[ open ] I hope someday you'll join us

[deepstar]

Who: Claude/Khalid + You
Status: Open
Where: Varies
What: MANTA questing
Warnings: TBD




Bεиεαтн тнε Iик

[ You know, he might have originally thought about the Beasts from his home world, if not for the fact that he's had conversations with a certain someone. That puts a different spin on things. Really, he should probably talk to both individuals that are more than passing familiar with phenomenon similar to this.

Right now, however, it's more important to try to get people out of the area or to contain the Phantoms so they don't spread. Usually, it's not an issue of putting creatures down but - ]

If it's all the same to you, I've got a plan. Unfortunately, the plan doesn't involve fighting them. Fortunately, the plan doesn't involve fighting them.

[ Claude... What? In all seriousness, unless he knows that there's no way to actually bring these people back, he's really hesitant to put them down. Containment first, but culling isn't necessarily off the table.

Though. Maybe Khalid shouldn't push himself too much. ]

Bαтттεяч Tεѕтιиg

Gods, this is actually useful.

[ Khalid is enjoying himself! He's at one of his usual haunts, Kaveh's cafe. Book in hand, tea on the table. And a portable fan blowing in his direction. Now this might not seem like some kind of amazing piece of technology, but honestly? Khalid is fascinated because most things here are more advanced than what he's used to back home.

It's a nice change of pace. ]

Not as good as being in the skies, but it'll do.

Vεѕтмεит Vεиdεттα

[ So for the seamstress, it's less about who and more the what. She would rather have her product back than to figure out who did it at this point. That's fine. It doesn't actually take him too long to figure out where her things have been taken. A little bit of listening here, a bit of bribing there.

And now Khalid has one of the thieves themselves! Claude has this individual tied up and in some shady place in the woods. If someone decides to follow him/go with, he'll stop them just shy of reaching the location. ]

You know, you might want to leave persuading our little friend to me. What about being a lookout instead?

[ He has a dagger, several different poisons, and antidotes on his person for a reason. ]

Ðσяιиα Gяαч

[ Now Claude has no real desire himself to see what his soul looks like. He, personally, doesn't imagine that the portrait will be pretty. However, he can provide emotional support. Although Dorina will paint him regardless in this prompt ]

You know, you could just ask me what I think of your soul.

[ Wink!~ ]

Wιldcαяd

[ Free for all! For any of these prompts, feel free to combine them with the Crystal Battery Testing, since Khalid will be participating in that as well. Other Quests I am interested in are It's a Takedown and The Scales We Wear. Additionally, I am down for any Bounties. If you just want to throw something at me that's completely random? That's fine too. If you want a personal starter or if you want to plot, hit me up at verthunder or same name on Discord. ]

Comments

Hiding in Plain Sight - Open to CR that would notice he's acting off

[deepstar]

[ The problem with Khalid is that he doesn't really know when to slow down. He's a patient man, of course, when it comes to things of a political nature. There are benefits to plans that he's stretched out over the course of a near decade. However, there are some things that come with urgency. Claude's developed some nasty habits due to being involved in a five year long war.

It means long nights. Occasionally skipping meals ( more like he forgets that eating is a thing that his body needs ). Maybe a couple of days without sleep. His growing concern that someone might have done something and it bothers him. Deeply. So, between trying to find out what's going on with the Phantoms and two baby wyverns, suffice to say that Khalid is just not entirely taking care of himself properly.

Ignore the books that he's been trying to read on magical theory and emotional regulation. They are not at all related to anything. Nope. Just a passing interest, he'll say. With a smile that still never reaches his eyes. Or maybe he'll just say that he's not too great at magic, but other people he knows are so he's just trying to take an interest in what they enjoy.

The most concerning thing, however, might be that he's really good at dismissing concerns. Or finding a way out of a conversation that leads to a discussion. And if you see him with a dark handkerchief, no you didn't. Khalid will pretend like he hasn't done anything at all.

"Don't worry about it."

Or

"It was a rough night. I'll take my afternoon nap later." ]

[empyrean_mirror]

...You sure about that?

[Yeah, Kaveh's been noticing this for a bit, now, and he has his limits to ignoring when people aren't doing well. And whatever this is?

Khalid isn't doing well.]

You look like you need a week's worth of naps.

[deepstar]

[ You know, Khalid would object to that. Truly, he would. The only issue here is that his body decides that a yawn is the best thing for him right now. So when he does, it's with a hand to his mouth. A wide, gaping thing.

