escordvi | [open] april manta quests

Entry tags:

[open] april manta quests

Who: Rem and You!
Status: Open
Where: around
What: Manta board prompts.
Warnings: Include any content warnings

Wishing Tree (General)

It's really beautiful, isn't it?

[ Seeing as this tree blooms only one night a year, many have made their way up to this tree during this very same night. You, too, might have trekked all this way with a friend or a lover in order to make a promise. But, if you're taking a moment away from them to mingle with the other pilgrims, Rem is here to converse!

She is, of course, alone, as she has no one to make a promise with-- but that's no matter, as the tree itself is beautiful enough to justify the entire hike. Doubly so, as it only blooms once a year. Although she appears winded, she smiles through her fatigue, coughing softly into her hand. ] It's worth seeing, it is. [ Rem lifts her gaze to admire the flowering pinks and reds of its boughs. ] Even if the blooms fade too quickly.

Down Where It's Wetter (General)

[ SOMEONE STOP HER, SHE'S BEING SWINDLED BY HANDSOME MERMAN VARIANT #2 BY THE COAST-- ]

Oh, what's that, you need more to be able to buy dinner...? Fishing while being able to breathe underwater must be tougher than it looks. [ Rem reaches for her coin purse, selecting another doubloon. The merman motions her closer, and she blinks, initially confused, and leans in to allow him to murmur something into her ear.

Immediately she turns red, and she hands him the coins. ] Oh, um, that's... You're very kind, you are! [ Wow wow wow, he called her beautiful. That's so nice. She's never had someone call her that before, much less in such a forward way! An embarrassed, bashful smile forms at the corners of her lips, her cheeks retaining that soft pink. This is the look of a young woman who is easily moved, practically made smitten by such kind words. ] Here, take more.

[ It's not like she needs to eat or anything! The merman has to! Plus, he's so friendly! ]

Crab Curry (Special)

[ She's kneeling by a tide pool, cupping a tiny, baby hermit crab in her palms. Rem looks over the little critter remorsefully. ] I'm sorry, little one. I was too late.

[ With her thumb, she pets over its colorful shell. Should you be close enough, you might be able to notice that it's no longer moving.

But she's still holding it. Although her head is bowed, it doesn't appear as if she's praying over it, but concentrating. ]

Wildcard

[ Have an idea? PM this account, drinksteapots, or Jade294#6977! ]

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[She's still not quite sure what to feel about this, or if she understands fully what it is that Rem means, and the way her eyes flit between Rem's face and her hand, it's clear that she is processing this information—or trying to, anyway.

And she'll just start at the most obvious place.]

When you speak of souls, or phantoma... do you mean those of... people?

People... monsters... [ Rem answers, looking away. ] All sorts of beings have souls. [ Her answer is vague, but it's not as if further details are necessary. ]

We don't discriminate when we harvest.

[ They hold out their hand, and they-- ....rip them from their bodies. Her brows pinch together with guilt. It seems so wrong, now, but it feels equally wrong to tell one more person about this. ]

[Something in Benedikta's demeanour shifts. She doesn't let go of Rem's shoulder, and she won't unless she steps out from under it herself, but there is a new hardness to her expression. Not angry or disappointed, or even sad... but rather, steeling herself against that spike of emotions that gather in her chest. It's... certainly not what she was expecting Rem to tell her, and it is so far from what she could have imagined this process to be.

It only hits a bit of a deeper place because... well, she's dead. Would they have harvested her soul in that case? Would she have been among those who had their souls... ripped from her? She isn't even sure how that works, or what being "harvested" even means.

Could she say that she blames Rem for it? No... not really, because if she were in Rem's shoes, Benedikta might have done the same. Back then, she would have done anything that anyone asked her to if it meant being stronger, and being able to stand on her own two feet in a world that would try to knock her down at every possible turn. She had, in a way, only through different means... So, she can at least sympathize with her on that front.

But there is still conflict in the furrow of her brows, and Benedikta is silent as she starts to lead them into a walk again, thankful that the path that they take to return to the city proper is quiet.]

And what exactly does the... [A pause.] ...harvesting of souls do for you here that training with a sword and magic cannot?

