escordvi | Nov Catch all, manta prompts [Open]

Entry tags:

Nov Catch all, manta prompts [Open]

Who: Rem & you
Status: Open
Where: General location
What: Settling in, Manta quests, etc.
Warnings: none so far

Spellbound Circuitry (General)

A: It's, ah... different than what I imagined. [ There is magitek in her own world, yes, but the kind from Milites are made more for war. Over the years, she's seen the empire produce a great number of terrifying machines, ranging from the artillery mounted on stealthy flying mechs, to colossal structures that transport resources over their frozen tundra, to chilling devices meant to negate the power of the Crystals themselves. Ordinary devices-- such as lightbulbs-- needn't have magic power them.

So, imagine her surprise when she's presented with the prototype above a workstation table, that of a lamp. Rem leans over, examining the metal fastenings that hold the contraption together. One of the researchers mentioned using a bone substrate for some of their magitek, and there it is, right in the center of the glass: the assembled skeleton of a fish. Her eyes lift upward, uncertainly, to meet yours, and she gives you a dubious smile. ] If we power it with magic, you don't think it'll make this room smell like fish, do you?

B: [ Afterwards, she lingers in the building, looking through one of the display windows of the latest magitek to come from the scientists' developments. This one appears to be an automatic sorter for coins of some sort. ] I don't suppose that, somewhere, instead of magitek research, there is... a purely magical researcher?

[ There are archives upon Elah, she's heard. Perhaps she can find something of use there, even if she is not a Paladin. ]

Leap of Faith (General)

[ You. Her. A cliff above, the fresh, cerulean lagoon below, and in case there were any doubts as to who is the more forthwith in their trust, Rem is already sprinting past you and leaping off the edge. What was that about taking turns of one remaining below and one leaping off? Or that one must be from a different armada? Too late, she's jumped.

Rem plunges into the water, clothes and all, with a spectacular splash, causing modest waves the ripple out like the petals of a lotus. Within seconds she surfaces, tossing her brown hair then swiping the remaining strands back from her face. While the distance between the surface and the top of the cliff might be too great to actually see her expression, her voice carries what can only be a wide, relieved grin. Her words are quick and enthusiastic, charged with excitement. ]

Come on! It's your turn, it is! [ To a weary body, the warm, tropical water is beyond soothing to her. She tilts her head back and floats some meters to the side, making room for you to join. Raising an arm, she beckons you. Let's see your best splash. ]

Healing Mix-up (General)

[ It seems that both you and her have decided to consult the poster of the quest at the same time, and let's just say that as a preview of the reward, one snippet of the novel has been shared. For inspiration, of course, because who wouldn't want to start their noble quest of gathering bat drippings, dragon scales, monkey flakes, and cat knuckles without knowing a taste of the prize that comes after?

By the time Rem finishes reading the first two sentences of the paragraph, she's already turned a bright pink. An audible gasp escapes her, and she jerks back, clasping her mouth with her hands. Oh no. (Oh yes?) Oh no, it's one of those books, and, Crystals, just reading that much feels as if she's intruded on something private. She's not sure whether to laugh or to apologize. ] A fair warning, even that paragraph is... [ Still sporting a bright shade of red upon her cheeks, Rem lowers her voice to a conspiratorial level. ] spicy.

[ Well, she's here now. She's here because she needs to have a healer on standby for herself, she needs a good one, and dammit, she will get those ingredients to put her in good favor with a healer (the book is just a plus, shh, no she's totally not interested in it). ]

Gallows Gambit (Corsair but OTA)

[ The shackles around her hands are not the sturdiest of things, but then again, she can't imagine them being made for anything else but to constrain and intimidate. Quality isn't really a thing when it comes to ironworks used against prisoners. With a soft sigh, she tests their weight, clinking the metal against the iron bars of the cell in which she's held.

All her life, she's managed to escape being a prisoner of war (not ture, a gut feeling tells her, but she cannot remember when or where or how it ever was, only that someone died, long, long ago)-- ah. Blinking once, she shakes her head from an oncoming headache, deciding to refocus on the task at hand. How ironic is it that she willingly gets herself put in chains in order to find the paladin behind this mess? Mission accomplished on that one, if only partly. She now has a face and a voice, attached to the man, but not his name. Unfortunately, now she's stuck with another problem. She must escape. It's not the most difficult thing to do should she do so by magic and force, but it would be better to not draw attention at all.

