In for a Pooble, in for a Pond

[rassafraggin]

The party was not expected back, but the grotto is where they are led:

The group has been brought to what seems like some sort of elevated Conservatory made from the preserved rib bones of a giant whale. The creature must have fallen there at one point in time, centuries ago and someone decided to make sure it never fell from memory. The carvings are intricate and if one looks closer, one sees a myriad of things, it's a tribute to creatures of the deep past and present from the smallest minnow to the leviathan, a history of sorts all interwoven with each other. In thee center of the great conservatory there's a collection of rare kelps from all around the ocean, then coral and other fauna all in a spiral like fashion taking up every ounce of space. It's breathtaking. There's even rare minerals here and there. The whole thing is protected by a canopy of living seaweed above that seems to act like a roof of sorts, a way to stop spies from getting in but also with space for light to shine through. Green glowing globes provide light. It's very surreal this place…and old. Very old.

Lady Jessamyn waits, having been alerted to their impending arrival.

The hollow is a large, stubborn, gnarled root. It clings to the sea bed. When swatted it budges reluctantly, then a little bit more, revealing a dark hollow.

"I see you had some success." She is neither pleased nor offering praise. She is a curious creature. Part siren… part something else… or perhaps not. Whatever she is is rare. Her webbed fingers curl over a shell as she waits for them to approach. "I trusted that Martin would collect those eager to work with him." She steps aside for them to trust the hollow and be chosen by a stone. "But before you pick you must swear your allegiance to his quest and pledge yourself to the cause he fights for. The hollow will sense treachery. So beware."

Melina steps forward. By this point . There is no hesitation. She has hemmed and hawed abd hemmed and hawed again yet the experience on beGMA has rather strengthened her resolve. The necessity of being all-in on this. The necessity of being there should someone falter, of trusting that others will be there if or perhaps when she falters again. Her earlier loss of control still rankles her some but yet here she stands. Before the shiny stones gain her full attention. She nods to Jessymyn and then turns her gaze briefly to Merrisol and then on Martin, running her gaze fully over him and returning again to his and gives a definitive nod. This simple gestures intending to convey as much as any song song or speech given. then she turns to approach and reach her hand to the grotto

"We've had some success," Martin agrees. "Though not without … some trauma. The mirrors are sometimes hindering efforts."
Martin glances about. "I had expected something of the kind."

"Of course, as you should, it is mirror magic, after all. It's reflection and sometimes not what you want to see at all." Jessamyn stared at Melina in the manner of a school teacher that is watching a child not do something right. Her lips are pursed tight. The hollow seems pretty menacing at the moment. She finds some unfortunate soul to stare down and scare into nudging Melina before something terrible happens. That person happens to be Miriam.

Maggie stands off to one side with Kerf. Her hands are in her pockets, the tearstone in its bracer. She watches Melina, her gaze sober, focused. Then, as though pulled by some silent sense of doom or disapproval, her attention shifts to Lady Jessamyn. Then she follows that piercing gaze to Miriam. Then to Melina. Reviewing the events, she nods and lets Miriam do the honors.

Miriam has been silent, as she often is, and fading in and out, as she often does. When there is a stare levelled at her though, she snaps back into the present. There is a blink, then she looks around her at them all, and then a focus on Melina. She smiles, and moves to rest a hand gently on the woman's arm. "You must speak your intention to aide Martin and serve this need aloud."

Merrisol is back, but studiously disregarding Jessamyn's gaze and remarks. That, or he's just too absorbed studying those nearly extinct kelp samples to be paying attention to the nuances of people looking meaningfully at other people, though he does glance around when Miriam offers Melina a bit of direction.

Melina nods and steps back quickly "Oh beg pardon "I pledge my friendship and assistence to martin of rebma for the reparation of the pattern and preservation and prosperity of the people of a,ber rebma and tir of the circles and shadow. "she states what she intends plainly and staightens as if steeling herself for displeasure. She has been told time and time again she must choose. the fact is she chose long ago and others refuse to accept it

Maggie fades back as Miriam moves to Melina. When she is near enough to her husband, she says something very soft to him. Oh, she is still paying attention. Multitasking, you know.

It wasn't perhaps any particular words, but it was a sentiment accompanied by a promise of sorts, and the hollow is satisfied and opens wider to engulf Melina's hand in the darkess. Martin watches grimly. "I don't suppose you have any further insights for us?" He asks Jessamyn hopefully.

"No," Jessamyn says, eyeing Merrisol. "You can take a few samples if you like, Warden."

