[open] Oh, what I wouldn't give to stay

[astudyinviolet]

Who: Sherlock and others, guest starring npc Rupert Louis and npc little dragon baby
Status: Open
Where: Eltrut and wherever the bitty dragon is
What: A catch-all for MANTA Quests: A Phantom Thief, Touched by Mothlight, The Scales We Shed, Cluck and Dagger; and a non-MANTA prompt based on a rewards purchase
Warnings: Generally none but potential for talk of death and child abuse in Touched by Mothlight, The Scales We Shed because of lore drops

MANTA General: A Phantom Thief Theif: Eltrut, S.H. Detective Agency

[ Masked and cloaked figure causing people to become empty shells of themselves sounds too close to what Rochester had done to the people he abducted. Even if Rupert Louis from the Paladins hadn't come to him, Sherlock would have involved himself in the case. He may have trouble with the thefts occurring on multiple islands given his fear of water and seasickness. However, that doesn't stop Sherlock from spotting patterns using already available information.

Sherlock has brought out one of the rolling boards he and Heizou use to create a clue wall in some attempt to spare the walls and avoid overlapping cases. The board is covered with newspaper clippings of all known sightings and attacks. Strings criss-cross over each other as he places the locations on a map and connect incidents with each other. Sherlock pins up the brief profiles he created on all the targets.

Rupert the Gloster Canary birdfolk sits in a chair and looks like he wishes to be elsewhere. He finds the Shikalock Holmzou duo exhausting and knows Sherlock has been distrustful of the Paladins since his crystallization. But needs must, and Rupert can't deny their detective skills. ]

So far my investigation shows a pattern that suggests our thief is a vigilante.

[ A tea time companion plods along the floor, nudging ankles with its head in some attempt to remind people to hydrate. Results vary. ]

MANTA General: Touched by Mothlight : Eltrut

[ Moths, dozen upon dozen of moths, descend upon Sherlock the moment he steps outside. He's tried teleporting to other areas using his Ring of Returning, but the insects find their way to him within minutes. ]

Yes, I know moths are swarming me. Yes, I've tried ridding myself of them. No, nothing has worked thus far. Yes, I've been close to death, and you could say that I've a damaged spirit.

[ Sherlock says as someone approaches. Now that they've gotten the obvious questions out of the way perhaps they can do something about this. ]

MANTA Paladin: The Scales We Shed: Wherever this child is

[ The childlike writing caught Sherlock's attention, and he wasted no time finding the little dragon. It wasn't hard. Soon, Sherlock sits on the ground next to the dragon, who is curled up in an attempt to become smaller and less threatening. ]

"Are you here to help me become human?"

[ The little dragon asks, barely raising their head in their sorrow. Sherlock's gaze goes off into the distance and loses focus. He thinks back to Dilwyn in Cordona, but more importantly, he thinks of himself. ]

Not exactly. I'm here in hopes of understanding your plight further. Being human may not solve the source of the problems for I do not think your species is the true culprit. I can use myself as an example. I am human, and when I was around your age, most people didn't like me either.

[ Snapping his fingers, Sherlock creates a light projection of himself as a child. He feels a little uneasy talking about his past in specific terms and with others present, but he will do so for the dragon. ]

I don't think they could even claim that I was scary. So, I want to understand to better help you. Please, tell me more.

MANTA Paladin: Cluck and Dagger: Eltrut, Colonel Cluckbeard's residence

[ Chicken. This entire mission is about a chicken recipe being paraded by someone with far too much money.

Sherlock is likely the worst guard for this even as he's dressed for the part in the same outfit from the Paladin Gala with the addition of some red ribbons tied to fit the theme. He finds the whole thing ridiculous and is more concerned with any possible ties to the crystallization trafficking. If he sees one crystal-looking statue, he is causing problems.

In the meantime, Sherlock will just watch other people and gather information. ]

Why is he like this? Drop kick him into the ocean: Eltrut, Surasthana Cafe

[ Perhaps you saw a bottle for sale that claimed an answer from the gods and sporting a hefty price tag. It was an unassuming bottle with a fancy parchment inside and instructions to write a message on the parchment and toss the bottle into the ocean.

Sherlock bought it.

Now he sits here at a table in the Surasthana Cafe, drafting question after question in his casebook with said bottle and parchment before him. He's grown up with stories of fairies and fae and the necessity of precisely crafted wording. All of his questions seem related to asking for the John Watson of his world to be invited to this one.... ]

Wildcard

[ Want to do something else? Write a prompt or drop me a line at Sherry's journal, aviekokyre, or on Discord @ aviekokyre and we can plot something out. ]

Comments

Mothligh

[seasaltkeys]

So you can't just, like, stay inside or something like that?

[Roxas's brow is furrowed in thought.]

Could we try healing your spirit somehow?

