Log:The Lonely Monument

2021/02/24 	 Rushmore Artemis

1

Rushmore

This is a humanoid shape, standing about eight feet tall. No obvious clothing on it, but it is entirely made out of rock. Rather than a human with rocky skin, it looks like...rocks moving in concert with each other.

Rushmore agrees to meet with Artemis. He picks the location out on the island again. It's nice and remote, which makes it a good location to make sure that he won't necessarily be interrupted by a teammate. Or even one of the other metas in town. He's currently seated on the beach when Artemis arrives.

Artemis arrives via the air as usual. She's smiling merrily, happy to be meeting with her friend, especially since it's been too long. He can tell she's arrived when he hears a happy cry of "Friend Rushmore!" and a whoosh of air as Artemis divebombs to greet him excitedly.

Rushmore doesn't have a face...or expressions, but he seems happy to see Artemis all the same. "Artemis! It is good to see you again!" He waves to her.

Artemis slows down enough to not completely tackle him as she thumps into him for a friendly embrace around his rocky shoulder-equivalents. "Aye, 'tis good to see thee again as well!" She lets go and drifts back to get a look at him, smiling brightly. "How hath thee faired? Rebel's words were most concerning, but ye seem well." She appraises his rocky surfaces for chips or scrapes.

Rushmore nods. "I am well. Physically at least. I have just been feeling lonely. While the members of my team are...friends, they do not have much in common with me. Even Stone is more alike the humans than he is to me."

Artemis looks saddened to hear this. She places a hand on his arm as she drifts to the ground, looking up at him. "I grieve that thee have been lonely, Friend Rushmore. I'm sorry we've not been able to meet much lately, but many of my adventures have taken me away from Urth, and it seems fate has our schedules mismatched. Tell me of thy woes, and of how I may comfort thee."

Rushmore nods, and sounds comforted. "I think...our team is having..scheduling issues, too. Or goal issues? I do not think that the goal of some of us is the goal of all of us."

"So ye have not spent much time with thy teammates? It sounds to me as if this lacking of commonality has spread beyond friendship bonds to the bond of causes as well." Artemis things on this, and sits on a nearby large rock opposite Rushmore. "What has changed with thy--oh!" She stands up quickly and checks the rock she was sitting on. "Ah, for a moment I thought mayhaps I had sat upon part of thee," she apologizes. She can't be sure though. It doesn't seem connected to his main "body".

Rushmore chuckles, and it sounds like someone walking on gravel. "That rock is not part of this one." He pauses a long moment and says, "I suspect that someone on the team does not really want to be a hero. It is a sense that I get, despite our stated goal. Perhaps I am in the minority, rather than the majority."

Artemis smiles and sits back down. She motions for him to get comfortable however he pleases. "Thou hath a good spirit and instinct. I would trust if it I were thee. Be there any events or evidence to prove this? What say the others?"

Rushmore nods. "It is just...something I feel in my stones. And something to do with the way some of the others look at me. I am not...very good at reading expressions on people. But it is clear that The Senator is good at hiding his emotions. The others...less so."

Artemis looks concerned by this, and sympathetic. "And how is it they look at thee?"

Rushmore says...."Well, Some are very friendly. Stone and Rebel. But they are newer. I think that Line Item Veto and Screaming Eagle know something more. As does Freedom. Libby as she sometimes likes to be called. They often cut off conversations around me, like they are trying to keep something from me. Or protect me in some way?"

Artemis frowns gently at this. "Hmm. Thou art too strong to be shielded from danger, so it would seem something else. This is most concerning. Though Rebel did seem to be concerned for thy well being, for she felt it worth warning me of thy current demeanor." She thinks silently on this at first. "Doth thou still feel safe amongst their numbers?"

Rushmore nods. "I don't feel unsafe. Just that they are hiding something. I worry that it is...a nefarious purpose. I know that they have not always been viewed as heroes. I am concerned that they will return to the old ways of 'The ends justifying the means'."