Rem peers through the bars, looking at what awaits her if she doesn't: a guillotine. A semi-public execution, then? Not only that, but the swiftness of the steel against a neck is by far one of the most humane methods she's ever seen. Relatively, anyway. Neither Rubrum nor Milites would bother.

Maybe you're here to help her escape. Maybe you're in the cell with her. Maybe you're one of the gallows' hired help knowing she's been falsely accused, willing to set her free. Either way, she asks a simple question: ] You wouldn't happen to know the time...?

Untilted Goose Gambit

[ This is embarrassing. The eight-headed goose that is supposed to be the bounty she's after has, in fact, made her a victim of its shenanigans already! There it goes, waddling off with what appears to be a silver necklace of some sort. ] Get back here!

[ Rem rushes after the goose. Help her, maybe? Or maybe laugh at her. Or maybe you've also had something stolen by one of the other heads. ]

Wildcard

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's an ugly color.

[It was a lovely creamy white with darker spots on the interior of the petals. By all rights it could be considered a paragon of it's flora species. But because it wasn't exactly the same as her it was ugly.

He tucked his hands behind his back and walked away from it like he hadn't just panicked over Rem getting too close.]

It's very delicate and difficult to keep alive. The smallest change can make it wilt. Nothing makes it happy for long. It should not be disturbed.

[Daqiang was definitely feeling some sort of way about the plant. Though it wasn't specifically that orchid which had him complaining, the two were similar enough. He made it back to the table and waved a hand to make a small writing kit appear.]

Forget about the grass. It is your health that is delicate at the moment, not it's.

[ With a reaction like that, she can only conclude that the flower holds sentimental to him, yet now he's talking of it as if it's a nuisance for which to care. Before she can ask why he goes through all the effort, he's back to his usual, stoic self as if flipping a switch. Rem gives one more glance in the flower's direction-- ugly? Not at all!-- before joining him at the table.

The appearance of the writing kit earns a lift of her brow. Then man is full of magical surprises. When her surprise settles, she clears her throat. ]

I'm... recovering, I am. [ There. An amendment to her outright denying it, a half-truth. ] But if you're going to teach me something more about these medicines, I'm willing to listen.

These medicines- [he indicated the ones left on the table.] -all have yin energy, though some are stronger than others. They will strengthen your own yin energy.

[Opening the kit, he pulled out a thick capped pen that proved to be a writer's brush when he took the cap off. A vial of watery black ink was opened and he carefully dipped the brush into it before pulling a sheet of paper in front of him. With both the paper settled and the brush ready, he held back his sleeve with his offhand and began writing in elegant (Chinese) calligraphy.]

This is a list of foods that should be available now that promote yin energy. Oranges remain a good choice, but you should also see out pears. Vegetables are more prevalent during this season, so mushrooms, spinach, bok choy, squash, and cucumber should be readily available from grocers. Meats are neutral but do not add spices or any foods that create a heat in the mouth. Those are yang, which you do not need right now.

[When he was done writing his list (all the foods he'd named plus a few others that were neutral), he set the brush down to drip dry on a pad and then handed the paper to her. He was trusting the translation magic to allow her to read it even if she wasn't familiar with his language.]

This venerable one must already care for a temperamental grass. Do not make trouble for this venerable one by making him care for you as well.

[She wasn't even his responsibility the way Orchid was.]

[ The elegance of his handwriting, or rather the handwriting itself, catches her attention, and she leans forward over the table. This world's magic translation is odd, but she gets the impression that his script resembles that of the Kingdom's. As he writes, she rests an elbow upon the edge of the table, propping her head up with a hand on her cheek. It's easy to understand the gist of it: avoid "yang", and consume food and medicines with the association of "yin".

She takes the paper offered, reading over it. Never had Class Zero's "Mother"-- Dr. Al-Rashia-- suggested that Rem had some sort of imbalance within her. The medicine she had prescribed caused intense pain at night, but she had assured Rem it would help. Like a good patient, she had taken it religiously.

If relief involves something as simple as changing her diet and avoiding the incorrect medications... perhaps it's something they missed. Perhaps this will work. Yet, Rem's fingers crinkle the edges of the paper. How many times has she held a prescription, a doctor's order, a torn page from a spellbook, or something else in her hands feeling the same hope that it might work? It feels more than a million times. More than a hundred million times. Suddenly, she feels very... old.