[ Rem's eyes flick back to Benedikta's, lower, and then lift once again. Her chin tucks lower, betraying conflict-- the look of someone unwilling and unused to explaining further. But she does. ]

Ordinary training can hone one's reflexes, strength, capacity, and prowess for magic. In our world, converting a soul into our power-- permanently-- would heighten the power of magic, beyond what we were capable of. Elemental magic, defensive magic... and healing magic. It allowed us to learn new magic, too.

It helped others... and us survive.

[ After this, though, her lips quickly press together. Improving and strengthening those spells, that of elemental or the healing arts, would undoubtedly help with survival. As they always had helped during the war. Indeed, she would not have lived as long as she had if not for using souls-- both to improve her magic, as well as resupply it when she'd been all but exhausted her limits. But that magic is not what she cares about most.

No, she needs the altocrystarium for something more, a power that would guarantee her survival-- survival past her remaining time in the world.

Raise.

Raise, as well as its sibling, reraise. Power that exists in her world because she's seen it used, seen it work, seen it executed in all of its miraculous glory, and she knows how much it costs to obtain it, to learn it, and have it burned into the mind, never to be forgotten and to prevent being forgotten. She needs it like the air her rotting lungs crave with each breath. Bringing someone back, no matter how cold their corpse is, no matter if they're beyond the Void or past the Gate--

It doesn't matter how it works. She needs to learn it, she must. It's there, she can feel it, just past her reach.

The only hope she has that it can be learned by 'ordinary' means is that she's already managed to teach a version of it to herself, somehow. ...Somehow, as it should be impossible, but somehow the power is hers. Or rather, a pitiful shadow of what Class Zero's 'Mother' can do, and certainly not enough. ]

I am human, Benedikta. [ Rem tells her, at length, and her shoulders slope with a weariness finally revealed. Ironic how the hundreds of souls she carries with her are weightless, but dying feels as if she carries all their iron caskets instead.

Her stance shifts, and she lifts a hand, cold and pale, to reach for the one Benedikta has placed on her shoulder. Rem takes it between both her palms, cupping it gently, silent.

This is the hand of a woman and warrior, trained in combat, a survivor and victor of many battles-- and of this, Rem has no doubt. Has had no doubt from the first time they met and Benedikta walked so confidently alongside Rem for a book, sword securely displayed at her hip. Did she notice how the crowd seemed to part for her, even when she was standing still? Did she think Rem wouldn't notice the grace with which the wind followed each of her steps? ]

I'm human... and I'm not strong, not like you. Not like Cid. [ Rem looks up at Benedikta. ] I'm told Dominants have a curse, but you're also blessed with the supreme power to protect those you love, in a way only you can. [ Her voice drops to a hush at that, knowing full well the presumptive nature of her words-- yet trying to connect with her, all the same. If there's anyone who would understand weighing the cost of blight against boons among the Dominants, and how easy a choice it is when it comes to making that choice for those most precious to the heart--... would it, could it be Benedikta? ]

I don't have the power of an Eikon on which to channel or rely. But I, too, want to protect those I love.... and I want to live.

Edited 2024-05-24 05:41 (UTC)

["In our world," she says, as if this world were the same, and Benedikta has half a mind to remind her of that. Only half, because the other just listens to what she has to say, allowing her the time to explain everything. And she's still not quite sure she understands what souls have to do with any of this—this place has given many the ability to learn new tricks, including herself, that they would otherwise not know, and no one has had to harvest the dead to get it. Though, again, the things she says along with her own thoughts hearken her back to a different time when she lacked the confidence, and when that crowd would not part for her because she couldn't even take the first step into it.

What she would have done back then, in the days before Garuda and before meeting Cid, to have that sort of power. To have something so great that she could have found her way out of the depths sooner and on her own would have been a fantastical thing. She would have shown those who had wronged her what she could do...

But she didn't. She had to claw her way out and build herself up from there, with the winds of Garuda pushing her along.

If only Rem knew how weak Benedikta had been... how weak she still is, in many ways, though she doesn't think that would change the girl's mind in the least... and perhaps that is a good thing.

Because in spite of her inner conflict, despite that bitter taste that it leaves in her mouth, how her aether tingles under her skin as if it feels like it needs to fight for her life, she still can't bring herself to beg Rem to change her mind.]

I was like you once, little bird.

[Her other hand comes up to rest over Rem's, and a rueful smile tugs at the corner of Benedikta's lip.]