Artemis rises up and walks to him, placing her hand on his arm. "If this be true, I am sure thou would not take part. If their hearts hath turned, thou shalt be expected to join them," she says softly.

Rushmore nods. "I am unsure what they are likely to do. I feel like...there is a purpose. But I know not what. Should I try to ask? See if Stone or Rebel have noticed?"

Artemis is not good with guile. She thinks heavily on this. "If they are ones thou trust, thou should ask. Thing ye the Leader is part of this?"

Rushmore nods. "I would be surprised if he was not. He is a mentalist. He can read all our thoughts. How does one hide something from someone like that?"

"Then...he knows how thou feel on this already, and has not come to thee to discuss this?" Artemis asks.

Rushmore nods. "That is my guess. Unless he has not tried? I am unsure."

Artemis nods softly. "I worry for thee, Friend Rushmore. I hope this to be some innocent cause, but it is odd for them to keep secrets from thee. If there ever be trouble and ye need my aid, ye know ye can call upon me, yes?"

Rushmore pauses, still for a long moment. The rocks shift, and then he nods again. "I did not realize that, but I do now."

Artemis chuckles warmly. "The blame is mine. I thought ye knew, Friend Rushmore. Here, I shall grant ye this," she procures a coin made of two alien alloys, both gray and golden. She holds it out to him. "A boon amongst my kind. 'Tis not a coin to purchase goods, but to call upon a divine favor. Whilst you have the coin, you need but think of me and a message you wish to give me, and I shall hear thee and can come to thy side wherever thou be. Little would prevent my arrival."

Rushmore...doesn't have 'hands' exactly. He does have floating rocks approximating a hand-like shape, though. He takes the coin carefully. "Thank you. I do wish I had...pockets now. Perhaps I shall ask for some."

Artemis smiles at that. "Mayhaps a bag that can be slung about part of thee. Keep it in thine quarters if it be more convenient."

Rushmore nods. "I shall be careful with it until I return home. Thank you again."

Artemis nods. "I do agree thou should ask the friends ye trust. Mortals change, and sometimes their paths diverge because of it. This may be the start of that for ye, and I am sorry if the goals ye had are no longer to be met with thy allies." This has been some heavy thinking on her part. "Ye will be a hero no matter, I am sure."

Rushmore nods. "I hope so. I want to do the right thing. I just...wish they all felt the same way. Maybe they do, and I am mistaken. I hope so."

"I hope so as well," Artemis says encouragingly. Something about this worries her, but she's not sure what exactly. Surely they wouldn't turn on Rushmore. "Now come, let us relax and enjoy each other's company. You can tell me of thy other activities since last we met. Have thee been able to get out in nature much?"

Rushmore nods. "I have. We have stopped some villains from nefarious activities, but in my spare time I have managed to visit nature several times. It's peaceful, but quiet. Which is both good and bad."

"Bad? I thought thou relished the peace and quiet," Artemis asks in surprise.

Rushmore nods. "I do. But I need...interaction once in a while. Even if it is jsut someone else sitting nearby. Like a river spirit. Or a kami."

Artemis smiles gently. "I knew not that ye could see spirits, Friend Rushmore. I am glad they keep thee company. I should be remaining Urth-bound for some time, hopefully. Mayhaps I can keep thee company from time to time."

Rushmore nods. "I would like that. Thank you."

Artemis floats up to be "eye" level with him so he doesn't have to keep craning his head down. "Of course. 'tis what friends do, yes? We can meet again at a place of thy choosing and makes plans now, if ye would like. Ye can tell me how thy questions faired with thy teammates."

Rushmore nods. "That sounds good to me." He then picks out a time and day to meet next, about a week from now.

Artemis makes note of the plans. "Most wonderful, Friend Rushmore. Also may I say, I am most proud of thy accomplishments in stopping villainy. If thy team is still doing such, then I hope all is truly well and there be some innocent reason for their silence."