Once she's conveyed what was needed, and Melina speaks, Miriam moves back again to be out of the way. She's silent, watching and listening.

Merrisol leans his head down to listen to the soft remark, then lifts his gaze from Melina to Jessamyn. "I will, thank you…" Then to Maggie he replies quietly, "if Kelp wine will not do, it will have to wait until we get back to the ship, love."

Raph is in a tanktop and three quarter thights and small unravelable flippers on ankles and wrists which she picked in her factory shadow. Her hair is a cloud of silver, anchoreod at ends of tendrils by braiding and silver bands. She watches everybody enter, too interested to judge the source of their trouble first hand too stay behind. She judged it. It is ridiculous and they shouold have never accepted the things if they stem from here. She stays aloneo outside however and darts in, clutching on the last in the throng unheroically, when a massive shadow passes through the dark waters. "Yeah yeah, I swear, I'm with Martin in this." Just stay with the ppl who can defend you, landwalking prawn.

Melina seems to spend a long moment wih her hand in there searching for a stone and then a slw smile lights up her entire face as her hand withdraws the chosen stone, her hand clutching it tighly. She stands opening up her palm and gazes at it intently with a fown. She seems content to just that but is there something...oh people, right..her friends behind he...right time move. only just...her hand reaches down into her satchel. and comes back out hand still famly clasped around the stone. The young Solaris woman blinks as if not having quite expecting this result. Her hand goes in again and after a long moment withdraws it again this time empty. She looks both pained and relieved at the same time if such a thing is possible. As she rejoins the group, she looks to ruby and the bracer that holds her stone "I may have a need for one of those she says softly

Raphaela eyes Melina's trouble suspiciously.

Ruby gives Melina a long searching look and gives a slow triplet of nods. "In fer a pooble, in fer a pond, Truth."

Maggie keeps her arms crossed until Raphaela ducks inside to avoid a dark, ominous shadow without. She notices her friend's outstreached han, so offers her arm. The nails that grip cause a wince and Maggie rests her hand over Raphaela's, "Easy, Raph. You are safe." Ish? Ish. Her attention turns to Melina though and there is a faint hint of sorrow beneath compassion. Yeah, that's the correct reaction alright. She can't suppress a sigh, but nods to Merrisol. "Kelp wine is fine. I have a bit of a taste for it."

Raphaela seems irritated by Maggie to unorthodox extent, but goes stare down where the stones come from. "Snack present. Come, now, I've been facing my most inner deep fears since I'm born. Might as well share it."

Maggie glances a frown at Raphaela, one brow lifting. When Raphaela makes her decision, Maggie nods and removes her hand from her friend's. "Up to you." Though she seems annoyed with Raphaela, though it does not last.

Merrisol is rearranging his harness to make room for a jar of transplanted kelp, complete with stipe and holdfast. He glances between Maggie and Raphaela once, when their heads come closer together for hushed discussion while Melina is playing peekaboo with the stone she finds. He doesn't try to get in the middle of that, and instead snaps everything shut again while nodding to Melina's full commitment to the club membership. She's springing for the leather accessory!

Lady Jessamyn was *watching* Merrisol, he must be doing it wrong because she's making that face or perhaps she just doesn't like watching things that she's cultivated for so many years be removed from their spot. "Treat them well." She tells him. Her gaze swivels from Merrisol to Raphaela when she speaks and then offers a smile. It's a smile without worth, but it is one of respect. Somewhat odd, because no one else has received that look, even Martin.

Martin looks to Raphaela when she makes her decision and gives her a soft grin of thanks. He appreciates it, he does!

Jessamyn looks towards Melina, satisfied. "The stones choose, guard it well until your time comes. The hollow waits for the next watcher to approach." She gestures towards Raphaela with the kind of finger wiggle that a mother might use for a child that must do the terrible chore for the day.

"Watcher?" Martin looks confused at the term, though he smiles at Melina. "Thank you, if I can help you I will. I very much appreciate you. You too, Raphaela. I never expected any of this." He seems more himself in this grotto. "Hey, that's neat..." He notices the little arm bracer finally. He's been off his game with the noticing. He knows this. his only excuse is that he's been distracted.

"Mirror watcher," Jessamyn states, without further explanation.

Raphaela searches. Frown mellows into curiosity, then she looks like someone who stepped into a pile of shit on the streets, and finally it settles on a face of utter disgust as she pulls out her souvenir from the deep. "The horror." She wipes a faux flippered hand over her head in irritation and steps away glaring at her stone as if she resents it. Peculiar, surely. "F"#$." GASP!