Laurel
*From the branches further up, the form of Audra watches, stood on the edge of her branch. Practically on the edge of her seat as she watches Vassek come into being.*

*She lets out yet another whistle, before waving down at him and calling out.* 

"HEYYYYY! HEYYYY! HELLOOOOOO! UP HERE! HI!"
Patricia
For all the harmonious, picturesque mountains that loomed around him and the golden, idylic fields that loomed beneath, Vassek could only look disturbed as he gazed over from his high perch. But no... It didn't make sense, did it? Joy. Wasn't he supposed to feel joy? Harmony? Content? Excitement? How should he feel? Why couldn't he feel this? Would it be wrong to feel this way, or right?

Like a whirlwind come to reap its due, his mind raced with uncertainty. Only from his thoughts was he stirred by a voice up above, the Watcher's head craned upwards. Instantaneously does his arms wrap around himself like some futile blanket, left eye twitching and writhing.

"You there. What do you want?" Hails back that tepid, low voice of his.
Laurel
"Uhhhh..." *She stares down at him for a second, before giving him a finger pointed upwards.* "ONE MOMENT!" 

*Taking a breath inwards, the little goddess stands upright and just... Falls backwards, off the branch that she had originally stood on. For a moment, it seems like she has fallen past him... Before a gust of wind propels her upwards and onto the branch that he stands.*

"HIIII! Gods- do you like birds, too? I love birds! We should be pals! What's your name? Mine is... Mmmmm... Audra! I think? Yeah! Wow, you're *Really* Tall!"

*She speaks quickly- almost faster than Vassek can comprehend, laughing to herself afterwards.*
Patricia
The expression of weary and dread only forms more absolutely upon Vassek's gaunt face as Audra leaps down to his branch. It was almost as though he had no will to be seen, to be heard. His arms only embrace tighter about himself, a horrific wince aligning the face of the Silence God. Words were power, just as names, yet words did not come easy to the God of Anxiety.

"Why is it that you seek my name? Names are things of power. They should not be given freely." Vassek murmurs out in return, his voice nearly on par with Audra's speed of verbalisation. Yet he sounded less enthusiastic and more concerned. *Danger*. He sounded as if he felt in danger.

"We should not be up here, regardless." The Witness comes to realise as he peers out over the edge and into the valley below. "This tree could not be stable... What if it were to splinter and collapse? Then we shall plummet from the clouds like unlucky fools, our fates sealed as stains on the earth. I do not want that. Do you?"
Laurel
*She gives him a really weird look after he speaks, folding her hands in front of herself and leaning to look off the ledge.*

"Well... I mean... Not really, no. But it's quite pretty! Isn't it? Gods, it's *Very* Pretty." 

*With a nod to herself as if affirming her belief, she adjusts her cape and looks up towards him. Her brow knits in a degree of concern and she takes a breath in, then out.*

"Did I scare you? I really didn't mean to. I was just happy to see someone."
Patricia
"Then we'd be wise to get down!" Vassek exclaims with some urgency. His voice was scratchy, panicked as though he felt some impending sense of doom and dread. "The roots of this oak could be severed at any moment! Time is of the utmost essence! It is not our ally!"

Then, at her question his head tilts - a bit of a sorrowful, mournful look crosses over the Witness's face, as though he carried some heavy burden. "*Scared?*" He utters in questioning, as a nervous and pained laugh escaped him. "I am Vassek, God of Anxiety and Fallacy. Fear is my burden to bare, for my eye stretches into the past and future alike."

And then, his face recoils with shock and horror. Those spindly fingers of his, as thin as icicle shards and as white as snow press against his mouth. "What?" He mumbles in disgust at himself, head shaking. "No, no, no... You have my name, it grants you power. You must not speak it to anyone else, I *Plead* With you. How could I be so foolish, so complacent... Ragh!"
Laurel
*Vassek gets yet another head-tilt in reply, before a smile breaks out across her lips once more.*

"Y'know what? That's a-okay! I will just call you V, then. Is that okay? V? Does that work?" 