Though, perhaps not quite so selfless in my own endeavours.

[Her pursuit was for power, and to protect not others, but herself. Even now, she can't say that she is so selfless, either. She still wants that power, still clings to it like a lifeline even when she has so much more, which is perhaps why she can understand Rem's predicament so easily.

But there is one question that has been lingering on her mind—]

Will this hurt you?

[Because their curse hurts them, as Rem now knows, apparently.]

[ "Once like you--"

Rem remains quiet for a few seconds more. If she knows what it's like to be weak and unable to protect herself or others-- ]

It's never hurt me before.

[ Or any of them who have exchanged phantoma, whether for power or for summoning. If it hurts others in some metaphysical way to deal with soulmancy, she wouldn't know. As far as she knows, each of their class had this ability even before they'd been granted the authority by the Archsorceress to practice it. Ordered to, even, to reap them after the battle's over. ]

It's helped me stay alive. [ As horrific as it is to think about, pulling a part of others' magic or life essence has sustained her in battle, so say nothing of actually converting their phantoma itself. ] I don't like fighting, but without power like yours, I do what I can.

[She takes a slow breath at hearing that, both to center herself, and out of relief, and her hand squeezes over Rem's.]

I know that Cidolfus already has, so I will not stand here and try to convince you to do otherwise.

[Benedikta does not stand on some high moral ground and presume that she can tell others what to do with their powers. She doesn't like it when people do it with hers, and she is not at all surprised by what Cid had asked for from Rem. He always was an advocate for finding other means...]

When there are no other means to protect those who we care about, or to survive, we do what we must.

[Gods only know that she has tapped deep into her aether one too many times. Garuda stirring constantly compared to before is a sign of that.]

However...

[The 'but' that hangs there for a few beats.

Actually, there are a few of them, but she keeps them all to herself for now so that she can focus on the main point.]

Promise me that you will continue to hone your other skills. Focus on those. Learn from others.

[Even the Dominants have a price to pay for their strength, and while she remains unaffected by it, she knows that it would not have lasted forever, and that surely, if she had survived priming into Garuda, she would have shown signs of it...

Her lips part again like she is about to say something more, but she closes them just as quickly. Perhaps another time.]

Edited 2024-05-27 01:11 (UTC)

[ What good is training her elemental magic if she's dead-- in the initial thought that rears its ugly head. Rem quashes it, and she simply nods.

Becoming stronger by ordinary means is something she's already agreed she'd do, after all. And to search for others means.

The slaver had that one jewelry piece that frequently brought him back-- that's a start, but she doesn't know where it is. Or maybe there's a creature in this world that carries a lantern like a tonberry. If she is seeking another means than the Altocrystarium, she must seek other possibilities that may guide her in honing her greater magics. ]

What is it? [ Rem asks, having noticed Benedikta stopped short of saying something else. ]

[And she would have simply argued right back.

But Rem manages to turn it back around on her just like that, and still she wonders if she should say anything at all. It's not particularly an easy topic for her to open up about, and even less so out in the open like this... Or maybe having the distractions of the world around them will serve to her advantage? She doesn't know...

And it's not as if she's always been the best at pep talks or comforting others, but she truly does mean what she says.]

I lost my powers once. Or, I thought I had...

[The words come slowly, a memory that she has not voiced aloud since arriving here, and every bit of her is laced with guilt.]

These "gifts" of ours... they are not everything that they seem to be. And I do not just mean the curse.

[ Her brow knits in confusion. Being rid of their Eikons and magic seems to be the most logical solution to their curse, yet the way she speaks of having almost lost her power seems almost... pained. Why, if not for wanting to keep that power despite its cost? ]

What do you mean?

[More silence, as Benedikta thinks back to those final moments before Garuda had come for her in the Aery that day. She does not remember much of what happened, but no matter how hard she tries to forget that, she can't...]

It... drove the one that I did care for away.

[She chides herself, scoffing with a frustrated toss of her head. Why the hell is she even saying all of this...?]

I'd not come to realize it until I'd lost it all.

[What she is trying to say is that while their gift is incredibly powerful, there was another price that she wound up having to pay instead of the curse.]

So long as you do not lose sight.

[ Her gaze breakes with emotion. ] I'm sorry THat's... [ She pauses here, struggling to find an appropriate word. Rem lifts up a hand to her clasp at cloak, rolling the smooth metal between her fingers. ] awful.

