communities? the specific boundaries are not necessarily super precise.

i also have some distaste for the kind of thinking that starts at "trans cannot ever be compared to gay beyond an [allegedly] extremely loose alphabet soup association that we are forced into", since a) that thinking so often leads to smug homophobia that makes trans spaces alienating and unsafe for anyone (regardless of specific gender or vector of transition) who's trans and gay, or moved in gay communities pre-transition, or still moves in gay communities post-transition b) heterosexual trans women are highly unlikely to be treated like heterosexual cis women and are far far more likely to be treated the same as (or in many cases, much worse than!) me, a v. v. typical campy gay boy, so the basis for solidarity there is sorta self-evident c) trans people who are disgusted by being associated w/ the term "gay" or w/ gay men (and those adjacent/associated) ... are probably not trans people i want to spend too much time w/.

regardless of all of that, "gay" remains a not-uncommon umbrella term even in extremely respectability-obsessed "we're nothing like those icky cis gays" online communities, so it's at best a pointless nitpick.

...

anyway, all that aside: let's play it safe, i think. first order of any botched rope scene is to cut the fucking ropes ASAP.

> use flashlight on the bonds

>>1027543
Oh extremely true, I assumed you were approaching it from a rather worse position - too used to randos on various social medias

>use the torch on the shadows
I don't like the sounds of how worried the priest is by the darkness option

Will be calling and writing tonight after work!

Vox 2022/03/29(Tue)23:21 No. 1027637 ID: 3f2378
File 164862128538.png - (204.81KB , 700x620 , Vox-Tan by Domochevsky.png )

Okay I lied

BUT UPDATE IN THE MORNING

So! How's everyone doing so far? Enjoying the quest? It's been a hot fucking minute since I ran one and being back in the swing feels good on my end but I do love to hear back

I'm having a fun time!! Nothing has hooked me exceptionally yet, but it's interesting and fun across the board

>>1027637
I feel like its doing well so far! It has the sense of mystery and hints towards strong cultural worldbuilding that I've come to enjoy from your stuff

I adore Thorn and the friends they are reluctantly accruing

Vox 2022/03/30(Wed)12:45 No. 1027675 ID: 3f2378
File 164866952262.png - (729.69KB , 680x627 , It's Like That.png )

>>1027499
"Alright Max," you call out, "stop swearing for a minute, the new fish has an idea and I want to run it past you before we just pull the trigger."

Max manages to hold up a finger in the universal 'wait just a second' gesture and finishes whatever impressively foul curse he's saying. You really do gotta get those lessons in his mother tongue, upgrade from speaking six languages to a nice seven.

"Okay," Max says after he heaves in a steadying breath. "What's the idea?"

You gesture to Heather, who looks a little surprised that you're giving her the credit she's due but not, y'know, displeased. The new fish straightens her prison grays. "I am not an expert in shadow magic, Dark One, but would it be reasonable to overload the tangled spell with light and let the tensions inside of it simply unravel?"

Max is quiet for a long moment; he dips his head in thought, and his white hair spills over his face. "...It's not an unsound idea," he concedes at last. "The bonds are tangible, though. It will snap. I would stand well clear."

"Uhh -" you begin.

"Obviously I personally cannot stand clear, smartass."

"Alright..."

You unclip your flashlight from your belt, check the batteries, and find somewhere to set it up. Heather does likewise with her own, and together you turn them on and back away very quickly.

>>1027675
The initial effects are sharp and immediate; the bonds, formerly hazy and flickering, become defined and contained. Max thrashes, straining the parts of his shrine they're anchored to, and you hear an unholy creaking and groaning.

"Is it working?" Heather murmurs.

"It's fucking working," Max growls in a pained voice. The inside of the shadows twang; the priest thrashes again, and the darkness that restrains him roils and shifts in response. A strand snaps away, cutting him across the cheek; Heather has to cover her mouth to stop from gasping.

Snap-twang. Snap. Snap.