*As she speaks to him, an ambient breeze seems to blow past the both of them- allowing her cape to billow.*

"And- I don't think we should get *Down.* I think we should go up! You can do that, right? I saw your birds!"
Patricia
"No, no... Yes!" He decides finally after a moment of hesitation and doubt, a deep sigh escaping the recluse. "I suppose... That is vague enough for my liking." Vassek's head turns upward, observing the higher branches of the tree. His pallid hands brush together as the Watcher frowns with disdain and loathing.

"Yet... The risk outweights the benefits of such a climb. Surely it is safer down there, upon the ground?" One of his boney fingers, the index of his right hand to be precise, is cast downward toward the valley below them.
Laurel
"But what if we find something- something *Cool?* Like the secrets? Or some other people?" *She counter, placing her hands on her hips and looking up at him defiantly.*

"I know that being anxious and paranoid seems to be your whole thing, but there are things to explore! We could even find your birds, they seemed cute!"
Patricia
"Secrets? Hrm..." The Watcher's demeanor seems to shift at that - a look of intrigue donning his face as one of his elongated fingernails scratches against his chin. There's a period of thought - of contemplation that feels like eternal ponderance, until that finger is raised upward.

"Very well. This once, I shall oblige you. But I would bid you to traverse this oak before me, as the idea was yours."
Laurel
"YES!" *She throws her hands up in the air- she has triumphed! Before she takes a moment to observe the area around her. With a breath, she starts to move towards the middle of the tree.* 

"You better keep up!"
Patricia
Dark mists swarm around Vassek's feet, the ceaseless whispers filling the air around him. And then, from nothing came *Something* - as the Witness centered his power, an eldritch and unnerving tendril, similar of that to an octopus yet mutant and unnatural in it's design forms beneath him. It slowly ascends up around the base of the tree, raising the standing Vassek as its passenger. Up and up he goes, arms wrapping around himself once more.

"We travel too high..." He murmurs with unease. "What if the wind is due to sweep us off our feet, or the wrath of the sun should dare to reduce us to ashes?"
Laurel
*She propells herself up along with him, the wind being her guide. Once again he gets a strange look from her.*

"Would it have done so already, then? Relax! We'll be fiiiiine! If you fall, I can catch you. Promise! I've already caught myself!" *She points out, with a laugh and another whistle.*
Patricia
"What has not yet passed does not mean it is an impossibility! Do not tempt fate, it shall be our undoing!" Vassek calls up toward Audra. Around and around that tendril carrying him wraps around the tree, bringing him higher and higher.
Laurel
*There's a moment where she seems to take that into consideration- stopping her flight and turning down to him, giving him time to catch up. When he does, she crosses her arms and stares up at him- trying to get a read, perhaps? But she doesn't say anything. She simply watches, for a bit.*
Steven
There's a whistle in the wind. A soft, gentle, soothing sound...

...Just kidding. It's loud, clanking, and jarring. Far above, a suit of armor is spinning around, tumbling through the air rapidly. They seem to be wrapped up in a red cloak that's serving to constrain several of their limbs in a very pathetic display.

Oddly enough, there's no scream. They do however appear to be falling directly above the two's path.
Laurel
*Her gaze flits up from Vassek to the sound of clanking, gasping at the falling figure. For once, her brow knits in worry as she flies up just a bit and moves to catch her with her wind.*

"GODS- You're going to get HURT!"
Steven
"Heavens. This is *Not* Preferred over the river." A muffled voice comes from beneath the wrapped around cape, but - surprisingly - it holds no terror. Or excitement. Or, well, anything. It really sounds rather bored, or unconcerned of their present circumstance.

The wind, however, seems to slow the figure to some degree - To the extent they only *Moderately* Descend through the air, rather than rapidly. Their course is redirected to another nearby branch, red cloak wisping away behind them, and the suit of armor crashes into it, splintering like a shattered egg. Each part of the suit flies off in different directions, while some of them imbed into the branch.