[astudyinviolet]

I could remain indoors; although, I feel as if I was forced to stay inside for an age not too long ago. To repeat it again so soon...

[ He sharply blows a puff of air to send a moth which had landed on his nose back to flight. ]

Let us assume that I truly do have a damaged spirit which is possible to heal it. That will still not change that I've been close to death. Indeed, I have died multiple times before, and unless we can mask that from these creatures, the problem persists.

[seasaltkeys]

Yeah, that's a bad idea.

[The staying inside, anyway.]

Well, I don't think we can fix the having died part...[Which, he has questions.] so there's gotta be something else that we're missing. I don't really know how to fix Hearts either. I usually leave that to people smarter than me.

That really doesn't help though. Sorry.

But...moths like light, don't they?

[astudyinviolet]

[ Many people should have questions about why Sherlock believes he has died multiple times before. That's not something someone says without at least some concerning story behind it. ]

Moths are generally attracted to light. I've seen them gather around lamp lights, though never in these numbers.

[ It's a strange comparison because Sherlock has grown to think of himself as a being tied to darkness rather than light after everything he's gone through. His choice of light magic is in spite what he's become. However, the magic is something of this world. He has trouble truly embracing it as a part of himself. ]

Given the nature of what attracts these insects, it seems to be the opposite of common moth behaviors.

[seasaltkeys]

[Roxas nods. He's thinking and maybe there's an idea floating around in his head. If regular moths are drawn to light, then the answer would be to turn off the light. But, if these moths are drawn to death...]

So, if it's the opposite, then....Maybe we gotta find a way to get you more life, right?

'cause that would be the opposite?

[Or did he just confuse himself?]

Mothlight

[refantasma]

They're kinda nice, though.

[Nico, who's been close to death at least four times before he stopped counting, is also bringing moths in by the dozens. He wonders if his nature of being a half-mortal child of a chthonic deity also adds to the moths' interest in him.

He shoos some of them away so he can really look at the older man.]

Your soul doesn't seem any more damaged than any other I've seen.

[Granted, he's not looking to hard at the moment.]

[astudyinviolet]

While they are less troublesome than other creatures we have previously encountered, their presence is still a detriment to my work.

[ Sherlock waves a hand near his face to send the collected moths fluttering. With Jon no longer with him and Sherlock questioning his ability to exist alone instead of part of a set, he'd expect that something on his soul would be damaged or missing. Learning about other versions of himself has really skewed his perception. However, he cannot see his own soul, so he cannot confirm. ]

I suppose that should be some relief then.

[ His mind is already broken in various ways. He may have a heart problems in the family. He doesn't need yet another to add to his growing list. ]

[refantasma]

[Nico hums in agreement.]

I've never met a broken soul. Broken people, sure, still shaped by the traumas they've endured, but that's the mind, and that can heal, even after death. Always before rebirth though. Lethe takes care of that.

[astudyinviolet]

[ In some ways, a broken soul and a broken person does sound the same to Sherlock, but there's something about how nonchalantly the youth speaks the words that that convinces Sherlock that he knows something about this. He has knowledge in this area. ]

The Lethe? Do you speak of the river in the Underworld?

[ For once, this is a reference Sherlock gets. ]

why is he like this....

[garudas]

[Today is just one of those days. While Benedikta is a regular at the café, it has been quite some time since she's had the chance to come and enjoy a good book over a cup of tea. She is seated in her usual corner, feet up on the other chair, a book in one hand and her tea in the other as she slowly sips it. But it isn't just the drinks that she often comes here for. Cafes and restaurants are always good places to gather information, and there is no shortage of it to be sought after right now, especially with Elah still missing and the rifts still looming over her head like a shadow.

She does recognize one particular face seated nearby, though without the features of a cat or the glitter, it took her a moment to realize who it was at the table across from hers. Whether he has noticed her or not, she doesn't know, but he has been scribbling in that book of his since she sat down and she's fairly certain that he has not looked up once. Her gaze rests on the bottle next to the parchment, and she arches a brow.]

That must be quite the letter you are drafting.

[Fortunately (for everyone in this café) there is no moogle here to "crush him" today.]

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock may have looked up a few times in the process of obtaining more coffee, so he's not completely unaware. However, he wasn't expecting Benedikta to have an interest in what he was doing. ]

I am attempting to craft a question that will obtain information while also maintaining my intent. If the letter and not spirit is followed, then I must be precise and clear. Should the seller's claim prove true, then I will not waste it with a poorly constructed question.

[ He's already made notes to avoid any question that might result in yes or no answers. Those are not helpful. ]

[garudas]

[She does, in fact, find it very interesting what he's doing. Mostly because he has been writing almost nonstop for as long as she's been sitting there.

That, and what he says in answer to her is even more curious.]