You grab Heather's shoulder and back away even further, just in time for the ropes of darkness restraining Max to come undone entirely. The void priest screams more in anger than in pain, though yes, there is pain. A spray of blood catches you across the face, and you flinch from the hot impact of it; the shrine shakes, bits of its darkness calving off only to fill back in from the light that strengthens it.

Max stands up in the light, bare-ass naked and bleeding from dozens of shallow cuts. Heather averts her eyes with her face bright red, but you watch as the priest plunges his hand into the flickering shadows of his shrine.

You've never seen him garb himself.

The shadow comes racing up his arm, pulling itself like a devouring tide. It swallows Max whole, wrapping itself into a cocoon around him that pulses and tremors before your eyes. After a long moment, a claw of solid darkness tears its way free, and there stands Max, clad in his vestments all of shadows - long pants seamlessly tucked into high boots, his shirt-top spilling over his waistline, clawed gloves hiding his hands, his bird mask concealing his face and holding up a feathered cloak. The only thing still visible are his dark brown eyes.

"Thank you," the void priest says, his voice deepened by the mask. "A more proper introduction is in order, I think."

You nod, and bow respectfully; Heather turns to look and lets herself gasp this time, in surprise. "Max, this is Heather Locke, who has done a great service for my people and will command my service in turn. Heather, this is Dark Priest Max, priest and confessor to this Wing of Tenebrous, master of shadow magic, prophet of the void, and..."

> My friend

> My ex

> my ex
dramadramadramadramadramadrama

> My ex

max is too hot to waste the opportunity

Okay, before we vote, let's think. What *do* we know about this scrawny pack-bearing nerd, and what that would say about their dating experience.?

> my ex

exes can be friends.

> my ex

As is said before,they don't HAVE to be unfriendly necessarily

> My friend

For the sake of contrarianism, if nothing else.

> My ex

Gotta be.

> My friend

Nothing saying that it can't be both, so let's even out those votes. :V

>>1027676
>ex
friends with Drama :3

> friend

If we even out the votes, I think their official status becomes 'it's complicated', which is far better for drama than a mere 'ex-partner' deal.

Called, tallying, writing

Vox 2022/04/01(Fri)12:09 No. 1027910 ID: 3f2378
File 164884018670.jpg - (38.61KB , 460x460 , I'm Not Apologizing.jpg )

>>1027676
WINNER: My ex

"And..."

It is now you who is making the Face. You've gotten very good at intuiting Max's emotions through eyes alone and he is eating it up, his eyes bright with amusement as you emotionally squirm in front of the new fish. He will be no help here.

You sigh. "And my ex. If anyone can handle the skeletons it'll be him."

There goes that eyes-only journey; satisfaction, confidence, and then confusion. "When you say skeletons -"

Heather, bless her, cuts in. "Junction is under siege by skeletons animated by shadow magic, which are doing something to the lights nearby. The Big Bosses sent us to get your aid, Dark One, and we need it so we can continue on our mission."

"She always this formal?" Max asks you.

"Not so far," you admit. "You religious, Heather?"

The new fish surprises you by fishing a sunstone on a necklace out of her jumpsuit; the books from Outside say it's a common holy symbol carried by the Shimmering Cults, who uh, do not live here, for obvious reasons. Max's body posture relaxes, and he claps a clawed hand on her shoulder.

"You are far from home, glittering child," he says formally. "But light shines all the brighter in darkness. Welcome to Tenebrous Prison, and my apologies for the state you find it in."

The relief that steals over Heather's face. "Thank you, Dark One. Now, the matter at hand?"

Max gives you a thoughtful look before he turns away to repair his shrine. He does this a lot when he's thinking; the act of sculpting the solid darkness by hand is soothing for him. He's shoring up a wall when he says, "What is this mission?"

"...I would rather not say," Heather admits.

"Tough shit, new fish," the priest says back. "If you want my help in Junction, you're taking me with you."

"Whoa -" you start.