..."Old"?

Rem glances away, blinks, then looks back at him. No, not that. Just... tired. Yes, that's the term. ]

You mentioned the balance of energies. How much do I have to consume of Yin-products to help strengthen it within me?

Until your cough recedes and the bad blood is no longer choking your airways.

[He set about cleaning up his writing kit. Slower than he pulled it out and with great care for cleaning the brush.]

If you experience any unnatural chills, then you have taken too much. If you do, you may need some yang food to bring your body back into balance. However, it's better to try foods that are neutral before looking for those with yang. A healthy body will have a natural balance for both and align to that balance when not unduly influenced. Foods aren't as strong as medicines, since those are heavily concentrated. But foods will aid in restoring the natural balance when it is upset.

[He reached over and pushed the pile of medicines he approved of a little closer to her.]

Pick one to try. Do not mix them.

[And then, a little pointedly and with a good deal of grumpiness, like it was somehow a personal offense:]

And eat more than just one orange a day. You are not like that orchid in the window, who can subsist on only morning dew and sunlight.

...Mortals must eat more often.

[ Mortal, he says, and how sad it is that becoming a l'cie rendered her immortal-- or it would for any other. Yet, somehow, she still has this illness. She thought it'd be gone (or at least, she'd be free from it in this world). She thought she would survive. And now... she cannot age, but apparently, she can still suffer, and likely, still succumb. Indeed, that's not immortality. That's mortality, all over again, and regardless of her thoughts, him speaking the word so matter-of-factly causes her chest to feel tight.

Rem reaches for one of the ampoules, giving the contents a swirl. The movement turns the suspension into a misty, blue substance. Without another word, she breaks the top portion, pours the liquid into her mouth, then swallows. She doesn't so much as a flinch from the bitter taste. ]

I appreciate the help, Moon Supreme. [ If a cure cannot be found, then that's all the more reason for her to work on finding something that can serve as the Altocrystarium. She only needs to survive until then. As such, him offering a list of what to consume and what to avoid means more than he'll ever know. A touch more of emotion weighs her words, and she looks away. ] ...Truly.

[ But, again, she picks up on that hint of annoyance regarding that plant. And she can't help but wonder if the "care" he mentioned of it is similar to how he's offering his help for her, as if it's some sort of nuisance. She can't expect someone like him to offer help out of the goodness of his heart, so: ]

...I'll repay you, I will. So if you have something in mind, I'll help.

[He frowned at her offer and glanced sideways at her. Of course she should pay him back ~~so why did his stomach roil at sudden understanding that this was a transaction to her~~. But seeing as how she was weak - especially so at the moment - and there was nothing he ~~wanted~~ could immediately think of...]

No need.

[He scoffed and waved a hand to dismiss the thought. And then, just to be clear it wasn't out of the goodness of his frozen heart:]

Look at yourself. What could you possibly have to offer this venerable one?

[Daqiang leaned in and raised an eyebrow, practically challenging her to try and figure something out that would be worth his attention.]

[ Nothing, is the first thing that comes to mind. Not in this body, not in this weakened state, which is why she must live, she must become stronger, if not to repay him, but so that she needn't rely on him. To add insult to injury, it's likely she'll need to ask for his help more, later.

...

Perhaps there is something. Something she shouldn't offer, but since she needs something else in return, too...

Rem holds his gaze weary, but steady. Her hand lowers from her cheek to her chest, resting just over her heart. Fingers splay outwarn, then lift from the cloth as if extracting something. A thin, white line tethers back to her body, then snaps as she pulls her hand away. The light condenses further, swirling into itself upon the center of her palm.

It's not her soul, but one of those she carries. Unto the world offers a misty, crystalline light, with no element attached to it, no goodness, no evil, no coolness, no warmth. No shred of personality, no hint of life or consciousness resides in it. By the nothingness it seemingly emanates, it belongs to the void, the way a soul may have been before ever knowing existence. ]

Powers are diminished, here. I offer you... what we classify as Ivory. This one will enhance your power without penalty. At least, that's how it works in my world.