Then he'll discretely dab those eyes. ]

I mean I knew what I was getting into with the young wyverns. It'd be easier with an entire aery full of them, but it's just a small few, you know?

[empyrean_mirror]

Then maybe I should be bringing you something stronger. Especially given you've let your tea go cold.

[Kaveh frowns a bit.] Doesn't even look like you touched it, actually. Was the brew off today?

[He knows it's not. What are you going to do, Khalid?]

[deepstar]

Was the brew...

[ He looks down at the cup and then realizes that he hasn't touched it. Claude groans and rubs at his face. ]

No, it's not off at all. It's me just being too absorbed in reading.

[sunsetking]

[Leona has been…busy. Mostly trying to contain the Phantoms that are suddenly lurking about and no, he’s not going to admit that he’s responsible for them. Maybe just a little. But in a world where strange monsters already exist, it might not be too much of a stretch to think Phantoms could exist.

Or any creature drawn to negativity or born from it to exist.

Except that he’s been noticing Khalid acting…more standoffish than usual. The older man may be good at redirecting concern, but he should never forget that Leona, unfortunately, has a sharp nose.

And he smells something suspiciously like ink.]

Khalid.

[deepstar]

[ To be fair, even if Leona doesn't say anything... How can he not know? Naturally Khalid is going to suspect Leona and the research. It's just he's not sure if he should confront Leona or, well, if he should gather irrefutable proof beforehand.

At the present moment, he actually had been lounging in Leona's guest room. No, he's not lingering around people if he can avoid it. Khalid is not trying to actively infect others.

So he grunts when he hears his name called. Leona's tone of voice is...

Hmm. Has he been had? ]

Kind of taking a nap?

[sunsetking]

Naps are more of my thing.

[Leona clicks his tongue. He might...sound a little more irritable than usual, but that's not really surprising.]

Wanna tell me what's gotten you so tired?

[deepstar]

I’ve been known to take afternoon naps.

[ However, Khalid is sitting up now. He stretches and looks at Leona with a smile. ]

I’ve just been looking into a couple of things. My mind’s going too fast to get a ton of sleep at night.

[octoblot]

[Regardless of whatever book Claude is perusing, his reading is suddenly interrupted in the form of a hand that appears from the top, forcing it down and out of the way so that the other man has to look up at Azul's sudden arrival.]

Khalid-san, we need to talk.

[... Judging by the frown Azul is wearing, it's probably not going to be a happy conversation.]

[deepstar]

[ The movement doesn't really startle him or anything like that. From the way that Khalid looks up, it's almost as if he, well. Had been expecting this at some point.

Maybe, because in all likelihood, he had. ]

Yeah, I was thinking about reaching out myself.

[octoblot]

[That gets the slightest of eyebrow raises, but otherwise, Azul can't really say he's that surprised.]

Really now... by any chance, were you going to reach out for the same reason that I had to come look for you here?

[deepstar]

[ Oh don't give him that look... It really isn't that much of a surprise, is it? After all, they've had talks before. Khalid is also involved with Leona so that means he's definitely talked to Leona about their world. ]

There's a very good chance of that, yeah. That is, if you mean one of the requests that's currently up.

Beneath the Ink

[philancer]

[ Sylvain's known Claude long enough now that he doesn't even bat an eye over the fact that the man already has a plan. The caveats, however... ]

Okaaaay... so no fighting. What does your brilliant plan entail, then? Because, uh, they might have a completely different plan.

[ He gestures ahead of them, to the shadowed area where there had been movement several moments before. They'd been tracking these things for most of the morning, following rumors and leads of people who had witnessed them. Or, a few times, where someone had recently gone missing.

Unlike Claude, Sylvain doesn't have another frame of reference for these things. And he has very vivid memories of the Beasts back home in the back of his mind instead. 'Not fighting' hadn't exactly been an option when dealing with them, either. ]

[deepstar]

[ Yes, well. Sorry, Sylvain. He doesn't actually want to hurt these people if it can, at all, be avoided. Claude hopes that it can be avoided. It seems like such a waste otherwise. ]

They probably have a different plan. My plan is to lock them in one of the local barns.

[ Don't ask him how he convinced someone to lend them a barn for this, but he's gotten someone to. Hopefully the barn is sturdy enough for containment. ]

All you need to do is think about your brother and run towards the barn.