[ Silence hangs heavily in the air, and Rem chews on her bottom lip, debating if she should ask another question that springs to mind. ]

[Awful, indeed. If she'd only just realized it sooner...

And now it's Benedikta's turn to notice that she is holding back something, watching Rem carefully in that silence.]

Don't be afraid to speak what you want to.

[ Conflict continues to waver in her eyes. ]

Would you give up that power for them, to not lose them? Or for them to not lose you?

[ Without power, one is unable to protect others. Not being able to protect them would mean risking losing them in battle or catastrophe. Simultaneously, having that power would mean they'd lose Benedikta to the curse. ]

Or would you want to keep it still, to be able to protect them?

[She laughs quietly to herself, more a scorn at herself than anything directed at Rem. The irony of such a question is not lost on her...]

Had you asked me that almost a year ago, I might have told you protecting anyone did not matter. All that mattered was that I had my powers, and I could protect myself.

[Because Benedikta's first and only concern was herself.

That hand that had been resting over hers gives it a squeeze, and there's a pause as Benedikta's amber eyes rest intensely on Rem before she continues.]

Now. I am not so sure, little bird.

[Benedikta's own conflict draws her brows together again, this vulnerability making her skin crawl, but... it is important to her that Rem knows this.]

I have him and my powers now, but then? If I'd known, I... might have left them behind to follow him.

[It's still something that Benedikta is coming to terms with herself, and it has been a difficult journey. But knowing what she knows now, she fears her Eikon more than she reveres her these days.]

[ Her eyes widen slightly at the answer, making it obvious that it's not the answer she'd expected. Rem is not there yet, not at the point of giving up on acquiring strength in order to protect. Not even after trading her humanity for it once.

This time, she promises herself, she'll live.

"It... drove the one that I did care for away."

"I have him and my powers now."

... ]

You're talking about Cid, aren't you?

[ Cid had mentioned how he had to leave his military post. Is this the other side to that story? ]

[She didn't even have to try for that one, did she? Clever... Though, she realizes that it's not exactly all that much of a secret to most these days. Where Cidolfus is, the wind is sure to follow not far behind him.]

Yes.

[Her answer comes easily, and with a sigh.]

I suppose that much was obvious, wasn't it?

It was. [ She nods, smiling. ]

And now in this world, you've both regained what you lost, and you have your power. I'm glad for you. Really. What you have is worth fighting for.

[The sentiment is sweet, really, and Benedikta can't help that light twitch of her lip with a fond smile. Second chances and all that...

But it fades and she fixes Rem with a more serious look again.]

It is. But I do hope you understand what it is I am trying to say, Rem.

[She shakes her head, squeezes her hand.]

Do what you must, and I will be there to help you. Whatever you might decide.

[She will support her in the way that Benedikta wishes she had someone there to support and guide her, too.]

But do not lose sight of everything else, yes?

[ Rem’s brow raises. ]

You’d help me? Even if— …I can’t get stronger by normal means?

[ Not everyone likes the idea of using souls. Rem just wants to make sure she’s understanding this right, because Cid’s help seemed conditional. ]

[That's the thing. Her and Cid have lived vastly different lives.]

Well. [Benedikta gives a tip of her head and shoots Rem a pointed look.] I do believe you are vastly underestimating yourself. You are a bright girl.

[Before Rem can say anything to that—]

Yes, I understand what it is you seek is not obtainable through simply being bright, but there are many other things, too.

[Because gods know she had felt that way once. It took time and a lot of practice, but Benedikta was able to hone skills outside of Garuda's influence to make herself stronger and put her where she had been.

That being said...]

Should you ever need my help, you need but ask. But in exchange, I want you to practice swordsmanship with me.

I... won't say no to that. [ Rem's reply, although lacking enthusiasm in this moment from the whole conversation, is sincere. She won't mind the practice, and she needs desperately needs it. ]

Thank you, Benedikta.

And... I might call in a favor, sooner than later.

You know where to find me, yes?

[And always just a shellphone message away when she isn't so easily found. She would fly across the ocean to Rem if she needed her. And while she does not like being owed favours to anyone, she supposes she can make an exception for her.]

Now, let us get you back, shall we?

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[open] april manta quests

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think we can wrap this one up! 💚