[MU] - I'VE HEARD YOU SCREAM IN YOUR SLEEP

[story_teller]

[The night of May 27th, in the familiar avenue of your dreams, you will finally receive some manner of explanation for the catastrophic mishap that has struck the local network of Stones of Farspeech.]

[The Storyteller is, unsurprisingly, harried in their delivery of this news. Perhaps their stress will be evident in the shape they have currently chosen to assume.]

- stories. I need stories to fix this. I'd not realized things had grown so dire. The monthly upkeep was not enough to sustain this ever-growing, ever-changing fabric, and so I'll require your stories. They may be past or present - it does not matter, but the sooner you can offer them, the sooner I can fix this! From as many different people as possible! Variety is critical. One story from ten people will be more helpful by far than twenty from one!

I...I will fix this. I can fix this. I only need your help to do it. The more I can accrue...

[A moment of consideration, and then - ]

Ten. Ten at the minimum. Ten should stabilize this. Twenty-five will ensure it will remain stable for the next three months. Fifty, and it will remain stable for the rest of the year.

Without your aid, I will be unable to make this right.

[If your character wishes to donate, they may comment to the corresponding top-level below. To ensure that no one goes bankrupt, we will impose a five story limit per character - and only two stories can be used to stabilize the network immediately.

If your character wishes to converse with the Storyteller, they may also do so.]

Comments

[story_teller]

I can't do it without your help.

[There's a shake, a ruffling of metaphysical feathers as the Storyteller fluffs their fur, as if in an attempt to smooth away their clearly frazzled nerves.]

This is new for all of us. All of us.

[thermalwind]

That’s what I mean. We all of us, you and us can do this.

Just need to work out the problems and it can be okay. [Somehow. He keeps his hands on his thighs. The better to hide the slight claws on his fingers. His nerves aren’t that great of late.]

[story_teller]

I doubt very much that everyone will be nearly as understanding.

[The last time thoughts and memories were broadcast for all to see, not everyone was very pleased about it.]

[thermalwind]

They won’t be. It’s personal stuff on display. [He lifts up a hand and wills it back to normal. No dice. Well he is on edge. He sets it right back down.]

When people feel upset they sometimes lash out. [Any being does from his experience. Keith keeps his voice steady and neutral. He has no desire to stir up either of them.] I always found focusing the task first and the rest second helps. Might help you too.

[story_teller]

I cannot focus on the task until I've something to work with. And you've helped, all of you are helping now, but until I know how much I have on hand, I cannot do...very much at all.

[Their power is from stories. Without that, what do they have?]

[Not very much at all.]

[thermalwind]

[That makes him fall quiet. He'd always suspected Storyteller is limited by certain parameters but this... He scrubs at his face.]

So you're stuck doing what one of my teachers used to say. 'Hurry up and wait'. Anything I can do to make that waiting easier on you?

[story_teller]

An attentive epithet. Hurry up and wait.

A very true one.

[Does patience apply when it is so difficult to track the passage of things when they occur linearly? The Storyteller is hardly a linear being, after all. Few gods are.]

It is kind of you to offer, but...you have already given what you can, haven't you?

[thermalwind]

...of my stories. Yeah. [He could have given five but, too much happens here. Too much might need him to collect what he has put it towards first aid again. Or something else. Keith sighs.]

I don't mind offering more of my time. We're all sort of waiting right now, aren't we?

[story_teller]

And what is it you do to occupy your time, when waiting?

[thermalwind]

[Keith pauses, thinking it over. His routine stretches out before him in a list.]

...depends on the day and what's going on. On a usual day I review supplies, who has checked in and who hasn't. Repair what needs to be repaired if I can. That eats up the first few hours of the day.

[story_teller]

You are always in motion.

[Like water, or like wind. Like every element that does not wish to stay at rest, which is most of them.]

Hurrying up to wait does not seem to be on your list.

[thermalwind]

I'm...not the most patient of people, no. [He used to have terrible patience when it came to things he felt were important. He decides not to look forward at the man he might become.

He's tired of doing that already.] But, sometimes there just isn't anything else we can do.

[story_teller]

Naught but to wait and let the pieces fall where they may.

[It's said with the air of someone reciting something that they have heard someone else say, perhaps. Whatever they are emulating, it does not last.]

Regardless, your assistance is appreciated. Vital, even.

[thermalwind]

So is yours. We couldn't have made it this far without your help. Thank you. [He gives credit where it's due. Even if it their job to help or they are by nature of their office required to. He says it softly, with appreciation in his tone.]

[story_teller]

The sentiment applies to you, as well. I would not make it anywhere without your aid.