[ open ] Today a reader...

[afflatusexarch]

Who: G'raha Tia + Anyone!
Status: Open
Where: Various
What: MANTA quests
Warnings: TBD



💎 Sword in the Stone

[ There are stories like this. About mythical, legendary weapons being held fast and sealed away. Only a very special someone might be able to remove it. Of course G'raha is interested. He is insanely, intensely interested. His curiosity is so piqued that he is staring at the sword in the stone with his tail held high and curled. Ears forward! And it almost looks like there are stars in his eyes. ]

I wonder what the qualifications are for someone to pull it out! [ He turns to the person next to him. All bright eyed and well. His tail might be a little bushy. ] Are you going to make an attempt.

💎 Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

[ Given the fact that G'raha, as the Crystal Exarch, had many people under his care, the fact that there are barns going up in flames concerns him. He knows what it is like to go without. So G'raha isn't about to let others go without either, not if he can help it.

Thus he engages in this stake out. Lying in wait... Tail swishing behind him. ]

I'm not sure about lighting them on fire. Honestly, I think they should be turned over to some other power.

[ He sighs, eyes narrowing as his ears pick up the sounds of people coming. ]

Well. Here they come...

💎 Little Red Riding Hood

[ Even though G'raha had been mauled from a zombie ghost mermaid, he is still out there to hunt down this murderous spirit. People could be hurt and he can't have that ( forget the fact that he had been hurt okay? G'raha doesn't consider himself that important ) he'll have to keep to his spellcraft.

Now the real question is... ]

Where do we find this doll and how will we know if it is possessed?

💎 Underwater Ruins

[ He has been intrigued by the under water ruins for quite some time. G'raha has been spending as much time as he can spare there, trying to find what secrets this place has yet to reveal. While he still continues to work on deciphering the murals that the black, inky substance had been hiding there's something about light in general here. Everything seems to react to it in some way. ]

Hmmm.

[ His tail moves from side to side. Looking up and then back at the mirrors. ]

Would you mind giving me a hand?

💎 Wildcard

[ We're right back at the free space. Hit me up with other MANTA board requests. Or throw some random prompt my way and I'll roll with it. If you want to plot something, you can contact me @ verthunder on Discord/Plurk. I'm pretty open to doing anything with G'raha this month. ]

Comments

the sword in the stone | you know I had to

[empyrean_mirror]

Give what a try?

[Kaveh blinks, and looks at the sword.]

That? But why would anyone have sealed a sword in a stone in the first place?

of course

[afflatusexarch]

[ G'raha nods! All smiles and tail moving about behind him almost furiously. ]

It is a part of a narrative, Kaveh. Good things happen to those who are able to pull such a blade out from an enchanted stone.

[empyrean_mirror]

Pull it out? I mean, the stone would have to be cut strangely to make it more difficult to remove than insert, blades taper down to a narrower point. And then, wouldn't that damage the blade itself?

[He's actually gone to squint at the rock. I'm sorry, Raha, he has engineer brain and it's Terminal.]

[afflatusexarch]

Magic, my friend. Magic. It can do such a thing. T'was integration of magicks and science itself that would put the Crystal Tower into stasis.

[ As well as create a whole bunch of clones. Messes. Horrors. But also brought hope to many people. So... ]

Perhaps there are wards...

[empyrean_mirror]

I think magic works very differently where you're from.

[if spantamad students could do something like this there'd never be ANY peace so Kaveh reasonably assumes it is not possible. But he's crouched next to the stone to squint at the blade a bit...]

It almost looks like the blade was sculpted out of the rock itself rather than inserted...now, that'd be interesting...

sword in the stone; I also had to

[emet_sulk]

[ Why is Emet-Selch even here? He stares flatly at G'raha. ]

No. I'm sure you know why.

i mean :')

[afflatusexarch]

I suppose I shouldn't find myself surprised.