[ She'd wanted to save it for herself, but she doubts the other phantoma she carries will be any use to him. ] ...But. [ Her fingers close, and the soul vanishes. ]

Unless you already have the means to convert it permanently to power, I'll also need your help building something that can.

[The empty energy she pulls out feels both like the primordial spirit of a soul having drunk of the soup before being reborn and like an endlessly malleable slice of primordial chaos. He leaned back, eyes going half-lidded. Genuinely just a touch surprised that she would offer one of the souls she ferried to him - washed as clean and without any stories as a freshly cut sheet of paper or not.

He was fairly certain he could 'convert it permanently' in much the same was as transferring energy gave power to be used to another. Use it to grow his power, however... He was a monster and as such, the sort of taboo methods of cultivation she was suggesting were not beyond him. But absorbing primordial spirits risked opening one's own to being manipulated by whatever remained of the spirit absorbed.

It did make him wonder if, in her world, she was not only an agent to ferry souls, but to cleanse them of their memories before sending them on - or if she cleansed them only to destroy them for their power.

Rather than answer her unstated question on if he could convert it permanently or not, he titled his head and asked one of his own:]

What sort of thing do you intend to build?

[ With Cid, she had to be more cautious with her words, but with Dongfang Qingcang, who can already souls, she can be somewhat more lenient in her proposition. ]

A device. [ She starts out simply enough. Rem places her hand on to the edge of the table. ] ...that will help me go stronger so that I can-- [ Her voice wavers. ] So I can survive. Survive, and protect others, too.

'A device'.

[That doesn't really tell him much, though considering her power over the dead and the desire to be stronger and 'survive'...]

A magic device, then. One that will empower you and remove a threat to your... current life? Soul? Primordial spirit? What kind of survival are you speaking of? Is it related to your current ailment?

[ What does one offer, let alone say, to someone who is already powerful enough— and immortal at that? Hoping for his understanding in both her struggle and fear feels as if she’s climbing a sheer cliff that’s been painted over with ice. ]

It’ll help me enhance my magic, develop new spells… [ Her voice drifts as she turns her gaze down. Upon the table, her fingers curl.

She has no idea what he means by there being a threat to her spirit. To her, her illness is merely an effect from a disease experimented upon her village when she was a child, and so she shakes her head, continuing: ] Spells powerful enough to sustain me, …hopefully, until I find a cure.

And you are willing to share some of that power with this venerable one should he help you achieve this.

[A statement rather than a question. Whatever illness she had, it sounded like she thought it was linked to her current life. Which was problematic, but likely easier to deal with than anything entwined with her soul.]

Very well. This venerable one will assist.

[ At his agreement, relief washes over her expression. Regardless of the deal they’re making, she’s comforted by the fact that it’s with him. Not only can he sense souls, thereby relieving some of the burden of secrecy for her project, but he’s already proved himself to be knowledgeable in ways beyond her own world. ]

Thank you, Moon Supreme. [ The pallor of her lips does not detract from the small, appreciative smile that forms. ]

To be working with you... I’m grateful. [ Even if nothing comes of it, even if she does wither, even if she is forgotten by others, hope is priceless. Because it is priceless, this arrangement already feels unbalanced.

Her gaze lowers, then raises again to meet his. ] ...If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to let me know.

[He meets her eyes and without breaking eye contact, very pointedly picks up her satchel - now containing only medicines he did not approve of - and dropped it on the table.]

Return or sell these and the next time you want to try a new medicine, you will speak with this venerable one before spending your money so foolishly.

[ Oof, that scolding look. She's unable to keep eye contact, opting to look down with a nod, smiling sheepishly.

But... she has to speak with him before she buys anything else?? Not that she minds his input on this matter, but wow. ]

Oh, no, please, I wouldn't want to worr-- erm, bother you. [ She doesn't want to be a burden, okay? Okay. ]

It will be more of a bother if you continue to seek out cures that are only likely to set back whatever progress proper treatment brings.

[He's going to start looking into doctors that have shops in the city. While he's certain that his current suggestions on medication and eating will help, he still bows to the experts when it comes to extended treatment. But as he doesn't know any of the doctors or their reputations, he couldn't just tell her to go see one specifically if rather than buy her own medication.]

[ She reaches for the satchel, pulling it over to her side of the table. Being a burden is the last thing she wants. Being reminded of how weak she is is painful, too.