[philancer]

[ A lot of things could have come out of Claude's mouth when he was coming up with a plan. Sylvain might not have been one of his Deer, but even he knew that.

Still, the details of this particular plan still have him stopping short and staring at Claude as if he's completely lost whatever's left of his sanity. ]

What?!

[deepstar]

They're drawn to negativity. I can't say I have much in the way of that.

[ Not in any real way, that is. Claude isn't an angry or depressed individual like that. Sure, he gets fired up from time to time but - ]

Like, I know what makes me upset aaaaand I don't see a lot of that here. However, you have things that still make you upset, right?

Battery Testing

[bardische]

[ Sylvain had coaxed Basch to Kaveh's cafe. Normally, he was quick to join wherever his partner even suggested they go, but this had been...odder. He'd known Kaveh, if briefly, and even warned the memory was missing, it was a strange, bittersweet interaction.

Claude was much more intimidating. He'd seen several times how out of sorts Sylvain got when there were people from his world about, and there had been a particular night Sylvain had come home drunkenly rambling about Princes and other things.

Whatever he'd worried over, this interaction was already easier, and a warm smile lightens his face. ]

I often found small inventions to be most miraculous, where we were before.

Sylvain mentioned your world had winged mounts.

[ And how heavily Sylvain preferred his horses, but that was a very private share, possibly the most intimate part of himself that he'd shared. Basch thinks this is the vein they are speaking in, anyway. Claude could easily be a sky pirate, but Sylvain has never mentioned airships. ]

[deepstar]

[ The mention of Sylvain has him setting down his book. The way that this guy says it is too casually. It's an interesting thing because that must mean that Sylvain's talked to this man about Claude, but the opposite can't be said. ]

It does. My wyvern actually showed up here about a month after I did. Some days I think I'd be lost without her here.

[bardische]

[ As Basch observes Claude's reactions, he shows none of it on his face. Once a guard, always a guard.

The other does not react warmly or even familiarly to Sylvain's name. Perhaps their memories are different, or there is some tension there Sylvain has not mentioned. ]

That is fortunate. I suspect they have a decent lifespan as well.

[ He never grew particularly attached to his mounts, not with being moved so often, but he knew those who did. ]

Have you been here for some time?

[deepstar]

[ There won't be much in the way of a reaction either, since he's pretty sure that bringing up Sylvain had been done with some sort of intent. Claude will take his time figuring out what the angle is. For now, there is no reason to have a reaction either way - though Khalid has no bad feelings towards Gautier either. ]

They do. I'd say they're comparable to horses. Close, but not quite.

[ It would be hard for him not to get attached to his girl. She'd been with him since the day she hatched. However, wyverns are important in that they are also prepared for combat. ]

Anyway, yeah, you could say that. I think it's been seven moons?

Battery Testing

[beshackled]

[New though he is to the environs, as soon as Erichthonios had seen and set foot in the cafe, he had taken a liking to it. To be surrounded by books and colored glass and the scent of tea.. it's nice. Thus on this day does he find himself there again, book in hand and a little white-robed poppet seemingly reading along with him at his side.

'Tis only upon the sound of another's voice that his focus upon the subject matter is broken, faintly luminescent eyes lifting from the page to drift their scarlet gaze towards the origin of those spoken words, and to the item indicated by them.]

'Tis an interesting concept. Where did you obtain such a device?

[deepstar]

[ And Khalid? He's just enjoying the little breeze that the fan is giving off. Being from a more arid and hot climate, these things would sell so well. ]

Hmm. The Forge. They're wanting people to test these little things out. There are other options, but this is the one that feels best for me.

[beshackled]

[The Forge. He's not been here long enough to connect the dots to the particular forge in question, but he has a curious mind, and thus files away the information for later investigation.]

'Tis good they are testing the concepts before authorizing them for wider distribution. Though I daresay you are right. 'Tis unlikely so small a device would be able to properly emulate the currents experienced in flight, or in living amongst the skies.

[Head tipping back as though he might peer into the sky itself, Erichthonios recalls:]

'Tis quite breezy, high up.

[deepstar]

[ Man, won't Erichthonios be surprised by the man that runs it. Or, maybe, he won't immediately recognize? Well, not like Claude knows much about that. If anything at all. Just that the guy that runs it is kind of old, cranky, and gives off some villain vibes. Tortured villain vibes. ]

I don't think that's the point, really. It's not really meant to copy those sorts of winds, but just cool people off. Where I'm from, you'd have to do that sort of thing manually.