January Catch-All

[haveaflare]

Who: Dion Lesage and YOU
Status: Open and Closed
Where: Where these threads take place
What: Some open and closed threads for the month of January, including MANTA prompts and Dion practicing with a weapon he hasn't used in years
Warnings: None as of yet, but I'll update when necessary!

(OOC: If you're interested in a customized prompt or would like to start your own thing, you can find me on plurk and discord at vikael or PM Dion's account! I'm also always open to Wildcards, so you can just start your own thing if that's more your style!)

Comments

Closed to Joshua – Shopping trip!

[haveaflare]

[It had started as a glimmer of an idea, a suggestion from Cid to learn to use his tattoo to augment Bahamut's Aether, then another from Erichthonios who'd spoken on Aetherology as though the study of these patterns were nothing more than numbers or letters, and then Rokurou and their discussion of weapons.

It's been some time since he and Joshua last visited Elah together, and mayhap his partner might be persuaded to join him on a journey to a well-known blacksmith aboard the leviathan if he bought lunch? Facilitated another visit to the archive? He wanted to share this idea with him as well, get his thoughts and perhaps recruit his aid. Joshua has far more experience of being versatile in the channeling of Aether through his weapons, after all.

And his partner proves himself predictable as he finds the other Dominant in the library.]

Ah, there you are.

[phoenixdominant]

[This month has already proved to be quite interesting. Joshua has a set of books laid out before him, taking a few notes here and there as he scans the latest collection of books he's gotten on certain alchemical bases and Escordvi-based magics... (There's a paper sitting aside on the desk with a certain Manta Board posting he's been looking at as well, but that's for later.)

When he hears Dion's voice, he looks up from his work and a small smile appears on his face.]

And here I am.

[Although he can already tell there's a glint of something in Dion's expression.]

[haveaflare]

You are not a difficult man to find, Phoenix.

[The title, still laced with the same honor and respect with which it had ever been uttered, now carried a new note as well, something quite and kind, curling with affection. He moves closer, a hand sliding to Joshua's shoulder before glancing over the items collected and somewhat scattered across the table.

He notes the tomes: alchemical studies, magic studies, a stray MANTA posting, before looking back to Joshua, his hand not leaving his shoulder.]

Is this research into solutions for our own or some other project?

[phoenixdominant]

Then perhaps I should shroud myself in a little more mystery, if only to satisfy you, Bahamut.

[It seems that their Eikon titles have become something of a set of pet names between them, now. Joshua can't say he minds it, he finds it incredibly endearing.

His hand pats Dion's hand on his shoulder gently before he turns slightly to show Dion his current work.]

This is where my research presently rests, though. The basilisk oil is secured, but the remaining ingredients ... and the manner of their union ... remain.

[He glances at Dion again.]

But I'm sure you didn't come to find me to go over notes?

Beginning to level PLD | Open

[haveaflare]

[The clearing on Eltrut has become a popular spot for Dion to train, be it his wyvern (who is resting nearby, watching this new development with interest), or simply keeping himself fit. It's central, it's near to several food establishments he's come to appreciate, it's far enough away from the dwellings of others to keep them safe if anything untoward should happen, and it's well away from the other wyverns and griffons who call the Roost home and who might take offense to whatever noise he might produce.

Today, though, the halberd he is so often found in the company of rests against a tree beside which his bronze wyvern is curled and instead, the prince is in practice leathers, even in the cold, and wielding a…sword and shield? He has a wooden practice dummy setup here, against which he's practicing what are clearly swings and other basic moves he hasn't touched in some time, though he would also welcome a sparring partner, or something give him pointers.

Or something to ask what the hell he's even up to.]

[empyrean_mirror]

[...Well, if it comes to sparring, Mehrak can help, but Kaveh's rather curious. He build and designed the training grounds on Clive's specifications, but honestly they don't see much use otherwise. So seeing Dion use them is a bit a surprise to Kaveh.

It helps that Nima (the young unicorn who appears to believe she is a chocobo, for those playing at home) is quite curious about Lucian and has come to SNEEF.]