[ Yet he's looking at Emet-Selch expectantly. ]

Certainly you don't believe yourself inferior?

[emet_sulk]

[ Well! That deserves a withering glare (which G'raha gets). ]

No. This is either some elaborate trick or something so dreadfully simple that it makes a mockery of those who try. And if it is something so banal as raw strength, then I'm certainly not going to succeed.

[ Sure, he can swing a greatsword around, but... ]

[afflatusexarch]

[ Oh G'raha had expected that look. It's deserved, really, not that it dampens his spirits in the slightest. If anything, there is a wry grin and a flick of his tail. ]

Doubtful that it the method to remove the sword is reliant upon strength. Are you not curious?

[emet_sulk]

[ He turns his glare on the sword this time. Is he curious? Not really.

(Okay maybe he is a little curious.) ]

The sword itself is magical but there is no enchantment on it if that is what you're asking.

[ Not one he can break with brute force anyway. That would be far too easy, wouldn't it? ]

Little Red Riding Hood

[arsebiscuit]

It's gotta look all spooky, right? Not going to be a cuddly little monster rag doll.

[Right? Right. She speaks with a confidence to her tone that isn't entirely reflected on her face.]

Cute things don't murder. Usually.

[afflatusexarch]

Or mayhap it will look cute. To throw us off the scent, of course.

[ That's probably not the case. There will probably be something that radiates awful aetheric properties, right? This is what G'raha is hoping for. ]

Truthfully, I would hope that it would just appear before us rather than having to hunt through a sea of endless dolls.

wildcard 🏠

[activatingcombatmode]

[The two of them have wildly different schedules thanks to being on two different crews but they do find time together more often than not at their new house on Eltrut. With autumn in high gear it's a little chilly out and the trees are fully red and orange. It's a nice backdrop to something so picture perfect.

A home. Zack never thought he'd have something like this. It was home with his folks growing up, sure. But then it was all barracks and missions. This feels different. Whole.

He walks up to the house and he just so happens to be covered in muck. Dirt and mud smeared across his face, splattered on his clothing and all over his boots. Because he'd been getting back from a random manta request. Ooops.]

Raha! You home?

[Honey, I'm home!!]

[afflatusexarch]

[ G'raha Tia is a man that uses his Ring of Returning quite often. To return to Zack from wherever he finds himself. To their shared home, when they both aren't too busy with their crews and different missions they have. Raha doesn't mind the fact that they don't see each other every day. They are together more often than he could ever hope for. And they have this.

Together.

When Zack returns, G'raha is sprawled out on one of the couches. Reading. Hearing the door handle jingle has him pushing himself up onto his elbows, making a little sound. But then hearing Zack's voice has Raha bolting off of the couch, stumbling and tripping over himself to get to the door. ]

O-of course! I wasn't expecting you!

[activatingcombatmode]

Home early! The job wrapped up quicker than I thought.

[He grins seeing the shocked redhead. Did he catch G'raha off guard?

He might attempt to walk into the house with his muddy self so... Be careful. He might be tracking mud in.]

Had a few deliveries to hit too but they were all local.

[afflatusexarch]

[ He had caught G'raha off guard! That's why the cat is so busy trying to right himself. But then he sees the mud and hastens his steps, hand out and hovering over Zack's chest. Trying to not touch the mess but also stop the other. ]

You are making it sound like you were attempting to do both at the same time. Now dare I ask why you are...

[ Red eyes look Zack up and down. ]

Well. In this state, perhaps?

[activatingcombatmode]

Huh? What-

[Fortunately, Zack does stop before he tracks in too much more mud. But he looks confused as to why G'raha is stopping him right here.]

A state? What state?

[He looks down at himself...]

The mud? Well, all in a day's work, I guess.

walks in here 10 days late for underwater ruins! backdated to beginning of nov.

