thethirteenthchild (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thethirteenthchild) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ph_logs2026-02-01 12:12 pm
thethirteenthchild) wrote in ph_logs2026-02-01 12:12 pm
[Lore Mingle] Singing Songs to the Secrets Behind My Eye, Oh My
Who: Dahlia Leeds & the former members of the Ocularum
What: Q&A
When: Post-Kadath
Where: The Oak & Iron
Warning(s): None
Those who aligned themselves with Neil West will find his house empty when next they go. All his furniture is gone, leaving a barren building, with the door to his basement locked. The meeting space, where all his esoterica and research were kept. Those who are stubborn enough to see what remains of his work can break down the door, but all that remains are cleared out shelves and a single table in the dark. A note sits on top of it, written in red ink.
However, a few days after all the dreamers have awakened, former Ocularum members will find that they've received a letter. Though it is anonymous on the outside, the contents will reveal the sender.
You'll find her sitting in the back of the bar, drinks and food already set out, her treat. She looks... stiff, and grim. But not afraid. Just sad.
What: Q&A
When: Post-Kadath
Where: The Oak & Iron
Warning(s): None
An Invitation from Dahlia
Those who aligned themselves with Neil West will find his house empty when next they go. All his furniture is gone, leaving a barren building, with the door to his basement locked. The meeting space, where all his esoterica and research were kept. Those who are stubborn enough to see what remains of his work can break down the door, but all that remains are cleared out shelves and a single table in the dark. A note sits on top of it, written in red ink.
However, a few days after all the dreamers have awakened, former Ocularum members will find that they've received a letter. Though it is anonymous on the outside, the contents will reveal the sender.
Hello,
I'm sure that you have questions. Now that Nyarlathotep has revealed himself, the magic preventing me from speaking on this is lifted. I am at liberty to give you answers now.
Meet me at the Oak and Iron at 2pm. A neutral space, during the day. I have rented out the private room in the bar so that we can speak.
For what it's worth, I am so, so sorry.
Regards,
D.A. Leeds
You'll find her sitting in the back of the bar, drinks and food already set out, her treat. She looks... stiff, and grim. But not afraid. Just sad.
no subject
CT eyes her for a moment longer, then sighs and slides into a seat, pulling her hood down around her neck. "...well, me not believing that's true isn't unique to you saying it, at least."
Every attempt she's made to tell herself she couldn't have known, every attempt Ellen has made to assure the same, she can't quite believe it. She should have known better. Especially in these last few months.
"...I've been lied to a lot, in the last seven years of my life. I have a bad habit of trusting the wrong people. I'm, obviously, now realising I've been looking at everything all wrong for the past two years, and I don't want to do it again. So forgive me for the lie detector. I just... need to be sure."
Just because Neil wasn't who she thought he was, doesn't mean she doesn't have lingering hesitations about the Leeds and her demonic connections.
"I'm hope you can understand that."
no subject
But it does make sense.
"I can. But I feel a little credit is earned, no? I've been as honest as I'm able, since everything. I even gave your nosy Archivist a statement."
no subject
"You did," CT concedes. "I won't deny that. I also won't deny that it would be awfully bold and stupid in a way I don't think you are to invite us all here only to lie. It's... security, not expectation. See, I can't even trust my own memory, right now. He..."
She bites the inside of her cheek, fingers curling against her palm where an old scar stretches across the skin.
"Apparently, I must have gotten too close to the truth. And so he excised entire pieces of my memory to make sure I stayed ignorant. I assume the fact he can do this won't come as a surprise?"
no subject
no subject
CT's nails dig into the skin of that scar and she takes a breath. "That... explains a lot. I probably would've got there on my own with Lysander, based on his story, but Coldwood's always been a tricky case and Shen Qingqiu... we haven't talked in a while."
Well, they've worked together, on and off, and she's technically been his superior for a while, but they're both finding this out at the same time. Maybe she'll have to find and talk to him, later.
She shakes her head. "Is it possible there's other people we don't know about?"
no subject
no subject
"Another thing for the list of clean-up to do," CT exhales, rubbing her temple with her other hand. God, it's humiliating, to be given the position as head of the DSA and then not see this. And now she has to run damage control, for whatever degree that's even possible, whilst feeling utterly fucking inadequate. "It's so... seamless in the moment that even if there are others, we might never find out. I still can't quite fill the holes even knowing they're there. I have been used in a lot of ways in my life but I have never been so... so..."
It feels so violating. Her own mind is the one thing that's always been relatively safe from outside interference, and now... this.
But she can't be getting emotional in front of Dahlia, so she bites that thought down, squeezes her eyes shut, and takes a second before looking back at her, steadied.
"I know that this is all a game to him. Do you think this is all going to be interesting enough to keep him playing along instead of just popping the bubble like a grape with us all inside?"
no subject
no subject
It's not exactly an unexpected answer, but she wishes there could've been a better one. "You know, there's nothing in this universe I hate more than unknown variables like this."
And yet there is no choice but to deal with them as they come. Trying to pry into what he's doing, wherever he now is, will only give her a headache as the Eye either tries and fails or outright resists her attempts, she's sure. Maybe another day. Maybe if it feels desperate.
She should ask more about Aster's plans for Eligos. That's the important thing, here. They have to be prepared for wherever this leads. And yet.
"...why choose the role he did? Why— what do you think he was even planning to use me— us, the Ocularum, to do? Was it all just about the pure entertainment or— what?"
Frankly she's not sure what answer would feel worse.
no subject
She's heard about pieces of it here and there, either from people who went or secondhand from their friends.
"He killed them all for knowing too much. I think his desire was to establish a new, more ignorant cult. But it never quite panned out that way. Wrong crowd. So I think it ended up being for information, and to dig into insecurities. When you see him again, he will deliberately say things intended to make you feel like a fool. Don't flinch. You're not an idiot for getting duped by an interdimensional entity of cosmic chaos."
no subject
Oh, great, I can add 'almost got recruited to a cult' to my resume, CT thinks but bites down on, rather than say something so petty and useless.
"It's a lot easier said than done, not flinching in the face of something like that," she says, instead, unclear if she means the insults or the interdimensional entity of cosmic chaos himself. "You know, he even let himself get put in one of those damned operas with me. Playing the role of one of the last assholes to lie to me and get me killed. I'm sure he's very proud of that."