What manner of recipient do you suppose you will get? You are aware that they just drift out at sea until someone finds them, yes?

[She doesn't know anything about the supposed magic of the bottle. Hence her curiosity.]

[astudyinviolet]

This is supposed to be a special parchment that, when placed in this bottle and tossed out to sea, will get an answer from the gods.

[ He taps his scratch paper with his pencil. ]

I know full well that it could be a scam for it sounds too good to be true, and yet, I am in possession of a number of items that can perform actions which could be called miraculous. Improbable does not mean impossible.

[ As much as he doesn't like echoing Lord Rochester's words, a cultist's words, "When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." ]

I lack evidence to deny the possibility.

wildcard

[ramuhs]

[Deciding to work out in Nogard for the week, Cid is already trying to tinker around and draw some possible plans for the upcoming expedition to the deep ocean. He had been intrigued and interested in various equipment that could be used underwater, especially to enhance breathing and swimming, so he already had a few things on his mind and on paper. Making it come to fruition, however, is a different thing, one he didn't really prioritize until now.

So it will relatively quiet should a certain someone decide to stop by.]

[astudyinviolet]

[ Soon a knock on the door will alert Cid to someone's presence outside, though a moment later, Sherlock walks in. ]

I hope I did not catch you at a busy time.

[ He spots the blueprint drafts and can guess which task force Cid is assisting. Sherlock is decidedly unhelpful for that quest, no matter the cause. He doesn't know if being submerged in water but surrounded by something would keep him from blacking out, but he's not keen to experiment with it either. Being in the deep dark waters is one of Sherlock's nightmares. ]

I wanted to speak with you about a problem I've been having as of late.

[ramuhs]

[He glances up upon hearing the knock, but hearing Sherlock's voice is what grants him his full attention with a grin.]

I always find myself busy, but I can handle a little interruption.

[He gestures for Sherlock to come to his desk and pulls over a chair for him to sit in.]

So, what's your problem? Didn't get into too much trouble again, did you?

[And there may be something of a wary, harder look because last time Sherlock had a problem IT RESULTED IN A BOUNTY.]

[astudyinviolet]

While I will claim some involvement for the previous times due to my investigations, but I will not do the same for this latest one. I simply fell through a portal, and Surge was threatening my life and making an attempt on it soon after.

[ He is not going to hide her identity or his displeasure. ]

I need some way to protect myself from those with incredible speed and lightning related abilities.

Touched by Mothlight : Eltrut

[obliviscere]

[ There's a few moths around Naminé here and there but she doesn't really seem too bothered by them. What she does seem a bit bothered by is this man's intense frankness. Well, not bothered really, more just...surprised. It's blunt, to the point, and also oddly intimate information to just fling out to anyone passing by. ]

Do ...you want people to ask you questions about any of that?

[ It seems like the only reason to just blurt it all out. Maybe he just wants someone to talk to about it? ]

[astudyinviolet]

No. Quite the opposite in fact. I've been asked those questions multiple times already, so when someone's attention turns my way, I merely give the answers and save us the time and trouble of the exchange.

[ He's being practical! ]

[obliviscere]

But...aren't they answers that just create more questions?

[ At least that's what it did for her. She can think of at least three different questions to ask based on what he's said. ]

I'm sorry you've been asked those questions so many times.

[astudyinviolet]

At the very least they are new questions that might result in progress rather than reiterating the same thing.

[ Sherlock sighs, unabashedly dramatic. The moths do not mind. They continue to land upon him, gently flapping their wings or opening them to the sun. ]

Consider it being the difference between speaking with an onlooker commenting on the obvious and someone willing to actually assist.

Mothlight

[velocityraptor]

[ Sherlock isn't the only one who is attracting moths though and the commentary makes Hawks look a bit bewildered. He hadn't been about to ask any of those questions anyway. ]

A damaged spirit? Is that what you call it? [ He sounds more confused than anything. ] What makes it damaged?

[astudyinviolet]

[ Hawks might not have been about to ask it, but Sherlock had a number of NPCs people asking him that. ]

I would not be surprised if it were the case, but even if we discount that ailment, I've been close to death in numerous ways to explain the sheer number of these moths landing on me.

[ He exhales a puff of air to send a portion of moths flying into the air before coming once more to rest upon him, wings spread to warm in the light. ]

[velocityraptor]

[ It's logical, but at the same, that is the rumour and considering they like him just as much, it stands to reason it works out for him too. ]

So have I. [ Unfortunately. ] I come across death too often in my line of work.

[astudyinviolet]

With that commonality decided, we must find a way to do something about these. I cannot speak for you, but my daily life will be a bit inconvenienced by these creatures. I see two broad ways we can solve this.

[ He holds up one finger. ]

One, we find away to repel them from ourselves, or--

[ He holds up a second finger. ]

--We divert their attention to something more appealing.