...Nima, mind your manners.

[Do not get too far in the baby Wyvern's personal space, please.]

[haveaflare]

[Dion's attention is caught first by the unicorn, a creature he's never encountered before, and Lucian's suddent shift in focus. The wyvern seems polite enough, though, staying down and stretching his long neck to investigate this horned creature instead of making to see if it was edible.

Luckily he's already eaten today.]

Ah, Kaveh. [Spoken at Kaveh's call to his errant unicorn.] Well-met. I'm not sure whether or not wyverns of this star consider this...Nima food, but Lucian [And he looks to the wyvern] will mind his manners as well.

hi so I lost this tag I'm so sorry

[empyrean_mirror]

She's called a unicorn, supposedly?

[Kaveh is watching the interaction between non-human children carefully, but he doesn't seem particularly worried. Yet.]

Though given how much time she's spent here with Ambrose, I am pretty sure she thinks she's a chocobo.

[On cue, Nima attempts to kweh. She still has the vocal cords of a horse. This was an extremely goofy noise.]

[garudas]

[Benedikta had found herself on Eltrut for one reason or another on this day when she spotted him. It was the familiar wyvern that caught her attention first if only because of the distressed sounds from the birds in the tree above, but it was the prince that grabbed it next. She cocks a brow, curious, and wanders over. Whether he can sense her or knows that she is there, she will stand by and watch a moment anyway.

That is, until she makes her presence known with a bit of wind to surprise him. Not too much to startle, but just enough that he might feel some resistance with his sword as it comes down or around on the dummy.]

I did not think that dragoons could wield swords.

[haveaflare]

[It's certainly enough resistance to give him pause and he looks in her direction once she speaks, lips curled in a slightly amused smirk.]

Before I was a dragoon, I trained as a knight alongside other squires to dreamed of the same title. Mayhap it is not what someone had in mind when they told me to "try something new", but something old has it's own sort of appeal.

[garudas]

[Well, at least he seems to be in good spirits.]

I would call this something new, in the sense that you were not doing this before. Sometimes familiarity is what you need.

[Benedikta's hand drops to her own sword instinctively, though she does not draw it.]

What inspired this change of heart?

[tilfrosset]

[Sometimes a simple walk to clear her head of whatever finds itself in Jill's thoughts is all she needs and today is no different. With no particular point of place in mind, she lets her feet take her where they may and that is part of the surprise that casts across her face when she comes across Dion. The other part is not from the wyvern (though she was unaware he's acquired one), but the sword and shield in the prince's hands. Not a familiar image she's gotten from Dragoons, but once the shock wears off, she replaces it with a friendly smile as she idly puts her hands into her skirt pockets, standing safely a few meters away from him.]

Looking to take the title of First Shield from Clive?

[haveaflare]

[The wyvern, off to the side, tilts his head and flairs his nostrils to take in this new person's scent as Dion looks over to her, lip curling in a slight smile before lowering his weapon.]

Jill. [He inclines his head.] Tempting as that may be, I do this for myself.

[tilfrosset]

[There's no fear of the wyvern that takes hold of Jill, but she still stands a respectable distance away from it, much like one would when faced with an unfamiliar dog. Let him catch her scent, perhaps come over on his own, and then she'll ask him (or Dion) for permission to pet.]

Glad to hear that. I don't think Clive would take such a defeat so easily. His ego is much more sensitive than one would believe.

[Is she slandering her future husband's good name? All in good fun.]

That said, I wasn't aware Dragoons took up swords if they could help it.

[serendipitously]

[ Perhaps he might notice a familiar butterfly, or a magenta glow from above, or perhaps not. Depends on how invested he's become in his practice. For a few minutes she does choose to just hover in the sky above watching his practice with a slightly amused expression. She does land down, creating enough noise to not completely startle the wyvern, and gave him a small smile. ]

I thought you seemed to like holding my sword.