[garudas]

[Where there is a great ruin, no doubt there is Benedikta. Even the slightest chance that this might lead her to controlling the rifts is enough to draw her to a mission, regardless of where or with who. It just so happens that this particular cat is one whose company she can tolerate.

The tension that she wears is edged with a sort of desperation, and sharp eyes scan the cave-like ruins that they stand in for a hint of... well, anything. When G'raha calls out, she does not mean to look so urgent or eager as she closes the distance between them.]

Have you found something?

where is your starbucks and where is mine

[afflatusexarch]

[ He hears the strain in her voice, and his ear flicks. While he would like to ask her about it, G'raha feels that perhaps now isn't the time.

Instead he points towards the mirror and then the mural of stars. ]

Cid and I found these mirrors last month. We weren't sure what they were for. Now I see what is needed. Care to test it out with me?

i drank them both 😭

[garudas]

Yes, I'd heard about that.

[She stops at his side, following the line of G'raha's vision. While she is certainly no mastermind or scholar, she can certainly be useful in other ways.]

Do you need me to launch you skyward?

[afflatusexarch]

Of course you have. Silly me to think otherwise.

[ Oh to be young and in love... Couldn't be G'raha. Instead of thinking on that, he shakes his head. Moving to one of the mirrors, he looks towards the light source. ]

Rather, could you aim the light this way? Towards this mirror?

Anniversary Date

[afflatusexarch]

[ There had been plenty of suggestions given to G'raha about how he should go about this. Surprisingly, the people that have said that whatever he decides would be sufficient had been both frustrating and touching. Yet, they aren't wrong. Zack would be happy with whatever Raha could think to give. So the best thing would be an experience...

Though he fully intends to avoid the rain, just saying. At the moment he waits for Zack, a satchel containing the items that he will need at his side. Now he likely could have done this at their home, but where is the fun in that? They have a bit of a hike here and he just wants to make sure that Zack keeps up.

Which, of course, he does. ]

I am very glad you have made time for me today.

[activatingcombatmode]

[He's always down for a good hike! No matter the weather, rain, snow or shine.

Now, they don't really have an exact date to pinpoint for when they started to officially see each other. It all happened so naturally, they just decided to keep seeing each other as they went about their lives.

But he knows something about this important. That's why he smiles earnestly.]

Yeah. Well, for you? Anything, Raha.

[afflatusexarch]

[ One date had led to another and then... Another. The company and conversations - both in person and over the shellphone - had made it feel as though pieces had fallen into place. Naturally, indeed.

And oh how that smile makes him weak. ]

Don't say anything, Zack. It might go to my head and I'll end up asking for something rather unreasonable.

[ Just how greedy is he allowed to be? ]

'Tis not too much farther, I promise you.

[ Just a bit of a hike outside of the port city. The weather is growing more brisk, despite the fact that they are still on the open sea. Technically. Raha doesn't question how it is possible - even trees need their seasons. That's the entire reason that they've come out this way. The first time, it was trees that glowed due to rain. This time Raha wants to make it so that the leaves glow a different color; reds and oranges and hues of gold as the sun hits every leaf.

That's why he leads them to a grove that he... Might have prepared ahead of time. If the blanket and the pillows against one of the bases of these trees is anything to go by. ]

Here we are.

[activatingcombatmode]

[That sounds dangerous coming from someone like G'raha but if G'raha asked Zack for anything and everything then Zack would try his best to meet him there. He still, to this day, wants to give everything that he can to G'raha. He still wants to be enough for him. Even if he still wonders if he'll ever be. So, G'raha can be as greedy as he wants to be...

As they make their way up the hiking path, Zack notices it looks sort of familiar. This is a very similar backdrop to what they walked together months and months ago. The trees are quickly changing and are heavy with beautiful autumn colours. The air is brisk and refreshing and just comfortable enough.]

Here? You did all this?

[The little collection of blankets and pillows makes him glance at G'raha with a warm smile. This is really cute.]

This is pretty special, Raha. I think I know what you're up to.