Rem Tokimiya (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
vermilloci) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
escordvi2024-04-06 08:49 pm
vermilloci) wrote in escordvi2024-04-06 08:49 pm
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)
Status: Open
Where: around
What: Manta board prompts.
Warnings: Include any content warnings
Wishing Tree (General)
It's really beautiful, isn't it?Down Where It's Wetter (General)
[ 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.
[ SOMEONE STOP HER, SHE'S BEING SWINDLED BY HANDSOME MERMAN VARIANT #2 BY THE COAST-- ]Crab Curry (Special)
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! ]
[ 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.Wildcard
[ 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. ]
[ Have an idea? PM this account,drinksteapots, or Jade294#6977! ]
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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.
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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.]
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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. ]
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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.
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What do you mean?
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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.
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[ Silence hangs heavily in the air, and Rem chews on her bottom lip, debating if she should ask another question that springs to mind. ]
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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.
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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?
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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.]
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This time, she promises herself, she'll live.... ]
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? ]
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Yes.
[Her answer comes easily, and with a sigh.]
I suppose that much was obvious, wasn't it?
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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.
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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?
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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. ]
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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.
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Thank you, Benedikta.
And... I might call in a favor, sooner than later.
think we can wrap this one up! 💚
[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?