"When have you known me to back down, Thorn?" Max asks, turning his masked head to give you that look of absolute confidence that still makes your heart flutter. "Exactly. Those are my terms."

> Fine, fucker! You know this is might take awhile, right? I don't even know the details

> Absolutely not

AND

> Leave an offering to the Dark Gods

> Do not. They haven't done anything for you lately.

>>1027910

> Fine, fucker! You know this is might take awhile, right? I don't even know the details

> Do not. They haven't done anything for you lately.

The path of maximum drama. No wonder they broke up with us if we can't even manage this basic level of piety in a crisis.

> Fine, fucker

If he wants to come along we could use the help, and also i love him and want him in our life

> Leave an offering

solely bc i wanna see what kind of things one offers to the dark gods

> fine fucker

oh we *gotta* bring him with. drama... *and* shadow magic.

> leave an offering.

shadow gods seem important it shadowland.

> Fine, fucker!
> Leave an offering.

A spite offering? I don't know how those work around here. "Nice shrine, you prick. Here, have an *offering*!" as Thorn carefully places a candle on said shrine.

Y'know. ALL the mixed signals in this relationship.

Also, Heather, you're a cultist? Someone who praises the sun? Down here? At this time of darkness?

Alright then.

> fine fucker

> leave an offering

Max has the energy and I'm here for it.

Best be safe, this is a magical world so it might just work.

> Fine, fucker! You know this is might take awhile, right? I don't even know the details
> Leave an offering

This will be in no way awkward.

> Fine, fucker

Because I want to hear the story.

> Leave an offering

It's good policy not to be rude to gods.

> Fine, fucker!
strong agree. max rules. he should come with

> Do not
Can't explain myself here, just a vibe

another day volunteering at the tenerous prison. everyone keeps asking me if they can know what the fuck Heather's doing here. buddy, they wont even let me know

Aight I'ma level with y'all: work is being rough. We've got inventory coming up and it is a nightmare

I will call and write on Wednesday when I've got the day off

alas, Vox's update will be delayed due to some flooding in his room.

ALRIGHT

MY ROOM IS FIXED

I AM ALIVE

I will be calling and writing near midnight EST, or, slightly less than 11.5 hours from now

For anyone who wants to vote, now is THE time

Thank you for your patience during my life unexpectedly getting fucked in half by Mother Nature.

Called, writing

Vox 2022/05/01(Sun)00:22 No. 1030906 ID: 3f2378
File 165138974552.jpg - (29.74KB , 298x403 , Waiting-Skeleton.jpg )

WINNERS: Fine, fucker! You know this is might take awhile, right? I don't even know the details & Leave an offering

You sigh and rub your temples. He always does this shit. Max makes a decision like an earthquake and there's just no fucking stopping him, the gorgeous little fucking bastard-ass priest. "Fine!" you say at last. "You do know even I don't have the details here, yeah? We could be gone for ages."

"Do I get a say in this?" Heather asks, looking somewhere between confused and offended.

"You gonna fight a priest about it?" you ask her.

The new fish transitions solely to confused, then to horrified: "People draw iron on priests here?" she asks, in sheer disbelief.

"Gods Dark and Shimmering," Max breathes, in uncharacteristic blasphemy. "She really is a new fish."

"THEY DRAW IRON ON YOU HERE?" Heather repeats, aghast.

"Do they not Outside?" you prompt, gently, knowing damn well what the answer is. Heather makes a series of frustrated hand motions before she storms away rather than falling into your conversational trap. Smart move.

Max sighs and needlessly brushes off his penumbral vestments. He gives you a questioning look, and you nod after Heather. He takes the gesture for what it is, leaving you alone with what's left of his shrine. Max should - it's - you sigh, aloud. There's no time to pack this place up and ensure its sanctity. Like everything else in this forsaken hole, it will have to be left to rot.

You don't always get on with the gods but that's no way to treat a holy place, and you're going to be involved in that treatment. At the very least you can go and say hello, and maybe even pay some unironic respects.

Maybe.

