[OPEN] May Catch-All

[haveaflare]

Who: Dion and you!
Status: Open
Where: Various locations
What: Open and Closed General and MANTA prompts
Warnings: None as of yet, will update as needed

Shellton | Eltrut | "Movable Type" Bookshop - OTA
[While there are many things to see and do throughout the wide world of Escordvi, Dion has started small and has started by taking time for leisure, something he rarely had time for in Valisthea, and so he was browsing shelves, surprisingly vast ones, in a bookshop off the main market. Mostly, the tall blond is keeping himself to the non-fiction section, amazed at the sheer number of titles spanning the shelves. It would seem printing was a thing here, as the typewriter which initiated him suggested, and he's rarely seen so many books collected in one place.

So much knowledge is collected here he hardly knows where to begin, and so he might turn to a fellow browser, leaning slightly so as to keep his voice low.]

Begging your pardon, of course, could you perchance suggest a title? I've no idea where to begin.

Eltrut | A Clearing Outside Shellton | OTA
[He's received a word of warning from Jill regarding the potential potency of Bahamut, which only serves to further reinforce the caution Benedikta instilled in him, and so in an effort to assure he's prepared to aid those here in whatever capacity he is able, Dion has found a suitable clearing outside the port in order to acclimate to the way his Aether pools in this place.

The prince is clad in his mithril armor for no other reason than it serves the purpose of protection and doesn't force him to spend doubloons he'd rather keep for food, and sets about moving through warm-up drills first: simple polearm forms designed to get his muscles loose and to work out the stiffness from his joints he always experiences in association with the Crystal's curse that's slowly turning all Bearers and Dominants to stone.

He'll welcome the company, and is more than game to spar with anyone looking to hone their skills or keep themselves sharp. He'll offer an amicable smile when he pauses in his rhythm, inclining his head.]

Well met. Are you looking to sharpen or observe?

[wildcard]
(OOC: feel free to throw whatever scene you'd like at me! If you'd like a specific prompt, feel free to drop me a line on plurk at vikael or on discord at vikael, but I'm pretty flexible and can fall in with whatever you're feeling!

MANTA prompts are in their own thread below)

Comments

[haveaflare]

I see.

[And this guy is still frowning in concern.]

No, your suggestion was very good. I'm disappointed I hadn't thought of it myself, but you seem...distressed, and that is more important than my entertainment.

[kitsunami]

[ it's not the answer he'd expected, but the fact is, he doesn't know what to do when somebody is concerned about him. it feels like there's a pressure for him to do better—to be better, so kit shakes his head fervently. ]

I'm okay! Sorry, s-sorry. I didn't mean to... to get in the way.

[ grabbing the pirate book may even help the situation at this point. ]

[haveaflare]

[Kit needs a few lessons in self-confidence, and Dion is going to do his model best to help, but he can also tell this is going to be a long road for the creature.]

You've not gotten in the way, Kitsunami. No apology is necessary. If anyone should, it should be me. Please forgive me for making you uncomfortable.

[kitsunami]

N-n-no... Y-you didn't do anything wrong.

[ even kit can see that much in someone else. he asked for a book and then checked to see if kit's okay, right?

but it's precisely because his not-okayness drew so much attention that he feels the need to apologize so profusely. even if he's unsure or anxious, people only bring it up because it's something they don't like, right? so that's why: ]

I'll do better next time...

[haveaflare]

[Dion's brow knits in confusion at the apology, awkward as it is, and shakes his head slightly.]

There was no offense, Kitsunami. Your recommendation is most welcome and you have my thanks. I know you mentioned you await your friend, Surge. In the meantime, perhaps we might browse the sections together? I admit, it has been since my youth I've read a thing for pleasure. Do you read often?

[kitsunami]

[ kit peers up at the man through his bangs, eyes looking a little watery if one squints. the other man doesn't seem... mad? but the question... ]

I-I don't know...

[ he avoids meeting dion's gaze as he speaks, almost seeming ashamed of not being able to answer. still, he opens his mouth, closes it, and seems rather conflicted about the whole thing as he finally gathers up the courage to answer. ]

Um... We can...

[ check the shelves, he means. he's supposed to be the smart one—the planner, so learning more about this place can only help him and surge in the long run, regardless of whether he would read before. ]

[haveaflare]

Excellent. [Dion smiles at that, moving slowly back to a standing position.]

With two sets of eyes and two vantage points, we shall scour these shelves much more efficiently. Would you not agree?

[kitsunami]

[ kitsunami nods... probably a little bit quicker than he needs to, but he's clearly fine with this. in fact, he feels a little bit relieved—if he can pick a good book to pick out, maybe things will go better? admittedly, just picking such a broad genre probably wasn't ideal.

for now, he's turning back to the shelves, brows furrowed with focus as he scans the titles. ]

[haveaflare]

Tell me, Kitsunami, [Dion makes conversations as he browses, trying to set Kit at ease and likely failing miserably.]

What do you read normally?

[kitsunami]

[ good question—still leaves the question of whether he reads at all, but if it's referring to how he is now? ]

... Manuals.

[ starline had him memorize how eggtech works so that he can efficiently counter it. now, though? they're too broke for books and it's not like he's abandoning surge to go to the library.

but the title of this book ne spots on the shelf might be something, so let kit pull it off and skim the summary real quick. ]

[haveaflare]

Manuals?

[It wasn't a term Dion was immediately familiar with and it gave the Knight Commander pause in his own search.]

Instructional?

[But he does notice that Kitsunami's found something and he looks.]

What is it you've found there?

[kitsunami]

Instructional...

[ the look on kit's face as he confirms it is clearly unsure if this is being asked because it's a bad answer.

as for the book, kit hesitates for a moment, but then offers it for dion to take. the title reads: The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates, and it seems to be a book that uses famous corsairs as examples of how pirates manage their crews for economic gain while maintaining less internal conflict. or something. that's the impression the summary gives. ]

[haveaflare]

Is it because you enjoy knowing how things work?

[He can respect that. He hasn't read one thing that wasn't historical or strategic in far too long, himself.]

A book about the inner workings of the Corsairs. This may prove useful.