By sheer chance, the helmet shoots off into Audra's direction. It looks like it's about to slam into her face. "Oh, no. Be warned. It appears I am a ballistic projectile."
Laurel
*She was moving towards the branch that she had directed the new got towards- brow remaining knit with worry- before the helmet shoots off towards her! She lets out a yelp and tries to throw up a mini barrier of wind, attempting to redirect the helmet upwards and into the sky instead of straight at her face.*

*Her own flight, however, is thrown off kilter. She flies to the right- into the branch and letting out a soft 'oof' in pain.*
Steven
"Here we goooo," The voice echoes out as its sent, honestly, flying to the heavens. It's like a star in the sky by this point. Gods were pretty damn powerful, aren't they? It doesn't seem like it'll be coming down anytime soon.

The other pieces, falling away softly, begin to weirdly slow their descents. With red ribbons and tassels ensnaring them, they're pulled back to the branch, slowly reconnecting themselves. To Audra, by her side, she'd see one of the gauntlets crawl along the branch on its fingertips, before turning to her.

It flips, balanced on its elbow, and gives her a pat on the knee. With a thumbs-up from the disconnected, still-sentient piece of equipment, it turns itself back over, continuing its crawl to the rest of the pieces. It hops up the greaves, clings off the chestplate, and pulls itself into its slot with the shoulderpiece. 

It takes a moment, but the suit of armor's back together! ...Without the head, but that's a momentary factor. They step over to Audra, offering a hand - the same hand that waved - to her, helping her stand up.
Laurel
*The Pigeon goddess lets out another small wheeze, but takes the hand of the armor and using it to stand. There's no helm to attempt to make eye-contact with, so she just.. Looks at the breastplate instead, and gives an awkward grin.*

"Heh- thanks! Sorry... About your head."

*Notably, as they stand there and speak, wind seems to passively clean any dirtied piece of her garb. She lets out a little chirp, content.*
Steven
As the Pigeon Goddess stands, their hand falls away, and goes to clutch their breastplate, as the body... Moves up and down, slightly. It's as if someone gave a short nod, but with nod head to do it, it honestly just looks like they're having a mini spasm.

At the apology, the shoulders shrug, hands extending to the sides in a pose betraying the phrase, 'it happens.' They raise their hand, gesturing to them, as if they asked a question.

...They quickly realize, she could not hear the question. Their voice was currently miles high. The chestplate rears back, facing upwards, and the hand presses to where their forehead would be, as if someone were blocking out the sun. It appears they're looking for their loose head.
Laurel
*Audra follows their gaze, using a hand similarly to block out the sun as she searches for the helmet in the branches.* 

"Again- I'm like- really really *Really* Sorry! I'll go get it for you! I'll find it, promise! Pinky promise! Forever!"

*She speaks quickly- glancing to the suit of armor, then the sky and the branches above them, the armor once more and then back to the sky.*
Steven
The suit of armor simply offers a salute on back. That one's easy to make out, even without a head! Then, as Audra flies up, its arm falls down, tapping metallic fingers along its crossed arms.

"...Up heeeere..." A voice comes from the branches. Nestled pretty far above, the corner of the helmet is wedged into the wood of Gaia, facing the horizon outside. She could wedge it out rather easily. "Are you there? I am here. Stuck. In a tree. Heavens."

They seem to be treating this like a typical Tuesday night.
Laurel
*Following the sound of the voice, Audra finds the helmet! Wedging it out of the wood, giggling and cooing to herself as her feather ears puff outwards in excitement.*

"Haha! Found you! Again, I am so so SO sorry that I threw your head. I didn't mean to! You just spooked me! Spooked me /real/ bad. Here-"

*Now, she starts her descent. Going slowly and keeping an eye on her surroundings to prevent any last-second spooks resulting in a missing helmet.*

"What was it you were trying to say to me?"
Steven
"Oh, right." The voice is still monotone, but in her hands, nods slightly. "Thank you for diverting me away. The wood is preferred over the heavens. Or the rivers." Seems they've had experience with this.

As Audra descends with the helm, the suit of armor reaches up, taking it from her. It plops the helmet down onto their neck's slot - At first, backwards - and screws it into place. The visor glows a deep black at it connects, fading back to that same empty mist-like material that hides their face.