[ Back in the palace. ]

[haveaflare]

[He does notice the glow, but more for being accustomed to surveying a battlefield as a whole rather than in part than anything else. He does relax his stance when she lands, though, not quite smiling, but nodding in greeting in any case.]

A memory from a simpler time, though I have been meaning to ask you about its make. I've never seen the like.

MANTA (paladin) Can't Let it Go | Eltrut Docks | Open

[haveaflare]

[No, a paladin worth his salt can't let a call for help go unanswered, and no, he can't cook, but what Dion can do is organize the gathering of supplies and do his best to facilitate their distribution to outlying islands.]

The people would be most appreciative, sir, if you could only-

[But his pleas seem to fall of deaf ears.

"If anyone wanted ta haul freight through that tempest, they would, son."

The pat the old captain gives his shoulder doesn't seem to ease his frustration. Maybe a little help is in order.]

[afflatusexarch]

[ G'raha notices that Dion is struggling with something. Now some Corsairs wouldn't be caught dead aiding and assisting Paladins. G'raha, however, doesn't really see what the difference is. So as he sees people ignoring the man, G'raha trots on over. ]

Do you require assistance?

[haveaflare]

[In truth, Dion is out of his element. He's no stranger to giving orders, of course, but he is more accustomed to people...listening to them? Perhaps persuasion isn't the answer here.]

Yes. There are people on outlying islands without supplies to weather these storms. The captains here at port are understandably hesitant to make the journey. I fear we may require alternative means.

MANTA (general) Fleamaster Mooshka | Open

[haveaflare]

[This task is not any more his speed than research, but the Fleamaster had seemed so adamant and if life in Escordvi has taught him anything, it is that any life has meaning, even the miniscule. And so here is the prince, kneeling beside an overturned barrel in order to peer into the gap between, brow furrowed in deep concentration.

But ah! He's found a tiny cage!]

Mayhap this will not be as taxing as I assumed.

BOUNTY | Year of the Honse | Open

[haveaflare]

Armed with a rather mind-boggling description from a very disturbed petitioner, Dion is on the hunt. The storms are still too much for Lucian's wings, and so he hunts alone today, unless others join him either in town before he follows the rough descriptions given to him by the disturbed townsfolk or on the trail as he follows what to him are very distinct hoofprints in the slushy ground.]

What make you of this strange creature? And why do you think it has so many hands? Mayhap a failed experiment?

[moremystyle]

[Hell's teeth. When the bounty placard read 'Honse' and contained a description so sparse it wasn't even a description, Faris didn't know what to expect. But he figured it might be something like a horse?

Well. Whatever it actually is... it can hold a sword. At least four of them.]

If it's natural, I don't want to know what circumstances led it to be like this. Mayhap there's a hidden island of animals that have too many hands, and I hope it's never discovered.

[But it is probably some kind of bizarre experiment. And whoever did it probably got strangled, because what else is this thing going to do to its creator?]

[haveaflare]

Far too many alchemists on this star seek to play god and fail.

[He's pretty sure they're looking at such an instance here.]

And it is armed, quite thoroughly. [The Prince removes from its specialized harness a long, shimmering halberd of mithril.]

I recommend distance, if it be afforded you.

[ashadowofhope]

[When he picked up the bounty, he hadn't expected anyone else to take it. Still, upon seeing the quest, he'd thought there'd been an error in the spelling. But believing someone had been trying to write 'Year of the Hönd' would not be inaccurate either he supposes.]

... Perhaps. I am not an alchemist thus cannot claim to know what may lead to such decisions.

[He could understand multiple limbs up until he remembers it has multiple hands. Not that they aren't useful, but he does not see them making good as... feet. Or hooves in this case. What a peculiar description indeed.]

[haveaflare]

I cannot believe it is any sane mind that leads to such decisions.

[But such a beast is unpredictable by warrant of being a creation whether than anything nature created, and as such should be put down for the safety of the environment in which it found itself, if not also put out of the misery of existing as so flawed a creation.]

And we are left to sort out their mess. [But where to begin seaching for such a creature?] I am Dion, it is a pleasure to make your aquaintaince.