You approach the altar and try to think of something to say. Ten thousand sarcastic remarks come to mind and you spend - well, awhile, squashing them down. How fucking long has it been since you prayed on purpose and not out of desperation? How -

- How long -

You wipe your eyes with the back of your hand. You're not crying, like some new fish on their first day. You're not. You're not.

Eventually, with very little ceremony, you open your box of smokes and tip half of them onto the altar. It takes awhile to get them arranged neatly, which involves a lot of picking up the ones that roll off, but eventually it's something like presentable. You stare at them, trying to find words, and when you fail again you finally say something out loud.

"I'm sorry," you murmur. "I know you don't expect me to be better, but...I'm sorry I'm not. I'll try to be less of an ass."

Suck-ass prayer, but it's the one in your heart.

You're almost ready to turn away when the darkwood of the altar starts to churn. A shadow wraps around the smokes like a fog, and when it recedes a single black cigarette is left. You blink and stare at it, not sure what to make of this gesture, when it helpfully hucks itself into your still-open box; a tendril of shadow closes the box behind it.

Hhhhhhhhhuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

You need to rejoin the others.

> Grill Max for more information. The skeletons were a surprise to him, sure, but the void-priests know Tenebrous like no one else can

> Ask Heather about this mission of hers

> March in grim silence like civilized people (advance back to Junction)

> Grill Max

the most pressing thing on our agenda at the moment, I'm sure. There will be other opportunities to pester Heather. Unless she dies immediately, in which case I guess it'll have been a moot point?

Welcome back, Vox!
I vote we
> grill Max

> Grill Max

priest of shadows gotta know something about skeletons. surely.

>>1030906
WELL THEN
> grill Max

I'm sure he tastes-

>>1030910
Grilling Max is a pretty basic concept. It’s grilling Max well that gets more complicated — but not much, once you commit these Max commandments to memory.

1: Pat the Max Dry
Who doesn’t love the seared crust on a shadow priest? These caramelized bits form once Max comes into contact with the hot grill grates. Pat Max dry first, using paper towels or any clean, lint-free kitchen towel — this removes any excess moisture that would otherwise steam-cook the Max, which would inhibit caramelization.

2: Season with Salt and Pepper Just Before Grilling
Salt pulls moisture to the surface, so save the seasoning for the very last moment to keep that process from kicking off and thus rendering patting the Max dry useless!

3: Leave It Alone on the Grill
Once the Max is on the grill, resist all urges to touch or lift it until it releases from the grill naturally. This will aid in solid grill marks (read: flavor) and keep the Max from tearing. Once the browning (or fond) forms and the Max releases, turn it often as you finish grilling, to allow even cooking.

4: Let it Rest
Once Max is removed from the grill, two things begin to happen:
1) A process called “carryover cooking” begins, where the temperature of the Max continues to rise, resulting in a difference in temperature upward of 10 degrees F.
2) When Max is hot, its physical structure loosens and weakens, making it less able to retain juices (flavor alert!); once removed from the grill, Max cools and returns to a stable physical structure that is able to retain its flavorful juices.
So, in a nutshell, let shadow priests rest for about 10 minutes, and give bigger cuts upward of 20 minutes for juices to settle down.

5: Slice It Against the Grain
If you study a large cut of Max, you’ll notice that the Max fibers run in a parallel direction, much like the grain found in a piece of wood. Make cuts in the Max perpendicular to the grain, so that it results in short Max fibers, and thus a tender bite of Max. (Try chewing a piece of Max that’s been sliced along the grain, for experimental purposes only.)

>>1030906
Can’t we just be civilized for once?

> mission...

We could perhaps do 1 & 2?

>Grill Max

I think everyone's already made the jokes even better than I have, so we'll just leave it there for now.

Huh. Well this is familiar. Very familiar. Alright, let's see how things play out.

>>1030906
> Grill Max for more information. The skeletons were a surprise to him, sure, but the void-priests know Tenebrous like no one else can.

Well, that's pretty clear. Called, writing.