"Delightful. Let us try this once more." They cough into a fist, now in complete unity once more. "First-"

"Where are we?" The visor looks dead at Audra.
Laurel
*She continues giggling to herself as the unknown god reassembles themselves, loweing herself gently on the branch that they stood upon and placing her hands on her hips. She lets out a hum of through as she looks around the two of them... Before shrugging!*

"I dunno! I just woke up. I was hoping you'd have the answer to that, pfah!"
Steven
"Drat. That is unfortunate." The finger puts a hand to their chin, as if in thought, speaking with a rather boring tone. "It shall be discovered in due time. Along with why I am able to stand all the way over here, yet am drowning all the way over there."

They point to the side, off into the horizon. Wherever they gesture to doesn't seem to be visible. At least they seem adamant about it.

"When I discover these elusive answers, I shall bring them to you, as payment." The helmet nods.

"Who are you?" The visor, again, looks dead at Audra. Its odd that they're stilling pointing over at that horizon.
Laurel
"Oh!" *Her smile returns, brighter than ever before.* "I'm Audra! It's really really *Really* Nice to meet you! Especially someone who wants to tell me their name! Hah! My other friend doesn't want people to know. I don't get it! He's *Weird.*"
Steven
Their helmet nods, still staring into them, and the arm falls to their side. "That is a shame! Yet I understand. There is power in a name. Such as Audra, the winged angel." The title is given. It is stated as a sheer fact, and they salute once more.

"I am The Silvered Judge." They leave it at that, as if it explains everything.
Laurel
"Wh- *Angel?* Wow, you're so sweet! But nah. I'm just Audra!"

*At their name, a hand flies to her chin and she tilts her head from side to side, as if debating something.* 

"... That's a *Long* Name. Can I call you Jude?"
Steven
"Jude?" The helmet tilts, as if not having considered this before. Then, it nods. "That shall suffice. Most call me Silver. Jude is... New."

They seem to think on that for a moment. Their head turns around, looking side to side, as if clueless. "...We are on a branch. Where does it lead."

They seem to just state that, not really sounding like a question. They look like they're about to walk off again and plummet to another doom.
Laurel
*The smaller goddess let's out a little yelp, scrambling to stand in front of them and prevent them from plummeting again.*

"Stop! Stop- you're going to fall again! Gods, you're going to give me a heart attack!"
Steven
The armor bumps into them - Lightly, thankfully, less they both would plummet off - and the figure steps back. The helmet tilts slightly to the side.

"...Oh, no. That is not my objective. Neither the scare, nor falling." They wave a gauntlet to the side, as if in an apology. They step to the side of Audra, this time - luckily - not walking off the branch, but stepping out a foot, hesitantly. "I am merely searching for the boundaries..."

That line comes out with a small hum from the chestplate, echoed within the metal carapace. Their foot taps the wood, feel its edge curving downwards. It's... Honestly, a rather strange display. "Is this were the branch ends, Winged?"
Laurel
"You know, I can just... Guide you."

*Audra states, tilting her head at the display currently ongoing. Her hands fold across her chest- she seems to be doing quiet a bit with them, almost fidgety. She takes one step forwards.*

"But- um, yep! That is where the branch ends, so... Be careful!"
Steven
"*Guide* Me?" The figure asks, humming deep in their metal. They seem almost aghast at the proposition. Silver does not *Need* Guidance.

But after looking around once more, noting that they are unable to really identify anything outside of their immediate surroundings, they cross their arms.

"...I suppose I could, barring no other impossibilities... Indulge this offer." The voice sounds hesitant, but the helmet nods. And they listen, taking a step back from the branch, and seem to grows deep in focus on something. If they could see, they'd certainly comment on Audra's fidgety nature, but as of yet seem unknowledgeable of her state.

By the end of their focus, and a couple of other steps around the branch in a circle, the pauldrons shrug. "It appears I do require your aid, Winged One. I cannot feel this realm."
Laurel
*Audra claps her hands together in front of herself, smiling and giggling to herself.* "YESSSS!" *She exclaims- feather-like ears puffing up in excitement. She steps forwards, reaching out a hand to try and grasp Judes.*

"So... Where should we go, then? We can go anywhere! The world's our oyster! Or at least, that's how I think the saying goes?"