He must see some sort of use in her yet, if he's going to such lengths to educate her. She supposes it's nice to be held in some esteem in his eyes, utility-wise, even if he doesn't outright care. ]

...I have to ask, since you know so much. When was the last time you were sick?

Edited 2023-11-29 20:45 (UTC)

This venerable one last felt ill around a week before arriving in this world.

[Technically, he had not been the one sick. But he had felt the pain and discomfort of the one who had been. And normally it would not be something worth admitting, but he wasn't telling the secret of his cursed state nor was he speaking of something that could harm him. It was over with and it would not happen again because Orchid was just far enough away that he seemed only to be subject to her reckless and mercurial emotions. The blessings of being outside of time.

Moreover, Rem seemed the sort to be encouraged by knowing others had been in similar situations as she had. In all of their encounters she had always reacted in a 'positive' manner when he had shown knowledge of a similar or shared experience. If admitting to having shared this one got her to stop trying to argue her way out of doing what he told her, he could make that sacrifice.]

It was also due to an energy imbalance. This venerable one was able to quickly remove the excess energy, but it was... not a comfortable experience. This venerable one would prevent you from reaching the same state as he cannot be certain you will be in a place where anyone can remove the energy in the same way.

[ Indeed, the moment he mentioned he had been sick once (at least) once in his long life, her expression turns sympathetic.

She is also, of course, quietly relieved that they're moving off a topic that's not about her. She can only avoid not promising ~it'll never happen~ again for so long!

However, there is something else he mentions that gets her brow to raise. ]

"Remove the energy"? As in... you can do something else besides eating appropriate yin or yang associated fruits?

This venerable one can transfer energy. Both providing it and taking it from others.

[Well, he could certainly give energy. He had not tried taking any from anyone.]

Energy given can help to heal those it's given to, but works best when the one who receives it has already developed their meridians and knows how to circulate their own energy to put it to it's best use.

Additionally, this venerable one's energy is yang heavy, based in the fire of his immortal root. It is possible this venerable one could relieve your symptoms by providing some energy, but it is obvious you are not trained in how to regulate your own. It would likely lead to a further imbalance.

[Which was why he hadn't offered in the first place. She did not practice in the manner that he did. And the last time he'd given anyone energy, Ramuh had knocked him to a state of injury he'd had to not only allow himself the ignominy of being vulnerable for a full day, he'd had to take another three in meditation to regain the energy he'd used.]

...this venerable one could check your meridians to see how your health is in general, however. If there are any energy blockages that could be preventing your body from regulating naturally.

[ Rem is well-versed in siphoning energy and life force unto herself, as well as distributing energy to others; however, "immortal root", "meridians" are both terms she's beginning to learn. Naturally a willing and earnest student, she even perks up as he explains!

....Buuut then he turns the conversation back to her. Her eyes briefly dart away in a soft, quiet cringe. Rem lifts her hand, waving it. ] That won't be necessary, it won't. [ Seems rather invasive, and she's trying conceal her health, okok. ]

But you keep on mentioning this "immortal root" thing. What is it? Something you have to water like that orchid?

No.

[And at this he looks just a tad offended. His root was fire. Water was not compatible for most cultivation purposes.]

It is the root of what energy you are able to cultivate most effectively with. The element most natural to you in your current incarnation.

[He puts a finger against her forehead and pushes her head back gently ~~for him. he was very strong. he was actively trying not to harm her.~~]

Water is yin. Did this venerable one not just say his own root is an element heavy with yang?

[ When he places a finger to her forehead, she blinks twice, leaning back. She, in turn, looks rather confused. ] You have to water a plant... [ Her reply is measured, slow as if attempting to sort through logical manner. ] and you did say root.

[ Is this not reasonable, she wonders. Unless the "fire" in "fire of his immortal root" he'd mentioned is actually literal--

Her mouth parts with a gasp, and her eyes widen in surprise. Rem lifts her hands to grab the one that's poking her forehead between the two of hers, feeling both the palm and the back of his hand in her grasp. ] But you don't feel hot.

[He gave her such a 'are you fucking with me' look before he released the reigns on his inner fire enough for her to feel like she was standing in front of an open sauna door just from his proximity alone. His hand in hers was practically a pocket warmer.

And he just stares at her. All this talking about controlling his energy... Did she think it was just talk]

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